showeredwithgrace

Today Helen and Nina have inspired me to share with you what I consider to be our most comfortable baby carrier (we've tried several).  Both my  husband and I love this particular carrier and both of us use it to carry Rose Red around or just contain her when necessary.  She actually loves to be in this carrier.  If she is fussy placing her in the carrier immediately soothes her.  I don't know why I don't see more carriers in use.  They keep your hands free to do whatever you need to, keep your child happy, and keep the store etc. intact from inquisitive little hands and your little one out of any muck you don't want them into!  001 (double O one) ~ my husband ~ and I have implemented the use of a baby carrier with Rose Red mostly to promote bonding and attachment but have also found it less cumbersome than a stroller and much more convenient all around.  Rose Red is getting bigger everyday and I think now at two years old she is just under thirty pounds.  The 'Sutemi' is very comfortable for carrying around a toddler and simple and easy to put on when you are by yourself.  I would highly recommend it.  The weight is distributed very comfortably  (more so when Rose Red's arms are under the straps).  I find it more comfortable for Rose Red as well because while it is a good sturdy material it also is created with a little roominess in just the right places for her.  The roomy pocket it has is very convenient and It washes in the washing machine beautifully.

The picture of Rose Red and I was taken in Kazakhstan (where we adopted her) and the picture of Rose Red and her daddy was taken in Mexico this spring.

 

   

I've finally decided on our course for our Art Appreciation Series.  Rose Red is so young that I didn't feel an artist 'study' was in order ~ but really wanted to begin exposing her to lovely works of fine art.  These are my selections for this spring.  I shall simply place these beautiful artworks in her environment for her to begin to appreciate.  I'm thinking that perhaps I'll purchase a simple easel and place it on the table for easy viewing during 'tea time'  as well ~ which is basically her afternoon snack time.

I had a difficult time deciding where and how to begin with an art study for Rose Red ~ and then I remembered ~ I must follow the child.  Rose Red currently has a strong interest  in the mother child relationship ~ and in particular  the nursing relationship.  I've chosen to begin with these paintings for their subject matter ~ and also I think they are beautiful! 

Through the gentle guidance of the Blessed Mother  and simple attachment parenting practices Rose Red has developed a desire to nurse for comfort and closeness.  We have read how healing and wonderful it can be for an adopted child to have this experience and feel quite blessed.   So it is possible for an adopted child, no longer a newborn, to have a nursing relationship with their adoptive mother.  Isn't that wonderful?!

This is another baby carrier we use for around the house.  It is called a podaegi.  It is a korean baby carrier and has a soft spot in my heart as I was born and lived my infant years in South Korea.  As you can see this one is a big hit with Rose Red as well!

We have been reading up on attachment parenting during our adoption preparation and I was fortunate enough to be able to follow Helen's  posts on adoptive parenting as well which have dealt with many of the possible attachment issues that can come with adoption.  We have embraced 'baby carrying' in our household ~ an essential component of attachment parenting.   This is one of our baby carriers I'm wearing.  It is an awesome way to get things done and still be close to your baby ~ embracing and being with your child ~ rather than shooing them away to get some chores done.  I've been very impressed with how well this has worked out for us.  Rose Red loves to be close to Mama watching everything that is going on and I love not having to shoo her away when she expresses a need to be close to me.