Updates--we're learning stuff!

That's right, Lucy and I are learning stuff.

Here's what Lucy learned:
1. How to sit up for a few minutes...then she falls over and cries.
2. How to get where she wants to go. She can logroll pretty quickly, and is doing the funniest looking inchworm scoot. I'll put up a video if I ever figure out how to get them out of the video camera!
3. How to stand up if she's holding on to something. Well, and then she falls over and cries.
4. Teething hurts.
5. Pulling Mommy's hair is FUNNY because it makes Mommy make some pretty ridiculous noises.

And here's what I learned:
1. I'm a better mom if I don't stay up until 3 am!
2. How to breastfeed Lucy while I'm wearing her in the mei tai. This is a biggie, folks.
3. How to put Lucy down for a nap while I'm wearing her on my back. Finally! This was basically the whole reason I wanted to learn how to baby-wear. And now, 5 months later, we can do it! Lucy's sleeping on my back right now, and breathing so sweetly on my neck.

Tim's learning a lot too. He plays with Lucy every morning for a few hours, so I can sleep in. He and Lucy have their own special games, and he's becoming an expert settling her down when she cries. It's so sweet...now when Lucy wakes up in the morning, she rolls over to him, whaps him with her fists, and yells at him. She wants him to get up and play with her! Meanwhile, she totally ignores me in the mornings, unless she's ready for breakfast.

I'll see if I can find some pictures of all of this!

Becoming happy...Update

So far, my becoming happy efforts are really paying off.

One of my goals is finding other parent friends. I joined a local new moms group, and I hope that Lucy and I can go to their Walk in the Park meeting on Thursday. And today Lucy and I braved the subway alone for the first time, so we could go to the Attachment Parenting meeting in Manhattan.

It wasn't too bad! Lucy was awake on the ride to Manhattan, but she just looked around quietly and blinked at everyone. She slept the whole ride home. It was empowering to realize that we did ok...maybe now we won't always be stuck in Astoria!

The meeting was great. Oh wow, was it great. It was small, only 5 or 6 moms and their kids, but that made it cozy and intimate. We talked about various mamaing dilemmas we have. I brought up feeling guilty about going to the gym, because I know Lucy will likely have a melt down while I'm gone. The other mamas had some smart ideas that I'll definitely try. And the kids at the meeting were adorable. One little girl kept talking and singing to Lucy--it was cool that she treated her like a real little person, not just like a doll. And when I laid down to breastfeed Lucy, the girl laid down on the other side of her and petted her hair. Awwwww. After the meeting (which was in a sling store), the store owner gave me a lot of advice about how I can wear Lucy on my back. Babyhawk, here I come!

Speaking of going to the gym, I went to the gym again. Tim said that Lucy did really well up until a few minutes before I got home. She was still screaming when I walked in the door, but at least she was easier to calm down this time.

I decided that my new hobby is going to be learning Spanish. I joined this site called Live Mocha, which is kind of a combination of Rosetta Stone and Myspace. So far it's a lot of fun. I'm still kind of thinking about getting a job, or going back to school. We'll see with that I guess.

And things with Tim are going well. He's been taking Lucy in the mornings, so I get to sleep in a little. They bring me breakfast in bed every day! We've been disco dancing more, taking more walks together, and just having more fun. That's my favorite thing about our relationship, how much silly fun we have. We lost some of that when Lucy was born, but it's coming back! Get ready for a blog dance challenge, ya'll!

Hooray, we went to the playground!

On Friday, Lucy and I went to our neighborhood playground with Elizabeth and Judah. I'd walked past before, but never stopped in. I didn't realize it would be such a hot bed of potential mama friends! Well that might be overstating it, but there was a mom of a 15ish month little boy who mentioned in passing that she also wore her son in a wrap, and they loved it. Look out lady, because next time I see you, I'm friend-hitting on you!

It was really sweet...I wore Lucy in the Moby, and when she woke up, I sat on a bench and breastfed her. There was a little old lady there with her grandkids. I'm guessing she was Tibetan. She was wizened, toothless, and wearing the most regal outfit I've ever EVER seen in New York. She was splendid. Like this lady, but fancier.


Tibetan Grandmama looked approvingly at Lucy in the Moby, and when I started breastfeeding, she nodded at me. Isn't that wonderful? It made me feel like women of the world have this incredible thing in common, this mothering thing, and it translates so perfectly. And I love that this woman approved of my baby-wearing, breastfeeding-in-public, attachment parenting. Attachment parenting is so instinctive to me, even if it isn't prodominant in our culture. How awesome to see that those instincts can transcend culture!

Speaking of which, I just found this gorgeous slideshow of baby-wearing around the world.

The other adorable story from that day was a 3 year old girl who was fascinated when I breastfed Lucy. She practically climbed up in my lap when I sat down to feed Lucy, and she wanted to stroke Lucy the whole time she was eating. She kept asking me--in Spanish--what the heck Lucy was doing. The girl was convinced that Lucy was come-ing my teta (eating my breast) and I told her (in Spanish, no less!) that no, she was drinking milk from my breast. The little girl didn't believe me though. Her mom giggled along with me, and said that the girl had never seen breastfeeding. Aww, I'm the breastfeeding ambassador to tiny girls!

A yay day!

Today was so much better than yesterday. In the morning, I bounced Lucy to sleep after a crying jag. Then I figured out how to tie the Moby wrap on around her. This is big--up until now, I had to tie the thing on (and it's SUPER complicated, like 18 feet long or something ridiculous like that) and then try to get Lucy in. It seems that Lucy likes BEING in the Moby and the Hotsling, but not GETTING in them. So this is awesome, I can wait for her to fall asleep on me and then put in on around her! And better yet, we can even breastfeed like this!

I'm extra excited about this because it means I finally found a comfortable way to wear Lucy around the house for extended periods. I'll be able to use two hands again! And breastfeed at the same time! Just imagine what I'll be able to get done!

(Quick, what's my favorite color?)

Later today, our friends from home birth class (and fellow MDC mama!) came over. Their baby and Lucy have the same birthday, and they even look alike with their long, dark hair and gorgeous brown eyes.

We bounced our crying babies, breastfed, and changed diapers while we talked about life with new babies. It soothed my soul to be with a mama who understands! In real life! I really need to build a better real-life mama community here, I need a village to help me raise a Lucy.

Ok, I should really just make a separate blog of Foods I Can Eat While Breastfeeding.

Today's highlights include...

Garlic knots!

Veggie burger!

I'm getting much better at not getting food on Lucy. Although I should probably admit that while brushing my teeth today, I spit a little toothpaste on her head. Hey, at least I managed to brush my teeth!

Baby Magic

Lucy is getting so much protection! Uncle Malek gave her a hamsa to wear whenever we leave the house to protect her from the evil eye. Great GranE sent a guardian angel medal for her. We pinned them both inside Lucy's sling, so she'll be protected when we're out and about.

Tim's parents made ancestor pancakes for us last night. It's a Kazakh tradtition--once a week they make pancakes for their ancestors, and ask the ancestors to protect all of us. I really love this tradition. Hopefully Alla and Aidar will teach me how to make ancestor pancakes for our new little family while they're here.

Isn't it wonderful that Lucy is being protected through the customs of all these different cultures? She'll be the safest baby ever!

Attachment Grandparenting

Baby wearing is one of the main beliefs of attachment parenting, and a tradition in my family. When I was a baby, my parents wore me in a front pack at their ballroom dance class. And after three kids, Kevin and Jen are slinging experts--I'm eagerly awaiting Jen's tutorial on how to nurse in a sling!

It's terrific to see baby wearing spread to Tim's family, too. I think Apashka looks so chic, and Lucy looks so secure and comfortable! She spent hours happily snoozing in Apashka's arms while Mama and Atashka took care of the errands. Next it's Aunt Karima's turn!