Living, Loving, Learning, Sharing

Why I love this thing

I first read about back carriers on my friend Megan's live journal. (Thank you Megan!) I'd only seen those with the metal frame and I couldn't imagine adding more weight to an already growing baby. Then I wondered why they only made soft front carriers not ones for your back. Well apparently, I was unaware of the baby carrying world because they exist just not at your local store. I chose the AngelPack LX because of great reviews from petite mamas. The Beco got great reviews too. The Angelpack LX has narrower straps than the Beco so I chose it instead. There are many others to chose from and you can review similar soft structured carriers at TheBabyWearer.com under soft structured carriers. The carriers can also be worn in front. Although I still prefer the Mei Tai for front carrying, the back carry position allows me to do a lot more things.

Here's what I've been able to do since I purchased mine:

* Grocery shop. They don't have double carts here so Marisa goes on my back and Elena in the cart.

* Go to the park and follow Elena wherever she goes without a hauling the stroller around. Marisa loves watching Elena play.

* Use public restrooms. Maybe too much information but I swear I waited to get home before, and now Elena goes, then I go, and Marisa just stays on my back.

* Do just about any chore around the house when Marisa wants to be held.

* Cook...okay so I know technically I'm not supposed to do this but I make certain she's safe and dinner gets done at the end of the day when the girls are tired of each other and need a break from each other.

* On the same note, separate the girls when they're having squabbles and need a break from each other.

* Walk the dog

* Not have to take the double stroller everywhere since I have free hands ready for Elena's every move.

* Ride the "T" (the mass transit system). I can use the double stroller, but with crowds it's sometimes easier to have Elena in the single, smaller stroller.

* Carry Elena in it. Okay so I didn't do it for long, but it sure helped to distract her at the airport during our layover.

* Carry Marisa in the most comfortable position ever for an hour or more.

Fall colors

Fall is almost over, or at least the colorful part of it is, so we took a stroll at the Arnold Arboretum in nearby Boston.

My rooster and hen

There was a Halloween celebration at a nursing home nearby so the girls were able to dress up early. Marisa wore Elena's costume from 2 years ago and Elena had a choice of wearing costumes from her dress up collection. Once I told her Marisa would be a hen, she insisted on being a rooster. Warm fuzzy costumes actually make sense here. It was around 50 degrees.

Uh oh incident

Omar was out for the evening so I took over his usual duty of walking Jake right after serving the girls their dinner assuming their meal would occupy them while I walked to the backyard briefly. When I returned I found an entire box of Kix on Marisa's tray. I was mad at first but then I couldn't help but laugh and take a picture. After all this was the most mischievous thing Elena's ever done, and I was happy she was refilling her sisters tray rather than pestering her. Marisa was of course beyond thrilled. She always wanted an entire box of cereal on her tray!