Hello, Schamber family!  Any interest in keeping this blog?  I'd love to see more pictures, recipes, and family updates.

Hernandez Family Gallery

FYI - LOTS of photos & videos I just posted to our blog: http://www.erinymanu.blogspot.com/

Enjoy catching up!

Why You Should be Careful with Knives & Frozen Meat

So, Manuel had a "routine" ER visit after cutting his hand at work today. No concern really because this happens often in a kitchen and for work comp they have to go to ER if it's more than a bandaid can hold. Last time for him was 5 years ago.

But as the afternoon unfolded, the story developed a bit more. It ended with TuBai (aka Grandma) coming to town to take the kids, and me waiting with my husband at the hospital for 9 hours. By the time they got him out of surgery it was nearing midnight. Turns out he severed the tendon in his left middle finger. Not a finger you would want to have lock up permanently straight:)

So, after a long evening and a hubby who went under the knife (ha...ok), he snarfed down some fast food at midnight and was watching tv when I left him at 1am (he was enjoying the cable that we don't have at home:)

I was very proud that he elected to have no pain meds until they put him under, so he went 6 hours with a cut tendon and no drugs. (I secretly believe he was thinking "how can I ask for meds when my wife who delivered 2 kids without them is sitting by my side?") Course, that dose of morphine after he came out sorta through that for a loop!

So, 8 weeks, no "work" with left hand...and physical therapy starting Monday. Surgery attended by a close friend of my Dad's who has now operated on my brother, dad, uncle, mom and husband. I felt it was time to meet him in person!

OH - and for you lovely folks who keep asking - our FlashCard drive is malfunctioning so I haven't been able to upload photos for the blog...need to work on that.

Will try to update you though! Peace

Baby Wearing

Baby Izabella is almost one-year-old and my favorite way to wear her is the Ergo carrier. This carrier evenly distributes her weight across both my shoulders and also through my hips. I fasten it around waist and then set her in before fastening the shoulder straps. This allows me to easily take her out while we ride on public transportation, where she inevitably wants to explore and/or interact with other passengers, and easily get her re-strapped in when it is time to leave the train. The carrier is also wearable on the back, which is great for when my husband or I prepare dinner. It can also be used on the hip, but this carry is not so convenient as you have to readjust the straps. I have found this carrier to be the most "hands-free" and the best for long walks. I also can nurse in it.

When Iza was younger, and thus weighed less, I got a ton of use out of the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder. Although I like the fit of a ring sling better, the OTBH is easier and quicker to use. I still use it frequently around the house for a quick hip hold.

When Iza was teeny tiny I really liked the Moby Wrap. This is the long piece of stretchy fabric that can be tied in many positions. I found it more comfortable and secure than the OTBH, but way, way more cumbersome to take on and off.

So there is no ONE best carrier in my opinion, rather you need a variety depending on your body type, the age of the baby, and the purpose of the carry.

In Boston there is a great organization called The Boston Babywearers. They maintain a lending library of around 20 different slings that you can check out for a month at a time by placing a refundable deposit. (This way you can avoid dropping the hundred bucks are so on a carrier that doesn't work out for you!) The women who run the group are experts and will happily provide hands-on help to learn the ways of each carrier. They also run a listserv that has been enormously instructive. I have only made it to ONE meeting, but have learned a ton just by reading the listserv digest. You can check them out here: http://www.bostonbabywearers.com/ I mention this group because I think it would be great to have more groups like them across the country!

Schamber Sling Mamas

Since Nicholas was born I've started to branch out in my sling wearing:) I love using my Over The Shoulder Baby Holder (Thanks, Lorna!) and I even sell them, but I've found there are times that I just need a little something more.

Thanks to my friend Dawn in Wichita, I've started to use a baby wrap. Just recently I've figured out how to put Nicholas on my back in what is called the Rucksack carry. This past spring, when he was little I would wrap him on the front to take long walks. I still use my OTSBH sling when I go to the store or church, but I've started using my wrap when I'm cooking dinner and taking walks.

I thought I would poll the other Schamber "Earth" Mamas on your favorite slings and uses.

Emily carrying Will in the OTSBH sling.

Emily carrying Nicholas in the baby wrap in the Rucksack carry.

Not a very flattering photo of Emily carrying Nicholas (age 3 mo) in the baby wrap.

I have had this blog since Sept or early Oct. I can't remember exactly when. But that isn't important. I guess I have not written anything very interesting on it as only Emily has responded. ( She is a very dutiful daughter). And who can compete with Janet?!!



It seems as though I have this problem of: who really wants to know my thoughts anyway? But being the blunderer that I am I'll try to express some of them.



I must say that I agree with you, Janet, on your long treatise on parenting. See the difference between us is that I would have said it in fewer words. Like--throw Dr. Spock to the wind and sleep with your kid. People have been doing it since the beginning of time. Can you imagine the cave woman having her baby sleeping in the cave next to her? Lets face it: most likely civilization would not have survived if it hadn't been for breastfeeding and families all sleeping in the same room. And yes even in the same bed. ( I don't know what the caveman slept on. Maybe a bed of pine needles).



Being a bit on the old fashion side I think the sex pastor was a bit out of order. Our pastor has an annual "sex" sermon and I always feel uncomfortable . Actually very uncomfortable. As far as this guy is concerned I wonder what his stand is on birth control. It is one thing to preach sex,sex,sex and not expect to have a bumper crop of babies. I do not believe in abortion nor any kind of artificial birth control so I am hoping he has his next series talking about the consequences of all that sex.( Somehow I just can't imagine Jesus preaching such a sermon).



While I am on the subject I might say it amuses me when I hear pastors saying they don't believe in abortion yet most all of them have only their "two". I really think that the number of children a couple has should be up to God. Some people were meant to have 15 and others were meant to have 1. If a woman nurses her children according to God's plan and parent's them according to God's plan they would be spaced according to God's plan.



Well I had better get off this subject as I suppose I have offended a few people by now. But that is all right. I am willing to dialogue with anyone about this.



After rereading this the thought occurred to me that if we all did everything according to God's plan there wouldn't be any need for the above discussion.

Autumn Leaves

I actually wrote this to Lovetta, but later thought it appropriate for the rest of us also. ~Erin

The leaves are beginning to turn from greens to yellows and reds. As we walk, they crunch under our feet, causing my son Leonardo to describe the fallen leaves as "chips". :)

Autumn is my favorite season. Wearing sweaters and falling leaves, crisp weather and warm drinks. I even enjoy high school football, not because I care much for the sport, but because of my memories of fall games on our home field in a little valley surrounded by autumn leaves.

All of those things remind me to treasure the moment. Autumn seems to appear and depart quicker than I would like. On those mornings I find myself outside in the brisk weather, I realize it is one of the few days that year I will be given the gift of that weather I so love. Autumn reminds me that a time is coming when I will be constrained to the indoors, or battle the cold. A time with shorter days and more darkness. But winter will have it's own beauty. The point is: autumn challenges me to appreciate what I have now.

In essence, the trees are letting go of their signs of life - the leaves. But they will return one day...just in another form. Perhaps the next year will be better for them - less drought and more sunshine. And as we crunch the fallen leaves under our feet, they become a mulch that feeds the earth and provides for the growing things that are yet to come.