Haveil Havalim #244 Is Up

over at A Mother in Israel. So go check it out! With ICLW under way I'm not sure how much reading I'll get done this week, but I always find interesting things.

Carnival Thoughts (and a picture)

Today is the Mothering.com blog carnival and I'm at a loss as to what to write. I had wanted to present a beautiful, well-written essay that exemplifies some of Mothering's core values and the way it is reflected in my life.

But I'm not going to.

I was laid out Monday evening with a migraine. Tuesday I was almost better and went to Disneyland with the girls anyway. That evening the migraine started reviving and I'm sharing my Wednesday with a low-grade migraine that I'm combating with pretty much everything I have. Good week to have a Shabbaton and not need to prepare any Shabbat meals! Yay!

Now I'm back to where I started, though. What to write? As I thought about this more and more my left eye starts throbbing and I realize that this is what I'm writing.

I have long and often remarked that attachment parenting should be rebranded as responsive parenting. A parent needs to respond to the needs of the child and the family unit and work towards a common goal. That means Ima's needs also need to be responded to and met. Right now I need to relax and rest and not worry about a blog post.

So that's where I'm headed now. First, though, a gratuitous photo from yesterday...

Other Mothering.com Writing Women

http://codenamemama.com

http://greenvneck.blogspot.com/

http://www.moderatemeans.blogspot.com

http://www.oneplustwoislove.blogspot.com

http://paxye.com/blog/

http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/

http://simplyjess.wordpress.com/

Linky, Linky, Linky

Some more NaBloPoMo participants for you to check out:

http://www.oneplustwoislove.blogspot.com

http://www.codenamemama.com

http://www.moderatemeans.blogspot.com

http://paxye.com/blog/

http://simplyjess.wordpress.com/

http://3boysandadog.com/

http://greenvneck.blogspot.com/

On November 18th I'll be participating in a blog carnival of women from Mothering.com. If you'd like to join in, just sign up on this thread.

Also, don't forget the cooking carnival I'm hosting right here on November 17! This month's theme is Thanksgiving!

Welcome to November!

What a wonderful month this will be! Not only have we "fallen back" and therefore gained an hour in the evening, this is NaKniSweMo and NaBloPoMo.

For NaKniSweMo I'll be attempting my first sweater for myself that is also designed by me. This gives me a built-in topic to jabber about for NaBloPoMo, too. Never fear, though, I have a few other things I'm wanting to get off my chest and some creative things I'm looking forward to exploring, too. Now for some linky love.

NaBloPoMo participants that I'm excited to follow:

http://decemberproject.net/

http://neveradullmomentforlynn.blogspot.com/

http://hotpinkpeonies.wordpress.com/

http://seeemilyknit.blogspot.com/

http://janetsdomesticbliss.blogspot.com/

http://noteverstill.blogspot.com/

http://trainstutusandtwizzlers.wordpress.com/

http://adventuresofcancergirl.blogspot.com/

http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/

If you are joining in on the 'Mo fun, let me know so I can follow along, too!

Shopping from the Fridge

I've been bad and ignoring the blog lately. Instead of a long reintroductory post or an update I'm just jumping right back in.

I was catching up on my reader feeds when I came across a wonderful idea that I'm going to try this week!

Mimi at Israeli Kitchen is cooking from her refridgerator this week. I usually do this closer to Pesah, but this year I've been trying to be better about only buying necessities and cleaning out the freezers, cupboards and fridge. So I started tonight.

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar we are having kefte, rice, green salad and the rest of last Shabbat's challah with fruit for dessert.

The only exceptions are eggs, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables as needed and bread (though I'm hoping to actually bake some bread this week).

Chodesh tov!

Nursing a NICU Baby (or Two)

Some of you know about my problems breastfeeding the girls despite many efforts and struggle. Despite this I am still 100% pro-breastfeeding and encourage all new moms to do their best for their babies and get good advice from competent lactation consultants and La Leche League.

My friend Celeste recently (has it really been three months!?!) gave birth to twin boys at 32 weeks. She has a wonderful post up on her blog about breastfeeding, dealing with the NICU, preemies and low-supply. I mentioned it in the comments, but here is my addition to what she said.

Be on the lookout for postpartum depression. Have your friends and family aware of the increased risk of ppd with premature births and NICU experiences and get help at the first sign. I can telly ou from experience that you don't want to be near your child's first birthday and learn that their first months of life are shrouded with a black cloud in your memory.

Shameless Plug

For my aunt's site. Altered art and supplies. Plus she hosts some workshops if you are in the San Diego area. Fun, fun, fun! And who can't use a little art in their day-to-day life?