If I Gave You a Baby Gift: A Ring Sling

If you were going to have a baby . . . and I was going to give you another gift – it would be a ring sling. 

(That is, in addition to an amber necklace.)

Nine months in and nine months out. 

Like a stubborn mule,  I have had to keep relearning a simple lesson --  motherhood requires a dying to self. 

Successful and purposeful motherhood requires an almost continual abandonment towards discipleship and the dispensing of unconditional love towards the maturing littles before you. 

Giving.  Giving some more.  Teaching.  Re-teaching what you just taught.  Holding.  Letting go.  Holding one second later.  Up – down – up – down.  Wiping.  Lots of wiping. 

I clearly remember saying, “I just want to get something done.”

Embarrassed that when the Engineer came home . . . there were dishes everywhere.  I was still in my pajamas from two nights ago . . . and dinner was still at the grocery store. 

And laundry?  Still hanging up from when one of the grandma’s placed it there while I was in labor. 

After that first baby was born it seemed like NOTHING got done.  (Which I laugh at now . . . four children later.  I had so much time on my hands back then.)

It’s not surprising that nothing got done. 

I was a lactating mess who was trying to create unnecessary structure for an infant that just wanted to be held . . . because he had been held the past nine months.

I thought I might damage my newborn if I held him a lot. 

Crazy. 

And then I purchased a sling. 

My mothering career took a new turn.  I learned how to nurture.  For some people this comes naturally. 

For me . . . I had to learn. 

I’m still learning.

I can be a very gruff mother bear.

But the sling, or rather baby wearing, opened my eyes and calmed my baby . . . Baby Asher. 

My grandma gave me a sewing machine.  I wanted other moms to know about baby slings and be able to afford them.  Fruit of Her Hands, later renamed to The Cocoon Wrap Mama, was birthed.

A WAHM business.  (Work-at-home-mom.)

I haven’t turned back . . . some 500+ slings later. 

But there comes a time when a mom is called to something else.  I’m not leaving my baby wearing behind . . . but I am passing the business on to someone else. 

Someone who excels at baby wearing . . . delights in sling making . . . is passionate about providing a safe, not to mention beautiful, carrier for parents and caregivers to nurture their little’s in. 

I wanted to be able to recommend someone to you who . . .

• homeschooled
• had an etsy site
• blogged
• tweeted
• was on Facebook
• was passionate
• used the same rings as myself
• homebirthed
• lived in Indiana
• and cared about safety or rather common sense

Basically . . . kind of like me.  But not.  Better. 

And I found someone. 

Not only that, but I told Beth, owner of BabyEtte, that I was seeking to find someone to recommend . . . as I was closing up my etsy shop, at least the sling making portion of it. 

I wanted to recommend her. 

She sent me a sling.

I adore it. 

And in honor of my retirement, you can benefit.  Beth has graciously offered to give one away in honor of my retirement. 

So . . . enter to win ONE of the following: 

• superwide batik sling,
• BabySoft newborn (stretch) sling,
• or a WaterBaby mesh sling

Mandantory:  Which of the above slings would you like to win?  Go to the BabyEtte website first to browse and let me know!

Extra Entries (make sure to list each entry as a separate comment):

• Tweet daily, making sure to include to include @GranolaMom4God in your verbage (is that a word?).
• Subscribe to my blog, so that you can learn about my other baby must-haves.
• Like Granola Mom 4 God on Facebook .. . and share about the giveaway on Facebook.
• Become a Fan!
• Like BabyEtteBoutique on Facebook and leave Beth a kind comment!  Link to her even!
• Follow @BabyEtteEtsy on Twitter

Contest ends:  Midnight, September 9, 2011.  Winner will be notified by email and given 48 hours to respond.  Open to US only (sorry).

Feel and Find World Icons: A Guidecraft Review

 

We are still recovering from the loss of my birthday laptop computer (of five years). . . then using my Notebook (Neo) in the interim,  and finally switching over to our new computer (yet to be named) recently. 

I have had pictures everywhere and some are now nowhere. 

I had taken some exciting pictures of Guidecraft’s sensory toy bag called Feel and Find World Icons.  The boys had helped me stack, sort . . . you name it.

But alas . . . these action sequence pictures met their demise with the loss of our trusty and mightily used laptop.

The fun we had with our sensory toy bag is present in my memory banks, though. 

It boasts of 20 different shapes with matching tiles. 

We played with the Feel and Find World Icons many different ways:

• sorting by color
• placing the icons upright
• stacking the tiles
• tracing the shapes
• finding farm animals, shapes, and things on our earth, etc.

I would imagine that as we study other languages in our little schoolhouse . . . we will use the Feel and find World Icons to practice our basic vocabulary. 

Notice, the word “world” is included in this wood toy.  Why?  Because Guidcraft is pretty excited that the shapes included in this toy encompass many cultures.

It’s a diverse toy.  A diverse wood toy.  A diverse, non-toxic, wood, eco-friendly toy.

I like that!

Wanna win it?

Head on over to Thanks Mail Carrier!  Or Guidecraft ($30).  Or Amazon (where you will find this sensory toy for a wee bit less . . . . try $22.99 with free shipping!) 

As a Guidecraft Mom blogger, I was provided this product to review. I was not paid for this post and all opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Granola Mom is Going on an Airplane . . .

In minus 65 days and counting (depending on when you read this blog post) I will be getting on an airplane with two precious friends.

 

I will be leaving my nursing daughter for the first time overnight.  I will be bringing my milk with me.  Sigh.  And taking my milk home with me.  Hmmmm . . .

 

I am going to Relevant . . . in large part . . . because I have experienced the Lord's blessing and the Engineer's encouragement.

 

The reason I want to go . . . not because it will make me a better blogger.  That would be nice.

 

Not because it will be a lot of fun . . . a good Fall Break . . . though a certain perk.

 

I'm going because of all the writings that spilled forth like a cup overflowing last year . . . women drew closer to their Lord.

 

And I want that.  I want to draw closer to my Savior.

 

So . . . with His help . . . He has allowed me to raise enough money to go. 

 

The Lord is my provider. 

 

Jehova Jireh.

 

So . . . Hi.

 

I'm Jodi and you have landed at the blog the Lord has made me a steward of.  What is this blog?  A bit of everything.  Lately, I have been endorsing it as a mom blog with an organic twist. 

 

Throw in a few giveaways and reviews too.

 

You can read more about me here.

 

But if you do that you won't find out that . . .

• I want a hammock in my backyard. 
• Sometimes . . . I find myself saying "aught" to my children when it is really a command for my dog.
• And occasionally instead of calling my daughter her given name, Naomi, I call her my dog's name, Ruth.
• I use LiveWriter to craft my blog posts . . . but today I am using Blogger.  I'm at my MIL's house.  For this reason, you don't have any pictures.  They are on my computer at home.
• Here is a fact no one knows, my dog is on my MIL's couch.  Shh!  Don't tell.  (Sorry MIL --  gotta love me!)
• I typically have 6+ books that I am reading at a time.
• I sometimes go more than 36 hours without a shower.  But I don't stink because I use Young Living deodorant.  (Let me know if you want some.)  I am convicted of my laziness though.  Thanks Steph!
• Though I am sold out for organic and raw milk . . . I am hopelessly a fan of Starbucks drive thru, though I would prefer a local establishment with a barista.
• I'd like to say that I will catch up on sleep while at Relevant . . . but I doubt that will happen.
• I'd love to lose 20 pounds.  Lord give me strength. 
• We start school in less than a week . . . I am totally unorganized. 
• My husband IS the funniest man alive.  Really.  :)
• I have a gigantic list of blog post ideas floating around in my head and on random scraps of paper around the house. 
• I keep saying I won't do another review and giveaway (beyond my favorite companies) . . . but then I find myself doing one. 
• I would like to bring my espresso machine to Relevant.  The Engineer told me no.  He is right.
• I make up stories about people in my spare time . . . mostly on date nights. 
• I detest chain restaurants.
• I actually miss living in India.
• I long for my children to be passionate about the Word . . . and doing what Jesus has impressed upon their hearts.

But who am I?  Someone the Lord has changed.  And is still changing.  I'm honest and sometimes a bit too blunt.  I practice sarcasm, but I am thankful at heart. 

 

I love to hold my husband's hand . . . as it reminds me how he ushered me into the Lord's throne room when I was a teenager. 

 

I'm a mom of 5, one being with the Lord.  A dog owner.  A homeschooler who socializes her children.  A homebirther . . . babywearing . . . slightly extended nursing mom. 

 

We eat weird things that are called living foods. 

 

I like being different.  But I also like blending in.

 

And I am looking forward to meeting you. . . . and moving you to my IRL category. 

 

Find me

• here @ http://www.granolamom4god.com/
• or on Twitter:  GranolaMom4God
• or linking to my Facebook account:  Granola Mom 4 God
• and thankfully smelling like a rose at Young Living Essential Oils.

 

Linking up with Denise in Bloom.

 

Multitudes on Mondays: Bellies

I think pregnant women are beautiful. 

Especially their bellies. 

I got to rub this one . . . and take pictures. 

Amateur photos, that is.

Honored.  Thankful.  Amazed. 

Being with a laboring woman . . . to feel the power of life.  The miracle of life. 

God is a creative One.  Of that I am sure.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:  13-18

So . . . not a list of multitudes.  Just one.

Life.  Powerful. 

OK . . . I can’t resist.  Here are a few more.  My journal is beside me.

250.  Mountain biking with my sons and experiencing “danger” with them prayerfully.

251.  Bagels roasted over an open fire.

252.  A computer box in the hands of a UPS man, just before we left for vacation.

253.  Grimy bathrooms that house gentle showers and refreshment at a campground.

257.  A meal filled with ingredients from our garden.

258.  A night of delivering essential oils like St. Nicholas.

262.  My mother-in-law and her Kerug . . . while camping.  Thank you electric campsites.

263.  Electric dog training collars.

264.  A 7 year old boy who wanted to make sure his brothers received presents on HIS birthday.

265.  Fellowship and feasts . . . miles from home.

My Students

We celebrated.  I’m sure we will continue to celebrate.

We went to the fair.

It serves as the white flag of surrender to the beginning of our school year. 

And the end of a small part of childhood.  Two have graduated from . . . the tractors.

They may not be able to ride tractors . . . but they can dream big.

Tonight it was ice cream and Little House on the Prairie.

I’m sure I’ll find some other excuse to do something fun this week. 

Before I have to be diligent.  Disciplined.  Mature. 

Next Monday.

The students are ready.  The school room is almost clean and organized.  Welcoming.  Beckoning us to visit and stay awhile. 

I want to be in there this year. 

So do they.

Let me announce our roll call!

• God.  Because of who He is and what He has called us to do . . . to be . . . to teach our children.  God is who I call upon first for our future school days.
• Asher . . . who will be finishing first grade and entering second grade some time this fall . . .

• Ezra . . . my kindergartener.

• Gabe . . . my Tot School and preschool scholar.

• Naomi . . . Tot School launch-ee (is that a word?) and professional observer.

• Ruth . . . guard dog.  She’s sleeping right now.  However, we will work on correctly using a remote training collar. 

Overseeing this dance of learning . . . the Engineer . . . our principal. 

He and I are tight.  In love you might say.

Quite possibly the best principal I have ever worked for. 

Linking up with the 2011 Not Back-to-School Blog Hop for Student Photo Week over at Heart of the Matter.

Click here to see what we are studying . . . but it kind of has radically changed since I posted about it!