Clean.

Second-Hand Books.

After divesting our stash of cloth diapers, size 2T clothes, overflowing toys and small winter gear at the yard sale, we made a little time as a family to hunt for some new treasures yesterday. Not to fill the void mind you - we like this new open space in our home so very much - but because City Wide Spring Rummage Weekend only comes once a year and we just had to have a look around.

Sage bought handcuffs. Lupine bought a rhinestone-clad watch (or as she calls it her farkly pink belt. Don't ask.) And Pete and I bought very little, considering the dozens of sales peppering our little town. We brought home some garden gnomes (my kitsch obsession), quilts for the kids' room, the microscope, a nut cracker, and a stack of books.

Oh, the books.

The only one not shown here is the Dangerous Book for Boys. The the Tooth Fairy absconded with it as soon as I brought it home.  I didn't question her, but I am assuming she has plans for it for later in the week. Those she left are exactly what I was wanting more of in my life. Attachment. Living with the land. Creating with my hands. Plant medicine.

There's good magic in these pages. Continuum Concept I recommend constantly but somehow don't have in my library. Root Cellaring will fuel my desire to head out to the country once and for all. And knitting and herbal medicine books? My delights.

I am also reading two other books right now that are rocking my world: Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes and Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen. These have been recommended to me by two of my dearest friends and both are shaping our life, day by day.

What's on your nightstand these days?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I promise this is the final bit of Babywearing madness for a while. It's our last day of winners! Before you start skimming the list below to see if you've won, I wanted to thank you all again for being so supportive of this celebration. I've enjoyed it immensely, especially your photos and your writing. Before we turn away from this week entirely, take one more peek at our flickr page. There were several amazing photos over there that I couldn't seem to post here. Take a peek. They are lovely.

Onto the day 6 winners. If you see your name below, please drop me an email (rachel at lusaorganics dot com).

Mama Made Sling Set: Natalie who said:

Most of my stash is DIY, so I loved this post! I am so thankful for all the mamas who share their wisdom through the internet on making carriers... Jan, the Babywearer, and more. And I'm thankful for Slingrings, so I can sling in confidence without worrying about whether my hefty toddler is going to go tumbling if they snap! :)

Mothering Subscription:Darla who said:

I am thankful for all the strong mamas and papas out there inspiring others to homebirth, babywear, ec, co-sleep, breastfeed, etc etc etc!!! Yay!

Babywearing 101: HereWeGoAJen who said:

I've been meaning to make my own sling, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I will soon, I promise!

Slingrings 1: Kristen who said:

Rachel- Thanks for such a wonderful series and a beautiful way to end the week with home-made slings! I love a little DIY project myself so thanks for the encouragement!

Slingrings 2: Melissa who said:

I've really enjoyed your posts this week, and I'm thankful for resources like this that keep inspiring me!

Slingrings 3 Katie R who said:

What an inspiring story! Wonder if I can convince my husband to make some wraps...the stories this week have been really wonderful, and I am so grateful to hear positive and uplifting accounts of other parents who wear their babies! Thank you!

A Microscope.

Thanks for the wonderful thoughts on yesterday's post. I am glad it was so resonant for you. The bread was fabulous and the rest of our day was joy-filled and relaxed. I hope yours was as well!

It is the City Wide Rummage Sale in my town this weekend. I mentioned it here last year (and showed off our finds). This year we had our own sale so we only visited two sales yesterday. But the treasure of the day was Sage's new prize possession:

A microscope.

He could hardly fall asleep last night, planning the slides he would prepare. Providing him with the right tools to explore and learn has been a pleasure for me. Watching the sparkle in his eyes as he discovered an answer to a question he had, or as he explores new concepts confirms my choice to unschool. The learning happens all day long, each and every day.

So aside from homeschooling supplies, the kids are taking the money they earned at our yard sale to look for treasures of their own this afternoon. Happy thrifting!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

And of course, one more day of babywearing winners! If you see your name below, please email me  (rachel at lusaorganics dot com) so that I can arrange shipping. For those of you who have gotten in touch already, I'm moving through these as fast as I can. There are so many, so it may take me a couple of days to get back to you!

Day 5 winners are:

Gypsy Mama: Brooke:

Once again, just fabulous! Love the wrap at the beginning!

Didymos: Jennifer W who said:

I saw Lisa's comment on success yesterday but I didn't realize she had been commenting all week. What a story! :)

I just had the thought yesterday, what do you do if your baby doesn't want to be anywhere except in the sling and you need to take a shower?? Who knew someone already came up with the answer :)

Tummy 2 Tummy: Caitlin who said:

oooh! I have been wanting both of the wraps to use this summer (hot summers in Idaho!) So glad that other mamas are finding the confidence to give wrapping a try- it's my favorite way to wear my baby!

Finding Joy.

We talk allot (both here and at home) about living your best life. Your most authentic life. Your bliss. Living each moment with the juice of it dripping deliciously off of your chin. But some days the happiness eludes us all, even here.

Like today.

Pete was in a Hurry. A Big Hurry. It was a little tense around here as he hurried the kid and hustled around getting ready to leave. "Where are you going?" I asked. "I'm taking the kids to the park," he replied. "To play."

There are these moments where my eyes open wide and my jaw drops a bit and I think, Really? Really? This is how we're choosing to spend this day? The absurdity of hurrying to the park was enough to knock me on my butt and make me to take stock of our emotional space. Yes, the toilet overflowed this morning. Again. Yes, the kids stayed up late and Lupine is grumpy. Yes, we woke to a kitchen still full of yesterday's dirty dishes. Yes, there's allot to get done, like always.

But there is nothing beyond this moment. There is today. How are you spending it?

I, too, have hurried to the park. And the coop. And the library. And who-knows-where. I, too, have hurried to get the kids in bed right-on-time-and-not-a-minute late. I too have sucked the joy out of moment after moment as I rush along with my brow furled and my head down.

But for what? I am seeing a stick with no carrot in this. And I'm not interested in a stick.

So right now, in the midst of my busy work day I am pausing from my own business. I am going to grind grains and bake bread. To hell with the schedule. I want my kids to enjoy fresh, warm bread at lunchtime and that comes first.

Sometimes running a home-based business and trying to fix up our house and planting a garden and sorting the recycling and homeschooling and DIY-everything gets to be allot. And with that we're planning on bringing on chickens (and maybe bees!?) in our yard. And we're having a rummage sale this weekend. And I have dishes to wash. But what about this moment?

Let's stop and let the laundry pile up and the phone ring while we sit on the steps in the sunshine, nibbling our snack and listening to the birds.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

And now to the Babywearing Celebration...

Three tots, parking lot
do i need another arm?
no, just the Ergo!

~Sarah Orlikowski

Day 4 Winners are below. If you see your name please email me (rachel at lusaorganics dot com) so I can arrange shipping!

ERGObaby: Susan M. who said:

I am dreaming of babywearing since #2 is going to be here in Aug. I love looking at all those wrap but they look so complicated and so I now have my heart set on the Ergo, I have heard many wonderful things about it!!!

Kozy Carrier: Pamela R who said:

Beautiful post.

Baby Catbird: Melaine who said:

I love wearing my baby! She is now 19 mos and does not enjoy it as much as she used to. It actually makes me what to have another soon because I miss it. We have a few small babywearing groups in our community. But I have not met with them in a while....I need to do that again :)

Tummy 2 Tummy: Sarah B who said:

I often lament the lack of community facing new mothers in our society. A year or so ago when I was looking up instructions on how to wear a mei tai, I came across the website of a Korean woman who had emigrated to the US. I can't find that link anymore, but she said something like this in reference to the back carry: In Korea there would always be another adult around to help you put the baby in the carrier, but here in the US that isn't the case. I remember reading that over and over because I found it so stunning -- never alone with the baby! Always another adult around! I have no idea what that would be like.

Ever Growing.

Is it really just mid-April? In my heart it feels like June already, or late May at least. My girl Lupine has garden fever and has already planted beans, peas, and bushels of flowers and herbs. Many might not survive what May will bring, but she is optimistic and it's catchy. It's hard for us to refrain from putting our entire garden in - with these glorious days strung one after another like summertime.

The kids too feel the growing tingle in their mind and in their bodies. I watch as they grow and stretch and expand into new parts of their minds and new parts of themselves each day.

They are bending, growing, expanding.

I stand here and watch in wonder at it all.

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Babywearing Celebration Winners

Babywearing Celebration Day 3 Winners are below. If you've won, please email me so that we can arrange shipping (rachel at lusaorganics dot com).

Baby K'tan: Lily who said:

I love seeing all these different baby wearing devices. Would love a chance to try different ones from what I have.

Kangaroo Korner Fleece Pouch: Melissa who said:

I was able to wear my son while he was little but he really is a very active 2 year old now and I miss that time with him, I'm hoping that with #2 on the way we'll also have a good babywearing experience.

Tummy 2 Tummy DVD: Jennifer W who said:

I think it's awesome that Kangaroo Korner has donated so many pouches!! I love that extra thoughtfulness because as a low-income mom to be myself I am so excited to try babywearing but definitely wondering about fitting it into the budget. I am glad they made it possible for so many other families :)

When I can't hold you
and Papa can't snuggle you
I'm glad I wear you!

~Laura Rae

You're snuggled in close,
As I scrub the toilet bowl.
Multitasking rocks!

~Caitlin Harris

Learning to Spin Wool.

This winter I bartered with a local woman the trade of a lifetime: LuSa soap for a Louet spinning wheel. (Its an S10-DT for the fiber geeks out there.)  

Yes. Soap for a spinning wheel.

But my efforts at learning to spin this winter were so lame that I couldn't even bring myself to post that I had the wheel. It was too embarrassing.

My birthday present to myself was spending part of my birthday with my spinning wheel at the local yarn shop. I noticed that the yarn shop had a spinning class on my birthday weekend so I went for it. It was three hours well spent. Within the first five minutes I undid the damage of my winter's efforts at learning bad habits, and away we went.

I was amazed at how zen it was. It was really a dreamy experience spinning away, the fibers moving through my hands. By 4:00 I had a skein of handspun plied wool. It is far from perfect but I am thrilled. Every night since I've slipped in a few restful moments of spinning. I can't get enough.

Life is so good!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

And now, the Day 2 Babywearing Giveaway winners! If you see your name below please send me an email so that I can arrange shipping. (rachel at lusaorganics dot com).

Over the Shoulder Baby Holder: Darla who said:

My daughter hated slings and things at first too! but determined to not have these things just lying around, i persevered and got over MY sling/carrier issues and so did she (apparently "its not you, its me" was the actual scenario going on here.)

Love these fabulous stories being shared!

Tummy 2 Tummy DVD: Tanya V who said:

I can't imagine any other way to get through the day than to wear my precious daughter. The smell of her hair so sweet and calming... and close enough to kiss whenever either of us needed it. And Daddy wearing her as we run errands or hit garage sales, etc. So sweet!

Babywearing 101: Brooke who said:

I would love to retry a sling, only my husband uses ours... it doesn't fit me right.

My sleeping baby

Inside, longer than out, now

Me, your home always

~ Kim Vukovich

Winners.

Two posts in one day? Unprecedented. But we've got babywearing business to attend to. You know. The winners. And a bonus poem, just for fun:

Gazing out

Safe, happy, curious.

Beside Mama.

 

~ Brooke Gustafson

I've selected the winners with a little help from the Random Integer Generator. I'll be announcing winners day-by-day throughout the week. As it is Monday, last Monday's winners are below.

If you happened to win something you don't feel you will use, do let me know and I will happily find a new home for it.

Thanks to each and every one of  you for your enthusiasm, participation, and love. If you see your name below, please contact me by email so that I can arrange shipping. (rachel at lusaorganics dot com).

Moby Wrap: Devon K who said:

Something that I really held in my heart is when my 5.5 year old held my 1 year old in a carrier. He said - Mom! I can hold and snuggle "M" now just like you! He doesn't have the confidence to hold him in just his arm but felt more confident holding him in the Kozy (not that he went anywhere, just walking around the carpeted family room, but it helped my 1 year old settle down, and the looks of love between the two of them were thankfully captured on film, but will never leave my heart.

Tummy 2 Tummy DVD: Candice O who said:

I looooove wearing my baby!!!! and i hear soo much good things about the moby wrap...we are using a ring sling...and the only thing is it really sometimes bothers my shoulders...so would looooove to win lol
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Babywearing 101: Kellianne S who said:

Thank you so much for doing this! The positive publicity for babywearing is so needed right now. I have been babywearing for 9 years, its a must with a toddler and running errands.