So...

I've been meaning to post but.. Nadia and Sami have been at each other's throats the past two days! I don't know if it has to do with the rain and the fact we haven't been able to get out or what.. Maybe there is a full moon or something? Samirah's been super cranky which makes me question everything I know about Mommyhood, and Husam's also been extra crabby and more helpless than normal.

So. ***Sighs*** I haven't had enough time or energy to sit down and think of something funny, witty, or interesting to say. Do you forgive me?

Luckily, tomorrow should be nice. And we have a LLL meeting in the morning where Nadia will have some playmates. Then I'm taking a trip to Kohl's.. I got a 30% off peelie so I want to go hit up the clearance racks! woo hoo! Then I may even take the kiddos to the lake after lunch. Go go go! Like that book Nadia reads.. "Go Dog GO" Only my version is "Go Mommy.. GO!"

I'm hoping they will all be more cheerful tomorrow. Truly more for their sake than my own. I love them no matter what but I know I don't like very much to be in a bad mood and feeling out of sorts. So I imagine it's not very fun for them...

So. once they chaos calms. I will be back with something of substance to say.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking of an Adventures in Tandem Nursing post.. Or something along those lines.. :-)

PS- Still waiting on Samirah's petti/tutu and I'll def have an awesome photo shoot when I get it!

My carriers and my thoughts on them...

First up is my freehand Mei Tai. I love this thing! In this picture we have the Ergo Organic strap covers on. This MT is very affordable ( I think it was only 70 something dollars) and I LOVE to it. I reach for it often and I find it perfect for everyday use!




Here is me and Sami showing off a back carry in our Babyhawk Oh Snap. I just adjusted it quickly as Samirah is usually carried in it, so he isn't in it completely properly (I know I know, but the kids were freaking out to go to the beach so I had limited time to work with! LoL) This is my favorite SSC... I LOVE it. It's SO SO adjustable. Moreso than my Ergo, the straps are sleeker for a more comfortable fit and it's GREAT for long term wear. Hiking, long walks, etc.




Next up- My Wild Child Mei Tai! Okay, to be honest this is the first time I've tried this one... Umm.. IT'S AWESOME! I just looked online to see where I could get another one but I have a feeling this brand isn't made anymore. I bought it at thebabywearer.com forums and I'm not able to find another. I'm truly upset by this because it is SO super comfortable and well made. I love the high back on it that can be folded down, and it's just beautiful. It is great. Going to have to see if I can get another one. If anyone knows where I can find one, please let me know!





Here is my Babyhawk MT. It's really great quality (As every babyhawk product I've tried is) Super comfortable, durable, well made, and easy to use. I love this one. And isn't the girly print TDF?? I like the straps on this as they are the pretty much the same as the Oh Snap. Sleeker and more comfortable thank some other carriers. Still padded though. I'd reccommend this to anyone.


My trusty peanut shell sling! This served me well for so many years and I do still love it.. I've just branched out from here lol

I'm not really a wrapper, But the Moby is forgiving even for a beginner. I like it esp for small newborns, but honestly, don't really use it anymore.

My ergo! It's a good sturdy carrier that is super comfortable and great for long term wear. I like the hood it has and it has really good back support. It's my second favorite SSC behind the babyhawk. The only complaint I have is the big bulky straps!

(Forgive the picture quality- Nadia took them lol)

Birth Shouldn't Hurt.

**Let me preface this by saying I am NOT against c-sections. They can be life saving to Mother and baby and there are definitely situations where they are NECESSARY. Now. Onto the blog!

In our society we are taught that birth is painful, scary even. Look at movies, television, and even stories from women around us. It all portrays birth as a terrifying experience, with screaming, yelling, sweat dripping from your brow, even tears. This was not how I found my birth to be..

I studied hypnobirthing with my 3rd child. And immediately the philosophy made sense to me. The very basic theory in hypnobirthing is that it's our own fear that causes the pain in birth. I cannot put it as eloquently as the book, so if your interested, I suggested "Hypnobirthing: the Monegan Method , A natural approach to childbirth"

While I was reading that book it made a lot of sense to me. If you could not fear birth, but rather, embrace it, maybe it didn't have to hurt quite so much. And I related the information to the two births I had already experience. And I thought. You know... There may be something to this!!!

I think the fear that is instilled in us from various outlets leads a lot of women to want interventions... Pain medication, Epidurals, and even elective c-sections..

Birth is truly such a beautiful experience. And I look back on the 3 births I've experienced with fondness. Especially my waterbirth. I don't know if it was the water birth itself, the hypnobirthing, or the combination of the two. But it was absolutely serene. I won't say I felt no pain at all, but they were closer to sensations than HOLY CRAP OUCH!

It's an amazing thing to feel a child being born, to be able to reach down and feel their head crowning, and feel so accomplished by that. It's amazing. It can give you a high like no drug on earth can. (Okay, I haven't really tried any drugs... But I bet I'm right!)

Women need to take back their power. They need to KNOW they can do it. I get a lot of women who say "Wow! Your amazing for being able to do that!!" No! I'm NOT amazing! The only thing amazing about me is how very very ordinary I am. Trust me. If I can do it- Any woman can. We are women. Even if doctors, literature, and anything else tell us we do not know how to birth. We do. More importantly, our bodies do.

I feel every woman should be able to experience natural childbirth... And even more so- I feel every woman should want to..

Just another Day...

At the Shahin house!! Sami and Nadia woke up warring in my bed. Sami hit Nadia (A big no no) She hit back (Bigger no no) and she missed him and hit Samirah. (sighs) Bell rings, end round one!!!

I get everyone calmed down and we come downstairs for breakfast, all is fairly smooth until they begin fighting over pony backpack **ding ding ding** Round two!!! They begin tugging back and forth, yelling, crying on Sami's part.... *yoink* Mommy takes backpack **ding ding ding** end round two!!!

One of those days I suppose. Normally they get along wonderfully, but today they've been at each other like mad! I have a doctors appointment for my wrists later today. I've been having issues since Samirah has been born. It hurts to even hold a cup coffee.. And we all know I need my coffee.

Samirah is napping. Nadia and Sami are calm for the moment. I have them working on crafts. They both love crafts. Hopefully I make it through today in one piece! And hopefully they start to be a little more loving towards eachother!

Well crafts have ceased to keep them entertained and Sami is climbing into my lap to give me kisses!! At least it's kisses :-)
Im off!

Babywearing!

I need to get some better baby wearing photos... I'm always the one taking the pictures so it's not so easy lol. Maybe I'll have Nadia take some to show my other carriers..

I've really been feeling the babyhawk Love lately. I have an OH Snap and the babyhawk MT. (Mei Tai) I like the SSC (Soft structured carriers) For long term wear, and I like the Mei Tai's for everyday use. The SSC's are fast and easy to put on, but there is just something I love about the MT's... I don't know! I can't explain it!

I also have a freehand MT and a wild child MT. Both of which I like very much. I really want to get some pics of these different carriers so you can see them..

Do any of you babywear? What's your favorite carrier??

I've been thinking of trying a Boba...

Was just remembering

How gentle and awesome my waterbirth was :-)
Would you believe I was in transition and beginning to push in the first photo??

You can never be too careful...

When it comes to your kids.
Now. Many people in my life think I'm completely neurotic when it comes to my children. I've heard the word "overprotective" thrown around.. "overbearing" etc. etc. You get the point. Sometimes I lay in bed at night and worry. Worry about things that will probably never go wrong or be an issue, but still, I worry. I can't help it. I don't feel like I'm doing my job if I'm not worrying, or trying to keep them safe.

Seeing all these children on the news being snatched is horribly upsetting for me to see. It's SCARY to be quite honest. and it's another thing to add to my list of things I worry about. One reason I feel safest wearing my babies. They are hard to snatch when they are strapped to your chest.

There are kids Nadia's age in the neighborhood who are allowed to play outside alone. Nadia always asks if she can go. NO WAY. "But.." she says " ((insert name here)) can play outside by themselves" Me... "Well ((insert name here)) doesn't have me for a Mommy, I dont' let you go away from me" .. And I think to myself. Aren't those parents worried?? Aren't they afraid of something awful happening? Not just abductions but any other number of dangers that lurk. I don't know. Maybe I am neurotic.. But I dont' understand how kids that are 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10 ... Even up to 16 or 17 are allowed out unsupervised. I know I know some won't agree with me there. But honestly I like to live by the motto "Better safe than sorry" I know accidents and bad things can happen when your RIGHT NEXT to your child. So why would I take a chance at letting them away from me?? I have a hard time even letting Nadia go to school. It's tough.

I wonder. Will I lighten up at any point? How do you feel?

Why Co-sleeping works for me.

Co-sleeping is one of those choices we made in the moment. When Nadia was a baby it was easy. I could nurse her, have her close, cuddle, snuggle, etc. All that good stuff. Husam liked it too. We enjoyed the closeness of having her near us..

I did the same with Sami, only he outgrew it much faster. He sleeps better in his own bed now, at age 2.. where, Nadia still sleeps with us at age 4.

Obviously Samirah is cosleeping as well as she's only 6 months.

There are so many perks to Co-sleeping that I honestly can't imagine not doing it. Number 1. The simple fact I get more sleep! Bwhahahaaha. There is no getting up to get a baby to nurse. THey were always / are always right there!!! I barely have to wake up at all which is awesome.

The closeness! For me, it feels super un-natural to have my children far from me. Even in a room over. It just feels wrong. I enjoy being able to have them right next to me so I can check on them and make sure they are alright. And of course for snuggling purposes! Who doesn't like that?!

Daddy bonding! Since I breastfeed, my husband doesn't get the "feeding" bonding time that some bottle fed babies get. (And we don't use bottles at all.- I don't even have any in the house believe it or not) So having them share our bed is a great way for Daddy to snuggle the kids. It's a wonderful thing. We are surrounded by our babies.

I always say "Our bed, like our hearts, Are full" It's wonderful.

Do you co-sleep???

Happy 4th of July... A little late.

So, I'm a little late with the 4th of July wishes! But I hope all of you out in blogland had a nice one. We had some swimming, some bbq's, some sun, some fireworks, and TONS of fun! Here is a picture of the kids in their festive outfits! (They dress festive for the holidays every year lol) Nadia and Samirah had matching dresses! My Mom found them , I was so excited lol

My Mom was up visiting from Florida too. So I was spending a ton of time with her. I'm sad she went back.. While she was here she bought us a season pass for the NJ state parks. And it's already paid for itself! I've been having a blast taking the kids! bbq'ing, swimming, building sand castles! It's been GREAT! I'm looking forward to lots of summer fun!! This week is going to be in the 90s so I'm going to try to get out early in the morning so we could be home by lunch!

Other than that, not too much going on. We're having a blast , enjoying Nadia while she is off of school. But keeping up with her lessons too. She has workbooks, and she likes to do her math especially. Her addition has really taken off.. And I"m not really a 100% sure where she learned it.. But man. She's GOOD! So she focuses on math these days. I let her work where her intrest mostly is.

Anyways. I'll think up a good blog to write soon. Just wanted to put out a general "life" update :-)