Here is a link from Babywearing International that has some great general guidelines to babywearing safety.  Again, just educate yourself and ASK for help! 

Here is another link from the same site about choosing a baby carrier.  I have all but the Mei Tei listed here so if you have any questions or want to try one of them out, please let me know! 

I am so glad that babywearing is coming into the spotlight so that more attention can be given to proper carriers and safe use of them - I just wish it weren’t due to the death of a precious baby.  Sadly, that seems to be the way most things change.

I recently learned that the CPSA is about to issue a warning against certain baby wearing devices (sold at Target, Walmart etc) saying that they can cause suffocation.  While this saddens me deeply to know that families who were well meaning have suffered a tremendous loss – I think it is important to understand that certain carriers are more dangerous than others but when used properly there are slings and carriers that are very safe and beneficial to you and your baby!

Here are a couple of links below that I have read recently discussing the topic.  There is little need for me to rewrite what has already been written.

Undercover Mother - blog that does a good job discussing the difference between the “bag style” carrier and the safer options. 

An AP story regarding the warning.

Also, here is a video that discusses proper positioning in a sling

Specifically, the Infantino Slingrider and others like it are the main ones at issue because of the position that it puts the baby in.

I will admit that when Jack was a baby I was not very well educated on slings and other baby wearing devices.  The first time I tried to put him in the “cradle” position in my ring sling I was unnerved by the fact that he seemed to be folding in on himself and looked as though he could suffocate – which he could have.  This is simply because I was UNEDUCATED!  My ring slings, Hotsling, Moby Wrap and Beco have all been total blessings with Colin – now that I KNOW how to use them.  Ialso now know that the cradle position is not the safest anyway.  The “kangaroo” carry (upright) is much safer and more what the baby is used to from the womb.

The key is to educate, ask for help, attend baby wearing classes, GOOGLE if nothing else.  There are videos and tutorials all over the internet on safe baby wearing practices and devices!  Baby wearing is SAFE and many slings are SAFE – just know before you sling!

Colin has been happily “slinged” (slung?) since days after his birth – safely! 

We are still going strong today!

We have just been a bunch of sickos lately and with the rainy, chilly weather we’ve also been cooped up inside the house to wallow in our own germs – nice visual, I know!  This morning when we woke up to SUNSHINE I knew we would not be inside for much of the day!  I think sun is one of God’s favorite tools for healing, emotionally and physically;  so I tossed the boys outside and told them they couldn’t come back in until they were well! haha!  Soak up all of that Vitamin D boys!!

It was in the mid-40’s early this morning but warmed up quickly to about 60*.  Heaven!

Then as if I had planned it – our trash truck drove down the alley!  It was by far the highlight of the day!  I don’t know what it is – but the arrival of the trash truck is the most anticipated time of the week!

I also realized I needed a good 9 month pic of Colin (before he turns 10 months in a week and a half – gah!)  And since Colin is always one to oblige when it comes to having his picture taken – I snapped away!  I sure hope this kid thinks the camera is this funny when he is three!

Hello Spring – Goodbye snot!  We are ready for warmer, sunnier, healthier weather!!  Thank you Lord for SPRING!  (can you just make sure it sticks around a while before it climbs to 100+?)

Today we did the big car seat “switch-a-roo”!  Colin is 9 1/2 months old but honestly we could have made it almost to his first birthday in his infant carrier – I was just tired of dealing with it.  He was too heavy to carry in it and the straps were just getting too hard to get around him so although he wasn’t quite at the height and weight limits we decided to go ahead and put him in his “big boy” car seat (i.e. Jack’s hand-me-down Britax).

And since I love me some side by side comparisons – here is another!  On the left is Colin at 2 1/2 days old on our first trip out of the house.  Remember, he was born at home, so we actually had to leave our house to get a pic of him in the car seat for the first time.  On the right is my sweet baby boy today at about 20+ lbs and just over 28″. 

Just for kicks – and because, let’s face it, Colin will always be compared to his big brother (TRUST ME!!  I KNOW!) – let’s compare the comparisons!  Below, on the left, is Jack at about 2 1/2 days old as we are leaving the hospital and on the right is Jack at about 6 1/2 months old (YES, I said 6 1/2 months old) already having outgrown his infant carrier and moving into his “big boy” Britax.  As you can tell he had several lbs and inches on Colin already. 

So, yes – my precious boys are very much alike in many ways – but there is something about their differences that makes me love them each more and more everyday. 

…must be true!  We often joke about how much Jack and Olivia love each other – but they really DO!  I mean, somewhere in their little 3 year old hearts they understand love in a way most of us don’t.  They don’t know why they love or even “how” to love – they just LOVE.  It is so precious to see such a pure example of how God loves us.  He loves us without hesitation or judgement – He just LOVES us! 

This isn’t a new found love either – they have loved each other since the day they met 3 years ago – just after Jack’s birth.  In fact summer before last I even caught their first kiss here! haha! 

So precious!

Jack’s “Rock Star” 3rd birthday party was originally scheduled for the Saturday after our record snowfall in North Texas and the 40 hour power outage.  Thankfully the weather the next weekend was much more accommodating!  Jack had so much fun with all of his friends and was asking for them all to come back when he woke up the next morning.  If only everyday could be a party, Jack!

Who can have a rock star party without a rock ‘n roll band??  Bruce and his friend Mike donated their time and talents to our little rocker and played for his party!  It was SO much fun!!  I think they will get booked twice a year in the Melson house, for sure!  (yes, they do work for hire!)

TONS of fun was had by all of Jack’s awesome friends that came to play!

How fun was it that Bekeh and Caleb got to join in the fun this year too!  Jack must have thought they were some kind of celebrities because he said several times “Mama – did you know Bekeh and Caleb are HERE??”  And the next morning, “Mama, Bekeh and Caleb came to MY PARTY!!”

When Bruce wasn’t looking all the kiddos took turns beating on his drums too!

Whew, what an awesome time!  Can’t wait to do it all over again in the middle of May!

A week ago today us North Texans woke up to several inches of snow on the ground – which by itself was already pretty cool and rare for us.  However, over the next 24 hours a total of almost a foot of snow fell here in the DFW area.  A record for sure!

Thursday after preschool we ventured out to play in the white wonderfulness!

Jack was fascinated with the idea of getting to EAT the snow but Colin wasn’t quite as amused when he had a giant snowball smashed into his face!

Below is a picture of what the trees in our front yard looked like about 10:30pm Thursday night.  I am always amazed at how bright the night sky is with all the snow. 

After getting the boys all tucked in that night Alan and I curled up in front of a fire only to have our power go out about 10 minutes later.  Power wasn’t restored for about 40 hours, but thankfully Alan’s parents live very close and we were able to bunk with them. 

Jack’s “Rockstar” party did have to be postponed due to this whole mess but hopefully we will be able to have just as much fun this Saturday as Jack ROCKS OUT with his buddies!!

If you haven’t noticed – I take a “few” pics of my kids. Problem is – Jack is now convinced that each and every moment of his life is captured on “film”, regardless of whether or not I have a camera in my hand. 

I often get very random requests to see pictures of various events throughout the day that I have simply not captured.  For example, ”Mommy, show me the picture where you bonked my head with the car door.” or “Mommy, show me the picture where Colin was crying and I gave him his toy and made him happy again.”  Nope – didn’t happen to take pictures of those momentous occasions – sorry Jack!

Yesterday, Jack and I were having fun with Lincoln Logs and built this fine log cabin.  Being proud of my, er, OUR craftsmanship I took a picture.

Here we have the MONSTER Jack surveying his kingdom.

So today Jack comes running in – again, randomly, to ask: “Mommy, show me the picture where I SMASHED my log cabin!”  Sorry Jack – yet again, I must disappoint you because I did not capture that momentous event in your life. 

I really should take more pictures. 

I took the boys to the pediatrician this morning for Colin’s 9 month and Jack’s 3 year well visit and since I am always being asked for stats, I thought I would share a few.

Jack is 40lbs (96%) and 40″ (88%). So – tall and skinny! Those are his Vanderweide and Carter genes at work!
Colin is 20lbs (40%) and 28 1/4″ (47%). Head is 18 3/4″ (95%!) I guess Colin more than just looks like my dad – he is built just like him too!

Both of my kids must have HUGE brains!! But with parents like us – how can they not?

Both boys checked out great, health wise. We TRIED to get a urine sample for Jack to see if there is some physiological reason he has reverted back to wetting the bed every night after being night trained for 7 months but that was a messy disaster and we only got a tiny bit collected. It was enough to do a strip test but not a culture. So, we will see if they can tell anything from it or not.

Both boy’s ears were clear too!

Praise the Lord for healthy growing boys!!!

Ok – a few days late but when the blizzard of the century rolled in and brought with it a 40 hour power outage – this is as good as it gets for now!

There is lots to post about, but no time to do it right now.  Rest assured that snow pictures and birthday party #2 pictures are coming!  Birthday party #1 had to be postponed until next Saturday due to the snow and power outage.  Jack doesn’t know the difference and is still excited about his ‘Rockstar’ party!

How on earth did this:

Turn into this:

in the blink of an eye?

(give it a second to load)

 Seriously – where does he get this obsession with taking “pictures”?   

I mean you’d think he was around a camera a lot or something.

Oh – right, sometimes it is good to take a break to show off the pizza sauce on your face.

But then it’s right back to work!  Say CHEESE!!

 The below picture is important for two reasons.

First – Colin is officially a table food baby.  No baby food for this kid.  All attempts to try and feed him homemade “baby food” have ended in frustration, messiness and wasted food.  So – Colin – you win!  Table food it is!  He LOVES feeding himself and now that he can put food in his mouth without gagging and hurling – meal times are much more enjoyable!  So, on the menu today was black beans, carrots and Cheerios.  Delectable – I know.  Clean up the drool and go make your own concoction!

Secondly - if you look closely – you can see Colin’s first two teeth! 

Jack wanted in on the fun and helped Colin eat his yummy dinner.

He likes it, he really likes it!! 

I’m telling you, people – please don’t waste your money on baby food!  It is so easy to make your own – be it pureed or chopped table food.  But that is for another day.  I just cannot fathom ever spending a dime on jarred baby food.  Wow – the lessons you learn with a second kid.  I wish I knew this when Jack was a baby.  Live and learn, I guess!

On our way to and from Huntsville we stayed at Alan’s grandparents’ house in Shreveport to cut the driving time up a bit.  It is always nice to visit with them and especially nice when the boys get to enjoy one of their Pawpaw’s favorite pastimes.  So sweet! 

Alan, Jack, Colin and I all squeezed into our little car and drove to Huntsville, Alabama last week to celebrate the wedding of Alan’s cousin Sarah and her fiance Matt.  It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and we had a WONDERFUL time with the Carter/Bullock families – but we always do!  They are some of the most welcoming, Christ-loving people I know, and I am always uplifted when I am around them.

Above are all 5 of the Carter cousins. 

I have to have a moment of confession now.  I am so ashamed of myself – but I just couldn’t help it.  You see, a while back Matt (Sarah’s new hubby) told us that his first cousin got married in December to Rachel Ramsey – the daughter of my financial hero, Dave Ramsey.  Well – in she walked at the rehearsal dinner – and even better, she sat at the table right next to mine.   Well, being the shy dork that I am, I didn’t talk to her or ask her to hug her father or give him a big fat kiss on his cheek for me – but I DID go all paparazzi on her and take her picture dancing at the reception! LOL!

Eat your heart out!  haha!  Yep – it’s her.  I think the thing I envy the most about her is that she will likely never know a time of financial hardship.  Although I do believe times of suffering can really “make” a person, I still wish that my parents had taken the time to teach me and instill in me the kind of financial discipline that she has had embedded into her very core.  At least she better – or I can’t look at old Dave-O the same way again! haha!

I just wanted to close with a pic of Sarah’s wonderfully kooky parents, Jim and Sue.  They inspire me more to love life, the Lord and my husband than almost anyone else I know! 

Today I attended the memorial service for my good friend’s grandmother.  She was an amazing woman that touched the hearts of many.  Her daughter wrote a letter that was read during the service and in it she wrote of her mother’s last words.

It was 4:30am on January 28th when Lynda Kay listened to her mother breathing in her hospital bed.  Then she wrote that she heard her speak three words – softly and without inflection.  She said “What? Oh, Ok” and with a deep sigh – she passed.

I want to know two things.  Who was she talking to and what did they ask?  I can only imagine but I believe that it was her sweet Heavenly Father calling her home – and she said YES!  Without hesitation – she said YES! 

I can’t think of a more beautiful way to leave this world than in the hands of our Lord!

I had an unexpected but wonderful conversation with my best friend’s mom last night.  I say unexpected but it was SOOOO planned by God to put us together last night.  It began with her telling me all the ways that HER heart has changed lately but what she didn’t know was that she was really speaking directly to ME.  Everything she was saying was God speaking to ME and I was blown away!  The best part was that I was so open and willing to hear what He was saying through her.  I didn’t fight back, I let Him speak to me.  So amazing!!

I am not going to post the personal details of the conversation but I really feel changed.  In my marriage and life I have been bitter at times, prideful a LOT of the time and often selfish.  In my interactions with Alan, I often nit-pick, challenge and “correct”.  I have some relationships that are frustrating at times, people I tend to gossip about more than pray for.  However, the question it all comes back to is, how does this serve God?  Does this please God?  And the answer is, if it isn’t coming from a place of love – God’s love - then no. 

She told me that at times when she finds herself falling back into her “old” habits or ways that she just says to herself, “Just you and me, God, it just about you and me.”  SO TRUE!  Stop the gossip, the bitterness, the pridefulness, the judgements and get back to the ONLY thing that is truly important – your relationship with the Creator!  Just you and me, God!

Alan and I are facilitating a retreat this weekend with our group from our church on the book Enjoying the Presence of God by Jan Johnson.  It is a wonderful book that just talks about being in God’s presence ALL of the time; at any moment allowing God into your life and heart.  One of the ways she talks about doing this is through what she calls, “breath prayers”.  A breath prayer is a short, simple saying to get you back into God’s presence in an instant.  It can be a short line of scripture or just a short prayer.  How amazing was it that she was telling me about her breath prayer but in a real life context and what a great reminder of what is truly important. 

Just you and me, God.  Amen.

…turns into a death match.

What a wonderful day!!  G, J & B got to hold their precious new babes today!!  How amazing this family of 7 will be when they come home to Nathan and Corban on Saturday!!  Thank you Lord for this gift!!

Jack and a I rarely get to spend time ‘just us’ anymore so it was fun to have a “date day” with my oldest baby boy!  Colin spent the day with JuJu, which I am sure he loved.  Jack and I started off the morning going to the Willowbend Mall play area where Jack didn’t really have a lot of interest in playing because there were “too many kids”.  I was totally confused by this – but he just didn’t seem to care.  So, instead, we went and had a snack at Starbucks and went and bought shoes!  My kinda morning!!  Sadly, the shoes were for Jack! haha!

We then left the mall and headed downtown to pick up Daddy for lunch.  Since Jack had to go pee-pee when we got there we went inside – which of course resulted in yet another tour of the building so all the ladies could ooh and aww over our munchkin.  Jack did enjoy getting to see the new KXT studios, however. 

I had to laugh because as much as he has to fight for attention sometimes because of Colin being so little and needy – he still asked about 100 times when Colin was going to come home and was so concerned that he do so quickly!  What a sweet boy!

Jack has asked about Gina and Jason and their new “babies” coming home from Africa all week so I took the above pic of him waving to them to send so they knew we were thinking of them.  I was shocked to get a reply email very quickly from the mountains in Africa!  We love you Root family and can’t wait for you to all be home together!

He had so much fun that he sacked out in the car on the way home.

Good day!

I sit here right now with a very heavy heart.  I feel like, over the last couple of days, God has placed a lot on my heart.  Of course the devistation in Haiti is unbelievable and unimaginable.  I cannot even begin to fathom that amount of devistation and heartache.  But even apart from that I have happened upon so many stories of babies and families that are suffering right now in horrible ways. They have come to me from many different avenues.  It almost seems like wherever I look – I see heartache and suffering right now.  That is a lot to reconcile during a time when so many seem more concerned with who should host the “Tonight Show” than people laying dead in the streets of Haiti. 

So, why is God sending me so many messages of pain when my own life is seemingly full of blessings? 

Why?  I don’t have a grateful heart.  I have not been truly thankful of the amazing joys, love and beauty that is my life and family.  No, I don’t believe in a vengeful God – He isn’t punishing me, he is simply reminding me.  He is taking the focus off of my own pity parties and stupid, trivial frustrations and opening my eyes to those that need my prayer and support. 

I am a firm believer that God knows how best to speak to each of us.  He knows how to reach us in the most effective ways.  For some He can truly speak directly to and they will hear and listen.  For me, it is through images and words.  Being an artist I am, naturally, a visual learner.  I guess that also makes me a visual “hearer”.  So, all of these images that have been flashing before me really are God trying to speak to me.  It is a very strong feeling – stronger than most.

Thank you God for calming my heart and mind and helping me to show love instead of anger, peace instead of frustration.  Please use me as your servant, Lord. 

Amen.

Let me start by saying – Jack LOVES his baby brother.  He will read to him, kiss him, make him laugh, get highly concerned when he is crying etc.  He does this all on his own with little or no prompting from parents (except for a cute photo-op and then it usually doesn’t work, of course!).  Night before last my dear hubby was making dinner and took Colin in the kitchen with him.  Jack decided he needed to “doctor” Colin.

But when Dr. Jackyll started concocting his evil plans – I started to get worried!

**Disclaimer: Yes, I am aware that this is a vet kit and not a “Dr.” kit thus confusing my poor son for life and yes, I am aware that Colin is not strapped into his bouncer – gasp!  I have NEVER once strapped him into that thing and likely never will before he is too big for it.  I laugh when I see newborns strapped in.  Oh well, just add it to my “bad parent” list!  It’s getting long!

I have often said this as a parent – “whatever works”.  I don’t know that I thought I would be a “whatever works” kind pf parent before I had kids.  I mean, kids should be on schedules and develop appropriately according to a calendar, right?  HAHAHA!!  Wow – have I changed!  I mean, schedules are nice.  I, personally, THRIVE on them- but I have always let the kids choose theirs.  They have really done a nice job, so I don’t have many complaints.  Poor Colin does have to kind of be at the mercy of the rest of the family so his chosen schedule doesn’t always get adhered to very well, but he is so laid back, that it rarely bothers him. 

Sleep-wise I have also been VERY blessed.  I have babies that LOVE to sleep.  They are great at being put down while still awake and falling asleep on their own with only a few exceptions – however, if my sweet baby boy needs to be held to sleep because he is sick or just in need of some “Mommy” time, I am not one to complain.  I used to think I would be a “cry it out” parent (and sometimes I am) but I seem to have babies that cry for a reason, so when they cry, I pick them up. 

Eating-wise, I have not been quite as lucky.  Jack was a hoss from the beginning and never looked back.  Colin, well – you know about that.  Since we have started “Operation Plump Up” he has seriously plumped up but that has really been due to the formula and not at all solid foods.  At six-months I was hoping to continue breastfeeding and just fortify his solids but he didn’t seem very interested in solids at the time despite showing ALL the signs.  He would grab at our food at the table, he would follow every morsel with his eyes – he seemed VERY interested but when I would try and spoon feed him he would resist with all his might!  I swear he is going to be a boxer the way he guards his face.  So, I decided to hold off on solids and just increase the formula. 

We tried solids again at 7 months with the same result.  I started to get creative and think outside of the “books”.  I tried letting him self-feed with some soft bananas.  Problem is, he would choke, gag and often throw up with anything remotely lumpy in his mouth.  He even got to where he would gag just putting a spoon in his mouth.  One evening after another frustrating attempt to try and get him to consume something he grabed my finger and started chewing on it.  A-HA!  Following his cues, I put some rice and avocado on my finger and let him eat it that way.  He seemed to really like that because it was sort of a game of getting to chew on Mommy’s finger.  After a couple of days of this, my fingers started to get a bit chapped and he, again, lost interest. 

So, from what I have gathered up to this point – he likes to be in control of his eating but he can’t handle lumpy foods that he self-feeds and certainly doesn’t know how to manage a spoon.  I had the idea of putting food in a mesh teether.   This way it wouldn’t be lumpy but he could control his own eating.  I loaded it up with his homemade brown rice cereal and some chopped up bananas and watched him go to town!  He ate almost the whole bowl!  The next night it was rice cereal with avocado and he ate almost half of an avocado!  Last night was not as successful but I am not giving up hope that we are at least on the road to learning to eat new and exciting foods!  WHATEVER WORKS!

He will be 8 months old on Saturday so there is certainly no rush or need to force anything.  I certainly want to make meal time interesting and fun for him instead of something he hates since that will just cause all sorts of problems down the road.  We’ll see how this goes!

Here are some cute pics of my self-feeding, messy boy!!

Ugh – what is my problem?  When I have almost nothing on my plate I can’t seem to have motivation to want to do much but when I am TOTALLY slammed, I get all these ideas and want to do so much!

So, in the next month we are planning and leading a retreat for our group at church, welcoming home Bekeh and Caleb, driving to Huntsville, Alabama for Alan’s cousin’s wedding, repainting our entire kitchen, repainting the bathroom cabinets, planning and throwing Jack’s 3rd birthday party, tearing out and installing a new fence in the backyard – and so why not handmake a “Happy Birthday” banner to be hung at all of our family birthdays too?!?

I have to say that I have been ITCHING to make something lately.  Ever since I quit teaching, I have been actively creating art with my photography but my other passion was sculpture or MAKING things with my hands!  I miss it SOO much!  But with two sons under 3, who has the time, money or motivation, right?

I was reading a cute blog of a local gal, “The Green Wife”  and she posted about planning her daughter’s 3rd birthday party.  Her daughter insisted on an owl theme so she set off the hand make all of the decor and favors for the party!  WOW!  In that same post I saw this birthday banner and was inspired.  I love the idea of making something that will last for several birthdays and be a constant in their lives.  My family really has nothing like that at all and I want to start some traditions with my new family! 

So, last night before I could talk myself out of it I met my crafty friend, Bree, at JoAnn’s to pick out felt and fabrics.  Here is the color scheme for the pennants as well as an example of the font that I will use.  This is just a paper print out to give you the idea. 

Each letter will be cut out of a different piece of fabric for more of a bohemian, patchwork look.  Bree was nice enough to let me scrounge around in her scrap bin so, other than the adorable train fabric, it was all FREE!

I will stitch on each letter to a pennant and then add another layer of felt to the back (to cover up the stitching) and then use a “blanket stitch” to sew the felt pieces together.  See me using all these cool terms like “blanket stitch”?  It’s all Bree’s fault.  I told her, “I like that stitch that goes loop and up and loop and up – what’s that called?”  After she laughed at me, she told me it was a “blanket stitch”! 

I am thinking that I am going to use grommets to thread ribbon through to hang it – but we will deal with that once I get all the letters sewn on etc.  Thankfully I have a 10 hour drive to Alabama coming up during which I can do all the stitching – assuming I get it all cut out and prepped in advance!!

Wish me luck!  Ok, off to paint the final coat on the cut in’s on the front door and sand bathroom cabinets!  THEN I will work on the banner! Ugh!