Mimijumi❗❗❗

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof this evening.

I'm in a bit of a funk. Holidays just aren't the toast for me, and this year promises to be more of the same because the metaphorical clouds of sadness are already appearing.

No worries--this has a bright spot.

MIMIJUMI.

As you know, I've been searching for the right bottle to get the tiniest Namastè through teething AND to ensure he's able to get his milkies as long as humanly possible. I'm all in with nursing but my health has taken a hit with this weather change. Migraines and trigeminal neuralgia, along with the stress of making the new casa feel like our Castle have me beyond glad for his milkies stash--and beyond stressed that he alternates between nursing strikes and bottle strikes.

I've done a ton of product research lately, between gearing up for my HoliTAYÈ Expo given with Mamastè AND checking out the things I blog about. (I'm a scientist with this! I always try to give the most current facts, because mommy'ing is some hard work and good information is the best armor.)

I happened upon the Mimijumi and at first, I thought it was just cute. When I read more in depth, this bottle really grabbed my attention. In addition to being anti-colic, the Mimi (as we affectionately call it) prevents nipple confusion.  We weren't overly concerned about that part, but the Mimi requires the exact same suckling technique as breastfeeding. Read: Baby has to latch just like when they're feeding straight from the source. Baby Namastè's latch was long fought and hard won, and while nipple confusion wasn't a concern, I certainly didn't want to compromise that latch.

The Mimi is quite the funky, futuristic looking little bottle. It looks amazingly like a boob! It's just super cute. It has three pieces, four if you remove the nonslip piece on the bottom. Of course it is BPA free, easy to wash,  and boasts an all substance, no gimmick profile. 

But I was still worried. Baby Namastè's teething. At present he hates ALL his bottles  (and we have many) and he refuses to take one from me 99.998% of the time anyway. Lately he's been balking at taking one from his dad and even his favorite uncle. No one else has been able to feed him, so I have been pumping and nursing, and bottle feeding when all else fails. He's not into solids as of late, so that milk is literally all too important.

When our Mimi arrived he was curious about it. He liked the red cap and foot. I let him play with it a while to familiarize himself with it. Baby Namastè is a decisive kid--he either likes a thing or he simply cannot abide a thing.

The Mimi thing?

The Dude abideth.

He enjoyed playing with it. The real test was looming in the form of a nighttime bottle battle. He wasn't up to nursing and not a single other bottle would do so far. Again, we have many--we haven't been brave enough to throw any of them away, as the one we toss would end up being the only bottle in the world that he would consider accepting.

I pumped and decided to give him that exact fresh milk, in this exact Mimi. (The "Not So Hungry" baby bottle.)

At first he went into his head turning protest mode. Then he mouthed the bottle a little. (Previous battles indicate this would be the point where he began fussing at us in his baby language, followed by a toss of the offending bottle and a resounding screech.

...but then...

I saw those little cheeks. He does this thing with his jaws when he nurses--you can see his smile dimples somehow. I saw the dimples!

He was taking the Mimi, HAPPILY. The dimples don't lie. 

We thought it might be a novelty thing, so we decided to try again the next day.

Here we are in week 2, and he's no longer on a strike  (those never last long) BUT he is still loving his Mimi.

I originally wanted to get my hands on this bottle for the blog and my HoliTAYÈ Expo, but it quickly became more than just a promo product. I read the website and I knew about the staggering success rate Mimijumi has, but it didn't hit home until I was one of those parents at her wits' end over the bottle battle. Nursing strikes are HARD.

Working with this company has been a pure joy. I am so impressed with how they treat each customer. Many companies have Facebook pages, and some even accept messages, but the people at Mimijumi go above and beyond. They are usually available and will answer questions and provide tips to help you decide about your purchase. They stand behind these bottles 100 percent, even to the point of offering an ironclad total refund if you aren't happy. You can send the bottle back, get a full refund, and it's no more hassle than ordering in the first place.

That's not the biggest star in their crown, though. I. Addition to boasting an impressive success rate, Mimijumi is a true conscientious company. By that I mean they don't just sell a product--they give back. They sterilize and DONATE returned bottles to children in need. Instead of putting those bottles in a landfill or destroying them as lost profit, they DONATE them.

Family Namastè has seen some hard times. We lost everything in the tail end of 2015, and let me tell you, IT IS A SLOW CLIMB BACK UP WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN! Now that we have bounced back, we are VERY serious about being an active asset in our community and finding ways to pay it forward. That's how Mamastè came to be. While I definitely won't be returning Baby Namastè's Mimi, I will he purchasing a couple sets to pass along to some good families.

I have never been prouder to feature a company on my blog, my Facebook, or my kitchen counter...when it's not in Baby Namastè's hands of course.

As always, I hope I've been of some assistance if you're looking for your own perfect bottle or just some good information. 

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

HoliTAYÈ Sendup, Vol. 1-- An Interactive Toy You'll Definitely LOVE!

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof this afternoon.

We have been playing with a new toy here in Castle Namastè, and it is so much fun. Baby Namastè received the Love2Learn Elmo character plush, and he is so enamored with it. I've been battling a cold and some exhaustion, so Elmo has proven quite valuable.

NOTE: This isn't really a review post. More like a recommendation. I just wanted to tell you about it because it's so awesome. The holiday season is here and I'll be sharing my favorite toys and gadgets because A) I'm a big kid at heart and B) I love writing about things I love!

Anyway...Brass tacks.

Sesame Street is a big thing in Castle Namastè. We watch it with Baby Namastè in the mornings. He loves when we clap and sing along. Elmo is his favorite character besides Cookie Monster and Big Bird.

See specs here.

This toy is very well-designed. It can be programmed with one of 10,000 names! Baby Namastè's name isn't common at all (unless you are Indian--then it might be ) so we were beyond chuffed to see three of his monikers there, correctly pronounced!

Now...babies and toys are hit and miss generally. Baby Namastè likes music and sounds, but we weren't sure how he'd take to the very lifelike Elmo. We decided it'd be best to get him set up forst, then kinda put him in the play space and let Baby Namastè decide how to approach.

Elmo is Bluetooth enabled. He connects to your smartphone or tablet. (We went through the setup and customization on my phone, a Galaxy Note 5, and my tablet, a Galaxy Tab 4.) There's no USB or computer needed, and the app is available on both Apple and Android devices. The instructions and menu are very straightforward. It took about 3 minutes to complete.

The instructions:

The Bluetooth screen: 

The app!

The toy is legitimately designed to be like your kid's friend. You can set Elmo to give cues and prompts for things like brushing teeth, potty time, manners. It even has prompts for military parents, holidays, and special occasions like welcoming a new sibling. (Ain't gonna need that one around here. Touch wood, I think we are #namasDONE!)

After seeing Elmo on his show every morning, Baby Namastè is quite familiar with the little red dude. He claps his hands when he sees him, so we felt like he could appreciate having his very own Elmo to play with and talk to.  Their first meeting...

He wasn't too impressed right off, but he wasn't afraid. When he realized Elmo could talk, his eyes lit up and he flashed a huge grin. He was immediately curious about him, especially when we watched Sesame Street the following morning and Elmo was on TV and beside the baby in his Boppy!

I like early education. I work with Baby Namastè on simple sign language, as well as do simple counting and color recognition. We talk about everything we see, from letters to numbers. I believe in losing the groundwork for academic success early, and having fun as we do so. Elmo fits my agenda because he boasts 3 levels of learning games--from very rudimentary to preschool level.

This app! I love it. I can have Elmo introduce a specific subject (for instance, we talked today about vegetables--Elmo could join in because he is programmed with my baby's favorite veggies) or sing a song relevant to a covered topic. Elmo's content level can be adjusted or customized via the app, as well as his volume. He even has a sleepy time setting. When he is engaged in night-night mode, he plays a soft lullaby and snores. Mom or Dad can wake him via the app, or he wakes automatically after 10 hours.

There are counting games and an animal find puzzle type game. Here they are doing letter cards on the tab.

I like the versatility of this one, y'all. Elmo goes from learning time to play time to nap time (snee time around here--nap is a dirty word) without boring the baby or annoying the parents.

This toy makes it into the HoliTAYÈ Showcase on cuteness alone, but it cements its spot by being a solid entertainment source. Besides, any toy that can go from learning to snee time and still have my baby's interest is golden.

I look forward to seeing if and how he interacts with his Elmo as he gets older.

Stay tuned here and be sure to scoot on over to our Facebook, because that's where the videos and giveaways happen. *wink* Join in the conversations, let me know what you're thinking about!

☞ Facebook.com/NamasteWithTayeK 

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

Don't Let The Smooth NamasTASTE Fool Ya...

Namastè.

Let's jump all in it, shall we?

Gotta let you in on a secret. It's earth-shaking.

Nice people get fed up too.

Nice people have bad days.

Nice people will tell you off.

At least, I do and will.

But what gets me is, people never seem to realize that when they are going all super pizzicato on your nerves. Nope. Nice equals patient. Patient must never become impatient.

I'm not a saint, so I can't promise all that. I'm a very spirited, passionate person. I practice honesty in all aspects, from how I felt to what I do to what I say. That means when I'm happy you will know it. When I'm sad, same.

When I'm angry...yep.

I'm not saying I'm a fire breathing dragon. I'm admitting my pitfall. I mean, I don't have a hair trigger. Because I meditate often and drink chai like water, I'm generally very agreeable. I smile. I laugh. I also let many slights and jabs slide before I speak of or on them. Why sweat the small stuff--and believe me, it's almost all small stuff.

But what I won't accept is being plucked and tousled up til I react, then listen to the chorus. You know:

I thought you were so nice!

I can't believe you said that!

I didn't expect that from you.

Well...human!

End rant.

Namastè.

-- Tayè K.

Oh, Wonderful Boy.

Namastè!

I have been noticing a hilarious thing with people.

Apparently baby boys are supposed to be bad. Harder to raise than girls. Generally disagreeable, messy, unruly.

I've gotten the same reaction since we got gender confirmation for Baby Namastè--people give that little half smile, tilt their heads to the side, and almost apologize. Or:

Oh my, at least you have your girl already.

Boys are wild.

I hope you didn't decorate, boys destroy houses.

Get used to yelling.

I know the stereotypes. Boys are supposed to be wild little creatures. Boys are dirty, noisy little imps who break things and destroy playrooms without a second thought. They're harder to potty train. They wreak havoc in the neighborhood. You can't even find cute clothes for them.

(Small FYI--my son's wardrobe is just as epic as his sister's. She argues that his clothing is actually better than her baby clothes were, because his stuff looks so cool and hers was just cute.)

Of course I don't believe in those myths.

Baby Namastè is 8 months old currently. He definitely seems to prefer things that are somewhat stereotypically masculine so far--he likes his dinosaurs, his elephant, and his green blankie. We are fairly sure it is simply conditioning from seeing his decor and personal items at this point, but he likes the color green. Candy apple green to be exact. He likes "working" with his dad and uncle, and he really loves Paw Patrol.

He is a quiet baby, though. He likes to study things. He plays with his toys and doesn't really throw them about just yet. While he is on the move often, he doesn't drag his toys all over the house. He doesn't make any bigger mess than girl babies his age when he eats his solids.

I remember a lot about Princess Namastè when she was tiny, and I can honestly say SHE was my wild one. Unlike her brother, she was a little Tasmanian devil. She liked to make lots of big noises and lots of big messes. At 9 months old she was walking, so she could and did get up to a bit more mischief than Baby Namastè does currently.

Without comparing him to any other kid by gender or any other trait, I can still affirm with no hesitation that he is a good kid. He is not really old enough to say much yet, but his personality is blossoming now and he appears to be a mild, friendly yet shy kid. He likes noises and he does enjoy making messes, but he isn't terrible but a lot going shot. The way people exaggerate, you'd think baby bus are born with an agenda to seek and destroy.

When they are toddlers, I am sure the jabs get worse. Terrible twos are probably the reason for some of these myths. The irony of the stories coming from childless people and people who haven't been around kids for many years, is not lost on me.

I'm not sure why people think it's cute or hip to negatively stereotype little boys, especially when they're little. I could be thinking too much or reading too much into it, but it's just annoying. I think little boys and little girls are simply the products of genetics and upbringing. Our son is very young still, so he hasn't had at of time to develop fully. We are doing our best to effect as positive a childhood as possible so he can remain a wonderful baby who grows from a wonderful child to a wonderful adult.

No, having a boy hasn't turned my hair gray, and I don't anticipate he'll be any harder to raise than his sister.

My boy is wonderful. Period.

I will feel exactly the same when he is a little bigger, a little more set on whatever ways he develops, and a little more inclined to follow his own path. Also, I'm really hoping we can pay with trucks in the mud, catch frogs, and make messy faces with our food sometimes. That is, if my boy is interested.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

Milk Snob Nursing Cover and Carseat Canopy **Review Post

Namastè!

I hope your cup runneth over with joy and of course, copious amounts of namastè.

Let's jump right in, get to the old brass tacks.

A big thank you to our friends at Milk Snob Nursing covers! They sent me this pretty cover in exchange for an honest review. While the product was sponsored, all opinions are mine and mine alone.

The Milk Snob Nursing cover is sooooo incredibly soft. It feels like my favorite t-shirt, comfy and cozy--and surprisingly cool. I can't say enough about this fabric, y'all. I wish this was a poncho type so I could literally wear it with a camisole and jeans! It feels so light, yet it isn't flimsy at all.

Baby Namastè always fights his way out of nursing covers (hence me rarely using one) but this one is just right. The fabric is so breathable and stretchy. It leaves plenty of room to peek at baby as they nurse, but fits kind of snugly as well. I think it's one we can keep around because he snuggled into it. I believe it reminds him of a shirt as well.

As a carseat canopy, it's great. It was easy to put over our seat. Baby Namastè enjoyed playing peekaboo with me. I won't get to use it much as a canopy yet because it's still in the high 70s in Georgia, but I believe it will be really good to keep the cold winds and rain off my littlest Namastè when the weather changes.

NOTE: BE VIGILANT when using a carseat canopy. Even the most breathable materials can create a greenhouse effect. Don't leave baby unattended in the carseat anyway, but absolutely especially not when it is covered. 

I hadn't used a carseat canopy before, so that was new. This was also my first time using a nursing cover that wasn't an apron type. The only thing I missed on this Milk Snob was the little pockets inside my apron type cover. I keep my bottles there when I use my Freestyle. The Milk Snob Nursing cover folds down so small! It could fit in your diaper bag or purse easily. It even ships in a yellow mailing bag! (I am living as environmentally friendly as possible, so minimal packaging is a plus for me. Huge plus.)

I really enjoy this lightweight, comfortable cover. It's stylish, comfy, and Baby Namastè doesn't fight at it. When he finishes he isn't sweaty, which is a big plus because he cannot stand to be hot and would refuse to nurse. (As would I!)

If you're a mama who likes a little modern modesty, definitely look into Milk Snob. (I also kinda dig their name, since most people think breastfeeding mamas are snobs anyway. I love how they took that jab and made it positively adorable!)

You can get your own Milk Snob here and here, and I believe they're well worth the price. Mine is the Signature Stripe pattern, but they have several more that are just as beautiful and you're sure to find one that fits your mommy style.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

How Could I Ever Love TWO Like You?!

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof tonight/this morning.

As always, I am up churning out my blogs for the day. I've been  poring over photos of Princess Namastè when she was tiny.

In 2006, my whole world opened up. I held my firstborn for the first time and it was seriously the most magical, amazing, wonderful thing I had ever felt. I wanted to cry and laugh, sing and shout. This little cute baby was mine.

My heart beat for her. I relished every diaper change, every late night feeding. I didn't care she was up all night. She was my little ladybug, and if she needed snuggles at 2 am after cluster feeding since 10 pm, then I was there and willing. My while existence wrapped around that little girl.

I got my first heartbreak with her. When she had pneumonia as an infant and spent much of her first year in and out of the hospital as a result, I was beside myself. I didn't want those nurses to have her. She was mine. I didn't want her in that crib, I wanted her home with her Winnie the Pooh decor and her bear. When she had surgery at age 2 and we had to rush her back to the hospital two days after discharge, I felt about as broken as a person could and still be alive. At age 4 and 5, pneumonia again threatened her little life. She prevailed as always, my little bumblebee queen.

She is ten now, and as smart and pretty as a girl can get. Her tween moods make it a little interesting around here, but she's still a sweetheart...

...and she is an amazing big sister.

When I saw those lines on that stick I was immediately excited, then immediately terrified. I had only been a mom to ONE. I was used to taking care of ONE kid, and that kid was used to having Dad Namastè and me to herself. Would she like the baby at all? Would she do like those kids on television and try to run away? Would she even acknowledge the baby, this stranger who was stealing her parents away in a puff of baby-scented smoke?!

I worried about me too. I knew I would love this new little bitty one. Not a doubt in my mind about that. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I would love, feed, and protect the new tiny one. He would learn to wash his hands and say his prayers, and I would make sure he was comfortable as possible. He'd have toys and blankies and everything he needed to be a happy, comfortable baby.

But would I love him the same? Would I love him enough? What is enough, anyway?!

When Baby Namastè was born, I took one look at his sweet little face and all doubt began to fade. I could do it. I could love him exactly as much as his sister. I would!

...but the moment I knew for sure, the moment I felt my heart pop and stretch to a whole 'nother capacity, was when I saw my two little Kids Namastè together. Princess Namastè was sitting in the rocking chair at Northside holding Baby Namastè, talking to him about how she couldn't wait to take him to New York and ride the ferry.

Yes, I could love two.

But not as much as I loved one.

Nope.

I love them an immeasurable amount more.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

Screen Time?

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof tonight.

Tonight I am thinking about holiday gifts and travel.

We use smartphones and tablets sometimes in the car, at doctor's appointments, and during longer-than-usual errands to keep the kids entertained.

NOTE: The screens are not babysitters, and the kids are not left alone for hours with them. We do these activities as a family, with Dad Namastè or me (or both) participating and interacting as well. No need for any mommies to jump in being sancti because, you know, mommies be sancti.

This idea comes per a conversation I had last week. I always try to stay abreast of the American Academy of Pediatrics and their stance on various topics, even when I don't agree. I enjoy keeping up with how their postulation evolves. I was speaking with a dear friend about screen time and kids, and we both agreed that kids need to understand technology in a world where practically everything is electronically filed and connected. Even the AAP now acknowledges that educational programming can be beneficial, provided it is administered properly and the material is integrated into real application versus recitation. Example: Counting with Elmo, then counting grapes at snack time.

As you know, Baby Namastè's only eight months old. His routine for the day involves mostly nursing, playing, and exploring the house. He does not do complicated equations, nor does he draw at a fifth grade level. He is a baby, and he is learning (at a pretty advanced pace) all the things babies need to learn.

We watch Sesame Street every morning. I clap and sing along, and he enjoys it. He will now clap his hands when we say, "Yay baby!" He knows his name. He can "give Mommy (or Daddy) one." He can shake his head no, and he can understand "no" and "stop that." He also understands "give loves"! While I won't give the morning television time credit for that, I know seeing the characters and repeating what they do and say with us has been a boost to his comprehension.

He is a bright child to begin with, but that natural proclivity toward learning only goes so far--it must be nurtured and stretched. To that end, we do enjoy using learning apps on the tablets and phones. Currently our favorites are Fisher Price's Puppy Player (and its available library of apps covering everything from animals and shapes to colors and nursery rhymes, along with the standard numbers and alphabets options) and the PlaySkool Love2Learn app featuring Elmo. (More on this one soon!)

Many people we encounter have been surprised at how quiet the kids are in the car, or how advanced even the youngest Namastè is. I happily tell them how we read to and with them, and talk to and with them...and let them watch television.

"Television?! It makes them smart like that? Let me put my baby in front for some cartoons now!"

NO. Just NO. It is not simply because we put them in front of a screen. They benefit from the electronics, but they are not tethered to them 24-7. Quality of programming and quantity of programming definitely play a big role.

It is because they are getting a real-life grasp on real-life technology, age appropriately of course. The tablet they use in the car is chock full of learning apps and games to stretch their horizons. As parents, we play with them and monitor closely what they are exposed to. We make sure they are able to apply what they learn to real concepts.

For example, many parents equate knowing the alphabet song with actually knowing the alphabet. NOT TRUE. If the child is not able to consistently identify the letters, they do not in fact know the alphabet--yet the song is still taught and parents across the board become wholly offended when asked if the kids know the alphabet or simply the song. Don't misconstrue my intent--the song is a wonderful way to engage and bring the letters to the children in a fun way, but it alone cannot really impart knowledge. It is simply recitation.

The same applies with screen time!

Kids can and do learn from guided screen time in conjunction with real-life application and reinforcement. Educational programs like Sesame Street, coupled with trips to the library for books or talking about and looking for different numbers while in the grocery store are solid enrichment. They aren't necessarily standalone concepts though.

I am definitely in favor of appropriate screen time for kids Namastè, because I believe in using every tool to prepare them to meet the world on its terms. It surely won't meet them on theirs. We have a family business, but it's not guaranteed they will want to work for us. We simply have to prepare them now to compete successfully, whether it is for scholarships and honors in school OR for advancement in their selected field of work. I don't want them to ever settle simply because they don't know. They will learn to use an old school card catalog and Dewey Decimal System as well as the newer electronic reference systems.

It's all about balance.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡