Saying hello!

[Collinsky]

Hi -- I am Colleen, 28, wife to Adam and AP mama to Sarah (2) and Mia (7 mos) ... just to give you an idea of who I am and what we do in our family here's an "overview" --

Things we DO:
*breastfeeding (extended, currently tandem nursing both girls)
*homebirth (unassisted)
*cosleeping
*babywearing (not 24/7 but a lot)
*baby signing
*cloth diaper ...most of the time :-)
*homeschool (probably unshcooling)

Things we DON'T do:
*vaccinating
*spanking
*cry-it-out

Things I'm learning more about:
*raw foods/loving foods -- obviously LOL :)
*nutrition as healing and eating organic/whole foods/etc
*herbs/homeopathy
*non-punitive discipline
*keeping a neat, organized home
*speaking with peacefulness and lovingkindness

We're psyched to be embarking on a raw journey (for me it's a starting point, for my Dh it's an experiment ;) ) and building a healthy, sustainable, vibrant lifestyle for ourselves and our children... nervous, but totally excited.

[catherinethegreat]

sounds like the attachment method?? Is that the accurate description? I have many friends that would write the exact same list that you just wrote out.
The baby signing is amazing! If I have children I very much will look into all of these ways of offering a child opportunities for love and expression.

Just wanted to welcome you here -

It's an amazing group of women and men! I've learned so much from them and they have helped me find my own way on this new path.

*catherine :)

[sweetgoddess]

Welcome to the forum Colleen! Wow, you sound like a busy and loving woman. What is baby signing? Your goals are beautiful. When you figure out the neat/organized home one, do share..lol
This is a tremendous gift you are giving youself and your family and I send you my very best wishes as you all embark on the next step of your journey.

Blessings~

[Collinsky]

Hi Catherine... yes, we do attachment parenting. - also called "instinctive" or "intuitive" parenting... so it was a natural step once I started looking into unassisted birth! Once you realize that God (or nature, depending on your beliefs) has a design that works best when untampered with, that idea starts to spill over into other aspects, such as parenting. And slowly into everything else!!

[Collinsky]

Hi Sweetgoddess, thanks... baby signing is using sign language with pre-verbal babies and toddlers to give them an outlet of communication before they are able to say what they see or need. (The most basic is a baby waving good bye, before they are able to say "bye bye.") Some families use ASL signs, others use "baby signs" which are created gestures that are specific to that baby/family. We chose to use ASL for a couple of different reasons, and I love learning it! And it is so neat to see your child showing that they see and hear and know so much more than people give them credit for.