New Theme July 30, 2007
I was getting a little tired of bright pink. I also haven’t been happy with the layout, how there is a middle column with empty sides.
What do you think of the brown and green? My mother said it made her think of Delia*s.
Links to Articles on Co-Sleeping by James McKenna, PhD July 29, 2007
Co-Sleeping & Suffocation: A Response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Study
Societal Influences on Sleep Research
“Why We Never Ask ‘Is It Safe for Infants to Sleep Alone?’ “ - This link will bring up an open/save file box for Foxit Reader. Opening will bring up the article by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine in 2001.
Cosleeping: Benefits and Research
Ten Reasons to Sleep Next to Your Child at Night
A History of Mothering
While cleaning a closet shelf, my mother found the most beautiful letter. It was written by my great-great grandmother Ellen Bestor Barry (Mona) to her daughter, Ellen Barry Bryden (Moni) after the birth of her daughter, Ellen Bryden (Aunt Er).
As you can see, there are several Ellen’s in my family, seven actually.
Ellen Bestor - great-great-grandmother
Ellen Barry - great-grandmother
Ellen Bryden - great-aunt
Ellen Moorman - mother
Ellen Bryden Surles - second cousin (E. Bryden’s granddaughter)
Ellen Rebekah Helms - myself
Sara Ellen Juliana Altman - my daughter
I think it is such a beautiful tradition sharing a name, especially when we all love motherhood and have breastfed our babies.
The letter mentioned above was written around 1915 and it’s wording is lovely and so evocative of Mona’s joy over [grand]motherhood. I was not able to read it so my mother transcribed it. If anything reads a little odd, it is possibly for that reason.
What follows are my favorite excerpts from Mona’s letter.
Dearest Ellen,
Yours of Nov. 4 came two days ago…such a fine letter telling me so many lovely things about you and the baby but making me more anxious than ever to be with you. Your letters bubbling over with happiness, contentment and joy in having the baby are a constant comfort and joy to me. and while though you have trials and tribulations just the same as everyone else, you know how to bear them cheerfully and uncomplainingly make life much easier for you and all around you. I hope the baby will inherit your cheerful disposition and contented spirit. As you say, those pains which bring the baby are indescribable but the feelings that come over you when you hear that first little cry and finally when the baby is first brought o you and laid by your side is still more indescribable and is worth many times the pain.
From now on, each day she will seem more fascinating and absorbing. Can you understand any mother not willing to give up anything to take care of that darling little thing! You must take very good care of yourself, eat plenty of good plain food, lie down! and rest every day and the baby will thrive.
I can first see that wide open eyes and arms and legs going when she wakes up in the night for a meal and don’t you just love cuddling her up in bed with you! I think she sleeps wonderfully well at night.
I nursed my babies about a year – but began feeding them on something else before I stopped. Of course it depends a good deal upon their teething. As you commenced teething when you were two months of age, I did not have to consider that.
I am glad that you decided upon “Ellen” for her name and that she will be named for both of us. It’s funny how I changed my mind about the name as soon as she arrived. It somehow seems to bring us all closer together. I appreciate your thought of liking to have it named for me but fortunately she is named after both of us and we can both feel proud and happy.
Tell me everything about the baby,
Heaps of love,
Devotedly,
Mother
Mona was actually excited about Moni cuddling with her baby at night and waking for a night-feeding. She also encouraged good plain food and rest. And just because Moni had teeth at two months of age, Mona did not stop nursing and start solids food so early. The end makes me feel so good, that Mona is loving and emotive. What a wonderful history to share.
A New Crib July 22, 2007
There are a lot of items new parents-to-be consider. One is probably a bed and linens for baby. In my opinion, a crib just isn’t necessary. For almost two years we have happily snuggled in bed together. I realize some parents aren’t comfortable sharing their bed with a baby but it’s worked great for us. However, as Sara Ellen grows, the space in our bed decreases and her parents’ bellies are often strongly kicked. With that in mind we made the decision to look into a bed of her own. Sara Ellen is not quite old enough for a toddler bed so we wanted a convertable crib to grow with her. Once we are able to pick it up, we shall squeeze our furniture around yet again and fit her new bed next to my side. I hope she will enjoy having space of her own still close to us.
We bought a sturdy crib, with sides that do not lower. Similarly, we bought a bedding set called Patchwork Pooh. It features the Disney Winnie the Pooh characters in small muted tones, and is only available in Babies’ R Us stores.
Another good reason to put off this purchase, it puts you back a bit financially.
Other goodies for Sara Ellen are animal-faced plates with sections, and forks and spoons more easily held. I would like to replace her hooded towel with a towel cape from Lands’ End so when she gets out of the tub her belly won’t get cold, even though the bathing princess is pretty cute with her towel trailing behind her.
Outer Banks Vacation #1 July 15, 2007
I wanted to share our vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Tim’s mother wanted to take us and won a trip at auction. We spent a week, June 10 - 17, in Kill Devil Hills at Station One Condos, Mile Post 8.5 on S Virginia Dare Trail, also known as Beach Road. It was my first time and was really looking forward to the beach and fun sites.
Sunday, June 10, we drove from Jan’s house in Richmond, VA. It turns out we drove through Norfolk, so we stopped to visit Tim’s step-brother recently returned from Iraq. We arrived in KDH and walked up to the beach at the closest public access before hitting the grocery store. Jan had a child’s excitement for being able to see and visit the ocean.
Monday, June 11, Tim and I just wanted to rest. After traveling, I wanted to wind down before running around. Tim had caught a cold from Sara Ellen and was pretty miserable. Our condo had a selection of children’s videos and I chose Cinderella for the morning. Jan was pretty antzy to start her beach vacation so she headed out for a walk and came back later with a rented bike so she could get out if she wanted (she never did). Sara Ellen and I hung at home, playing and napping together. Around 4, I was ready to get out. Jan took Sara Ellen to the beach and I wanted to drive around our area. I found a cool store called Parrot Bay. It has lots of beachwear and gifts. Jan wasn’t sure how long Sara Ellen would want to play on the sand so I came back 30 minutes later and as my baby was happy, we hung out. Before going home, we went to American Pie and brought back what was an awesome pizza. I think we watched “Finding Neverland” that evening.
Tuesday, June 12 we took a drive to explore the attractions near and far. We past Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head and drove south as far as Rodanthe (”e” not pronounced). I learned that pirates used to hang a lantern on the neck of a horse (nag) to lure ships ashore for plundering. We stopped at Chicamicomico Living Saving Station Museum on our way north, but Jan did not find a person to pay for admission so we kept going. We did stop for a walk on a dune hoping to get to the ocean but it was farther off than it sounded. We also stopped at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. It’s not open for climbing but the keepers home is open as a museum and gift shop. After dinner we went back to Jockey’s Ridge and enjoyed an awesome sunset. We watched “Pan’s Labyrinth” - very cool.
Wednesday, June 13. Happy 27th Birthday Tim! We celebrated Tim with gifts at breakfast. Unfortunately, the girls spent the morning at home while Tim took the van in for service. The ABS system was not working because something had fallen off. I had given Tim season’s 1 and 2 of Stargate SG-1 and watched the original movie to show Jan the beginning. He came back around noon with a rental. We had some lunch and were able to visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island before heading to Corolla for Jeep off-roading, Tim’s gift to himself. It was a fun ride. Sara Ellen and I sat in the back and made sound effects for the bumps. I had to hide my sub sandwich to keep the flying sand out and Sara Ellen made a happy mess while eating doritos. The jeep had a GPS that showed a trail so we wouldn’t get lost. We weren’t supposed to drive in the water but we did to keep going and follow the trail. We drove through a quiet sand-only neighborhood and saw one wild horse. With all the bouncing around, Sara Ellen actually fell asleep.
Thursday, June 14 we had us-only time. We went up the road to the Wright Brother’s Memorial. Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first controlled flight in 1903 in Kitty Hawk. It was on Kill Devil Hill, but now it is a self-named town separate from Kitty Hawk. You will not find any mention of KDH in the National Air and Space Musuem gallery dedicated to the brother’s. We got our van back, had a less-than-great lunch at Bob’s Grill, and went home for a nap. In the late afternoon, we dropped off Jan at her location, and visited the Front Porch Cafe. I got a nice chai late and a banana nut muffin. Tim also got a snack and set up to use their free Wi-Fi. Sara Ellen and I also visited the neighboring shops, the fashionable Little Grass Shack and souvenir-laden candy shop. At LGS, Sara Ellen entertained the likely bored employee by admiring herself in a mirror wearing their sunglasses. We found Jan, made our second grocery run and then Tim and I spent probably 20 minutes in Movie Gallery trying to agree on a dvd. We eventually (did not agree on mind you) rented “Ghost Rider” (soo cheesy) and bought a previously-viewed copy of “Sahara”. Our cashier was a little confused and we were able to get four bags of popcorn and a free bowl. The original deal was the popcorn, candy, soda, rentals, and then the free bowl!
Friday, June 15 - We had breakfast out at Stack ‘em High Pancakes at my suggestion. It was really good. I had a “blue monkey” blueberry pancakes with bananas on top.
We drove to Cape Hatteras and Tim and I climbed the lighthouse. There are also museums made from the houses of the keepers. Children under a certain height are not allowed to climb and they cannot be carried or worn. It’s a good rule too, it’s a long, narrow climb.
We had planned on taking a ferry to Ocracoke Island but it was too windy. We had lunch nearby at Buxton Munch Company. It was a yummy hippee joint. Jan and I browsed next door at Ocean’s Notions. After getting home, Tim and I went on a date to see Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. We watched Rent that evening. Though it was very well done, I did not enjoy this musical.
Saturday, June 16 - We went back to Jockey’s Ridge earlier in the day and visited with the family of Jan’s friend during a kite festival. At lunchtime we drove to Roanoke Island and lunched at Big Al’s Soda Shop. We then thoroughly enjoyed the Elizabethan Gardens. I got to meet the Queen!
Sunday, June 17 we cleaned up and were out by 10 am on the dot, per the rental agreement. We headed home and tarried at Jan’s house for a while. Tim and I played with photos and rested while Jan hung out with Sara Ellen. We didn’t get home until 10 because we made several u-turns to find dinner and sat in a little traffic on I-95.
I’m really looking forward to making another Outer Banks trip, now that I know where things are and what is interesting to see.
Traveling With Toddlers July 2, 2007
I just received my monthly La Leche League e-newsletter. It’s a good thing I checked my e-mail because I was ready to head out for this month’s morning meeting and it’s next monday.
The newsletter included several links on making [car] traveling with babies and toddlers especially, happier. One link is a mothers story, Cross-Country Breastfeeding. The other is Traveling With Toddlers, giving responses from many mothers. Also included is several links regarding breastfeeding in public.
The best advice? Expect a toddler to act like a big baby sometimes, that’s what a toddler is. Sara Ellen is growing so fast, physically and mentally, but then there are times where she wants her mommy and nothing else will do. The best advice to myself, mother her as required. She makes me crazy sometimes but then turns around and is the cutest being ever. It’s like those Sour Patch candy commercials.
Bridge to Terabithia July 1, 2007
At first, Bridge to Terabithia just seems to tell the story of a kid that sticks out in his family and at school. He doesn’t have any friends. He learns the new girl at school is also his new neighbor and with her they create a world of their own.
It becomes a very touching story. The new girl, Leslie, shines a caring imaginative light which changes the lives around her.
The Covenant
We watched The Covenant yesterday. It’s not very exciting. It’s listed genre is action/horror/thriller. It could make you jump some, but if you really like thrillers, this isn’t it. It does have good special effects.
Four high school seniors are friends from a line of families who possess powers from the Salem Witch Trials era. There is an unknown, much stronger power lurking around and where it comes from it a little confusing. The guys are trying to figure it out as they anticipate their “ascension” at 18 when they receive full power. It’s kind of boring, high school parties and drama.