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March 25, 2012

adventures in babywearing







I'm still trying to figure out ways to incorporate this new little person into my work life. It's best that I learn now before the busy farming season starts. It sure would be easier though if Zander could help by carrying a 5 gallon water jug or something!

Sometimes he's perfectly content in a stroller and those are the times I'm really quick and efficient at whatever I'm doing. But that never lasts very long so I wear him in a wrap, sling or carrier.

What I've found, so far, is that there are different babywearing tools for different jobs. All are valuable in their own way and each with their own learning curve. I might have banged my baby's head walking into the chicken coop while wearing him on my back. And I might have forgotten to cover his bare feet while bending down to collect eggs, resulting in a little toe pecking. Poor kid.

I've also learned that whether it's feeding or watering animals, carrying water jugs or buckets of feed, milking the cow or collecting eggs, I can still do it while wearing him. It might take a little longer and I may have to stop and nurse a fussy baby for a few minutes and then start again. But I can do it.

No matter how I carry him around, I'm a little slower these days. My life is a series of incomplete tasks. I have a running list in my head of things I'll do or finish while the baby sleeps. Wash diapers, hang laundry, organize baby clothes, finish taxes, farm paperwork, box up eggs, clean, feed myself, shower, blog. I'll get to it.

Like I said before, it's the new normal. Feeling pulled in a million different directions.

And I wouldn't change a thing.

March 14, 2012

wordless wednesday

Zander learns that chickens will be a big part of his life. . . and he thinks it's hilarious.

March 2, 2012

it's a girl!

Ella, who was supposedly due on February 2nd, had her calf on the 25th! She was most definitely not that overdue so we think they miscalculated her due date.

She did a great job and we have a beautiful new baby girl. Jen had been out to check on her early in the morning and when Nate went out to check a few hours later, there she was. She couldn't have been more than a few minutes old. He called me and I grabbed the baby, threw him in a wrap and ran out to see. We got to watch Ella lovingly clean her off and then see the calf make her first attempt to stand up. And then fall down. And then try to stand again. Ella is such a good mother.

The best part? We've got milk! The whole reason we got Ella was so we can have our own milk. Nate's started milking her and we're enjoying her milk, butter and rich cream.

Still deciding on a name...