Emma's cute outfit a couple days before the 4th!
Our little family on the 4th of July!
Hangin' out in the truck, waitin' on the fireworks!
I tried to upload a video of the awesome fireworks, but it wouldn't work! Gotta get that figured out...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Emmalyn's First Independence Day
For Emmalyn's first Independence Day we decided to keep it pretty low key, so we did a little shopping, had dinner (with margaritas!) and watched the City of Katy fireworks. Here are some pics of our fun time!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Yep, I'm A Hippie! Obsession #2...
Advanced apologies to my friends who don't have kids and really won't care about this post. But please keep reading... you might find something interesting. Or you might learn something about me or my baby!
Continuing with my obsessions. Here's the whopper. Cloth diapering!
Yes, you read correctly, and I know what you're thinking... "WHAT? You must be some kind of hippie! Isn't it gross?" And here is my answer: A hippie? Maybe. Gross? Nope. Not at all.
And it really isn't! Cloth diapering isn't like it was "back in the day." I did a lot of research before I got into it, and although I wasn't sure I would like it, I decided to do a two week trial. And I loved it!! Emmalyn's diaper rash IMMEDIATELY cleared up and it was super easy!! There was no touching poo or folding and pinning! Don't get me wrong, some methods are easier (for me) than others, but there really is an easy way to cloth diaper for just about anyone!
This is the point where I absolutely MUST give a shout out to my girl Angela! She is the one who introduced me (and ultimately got me hooked) on cloth diapering!! Thanks chica!
I won't get into too much detail about ALL the different kinds of cloth diapering because I'm definitely no expert... but I WILL tell you about what I use! Hopefully this info will help at least one person to understand that it IS possible to have something that is good for your baby, good for the earth, and good for the pocketbook!
Let me start by telling you the advantages that I have found with cloth diapering so far:
1. Emmalyn has not had a diaper rash since we started cloth diapering. She had them frequently with disposable.s
2. Cloth diapering my daughter will eliminate literally TONS of waste from landfills! Even more with CD'ing the rest of our kids!
3. With the diapers and accessories I use, I will save over $1500 by the time Emmalyn is potty trained! And even more with reusing (most of) the diapers for our next child. (Obviously the pinks will be out if its a boy!)
4. I NEVER have that "Oh, crap! I'm out of diapers! I have to run to the store real quick!" moment. I usually never even have the "Oh, crap, there are no clean diapers! I have to do a load of wash" moment. Funny enough, I actually LIKE doing the diaper laundry!
5. The diapers are so CUTE! I don't even usually cover them up! I just put little dresses or long shirts on Emmalyn and let the cute diapers show!
Okay, that being said, on to the diapers!!
The first things I use are prefolds and covers. Prefolds are kind of what you would consider the "old school" diaper. Except you don't have to pin them! I usually fold mine into thirds, but sometimes I do it "old school" diaper style, but I use a Snappi. Let me illustrate.
Prefold
Prefold fastened with a Snappi (I borrowed this pic from the Snappi website)
Or I just fold it in thirds and lay it inside a cute cover! I LOVE these covers:
Often times I will use a fleece liner on top of a prefold to make sure my baby has the softest stuff against her little bum!
The prefold/cover system is the cheapest of all the cloth diapering systems I use. However, it is a little more labor-intensive than other methods.
Emmalyn in her striped diaper cover with a prefold.
The next system I use is called the Flip System. It is like the prefold/fleece/cover system, only easier!!
It has an awesome stay-dry insert that is fleece on one side and thick, absorbent cotton on the other. You just fold it to the size you need!
Then you just lay it in the cover, and snap it on to fit baby!!
Emmalyn in her Flip diaper!
I also sometimes use a fitted diaper, which don't always need a cover for the first hour or so. And they make really cute prints in fitteds too!
SUPER cute Kissaluvs fitted diaper!
These systems work GREAT when we are at home and out on short trips. But I won't be sending them to the babysitter's because I want to make CD'ing as easy as possible for the sitter!
Therefore, I will be sending pocket diapers to the sitter. These are actually my favorites because they are super soft and super fluffy! I use two types of pocket diapers. Fuzzibunz and BumGenius. I mostly use one-size pocket diapers that can grow with my baby. Just stuff them with a super-absorbent liner (2 for bedtime) and go! I will be pre-stuffing them for the babysitter, so then they will just go on and off like disposables! (At least I think so... Ashley, since you're the only babysitter Em's ever had... what did you think?)
The Fuzzibunz have a fleece interior against baby's bum and close with snaps. They have patterns AND some awesome colors!!
Fuzzibunz in Green Apple, Blue Daisy, and Grape
The BumGenius have a suede interior and close with velcro... but they recently came out with a new version that closes with snaps too! They are more limited in colors and don't have patters, but they work wonderfully!
BumGenius with velcro in Sweet, Twilight, and Blossom
Emmalyn in a small Fuzzibunz in Crushed Berries
One Size Fuzzibunz in Kumquat
BumGenius 3.0 in Blossom Pink
There really is a color or pattern for every outfit and occasion!!
Here is my current cloth diapering stash, minus a few that were in the diaper pail (or on Emmalyn) at the time of the picture! This "organizer" is actually for toys (like for in a playroom) and will eventually be moved to the children's game room of our house after I am done using it for diapers!
Top row: Pocket diapers on left, fitteds and covers on right
Second row: liners and Flip liners on left, unbleached prefolds on right
Third row: liners, hooded towels, fleece liners, extra elastics and Em's bathrobe
Bottom row: burp cloths, wash cloths, large wetbags, small/medium wetbags
For my friends who DO cloth diaper: please feel free to add whatever info, advice, etc. you may have!!
There is a TON more info available out there about cloth diapering! Here are just a few of the resources I love:
Here is the website for the detergent I use on my diapers (and all of Emmalyn's clothes):
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Dog Daze
Before my daughter was born, my husband and I pretty much considered our dogs as our children. They received tons of love and attention daily. We were and still are very much into helping animals and supporting no-kill animal shelters. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a vegeterian or anything, but I think there is something VERY wrong with cruelty and abuse towards animals. It breaks my heart. I am also against any type of breed-specific legislation, but I digress... that entire topic is a blog, or six, in and of itself.
Any way you look at it, my husband and I seriously love our dogs. And that did not change when my daughter was born... they merely took a back seat to the love we have for her. And their happiness and comfort comes second to hers. Thus, I will not be playing in the floor with the dogs if my daughter is awake and I can be playing with her. Doggy play time is baby nap time. So I'm sure my dogs are feeling a little neglected. And I suppose it is inevitable for them to act out because of that.
My dogs LOVE my daughter. They constantly hover around her and lay as close as possible to where she is. When she cries, they run to me as if saying, "Something is wrong! Fix it! Emma is unhappy!" It really is quite adorable. But I think our male dog (technically my husband's dog) is starting to think he has lost his "territory." Therefore, he has been marking in my house.
Not. Acceptable.
I am not altogether sure how to fix this problem. One, I know, he needs to go on a very good walk every day in order to wear him out (and get all of the "marking" out of his system). But given that this is Houston and it is either 8000 degrees outside or raining most days, it makes dog walking a little difficult. Not to mention I have a 3 month old baby and another dog that would like a walk. So how do we fix this problem?
First, I have resolved that if it is NOT raining, we WILL be going on nightly walks. I will wear my daughter in her wrap and that way my husband and I can each walk a dog. I have also thought of using the stroller for these walks, but I worry that somehow the dogs will tip the stroller over. Then we would for sure be a dogless household. Other than this, I have no idea how to break him of this habit! I just know that it CANNOT continue!! I refuse to allow it to continue, but I am seriously pulling my hair out over this stubborn dog!
Riley sleeping in my closet
Any way you look at it, my husband and I seriously love our dogs. And that did not change when my daughter was born... they merely took a back seat to the love we have for her. And their happiness and comfort comes second to hers. Thus, I will not be playing in the floor with the dogs if my daughter is awake and I can be playing with her. Doggy play time is baby nap time. So I'm sure my dogs are feeling a little neglected. And I suppose it is inevitable for them to act out because of that.
Zeus as a puppy
Not. Acceptable.
Playtime
I am not altogether sure how to fix this problem. One, I know, he needs to go on a very good walk every day in order to wear him out (and get all of the "marking" out of his system). But given that this is Houston and it is either 8000 degrees outside or raining most days, it makes dog walking a little difficult. Not to mention I have a 3 month old baby and another dog that would like a walk. So how do we fix this problem?
My Riley girl
First, I have resolved that if it is NOT raining, we WILL be going on nightly walks. I will wear my daughter in her wrap and that way my husband and I can each walk a dog. I have also thought of using the stroller for these walks, but I worry that somehow the dogs will tip the stroller over. Then we would for sure be a dogless household. Other than this, I have no idea how to break him of this habit! I just know that it CANNOT continue!! I refuse to allow it to continue, but I am seriously pulling my hair out over this stubborn dog!
Glued to Emmalyn's side...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sometimes, Things Suck
Yesterday I went to the hospital to visit the father of one of my very best friends. He is currently battling cancer for the second time and is in the hospital with complications from a combination of things.
When he first started this second battle, it was right before Emmalyn was born. I remember my friend telling me that he had cancer and I remember the feeling I got. Sick to my stomach. All I could think was "Nothing can happen to him. It would break my friend to the point of no return. He is her rock and one of the greatest men I've ever known. He is the closest thing to a father figure that I have. And the closest thing to a grandfather that my daughter has. Nothing can happen to him... the world would just fall apart. And so would my friend."
Once they figured out where all the cancer was and determined a course of treatment, it became evident that he would have both radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment wasn't the most traumatic part at that point. It was the fact that he was going to lose his hair. Don't get me wrong, he is by no means a vain man, but he had GORGEOUS hair that even Fabio would kill for. It was the only way I've ever seen him... with hair often longer than mine. In my mind, it was his "signature look." And, being the man that he is, he did not want to wait for the radiation to take his hair. So he buzzed it off. I can only imagine what that was like for him. The first time I saw him with no hair was the day my daughter was born. It was such an amazing day and I was so happy that he and my friend were there. But when he walked in that room and I saw him for the first time, it was suddenly a very real thing to me. Cancer. I started to cry. I was mad. And sad. Not for the loss of his hair, but for the battle he was (and still is) to endure. That bald head just made it very apparent that this was really happening to the people I love. Little did I know that the heartbreak would continue, and worsen, over the next few months.
When I walked into that hospital room yesterday, a different man was lying in the bed. The physical changes were the most shocking at first. He has lost so much weight! And I could tell he was tired... physically, mentally, and emotionally. But he put on a brave face through everything. The needles and procedures and testing... It was heartbreaking to watch such a vibrant, loving man go through such a thing. And it is still not over. There are still two more months (at least) of chemo and scans and testing and procedures to go.
HOW is this fair?? I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone, but why does it seem to only torture the good ones? Maybe because they are the only ones who can deal with it. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think he is more emotionally together than my friend and I combined. I watched her yesterday, and maybe its because I know her so well or because we are so much alike, but I noticed the face she puts on. I can tell that she's scared and worried, but she will never show it. And there is nothing I can do to make the situation any better, any easier. So how do you deal? What do you do? It seems like there is nothing to do but sit around and watch the torture continue. The helpless feeling is... well, it sucks.
When he first started this second battle, it was right before Emmalyn was born. I remember my friend telling me that he had cancer and I remember the feeling I got. Sick to my stomach. All I could think was "Nothing can happen to him. It would break my friend to the point of no return. He is her rock and one of the greatest men I've ever known. He is the closest thing to a father figure that I have. And the closest thing to a grandfather that my daughter has. Nothing can happen to him... the world would just fall apart. And so would my friend."
Once they figured out where all the cancer was and determined a course of treatment, it became evident that he would have both radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment wasn't the most traumatic part at that point. It was the fact that he was going to lose his hair. Don't get me wrong, he is by no means a vain man, but he had GORGEOUS hair that even Fabio would kill for. It was the only way I've ever seen him... with hair often longer than mine. In my mind, it was his "signature look." And, being the man that he is, he did not want to wait for the radiation to take his hair. So he buzzed it off. I can only imagine what that was like for him. The first time I saw him with no hair was the day my daughter was born. It was such an amazing day and I was so happy that he and my friend were there. But when he walked in that room and I saw him for the first time, it was suddenly a very real thing to me. Cancer. I started to cry. I was mad. And sad. Not for the loss of his hair, but for the battle he was (and still is) to endure. That bald head just made it very apparent that this was really happening to the people I love. Little did I know that the heartbreak would continue, and worsen, over the next few months.
When I walked into that hospital room yesterday, a different man was lying in the bed. The physical changes were the most shocking at first. He has lost so much weight! And I could tell he was tired... physically, mentally, and emotionally. But he put on a brave face through everything. The needles and procedures and testing... It was heartbreaking to watch such a vibrant, loving man go through such a thing. And it is still not over. There are still two more months (at least) of chemo and scans and testing and procedures to go.
HOW is this fair?? I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone, but why does it seem to only torture the good ones? Maybe because they are the only ones who can deal with it. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think he is more emotionally together than my friend and I combined. I watched her yesterday, and maybe its because I know her so well or because we are so much alike, but I noticed the face she puts on. I can tell that she's scared and worried, but she will never show it. And there is nothing I can do to make the situation any better, any easier. So how do you deal? What do you do? It seems like there is nothing to do but sit around and watch the torture continue. The helpless feeling is... well, it sucks.
Motherhood Causes Obsessions, Part I
Since the day my husband and I decided to get pregnant, I have been obsessed with every detail of my pregnancy and my daughter and how to give her the very best of everything on our limited budget. I poured over every website and book I could get my hands on during my pregnancy. And now that Emmalyn is here, I can't stop searching for the best in everything for babies and mommies! Of course, I stole info and ideas from every mother I know and used their knowledge and ideas to spur my own research. And in my research I encountered some seriously interesting and crazy stuff.
My first three obsessions were breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and baby wearing. There are others, but since I'm a new mom, I'll have to do this in parts.
My first obsession (even before Emmalyn was born) was breastfeeding. I knew I wanted to breastfeed from the very beginning, but since I had never done it before I wanted to make sure I was fully informed and that I set us up to be successful. So I read everything I could get my hands on and went to a breastfeeding class. I also talked to my friends who had breastfed their babies. I soon discovered there are TONS of resources for breastfeeding mothers! The La Leche League is apparently the best place to find any and all information about breastfeeding. My wonderful friend gave me her book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and it is a wonderfully comprehensive book for both mothers AND fathers!
I never thought something so simple could be so satisfying! There is nothing like the bond I feel with my daughter or knowing that I am giving her the very best thing I possibly can for her health! Plus, I love not having to take bottles and such with me everywhere I go. Everything I need is already in perfect form and ready to go! I DO often take a cover with me (I'm all about women breastfeeding in public, but not so sure I would want one of my students to see me at the mall or something) but I don't often find it necessary to use it. However, now that Em will be going to the sitter in about a month (SOOOO sad!!), we are using occasional bottles of pumped breastmilk at home so she will get used to the idea (and she is NOT a fan!). I know things are going to get MUCH harder when I go back to work... with having to pump and refrigerate/freeze... but I am determined to do it! My goal is to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months, then continue breastfeeding for her first year of life, even after we introduce solid (or mushed-up) foods.
As wonderful as breastfeeding is, it can be really hard if you don't have people to support you. Luckily my family and friends have been AMAZING! They all love me and Emmalyn and want the very best for her, so they have encouraged me to do what I need to do! It is amazing how much easier it is to do something like this with a good support system! Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family!
While discovering the bliss of breastfeeding, I have also discovered that there is a whole other side of this topic I never even knew existed! Apparently there is a portion of the (mostly American) public who think that breastfeeding is unnatural and gross. While I cannot understand their reasoning, I refuse to engage in debate with these people. Don't get me wrong, I have friends who chose not to breastfeed, and I am totally okay with their making that choice (how can I not be? It is THEIR choice!) But because of this discovery, I am making a point to tell everyone I can about the benefits of breastfeeding, the joys of breastfeeding, and to share the resources I have found so that women can make INFORMED decisions about breastfeeding and are not fed the old wives tales and "solutions" to breastfeeding problems. Here are some of the resources I have found helpful:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: http://store.llli.org/public/profile/201
La Leche League International: http://www.llli.org/
Best For Babes: http://www.bestforbabes.org/
The next obsession: Cloth Diapering... to come when I have more time because this one is a doozie!!
My first three obsessions were breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and baby wearing. There are others, but since I'm a new mom, I'll have to do this in parts.
My first obsession (even before Emmalyn was born) was breastfeeding. I knew I wanted to breastfeed from the very beginning, but since I had never done it before I wanted to make sure I was fully informed and that I set us up to be successful. So I read everything I could get my hands on and went to a breastfeeding class. I also talked to my friends who had breastfed their babies. I soon discovered there are TONS of resources for breastfeeding mothers! The La Leche League is apparently the best place to find any and all information about breastfeeding. My wonderful friend gave me her book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and it is a wonderfully comprehensive book for both mothers AND fathers!
I never thought something so simple could be so satisfying! There is nothing like the bond I feel with my daughter or knowing that I am giving her the very best thing I possibly can for her health! Plus, I love not having to take bottles and such with me everywhere I go. Everything I need is already in perfect form and ready to go! I DO often take a cover with me (I'm all about women breastfeeding in public, but not so sure I would want one of my students to see me at the mall or something) but I don't often find it necessary to use it. However, now that Em will be going to the sitter in about a month (SOOOO sad!!), we are using occasional bottles of pumped breastmilk at home so she will get used to the idea (and she is NOT a fan!). I know things are going to get MUCH harder when I go back to work... with having to pump and refrigerate/freeze... but I am determined to do it! My goal is to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months, then continue breastfeeding for her first year of life, even after we introduce solid (or mushed-up) foods.
As wonderful as breastfeeding is, it can be really hard if you don't have people to support you. Luckily my family and friends have been AMAZING! They all love me and Emmalyn and want the very best for her, so they have encouraged me to do what I need to do! It is amazing how much easier it is to do something like this with a good support system! Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family!
While discovering the bliss of breastfeeding, I have also discovered that there is a whole other side of this topic I never even knew existed! Apparently there is a portion of the (mostly American) public who think that breastfeeding is unnatural and gross. While I cannot understand their reasoning, I refuse to engage in debate with these people. Don't get me wrong, I have friends who chose not to breastfeed, and I am totally okay with their making that choice (how can I not be? It is THEIR choice!) But because of this discovery, I am making a point to tell everyone I can about the benefits of breastfeeding, the joys of breastfeeding, and to share the resources I have found so that women can make INFORMED decisions about breastfeeding and are not fed the old wives tales and "solutions" to breastfeeding problems. Here are some of the resources I have found helpful:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: http://store.llli.org/public/profile/201
La Leche League International: http://www.llli.org/
Best For Babes: http://www.bestforbabes.org/
The next obsession: Cloth Diapering... to come when I have more time because this one is a doozie!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Mommyhood ~ Not As Easy As It Seems...
So I'm 3 months into the most amazing, most challenging experience of my life. And ever single minute is worth it, but sometimes I think I am going to go bald... or prematurely gray. There just aren't enough hours in the day. And I don't have enough hands. And every single day it seems like I learn something new. Something that it seems like I should have known BEFORE. So, these revelations have inspired me to blog about my pregnancy, birth, and mommy experience. And to catalog all the crazy things I learn along the way, and the resources that are helpful, interesting, and just plain crazy. Who knew there was SO much to know?? The inspiration for my constant search for the best of everything...
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