Babywearing

Before Dominick was born I really hadn't thought much about babywearing and didn't think I would do much of it. I found a couple carriers I liked, but didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on one when I wasn't even sure if it was something we would like to do. I found the lillebaby nordic carrier and it was relatively inexpensive and did everything that I wanted. So I bought it.

didymos 100% cotton wrap - great wrap for beginners

A few weeks after Dominick was born we started going to a play group with our friends. One of them had a wrap and wore him pretty much the entire time we were there. He loved the closeness (of course because he was only probably 3 weeks old at the time) and I loved that I could be hands free. She told me I needed a wrap, but little did I know how expensive they could be. I kept trying to put him into my carrier, but he was still kind of little (I didn't know that I could have froggied his legs).

This is a great wrap for beginners and I'd definitely suggest getting 100% cotton

Close to a month after that another mom told me I should buy one, but if I wanted to see what it would be like I could borrow her moby wrap. She said it's not the same and it's not as functional, but borrow it and try it. I tried it and it wasn't really working because it was just too stretchy and long. So at another play date, my friend offered to let me borrow one of her expensive wraps. I did and of course I had to buy one. After I got my wrap, I would wear Dominick all the time in it. He loved it, but I was afraid he would get too needy. I wasn't very fast at it, but I was getting better. I wore Dominick for our trip home to Michigan in November and to/during a football game. In December/January I ended up selling my wrap because I wasn't getting it's full use out of it. Once I went back to work full time I wasn't using it nearly as much.

at the rose bowl game

I had my nordic carrier so on the weekends/evenings I would just put him in that and off we went. I mostly used the stroller because we would be gone for long periods of time. The nordic was great for getting things done. I would wear him on my back, but not for a super long time. I always felt really comfortable with him in it and I loved the way he was positioned in it. It was a great option for being hands free.
For our upcoming trips I want to be able to wear Dominick in the airport because it's just easier than a stroller. I didn't want to bring the nordic because it's a bulkier carrier and I wanted something small. My friend offered to let me borrow a warp, but she also had a few other options that I could borrow. I'm currently testing out a mei tai and an angel pack. I love both of them. The angel baby is a soft structured carrier and the mae tai is kind of similar to a wrap.

getting stuff done around the house

I was interested in a Boba 3g, but when my friend said I could use all of her carriers to borrow I decided against it and I'm so glad I did. I ended up buying an angel pack because I loved the way it felt on. I'm very excited to get it in the mail and I also ended up buying my friend's mei tai because I loved the way it felt on and he loved it too.

At an MSU football game in a wrap in November

I'm totally for babywearing these days. I'm not sure how long I will wear Dominick after he walks, but it's a great hands free option. I loved being able to get all of my "chores" done, being able to put him to sleep without killing my arms or running to the mailbox for a quick trip instead of hauling the stroller out of the car. I would recommend going to a class or learning from someone who is really knowledgeable about baby wearing. My friend actually taught classes and I really trust her since she knows the dos and don'ts of baby wearing. She taught me the proper ways to wear them so it won't affect his hips, not to wear him forward facing, what it should look like and how Dominick should look in it. I totally appreciate her and love that she is so knowledgeable and helpful.

in our mei tai...and looking like a hot mess (me)

Also, if you're looking for a wrap, mei tai carrier, coat, ssc or anything of like I'd recommend joining/checking thebabywearer.com as they have a lot of options and since they're "used" (gently used, fyi) they don't carry as hefty of a price tag. AND since most of them are all experienced babywearers they will be able to answer lots of questions for you. And if you have any questions you can always ask me and I will do my very best in trying to help you.

A little of this and a little of that

+The Antelope Valley is experiencing a crazy wildfire. What started as a 20 acre wildfire is now more than 46 square miles...it even "jumped" over a body of water.There are over 2,000 firefighters trying to contain and put out this fire. Yesterday the smoke and ash was so bad that it was on base and filling the air. Everyone is advised to stay inside and keep your house closed. It's so scary and so sad, but it sounds like they are starting to get it under control.

source

+We had another great weekend. Ryan had a guys day and I had a girls day. One of R's friends was going to go look and possibly buy a motorcycle so there were 5 of them who all loaded up until R's truck and went to go look. They didn't end up buying anything, but I think they had a good time. He even brought Dominick a toy dirt bike home. My friend L and I went into town to run errands with our boys. We went to Target and Walmart and then had lunch at Applebees. It didn't seem like we were gone long, but we were gone quite a while. It was fun to spend the day with her. After R got home I made dinner and we just hung out at home

we found this little carhartt outfit at TSC and they only had 12 months. Carhartt runs big, so we  asked my parents to pick up a 9 month and they mailed it to us. It might be the cutest little outfit ever! He has wild bedhead here as he just woke up from a nap. We were playing on R & I's bed while I was getting around to leave.

+Dominick starts swim school this week. He is only going for classes once a week for 4 weeks, but we are planning on continuing it and having him go year around. I grew up with a pool and I'm hoping Dominick is going to be able to go to the pools on base, the lakes or oceans depending where we are so I want him to be a good swimmer. He loves water so I think he is really going to love swimming. Maybe he will be the next Michael Phelps, or maybe not?

+We have a first birthday party this weekend and I'm very excited for it. I know she has been working so hard on making it fabulous so I can't wait to see it all come together.

+Speaking of 1st birthdays, I have started lots of DIY projects for Dominick's party. His invites have been designed and are ready for printing (I designed them in photoshop and having them printed with mpix.com). I have lots more projects to do and I hope it turns out just the way I am imagining it.

the picture will obviously be one closer to and the "boutwell" and "1st" are now a different color. I love how it turned out.

+I started working on a quilt this weekend and I'm loving the way it is looking. I haven't really been able to do much sewing since Dominick was born, but he took an extra long nap so I decided to start. I was able to complete the entire front of the quilt and so far I'm loving the outcome.

+Dominick's 9 month well baby is on Friday and I'm anxious to see if he has finally gained any weight. He seems so much heavier, but he is starting to lose his baby fat. I'm so thankful that he doesn't need any shots this time. I'm dreading his 1 year.

We were making breakfast and when I came around the corner he was like this. He ended up getting a little stuck, but was able to get out. Silly monkey!

+If you follow me on instagram or facebook you already have seen and read this. Our friends have two little girls who are 10 and 8 and they just adore Dominick and Dominick loves them. At first they were too loud for him, but he has gotten used to it and he loves, loves, loves them. He always smiles and laughs at them. Anyways, we went over there for dinner and afterwards they asked to play with him so while we were still eating he played. Afterwards they all started watching a movie and the adults went outside to sit by a bonfire. I didn't hear anything from them so I went to check on them. When I walked into the room they hushed me and he was almost asleep. The 8 year old (K) was bouncing him in her lap and rubbing his cheek. 15 minutes later I went back in again and the 10 year old (L)was out of the shower and K was getting ready to go hop in. They were trying to figure out how to do the switch, so I helped them. When I was walking outside I heard K tell L you have to jiggle him and rub his cheek like this. I went back outside and kept checking on him (because I'm a helicopter mom), they would switch and cuddle him, lay with him on the couch and it was just so stinking adorable. When we were fixing to leave and went inside they had moved him to the floor, made a pillow out of blankets for him and covered him up like a little burrito. He was so comfy and just happy as a clam. I was so impressed that they got him to sleep and thought it was just the sweetest thing. He obviously is very comfortable around them. They hold him and walk with him and he loves them! That's one of the best parts of the military community is building these kinds of relationships with friends.