Meanderings, with links

* Here is a great page on how to wear your baby in a ring sling (that's what I'm using right now) or pouch. This was really helpful to me since I've only seen one person using a ring sling, and hers was slightly different from mine. Great instructions on how to use it for different carrying positions. I wish I'd found this earlier!

* A new study warns about the possible dangers of mobile phones and pregnancy. Hmm. They do also add that "there might be other possible explanations that they did not examine – such as that mothers who used the phones frequently might pay less attention to their children – and stress that the results "should be interpreted with caution" and checked by further studies. But they conclude that "if they are real they would have major public health implications"."

* It was a disappointment last week when the Missouri legislative session ended without passing the midwifery bill that we were hoping would go through. Here is an article with more details- note, however, that it incorrectly states that the bill would've legalized "lay midwives". It would've legalized CPM's, which isn't at all the same thing.

Cute Baby

One Hand

...is all I have to type with, at the moment, so I'll keep this short...

Nathan weighs 12 1/2 lbs! He is 1 month old and becoming more aware and alert. He has rolled from tummy to back several times, and kicks a lot while on his tummy. Gearing up to go. :-)

Meredith at Like Merchant Ships posted a Fruit Tea recipe that looks delicious! Especially with warmer weather, and summer on the way.

On the topic of recipes, check out Luke's Cookies! These are reaaly, really, really good. Really. But unless you're going to freeze pre shaped cookie dough (I've done it with this dough, works great- the perfect thrifty convenience dessert!), or you're planning on feeding an army of cookie monsters (or siblings!) you'll probably want to halve the recipe. I usually do. This recipe is in the Hot Providence cookbook, which I absolutely love. Nothing I have tried from there has failed, which means I can cook with confidence and try new recipes without wondering if they'll work.
(In the middle of that paragraph Nathan woke up and I switched him from my left arm to on my lap, so I've had both hands. There. Full disclosure.)

Well, he's waking up, and a bit fussy, so adios! Have a blessed Tuesday. :-)

Sleeping Nathan

Nathan was sleeping yesterday, and I took a few pictures. Then he almost woke up...
made a few funny faces...
yawned...

and settled back down again. :-)

Nathan Laurence is here!

Nathan Laurence arrived at 2:38 Sunday morning. He was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 inches long.

The week has passed quickly and I can't believe he'll be a week old tomorrow! Thursday (four days old) he smiled for the first time, and Friday (five days) I got this picture:

Currently...

... waiting for the baby.
... drinking tea.
... sitting on an exercise ball.
... thinking about what to have for lunch.
... appreciating the glorious weather and...
... wishing I'd taken my camera out when I walked this morning.
... planning on hanging some laundry on the line this afternoon for the first time in a while.
... wanting Hostess cupcakes. I know, I know. Fortunately I don't have any or any way of procuring them.
... wondering whether I should put more energy towards the baby quilt or the housecleaning.
... wondering how hard it would be to make a baby gown.
... deciding to go eat lunch before making any decisions.

Country Quiz

34
I think this is kind of embarrassing. My mind went blank at the end and I just sat there staring at the little unlabeled globe, knowing that I had woefully neglected South America and Africa, and couldn't remember any more. My best excuse is that I'm usually not awake this early, far less being tested in geography. I bet I'd do better in a few hours... can I get a retest? :-)

It is dangerous...

... to laugh this hard when recovering from a cough.

Cold Season

Yesterday, we had some more icy rain. Not too much, just enough to prompt the grown up equivalent of a snow day. :-) Curling up with tea and books is an excellent way to spend a cold day, especially if you're all shtuffy and congethted and every so often think you're about to cough up a lung.

Cold Prescription
- hot tea (repeat as necessary)
- warm blankets
- chicken noodle soup (or equivalent)
- books
- sympathetic person, either well or less sick, to turn on the kettle at intervals, bring more books/tea/soup/etc, and inquire about how you're feeling.
- gatoraid, fruit juice, water
- cough drops
- vitamin C
- sleep, sleep, sleep!

So far it seems to be working. :-) I am definitely improving, I feel much better than yesterday.

Our New Look

A recent picture. :-)

100 Cupboards

Normally, I read fast. If a story grips me, two to four hours later, the book is done. I find a good story very addictive, and a good plot can induce me to forgo sleep, food, showering, and other basics of civilized existence.

However, I'm discovering that there are other ways to enjoy a good story than by snarfing it down as quickly as possible. Micah's reading 100 Cupboards aloud, and I'm really enjoying it. It is forcing me to slow down and enjoy each part of the story, instead of rushing to the end to find out what happens. Which is definitely the fate this book would have had, since I can't wait to find out what comes next. But I will anyway.