Habits & Novelties

Habits & Novelties June Giveaway!

2013-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll! I dunno about all the rest of you SAHM's who pretend to operate a real business on the sideline, but makin' a buck takes some hard work and part of that hard work (you know--getting up at 5:30AM, puttering around blindly looking for coffee, nursing the infant on demand, making another pot of coffee right about the time the rest of the neighborhood is waking up, popping online to check f~~acebook~~ ~~twitter~~ ~~email~~ Etsy stats and do some more market research for your shop) is MARKETING!

And the great thing about noobs doing marketing is giveaways! It's how we do it.

Put 'em up for....the darlingest cosmetic bag/all-purpose pouch you've ever seen! Right? I mean, RIGHT?! (*ahem*)

Roses Are Red cosmetic bag on Etsy

One lucky winner will receive this lovely cosmetic bag. The only required entry is a facebook page LIKE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Running a Small Business is effing HARD!

2013-05-11T19:59:00.002-07:00

Well, it is.

Not that I really expected it to be a walk in the park, exactly. I guess I just underestimated the toil required to build up a clientele. That said, things are puttering along. I haven't despaired--rather I've made plans to build this thing from the ground up. This has involved rearranging my tiny living space into a sort of "studio," complete with tool bench, shelves, sewing machine, notions, a random assortment of things in jars, sharp objects that must be kept high up, securely out of reach of my seven month old, and umpteen other things there really is no room for. It's a mess. A beautiful mess.

I always think of that "Field of Dreams" quote, "if you build it he will come." If I build this Etsy store, little by little, the he's and she's will come, I think. I hope.

I'm buying little things here and there to get myself running: craft paper jewelry holders that I can stamp with my logo, yarn, sewing notions, etc. Soon, there will be business cards, but that can wait, I believe, since most of my marketing is online. I'm making this thing for real, folks.

And giveaways. To build up traffic and exposure. Did ya'll like the last item I gave away here? I'll probably be doing some more in the future, so stay tuned!

One thing I'll say about being my own boss: self-motivation has never been my strong suit. I'm poor at providing structure for myself and poor when it comes to time management. I'm working to overcome these things. Working to not be lazy just because nobody's here to wring labor out of me. Working to go the whole distance and not cut corners. I'll tell ya, I think I'm building character!

***

If you haven't looked recently, here are some of the more recently listed wares from Habits & Novelties.

Chevron Wood Inlay Pendant

Tiny Fleur de Lis Peter Pan Collar

Polka Dot Peter Pan Collar

Shabby Chic Nautical Brooch

Springtime Lace Infinity Scarf

And there's more coming!

What about you folks? Who out there has started their own small business? What was the hardest part for you? What has been the most rewarding thing about it? What are your thoughts about being "self employed?" Talk to me!

Winner Announcement!

2013-05-07T11:12:00.003-07:00

A big thank you to everybody who entered Habits & Novelties' Spring Giveaway! We have a winner!

Congratulations, Sharisse 'Shary' Nicole Lopez!

You have won the pretty bandana headband! Check your email inbox(es) and confirm your winning entry!

Spring Giveaway!

2013-04-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, folks! It's been eons since I've given this blog any TLC, so I'm gonna do it now--and shamelessly self-promote my Etsy shop at the same time...

...WITH A GIVEAWAY!

Here is the lovely item up for grabs this month!

Flirty Bandana Headband by Habits & Novelties

This headband is made from a light, pretty cotton fabric. I personally love the teensy purple flower print! The elastic in back makes this accessory perfectly adjustable and gives this band a unique twist. Totally appropriate for a spring fling! Enter below!

This contest begins May 1st 2013 and ends May 7th 2013!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mommy Therapy

2013-04-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

So if you know me at all, even if it's just through Facebook or another social media outlet, you know I like to craft. I like to make stuff. I'm pretty obsessive about whole DIY movement, and I don't see myself dropping that anytime soon. It gets me all giddy that I can buy a few cheap materials--especially materials for baby care and baby miscellany - and create the thing I have need or want of, for a mere fraction of what I might drop if I were to purchase from a name brand.

Some people find me odd; sometimes (it seems to me) irritatingly so. This makes me sad and brings up a thing I've noticed about people--especially mothers.

People in general--and, like I said, mothers especially--are approval whores. I'm one, too, so I totally get it. But sewing a garment for my son or blending my own baby food, or putting cotton pre-fold diapers on my baby somehow seems to make people think I'm trying too hard or worse--trying to show people up. I don't really get it, honestly. I've received a lot of comments like "Wow, stop making us look bad *wink wink,*" but in such proliferation that I suspect they really mean "seriously, lady. Cut it out." What I don't think people realize, is that I do the things I do for ME. The choices I make for my household work for our household and I'm absolutely NOT campaigning for the reform of any or all other methods. But ya know, a lot of moms do take it upon themselves to preach, so I guess I take it back-- I do get it.

Recently I visited CafeMom, a forum described as "the largest and most vibrant meeting place for moms online," (*chortle*) with a child behavior/parenting question which I'll keep privy for now; my experience was disappointing, to say the least. Not two posts into the discussion, moms were being conniving bitches to each other over the most trivial of parenting details. Motherhood brings out the worst in people, sometimes. Again, I think it's because we're all secretly afraid we're screwing up our kids (Duh. We are), but we're even more afraid that somebody will notice that we're screwing them up. Sadly, this translates into major attitude problems for some. Judgement. Condescension. Passive aggression. The gamut.

This, ladies, is what we need to cut out. Because, hello--! the kiddos pick that shit up fast. And then congrats-- disfunction by osmosis!

I'm a crazy, crafty, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, baby food mixing, cloth diapering mom. I'm proud of these things, but not prejudiced. You other moms out there are all probably just as "crazy," but I know you've got your own unique list of attributes on the list and whatever they happen to be is good by me! I'm not here to show anybody up or make anybody feel bad for the formula in their cupboard or the pampers on their changing table. If we'd all stop trying to mask our own perceived shortcomings by pointing out shortcoming we perceive in others, us moms might actually have a "vibrant meeting place" that is so necessary for our sanity.

COMMENT! Tell me what works--or doesn't work--for your family! What's on your list of mommy attributes?

Mid-American Review

2013-04-09T09:25:00.003-07:00

This blog hasn't seen a good touch of the literary for awhile, so I'm excited to talk about a great publication out of Bowling Green State University today.

Mid-American Review, vol XXXIII, no.1

Mid-American Review is a publication of Bowling Green State University's English department, and each issue is a unique experience in the arts. The journal has been publishing the works of great writers since it began in 1972 as a small, in-house literary journal, and continues to publish now, as a journal that showcases writers from all over the world.

What I loved about the latest issue of Mid-American Review was the number of candid, honest pieces, that spoke to the mundane human experiences we've all encountered. The poems of Janet McNally and Jonathan Rice, for example, take on experiences of childbirth and suburbia, respectively, and make them poignant visceral.

In O--, McNally begins, "It's a lot to ask the hips to separate," and later expands on the way her body felt before the unborn child's presence: "my bones fit together when I was eleven/ and practicing plies on the barre." In this poem, the reader sees just how fully this woman's emotional landscape is conflated with and manifest in her corporeal body.

Similarly, in Late Subdivision, Rice talks about a quiet, suburban neighborhood ranged at night by "a helix of feral dogs," and juxtaposes this with young men "paired up to fan out, [and] ring doorbells...unfolding their pamphlets." On one hand, the"late subdivision," a pristine community of middle class home-owners, visited by traveling proselytizers; on the other, the wild coyotes that encircle at night and the odd tract "with no swingset" and "a clutter of hens." As a reader, I found this poem to speak volumes about the manifold "edits" we make on our circumstances, both consciously and subconsciously. We see what we choose to see.

This issue of Mid-American Review also includes some interesting fictional pieces. The Exorcist in Love by Thomas Cooper is a frightening and fantastical glimpse into the lives of a girl, a demon inhabiting her, and a holy man commissioned to make the demon leave. The story is entertaining on a basic level, startling and wholly unexpected on another. The story is also a great study in character point of view, as each of the main characters mentioned take center stage at various points.

Finally, one of the most distinctive things this issue contains is a collection of essays from four authors and former MAR contributors reassessing the 1962 National Book Awards. This section of the issue, titled "50 Years Later: Revisiting the 1962 National Book Awards," features Ryan Call, Roxane Gay, Alissa Nutting, and Charles Yu, all of whom write eloquently on books they believe should have been on the short list for the award half a century ago. It's a unique undertaking and timely--a project designed to re-evaluate what made works like The Moviegoer, Catch-22, Franny and Zooey, Revolutionary Road, and other works great, from a 21st century vantage.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this issue of MAR. While I didn't love everything I read, (and really, that's not the point. The idea is to showcase a wide diversity of talent) I recognized real mastery in all of the pieces. I highly encourage you to pick up a copy. A current issue is $9 and back-issues are $5.

Contact:

Mid-American Review
Department of English
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403

And visit their website: www.bgsu.edu/midamericanreview

Note: I received my copy of Mid-American Review courtesy of The Review Review in exchange for honest review of the literary magazine.

Quilt-a-Thon pt. 2

2013-04-03T08:35:00.001-07:00

Okay, ladies and gents, it's BACK.

Ye olde quilt-a-thon. ~~I got tired of knitting,~~ and I've resumed the project. When I left you, we'd just launched. We cut out a shit ton of little triangles, preparing to piece the top of the herringbone quilt. Review that step HERE.

Today, we're picking up with STEP TWO. Piecing the quilt.
I've said it before, but when it comes to sewing, I tend to do it "quick n dirty"and cut corners a bit. Well I'm here to tell you that with quilts, that method is not okay. Take your time, folks. If you cut out your pieces as precisely as possible, that's good. Now make sure that your seams are always the same measurment. If you're doing a 3/8th seam allowance, do 3/8th on every single piece, because if you don't, the thing won't fit together very nicely.

Also? Iron. I loath ironing. But iron I must. And so must you. This ensures that no puckering or gathering happens in the sewing process.

Okay! Ready? Let's start piecing this thing.

Take 2 of your contrasting colored triangles and stick 'em right sides together, like so. Sew that puppy up. Open up your sewn piece. It's a square now! Turn it over and iron down the seam. It doesn't matter so much which direction you iron the seam, just as long as you're consistent.

Once you have made a bunch of little squares out of those little triangles, start sewing them together to create the herringbone effect. You do this by sewing seams where the like fabrics are touching, making a sort of slanting bar. Sew squares together until you've a long strip, that's the desired length for your quilt. Iron all the seams! SIDE NOTE: I started doing this and decided that I would like a chevron quilt better. The strips you make can easily be arranged into chevrons.

The pic above shows the strips arranged (not yet sewn together.) in herringbone pattern. See how the bars are staggered on each side?

Whether you're doing herringbone or chevrons, start sewing long strips together until your quilt is the desired width. (don't forget to iron the seams again!) Once it is as wide as you want it, you've completed the quilt top!!

Stay tuned, of course, for Steps 3-4. We'll be cutting out the back of the quilt and making a big sandwich with top, bottom, and low loft quilt batting, sewing them together, and then binding and finishing!

A Perfunctory Blog Post

2013-02-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Welp, the quilt-a-thon is indefinitely on hold. But you kinda already knew that, I'm sure. If any of you are super disappointed, shoot me a comment, and I'll really try to bust it out, I will. But with Etsy orders coming in, baby gifts to make (I'm-a be an aunt in July!!!!), a 4.5 month old boy with a sleep schedule all out of whack, and *cough* whole seasons of Downton Abby streaming on Hulu Plus, well...you know.

Update. AKA Random Life-Points:

1. I am self-employed! Seriously, folks, you're good to me. I've made about a hundred smackaroos in just a month with my Etsy shop, and I feel very, very blessed. I'm doing something I love to do and people are giving me ~~pity sales~~ business! It's definitely a lot of work, but I'm the entrepreneurial honeymoon stage, you might say. Who knows, maybe I'm overly confident at this early point. Time will tell if my success is real. But in the meantime, I'm having fun. That's a win! If you've taken a look at the shop, drop in again periodically. Some new things for the ladies are coming in the next week or so and they're pretty swank!

2. Silas is outgrowing all his clothes. Or he was, until I made a little trip into town last week. Seriously, somebody should have told me how fast the little stinkers grow. Oh wait, somebody did. In fact everybody with children of their own told me how fast the stinkers grow, but I just didn't think it was...THIS fast. Lord. Makes me think it must be super uncomfortable being a baby. Which reminds me of this thing I read this morning.

3. Perhaps in proportion to the rate at which my first and only child is growing, I feel old. I turned 28 this January, and last week I told my Dad on the phone that I was 30, without even thinking. Wha--? Why do we do that? Round up like that? Am I the only one? Also, there are college students living next door. College boys. Jocky, conceited college boys, with obnoxious sound systems in their pimped-out rides and a different spindly-looking girl in the passenger seat every time they pull into their driveway. Neal and I are constantly sitting on this couch, muttering "shut the ___ up, you ___-weeds!" Or something like that. Yep. We're geisers.

4. The sun has been shining. 'Nuff said.

5.This month I will finally pay off my school bill which I accrued when they told me, at the beginning of my last semester, that I didn't have enough credits to graduate and so I piled more on to my already maxed out schedule and the loans didn't cover it. Pay. Off. Which means I should finally see material proof (diploma) that I do, in fact, have a college education.

6. I can't think of anything else that would remotely interest you about my life.

So there's a little update. Just a random gathering of characters thrown on a screen to assure you that I am, in fact, alive and well. You're welcome.

Valentine's Day Sale!

2013-02-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hey Valentines,

Today and today only I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on any purchase from Habits & Novelties! Just enter VDAY2013 at checkout!

Business is good!

2013-02-08T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Etsy is making me crazy! Okay, not too crazy, but I do have some business and it's keeping me on my toes. I started knitting some ear-warmers, and it turns out they're quite popular! I've got three orders already, so that's what I'm working on!

This means, unfortunately, that the quilt we started will have to wait...at least the post will. Feel free to piece the quilt, if you want. For those of who want the tutorial and the pictures, I promise I won't keep you hanging TOO long.

Meanwhile...ear-warmers.

Knit Cable Ear-warmers, $18 on Etsy

Etsy!

2013-02-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

So a couple weeks ago I opened up an Etsy shop and posted about it here. I thought that today I'd give you a little update and some pictures.

Business is good, I think, for only having been open for a couple weeks. I've sold two items, one of them a custom order for a friend. The things in my shop are mostly crocheted items for kiddos, but I do some other things as well. The custom order was the hat you see below, which is sewn with white cotton twill. It's for an adorable little guy whose mom does Pampered Chef.

Baby Chef Hat by Habits & Novelty on Etsy

Here's a few of the other things I've been working on...

I've been going a little crazy with the crochet, but I've been having a lot of fun doing it! Next up, some knitting? Maybe! And I haven't forgotten about our quilt...but that's another post. :)

Quilt-a-Thon!

2013-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

I think ya'll should be grateful that I don't post every day. Or even every week. I tend to post stuff when I have a great idea, and, unfortunately, those don't happen everyday. Or, if they do, they're probably not the sort of good idea you'd be terribly interested in hearing about. (...OH! So if I attach the snappi onto the diaper THIS way, poop won't seep through the legholes as easily! Now...why are all the diaper covers still in the washer?...) Trust me on this one.

ANYWAY! I have a pretty good idea that isn't actually my idea (thank you internets), but I'm sharing it anyway. I want to have a Quilt-off! Online! With all you crafty people! The basic idea is to make a quilt in stages, one stage per week. I'll post a weekly thingy about each new stage. Something like this: week one--cut out your fabric pieces, week two--piece the quilt together, etc. etc. It's great for people who have a lot on their plate and don't really have time to sit down for hours at a time and craft. Small stages, people. Little tasks that you'll have a whole week to work on. So whadyathink? Wanna do it? No? That's okay, I'll do it myself--and post about it anyway!

This post officially kicks off WEEK ONE!

Here is the quilt we'll try to make! I found it on Pinterest (where else?)

Herringbone Quilt.

Mine is going to be really ugly, because all I have to work with is scraps. Oh, and it'll be smallish. Like a baby quilt. It'll still be a lot of fun, though. You can make yours as large as you like, of course. Just add squares.

Things you'll need this week:

Fabric. In at least two coordinating colors. About 1 1/2 yds each for a crib-sized quilt. (you'll need another 2 1/2 yards + a little extra for the backing and binding at a later stage. 5 1/2 yds total)
Sewing machine
Thread, in a coordinating color
Rotary cutter (or sewing scissors)

Speaking of squares, stage one is about squares. I mean triangles. I mean squares.

Cutting up your pieces.

For my little quilt, I'm cutting out 5x5" squares, and then cutting those squares diagonally, into triangles. My quilt is just a baby quilt measuring 45x60", so I'm cutting out 93 5x5" squares.

Okay! Commence to cutting! I highly recommend a rotary cutter, because cutting with plain ol' scissors (like I did) is quite tedious.

Next week: piecing the quilt top!

Opening Shop

2013-01-23T20:07:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone,

I've been meaning to do it for awhile now, so this week I finally got my act together and opened up an Etsy shop! I only have a couple listings right now, but there's more coming! Also, I can do some custom orders; just tell me what you'd like, based on the items you see listed!

I'm really hoping this is modestly successful, so hit up the store and then tell your friends!

Enter Store!

Things in the Works!

2013-01-21T16:36:00.003-08:00

Hello again!

It's the January doldrums. You know--dead of winter, quiet days that are sometimes just...too quiet? There's not a lot going on in January, is there? This Mama has a bit of cabin fever. All my resolutions re stagnating. Already. Although, not so much that I can't reel it back in and get stuff done. I've exercised a handful of times and lost a few lbs. I've flossed every day since the 1st. I've read books. But I need something to plan for.

And so there's February!

Stay tuned for these things, going on next month:

The p90x Ab Ripper workout! 30 days of ab work (28 days... Ahem.) so that I can feel less frumpy and more fit. I'll start on the first and keep you regularly updated on the pain and gain!
A quilt-a-thon! I'm going to invite you all along on a project I'm [already] working on. I'm making another quilt and I'm going in stages. Each week in February, I'll introduce a new stage in the process and hopefully, by the end of the month, we'll have a pretty new quilt to show for it!
An Etsy shop? Maybe, just maybe I'll have an Etsy shop up and running. I make a lot of stuff and my house fills up with it, so maybe it's time to open up a boutique!

a random picture that has nothing to do with anything.

So yeah. That's it so far. Stay tuned! You never know what could happen!

Newness

2013-01-02T12:16:00.004-08:00

Hey all!

Once again, the look and feel of this blog has CHANGED!!

(*groan, sigh, eye-roll*)

Notice, too, the name change. We were formerly Literary Legs, now we are tentatively Habits & Novelty.

Most posts are abridged in this template, so clicking on the post title is sometimes necessary to see the whole thing. Previous posts are archived at the bottom of the page. Check out the 'About' section, because it has been updated. I'm also trying to add a splash of color to this thing, but blogger is being difficult.

Thanks for bearing with me as I play around with the presentation of this blog

New Starts

2013-01-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hello again!

Happy New Year, peeps! Sooo much to talk about...but not sure where to begin! It's a new year and I'm excited about my resolutions. Optimistic about moving forward in every way. Growing. Achieving.

We talk every new year about all the things we hope to accomplish. Less often do we talk about the resolutions we made good on the previous year. So...before I delve into hopes and dreams for 2013, how about a little recap of 2012?

I had a beautiful, beautiful baby boy named Silas Finnegan Page. He's the [other] love of my life!

I made a bunch of stuff with my sewing machine! Three baby quilts, onesies, button-down shirts, hoodies, a scarf or two, a couple skirts... I really taught myself to sew last year and it's been so much fun!
I worked really hard on my poetry, folks. I really made good on my resolution to write more stuff and send out more stuff, and...I GOT PUBLISHED!!! That was a goal and it finally happened. You can read one of my poems in Decades Review, an online literary journal.

Those are the highlights. On to the new resolutions!

In 2013, I want to:

Read more books. I was pretty lame about reading last year. This year, I'm going to read my butt off. The goal is to read 52 books. One book for every week of the year. Yeah, I know some books take longer than a week to tackle. But other books take much less than a week, so I figure I can balance it out. 52 books! In that list, I hope to incorporate a lot more contemporary fiction. Contemporary stuff is something that was off my radar for a really long time, being a literary studies major in college. I read A LOT of classics. But not a lot of recent stuff. Another goal for this reading list is to tackle some Russian writers. Namely, Dostoevsky.
Write and get published a few more times! Along those lines, I definitely want to try to workshop with other writers and poets more. I think this will help me craft better pieces and find homes for my work!
Lose weight. Yeah, I know. Totally cliche.
Craft more! Sewing! Making things! Maybe even open an Etsy shop?! Who knows.
Revamp this blog a little bit. I'm going to change things up. Make the place a little more generic, since I've sort of strayed from my original niche. Oh sure, I'll still yammer on about books and writing. But I'll probably yammer on a lot about other stuff, too. Especially the little boy and the sewing projects! Full fledged mommy blogger, here, ya'll. Deal with it!

So what are YOUR resolutions? Do make them or do you refrain? Shoot me a comment!

Our Unassisted Homebirth Story

2012-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

The following is my birth story. My husband and I decided to have our first child at home, unassisted by doctors or a midwife. I’ve kept the narrative pretty straightforward, but have included all relevant details pertaining to a drug-free vaginal birth and delivery. If discussions of this nature make you feel uncomfortable, feel free to skip this particular post.

My unassisted home birth was planned. My husband, Neal, and I decided that birthing our son at home, by ourselves, was the only way to ensure that we had the private, intimate experience we wished for while welcoming our baby into the world. It’s unusual for me to have no grist for the worry mill whatsoever when it comes to big life changes and transitions, but as we planned and researched, I had greater and greater peace about the prospect of birthing at home, without drugs, without any medical personnel—naturally, intuitively. I credit my husband for keeping me calm and optimistic about this choice. Childbirth always sounds so traumatizing when women talk about it. And even more so when the medical community talks about it. I think this is because medicine is “big business” and women who are made to feel afraid spend more money. That’s a cynical take, but I think true for the most part.

At 39 weeks, I was ready, ready, ready for the little guy to come! I had told myself I wouldn’t be that woman, but there I was, googling natural ways to induce labor. My due date fell on the 11^th of October, and my husband had arranged five days off of work starting that day. All the more pressure to go into labor! I wanted him to be around when labor started; I didn’t want to have to call him at work. I also wanted him to be able to stay around for awhile after baby was born and not have to go back to work right away. My due date came and went. The hubs and I were in full labor-inducing mode; we were walking a mile each day, going for very bumpy, off-road rides in the pickup, and rehearsing our labor plan. We had the pool inflated and the obstetric kit I had bought months earlier at the ready.

On the 12^th, I suggested to Neal that he do a cervical check. We’d been doing these once a week since around 37 weeks. For two weeks I’d been fully effaced, but barely one centimeter dilated, which was discouraging. When he checked this time, he said I had definitely opened up some more, but it was still nothing to get excited about—maybe 2 centimeters. We realized later that while doing the check, Neal had unintentionally done a little bit of a “stretch and sweep” or what some call a stripping of the membranes and that it was this that probably got things going.

Half an hour after the check/stripping, I started having mild contractions. This was about 10:30 pm. At that point I still didn’t think anything was happening. We had just crawled into bed and were settling in when my water broke. All of the sudden. In a big gush! It was a strange feeling. I exclaimed to Neal and rushed to the bathroom to clean up. I remember feeling very shaky when I returned. I told Neal that the fluid was stained with meconium—a slight cause for concern, because some believe that to be a sign that the baby is in distress. Other sources we’d read, however, said meconium staining simply happens when the baby’s bowels are mature. My contractions were getting just a little bit more intense by this point, so we decided not to worry too much about the meconium. Things were progressing. I could hardly believe it--this was, indeed, real labor!

Silas and I, a few hours after his birth.

The rest of the night is sort of a blur. I remember that a few hours into it, I was actively trying to bring on contractions, by walking and moving around the house. I didn’t do that for long, though; the contractions got more painful and pretty soon I just wanted to endure them. I was in and out of our pool throughout the night. I couldn’t seem to decide what was most comfortable. I was also monitoring my contractions for about half the night. I had downloaded an app on my phone to keep track of how long and far apart the contractions were; although they began to hurt more, they stayed at 3-5 minutes apart and never got closer together, which was a little discouraging. I had a couple of panicked moments when the contractions were the most painful and I realized I still wasn’t close to pushing the baby out. I knew pretty quickly that if I was going to get through this, I couldn’t focus on all the work I had left to do; I had to focus on labor one contraction at a time, or I would lose hope. It was about 4 or 5 am when Neal did another quick check and determined that I was dilated to 4 centimeters. Only 4! I resigned myself to a long labor.

But contractions only continued for another couple hours before I started feeling “pushy.” At that point, I didn’t quite trust the feeling. I was concerned about tearing and I knew that if I wasn’t dilated fully, pushing would be futile and I would most likely tear. It was at this point that things started feeling different. Those last couple of hours must have dilated me the rest of the way, because I felt a different sort of pressure and I intuitively knew that that the baby had entered the birth canal. This was encouraging. I had long since stopped tracking the contractions. I remember thinking it’s true what I’d heard one woman say about labor and contractions—the pattern isn’t the same for all women. There isn’t a single formula for the way women birth their babies. Every single birth is unique. My contractions never got closer than 3-4 minutes apart. That was what worked for my body and for my baby. It was maybe 11am or noon when I reached in and felt the baby’s head. He was still pretty far up, but it was definitely his head. I began to push in earnest.

In hindsight, I can’t decide which was the hardest part of labor, the hours and hours of intense contractions or the two and a half hours of pushing. Pushing hurt just as much as the contractions, but in a different way. I felt my skin burning and stretching as the baby’s head descended more and more. Neal coached me through this part. He was incredibly strong and patient, even though he was a bit freaked out. This was all new for him, just as it was for me! The baby started crowning, but it was super difficult to keep him crowning. At one point I started crying, because after a long hard push, I would stop for breath and the baby’s head would start moving back up again. It felt like I would never succeed at pushing him out, that it was all I could do to get him down to a certain point and all that hard work was erased when he moved up again. I had been standing and squatting through the pushes until now, and decided that I needed to get in the water. Once I was in the pool, on hands and knees, my baby’s head crowned enough that I felt a tiny ear on one side when I reached down to touch. A minute later, his head was out entirely. I took a break and waited for the next contraction. My little baby boy was fully born with a couple more pushes. This was at 1:40 in the afternoon, on October 13^th. My labor had lasted about 15 hours.

Seeing my son, Silas, for the first time is honestly the most vivid part of my memory of my birthing experience. He seemed big when I first pulled him up out of the water. Really, he was only 7 lbs 9 oz. He was a little blue, also. I put him to my breast immediately. He started crying lustily soon after, and we moved out of the pool. I kept him on my breast and he was feeding within ten minutes.

I had done it! We had done it! A home birth, completely unassisted, just Neal, myself, and our Silas. It was the most empowering feeling in the world!

It was just the three of us for the rest of the day and night. The next day brought in-laws and my own mother, but those hours just after Silas was born were precious! It was such a special, necessary time, reveling in the newness of being parents to this brand new little human.

Como Tomo | Product Review

2012-11-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

I have another product review for you today! I received two great baby bottles from Como Tomo a few months ago, and have just recently been able to test them out. Como Tomo is a company that specializes in baby feeding products.

Here's what the company says about their bottles:

"Our bottles were specially designed for today's busy and conscientious moms. Unlike conventional bottles, babies fall in love with the natural design that mimics breast-feeding. Our customers rave about how easily their little ones latch on to our bottles without any fuss. We use highest quality medical grade silicone that is not only safe from toxic chemicals, but also soft and soothing to touch. Moreover, the wide neck design of our bottles allows for simple and easy cleaning without those unsanitary brushes, and our innovative anti-colic valves truly work, and are leak free."

My take:

I do like these bottles. I especially like the soft, squishy silicone feel, not only of the nipple, but of the whole body. It's easy to hold and a gentle squeeze of the bottle releases a tiny bit of milk to encourage feeding. As the company promised, Silas had no trouble latching on, even though he'd only ever nursed at the breast before we tried these bottles. Admittedly, he was a bit weirded out at first and he gave me a look. These bottles are a great alternative to breastfeeding when the situation demands. To test these bottles out, for just such an occasion, I used my Madela breast pump, and filled the bottle with breast milk. Como Tomo gives it a fair go and they do pretty well, but Silas and I agree--the boob is better. ;)

Honestly, I didn't realize how much I liked these bottles until I tried out a couple other brands afterward. It's Como Tomo's wide neck and soft silicone that charms me, and other bottles just don't feel as intuitive and comfortable in my hands.

I also like that this bottles comes in two sizes, a 5 oz and an 8 oz. The 5 oz bottle has only one hole in the top of the nipple for a "slow flow." The larger model has two holes for a faster milk flow.

But my favorite thing about these bottles? The fact that Daddy is able to experience the fun of feeding our little gladiator. :)

You can find Como Tomo bottles from their site (see link above). They are also available on Amazon.

Disclaimer:

I received the product described above for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and may differ from the opinions of others. This post is in compliance with FTC regulation.

Infant Onesie Tutorial

2012-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hi again!

The last week or so I've been reacquainting myself with my sewing machine. We've had some good times, the ol' Janome and I, churning out little man clothes. I'm not a skilled seamstress yet. Just a beginner, really, and entirely self-taught. As a beginner, I'm not really qualified to do sewing tutorials, but the stuff I've been doing is so easy and fun, I'm going to do one anyway.

I'd direct you to the sites that taught me how to do what I'm doing, but I've altered some of the methods and kinda branched out on my own a little; I haven't reinvented the wheel or anything, and I'm sure you can find exactly what I'm doing on some other site I don't know about, so this is nothing original-- I mostly just wanna teach somebody how to do something.

Infant Onesie Tutorial

You'll need a few things to start:

a sewing machine and sewing accoutrements
a couple large t-shirts
size 20 snaps
bias tape (optional)

Okay! Take a look at your t-shirt. If it has a cool graphic on it, think about where you'll cut so that the graphic is front and center on your infant garment. I used t-shirts with stripes, so I tried to get the placement of the stripes just right.

Next, make a pattern. Use whatever works. I used cardstock, because I hate flimsy tissue-paper patterns. Who came up with that, anyway? Some people are very precise about their pattern. I should be more careful about sizing and stuff, but I am not a very patient seamstress and like to sew quick 'n' dirty, so....yeah. Just eye-ball it on size. Or, if you prefer, take a look at another of your child's garments to get the approximate size. Here's the basic shape for the front and back and sleeves of your onesie

front/back pieces

Sleeve

Stick the front/back pattern on the t-shirt. Cut out two of that shape. I just stick the pattern somewhere on the middle of the t-shirt and start cutting both sides/pieces at once. Use the t-shirt's sleeves for your onesie sleeves.

Next, you're going to cut off the ribbing around the neck of your t-shirt. This will be sewn around the neck lines of your front and back pieces. Place the ribbing on the right sides of the front and back, raw edges together. Note: the ribbing from one t-shirt usually is not enough for both pieces. That's why I usually have to cut some extra from another shirt.

sew raw edges together

Once you're done sewing the ribbing on to the necklines, you're ready for the trickiest part.

Place the two pieces right side down, and pin your front and back pieces together on both sides, overlapping like so:

Next, pin on the sleeves (right side down). You can use some of the pins you used to pin the front/back pieces together.

And start sewing, making sure all the layers and ribbing are together.

Then sew the sleeves and body closed, leaving the bottom open, of course.

Hem the bottom. You can sew in some bias tape, if you like. This will make the hem more sturdy.

Then place your snaps on the bottom. And secure. Use some interfacing on the snap area. (I am not doing this in the picture, but you should).

Shaping up!

To make sure everything is pretty, iron the neckline a bit.

And voila! An infant onesie!

Another long sleeved onesie I made :)

Okay, that was my first tutorial! Maybe I'll do more as I become more skilled at my sewing! In the meantime, I'm very interested in what you think of this tutorial. If you followed my tutorial and made your own onesies, tell me about it. Also, post any corrections or suggestions you can think of in the comments! Thanks!

Taking Care of Mommy and Baby

2012-11-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

This week, Silas will be one month old! It's frightening how fast time flies.

Life is so different now. So, so different. I love this kiddo more than I could even imagine was possible! I'd say that probably 85% of the conversations that occur around our house involve or concern Silas.We have so many hopes and dreams for this little boy.

Other conversations, usually initiated by me, have to do with getting my pre-baby body back. I mean, it's been a month folks! I know every new mom has this concern (well, except for those little shits who fit into their pre-prego skinny jeans three minutes after giving birth, but we'll just pretend those women don't exist) and I'm no differnt.

source

There's a lot to consider when taking the initial steps towards getting your pre-prego body back. The usual hit the gym hard routine just doesn't work. I've got to think about: letting my body make a full recovery after childbirth, breastfeeding and getting the necessary calories to sustain both myself and baby, and of course, time.

I am extremely fortunate to have a husband who is also my best friend and partner in life. He was right there alongside me during my pregnancy, reading articles, learning about natural childbirth, offering advice and support. He continues to read and think with me now that I'm working on maintaining my health and body after baby. See this article It definitely helps that my husband is also very well versed in health and fitness (and one of the most physically fit people I know. He sometimes cycles 30 miles in a day, commuting to work!). His input on my post-partum weight goals has helped tremendously. He's the one who has urged me to:

Get rest. Keep my energy up. Multiple nightly feedings can take a toll, so I should get in a nap whenever possible, says he. I'm all to happy to oblige on this particular point. :)
Eat more. Yes, counter-intuitive as it may seem, the more calories go in, the faster theyr'e burned while breastfeeding, and the less likely your body will try to hold on to fat stores that it thinks it needs to sustain baby when your calorie intake is decreased. I don't like to hear that I should be eating MORE, especially when the pounds don't seem to be melting away fast enough. But slow and steady makes for healthy weight loss and a healthy mom and son. Says he.
Exercise lightly. Yoga. Walking. Housework. All are great ways to stay active, again, without overdoing it. In the first couple months, light to moderate exercise is best, to avoid complications with recovery. Again, I don't like to hear "take it easy." I wanna plunge into my old cardio/strength routines that I so shamefullly didn't keep up the last half of my pregnancy. But again, I'm going slow. Doing this thing right. I'll work up to that old cardio regiment.

I mentioned time. It turns out that having a baby less than a month old takes a pretty big chunk out of the day. I can't just pop Jillian Michaels into the player and workout anymore. That's another reason walks and housework are the primary ways I stay active. And even those things only seem possible when baby-wearing. My baby bjorn and moby wrap are lifesavers.

I'm curious. What did YOU do to get your body back after baby? What tips and tricks worked for you? What were your intial goals? Your game plan? Shoot me a comment!

Tommee Tippee Nursing Cover | Product Review

2012-10-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

A few months before this little guy was born, I was put in contact with Tommee Tippee, a great company that offers a variety of great products for infants and small children, and I was invited to try out one of their beautiful Closer to Nature Nursing Wraps!

I have a couple other covers, but the one I recieved from Tommee Tippee is my favorite, and that's no lie.

Here's why I like it:

Large, but not bulky. Some covers make a mum feel like she's wearing a circus tent. Not this one. It's roomy enough, without being bulky or awkward.
Adjustable strap and easy view of baby. Most covers have an adjustable strap. This one adjusts easily for a great fit. Plus, the opening also adjusts for getting a good view of your nursing baby.
Soft terry lining along bottom, for wiping little mouths. Yep, this cover has built-in clean-up, for dribbles! See photo below.
Great design. No matter how functional the cover, us mums want them to be pretty too. I got the black cover, and love the lovely white print!

I'm very pleased with this product and would definitely recommend it for any breastfeeding mother! You can purchase this wrap in black, as shown above, or brown, for $29.99 at Babies R Us or Target.

Silas' Newborn Photos

2012-10-28T16:01:00.001-07:00

Hey people,

Would you like to see some great photos of the most adorable baby ever born? I thought you might.

Would you believe these are iPhone photos? They are! I edited them on my laptop after importing them, and I they're not half bad, if I do say so myself!

Welcome Baby Silas

2012-10-23T17:53:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

I am just popping in here briefly to say that we finally welcomed our new son into the world! Silas Finnegan Page was born October 13th 2012, at 1:40 in the afternoon! He weighed 7 lbs and 9 oz and was19 inches tall.

I am planning on writing our birth story here in the next few weeks. The hubs and I planned an unassisted homebirth and welcomed our baby boy naturally, without medical personel, without drugs, and in the comfort and privacy of our own home (I can see the "processing" look on all your faces. Maybe a few of your jaws are dropping). We went the unconventional, "hands off" route, certainly, but we couldn't be more pleased with how things played out. Our goal was a completely natural and intimate experience and that's what we had.

Being a mother is such an incredible, beautiful thing to be. I can't put everything I feel for this little human into words. But we've been blessed. So, so blessed.

daddy

Silas

T-Minus 3 Days.

2012-10-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

I read somewhere that a woman should try a little "reverse pschycology" on herself in the last few days of her pregnancy. Start a time-consuming project? Convince herself that D-day isn't for another two weeks? Etcetera. It's now come down to 3 days till due date and I'm just hoping for a baby this week. Like, really hoping for a baby. Because seriously, folks? The belly seems to have picked up momentum and seems a little further out every day. And I've had everything "set up" for awhile now. All nesting projects complete, people!

I've already googled "self-inducing labor" and tried a few things. Nada. I said I wouldn't be this woman, but clearly, I need to remind myself that baby's come when THEY feel like coming. And I have nothing to be concerned about for at least another couple weeks.

I just wanna meet him! So I stare at this picture...

And talk to him a little. And I go back and rearrange all his cute little blankets and decide on a different outfit to dress him in after delivery. And troll Amazon for more baby stuff I don't need and can't afford! First time mommy-to-be stuff, right?

Moms! What did YOU do in the last weeks/days/hours before your baby arrived? Distract me from this waiting game, please!

Maternity Shoot 2.O.

2012-10-01T13:44:00.001-07:00

When I visited Idaho in August, my very talented sister was kind enough to take me out and shoot some photos. She's a professional photographer studying at Northwest College in Wyoming, and was home on summer break. Here are a few of the photos she took!