Stock Up

www.childrensplace.com

Go there. Click on SALE. Stock up for your kiddies for next summer. At checkout, enter code FA79 to get an extra 15% off. Steals & deals people!!!

Just some Babble

My Thoughts On:

Another Baby: I've been really wanting another baby since the moment Allie was born. It's so weird! I had absolutely zero desire for our 2nd baby until Cameron was about 18 months old. Anyway, but don't get your hopes (or fears!) up.....the soonest I will get pregnant is next spring or summer. We're thinking about 2 years between Allie and #3. Maybe a little less...maybe a little more. It will depend on our financial situation, Nate's school situation, and most importantly, we will just have to see what the Lord has planned for our family!!

On Breastfeeding: Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month? I love it! Today I had a WIC appointment for Allie. I love how Pro-Breastfeeding they are over there. They gave me a free gift since I made it past the 6-month mark in breastfeeding Allie (just a resuable grocery bag, not too exciting, but I love using those, so I was happy!). Also, they have changed the entire WIC program. We now get 64 jars of baby food a month!!!! I was shocked! That's going to be so nice! Allie still just mostly breastfeeds. She eats a few bites of solids a day, but that's it. I know she eats enough though because she's gained another 3 ounces since her 6 month checkup a few weeks ago....and I still leak milk like faucet!! It's really annoying....but atleast I only go through 1 box of nursing pads a week instead of 2 or 3 like I do at the beginning!! My goal is to make it to one year. I think we'll make it just fine. She hates bottles anyway...but she's starting to love sippy cups! I'm sort of glad I'll never have to deal with weaning her off of a bottle. I wouldn't know...but I've heard it can be difficult! Although I guess it can't be any worse than trying to rid of Cam's binkies!

On Journaling: Well, I've given up on scrapbooking, and I've decided to buy (or make?) cute journals for the kids and write in them every Sunday. What do you do for your kids??

On Headbands: Allie no longer wears her headbands. She pulls them off. Besides, the nylon ones were getting too tight, and she looked retarded in the crochet ones cuz her forhead is so small, so it looked more like a exercise band, haha! So she's done with all of her big flowers until she has more hair. And I gave her headbands to Cameron....he puts them all over his arms, legs, head and body and runs around. Go for it buddy.

The Madness

You know your kids have toooo many clothes when you don't do their laundry for 2 weeks, and they STILL have several days worth of clean outfits still hanging in their closets.....

People have been so generous. We've hardly spent a dime. THANK YOU!!!

Cradle Cap & Kid Spacing

Cradle Cap....need a remedy. Anyone??

Also, for those of you with kids close in age....pro & cons, please!! Thanks!!

Plain Jane

So for some odd reason, I can't get over how much I LOVE the name Jane! Would it be weird to use it for another daughter even though it's Allison's middle name??

In other news....Allie just got over a diaper rash. WHY did she get a rash? I'll tell you why....the girl WON'T CRY!!! She just sits there smiling and babbling away while the poo dries & sticks to her little tushie. She's at the age now where her poo episodes aren't very explosive (aka noisy) anymore....and she isn't really on enough solids yet to really make it stink. SO I've had to train myself to check her bum every 30 minutes or so. Bordeaux's Butt Paste is awesome.

Too fast

Allie is wearing her size 9 mo clothes now. I can't believe it. She's about 16 lb now, so almost double her birth weight. Why is time flying so fast? I want to CRY! It made me sad to pack away her 3-6 month stuff. I wish Cameron's toddler years would go as quickly.....

I'll warn you right now, this post might make some of you SQUIRM!!!!!! Read at your own risk!!

SO.....tonight I finally brought myself to take a little taste of my own breastmilk! HA!! I nursed Cameron for 16 months and always wanted to try it. But I was too scared! Allie is 5 1/2 months, so I have nursed for almost 22 months....weird. Anyway, I always wondered what it tasted like! Obviously it can't be nasty if babies are so eager to drink it, right??

Well....it wasn't bad!! It was actually good!! I can see now why Allie is always lunging at me!! Nate looked like he wanted to hurl when I tried it!! Maybe one day I'll replace our store-bought milk with mine...HA, wouldn't that be an evil trick!!!!!!!

Don't think less of me. It's not like I'm going to start pumping my own milk for my cereal each morning or anything!!

Food for Thought

When did you start your babies on solids???

I love breastfeeding. I think it is absolutely amazing that I can provide ALL of the nourishment my babies need with my own body! I am not shy or embarrassed about this. It doesn't bother me to breastfeed in public one bit. Most of you know that the first several weeks of nursing both of my children were absolutely miserable, but it has become one of my favorite parts of motherhood. I love having so many chances every day to just sit, relax and feed my baby.

I am NO rush to start solids. The general guideline is between 4-6 months of age. I've been doing a lot of research lately on the benefits of breastfeeding. One article states:

"The most important thing to remember is that breastmilk is a nutrient dense food and should be the primary source of your baby’s nutrition throughout the entire first year of life while his brain is growing so rapidly. It is the ideal source of nourishment, and it’s composition changes to meet your growing babies needs. For example, the levels of antibodies in your milk increase as your baby starts solids and takes in less volume of milk, and the fat levels in the milk decrease as your baby slows down on his weight gain in the second six months of life.

According to Ted Greiner, Ph.D and noted breastfeeding researcher, any foods other than breastmilk or formula given during the first 6 months have a displacement rather than additive effect because they displace the fat and calories the baby needs from milk.

From 6 - 12 months, babies need an "educational" diet, where other foods gradually begin to provide for nutritional needs that milk alone can't provide. Breastmilk or formula should be the main source (75%) of calories until the end of the first year."

I think there are some people wondering why I haven't started Allie on solids yet. I plan on waiting 4 more weeks until she is 6 months, like I did with Cameron. Unless she weans herself, I hope to breastfeed her 12 months or longer.

What's your opinion and experiences?

Random

So I have 4 random questions:

1. Have any of you tried Luvs diapers? Do you like/dislike them? I'm just curious.

2. Do you have a good cleaning schedule you use? Do you do a room a day, or do you have 1 cleaning day a week? I just like to hear other people's ideas.

3. Do you have any sort of daily schedule or routine with your younger kids? For example, a wake-up time, an art/craft time, TV time, outside time, etc?

4. I think Cam is old enough for a Reward Chart....something along the lines of like he earns stickers for good behavior and 10 stickers gets him a treat....I'd love to hear your ideas before I decide exactly how I want to do it.

Thanks!!

Bubbly Babe

Allie has the WORST gas in the world....any suggestions? She's the happiest baby on the planet until about 2 am most mornings when she fusses & grunts & squirms for hours until she finally gets all of her gas out. And it's not just a little gas....it's these long, loud toots that would make anyone miserable!! Poor thing. She finally gets her own room next week, and I think that will help me not notice her every noise, but I still feel sorry for her!

I have no words.....

I really don't....

Pay It Forward Tag

The first THREE people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Made with tons of love just for you!
It might be a sweet letter to you from me, or some yummy goodies, or a cutie craft! ...you might be surprised what you get! Give it a try! The catch? You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to leave a comment, win a lovely little treat for themselves! Have Fun! Ready........Set............Go!

The Diaper Diaries

If you are a mother, you MUST read this book. You will laugh. Hard. I promise. Go find it.

Thanks Tristan!

Sleep

I've been reading Dr. Marc Weissbluths' "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" for the millionth time. My copy is SO tattered! Anyway, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It breaks down the first 4 months of a newborn's life into weeks, which is fantastic! So Allie is just about at the right age to start teaching her how to fall asleep on her own. So after she's been awake for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, I swaddle her and put her down. She's been falling right asleep with NO crying. She goes to bed right at 7 every night and only wakes up once to eat. Within a month or so, she'll be right on the same schedule Cam was for his first 2 years of life....Bed at 6:30, Wake up at 7, Nap at 9 and nap at 1. Awesome!!!!

I can't wait to read this!

"Dr. Laura Schlessinger just released her 16th book, “In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms,” in which she unapologetically urges mothers to remain at home instead of juggle a career and motherhood. "

Allie's Room

So by June, Allie will finally have her own space....I'm horrible at interior decorating, but I do want to do what I can to make it cute for her. I can't decide on a color scheme though, so vote on the poll. We don't have much money (ok, we really shouldn't spend ANY money) to make her room cute.....so any cheap (or free!) decorating ideas would be great! I'm obviously going to have to purchase some bedding....and I mostly want her walls to be covered in pictures of people who love her, like Cam's room. So luckily frames and printing photos is pretty inexpensive. Thanks ladies, you're the BEST!

Toddler Lunch Ideas

I need some good lunch ideas for Cam. Thanks.

Baby Legs

I LOVE these!! I wish I had known about them when Cam was crawling though because his knees used to be black at the end of every day! I have been looking at getting some for Allie for weeks and I finally caved and did it. And I LOVE THEM!! Allie looks adorable in hers! I'll take some pics of her soon. They're pricey....but I figured I'd get lots of good use out of them since they fit kids of ALL ages!

If you're interested, check out http://www.babybintz.com/ or http://www.babylegs.net/.

Dolled Up!!

I just ordered Allie this red bow from LUV THE HAIR:

I also ordered these Baby Legs and another cute binkie clip from BABY BINTZ:

And finally, these crib shoes from LITTLE FINGERS & TOES:

It Finally Happened.....

We put Cam to bed tonight, just like every other night. About 20 minutes later, he opens his door and comes out all proud of himself and said "I got out all by myself." DANG IT!!!! We calmly put him back in bed and are crossing our fingers that this isn't the end of our luxurious, calm evenings.
So question.....when you did move your kids into big beds, how did you teach them to STAY there?? We'll probably end up buying a childproof doorknob....but knowing him, he'll figure it out after a day or two! I absolutely refuse to get up with him before 7:30 in the mornings, so I'm not looking forward to this change!

Can I just say......

I am very VERY grateful that breastfeeding Allie is going so well and she is growing and that I am able to nourish her in this way, but CAN I JUST SAY.......

I AM SO TIRED OF LEAKING LIKE A FAUCET!!!!!! I am sick of being soaked in milk all day and night, going through 2-3 boxes of nursing pads a week, smelling like old milk all the time, my poor daughter getting sprayed in the face and her clothes being drenched, I soak through towels and towels and am doing laundry constantly, my shirts and nursing bras are completely trashed already.....
It was the same way with Cameron, and I'm grateful to have so much milk, but SERIOUSLY!!!!!
Okay, thanks for letting me vent!!

Farewell to the nap??

What age did your kids stop napping?? Cameron has stopped napping, it's been almost a week now, DARN!! I still put him in his bed for an hour or 2 for my own sanity though!!

Headbands/Bows/Flowers

This cute home-based business is being forced to close it's doors. GREAT prices and CUTE stuff....go order now!! http://www.thepetalprincess.com/store/Default.asp

Hungry

It's only 8:30 in the morning and I'm already STARVING!! But I was told not to have anything but water today. I know it's for safety reasons in case I have to have a C-Section, but man, it's gonna be a long day I think! Here's to hoping it all goes faster than it did with Cam so I can eat!! (oh yeah, and meet my baby!)
I'm just hanging out with my mom. Cameron is at my sweet friend Becky's house for the next 2 days. She has 2 little boys who he LOVES to play with, so hopefully he'll behave and be happy. I just miss him like crazy already! It's weird just sitting here and not having him around getting into trouble!!!

Thursday

So I'm going to be induced on Thursday at noon if she doesn't come sooner (which I really don't think she will). Everything is all arranged for Cameron. I can't believe it's SO close! I'm really excited, but I'm also a little panicked, I keep going through her stuff to make sure I'm not forgetting anything!! I PROMISE my next posts will contain good news and maybe pics of Allie!

39 Weeks!!!

Wow, I can't believe I am at 39 weeks! It is a bittersweet feeling..... All week I kept hoping to go into labor, but now that I've made it to 39 weeks, I'm actually REALLY grateful that I'm still pregnant! I want her to grow as strong and plump as she needs to! And I'm soaking up every hour of sleep while I still can!! It's just hard waiting! I had a pretty good scare the other night....I thought for sure I was in labor, but the contractions stopped after about 2 hours, and I've felt nothing since. Now I'm sort of wanting her to wait until the end of next week though. That way Nate can get through his first week of school, and also, if we make it to the 16th, he won't have to miss any work, which would be awesome! But usually these little ones don't like to follow our agendas, so we'll see!

Well, I have found one very exciting way to distract myself....looking at mini-vans!!! I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "what are they thinking?" haha! We've finally decided to sell Nate's car, and Nate will start driving my beloved Honda, and I will become a mini-van-driving-Utah-mom!! Nate went to put the infant carseat in my car the other day and it BARELY fits. The passenger seat has to be pushed as far forward as it goes, and Nate can barely sit in it, if I'm driving. We took it up to Primary Children's hospital to have them inspect and make sure they are both installed properly. I HIGHLY recommend all parents do this. They had some GREAT safety advice. Anyway, so it's a tight squeeze with the 4 of us in there (I have a honda civic), and there is pretty much no room for bags or strollers or pack n plays or anything if we were to go somewhere overnight. So we sat down and looked at our options and have pretty much decided that this is an investment we are willing to make! As long as we can continue to receive Pell grants and we keep eating spaghetti for every meal (ha!), then we should still be able to stay out of the RED! We are SO excited! It will be so nice to have a roomy mini-van to haul our little family around in!

So now we are trying to decide what kind to get. I REALLY want a Honda Odyssey, but they are definitely a lot more expensive than other kinds. We're also looking at Toyota Siennas and Kia Sedonas. Please let us know what you drive and if you do or don't like it! The nice thing is we aren't in a huge hurry, so we're going to take our time to do some research and find the best fit for us. And luckily Utah is quite the hot market for used mini-vans with relatively low miles! We also have to wait for Nate's car to sell. If you know of anyone who needs a little commuter car....it's been a great car for the past 4 years! It's a Mazda Protege and would be perfect for a student or someone with a short commute to work. We're selling it pretty cheap, so let us know!

So that's our news! We'll keep ya posted on both new additions to our family!! At this rate, the van might join us before the baby, haha!

Update

Hey Everyone! Thanks to those of you who put your guesses on my other blog. It'll be fun to see who is closest!
So a quick update.... other than lots of back aches and complete exhaustion, I'm feeling pretty good. I had a few contractions the other night, but they stopped when I went to bed. I don't think she will be here this week, but who knows! I just hope she doesn't come early next week! Nate emailed his new teachers and told them the situation, and they have obviously told him it's fine to miss class and he can get the notes online. Luckily they don't usually do too much during the first week of class anyway! But it would still be best if she either came this weekend or late next week. C'mon Allie, listen to your parents!! :)
Today I took Cameron outside to go puddle jumping (he had a blast and was soaked to his waist!), and I spent an hour walking around the courtyard. Unfortunately all it did was make my legs and back even more sore, haha!
Anyway, I'll keep you as posted as I can. So far it's all quiet.....

A few prego belly shots

My dad gave me a bunch of pics he took recently and there were a few of my belly, so I thought I'd share....

These 2 pics were taken at Thanksgiving.
This pic was taken a few days before Christmas. Note how much worse I look.... Gotta love the fat rolls under the chin!

Two

I had an OB appt today. I'm dilated to a TWO. Yay! My doctor wants to induce on either the 11th or the 15th, so we're trying to decide what is best. I'll keep you all posted!