Have a Magical Weekend

One year ago this weekend I got the best birthday present ever: my husband surprised me with a trip to Paris! It was a magical, glorious trip and I often think back on the days we spent there exploring, eating, laughing, and taking pictures.

The other day I realized that I haven't used my Diana camera in a really long time. I couldn't remember the last time, actually. So I snapped the last few frames left on the roll of film that was already inside the camera and I took it to the photo lab.

Well, what came back today when I went to pick up the developed photos?

Pictures of Paris.

Imagine my happiness! The perfect early-birthday present :) It was like uncovering a little time capsule. The pic above is of the Carousel near the Sacre Coeur.

So here's to birthdays, memories, and everyday magic.

I hope you have a marvelous weekend! Here are some fun links I've been wanting to share:

Mothers SO rock. We know this. But now there's a museum honoring them!

This is the sleekest treehouse you'll ever see.

I love this tutorial for making a plush alphabet.

These bright, cheerful onesies make me happy.

These films look provocative: one is about school, and one is about infant formula.

How about this for a birth story: a pregnant mom, scheduled for her fourth c-section, unexpectedly gives birth at home and is assisted by her two-year old.

--XOXO, Leigh

P.S. Don't forget that the following giveaways are still active, so be sure to enter if you haven't already: Its OK My Dear, Flora Bond, and The Handmade Project.

GOOD LUCK! I look forward to picking winners next week!

We Have Winners!!!

Photo from Mmaajjaa7's photostream

This week of giveaways has been fun, but the good times are just beginning because now I have the pleasure of announcing the first two winners! Drumroll, please...

The winner of the Nature Design Juniper Honey Spinner is Kiera, who left this comment:

And the winner of the Yokoo English Thompson Hat in Mint is Ramah, who said:

Congratulations ladies! Thanks for entering!

Marvelous Giveaway! Its OK My Dear

I am really so excited about today's giveaway, not only because the prize is extra fab but also because I get to introduce you to Ashley Cheeks, the talented designer behind It's OK My Dear. Ashley is a friend of mine, and a fellow Mississippi-to-NYC-transplant. She is a super-creative person, and one of the most stylish people I know. Check out her blog and website to get a glimpse of her always-adorable exploits.

To enter to win one of Ashley's pieces, visit her shop and leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is by Tuesday, November 24 at 11:59 pm. I will randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, November 25.

The winner will receive a gift voucher for any It's OK My Dear hair piece -- winner's choice! Good luck, and thanks, Ashley!

Helmet Chic

Can you imagine a cuter helmet? This makes me want to get a bicycle!

Forts

A-MAAAAAZING fort inspiration over at the Wild Things Forts Project on Booooooom.com.

See (and be inspired and delighted by the entries) here. This made my day and totally took me back to my childhood. Here are my favorites...

Marvelous Giveaway! Nature Design Honey Spinner

Today's giveaway is totally sweet -- literally! It's a gorgeous little honey spinner from Nature Design. It is handmade of Juniper wood and is as decorative as it is practical.

Leave a comment by tomorrow at noon, and I'll announce the winner later in the day. Thanks, and be sure to check out all the lovely items in Nature Design's shop!

Breastfeeding Campaign

I love these posters that are part of a new campaign to promote breastfeeding in New Zealand. See more here. Via The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog.

My Mom

This is a photo of my mom, taken about 31 years ago, exactly! She was just days away from giving birth to me on November 26, 1978. Wasn't she the cutest pregnant mama? To mark my birthday, my mom is going to be sharing the birth story next week on Marvelous Kiddo! So stay tuned...

Love you, Mom!

Bio-Diversity by Christopher Niemann

File under Another Brilliant and Whimsical Concept by Christopher Niemann. See the entire Bio-Diversity set here. Via Abstract City.

This Week in Celebrity Babywearing

Top: Gavin Rossdale slings Zuma

Bottom: Karolina Kurkova totes Tobin in an Ergo

Via Celebrity Baby Blog

Marvelous Giveaway! Flora Bond Gift Voucher

Today's giveaway is especially for all the glamour-loving mamas out there! The fabulous Nicole of Flora Bond jewelry is offering one lucky Marvelous Kiddo reader a $50 gift voucher for her shop.

You can truly make a statement with Flora Bond's orginal, big fabric jewelry, hair pieces, and accessories. Vintage glamour with a modern twist. Eco-friendly couture.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is in the Flora Bond shop. Don't forget to include your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Sunday, November 22 at 11:59. I will announce the (randomly selected) winner on Monday, November 23.

Sakura Bloom Triathlon, Round Two: The Joy of Babywearing

For Round Two of the Sakura Bloom Triathlon, the participants have been asked to submit photographs that capture the joy of wearing their babies.

And here is my entry...

My husband took this picture while we were out enjoying New York City a couple of weekends ago. I was nursing my baby on the Brooklyn Bridge, enjoying the incredible scenery of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, the golden, late-afternoon Autumn sunlight. It was a gorgeous day and there were hoards of people coursing over the bridge traveling in both directions on foot, by car, and on bicycle. It was as frenetic a setting in as epic a location as I can imagine, and then there was this:

Within the protective embrace of my arms, cocooned supportively within the sling, my infant cozily breastfed. In that moment, as mama and baby, we might as well have been the only two people on the planet.

And that, to me, is the essence of babywearing and what makes it so beautiful. No matter what else is going on around me, no matter where in the world we may go, there is an intimacy and connection that comes from wearing my baby that is absolutely priceless.

I wouldn't trade the experience of being a babywearing mama for anything.

Photos by my husband, Taro Alexander. The sling is from the Sakura Bloom Linen Essential Collection.

Marvelous Giveaway! The Handmade Project

I am soooooo excited about today's giveaway! The talented and amazing Traci, of The Handmade Project, has generously offered an array of gorgeous items from her shop for the winner.

I am in love with the products and mission of The Handmade Project. Traci started designing and making toys because her daughter is multi-ethnic and she wanted to create a world for her that celebrates diversity. How awesome is that? I encourage you to follow along with her life, inspirations, and creations on her wonderful blog. I'm a big fan.

To enter the giveaway, leave a relevant comment on this post along with your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 23 at 11:59. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 24.

Traci will be sending that lucky someone the following: a salad play food set, a pancakes play food pattern, two clothespin dolls and the clothespin doll pattern! Wow, thank you Traci, and good luck to everyone!

And one last thing: if buyers write "Marvelous Kiddo" in the comment field when purchasing on The Handmade Project's Etsy site, they will receive 15% off their purchase!

Nursing Two

So, I've been wanting to talk a little about what life is like for me as a mom nursing two little ones.

I have been breastfeeding on-demand for the last twenty-nine months, and I am now two and a half months into tandem nursing.

There have been challenges, but for the most part I am loving this moment in our lives. I was initially a little overwhelmed, right after W was born, by how much more J wanted to nurse all of a sudden. A precocious toddler, his nursing had trailed off quite a bit during my pregnancy, and for months he had been sleeping straight through the night with no "mammo". Once the new baby arrived, though, there was a huge increase in milk, and obviously new family dynamics, and all of the forces combined to create a big uptick in J's desire to nurse and be held by me. I wanted to hold him too, but of course with a newborn on the scene I felt a much stronger desire to prioritize nursing the baby. That tension -- the wanting to provide my second child with everything he needs without pushing the older one aside -- has been the hardest thing to navigate. It has been very emotional for all of us, and it has often meant a literal juggling act takes place in my lap, and that has been taxing to me at times. At the same time, we have all developed a certain rhythm and as we grow together it has become apparent to me what a valuable role my nursing relationship with J has played in making the transition to big-brotherhood. Our bond remains strong (in some ways stronger than ever) and the two brothers are able to connect and bond in an amazing and beautiful way through tandem nursing.

On the days when I feel overwhelmed or tired of constantly giving of myself in this way, I try to remember how fleeting this stage is in the grand scheme of things. Soon enough my babies will be running around with agendas that have absolutely nothing to do with me, so I must cherish this phase and recognize that it will not go on forever. Most of the time, when one baby starts to cry and then the other takes that as a cue to chime in and ask for mammo too, when I'm leaking milk like crazy all over my blouse, when they both fall asleep on me and I can't move to go on about my day without causing them to stir, I just have to laugh at the sweet absurdity of how important the boobies are to these little guys.

And then I don't mind sharing them for a while more.

NOTE: The photos in this post were taken last week by my friend Lauren Colas, who is working on an incredible project documenting families that nurse for longer than is the cultural norm. If you are interested in learning more about her work, or if you would like to participate in the project, contact Lauren at laurencolas@gmail.com.

ALSO: For more information on breastfeeding, including tandem nursing and breastfeeding older babies and children, I highly recommend reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International.

Marvelous Giveaway! Yokoo English Thompson

In anticipation of my birthday, which is coming up next week, I decided it would be fun to celebrate by offering a series of fun giveaways for my readers! Check in often to see what new offerings are posted, and to enter to win...

To get things kicked off, today's giveaway is from one of my favorite designers. Yokoo is offering one lucky Marvelous Kiddo reader this awesome handmade knit hat! All you have to do to enter is leave a relevant comment on this post along with your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Thursday, November 19 at 11:59. I will announce the winner on Friday, November 20.

Meanwhile, check out all of Yokoo's amazing wares. I can't get enough of their sumptuous knits...

We Have a Winner!!!

Photo via Flickr.

The randomly-selected winner of the wire face sculpture giveaway is Sara Sophia, (who happens to write one of my new favorite blogs, Tout-Est-Des-Roses). Congratulations, Sara Sophia, and thanks to all who entered!

Settlers

Photo found here.

"There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as normal and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter -- the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these three trembling cities the greatest is the last -- the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for New York's high-strung disposition, its poetical deportment, its dedication to the arts, and its incomparable achievements. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion. And whether it is a farmer arriving from Italy to set up a small grocery store in a slum, or a young girl arriving from a small town in Mississippi to escape the indignity of being observed by her neighbors, or a boy arriving from the Corn Belt with a manuscript in his suitcase and a pain in his heart, it makes no difference: each embraces New York with the intense excitement of first love, each absorbs New York with the fresh eyes of an adventurer, each generates heat and light to dwarf the Consolidated Edison Company."

--Excerpt from Here is New York by E.B. White, 1948.

I think Mr. White wrote those words just for me, thirty years before I was born and fifty-two years before I moved to New York from a small town in Mississippi. When I read them for the first time last night, I cried.

Superstition for Your Friday the 13th

Wellness

Photo: Twig Hutchinson, via Design Is Mine

I was dealing with a cold all last week, and although my symptoms were mild, it was the first time I had come down with something since becoming the mother of two. Dealing with even the slightest sniffle/sore throat got me to thinking about the paramount importance of staying healthy when one is outnumbered by children! Everything was harder and a bit miserable last week, even with such a mild affliction, and I couldn't get over fretting that I would make one of my babies sick.

Fortunately, further illness has been averted in our home for the time being, but I can't help worrying about the season ahead. Every time I turn around I hear about another friend or acquaintance coming down with H1N1! I am no fan of vaccines, so you won't see us lining up for this year's flu shot.

When I felt my symptoms coming on last week, I started to refrain from eating dairy and sugar, I washed my hands more religiously than usual, I drank lots of water, orange juice, and herbal tea, I consumed lots of brothy soup (my favorite: miso), and I took homeopathic remedies from Boiron.

Reflecting on my tactics for healing, I started to wonder about my readers: I'm curious, what do you do to stay well, or to regain wellness? Leave a comment on this post to share your wellness wisdom. Thanks!

The Red Hat

A Little Love from Me to You

Just 'cause. I saw this animation while visiting P's lovely blog.

Three Unique Things I'm Loving

Harimaki Belly Bands

Literary clutch bags, in the shape of first-edition classics

Origami tea

Celebrity Babywearer of the Day

Twilight hottie, Cam Gigandet, was photographed wearing daughter Everleigh Ray (I'm loving that name!), in a sling last week in L.A. I think this is the best styling of a motorcycle jacket, aviators and ripped jeans I've ever seen. I mean, seriously, people. What could be better? Via Celebrity Baby Blog.

Birth Story of the Week: From Home Birth to Hospital

Photo by Mike Quain

This week's birth story is shared by my friend Coralissa Delaforce, who blogs about her adventures in mommyhood at Family of Force. She had this to say about participating in the Birth Story of the Week series: "I love sharing my almost home birth story. I am that 5% transfer rate. The more I share the more the pain of disappointment goes away and the more confidence I build for a HWBAC at some point." Without further ado, here is Coralissa's story, excerpted from her original blog post:

Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 2:45 am is when my journey started. I woke up feeling what I thought were my practice contractions (although they were a bit stronger). I decided that for some reason I had to poo (which never happens at that time). Fifteen minutes later another contraction happened and again I had to poo. Wondering if it was pre-labor I looked at one of my handouts and sure enough, contractions along with bowel movements were part of pre-labor. Ten minutes later after another contraction I decided to wake up Eye to let him know what was going. When he woke up he was like "Really?" After an hour of timing my contraction they went from 15 minutes to 10 minutes to 7 minutes, all lasting about 30 seconds long. The pain was definitely manageable. I was feeling excited that I was going to meet my boy at some point soon. I didn't want to get too excited though because I knew it could be a long day. I asked Eye to heat up the jacuzzi outside since it was way to early to call for my tub.

About 5:30 am I went outside and it was gorgeous. It was so quiet and the sun was just about to rise. Both the dogs came out and hung out with me while I sat in the warm jacuzzi. I felt so peaceful and ready for whatever my labor was going to be. Each contraction started to get closer together. They were around 3 minutes apart lasting 30 seconds long. The surges were manageable. I just breathed through them knowing that I had time to rest in between. We called Jollina for the tub and called my BFF to let her know what was going on. We also called my parents to let them know that they should start thinking about driving home since they were in Bakersfield. I was surprised how close my contractions were considering I only started 2 hours ago!

At 7:00 am Eye called Tiffany, my doula, and April, my midwife, to let them know where we were at. I labored in the jacuzzi for a while, ate some watermelon, drank water and then threw up twice against the rocks. Thank goodness we were outside. Kiko wanted to play ball and I tried to throw his ball in between contractions. Oh Kiko. Jollina came over to set up the tub so that everything in my room was ready for me. Eye was so awesome. He breathed with me while kneeling on concrete and made sure I stayed hydrated.

We went upstairs and I laid on my left side to try and get some rest. My contractions were still 3 minutes a part lasting 30 seconds long. I got on my hands and knees during some of them. I swayed for some, or laid still. Tiffany came over around 8:30 am and my contractions went to 2 minutes, 30-40 seconds long. Her hands were a Godsend! She massaged me, reminded me to get the tension out, told me to go with low deep tones. Eye was so supportive too. He always breathed with me, held me as each contraction came. They were such a good team together. They were my angels. I felt great. Even though the contractions were getting stronger, I was feeling strong and able to do the work. My body was meant for this, I knew I could do it and I was ready and open for it to get harder.

For the next 5 hours I labored everywhere. In the tub, the bathroom, the bed, everywhere in my room. It was awesome. The dogs were chilling on the bed. Everything was perfect. My contractions were getting intense, still lasting 2 minutes a part, 45-50 seconds long. Sherry, my midwife's assistant who was also one of my angels showed up around 12ish and started to set things up. The surges were strong and I managed to get through them with the help of Eye, Tif and Sherry. Time was flying by. I had no concept of time. I never once looked at a clock.

April arrived at 1:00 PM and at that time I was 8cm already. (She told me after the fact because I never really wanted to know) I thought for sure that I would meet my boy very soon. He might be here before his Grandparents come back home.

For the next 5 hours my contractions were getting stronger and I was in transition for 5 HOURS. At several points April and Sherry would suggest different positions whether it by on the bed, next to the tub, in the tub, on the toilet, on the stairs. I wanted to do everything I could to get the boy down my pelvis. He just wasn't moving. At 7:00 pm April decided to break my water to hopefully help the boy come down. He just wasn't moving and I had been already dialated for hours. When she broke the water there was meconium, but we didn't worry because the boy's heart beat was still strong. They suggested I try and pee and as I was having a contraction the boy's heart beat dipped. April then said, "He's not happy in there, I think we should go to the hospital." I didn't hesitate, "Let's go."

Everything changed in an instant. We were leaving our amazing environment to go to the hospital. I got in the back of the truck. My contractions were crazy. They were one minute apart lasting 60-90 seconds apart. April told me to stay on my knees with my head on my hands. It was very important for me to stay that way the whole car ride. That 8 minute drive was the longest drive ever. I had never focused so much in my life. I had to breath, keep calm and not move from my position. Of course we hit every red light and missed the turn into the emergency drive way. April called ahead to the hospital and contacted Dr. Bolnick (married to a midwife). He was going to be my OB for the night. I felt reassured when Sherry told me that he's not a cut-her-up kinda of guy. I was so relieved because I did not want to go under the knife.

As we pulled up to the emergency, I kept breathing and got wheeled in to the bright hospital. Thank goodness we pre-registered at Summerlin. We went straight up to Labor and Delivery and I took off my dress and got on the hard bed. It was such a whirl wind. I got strapped to a fetal monitor and a contraction monitor. I was now stuck to the bed. Unfamiliar nurses, questions asked, things to sign, contractions kicking my ass. I had no rest between contractions. They were lasting 90 seconds long. It was all so different. Thank goodness I had my angels there. Tiffany, April, Sherry, Ivan and my Mom all helped get through. Dr. Bolnick came in, checked me and let me push for 2 hours. The boy still didn't come down. I was exhausted by that point. I just didn't have it in me. I just wanted to sleep. I was suffering unnecessarily. I couldn't deal with the pain, I didn't have it in me. After 3 hours of pre-labor 4 hours of active labor, 6 hours of transition, a car ride from hell, 2 hours of pushing, I needed some help. We decided to get an epidural so that I can sleep and hopefully the contractions will move the boy down and I will have the strength to push him out after I got some rest.

Epidural please, PLEASE. Of course it took for ever for the anethesiologist to come. I was screaming, "PLEASE HURRY, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME, PLEASE GET HIM, PLEASE!" I was thrashing around so hard my IV came out, blood everywhere. He finally showed up after what seemed to be an eternity. Then came THE hardest part of the whole day. Stay still during my strong surges? Are you high? Are you crazy????? I don't know how I did it but I did. When I has hunched over Eye said baby's heart beat really dipped. It took the guy 3 tries to get it right. It took so much out of me not to move. I can't believe I did it. All that hard focus paid off because my legs went numb and I finally had relief.

Enter Dr. Bolnick stage left. "He's not moving, he's up there and he's not coming out. She's not even a zero." (if crowning is +4, he was up there and I was a zero) "I think it's time for a C-Section, listen there was a lot of meconium..." "NOOOOOOOOOOO" I screamed. That wasn't the plan I had! I didn't even want to be in the hospital. I just wanted to sleep and I promise I'll push him out. But there was the meconium. Damn f-ing meconium!!! If that wasn't in the equation, I would have been more persistent. But I knew that in the end that was the right call.

Ivan got scrubbed up. I got more drugs and the rest is history. I was so out of it. The only important part of the story here is that Nainoa Santiago Gines Delaforce was born at 10:46 PM on May 20th at 7 pounds 13 ounces and 21 inches long.

Because Nainoa had trouble breathing he was sent to the NICU. They seem to think he inhaled meconium. He also had low electrolytes which caused them to run a series of tests. I won't bore you with all the miscellaneous tests they did on him because it honestly makes me very upset. It was so hard not being able to bond and breast feed right away. There were times I just sobbed by his bed because he looked so helpless hooked up to so many wires and cords. Needless to say on May 25th (the day he was due) we brought him home healthy and happy. I am so thankful that he is has a clean bill of health.

Looking back at the whole experience. I feel I still had my homebirth that I planned. It was such an amazing experience laboring at home with my angels. I feel like a strong woman who knows how to labor naturally. I plan on having a homebirth if and when I get pregnant again. Even though I ended up having a C-section, I always knew it was a possibility. Things happen as they are suppose to happen. I am not in control. What matters now is that I have a beautiful son who needs me. I am so thankful for that. I am thankful that he is out in this world and he is healthy. I am truly blessed.

Sunday on (and Under) the Brooklyn Bridge

We decided to act like tourists on Sunday and take the boys for their first trip to the Brooklyn Bridge! It was a beautiful day, and we also visited the Brooklyn Flea, which is located underneath the bridge. Here are some of the highlights...