Sakura Bloom Triathlon Challenge #3 - My Entry

For the third and final round of the Sakura Bloom Triathlon, each of us had to submit a video. The content was pretty much wide open. We got to try out a Essential Silk Sakura Bloom ring sling. I am LOVING it. So gorgeous!!! I have the chocolate/teal one and the photo on the website doesn't do it justice. It's scrumptious.

So I decided to keep it simple with this round, seeing as I gave birth yesterday! :) I wanted to feature my new little guy in the video, so I went with a basic instructional video on wearing a newborn in a ring sling. I'm supposed to stay in bed for three days after giving birth, so I'm rockin' some jammies in my video! No make up either, lol, but I think it works.

He's here!

Graham David Speer was born at home at 1:48 am on his due date, 12/6/09! 8lbs4oz, 20.5" long. Nursing well and just perfect. He looks like his daddy! ♥ Mama and baby are doing well!

Photo by Nicole Eades, http://www.thebirthphotographer.com/

Sakura Bloom Triathlon Challenge #2 - My Entry

A couple weeks ago, we headed out to the park on a beautiful day to take some family photos. These were our last family photos as a family of three. We got some awesome shots, but I think the ones I treasure most are the babywearing photos she took.

The photos were taken by Chera of Chera25 photography. She's our go-to photographer and has photographed our family every few months since Jack was only a couple months old. I love her work!

I posted some of the pics up on the DFW Area Moms board and asked the mamas there to help me choose the photo to enter into round 2 of the Sakura Bloom Triathlon. It was a landslide victory!

So here is my official entry. Our family of almost-4 on a crisp fall day. 36 weeks pregnant, wearing a 2 year old and really feeling the true joy of babywearing in my Sakura Bloom essential linen (which happens to complement Jack's eyes in an amazing way). I love it!

And just for fun, I've got to post another one that melts my heart. A sweet kiss from my baby boy in the Sakura Bloom.

Babywearing = love.

Prego update!

I'm 37 weeks today! I am all set for a home birth. I think there is very little left to do that needs to be done. We have prefolds prepped, we have birth supplies on the ready, the house is pretty clean, baby clothes are washed and hung... and I have boobies to feed with! What else do you need?

I had a meeting with my doula today, she's also a massage therapist, so I got massaged. Heavenly!!! I see my midwife again on Tuesday, and my chiropractor on Friday. I also have a Homebirth Association of North Dallas meeting that I plan on attending this week. Should be fun and interesting!

A wonderful friend threw me a Mother's Blessing yesterday. The highlight was a surprise Henna tattoo artist! Here is my tree-of-life belly in all its glory! <3

I'm feeling really well still, no problems, no complaints. I'm embracing being a mommy of one for the short time that is left!

Babywearing

Today I chose my next sling for the final Sakura Bloom Triathlon challenge. This time we chose from the Essential Silk collection. I am looking forward to trying a silk sling for the first time!

I must say, I'm going to have a hard time letting the Essential Linen sling go back to Sakura Bloom. It is gorgeous, and so *us* and no longer available on the SB website!

The deadline for the photo challenge is 11/18. I've got a photo chosen. I've consulted my beloved Dallas Area Moms board, as well as my own mom, and there is a landslide winner. I'm going to keep you all in suspense for a little while longer though!

But for now, here are a few more teasers. :) Can you see why I don't want to send the twilight/cloud sling back?!

Sakura Bloom Triathlon Challenge 2

Our second challenge is a photo. A photo that shows the joy of babywearing. Yesterday was a gorgeous day to take some photos with the second sling of the triathlon, the Sakura Bloom Essential Linen sling in twilight/cloud.

Here's a sneak peek! This is *not* my contest entry, just a teaser! My entry will show more of the lovely Sakura Bloom goodness! :)

Photo by Chera25 Photography

Sakura Bloom Triathlon - Question #1

I'm taking some quiet time during Jack's nap today to sit down and really think these questions through. Here we go!

1: What first interested you in babywearing?

I have a friend to thank for my interest in babywearing. A mommy-mentor, if you will. She is my friend Wendi, who attended college with me and was my sorority sister. We live a few hours apart, but have kept in touch through the years over blogs and social networking sites. She documents her pregnancies, births and mommy experiences in her blog, and she has taught me many invaluable lessons.

I followed her blog through her first pregnancy, which ended in a traumatic emergency cesarean. She later found out that the cesarean was most likely unnecessary, preventable and a result of multiple interventions. I read as she celebrated the birth of her son, but grieved the loss of a vaginal birth. I read as she openly spoke about breastfeeding her son. I learned about attachment parenting and cloth diapers from Wendi. And I learned about babywearing. I remember choosing a pink Hotsling from her registry and sending it to her when her son was born. I saw her photos and read about her experiences wearing her son. How it made her life easier, how it helped with bonding and closeness, and of course how cute all the different styles of baby carriers are!

I have Wendi to thank for a great deal of my early mommy-education. Thank you for empowering me to take charge of my own childbirth, to ask questions, to follow my own mama instinct. Thank you for showing me cute cloth fluff for my baby's bum. And thank you for showing me babywearing.