I check back on our highly neglected blog every once in a while, and today I got sad at how long it has been between posts.  I also checked the stats and see that people are still reading this blog, so here I am.  {this is me making an effort} 

The Lethbridge Babywearing group is still the thriving group it has always been, with a little less meetings though this year.  However, when we do have the meetings (ends up being every 2 months roughly), there is a great turnout and we have a fabulous time!  Over the past 5 years we have seen many many moms grow (figuratively and literally) through pregnancy, birth, and parenting.  Many of the moms we met during our first few months of “Bridge City Slingers” were pregnant then, and we have witness beautiful mothers flourish and move on to be 2nd time and even 3rd time parents.  This is a joy I can’t really explain, being a witness to so many experiences makes me warm on the inside.

Things have changed in the Johnson (me) and Lister (other co-leader) households since our last post.  I am still a mother of 4, although I secretly (okay, not so secretly) would like more.  I still teach babywearing, still run EcoBaby, and I babywear other people’s babies whenever I can.  And Tanya is a mama of 7…. WOAH!  Yep, it’s a true story, our Tanya is an amazing mama to 7 wonderful bambinos.  And now she even has the kids babywearing the other kids!!  *I will upload a pic when I have a chance*  Basically, we are both still hopelessly dedicated to spreading the babywearing love in all ways possible.  Our meetings have taken on a casual spin, which we are embracing and truly enjoy.  The meetings are about connecting with other moms who love to babywear, they are about moms helping moms, getting to play with every carrier you can imagine (except an amauti, but we’re working on it)…. and all the while having a couple babywearing educators there to assist and answer any questions you may have.  <3

We are really looking forward to the summer months, when we can move our babywearing meetings outdoors to a park and generally just have more time to be with our babies, our older kids, and all of you.  Until then, look for postings of babywearing meetings!

Also, EcoBaby Canada is hosting an educational babywearing workshop happening on April 7th (it will be Tanya and myself teaching, but in a more formal atmosphere).  You can find info here.

And lastly, if you are not part of the Bridge City Slingers facebook group, head on over, sadly, it is a little more exciting there than our blog (blog neglect guilt kicking in).  Haha, we are working to change that though!!  xoxo

Here’s a little article to keep you thinking… Why we don’t wear our babes forward facing

Cheers!  xoxo

Our July meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning at Gyro park.  We will be keeping the meetings going throughout the summer and will be meeting at parks, unless bad weather warrants an indoor location.

A common theme during the warmer months is temperature and babywearing.  Many moms find it very warm to wear a baby in June, July and August, but we have tips for you!  There are specific carriers that you can use during the warmer months to keep you cool (or at least cooler).  For instance, if you’re a wrapper, there are lighter weave wraps that allow more air to pass through and that are quite thin.  There are also water carriers that allow you to wear your baby while in the water with your older children. 

Another aspect of cooler babywearing is what carry you do.  Getting baby or toddler on your back will cool you down, just remember to apply sun block, have a sleeping hood or a nice floppy hat.

Happy summer babywearing and we hope to see you at the meetings!  Please feel free to post comments and any questions you have.  You can also contact us at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com

Our March meeting is soon upon us and we have heard your requests to try an evening meeting! Please join us on March 11 at the Family Centre, 1010 4th ave, at 6:30am. Our featured carrier this month will be “Woven Wraps,” such as Didymos, Storchenwiege, Girasol, etc. The information part of our meeting on our featured carrier and carrier safety will begin at 6:45pm. After that we would be happy to assist you in trying any style or type of carrier you wish with your baby.
We will be demonstrating front, hip and back carries using woven wraps for newborns through to toddlers.

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Tanya & Andrea

Happy New Year!

We have heard quite a few requests to have the occasional evening meeting and Andrea and I have been in discussion about it. We will let you know shortly what the final setup for that will be.

Our January meeting will be held at Andrea’s home, if you’ve never been there please email us (bridgecityslingers@gmail.com) for the address.
We will be meeting on January 8th from 9:30-11:30am.

Our featured carrier this month is a Woven Wrap.
We will be using several different brands and lengths of wraps to demonstrate both front, back & hip carries.
If you are wanting to hear the talk on our featured carrier and on carrier safety please make note that our “Information” part of the session will begin at 9:45am.
After that feel free to drop in and we would be happy to assist you in trying any style or type of carrier you wish with your baby. If you have a carrier that you would like help learning to use please bring it with you to the meeting.

Just a reminder, we ask that if you or your children are sick or have something beyond the sniffles that you please wait to attend a meeting until you are feeling better. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their little ones to the meetings without fear of them catching something.

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Tanya & Andrea

Regarding our meeting on Friday of this week. Due to a case of the chicken pox we will have to reschedule our meeting until NEXT Friday, December 18 – same time, same place.

Thanks for understanding!

Tanya and Andrea

Just because you love us…

Our December meeting will be held at Andrea’s home, if you’ve never been there please email us (bridgecityslingers@gmail.com) for the address.
We will be meeting on December 11th from 9:30-11:30am.

Our featured carrier this month is Ringslings, Pouches & Rebozo carries.
We will be using several different brands of each carrier to deomonstrate both front & hip carries.
If you are wanting to hear the talk on our featured carrier and on carrier safety please make note that our “Information” part of the session will begin at 9:45am.
After that feel free to drop in and we would be happy to assist you in trying any style or type of carrier you wish with your baby. If you have a carrier that you would like help learning to use please bring it with you to the meeting.

Also, in light of the more severe flus and colds going around this fall, we are that if you or your children are sick or have something beyond the sniffles that you please wait to attend a meeting until you are feeling better. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their little ones to the meetings without fear of them catching something.

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Tanya & Andrea

If you would like to join our mailing list please email us at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com and let us know! We will let you know about any upcoming events in Lethbridge as well as a reminder a week before our monthly meetings.

Tanya

Come and join us for our November meeting in a new location! For the next couple of months we will be meeting at the old St. Patrick’s School Building at 1013 – 8th Street South from 9:30-11:30am.

We are asking, if possible, that everyone bring a toonie donation towards the rental of this meeting space.

Our featured carrier this month is Soft Structured carriers. We will be using Beco, Ergo and Olives&Applesauce carriers for demonstrating both front & back carries.
If you are wanting to hear the talk on our featured carrier and on carrier safety please make note that our “Information” part of the session will begin at 9:45am.
After that we would be happy to assist you in trying any style or type of carrier you wish with your baby. If you have a carrier that you would like help learning to use please bring it with you to the meeting.

Also, in light of the more severe flus and colds going around this fall, we are that if you or your children are sick or have something beyond the sniffles that you please wait to attend a meeting until you are feeling better. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their little ones to the meetings without fear of them catching something.

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at bridgecityslingers@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Tanya & Andrea

In conjunction with the Birthing, Breastfeeding and Bonding Conference 2009, the International Breastfeeding Challenge will be held at the Lethbridge Lodge on Saturday Oct. 3rd from 10:30-11:45am.  During the challenge there will be a babywearing fashion show featuring some awesome carriers!!  You will also have the chance to win some fabulous door prizes, including a Babyhawk Mei Tai, Tummy2Tummy DVD, Earth Mama Angel Baby products and tonnes of other fabulous items. 

Come show your support for breastfeeding and of course babywearing!!

Hope to see you there!

International Babywearing Week, Sept. 21-28, 2009

Keep your baby close enough to kiss!