Today our sweet Twilli Pie turns 1 year old!! It has been an amazing ride so far. She has grown and changed so much. Yet she is still the same unique person that she has been since she was born, this day, one year ago. A birthday wouldn’t be complete without remembering the BIRTH. Twilli’s birth was an amazing story! Read about the “3 Minute Baby” made her grand entry.

You can see more photos of Twilli on 21st Century Dad’s Flickr photostream.

I have a few things I’d like to share with Twilli.

Twilli, today we celebrate your birthday. You were already very present to us BEFORE you were born. But it was such a blessed day when we finally got to see you! Touch you. Hold you.

You have grown so much. We have grown so much! You have already taught us so much about life… about how to LIVE in the present. You are a divine teacher. You have gently taught us how to transcend fear. You have shown us that the birth process is a beautiful thing! You have helped us come back to things that we had somehow forgotten or brushed off… as humans. You have taught us the joy and warmth of attachment! You introduced us to babywearing! You have given us superpowers! (Yes, even when all you wanted to do was nurse, I was thrilled to be able to bond with you and care for your most basic need in such a natural, loving way!) You have helped us find new careers… new callings! You helped us extend our old skills, too! You have even helped your daddy embrace his Korean roots!

We know you will do amazing things. Heck, you already have done amazing things! Thank you for being awesome! Thank you for choosing us. Thank you for being YOU! We love you more than anything!

Happy Birthday Twilli!!!

Anyone who started reading the blog at the wee beginning knows that we practice EC: Elimination Communication or IPT: Infant Potty Training, at least on a part-time basis. So I wanted to do a quick update.

We had what I guess to be about 50-60% “success” rate of catching potties. And we were only having to change a dirty diaper about every 2-3 days, since Twilli does most of her poops in the toilet, first thing in the a.m.

While we were out of town, we really relied mostly on the diaper. But I still took Twilli to the potty in the morning to do her daily “business”. Since the schedule was wacky, she wasn’t as regular as usual. So we were having at least one dirty diaper about 5 out of 7 days.

Since we’ve been home, I’m proud to say that Twilli is doing really well with it again! I think we’ve only had 1 or 2 dirty diapers in the 6 days we’ve been back!

We’re also happy to be starting the transition to cloth diapers! We picked up a small, 1 day supply of 6 unbleached Indian cotton prefolds and 3 covers. I decided to scrounge up enough funds to do that in order to support a lovely mama of triplets, who decided to amp her efforts from an online store to a p/t brick & mortar store.

Cutie Tooties - CLOTH DIAPERS and more

Sunny was SOOOO helpful about making it possible for us to get the BARE BONES minimum “starter” set. Her store is lovely! I wish her the best of luck and hope all of the natural parents in Knoxville support her!

Those prefolds are SOOOOOO soft!!! And I truly believe that wearing the cloth diapers is going to accelerate the EC, since Twilli definitely feels the effect of the wet diaper and definitely TELLS US about it! (She’s always been very laid back about the wet disposables. At least they do their job of pulling the moisture off baby’s bum.)

I somehow feel like we’ve taken an inside out approach to all of this! Everything I read recommended combining EC w/cloth diapering. But my Westernized “modern” ways sometimes hang on with a vengeance! lol

Please leave a comment and let us know if you have any experience with EC or CLOTH DIAPERS.

Photo: 1′Up

Hello everyone. Long time… I JUST NOW got DSL hooked up at my parents’ house in TN. Yea! So I should be posting with a bit more frequency now.

I returned from the Babywearing Conference in Chicago on Sunday. The conference was amazing! I learned so much and met SO MANY wonderful people! It is amazing to see so many like-minded people in one place. And it was very refreshing to be in an environment where I can wear and nurse my baby at any time, and still be part of the goings-on! Twilli responded REALLY well to everyone there too! She got to play with a lot of little babies and toddlers.

The TWILLI PIE PODEGIs were well received! I will be requesting testers soon, so please contact me if you are interested.

I met SOOOOO many influential people in the babywearing and attachment parenting realm! I probably don’t know the HALF of it! I plan to continue seeking wisdom from these people who have “walked the walk” and continue to share with us relative newbies!

It was awesome to traverse the city via public transit. (Gas was $4.47 - $4.89 per gallon there. Eeek!) And I did a LOT of walking! Babywearing makes a HUGE difference in that regard. And I was very pleasantly surprised at how much people helped me with my luggage on the train or in the train station/transfers! I guess I was quite a spectacle with a baby strapped to me, a backpack, a diaper bag/purse, and my suitcase pulled behind it all! lol

I will write more about the conference in the next few days. But I wanted to touch base and let everyone know that we are still alive and kickin’!

We are finally happy done with the TWILLI PIE PODEGI prototype development! We will be making exclusively narrow blanket podegis, for the time being. We prefer the straight straps, although angled straps will be an option. And each TWILLI PIE Podegi will feature at least one piece of reclaimed or vintage fabric. This is an effort to recycle, and thus keep a bit more out of the landfill!

We are happy to introduce the newest Twilli Pie pod, “Water for Chocolate”.

“Water for Chocolate” features internally reinforced and padded baby corduroy straps. The front side of the podegi body has a lovely designer print fabric as the focal point, with a corresponding double pocket. We have also added a TP signature design element of the vertical band of fabric. This reinforces the branding in the logo and forms the letter “T” when the straps are extended out to the sides. There is also a solid blue cotton fabric and reclaimed denim for the “tail”.

The reverse side is solid navy blue twill with the vertical bar in the same designer print from the front. The reverse side of all Twilli Pie Podegis will be solid, or minimal print. We like to be diplomatic, and hope that a more gender neutral side will be appealing to babywearing daddies.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT and let us know what you think of the new Twilli Pie Podegi!

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On top of everything else, our a/c died last week. We are in South Florida, where summer is already in FULL FORCE! So it is very hot at home. I have to admit that these are the days when it sucks to work from home. lol

So yesterday we decided to take a swim to cool off. I was excited to finally use my solarveil water sling in the pool! I have worn Twilli in the ocean with it before. But we hadn’t been in the pool yet.

Twilli really enjoyed being close to me in the water. And she just looks so stinkin’ cute in black! This sling is awesome! It is UV protective too. The ONLY problem is that once we got out of the water, and thus out of near-weightless-baby-zone, Twilli seemed a lot heavier than before. But even when the sling is wet, it is still quite supportive and comfortable.

Just so there is no confusion… I do not make ring slings. This water sling was made by a lovely work-at-home mama in Puerto Rico - Apapachame. I am always happy to give a shameless plug to worthy wahms! Check out her site. Her prices, workmanship, and service are excellent!

*For the babywearing purists out there: y KNOW the rings are quite a bit too low. hehehe They just always inch down when we adjust, and I decided I wasn’t going to worry about it.

Today Twilli is 9 MONTHS OLD! It has been lightning fast. But yet it feels like she was a newborn last week!

There used to be a national babywearing organization called NINO: Nine In Nine Out. It supported the theory that the first 9 months of a baby’s life is an extension of the womb.

I DEFINITELY agree with the theory. Wearing your baby helps them feel safe and secure.

If I had not been able to WEAR THE BABY, there is no way I would have been able to work from home, or get ANYTHING done, for that matter! And breastfeeding has been a Godsend!! Literally. Not only is is the perfect food, mama milk is SAFE anxiety and pain meds for Twilli.

Babies crave SOOOOO much attention, guidance, and closeness. I am so thankful for the bond between us that has been facilitated by babywearing!

I also am so grateful that I can channel my creative talent, by making slings, to help others bond with their baby in STYLE!

Today we rejoice the second birth of Twilli! She IS a new person. She is mobile now (army crawl). She feeds herself. She drinks from the sippy cup. She has 4 teeth. Her fine motor skills are increasing daily. She poops in the toilet. (Can you tell I’m proud?)

A friend of mine is taking us to the beach today to celebrate. I have my fabulous water sling, so I can safely take her in the ocean! And its UV protective! I will try to take some photos, and maybe some video to post later. [Note: We didn't end up getting to go to the beach. But we will go soon. I promise!]

Please leave a comment and tell us how babywearing has saved YOUR sanity/marriage/business .

I apologize for not posting much lately. Things have been a bit haywire. I am just now getting back in the saddle after Spring Break and having Mom visit. I have also been sewing a lot. I find that I prefer sewing to computer stuff, these days. Plus, Twilli has been super clingy lately. She only will calm down for me. I am not sure if it is separation anxiety, teething, topsy turvy routine, or ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Speaking of teething… Twilli got a NEW TOOTH! It is on the top, and the other top one is about to emerge.

She is doing well with solid foods. She likes everything we’ve given her. And she is so precocious! She insists on feeding herself. I mean we load up the spoon, but then she takes the spoon and feeds herself. This girl is scary! Watch a video of the Twilli baby feeding herself at 8 months on YouTube!

I never cease to be amazed by this baby. She has also started sticking her tongue out when you stick your tongue at her. It is too cute. And she makes a kissy noise. Though I don’t think she “knows how to kiss” just yet.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT and let us know the awesome things that your kid or grandkid (or niece or nephew or whatever) can do!

It’s official. I am addicted the For Sale or Trade - TheBabyWearer.com Forums. I sold a couple of the carriers I was no longer using.

I got a great deal on a used BabyHawk Mei Tai carrier. I basically saved over $30, compared to getting the same thing new! And I really like it. It is reversible. Both sides are lovely Amy Butler prints. Hubby likes it too! I will post some action shots soon!

Babywearing Daddies are Hot!

Here is a photo of 21st Century Dad sporting the more gender neutral side of my DIY Scandi Mei Tai. Twilli LOVES her daddy!! And I love the fact that my “baby daddy” is cool enough to wear the baby! (She’s here with me right now, going CRAZY over this picture!)

New Line of Designer Mei Tai Baby Carriers

I’m in the process of making my next “Twilli Pie” Mei Tai… It appeals more to the tactile (although it has visual texture as well) than the last one. It is much more vivid than the first one. It should be complete by late tomorrow.

I’m loving this latest creative outlet!! I didn’t realize how much I LOVE fabric! And sewing is so much cooler since I’ve studied architecture. I appreciate the properties of the materials so much more now. I’ve gotten amazing response from local people who saw the first one… so we’ll see.

Joel Dewberry custom design Ring Sling

I’ve also been wearing my new handmade (not by me) reversible ring sling with lovely Joel Dewberry print reversing to solid chocolate brown! It is a wonderful size, with plenty of width in the fabric to cuddle Twilli nicely. The pleating at the shoulder is wide enough that the whole thing naturally cups the shoulder and is VERY COMFORTABLE! This is a relief because my previous ring slings had the tendency to slide off my shoulder and over to my neck, which causes pain. It also has a large zipper pocket that extends the full width of the tail.

It is made by an amazing WAHM who is due to have a new baby any day now. Her business is located in Puerto Rico. They are building their Etsy store. I will post a link to it as soon as it launches!

Check out this beauty!

I’ve been wearing my new fluffy Scandi-style MEI TAI for almost a week now and I really love it! There are a few edits I need to make, like a totally new sleep hood and the little loops for the hood to connect/tie onto. (I actually don’t know what I was thinking on this sleep hood! lol) And I’d like to have a utility loop on the belt, probably.

But in terms of comfort, I’m VERY happy! So without further adieu…

…by switching to POTTY — a continuation of Twilli’s Potty Update

2008.02.21

Yes. I can honestly say we are using HALF the amount of diapers than we were before we started the infant potty training journey! We are often able to “reuse” a diaper 2-3 times, since it is completely dry!

Even more impressive though is the fact that Twilli has been staying dry for 6-10 hours at a time, through the night. So not only does she sleep through the night, she stays DRY!

Can you tell I’m proud? (Just imagine how proud Daddy is!)

2008.02.12

OK. I admit, this is not a proper JOURNAL. (Thus the word “update” in the title now.) I was being so good and keeping a log of her potty successes. But it has been hard to keep that up. I have watched it enough to know some general tendencies.

Twilli is doing very well with it. She GETS it. But sometimes, we’re not as “on top of it” as we need to be. I just missed a poo a few minutes ago. I felt bad that she had to dirty her diaper. But she just smiled at me when I told her, “I’m sorry I didn’t take you to the potty in time.”

We are very pleased with her progress. I would say we’ve easily reduced the diaper consumption by half. We have had one dirty diaper each day, for the last few days.

I realize how unconventional this practice is. And I am trying to find a frame of reference for “normal people” to compare it to. The only other experience I have, or remember at least, is that of my son. But that was many years ago. All I remember is that I had a hard time traditionally potty training my son. And I was a single mom, so I couldn’t demonstrate “sinking the Cheerios”. My dad and brother were too self-conscious. :-/ I’ve heard it is so much easier with girls. I was watching JON & KATE PLUS 8 last night and the girls had been trained a full year before the boys!

This is a continuation of Twilli’s Potty Journal. Read the introduction here.

2008.01.28
I decided to give IPT/EC a shot when DD had just turned 5 months old (DOB 08/07). Even though we’re using disposable diapers, I guessed it wouldn’t hurt to “potty” her after diaper changes, etc. We had some immediate success. But holding her over the toilet wasn’t practical for any length of time.

We bought a potty seat to put over the regular toilet. We put her on it after she awoke from her nap and VOILA! She pooped within about 1 minute! I started taking her once a day, and had results everytime!

So a couple of days ago, I stepped up the effort and started taking her 1st thing in the a.m. (despite the convenience to snuggle and nurse more in our nice co-sleeping arrangement) and after her morning nap.

I’ve only had 1 to 2 occasions that I took her to the potty and she did nothing. She really seems to GET IT! And sometimes, when she’s nursing and stops to look around and fuss a bit, I’ve learned it means she needs to potty! She seems to be glad that MOMMY is getting trained!

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2008.01.29
Twilli pottied 5 out of 6 times that we took her yesterday!! (No poop diapers!!!) And so far today, she’s gone 4 out of 5 times. (3 poops) Again no dirty diapers!

I’m starting to see more of a pattern that if she starts to really fuss (and isn’t hungry or sleepy) then that probably means she wants to potty.

I think she REALLY digs this no dirty diaper situation!:woohoo:

I’m still not brave enough to go diaperless. But we’ll see how things go.

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2008.02.04
Last night we took Twilli to our friend Steve’s house, for a Super Bowl Party. She got a bit antsy so DH took her to use the bathroom. We didn’t have our toilet seat with us. So I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable enough to use the regular toilet.

But she did great! She went twice while we were there. Everyone (mostly in their 50’s) was SOOOOO impressed! I guess they think she’s a prodigy. We agree. Of course the potty thing is just confirmation.

We’ve only had 1 dirty diaper in the last three days! Twilli can wait for several minutes, for us to take her to the potty, in order to stay clean and dry.