You Have a Baby on Your Back

When DH and I found out that I was pregnant in October of 2008, it was kind of unexpected, but also planned. We had talked about having a baby, but didn’t think that I would get pregnant so soon after we had made the decision to start our family.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I started doing research on what baby stuff I had wanted to get. For the first time, I was in a position to be able to afford some of the things I wanted, instead of only getting the necessities.

I spent weeks researching what stroller I wanted, what car seat I wanted and other baby items. DH and I had planned on going to baseball games with the baby, and I knew that a stroller or infant car seat was not allowed in the stands. Therefore, we decided to look at baby carriers. I wanted something that was easy on my back and easy on the baby also. I had planned on breastfeeding, so I also wanted something that I could easily take off. I also did not want a baby carrier that I had to wrestle with to get the baby in and out of it.

One big consideration and reason we had wanted a baby carrier was because of the farm. I was the one that dealt with customers, and most of the time sold the chickens. I had to be able to have a carrier that could hold the baby and also allow me to still catch and handle chickens.

All of these things had to be considered.  I was not going to buy something that could only be used for a couple of months.  I wanted something that would grow with the baby.  And, I found the ERGObaby Carrier. 

With the ERGObaby, not only could I have something that would grow with the baby, but I could use it when he was newborn.  I could breastfeed in it.  I could convert it to be worn on the hip, and it could also be used on my back.  I thought this was perfect. 

When Monster was born, he was early so all of our plans had been thrown out the window. I was unsure of using the baby carrier with a baby so young, so I did yet more research. That’s when I found that there was an Infant Insert that would cradle Monster when he was so little.

It wasn’t long after Monster came home from the NICU that I was back to selling chickens. There were times that I could arrange for customers to come and get the chickens during Monster’s naps, but there were also those unexpected customers that just dropped by.

When that happened, it was very easy for me to put Monster in the ERGObaby, and take care of business.  There were also times, when he was just fussy and colicky.  Nothing would soothe Monster.  He developed the like for me walking with him real early.  Boy, am I glad that I bought this thing.  There were many nights when he just wouldn’t go to sleep, and I would put him in the ERGObaby and walk around with him.

Now, as he has gotten older, Monster doesn’t like me to be out of his sight. This makes for a very had time doing housework. When he gets in those moods where he wants to be held, I just pull out the ERGObaby and strap him to my back. I NEVER leave him alone in the house, so when I have work to do on the farm, he gets strapped onto my back and we both work on the farm together.

This ERGObaby carrier has not only made my life easier, but it has also made me closer to Monster. He gets the advantage of being with mommy and having cuddle time, and I have the advantage of knowing he’s not getting into mischief while I’m cleaning or cooking.

I take it everywhere we go. Usually when we go to the store, I put him in the ERGObaby instead of the baby cart because I know that he’s safest on my back. He likes being able to look at adults at our level instead of being down low like in most shopping carts.

Recently, we took a trip to Houston for a mini family holiday. When we got to the hotel, I had forgotten to ask the front clerk something, so I needed to head back up there. DH wasn’t feeling well, so I took Monster with me to the front desk, of course on my back in the ERGObaby. I had passed someone in the lobby and in the most startled tone he said, “You have a baby on your back!” I had said, that yes, I have my little one with me all the time and he’s quite spoiled.

The next day, we went to Johnson Space Center and of course had the stroller and the ERGObaby.  Needless to say, we didn’t use the stroller much.  Monster was getting tired and wanted a nap, but he will not go to sleep in the stroller…he’s too nosey!  This is when the ERGObaby carrier comes in really handy.  Not only was I able to cuddle him, but I was able to pull the sun cover up over his head and block out most of the distractions that normally keep him awake.  With the sun cover out, I also covered him with his blankie.  He was able to fall asleep listening to my heart and feeling totally relaxed.

But, I don’t see having Monster with me all the time as spoiling him.  I see it as nurturing him and giving him the security that all babies should have.  It doesn’t bother me to put him in the carrier and do the dishes, or walk around the store, or catch chickens.  It doesn’t bother me that he’s used to being with mommy all the time, because I know that I’m not only keeping my son safe, but I’m also building a relationship with him. 

ERGObaby is going to give one of their carriers to one lucky reader of my blog!!!

How to enter :

**Important--you must leave a separate comment for each entry**

MANDATORY

You must follow "TheMarciFactor" on Google Friend Connect

and

"Like" ERGObaby  on Facebook (two entries)

EXTRA ENTRIES

"Like" TheMarciFactor on Facebook  (one entry)

Follow TheMarciFactor on twitter (one entry)

Follow ERGObaby on twitter (one entry)
Tweet "Win a Free ERGObaby carrier from @TheMarciFactor and @ergobaby http://bit.ly/babycarrier" (once daily, leave link, one entry)

Subscribe to "TheMarciFactor" via feedburner (one entry)

Grab my button and add it to your blog (two entries)

Contest will end on October 28, 2010 at midnight Central time. 
I will pick one person using random.org and contact that person by email, they will have 48 hours to respond, or I will choose another winner.

And the winners are...

I just want to thank everyone for their support so far, and Random.org has picked the winners for me!  So, without further Adieu, the winners are:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

and emails are going out today to both of you! 

This Makes Life Worthwhile

Today is an example of what makes me happy! This week, a friend of mine on twitter told me it was his daughters birthday, and asked me if I could bake a cake. I can bake cakes, but I SUCK at decorating, so I suggested getting one from the store. He was very pleased with that suggestion.

So, we connived and strategized and were able to get the cake to her at the start of her French Class today at SFA. I had never met her, or him even in person. When you have friends and am able to do something for them, you do it without asking anything in return. The cost never came up, though he did ask me for my paypal address..

So, this morning I went to Brookshire Brother's here in Lufkin and got the cake. Then I drove to Nacogdoches and delivered the cake. The following tweets are what happened!

Tweet #1

Tweet #2

I'm happy that I got to help someone new in town, because she's here for school. And I'm EXTREMELY HAPPY that I was able to make her feel her family's love from so far away--they live in South Texas.

And this is why I LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA!

Spouses Guide: How to survive while your spouse is at a Social Media Conference

I know that there are many self sufficient spouses that are married to people active in social media. But, for those that aren’t quite self sufficient here is a survival guide on how to get through one day while the significant other is at a social media conference.

First off, we spouses that go to these conferences are aware that you need help…that’s why we send the neighbor over every day to check on you!!!

In preparation for the conference, we make extra meals and freeze them, though we know that you will just go out to eat. We make sure there are clean clothes, even if it makes laundry day sooner. We make sure the day care is paid for so that all you have to do is drop little one off. So, here’s what to do from the start of the normal day without the spouse who usually runs the house.

You set your alarm, though you also have the poor spouse call at the time it goes off even though they don’t have to be awake for several hours. We call several times until you actually wake up and ANSWER THE PHONE!

Next, there is a big box type thing usually at the end of the bed, sometimes beside the bed, it’s called a dresser and it holds clothes. Go to the top drawer on the right. That’s the underwear drawer and you will find plenty of clean underwear there. Then right under that is the sock drawer, again…clean socks. Next you need to get dressed and you usually know where the jeans and shirts are, but just in case, they’re hung up in the closet.

Next, you need to go make your coffee. Now, like most spouses, you need coffee to wake up. So you need to head to the kitchen and get the coffee made. While the coffee is brewing you need to take care of the morning hygiene. That way you can drink coffee while doing the rest of the things you need to get done before you leave for the day.

After you drink your first cup of coffee, you should get the little one’s stuff ready for day care. You will need to pack some bottles for the day, an extra outfit, and formula/milk. Once you have the diaper bag packed, put it in the car BEFORE you wake little one up. Next, you should get your stuff ready to go, whether it’s your backpack for school or stuff for your job. It’s always good to get this packed and in the care BEFORE little one even enters the picture for the day.

Then, it’s time to wake little one up…but first, you have to make a bottle for little one so that it’s ready for crabby little one. Don’t take it in with you when you wake them up, instead, have it in the living room for after you change the diaper. Now, gently wake little one up. This can be accomplished usually by just picking them up and holding them to you. Little one will be wet from diaper overnight, so you need to change the diaper immediately. Then you need to get little one dressed. Again, spouse has made sure that there are clean clothes and you should choose an outfit for the day.

Don’t worry about feeding little one, the day care takes care of breakfast, lunch and snacks. You just need to remember where the daycare is. Take little one to the day care. Yes, they’re expecting him, and yes, we’ve taken care of everything in advance.

Now, you’re ready to go face your day. You should know what to do when you get to work/school. Now, daycare is paid up until 6PM so you have time for a nap after school also.

Now, if by some unlucky chance you need to make a doctors appointment while we’re gone, here’s what you need to do. By now, you know how to operate a phone. Go to the contacts list and look for the name of the doctor, we’ve programmed it in just for you, yes we’re sneaky!!! Call the doctor and identify yourself. Don’t worry, we’ve called the doctors office before we left also and they know that you may be calling. Tell the secretary that you need to come in/bring little one in. Then they will ask you what’s going on and you should tell them exactly what’s going on, like little one has a fever, or you need an adjustment on your back, etc. They will then ask you if you can come in at a certain time, and usually, they can make it when you are available to come in, or the next day. If you are unable to manage this, just text us, and we can make the appointment for you real quick and we will text you the time to be there.

For the next day/days, you should repeat these instructions. This is step by step so that you will know what to do each day that the spouse is gone. When we get back, we are aware that there will be a bunch of stuff to take care of. If we’re lucky, we only have a house to clean when we get home. If we’re unlucky, we have other minor emergencies to tend to when we get home.

**Note: this is based on some of what happened to me this past week, though some of it can be fiction…and some of it is learned for the next conference I go to.**