mamarama

Elliot

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Little Elliot is growing up and getting chunkier and cuter by the minute.

Dear Pono

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Originally posted to Found Magazine.

FOUND by DJ in Crown Memorial Beach, Alameda, California

"I found this buried under some sand at the beach. I was really looking for a lens that fell out of my glasses, but instead found this enigmatic note. I’m [not] sure what’s meant by “the computer said you would be born…” but it’s a really moving letter. I wonder if it was lost or if it was left in the sand on purpose."

Happy Hammock Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

I am working in the Peruvian Amazon until the end of March. In every home in the villages where I am working you can find a hammock or two tied to the ceiling. You learn to love them fast! Mothers use these to rock their children to sleep. If a baby begins to cry they are picked up and placed in the hammock where they are gently rocked until they calm down or fall asleep. A man told me a story about teaching his childhood pet, a woolly monkey, to rock his 2 year old little sister in the hammock with his tail. (For those of you concerned about the pet trade-- the monkey's mother was eaten by a harpy eagle and he rescued the baby from the jungle)

This boy is 1 1/2 years old. He just woke up from a relaxing nap in the hammock.

When they are smaller they place two sticks at the ends of the hammock so that their faces are not covered by the fabric.

The jungle is full of really cute babies.

Chigualo

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:33:00 +0000

"Despite a common stereotype, death of a loved one can provoke some of the most culturally diverse forms of emotion and social ritual. The video is rare footage of the Chigualo ceremony, a mourning ritual for children aged less than seven-years-old who have just passed away from the Afrocolombian community of the Pacific coast of Colombia....The belief behind the ceremony is that when young children die they become angels and go straight to heaven. Therefore, these deaths are not an occasion for sadness, as many might assume, but a cause for a goodbye celebration. You can see in the video that the Chigualo involves upbeat rhythms, singing, games and dancing – including passing the dead baby between people at the ceremony."

"Although death is perhaps the only experience guaranteed to be universal, our reaction to it is one of the most diverse. Consequently, respect comes in many forms."

This post is originally from Mind Hacks.

Hanorah Anne Herrick

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Hanorah Anne Herrick

Born September 19, 2011 at 4:52 pm.

(I missed her delivery by 8 minutes! Fastest I have ever driven to Tacoma.)

7lbs 10 oz, 19.5 inches

Pictures coming soon...

Hey Jude

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:29:00 +0000

Today was Jude Ephraim's fourth birthday. Each year we visit his gravesite and release balloons for him to catch. This year they drifted in a new direction.

Megan standing with Jude

Four years old

Elliot Louise Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:44:00 +0000

From Belliot...

... to Elliot!

Welcome little Elliot Louise!

Born September 9, 2011 at 11:14am

7lb 14 oz, 20.5 inches

Ezekiel Claussen Schneider

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:56:00 +0000

His official due date was October 5th but Zeke decided to make his appearance a bit earlier. His mother certainly did not expect to be spending Labor Day weekend at the hospital, but she appreciates the timing.

Zeke's first moments with his mother Amy

Congratulations Amy and Adam!

Ezekiel's Tree of Life

Happy Birthday Scout!

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:02:00 +0000

I'm really not sure where the time went. Four years ago today I attended my first birth. I will always be grateful to Amy and Noah for being willing to invite me to Scout's birth. It was a great day.

Happy 4th Birthday Scout!

Brand new Scout and his father Noah
August 12, 2007

Scout and me at my wedding
2 weeks old!

Scout

When did this happen?

on his way home...

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Miles Thomas Lipton-McKinstray and me

Day two:
This morning was full of firsts for Miles! First time outside, first time going home, he met his first cat, and he was held by me for the first time (of many). Good day.

Miles McKinstray

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:54:00 +0000

Miles McKinstray was born 8/9/2011 at 4:49pm

Congratulations Jen and Stefan!

Ila Susanne

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:18:00 +0000

Ila Susanne is so darling.

Ina May Gaskin: "Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta"

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:30:00 +0000

In this photo provided by Kevin Smith, mother Michelle Smith, left, holds newborn Wilder Smith as midwife Jane Crawford Peterson assists on July 24, 2003 in Green Bay, Wisc.

(AP Photo/Kevin Smith)

Ina May Gaskin was recently on The Diane Rehm Show-- Follow this link to listen to her interview.

"Fetal monitors, forceps and medication have become commonplace in American delivery rooms. Now a third of American babies arrive by C-section. A new book examines the industry of delivering babies. The author - veteran midwife Ina May Gaskin - says a climate of fear has led some women to give up control of the birth process to the medical establishment. She advocates greater respect for women's bodies, wider acceptance of natural deliveries - and new efforts to reconcile modern life with a process as old as humanity itself. Ina May Gaskin talks about her "midwife's manifesta.""

Another interview with Ina May Gaskin...

Adelaide's 2nd Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:58:00 +0000

Adelaide Jane is celebrating two years of life today. Follow this link to see how her birthday was celebrated!

#04 : Chris Bolton – The Underwater Birth Of Francis Henri

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:45:00 +0000

I was trying to find another birth story podcast and I found this episode of Storylife Podcast: The Underwater Birth Of Francis Henri. This is a good one.

Birth Story Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:53:00 +0000

Birth Story Podcast

Stories about birth, new babies, and new families.

If you would like to download birth story interviews as a podcast please visit Mamarama- Last.fm

Ripley Mae's Birth Story

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Lucy invited me into her home to share the story of how she became a mother to Ripley Mae. She was kind enough to let me share the story will all of you. This one is long but I promise it will be worth your while.

Untitled from Rozsika Steele on Vimeo.

Interviews can be downloaded as a podcast at Mamarama- Last.fm

Introducing Elliot...

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:55:00 +0000

This darling girl was born May 27, 2011

Congratulations Charlene and Brian! She is beautiful!

Joanna's Birth Story

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:22:00 +0000

When I started collecting birth stories for an ethnography class several months ago I asked Erin to tell me about Joanna's birth. I was curious about more than just the birth itself--I wanted to hear the story about how she became a mother to this little girl.

Erin telling the story of Joanna's spectacular arrival...

Untitled from Rozsika Steele on Vimeo.

I am hoping this will be the first of many interviews that I post on here. I would love to hear your thoughts about them.

Interviews can be downloaded as a podcast at Mamarama- Last.fm

Mamas come in all shapes and sizes

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Mama-Made

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:39:00 +0000

I love that these two women craft fantastic mama-made goods for me to buy. I encourage you to visit their shops and support them!

Erin's Etsy shop is Pied Parcel

--stay-at-home mama to Evelyn & Joanna--two very lucky girls.

Michelle's Etsy shop is Kiss Kiss Kiddo

--stay-at-home mama to Oliver, Felix, and soon-to-be-#3 (a girl!)

I am in awe of how fine their craftmamaship is considering that they have their hands so full!

This is how Michelle found her son Felix after she turned her attention to her sewing machine for a few minutes. These are the best thing in the world.

Yes, this is exactly right.

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:18:00 +0000

I am just thankful there was no crazy doula in this SNL sketch about homebirth. It is unfortunate that this is how homebirth (or as they say refer to it, "natural childbirth") is typically (always) portrayed in popular media. All types of women choose to birth at home for a variety of reasons. The choice should be celebrated, not ridiculed. Having said that, yeah I thought the sketch was funny...

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Peas Love and Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:27:00 +0000

Katy's blog, Peas Love and Cake, is one of the few blogs I have read regularly since starting grad school (blah). Some days you just need to see pictures of happy children eating cupcakes or a piece of thread that landed on a little girl's shirt in the shape of a heart.

She recently posted three entries that have great advice for first time mothers.

Baby Essentials, her favorite bottle, and my personal favorite, Considering Cloth?

enjoy!

Happy Birthday Kael!

noreply@blogger.com (Rozsika Steele) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Kael turned three years old this week. I am still having a hard time accepting it. I texted his mother Shanna that I needed photographic proof of this milestone so she sent me this picture of Kael, all grown up, about to enjoy a cupcake at school. I melted into a little puddle when I saw it. Kael has a special place in my heart. His mother was in graduate school when he was born so I would cuddle Kael for her while she was stuck in class. I would wrap him up in the moby and keep him safe and happy until Shanna could get back to him. I love this little boy. I can't wait to meet his little brother or sister in a few months!