Things I Love: Moby Wrap

This week I am sharing my love for my Moby Wrap. I had a baby 4 weeks ago via c-section, so I've really only been using it for about 2 weeks, but I LOVE it! The moby wrap is basically one long piece of fabric you wrap around your body a certain way and then place the baby in the folds created. The same wrap can carry a baby up to 35 pounds (yikes, don't know why I would do that!) and in different positions. My little peanut is only big enough for basically a cradle type carry as seen below.

Now Liliana has not been a fan of swaddling, so I was unsure if she would enjoy this womb like environment (she loves to stretch!). But, given a fussy baby who just doesn't know what to do with herself and she is dry and fed, I place her in this thing and she is out like a light! This allows me to get some typing done, some light cleaning, and simply play two handed with my 3.5 year old. So often I would think of holding and bouncing a fussy baby and be unable to play, but this allows me to be free handed, while at the same time enjoy the cuddly goodness of holding her close. I also used this as the local children's museum so 1) no grimy germs from other people got near her 2)I was free to play 3) I wasn't pushing a stroller around. It worked wonders. I'm hoping my baby will continue to love her moby wrap.

For those perhaps shopping around for a carrier, the main downfall is simply the length of the fabric. The long length makes it somewhat difficult to put on in public (fabric tends to drag on the floor as you are putting it on, either that or I still don't know what I'm doing). It is washable, so I just make sure and wash it if I use it out. It can be a little tricky getting the wrapping just right in the beginning, but there are lots of resources out there to help.

For other things people love, check out The Diaper Diaries!

My thoughts exactly...

Things I Love Thursday- Preschool Printables

My daughter loves to color, craft, and glue- which is fun for me too. She is 3 1/2 and we are planning on doing some 'home school' preschool at this point. I'm always looking for fun activities that not only peak her interest, but also help her develop fine motor skills. Lately, she has been into tracing- thinking the dotted line pictures. I'm wanting to start some basic letter writing (she can already form an I, L, T, H, and O).

What I love this Thursday is the preschool printables you can find for free online. Just google what you are looking for and you will find it- and more great ideas! Today I googled letter tracing and found some great resources and printables. I have done this before with color pages for my daughter and for other activity pages when I was teaching. There are even sites you can build your own crossword and word searches for older kids!

I recommend:

worksheetworks.com

printactivities.com

puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com

and pbskids/nickkids for printables related to your kids favorite characters!

Have free printable fun! That's what I love this Thursday- check out The Diaper Diaries for more great ideas!

Oh and another tip- use scrap paper to print on!

Bottle Feeding Success!!

Isabelle never would take a bottle (pumped or otherwise) and she always refused a pacifier. It made for a long 12 months. Our little bug has caught on quite well to both! I pump a bottle a day and she takes it great! Pacifier works if she is sleepy but full. Its a huge success for us!

Psalm 80

It has been quite the week. Coming home from the hospital went smoothly and my wonderful mother came to stay with us for a couple days while I continued my surgical recovery and to help with Isabelle. Well, after a few days of not having me around, Izzy would have nothing to do with anyone helping her besides her mommy. Needless to say, it was quite frustrating. She wouldn't play by herself- just want to sit next to me and 'help' me. Poor girl.

Then, a day after my mom left, my child who never gets sick (seriously, she has never had an ear infection, stomach flu, nothing more than a cold!) started running a high fever. For two days it ran between 101-104 with meds. Plus, I was suffering with debilitating headaches since I had left the hospital and even the strong meds I was on wasn't touching it.

I was drained and stretched to the limit. I had hit the 'emotional' crash that almost every woman gets after giving birth, my mom was gone, my husband was insanely busy suddenly, my eldest was sick, I was only 1 week post op, and trying to remember how to care for a newborn. It was one thing after another.

I cried out one morning- "Seriously, can't I catch a break here???" Paul was home and encouraged me to just open up the Bible and ready something while I ate my breakfast. I went to Psalms and I kid you not the first passage I looked at was Psalm 80. I started reading- just to focus on something other than my woes.

Psalm 80 was written as a song to the tune of 'the covenant of the Lilies"- interesting I thought, especially with my brand new daughter sitting in the swing with the same name.

For those of you who don't know (and I would have been one of them), Psalm 80 is a cry out to God. The people knew God's ultimate power and authority and that they were the chosen people. They knew God had a great plan for them, but it seemed as though every corner brought a new challenge. The writer asked in verse 12 after sharing how God had brought his people out of Egypt and into a promised land, "Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?"

Basically, the author is writing a song that asks God, why do you keep sending hardships our way? We know we are your children, we want to follow you, we know we have done wrong- help us!

The chorus repeated throughout the passage is what then hit me:

"Restore us, o God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved!"

Now I'm not usually on the bandwagon of opening up random scripture and having God give you exactly what you need- but man oh man was this God speaking loud and clear (ok, maybe through a megaphone of sorts).

Here I was basically asking God, "how much more do you want me to take right now?" "Can't you give me a break?" Just like his chosen people did.

He reminded me that morning, that He is the source of restoration- physical, spiritual, emotional, relational. He would restore me to a place of healing in all of those areas. And even though things were out of balance, out of wack, and simply hard to handle, He would find joy in me- His face would shine on me, as if it was the largest hug I could receive, a comfort beyond understanding. He would save me. He was the only way to make it through. I certainly couldn't do it on my own. I was physically, emotionally, and spiritually at the edge. In some ways, rightfully so- I couldn't rely on myself to get through it. I had to allow myself to be restored by my Creator, my Abba father. With Him comes true restoration and healing even when it seems as though he has dealt us a bad hand.

Psalm 80- read it, be restored, be saved.

Introducing....

Liliana Hope Spica
12-30-09
7 lbs 9 oz
20 inches