Two

It's hard to believe that it has been 2 years since you were born, but then again, it often doesn't seem like there was life before you. To think back to times I fell asleep without you next to me, or got up in the morning without carefully rolling off the couch so I don't wake you, it doesn't seem real. Like a movie I saw, or a dream that is fading away.
A tiny portion of things I love about you:
You can always make me laugh, and you know it. You're such a little clown, making faces or goofy noises, or tickling my feet.
You love being outside and prefer to spend the entire day out in the yard running around with your dump truck, hitting trees with a stick or hammer, or peeling bark off trees.
You almost always have some sort of tool or "sword" in your hands. Screw driver or curtain rod, stick or rubber mallet. And you know how to use them. You'll walk over, tip your tricycle with one hand and start fixing it with your tools. I love watching you fix things.
Lately, you carry an army man with you everywhere.
You can figure out how anything works almost immediately. I have no idea how this just comes to you, but it does.
If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to get it. Your relentless determination can drive me crazy, but I admire that in you.
You come over to visit me on the computer for a quick sip of milk before going back to whatever you were doing.
You have gone from calling me "mum mum mum mum" to "muma" and now I'm just "ma".
When you want some milk, you come over and say "ma", sign milk with both hands, then say mo. How can a mama resist that?
When you point out body parts, you "beeeeep" belly buttons, nipples and noses :)
When you see someone you know outside, you bang on the window and say their name. When you see someone you don't know walking by, you wave and say "bye". I wish I could spell out bye the way you say it. So adorable.
You call spoons pooms and say beee for please (we never forced you to say please, you just started saying it on your own and we didn't know what you meant for a while). You also pronounce more mo. Yep, you are the cutest.


You ride the dogs whenever you catch one of them laying down.
You "roo" after Meisner, and it is so damn cute.
You adore Grampy (still call him "da" too) and love playing with him, especially at his house or when we go somewhere with him.
I still love your little fingers and little toes, even now that they are so much bigger than they were 2 years ago.
You are so big now, and you just keep getting bigger. I love you little man. Happy Birthday!

Choices In Diapering Classes

My first Choices in Diapering class is being held at Blessed Baby Boutique in Wilton Maine on October 20th. The time(s) have not been set yet. Feel free to contact me for more info!

What is a Choices in Diapering Class? Classes will cover different types of diapers, their pros and cons, and cloth diapering info. Three classes are available and the information provided increases greatly with class length. A fifteen minute class covers: About Diapering Options Diapering Options Today (brief) Discussion of environmental and financial impact of each option A one hour class covers: About Diapering Options Diapering Options Today Pros and Cons of each Brief "Diaper Debate" (discussion of environmental and financial impact of each option) A three hour class covers: About Diapering Options Diapering Options Today Pros and Cons of each Diaper Debate (discussion of environmental, financial and health impact of cloth vs. disposables) Dispel myths associated with cloth Q&A Activities

SoPo Chickens Update

Back in June I posted about Olivia, a young girl from South Portland who was trying to convince the city council to change the zoning ordinance to allow raising chickens for eggs. I'm proud to announce that up to six chickens are now allowed to 20 residents, with a permit! For the whole, tiny article, click here.

Born Free Co-op

There is a Born Free Co-op over at the Hip Hippee yahoo group. It's going on in another group as well (same co-op though). Feel free to join. I've ordered Aiden some drinking cups on the other group. These are made from safer, BPA free plastics. You can find out more about Born Free at their website. Savings are significant when ordering through the co-op!

Our Second Fairy House

When catching up with Grace's blog last week, I was totally inspired by the fairy tea party her family creates on Solstice. I love the idea of creating a party for the fairies held every year, and we will be doing that next year. After the Garden Party, we planned to build a fairy house in our backyard. We had even saved a shell to use for fairy food. The night I read her post, we ventured out into the trees that surround our yard. We found a particularly fine spot where two trees were joined at the base, leaving a hole that fills with water in the middle. A fine fairy pool, or hot tub these days. We immediately set to work on the house, using y sticks to hold stick for the roof. We then covered it with oak leaves and set up an acorn table & chairs inside. I managed to get a few pictures before Aiden's determination to put every stick within his reach on the roof got the best of it. I'm sure the fairies still enjoy their new home, despite it's structural flaws.

Dancing Hands Bookmarks

Alex Miller, a 9 1/2 year old homeschooled artist, is now selling her original, hand drawn bookmarks. They are beautiful, laminated, and finished with natural fibers. You can purchase them here. While you're there, take a look at her mom's beautiful creations. I greatly admire her felted bowls and goddesses.

Fieldstone Gardens Aiden Pictures

Jon, Aiden, my mother and I attended Fieldstone Gardens' Fairies in the Garden party on Saturday. Sales were unheard of, but we had fun. Aiden was a wood nymph for a couple minutes. I'll let the pictures and captions tell the rest of the story.

Trying to pull wings offPulling on a bead

Only pic with the crown, which blends in with the treesAiden and I next to our fairy houseClose-up of fairy house just before Aiden beat it with a corn stalk

He's so big now!

Pictures of Fieldstone to follow...

South Portlander's, Olivia Needs Your Help

For any readers in South Portland, Maine, please support Olivia Collins in her quest to raise a few hens as pets and for fresh organic eggs. South Portland's (hereafter called SoPo) zoning ordinance does not allow it. The following is from an email sent by Olivia's mother:

Here's Olivia's list of reasons why SoPo should amend the ordinance:

Why?

~Hens (no roosters!!) are quieter than dogs or parrots and as clean and non-smelly as any other pet when well-cared-for as urban pets, not barnyard animals.
~Fresh organic eggs are healthier than store-bought and better for the environment because fuel is not used trucking them to stores.
~My chickens will lead happy, healthy lives. They will be in an enclosed pen, though, and not roam onto anyone else's yard (like some dogs and cats do!)
~I will compost the droppings and use them in my vegetable garden: Reduce/Reuse/ Recycle!
~Pet chickens are fun and educational and bring the neighborhood together!
~Cities all over America encourage backyard chickens. Even Cape Elizabeth (Maine) allows them!

In the last few years, as the Green living, Eat Local, sustainable living, organic, recycle, etc movement has gained popularity, cities and towns all over America have been relaxing their chicken laws to allow 4-6 carefully tended, PET backyard hens for eggs. (Many cities offer classes in chicken care and organized coop tours, like garden tours!) We're talking about hens only, no roosters (no noise!) kept in a pretty, carefully-maintained enclosed coop; raised by hand as pets and for eggs. Chicken droppings make amazing compost for the garden and the hens recycle kitchen scraps! Heritage breed chickens are calm, docile, and when hand-raised they become affectionate pets that come then they are called. This "City Chicken" trend is primarily in upscale neighborhoods, where residents design lovely coops that look like nice garden sheds, certainly not "downscale". Kept as urban pets, and cleaned regularly, city chickens don't smell. In all, they make less noise and smell than many dogs kept in South Portland.

We have 100% support from our neighbors and support of our local councilor. There are one or two council members who we feel misunderstand what we're proposing and are envisioning a dirty,
noisy, barnyard scene. They are worried about property values. However, Cape Elizabeth allows chickens with NO restrictions, (even roosters!) and their Code Enforcement officer said he's had NO PROBLEMS. Residents keep their chickens in attractive coops and are conscientious neighbors, not having roosters in tight neighborhoods and keeping the pens clean. If Cape can do it (with no decrease in property values!) so can we.

Let's convince the city council that South Portland can be as progressive as cities all over America in allowing people to raise hens as pets and for fresh eggs in our backyards. It's fun, educational, healthy, and environmentally sound!

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Please call or email your City Councilor and let them know you support this! You can find your contact by clicking here or by calling City Hall at 767-3201. You can also simply email or call Mayor Claude Morgan (contact info on the SoPo web site http://www.southportland.org/ . For maximum impact, a show of support at the City Council meeting of supportive citizens would surely tip the scales! Please email us if you'd like to know when the meeting is scheduled.

THANK YOU!!

Toxic Plastics

Amber responded to my last post with a comment about dangerous plastics. Plastics in containers, bottles, disposable diapers and toys can all be very dangerous. To be sure they are not, look for products labeled "Phthalates free". I am certainly no expert, and I have a lot of work to do myself in the area of limiting plastic use in my home. This is a great article about PVC, the most harmful plastic.

On a side note, Aiden spilled juice on the keyboard the other day (just about 8 hours before he bent my glasses in ways that should have rendered them useless) so I am a day behind on responding to emails and conversations. I know I have been tagged, twice actually, and I do plan to respond! In the meantime, feel free to read a very old post, my first time being tagged.

Skin Deep

This site is really awesome: Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database . I initially found their link in Mothering Magazine maybe a year ago, and I am so very glad I did. You can search their site for specific products you use, ingredients, or for the safest products available. I sat down with all of the products my family uses and looked them up. Then I printed a list of the safest items (you can do that too), threw out a bunch, and headed to the local health food store to stock up on safer products. It's wonderful knowing that I am not bombarding Aiden with harsh, cancer causing, toxic chemicals! Before I buy any new products, I always check Skin Deep to see how it rates, and you really should too! You'll be surprised by how dangerous many of the products people use on their babies are.

A quick hint: never use Baby Magic products; they rank the highest in many categories.

Mothering Magazine Subscriptions!

Mothering Magazine subscriptions are now available at www.slingsandsacks.com!
Mothering Magazine is the only magazine that addresses contemporary health, personal, environmental, medical and lifestyle issues in an upbeat, intelligent, compassionate and courageous way.
You will be able to read topics as diverse as circumcision, vaccinations, organic foods, childhood illnesses, home birth, ear infections, parenting teens, midwifery, and homeopathy!
No other parenting magazine compares.
A friend gave me a subscription to Mothering before Aiden was born and it really did change my life. I often wonder if I would have come around to my crunchy ways if not for the magazine (I'm certain I would have, but when?).

Real Men Wear Babies - The Latest in Spring Fashion

Dr. Sear's isn't the only man who wears babies. Check out these rugged men and their babies:

This is Dave. He's showing off his new pouch sling. You can't get more manly than black and green camo! Here you see beautiful little Bellatrix all cozy in her sling. I love the look on her face :)

Jon and Aiden modeled it for me literally minutes before I rushed it to the post office. I love custom orders, but this one was my favorite. A pocket is hidden in the seam. Perfect for a wallet and cell phone.

Thanks to Dave and Christy for sending the pictures!

Also check out these other baby wearing dads:
Babywearing: A Dad's Experience
Hyena Cart Forum: Pics of Babywearing Dad's
Dr. Sears - Father's Wearing Babies
Does this baby carrier make my manboobs look big?

Mattress Wrapping - 100% Reduction in SIDS

Have you heard of mattress wrapping? I had not. Well, if you've got a little one, or you care about the health or you and your family, you certainly should read this. Since 1994, mattress wrapping has been 100% successful in the prevention of SIDS or crib death. Yeah, 100%. It's based on the toxic gas "theory". "The theory states that toxic nerve gases permeate from all used mattresses: crib, bassinet, adult mattresses and even sofa cushions. The gases are created when fungus grows inside the mattress (or foam) and eats certain elements in the mattress, including phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony. Babies, especially those sleeping on their stomachs, breathe in the toxic nerve gases, which results in crib death, or SIDS."
Although I disagree with them advising against co-sleeping, their site is very informational. Some other methods of prevention are to avoid fabric softeners and clean with natural cleaners (Itsa Greener Clean found here and here covers that), to become educated about vaccination, breastfeed, do not smoke, and expose baby to fresh air whenever possible. More information on SIDS can be found at Ask Dr Sears.
We are looking into a way to cover the old mattress Jon sleeps on and the couch Aiden and I share. (Yeah we sleep on the couch, if your mattress was as old and springy as ours, you would too!)
Thanks to All Natural Mommies for the original post.