what to wear...the baby!

since beatrice was about 2 weeks old, i've been wearing her...it has been one of the most amazing experiences of motherhood...i wear her when i do the laundry, shop, go for a walk, etc. it allows me to have freedom to get things done around the house while being close to her. everyday, i put beatrice in a sling and go for a walk. it's a win-win, i get exercise to work off the pregnancy weight and bea gets a nap. in fact, that's most often how beatrice naps, when she's in the carrier. here's a round-up of my baby-wearing gear:

{the moby}

my aunt gave me a moby wrap for a shower gift and i have to admit, i was a bit intimidated. it's basically a long piece of stretchy fabric. luckily, there are sling clinics at the pump station, which is a nearby baby store. once i went to a clinic to learn how to wrap it, i never looked back...it was amazing! the first time i put bea in it, she fell right to sleep. for the moby and any of the wraps, if you don't have a store nearby to help you use it, there are lots of tutorials on you tube. so don't be intimidated! it's so worth it...

i would just wrap it on myself in the morning, then take bea in and out all day. that way, if we drove somewhere, i didn't have to lug the carseat around when we ran errands! brilliant!

{woven wrap from lovey duds on etsy}

{woven wrap from lil peeper keepers on etsy}

woven wraps are similar to the moby except they have no stretch. they are still essentially a long piece of fabric to wrap your baby on your body. when beatrice got to about 16 pounds, someone at a babywearing clinic recommended i try a woven wrap as there is a little more support for a heavier baby. i love the woven wraps, very simple to put on, but i can't just put in on and wear it all day, taking the baby in and out. i have to wrap beatrice into the wrap. so, i don't use these wraps as often. they are beautiful, so i've mainly used them for "special" occasions. i purchased the black one for the new york premiere of our movie and it was great! i got tons of compliments on it, and beatrice slept like a dream. unfortunately, i didn't get any photos of me wearing it! oh well, next time there's a fancy premiere...

they are still relatively simple to use and again, thank god for you tube tutorials...

{the ergo}

this is my everyday, go-to carrier now that beatrice is a little heavier. it's great because it's simple to put on and there are still lots of options. i primarily wear beatrice on the front or on the back with this carrier, although you can wear baby on your hip and other positions. i love to put beatrice on my back to do things around the house. i can put her on my back and vacuum, do the laundry, clean out the kitchen cupboards {!}...anything, really, and beatrice will sleep soundly!

this carrier was great to travel with, as well. i could just pop it off and on and easily get her in and out when going through airport security, for example. i took it with me to austin when we went to sxsw. this is also the carrier that patty uses when she carries beatrice. super easy, but not the most fashionable...that's why i like to have a few different options.

if you are new to babywearing, definitely give it a go!

music mondays...tell me what you are listening to...**

ok, it's music monday and i got nothing, folks! tell me what you

are listening to lately...kids music ok, too!

**update: after i posted this, i got a link to this awesome song from my friends nicole & meghan. folks, please check out the cold and lovely...this song is so sexy...

{photo credit: 1. I choose the music, a photo by I HaveGot,aCanon on Flickr
2. andrea alseri}

don't worry...it's friday!

don't worry be happy...

why worry if you pray, why pray if you worry...

worry is interest on a debt you may never have to pay...

worry is meditation on a bad outcome...

being a new mom and not working has created a whole new level of worry for me. will we have enough money to cover the bills? is beatrice getting everything she needs? what if the car breaks down? what if, what if, what if...

people have said all the above sayings about "worry" to me before, but today someone said to me worry is meditation on a bad outcome, right before i was about to go to yoga. to meditate...and it really made perfect sense...i spend time meditating not necessarily to control the outcome, i know i can't do that, but to let go of worry and to invite love & light into our lives. so why do i go home and sit up at night worrying, meditating on a bad outcome? of course worry will creep into my thoughts now and again, but i have tools to keep it at bay--prayer, meditation, and the knowledge that the universe will take care of us. i just have to remember to use them.

it's patty's birthday this weekend, so we're having a potluck brunch at the house. it will be the first "event" we're having at the house since beatrice was born...

so have a wonderful, safe, happy weekend and don't worry!

{photo credit: spread the love on etsy. i bought this print for beatrice's nursery!}

reading nook for beatrice

{bean bag chair by paniolo on etsy}

{shabby chic pillow by kenilworth place}

{shh i'm reading by shelby healey on etsy}

{imagination by dazeychic on etsy}

{the constant reader by matou en peluche on etsy}

{today a reader tomorrow a leader by parada creations}

{love is a book by nan lawson on etsy}

{reading is dear to my heart by boopsie daisy on etsy}

{green, i love to read by la portraitiste on etsy}

i just framed a print for bea's nursery & it's finally "done." i'm going to post pictures soon! but there is one little area i'm still working on: the reading nook {will i ever really be "done" with the nursery?!}...i know i have time, i'm certainly not one of those moms that is expecting beatrice to read as a baby, but i want reading and books to be important to her from a very early age....

so there's a little area in her room that's perfect for a reading nook...i wanted to get some artwork and comfy pillows and bean bags...what do you think?

headband fit for a hippie...

i'm loving this headband, i would wear it everyday, or...

perfect for a hippie wedding...

{photo credit: liasion by kat swank}

music mondays {the go-go's}

coming of age in the eighties, the go-go's were one of the most influential bands in my youth. and women who rock are amazing...most of my music posts are about rocking women, so...

as the go-go's are about to embark on tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of BEAUTY & THE BEAT, i thought i'd plug a campaign to get the go-go's recognized by the rock and roll hall of fame in their upcoming "women who rock" exhibit. for me, and many others i know, the go-go's DEFINE women who rock...

this post lays it out amazingly well, but let me just sum it up: the go-go's are the only all female band who wrote their own songs & played their own instruments, who had a #1 hit for six weeks. and they are not included in this exhibit of women rockers. a pretty jaw-dropping oversight, no? they should be lauded and recognized for their achievements and deserve a spot in the rock and roll hall of fame "women who rock" exhibit!!

so what can you do...check out the suggestions here! go forth & rock!

beatrice's first photo shoot

yes, more pictures of beatrice! beatrice and her friend memphis had their first photo shoot last week with the amazingly talented mimi haddon. i'm so grateful we were able to get some fabulous photos. and i especially love the moms behinds the scenes photo...i am *not* a stage mom...

that said, don't you think beatrice needs an agent?

{all photos mimi haddon}

steady as she grows {six months! & expert traveler}

this past month we've spent traveling with the documentary about patty called hit so hard. the documentary was made by our friends at the ebersole hughes company. it premiered at south by southwest{sxsw} in austin, texas, then it had it's new york premiere at new directors/new films. since the topic is pretty close to home {my spouse!}, my role was arranging interviews, getting music clearance and fundraising {we raised over $22,000 in 30 days on kickstarter! here's to the power of crowd funding & social media, but that's another post}...

so, we decided to head to austin & new york since it was the first time the movie was showing...needless to say, i was a little nervous about traveling so much with baby beatrice. but she did really great. many folks told me to go for it...since it's so much easier to travel with the little ones when they are "portable"!

i'm so glad we did! we had a really great time and beatrice did great. it was wild going from the staggering heat of austin to the frigid cold of new york, but beatrice was a trooper. since she won't take the bottle, she had to stick with me, so i wore her to the screenings. she slept through the first one in austin...then the next one in austin and the two in new york, we just did the intros and spread out a blanket in the movie lobby and played with her toys during the movie. the time change in new york worked in our favor...the first screening was at 6pm, so it was really only 3pm california time, so bea was still in great spirits...

in new york, there was a pretty big press line, and since beatrice was awake, she was with me...she's already a star! here she is on stage with us during the q&a:

so, now we're home & we don't plan on traveling again for a while...the film is going to other fests {i'll keep you posted or for up-to-the-minute updates, you can follow the film on twitter or like it on facebook}, but bea and i are going to stay home for a while and work on some other projects! more to come...

{photo credits here}