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Febreeze Me!

Do you remember a few years ago, when everything that came out was "also a camera!"? Everything you got had a camera built in. Cell phones starting advertising mega-pixels. Mp3 players allowed you to take videos. Go to buy an apple, and it has a built in camera to watch you digest it. Everything had a freaking camera in it! It was annoying for a while, but now we just accept that every piece of technology comes with a camera. Web-cams attached, face time for I-phones, video chatting, hell even some cosmetics have cameras so you can check your face without a mirror! Whatever. I like taking pics.
I also like Febreeze. I like it. I'm not in love with it, I don't want to marry it, and I don't want to bathe in it to smell it every second. But apparently, the makers of Febreeze want me to. Everything now comes with Febreeze Freshness. First there was the air freshener. Ok, that makes sense. Then came candles. Not a far leap, some people don't like sprays. Then cleaners. Not bad, who wants to smell bleach? Then they put it in fabric softeners and laundry detergents. Sounds good to me, I douse all my clothes in Febreeze anyway, now this just saves me an extra step. Then came kitty litter with Febreeze. While I appreciate the idea of not wanting to smell kitty litter all day, I doubt anybody is fooled walking by the litter box. Your friends don't go snooping around it, checking for odors. And if it smells than dang bad, CHANGE IT!! Take out the poop! How hard is that?! But last night, as I was mindlessly watching TV at 3am, thumbing through infomercials for my favorites (yes, I have favorites!) I saw a commercial that caught my eye. Trash bags. Glad Force Flex specifically. Trash bags, with the remarkable technology to fit an entire grand piano and not break, thought they needed an improvement. They added Febreeze! Why?? Who is smelling your trash? Is your trash really that bad? Quit throwing away so much food! Wasteful. Take your trash out more often! Laziness. Here's a thought- go to the dollar store and buy a lid for it! Simple. WHY does everything need to come with Febreeze Freshness??? Does it harness some magical power I didn't know about? Do they really think they are SO awesome, they can overcome the smell of rotting food and dirty litter boxes? Well, I'm here to help Febreeze Marketers. I'm going to help you branch out. You know what Febreeze lovers really want? Perfume. We can smell it all day. With accompanying body wash and lotions. And, let's go ahead and make some paint with it too. Not only would you avoid that fresh wet paint odor, you could be greeted by Febreeze Freshness as son as you walk in the door- without have to walk past those creepy motion detecting air freshener discs. I don't like feeling stalked in my own home. It's just unnerving. Let's also make Febreeze toothbrushes and toothpaste. Forget old fashioned mint flavors! That's a sure sign you're trying too hard, that just0brushed-my-teeth-in-case-you-want-to-kiss-me smell is SO last season! Everyone wants to brush with Febreeze. Febreeze Tic Tacs would also be nice. It's like a freshness party in my mouth! My date would never know I brushed for 20 minutes in case he wanted to tongue me later or have a hot make-out session after dinner. It goes with my perfume!
I think the next ridiculous product that should be shoved down your throat and come in everything you buy is a pair of tweezers. Seriously. The people who WANT them can never find a pair when they need them. And the people who truly NEED them, obviously have no clue they exist. The unibrow is completely preventable! There is no longer any excuse for overgrown lip hair and bushy brows. It's gross. You make me want to gouge out my eyes and pour bleach on my retinas when I see your Mr Bean like face. Invest in a mirror. Perhaps you haven't seen yourself in 10 years. That's the only excuse for your furry existence.

And just to show how well my kids eat...

Feeding Babies and Toddlers

When talking with some friends last night, we were discussing our children's eating habits. They are first time moms who just want the best for their little one, and by baby number 3, I had learned a few tricks. So we agreed I would write out a meal plan for them, with ideas and cooking tips to get their munchkins to be as big of a pig as my daughter is. She has no fear, and would dive into a bowl of taco salad if you loosened your grip. But she also has two older brothers to keep up with. For an only child, they may not care as much about what or how they're eating, as long as they have mommy's attention while doing so. So this is my meager attempt to help these moms keep their sanity while battling meal time.

First, consider who you're feeding. Your baby neither needs nor wants fancy sushi. Simple, healthy meals can be easy and fun. The goal is to get baby all the nutrients he/she needs, while encouraging him/her to try new things. Feedings are a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the trip along the way.

The easiest way to plan meals for my kids is to make a list. I divide foods into categories, then pick one food from each column. How you combine them is only limited by your imagination. NO COOKING SKILLS REQUIRED. I use three basic things to cook: A skillet, a pot, or a microwave-safe bowl. You don't need a fancy baby food maker or food processor. So resist the late night infomercials and save some money! My list is as follows:

Dairy
Milk
Cheese
Cream Cheese
Yogurt
Eggs

Grains
Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Toast
Oatmeal
Bagels
Pita Bread

Meats
Lean Turkey
Chicken
Beef
Ham
Shrimp
Fish

Fruits
Apples
Bananas
Grapes
Melons
Berries
Peaches

Veggies
Corn
Peas
Carrots
Beans
Potatoes

Sauces and Toppings
Cheeses
Alfredo Sauce
Marinara
Ranch
Ketchup
Garlic Butter
Peanut Butter
Raisins
Soy Sauce

I generally start with the grains list. Am I in the mood for pasta? Craving tacos? Need a meal fast? Let's say I have a hankering for stir-fry. I would pick my pasta. Then onto the meats. I prefer chicken stir-fry. Then I pick out fruits and veggies. I like peppers, carrots, peas, beans, and tomatoes. Then I choose my sauce or topping. Add in a little soy sauce. Maybe sprinkle some garlic powder. Top sprinkled almonds (not for baby, for mommy). And voila! You have an easy dish. Throw it all in the skillet and let it cook while you play peek-a-boo.

Some people can't build a meal on their own, and need clear-cut meal plans. That's fine. Here are some favorite baby/toddler meals at my house:

Tomato and Cheese Pasta
2 ounces of pasta (alphabet soup is fun)
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 large chopped tomato
1/4 cup cheese (like Parmesan or Cheddar)

Directions: Boil pasta, drain, set aside. Heat olive oil on low in sauce pan or skillet. Add tomatoes and cook until soft, about two minutes. Remove from heat, add in cheese and stir until well blended. Pour sauce over pasta and let cool. Add a side of peas or green beans and a glass of milk and your meal is done!

Eggy Bread
1-2 Eggs, beaten (use only yolks if baby can't have egg whites yet)
1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2 tsp canola oil

To make: Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Dip the bread in, coating all sides and absorbing all the egg. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat. Place bread in pan and fry both sides,takes about 4-5 minutes. Cut the bread into strips, add a cup of yogurt and some sliced apples. Tip: Plan your meals for the whole day, or at least a general idea. You can cut up one apple in the morning, and serve the slices for breakfast, lunch and snack. Nothing is wasted!

Finger Platter
1/2 sliced apple
celery sticks
carrot sticks (if child has teeth)
shredded chicken or chicken strips
strips of toast or tortilla

Cut food into slices, about 4-5 inches long (so baby's chubby little fingers can get a good grip) Serve a few of each on a plate with 4-5 bowls of sauces. Yogurt, peanut butter, cream cheese, ranch, marinara, hummus- the possibilities are endless! Then just sit back and let them enjoy. Kids have fun dipping and trying new things, mommy has fun watching! Tip: Do this right before a bath, such as dinner or late snack. Kids will get messy!

Other finger food ideas are graham crackers, string cheese (Chloe loves this!), sliced peaches or avocados, bananas and soft fish (like salmon). Let kids enjoy making their own meals.



As for the shopping and having everything ready to go- that's easy! Here's your shopping list:
10 bags of frozen veggies/fruits. Any kind you like- just peas, peas-and-carrots, mixed veggies, broccoli, it's up to you.
10 lbs of meat. Either frozen chicken breast, ground turkey/beef, or a combination of both. Whatever your family likes best.
10 boxes of noodles or pasta. Rotini, ravioli, linguine, spaghetti, pin wheels, alphabet soup, egg white noodles, ramen...there's 100s of possibilities!
10 jars of sauce. Pesto, Alfredo, Marinara, cheese sauce, soy sauce, terryaki sauce- get a variety.
And most importantly- a box of Ziploc bags.

When I get home from the store, I give the kids a snack to keep them occupied while I get to work. I divide everything up. 1lb of meat per bag, 1-2 cups fruits/veggies per bag, 1/2 box of pasta per bag, and just leave the sauces in jars. Pasta can go back in the pantry, everything else in the freezer. Our deep freezer stays stocked so meals are just minutes away. For the fridge, a few packs of plain yogurt, some fresh fruits like apples and bananas, milk, eggs, and cheese. Now you always have a healthy snack on hand! Just pick 1-2 things your child likes to eat, and combine them in new ways.

Anything can be a pizza, taco, casserole, or soup. Pick up a box of Bisquick and you're never more than 20 minutes from a delicious casserole. There are more recipes on the box! We do easy chicken pot pie- mix the dough according to directions, add in chicken and bag of frozen veggies- bake. Easy as...pie! Same with soups. We keep cans of chicken stock or chicken broth, and soups are quick and easy. Running low on ingredients? Throw in everything you have left! You can't go wrong. Chicken, beef, veggies, whatever you like. Let simmer while you set the table, round up the baby and strap him in, and you're good to go!

Meal time shouldn't be stressful, it should be a time for family and conversation. Follow these tips for easy meals and watch for more recipes this week!

Going to the dentist

Since I've been married, I haven't actually made it to the dentist. With no insurance and no money, dental care just wasn't a priority. But I recently started cutting a wisdom tooth, and realized I should probably go. The questions were flying around my head like lightning bugs in a jar. How will I find one? How much would it cost? Can I transfer my dental records from my previous dentist? What if I need surgery? Or a specialist? Can this fit in my work schedule? As the questions mounted and answers remained unknown, I was off to search the internet.
First step was to find a dentist who would take me without insurance. Not an easy task.I Googled every combination I could think of, and still had no answers. But then I came across this website all about dental care at low cost. It seemed like a no brainer. It helps you locate a dentist, offers many dental services such as whitening and specialists, and had affordable payment plans for people like me. They answered all of my questions, and helped me conquer my fears of going to the dentist. Fears of not only the actual visit, but of the bills that would surely follow.
I was starting to get excited about going to the dentist! I could squeeze it in my work schedule, make payments on it, and see a knowledgeable specialist to deal with my combination of false, real and incoming teeth. It was perfect! Now if I could only convince my husband that he should go to the dentist too! With this site, we can start going to the dentist for regular check-ups, and stop avoiding good dental care simply because of cost.

Going To Bed?

Upon arriving home shortly after midnight, I *thought* I'd grab a quick snack, maybe a shower, and go to bed. I was quickly reminded I married an idiot and bed time was far away. Sigh... I really don't know WTF he does all day! I called (twice!) to remind him to switch the clothes over, we're having pictures tomorrow morning and I need them dry! Nope. Still in the wash, and the dipes still in dryer. So I switched them over, started another load and folded the diapers. Oh where did my package go? Ah, I see it....spread all over the house. I had it all neatly packed before leaving (I was going to mail it to me, but DH decided to go play and leave me car-less) so it was awaiting a trip to the PO tomorrow. Now I had to repack it all, track down items, and try not to kill him in his sleep. On to dinner....oh, wait. No. He didn't wash any dishes. And the fridge door was open. Had to take care of all that. Then realizing the lack of dirty clothes/diapers, and the abundance of crumbs, I'm betting the kids didn't get a bath. So I go ahead and set my alarm an hour earlier to make time. Where did all the bottles and cups go? Sneaking into the nursery to retrieve them. Then wash, dry, fill and put them in the fridge. Let's pack the diaper bag. Where are the wipes? and the solution? and the wetbags? Of course they're buried in a pile of CLEAN clothes on the floor. Where are you supposed to keep them? Can't pack the clothes, they're still wet. Packed diapers. We're out of formula? You would think that would warrant a call to pick up some. Alarm gets set back another 15 minutes. Maybe a quick shower...wait...WHY is the tub full of clothes (which I'm pretty sure I washed yesterday) and DIRTY diapers? Clean clothes go back in the dirty basket, dipes get rinsed and put in the pail...6 inches away. But where did my shampoo go? Spilled on the floor? Why not?! Adding to the grocery list with formula. I can make due..no...washer is filling up. No hot water. Let's try dinner again. Clean plates? Check. Clean fork? Check. Quick meal? Uncheck. He fed my midnight tv dinners to the kids. Adding muffins to the grocery list, and setting the alarm back another 10 minutes. Let's make sure Austin's school stuff is together. Where's the folder? Backpack? Homework? Scattered about of course! Gather, check, pack and set by the door. Full of crumbs. Pick them up individually so the vacuum doesn't wake the babies. Is that coughing I'm hearing? Listen quietly in the hallway to determine which child. Silently feel thru the closet in the dark to not wake babies. Find, pour and give correct medicine to correct child. Check clothes in dryer...still wet. Maybe if my dryer balls weren't in the toy box they would be done. Reset dryer. Lay out clothes for the morning for all family members (but me, yet to pick out pic outfits). Set Lee's alarm. Double check list of needed items tomorrow. Sit down to breathe. Realize that if I fall asleep right this second, I can get 3 hours of sleep. So much for straight to bed after work. Let's hope my make-up can cover dark circles!

TMI ALERT!

Today I took my drug test for my new job. Routine, I know the drill, they watch me pee in a cup and I try to pretend like that's normal.

First off, WHY is it you have to wash your hands BEFORE you pee, but they won't let you wash after? Seems silly to me. And rather disgusting. Not only can I not wash my hands, but I have to sign the bottles with same pen everyone else who didn't wash their hands used. Lovely. I'm dying for a shower in bleach before I even get out of there.
Anyways...
I knew the lady was in for a real treat today. I was the only one there and had her complete undivided attention. As she's watching me, and admiring my mad aiming skills as her beady little eyes stalk my every move to make sure I'm not somehow cheating, I can see her start to wrinkle her nose. I know my sweet smelling pee has her rethinking her career choice. My kidneys gave up on me a long time ago, and my asparagus pasta for dinner last night proved a deadly combination. As I'm filling up this frosty mug, I see her head slowly cock sideways, like a confused dog. I finish my business and carry on with small talk, as if I always have someone (over the age of 2) watching me pee. I realize my pee is not yellow. You can thank the lack of antibiotics and gallons of Mt Dew I take in daily. But I didn't think it was that bad. She's trying to do her job, but has a puzzling look on her face. I can tell she's searching for words, but highly confused. And then the stupidity just rolled off her tongue like a swarm of bees leaving the hive.
"Do you eat a lot of chocolate?"
For the first time in my life, I was speechless. There are no words when you hear a question that stupid. I opened my mouth, but all that came out were a few short stutters and a sigh. Hmph. And this lady, my friends, works in the medical field. I can only pray it was her first day on the job, or perhaps it was mommy-and-me day at work and she was just tagging along for the ride. Either way, knowing someone that stupid is treating patients terrifies me.

Will Dancing

WOW- It's been too long!

I realize I haven't updated updated in a while. There has been so much going on in life! Austin in school, the babies having health issues, moving, job changes and so much more!
Lee starts school tomorrow! We are planning to go to Nashville and get everything finalized and hit up the VA to apply for more funds, check on his missing disability payment and ensure the GI bill is approved. Busy day!
Austin is doing great in school now! They switched him to 80% special needs class, and increased his speech therapy. I can tell a big difference. He is talking better and learning so much!
Will and Chloe both have a lovely rash, which seems to be spreading down their legs. We are testing for allergies, monitoring diet and have changed or eliminated everything that touches the skin. We are still on steroid treatments, but with no improvement. We go back to the dr this week to see a dermatologist.
As for me, I get to keep it all together! We've been busy finding and applying for new housing. We need to move closer to school and better jobs. My life has been hectic, but showing signs of improvement! :)

Ah, life

I can't believe it's been so long. Time just slips away from me. There's just soo much going on in life, I can't manage to get a hold on things. Austin is in school now and doing well. He is going to start seeing a child psychiatrist. Hopefully with that and the therapies at school we will some improvements. Both babies are doing well, and growing more each day. Chloe still doesn't sleep, but at least she's happy (most of the time). Will is cutting teeth and has not been doing well wit it. He was running a fever tonight and refused to eat anything but chicken. Grandma even took him to Burger King hoping he would eat, but to no avail. Lee starts school next month. We're very excited. We finally had out appointment with the VA last night. They took x-rays and he saw a few different doctors to be fully evaluated. While it wasn't an entirely pleasant trip, it gave us some much needed alone time and a chance to talk some things out. Today was not easy, but we only had two small fights, and made up quickly. We're making progress. My parents came by to see the children, and of course my mother shot my self esteem down in the first few minutes. But what was I expecting? Overall, we seem to be on the right track in life, it's just a sloooow process getting there. It's just going to be rough for a while until things are settled. Hopefully one day we can have a happy marriage, and three strong healthy children. Until then, every day is a battle and every challenge a lesson to be learned.

YAY!

A friend of Lee's from work invited us to go out Saturday night! Finally, a night out with adults. Their daughter is going to keep the babies and Austin is staying with Grandma. They used cloth diapers on their kids, so I'm especially excited to show off my stash! I have no idea what we're going to do. A walk downtown and probably hit a bar or club. And I'm so nervous! It's not really my scene, and I certainly cannot dance, so the evening should be interesting. I'm sure Chloe will be fine, but I do worry about Will. He just isn't used to leaving Mommy.

On a different note, I've started altering our daily routine to match Austin's new school schedule. Now the babies can take a nap while he's at school, and be up in time to pick him up. Which saves me so much grief! Now if Chloe would just fall into place I'd be all set. However, this little princess has plans of her own. And none of them include sleep. One day I will sleep through the night again, completely uninterrupted. And it will be heaven. Until that day, my zombie-like state of grogginess- which happens to match my zombie-like complexion- will just have to suffice. I'm learning to function quite efficiently on a few short hours of sleep.

It's been too long

I can't believe it's been this long since I posted, things have just been crazy. The kids got sick (again), we're trying to get Austin ready for school and Lee is going back to school. We've had doctor visits and interviews. I've been exhausted. Now both babies have a bad rash I can't get rid of. First we thought it was yeast, but the treatment isn't helping. They're very uncomfortable :( So life has been a little hectic. Hopefully in the next few weeks things will settle down and life can return to somewhat normal.

My kids are so sweet!

Both babies were being extremely difficult tonight. FIghting sleep and screaming. I could take no more. I put Chloe in her crib and Beautiful in the big bed and left them to CIO while I made a bottle and snack. Suddenly they got VERY quiet. I sneak in, and Beautiful had gotten out of bed, sat next to the crib, turned on the crib gym music and was rubbing Chloe while "singing" her to sleep. Once he was satisfied she was asleep, he just walked back to his bed and layed down.

I sat there by the door trying not to cry loudly. He was so sweet! They are generally inseparable, so they always make each other happy. He was adorable trying to sing.

My Complete Stash

Sorry it's been so long

The past couple weeks have been so hectic! All three kids got sick, then the babies ended up with pneumonia. Not fun! Once we got them all better, Will got a pretty serious burn on his stomach. Also not fun. Lee was off work the last week for plant shut-down, so we've been having family time. We took the kids to the water park one day. They had a blast! I got started sewing some stuff, but haven't gotten much done since I haven't had time. Today I went out with my mom and sister. It was a nice girl's day out- without the kids! While shopping was very frustrating, it proved fruitful. I got some jeans and a couple shirts and new pair of shoes! I have yet to see an occasion to wear my new clothes, but the day will come! And, perhaps MY most exciting news, I finally got the rest of my cloth diaper order! YAY! My stash is finally complete! I am happy with it, though I'm planning on sending a few to fellow mom in need. We don't use them much anyway. Pics to follow, but that's the short version of the past two weeks.

I finally found ....

A website that sells Tomme Tippee bottles for a reasonable price! Chloe loves these bottles and they fit perfectly in her hand, but they are impossible to find. The few sites I've found them either don't have any in stock or the price is double! These are awesome bottles for breastfed babies as the nipple shape is closer to a mother's natural shape. They are super soft and don't bother when she's teething! The website has so many baby products, including my favorite gDiapers in color two packs and the hard-to-find pink ruffle. I'm officially addicted. My husband can't work the gDiapers though, so I think I'll order more bumgenius all-in-ones just for him. I'll try anything to get him to change a diaper!
I'm massively addicted and obsessed with cloth diapers. They're so cute, and there's so many styles to choose from! And I really like the fact that if I don't like it, I can sell it and I haven't lost a bunch of money- unlike the 30 opened packs of disposables! I hate seeing all that wasted money just sitting around.

For less exciting news, both boys are sick. Austin has an ear infection and Will has a cold. Austin will be better within a week, Will tends to stay sick for a while. He's been so cranky- the only thing that made him happy yesterday was sitting in top of the kitchen table eating grapes from a cup. He refused a plate, but the cup was fun! Hopefully all the kids will sleep better tonight- I'm exhausted! Chloe was up until 4am, and Will woke up at 6. Mommy needs a nap!

I've realized...

My kids have taken over my life. If I want to run to the store, I have to think if it's really worth getting three kids dressed, loaded, and unloaded then taking them in the store, repeat. I no longer think "What do I want for dinner?" anymore. It's turned into "What can I make for the kids?" And as I sit in my newly cleaned house, I realize they have taken over that too. My living room is a mass of baby products, my kitchen has transformed into baby-proof zone and I step over toys daily. I dream of what my living room will look like as my kids grow. No longer will there be two highchairs, a bouncer, a swing, a pack-n-play...soon these will be replaced with backpacks and school books, sneakers and gym bags, and crowded with friends. And when I think of teenagers taking over my house, I much prefer the baby things. Though I can't help but think how much space I'll have. There won't be an entire cabinet dedicated to bottles and baby food. There won't be a closet full of diapers and crib sheets. And, someday, there will no longer be three overflowing toy boxes. I don't want to rush the baby phase, and I try to enjoy every possible moment with my precious little ones, but my mind tends to wander. What will I do with my time when I'm not playing peek-a-boo and changing diapers all day? I suppose I will go back to work one day, but for now I'm enjoying my kids. Even if it means having a cluttered home.

MY HOUSE IS CLEAN!!!

YAY! My mom and sister came over today and we actually got my house cleaned up! All the dishes are washed, laundry is done and put away, you can see my living room floor!! They were absolutely amazing for helping me out. My mom bought food and paper plates so I didn't have to cook or clean up, and they entertained the kids while I got work done or washed some dishes and folded clothes while I fed the babies. Now my house looks great and I really think I can keep it up. We got a little pool for the kids and they played for a while. Will is still a little unsure of it, be he didn't fight it the whole time. Chloe is napping peacefully while I'm finishing up a few things. It's been a great day!

It's been a few days..

since I last wrote. Things have just been a little crazy around here lately. The good news: we actually managed to get some cleaning done. The bad news: it still doesn't look like it. We had to spray for bugs in the kitchen, so everything from the kitchen got moved to the living room. Kitchen looks great! Living room, not so much. But the laundry is at least clean and ready to be folded and most of the toys are out of the way. My house will be so pretty when my kids move out! My living room has been taken over by baby things. The swing, Pack-n-Play, bouncer, walker, car seats...The walls are lined with baby products. My home is an ad from Baby-R-Us.
I did get my new ring sling on Saturday! I was so excited and couldn't wait to try it out! It took a little while to adjust and learn all the holds, but now I'm back to full time babywearing. I love having Chloe close enough to kiss whenever I so desire. I was able to get some work done and even enjoy some peaceful TV time while she nested comfortably on my chest.
On a depressing note- one of my diapers was thrown away. Not by me, of course, I guard them with my life. But I didn't get a chance to change Will before he left for Grandma's and she felt so inclined to get rid of it. I was pretty upset. I spent so much time picking out just the right ones, and so much money ensuring I had enough. I've left messages asking about it, but no response. Maybe I will just go to her house and throw away some of her shoes. Then she will understand my undying love for my cloth.
My family is coming to visit today, so it should be an interesting evening. I'm sure I will have plenty to say about that later!
UPDATE: My family just left. We had a wonderful visit! They were amazed at my pretty cloth diapers and the new Boon Spoon. I'm nuts, I know, but I like to show off my baby stuff! The kids were all well behaved and no visit from the other Grandmother! :) I managed to get at least some clothes folded. But right now I'm more focused on finding me something for dinner.

I just wanted to show off some of my cute kids!!

This is by far the funniest blog I have ever read! I crack up every time I see it. The combination of computer-yet-child-like artwork with her witty sense of humor and amazing writing skills keep me endlessly entertained!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
I recommend checking it out. She is absolutely brilliant!

It's been a loooong day! My PPD go the best of me, and I just felt like crap. I am hungry with nothing to eat, my new diapers are torn up, my new ring sling isn't here yet and the house still looks like a disaster despite hours of work. I took out 5 bags of trash, attempted to do more dishes, picked up the living room- and I still can't tell a difference.
On the bright side, Will tried to say a few more words. "Aunt Christa" "Bible" and "I love you". Of course they didn't sound anything like that, but he tried!

Well, I got rid of the boys for a couple hours. Chloe took a nap, so I actually got to eat lunch! Then I got the bills paid, 5 bags of trash taken out, the living room picked up and the baby cabinet organized! Still have tons of dishes to wash, but I don't think that will ever change!

For all of those who are considering cloth- and especially those who can't convince their husbands- check out this blog:
http://www.breastfeedbabywearclothdiaper.com/how-i-convinced-my-husband-to-cloth-diaper
It gives great info, including tips on convincing the hubby.

I'm so talented! I can make all three kids scream at once! Step1- put Chloe down. Step 2- Send Austin to his room. Step 3- Wash dishes. It fools Will into thinking you're making me food, and he has a massive meltdown when he discovers the truth.

Chloe loves her new stuff! She got her first pairs of BabyLegs today and a Boon Spoon. I love them!

I'm tired already and haven't even started baths! But Austin was sent to bed early, so that makes it a little bit easier. He's been acting up so much lately. And I keep getting yelled at for it! It's not my fault I can't take him to the park or let him ride his bike down the street. It's not a safe area for him to go alone, and it's impossible to get out with all three kids when it's 100 degrees outside! Life is so frustrating!

Well, I can't say today was completely uneventful. Will was a little monster. First, he covered Chloe in PEPPER. I'm still not sure how he got it. She was perfectly happy and I come in to find him emptying the pepper shaker on her. She didn't seem to mind, but pepper is hard to wipe off. Then he was throwing a fit, and somehow managed to shut his fingers in a door. By the hinge. How does one do this? Especially one whose arms aren't long enough to reach the door knob and the hinge at the same time. He never ceases to amaze me. He rather enjoyed bath time with sister while Austin played on the computer. I was too tired to fight with them, so I put the babies in the tub together and just put everyone to bed a little later. But, all in all, it wasn't a horrible day. Just tiring.

I'm exhausted!

Bath time is getting to be quite a chore. I use to love giving the kids baths. We could talk and play and splash happily with no care. Now, it's a 2 hour marathon of running around, finding and changing clothes, cleaning up water, fixing bottles and sippy cups and lots of tears. Will loves the bath. He hates getting out. Every night he has a meltdown when he's asked to get out. Austin could care less either way, but is so difficult to wash! He doesn't wash himself well, just his thighs and belly area. So Mommy has to take over. Chloe won't sit still to save her life. She gets so excited and kicks and wiggles. She requires all hands on deck. By the time all is said and done, and I'm through running up and down the stairs getting everyone tucked in, I am exhausted! And ready for dinner! :) Man I wish I could afford a nanny...

Some of my pretty cloth diapers!

Why I Choose Cloth

I thought it would be nice to put some more information out there about WHY I love my cloth diapers. Most people think I'm criminally insane at the very thought of washing a dirty diaper. I am out to prove them wrong!

For my family, with two kids in diapers:
Case of disposables: $35 x 2 kids = $70 We went through about a case and half every month (per kid). 70 x 1.5 = $105 a month.
IF both my kids are potty trained by 36 months (2 and half years old) we would spend $3150 on diapers. This does not include the cost of Pull Ups for potty training, or purchased diapers that were outgrown before use.

Cloth diapers: I bought one-size pocket diapers for $10 each. I bought 30 so I would have enough for two kids and wash every other day. Total cost of diapers $300 from birth to potty training.

Here is a link to cost savings calculator, which factors in which type of diapers used, the cost of water and electricity usage from washing, and the cost of detergent. I recommend checking it out for a very accurate cost-savings comparison.
http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp

Disposables: $3150 - Cloth $300 = $2850 saved! What could you do with an extra $2850?

This also does not cover the re-sale value (yes, you can buy and sell used cloth diapers) or what you would save on using them for multiple children. Even if I only sold them for 10% of what I paid (they usually sell for 15-50%), then I would make back $30! What do you get back when you use disposables? Nothing! Decide to have another baby? Great! You don't have to buy more diapers! If you had 2 kids in disposables for $3150 (birth to potty training), then decided to have two more, you would spend $6300 on DIAPERS!!! If you used cloth, you'd never have to buy another diaper again! You could save thousands!!

I've found that I actually wash a little less laundry since switching to cloth. Wish disposables, we always had blowouts, causing multiple outfit changes, bedding changes, bouncer and swing covers washed. It was always a mess. But with cloth, we never have blowouts or leaks! I no longer have to change and wash 3 or 4 outfits + blankets everyday. I just wash a load of diapers 2-3 times a week. It's much easier than I ever expected! I love the cute patterns, how soft they are, and how few rashes we get! We always got diaper rashes with disposables, no matter what brand we used or how often we changed them. I'm proud to announce we haven't had a single rash since switching to cloth!

I hope new parents will at least consider the option of cloth diapers. These aren't your grandma's prefolds and pins! Cloth diapers have a come a long way. They have snaps and velcro, covers built in, cute prints, trimmer fit and come in a variety of styles! I wish more people would consider cltoh, if not for the cost savings, for the environment, for the baby's comfort, and for earlier potty training! The list of benefits go on and on, but I like that I can save money, while NOT using chemicals on my precious baby's bum!

So tired!

I THOUGHT all the kids would sleep so well last night after running around all day. Austin got up several times because he was too hot. Chloe got up 5 times to eat, and Will only woke up once. Then I had to get up early to take Austin to get fitted for a tux. The kids were wild and cranky all day. I am so worn out. But I just now got to eat some dinner. YUM White Castle burgers!
I ran out of clean diapers tonight, so Will had to go to bed in a sposie. I know he'll leak horribly and be soaked in the morning. I left all my diapers in the wash yesterday while we went to the water park. So by the time I got all the diapers washed and hung up, they didn't have time to dry before he went to bed. Luckily, I had several g's clean, so Chloe still had some. I just don't have enough OS Pockets for Will! I can't wait to get some more. I never want to put him to bed in a sposie again! UGH!

Fun day out

We went to the water park today! It was a nice change from the confinement of the living room. The kids LOVED the pool. Chloe took to it right away, Will needed a little help. But once he got the idea, he was splashing and kicking in no time! We went for pizza afterward and everyone passed around the baby so Mommy got a chance to eat! Will was flirting all through dinner, but at least he ate something. His teeth are still coming in and his gums are a little swollen, but he's back to normal for the most part. Unfortunately I did not get a tan :( But at least nobody got sun burned!

Day of Church

Well, of course we didn't make it to church on time! That would just be crazy! But we managed to catch at least most of the sermon. Enjoyed a relaxing lunch with my parents. Dad watched the boys while Chloe and Daddy napped. The picnic was great. The boys got to run around and Chloe enjoyed some fresh fruits. They were adorable, and my bath tub was filled with sand from the playground. Now the boys are in bed and its time for Mommy to relax!

Been a good day...

Well, the car got cleaned out, the lawn got mowed, the boys had some birthday cake and I got a decent shower! All in all it was a good day. Now all the kids have clothes laid out, diaper bags packed, and breakfast ready to go. I think we actually have a shot at getting to church on time. I am excited to see my face is looking so much better! The new skin care stuff I ordered is doing wonders! No more acne, no more dry, peeling skin, and no more painful chapped lips! It smells great, and I love the free bag it came with! But I'm a sucker for purses :) All my new diapers are washed and packed or put away. The boys got new clothes from MIL (very cute) and Chloe got a little dress. Austin made a mountain in the back yard with the grass clippings! He had to take a bath solo tonight.
Lee had a pretty good birthday (I think). He got money from his parents, a nice -yummy- cake, and a night out with the boys. Now we'll just see if he survives tomorrow morning! For some reason, getting ready for church is a fight every time! By the time we get to church we need church! But I can't wait to show off my cuties (and their cute new diapers) at the picnic!

Here is Will enjoying Daddy's cake:


And here is playing with sister. He really loves her!

Fluffy Mail!!!

YAY- I got a few more of my diapers today! Not all of them, but four more g's and prefolds to go in them! I've been waiting on these for weeks. I'm so excited, Chloe is going to look so cute tomorrow!! Just had to share!

My new stuff:






My entire stash:

Ah...sleep!

It's 10pm, ALL the kids are sleeping, and I'm up waiting on hubby. But I did get a short nap today! :) MIL took the boys for the afternoon while Chloe and I got some rest.
Today is hubby's birthday- he's now 27. That seems so old! I've never paid much attention to our age difference, but 21 and 27 seems like such a big gap. I like to remind him he's pushing 30. :) I think I'll let him sleep in tomorrow, at least for a bit, then we'll just have a quiet night at home. Or, at least as quiet as it can be with three kids.
I've been shopping around for a new baby carrier. My favorite sling was recalled, and the one I have now is bulky and difficult to work. Between that and my cloth diaper addiction, we're going to be forever broke. But I haven't bought anything in over a week. :( I'm hoping to get just a few more diapers to complete my stash, once I sell off my small diapers, and then be done with it. But they're just so cute and hard to resist!!

So Sad :(

Just found out my dearest sister will not be moving home anytime soon. The job offer she's been wanting hasn't happened yet. So she will be taking a local job for the next year. I was really hoping she would get a job here and move back home! I miss her and haven't been able to spend more than a week with her in 5 years. My kids miss her, she is their favorite toy! Hopefully she can move back soon and not miss the precious baby years of her niece and nephews.

Someday I'll sleep!

JUST when I think things will get better...Chloe went to bed at 9pm last night!! She slept for four hours straight! I thought I was going to get some rest, but Will decided he couldn't let that happen. He woke up 5 or 6 times. I just noticed this morning he is cutting 2 MORE teeth, in addition to three from yesterday. FIVE teeth coming in at once! Poor guy. His gums are swollen and I'm sure it hurts. I gave him some Tylenol and he's napping now, but I think he'll have baby food popcicles for dinner. On the bright side, Chloe learned to roll over!! She's rolled all over the living room today. Which has given me much needed time to take care of laundry. The kids clothes are now all organized and put away, hall closet and nursery closet organized, diapers are all washed and mommy had a Snickers for her treat!

Busy Week!

Chloe decided to go on a hunger strike. I ended up calling my parents over to help. She would not eat or sleep for almost 36 hours. She showed no other signs of illness, but would not stop crying. She's normally such a happy baby! But Grandpa finally got her to take a bottle and a short nap. Will enjoyed having Grandma at bath time- he splashed her the entire time! He really loves her.

Its been a while!

I haven't posted in a while. Things have been crazy. Chloe went to the ER. Austin finished school. Lee got a job!! We're very excited. I managed to get some work done on the house. We're catching up on bills. And I'm slowly getting a little more sleep. Chloe is doing very well now. She eats often and is gaining weight. We recently switched to cloth diapers- which has been an adventure! But she's doing much better with them, no more rash! Will is now sleeping in his big boy bed. And Austin will not be going to Hawaii this summer. He's staying home! :)

More Progress

Today was very productive. Chloe and I slept in while Lee paid bills and cleaned some. Then when Austin got home, we all had lunch together and cleaned some more! I'm down to two dirty clothes baskets! I got the nursery mostly organized. Dishes are almost all done and the living room is thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed. Now if we could just get our room that clean!

Can't get organized...

Today we tried to clean! My mother in law took Austin for the night, and Will went to bed early. Hubby and I thought we would use this time to get some house work done. I just can't seem to get organized! I managed to get the nursery cleaned up, some laundry done, and living room picked up. Hubby did a few dishes. I finally got the drawers cleaned out so I can put away some of Chloe's things. The house still looks like a disaster, even though we worked for a few hours. We are attempting to baby-proof the whole house. Though Will still manages to get into things. Our project for tomorrow is getting his big boy bed set up! Wish us luck!