Why I have loved co-sleeping with our child.

When I saw this article detailing an anti-co-sleeping campaign in Wisconsin my jaw dropped. Really?? Babies sleeping next to butcher knives?? This is the picture they are painting of a child sleeping in bed with the people that created him or her? Of course all families have different sleeping arrangements, what works for some may not work for others, but this attack on co-sleeping is just wrong, malicious, and deconstructive. In light of this recent campaign, I've decided to list a few of the numerous reason why sleeping with our child was the one of the best and most natural choices we've made as parents thus far.


1. We never had to buy a crib.
2. We never had to buy a port-a-crib. Traveling has always been a breeze; at a hotel, in a tent, visiting  family; we all can curl up anywhere!
3. In the infancy months, Graham and I will both attest to the fact that we probably got MORE sleep than we ever had before!
4. Night time feedings were (and still are) easy and smooth. I, literally, just lift my shirt up and continue sleeping.
5. He transitioned into his own bed (a mattress on the floor, first in our room, then in his own) extremely easily. He loves his room. And when he wakes up in the middle of the night he easily finds his way into our room. (Definitely easier because of living in a small apartment.) 
6. As an infant, we never had to "go get him" when he cried because he was always right there. Therefore, we rarely, if ever, had nighttime crying keeping us up.
7. We still have our "adult time" at night from the time he goes down (in his own bed) until we go to bed.
8. Makes going diaper free at night time all the more easy. If he wakes in the middle of the night, I just plop him on the potty which sits right next to the bed. During the day it stays in the bathroom. 

9. We get to cuddle with this little person we created.

10. We get to wake up next to this amazing little person smiling, singing, talking, kissing. The mornings have always been our most precious time of day.

11. The feel of his little hands gently rubbing my arm, the sound of his breathing...or snoring when he's stuffy, his tossing and turning, his whimpers when he's having a nightmare, his sleep talking. I love it all, and it's all been priceless.

12. And.... it makes for some great photo ops.

A Healthy Dessert

A "chocolate" smoothie. It's delicious. It's creamy. It tastes like ice cream.  It's HEALTHY! And, it's 100% approved by a little boy who became obsessed with ice cream over the summer. He even said, "Mommy, it tastes like ice cream!".


Here are the 4 simple ingredients:


1 Frozen banana (must be frozen to get the creamy affect!)
1 spoonful each of almond butter and peanut butter (or 2 spoonfuls of 1)
Enough milk of your choice to make it drinkable (I use almond milk)
1 spoonful of carob powder (like cocoa powder but naturally sweet, thus eliminating the need for added sugars!)
Blend and serve. YUM! 


You could also sneak in more healthy stuff like some chopped spinach or avocado, but because Kai usually gets at least one "green" smoothie a day, too; for us, this one is purely dessert!

Potty Break

Goodbye diapers! Hello... pants? That's right, pants. No cloth pull-ups, no disposable pull-ups, no undies! Yes, when the weather starts to get colder, I will put underwear on him to keep his little heiny nice and cozy, but up until now shedding all the extra layers was the secret ingredient. For the past month, Kai has been living his days diaper free, and for the past week, his nights, too! It wasn't all easy, but through trial and error we finally found success and it went something like this:


Step 1- In-home diaper free: In the house we went diaper/pants free. This made it easy for Kai to just plop down on the toilet when we asked him if he had to go, which we did, a lot! We started out using a reward system, offering him a little treat after a successful potty-go. This fizzled naturally only after about 3 days. He just completely stopped asking for a reward! There were times when he was hesitant about going (even though I knew he hadn't peed in a long time), so I would say something like, "Wouldn't it be nice to show Ernie (or any of his stuffed animals) how you can go potty like such a big boy?" This worked EVERY time!


Step 2- Wearing diapers out of house: At first we still put him in a diaper when we went out. We found he always still went in the diaper out of the house. But when we would come home and remove his diaper, he continued to use the potty. Having a diaper on must be a comforting feeling for them since they've been in one their "entire" lives.


Step 3- Pull-up: I purchased a cloth pull-up (blueberry brand, I think). Kai was excited about the idea of wearing, "big boy undies", as we called it, but in fact, they are just a stand-in diaper. When out of the house, he would still pee in the pull-up. I think I used it about 2 times before deciding to just shed it all!


Step 4- No More Diapers: I decided that I was just going to have to be ok with wet pants and "accidents" and stopped using the pull-up or diapers out of the house, too. Cold turkey. I simply brought an extra pair of pants anywhere and everywhere we went. For the first week or so of this, I definitely used them. Sometimes he would have a full on pee if he was intently distracted by something else, but more often he would have a little tinkle and than run and tell me, "Mommy, I'm going pee pee in my pants." Then we would go to the bathroom and he would finish there.


Step 5- Learning how to pull his own pants down: I think this was the crucial step for our successful potty-training. Kai likes to do things on his terms, so I think our incessant asking about whether or not he had to pee annoyed the bejesus out of him. He wanted to go when he wanted had to go. But in order to be able to run to the potty before it was too late, he had to be able to get his pants down by himself. So, we taught him. It was slightly challenging at first, but after a few tries he finally got it. First, pull your shirt up. Then, grab the sides and pull down. Then, reach around behind and pull down over your butt. Imagine having a pull-up on, too! What a lot of work that would be for the little guy! And, fortunately, pulling up is pretty easy. He always looks especially cute afterward, with the middle of the pants pulled over to one side and his shirt half tucked in to the top.


Step 6- Nighttime diaper-free: I honestly thought nighttime diapering was going to go on for a longgggg time before we even tried to cross that bridge. We did phase out nap-time diapering when he stopped wearing diapers at home, but nighttime, no way! It's such a long chunk of time... and he spends a LoT of it in our bed! We, honestly, did not have any intentions of allowing this to happen. But Kai, and his persistent ways, decided he was simply not going to wear diapers anymore, not even at night. He promised us that when he woke up in the middle of the night he would go potty without fussing. We assumed this would be a challenge because, to put it mildly, Kai is a bit of a "pouty face" when he wakes up... especially in the night. But so far, he's lived up to his word, and we keep the potty right next to the bed so it's a pretty easy transition for him, even when he's half asleep. And, I know I shouldn't be saying this, but knock-on-wood, we've had dry pjs and beds up till now. 


So there you have it, the Rachel/Graham/Kai potty training extravaganza! I should also add that all of this was done in a pretty relaxed and calm atmosphere. There was no pressure, no anger, no irritation. If it happened it happened, if it didn't it didn't. And well, what do you know, but it's seemed to have worked. And maybe, just maybe, some part of this will help you, too. Happy pottying! 

My Toddler Companion.

The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) we joined this season recently had a potluck dinner at their farm to give thanks to all its members. Kai and I went sans Graham, who was playing in a soccer game, but still managed to have a great time. We brought oatmeal-walnut cookies to share, and feasted on carrot soup, green beans, spinach and potatoes, kale wraps, and other yummy dishes. We played in the children's garden, oohed and aahed at the chickens, toured the grounds where all our produce was grown, warmed up around the fire, and listened to music. We knew not a soul upon arrival, but left having made many "friends". 

As I was driving home, I realized one of the major awesomenesses of having a child (especially one of Kai's age who still thinks his mommy is god's gift to the world!) is always having a "companion" or as I like to think of him, a "conversation starter". "How old is your kid?" "What's his name?" "What's your name?" "I know, they just grow up so fast!" Etc. Etc. It never fails. Anywhere and everywhere we go we make friends. Whether it's my choice or not. Kai rarely lets a single person walk by without asking their name. Just the other day he shouted at our neighbor (whom we had yet to meet) as she was getting in her car, "What's your name?" No answer (she hadn't heard). "I asked, What's YOUR name?" The innocence and confidence of a toddler is magnificent to watch. At this age, they are so uninhibited, and naturally, this rubs off on their mamas... or daddies... or anybody who happens to be hanging out with them on a given day. In my non-mommying days, I would have been hesitant to attend an event like this on my own. Sure, I enjoyed doing certain things solo... going to a movie, a yoga class, a walk, a coffee shop, but a "party"... not likely. Now, I rarely think twice about it. I bring Kai, and he brings me. 

(Notice our plates on top of the boat. Eco-Tip: Bring your own dishware to a party/event! )

(Kai and his new "friends".)

(P.S. Don't we wish all chickens live as "nice" of a life as this? But the sad truth is, they don't!)

Life is Good.

On Saturday, we joined some friends at the Life is Good music festival in Canton, MA. And we had a fabulous time. This was my kind of festival, hands down. Not only because it was extremely KID FRIENDLY and had AWESOME music for both the kiddies and the adults, but also because it was GREEN. Ahhh, green. My favorite kind of anything. There were compostable beer cups. Refillable water stations. A nursing zone. Vegetarian food. And right alongside the trash and recycling bins were COMPOSTING bins. Ok, so of course hundreds of people also had to drive to get there, but with all the exposure to green initiatives I like to think it was offset just a little bit. And this festival proved that it is possible to have fun and convenience while still being earth friendly. 

The kids in tow had a blast. There was so much for them to do and see and hear. Kai and his buddy Grayson danced and played, laughed and whined all damn day. They made some friends, ate some yummy food (including a big plate of sweet potato fries that Kai scored for free), and enjoyed romping around with each other on one of those big, colorful parachute thingamajigs. Kai also enjoyed some baby yoga,  an obstacle course, rocking out at the kids stage, and of course, some QT in the nursing station. Wow. It's a lot even to write! Still can't believe those boys made it through the entire day with ease. And to think Kai was going on just a half hour nap! What a great way to end the summer!

And Let the Potty Training Commence....

We hadn't really planned to start potty training. Sure, we've had the baby bjorn potty for a few months now, and he'd gone on it a couple times here and there, but it was never in the form of any serious potty training. We just figured we'd ignore the issue until he decided it was time. Well, it seems like that time has come. A couple weeks back when I was getting Kai ready for bed, we had the following conversation:


Me: "I'm going to put your diaper on now."
Kai: "No diaper, Mommy."
Me: "Well, I have to put your diaper on for bedtime... unless, you want to go peepee on the potty."  
Kai: "I have peepee coming now."
Me: "ok, so do you want to go to the potty?"
Kai: "ok!"


And that he did. Followed by a poop! He was very proud of himself. And so he got a reward in the form of a treat. A (grain-sweetened) chocolate chip. I don't really know what's being said out there about potty training rewards, but its working for us. The second day he didn't wear a diaper the entire day, all peeing and pooping on the potty. A couple of times he didn't even ask for a treat after. He was also excited to show his other toddler friends how he goes on the potty when they came over for a visit.


Since that first day he has definitely made progress. He is still wearing diapers most of the time for sleeping and when we go out, but at home he usually always tells me when he has to pee or poop, and he's still asking to go in the potty. He even enjoys bringing the potty bowl over to the toilet to dump it in! I'm not really sure what the next step is. I do have some "big boy undies" and a cloth potty training pull-up, but don't know if he's quite ready to be wearing them full time yet, although he does ask to.  If any seasoned moms out there have some advice about potty training, please feel free to offer it up!

A New York Weekend!

~Birthday tickets to see the musical Hair!
~My lovely sister, Jessie, meeting us in the city to hang with the KaiGuy. They Central Park'd it up!
~Yummy falafel sandwiches from Maoz Vegetarian to kick off the weekend.
~Graham and I seeing an incredible, hippie dippie, sexy, hopeful, anything but conservative show on Broadway! 
~Going to dinner at a delicious vegan restaurant called Red Bamboo.
~Hearing Jessie tell us about how she so gracefully and perfectly put an uptight woman in her place when she and Christian took Kai out to dinner. 

     The Woman: (under her breath but so they could still hear her without

     saying it directly to them), "I just hope he's well behaved."

     Jessie: (hearing this and definitely not being one to let someone get away

     with talking about her nephew) "Well, he is very well-behaved, and we were

     ALL children once."

   

~Awesome Sunday brunch at the Village Natural Restaurant in the West Village with some great company- Graham, Kai, Jessie, and her friend Christian.

~A beautiful community garden... stumbled upon, while looking for a place to change Kai's diaper.

~Quick trip into FAO Schwarz (only looking, no buying!), and a visit to the giant floor piano. (Unfortunately, Kai, who is semi-cripple at the moment after a playground fall, could only sit and watch!)

~A flawless, exciting, fun, yummy food-filled weekend! Thanks, everyone!

Here are some pictures:

 *At Red Bamboo there were these delicious Buffalo wings, complete with a wooden "bone" inside. Strange, but true!

* For my meal, I had the most authentic tasting "chicken tenders". The potatoes and veggies were nothing to write home about, but who needs them anyway when you're having "chicken tenders" for the first time in almost 2 years! Graham's meal was yummy too, black pepper "steak" or something like that.

~And for the real treat, an incredible mocha "cheesecake". Even though I was already stuffed and couldn't envision taking one more bite, I managed to just about finish this off. So delicious!  I definitely wouldn't want to eat this way everyday; I much prefer a whole foods diet to a processed one (which surely fake "meat" is), but every once in while I think it's ok to indulge. And it makes it that much more special when you do! Vegans and non-vegans alike would thoroughly enjoy this restaurant!

*At brunch the next day, Jessie and I shared this yummy tofu rancheros- scrambled tofu on a corn tortilla with onions, salsa, guacamole, chili beans.  

*And delicious vegan buck wheat waffles! Oh, and some sweet potato fries!