Ergo Baby Carrier

A week or two ago, I posted pictures of the baby carriers we own(ed). Since then we have returned the Eddie Bauer front carrier and purchased an Ergo. I learned that having babies hanging in the traditional front carrier can be injurious to their spines and hips. In that style carrier, all their weight is hanging from the crotch and can cause compression of the spine and hip dysplasia. The Ergo is also gentler on the parent as it balances the weight of the baby across his hips and shoulders. It's like a cross between a sling and a front carrier, and the baby can be worn several ways. I love it! Right now I carry the baby in the front with an insert and he sits in it almost like he would in the sling, but my hands can be free. There are several other front holds, and the baby/toddler can also be worn on the hip or back. Babywearing is essential to attachment parenting, and completely necessary for life with my little guy! Though it's a little pricier than some carriers/slings, I would recommend it to any parent.

Commercial over.

Trying to Catch Up

I have a list of five posts to write very soon, and I will! This week has been very distrupted, and I'm fairly behind on my house chores. I promise to write them by or over the weekend!

In the meantime, I wanted to share this video with you. Amelia linked to it on her blog, and I just had to post it too!

http://evangelical-catholicism.blogspot.com/2006/08/why-am-i-catholic-video-now-available.html

Thanks again, Amelia!

Works for Me Wednesday

Some blogs I read have a feature called "Works for Me Wednesday." A neat idea, and I thought I'd share on my new-found kitchen shortcuts: frozen bags of pre-chopped peppers and onions. Lifesavers! I like fresh first, but frankly this saves so much time (and money)! I couldn't find them for the longest time, but now our grocery has them in stock all the time.

I'm perhaps too excited about this, but really it's so nice to always have pepper and onion of hand for impromptu omelets, and I don't have to worry about fresh ones not getting used in time (which occasionally happens).

What works for you?

Instead of a Real Post

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Finally, something that makes sense!

You scored as Dance. You should be a Dance major! Like a lithe ballerina, you dance because you believe there is beauty in expressing the physical form. Dance 92% Philosophy 83% English 75% Journalism 75% Mathematics 67% Theater 58% Engineering 58% Psychology 50% Sociology 50% Anthropology 42% Linguistics 42% Chemistry 17% Art 17% Biology 17% What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3) created with QuizFarm.com

My major in college? You guessed it-- DANCE!

Birthday

I haven't posted too many pictures, so I thought I would give it a shot. Here is a one of my unbelievable rich and creamy ice cream birthday cake!



And of course, who could forget Nunzio?

Managing the House

I haven't had time to write a real post in a few days, but this morning I'm going to try! I have a few posts rolling around in my head, but at the moment, the only one I can remember is this!

I read a lot of blogs devoted to homemaking (including the one that riled me with its Anti-Catholicism). Most of the writers are Christian women who firmly believe they are called to be "keepers at home." As such, they have many good ideas for running the house and making it a home. Unlike many of those ladies, I don't want to create a by the hour/half-hour/quarter-hour household schedule. I really can't anyway with my ecologically breastfed baby (more about that soon), but I did want to establish a routine for keeping the house in order and the refrigerator stocked. DH thinks I'm an excellent cook, and while I can't quite agree, I do enjoy it. Anyway, I'm posting this to help keep myself accountable:

Monday:
All vacuuming
Liiving room/dining room
Laundry: linens

Tuesday:
Scrub bathroom
Laundry: baby

Wednesday:
Scrub kitchen

Thursday:
Baking

Friday:
Laundry: DH & I

Saturday:
Laundry: DH work clothes

Sunday: REST!

Of course, I also launder the diapers on an as-needed basis, usually every 2-3 days. Sometimes out of necessity, that means Sunday, but we try to avoid that.

My daily routine includes general pick-up, bathroom and kitchen wipedowns, dishes, etc.

This doesn't include daily meal prep/cleanup. I try to make dinner five nights a week. Thursday is leftovers and Friday DH likes to get takeout, if the budget allows.

My goal is to get everything done in the morning, since that it when the baby is in the best mood, and will let me leave him to play in his crib/co-sleeper/pack-n-play. In the afternoons, forget it! I also walk with the baby or go to the gym every morning but Sunday.

When I was working, I struggled to get everything done on the weekends, and it made for a very miserable Saturday-Sunday. Sunday was laundry day. After church, all morning long, up and down the basement steps. Ugh. This will be much better and still leave me plenty of time to devote to the baby (who does not nap at all!).