My Spiritual Side - Parenting

I don't ever mention the words attachment parenting on here.  It doesn't define me.  In fact I had not heard the term till quite recently.

However I am spiritual, although a lot of the time you can't tell from this blog.  I breastfed for 13 months, I carried Aaron in a Moby Wrap for a year and a half, I co-sleep, and I had aspirations to have a water birth.  One thing I did do: I had a Conscious Pregnancy:

Every now and again, I write posts that give an insight into the real me.  Here again I have done so.

I invite you (whoever my readers are*) to please hop over to author Shanta Everington's the Parent Guide, where I have guest blogged today.

See you soon,

Liska
x

*I say whoever my readers are, as 50% of my readers are in the States, yet you never comment so I do not know who you are - please let me know so that I can read your blogs too.

Busy busy busy....

Hi

So I have promised myself we'll be busy and enjoy my days off..... so last week we spent Friday at Jenny's enjoying her garden with Edward. Saturday we only went for a walk.... but Sunday we were out all day including a beautiful Sunday lunch.  Aaron was asleep by 8:30 that night due to all the fresh air.  Monday he had his first trip to a soft play area.....

So what about this week.  Yesterday was VERY busy.  We left home at 12:45.  Popped into work so everyone could see Aaron.  Ended up doing 2 x tiny bits of work while there.  We then had lunch with a colleaugue who's just left.  Then all the way to Snappy Snaps by Underground to collect the canvas, and then Oxford Street where we both had dinner in the John Lewis restaurant. Then home.  Aaron was exhausted and asleep by 21:20 (which is early for him, and considering we'd slept in till 8:30 and he had 2 good naps during the day).

This was Aaron in John Lewis:

From 12:45 to 20:45 Aaron was in the Moby Wrap sling because I could not face negotiating the escalators and stairs and tube with a pushchair. Although I did have to buy a rucksack in John Lewis as the nappy bag was destroying my shoulder...

Liska xx

Ideal Home Show

Hi

We went to the IHS today.  The main highlight was the Corrie House.  On the one hand I liked it (queued for long enough) but on the other, I was a little disappointed.

Highs

1. The fab footage of old fab storylines being shown to us in the queue.
2. Seeing the upstairs of the Barlow's house.
3. Some great photos on the Rovers' Return wall.

Lows

1. The queue.
2. The emptiness of the Rovers. (Just a place to queue).
3. The fact that the modern version of the Barlow's house had no personal possessions in it - are we to believe they redecorate and leave their photos down?
4. There was something missing... can't put my finger on what...
5. It was shockingly hot at the whole show.  Aaron ended up in vest and jeans...

Anyway, here are the snaps... My one regret: that I didn't get "before" pics of the sitting room and kitchen.

Born Free bottle while Mum ate lunch.

Sparko!

Cardboard Ken in Rovers

Photo wall in Rovers.

Ken and Deirdre's bedroom.

Their boiling cupboard.

Their bathroom.

Is this Tracy and Amy's bedroom?

The knocked through kitchen diner.

Flash kitchen.

Snazzy sitting room.

Ken's bedroom's now ensuite.

Photo of mirror in loos - us babywearing.

STUNNING water feature!

That photo above is taken by me, but I am taking a picture of the mirror.... yet it came out so clear.  I had to hold the camera away from my face to see what I was capturing in the mirror.  My Silent Sunday (27th March) is a close up, where you can't see the frame of the mirror, and there is no blur or haze, you can't even tell it's taken in the mirror.  It's confusing actually.... me photographing me, photographing me.... a picture of a picture of a picture..... Is it just my newly acquired baby brain, or is it indeed a brain fuck???? (Excuse the language I don't usually swear).

Find out more about the Corrie house: click here

Liska
xxx

Baby Wearing at 8 months. Moby Wrap.

Hi,

Just a quick note to say that we are still baby wearing despite Aaron being 8 months.

He was 8 months and 1 day in this photo.

Moby Wraps can be used from 5 pounds to 35 pounds.  And Aaron is not exactly a light baby; he was 9 lb 10 oz at birth.

Unlike the "rucksack" type carriers, the weight IS evenly distributed between shoulders, waist, back and legs.  As he gets heavier I feel it in my legs, but like a workout rather than a strain.  I keep hearing that the other type (non-soft) carriers, hurt one's back or shoulders.  Not so with Moby.

I'd be lost without it to be honest.


Talk soon,
Liska x

Inside the Wendy House just tagged me to do this here.   It is called Fill in The Blank Friday and is hosted here.  A website called "the little things we do", which I have just discovered via being tagged.

This is hard for me, as I have to put down this laptop and look after Aaron, so I have tried my best to make them heartfelt (in a rush).
 
1. I am: a mother for the first time.  A wife for the first time. A daughter (the no.1 repeats again as I am an only child).  A Yoga Teacher, a lover of all things Japanese, and I am Irish (despite being born in London).... No! Don't argue with me on that one!


2. The bravest thing I have ever done was: get pregnant, considering I have always been scared of labour.  Then braver still (for me) I went through 18 hours of drip induction, without an epidural... before then having.... a C-section, which resulted in a full spinal block anyway.... oh the irony.

3. I feel prettiest when: a picture, like the one above, captures something I couldn't see in the mirror.

4. Something that keeps me awake at night is: worry and/or Aaron.  We spent most of December and all of January co-sleeping and breastfeeding every couple of hours.  He's back in his cot now, which allows for more sleep, but the lack of night feeds has really effected my milk.  So many things in motherhood are double-sided.

5. My favorite meal in the entire world is: anything cooked by hubby.  That's a post Aaron thing as I really appreciate a meal cooked FOR me.

6. The way to my heart is: through laughter and honesty.

7. I would like to join: the gang of ladies who have a sponsor for Cybermummy.  Sorry, I know it isn't life changing but it is current and honest.

Back from Ireland

I use a Moby Wrap

Now onto point 13 from my earlier post.

So...... I have a Moby Wrap and have used it since day one.  At the beginning you simply do the Newborn hug hold, where the legs are in lotus, where his feet are tucked up inside like a little frog.  He used to go to sleep within seconds of me putting him into this.  Or you can do the cradle hold (which I only did once to be honest).  Both of those holds are shown on this You Tube instructions video.

THEN, you move onto the legs out stage... which you do not do at a certain weight, rather... when they start to kick out of the earlier tie.  I was out shopping one day and when he woke up, he was kicking to get out.  I said Mum, when we get home, I need to read the instructions and work out how to tie it, so that his legs are out.  I was so nervous about it BUT it was easy.  The legs out stage is very well demostrated on this You Tube instructions video.  I agree with this lady on two counts (1) I also put the arms and head in when he falls asleep (2) I also can have him in there for 1-2 hours without my back feeling any strain.  Went on a one hour walk and felt like I could do it again.  The Moby Wrap really does distribute the weight all over the body so that no one part takes all the strain - in fact, what strain?!?!?!

You can do so many things around the house while your little one is in there, if they're in a mood where they are demanding to be carried.

If you are not yet convinced, read 10 reasons to Wear Your Baby.

Anyway, to brighten up this post, here is a picture of us with our wrap (Newborn hug hold):

Liska xxx