Page 27 - Blog
January 14, 2015
Everyone is always concerned with baby and their positioning while they are in an ergonomic baby carrier, and justifiably so. However, as parents we always forget about ourselves. What about our position, our posture? All too often we are slumped over, just trying to get through the day. Parenting can be hard and is definitely time consuming, so is it any wonder we forget to pay ourselves some attention. Did you know that by doing a few simple exercises you will not only improve your posture but your energy and mood! It’s true, and easy! Below are a few exercises that will leave you feeling tall, strong, and ready to tackle parenthood again.
Wall Angels
These are just as they sound. Think of “snow angels” performed leaning against a wall with arms bent. The best way to do this is to stand with you back against the wall, walk your feet out 1.5-2ft. and place arms against the wall in a “stick-em-up” position. To make sure you back is flat against the wall you may have to tilt your pelvis
December 02, 2014
Nothing can prepare you for being a parent to a child with special needs. Our journey together didn't start off in the way many families do. For the first year we conducted a fairly "normal" life, you know, whatever that means. There was the first roll over, the first tooth, the first time he sat up and so on and so forth. I can remember meeting him for the first time and waiting for the moment our midwife or nurse would say something was wrong. I just stared at him with the intuition only a mother can have, and questioned why they weren't saying anything. No one did. No one said anything was wrong, and I breathed a sigh of relief, but the lingering thought there was something, wrong, or maybe I should say different, about my baby stayed in the back of my mind.
When we brought him home, he just wanted to be held. I turned to my online community and was reassured this was normal. I placed him in a sling and he immediately became calm. As he nursed, and nursed and nursed some more, I continued
November 26, 2014
I wish I could say I have a recipe box filled with stained, crumpled up papers with delicious meals passed between generations, but the reality is I’m an avid “Pinner” and cooking magazine addict who likes to try new recipes! Family recipes all need to start with someone, right? I have a few staples I tend to bring out every year (sweet potatoes with cornflakes and marshmallows for my Brother, salted caramel cheesecake for my Grandmother, etc!) but a tried and true favorite that I make every Thanksgiving are Green Bean Haystacks. I was never a fan of green bean casserole, but still love green beans and like to incorporate them into this holiday. These also look like they took a lot more effort than they actually do, which I love. Few things make me happier than people thinking I slaved away in the kitchen when it’s really just a five-ingredient dish.
Green Bean Haystack
1 1/2 lbs. Green Beans, trimmed and blanched 6 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 3/4 tsp. garlic powder
November 24, 2014
Hey y’all! Kaelah here! I’m going to share a recipe my husband, Mike, and I use every Autumn to make the most delicious apple pie. I promise it’s not just any old apple pie either. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m far from an expert in the kitchen, but pies are one thing we can usually pull off. Every Thanksgiving we bake the family pies for the after-dinner treat, and it’s so awesome to see something we created bring happiness to those we love. We never go to any Thanksgiving dinner without at least one apple pie in hand. The thing that really makes this apple pie go above and beyond your typical recipe is that we prepare the filling in a skillet on the stove before baking. It’s a small, extra step, but it makes all the difference in the world. You’ll be amazed at how flavorful your pie is if you take the few extra minutes to do this! (Don’t worry! I did some mixing and rolling while wearing Linden, but Mike did the heavy lifting when it came to slicing the apples and doing the
November 21, 2014
Holiday Travel Days are here. Why not ENJOY them… no matter what? Enjoy the Journey! Airport, airplane, car, hotel, train…any holiday moments are still family time. Holiday travel time is time spent together. After circling the globe with my family, I have found the best itineraries are simple, flexible, and often formed as we go to capture unique last minute opportunities. Here are my tips to enjoy the family time spent in airports:
Smile, laugh, giggle more.
Snap memorable photos (posed, silly, casual, sleepy, etc.) of each other on airplanes and in airports. Adults included. Make your spouse, significant other, relative or friend laugh – it’s good for everyone.
Arrive early enough at the airport to “be the calm” in your child’s travel day.
Extra time removes the stress from traffic, lines and interruptions. Smile often. Hug and appreciate little ones in this busy, unfamiliar, exciting, and often overstimulating and intimidating environment.
*Note even older children
November 20, 2014
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Without the attachment to a specific religion, it’s a day that pretty much everyone can enjoy. And if you love the flavors of the season, like me, it’s a time to celebrate everything from cranberries to root vegetables. We usually celebrate Thanksgiving at our home in Brooklyn. I start the day with a Turkey Trot in nearby Prospect Park, which helps to clear my head for the full day of cooking and socializing ahead. My mother in law and a few friends join us around 5 and we finish up by the time the kids go to sleep. This year it’s just going to be me, my husband, and our three kids at the table. Since the littlest one has yet to even have her first taste of mashed sweet potatoes, and the older two don’t really care about the big feast, we really have no pressure to make any of the traditional foods. Heck, we could grill up some burgers and everyone would be happy! Well, everyone except for me. Those Thanksgiving smells remind me
November 17, 2014
The good things about holidays include extended family, lots of rich food/drinks, and a break from the routine. The bad news is that they also include extended family, lots of rich food/drinks, and a break from the routine. With a lot of everything going on, many of us, especially new parents, may be more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression. Here are my top tips to prevent stress and depression during the holidays and stay balanced.
1. Take time to check in with yourself.
Amidst the chaos of full houses and family gatherings, the “noise” can make it hard to hear your own needs and feelings. Find an excuse to take 15 minutes by yourself. Practice whatever helps you clear your mind, such as deep breaths, stretching and yoga, a mindfulness meditation, a bubble bath, music, or a walk outside. With extra family around, you may have extra childcare and unprecedented opportunities for a quick break alone.
2. Take time alone with your baby.
New babies are very popular at family gatherings.
November 13, 2014
[Photo by @tophography_; mama @victoriamckaig_]
Happy fall! We're loving the rich autumn colors, adventures to the pumpkin patch and the smell of roasting vegetables for dinner. This fall, along with celebrating babywearing, we're meditating on mindful parenting, honoring adoptive families and taking the time to breathe in the joy of connecting with our families.
Just in time for the season, we're happy to give you a look at our newest carriers, Ventus Purple and Marine, as well as a new Swaddler design. To show them in action, we followed some families on their fall adventures and we'll be highlighting their stories on the blog this season. Be sure to follow along at #ergobabyeveryday.
Keeping our Original Collection fresh, we've added a touch of whimsy with the Marine Carrier, showcasing a sweet whale pattern in a beautifully soft blue shell, the perfect complement to your nautical or undersea themed nursery.
[Photo by @tophography_; mama @danihampton]
The
November 10, 2014
In the hospital you have lots of help—nurses, lactation consultants and doctors—all at your beck and call. Then comes the time to take your little one home. You’ve read the “must-have” books, subscribed to on-line baby websites and parenting blogs and spent many evenings on the phone with your own mom. Think you’re prepared? Think again. Here are a few important tips parents tell me they wish they had been told about the first few weeks at home with their newborn.
Sleep
Everyone tells you that you won’t get much sleep, but it’s worse than you imagine. Realistically, you won’t get any in the first few weeks. In addition to needing to feed every few hours, babies don’t know the difference between day and night. So no matter what time he rests, you need to take advantage and nap too. You can also try to help him get on track by keeping nighttime feeds and changing as calm as possible and wake him after 3 hours of daytime sleep to feed. But as soon as your doctor says he’s gaining weight
November 07, 2014
International Babywearing Week was October 5-11, 2014 and we definitely kicked it off with a bang; Shannon and I. The sun was blazing, it was super hot inside my house, you know the one that my dad refuses to turn on the central air in? (yeah that one), and I couldn’t have been any more relieved to hurry and rush to Gracefull Birth for their Nurture event – A Celebration of Pregnancy, Childbirth & 4th Trimester. MY KIND OF PARTY! I knew exactly what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to dress Shannon, but I struggled a bit with styling my hair. However, what I didn’t struggle with was my selection of a soft-structured baby carrier (SSC) to complement my vibe and that was my Ergobaby Organic Baby Carrier – Zen. It definitely matched the natural style event and the green lily pads printed on the hood make me happy. I mean nothing matters after that; its green lily pads! I arrived just in time to take a look inside the Babywearing & Breastfeeding Lounge hosted by Ergobaby