Blowout survival - cloth diaper cover does its work

It's all about the gussets - the extra layer of elastic that tucks inside the leg holes of the diaper covers. At 6 weeks old, our little pooper finally did a business worthy of the extra tucks.

This is my second  child using cloth diapers. It's hard to convince moms that it's easy, but really it is, especially with the modern products available today. My stash:  half a dozen unbleached india prefolds; a few wool covers; and the highly circulated Thirsties Duo Wrap. These covers have gussets! I also occassionally use snappies to hold the cloth diapers in place, more with the wool covers.

I've come to like the snap design - velcro closures can lose their grip after many washings.

And the Duo Wraps fit great at the newborn stage - and look like they'll keep fitting as she grows.

Walking in Savannah

Dear Little One:

You fix on the tree tops and  sky with your far-off gaze, you're  swaddled close and tight: hot bodies walk under dark green leaves. You smash your nose against me.

My legs are getting stronger from all this walking. We circle blocks and allys. I flex my back muscles too as I hold the weight of you in swathes of stretchy pink jersey.


I wear athletic shoes, and while you napped I squatted a few times to stretch. Plump children need a strong mother.  

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I've never worn the shoes that are supposed to recreate the muscle action of walking on sand. I'd like to find them cheaper than a cnote though. Or relocate to sand.

This is baby carrier/sling I use. Mostly in the "kangeroo" hold. It's a dreamy spot for a newborn.

Wild child

I like Anne Hart's blog: SouthernMamas.com. She always has the scoop on things to do in Savannah for families, and lots of other relevant content for moms. For example this post: Skidaway Island outdoor activities listed for this week.

Thanks, Anne, we're overdue for a trip to a state park - great listing!

I'm jump at an excuse to go in the woods, long ago realizing that city kids need their nature-time scheduled. Though it does feels odd to me, the same way playdates felt like an awkward way to socialize. But here in Savannah, we have no kid neighbors or cousins, and all our friends with children live in far-off areas of town. So we schedule free time for running around and playing pretend. And we schedule for trees and dirt.

Luckily, Savannah is tucked between a lot of wild environments. The beach landscape is a festival for the senses no matter how many times you experience it. And the marshy forests that bridge the barrier islands are dramatic and fertile. Skidway Island State Park has a trail we love to trek for our dose of moss-draped palms, muddy crab homes and a cycle of blooming brush.

It's too hot for the newborn and her milk supply to attend the events this weekend;  but a springy, muscle-growing five-year-old is soon going to spend his days in a kindergarden classroom, now is the perfect time for a wilderness visit with dad.

Related:  Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder   if you're not already inspired to make sure kids you know get their regular diet of nature, this book will remind you of the importance of spending time under the trees.

We just had a new baby

And I sing hazzahs to midwifery. What a pleasure it was to be well cared-for during my gestation and delivery. My husband and I also hired a hypnobirth instructor about two months before my due date.

Intense, hypnotic, therapeutic concentration changed my life. I was so relaxed, free of fear and able to gently bring my girl into the world. I hope someday I can share this magical process with another pregnant mom so she can enjoy her birth as much as I enjoyed mine.

And the perfect book for post-delivery bliss: The Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent. This smartly-written account of a California nurse-turned-midwife was a love story to babies and birthing mamas. Vincent's prose is sharp and readable, and her stories of attending births brought me to tears and swelled my heart with pride and awe. It's a page-turner, and a great book to have beside the glider while the new baby latches on.

Great design for baby backpack carrier - I like it better than a sling!

I'm a huge fan of baby carriers - my little daughter is due at the peak of Savannah summer heat, so I planned on buying a framed backpack carrier for her. I do think baby slings and front carriers are a design essential for civilized humans in the first six months of life - but then, with my first child, I found my kid got heavy and curious - onto the shoulders he went - and stayed happy there for the next few years.

I really liked using the camping-style backpack carrier - though too often I found some models were too complicated and fussy for my needs. We liked the Gerry carrier with the aluminum frame that acts as a kickstand.

I don't know anyone who's personally tried the  KokoPax City Baby Carrier but it sure is cute!

It's on my wishlist for some steep discount pricing.

Best Parenting or New Mom Book?

As a book lover convinced that all questions and problems can be discovered through careful research and reading, when I had my first child I spent a lot of time finding books to help guide my parenting strategies.

The Baby Book by William Sears is one of my top recommendation to new parents. The first time I heard the term "nighttime parenting" was from this book. Not only did Dr. Sear's advice affirm my instincts that babies needed attention and love not just in the day, but also through the night. But he gave real strategies for making this time more loving and relaxing for both mom (dad) and baby.

There is a lot of practical advice in the book, dealing with bathing baby, immunizations, personality types, etc. It's a go-to sort of manual that works like the Dr. Spock books of an earlier generation. It's hard to imagine how many little questions you'll have throughout the early years, but it's nice to have a place to find answeres. By the time I was ready to pass my original copy on to friends, it was well-worn and only a bit stained with pureed carrots.

I'm always looking for more smart books about raising kids. Especially now that we've entered the school-age years, I'd love to find some good books for that age group.

Please share your recommendations!

What's Going On In There

Why did I give this book away after my last baby? Now I have to go get a new copy. I remember it being very scientific and more aimed toward fetus/infant development. I like the in-depth smart books rather than the general-interest type that skim the subject.

Savannah Pictures of St. Patricks Day 2010

My five year old made this sign to hang on the front of our bike. Driving to the St. Patrick's day in Savannah is a ridiculous endeavor. Biking to the the parade is the only way to go.

Not only is my boy proud to be Irish, he's proud to be a writing man. This is a fine example of his developing penmanship.

Book for parenting elementary age to teen age kids

I was surprised to like this book. Sometimes when parenting books seem ultra-modern (lots of chapters about texting and Facebook) I think they're out of touch with some core values and ideas about human behavior.

Childhood Unbound has been a refreshing read. Although our kids aren't even in first grade yet, Ron Taffel is preparing us for the teen years. He calls the children of today the "freest generation" and notes that while the classic generation gap has disappeared, young people today are increasingly savvy to the apathy and in-authenticity from their parents. He calls on parents to stop over-protecting kids from sincere reactions and emotions, and says to be direct and 'real' will speak louder than all the psychological tricks taught in the other books.

I really enjoyed Taffel's advice to notice and protect your children's natural conversation style and space. My son likes to open up about school and his questions about life at bedtime. Now making sure we have plenty of relaxed time for these conversations before sleep is my goal. Instead of pestering kids for information when they're not wanting to talk, watch for the time when they're willing and eager to share.

Flea Market no place for deals this Saturday at the Landings

I got there around 10:30 and it was very crowded. Overall I was disappointed with the quality of goods for sale. While the whole event seemed very well-organized, with different sections for different categories of goods, in general I'd say it was well picked-over.

I did see a lot of framed art in good condition. I particularly liked some South West prints for sale at $6 a piece in 36" frames. Too bad we have a lot of frame art that still needs a place in our home.

I don't tend to have good luck at Flea Markets in Savannah. I think I'll stick to the sale's rack at Belk's this weekend. Or a good garage sale downtown - the art students at SCAD tend to sell quirky items for cheap!

I have not Facebook doppelganger

Here's a picture of my grandmother, the most adorable woman in the
world.

She's in her late 70s here - I hope to look like her at this age!