tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62677626205586502512024-03-13T23:34:34.073-10:00Momma MindA blog about my adventures as a new crunchy momma and trying to save pennies...and more...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-27575469568524269802013-06-13T12:57:00.000-10:002013-06-13T12:57:43.053-10:00Micah Carmelo's Birth Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I am writing my birth story the day after Micah Carmelo was born because I want to get it fresh out of my mind and also because I am so excited to always remember this beautiful day when I brought my second son into this world. Here's my story:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sunday June 9th, Kai went to sleep around 10 pm that night, so I was just laying around on my phone reading birth stuff as usual. At around 11 pm I decided to listen to one of my birth affirmations tracks because i felt that baby was coming soon, and tried to go to sleep but I couldn't. After listening to the affirmations I was still up so I was just on my phone some more, at around 12:30 am I started getting some cramps and they seemed stronger than usual, I remember thinking of them as ocean waves, like they were coming slowly and then the wave crashed and retreated....they weren't painful but they were a little different which I can only tell you now in hindsight because I had no idea at the time. They were feeling pretty consistent so I decided to time them but for some reason i kept getting distracted and they seemed kind of all over the place. So I started thinking could this be it? I got a little excited and woke Jeremy up to tell him to see what he thought, so we talked about it and decided I should take a shower to see if they would go away. I kept thinking they weren't it, but I wanted them to continue cause I was ready to meet my boy. So like at 1:30-ish I took a shower, which was awesome and the contractions kept coming and were getting a little more intense. I was out around 2 am and decided to text Dr. Lori, I figured it wouldn't wake her up, I guess in the back of my head I didn't want to get everyone all excited and then it was all practice labor...Then tried to just lay down and get some rest, but the contractions kept coming and were pretty intense by then so I waited, must have been like 3:30 am when I asked Jeremy to call Dr. Lori but what i failed to mention was how close the contractions were so she just told him to tell me to try to sleep and wait till they got closer and stronger. So when he came and told me that I was a little disappointed because they felt kind of strong and close to me, so I asked him to time them. He downloaded an app to time them and we timed them for an hour and they were coming 3-5 minutes apart and were intense, to where I had to get up every time one came and sway my hips because it felt good to do so. So he called her and told her that and she said to set up the tub and that Dr. Heidi would be on her way. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So we got up and set up the tub, well Jeremy did and I was sitting on my exercise ball swaying back and forth. My mom got up at that time, it was like 4:30 am maybe and started cleaning up and putting up my candles. I was listening to my hypnobabies birth affirmations and that made the contractions totally bareable, I was in the zone....The tub was set up shortly after and was filling up with warm water. I was trying to text people but it was near impossible because it would get painful if I got out of my zone, so I tried to tell Jeremy to do it but he was busy setting up stuff. So I just kind of gave up and tried to focus. Dr. Heidi arrived shortly after and started setting up..it's kind of a blur must have been sometime around 5 am, then one of the next contractions I felt like I had to pee. So I told Heidi, I have to go to the bathroom, so I got up between contractions and went to the bathroom and as soon as I sat down, the next contraction came and my body went into autopilot and started pushing!! I couldn't stop it, and I yelled "I think my body is pushing!" So Dr. Heidi tells me to try and stop so I don't have a toilet baby. That was my last concern...i couldn't stop pushing and I reached down and felt a bulge, which later I figured out was the bag of waters bulging out. So I said " The baby is coming out!" So Dr. Heidi tells me to try to make it to the tub, but I didn't think I could.... but then the urge to push stopped so I got up and walked to the tub and got in quickly. It felt sooooo good to get in the water!!! I sat down with my legs fully extended and kind of sideways because I felt something between my legs. Then Dr. Heidi said ok baby is coming, on the next contraction, push. I remember I kept think it's almost over, I am going to see my baby soon, i can totally do this!! So I just waited for what seemed like forever, it was like in slow motion, the next contraction came and I didn't need to push, my body was doing it on it's own, it was amazing...I didn't do anything and I totally felt everything but it wasn't painful at all, it was sooo amazing feeling my baby boy sliding out of my body. I felt what I've heard other women refer to as the "ring of fire" but it wasn't painful, I was just totally aware of exactly where my baby was, then I felt his head come out and my body stopped pushing. And Dr. Heidi said "his head is out, he is still in the sac!" Then she told me to wait for the next contraction then push out the body, she had Jeremy hold the baby's head so he could catch him, so he reached in and grabbed him. We waited for the next contraction to come and once again my body pushed and out came his body! I had given birth to my baby boy in two pushes in the tub! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They placed him on my chest and I got to meet the crazy little one who didn't want to come out! It was totally blissful! One of the best moments of my life and so quick but yet it was like time slowed down for me so I wouldn't miss a second.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">He came into this world at 5:27 am., weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz and measured 21 inches long. I was worried about being able to love another person as much as I love my Kai but it's true what they say, You don't have to divide your love because it multiplies.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs1dUA2HYHBdzrjFQKDfcoDzGfPrHGZU9K1jvvkGpivOwjZ5Byz_6roGwRHs-BJWbpVPiJSIfy4dofaWlIEkCEcK638u_SfENeAAR0haiDOb_KEwHc7kIZwriBbIdagaOkY-uOYxuNAkl/s1600/Micah+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs1dUA2HYHBdzrjFQKDfcoDzGfPrHGZU9K1jvvkGpivOwjZ5Byz_6roGwRHs-BJWbpVPiJSIfy4dofaWlIEkCEcK638u_SfENeAAR0haiDOb_KEwHc7kIZwriBbIdagaOkY-uOYxuNAkl/s320/Micah+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-42411133417273560542011-10-03T07:16:00.001-10:002011-10-03T07:16:44.617-10:00Being a mom<div><p>Becoming a mom changed me.  I never imagined I could love so deeply.  I love my son so much it sometimes makes me cry.  Tears of joy.  It makes me want to be better just so I can be an example for him.  It makes me love my husband more because I want him to see love, and know that he came into this world as an expression of our love for each other. Being a parent is by far the greatest joy i've known.  And I'm glad I'm able to appreciate it enough to know its a privilege not to be taken lightly.  I want to do right by my son in so many ways sometimes I don't even know where to start but I know the greatest gift I can ever give him is my unconditional love.  But that love has to extend to everything else because its all connected somehow.  I have to be the loving person I hope he will one day be.  I must make myself better in order to show him better.  The fallacy in parenting is we believe we can teach our children one thing yet act a different way. That's gotta be confusing to a child.  I act like my mom, I've noticed. I realized I learned mostly by what my mom did.  I remember how she reacted in certain situations and trend to react the same.  Simply knowing that makes me want to stop acting like a fool cause I know my son will learn it from me.  What do you think? Do your kids make you want to become a better you?</p>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-59571889836048662102011-09-29T15:13:00.000-10:002011-09-29T15:13:34.205-10:00Momma Mia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So my mom made out to Hawaii to visit on Tuesday! I am so glad to see her because I missed her and because she is so helpful. She can be a little crazy sometimes but I love her cause she is my mom and she is great. When I was a teenager and thought I knew it all we bumped heads a little but now that I've grown older and actually know everything (haha) I've come to appreciate her very much. She saved me from this mess of a house I was living in, well it was more just boxes everywhere, so little by little we are putting stuff up where it belongs. Baby boy is still a very frequent nurser and don't anticipate that going away anytime soon at least till after 6 six months. i am reading up on baby led weaning so that's most likely what we will do, but I haven't completely made up my mind yet. <a href="http://www.babyledweaning.com/">Heres</a> some info on it. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1CiKePvskk90UV1zXAy5PhxCCg6Oa-X-2bPSb-chvsimCEwVMnwawyrwmClcCNrhWa1WWXxoSsWZj1Kkqm7h36Xz5dXIC1tfbsJo3TSCJwN0-3hiLyWZMQLxhHx3C5smUSW-gF9AhDBz/s1600/IMAG1173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1CiKePvskk90UV1zXAy5PhxCCg6Oa-X-2bPSb-chvsimCEwVMnwawyrwmClcCNrhWa1WWXxoSsWZj1Kkqm7h36Xz5dXIC1tfbsJo3TSCJwN0-3hiLyWZMQLxhHx3C5smUSW-gF9AhDBz/s200/IMAG1173.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai in his Beco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In other news Kai is getting plump, last night I was looking at pics when he was little and he was skinny and now i see him and he is a chubster! He loves being in his Beco, and it's super comfy and easy to nurse in. I am very happy with my purchase and totally recommend it. <br />
<br />
Two more things I wanted to talk about today, I am little extra scattered brain today, one was I wanted to brag about getting my first $5 amazon giftcard through swag bucks!! Woohoo! And all because I use it as my search engine, and I am always looking up stuff so it gives you swagbucks randomly and I keep getting them. Even though from time to time I do have to go and look on google.com cause the search engine is not as good as the good one. Even though it says its a mix of the google and other search engine results. I answer the poll every day and also watch videos from time to time, and I am almost gonna be up to 450 points again so I should be getting another $5 soon..woohoo! Sign up here if you are interested<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-7489838115801284622011-09-26T09:20:00.001-10:002011-09-26T10:02:16.367-10:00Things are sometimes meant to happen...<div>
I wonder sometimes if God reassures us when we are in doubt. Often times I wonder if what I'm doing is what is best for my boy, I fall into self doubt. About breastfeeding on demand and cosleeping mostly. Sometimes I see other moms with their babies who seem to be so calm and not attached to their boob every 45 minutes like mine is. but I think its natural for all of us to feel this way from time to time after all what we want is what's best and sometimes we are aware that we aren't perfect so we doubt ourselves. Or when it gets a little tough, the grass always looks greener on the other side.<br />
<br />
So I recently had one of these episodes where I doubted myself but just last night I had some reassurance. I met someone on facebook who wanted to "friend me" because she said we were like-minded in our parenting styles and she hadn't been able to find many mommies like her on the island. I was happy about that, but that wasn't it, so I accepted her request and was talking to her. When I saw her picture she didn't look familiar or anything but i was browsing through all her pictures and I came across one where was wearing a green <a href="http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/">ergo</a>, and it stood out cause she said that she loved it the only thing she regretted was it being green, it was lime green, but very nice. And she also bragged about having bought some teething necklaces online that her son loved! So when I found the picture with the ergo i kept looking and it thought to myself if i find a picture of her wearing a teething necklace then I know it's definitely her! Sure enough she was wearing a teething necklace on one of her pictures! What a small world! When i first go on the island like about a month and a half ago I went to this store called <a href="http://babyawearness.com/">Baby Awearness</a>, where they sell baby carriers and cloth diapers, and I remember having a conversation with the sales clerk and another customer. Well she was the other customer! She hasn't yet confirmed to me that it was her, I don't think she's online right now but I am 99% sure it was her. <br />
<br />
Back to my original point, don't think I forgot but I take that as a confirmation that I am not the only one (even though it feels like it sometimes) and that what I am doing for my baby is what I know is best for him. <br />
<br />
Update: Yes it was her!!! Yay!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-21626200688326346102011-09-25T19:04:00.002-10:002011-09-25T19:04:26.552-10:00Breastfeeding Rocks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMJQ9dtBaZmTtUIjp00RAUAn8k6kheEabikBHqmRtj3lZbjF9jnKC9NwL4IXX-XhRFy34ssPgCImd5tj3ZyUwtNZlIQZMcAO9_bAJFbn2zUXnQWvHTCvVI-iJ7keBoP6yn-1uz-0fOWBc/s1600/24169_103499189688057_103498619688114_54661_223855_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMJQ9dtBaZmTtUIjp00RAUAn8k6kheEabikBHqmRtj3lZbjF9jnKC9NwL4IXX-XhRFy34ssPgCImd5tj3ZyUwtNZlIQZMcAO9_bAJFbn2zUXnQWvHTCvVI-iJ7keBoP6yn-1uz-0fOWBc/s320/24169_103499189688057_103498619688114_54661_223855_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So I found this totally cute picture! This actually looks like my son and I think i have picture of him doing the same thing but i have to find it maybe I'll post it later! But this baby has the right idea! Breastfeeding rocks! I went to the website on the top right of this pic and found some pretty funny other pics if you are bored and wanna look at some. Click <a href="http://www.hahastop.com/">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-55704751953112601672011-09-24T23:48:00.001-10:002011-09-24T23:48:48.535-10:00Amazon is Amazing!So I am addicted to shopping on Amazon.com sometimes I have to go on there and look at my orders just to see what I am waiting to receive next...it all started because of my cloth diapers, ordering online because fun when i was waiting for the mail man or the ups man to come and then I would get to open my new thing!! The feeling of buying something new but without having to have left the house, and I got to do some serious price comparison so I was always confident that I was getting a great price, so there isn't too much guilt. Wow, I sound like I seriously have a problem! But I am not too bad, right now I just checked my amazon account and all I have pending is little tripod that I ordered for my camera! Woohoo and it was only <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KW1VEQ/ref=ox_ya_os_product">$2.37</a>, and free shipping to Hawaii!! So I was happy and ordered it, lets see how it is when it gets here.<br />
<br />
My latest acquisition that I love is my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AOB5MK">Beco Butterfly II infant carrier</a>, I used it today at the <a href="https://gowalla.com/spots/10817">Dole Plantation</a> and it was great! I love the color cause its not too boring yet it's not too wild, because they have some beautiful designs but I couldn't use those everyday at least in my opinion. Maybe one day i'll get one just to be wild! But anyway I even learned how to breastfeed while wearing it!!! Which was AWESOME!! I watched<a href="http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/how-to-breastfeed-in-the-ergobaby-beco-butterfly-ii-and-boba/"> this </a>video check it out! Here is this picture he is a sleep, and yes he can breathe!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQFdvfd3RVzr2Hgk-7i-jeki2NxRK2Zv0obs1s-swCYwWX4SDmqSrX1yKVSTUdnmYkscPj52WsvQTtHCV7dJWqiy5odbjn-mkZdX95rMOzLOZh08ryx3Uq-J3QO2staJJE9xDjqXV4gf0/s1600/P9241225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQFdvfd3RVzr2Hgk-7i-jeki2NxRK2Zv0obs1s-swCYwWX4SDmqSrX1yKVSTUdnmYkscPj52WsvQTtHCV7dJWqiy5odbjn-mkZdX95rMOzLOZh08ryx3Uq-J3QO2staJJE9xDjqXV4gf0/s200/P9241225.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-18192907541960497332011-09-24T18:16:00.001-10:002011-09-24T18:16:48.437-10:00Beauty<div><p>As I sit here in the beach, holding my son watching my husband play in the waves, I can't help but think ” this! Is the life!” I'm completely happy with what God gave me and infinitely thankful!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglerUDf9CqtAbLKR1sNyoRScxT9silNIQrFuleM2uDeuk8QD-jd2B2M9UHCdhhgnuHAu6mOkR7dS1JEk6J12HT66Wf1MzAYMkPPoI-Q4y6casfHc3WYsqTSPUJet9cJXmwpEYcHiOp-mR_/' /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-47669841902200748582011-09-24T13:04:00.002-10:002011-09-26T10:03:01.141-10:00My Gowalla love<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLvqKb19k8y2zJOK9ec7a9MBkndfnpahT-pilhM7XIfVGKssKw53kDxyVaxle-JePKBhxuYrZSvDUzUDAN0LGjtVRuJHM-cvc5wbXGIbpUX5d41uNFRbpPvJVVdYAqCY6HAsp9CFDWN5B/s1600/194527-standard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLvqKb19k8y2zJOK9ec7a9MBkndfnpahT-pilhM7XIfVGKssKw53kDxyVaxle-JePKBhxuYrZSvDUzUDAN0LGjtVRuJHM-cvc5wbXGIbpUX5d41uNFRbpPvJVVdYAqCY6HAsp9CFDWN5B/s1600/194527-standard.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my Gowalla shirt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So I am psyched about the new gowalla app for Android! I am an avid user of Gowalla since I don't even know when, I was invited to it by my cousin, Guero and at first didn't fall in love but when I started using it more and more, I realized how cool it was. I've always been a role playing game fan, not to say this is like a role playing game but I love the idea of collecting XP and building up your character, I think thats why I really like gowalla. You collect stamps each place that you go and the stamps are super cool, and you get pins and items! It's just fun then you can always go back on their page and look at where you have been and the pictures you posted there, you can also leave notes for your friends on suggestions and they get the note when they check in. It definitely encourages me to go out and check in. So they updated they app and the website and it's even better than ever, took me a little while to get used to it, still learning it but I am getting there. Here's a link to <a href="https://gowalla.com/">Gowalla</a>. My user name is <a href="https://gowalla.com/users/SandraGriffin">SandraGriffin</a>. You can follow me if you like and check it out cause the more people using the more spots that exist and the funner it is!! Now we are going to go check in to some places out here on the island.....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UI9MZ2">Gowalla on Amazon App Store</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6267762620558650251.post-39025542534845782902011-09-23T11:47:00.000-10:002011-09-23T17:33:34.255-10:00First Day!<div>So I finally decided to start my own blog! Yay! I am very excited! I had been thinking about it for a while but I couldn't decide whether to do it or not. So today I made the final decision and searched on google "how to start a blog" and like usual I modified my search until i ended up finding this article by Steve Yegge which was great because it encouraged me to start. It was titled "you should write blogs" which was funny cause that was the very question I was asking myself, "should i start a blog?" So there you go, thanks Steve! I read his blog and I liked what he said about why you should write a blog. My main concern about writing a blog was whether or not I had anything of interest to share...well it turns out I do. To sum it up here is the paragraph that stood out of me:<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><blockquote>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(226, 230, 236); ">This is an important thing to keep in mind when you're blogging. Each person in your audience is on a different clock, and all of them are ahead of you in some ways and behind you in others. The point of blogging is that we all agree to share where we're at, and not poke fun at people who seem to be behind us, because they may know other things that we won't truly understand for years, if ever."</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(226, 230, 236); "></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(226, 230, 236); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">You can find this particular entry <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/you-should-write-blogs">here</a>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "></span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><span><span>So anyway, that was that, and here I am. Ill start by saying a little bit about myself...My name is Sandra Griffin and I am 29 years old. I am a wife, a mother of a 3 month old boy. I am an Army wife and have been for the past 5 years, actually we have our anniversary coming up next month! We had our first child 3 months ago on June 19th and he is the most gorgeous boy I have ever layed eyes upon, of course what mother doesn't think her child is the cutest? But yeah I am one of those moms. His name is Jeremy Malakai Griffin, like my husband Jeremy Aubrey Griffin. We decided to change the middle name.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiektWfYLiMpfazUql-mXzSUGtqb7ceiPDQLnu6CqcO5IC8OUOBzRRnphWSaNiV-RpRcJIm_fcmFufIG_hnIOChXbUL3UnpH6_vDWP-0wZY0domcW7xaMCmjGz4FZDYJ1-y_W1f801Jvamh/s1600/P9121141.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiektWfYLiMpfazUql-mXzSUGtqb7ceiPDQLnu6CqcO5IC8OUOBzRRnphWSaNiV-RpRcJIm_fcmFufIG_hnIOChXbUL3UnpH6_vDWP-0wZY0domcW7xaMCmjGz4FZDYJ1-y_W1f801Jvamh/s200/P9121141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655679919875650738" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gF_fqPuC8MmuqGEU-HN1T0npzYmd3UfL_A9Q7srAuYTXFR6jZ9D2IcSDdYGQJXsbydDFxYjFDUA_JP206PtBE7BDy4kZE-ucYYBxzQUVC0rDbuml-Bolqqx8n4VjdXEzZnKBC2plACcX/s1600/P9121141.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><blockquote></blockquote></a><div style="text-align: left;">This is my baby boy!! I am a semi crunchy mom, well I consider myself because I am definitely not mainstream. I exclusively breastfeed my son since birth even though the ped that we chose tried to get us to formula feed but I didn't give up on breastfeeding and only gave him formula for like 2 days and that was just to supplement because he had jaundice but that's a whole another blog that I might eventually post on here because I have learned a lot since then. Look for it later because I will post my birth experience and what I learned not to do in the future because I wish someone would have told me all of this so I could have been more informed. But I think that is the case with a lot of first time mommies so I am hoping that if my blog doesn't do anything else it at least helps some mommies with that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since we breastfeed, we also bedshare or cosleep whatever term you want to use. I think bedsharing is the right one but I like to say cosleeping better. So yeah we cosleep with our three month old since he was about 1 week and half...never in my life did i think i was going to do that because everyone warns you not to. Personally it was a sanity saver and it just felt natural to do it instead of putting him down in a crib, which we do own but it is there just for looks for now. More about that later too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes which at first I must admit was a decision only to save money but I've come to love it and learn that it has a lot of benefits and it totally becomes addictive so there are now many reason why i chose to stick with it, even if I get the occasional comment "Let's see how long that lasts" or "Wait till he starts solids". Well i can't imagine ever using sposies (disposable diapers) even if it is harder later because I have too much money invested already and I love the benefits of the cloth against my babies skin as opposed to chemicals on his bum. More on cloth diapers later too I promise! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I babywear! So like most people I put on my registry list a carrier like the infantino or the bjorn that are sold at target or walmart and I got two during my baby showers. So I had it there but never used it, in the first few weeks of Kai's life I struggled with being tied to the couch breastfeeding and started searching on how to feed him while being out and about, since carrying him and feeding him worked but only for a little while then my arm would feel like it was gonna fall off. So I came across babywearing and all it's rage! I used to hang out on babycenter as a lurker mostly reading and learning all about being preggo and being a parent. So I started reading about the different kinds of carriers and which ones are good and which ones arent'!! So now I love it, i babywear my baby all over the place! My first carrier was an infantino which is now God nows where cause I left it behind when we moved to Hawaii, but my first real carrier than I have learned to love now, is the good ol' reliable Moby wrap! Then I got a Maya wrap which is not a wrap but a ring sling, i use that one while shopping...and then since I live in Hawaii for now, I got me a Gypsy Momma water wrap, which is great too, and the final more recent addition is my Beco Butterfly II!!! That I just got yesterday and I already love, but I still gotta practice with it more, but so far so good! More on carriers later!! I know ill be talking about this for sure!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't remember exactly how i came upon this attachment parenting idea, but I did. It was through my many searching quests that I go on very often, just digging up information on parenting and reading up on things. I found out that I had something in common with others, I say this because it kind of felt like I was turning out to be a different parent that my parents or any parent that I had encountered in real life. I always imagined parenting was going to be like in the movies , where you feed your baby a bottle and lay him down in his crib while you go about do housework and you push the stroller at the store while baby sucks on a pacifier. Well it wasn't for me. Well deep down inside I guess I felt like it didn't need to be so I went with what felt natural, and that's what I am doing now. I am feeding my child from my breast because it feels natural, I let him sleep in our bed because it feels natural, I put cloth diapers on him and clean him up with water and natural ingredients because that's what feels natural. I suddenly realized that I too like most parents wanted what was best for my child, but to me the best is not the most expensive toy or brand name clothes but what was best for his overall well being, for his health and for his development. Mind you this is only my opinion based on what I know and what I have researched but deep down we all know what's best for our children, once we get past our own selfish needs and wants, and listen to that voice inside us, we know instinctively what is best for them. Because that's how we were designed, but sometimes all that gets clouded up by all the stuff that gets thrown at us by the media and companies marketing their products or by someone who doesn't know your child like you do, therefore they give you advice that is not best suited for you and your baby. Having said that, the advice I provide is and will always be in my experience and what is best for my child, it's not to say i think what you are doing is wrong, but we each do what works for us and as long as we know that we are doing the best for our children then you should be at peace. If not then something needs to change, right? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sorry I was kind of digressing there for a little bit but the point is i came across attachment parenting which i was able to really relate to and found that i follow most of their principles already without even being aware...so i basically found a label to the type of parent i am. Who knew? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So more about me, let's see...I have a degree in Computer Science, even though towards the last year of my degree I sort of lost interest in the whole thing even though I still love computers, but I wasn't as passionate anymore about programming so it kind of was put on the back burner and I finished my degree but not without some trouble and it was just like I just wanted to get it over with so I can get it and move on and do something else. I am very proud of it, and i graduated when I was 9 months pregnant but once I had my baby being a mom took precedence over everything else and I don't see that changing anytime soon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am from El Paso, TX, born there but I lived in Cd. Juarez, Chih. Mexico for the first 9 years of my life, it is the border town to el paso, so when i was 9 we moved to el paso, and lived there ever since then i met my husband who is in the army, got married and 5 years later we pcs'd to hawaii, where we are at now. We have been here in the beginning of August and we love it here! So far so good! Well for being my first post it got a little long but I will try to post more later and maybe organize it, for now my husband is home.....</div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850298128145404987noreply@blogger.com0California Ave + 2607, United States21.508 -157.9877