When I'm a Mom, I plan to...
- use cloth diapers (not because I think it will save the world- but because it's CHEAP!!!)
- home school (more on that later, I have an A.MAZ.ING curriculum. And it's been quite a journey to come to that "radical" home-schooling decision!)
- breastfeed- if baby from pregnancy, plenty of skin-to-skin contact if from adoption! *UPDATE! Thanks to Angela for this great tip about "bottle-nursing". Any of you have experience with this?
- Sing, sing, sing and teach my babies to enjoy life! I personally "need" a kid to justify my silliness!
- And obviously...talk about the Lord ALL the time!! There's no need to wait for formal prayer times, let's give Him praise, thanks, and petition "shout-ups" all day long!
- *UPDATE! Thanks Ann for reminding me of another plan I have to make my own babyfood! My Mom always did this, so it seems natural to me.
- *Thanks Grace in My Heart for the reminder to read, read, read! (Ahhh...the first grade teacher heart of mine goes pitter-patter!)
- *And Amen Barbie to NO TV!!! (I have a post about this coming next Tuesday!)
What plans do you have? What do you dream of doing with your babies? Or what did you experienced Mamas do that recommend? What did you think you'd do that didn't work out as planned?
18 comments:
You are so cute, Lauren! I love your list! :) And I can. not. wait. for your post when you say that you got the call!!! Ring baby ring! :)
I remember having a goal during my waiting days that I was going to read one book to my child every day. It sounded simple enough but I do have to admit I've fallen short. Some days are just crazy or I'm tired and it doesn't happen. Most times I'm just happy holding my little man enjoying each day with him...I still have to pinch myself that I'm a mother and he is mine. :) I wonder when that wears off...
I am a mom via both routes, and I know you can breastfeed adopted kids. (I did not, but it can be done.)
I love your list and hope you get to put it into practice soon. Do you know what I always dreamed of doing with my kids? Making them into history and astronomy nerds...taking them to independence hall in philly, gettysburg, etc., and stargazing. I want to tell them the star stories, facts, and myths my daddy told me by the telescope.
I am a giant nerd.
:)
I have a mile-long list, but here are a few small ones:
* I want to do a Jesse Tree during Advent. I'm working on making permanent ornaments now :) It's a lost tradition.
*I want to make baby food rather than buy it.
*I make beautiful gingerbread houses now. They look *almost* perfect. I want a big messy imperfect one decorated by my kids. I want to just dump the candy out and let their imagination go wild. (IRL, this probably won't play out so well due to the sugar rush, but a girl can dream.)
*Sing (although I can't). My protestant mother sang to me. I was singing one of those songs one day and my husband couldn't believe that I still knew the words. He thought it was so sweet.
*Music lessons. I never had any and this is big on my DH's wish list.
*Reading books. I have a small collection started. I wasn't read to very much and I like the idea of it. One nephew cannot go to sleep unless he is read to - so sweet.
*All the little religious crafts that I think of, but don't have time to do with my 2nd grade religion class.
Obviously, my momma dreams move beyond the “baby” stage :)
A lot of the things on my list are what's on your list. I definitely what to hear more about the amazing home-school curriculum. I, like Ann, also want to make my own baby food. I'm sure there are other things, but those are the ones I can think of.
I'm curious to know if you've picked the brand of diapers you'll use. I've read about so many it's a little overwhelming.
I'm terrified of cloth diapering, but I've always heard about fuzzi buns.
However, Sew had a post and lots of mommas in the know chimmed in. Here is the link:
http://sewinfertile.blogspot.com/2010/06/cloth-diapering.html
I love the term "Bottle Nursing" - my lactation consultant girlfriend introduced me to it. The idea is that even if you can't nurse your baby (for whatever reason) treat the feeding the same attention as a breast-nursing session with plenty of snuggles/cuddles and holding the bottle over your breast (works for Dad too!). It's the closeness that creates the bonding.
As for the To Do list:
- Read a story every night (still doing this 3 years later)
-Play, Play, Play!
- Cloth Diapers - I'm cheap too and saved a ton with this. I also found that H got rashes with disposables
- Baby wearing - HIGHLY recommend this. It allows your hands to be free but snuggle your babe. We took H everywhere this way and I am positive she was such an even tempered content baby because of it.
oh Boy where to start?
1. read a book to them daily. My mom did this and fostered a LOVE of books to me and my sister.
2. breastfeed my adopted child. I started this with my lost boy and LOVED every second!
3. make my own baby food FOR SURE!
4. NO TV as long as humanly possible!
5. Piano/music lessons, me and Grant play piano and I teach but I want them to learn either piano or some other classical instrument!
I could go on and on but I'll stop!!
Thanks, Grace!! I hope that never wears off for you! :)
Cathy- thanks for the comments! I know that you CAN breastfeed adopted (or at least that it's possible) but we decided not to induce lactation since that would make this infertile girl SUPER infertile! But AMEN to the history lover and taking your kids on those fabulous trips. That was important to my parents, too, and it was so fun to be able to *see* history. I'm a nerd, too... We can dream! (p.s. that's one of the reasons I want to homeschool!)
Ann- AMEN to the Jesse Tree! It IS a lost art! I did it with my first graders every year and loved it. Check out my friend Kate's blog. She did an adorable Jesse tree: http://thekadanes.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-beginning-to-look-lot-likechristmas.html and http://thekadanes.blogspot.com/2009/12/jesse-tree-update.html
And I forgot to say make my own baby food! Thanks for bringing that one up! Have fun with the gingerbread house! What a fun tradition that will be!
Mrs. Blondies- stay tuned for a post on home schooling- and get excited about the curriculum. I went from 80% sure I'd homeschool due to my husband's wishes and lack of options to 99% sure and SUPER excited about it!!!
Jennifer- my good friend gets her diapers from www.cottonbabies.com and www.nickisdiapers.com. She just gets the chinese prefolds for the majority fo the time and the pocket diapers for nights. She recommended I buy:
-3 dozen small + 12 covers
-2 dozen bigger + 6 covers
-nighttime diapers
-travel bag
-2 laundry bags
-wipes 2-3 dozen
It's worked for 3 kids for her and is about to work for the fourth! (Though she did get somenew pink covers when her daughter was born!!)
Angela- glad you're here!!! LOVE that bottle nursing time and idea!!! THANKS!!!! That made me really really happy to read about! And nicely noted for the baby wearing. I'm totally in. :)
Barbie- YEA! Glad to have so many book lovers out there!! I took piano lessons for 11 years, and loved it. I'd love to teach my children!
Love hearing all your ideas, ladies!
Wow. My comment was longer than my post.
Great post, but I'm supposed to be making dinner but I wanted to tell you where I just came from....!!! Eeekkk!!!
I GOT A CHOOSE LIFE TAG!!!!!
I'm so excited! ;) If I'm going to live on the fring I better go all the way, even if I don't care for the look of it. ;) I care for what it stands for! ;)
YEA!!!!! GO SEW GO!!! That is AWESOME! I"m so happy you got one and that you told me! :) You rebel you...push that fringe back as far as it will go! :)
Lauren: Wow! Your friend's Jesse tree is awesome! I'm trying to make mine not too-childlike (given the absense of children) and it is a small mini-tree, but I may have to copy hers (the stars I am definitely starting). This was a great cut-out site I found and it had neat ideas as well:
http://www.eriercd.org/jessetree.htm
We just about went broke with Bumgenius and hated them. With #2 we got Nubunz (nubunz.com) on a pal's suggestion and they were cheap (we bought "factory seconds" which are PERFECT) and we are thrilled. And theyre so cute!
The power of just one blog post! :) Influence is a powerful thing! ;) hahahaha
I'd love to hear your curriculum list. I've been researching Classical Catholic curriculum for a year now (my son is only 2!) and I can't wait to start!
I'm out of town right now and at the library to check email and blogs! :) (I've scheduled things to post for the next two weeks- did y'all know you could do that? Pre-schedule blog posts? It makes it so easy!) ANyway when I return I"ll write about my journey to home-schooling and the AWESOME curriculum. Glad to hear there are more of us out there....I wondered if everyone would think I was crazy!
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