"Natural" Mommy? What....? Who, Me?

Hmmm....

I'm all for taking care of our environment, "don't be a litter bug", and all that jazz, though I don't know if I could really be called and Environmentalist (aka Tree Hugger). I eat unorganic foods and preservatives and (gasp) I bag my groceries in plastic. However.... it seems as though I'm kind of turning into what is called a "natural mommy." Although I'm not an extreme natural mommy like some I've encountered recently... I definitely share some of their characteristics.

I've always been big on breastfeeding. I always knew I wanted to try it with my firstborn. I loved it. Did it with baby#2, loved it, but didn't get the chance to nurse past 6 months with Zack. And now, with baby #3 at 9 months, I still am really loving it and am grateful I am able to. It's such a wonderful bonding experience, not to mention the health and cost benefits. (Yes, yes, spare the lecture on how formula is made better than ever now. I know it's still very healthy, I just don't think something man-made can ever really be better than the original, though it may come very very close.) And why should I pay and arm and a leg (and an ear and a foot, really) for something I can get for completely free? Just common sense I think. I'm perfectly able to nurse, so why not? Plus, and most importantly for me, I really do enjoy it.

Second. My new found love.... cloth diapering. Now changing diapers is never really fully enjoyable. It's poop for heavens sakes! But I must say I enjoy it infinitely more now than I did with disposables. I don't know... I guess it's just more fun having the cute soft fun prints and colors.... or maybe it's just more fun being able to spend that money on something other than a piece of paper that's going to be soiled and thrown in the trash! LOL Probably a little of both. And although I can't say one of my main reasons for cloth diapering is because I'm concerned about the environment.... (sorry, just being honest)... I suppose it is kind of nice to know I am doing a little thing to help out the Earth. I still use disposable sometimes. (Last week when Cameron had diarrhea being Example "A".... eesh.) The other "natural" mommies out there are cringing as they read this.... but it's the truth and I'm certainly not ashamed.

I suppose I must be a hybrid mommy. LOL I take a little of both worlds and make it work for me. My laundry detergent and cleaners are probably mostly not "green". I don't practice "delayed flushing" (only flushing the toilet when there is #2 in it.... when its just #1 you leave it.... yeah, ew.) But things like breastfeeding and cloth diapers are things I'm happy to do.

I've also found myself craving a good baby wrap/sling. "Babywearing" is pretty 'in' with the "natural mamas" I've learned. : ) There's just SO many cool ones out there! And I love holding my baby, and I'm gettin' pretty good at the one-handed thing, but it would be so nice to have a cute, comfortable way to keep him close....

Next on my wish list.... Amber teething necklaces!!! No one ever TOLD me about such things!!!! The baby doesn't chew on them.... not like a teething toy. No, something in the amber gets released when next to and warmed by body heat and it's supposed to relieve pain. Crazy, eh? But a lot of moms swear by them. None I know personally.... but thats the beauty of online communities I suppose.

So the regular mommies in the world get to call me crazy and give me funny looks for things I do. Although breastfeeding is common, most moms I know call it quits before 6 months. And cloth diapering is WAY not common in the area I live. But the natural mommies of the world would probably give me dirty looks as well, since I'm not as 'green' as the rest of 'em.

And I'm okay with that. : ) Like I said.... call me a hybrid mommy, I'll stay somewhere in between.