I LOVE how great minds think alike... Flats Challenge!

Do you use cloth? I bet you've been collecting those adorable diapers that are a bit pricey and so much cuteness and fun and way worth it, I swear I can use these on at least 2 more kids, its TOTALLY economical!
You're right, all of that is true!
If you are already using cloth, or have looked into using cloth, MODERN cloth - the cute-completely adorable-cant wait to get my fluff in the mail-ahhh the prints and colors- ooo the minky softness-hellloooo bright and fun snaps- cloth diapers, well then you also know the start up cost, while definitely cheaper than disposables in the long run, can be really intimidating and outside many family budgets. Not to mention, washing.

Anyhow - Turtle-Love would rather be up and playing than sitting here so I don't have much time before he demands I get up. Please go check out this post by Dirty Diaper Laundry. I had already decided I would do a similar challenge before I read this, but I was going to be on my own. This will be much more effective! Join the movement people!
http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/take-the-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-may-23-30/

A little progress regarding my cloth advocacy efforts

I went to my local WIC office yesterday to pick up my checks, Yes I am on WIC, and I spoke with a senior rep there about cloth education classes. She said WIC is probably not going to be interested in dealing with diapers because they have enough on their plate already (understandable, they do A LOT) but she did refer me to 3 other places locally that I should contact. Great! I'm hoping to write up an official agenda to hand out and contact these places hopefully next week.

Happy Friday!

My first blog hop =)

This is my first blog hop post! =) I hope there will be many more to follow!

Relax and make friends =)





Happy hump day!

Crazy busy + 4 months old... really?!

I apologize for not writing very often. Between planning the wedding and school work, on top of my normal routines with work and Turtle-Love, my schedule has just been packed with things to get done. I finally have a moment of time where I can collect my thoughts!

The wedding date is official! We signed the contract and paid the deposit for our venue... October 15th, 2011 here we come! Some decisions have been made with the help of my birdesmaids, mainly my maid of honor aka my little sister, and of course Toad. We have chosen our favors, centerpieces, and have an idea for the guestbook. I'm still trying to figure out other decorations, flowers, the menu, all the paper products... well pretty much everything else lol.

Turtle-Love! Oh man... he is 4 months old today! I weighed him this morning (we have a baby scale) and he was 9lbs 7oz! He is getting so big, only 3 or so of his newborn outfits fit him, and he is filling out some of his 0-3 stuff really well. He is kicking and reaching and is becoming interested in his toys. He loves his links! He eats all the time and enjoys sucking on his fists, my arm, gramma's shoulder... He is a super drooley boy these days, I'm convinced he has started the teething process! He is officiaally out of newborn sposies btw... on to size 1's for night-time and when Auntie has him. She refuses to retain the information about cloth diapers yet. I'll get her though... she will be here this Thursday and I think is going to watch him while I'm in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) class.

Have I mentioned I'm in "church school" too? I'm taking RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes so I can be confirmed. I was raised in the Catholic church as a child, but I was never confirmed. I'm taking classes now for adult confirmation. We are scheduling Turtle-Love to be baptised in July.

This past Saturday Toad and I went on our first "date" since we had Turtle-Love. He took me to see Cirque du Soleil!! Ahhh! Dream come true! I've always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil! I love them! And the show was AMAZING. It was Allegria, ah it was just so wonderful! Toad even bought me a t-shirt and then we went to dinner. The date night was a lot of fun, but I missed my little Turtle-Love a ton.... and so did my boobs... hah! I was excited I had pumped enough for one feeding and it was in the freezer for this occasion - he took 4 ounces!

I stopped pumping about 2 weeks ago. I just felt like I needed a break from all the worry of it. I pumped Saturday when we got home because I was engorged and Turtle-Love only ate off one side before he was full. I managed to pump 2 ounces out of my "bad" side! Woo! That is a record for me lol. I'm going to try to start pumping in the mornings again once we get our morning schedule back on track. I like having a few feedings in the freezer for just in case. Now that he eats 4oz instead of 2 it is going to take me a while to stock up.

School is going well. I'm going to take it easy with school until after the wedding and Turtle-Love's first birthday.  Sure. I could keep going and hit school hardcore. I'm plenty capable. But I wouldn't enjoy it. I really like school. I want to enjoy my education. I also want to enjoy planning my wedding and all Turtle-Love's firsts. So, I haven't decided what I'm doing with school for the summer semester, but I'm not going to take classes this fall I think. Maybe I will, but as of right now I don't think so.

Well, I've got an hour left of work and then I think Turtle-Love and I will go enjoy his birthday =)

Saturday at Sugar Snap keeps me Sane

Many months ago I "liked" Sugar Snap Consignment on Facebook. Many weeks ago Sugar Snap posted they were going to have a cloth diapering discussion on the following Saturday. Many Saturdays ago I met the most wonderful, like minded people, ever.

(Almost)Every Saturday morning Turtle-Love and I spend at Sugar Snap Consignment. Several other mothers whom I have become friends with also bring their child(ren) and visit at Snap. We mainly meet to talk about cloth diapering and baby wearing, but we often also discuss cosleeping, bedsharing, breastfeeding, attachment parenting in general, and anything else that comes up. Of course this includes stories about our children, birth, and how we've met our loves.

Not only do I get to hang out with a bunch of other moms who really do share similar values and viewpoints, but we do it in one of my favorite places in town.

Sugar Snap's owner is amazing. She is certainly the baby wearing guru of our area and knows almost anything about every kind of pocket sling, ring sling, mei tai, wrap, carrier.... all of it! Not only is she awesome, but her store is too! Of course, it is a consignment shop. They consign gently used items. Everthing from strollers to shoes, cloth diapers to christening gowns, toys, bedding, even maternity! If you need it for your household of children or a pregnant friend or self, Sugar Snap probably has it! In addition to selling gently used, she also has an assortment of cloth diapers and slings that are new, and she also sells locally made things =) I'm sure there is a ton of awesomeness I'm leaving out about Sugar Snap - please please please go check it out for your self, at least on Facebook! Visit Sugar Snap Consignment on Facebook here!

Anyhow - hanging out most Saturdays at the Snap is wonderful for me. I can sit, surrounded by amazing items at great prices, and talk with great people. All while breastfeeding, changing diapers, taking pictures, eating.... its so free and welcoming there, I crave it. The whole week I look forward to my Saturdays.

My child is getting BIG... I'm not a bad mom!

So.... remember last week for the review when Turtle-Love was 8lbs 14 oz?

Guess who is 9 pounds 4.5 ounces?! Oh yeah Turtle-Love!!!!!

He had finally grown in to his larger newborn stuff and smaller 0-3 stuff... now he is filling out all  the newborn stuff! Soon I'll be packing it away... *sigh*

And now...
Just a little rant.....

I brought my son into my office today. Wait - rewind.

I work from home for the same company I worked in-office for pre-birth. Today, my neighborhood is being paved so we cannot park our cars at our homes, and I have no way to get Turtle-Love to our house from our temporary parking area because we do not have an alterain stroller, and his car seat and other stuff are simply too big for my short self to carry that distance. At least, not willingly =P So - I decided to pack up my work things, and my Turtle-Love, and go to the office for the day!

We arrive at the office, and I go the long way around to my office so that the girls I work with have their chance to ooggle him. One woman actually said to me that she didn't know much at all about babies but that certainly he should be heavier than 9 pounds by 4 months. *eye roll* I said probably but he is a preemie so we've come a decent way [he was 5lbs 12oz at birth - actually big for his gestation(35wks) the doc was plesantly surprised]... this woman proceeded to get in his face when I set his car seat down, and tried to touch his face! Nuuuuhhhh! Dirty hands! She made a joke that she felt she should offer him her finger because she is used to meeting dogs... har har, not! Sorry but joking about putting your strange dirty finger in my childs mouth isn't very funny to me... maybe I've lost my sense of humor durring the birth process or somewhere along the way.... but I kinda doubt it. Either way. No thanks, see you later, a-buh-bye.

yeesh