About Us

The family March 2011

I put together this blog to share with you some of the information I have learned (and am still learning) on my journey through pregnancy, childbirth and parenting as well as info on natural living, homesteading, and fun stuff that we often do as a family.  I hope that the information that you find here proves to be beneficial to your life as well as the lives of your children and family. 

Why "EnterGently"?

"Enter Gently" describes the way that I strive to live my life.  It is also the way I strive to raise and parent my children.  Of course my family can attest to the fact that I am not perfect and not always "gentle" in my approaches.  Nevertheless it is something that I am always trying to attain.  It also describes the way that I want my children to be born.  One of the first gifts I can give to my children as they begin their lives outside the womb, is a gentle entrance into the world.

Kelley with newborn Dagan 3.3.11

About Me 

My name is Kelley.  I am a Christian stay at home mom to 6 crazy kids, 5 boys and 1 girl ranging in age from baby to 10 yrs. and the wife to one amazingly supportive and laid back guy who is way too smart. I am also the founder of Kozy Carrier, a business that I own with my sister and partner Kristi. 

I am an advocate for extended and tandem nursing, homebirthing, co-sleeping, elimination communication, positive parenting/discipline, babywearing and home-unschooling.  I really encourage all parents to research vaccinations and I am very adamantly opposed to routine infant circumcision.  We avoid Dr's (haven't really needed them) and we use primarily natural/holistic medicine.  We try to make as much of our own stuff as possible and eat as healthy as we can afford.  

Basically, what it boils down to is that I look at how God designed our bodies, how He designed things to 'work' and I try to stick as close to what I think is His natural design as possible . . . and feasible ;0)

To sum up 'me' . . . I am opinionated and passionate about many things. I love to share my thoughts/experiences with others (especially when asked) but I REALLY try not to judge. I know a little about a lot of things and a lot about just a few things. I also try not to take myself too seriously because no one else does.

 A few random facts about us (just because some people find this stuff really unusual . . . though to me it is only natural and I don't give it a 2nd thought really)

• I have been nursing non-stop (most of the time nursing 2 or even 3 kids) since October of 2000.  I have also been pregnant 5x since then too.  For info on my breastfeeding stats so far, here is a post I wrote about them in the summer of 2010. http://entergentlyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/world-breastfeeding-week.html 
• I have also been co-sleeping since Oct of 2000 when our first was born.  We will often, even now, have 6 kids in the bed with us.
• I do not leave my babies, not with family, not with people in the nursery at church and often not even with my husband if they are not agreeable.  I don't leave them until I feel that they are ready to be without me, which usually means that we get maybe a couple months to go out alone together without kids, before another baby is born.
• I have 6 kids and we have never had a baby swing, an exersaucer, a pack-n-play or similar baby gadgets . . . and I have never used a crib. I have had a bouncy chair with a few of the kids that I like to keep in the bathroom.  Nothing wrong with these things (as long as they are not abused) but none of them are the necessities that people think they are.  We also don't have a stroller, I wear the babies.  Though I will admit a stroller is nice when at an amusement park!!  (my mother in law has one and I appreciate her bringing it!!). There are very few things a baby really needs, and most of those are not things you can buy (mom's milk and arms to hold them).
• We don't give the kids OTC meds or prescription meds.  We have so far been able to treat everything naturally (knock on wood).  Though as they get older, I am sure there is some ibuprophin in their future (that is pretty much the only OTC med that dh and I use ourselves).  And we have had plenty of fevers of 104 here . . . we just watch and comfort them and let their body do it's job.
• Hmmm, what else . . . Oh I planned homebirths with all of our children (first ended up in transfer as a precaution and suggestion from the midwife, after 3 hrs of pushing at home and lots of blood loss).  I have had 4 babies born in the water, 4 babies born unassisted and despite having given birth many times, I still spend a heck of a long time pushing my babies out, darn it!!
• Speaking of birth.  I haven't had any of the typical pregnancy tests either.  I've never had glucose, GBS, ultrasound or any of those other tests (and I didn't even use a doppler in my last 4 pregnancies).  The only thing we have ever check is urine, BP, fundal height, baby's heartbeat and sometimes my hemoglobin.  Though I ever had any indication that further testing was needed for any reason I wouldn't rule it out.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; by sympathetic, love as brothers. be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
1 Peter 3:8-9