More Handmade Love

A lovely embroidered pillow with Sylvia's name and birth date on the back, and "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" on the front from great-aunt Betty.

Matching blankie, booties and tasseled hat from cousin Lycee and her gang.

Soft, lovely and thoughtful!

Fussy Faces

Proof that this child is not always smiling!

More Handmade Gifts

Sylvia has a great wardrobe, thanks in part to dear friends Zoe (maker of three fabulous bibs), her mother (called Yia Yia by granddaughter Tashi and maker of the cute custom hat, which I hope we might get in larger and larger sizes as the years go by...hint, hint), and Jean (maker of the fuzzy pink hat that tickles Sylvia's fancy judging by the photo.

Thanks!! We are blessed with creative and generous friends.

Navigating

Why is the baby doing/not doing "x"?


The conventional baby book says "a"

The alternative baby book says "b"

The attachment parenting book says it's because we are/are not doing "c" too much/enough

The grandparent says "d"

The friend with kids says some permutation of "a" and "d"

My intuition says "q"

We decide to do "a" or "b" or "c" (or not do "c" anymore) or "d" or "a+d" or "q"

The baby is fine

On the Way to the Forum

A funny thing happened...ha ha.

I posted on the La Leche League Forum asking about help with getting to sleep when the baby sleeps, which has been a great theory but not so great a practice.

Several moms replied that they are simply sleep deprived, even after months and months with their little ones. Jeez! Maybe I'm not so bad off.

Zoe e-mailed some great suggestions, as did Linda Diane - both doulas and incredible women. Great to have friends in wise places.

The forum is interesting; definitely a little bit of momma fanaticism, but also lots of support too.

Interesting how we've created virtual community, there and here. I especially think about the dichotomy of sitting inside at the computer having these heart-to-hearts with strangers while avoiding the Michigan winter cold and illnesses...and my neighbors on three sides have babies, and probably plenty of advice. What, the telephone doesn't work anymore??

Compare

Sylvia at two days, in her first herbal bath with me. followed by Sylvia at 6 weeks.

Better

Better, by small steps. Dan is up and about more, and actually ventured out of the house to attempt to pick up the milk from our herdshare and deliver some food to our friends Steph and Jess who just had their son Soleil...but the ice under the snow on the roads forced him to turn back.

I took a short nap this morning. Sometimes when I try my body or my mind won't let me sleep so easily during the day. I've tried medidating and I get distracted. I wonder if I should try whiskey? Skullcap? Hops?

In this pic Sylvia is wearing a hot onesie designed and screened by our buddy Dan from Portland. Maybe someday he'll give her wakeboarding lessons. Rad. Is that what the kids say these days, "rad?"