Urban Mama

It's a Leap Day Miracle! Favorite Things

Hello friends -- two posts in a month! It's truly a Leap Day Miracle, as Kenneth from "30 Rock" would say. Since it's such a unique day (happy birthday and anniversary to all of the Leap Day babies and marrieds of the world), I thought I would check in to share some of my favorite things.

1. I've been having lots of (regularly updated!) fun keeping Teen Lit Rocks going with my sister Diana. Each month we read a book with adult and teen contributors and then review it on a monthly Book Club Day. February's selection was "Born Wicked," a story about the oldest of three sisters who are actually witches in 19th century New England.
2. Hunger Games. Only 24 more days until the movie hits theaters. I'll be watching it (again) at a midnight screening in San Francisco, since we're heading to California for a close friend's wedding that weekend. Can't wait to see one of my favorite YA books come to life with such a stellar actress playing Katniss.
3. The Civil Wars. I am still kicking myself for not going with Jen to see them when they came to DC, but they're just so, so good. Their harmony and their chemistry (and they're not even together!) is amazing. Here they are singing their most popular single, "Barton Hollow."
    
4. The show "Alcatraz." I know it's not "Lost," but I still love it. The husband even watches it with me (which is the ultimate sign of a show's awesomeness). As People's TV critic Tom Gliatto says: "The show has the makings of great--what else can I say?--escapist entertainment."
5. Dr. Seuss. It's Seuss' birthday this Friday, and we're all set to watch The Cat in The Hat-a-Thon on PBS. We've alrady seen "The Lorax," so we're going to enjoy our early release day by donning our red Cat in the Hat hat, reading our favorite Dr. Seuss books and and watching PBS together. Mami once enrolled us in a Dr. Seuss Book of the Month Club, so we have almost every title he ever wrote. Wasn't she an amazing Abuela? We're looking forward to the Dr. Seuss-a-thon.  

 

Urban Mama Recommends: Earth Mama * Angel Baby Products

A few weeks before I gave birth, I read about the Earth Mama * Angel Baby product line and was excited to try them for myself. The Oregon-based company specializes in organic, phthalate-free labor, postpartum, breastfeeding and baby products. I was especially eager to use the Natural Labor Companion CD and Labor Ease Kit during my homebirth. Unfortunately, because baby J was 18 days early, I received the shipment of goods two days AFTER he was born. As it turned out, my birth was so relaxed and fast I wouldn't have had much use for most of the items, so I called EMAB and was told I could return any unopened products for a merchandise credit. That was good news, since my husband swears this is our last baby.

Although the labor products weren't opened, I knew the postpartum items would still come in handy even a couple of days late. Here is a list of my mama-tested, mama-approved EMAB goods*:

Earth Mama Bottom Balm: I did not have any perineal tears, but any mama who has experienced a vaginal delivery is sore and swollen down there. This herbal salve (no petroleum by-products, no parabens) feels a bit like Vicks on your fingers, but it is so much better. It definitely makes your bruised and sensitive parts feel tingly. It heals and cools, and it's all-around a must-have for any mama after a vaginal birth.

Postpartum Tea: I am a picky tea drinker. Not in a snobby way; I just find most tea too bitter, so I end up putting too much milk and honey in it, which masks the taste. But my husband insisted I try this one straight. It's actually quite good, but I still put a teensy dollop of honey in my cup.

New Mama Bottom Spray: This is my favorite postpartum product. It's a cooling spray made of witch hazel, antibacterial lavender, and peppermint essential oils. I sprayed it all over my sore bits and also on my maxi pads. I am still using it, just for kicks. If I were ever to have another baby (which is unlikely, but since many of you might still have a baby or two in your future), I would pre-treat a bunch of maxi pads and then freeze them before delivery.

Organic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash: We don't give baby J a bath every day but when we do (actually, in our house, the husband bathes the baby and then passes him off to me as I wait with the hooded towel) we use this mild shampoo & body wash. It's got a self-foaming pump, since the castile soap itself has no foaming agents.

Angel Baby Bottom Balm: I use this every day, especially after the baby had his first diaper rash. It's a rich and creamy balm, and you only need a little bit to go a long way. Plus, it can be used with cloth diapers, which is a relief. So far, so good.

*These items were purchased for my birth and postpartum recovery

The Importance of Being Still

With my two New York City babies, I was out and about within 48 hours of their births. I would bundle them up, grab my favorite sling, and walk a half-block to the bodega, or around the corner to our beloved coffee shop, the Pillow Cafe. I walked to the playground, the supermarket, and in the case of itty bitty Delia, my second-born, to her older brother Elias' preschool, a brisk 15-minute stroll away.

I remember having to trek into Manhattan when Elias was eight days old to visit my then-midwives. My husband and I ate an early-bird dinner at an Upper West Side diner with E in the Baby Bjorn. All the Bubbes came over to ooh and aah over such a small bundle. Nearly three years later, I co-chaired a day-long fund-raiser at Elias' cooperative preschool when Delia was 10 days old. Again, a few people commented at how tiny she was, but no one scolded me for being out of the house. It just seemed the norm -- to me, at least -- that postpartum city mamas return to city living incredibly fast.

Now that I've had my third -- and almost certainly, last -- child (he was born March 13), I want things to go slower. This is my DC burbs babe, Jonah. He was born at home, in a completely relaxed and loving atmosphere. And for the first time in my postpartum experience, I have no desire to run out and do anything.

Sure, maybe it's because there aren't coffee shops and green grocers  -- or anything except for neighbors' homes -- within a block or two of my house to tempt me away. That's definitely part of it. But it's also because I have a real desire to nest in with this baby. Since my husband is off work this week and taking care of me, all the household chores plus the older kids, I'm content to just relax. This may, after all, be the only week I get a chance to do nothing but focus on a newborn ever again. That wasn't something I thought about with my first two, but now I look at my five-day-old's tiny face and think: "Be still. Enjoy this moment. Don't rush back into the daily blur of domestic life one instant sooner than you have to."

So feel free to call me lazy. I don't care. I am taking it nice and easy this time. I have no merit badges to earn for "fastest postpartum mother to X, Y, Z." I'm going to savor the stillness of this final babymoon, however short it must be due to my husband's schedule and no close family nearby. There will be no Starbucks runs or trips to Target. There will be no premature outings to the local family restaurants. There will be just our little family, hanging out at home, loving our little Maryland arrival.

Originally posted at DC Metro Moms Blog