Thursday, September 29, 2011

Baby's Drawers

Dont worry, this isn't another post about cloth diapers!


I don't know about the other parents out there, but Charlotte has an abundance of clothes.  Thanks to some friends and a very loving cousin, Charlotte has received hand-me-down clothes to last her a lifetime!



The problem we have is how to organize all her clothes.  I came across this picture on Pinterest:


.

The original post came from this blog: http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2011/06/organization.html.

I figured I would give it a try.  Of course I had my helper on hand!
She loves the Camera!


But I think she would rather eat it than pose!
Here are the results: 

  



While it is nice to see all her clothes easily, the one problem that we have run into is putting the clothes away.  Originally, I took out all the clothes and put them away at one time.  Now, when I'm putting away our weekly daily load of laundry, I have to shove and shift the clothes to get them to go in correctly.  Overall, I think this will work better when there are less clothes and larger items.  I think it will work especially well once Charlotte is able to pull out the clothes herself.  This way she'll be able to see everything and pick out what she wants to wear all by herself.  We're a few years away from that though!

Now, if only I can keep her from growing so fast... that way she will get a chance to wear all of these cute clothes!

How do you all organize your kids clothes?  Any tips on organizing different sizes at the same time...  Charlotte is currently in between 6-9 months, so I have to look at the tag everytime.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Gone are the Days of Rubber Pants!

So, remember when I mentioned the store in town that was “crunchy”? Well, color me green! Charlotte can now be seen sporting some eco-friendly cloth diapers! Well, sometimes… it depends on who changed her diaper last. I am still trying to convert Bubba on the benefits on the cloth diapers, but I think all he sees is that he can’t just throw the poop in the trash can. Now, he has YET to change a poopy cloth diaper, but the time will come my friend, and let’s just hope I have my video camera on hand when it does!

My mom initially bought us the pre-folds with covers for my baby shower. These were what she used on me, and let’s be honest, they are the most cost-friendly of the cloth diaper choices. Charlotte wore them a few times, but the fit just never seemed to be right, and they were always leaking. More than likely this was an operator issue more than an issue with the actual diapers, but we quickly gave up on using the prefolds and covers, plus Bubba HATED using them. To be fair, Bubba has a lot to live up to, after all, my dad was the cloth diaper champ! Ok, 2nd place, but 1st place in my eyes!


Isn't he handsome!  Even with the 'stash!

Fast forward to our little trip into town for the class at the crunchy store. I saw a sign for a GREAT sale on the bumGenius diapers. In all my research that I did regarding cloth diapers, these diapers had the best reviews. I had 1 at home, and when I did use it, I liked it, but with only 1 to use, it really was a waste, because of all the special washing needs, etc. So, after some number crunching and discussion with Bubba we decided that we would bite the bullet and try these out. I had to promise that I would wash and stuff them, (I’m thinking I can renegotiate that term at a later time) and he promised he would use them rather than the disposable stash we have on hand. So far, I’ve held up my end of the bargain, Bubba, not as much… we’re down to our last of the disposables. I am going to try and not buy any more disposables (unless there’s a great sale), so he will HAVE to use them.


There are a few kinks we still need to work out. Like the poopy diapers… and swishing in the toilet? We’ve got a make-shift diaper pail made out of a laundry basket and a big trash bag!


Look ma! No water!


and not nearly enough diapers
Doing laundry every night kinda sucks!
I know what will be on our Christmas list this year!



Diaper Sprayer













Wetbag









Aren't these adorable?  I'll take 2 please!









What about you?  Have you tried cloth diapers?  What is on your wishlist for baby stuff this Christmas?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Feeling Guilty

This is a post about breastfeeding, so be forewarned.

Charlotte and I went to our favorite local baby store the other weekend.  This store is what I like to call "crunchy", meaning they promote environmentally friendly items, and their main items are cloth diapers.  While I like to think I know a lot about cloth diapers, every time I step foot in that store I feel like a complete newbie and totally overwhelmed.  But this is not about cloth diapers... I will save that for another post. 

C and I went to the store for a "Baby Wearing" class.  I had tried to time our day so that C would be well rested and fed before we left.  Silly mommy!  C was happy and content as we walked around the store perusing the fluff before the class started, but about 5 minutes before the class started C decided she was done and wanted everyone in the store to know it.  You should have seen the pregnant ladies' faces.  You know the face... "oh dear God, I hope my child won't act like that in public" mixed with "just shut the kid up already."  Another new mother sitting on a couch in the back said innocently, "do you want to sit back here and nurse her?"  I hope she didn't see the daggers that shot out of my eyes!

Let me stop here and fill you in...  Charlotte and I have had a rocky breastfeeding relationship.  Let's just say I have 1 innie and 1 outie, add to that a low supply from the beginning, and that's pretty much what we were up against.  On C's 1 day visit to the pediatrician we were told to start supplementing because she had dropped in weight, and we've been supplementing ever since.  Once I went back to work, my low supply dropped even lower.  I tried everything, nursing more, pumping more, supplements, oatmeal.  Now, at 4 months, Charlotte is pretty much on 100% formula and it breaks my heart.

I knew from the beginning of my pregnancy that I wanted to breastfeed, and I wanted to try and do it until Charlotte was at least 1 year old.  I had done all the research, I knew it was going to be tough being her sole source for nutrition, but I was not prepared for the "speed bumps" and total derailments that came my way. 

I talk to new moms about all things baby, and when the subject of breastfeeding comes along, I hang my head and say we are "part time" nursing.  I want to be the mom that says "Oh it's wonderful, yes, it was hard at the beginning, but it's so worth it now."  I get a lot of "have you tried (fill in the blank)" and "well at least you tried."  And if the pediatrician tells me one more time "that's completely normal" I might lose it!  I mean really, if everything is normal, how do I know when something isn't normal?

I keep thinking to myself, next time I will know what to expect and hopefully things will be different.  My heart aches thinking that I am not doing all I can for Charlotte in these most important few months.  But looking at this little chunker, I know in my heart of hearts, that she is healthy and well loved.



Oh, and a word to the wise, if you are going to breastfeed in public for the first time, practice covering yourself and the baby first.  Even if you are just pretending...

Sunday, August 21, 2011

I call Do-over!

Ok, I think the last three posts all start the same way...  Sorry I've been gone for a bit, etc...  Maybe this time I will mean it!  Only time will tell!

So, some changes have happened since the last post.  Charlotte is growing... FAST!  She's smiling, laughing, "talking", rolling over and eating.  What is she not doing?  Sleeping and pooping... or at least not as much as she should.

What else is new you ask?  Well, we've moved.  While we were very sad to leave our beloved Greenbriar, we are super happy in our new home.  We've gone from a 4 bedroom house with a yard (and a roommate or 2) to a 2 bedroom, 3rd floor apartment!  The dogs are still adjusting to not having their yard, but Bubba, Charlotte and I are loving our own space.  This is the first time that Bubba and I have lived together... ALONE!  Meaning, no roommate!

That's all for now folks... off to try mu hand at some baking, thanks to Pinterest.  Seriously, it's additive!  I'll let you know how it turns out...


oh ps.  Gooo Skins


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Thursday, June 16, 2011

RoadTrippin

I swear I have big plans for this blog... but we got a little sidetracked this week.  With going back to work looming closer and closer, Charlotte and I decided to go visit Grandma and Grandpa.

She did a little of this...

A little of this...


And lots of this!

She really loved being with Grandma and Grandpa.  She even got to take her first trip to the beach!

and she slept the whole time... 
It was really windy (hence my beautiful hairdo!) so we didn't stay long.

Overall, we had a great time, and we can't wait to go back!

Monday, June 6, 2011

It's Been a Long Time...

I shouldn't have left you...  (anyone?)

Anyway,  I've been a little busy...  Here's what I've been working on while I was gone!  Warning:  This might be picture overload!

Day before Induction, and one of the only preggo pictures I took.
Charlotte Gail Farmer joined our crazy crew on April 25th, 2011 at 9:25pm.  She weighed 7.6 lbs and was 21 inches long. Now, 6 weeks later we still can't believe our little miracle is here, and we are thanking our lucky stars and sleepless nights that we get the honor of being her parents!
  

Mommy and Daddy are smitten with this face...


The doggies still love mommy best!


Oh yeah, did I mention that we also got a puppy?  About a month (maybe more, my sleep deprived memory no longer works) before Charlotte's grand entrance Bubba decided that we needed a puppy.  Gotta love him, but in all reality, Oynx has been a great companion to Kaya!






  
So all in all, it's been a little busy around here, but I can't wait to share our new adventure with all of my readers out there!

Stay tuned for my next series of posts...  all about CLEANING!  (No Mom, you don't need new glasses)

P.S. I still need a tagline...  Like Paula Dean's "Sending you love and best dishes"  I'm not that creative, so all ideas are welcome!