Page 38 - Blog
October 08, 2012
Make It Count
Hundreds of thousands of women die from pregnancy-related complications each year.
90% of these deaths are preventable.
You can help.
Ergobaby and Christy Turlington Burns' Every Mother Counts have joined forces in an exclusive collaboration.
The Guest Designer collaboration between Ergobaby and Every Mother Counts (EMC) is our first initiative that aims to be a multi-year collaboration with various celebrities led by Christy's Turlington Burns’ vision and creative direction to benefit families everywhere around the world. The result is a new selection of premium Ergobaby products, part of Ergobaby's Designer Collection, with a portion of the proceeds to help prevent pregnancy-related complications.
EMC aims to increase education and support for maternal mortality reduction globally and engage new audiences to better understand the challenges and the solutions while encouraging them to take action to improve the lives of girls and women worldwide.
While
October 04, 2012
In honor of the Design Ergobaby's Next Carrier contest, I thought I’d share my current fall fashion inspirations and some tips to purchase the right Ergo Carrier based on both your personal style and your babywearing needs.
This season the fashion runways and stores have seen a change in trends for fall and winter – no more streamlined and minimalist pieces! It’s all about shape, texture, pattern and color. The top trends I’m loving right now are:
Jewel Tones
The colors of teal, emerald, gold, colbalt, purple and burgundy look good on every skin tone and next to every hair color. I can’t wait to purchase a pair of skinny jeans or a pair of ballet flats in one of these beautiful colors.
Leather
I am a huge fan of a good looking faux leather jacket, specically one that is motorcycle inspired or has that worn in feel.
Bold Prints
Najavo, polka dots, stripes, geometric – I love them all! It’s nice to see basic pieces like a long sleeved sweater or a simple blouse with some pattern to them
October 04, 2012
As a part of National Down syndrome Awareness Month, I’ve been thinking about people with Down syndrome, the unique gifts that this Tribe with an extra chromosome brings with them, as well as the marvelous contributions they make to the world. There are so many – both people with Down syndrome and unique contributions being made:
Zhou Zhou, the internationally acclaimed symphony conductor with Down syndrome. Pablo Pineda, the charismatic teaching expert, who graduated from a major Spanish university and is now a movie star. Karen Gaffney with her astounding athleticism. Sujeet Desai, the highly accomplished musician. Michael Johnson and Bernadette Resha, talented artists. Lauren Potter of Glee. Monica and David , young couple in love. The German dancer, Laura Bruckmann, as photographed by Conny Wenk.
These are fabulous stories of select adults with Down syndrome, busy making stunning contributions to the world. Stories that I grasped and clung to after I found via amniocentesis that
September 29, 2012
When I read the first Mamas Who Inspire post by (and about) Rachel Coleman, I was awe-struck at the challenges this mama has risen to meet. Two special needs children, one deaf, one with spina bifida/cerebral palsy. Nobody would blame her if she had given up; instead, she carried herself (and her children, literally!) gracefully above the obstacles!
I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her about life and motherhood – here’s more about this inspirational mama!
Motherhood is so all-consuming at times, it’s easy to forget the person we were before we had children – what was life like for you before kids?
I was a musician. About halfway through my first year of college I borrowed my sister’s guitar and taught myself to play. In 3-4 months, I wrote 30+ songs. I dropped out of college…with the full support of my family. I gave myself a year and within the year had radio jingles, was on a Disney Made For TV movie, recorded with local bands, and put out my own album.
I got married
September 28, 2012
At 37 weeks, I’m considered full term. This means that even though I’m not due until October, my baby could come any day now and be considered “on time.” In my opinion (as a first time momma), this is equally exciting and terrifying. However, in the last week, I have scrambled to prepare myself for what’s to come and surprisingly found peace with the whole process. Here are a few things I wish I’d known from the very beginning that probably would have brought that peace on much sooner!
Don’t wing it. This is one of my biggest regrets and quite possibly the reason I felt the need to blog. When I found out I was pregnant, I instantly felt the urge to buy tiny little items, but failed to buy any books, sign up for classes or do much of anything to prepare myself mentally for labor and delivery. I looked at it in a very primal way - women didn’t have the internet, classes and books to prepare them before, so why should I have them? While I’m still pretty sure my body will go into an animalistic
August 29, 2012
When I got engaged, it seemed everyone felt the need to share their opinions on how to be a wife. While it sometimes made me feel as if I had no idea what I was doing, in all actuality, not one of the unsolicited advice donors knew my husband or what he wanted in a wife more than I do.
Now that I’m pregnant, it seems like I’m having deja vu. Only at 33 weeks, my unborn child has become much more obvious than an engagement ring, meaning even strangers feel the need to offer their advice. While I try to keep my cool, it gets old hearing that I should give up my vegan lifestyle and shouldn’t teach my child why we live the lifestyle that we do. That being said, here are 5 tips I’ve found to help prevent a pregnancy rage blackout on someone I don’t know well enough to experience that moment with:
Keep in mind that they mean well. I recently went through a long lecture against teaching my chid why we’re vegan from an acquaintance that just so happens to be one of the nicest people I know. Everything
August 28, 2012
Editor's note: Written from the point of view of the Ergobaby Original Carrier - Black/Green, a retired color:
Hi there. I know this is not your typical blog post, but I heard that Ergobaby wanted to hear some great travel stories…and boy, have I got a ton to tell you! You see, I’ve been around the block a few times after being given to a wonderful family. I’m an Ergobaby Original Carrier - Black/Green. They don’t even make my color anymore, that’s how long I’ve been around. Before I met my family, I sat in a warehouse with all of the other Ergobaby Carriers wondering what type of family I’d be going to – and I was thrilled to be pulled off the shelf one day and my journey started in a nice brown cardboard box.
When I arrived at my final destination, central Maryland, I was shocked to find out that my family hadn’t even originally wanted me! The mom was pregnant and had a big ol’ belly, and the dad was into all sorts of outdoor things. I found out that, at first, they had put a DIFFERENT
August 24, 2012
I feel very blessed to have nursed all three of my children for varying lengths, but it is since my youngest has stopped nursing that I see something new and special... something unexpected in the bond beyond breastfeeding. Gwyneth nursed for about 27 months and when she stopped nursing my breasts were not automatically "mine" again, much to my surprise. With my first two children they just sort of moved onto something else - case closed so to speak. Some 9 months now after breastfeeding, Gwenny still claims my breasts as her own and she will fight me if I say that they are mine. She still prefers to fall asleep with her hand on my chest, and if she catches Daddy looking at them she will sometimes cover me up with my blanket and tell me that she is protecting me (or them?). I find it all comical and we play and laugh, but more than anything I am touched by the notion that my body is still her comfort. Though I am no longer providing her physical nourishment, I am still giving her emotional
August 24, 2012
I love walking my dogs with my baby. We all get out of the house, get some fresh air, and spend some time together. However, when you have a dog, other people with dogs often like to stop to say hi. You might also want to take your dog to a dog park where they can play off leash and socialize with their doggy friends. Doing this with a stroller would be pretty much impossible, whereas wearing your baby in a carrier frees up your hands and gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of the terrain you can tackle. The question, then, is which carrier to use. From my perspective as a behavior analyst, dog trainer, dog owner, and mom to two young sons, I have developed a strong preference for the Ergo, and recommend it to all my clients with babies. Here is why. (Please note that I am not in any way associated with the Ergobaby company; they did not ask me to write this or offer me products– it is entirely my own opinion.)
Many of the dogs we know and love are, well, a little nutty. One of my
August 16, 2012
When I was a first time mom, I got a lot of advice. I even got advice about people's advice! Now that I've been through three years of motherhood and have just become a new mom again, I suppose I've earned my turn to give some advice. Take what speaks to you, and leave the rest, but most importantly, enjoy the journey!
Take the first 2 weeks and lay in bed with baby. Have other people in place to do everything else that needs done. Freeze some meals ahead of time so you don't have to worry about food (and have full instructions on each meal so you don't have to look that up and anyone will be able to just follow the instructions.)
It's okay if baby sleeps in bed with you. It's okay if baby sleeps in a crib. The key is that mama and baby are both getting some sleep. I found it a lot easier for me to get sleep and for baby to sleep happily (read: not wake up crying in the night) if we shared a bed and it was a lot easier to nurse her as well. But your baby may be different.