how to stain your baby

Zelda is so into being a regular person. She wants to drink your water and eat your pizza and play with that choking hazard and she will not take no for an answer, even when it is the obvious answer (I do not feed my seven month old pizza: don't bother). So during Nathan's first week back at school, when I was attempting to keep extra busy, I tried to find some fun things for both kids to do together at levels they'd each enjoy rather than George coaching Zelda or Zelda having things pried repeatedly from her grasp. Cornstarch paint seemed a nice, easy DIY for these last warm days and George is on a painting kick that I'm really trying to encourage.

My recipe is 1 cup of water to 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. For this batch I made three cups because I knew they'd go through it quickly. You just mix the cornstarch into lukewarm water, then heat over medium-high heat until it's thick, stirring pretty frequently. I put a few drops of food coloring into cups and added the gloop once it had thickened to my liking, stirred to mix in the color and put the cups in the freezer to cool off for a little while. I gave them another stir when they came out, and they were ready to go.

Zelda immediately turned the tablecloth and paper into a slip-n-slide. The sensory aspect was basically it for her, but she squished the paint around in her fists and slid all over the place and that was good enough for her. George is something of a rule follower and wasn't thrilled that Zelda had dumped the paint and subsequently got it all over herself, but I tried to give him an area of his own by repositioning the remaining paint and corralling his sister. I encouraged him to paint on his own arms or belly, but that was preposterous and he was deeply offended at the suggestion.

Zelda was having so much fun rolling around in the paint that George finally decided to give some handprints a try, and, after watching her brother for awhile, Zelda picked up a paintbrush. This exploration inspired by each other was, to me, totally the highlight of the activity.

I plunked them both in the bath immediately after they were finished playing, but Zelda came out looking like I'd haphazardly shot a tube of sunblock at her and left her out in the sun all day. It came off, though... eventually.

our endless numbered days

The holding pattern is different this time. It looks more chaotic in some ways, but homier. More wintery, with readings and re-readings of the Corduroy saga, grilled cheese sandwich eating and cookie baking, different shows on the television, and more often than I'd like. Baby stuff being set up, always with the repeated explanation that this new apparatus, those tiny diapers, the clothes waiting to be folded are for the baby.

We're snowed in, like the rest of everyone here, and making soup, doing the wash, taking naps and grading papers. Trying to get outside to play, but with bursts of enjoyment rather than the unabashed, day-long cold weather love I see in people's photos, on the faces of the neighbor kids pulling each other down the street on sleds. My boy is my boy, indeed. The snow is pretty, from the warm indoors, once the requisite snowman's been made.

I wonder if he knows what's about to happen. All the talking about, the making room and unpacking probably can't prepare you to meet the person who'll be your number two, the "other one" to your "soccer ball," the one with whom you'll share a bedroom and a back seat and, eventually, some phone conversations about your dumb old mom and how she screwed up. 

free will naming

It was right around this time two years ago -- a little earlier, actually -- when I, hugely pregnant with the baby that would be George, started reading my unborn child's horoscope. I'm not a strong believer in astrology, though it's a recurring passing fancy like that of cancer patients who believe strongly in God when sick, but revert to agnosticism in remission. In times of confusion, when I'm in need of guidance or an unbiased party to set me straight, I read my horoscope. Specifically, the ones Rob Brezsny writes, because they're more like a pep talk from your new-agey friend than a transparent, one-size-fits-all premonition. 

This morning, I read George's. It began, "Harvey Ball was a commercial artist who dreamed up the iconic image of the smiley face." Anyone who's colored with my son knows that he's a managerial sort who'll boss you into drawing exactly what he wants. And what he wants is invariably a happy face. Sometimes on an elephant ("happy 'woo'" with trunk-swinging action), sometimes on an apple, sometimes just a round, smiling face. The rest of the horoscope went on to encourage Sagittarius to be sure and get credit where it's due, unlike poor Harvey Ball who was paid a measly $45 for his original, now iconic image. This, of course, doesn't really apply to a two year old who is, like most his age, sort of over-credited for everything but the connection was sweet nonetheless. 

Then, I read Aquarius. The new baby will be Aquarian unless she's very early or very late and it should follow, given that she is still a fetus, that hers didn't have much to allow. How could it, unless it suggested a slight decrease in flailing so that your mother might sleep? 

I read mine last. A Lily Allen quote: cute. A new mother herself, singing about neurosis and insecurity. Rob Brezsny cautioned me against high-falootin'. Good advice, but nothing earth shattering. Until the end, that is, when there it was: providence, or maybe just a nice coincidence. I should've read mine first, was the lesson. Put on your own oxygen mask before tending to your children, right? 

The footnote of my own horoscope defined a German word. A German word that is, like lots of German words, a Yiddish word as well. And like a lot of Yiddish words, it's also a Yiddish name. Its definition: happy. Ecstatic, if we're being specific. It has a feminine version, which is on our list of potential names for this baby. It's been George's favorite all along, the name he insists on when we suggest others, shaking his head, saying, "noooooo," like we must be joking, then repeating the one he likes, mostly to himself. It seems the universe -- or at least astrology -- is on his side. I don't know how comfortable I'll be telling the grown-up version of this fetus that her name was solidified by my week-of-December 8th horoscope, and who knows anyway: maybe she'll look so distinctly like one of the other names we like that it will all be moot. But somehow I doubt it. 

an autumn jacket (and a little something extra)

I've had this pattern sitting on the top of the pile for quite awhile, waiting until I didn't have to scale it to fit George. He's finally a true pattern size 2, and with a few alterations, I had visions of the perfect fall jacket. 

I'm a sucker for a peter pan collar, and the necessary changes were so easy -- lengthen the sleeves, turn the buttons into toggles. The clincher was a couple of yards of plummy quilted cotton I'd been saving for just the right occasion. I cut it out and decided against the collar, in favor of a generous hood, good for pulling over your knit cap for extra protection against the elements. I had some navy and white striped twill left over from making George the Oliver + S sailboat pants and lined the jacket with that, making it a little more masculine (though, I really consider plum to be a sort of neutral). 

Well, here's the thing. It turned out adorably and fits like a dream, but despite those facts, it's not exactly what I would call a hit. 

Alas. Maybe he'll warm up to it? I used some scraps from Nathan's beat-up old laptop bag to make the toggle patches and bought some navy bias tape and cording for the edges and button loops. It's a good crisp weather-weight, and I'm hoping it will fit him in the spring, as well, though that seems unlikely. 

I had plenty leftover, and another pattern on my mind, so I whipped up a little something for the new baby to wear come February. We were at a total loss, wardrobe-wise, with newborn George when it came time for those refreshing walks around the block immediately following the sequestered period post-birth. We bundled him up as best we could and wore him close, but I'd have liked to put him in something extra snuggly. 

God, do I hate that synthetic fleece, though. It was admittedly more effort to line the entire thing with cotton chenille, but worth it to know my poor kid won't be feeling the icky slick softness of what was formerly soda bottles. 

These pictures suck, by the way: no need to point it out. We've entered the part of the year when our house requires lamplight during the day and outside it starts looking like dusk while I'm fixing lunch.

There it is: cozy-soft and so freaking tiny. It boggles the mind that someone's stretched-out arms will fit inside those sleeves. 

Since I have such an enormous stash, all I had to buy was the bias tape and the cording to complete both the bunting and the jacket. I can't wait to see them both on my littles. And with any luck, at least one of said bundled-up littles won't be miserable. 

giveaway: baby k'tan! CLOSED!

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Please stay tuned for the announcement of our winner!

This is a joint giveaway cross-posted on very, very fine and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked “Win it!” for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.

Despite owning more baby carriers, slings and wraps than one person could ever wear out in one lifetime, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try one that I'd overlooked when my son was still tiny: the Baby K'tan. Assuming that, because it was made from soft jersey fabric, it was only suitable for very young infants, I thought my near 30 pound, 17 month-old and I had missed the boat. Similar stretchy wraps had been overwhelming to me as a new mama, though I knew others who used and loved them. Two friends, in particular, raved about their K'tan as though it were a tremendously helpful member of the family. When I read that the Baby K'tan could accommodate a toddler up to 35 pounds, I was excited to put it to the test, and if it proved as magical as my friends had said, I was hopeful that it might see me through another kid or two.

The Two Hip Position

In the box: The Baby K'tan is a carrier made of two connected loops of fabric. It comes with a sash, necessary for certain carrying positions, and a matching hat for your babe. While I'm not one for logos on my kid's clothes, the cute factor is undeniable and I would definitely make an exception for the sake of a complete ensemble of this super soft, rich brown cotton. The sash doubles as a storage bag -- a handy detail I really appreciated. You also get a user's manual with photo-illustrated instructions for several different carries, including two suitable for twins!

Using the Baby K'tan: I'll admit: I didn't have high hopes for the comfort of this carrier. We've been a back-carrying duo for quite awhile and the idea of my excited, curious (flailing, reaching) toddler on my front -- or even strapped onto my hip -- was daunting. When I loaded him into the hug position though, he cuddled right up and, to my complete shock, felt light. The way the Baby K'tan distributes weight is nothing short of amazing; I imagine that carrying an infant in the K'tan must be like wearing a slightly heavier T-shirt. The hip position and two hip position, both shown in the instruction manual, were equally comfortable for me, though less restrictive and so, less calming for my little guy, but I could easily see him hitching a ride in the K'tan around the farmers' market when he gets tired of walking. A few months ago, when snuggles were higher on his priority list, he'd have stayed put in the K'tan all day.

One reason stretchy wraps have never really appealed to me is bulk. In the winter, an extra layer is helpful but I worried about feeling mummified in warm weather. In the K'tan, I can honestly say that my shirt did not feel irrelevant and, thanks to the careful sizing, I wasn't swimming in extra fabric. For parents of different sizes who need or like to share carriers this would be a drawback, but the lack of bunching, extra wrapping and tucking was a definite plus for me.

The Hug Position

As someone who has never before used a stretchy wrap, the positions were not really intuitive for me and required a few readings of the directions and rehearsals sans kid. I recommend being sure you understand the positioning and order of operations before enlisting the cooperation of your squirming baby. That said, with practice, I think it would become second nature just as using any carrier does, especially given the comfort level once everyone is in place. Luckily, the Baby K'tan website features supplemental videos for each type of carry -- a helpful resource for the more visual learners and occasionally forgetful but smartphone-toting among us. With a younger baby, this would be my go-to carrier of choice and I look forward to using it for another six pounds with this child!

BUY IT!

To purchase your own Baby K'tan visit their website. In addition to baby carriers, they also sell jewelry, clothing and other handy accessories to make aspects of your life a little easier.

WIN IT!

For your chance to win a Baby K'tan carrier, enter in the comments below! This contest is only open to the U.S. MAIN ENTRY: Tell us why you would like to try this type of carrier. Leave a valid email address in your comments (the line where it says “email address”) so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses are not made publicly visible. This is a joint giveaway with very, very fine and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we’ll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites! BONUS ENTRIES, to increase your chance of winning (leave a separate comment for each so we can count them all):

• Tell us another product on the Baby K'tan website that you would like to have.
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RULES:

• Contest is open ONLY TO US.
• Leave each entry as a separate comment so we can count them all.
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• Any questions, email: ShannonR {at} NaturalParentsNetwork.com

Contest closes July 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Disclosure: Our reviewer purchased the Baby K'tan for review. We try to seek out only products we think you would find relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent. If we don’t like a product, we won’t be recommending it to you. See our full disclosure policy here.