Of Gypsies and Cowboys

 “Baby wearing? Umm....Can you repeat the question?” 

This stuttering response was the sum-total of my knowledge surrounding baby wearing. Expecting our first child, my husband Jeremy and I thought we had covered everything: A plush stash of cloth diapers, classes on labour and breastfeeding, a safe and toxin-free nursery, and the loopy naive grins of a couple who had yet to hit the delivery room. Given that we had a fresh-out-of-the-box stroller and able arms, we were assured that transporting our baby would be both simple and efficient (as parenting is supposed to be...right?).

Now, eighteen months later, I am on my way to living as an accomplished baby wearer.

What stimulated this unexpected choice? Perhaps it was the deep and lasting life-shift we experienced soon after Jeremiah was born; conversations, choices, and events leading us into a new journey and life-style which shaped our family into something much more fluid and organic than we had ever expected. Changes from synthetic products to natural, consumer roles to producer, urban living to mountain ranch, and employed to...not, may have played a role in nudging us towards adopting baby-wearing so enthusiastically. Or perhaps it was simply embracing the fact that when you’re a parent on the move your babe needs to move with you. While I remain unsure as to the specific event or reason motivating us to step into this incredible mode of interaction, I am confident that it will remain within our family as long as there are babies to wear.

Throughout the past several months, the following notes have been left scribbled for my husband Jeremy.

“Down at the lake, 5:00am, baby with me...”                     
“Took Jeremiah for a hike, back for breakfast...”
“Checking fences, 6:30am”
“Trail ride. Jeremiah’s with me.”

Through forests and across lakes, on horseback and at the kitchen sink, while nursing, cleaning, and conversing, in the company of mop, dog, or guest, my baby boy has been tucked in closely with those who love him. Beginning with a beautiful sling (presented as a gift from Jeremy after delivery), and currently with the oh-so-hardy Ergo, Jeremiah has been bundled, strapped, snuggled, and packed. On my back or his Papa’s, he knows he is safely stowed. Sleeping, observing, feeding, or simply soaking up whatever activity at hand, he is able to participate within the community of his family and with his world first-hand.


For many families, baby-wearing may be a pre-birth decision or a personal preference. For us, it has become a beautiful constant within our way of life. As a woman, and as a mama desiring to pursue natural parenting, I know this: Wearing my baby has introduced a freedom, strength, and unity to my life and family that was entirely unexpected and completely unplanned. There is a beautiful centeredness in the snuffling snore of my son dozing against my chest as I wander down our lane. There is a gentle respect and partnership as his Papa shares in carrying him through our journeys. There is secret warmth in the knowledge of Jeremiah nursing on the move; hidden and tucked away. There is an exhilarating strength in carrying my son’s growing frame upon my own; aware that my body continues to contribute to his.


“Baby wearing? Yes!”


As we journey onward, as our families grow and change, we will carry our babies close. As they outgrow their slings and wraps and carriers, we will continue to hold them; wrapping their dreams and cries and steps next to our own, wearing their lives next to our hearts. 

Why did/didn't you choose to adopt baby-wearing in your own family? What is the greatest benefit that you have experienced? What has been the most significant challenge? I'd love to hear your experiences surrounding this topic, as well as other areas surrounding natural parenting and our shared life!
(This post is presented as my entry to Parenting By Nature's 'Blog to Inspire' contest! I'm so excited to be a part of this unique contest and look forward to interacting with more like-minded readers as we share our experiences. If this is inspiring to you, please pass this post along to your friends and help me share my entry and story!)

This is a favorite in our house; it tastes like a Twix bar! The secret to getting both the taste and appearance perfect is in keeping the layers thin (especially the chocolate). This year I doubled it and used a JUMBO (like, full oven sized) cookie sheet with parchment paper. I think a single (non-doubled) recipe would fit a regular cookie sheet (with side edges of course), or rectangle cake pan. The crust will be crumbly so sprinkle it in evenly, then press in with hands, then smooth with the back of a fork (and beat it very well first, it's shortbread). Finely, keep your chocolate super thin, like candy bar coating thin, otherwise the bars will crack when cut.

Oh, one other thing. I usually do one batch with milk or semi-sweet chocolate and one with dark chocolate sprinkled with cracked sea salt. Yummers!!!! (freezes well, but don't do a bunch of freeze/thaws. Packs well. Very rich so cut into tiny squares.)

Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup ground almonds
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/8 cup white sugar (wierd measure I know. Basically, 1/2 of 3/4, if that helps? 1/4 and an 1/8? wierd.
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 8 (1 ounce) squares high quality milk chocolate
Directions
1. Beat 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup sugar until pale. Add flour and ground almonds to form a soft dough.
2. Press dough into a pan that has been greased and lined with parchment paper. Bake shortbread at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Leave in pan until cool.
3. To Make Topping: Cook 3/4 cup butter, 3/8 cup sugar, syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan on low heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes until it has thickened and has a pale caramel color.
4. Spread caramel on cooled shortbread, and let set about 40 minutes. Melt chocolate over low heat. Spread melted chocolate on top of caramel (be sure the caramel has cooled first!)

I feel as though I am living in a winter-dream. Hollywood-sized snowflakes, shaggy horses, eggnog and baking and glowing hearths are lending a surreal quality to our days here. It is beautiful! My life is beautiful! Even the struggles of marital communication, health, and sleepiness seem somehow hushed under this embracing blanket of Season.


I have been so impatient to move into Augusta, but now, in our longest stretch of living on the ranch without guests, I am finally finding a sense of home in this big open lodge we’ve been waiting within. Maybe it’s the baking or the carols, maybe it’s just having consecutive weeks of just being a family. Whatever the reason, it feels nice.

I am in the middle of a massive pan of Scottish shortbread (J’s FAVORITE), with plans of a variety of chocolate ‘barks’ in the next couple of hours. My goal is to finish all of my Christmas baking by the weekend. One third will go to The Ranch (owners, guests, etc) for their use and pleasure, one-third to us in Augusta, and one-third for packages and moments. The whole thing is much scaled down from previous years. Partially, because I’m aware of how crazy it got last year (long story involving over-baking leading to over-indulgence...), how pricey it is, and how in fact my identity isn’t based on what I bake ;)

So, this year’s Christmas goodies are:

- Scottish caramel shortbread
- Lemon squares
- ginger molasses cookies (soft and spicey, with most of the batch frozen in little dough balls to bake fresh whenever guests desire)
- apricot sage cookies (a very classy and ‘grown up’ looking new cookie. Totally different, uses fresh sage in the dough.
(the above 4 are all done!)
- teriyaki nuts (made a huge bunch last night and...burnt them to a crisp! We’ll see....)
- white chocolate almond/cranberry bark
- milk/dark espresso bark
- butter-tarts/tartlets/squares (we’ll see what form they take this time....)
- maybe...my favourite chocolate dipped orange pecan shortbread.... (But they will have to be locked up!)
- something minty....
- maybe this new lemony cookie i saw....
- and lots of fresh roasted coffee!

Okay. Much too much time online—yikes! Gotta go! OH! And yes, I will be posting one of these recipes every few days so you can try them too! 

Despite the cold and snow and frosty cheeks, this was one happy boy :)

This morning over pancakes J suggested "getting away". So, we packed up and drove to the city. I wasn't sure if I was into making the effort; baby, winter gear, energy, etc., but it turned out really well. We got our Christmas shopping (almost!) done, had a solid dose of crowds and traffic, and enjoyed a killer meal at Milestones (I had the beef dip with yam fries-- yummers! And Jem stayed happy the whole time with a stick of garlic bread and yams!). We're home in time to get the hosue warmed up again and put a pizza in the oven.

I
Hey!
Thanks for the interaction on the purse post-- awesome! Some thoughts, in response to some of the comments--
Yes, I heartily agree!!! The whole point was that :) Whether it's a purse or an organic-handmade toy, the issue is that all-consuming desire, that wrongly directed lingering grasp. It had little to do with whether thigs are synthetic or natural or whatever, the point was the desire and the fact that we allow ourselves to get so enamoured with material goods. Seeing it aside from my own heart was helpful as I rarely have the opportunity to see how bizarre these attachments really are. We can say it's an issue in our lives, we can say we feel it, but to actually witness something so acutely outside of our own clouded internal vision can really bring it home and renew the desire to learn how to live open-handed and with little. The fact is, it was a bizarre and wrongly directed kind of fascination with material objects. It hit my square in the face and made me realize (for myself, in my own life, regarding my own issues and desires), "Crap! Danger! Watch out! Run away! Learn what is good and truly valuable!"
And, I am in no way saying I have achieved anything here. As confessed before, my own heart is fickle and longs after much. I'm finding that going back to basics (ie. cutting myself off in a sense, and re-starting, kind of) has being a helpful approach. If I were to live in the heart of New York or with unlimited funds, etc., I would still find it very difficult to life the kind of life I am hoping to find. I am responsible for my own actions, my own choices and responses. If I can learn from those around me, judge my own life without excuse, and set my heart towards what is Good, I can hold to hope for a life that is more than myself.
Does this make sense?