a bounty of books

When you fly your family to the other side of the world needing to pack baby gear, summer clothes, winter clothes, and Christmas presents… luggage space becomes very, very precious.

And when your child is the first great-grandchild/grandchild/nephew/great-nephew/second cousin/etc… Then that little boy is sure to be doted on by all adoring family members.

At any time of year there would be gifts for this golden boy… but at Christmas, all the more so.

And since books are a logical, easy gift to pack back into suitcases… we came home with these:

Twenty-nine new books. And we love every single one of them.

This kid has the best library I’ve ever seen for an 11-month-old with no older siblings.

Luckily, he also loves books… listening to them being read aloud, reading them himself, turning the pages, studying the pictures, emptying them out of the bookshelf, putting them back in the bookshelf, showing them to mama, bringing them to daddy…

In fact, just yesterday it went suddenly quiet where Levi was playing. I immediately went over to see what mischief he had found... only to see him on the floor, books scattered around him, with Mr. Brown Can Moo in one hand and Brown Bear in the other.

Levi is definitely a book-lover.

And—thanks to friends and family who doubled our children’s library—mama and daddy are enjoying reading so much more these days too. (You can only read The Very Hungry Caterpillar so many times.)

Some of Levi’s current faves:

• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear
• 10 Little Fingers, 10 Little Toes
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Gossie & Gertie
• Eight Little Monkeys
• Raffi song books: The Wheels on the Bus, Down By the Bay
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Some of Mama’s current faves:

• On the Night You Were Born
• The Growing Tree
• Oh, the Places You’ll Go
• Dr. Seuss’ ABCs
• Whoever You Are
• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

I have loved books for 33 years now and it delights me to no end that Levi is starting life with a healthy attitude toward reading and a great interest in books.

Dear friends, what are you doing to help your children develop an interest in reading and imagining through story? What are your current favorite children's books?

reading up a storm,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

freecycle helps my world go round

Who doesn’t like free stuff? I mean, seriously.

A couple of years ago I got turned on to an online community called Freecycle. And let me tell you… it’s changed my life!

The basic premise for Freecycle is this: why fill up the landfills when, as the old Chinese proverb goes, “One mans junk is another man’s treasure”?

I couldn’t agree more.

I, for one, love the idea of keeping things unnecessarily out of the landfills. And how could I not feel this way? I grew up in Oregon – the home of the tree-hugger! Recycling has been ingrained in me since childhood. (I’m one of those people that absolutely cringes when I see someone toss a coke can into the garbage.)

And… I also love the idea of getting free stuff! Woo-hoooo…. Freebies!

But for me Freecycle is personal.

My husband and I married two years ago but we’ve both been working as full-time volunteers for a non-profit organization for the last ten years. This means we’ve been responsible to fundraise for our own income(s) – both before we were married, and even still two years later.

Needless to say our first Christmas together found us very low in the cash flow department. We decided to set a very small limit on our spending for each other and instead of focusing on “big” gifts, we’d fill up stockings for each other.

And then it came… the email delivered to my inbox that said someone was giving away an espresso machine!

Oh stop my beating heart!

My husband had been talking about getting an espresso machine since before we had been married, and yet we both considered this a “luxury” item to look forward to… one day. Of course when I got this email announcing the espresso machine give-away, I was desperate to be the recipient.

I politely wrote my email back to the woman who had posted, crossed my fingers, and said a prayer.

And then… it came. The response: IT WAS MINE! And it was going to be Ryan’s.

I’m pretty sure I have never been so excited to give a gift in my life. It was so much fun watching my husband unwrap the little steel milk jug that I had put in his stocking. “Why in the world would she give me this?” he must have been thinking.

Then I pulled out the big package for him. The puzzled look on his face spread to outright confusion.

Still baffled he tore into that pressie, and to his shock (and my absolute delight) he got his espresso machine.

Sure, it was a few years old, but it was a top-quality machine and still in great condition. The previous owner had decided that they were over the “espresso machine phase” and wanted the counter-taker-upper out of their kitchen.

And to us it was like hitting the jackpot. I’m pretty sure it is one of Ryan’s favourite gifts to-date, and it was definitely one of my favourite gifts of all time to give. (It worked out really well for me too considering I was delivered a hot, steamy cappuccino while I nursed my son at 6:00am this morning!)

So yeah, I love shiny, new things. I also love cozy well-loved things. I’m not too proud to relish hand-me-downs from my aunties (they are stylish ladies!) and I’m definitely not “above” grazing the sale racks at the back of stores to find ridiculously overlooked bargains. And Freecycle? Well Freecycle and I, we’ve become good friends over these last two years.

Among other things I’ve received a Bumbo, a vacuum cleaner, a high chair, a kayak (hubs got that one for our two-year anniversary after longing for one for over a year), wooden eco blinds, a glider/rocking chair for the nursery, a play pen (porta-cot), a 3-wheel jogger stroller (pram), a waffle maker, a wardrobe, dressers, a baby sling, shelves, a weight bench (also for the hubs), a bouncer, a jolly jumper… and actually, this list goes on.

But you get the point.

I’ve also given stuff away on Freecycle, but at this point in life, I admit that I’ve received even more than I’ve given. Unless, of course you count the things that I’ve “won” for friends like when I was able to get a new washing machine for a first time mom with a newborn or a new bed for a uni-student friend.

It’s so fun to be a part of a community that both freely gives and freely receives.

Because why shouldn’t we help each other?

And why shouldn’t we pass on good, usable stuff instead of chucking it in the landfill?

In my circles we have an expression: We are blessed to be a blessing. Meaning, when I get blessed, it’s so that I can turn around and then be an even bigger blessing to others.

Sounds like a pretty good motto to live by doesn’t it?

Along with my husband, I hope I can instil these values into our family: generosity, resourcefulness, gratitude, responsibility, and kindness.

So here’s to Freecycle:

Thanks for making my first Christmas with my husband so memorable and fun!

Thanks for helping to furnish my baby’s room!

Thanks for making my home more liveable!

And thanks for letting me bless friends with things I could have never afforded to buy them!

I hope you’ll join a Freecycle network near you and keep the giving going. Just check out yahoo groups and find the Freecycle group in your area. I HEART Freecycle... and I suspect you will too. 

Happy Freecycling mommy-friends!

baby faves: peekabooby nursing cover

I love to play peekabooby!

Ok, not really… But I do love my Peekabooby nursing cover!

Let me explain.

Early on in my pregnancy I emailed a bunch of my trusty mommy-friends to ask them what products they thought were “must haves”. There are a bazillion things out there to grab your attention. You know the ones? They’re either too handy, too cute, too time-saving, or too perfect to pass up. And yet, I didn’t want to be suckered in by the allure of this whole new world of spending opportunities. Add to that the fact that my husband and I both work as full-time volunteers for a non-profit organization and so you can appreciate that I’m always looking to make my pennies count! (Not that we have pennies in Australia!)

But yes, I sent out my email soliciting advice, and within minutes my inbox was beginning to fill up. I loved my quick responses from these wonder-mommies! (I’ve since learned that moms LOVE swapping tips – so fun!)

Several of my American friends recommended breast-feeding covers. Now, being in Australia I had never seen these. (They are just starting to catch on here – I’ve seen them sold in one store and have yet to see anyone else in public using one.) When my friends described them to me I immediately thought “gimmick!” I wondered what could possibly be so great about a piece of fabric specially designed to cover up my boobs from accidental public exposure. (I mean, isn’t that what receiving blankets are for?!) I reasoned that surely this wasn’t something I needed to be spending money on.

My friends not only disagreed, but two of them sent me covers before I even knew what hit me.

And now let me just publicly say I was wrong!

I looooooove my Peekabooby Fashion nursing cover in particular! It never falls off, I can keep an eye on my little one to make sure he isn’t falling asleep, and I don’t have to worry about flashing unsuspecting Sunday strollers (until my babe gets a bit older and wants to lift it up himself I suppose!). Oh yeah, and let’s not forget they come in such cute and stylish fabrics. (Being obsessed with all things Asian, I absolutely adore my "Samurai" model - here it is pictured below!)

I also use the cover to slip over the pram (stroller) as an extra sunshield, as well as to hang around my neck and cover over bubs when he's in my front carrier. It both blocks out the sun as well as cuts back on visual stimulation when I'm trying to get him to sleep (and I still get my little peek-hole to keep an eye on him and admire him as he snoozes, which I love).

And one other thing, it gives me a great conversation-starter with other Aussie mums when they stare with wonder at my clever American-made mommy's-helper. :)

So yes, I stand corrected! This is no gimmick.

I not only love my nursing cover but have now recommended them to several friends – both mommies that have bubs older than mine (oooooh, can I really give advice to more experienced mums?!) and also to my friends who are glowing moms-to-be. In fact, I recently purchased four of these during a Baby Steals sale to have on hand as gifts. (Unfortunately it was another brand... but a deal too good to pass up.)

I am now a nursing cover evangelist – buy one of these and it will save your [breast-feeding] life! (grin.)

Yes, I love my Peekabooby... and I don't leave home without it.