Babywearing

Before I was even pregnant, I was interested in babywearing (even though I didn't know it by that term). I guess it was living in Africa and wearing my friend's kids, and visiting Guatemala. It just seemed so natural. Even after I came back from Cameroon when I was 18, I would chuck the kid of the people I lived with on my back when I needed to finish chores (and Charla was away...I was sure she wouldn't approve...it seemed so "Native" and I was already weird enough). But I never saw anyone carrying their babies that way while I was back in the States...until I moved to Portland...and then I found out it had a name.

Fast forward to 2008...I have a kid. In Montana. Yeah. I've seen approximately four people in the last year wearing their kids. No matter...that's what the Internet is for! I downloaded patterns for a sling, and practiced carrying around sacks of flour and #10 cans before I gave birth. Yeah, this would definitely work for me... And then I gave birth to the crankiest baby ever...at least for his first month. I kept trying the sling (and probably if I'd had a cool one like the ones at Nonny & Boo* I probably would have been cruisin' in style), and then bought a different type, before someone turned me on to a Moby, which worked better because of a previous neck/shoulder injury. While I haven't mastered throwing my kid on my back and wrapping it African style, I can put him in the Moby (although I've only been successful with the front-carrying methods). It soothed him when he was a cranky wee-baby, and keeps him happy and out of mischief now that he's a strapping almost-walking 8 1/2 month old.

For more babywearing stuff, check out this blog: Adventures in Babywearing!

[Okay, I included the links to Nonny & Boo and AIB to enter a contest, but that's okay, right, because you can enter it too! Sorry I haven't posted any pictures lately...I've been forgetting to wear my camera, which that and a pair of roller skates are pretty much mandatory for keeping up with John these days. More later...I promise]