4 Months!

I can't believe my baby boy is four months old already! Where has the time GONE? He had his check up yesterday and the stats are in: 19lbs 10 oz and 27 inches long. So, he's the height of a 7 month old, weight of an 8 month old, and "off the charts" for percentiles. However, when his height and weight are compared in proportion to each other, he's "only" in the 90th percentile =).


Owen is really the light of our lives these days. We all love him to pieces - including his big brother Eli. Dozens of times a day, Eli wants to "Owen, kiss" and has to give him kisses. He reminds me that "Owen need hep (help)" whenever Owen cries, and tries to give him his binky saying "here go Owen." His addition to our family may have come as a surprise, but since the day he showed up he seemed to just fit right in, and we can't imagine life without him!

At four months, Owen is a very smiley and friendly baby. His dark hair is falling out, and blonde hair is growing in. He has beautiful blue eyes, and long babydoll lashes. He LOVES to be held, but is not content JUST to be held... he must be ENTERTAINED! He loves to watch Eli, play with toys, be tickled and teased and wrestled with, rocked, and sung to. He seems to get bored easily if things slow down too much, so I think he's going to be quite the mover when he can get enough momentum behind that big body of his. He will let you know immediately if he's getting bored, and so we affectionately call him "squawker." He likes to lay on his boppy pillow on his tummy to play with toys, and especially likes the old Baby Einstein playcenter that we recently pulled out of the basement and put back together. He is so strong he can already rotate himself in the seat around the entire circle of toys. Eli likes it too, so he helps to keep Owen entertained in there.

Owen's quite the "grabby" little guy, and will snatch anything that is within arm's reach. I have to be careful about what I think I can have in my hands when I'm holding him - today he grabbed a fistful of butter as I was trying to butter Eli's bagel for breakfast. He seems to be really observant, and pays attention to everything that is going on. He has also recently made friends with his hands... they are always in his mouth, and he loves to just twiddle them and look them over.

Owen can slobber with the best of them. We tease anyone who gets doused as having been "slobber-dogged." I think his favorite time of day is bathtime. The simple act of getting his clothes removed with the bathwater running in the background sends him into fits of grins, giggles, squawks, and wiggles. He and Eli take a bath together every night, then promptly zonk out afterwards by 7pm. Owen likes to be rocked to sleep with a binky in his mouth, a blankie around him, and a song hummed in his ear if he is particularly tired. He still sleeps in our room - in his co-sleeper about half the night, then right next to me the rest of it. He nurses several times a night, and lately has been restless due to his stuffy nose from the dry winter air.

He's getting into 12 month clothes, and since all the ones I own in that size are summer clothes, I borrowed a bunch from my friend Amy to get us through until the warmer months. He's doing great in cloth diapers, and now wears the same size as Eli - good thing I stocked up on that size! Owen is growing up way too fast for me, but I'm delighted every day to see him learn and develop, and to see the loving bond that he and Eli are forging already. We sure love this "little" guy!

Here's a MILLION pictures of the cutie pie - there's a LOT. I can't help it! =)

Playing

Modeling

Snowshoe Hike

Brad and I got to go on a DATE today! Eli went to play at Stew's house, and we went on a snowshoe hike in the woods. I've always wanted to try out some snowshoes - and they are pretty cool! We borrowed them from some friends in the ward, and followed the trails through Kennedy Park in Lenox. It was really warm today, and a lot of the snow is starting to melt, so it was slushy but lots of fun. I think it's a winter sport I could actually embrace if we end up living somewhere long term with snowy winters. We "shoe-ed" in for a bit, then stopped and ate a picnic lunch. We sat on a rock on the side of the mountain where we could see the frozen lake through the trees down below. It was beautiful, and actually romantic! Owen slept through most of the hike. Pretty much every other hiker we passed by had to ooh and ahh about how adorable he was with his puppy dog hat.

Washington DC

We didn't think that Washington DC was going to be a possible destination this year, but Brad was able to trade around his days off and arrange four days in a row at the last minute.... so we headed down to DC to stay with Julie and Glenn (one of my longtime best friends and her husband). They've been in DC for the past year while Glenn worked as an attorney for President Bush... since there' s a new president now they will be moving in a few short weeks and we were lucky to catch a visit with them, and get a tour from people "in the know."

It took us 9-ish hours to drive down there, and we were able to drive through Gettysburg, PA though it was dark when we got there, darn it. And while Eli is an expert traveler now, Owen HATED every minute of it and was sure to let us know! We were pretty frazzled after the drive, but the next two days totally made up for it. Glenn and Julie live in Northern Virginia, right on the border of DC. So we were able to ride the Metro (public transit, like the subway) into the city. On Friday we were able to take a scheduled tour of the Capital (where the Senate and House of Reps meet). It is such a magestic building, and really set the tone for the rest of our visit. The only bummer was that in going through security to get in, I had to throw away all the snacks I had brought for us for the day- no food allowed! It was fabulous to see the inside. I would have loved to actually see a session of Congress, but that wasn't part of our tour that day. I spent most of the time chasing Eli rather than listening to our tour guide, but it was still neat to see all of the history in there! Something I noticed while walking around DC is that it seemed really quiet, clean, and peaceful downtown for a big city.

Riding the Metro

Inside the Metro tunnel

In front of the Capital

Inside the Capital, looking up into the dome.

From the grounds at the Capital, we could also see the Supreme Court Building and the Library of Congress.

Supreme Court Building

Library of Congress

After our tour, we had lunch at one of Glenn and Julie's favorites - Potbelly's. It was a yummy sandwich place with live music! Right across the street from the White House, we felt like true city folk dining there =). After lunch, we headed over to the White House. From photos of it with the sprawling lawn and trees, I hadn't realized that it was really surrounded on all sides by the big city. If you weren't looking down the right street for it, you might miss it. I was surprised by that... at the same time it reminded me that it's an actual RESIDENCE for the president and his family =). I wondered out loud that it didn't look like what I expected, when Julie reminded me we were looking at the back of it, lol. The front entrance is structured differently, which you will see next.

The White House

We walked around to the front of the White House on our way to the monuments, when Julie spotted people out on the lawn, and tipped us off that "something" was about to happen. We waited around for a few minutes, and were able to see Marine One (the Presiden'ts helicopter) and the two decoy helicopters fly right over our heads. Marine One landed right on the White House lawn! Of cours we were on the other side of the gate, so the helicopter blocked any actual view of President Obama when he got off, though we're sure one of the pairs of feet we could see were his. It was pretty exciting to see those choppers buzz over us, the wind from their blades whipping our hair and their loud humming in our ears, with the Washington monument in the background! We really got lucky on this one.

Washington Monument and Marine One

Marine One leaving White House lawn

After the White House, we walked up to the Lincoln Memorial (Monument?), passing by the WWII and Vietnam Memorials. It really is stunning in real life. I wish we had more time to enjoy it, but by this time we had all walked our legs off, it was getting cold, and the kiddos were worn out! I'm so glad we got to see it though!

Outside the Lincoln Memorial

Inside with Lincoln

Eli with Derek and Evan (Julie's boys) on Lincoln Memorial steps

Reflecting on Vietnam

On Saturday we were all rested up and ready for more adventure! This time, we rode the Metro into the city all by ourselves - pretty exciting! We started off at the National Archives and were able to see the ACTUAL Magna Carta (800 year old copy!), the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They are kept in a dimly lit room (no flash photography so my pics are blurry) to help preserve them, and the lighting along with the reverent hush really reminded me how blessed we are to live in this country, and to have the Constitution. Our forefathers truly sacrificed so much to found this land and to protect it - men and women die every day to continue protecting our freedoms. I hope we all realize and appreciate this on a daily basis, and do our part to keep our freedom and our Nation safe.

The National Archive

The Constitution, first page

Eli's favorite part of the trip was Saturday afternoon when we visited two of the Smithsonian museums. First up, the National Museum of Natural History. We saw lots of awesome things including a life sized whale, a real hammer-head shark ("Hamma Sock" according to Eli) and Dinosaur bones! It must be the kid in me, but I've always wanted to see a T-Rex skeleton, it was great! We also stopped at the Air and Space Museum. We didn't get to spend a lot of time there, but the airplanes were a hit. There was one exhibit that was half of a passenger plane that you could go in. Eli loved it but threw a fit that he wasn't allowed to cross the ropes and sit in the seats... the kid loves planes! I figure he'll either be a marine biologist or a pilot one day =).

The Natural History Museum

The Air and Space Museum

The drive back home went a little more smoothly. We took a slightly different route home through Lancaster, PA and the Amish country out there. It was beautiful, even in mid-winter. I'm disappointed that my camera battery was dead and I didn't get any pics. I really fell in love with Pennsylvania. And that's our trip! We can't thank the Ropers enough for wearing themselves out taking us around, and taking such good care of us. We are lucky to have such great friends, and to be able to make such lasting memories while we are out here!

Babywearing Review

If you know me well, then you know I'm a bit of a "babywearing" enthusiast. Babywearing is beneficial for babies and parents in so many ways. Here is a great article, but basically it helps babies' physical, emotional, and mental development, promotes bonding and attachement, reduces crying, can help with mother deperession, and frees up your hands! With Eli, I really got into it as a hobby and tried out all kinds of wraps, slings, and carriers. With Owen, I don't really have time to do it "for fun," so I have pared down to what really works and is most convenient. I have been asked by a handful of people lately what my recommendations are, so I thought I would just do a review here as an easy reference. Keep in mind, everyone has their own personal taste and these are what has worked best for me - it is not an exhaustive list of what is available. Also keep in mind, I am not a millionaire, and no I DON'T still own all of the carriers that I have tried or have pictures of, lol. I have bought and sold quite a few things through the "for sale or trade" forum on The Babywearer. Most are available online or in natural parenting stores. A few (like Moby and Hotslings) are becoming available in mainstream stores like Target and BRU. These carriers are designed to be more comfortable for you, and better for your baby's spine and hip development than other "mainstream" carriers like Snugli and Bjorn. Ok, here's the breakdown, in order of preference.

#1 Soft Structured and Asian Inspired Carriers
If I could own only one carrier, it would be my Ergo. It is a buckle carrier, but holds the baby in the proper seated position. It is EASY to put on, works on your front and back, is COMFORTABLE even with heavy kids because it puts the weight on your hips, and works for mom and dad. It is very practical to use and comes in decent colors, though is not as "cute" as some other carriers. I recommend purchasing (or making) the "sucking pads" because babies do tend to suck the straps - then you can wash the pads instead of the whole carrier. I also like the hip pouch you can attach. There are other brands similar to Ergo but I only have personal experience with Ergo and Beco. I am tempted by the new Beco Butterfly II (I tried an older version that was very comfortable) because it has been designed to make it easier to get the child on your back. It also has a built in insert so you can use it with newborns (you can't use the Ergo with newborns). Keep in mind I have no personal experience with the Butterfly, but it seems like a good choice for someone who wants only ONE carrier that will work from newborn to toddler. Becos also come in really cute prints, Ergos come in several solids, with a few limited prints. Both carriers can be purchased from multiple vendors.

Eli 20 months in Ergo.


















Owen 11 weeks in Ergo.



















Some people prefer a similar carrier that is tied on instead of buckling. It's called a mei tai style carrier and is a traditional Asian carrier. I had one called a Babyhawk for a while. They are very cute and fairly comfortable, but not as quick to put on because you have to tie the straps rather than just buckling them. More comfortable than a one-shouldered sling, but not as comfortable as the Ergo, which puts the weight on your hips. Buying one new is fun though, because you get to pick your fabric and strap color, so it's custom just for you!

Eli 2 months in Babyhawk.

#2 Pouch and Ring Slings
If I only owned two carriers, then in addition to the Ergo I would add a ring sling for the newborn days (and longer if you don't have babies as heavy as mine!). I find a one-shouldered carry is not that comfortable for me after 12-15 pounds (2 months for my babies!) until the child is older and ironically heavier, but can be worn in a "hip carry" with it. It gives you a little hand to hold them, but they have some of their own strength to cling on and it doesn't pull so hard on your shoulder. Sewing a ring sling is SUPER EASY with the instructions from Sleeping Baby . My favorite fabric is linen, linen blend, or a linen look alike. You order the rings from Sling Rings . The owner of Sleeping Baby also makes slings to sell for a very reasonable price (sometimes even cheaper than buying the fabric!). There are many ways to sew a sling "shoulder" and I have one that she has made and really find it comfortable - you can find them for sale here. Again, there are many other brands available if you Google.

Owen 1 week in Sleeping Baby sling made from an Indio Natural wrap.

Owen 1 week in homemade sling from a Girasol wrap.



















Eli 25 months in homemade linen sling.



















My first sling/carrier ever was a Hotsling that I got for Christmas right after Eli was born. While the pouch style sling is really cute, I did not find it practical for myself. I find that because I can adjust and tighten the ring sling, the baby feels more secure and I feel more comfortable. I think the pouches are cute for church or for very short periods of wearing. They are also easy to make.

Owen 1 week in homemade pouch.




















Eli 6 weeks in Hotsling.


















#3 Wraps
Now if I could add a third, "luxury" carrier it would be a wrap. Wraps are just fun, snuggly, and have the *wow* factor. There's nothing like tossing your baby onto your back and tieing him up in a cool wrap, however there is more of a learning curve so this wouldn't be your choice for quick and easy if you are inexperienced. If you have the time to learn and want to, then do it, it's fun! There are videos online that can teach you how to do some of the carries, in addtion to pictured instruction books. There are ENDLESS choices for wraps so I'll just try to make it simple.

Stretch wraps are comfy and snuggly for newborns and lighter babies. They can supposedly go up to 20 or 30 pound kids, but I don't prefer them past the first couple of months. Some good ones are the Moby Wrap and the Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Stretch. My first ever wrap was a Moby - it was easy to learn on and came with a picture book of instructions. My second ever wrap was the Bali Baby Breeze, also by Gypsy Mama but made of a strong gauze. It was great for the AZ heat, but not supportive enough for my HEAVY baby (20-25 lbs or so). It would be a great choice for a "starter" wrap though and is relatively inexpensive.

Owen 1 week in Moby.




















Eli 3 months in Gypsy Mama Breeze.



















Woven wraps are THE wraps to get if you want to get into wrapping. And again, there are so many different types to choose from. Three major ones that I have tried and liked are Didymos Natural Indios, Storchenweige or "Storch," and Girasol. Didy and Storch are "German woven wraps" and are machine woven in Germany. Girasols are hand woven in South America. They are different thicknesses and textures and people like them for different reasons. Girasol is great because it is a bit thinner (so cooler) but still supportive; also a little less expensive than some. I especially like my Storch for heavy babies and back carries. But if I could have only one wrap, I'd have my Didy Indio Natural since I don't wrap full time anymore. It's snuggly for a newborn, but works fine for wrapping bigger kids on a limited basis. And it's just pretty. I have the Green colorgrown. A couple places to find woven wraps are Attached to Baby and Slingzilla.

Eli 6 months in Girasol "Kiwi."



















Eli 13 months in Storch "Leo Natural."

Owen 3 weeks in Didymos Indio Natural Green.

There you have it! I hope this is helpful. It at least leaves little doubt about whether or not I'm obsessed. Feel free to email me or comment with specific questions, or visit the forums at The Babywearer for more advice, tips, and reviews.

PS. If you click on the pictures you will get a larger version, and can see the pattern/weave in some of the wraps that otherwise look like a solid color. Oh, and sorry the layout got messed up on this post!

Speaking of Nothing Sweeter...

Here are some shots of the cutie at 3 months old. He's into 12 month clothes, by the way!

Whaddaya mean, nose drops?!

Lovin' my Bumbo

Never mind, GET ME OUT!
Loooook into my eyes ...

Now you're under my spell!

Cute-alicious!

Nothing Sweeter

Nothing sweeter than a fuzzy head against my cheek;
milky breath in warm puffs on my neck;
a chubby fist around my finger.

Nothing sweeter than a grin, a giggle, a grunt, a coo;
full body wiggles of joy first thing in the morning;
hair that captures the perfect smell of heaven .

Nothing sweeter than rocking him to sleep,
then rocking him again. . . then giving in
and cuddling to sleep in the crook of my arm.

Nothing sweeter than my baby boy.

Ice Walking

Sounds adventurous, doesn't it? It's the new extreme sport for moms and tots - walking across frozen lakes! The boys and I hung out with Amy and Stew this week, and they live right next to Pontoosuc Lake, which of course is frozen over this time of year. People drive cars, trucks, snowmobiles, and four wheelers out there on the ice, as well as ice fish. We thought we would be brave and walk the kids out to the island in the middle and back. It was actually quite a walk! Amy and I both had a baby strapped to us along with dragging a toddler, and there were several inches of slushy snow atop the ice to sludge through. We made it, enjoyed the view, and were glad to be back on solid ground. There's probably about a foot of ice on the lake, but it's still pretty nerve-wracking to think that you are walking on top of a deep body of water with little kids in tow - especially when we could see the cracks in it as well as some of the holes left by the fishermen. We thoroughly tired the kids out that day and Eli conked out on the way home.