Co-sleeping

I'm the type of person that prefers my baby in the room with me for the longest amount of time possible meaning as long as my husband will stand it. (the first 4 months and the second 9, only because we were in the middle of an international move). However co-sleeping wasn't an entire night thing for me. There is always the point where they have to lay in the cradle that is up against the bed so I can still stare them down at every convenience. I guess most light sleepers like myself could have a problem with it or it could just be that I have loud sleepers. Little little in particular would spend the majority of the night growling and as the night wore on it would get louder and louder. I love sleeping with the baby right next to me so I can feel their breath and feel their presence next to me, even if it results in me getting little to no sleep. In fact I try at least a few times a week to take a nap with little little just to get the extra loving in. Now that we have switched a little closer to the "French" eating schedule and I finally gave up my nightly feedings for him I have to say we are all sleeping better but I don't think I will stop missing it anytime soon. It usually was me laying down on the floor nursing, and Little big loved to join in the cuddling. I can't tell you how many nights I woke up an hour or two later, both my arms completely dead and both boys sweating all over me (best cuddling!)  With it being such a good bonding for mom/dad/baby and sometimes even older kids I wonder what others think of this ridiculous add..

While there are dangers they are mostly for overweight or smoking mothers, or for some reason anyone in Wisconsin, and who knows how often it's SIDS and not just co-sleeping.

Worth it?

Friday Favorites-German Alps

Every Friday I am going to do "Friday Favorites" things that I love that have made a difference in my life whether products of places. And after three wonderful years living in Germany things in Europe are bound to be on the list often. Today is for one of my favorite places, the German Alps, Driving up to them after hours of flat/slightly hilly German countryside is one of those experiences that takes your breath away. There are few places I have been that I loved enough I would move there, and this is one of them. From the amazing castles like Neushwanstein to the view from Germany's tallest mountain you see all around you how fairy tales were imagined. This is a place filled with beautiful Bavarian Villages, timber-framed homes and shops that make you want to move right in. It's a place that gives you a sense of peace and tranquility, being surrounded by such unworldly beauty makes you just want to take up a hammock and stay for the rest of your life. Given the chance I would jump on a plane, and make the 12 hour flight kids and all just to spend the day there.

Bringing up Bebe

I don't know how many out there are the type to read parenting books, I myself find that during pregnancy I read everything that I can get my hands on about pregnancy. During normal life however I am more drawn to books about teaching my kids, montessori books and books on play based learning. This book however isn't a boring book telling you what you should do and how you should do it. Bringing up Bebe doesn't get close to that type of book, it's funny and emotional and you can relate in almost every way to the author. Teaching your children is such a struggle and knowing that others are in it with you is always comforting. One of the main things I loved in this book is "The Pause" it's something you start when the baby is a few weeks old and while it may sound mean to some it's a great way to teach your kids patience from the beginning. It's about letting your child cry for a few minutes before you give them what they want, it's not about depriving them but about teaching them to self soothe from a young age. This book is based on French parenting and while there are things I don't agree with overall this book is amazing and is very close to how I want to raise my own children. It's about having kids that can entertain themselves, having kids that eat at 3 mealtimes and only one snack time a day. Being an American mother I have toted around food for my kids to soothe anything from whining to them annoying me. I have to say that this new one snack a day has gone well for me, while my Little Big doesn't love one snack a day he is getting used to it and no longer turns to food for everything.
Another thing that I think is essential for a modern family to survive is having a marriage based family. Not neglecting your kids but letting them know that your husband/wife comes first and that you two are always on the same page. Letting them know that there is family time and there is adult time and the latter is not something they can interrupt. This book draws you in in so many ways and is a lovely read. It's the type of book that motivates you to try harder as a parent and not just go the easy way and, not just while you read the book but after too. I plan on getting one for every pregnant woman I know!

Baby Wearing

One of my absolute favorite pastimes is baby wearing, I enjoy it so much I will go on walks just to strap little little to me. It's as close to the goodness of pregnancy as you can get, you know your baby is warm and has everything they need if they are nestled up that close to their mamma's. Even on our cruise to Greece where I was wearing him for 6-8 hours a day I didn't get sick of it, they are in the perfect kissing reach and you can smell their sweet little breath. Baby wearing gives you the chance to have that piece of your heart they took when they were born back, it's a feeling like few others. My favorite is front baby wearing where you can kiss them the entire time you wear them or feel their breath when they fall asleep on you.  It turns grocery shopping with a child from a slightly hellish experience to a lovely way to relax and spend time with your baby. And while it may turn hiking into quiet the sweaty affair teaching your kids to love the great outdoors never felt so good!
Back wearing is just as good for the closeness and a lot easier when your doing something like hiking the only downside is the lack of kisses. There is nothing quiet so great as having little little snuggling up to my chest, if only big little didn't weigh close to 40lbs I'd tote him around too.
Not only is it something that is great for your day to day happiness but baby wearing has tons of benefits, it helps with the bonding process, mother, father, or even grandparents. It makes life immensely easier for everyone, and not just easier a lot more pleasant. And it helps colicky or sick babies, and trust me any one who has survived colic knows how important something that can calm your baby is.
You can even baby wear in your moby without a top for skin to skin contact which is great for bonding and for baby. Read this story about skin to skin to see just how amazing it really is, a baby pronounced dead at birth was resuscitated not by CPR but by skin to skin with his mamma!
P.s. my favorite carriers are moby (for the baby baby stage) and Ergo for that and anything beyond! ( I prefer the ergo sport it's a few more dollars but more breathable and living in a state as hot as this one I need that!)

Personality

Everyday you notice little things that make you gawk in wonder at how two children with the same parents can be so different. How is it I can have a three year old that is so timid, and fearful of the unknown and have a brother who looks like a mini version of him who is so fearless. I love watching the different reactions my boys have to the same things. Today at the Zoo the bigger little man decided it was better to avoid the carousel and opt for the train, while baby blue eyes was ecstatic about the whole thing. One would gaze in wonder at the gorilla as he banged on the glass all while staring us down while the other ran the second he noticed him. Their fears and anxieties defiantly come from different places. Yet they both have the same sweetness that fills you with joy at the sight of them. While the big little will cuddle for hours on end, the little little gives you five minutes at most (unless he is in the Ergo best invention ever btw) they both are so full of love, and both so defiant even at young ages, both look to you to determine how far they can push the limits, and both light up at the sight of me and the hubs. It's amazing that two people made out of the same stuff who look so much a like can be so different. It makes me eager to see what our future children will be like. While little little is easy going and care free (as long as he eats, I swear both boys could eat a horse and still be hungry) big little is cautious and not always easy to please. Somehow both of them are full of joy at even the littleset things and make me thank God everyday that I get to be their Mama.

Momma Love

Momma Love

Something that is second only to the love I have for the Hubs, momma love is one of the most amazing feelings out there. It's what gets you through the long nights, and the exhausting days, it's what picks you up when your most down, and it's what feels your heart with a joy so potent you feel like you could burst. Nothing makes my heart grow or my heart flutter more than my boys, big and little. It's amazing that you can love someone so fully from the word go, even when they are the size of a pea inside your belly you have love for them and it seems to just grow day in and day out. I can't imagine a love more sweet, or a more complete joy. It makes your heart ache for all those who don't/can't have kids whether it's by choice or not. It's something that is the essence of beauty, to love someone so much that you can't imagine your life with out them, and are so thankful to know that they are yours for time and all eternity. For anyone out there who has yet to feel this amazing love look forward to it, you may loose some of yourself to motherhood but you gain so much more. I never thought my heart could hold so much, and am SO thankful that these two amazing souls are ours to love forever more.

The baby hunger craze

When your already happy baby hit's that amazing phase where they say a few words, maybe take a few steps, and above all else smile and love on you all the time you come to a very scary junction. It's called baby hunger, some choose the path where they have two kids under 2 years and others listen to their husbands advice and allow sanity to rule. I have hit it hard enough that I would like to ignore the sane plea's of my dear husband and go for #3, luckily for my sleep schedule/other children/finances/ too may other things to list we are taking road #2.
What is it about being  a woman that gives you cravings for babies? Is it the crazed hormones, the cute babies you see everywhere (especially your own), the mini clothes, even the mini diapers or, is it knowing that this beautiful little soul you love every minute of every day is getting bigger, growing up. Is it more the fact that I am ready for another one or that I miss how small my boys were. I know it's the second one but I would still like to ignore that and have another baby. Coming from someone who hates being pregnant you know your being just a bit nuts when ever baby bump you see makes you swoon. Knowing that they are soon to get that moment where you see your baby for the first time, or they look into your eyes and its like your holding the entire world in your hands. The best moment there is, the first time you connect nothing is more everything (there is no other word to describe it, hundreds all compiled maybe)
I know one day we'll have another, and then another, and maybe even one more. So for right now I am going to try to focus on the littleness of my amazing 10 month old baby that is so complete in his perfection that I just want another one!

My Nicu baby

Boys meeting for the first time, it only took an hour or
so for him to want to acknowledge his brother,
I loved it!

Our first night together

Not very happy with the Dr. He looks a little gremlin"y"
here :)

P.s. How I miss that newborn smell any of you with new babies out there beware!!!!