As I was going through our budget recently and checking back over the bank statements I was floored with how often we have made trips through the drive through in the last month or two. I have no idea how that happened. Not long ago we NEVER ate fast food and now the girls and I are going 4 or 5 days a week (sometimes more)! When I think of the money spent and all the crap that has gone through our bodies in that time, well I'm a bit nauseous thinking about it.
So no more, I am putting us on a 30 day challenge. We will not be eating out, at all, for the next 30 days. Starting tomorrow and ending November 21. I think that's 30 days at least, it's been a long day! There will be one exception and that will be for the husband's birthday when we usually go out with the extended family. I doubt I can talk them all into staying in.
So we will be eating at home for every meal and snack, on a budget and as healthy as possible. I will post my weekly (or maybe daily if I really turn around on this blogging thing) menu as well as my grocery list and amount spent every 2 weeks (how often we shop) and I'm hoping for a big turn around both in our pocket books and the way we feel. Stay tuned to see if we are big fat cheaters!
draft
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Giggles and Grins
I believe most mamas can agree with me that it is almost heart breaking to see our tiny squishy babies become inquisitive toddlers and then defiant preschoolers it is also amazing to see their little personalities develop. Today was one of those days where I just had to step back and watch my two beautiful girls interact.
After spending the last 2 days inside due to the rain I believe we were all feeling a little stir crazy and getting on each others nerves a little bit. I had tried all my old favorites and was running low on entertainment ideas and then I thought we'd give hide and seek a try. Two hours later we had all had a great time, laughed until our bellies hurt and we were ready to cuddle up in bed and watch a princess movie.
But during those 2 hours of hide and seek it was so much fun to see the way my girls interacted. The way Gwen took pride in covering her little eyes (with her fingers spread wide open so she could still see) and counting to 5 (or 1, 2 3, 5, 7, 6,) and then shouting "Ready or not, here we come". Then hearing her quick heavy footsteps running down the hall and Lila's little bare feet pitter pattering right after hre big sister. Hearing Gwen shout "I found you" and then having Lila run up behind her with her arms straight up in the air, stomping her little feet and turning around in circles while she squealed with victory.
It was a great time and it's little times like that, times when we aren't out doing something special and exciting but just enjoying each other that I hope my girls look back on and remember when they are older. As for me, those two growing little girls are my babies and those two beautiful babies are cuddled up with each other in bed right now. I intend on going and joining them and enjoying those little chubby feet pressed up against my legs or the arm that will undoubtly be sprawled out across my face by the end of the night. The simple things are the things that are the biggest blessing.
After spending the last 2 days inside due to the rain I believe we were all feeling a little stir crazy and getting on each others nerves a little bit. I had tried all my old favorites and was running low on entertainment ideas and then I thought we'd give hide and seek a try. Two hours later we had all had a great time, laughed until our bellies hurt and we were ready to cuddle up in bed and watch a princess movie.
But during those 2 hours of hide and seek it was so much fun to see the way my girls interacted. The way Gwen took pride in covering her little eyes (with her fingers spread wide open so she could still see) and counting to 5 (or 1, 2 3, 5, 7, 6,) and then shouting "Ready or not, here we come". Then hearing her quick heavy footsteps running down the hall and Lila's little bare feet pitter pattering right after hre big sister. Hearing Gwen shout "I found you" and then having Lila run up behind her with her arms straight up in the air, stomping her little feet and turning around in circles while she squealed with victory.
It was a great time and it's little times like that, times when we aren't out doing something special and exciting but just enjoying each other that I hope my girls look back on and remember when they are older. As for me, those two growing little girls are my babies and those two beautiful babies are cuddled up with each other in bed right now. I intend on going and joining them and enjoying those little chubby feet pressed up against my legs or the arm that will undoubtly be sprawled out across my face by the end of the night. The simple things are the things that are the biggest blessing.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
My How Time Flies
While lying in bed tonight between my two favorite girls it hit me that one year ago at this exact time I was lying there beside one girl, breathing through contractions and realizing that this would be her last night as an only child. Thanks to a long labor it wasn't exactly her last night but it was her last night laying there in bed between mom and dad.
I remember there being so many emotions. I was sad that Gwendalyn's life as an only child was coming to an end. I knew that things were going to change for her forever, and I wasn't sure what would happen. Of course, I was also anticipating the arrival of the fashionably late little girl who was still so happy snuggled up in my womb. Much like this evening though I couldn't sleep, I tried my hardest because I knew my body was up for a very hard task but I just couldn't relax enough to sleep through contractions very well. I would doze off here and there but the length of little naps were never more than 5 or 6 minutes long. I was anxious and worried about silly little things- did we have enough clean diapers, did the kitchen need to be cleaned, would we leave to late for the birth center, I didn't want to have a baby on the side of I-40.
So like many early laboring mamas I was up at 2 am washing dishes, folding diapers, sweeping the floors and packing snacks. Between all my chores I would come back to bed and lay down beside Gwen while she nursed every hour or so. I smelled her hair and held her tight and tried to enjoy the last bit of time we had left of being mother and 1 daughter.
I remember there being so many emotions. I was sad that Gwendalyn's life as an only child was coming to an end. I knew that things were going to change for her forever, and I wasn't sure what would happen. Of course, I was also anticipating the arrival of the fashionably late little girl who was still so happy snuggled up in my womb. Much like this evening though I couldn't sleep, I tried my hardest because I knew my body was up for a very hard task but I just couldn't relax enough to sleep through contractions very well. I would doze off here and there but the length of little naps were never more than 5 or 6 minutes long. I was anxious and worried about silly little things- did we have enough clean diapers, did the kitchen need to be cleaned, would we leave to late for the birth center, I didn't want to have a baby on the side of I-40.
So like many early laboring mamas I was up at 2 am washing dishes, folding diapers, sweeping the floors and packing snacks. Between all my chores I would come back to bed and lay down beside Gwen while she nursed every hour or so. I smelled her hair and held her tight and tried to enjoy the last bit of time we had left of being mother and 1 daughter.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Your Body, Your Birth
I am always amazed how many women will blindly follow the advice of their doctors in regards to pregnancy and birth. They don't question or disagree they just do what they are told. The medical community can be a great thing in pregnancy and birth but it can also be the source of interventions, unnecessary csections and the downfall of childbirth in the United States.
Just yesterday I was talking to a very pregnant aquantance and she was asking me about my girl's size at birth and their gestational age. When I told her the size of my first she was surprised but when I told her my second was 1 1/2 weeks overdue and over 9 lbs she said the common phrase from those who go in completely trusting their doctors "I can't believe your doctor let you go that far overdue". Of course she was even more shocked when I told her I don't see an obstetrician for prenatal care and that a doctor really doesn't let anyone do anything, medical professionals work for you, it isn't the other way around.
It really makes me sad the way doctors will bully and scare hormonal women into doing what they want them to do. The way inductions are scheduled for convenience and the option of an elective csection is even available. The percentage of doctors in this country who have actually attended a 100% natural birth with no interventions is very slim. Doctors aren't even trained to deliver a baby in any way other than the mother laying in a flat on her back position with her legs up above her in stirrups. This is perhaps the most conterproductive position to push a baby out in and when the second stage (pushing) last longer than what is convenient for the doctor you can almost always guarantee that mother will be wheeled down the hall on her way to a csection.
I wish that all women would educate themselves on birth, don't be afraid to question your doctor and ask them why and most importantly be an advocate for yourself. Natural birth isn't for everyone but at the very least know the facts and the risk of interventions. If you do chose to have a natural birth then look into classes. Two very popular ones right now are Bradley and Hynobirth. I personally have had 2 successful and natural Bradley births and cannot even begin to say how great I think the Bradley method of childbirth is.
Just for the record so I'm not taken as saying that all medical interventions are bad I did have what I consider a traumatic birth experience with my baby. After 28 hours of labor and 5 1/2 hours of pushing I transferred to the hospital where my care was transferred to an ob and family practice doctor. I am grateful that they were there that night and they got little Lila here safely and kept me safe. But I just think that under normal circumstances there is no reason to interfere with a natural labor and birth.
Just yesterday I was talking to a very pregnant aquantance and she was asking me about my girl's size at birth and their gestational age. When I told her the size of my first she was surprised but when I told her my second was 1 1/2 weeks overdue and over 9 lbs she said the common phrase from those who go in completely trusting their doctors "I can't believe your doctor let you go that far overdue". Of course she was even more shocked when I told her I don't see an obstetrician for prenatal care and that a doctor really doesn't let anyone do anything, medical professionals work for you, it isn't the other way around.
It really makes me sad the way doctors will bully and scare hormonal women into doing what they want them to do. The way inductions are scheduled for convenience and the option of an elective csection is even available. The percentage of doctors in this country who have actually attended a 100% natural birth with no interventions is very slim. Doctors aren't even trained to deliver a baby in any way other than the mother laying in a flat on her back position with her legs up above her in stirrups. This is perhaps the most conterproductive position to push a baby out in and when the second stage (pushing) last longer than what is convenient for the doctor you can almost always guarantee that mother will be wheeled down the hall on her way to a csection.
I wish that all women would educate themselves on birth, don't be afraid to question your doctor and ask them why and most importantly be an advocate for yourself. Natural birth isn't for everyone but at the very least know the facts and the risk of interventions. If you do chose to have a natural birth then look into classes. Two very popular ones right now are Bradley and Hynobirth. I personally have had 2 successful and natural Bradley births and cannot even begin to say how great I think the Bradley method of childbirth is.
Just for the record so I'm not taken as saying that all medical interventions are bad I did have what I consider a traumatic birth experience with my baby. After 28 hours of labor and 5 1/2 hours of pushing I transferred to the hospital where my care was transferred to an ob and family practice doctor. I am grateful that they were there that night and they got little Lila here safely and kept me safe. But I just think that under normal circumstances there is no reason to interfere with a natural labor and birth.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Kicking Back
I love my girls more than anything but all of you parents and especially those stay at home parents out there know that every once in a while it's nice to have a little time. When my husband offered to take the kids out for a run a bit ago I jumped at it realizing it would give me the chance to eat my dinner with no little hands reaching on my plate and maybe even polish off a glass or two of wine. Dinner tonight is certainly not fancy but it is mostly fresh. We had deviled chicken which is just a recipe I stumbled upon on another posting http://stolenmomentscooking.com/deviled-chicken/
Very good and most importantly super easy and quick. I of course had to add something to it. Instead of breadcrumbs I used a combo of wheat germ and milled flax seed. We also had creamed spinach made with fresh from the farmer's market spinach and soy milk and finally some sliced home grown tomatoes. Like I said nothing fancy but easy and pretty healthy. 
We had a great day today that started off with a La Leche League meeting. No day can be bad when it starts with a La Leche meeting. There is something really special about getting together with likeminded mama's who share the same values in regards to pregnancy, birth, and parenting. I ventured down to Statesville for the meeting and while it is a small group I am impressed with the closeness of them. I do encourage any past, present or future breastfeeding mama's to check out your local La Leche League meetings.
Other than our breastfeeding meeting we spent the day with grandma and just relaxing and of course now the girls are out on a run with Jeff while I finish my first glass of wine and watch crap tv. Sometimes you just need to sit on the couch and watch bad tv it's a right every person should be able to experience occasionally.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
YaYa
All of you parents of two kids know that you can't talk about one without talking about the other a bit. In case you are a bit confused we did not name our baby YaYa but YaYa very much fits her. Gwendalyn started calling Lila 'Yaya' and I find myself letting it slip occasionally. Not to mention the fact that you'll often hear a little 'YaYa' coming out of her own mouth.
So some little things about my baby.
-She never sits down, NEVER. This girl goes all the time. Whether it is 4 am or 2 in the afternoon she is wiggling, moving, crawling trying to explore. She has such a desire to see the world and not miss a single thing and she must keep up with big sister.
-Lila is trying so hard to walk. We have seen a few random steps but no steady walking yet. We suspect she is just going to take off one day and never look back.
-Lila is a biter. Not necessarily a good thing but if she is able to get anything in her mouth she will bite it and bite it hard.
-Much like big sister always has been Lila likes being naked. Just last night I was trying to convince a 9 month old to kee her diaper on at 4 am. I lost.
So some little things about my baby.
-She never sits down, NEVER. This girl goes all the time. Whether it is 4 am or 2 in the afternoon she is wiggling, moving, crawling trying to explore. She has such a desire to see the world and not miss a single thing and she must keep up with big sister.
-Lila is trying so hard to walk. We have seen a few random steps but no steady walking yet. We suspect she is just going to take off one day and never look back.
-Lila is a biter. Not necessarily a good thing but if she is able to get anything in her mouth she will bite it and bite it hard.
-Much like big sister always has been Lila likes being naked. Just last night I was trying to convince a 9 month old to kee her diaper on at 4 am. I lost.
Silly Gwendalyn
I've decided today that I need to write a bit about both my girls. There are so many little moments that are just slipping by me that I am all too soon forgetting. Those little things that make Gwendalyn's personality that will change so quickly.
For those of you who are lucky enough to get to see and play with Gwen on a regular basis you know that she is a ball of energy. I cannot get over what a little lady she is becoming and how the bit of baby she had left is slowly disappearing. I was just looking at some old pictures of her a few weeks ago and could hardly recognize that little baby who used to cuddle up with me on the couch.
So here is a little list of things that make Gwendalyn 'Silly Gwen'.
-She is always wearing a dress. No matter where we go or what we are doing she insists on wearing a little dress.
-Gwendalyn also knows how to accessorize. It's not uncommon to see her wearing a pretty little bracelet and carrying a sparkly pocketbook and pretty little princess hat.
-You may wonder what it is a 2 1/2 year old keeps in a pocketbook. Well for Gwendalyn it's 3 or 4 Little People, a train or two and a couple of hair ties.
-Like most 2 year olds Gwen is also incredibly inquisitive. She wants to know how things work, or what they are, or where something is. I'll be the first to admit that all the questions drive me crazy on occasion but it is also such a blessing to be able to sit down and talk through the answer with her. And it is even more of a blessing when, instead of answering her question, I say 'What do you think?' It's amazing to see those little wheels turning in her head while she tries to come up with an answer which is sometimes right but it is always creative and almost always makes me laugh.
-Silly Gwen is also a great mommy. It isn't uncommon to see her rocking or nursing her babies. She pushes them in the buggy and loves to change their diapers and unfortunately for us she also likes to rub lotion on them and gives them baths. The messy little Cabbage Patch doll in the bathroom sink is proof of that.
and a few random facts about the 2 1/2 year old Silly Gwen.
-Her favorite color is green
-She likes to talk about how stinky her feet are
-She hates having her hair brushed and put up
For those of you who are lucky enough to get to see and play with Gwen on a regular basis you know that she is a ball of energy. I cannot get over what a little lady she is becoming and how the bit of baby she had left is slowly disappearing. I was just looking at some old pictures of her a few weeks ago and could hardly recognize that little baby who used to cuddle up with me on the couch.
So here is a little list of things that make Gwendalyn 'Silly Gwen'.
-She is always wearing a dress. No matter where we go or what we are doing she insists on wearing a little dress.
-Gwendalyn also knows how to accessorize. It's not uncommon to see her wearing a pretty little bracelet and carrying a sparkly pocketbook and pretty little princess hat.
-You may wonder what it is a 2 1/2 year old keeps in a pocketbook. Well for Gwendalyn it's 3 or 4 Little People, a train or two and a couple of hair ties.
-Like most 2 year olds Gwen is also incredibly inquisitive. She wants to know how things work, or what they are, or where something is. I'll be the first to admit that all the questions drive me crazy on occasion but it is also such a blessing to be able to sit down and talk through the answer with her. And it is even more of a blessing when, instead of answering her question, I say 'What do you think?' It's amazing to see those little wheels turning in her head while she tries to come up with an answer which is sometimes right but it is always creative and almost always makes me laugh.
-Silly Gwen is also a great mommy. It isn't uncommon to see her rocking or nursing her babies. She pushes them in the buggy and loves to change their diapers and unfortunately for us she also likes to rub lotion on them and gives them baths. The messy little Cabbage Patch doll in the bathroom sink is proof of that.
and a few random facts about the 2 1/2 year old Silly Gwen.
-Her favorite color is green
-She likes to talk about how stinky her feet are
-She hates having her hair brushed and put up
Monday, April 20, 2009
All things homemade
Like I have said before we are trying to become more aware of the toys and thing our kids have. So Easter was our first attempt at a mostly homemade holiday. In general I believe it went over relatively well. Although, I do admit I was a bit stressed out getting everything done in time. Next time I'll know to start much earlier. But here are some pictures of the girls Easter baskets. The first picture is Gwen's basket. She got a great little homemade bunny from the sweet work at home mom at buttinsky bows, 3 playsilks that I dyed, 2 wool play balls, a crayon roll, a doll sling, a new pair of crocs and a chocolate bunny. Lila also got a bunny from Buttinsky Bows, 3 playsilks, 2 wool balls and a lovey made by me.
I am slowly compiling my list of future crafty things to make. It seems like it's a never ending and always growing list at this point. i suppose I really need to get on the ball.
In addition to all my recent crafts Gwen and I have been growing some of our own veggies and flowers from seeds. Some of the flowers will be repotted and given to the grandmothers for Mother's Day. Others we will keep ourselves and take care of them. We were very excited to see them sprouting and we're looking forward to watching them grow and hopefully later this summer we will be able to eat some of our fresh grown tomatoes, spinach and brussel sprouts.
I am going to be posting my craft list on here and will post some tutorials and pictures as I get things done.
CRAFT LIST
Pink wool child size afghan-On the needle
Variegated wool longies-On the needle
Wool playfood-loaf of sandwich bread, meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, orange slices, pizza, birthday cake, pasta, pasta sauce, fried eggs, bacon
4 Scarves
striped children's afghan
block child's afghan
Several cakes of felted soap
Felt playboard-barn animals, shapes, letters & numbers
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I suck at blog world!
I really do, just awful. I forget to update or I run out of time or perhaps my life is just not interesting enough to keep a blog going. The latter is really a huge possibility. Although, we have done many fun things since my last posting.
The girls and I are learning how plants grow. We spent a sunny day a few weeks ago planting seeds and have since been taking care of them and watching them grow. We are planting a small raised bed garden with tomatoes, brussel sprouts, spinach, peppers and squash. We also planted a small raised bed flower garden. In addition to our family garden Gwendalyn planted her own small flowers inside. These flowers she is responsible for checking on and watering when we need to. Once they are mature enough we are going to transfer them over to individual pots and make them into gifts for Mother's Day. A giving heart is always a great thing to nurture!
We also made a trip to the beach two weekends ago. It was Lila's first beach vacation and the first one for Gwendalyn in over a year. A good time was certainly had by all, unfortunately we did not stay very long. We are gearing up for a bit longer trip to Topsail Island at the end of this month for a friend's wedding though so we are looking forward to that.
I am trying to become more devoted to my craft projects. I am the eternal start a project and forget it half way through kind of person. I have lots of half finished projects so I have decided to get better about it. So on my craft shelf right now are a pair of knit shorties for Lila which should be done some time next week. Once the shorties are done I have lots of projects lined up. There will be dyed playsilks for Easter and Christmas gifts, needle felted play food for Christmas, homemade playdoh for Easter, knitted blankets for each girl, crayon and chalk rolls complete with homemade crayons, and a few other small projects I will have in the works soon.
The girls and I are learning how plants grow. We spent a sunny day a few weeks ago planting seeds and have since been taking care of them and watching them grow. We are planting a small raised bed garden with tomatoes, brussel sprouts, spinach, peppers and squash. We also planted a small raised bed flower garden. In addition to our family garden Gwendalyn planted her own small flowers inside. These flowers she is responsible for checking on and watering when we need to. Once they are mature enough we are going to transfer them over to individual pots and make them into gifts for Mother's Day. A giving heart is always a great thing to nurture!
We also made a trip to the beach two weekends ago. It was Lila's first beach vacation and the first one for Gwendalyn in over a year. A good time was certainly had by all, unfortunately we did not stay very long. We are gearing up for a bit longer trip to Topsail Island at the end of this month for a friend's wedding though so we are looking forward to that.
I am trying to become more devoted to my craft projects. I am the eternal start a project and forget it half way through kind of person. I have lots of half finished projects so I have decided to get better about it. So on my craft shelf right now are a pair of knit shorties for Lila which should be done some time next week. Once the shorties are done I have lots of projects lined up. There will be dyed playsilks for Easter and Christmas gifts, needle felted play food for Christmas, homemade playdoh for Easter, knitted blankets for each girl, crayon and chalk rolls complete with homemade crayons, and a few other small projects I will have in the works soon.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Night Time Cloth Diapering
I have been in search of the perfect cloth diapering system for a while now. It seems everything we tried worked for a while but then leaked all over our sheets. I tried expensive fancy diapers with high tech soakers and doublers and while they were nice and they kept us dry most of the time they just weren't what I was looking for. Finally I have found the perfect system for us overnight. It's so easy and obvious I can't believe I didn't try it sooner.
My cast of characters. 1 Unbleached Premium Prefold. 1 Bamboo infant prefold, 2 pins in a bar of soap to help lubricate them and 1 wool soaker.
Trifold the bamboo prefold inside the premium prefold like this.
Lay baby on there and trifold the front to help make leg gussets and to make the diaper fit through her legs. Then pin one side.
Pull it tight and pin the other side.
Put on your woolie and you're ready to go to bed! Monday, February 9, 2009
The Simple Things In Life
It seems like it is hard for adults to slow down and look at the small things in life. We focus on big events, material things, mortgage payments and work promotions. While all of those things are great it is also nice to slow down and find small things that you enjoy.
Most of us will not win Nobel prizes or become CEO of a major company. Very few of us will star in a Broadway play or go on an international rock and roll tour. But the big things are not everything. We can still go for a walk on a beautiful sunny winter day or sit down to enjoy a really amazing slice of chocolate cake. Sometimes the small things are the best things in life.
Just watching your children will give you the inspiration you need to enjoy the small things. I watch my 2 year old and realize that life is about the simple things. It's about finding the perfectly shaped rock, watching the clouds float through the sky, seeing a squirrel climbing a tree or hearing a big truck coming up the road.
So take a few minutes tomorrow, look around and find the small things that make you happy and pay extra close attention to the things that make your kids happy. Those are the things you'll look back and smile about when they are 16 years old and begging you for the coolest car on the road.
Most of us will not win Nobel prizes or become CEO of a major company. Very few of us will star in a Broadway play or go on an international rock and roll tour. But the big things are not everything. We can still go for a walk on a beautiful sunny winter day or sit down to enjoy a really amazing slice of chocolate cake. Sometimes the small things are the best things in life.
Just watching your children will give you the inspiration you need to enjoy the small things. I watch my 2 year old and realize that life is about the simple things. It's about finding the perfectly shaped rock, watching the clouds float through the sky, seeing a squirrel climbing a tree or hearing a big truck coming up the road.
So take a few minutes tomorrow, look around and find the small things that make you happy and pay extra close attention to the things that make your kids happy. Those are the things you'll look back and smile about when they are 16 years old and begging you for the coolest car on the road.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Lots of new diapers this week!
So it's been a good week for diapers in our house, lots of new things to try out! I'm just going to combine them all into one post to save time and space.
On the right is the Watermelong Bed Bug, Middle a Sposoeasy with snaps and left the bee fitted.
On the right is the Watermelong Bed Bug, Middle a Sposoeasy with snaps and left the bee fitted.First we got some Holden's Landing diapers that I have been waiting on for almost 2 weeks. I must say, Bonnie was incredibly great to work with and for the price you can't beat a pretty much custom diaper. She has lots of options for her diapers. You can pick the fabrics you want, the type of diaper (fitted, all in 2 or Bedbug which is her nighttime diaper) the colors you want (she dyes each diaper however you want for no additional charge), embroidery, turned and topstitched or serged and even the snap colors. While the prices were slightly more than some other fitteds I think considering all the work she puts into them they are well worth it.
We got 2 of them, one is a 'Watermelon dyed' BedBug that is all OBV (organic bamboo velour) and the other is an organic cotton fitted that is dip dyed blue and yellow with a little bee embroidered on it. I was very impressed with both and they both fit Lila very well although a little bulkier than I usually prefer but with spring just around the corner they'll be great under dresses. And as a reminder fitted diapers will need some sort of waterproof cover if they are going to be in them for a while. I personally prefer wool. And here is a picture of Miss Lila sporting her bumblebee fitted.
We also got a Sposoeasy All in Two (AI2) diaper that I've been hearing a lot of buzz about. An AI2 is pretty much as simple as you can get cloth diapering. Everything comes together, there are no covers, no inserts, no stuffing pockets. In general I've never loved the AI2 diapers but this one had great reviews. I snatched it up from http://www.sewcraftybaby.com/store/WsAddprod.asp and with the coupon code newcustomer you get an extra 10% off. It's definitely not my favorite diaper but I do like that it's all natural fibers except the PUL outer. The fit wasn't spectacular on my little chubber but it wasn't bad either. I will say, if you have a husband who is scared of cloth diapers this would be a great diaper to have on hand when he changes diapers (if your husband actually changes diapers, mine doesn't).
We got 2 Bagshot Row Bamboo diapers this week as well. These are very sought after diapers and pretty hard to get, I was lucky that my fingers are quick enough to nab not one but two of them. I must say, I LOVE THIS DIAPER! It's super absorbant but also ridiculously trim. It is a fitted diaper but the neat thing with the BSRB is she doesn't put snaps on them which some people may not like but it makes the diaper incredibly adjustable so it should fit your little one from birth up until potty training. You can fasten this diaper with either a snappi or pins, whichever you prefer. I will definitely be stalking her site from now on trying to grab up a few more of these.
Another diaper we got was a Bohemian Babies, although I won't say much about this diaper since the store is closing (or possibly already closed) but we do like it a lot. If you can pick up an used one on for sale or trade somewhere I would definitely get it!
And finally we got a Rumparoo pocket diaper. This is probably one of my least favorite diapers but it is cute. It doesn't fit Lila very well right now but my toddler tried it on and it fit her well so I predict we will put it up for another year or so and then try it for Lila again. This is a pocket diaper though which means you you a waterproof outer and a stay dry inner with a pocket in it that you stuff with whatever you need (I use hemp inserts for extra absorbancy). If you like pocket diapers then this is a good way to go but I'm not really a huge pocket fan.
That is it, if you're counting that's 7 new diapers this week, I feel like my stash is nearing completion. I do have a few diapers I'm hoping to unload in the next few weeks so I can get more of what I really like.
Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow. . -Thomas
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Funstation 2000
So after almost 2 weeks of being cooped up in our house because of cold and lack of things to do I decided we had to get out and explore the world a little bit. After some deliberating we decided we would try out the soft play huge climbing tower thing at Funstation in Statesville (I have no idea what the technical name for that thing is). So we bundled up and headed out in the 11 degree weather to see if we could have some fun.
We met Paw Paw and Aunt Chelsea there and I have to say we were very impressed. We were the only customers there on a cold Friday afternoon so we had the place to ourselves. There were lots of arcade style games, a few little rides for the kids, laser tag, a little pizza restaurant and what looked like a billiard room. Oh, and of course the huge tower of plastic and foam to climb (seriously what is that thing called?).
Gwen had a ball though! The soft play thing was clean and she had free reign for the first several hours we were there. We climbed up the tower, we climbed down, we climbed back up, we slid down, and up again. Are you getting the picture? She got Aunt Chelsea in there with her for a while. It really was a great and cheap way to get some cooped up energy out of her. It was only $3 for the whole day for her and adults were free to go in with their kids.
We will definitely go back again soon, and next time bring daddy with us. I'm not sure how much climbing and sliding I have left in me.
So if you're in the Statesville area and looking for something fun to do on a chily day check out Funstation 2000. It's a great way to spend an afternoon and it's always great to support our local businesses!
Motherhood qualified me to let the child within come out and play. - Christy Borgeld
We met Paw Paw and Aunt Chelsea there and I have to say we were very impressed. We were the only customers there on a cold Friday afternoon so we had the place to ourselves. There were lots of arcade style games, a few little rides for the kids, laser tag, a little pizza restaurant and what looked like a billiard room. Oh, and of course the huge tower of plastic and foam to climb (seriously what is that thing called?).
Gwen had a ball though! The soft play thing was clean and she had free reign for the first several hours we were there. We climbed up the tower, we climbed down, we climbed back up, we slid down, and up again. Are you getting the picture? She got Aunt Chelsea in there with her for a while. It really was a great and cheap way to get some cooped up energy out of her. It was only $3 for the whole day for her and adults were free to go in with their kids.
We will definitely go back again soon, and next time bring daddy with us. I'm not sure how much climbing and sliding I have left in me.
So if you're in the Statesville area and looking for something fun to do on a chily day check out Funstation 2000. It's a great way to spend an afternoon and it's always great to support our local businesses!
Motherhood qualified me to let the child within come out and play. - Christy Borgeld
Friday, January 16, 2009
And then there were 3
While I was pregnant with our first daughter Gwendalyn I had lots of plans and lots of opinions on how kids should be raised. I think most first time parents do. I'll admit that I was that young woman in the mall, dressed nice with my hair fixed looking at all those frazzled moms with their hair in a ponytail and spit up stains on their shirts saying "That will never be me". But here I am 2 years later with spit up on my shirt and while my hair is not in a ponytail that probably would be an improvement to what it looks like right now.
I also had a lot of opinions on things some parents did. I said my kids would sleep not only in their own beds but also in their own rooms after a couple of months, if you had told me I'd be breastfeeding a 2+ year old I would have called you crazy. But like most moms learn, all those "I'll nevers" quickly go out the window when you have your own kids. You actually regret all those times you found yourself judging another mother for certain things and realize that everyone has to do what works for their family.
When our oldest daughter was born I had a nice little wooden cradle for her and we had a room that was painted and decorated very pretty. I'd so carefully chosen the colors, we went to several baby stores and picked out just the right crib, I gave thought to bedding and all the things that go along with a nursery. Now, 2 years later she has yet to sleep in that nicely painted room, that perfect crib that matches the molding so well is now attached to my side of the bed with bungy cords to make it an extension of the bed, and up until last night she spent every night for the last 2 years cuddled up next to me.
At first people thought we were just trying to make it through the wakeful 4 month period with our restless sleeper. They assumed that the bedsharing would be shortlived. Then as she approached 1 and people found out she was still in our bed we would get asked how long we planned on letting her sleep with us. When I got pregnant with our second daughter I think they all assumed we were in a tight race to get her out of the bed before the baby came along, we weren't.
I'll admit that in those 2 years I have had lots of restless nights, lots of nights with little cold feet pressed up against my stomach or a baby pawing at me to nurse for the 5th time since we had gone to bed. There were nights when we just wanted to carry her across the hall and put her in her own bed in her own room but we never did. Because for every restless night, kick in the face or crowded bed we also had a sweet little girl cuddling up against us, tiny little kisses on our cheek in the middle of the night and feeling that little girl reach out and grab our hands just to make sure we were still there. I know that 20 years from now I will look back and smile remembering all those nights we shared beside one another and all those cuddles that she shared with us and I'll be so greatful that I didn't give in to all the pressure and move her into her own bed before she was ready.
But our bed really is getting crowded now. Since our baby was born almost 4 months ago we have all been sharing a bed. Daddy on the outside, Gwen next, then mommy and finally baby sister Lila. That's a lot of people for one Queen size bed. And we've started to notice that Gwen just wasn't sleeping as well as she did before. I imagine that she was feeling very crowded herself. I had been testing the waters with putting her in her own room in her big girl bed but it pretty much failed everytime. But yesterday I realized that maybe I was pushing things too much. We are talking about a little girl who is used to spending nights in our room, next to mommy and daddy. So we pulled her mattress into our room to the foot of our bed. Put her princess sleeping bag and pillow on it and talked about how that was her special bed. She seemed excited about it.
So at bedtime last night after she fell asleep cuddled up next to me I moved her down to her own space. Tucked her in with her princess blankets and put her baby next to her. And that's how she stayed, without a peep, until 6 am when she crawled up onto our bed and snuggled in between daddy and mommy. I consider that success for our first night but don't count on it always being that easy and we both agree that our bed will always be open to our kids when they need us. So if tonight, or next week or even next month Gwen decides that she no longer likes sleeping on her own we will happily all crowd in again until she's ready to try out her bed again.
For now I will get all the cuddles I can during the day and enjoy those mornings I feel her scooting down between the husband and I. I'll remember how it felt to have a tiny little baby sleeping beside me for the first time and also how it felt to have a big strong toddler snuggled up on one side and a tiny newborn on the other. I'll remember how she reached over me every few hours and put her hand on baby sisters stomach and how it feels to wake up next to a smiling and cooing baby and later on an energetic and bouncy toddler.
“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”
The Wonder Years
I also had a lot of opinions on things some parents did. I said my kids would sleep not only in their own beds but also in their own rooms after a couple of months, if you had told me I'd be breastfeeding a 2+ year old I would have called you crazy. But like most moms learn, all those "I'll nevers" quickly go out the window when you have your own kids. You actually regret all those times you found yourself judging another mother for certain things and realize that everyone has to do what works for their family.
When our oldest daughter was born I had a nice little wooden cradle for her and we had a room that was painted and decorated very pretty. I'd so carefully chosen the colors, we went to several baby stores and picked out just the right crib, I gave thought to bedding and all the things that go along with a nursery. Now, 2 years later she has yet to sleep in that nicely painted room, that perfect crib that matches the molding so well is now attached to my side of the bed with bungy cords to make it an extension of the bed, and up until last night she spent every night for the last 2 years cuddled up next to me.
At first people thought we were just trying to make it through the wakeful 4 month period with our restless sleeper. They assumed that the bedsharing would be shortlived. Then as she approached 1 and people found out she was still in our bed we would get asked how long we planned on letting her sleep with us. When I got pregnant with our second daughter I think they all assumed we were in a tight race to get her out of the bed before the baby came along, we weren't.
I'll admit that in those 2 years I have had lots of restless nights, lots of nights with little cold feet pressed up against my stomach or a baby pawing at me to nurse for the 5th time since we had gone to bed. There were nights when we just wanted to carry her across the hall and put her in her own bed in her own room but we never did. Because for every restless night, kick in the face or crowded bed we also had a sweet little girl cuddling up against us, tiny little kisses on our cheek in the middle of the night and feeling that little girl reach out and grab our hands just to make sure we were still there. I know that 20 years from now I will look back and smile remembering all those nights we shared beside one another and all those cuddles that she shared with us and I'll be so greatful that I didn't give in to all the pressure and move her into her own bed before she was ready.
But our bed really is getting crowded now. Since our baby was born almost 4 months ago we have all been sharing a bed. Daddy on the outside, Gwen next, then mommy and finally baby sister Lila. That's a lot of people for one Queen size bed. And we've started to notice that Gwen just wasn't sleeping as well as she did before. I imagine that she was feeling very crowded herself. I had been testing the waters with putting her in her own room in her big girl bed but it pretty much failed everytime. But yesterday I realized that maybe I was pushing things too much. We are talking about a little girl who is used to spending nights in our room, next to mommy and daddy. So we pulled her mattress into our room to the foot of our bed. Put her princess sleeping bag and pillow on it and talked about how that was her special bed. She seemed excited about it.
So at bedtime last night after she fell asleep cuddled up next to me I moved her down to her own space. Tucked her in with her princess blankets and put her baby next to her. And that's how she stayed, without a peep, until 6 am when she crawled up onto our bed and snuggled in between daddy and mommy. I consider that success for our first night but don't count on it always being that easy and we both agree that our bed will always be open to our kids when they need us. So if tonight, or next week or even next month Gwen decides that she no longer likes sleeping on her own we will happily all crowd in again until she's ready to try out her bed again.
For now I will get all the cuddles I can during the day and enjoy those mornings I feel her scooting down between the husband and I. I'll remember how it felt to have a tiny little baby sleeping beside me for the first time and also how it felt to have a big strong toddler snuggled up on one side and a tiny newborn on the other. I'll remember how she reached over me every few hours and put her hand on baby sisters stomach and how it feels to wake up next to a smiling and cooing baby and later on an energetic and bouncy toddler.
“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”
The Wonder Years
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's a Goodmama kind of Saturday
If you ask most cloth diaper lovers what their favorite diaper is you will almost always get the same answer "Goodmama". I admit, I was very intrigued by this Goodmama diaper, they look cute, they were all the rave on cloth diaper forums and they cost more than I had ever paid for a cloth diaper. So I sought after one, I begged my husband to cough up the dough, I asked for them for Christmas but to no avail there was no Goodmama under the Christmas tree for me. So I took the plunge and bought one on my own, after all I had to know what all the fuss was about.
I waited what seemed like a painstakingly long time for that fluffy little package in my mailbox. The neighbors probably thought I was expecting some sort of top secret government surplus or something. Finally a week later it arrived. I ran inside, opened it up and did what all cloth diaper lovers do when they get a new diaper, I rubbed it, I opened it up to see all the layers, I inspected the snaps and then I rushed it up to the washing machine so I could take it for a trial run when Lila woke up from her nap.
First impression of this diaper, it's definitely nice, obviously very well made, super absorbant and silky soft. Goodmama's are a one size fitted diaper made of organic bamboo velour. For those that don't know fitted diapers go on much like a disposable would and then you put a cover of some sort over them to keep leaks away. They are made of all kinds of materials, but the most popular seems to be cotton, bamboo and hemp. Fitted diapers are my favorite of the moment.
So how do I like the Goodmama? I give it an 8 out of 10, which is pretty good for me. I haven't had a leak with it sense, not even overnight. As far as performance goes this diaper is darn near perfect but I did have to deduct 2 points because the snap placement bothers my little girl. I predict that as she gets bigger and more mobile the snaps won't bother her so much and Goodmamas may be my number one diaper of choice. Until then I will be continue my quest to find my favorite cloth diaper.
And just because you can't have a cloth diaper review without seeing it on a cute little green bottom here it is.
"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."----- Carl Sandburg
Friday, January 9, 2009
MoonDance Soaps
I love to support local small businesses and this is one that I am more than happy to support. I had actually never even heard of MoonDance Soaps before my second daughter was born. I got a tiny little sample size Babies 1st Soap in my discharge bag from the Birth Center in Chapel Hill. I gave it a try for Lila's first bath and loved it immediately.
They have 3 different types of Babies 1st Soap: lavender, unscented and calendula. My personal favorite is lavender. I love how it makes my girls have just a tiny scent but not the overpowering smell of typical baby washes. I love that it has no mineral oil, petroleum jelly or sodium lauryl sulfate in it and my girls come out of the bath with nice soft skin.
At my 2 weeks post partem checkup I hit the boutique and got several more bars of soap and a few of their other products to try and they really are all great. I have since been ordering from their site http://moondancesoaps.com/.
They have 3 different types of Babies 1st Soap: lavender, unscented and calendula. My personal favorite is lavender. I love how it makes my girls have just a tiny scent but not the overpowering smell of typical baby washes. I love that it has no mineral oil, petroleum jelly or sodium lauryl sulfate in it and my girls come out of the bath with nice soft skin.
At my 2 weeks post partem checkup I hit the boutique and got several more bars of soap and a few of their other products to try and they really are all great. I have since been ordering from their site http://moondancesoaps.com/.
Not Your Mama's Cloth Diapers
So, I'm a cloth diapering mama. Usually when I tell people that I get weird stares and confused looks. I get all kinds of responses some people think it's great and want to hear more, some have no idea that people still cloth diaper and then others find it disgusting and weird.
Really though, cloth diapers are not what they were 20 years ago, well actually some of them still are but it's still a whole new ballgame these days. There are so many different types and styles of cloth diapers these days and many are no more complicated than a disposable diaper.
We use cloth diapers for many reasons though. My number one reason is the environment. Did you know that it is estimated it takes 250-500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose? That means all those diapers you throw away will still be hanging out in the landfills for our great great great great great grandchildren, that's not something I want to pass on to future generations!
Also there is the economic standpoint. It is estimated that a family spends about $3K on disposable diapers per child. That is a lot of moola! With cloth diapers you can spend as much or as little as you want. Some people keep it simple and buy a stash of prefolds and covers and others fancy up their stashes a little bit. Either way you will be spending much less than $3K on diapers and just remember cloth diapers can be reused for future children.
Of course, what any cloth diapering mom will tell you also is cloth diapers look darn cute on those tiny little bottoms. Warning though, if cloth diapering is something you decide to try out it can become addicting there are so many diapers out there and you will want to try it all!
And of course, there are lots of other reasons to try cloth diapers, I won't bore you though. Here is a great site if you want to do your own research. http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php
Stay tuned in the next couple of days for some diaper reviews and a little information on all the diapers that are available.
Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.
~Pamela Glenconner
Really though, cloth diapers are not what they were 20 years ago, well actually some of them still are but it's still a whole new ballgame these days. There are so many different types and styles of cloth diapers these days and many are no more complicated than a disposable diaper.
We use cloth diapers for many reasons though. My number one reason is the environment. Did you know that it is estimated it takes 250-500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose? That means all those diapers you throw away will still be hanging out in the landfills for our great great great great great grandchildren, that's not something I want to pass on to future generations!
Also there is the economic standpoint. It is estimated that a family spends about $3K on disposable diapers per child. That is a lot of moola! With cloth diapers you can spend as much or as little as you want. Some people keep it simple and buy a stash of prefolds and covers and others fancy up their stashes a little bit. Either way you will be spending much less than $3K on diapers and just remember cloth diapers can be reused for future children.
Of course, what any cloth diapering mom will tell you also is cloth diapers look darn cute on those tiny little bottoms. Warning though, if cloth diapering is something you decide to try out it can become addicting there are so many diapers out there and you will want to try it all!
And of course, there are lots of other reasons to try cloth diapers, I won't bore you though. Here is a great site if you want to do your own research. http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php
Stay tuned in the next couple of days for some diaper reviews and a little information on all the diapers that are available.
Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.
~Pamela Glenconner
Welcome
Welcome to Green Baby Bottoms! I'm so glad that you have stumbled upon this blog and hope that you enjoy. I'm dedicating this blog to all things baby/toddler/kid. It could be anything to fun events that my kids and I have done, reviews of cloth diapers, my favorite wahm stores, crafts or some days just unloading about the trials and tribulations that come with motherhood.
I'm a mama of two little ladies. My oldest is a fiesty and hilarious 2 year old. It's not uncommon to catch her dressed up in princess clothing playing with trucks or her trains. I suppose that means she has diverse interest, I'm sure that will come in handy when we start working on college applications ;).
My baby is a rolly polly 3 month old. Right now her main interest is breastfeeding and holding her colorful triangle rattle. I suppose those could also be diverse interest depending on how you look at it.
We are of the 'Attachment Parenting' school of thought. I think everyones definition of Attachment Parenting is different and I don't believe there is any wrong or right way to raise your children, just do what works for your family. We have done what feels right to us. We have a family bed, practice extended (and tandem) breastfeeding, we wear our babies, and believe in gentle discipline. In addition to our parenting style we also try to live a natural lifestyle. We hope to be able to help and preserve our world for our girls to grow up and raise families.
I'm so glad you've found us here in Blog world and hope you stick with me. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new great place to shop or book to read. Hold your little ones tight!
I'm a mama of two little ladies. My oldest is a fiesty and hilarious 2 year old. It's not uncommon to catch her dressed up in princess clothing playing with trucks or her trains. I suppose that means she has diverse interest, I'm sure that will come in handy when we start working on college applications ;).
My baby is a rolly polly 3 month old. Right now her main interest is breastfeeding and holding her colorful triangle rattle. I suppose those could also be diverse interest depending on how you look at it.
We are of the 'Attachment Parenting' school of thought. I think everyones definition of Attachment Parenting is different and I don't believe there is any wrong or right way to raise your children, just do what works for your family. We have done what feels right to us. We have a family bed, practice extended (and tandem) breastfeeding, we wear our babies, and believe in gentle discipline. In addition to our parenting style we also try to live a natural lifestyle. We hope to be able to help and preserve our world for our girls to grow up and raise families.
I'm so glad you've found us here in Blog world and hope you stick with me. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new great place to shop or book to read. Hold your little ones tight!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)