Wednesday, February 24

Wish List Wednesday: Winter Wonderland!

Not to rub it in, but we have not had a winter this year in Seattle, in fact it feels like spring already! Even when we went back home for Christmas, there was only a dusting of snow on the ground and the temp was exceptionally mild. So, as we are packing today for Ohio's flight tomorrow night, I'm kind of excited to get bundled up and to see the snow piled high and the need for my sunglasses as the sun reflects it's glorious glare into my eyes!

Here is my Winter Wish List look, thank you Nordstrom.

Tuesday, February 23

Newest Additions!

Henry has been with us for a couple weeks now and I think he got lonely, so he called up his friend Lola and now she's on her way!

Can't wait till she moves in for good... so I can sleep again!

Monday, February 22

Weekend Warriors: Celebrating 6 months of Joy!

I'm still in shock... I have a six month old. In the last 6 months, I have experienced the ultimate rite of passage. Natural, blissful childbirth! Together we have laughed and we have cried. I have felt confident and uncertain. Stifled at times and yet at others, tremendous freedom and growth. (Welcome to motherhood... right!)

To celebrate this amazing, sunny weekend and Parker's life we borrowed my girl friends camera and hit the city! Here are just a couple of the 300 pictures that we took! Enjoy!!!!





Thank you God and Parker, for choosing us to be your parents. You have forever enriched our lives.

Friday, February 19

Here Fishy, Fishy.

Birth Matters: 9 Celebrity Moms Who Opted For Natural

I know, I know... what you hear about Hollywood isn't always true. But in this case, I'm welcoming 'them' to the club and choosing to see truth in their claims!

Don't HATE them ladies... JOIN them!

9 Celebrity Moms Who Opted For Natural Childbirth

Posted using ShareThis

Thursday, February 18

Retail Therapy... Gone Awry

'Why do you torture yourself' says Doug.

'It's not torture, it's therapy. Besides, it's inspiration for new wardrobe ideas inside my old wardrobe' replies Chandra.

I have had a Nordstrom gift card burning a whole in my pocket for months now. It's been so bad that Doug has threatened to use it himself or throw it out. Seriously... I have spent HOURS drooling over my keyboard looking at the deals from winter sale and dreaming about the bright colors of spring.

Here's my dilemma. Buy what I need or what I want? Spend the amount that's on the gift card, or go over a little over? Purses, jeans, SHOES, makeup... seriously HOW AM I TO DECIDE?!!!!!!!!

Today I stopped by Nordstrom Rack. It was lined wall to wall and floor to ceiling with items screaming my name! The Coach sunglasses, the William Rast Jeans, the Michael Kors rain coat and the shoes... oh they were not merciful.

Being a Mom I'm not going to lie... has put a slight cluster in my fashion sense and the question of sensibility. I now have to think, 'Can I breastfeed in this?' 'How will this fabric and color sport the puke spot it will inevitably have?' 'Can I walk miles in these shoes while wearing a 17lb child?' Should I keep going...

I dreamed of our tax return, or $1000 -that's it! The bliss of recreating my wardrobe to help me express my new found self...

Today, I left feeling a little more deflated than I have in the past... Today, I might have tortured myself.

Wednesday, February 17

Wish List Wednesday

Today is 'Wish List Wednesday' and here are some of my latest little boy finds!

Mini Shatsu, a line of life inspired clothing. Notice the tattoos on the arms... I couldn't resist!

Okkies, comfortable, easy-care, hip kids’ wear! These comfy pants come in black, red and plum!

Creative Recreation, amazing colors, textures and patterns. Not the exact color scheme I originally picked... but cute non the less! (You should see the girls collection!)

(Grace please... I let some the more professional pictures of these products get away from me... I will do better next time, promise!)

Thursday, February 11

$700 & A Reduction

My experience with cloth diapers and the hope that you'll consider 'Reducing Your Babe's Carbon Footprint.'

I knew I wanted to use cloth before Parker was born and for many reasons really. It was cost effective, environmentally friendly, good for the babes and that my mother had used cloth on me. There is something very sentimental about using certain methods or ways in parenting that those before me have used including my mother. When I told people of my plan some encouraged me and others laughed, 'It wouldn't last.'

In 2010 we are consumed by time. We are both driven and angered by what takes up our time, what we get in exchange for our time and quite frankly bitch about what we don't get accomplished with our time. Cloth diapering takes a little of my time. It is 2 additional loads of laundry every 3 days. I have encountered many challenges involved with this method but with all things, time, persistence and cleaver thinking always prevails.

The reward for me has been:
  1. I know what materials my babe is wearing, they are chemical free and allow his sweet tush to breath.
  2. At 6 months old we have spent $700 and we are now finished with all diapering expenses that he will incur. (That's $30 per month for 2 years... hoping he potty trains early!)
  3. Some say a cloth diapered child potty trains earlier. (It doesn't wick away the pee and poop as well)
  4. While some will argue that I'm using water and electricity, I'm not contributing THOUSANDS of diapers to a landfill. (Please remove my halo as I always have 1 pack of disposables on hand and when out and about use throw away wipes)
  5. These diapers can be used for future children as well.
  6. I enjoy spraying out the poo with the 'wash your dog hose' from Home Depot. Even better is when the adapter from the shower doesn't switch back over and Doug SPRAYS THE WHOLE BATHROOM while turning on the shower. Brings a smile to my face every time!
FACTS about Disposables

A babe in diapers for 2.5 years:
  • 7,300 diapers, an average of 8 a day
  • About $2,482
A babe in diapers for 3 years:
  • 8,760 diapers
  • About $2,978
Other randoms:
  • 42 dirty disposables per week will equate to about one full kitchen-sized trash bag – around 20 extra pounds of trash, or four extra bags of trash (80 pounds) per month.
  • It takes a disposable diaper 550 years to disintegrate!
My cloth diaper headquarters:



In closing, I challenge you to think about it... if it isn't cloth diapers for you, what else could you do - or not do?

More on my favorite diapers and products to come. In the mean time ask me any questions you might have!

My favorite local resource is Punkernoodle Baby. She's in Seattle but can ship anywhere. Use her, she's amazing!

Monday, February 8

Freedom

If you haven't heard let me tell you... we got a new bed. A big bed, with pillow top and it's lovely. It pretty much whispers me sweet nothings until I fall asleep and keeps me asleep all night.Parker has been generous as well, as he too is sleeping through the night!

Anyways, Doug and Parker had one last play session on the bed before we gave it the boot. They were making soooo much noise that I had to go check it out for myself. Let me preface this by explaining that while Parker has rolled for weeks from side to side and a couple of times some double rolls, he does so sparingly. On the bed this particular day he figured out he could steamroll! No rolls, just laughs... but great just the same!

Thursday, February 4

Ham

I never really loved ham before now...
Seriously, isn't he such a HAM!