At a Party

We attended a birthday party yesterday and I will be posting more on the cake and decorations later. Happy Birthday, Alexandra!

A Taste of Lemon

Despite the expression, she loved it.

6 Months Old and I've Already Doomed Her to Therapy!

I did it again! At Eva's 6 month checkup, I was looking deep into her eyes and smiling. Then they gave her the shots. Her pupils instantly dilated and she started screaming. I think I traumatized her for life. She is going to associate pain with me. I did this before as well. I think next time, I won't look at her until after.

I really need to start filling in her baby book. Another reason for therapy as I put quite a bit into Ian's book. I even had it at his third birthday party because there is a page about third birthday in it. I'll have to look through the blog and Twitter for Eva's updates.

Eva is in the 38% for weight. She was in the 86% at the two month check up I think. She is hardly wasting away, in fact, she is chunkier than Ian, so I don't think anything is wrong with her. She weighs 7.2 kg (almost 16 lbs). I wonder if the fact that she chose her own birthday (unlike so many others, including Ian) had anything to do with her being at the top of the weight charts when she was younger.

She is vocalizing and spitting a lot. Besides pteradactyl noise, I've heard "hi", "mama", "dad", and "What are you people doing?" among other things. I don't count these as real words because she isn't associating them to people/objects or saying them in context, but that just gives you an idea about her vocal experimentation.

Satya Movement Arts: Yoga, Pilates and Dance Classes in English in Seoul

Check out Satya Movement Arts for a list of yoga, pilates and dance classes in Seoul taught in English. Not all are open to the public and you might want to contact individual instructors to makes sure the schedule is current.

Also check out Pure Yoga, Jai Yoga Center and Magic Pond Yoga.

I took classes at Pure Yoga and I am doing the Yoga Teacher Training Program at Magic Pond. Jai Yoga Center brings in internationally-known instructors and has some prenatal yoga classes as well. I haven't taken there, but I have me the owner and would like to take from her, but all of my time is focused on Magic Pond right now.

Snippets

Ian still nurses before bed and nap and Eva is primarily breastfed (has a bit of solids). Last night, Ian couldn't wait for Eva to nurse. I was laying in the dark with my two children in their striped pajamas listening to the them nurse and feeling their little bodies relax into mine.

After just two Sundays, Curt has become amazingly response to Eva's needs, even when I am home. He used to wait for me to handle things, but his confidence has just blossomed. Now, when Eva starts fussing, he takes the lead. In fact, he uses the Ergo so much that the new blue one has become his. Our setting are very different, so I will use the old one and we'll keep the new one adjusted to his settings. I am going to use the Ergo Back Pack (part of the Hands-Free System Eva and I won) as a diaper bag for Curt so he is ready to go out on Sundays.

My friend Chalica and her husband Jason helped us tremendously with the party. She told me that for Emma's party (which we missed because that was the day of our move), she ran out of time to hang the streamers and the kids had tons of fun playing with them. We hung up a few for Ian's party, but then gave the rest to the kids. They loved it! I bought two bags of balloons, but one of them had really tiny balloons. They were so small, that Jason, a musician, popped the first balloon with one breath while trying to blow it up. Luckily, the other bag had big balloons. Everyone should have a trumpet-player friend around when it is time to blow up balloons!

Gender Studies with Ian

Ian was playing with his friend Emma a few weeks ago. She put on a tutu and twirled around saying,"I am a princess! I am a princess."

Ian, not wanting to be left out, said,"I want a tutu!".

Emma's mom got out another one and we put it on him. He twirled around and exclaimed,"I am a princess! I am a princess!"

Ah, such innocence! How sweet! And then....

He picked up a lego and yelled,"Bang! Bang! I'm shooting you! I'm a princess and I'm shooting you!"

Like a girlie Rambo.

Winners Again!

Two years ago, my testimonial photo won a place in the Ergo Calendar. We were living in Egypt at the time and we got our picture taken in front of the Pyramids of Giza. Ian was nursing in the Ergo as I enjoyed visiting the sole surviving wonder on the Seven Wonder of the World list.

Fast forward to this July when we went to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat and other ancient temples. Though I love my Beco (4th Generation), it was the Ergo I chose to bring to Cambodia. I wanted the extra support provided by the thicker shoulder and waist straps as well as the zippered front pocket (really convenient for passports, tickets and money while traveling). We had a great trip and Eva slept, nursed and smiled in the Ergo the whole trip. I was able to climb to the tops of the temples and walk all around. We didn't miss out on anything.

When we returned home to Korea, I had an e-mail from Ergo about a new photo contest. I sent in a few photos from our trip and to my surprise and delight, we won! The prize was an Ergo Hands-Free System. It arrived today. The contest was almost over when we entered and I hadn't really focused on the prize, but I was pleased to try it out. I opened the first box and it was the Ergo Backpack in Blue. I wondered why they didn't send me camel to match my carrier, but I thought,"Well, that's o.k. they blue will go with the camel". Then I opened the second box. It was a front pouch. Finally, there was a third box. "What could this be?" I asked as I picked up the third box.

It was a brand new Ergo carrier in blue! They have made several improvements since I bought my carrier in January 2007.

From the Ergo website:

The chest straps are now permanently attached to the shoulder straps with a "runner", and will keep the chest strap in its desired location so it won't need readjusting each time the carrier is taken on and off. The chest straps are dyed to match the carrier, enhancing the carrier's overall appearance.

The hood straps are shorter and now attach directly onto the shoulder straps; therefore, the D-rings are no longer needed. The elastacized hood provides more length in spite of the shorter straps and will "cup" around your baby's head.

The one current D-ring is for your personal use. These changes are not yet reflected in our instructional videos.


This is a great change. The old sleeping hood is fine once you get the straps attached, but you have to find the D-ring, slide the straps through the D-ring and snap them. They are very long and it is difficult to attach. I just tried on the new carrier and put up the hood. It was so much quicker and easier with the new design.

I will review the other components of the hands-free system after I use them long enough to get a good feel.

I noticed that on the Ergo site that Ergo will be unveiling Heart2Heart carrier in September. I searched online and couldn't find anymore information except that a few bloggers are set up to receive it when it comes out for a review and/or giveaway. I am guessing that this carrier will have an integrated infant insert. I have no basis for this guess except that I find the Ergo infant insert bulky and a pain to use, plus, other competitors, like Beco have built-in infant inserts. I love the Ergo. It is an awesome carrier once you can use it without the infant insert all the way through to when you don't want to carry your child anymore, but the infant insert leaves a lot to be desired. It is fine once baby is in, but when you take the baby in out and you have two big pieces to deal with. Some people love it though, but for me, the Ergo is best post-infant stage, especially when baby/toddler gets big and squirmy!

I used a Mamma's Milk Adjustable Pouch with Eva until she could use the Ergo and Beco (I have the old 4th Generation model Beco that requires an infant insert, the Butterfly II has a built-in infant insert) without the insert. Though the Mamma's Milk Adjustable Pouch is beautiful and worked well with Eva, it is still a one-shouldered carrier. I just don't last as long with a one-shouldered carrier. Since I've tried a wrap, I now believe that I will prefer to use the Moby Wrap with my next newborn, even after looking at the Beco's built-in infant insert. Still, I am interested to see what Ergo will come up with. Ergo was at the Baby Fair this weekend, but I didn't stop by since I already have my Ergo and I was demonstrating the Moby. I wonder of they had Heart2Heart there....

What a great week it has been for me and babywearing! I got a Moby Wrap and learned how to use it and I won a new Ergo system! (In the winning Ergo photo, I'm also wearing the Japanese Weekend Nursing Top that I won in the Blacktating Blogiversary celebration--It brought me luck!)

Stay tuned for my upcoming post, "Can You Have Too Many Babycarriers?" in which I will give MY answer to this question and compare my favorite carriers.