Co-sleeping

Ah, co-sleeping. Nurturing. Bonding.

Ugh. Co-sleeping. Kicks to the head, face, stomach, and back.

My son co-slept a little bit as a newborn. Usually if he was in bed with us he was safe in his snuggle nest, a little bed just for baby that fits in your own bed. Then he graduated to his crib. When we moved to our new house he co-slept until he felt more settled in the new space. Often he would start thrashing in the middle of the night so I'd transfer him to his crib and he slept beautifully until morning.

My daughter co-slept more from the beginning. After her first couple weeks she slept in a bassinet for a while. Around 6 months all her good sleep habits flew out the window and she was in bed with us all night. Recently, she did a brief stint in her crib, but eventually she refused even to do that. Back in the bed she came. She slept well until the wee hours of the morning and then would start thrashing, but forget the crib, that is torture in her view.

Then her brother--never wanting to be left out of anything--started coming in during the middle of the night too. I had to persuade him to sleep towards the foot of the bed (like the dog) so he wouldn't get kicked by his sister. I had a couple nights where I was half asleep and breaking up fights between my mostly asleep children kicking each other, while perched on the 8 inches of mattress my sprawling children afforded me. My husband retreated to a protective sleeping position with his head under the pillow to avoid kicks to the head by my daughter who took to sleeping perpendicular in the bed up where my pillow would normally go.

What our co-sleeping arrangement devolved into

Enough was enough. We converted the crib into the toddler bed and put little sister in big brother's bedroom. He was very excited to gain a roommate. I was excited for him to not sleep alone, but more excited for him to not sleep with me.

The first night of this arrangement went surprisingly well. Having no kids in the bed to kick me was the best thing ever. Let's hope this new sleeping routine sticks.

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What EVERYONE should know: Climate Change, the IPCC, & The Price ofCarbon Pollution

Since climate change was my main reason for starting this blog, let's talk about the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC operates under the umbrella of the United Nations and its purpose is "to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts."

Last week the IPCC released their 5th report on climate change. Here are the biggest conclusions:

•  Scientists say global warming is "unequivocal." They report with 95% certainty that human activities are responsible for the increase in global average temperatures since 1950. This is up from 90% certainty in the last IPCC report.
• Humanity can emit 1 trillion tons of CO2 in order to keep warming below 2 degrees celsius (3.6 degrees Farhenheit), which is what they say is needed to avoid the most catastophic effects of climate change. We have already emitted more than half of that through burning fossil fuels and destroying forests and other ecosystems.
• At this rate, we will reach 1 trillion tons of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere by 2040.

But don't just take my word for it. You can read the IPCC report summary yourself to get more facts, figures, statistics and trends, or consider reading this Grist article. Also read this amusing, yet factual BuzzFeed post which responds to many of the lies that "deniers" cling to in order to confuse people into thinking that climate change is not real or dangerous. If you are totally new to climate science read my laymans summary.

Why should we worry about climate change? Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, from Imperial College London summed it up nicely for BBC News when he said, "We are performing a very dangerous experiment with our planet, and I don't want my grandchildren to suffer the consequences of that experiment." Well, I certainly don't want my children to suffer the consequences either, and I know this is a common sentiment among parents and grandparents around the country and the world. Let's not beat around the bush: runaway climate change threatens most life on earth. Maybe the cockroaches will be fine.

Americans are not worried enough about climate change. That needs to change. We should have more people marching in the streets demanding action from our politicians. We need more individuals to divest from fossil fuels, invest in renewables, and reduce their own carbon footprint. I have shared with you what my family has done so far, but we all need to become fossil fuel free, ASAP. 100%.

We can't do it alone as concerned individuals though. The most effective way to drastically reduce CO2 emissions at this time is to put a price on carbon. Make polliters pay. I will explore this more in future posts, but to get you started, watch this:




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The Day We Almost Got Sheep

Here on our little gentleman's farm we have chickens and goats. We have been talking about getting sheep since we moved here 3 years ago. We haven't yet done it because in all of those years we have either had an infant or I have been pregnant. But now, that our family is complete, perhaps the time for sheep is nearing. Their primary function would be to mow the lawn, but with sheep comes wool, so maybe I would finally learn to knit, or at least spin yarn and let others do the knitting.

Last week I got a message from a friend who saw a post that there were 4 Icelandic sheep in Connecticut who needed to find a home quickly or they would be shot. Knowing what suckers animal lovers we are, my friend asked us if perhaps we would take the sheep. After a couple quick texts between me and my husband and an email with a local friend who raises sheep, we decided sure, let's bring them to Vermont.

My thoughts that day quickly turned to ones of buying fencing and pounding in posts, trying to find a hay supplier, and building a shelter, or perhaps they could live in the unused half of our garage/barn. It already houses the chicken coop, so why not?

I read about Icelandic sheep, a historic breed from Iceland, the closest you can get to wild sheep. Their beautiful and rare brown wool. How big they are (160 lbs), daily care (which is minimal). Where would the pasture be? My son thought they should go in between the chickens and the goats, my husband thought the sheep yard would be in the front lawn by the maple trees and the dirt road.

But the hours ticked by and I didn't hear back from the woman who was trying to re-home them. I realized these Icelandic sheep would not be ours, and I was a little sad, but a little relieved. It would have been a weekend of nothing but digging fence posts if they were coming.

Maybe next spring we will finally get our sheep.

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The Hidden Garden and the Bees

Once upon a time, a master flower gardener owned the house that I now own, and the lawns were filled with exquisite flower gardens. There were so many flowers that the upkeep was a full time job. Sadly, she fell ill and was no longer able to care for them. The house went up for sale, and the gardens were entirely abandoned.

A few years later, my husband and I bought the house. We focused on updating its long neglected interior when we moved in that fall. In the spring, while my son napped in the car in the driveway, I began raking away the long, dried weeds and grasses that sprung up in the gardens by the front walkway. If nothing else, my raking made the walkway more visible so guests could find our front door.

Then something wonderful happened. Between all the weeds grew daffodils and tulips, and countless other perennials. But with an active 1 year old to chase, and another pregnancy that grew into a beautiful baby girl, the gardens were completely neglected once again. Today they look like this:

But then came a silver lining to our unkempt, hidden garden: Wild asters, which are magnets for honey bees. These asters are not only in our walkway garden, but in the chicken yard, and anywhere else the lawn mower can't reach. When you get near them they are literally buzzing with bees.

wild asters

wild asters

This discovery makes me happy because honey bees around the world have been in a steep decline since the 2000s, due to the use of Neonicotinoids, a popular pesticide used on many crops since the 1990s. Maddeningly, the use of neonicotinoids in the US continues to grow despite its effects on bees (and other insects). Therefore, any plant that supports healthy bees populations is fantastic in my book. Maybe I won't worry about my front walkway looking like a wild field anymore. And beekeeping (or at least hive-hosting) was definitely on my homesteading to-do list already. Mother Nature has created the bee garden I wanted all on her own.

Bees are critical because they pollinate so many food crops. Consider this image of what your grocery store produce section looks like now thanks to bees, and what it would look like if all the bees were gone.



Bees need our support. Will you help them too?

Sign a Petition:
Greenpeace's Campaign to Save Bees
A Change.org petition to ban chemicals harmful to bees

Learn how you can create healthy habitat for bees
http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/save-the-bees.html
http://www.savehoneybees.org/


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Start a Local Moms Blog in Your City

Have you noticed that I recently became a writer for BurlingtonVT Moms Blog? My next post for them will go live on Monday, September 30th! It has been such a great opportunity to develop my writing, play a part in connecting moms in our city, and to get to know the other women on our fabulous team.

BurlingtonVT Moms Blog is an amazing resource for moms in the Burlington area and we are passionate about what we do! I’m proud to be part of something that is making a positive influence on both our beautiful city here AND on a national level! Did you know BurlingtonVT Moms Blog has over 30 Sister Sites around the country?

These 30+ Sister Sites make up City Moms Blog Network. Each site is written and run by local moms, for local moms. They provide parenting information unique to their community, and to make things even more fun, they each throw fabulous events to get moms in their cities out on the town.

This network of locally focused moms blogs has empowered women all over the country to start their own businesses. When someone joins City Moms Blog Network as a Sister Site owner, they are joining a family that is eager to encourage and support one another. Sister Sites are provided with assistance in the startup phase, ongoing education and resources for continued support, and a community of fellow site owners eager to share best practices.

With the help of City Moms Blog Network, these Sister Site owners are able to become entrepreneurs (mompreneurs) and local influencers, all while doing something they love and are passionate about. I have loved watching the co-founders of BurlingtonVT Moms Blog grow it into what it is today, and I am thankful and proud of the part I am now playing in that!

Is there a City Moms Blog Network Sister Site in your area? City Moms Blog Network is currently looking for Sister Site owners in 25 specific cities in California, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. If you or someone you know might be interested in impacting moms in your community like BurlingtonVT Moms Blog is, jump at this opportunity to join CMBN with your own Sister Site. These ladies are passionate about what they do and would love to partner with YOU to do the same! Visit http://citymomsblog.com/start-a-sister-site/

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Facebook 'Like' Etiquette

I 'like' a lot of things on Facebook (with my personal account). I 'like' things that are funny, or cute, or fascinating. I also follow a lot of environmental and climate change organizations. I 'like' a lot of petitions for action, and memes with meaningful statistics decrying environmental destruction, celebrating renewable energy growth, or calling out ridiculous policies and politicians. I 'like' the un-cute and not-funny things because I want to support those causes that I have chosen to follow. Isn't that the essence of why we post things on Facebook? Individuals post to get feedback and support for our own satisfaction and validation. Organizations post to get support, spread the word, and create buzz about their cause. Otherwise no one would ever post anything at all.

The trouble is, Facebook shows all my 'likes' to all my closest friends.

"Do I 'like' too much stuff on Facebook?" I asked my husband, "I mean, does it all show up in your feed?"

"Short answer, yes." he replied matter of factly, "but I visit your page a lot so I see everything."

Oh dear. I don't want to be that annoying Facebook friend who you end up hiding because every move I make is recorded and shared for all my friends to see. I've been told many times, "Oh, I saw that thing you posted." When really I didn't post it at all, it was just an innocent 'like' because I agreed with the organization who made the post and wanted them to know it.

Here's a novel idea Facebook, only share my activity with my friend list when I specifically 'share' them. That way if there is a petition or factoid that I simply cannot restrain myself from sharing, I can purposefully share it. To not click that 'like' button on posts that are important to me is hard to do. It feels like I have to censor myself so that I don't flood the newsfeed.

Do you 'like' a lot of posts on FB? What's your take?

And don't forget to 'like' Mama of Ma'at on FB...  :) hehe.

What I Love

A lot of people still think of climate change as something that will happen in the distant future. Many projections talk about dire consequences by 2100, which can still seem very far away to some. By 2100 my own little children will be ages 88 and 90.

But really, climate change is happening already. Think of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. There was Hurricane Irene in 2011 which devastated much of my home state of Vermont. The Midwest, our nation's breadbasket, has been hit hard by severe drought for several years in a row now. Right now there is the Biblical flooding in Colorado and major storms on both coasts of Mexico. Hong Kong was just narrowly missed by a huge typhoon (Usagi) this week, and in Japan last week 500,000 people were rendered homeless by flooding from typhoon Man-yi. This is just a small sampling of recent extreme weather events. These types of events are growing more frequent and more devastating, thanks to climate change.  

Many of us in the US, are still largely insulated from the impacts of superstorms, floods, droughts, rising sea-level, and ocean acidification. It is easy to be lulled into a reassuring state of thinking yes, climate change is bad, but it's still far away and doesn't personally affect me. 

So, I would like to share a poignant tool (below) that aims to help people understand that the things they love today are already under threat by climate change.

"The real threat of climate change isn’t what it means for polar bears. 

It’s what the crisis means for the things that make us who we are."

Visit WhatILove.org and choose the people, places, and things that define your life … then discover how climate change will directly impact each one.

I chose 8 things that matter to me: kids, cookies, water, wildlife, swimming, gardening, peace and humanity. Then you can click to get a brief summary of how climate change threatens each of those things.

It's a tool designed to inspire you to protect the things you love, and add your voice in the fight against climate change. It affects every aspect of our lives, and if you don't fight for what you love, what will be left?


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