Family Update: Life with a Five Week Old

Toddler Tricks

My little Houdini is up to some tricks lately.  It started with taking his shirt off a few days ago, and has escalated into finding him naked this morning in his crib.  Andrew had wormed his way out of the neck of his footie pajamas, but fortunately his diaper was still on.  I'm waiting for the day I find him completely naked. 

As if that weren't enough, the sneaky little guy has started pooping in the bathtub every time he bathes.  Seriously.  I don't think I've changed a dirty diaper all week.  He's saving it up for the bath.  I'm wondering if he just doesn't like the feel of poop in his diaper now, so he's going in the tub instead?  Or is it that the warm water makes him go?  Moms, please weigh in on this one.  Please.  My husband is tired of bleaching bathtub toys and the tub.  Seriously. 

I'm not looking to potty train my 19 month old, but we're probably going to try to make him potty before bathtime.  Something's gotta give!

Baby Boy

The kids are still in love with the baby.

Alexandre is stretching out his nighttime feedings to about 4 hours apart.  Last night, he ate around 11 pm, 3 am, and nearly 7 am.  I was one happy mom when I woke up this morning.

He leaked through his diaper and pooped on my bedding last weekend.  This is exactly why I switched to a duvet and cover a year ago.  As long as we're in the poop and spit up stage of life, everything needs to be washable.  No "dry clean only" bedding over here!

Big Sister

Isabelle, my 3 1/2 year old, is both a handful and a huge help all at once.  She's not great at sharing, so I'm constantly refereeing between Andrew and Izzy.  But she's so sweet to both of them and has a great time playing chase with Andrew.  She has also learned to fold wash cloths and she's getting better at cleaning her room too.  Already, Isabelle has learned to dislike mess and to make lists.  I can't imagine where she gets this from!

She loves to help with the baby, and when she heard him fussing one day last week, she declared "Mommy, Alexandre is hungry.  He needs some of your famous milk."  Oh my. 

Mommy

I'm feeling much better, just tired, like any mom with a newborn.  I have all these clever blog posts written in my head, but I never have time when the kids are up, and by the time naptime rolls around, I have no brain cells left to write well.  Such is the plight of a mother. 

I firmly believe that my children are one of many tools that God uses to sanctify me.  Lately, I've really been learning patience, and I practiced my Michelle Duggar voice during our first trip to Walmart with the three of them.  I'm also learning that no matter how busy or how tired I am, my morning must start off with time in the Word.  It sets my perspective for the day.

We still have pajama days around here, although they're becoming less common.  Next week, all of our usual activities will be in full swing, like MOPS, Bible study, and AWANA, so I'll get to experience the full force of motherhood to three little bitties.

 

My Baby Wearing Collection

When my first child was born, I knew nothing of Mei Tais, Bobas, Ergos, Becos, Hotslings, or Mobys.

Now that I'm three children into parenting, I find these to be completely indispensable.  I babywear not so much because it gives me warm fuzzies, but because it helps me meet the needs of more than one child at a time.  I can comfort my newborn and keep him safe, all while chasing my 19 month old at Chuck E. Cheese (that's how I spent my Saturday!). 

I now have three, yes that's three, babywearing devices.  So far, my collection has grown with the addition of every baby, but I'm hoping it'll stop at three (my collection, not my number of children!).

Basic Sling

This baby has been the workhorse of my sling collection so far.  I've used it with all three of my babies and it has been loaned out to two other moms as well.  It was a smart baby gift that I received from a mom who is about 20 years of experience ahead of me.  I don't know that the brand matters too much, but mine is a hugamonkey, which bills itself as "The smartest, sleekest, cheapest baby carrier."  At $30 or less, they're probably right about that, unless you make it yourself.

I keep this sling in my diaper bag, that's how much I love it.  It's my American Express card--I don't leave home without it.  It takes up about as much space as my nursing cover, and the two are usually folded up at the bottom of my diaper bag, together, unless I need to wear my newborn around the house.

Moby Wrap

I learned about these during my second pregnancy, after seeing a woman using it to wear her toddler in the mall (out of town--hardly anyone wears their babies out around here).  I had to have a Moby, and one of my best friends was clever enough to make one for me.  The fabric she picked out is pretty similar to the one in the above picture.  Most Mobys are solid colors, so I love my black and white print, and now I plan to make a Moby for another friend who is expecting in a few months.  

I really enjoyed using my Moby for my second child, who was the first of my babies to have an ear infection or teething pain, and I found this wrap to be the perfect thing to soothe a hurting baby. 

Have you ever tried babywearing when you're in your 5th month of pregnancy? I did, and it works if you're using a Moby. In fact, I demonstrated how to use a Moby for a friend about a week or two before I delivered my third baby, and while it was awkward, I could still wear my 18 month old.

Ergo

This is one of the few things I bought when we were expecting our third baby, although gift cards from friends paid for the majority of it.  The Ergo is one of the highest-rated structured baby carriers on the market because it does a great job of distributing the weight of your baby well, so that your back is not killing you when you tote your 30 pound toddler around.  I have tried on a number of baby carriers, only to find that they leave me nervous about the baby falling out and they kill my back. 

I haven't tried it on yet, but I'm so anxious to try out my Ergo.  I did purchase the newborn insert so that I can use it for a smaller baby, as well as the teething pads.  Once I'm ready to use it regularly, I plan on keeping it in my minivan at all times, so that I can use it in the grocery store, at the park, or dozens of other places.  I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm planning on falling in love with this thing.   


True Story:  When Andrew (#2) was a newborn, I stopped by the park on my way home to let my 2 year old, Isabelle, burn off some toddler energy.  I kept the baby in the stroller and tried to follow her around to various pieces of equipment at the large park in town, Spring Lake Park.  A group of children was playing too, and she had a great time.  Suddenly, their daycare teacher called them all to leave, and Isabelle followed!  I had to leave the baby and sprint across the park to grab her, and then sprint back, just a few weeks after having surgery.  It wouldn't have happened if I had just put Andrew in a sling.

Like a lot of things in parenthood, I really didn't plan on being a babywearing mom, but as my little brood grows, and especially since my last two children are so close in age, I'm finding these to be a necessity.  I still use my double stroller...A LOT!  I don't know what I would do without it, especially at doctor's appointments.  But I'm loving the convenience of carrying my babies, hands-free.

Are you a babywearing mom?  What are your favorite slings, wraps, or structured carriers?