Safe Cosleeping

(from one of my listservs. I went and participated in the survey) 

Hello breastfeeding supporters and educators,

As you well know, the best food for a new child is breast milk. You also know that not everyone believes that fact. The formula companies have successfully “separated” today’s woman from herbreast, at least mentally. The leaders of the Le Leche League aretrying to undue this unfortunate shift of culture, and we thank youfor it.

As you may also know, many of these same “Big Corp” interests areattacking the Family Bed saying it can’t be done safely. They, forall intensive purposes, have a firm grasp on America’s idea aboutthe ONLY safe place that a child should sleep, a safety approvedcrib.

Co-sleeping or bed-sharing can be an integral part of mostbreastfeeding situations. It makes it easier, which helps extend theduration. However, there is a very real movement to officially label co-sleeping as NEGLECT. This would be a major step back for breastfeeding. There are important bed-sharing guidelines that need to befollowed, and not omitted. Public health departments and the genera lpublic are being bombarded with news stories calling for the end ofco-sleeping. They say it’s dangerous and can’t be done safely.

You as a professional know different. Help get the message out to save this beneficial parenting choice. Please ask your successful co-sleeping families to help prove something that Mr. Big Corp would like to hide…that people can and are co-sleeping/bed-sharing safely.

www.co-sleepingsurvey.com is a 30 second survey that allows parentswho have or are currently co-sleeping/bed-sharing to countthemselves as safe parents. The website has been live for under aweek and over 1000 people have signed up. Most of them arebreastfeeding women.This number is desperately needed to prove that co-sleeping and bed-sharing can be done safely and the only thing that needs to beabolished is the discrimination against this valuable practice.

Thanks,Co-sleepingsurvey.com

kids say the darndest things.

today, on the way home from a friend’s house, zibby was unhappy with her carseat. honestly, she’s been unhappy with her carseat since the first time we ever put her in one, but anyhoo. so, she’s is fussing around, taking off her belt, putting it back on, wiggling and crying and she says to me,

‘Mama, this carseat feels like a … like a… predicament.’

indeed.

later, after dinner, she tells me and buzz,

“you know what I am worried about?”
“no, zibby, tell us”

“I’m worried about not having enough slippers”

I wish thats all I had to worry about

craftacular

today I took the kids and hit the Constructor Craft Fair in Berwyn, IL. I got some cool stuff and even better, ideas to make my own cool stuff. is that cheating?

I bought some really beautiful yarn that I intend to felt, some awesome cards I intend to frame, some magnets (doesnt look like she has magnets in her etsy store right now, though) that are already on the fridge, and a little crinkly fabric toy thing for Henry.

we had some time to kill before I had to take Zibby to a party, so I stopped at JoAnn, because I needed some snaps to fix the diapers I bought for Henry. However, there was a sale, so I also ended up with a frame and some scrapbook stuff.

and now I have a big fat list of crafty stuff I want to do.

yay!

wish I had a picture, but I don’t

the other day, bub saw me get some toilet paper off the roll. I literally saw him thinking “a-ha. interesting.”so it was no surprise at all a little later, that I found him sitting by the roll, surrounded by unraveled tp. 

crafty mama

I am hoping I can go to this on Sunday!

This past weekend, I caught up on scrapbooking. I still have a little bit still before I am completely current, but I got a lot done. I also made an outfit for my friend’s daughter’s 4th birthday.

She is really into this series of books with mice, so I found a mouse fabric. I hope it fits and she likes it!

Today I am making two batches of chicken stock. THe house smells pretty good!

Blu-tu-tu

Using the tutu-rial, I made this adorable blue tutu. We decided (zibby and I) to give it to Fiona for her birthday, but we all tried it on first.

Its truly easy and fairly inexpensive. I rolled up the tulle and cut it, which made things so much easier. I got the idea from watching Jamie At Home, a recent episode where he made tagliatelli, also the method to use when making sweet rolls. anywho.

catch up

Last week was eventful. 

A week ago Friday, Zibby was the first of us to fall victim to a stomach bug. She was sick (with some ups and downs) until Thursday. My worst days were Saturday and Monday. Monday was really bad. Henry never seemed ill, and John soldiered thru his discomfort. 

Wednesday on our way to our LLL meeting, I locked our keys in the condo. I had to call a locksmith to let us in! I guess I need a set of keys to keep at our neighbors. Certainly a lot cheaper than the locksmith. Oy. Thursday we hosted UP Day at our house. UP day is UnPreschool Day, which is 5 families taking turns hosting a morning playgroup for our 3-4 year olds. We painted tshirts, did dressup, had snack, decorated bags to take on a nature walk, went on a nature walk, listened to stories and had lunch. There were also bubbles.

Thursday afternoon we went to our second trial karate class. Zibby joined in a little, but was still quite shy about participating. I think we will try to do some yoga and gymnastics stuff before we try karate again. I think she needs to feel more able to do the moves. Coordination will help.

Friday we had another LLL meetup, and then afterwards we met Barrie and kids for a performance in Lincoln Park. It was part of the Childrens Humanities festival, called Stretch    it was very surreal. The kids didnt like it all that much. The music was kind of weird and creepy, and the performance was … bland? Not dynamic. But the strangest part was that most of the audience were special needs children, and they were very audible. Keening, moaning, laughing, cawing, all kinds of noises. Henry felt called to join in, of course.  Afterwards the kids went down and felt the rubberbands, which was interesting. Then we went for lunch and then headed home.Barrie did tell us that another CHF event called Lelavision was really awesome, so I went home and got tickets for that for Saturday. 

Saturday we went to brunch at Sheffields and took our best family photos in the photo booth there. Then John and Zibby dropped me n Henry off at Whole Paycheck to grocery shop while they went to the park. At home we tag teamed naps before the show.Lelevision *was* really cool. But we could only get tickets for the later show, and Zibby was fading fast by 8:30 so we left a little early.  We missed the end, but what we saw was really fun. 

Sunday was mothers day. We decided to go to the Kohls Childrens Museum. First we stopped at Steak n Shake for lunch. Then we played all afternoon at the museum. Henry got to play in the various Tot Spots, which he loved. Zibby did EVERYTHING. then we came home and John made steak and potatoes and chocolate chip  cookies for dessert.today we have lots of errands to run. keys to get made. pictures to get printed. tulle to get bought. dresses to get started… 

potpourri

A friend of mine just shared this new cool blog: Chicago Green Parent and it looks fabulous! Go visit! A mom on one of my *many* lists recommended I check out this site, and it is full o fun ideas: myplumpudding and, hey, I had  a celebrity blogger sighting! Mimi Smartypants , whose blog Ive read for 4 years or so. Zibby was checking out a karate class that her daughter happened to be in. Small world. finished the monkey shirt for ruby and the froggy pants for ursula.had un-preschool day at my house today.zibby tried karate again today, but we decided with the teacher not to join just yet. maybe in a few months. more later.  

my next projects

I am SO going to make this as soon as possible.

holy cuteness.  

I used this pattern again, this time, I used an old tshirt of mine. They would have turned out perfectly, had I not tried to “fix” the elastic. I wanted to sew it down, so it doesnt flip over, but I screwed it all up and now the waist looks silly. So, they are definitely housepants, and not for show, but practice makes perfect, etc. Next time, they will be great. The messed up ones are soft and comfy, anyway. 

I also made a baby doll sling for my friend’s 2 year old. Forgot to take a photo, though. And I am almost finished with the shirt and pants for Ruby and Ursula. Next up is Trap’s Birthday dress with mice on it. Its so much fun to make kid clothes! Yay!