Happiest Baby on the Block

[here]

Last night Matt and I watched an informative DVD " Happiest Baby on the Block." This book is recommended everywhere, which we will be buying soon. But we also got the good advice from fellow blogger-mom Claudia, to get the DVD version. Turns out my library had it...and it is fantastic! We thought he (Dr. Harvey Karp) was a little hokey and it feels like it was made in the 90's, but after we started to watch his method of the 5 "S's" Oh my. Magic. We were entranced. We wanted to have our little fussy spud right there in our arms to try it out for reals.

The 5 S's:
1. swaddling
2. shushing (which in reality is a VERY loud shushing, borderline irritating)/ white noise
3. side or stomach lying
4. swinging/ vibrating (weird jiggling thing you have to see on the video excerpt below!)
5. sucking (nursing, bottle, finger, pacifier)

The theory is that each fussy baby will be different, but they all will respond to 1-5 of the above. The 5 S's simulate what life was like for the little babe in utero for the first 9 months of life. Sometimes all it takes is just swaddle and shushing, and sometimes it's all 5 at once. Has anyone tried this method?! Does it work in real life?

oh...such kindness.

[a surprise on my doorstep]

People amaze me. I cannot believe how incredibly sweet our family, friends, co-workers, and blog-friends are. I feel so loved. I came home to find this sweet little cluster of books sitting on my doorstep from one of my idaho girlfriends congratulating me for being pregnant. And if that wasn't thoughtful enough, they happen to be the next two books that were on my amazon- to-buy-when-pregnant list. And now I get to read them! So sweet. And I am so incredibly touched by how supportive all of you, my blog-friends, are with your well wishes and uplifting comments. And the sweet congratulatory emails, hugs at work, or asking how I am doing on the phone...it means the world to me. It makes me feel like matt and I are not alone in this we have a TON of support, even if we do live all the way out in idaho. So thank you!! 

And on the book topic, I have way too many books that I want to read... but there is so much great information out there.

:: want to have time to read ::

-child proofing your dog by brain kilcommons (or dogs in our case)

-belly laughs by jenny mccarthy

-baby bargains by denise and alan fields

-love and logic magic for early childhood by jim and charles fay

:: would like to buy & read ::

-montesorri at home: birth to three by paula polk lillard

-happiest baby on the block by harvey karp

-think:straight talk for women in a dumbed down world by lisa bloom

:: currently reading ::

-the birth house by ami mckay (amazing book)

-100,001 baby names by lesley bolton

-eating well while you're expecting

-what to expect when you're expecting

-oh yeah, and a TON of nursing school books that are just not quite as much fun.

any recommendations?!

how to talk to girls...

[the book]

Jes on amountainbride just posted an article that I thought I should share with you too. I loved reading it (twice). Its a wonderful article about how to talk to little girls... the way in which their minds will be approached and appraised instead of their beauty. I think this applies to both little boys and girls.... all kids.. but how often do you see the cutest little kid and your first comment is how adorable/cute they are? Instead why not get down to their level, and ask them if they like to read?! The world is already pressuring our little kids to focus on looks, their body, and hot-ness.... so why not be a good role model and show them that what you noticed first in them is the capabilities of their mind?! What a fun idea... I love it, even though it sounds challenging. The article is by Lisa Bloom... who apparently is an author of a book pictured above that I will be purchasing soon. So I would encourage you to check out the article...

how to talk to little girls by lisa bloom

prego- book thoughts...

...at home in my office-to-be-nursery you can see the bright yellow walls...

Well I spent my last day off over winter break at Barnes and Noble. This is usually my "treat" to myself... for the past 6 years or so...its my thing. I go and wander around the store, pick a handful of books, and buy a coffee and just sit and read them. I really don't have the money to actually purchase handfuls of books, even though I really would love to. So I journal about what I read, what strikes me, and titles I hope to buy one day and I just soak it all up. In the past I'd love the relationship...I believe its technically called the self-help aisle... ha! Oh college days. Then it was teaching books...to decorating/ nesting...then weddings galore...and now babies! I love this me-time.

So this past Tuesday it was all pregnancy books, hypnobirthing, pregnancy magazines...and hot chocolate instead. I happened to actually buy a book- Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan. I haven't had a chance to read the whole thing, and once I do I will post more about it. But it follows all of my ideals of having a natural child birth that I want. Like I mentioned before with my plan, that I'd like to be fully prepared about what will be happening to my body... then letting it take over and having the faith in myself that I am capable. I can get past the pain (in theory) and that fear causes pain...so I can try not to be fearful, to believe in myself. I need Matt, as my birthing companion, to be able to keep this peaceful environment for me, our spud...and potentially to help alleviate some of the stress that potentially the hospital staff may create. So I plan on reading this book before I meet with my OB, that way I am confident and educated in my natural-birth choice and armed with a non-epidural pain killer...positive thoughts! Anyone ever done hypnobirthing? Does it work?