Monday, August 30, 2010

Operation No More Diapers

I have come to the realization in my potty training journey that I am ultimately the problem.  I have been inconsistent with my methods.  One week, it was stickers.  At other times, I have a used a timer, putting her in panties, or letting her run around without anything on.  But, I never stuck with a single one of those.  So, I began what I call Operation No More Diapers.

This time I have a plan- a plan that, so help me, I am sticking to!

The plan has two parts:

Part one:

I have already completed this step.  For the past week, I have been putting Piper in dresses without any diapers or panties.  She doesn't like messes or being dirty.  So, without a diaper to "catch" her tee tee, she has learned to hold it until she really needs to go.  When she does need to go, she will exclaim, "I need to tee tee!" as she runs to her little potty. 

My child is not an idiot.  If I put a diaper on her, she will no doubt use it for what it is for.  When she does, we don't get upset.  After all, it really is my fault for not being more attentive to her needs. 

Part two:

This week, I am putting Piper in panties.  If she acts like she stills sees them as a "catcher" then I will go back to part one.  But, I am NOT putting her back in diapers.  My future sister-in-law was telling me about a friend of hers who would put her daughter in character panties to start the day.  If she wet those panties, she was put in plain white panties for the rest of the day.  I like this idea.  I will no doubt update on her progress.


Because she made it through part one with very few mishaps, we rewarded her with the Fisher-Price We Really Did It Dora Doll.  Piper first made friends with this doll 3 weeks ago on a grocery shopping trip.  Matt and I let Piper hang out with Dora in the shopping cart while we were in the store.  Piper loved her. When it was time for us to go home,  Piper continually asked "Where's my Dora?"   We told her that Dora lived at the store, and she could come live with us whenever Piper started using her potty.  Lucky for Piper, her grandparents are a less patient, so they bought the doll for her.  After part one of Operation No More Diapers was completed, her Grandaddy gave her doll.  She was ecstatic.

She even made me take a picture of her.

"Mommy, takey a picture of Dora? Dora say cheese!"

The cutest thing about her getting this doll is that she loves showing Dora what her potty contains.  Last night, I followed her into the dark bathroom and overheard her telling Dora "Look at my tee tee Dora. See it?"  Unfortunately, I had already rinsed out the potty, so when I turned on the lights Piper said "Oh NO!  Where is my tee tee?"  Oops, my bad...

We have only had a few set backs, but I don't expect Piper to be automatically awesome at it  (That line of thinking went out the window around the 2nd month of this craziness we call potty training)

So now that that is going well and to show you all how much I love torturing myself, I am encouraging M, the little girl I keep during the week, to use the potty.  I think I have gone completely insane =)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Breastfeeding and Colbie

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  In honor of that, I want to share my experience so far breastfeeding my daughter, Colbie.


Colbie, just like her sister, was born two weeks early.  That is where all similarities end!

When Colbie entered the world, she was silent.  It completely freaked me out.  I thought something was seriously wrong with her.  But she started to cry soon after and the Dr. and nurses all told me how perfect she was.   Her personality is very laid back and has been from the first breath.  Around our house, if Colbie cries then she actually needs something (and that something is usually sleep!)

Thanks to my experience with Piper, I asked to have Colbie nurse right away.  As it would be, luck was on our side.  Colbie was the only baby born in our hospital on her birthday.  She was the only baby on the floor.  So, the nurse washed her up and quickly returned her to our room.

Is this what you imagined when they
took your baby to be cleaned up?
I did not have any problems getting Colbie to latch on.  I was, however, surprised that it felt like it had with Piper.  I had naively assumed that because I had already breastfed one baby that I would not experience any soreness at all.  I guess I thought that my body would still be accustom to it.  That was not the case. 

Family of four
This is what I looked like the day I had Colbie
Because I "knew" what I was doing and Colbie was eating well, I told the nurses that I did not need to meet with the lactation consultant.  I know that the real reason behind this decision was because of being reprimanded back when Piper was born.  This would be a mistake and my poor "ta-tas" would pay the price.


This is the day after. 
I sported this look for about 4 months
Colbie loved to eat.  She went from 8 lbs 5 oz to over 10 pounds in less than two weeks.  We didn't have any issues with jaundice.  I practice on demand feeding with her and it felt like I was feeding her constantly. It seemed like she was "snacking" a lot.  I came to realized that if she ate a full meal, most of it would come back up.  She was very gassy,  and I was in a lot of pain.  At first, I thought that this was the normal soreness that new moms experience.  After that first week, though, it got worse and not better.  And she was making a very loud "clicking" sound when nursed.  I knew something was wrong, but I didn't want to go see the lactation consultant.  So, I did what I do-  I turned to the Internet for answers.

This was her favorite way to be held.
I think it helped her tummy.
With extensive research, I came to the conclusion that Colbie had a "bad" latch.  Thanks to that latch, she was swallowing a lot of air and I was being tortured with sore "ta-tas".  I was stubborn.  I tried to fix it on my own.  The soreness went away, but I could tell that she was still suffering from swallowing a lot of air.  Finally, when Colbie was 5 weeks old, I gave in and met with a lactation consultant.

Thankfully, the lactation consultant was not the same one I had met with when I had Piper.  Kelly was friendly, informative, and most of all, NOT JUDGEMENTAL!  She explained to me that Colbie had a high palette and that she had figured out how to compensate for it.  That was why her latch was bad.   She showed me ways to help her get a better latch.  I also learned that when I thought that Colbie was just snacking, she was eating a ton.  She took in 4 ounces at the visit in less than 5 minutes.  No wonder she was gaining so much weight! 

I went home after the visit and again looked to the Internet to learn more about nursing a baby with a high palate.  I read that it would not be a problem anymore around three months.  That gave me hope because even with Kelly's help, I was having a hard time correcting Colbie.  I can't  really tell you when the problem worked itself out, but eventually it did.  All I know is that she no longer makes the clicking sound and she doesn't suffer from gas like she used to.  Her latch looks better, too.

It has been 7 months since Colbie entered the world and we are still successfully breastfeeding.  At her six month well check she weighed 17 lbs 9 oz.  She is in the 75th percentile for both weight and height. The lesson that I learned with Colbie is that each breastfeeding experience is different.  I mistakenly assumed that because I was able to breastfeed Piper for 13 months that I would not encounter any problems with Colbie.  I was definitely wrong!  I also learned persistence does pay off.  I wanted to give up many times those first few weeks.  I'm glad I stuck with it.  I am hopeful that Colbie and I  will make it to at least the year mark.  And, so far, so good!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Review: The Sleepy Wrap

 Because Piper had colic, I am very familiar with baby wearing.  Back then, we used a sling.  While Piper loved the sling, my shoulder and sometimes back, did not.  I was all set to use the sling again with Colbie, but she had other ideas.  She did not like the positions that the sling put her in.  So, the poor baby spent a lot of time in bouncy seats and swings instead of being close to mommy.

Then, I stumbled across the Sleepy Wrap.  I don't even remember where I first read about it, but soon I was reading about it all over the blogosphere.  I checked out their website to find out more about the Sleepy Wrap.  This is what I read:

The Sleepy Wrap baby carrier securely holds your little one close to you. Our baby wrap is specially designed for your baby's first year of life, yet you may comfortably carry your baby for as long as you both desire. Time and time again you will find your baby sleeping peacefully against your chest.


CARRIED BABIES...

•Cry Less! (43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours)1

•Are Healthier! (gain weight faster, have better motor skills, coordination, increased muscle tone, and sense of balance)2

•Get a better view of the world! (babies pushed in strollers or lugged around in car seats only get to see the adult world at knee-level)

•Become Independent Faster! (making them more confident and less clingy)3

•Sleep Better! (they fall asleep quicker and sleep for longer periods of time)

•Learn More! (not overstimulated, but calm and alert, observing the world around them)

•And are just plain Happier!

As if I needed any more convincing that I wanted one!  It was only a matter a time before I convinced Matt that I needed the Sleepy Wrap.

That was when fate stepped in and I won one!  I took part in a "twitter party" on a Tuesday night.  Everyone, including Organic PR and Sleepy Wrap, were very helpful when I voiced my concerns and asked for advice on what type of baby carrier I needed. But, as stoked as I was to win the Sleepy Wrap I was a bit bummed because we were heading to Atlanta that weekend to watch my husband compete in the Cuervo Games. I knew that this would be the perfect place to try out  my new Sleepy Wrap
You can imagine my surprise when my Sleepy Wrap arrived in the mail on Friday!  Talk about fast shipping, and I wasn't even a paying customer! Kudos to  Sleepy Wrap already!

The Sleepy Wrap comes in many beautiful colors.  I chose gray because I am secretly hoping I can convince Matt to wear it.  I knew he would never go for it if I had gotten it in pink.  Upon taking the Sleepy Wrap out of the package, I was slightly intimidated by the amount of fabric that made it up. It is essentially a long stretch of fabric that you wrap in a specific way around your body. 
Together, Matt and I followed the tying instructions.  The instructions were easy to follow. In less than 3 minutes we had it on me correctly.  The amount of fabric turned out to not be an issue.  The next step was testing it out with Colbie.  I put her in the Sleepy Wrap using the Classic Love Your Baby Hold.  She did not protest at all.  And to my delight, she was not putting any strain on my back or shoulders.  But, the real test would come the next day because we would be standing outside for an extended amount of time.

At the Cuervo Games, Colbie hung out  in our stroller for a little while.  When she started getting fussy, I tied on my Sleepy Wrap and put her in it.  The fussing stopped immediately.  She enjoyed snuggling up to her mommy and being able to look around.  She stayed content, and true to its name, eventually she fell asleep.  The best part is that after carrying her in the Sleepy Wrap for over 3 hours, neither my back nor my shoulders were suffering. I was amazed!


Since that afternoon, Colbie has spent a lot of time in the Sleepy Wrap. It has made grocery shopping, cleaning, and outside time so much easier. I no longer feel like I am having to choose between my kids. I can love on my baby and take care of my toddler without feeling like someone is getting neglected because my hands are now completely free.  It truly has had a positive impact on my life.

If you are a new mom, pregnant or looking for an amazing baby shower gift, get the Sleepy Wrap.  You will be so glad that you did!

Things I love about the Sleepy Wrap
  • Colbie loves it
    • She is happy to be close to her mama
  • It is super comfortable
    • no back or shoulder pains
  • It is cute
    • I've gotten several compliments on it
  • No sizing to worry about
    • It is truly one size fits all thanks to the amount of fabric that makes up the wrap
  • Awesome customer service
Things I don't love:

Nothing to write here!  I love everything about the Sleepy Wrap!


 The Sleepy Wrap Classic  retails for $39.95 and can be purchased on their website or you can buy it from a retailer in your area.



*I received this product as a prize but I was not asked to write a review.  The opinion expressed in this review is my own. I was not compensated in any way.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Sisters

After getting pregnant with Colbie, I began worrying about what effect a sibling would have on Piper.  I felt guilty for changing her world.  You see, Piper was and still is, a complete mommy's girl.  I didn't know how she would react to sharing me with a baby. I felt sadness because I thought that Piper would be heartbroken and jealous.  I knew that the baby entering our lives wouldn't know any better.  But, Piper's life was going to be completely altered and I didn't know how she would deal with that.

So, for nine months, I worried.  Right from the moment Colbie was born, I realized that I was worrying for nothing.  Piper adores her baby sister.  She loves her so much that she told me she wants 5 Colbies!  Colbie thinks Piper is pretty awesome, too. She smiled at Piper weeks before she ever smiled at me.   I am so very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to witness the love that is shared between siblings through a mother's eyes.  It is a beautiful thing.  Piper will tell Colbie "I lub you , Colbie" several times a day.  And after spending the night with a set of grandparents, she comes home and tells Colbie that she missed her.  It melts my heart- in a good way.

One of my favorite things to watch is Piper making Colbie laugh.  The more Colbie laughs, the sillier and louder Piper gets.   Piper has found her audience and she takes full advantage of it!


This video is mild compared to some of their past screaming/laughing moments, but it gives the general idea ;o)


Saturday, August 21, 2010

Not so fast, little bit!

I am in no hurry for Colbie to grow up.  It makes me sad that if Matt has his way she may very well be my last baby.    I can not believe that she is already six months old.  Where did the last six months go? I look at Piper and know that it won't be long until Colbie is that big.  Babyhood goes by way too fast.  I find myself wishing time would slow down- but honestly, what parent doesn't?

Colbie is such an awesome baby. Of course, after Piper as a baby, anything may look like a good baby.  Nothing against my sweet Piper, but colic is not fun.  The set of lungs that God so graciously gave her did not help the situation!

The video below is of Colbie jumping in her Jumperoo.  Nothing special here, but she does have some pretty fancy Jumperoo footwork!  Enjoy!

 

Monday, August 16, 2010

Little Rascal

I have a feeling that Colbie has out grown her swing. 


Here she is perfectly content, playing with her rattle.



I walk out of the kitchen for may be 2 whole minutes.  I guess something caught Colbie's attention, because when I walked back into the kitchen, this is what I found.



I'm not an expert, but I seriously doubt that she should be able to do that!

Winner!

I am very pleased with the amount of participation in the giveaway.  And, I even made it to my follower goal!  But let me get to what you all have been waiting for.

The winner of the $50 Visa Giftcard is Heather R, comment #988.  I have sent an email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't recieve a response, a new winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Thanks again for making this giveaway a success!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Mommy brain

Since getting pregnant with Piper, I have noticed a sharp decline in my brain functions.  I am in no way joking!  Before kids, my memory was sharp.  I remembered all kinds of trivial things.  Now, I'm lucky if I only call Colbie by the wrong name a total of 10 times in one day  instead of 50.

I lose everything, too.  At least once a week I misplace my wedding rings.  I call my mom panicking, only to find them in a pocket, drawer, or even a shoe.  It became such a regular occurrence that for Christmas my mom bought me a crystal ring holder to put by the sink.

Nothing is safe. Nothing. Not shoes, money, books, diaper covers... well, you get the idea.  But what is even worse than losing the item is that I won't realize it is even missing for days.

About a month ago, my mom and I took Piper to pick out her "big girl" panties.  While trying to decide between Dora and Minnie Mouse,  Piper yells at the top of her lungs  "I went poo poo!"  She hadn't, but what she did do was pee all over the floor.  Right in the middle of the aisle. ( Did I mention that there were people everywhere?)  I rushed her to the family bathroom to clean her up and remember that I left the diaper bag in the car (Helloooo, Mommy brain!).  So, my poor pee soaked child and I made our way back to where my mom was diligently diverting traffic away from the puddle.  I clean up the mess, grab the stupid panties and head to the checkout.


While waiting to pay for the panties, Piper spies a toy cell phone that the store had ever so conveniently displayed right at her level.   Of course, this leads to the "I want this" and the "I need it" pleads.  I tell her no, so she lays on the floor pouting.  Somehow, I manage to make it to the car with all of my hair still attached to my head.  I change Piper's clothes and we head home.

Two days later, Matt wakes me up around midnight and asks me if I know where my wallet is.  I brush him off.  He tells me to get out of bed and get it.  Thoroughly pissed, I get out of bed to retrieve my wallet from my bag.  Only, it isn't in my bag.  And it isn't in any of my usual "OMG I can't find my wallet!" places.  Matt tells me as I am looking under couch cushions that there have been 3 purchases posted to our account in the last 3 hours.  The problem  is that we have both been home all night.  And since I don't know where my wallet is, I am most likely the person that gave someone free gas.

I know that people lose their wallets all the time (at least I am hoping that is the case) but how many don't notice it for two days.  I honestly wonder how much time would have passed if some bloke had not decided to take advantage of my mommy brain.


There are two lessons to learn here:

#1.   Hold onto your wallet so you don't give away free gas.

And,

#2.   Never take a child who is in the process of getting potty trained to a store without a diaper.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Epiphany... well, sorta

Yep, that pretty much sums it up
My cleaning skills, or the lack thereof, are really a sore spot with me.  In all honesty, I'm not comfortable having anyone in my home unless I have already spent the day cleaning. I feel that the clutter is a reflection on me as a wife and a mother.  I mean, if I can't keep house well, how can I be good at either of those?   But, even feeling that way,  I have the hardest time getting my lazy butt off of the couch to do something about it.

It really does feels like this sometimes!!
My number one excuse that I use is that I am simply too "overwhelmed" by the mess.  I don't know where to start, so I don't do anything.  Pretty lame, huh?  My number two excuse is that the kids were being needy.  I think that is human nature-- to blame someone else for your suckiness problems.  And my all time favorite-  I'm not naturally a clean person, so cleaning goes against the grain...

I figured out today that all of those excuses are, well, crap.

I stumbled on The Flylady over 4 years ago when Matt and I were first married.  She helps people like me get organized.  I have to admit, that when I do like she suggests, my house stays clean.  But as soon as the kids start harassing me I hit a snag, I fall back into my old habits.  I can confidently tell you why I think I am having so much trouble.

Flylady insists that you get dressed all the way down to your shoes.  Sounds relatively easy until you are stuck at home all day.  I've been getting around doing this by telling myself there is no point in getting out of my PJs.  Getting dressed equals more laundry, and laundry, as you all may know, is not my friend.  But, the truth is, I do notice a difference in my day when I put shoes on.  I really am more productive!

Another Flylady suggestion is to set your timer.  I do this all the time.  My husband makes fun of me for it.  But, I am a scatterbrain and seeing the amount of time I have left in a certain area forces me to focus on only that area.  Otherwise, I would be cleaning the counter, walk into another room to put something away and BAM!  I'm find myself on Facebook back on the couch.  So, I've been setting my timer for 15 minutes. And it has been working-- as long as the kids are asleep.

Then I had The Epiphany.  Maybe, if I set my timer for a shorter time, I could actually get something done before distraction attacks me!  Trust me when I say that anything would be an improvement...  So, today, I've been setting my timer for 5 minutes instead of 15.  I am both proud and embarrassed to announce that within 25 minutes my house looked really good.  It was by nowhere near spotless but it didn't look like a toy box threw up all over the place either.   And because I was moving so fast, Piper and M thought it was a game.  Piper was even singing "Clean it up, clean it up" while picking up her crayons. 

I am by no means cured of my lazy messy ways, but this, I think, is a step in the right direction.  Since I am definitely in need of guidance,  I would love to hear ways you maintain your home.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Monday Giveaway List



There are so many giveaways going on right now!  Thank you Survey Junkie for the linky!



RQMASX7BGJCM

Review: Cuisinart Sandwich Grill

At my house, cooking has become a luxury.  Between Piper and Colbie someone always needs mom.  It gets even crazier when you add M, the little one I keep during the week, to the mix.  That is why I love my Cuisinart Dual-Sandwich Grill.




Here are the description and features as listed on the Cuisinart® Website.


Product Description


The Cuisinart® Sandwich Grill does more than lunch. This versatile Cuisinart product also makes omelets and French toast! Designed to grill two items at a time, it is perfect for breakfast, lunch or light dinners

 
Product Features


Grills two sandwiches, omelettes or servings of French toast


Red and green "ready to bake/ready to eat" indicator lights


Nonstick baking plates


Raised edges to seal ingredients inside sandwiches


Deep pockets


Lock-down lid


Instruction/Recipe book


Limited 3-year warranty



When Matt and I got married, we purchased the Sandwich Grill for purely nostalgic reasons.  My grandparents had one when I was little, and I used to love making all kinds of sandwiches with it.  Now that I had my own, we really didn't use it much-- until now.

Toddlers are picky little creatures.  One day, they love peas.  The next day, they are throwing them across the room.  But, in my experience with the two toddlers I spend all day with, grilled cheese sandwiches (really anything with cheese!) are never a bad thing.  But,  to make a grilled cheese sandwich the traditional way requires too much of my time and attention.  9 times out of 10, I burn the sandwiches on at least one side, if not both.

Well wouldn't you know, my Cuisinart Sandwich Grill has helped change all that. When first plugged in, a red light comes on indicating that the grill is not ready.



 It takes approximately 5 minutes for the grill to reach the right temperature, and when it does, the green indicator light comes on.

I always butter the outside of my sandwich before grilling, but you don't have to do it this way.  I place my sandwich on the bottom grill plate, close the lid, and lock it. 

The red light comes back on after I do this.  In less than 90 seconds the green light comes back on, and  I have perfectly grilled sandwich.




Things I love about the Cuisinart® Sandwich Grill:
  • Simple to Use
    • Just put the sandwich on the grill plate and close the lid.
  • Fast
    • Sandwich is ready in under two minutes.
  • Foolproof
    • I've yet to burn a sandwich.
  • Inexpensive 
    • You can purchase one here for $19.86.
  • Small size for easy storage

Things I don't love:
  • Plates are not removable. 
    • It would be easier to clean if they were removable.

The Cuisinart® Sandwich Grill is perfect for Dorms, too!


*This product was purchased by me for personal use.  I was not compensated in any way

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop

I'm new to twitter so I am very pleased to have discovered:


Photobucket


This a great way to gain twitter followers and to find new people to follow!

Check it out, and happy following!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Time heals all wounds...

Human emotions are a very strange animal.  I find it completely crazy that a person can go from a state of euphoria to a blubbering mess in less than two seconds.  But it happens.  And today, it happened to me.

It has been almost 4 years since the last time I saw you.  I remember every detail of that last night so vividly.  For a long time, I blamed Matt for your death.  If I wasn't blaming him, I was blaming myself.  There were even times that I blamed anyone that had been there that night.  I know that is foolish, but I couldn't help it.  You were like a brother to me.  I remember never leaving a place that you were at without making absolutely sure that you had a safe way home.  Or making you promise that you were staying put.

That night, I didn't.  When a friend called me the next morning to find out what had happened to you, I had no clue!  I remember my first thought being that you had gotten a DUI.  If only that had been what had happened!  While we waited outside the hospital I knew that my prayers were futile.  It already felt like you had left the world.  And then the look on Matt's face.  He couldn't even say the words.  But I knew.  I already knew.

The next few months were a blur.  Finally, finally, happiness found its way back into my life.   Matt and I decided we wanted to have kids.  I remember you getting so mad at us when we had told you that we were never having kids.  I wish more than anything you would have been here when I found out I was pregnant.  I can almost hear you saying "I told you so."

I took Piper to your grave right after she was born.  I wanted you to see my little choo choo.  And the crazy thing is, I think you did.  And I honestly believe that Piper saw you too.  While at S&B's house, before she could even really talk, she pointed to your picture and said your name.  She had never seen a picture of you before.

Today, almost 4 years later, we passed a vehicle that looked like one you used to drive.  I told Matt that I wish you were alive.  I haven't cried because of the loss for you in a very long time.  But today, I have made up for it.  So, if time heals all wounds, how long does it take?

Friday, August 6, 2010

Diaper Rite Prefold Review

When we decided to cloth diaper, we didn't want to spend too much money because I really hate doing laundry. I hate it! So, there was a part of me that was screaming "Fail, fail, FAIL". But, I knew that if I skimped too much it would be impossible for me to succeed.
After a weeks worth of research, I decided to go with the Diaper Rite Prefolds. There were two main reasons why I chose these cloth diapers.

~ The price was right. Starting at $1.75 per diaper, there was no way I could argue that these wouldn't be cheaper than disposables.


~ The Diaper Rite Prefolds are sized. I wouldn't have to do any extra folding to make them fit my kids.


I ordered 24 green edged Diaper Rite Prefolds. According to the Diaper Rite Prefolds description page, the green edged prefolds would typically fit a baby between the ages of 5 to 18 months or that weighed between 14 and 30 lbs. At the time I placed my order, Colbie was 2 months old and Piper was 24 months old. But, Colbie weighed close to 13 pounds and Piper was barely registering at 23 lbs. I calculated that I would be able to diaper both girls in the same sized prefolds for at least a few months.
I could barely contain my excitement when my package was delivered to me. The shipment was fast, too, so I didn't have to drive myself crazy for too long cyber stalking the tracking link.

The Diaper Rite Prefolds were packaged into four separate packages of six. I opened them and laid all of the diapers out. I must say that if white cotton can be pretty, these were beautiful!


After prepping, my prefolds were smaller and quilted.  I now know why cloth diapers are so often referred to as "fluff"



The green edged did fit both of my girls. If I wanted, I could fold Colbie's diaper down a bit to have it fit lower on her torso. But, I didn't have to if I didn't want to.  I have to admit that I had a little trouble the first time I put Piper's diaper on.  It looked so odd!  But, I have since gotten the hang of it.

Colbie at 6 months wearing Green Edge Diaper Rite Prefold
These prefolds are awesome.  They are super absorbent. They are soft.  It takes me no longer to change one of these prefolds than it did to change a disposable.  I have been using them on two kids for four months and they still look as good as the day I prepped them.  There are no stains and no signs of wear.  Just beautiful, white "fluff".  I honestly thought that there was no way the same cloth diaper could stand up to the challenge that an infant and a toddler bring, but these totally do!

If you are interested in cloth diapering, I suggest you head over to Diaper Junction and check out the Diaper Rite Prefolds.  We love them!

*Prefolds like these need to be used with a diaper cover

**I purchased this product for my own personal use.  I was not compensated in any way.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The first of many (hopefully!)

****CLOSED****



I am excited to announce that Little Choochoos is having our first giveaway!
One lucky reader will win a $50 Visa giftcard.  Visa giftcards can be used pretty much anywhere.  So, let's get this started.


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**Open to US residents only.  Contest ends on August 15, 2010, at 11:59 pm. eastern.   Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond.  If no response, a new winner will be chosen.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Wilder's World aka the Dog Park for kids

Please be advised that no 2 year olds were harmed during the making of this video ;)


Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Breastfeeding and Piper

Piper came into this world on St. Patty's day.  I had already been in the hospital for over 24 hrs when she arrived, screaming at the top of her lungs.  She was two weeks early and still managed to weigh 7 lbs 7 oz. 



Being a first time mom, I didn't realize how important it was to have Piper nurse before she went to the nursery.  When they laid her on my chest, I went into panic mode.  She was so tiny and appeared to be so fragile.  I was afraid of her and that I might hurt her.  So, when they asked if I wanted to try to nurse her or go ahead and let them clean her up, I went with cleaning her up.

It was almost nine hours before I held my daughter again.  Every time I asked what was taking so long, the nurses would tell me her temperature was too low to bring her back to me.  I should have insisted that I get to nurse her or at least went to the nursery because when I finally had the chance to try to nurse her for the first time she was not interested.  All she wanted to do was sleep.

The next day, I had better luck.  I told the nurses not to give her a pacifier.  I had read that a pacifier would lessen my chances at being successful.  So, Piper would use me as a pacifier.  Apparently this is a big no no.  I remember being so proud of myself because I had managed to get her to latch on and I was thinking that the longer she nursed the better.  I was surprised and pissed when the lactation consultant came in and chastised me for allowing her to nurse on one side for 45 minutes.  Well, excuse me-  I didn't realize that first time moms were suppose to automatically know that kind of stuff.

Piper developed jaundice, which is common, but her levels were higher than typical.  Looking back I really do think it is because she didn't nurse right away.  Due to the jaundice, we had to stay an extra day.  Finally, after being at the hopital for 4 days, I was given the choice to either put Piper under the bilirubin lights at the hospital or have a biliblanket brought to my house.  I wanted to go home! 


Our first night home, Piper cried for 4 hours straight.  She never stopped.  She wouldn't latch on.  I was getting frustrated and scared because I knew that if she didn't eat her bilirubin levels would go up higher.  I felt so helpless as she screamed.  I couldn't calm her down enough to get her to realize that what she was wanting was literally right in front of her face.  It was 4 am when the thought finally occurred to me to pump and feed her with a syringe.  So I pumped and Matt gave it to her.  She stop crying as soon as the "liquid gold" hit her lips.  And I was then able to entice her to eat what I had to offer.

Because there had been so many bumps in the road as far as breastfeeding goes, it took 5 days before my milk finally came in.  Piper paid the price, too.  Her bilirubin levels went up, then down, then back up.  It was an emotional roller coaster.  I had soreness and engorgement.  But finally, after that first week, everything fell into place.

Piper was an awesome and efficient nurser.  5 minutes on each side and she was done.  When I decided to try to breastfeed, I made goals for myself- 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months and finally a year.  I am proud to say that I was able to nurse Piper until she was 13 months old.  For any expecting moms, I definitely think you should give it a shot ;)

TMI warning

This is completely TMI, but it is hilarious so I must share!

You have been warned! If you are easily grossed out do NOT read any further.


I warned you, so I don't want to get any "Ewww" comments!


As you are all aware, potty training + Piper = FAIL.

However, she insists that I put her in panties. Her exact words are " I can't want diaper. I need panties!"
And being the glutton for punishment that I am, I put her in panties knowing that I am going to be washing a lot of panties. And wouldn't you know that her favorite thing to do in her panties is, of course, numero dos.

The other night, Piper and her Daddy are playing in the kitchen. She is running around like crazy. I am recording this cuteness on video. Matt, not realizing that I am videoing them, looks at me and says "I think she has a turd in her panties." Which she does. I stop taping and take a picture because I want her to "see" what it looks like because- well, because I am an idiot.

And the conversation goes like this:

Me:
"Piper come let Mommy show you what it looks like when you poo poo in your panties."

I show her the picture.

Me:
"We can tell because you look like you have a tail when you poo poo in your panties."

Piper:
"I need to see tail"

I show her the picture again

Piper:
making a "pushing" face "Grrr. I need a tail"

Me:
"What?"

Piper:
again with the face "I need a TAIL!"


Soooo, apparently describing a #2 as a tail is definitely not the way to discourage a two year old from pooping in their pants. Just a little FYI...

Back to the drawing board, my friends!

Monday, August 2, 2010

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week is 8/1/2010 - 8/7/2010. I feel that this would be an appropriate time to share my own breastfeeding story with you. Since I have two munchkins, I will post it in two separate posts.

First, though, I would like to share with you some of the benefits of breastfeeding.

The number one benefit in my book of breastfeeding is the antibodies. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services , breast milk has been linked to lowering the risks of ear infection, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, and other illnesses. By breastfeeding, you can help protect your baby and that is awesome!

Breastfeeding is also good for mommy. It has been linked to lowering the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. And, it helps a new mom lose her baby weight ( and sometimes more) after delivery. It only takes 300 extra calories a day to make a baby- but it takes 500 extra calories a day to feed that baby outside of the womb!

Breastfeeding is also cheaper than formula. I'm not going to say free because you have to eat a little more to get your extra calories.

The convenience of breastfeeding can not be beat. It is always ready. No mixing or warming up.

If you want more info on the benefits of breastfeeding, go to U.S Department of Health and Human Services or Kellymom.