Pediped

Full Disclosure: I was provided with the products in this post at no cost, however all words and opinions are my own. 

Can we talk about my youngest child for a second? Girlfriend keeps me on my toes and she has from the giddy-up. She's impressed us since day one by hitting her developmental milestones early so when she was standing well at six months and taking a few wobbly steps not long after I was like...

via GIPHY

I immediately knew I needed shoes that would protect her feet and yet allow her to have move as if she wasn't wearing shoes. If you've had a toddler you know that when they first start walking they do so much better barefooted rather than in hard-sole shoes, so I went on the hunt for shoes that had a sole but not too hard a sole. 

That's where Pediped comes in - I spent time on their website and when I came across the Original Betty I was knew I found the shoes I wanted to try. Not only are they lovely and can go with so many different outfits but I love that they are made completely of leather, are soft-soled, and they have a non-slip diamond tread. And they're approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development. They feel wonderful and bend easily, they hold true to Pediped's tagline: 'next best thing to bare feet'. Also, the velcro is great as well because Avery loves that she can take her shoes off when she gets home, she's all about her independence and feeling helpful.

The shoes hold up great as well, kids this age obviously outgrow their clothes and shoes quickly but they go through so much use in those few months. She wears these particular shoes about five out of the seven days of the week and still look like they did when I took them out of the box and I haven't cleaned them once! Low maintenance and good for your kiddos feet?! SIGN. ME. UP! And one last awesome thing I have to mention is that you can go shoe shopping all from the comfort of your home because they have a printable sizing chart that allows you to measure your kiddo's foot to ensure you get the perfect fit.

Now go check out Pediped! And have an awesome Monday.

Baby, Baby

Drinking tea and watching the pup stare at the rain falling on the windows while the babe naps. And as I sit here going through photos to fill some empty frames in her room I can't help but get all sappy while reminiscing on my pregnancy with her. And then I think about having another one and I feel like a first-time mom all over again in that I find myself putting it off because I'm terrified I can't love another the way I love her and the big kids. I know it's silly, and I know the love will be there but I still find myself having that thought. Which is weird because I had that same worry when pregnant with my second but each pregnancy after that it never once was a worry of mine. And now, here the hubby and I are talking about when would be a good time to add one last baby to complete our family and I have all these first-time mom feelings despite being a seasoned parent. I guess I just can't imagine dividing my attention even further, just not at the age Av is currently at. 

Having such a big age gap between her and the big kids has proven more beneficial than not. And one of the huge benefits is me having learned from the past. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change a thing because I'm a firm believer that every single thing/choice/experience brings you to where you currently are, and I'm currently in the best place I've ever been in life. But what I mean to say is through the big kids I've learned just how fleeting the years really are.  And everyone will tell you this; your parents, your co-workers, the older gentleman in the grocery check-out line and we all eventually learn it's so incredibly true. 

So I strive to appreciate and soak in as much of these kids as I can before they're packing their bags and heading off to university, which for E is in less than two years. And with Avery I just can't imagine having a newborn while she's still so young herself. 

This morning Avery slept until 8, I went to get her from her room after hearing her quietly say "Mom? Mom?" through the monitor. The house was quiet other than the light tapping of the rain on the windows because the morning hustle of backpacks, lunch boxes, breakfast, coffee, and school bus had came and went while she was still fast asleep up in her room. When she woke, I scooped her up and brought her into our bed and she nursed like she always does first thing when she wakes. She laid there between me and her daddy and she played with his hair and paused from nursing every minute or so to softly kiss Seth on his forehead. It's moments like that I don't want to miss due to running on four hours of sleep and in the other room soothing a newborn. Later in the morning, when we pulled ourselves out of bed she hurt her foot doing one of her typical daredevil moves and she immediately ran to me to be consoled (which for her is to nurse). So I dropped what I was doing and nursed her until she slid off my lap to go back to being mischievous. I couldn't imagine telling her to wait while i tended to a baby. 

I mean, I know it's silly. Whether a baby comes this year or five years from now I'll still have to deal with similar situations. But I just don't feel that desire right now. And you know what? That's okay.

All this to say, right when you think you have things figured out, life shows you that you have no idea! If you would've asked me a year ago I would've told you I wanted Av and our future babe to be as close in age as possible. And now I'm like, "we don't need to worry about a risk of twins until I'm over 35, right?!" 

Happy Thursday, friends. Go kiss your kiddos. Xx

Gift Buying Guide for Newborns

Full Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links

I was commiserating with a girlfriend of mine about how baby products have really come a long way from the time she and I had our last two babies (both of our youngest kids are nine years younger than their sibling closest in age) and decided that I'd share some baby products that are/were (she's already outgrown so many "baby" items) loved in our home and would make good gifts for any soon-to-be moms in your life. 

By the time kid number four was on her way onto the scene I already knew that a lot of baby items on the market are overkill. Babies are simple, as in they don't need a lot. And let me tell you, I was a wee bit overwhelmed with all the options since last having a kid. Like, they have machines that are like Kuerigs but they're for formula. Why? Scoop that mess into the bottle and flick your wrist a few times, why do we need a machine?!

Anyway, on with the show... 

Burp cloths. We were given loads of cute ones, but at the end of the day, these old school cloth diapers (that come in a ten pack) do the trick just as well (and hold more puke, pee, mystery stains). Buy one pack and that's all you'll need in the burp cloth department. Or you can opt for that cute three pack for the same price that have trucks or hearts on them, your call. 

Diapers. They're a must. If you're a cloth-diapering momma like myself, my faves are these. They're on the pricier side of the cloth world but are worth every penny. And you'll still be saving thousands in the long run when compared to disposables. 

If cloth ain't your thing, I got you covered. I used these disposables until Avery was about a month old because she was just too tiny for her cloth for those first few weeks. 

Coconut oil. Seriously, from using it as an all natural diaper rash cream to adding it to my homemade baby wipes the uses are endless (Chapstick, post pedicure upkeep, conditioner). Pro tip: Put it on your wet hair when you get out of the shower in the evening. Comb it through. Put  hair in a topknot. And rinse out in the morning. Your hair will be soft as buttah. Smooth as butt-ah? You know what I'm trying to say. Here's the link.

Swaddle. This particular one was my fave. These things are a Godsend. Back in 1937 when I had my oldest they didn't make these, you just had to learn to swaddle using a receiving blanket. Gasp! But nowadays, phew! Faaaaanccccyyyyy. Buy two. So you have one ready while the other is being washed. Trust me. 

Pacifier. I bought every paci in the land of pacis. Hashtag For Real For Real. And she only liked this one. So naturally, I bought stock in them. JK. But I did have about six of those suckers. Get it? Suckers. Hahaha. I seriously make myself laugh and then realise how much of a dweeb I am mid-laugh. Anyway, I had like 6 or 8 or something which is completely absurd but I'd lose them then find them as soon as I order another two-pack. She wasn't ever a huge paci user, which makes it even sillier that I had so many. None of my kids have ever been too interested in pacis for some reason and Av is no different. But when she was a sleepy infant it was the second best thing right after my boob. So if you ever saw my kid with her paci in her mouth as a baby, you knew to run! Because it was a sign that she was sleepy and would be a little terror! Cute. But a terror. 

Carrier. Okay, trust me on this one. Some days I wouldn't have gotten anything done without this. My little lady loves being held. So when she was a newborn and even still now when she's cranky or clingy I'll just "wear" her and go about my day. I've done more cooking, laundry, and puppy ball throwing while wearing her than not. PSA: If you're going to use the carrier often please invest in an ergonomic one rather than an narrow-based one. It's best for babe. I have and love this Tula, it's a little pricey when you see $20 narrow-based carriers at some stores but it is worth every penny.

Onesies. Babies poop and spit up a lot. Enough said. 

Boppy. Unless you want to tuck 26 pillows strategically under your arms and part of your back each time you nurse, treat yo'self...to a boppy, that is. 

Swing. Sweet God Almighty was this thing a lifesaver. And the seat comes off so you can use it as a bouncer without having to buy, well, a bouncer. Score! I wouldn't have showered for days if it weren't for this thing when Avery was a newborn. Get a swing. Your armpits will thank you. 

Bottles. I nurse. And my kid is perpetually attached to my hip so she's only drank from a bottle a handful of times, but when she has it's from these. She seems to like them well enough according to hubby. 

Drying rack. I bought this knowing I likely wouldn't use bottles often but wanted it "just in case". Well, as I stated above, little lady is hardly apart from me so bottles are rarely needed. But let me tell you, this thing lives on my kitchen counter and gets plenty of use. From drying her bowl, spoons, sippy cup, toys I've rinsed off, and even wine glasses, it's the perfect spot for drying so many things.

Books. We heart books on our house. I've read to all the kids since day one and I feel it's super important on many levels. Avery would lay and listen to the entire book The Adventures of Peter Rabbit when she was teeny tiny. Her current fave is this classic, which was her baby brother's that he so graciously gifted to her. She can be in a cranky mood and if I pick this up and say, "Do you wanna read your book?!" She lights up and gets the most adorable smile on her face. It melts my heart. And she'll sit in my lap while I read and act out the book. We read it so much that if she's busy banging on one page I can just recite the rest of the book becusse I have it memorised. Word for word, yall. I'm pretty sure that's a mom thing, right? Where you have at least three books and two cartoon theme songs memorised and have probably sang/recited them all before noon each day. Yeah, a total mom thing. 

So there it is folks, a newborn buying guide if you're looking to gift any new mommas things they will actually use or even if you're a first-time mom and don't want to get in the trap of buying allthething only to find out you wasted hundreds of dollars. If I could only have 11 things as a mom of a newborn these would be it. For real. Well, maybe I'd sub the bottles for a carseat because...safety. But you get the point.

Happy shopping, y'all!

Avery's Art

In our house we love creating, whether it be painting, coloring, building, sewing, crocheting, you name it, we dig it. And our newest addition is getting right in on the fun too. I've known people that say, "Aww, I can't wait until my little one is old enough to make me some art to display!" Well guess what, folks? If they're outta the womb, they're old enough! I know one big concern is the safety of paints for babies under one, especially because they like to put EVERYTHING in their mouths. But fear not, I've got the perfect recipe for you and your little guy/gal and you'll have some adorable baby made art to display proudly.

You'll need:

1 cup flour

2 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

Combine water and salt in a large pot. Cook on medium heat. Once the water mixture is heated slowly add flour, stirring constantly. Remove from heat once smooth and thick.

The consistency is that of yogurt, and after making this recipe I realized that I could've used just that - plain vanilla yogurt, then simply added food coloring to my liking. So give that a go as well.

We used a cupcake pan to place the "paint" in then we added different food coloring to each section until we liked the color.

Initally I taped a piece of paper to the counter, dropped some blobs of paint on the paper, then covered it with clear sheeting also taped to the counter (shown below, sorry for the terrible quality iPhone pics throughout this post) but Avery wasn't interested. 

I think her lack of interest was due to not being able to truly feel the texture of the paint. With four kids and a dog I'm no stranger to messes so I said screw it and took off the plastic sheeting and let her just grab the paint straight from the cupcake holders and paint it directly to the paper. She absolutely LOVED it.

Not only does this activity give you the cutest artwork made by your babe but it also gives them some much needed sensory play, so it's a win-win in my book. 

And I'm a sap so we framed her art, I mean, come on, its the first piece of art she made so naturally it has to go in a frame and be treasured forever. If you've ever been to my house you know that I decorate with both mine and my kiddos' art work, there's just something so wonderful about being surrounded by their works of art that they worked so hard on. I absolutely love when I see the kids digging in our craft closet and breaking out the canvases and paint. It make this creative momma happy. 

So if you ever thought your three month old was too young to make you some sweet art, think again ya'll. Happy painting!

All About Cloth Diapering

*This post contains affiliate links (just click on any highlighted word and it'll bring you directly to the product I'm referencing). Hellllllo 2015 technology!

I've been meaning to write this post for months because a few of my girlfriends are currently pregnant and asked me about cloth diapering. 

I gave them a quick rundown of the basics then promised them a more detailed post. 

So here it is.

When I first decided I wanted to cloth diaper I felt overwhelmed with all information I needed to know and questions I had. There was info on the different styles, how to properly wash them, prep them, how many you need, etc. So my goal is to give you all that info in one post so that you don't have to do weeks worth of research like I did. Basically, I hope I'm saving someone time and I hope it makes the thought of cloth diapering more doable because it totally is! I get so excited when someone chooses to cloth diaper so I hope I can persuade some of you to do just that. But all this info also means a pretty long post too, so hold on tight!

Types of Cloth Diapers (CD):

First let's start with the different types of cloth diapers, beginning with all-in-ones (AIO). BumGenius All In One Cloth Diaper  happen to be my current fave and have always been Seth's fave. He likes them because they are most like a disposable diaper in that you don't have to "stuff" them. Simply put: you grab a diaper and put it on baby. I like them because now that Avery sleeps pretty soundly all night and doesn't need a diaper change until morning they hold in more pee. When I use all in ones during the day I use it as is. When I put one on her at bedtime I add an extra insert so that I don't have to worry about leaks the next morning.

You can "stuff" the insert or you can simply lay it on the inside of the diaper, or if you have a heavy-wetter you can do both.

Next up are pocket diapers. 

These were my favourite when she was littler simply because they aren't as bulky as AIOs and they dry faster after a wash. Some people, ahem Seth, don't like them because they have to take the time to stuff them. But seriously folks, it takes seconds. Not a big deal. Besides, my husband has changed like four diapers ever, no exaggeration, so I don't worry too much about his opinion on this topic. Love you baby! 

Comparing the AIO and the Pocket you can see how the AIO might be a better contender for nighttime. It has two 'flaps' if you will and you can add more inserts. The pocket has one insert and you could add another but it's still not as thick as an AIO. Of our stash I'd guess that half are AIO and half are pockets and that has ended up working really well for us. When we have another baby (yes, we're gonna have one more if fate allows) I plan to buy half and half again. Unless of course Av is already potty-trained by the time kiddo five comes along, in which case s/he will just use our current stash.

Pre-folds. 

I have not used prefolds regularly or in the way most do so I can't give you any personal insight. I do know though that these are good if you don't want to take the financial hit of cloth diapering. I say financial hit but seriously, even if you buy the more expensive diapers at $20 a pop you still save thousands in the long run compared to using disposables.

I digress.

Think old school cloth diapers with a cute cover over top. That's a prefold. When Avery was itty bitty I used prefolds as burp cloths (a trick I learned from my Mom when I had Ethan). You can get like 20 prefolds for $15. No joke. Now that A no longer spits up on the reg I use the prefolds every once in a while as an insert in my pocket diapers (for instance if the diaper is dry and the real insert is still damp/drying) and they work flawlessly. So don't knock them until you try them. I have a girl friend that uses them and loves them. She simply puts a waterproof cover over them.

This brings me to all-in-twos (AI2). They are similar to prefolds as they have a cover and an insert that you snap into the cover. I've never used these but again know people that do and swear by them.

Wash Routine:

Now that you know the different types of CDs let's move on to washing them. This seems to be what turns a lot of folks off cloth diapering. I don't really understand the big deal but then again I have a family of six so I do laundry every single day when we have a full house, therefore laundry isn't a big deal for me.

Personally, I wash diapers either every day or at the very least every other day. One, I don't have a huge "stash". I think I have about 20 diapers. And to be honest you don't need more than that unless of course you're diapering more than one child at a time.

The reason you don't need more is because you need to wash dirty diapers at least every other day or every two days anyway in order to keep them in tip top shape. If you let dirty diapers sit for three, four, five days it's going to affect the performance of your diaper as they aren't going to get as clean and then they aren't going to absorb as well and then you're going to complain that your diapers suck then you're going to give up on cloth blah blah blah....

Anyway, I don't want to be tempted to be lazy and blow off washing diapers so I keep my stash small so that I'm basically forced to wash diapers or else I would run out and that would not be good.

Washing: Prep

Before you can initially use the diapers you have to prep them. Every brand will come with instructions on how to prep that particular diaper so my advice is to follow that. Depending on what your diaper is made from (wool, microfibres, etc) your prep will vary. So trust the company you buy from and prep the way it states on the packaging. Easy as pie.

Washing: Detergent

The detergent you use is critical to the performance of your diapers. Dyes, perfumes, brighteners that are in most standard detergents are going to ruin your diapers. They are going to prevent absorption and damage the material. So naturally, you want to use a detergent that doesn't contain such ingredients.

I personally use BumGenius Liquid Detergent  on all my diapers regardless if they are bumgenius or not. It's a bit pricey but it works better on our diapers in my experience.

Washing: Routine

When I'm changing A's diapers I obviously toss them in a wet bag when I'm done. But as I put them in the wet bag I remove the liner first then toss it in. That way when it's time to wash all I have to do is dump the entire contents of the wet bag into the wash rather than picking through the pockets diapers and unstuffing them. It's simpler, and Lord knows I need simple. I also use cloth wipes that way I'm not picking out disposable wipes from the diapers or needing to keep a trash bin by me during a diaper change. I simply clean her bum with a cloth wipe and toss it all in the wet bag.

When it's time to wash I empty the wet bag's contents into the washer. Then I run a 30 minute rinse cycle in cold water with half the amount of detergent I'd use to wash them. Next I do the wash cycle on 60 degrees with the full amount of detergent. When that's done I line dry them. Sometimes I'll do another rinse at the end if I still see suds in the machine but it's rare that happens.

Line drying will ensure your diapers last longer as it won't wear the elastic, etc. Also, the sun is a natural whitener so if you have a stain on one of the dipes just let it dry outside in a line or in the window if you don't have an outside clothes hanger and the sun will erase the stain. It's like magic, I tell ya!

Details:

You need a Wet Bag. A wet bag is what you will put all your dirty diapers in. It's waterproof, so the stench and pee stay put inside. I have a big one for the house. And I actually use a "bikini bag" (the small water proof pouch you'd stick your wet bikini in when your done at the beach) as a wet bag on the go that I keep in the diaper bag.

You need 15-20 diapers per child. This is if you will wash at least every other day. Which is recommended to keep your diapers in good shape.

Cloth wipes. I posted about it yesterday. And while it's obviously a personal preference just trust me though use cloth wipes. It's easier than disposables, you don't have the chemicals from disposables on your babe, and you don't have to spend money on wipes every few weeks.

Brands:

You might be wondering which brands are best. I personally love BumGenius All In One Cloth Diaper  and Fuzzibunz, Charlie Banana  are good as well. Every baby is shaped differently though so what works for one babe may not be best for another so my advice is to buy one or two or each brand you're considering. Use those on baby and see which ones you like the best then go back and buy more of that particular brand.

I think that pretty much sums things up! I really hope I helped any questions and made CDing sound doable, because it really is. Besides, you'll be helping our landfills, your bank account, and most importantly your baby's little bum. As always, let me know if you have questions or other tips you'd love to share. And if you've used any other brands other than those I mentioned tell us how you liked them (or didn't like them). 

Until tomorrow...

Cloth Wipe Tutorial

We all cloth diaper for different reasons; some to save money, some to save the Earth, some to save our kids' tosh from chemicals, and some do it for a combination of the aforementioned reasons. I cloth diaper mainly for one reason: because I don't want the chemical from disposables on my babe for two years straight (or however long it'll take her to potty train). Saving the Earth and my pocket book are simply bonuses.

So along with cloth diapering, I use cloth wipes for simplicity's sake and also to avoid the chemicals in disposable wipes. With cloth you can just toss it all in the wet bag together, wash them with the diapers, and use them over and over just as you do the dipes. 

With disposables you have to keep a trash can near by to toss the wipes in with each diaper change then depending if it's a poopy diaper you have to get a baggie to tie it up in and toss it in the big bin outside as to not stink up the trash inside.

And those that money is their motivator? 

You can save soooo much by using cloth wipes as well

It take just minutes to make a batch of wipes. 

I usually need to make one batch every other day or every two days. And to make life even easier I do it while I make my coffee in the morning because I already have water boiling since I use a French Press to make my coffee.

What you need (per "batch):

1 baby wipe container

1 cup boiling water

1/2 tablespoon unrefined coconut oil

1/2 tablespoon Burt's Bees Baby wash (or baby wash of your choice, I just like the ingredients in Burt's the best)

Half your "wipes" (which would be 1/2 yard of fleece cut to size)

Don't let the "work" of needing to make a new batch of wipes every few days prevent you from using cloth wipes. The little work you have to do outweighs the work you'd have if you used disposable. Scout's honor.

The recipe above is for "one batch" AKA a single baby wipe container's worth of wipes.

I received disposable wipes as baby gifts so I used those up then saved the container.

For the wipes, I bought a yard of fleece and cut them using pinking sheers into the approximate size and shape of a disposable wipe so they'd fit in my container. I didn't measure, I just eyeballed it. One yard made enough wipes to fill both the big wipe containers I keep at home (one upstairs, one downstairs) as well as my three travel wipe containers I keep in each of our cars and in baby's diaper bag, which is all I need.

Some people get fancy and surge the edge of each wipe. Ain't nobody got time for that - they're wipes for pete's sake!. Cutting them with pinking sheers works just as well.

Once you cut up your wipes wash them as you would your cloth diapers.

Once washed, separate them evenly into two piles. Each of your piles is now going to be "one batch" of wipes if that makes sense. So in this recipe we are only dealing with one pile/batch. Keeping up?

Good.

I used to mix everything up in a bowl but I've started just mixing it in the measuring cup when I realized I could use one less dish in my always busy kitchen.

How to:

Pour a cup of boiling water into your measuring cup. Squeeze 1/2 tablespoon of Burt's Bees Baby Wash into your measuring spoon. Stir into the water. Using the same measuring spoon, scoop out 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil. The oil should scoop out easily because your measuring spoon is still warm from the water. Stir the coconut oil into the water and body wash mixture.

Next, remember that pile of cloth wipes? Put half of them in the wipe container and then pour half the water mixture evenly on to the wipes. Next, place the remaining half of the wipes into the wipe container then pour the rest of the water mixture on top. Take care to pour the water evenly over the wipes. You don't want to just dump it all in the middle because then the edges of your wipes will be dry and useless. The reason you want to only put half in at a time is because the fleece sucks up the water mixture really well and I found that when I placed the entire stack in the container then poured the entire mixture on top the mixture never made it down to the wipes near the bottom. By doing one half at a time you ensure the mixture will coat all your wipes.

Lastly, close the lid and shake it up to get any rogue water absorbed into the wipes. Et voila! You're done.

Do the same for the other pile of wipes into another container and you're all set!

I make a batch and then take a few out and put them in my travel case to keep in the car and diaper bag.

So easy!

Alright guys, I hope I was helpful and that your heads don't hurt from all the take half of the half of the half's half info. If you have any questions, need anything clarified, or want to share any cloth diaper/wipe tips leave me a comment below!

Tomorrow I'll be back with a post all about cloth diapering that I promised to write for a few people. So check back in if that's your kind of fun!