Psalm 30:12  that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Today I can’t help to smile and be all giddy at just how much the Lord is still blessing me and my family.

1. Last weekend I had the great opportunity to host another House Party. This time I was able to share with my friends and family some delicious Sandwich Thins rolls and made some creative sandwiches. I am so grateful for the fun that hosting that party brought us. Great home warming event.

2. I am grateful for my husband’s servant heart. Even though we just went through a move across 5 states, starting new jobs and all this with a then 5 month old son, he still found it in his heart to participate in this years Easter presentation at our church. From the sounds of the script it is going to be life changely awesome.

3. Can’t help but to be thankful that I was able to attend my first bloggy conference … Bloggy Boot Camp with the SITS girls. We met up in Baltimore for a day of networking, education and fun. Met a lot of lovely ladies and friends.

4. I am thankful for my weight loss. I haven’t made a huge deal about it, but I am super excited that I am back to my pre-baby weight finally. Looking to lose just 3 more pounds and then I will be over joyed.

5. And lastly I am just so excited that my husband and I finally have a place we can call our home and relax knowing we are coming home to just us, our home, our space and live as a small little family.

There are so many beneifts to baby wearing.

Baby Wearing is great for you:

1. Cook dinner during the “arsenic hour” and soothe your baby at the same time
2. Do the gardening, chores, socialise, even dance, while providing a stimulating learning environment for your baby
3. Breastfeed hands-free while on the phone or shopping
4. Keep your baby close and happy while playing with your toddler
5. Get some exercise (walking) while your baby sleeps
6. No need to lug around an awkward, heavy car-seat, or battle getting a stroller into your car, onto a bus or up stairs.

It’s also great for your baby:

1. Babies cry less. Research has shown that babies who are carried cry (on average) 43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours (1). In cultures where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures (2-6).
2. Good for baby’s mental development. Babies spend more time in a “quiet, alert state” when carried – the ideal state for learning. Their senses are stimulated while being carried (yet there is a place to retreat too). When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people’s knees from a stroller. And the extra stimulation benefits brain development.
3. Good for baby’s emotional development. Babies are quickly able to develop a sense of security and trust when they are carried. They are more likely to be securely attached to their care-giver/s (7) and often become independent at an earlier age (8).
4. Good for baby’s physical development. By being so close to your body’s rhythms, your newborn “gets in rhythm” much more quickly. Your heartbeat, breathing, voice and warmth are all familiar. Research has shown how this helps newborns (especially premature babies) to adapt to life outside the womb (9).
5. Good for babies whose mums are depressed. Babies who are not held need more verbal interaction and eye contact, just to be reassured that you’re there. Carrying your baby is a great way to connect with her (and provide stimulation too) without the “burden” of having to interact (10). Of course your baby is “right there” to enjoy whenever you feel like snuggling, kissing or talking.

I am just in love with our Moby wrap that a dear bought for us while I was pregnant. I can’t get over how good it feels to have my son that close to me and know that he enjoys it also. Even my husband enjoys wrapping our baby up and snuggling him nice and close.

I just want to point out that not only is he wearing our baby, skin-to-skin, but he is also in the kitchen helping to cook up some breakfast. I love this man!

Welcome to the March Carnival of Natural Parenting: Vintage green!

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month we’re writing about being green — both how green we were when we were young and how green our kids are today. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

Once I began my journey into motherhood my eyes have been opened and my conscience awakened to how important a natural, green life is for me and my family.

I can’t say that growing up my family was the greenest on the block, but we did have a few green corners here and there. My mom has always been a strong influential point of reference in my life and she led the way for the few green movements in our home. She was always trying her best and wanted the best life for her children.

I can remember growing up in New Jersey and having a little garden in our yard. I can’t remember all the different fruits and veggies that she grew but I do remember distinctly (because I helped with these) strawberries and cherry tomatoes.

Recycling wasn’t really a big thing until I was in middle school, but when I was young we did do something close. We used to drive about 45 minutes to a spring with a car full of used milk and water bottles to collect our drinking water. We didn’t spend money to buy and throw away more bottles and because of the work involved getting it we were always careful never to waste or take for granted the water we had.

Well this is typical for most families but we had plenty of hand-me-down clothes. I was the only girl after two older brothers so I didn’t get much of their clothes (t-shirts maybe) but I did get a lot of clothes from my cousins growing up. I was and never have been ashamed or embarrassed about it either. I was actually quite proud to wear their clothes because I always felt that they were very sophisticated and successful women and I felt wearing their clothes would help me feel more confident and capable also.

One more thing I remember doing while I was young that I consider to be green now is making my own toys. My grandmother taught me how to sow growing up and together we made quite of few baby dolls and little clothe sets for my dolls. I am so sad that they all got lost in some of our moves but I was so proud of my little hand-made toys.

It is my heart, goal and intentions on living up to my mother’s standards and setting a good example for my children to continue to be green. There are many different ways, along with these methods that my household lives a green life today and I am always looking for more ways to green our home.

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants.

(This list will be updated March 9 with all the carnival links.)

• My Momma Was a Hippie — Jessica at This is Worthwhile is continuing her Earth Momma mother’s way of honoring nature by taking her child outside every day. (@tisworthwhile)
• Mom Did Know Best, About Diapers at Least — Guavalicious at They Are So Cute When They Are Sleeping has a dirty secret about cloth diapers: They’re easy. (@guavalicious)
• The Force that Drives the Water Through the Rocks — Shana at Tales of Minor Interest remembers her first spiritual connection with nature, granted to her through her father’s care for the spirits of the earth.
• Confessions of a Cabbage Patch Kid — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma learned about landfills and recycling through gardening. (@kitchenwitch)
• Seeing My Grandmother Through Green Colored Lenses — Michelle at Seeking Mother was raised by a grandmother who wouldn’t let anyone throw out used clothing — ever — and who believed baths were water enough for two or more people at least. (@seekingmother)
• Through Green Tinted Glasses — Thomasin at Propson Palingenesis realized her family didn’t so much choose green as it chose them, since not being green would have cost a lot more.
• Green or Die! — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing remembers berating her family for not turning off the faucets — and notes that her efforts to save the planet for another 20 years must have worked.
• Natural Parenting Carnival: Green Living — Sarah at Natural Parenting is doing more to make her children’s generation green than what she had as a child.
• Natural Parenting Carnival: Vintage Green — pchanner at A Mom’s Fresh Start used to fill her own water bottles from a spring — before doing so was cool. (@pchanner)
• Getting Dirty — Molly at Molly’s Place is inspired by her mother’s camaraderie with nature. She’s going to get back in touch with the real food cycle, as opposed to the “shrink-wrapped nutrition” you can buy. (@KPMolly)
• My Vintage Green Raincoat — Mama at Maman A Droit is wearing her brother’s bright green raincoat — 16 years later! (@MamanADroit)
• Vintage Green — Darcel at Mahogany Way hasn’t realized it yet, but she is slowly turning into her parents. (@MahoganyWayMama)
• Vintage Green — mrs green at littlegreenblog reminds us that children can be green simply by being kids. (@myzerowaste)
• March Carnival of Natural Parenting: Vintage Green — Lauren at Hobo Mama was eco-chic before it was en vogue. (@Hobo_Mama)
• Growing Up Green — Chrystal at Happy Mothering honed her green instinct from an early age. (@HappyMothering)
• greener pastures — The Grumbles at Grumbles and Grunts has a list of ways she’s transitioning from green living as a novelty to green living as a lifestyle. (@thegrumbles)
• Vintage Green: The Hot Water Tank Is Not Sexy — Zoey at Good Goog had to go green when moss started growing around her feet. (@zoeyspeak)
• We Walked Softly — Starr at Earth Mama wrote a beautiful post about how her parents instilled a love of and respect for Earth and nature in her, and how she is passing that gift on to her own children.
• Save the Mermaids! — CurlyMonkey is learning from her daughter how to keep the mermaids happy. (@curlymonkey_)
• March Carnival of Natural Parenting: Vintage Green — Dionna at Code Name: Mama sees glimpses of her mother’s greenness frugality in her own life – but she draws the line at pantyhose soap. (@CodeNameMama)
• I Thought I Made Them Green, But Really They Made Me — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! thought she made her parents green — until she took a closer look. (@bfmom)
• A Culture of Less — Alison at BluebirdMama explained why homebirth is the green childbirth choice. I love this thought! (@childbearing)
• 5 Ways to Embarrass Your Children While Going Green — Acacia at Be Present Mama shares some of the embarrassing things her parents did to her in the name of being eco-conscious.
• Ending Is Better than Mending? — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries is teaching us how to darn socks armed only with a light bulb. (@babydust)
• There and Back Again: A Green Girl’s Tale — Lactating Girl offers a gentle reminder that certain eco-conscious practices shouldn’t be “ideals,” but realities. (@LactatingGirl)

The journal entry question for this week was: I first went to Sunday School … On Sundays we always …

Like I mentioned during the previous journal entry, I started attending Sunday School while we were still going to various Catholic churches. I don’t know when I really started but my mom has a picture of me, I couldn’t be more then 5 years old and I was just leaving the Sunday school class. I have also seen a picture of me after some type of ceremony that I participated in. I have no clue what type of ceremony it was but I know I looked cute in my little white dress.

For a long while there my family and I would always pack up our stuff and head to the coast to do some salt water fishing off the pier or the jetty. I used to always our Sunday fishing trips because I felt that I would catch so many more fish. Could be because there usually weren’t as many other people out there on Sunday’s, but no I like to think my skills were just more in tune with nature on those days.

I wanted to produce a blog that was about me, and my thoughts and feelings. Instead I feel that 75% of the time, I was so focused on producing material in a way that would ‘please’ everyone and ‘fit in’ with the crowd.

Well I don’t want to fit in any more.

Not that there is anything wrong with the ‘typical mommy blogger’ blog. I just realized for myself that I don’t want that at the cost of losing myself.

If I am going to have followers and readers and supports and such and such, I have to just be myself.

So I have devised a plan to help me treat my blog as a real friend and just be real with it. I have decided to name my blog and actually give it a personality (all in my head). And I am naming my blog, St. Tomb (Stop Trying To On-Up Other Mommy Bloggers).

Now it is just like talking to one of my real friends … just hope St. Tomb doesn’t get bored of me and my blabs as fast as my other friends do.

“I actually had a lady tell me once [when she saw me with my first son in the Moby]…Ugghhh, I carried them for nine month, I don’t want to hold them anymore.”

“I had expressed interest in a new baby carrier and a “friend” of mine said “Are you a kangaroo?” when I explained the benefits of wearing DS she went on the say “Its not good for your body. We are only made to carry them for 9 months…”

“People say that you’ve already carried the baby and that you’re going to “spoil” them so they HAVE to be carried. And you’re not giving the baby their own space… they’ll crawl later because you carry them everywhere… It’s bad for their development….”

Even some ads for products on the hater bandwagon … check out the ever so famous Motrin ad dishing out on babywearing.

Have you had a similar experience with a friend or family member discouraging babywearing? What were their statemetns and how were you able to react to their ideals?

Well to help you in your endeavor to make wise decisions using smart critical thinking.

1. Pinpoint the problem. State specifically what it is that you need to decide.
2. Set a deadline. Give yourself a ‘due date’ for your decision. Develop a timeline.
3. Gather Information. What are you sources? Where can you get the facts?
4. List the pros and cons. What are the positive and negative aspects of each alternative.
5. Ask tough questions. Evaluate your options according to your values. Does this fit? Is it wise?
6. Make a decision. Move forward in a direction with confidence knowing that you have done the best job you can.

Using this method as helped me make some big decisions in the past for myself and my family. My husband is confident that when I bring a new idea, concept or plan to him that I have taken the research and really pray about what we are deciding.

source: Morgan, Elisa & Kuykendall, Carol. What Every Mom Needs Michigan, Zondervan 2006

I just love sharing free stuff with you. This time it is a sweet treat!

Nabisco has great savings and offers for free cookies each Monday in March. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/nabiscocookies and become a fan of Nabisco cookies. Starting March 1, there will be a new savings offer posted every week for a free package of Nabisco Cookies (when you purchase a package of Nabisco cookies and a gallon of milk).

This information is brought to you free and clear from our friends at TwitterMoms.com.

Kelly and accomplished master baker and cake decorator Buddy Valastro, from TLC’s “Cake Boss,” recently joined forces at a fun event to bake lavishly decorated cakes in support of The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). To add to the excitement, five teams of baking enthusiasts were invited to take part in Kelly’s Cake Off, where they used what they learned from Kelly and the Cake Boss, to decorate their own cakes.

Although you might not get to taste these virtual masterpieces, you can still weigh in on the results! By visiting Kelly-Confidential.com, you can cast a vote for your favorite cake from Kelly’s Cake Off.  

If that’s not enough to get you to click over, everyone who logs on to the site and sends a virtual cake will be automatically entered for a chance to win every baker’s dream: a stylish new Induction Range from Electrolux. 

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Better late then never.

The past few weeks have been a whirl win for my family and I, but I feel we are finally getting to that place again where we can relax and really live each day to the best of our ability.

1. I am truly thankful for such a wonderful job and awesome co-workers. Not many are lucky enough to be in a position and at a job that they truly love and really enjoy their fellow employees. I am so grateful to be where I am.

2. I am so thankful to my husband. He has been willing and able to tough it out and drive over and hour to and from work each day just to help support our family. I love you baby. Thank you for that huge daily sacrifice.

3. I am so thankful for my family. My in-laws really pulled through for us these past few weeks. Dedicating time, effort, money and support to help my family get situated and into our new home. Painting, cooking, cleaning and watching the baby as we worked. You name it, they helped with it.

4. These past few weeks have been really hard with all the snow that remained on the roads and sidewalks around our community. I am thankful that this week a company was able to come into our neighborhood and clear out a few more parking spots and open up the road ways. Makes the commute in and out so much easier.

5. Lastly I am thankful for my babies pediatrician. Well he has only actually seen this new doctor once but we have known him for years. He had lead several sermons at our church and is a wonderful man of God. Little man was just a little congested from the switch of super warm to super cold weather. Thankfully he is not sick, and it is nothing a little warm salt water in the nose can’t fix.