Parenting By Nature Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 4/18 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #169 Ardy22!!!***

who commented...
I liked the cute Nursing Bracelet.

Nobody would ever mistake me for a nature girl. I've never been camping, I'm addicted to air conditioning, and I freak out if I can't wash my hair at least every other day. That being said, I see the value in a crunchy, green lifestyle and try to be more responsible in our lifestyle, especially now that we have kids. I wish I had known more about natural baby care when I was first pregnant with Roo. I assumed cloth diapers were a bulky mess and hard to deal with but now I know there are plenty of cute and easy to use options available.



Parenting By Nature is a great online resource. They have been selling cloth diapers, baby slings and baby products since 2004, which coincidentally is when Roo was born. They offer a wide variety of eco-friendly gear for babies and nursing mothers, as well as tutorials and information to help parents make the right choices for their families, ensuring their continued health and well-being as well as that of the world around them.



Parenting By Nature founder Tamara Champion has two young daughters and is a big proponent of babywearing so the site features not only a wide selection of baby carriers, but also detailed product reviews personally written by staff members, to help parents find the carrier that’s a perfect fit for them. Customer reviews are also a big part of Parenting By Nature and they help make the website feel more like a community market than a traditional store.



I briefly considered cloth diapering with Jasper but I must admit that his stay in the NICU made it pretty easy for me to just go ahead and keep using the disposables. Now that he's nearing potty training, I am contemplating using cloth trainers. Parenting By Nature has several brands available but I chose the Imse Vimse Organic Cloth Training Pants because they look the most like underpants. I love the cute prints and the fact that they are vinyl and PVC-free. They consist of a comfortable layer of cotton on the outside, soft elastic at the waist, three layers of absorbent terry cloth on the inside and a layer of polyurethane-laminated polyester keep clothes dry. We haven't tried them out in earnest yet but they look adorable on him and I have high hopes of ditching pull-up training diapers for these in the near future.



I've also been curious recently about natural menstrual care. Since we're trying to eliminate potential toxins from our cleaning products, paper goods, diapers, etc. it has struck me as rather hypocritical that I've been using tampons for over 20 years now. Two decades of sticking bleached cotton in my nethers. Ick! Parenting By Nature offers Mama Cloth reusable pads and the Diva Cup, a silicon menstrual cup. Parenting By Nature sent me a Diva Cup to try and I must admit that it is a totally brilliant device.



Once you get used to inserting it and removing it (the cup is VERY flexible and foldable!), the Diva Cup is a total no-brainer. Actually, I think it is really impressive to see how little you're bleeding when you feel like you're flowing like an unstoppable river… the Diva Cup has a one ounce capacity but it is rarely even close to full and you only have to empty it 2-3 times daily. You can't feel it once it's in place and I even felt like my cramps were less severe! There is no leakage and I was surprised at how little mess there is involved. True, there is a bit of a learning curve to getting it inserted properly and if you bristle at tampons without applicators, it is probably not for you. (I was one of you but post baby #2, I'll give anything a go. No modesty anymore, woo-hoo!) But if you'd rather avoid the chemicals and environmental waste associated with tampons and pads, I would definitely recommend you give the Diva Cup a try!

Parenting By Nature offers plenty of other things for your family, too, including safe feeding and bathing gear, toys and gifts, and household sundries. Check out their selection and feel free to email them with any questions you might have.

To enter and win a $50 gift certificate to Parenting By Nature, please comment on this post with your favorite item from their site.



Entries will be accepted through April 15th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US/Canada readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.




Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Help Design Mom Help You

It's Ask-Design-Mom-Week and Gabrielle has lots of beautiful and important things to share, as usual. Go check it out and maybe even add your own 2¢ to the conversation. And give her some good wishes for her imminent move from NYC- CO, while you're at it. Did I mention there's a sweet prize at stake if you spread the word?

Huge Sale at The Sak!

Huge online sale at the sak starts today. Use promo code TSWS33009 at checkout to receive an additional 50% off already incredible prices. Stock up! And go now- the sale is over in a week.

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain Pettiskirt Giveaway… it's black, it's beautiful and I think Roo needs it since her mommy can't sew worth a lick and is also too stingy to buy her a boutique-y pettiskirt.



I want one in my size, too!

ZRecs/Sheraton BlogHer '09 Giveaway

ZRecommends, the intrepid parental consumer reporting blog (and home base to their internet conglomerate which includes Prizey, Polliwogged, The Tranquil Parent, Gardenaut and Punnybop) has teamed up with the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, hosting venue for BlogHer '09, to give away a three-night, executive-perk stay for this year's conference. These are seriously swanky digs, with access to exclusive Executive Club amenities like daily complimentary breakfasts, evening hors d'oeuvres, and snacks and beverages throughout the day, plus free high-speed internet access, PC and Mac workstations, office supplies, and massage chairs. Stunning views of the city skyline, lake or river from each room. Health club, turndown service, monkeys that rub your feet. Nope, that last one is probably not offered, but you get the drift… you won't want to go home!

All you have to do to is write about the contest and link back to their main post before May 1st. Easy peasy. My favorite part of this offer is the fact that they're offering a three-night stay, so you can come in on Thursday and be well-rested before the conference starts on Friday. I would love to win this so my bloggy friends and I could stop panicking about finding sponsors, knowing that we have somewhere to sleep already. I already bought my registration ticket and have booked a room just in case but that $700 would certainly come in handy toward a laptop one of these days… or for airfare, honestly.

If you don't have a ticket, I hate to tell you that they are sold out already. But if you hurry, the good folks behind ZRecs are giving a BlogHer registration pass away, too. Enter before April 1st.

*In the interest of full disclosure, I would like to point out that I did some work for Prizey in the early days but I haven't been on their payroll for a long time. Actually, one of the things I look forward to doing at BlogHer '09 is meeting blogfriends like Jeremiah and Jenni in person and hopefully regaining some of the blogging momentum and focus I lost when Jasper was teething and attached to me 24/7…*

Getting To The Bottom Of It

Jasper has crazy bad diaper rash. Roo never did, so it is a constant reminder of what a terribly negligent mom I must be to my poor, abandoned second child. When he was a chunky infant I could sort of see why he, uh, chafed so much, but now that he's in the freaky skinny not-a-baby-anymore stage I can't fathom why he gets them so much. I've tried a zillion creams and lotions and powders, let him air dry, given him countless baths… and still my little sweetie has an inflamed monkey butt.



I read about a new diaper cream developed by Hollywood actress and director Melanie Mayron (she was the photographer/sister on Thirtysomething back when I used to pretend I didn't watch TV) and her chemist dad so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Mayron's Good Baby is formulated to relieve and prevent rashes. As their website states, Mayron's Good Baby Diaper Cream contains "No Paraben. No sodium lauryl sulfate. No DEA. Just natural, clean brilliant stuff. Loaded with essential oils, vitamins, anti-oxidants and healing ingredients in the aromatherapeutic tradition." It goes on light and smooth and has aromatherapeutic properties for baby AND parent. I swear I felt more relaxed using it and the faint scent of lavender and almond oil is so much nicer than the powdery smell of most baby products. I also liked that it didn't seem to gum up in all of the tender creases it's supposed to protect. Interestingly, Mayron's Good Baby is also good for adults to use as a barrier cream for all manner of things you don't really want to discuss in public… there's a whole list, ranging from triathalon pit stops to blisters to my personal favorite, Schvitzy Tuchas. (You know, now that I think about it, Jasper's sweaty bottom might be a Shapiro thing… hmm.)




Anyway, if you're in the market for a diaper cream, Mayron's Good Baby is a particularly nice one. You can even get it in single-use packets to keep in your bag without fear of the cap coming off. Not that I would know anything about that, of course. It looks like there's a whole range of other products (“Tangerine” Baby Oil, “Really Good” Hydrating Body Milk, “Gentle” Head to Toe Shampoo, “Amazing Chapped Cheek and Lip Protector,” and “Can‘t Live Without It” Sleepless Night Cream) they'll be offering one of these days, too. And just to prove how committed their entire family is to keeping your entire family clean and healthy– Mayron's sister is the proprietress of Jao, the company behind the most glamorous of all hand sanitizers. Which their dad developed, naturally. And which you would do well to douse your hands with after slathering your kiddo with Mayron's Good Baby!

Win Two New Sesame Street DVDs!

***WINNERS PICKED 4/9 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS!!!***
#40 Seeryus Mama
#36 lisagee (non-blogger)
#126 justicecw (non-blogger)





I grew up with Sesame Street but I didn't know just how far-reaching its influence was! Today, almost eight million viewers across the globe watch the show each week and more than 77 million consider themselves Sesame Street "graduates." They've received more Emmy awards than any other television program– 109 in all. And this year, Sesame Street is actually celebrating the big 4-0! (I'm slightly relieved they're hitting it before me…)

If your kids can't get enough of Sesame Street, you're in luck. There are two great new DVD releases featuring all their favorite characters ( Elmo, y'all!) in all-new stories the whole family can enjoy together.



Elmo and Friends: Tales of Adventure is action-packed with three incredible stories overflowing with mysterious clues, heroic monsters, and lots of dramatic music! Join Telly as he searches for the Golden Triangle of Destiny; cheer on Elmo as he races against the clock in Elmo’s Amazing Alphabet Race; and help an ant-sized Big Bird alert his friends about his dilemma in The Adventures of Little Big Bird. Elmo and Friends: Tales of Adventure is sure to delight Elmo fans who are looking for a little more excitement than they usually find in the old neighborhood at Sesame Street!



In Being Green, all your favorite Sesame Street friends team up to host their first Earth-a-Thon! The Being Green DVD is available just in time for any Earth Day Celebrations you might be planning. Paul Rudd (sigh) plays Mr. Earth, who teaches Elmo and Abby Cadabby how to be environmentally conscious by recycling, re-using, and conserving water and energy. In her desire to help Elmo to be more “green,” Abby accidentally turns Elmo the color GREEN and can’t remember how to change him back! Being Green also contains 16 pages of downloadable activities and story sheets to extend the learning at home. Teaching budding conservationists the importance of preserving nature’s wonders, Being Green is part of Sesame Workshop’s green-friendly initiatives. In an effort to teach children to love and respect the Earth and its inhabitants, Sesame Street is increasing its environmental messages and materials for kids. In addition, Being Green is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper or cardstock and is printed with soy-based ink. It also uses an Earth friendlier reduced-plastic compared to other DVD cases and even features a cool die-cut recycling logo inside! And did I mention how cute Paul Rudd is, even when wearing a gigantic globe? Yes, indeed. Mommy likes a guy who's not afraid to dork out with a bunch of Muppets…



To enter and win both new DVDs–Elmo and Friends: Tales of Adventure AND Being Green, please comment on this post with your favorite Sesame Street memories. Three winners will be selected from the comments posted here and two more will be chosen from comments over at Mum's The Wurd, so go enter there to double your chances!



Entries will be accepted through April 8th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.




Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

WW- Odds and Ends

Jasper passed on his stuffy head goo to me so I am in an antihistimine haze but here are some highlights (yes, pun intended… of course!) from the last week.

Welcome UBP09 Visitors!

Hi there! Welcome to Superdumb Supervillain, the blog with what might be the most misleading moniker in all of the mommy blogosphere. My name is Naomi and I like to bake cookies, listen to punk rock and scout out coolness wherever it may lie. Usually I am scouting in the realm of baby gear, but I also have a penchant for typography, shoes, beauty products and kitty cats. I like to write about stuff I like. And give it away whenever possible! Click the giveaways link in my sidebar to see what's up for grabs today.



I am married to an artist and we have two gloriously odd kiddos, Roo and Jasper. Roo is in pre-K and talks from dawn until dusk. She alternates between fairy princess, Hannah Montana (a new, vexing development) and ninja bear assassin.





Jasper is 19 months old but thinks he's bigger than his big sis. He's kind of a bully these days but we love him anyway. This week, he's had a constant stream of goo running from his nose. It's pretty nasty. He is usually slightly cleaner. Jasper is a total mommy's boy and I love it. Except for the fact that he will only sleep ON me when he's sick. Ugh.





Hope to see you around the Ultimate Blog Party- leave a comment and I will be sure to stop by your shindig, too!


My prize wishlist:
58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer
USC 73 — Go baby OutMat
106 — Melissa & Doug Role Play Dress Up Costume
41 — Key clasp style Boston Locket from Elemental Memories
USC 26 — 10 $50.00 Gift Vouchers to Hatley
19 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores

Give Me A (Chocolate) Break!

Superdumb Supervillain Fiber One spa gift basket giveaway

***WINNERS PICKED 4/4 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS!!!***
#49 Sue, #130 Sarah Z (non-blogger), #104 gkstratos

Please reply to the email I sent with your shipping info.



My Blog Spark recently sent me a "spa break" gift basket filled with chocolatey goodness to introduce new Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars. I am a confirmed chocoholic, so these are right up my alley. Sometimes I forget to eat breakfast or lunch when I'm rushing around trying to make sure the kids are fed and dressed, so it's nice to have a healthy snack that I can toss into my purse.



Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars combine the chocolate and coffee flavors I crave with the added bonus of 9 grams of fiber in one satisfyingly chewy bar. One bar provides 35% of the recommended daily fiber intake and also is a good source of calcium. And unlike some other fiber-licious bars, Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars don't make you feel gassy or bloated.

Are you getting enough fiber in your daily diet? Check out the Fiber-O-Meter to see how you measure up!

To download a printable coupon good for $1.35 off a box of Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars, click HERE.



To enter and win one of three Spa Break gift baskets containing a coupon good for a free box of Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars, a bath pillow, chocolate scented soap, lotion and bath salts, and a coffee scented candle, please comment on this post with your favorite Fiber One product and why you need a Spa Break!



Entries will be accepted through April 1st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Book in a Bag

This month's Book in a Bag contest has officially begun and will run thru April 15th, 2009! This month, the sak is giving away a Cambria Medium Round Tote in Beach Stripe and four books from Harper Collins – The Scent of Sake, The Ladies Lending Library, The Miracles of Prato and A Dangerous Affair. What better way to start off the spring than with the perfect getaway essentials? Now, we just need to find the perfect getaway…

Bumbleride Off Into The Sunset

***WINNER PICKED 4/4 WITH RANDOM.ORG***
***CONGRATULATIONS!!!*** #28 The Dreamer!!!***

her comment...
I wish I had a carrycot when my son was that small! Love the spice one.

But I'd like to win the Snack Pack in Spice!




I'm embarrassed to be writing this, but I've been holding out on you. See, I've had a total moral dilemma. I received the Bumbleride Indie Twin double stroller in the 2008-only limited edition Bwana print and I was supposed to test it out and review it and give away an accessory of your choice in that print. It features cute kiddo faces rendered by Bwana Spoons, the noted artist and proprietor of Grass Hut, the hipster art gallery in Portland. Which is arguably the most outsider art street cred ever attached to a stroller…



Anyway, the stroller has become a hotly-debated issue in our house. Personally, I am totally smitten. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is a phenomenally maneuverable stroller. As a matter of fact, the kids request me to spin in tight circles, just because we can. There are four air tires and the front ones swivel, allowing for an incredibly smooth ride. It features two seats that can be positioned independently, with their own extra-big canopies that allow for privacy. Roo and Jasper LOVE that. Roo, in particular, enjoys repositioning the legrest and canopy constantly. The canopies feature peep-hole flaps and enormous rear pockets for all your gear. As if the gigantic open basket below wasn't enough storage space! Seriously, folks- I could take this bad boy grocery shopping! The Bumbleride Indie Twin also comes with matching footmuffs, and I think the Bwana print is particularly adorable on them. Did I mention the adjustable handlebar, swiveling cupholder and complimentary handpump? Or the fact that I can push both of my kids– about 65 lbs combined– without breaking a sweat? It actually comes with a jogging strap should I find the need to, umm, jog. Which actually isn't totally unthinkable. The Bumbleride Indie Twin really makes me want to wheel it around. It's amazingly well-designed. And Roo informs me that it is VERY comfortable, too.



So what's the big deal? Why did it take me so long to write about this total godsend? Because my husband thinks I should give it away. Horror! True, Roo is now five and we don't technically need to push her around in a stroller, but by gum it certainly is easier than wrangling both of them for walks to the park or the library or grandma's house. Bob doesn't like it because 1. it's BIG (duh!), 2. we have it parked in our living room since he uses our garage as his art studio and 3. it's usurped our old faithful Bugaboo Frog (which still ranks as THE best shower gift ever– from my aunt Ellyn when I was expecting Roo) as my kid-ride of choice. Honestly, I think it's that last one that makes him eye the Bumbleride Indie Twin with such suspicion… he thinks it's a homewrecker! Which I suppose it could be. It is awfully young and sexy and fun. If we'd received one of Bumbleride's single strollers (the sleek, sporty Indie or the luxe, chic Queen B), I doubt he would be so anti-. As it is, though, the only drawbacks to the Bumbleride Indie Twin are that it is wide (like two slim strollers parked very closely together; it is actually about 1/2" too wide to fit through our patio door, although it fits through the front door easily) and it is a bit tricky to fold. Neither of which is probably much of an issue to parents who are shopping for double strollers and have witnessed the bulky behemoths that clog the market. It's MUCH sleeker and more streamlined than any double stroller I've seen and the side-by-side arrangement seems a lot easier for toddlers to navigate than the jump seat style. (The Queen B can be made into an in-line double with the addition of the optional Toddler Seat, FYI. And that looks like a very nice stroller indeed…)



The Bumbleride Indie Twin is sold out in the Bwana fabric but the 2009 models are available in two new colors: Vita (pink, pink, pink!) and Lava (black and grey). The 2009 models also feature new mag wheels and a more intuitive backrest recline mechanism. To check what is still available in the VERY limited Bwana fabric, please call Bumbleride at 1-800-530-3930. I'm hanging on to this one until Roo gets too heavy for it. Or we have another baby. Which I sort of want to do now that we have this stroller. Yikes!



To enter and win a Bumbleride Accessory of your choice (like the Snack Pack, Car Seat Cover, or Rain Cover- subject to availability), please comment on this post with your own favorite find from the a Bumbleride site.



Entries will be accepted through April 1st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.
For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

WW- Neverending Laundry and Puppy Love

Sorry for the crazy light posting but it's Roo's spring break and Jasper is sick and demanding to be held constantly so I'm pretty bogged down. Many, many good things await when I get the time and energy to write about them, though, just you wait and see…

Dotty

She's at it again… Modern Pirate Frock GIVEAWAY!!!! Go have a look at what's for grabs from Grosgrain this week.

Covering Your Needs

***WINNER PICKED 4/1 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Mia J. (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
I like the shrine pink hooded towel.

When I was expecting Roo, I was obsessed with the concept of modesty. How was I going to breastfeed in public? What if someone got an unexpected eyeful?! When I discovered the nursing covers by Hooter Hiders (now also known by the slightly more dignified moniker Bebe Au Lait), I was smitten immediately. They come in a zillion gorgeous prints and are incredibly simple to use– I was pretty sure even I couldn't mess them up! Once Roo was born, they were a must-have, multitasking as a nursing smock, a lightweight blanket, a clean surface to change diapers on, and even as a burp cloth. I bought several different patterns and Hooter Hiders became a go-to baby shower gift. I love all of the bold prints but the simple Black Eyelet nursing cover is tres chic and would go with everything.



Of course, when I had Jasper, modesty was no longer an issue. I pretty much had become the "don't mess with me when my baby is hungry!" mommy, whipping them out whenever necessary. Jasper was also a much more fidgety nurseling than Roo, kicking and flailing and sucking emphatically just to make sure people knew what was going on. Perhaps that's why he weaned at 16 months when Roo went past her second birthday. I was a little sad to pass my Hooter Hiders along to new mommies but I was also pleased to discover that Bebe Au Lait has expanded their product offerings to include super deluxe Burp Cloths, Reversible Double Bibs (these look so smart!), and Gift Sets that pair coordinating nursing covers with three matching burp cloths. Total no-brainer shower gifts, every one.



The new Bebe Au Lait offering that I am swooning over most is their Hooded Towel collection. They feature the same gorgeous prints Bebe Au Lait has come to be known for, plus smart extras like sleeves and invisible magnets that hold the towel on like a poncho. Best of all, they come in baby AND toddler sizes, so my growing kiddos could still actually use them… I so covet them.



To enter and win a trio of Organic Burp Cloths in Steel Blue, please comment on this post with your favorite item from Bebe Au Lait.



Entries will be accepted through March 30th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Make Me HD

Kristin is holding an AMAZING giveaway for a JVC Everio GZ-HD320 Hi-Def camcorder. As you might know, if you are a member (or lurking fan of) her blog, An Ordinary Life, or the blog community she has created, Extraordinary Mothers, Kristin is in her third trimester. As she waits somewhat patiently for the arrival of her second baby girl, Kristin is testing out all sorts of cool baby gear to make other mommies' lives easier… and a lot more fun, too!*

I would really love to be able to document Roo and Jasper's lives with the JVC Everio GZ-HD320 Hi-Def camcorder. We've never owned our own camcorder, and this one looks portable enough to realistically imagine using it on a regular basis. I might have even let Bob record their births if we'd had something like this… I like the fact that you can upload to YouTube or your iPhone with one touch, that would make sharing with our families very simple, too. We have a Flip camera that is great for taking short clips but this camera looks like it would be good for recording longer programs like school plays, sports and recitals, too.

To enter the contest, I'm supposed to tell you a bit about my birth stories. Both of my kids were born without epidurals but both were induced. (I hate pitocin, y'all. It is a terrible thing.) Roo was a day past her due date, which is probably a good thing since it was a leap year and she was due on Feb 29th. Aside from having the pitocin to speed up the contractions, it was a smooth delivery and only took about 8 hours of labor. Roo pretty much came into the world as she is now, eyes wide open and twinkly, ready for fun!





Jasper was induced about a week before his due date because my doctor was afraid I would develop high blood pressure and that he would be too big for me to deliver naturally. Well, he ended up only being 6lbs 12 oz and was a moderately easy labor and delivery but he must have sucked up some amniotic fluid that made his breathing labored. A couple of hours after he was born, we were informed he was going to have to sleep in the NICU, which totally freaked me out. He looked fine, seemed fine, but his oxygen levels were off and he wasn't a pro nurser like his big sister was. So we got wheeled out of the comfy, cozy birth care center through an underground series of tunnels to the regular hospital. Which sucked. I was totally upset because the baby was taken away and I couldn't nurse him. I was positive he was going to die, that something was really wrong. He eventually spent a week in the NICU on antibiotics because the doctors were afraid he might develop pneumonia or meningitis, neither of which ever showed up. Apparently, once you start the course of antibiotics, the newborn must remain hospitalized with an IV. I spent that week familiarizing myself with the wonders of the fabulous hospital-grade Medela Symphony breast pump. I visited him several times a day to try and bottle feed him my breast milk and it was so hard to leave him there. Bob thinks I'm totally full of it but I think Jasper's clinginess even now is related to the fact that he was hospitalized and kept away from me when he was so little. He still has some serious separation anxiety, even at 19 months.



Spending all the time in the NICU made me realize how truly lucky we had been with Roo. She was so healthy, so happy, so content. Jasper was poked with needles constantly and had roommates and monitors bleeping and bright lights and feedings and diaperings every couple of hours. It's no wonder he's so much grumpier than his big sister, I guess. The nurses in the NICU called him the big, happy boy and compared to the other babies he was certainly much better off. The preemies on life support and grieving parents made me appreciate how lucky I was to have a baby who would almost certainly go home with me and live a long, full life of irritating his big sister. I felt so guilty that I'd been almost hysterical about having to leave him in NICU when it was so obvious that he was going to recuperate. It was hard not to be able to take him home immediately but I know others were not as fortunate. And when we did finally get to take Jasper home, we knew he was going to be okay. Thankfully.




*Wow, I totally didn't mean to make this sound like a freaky infomercial for how cool Kristin is but, uh, she is pretty cool. She is young and a full-time student but she takes the time to help newbie bloggers out, answering questions and directing their efforts on the Extraordinary Moms forums. She has given me advice and helped me make some great contacts in the blogosphere and has been a good friend, above all. Go read the entry instructions JVC camcorder contest and say hello, already! If you write about your birth stories, leave a link below so I can check it out, too.