Nablopomo

So yeah, I finished!! Sorry that it was pretty lame but I'm just happy that I completed it! Today was a great day, my sister gave birth to my newest little niece. She's a sweetie and this auntie is having a hard time living a flight away from this newest little one! She's a red head just like Bug, he's going to be in good company with 4 other ginger cousins. I think both sides of our family are proving that red heads are going extinct thing wrong.

Blerg

Just got our birth announcements and they cut off the first letter of his name, the b in born and the 7 in 7 lbs.. umm kinda important parts. I emailed the company that I ordered from, not my usual company. I'm reaaally hoping that they resolve it quickly as I have been seriously neglectful of the thank you cards for the gifts since he was born because I'm planning on sending them with our birth announcements. On another note our Christmas cards came so they will all get sent out together once I get the corrected birth announcements.
I'm going into the office tomorrow with the Bug to do some data entry. I'm having a little anxiety about it cause I'm scared how he will react. Say some prayers peeps the extra cash would be nice around Christmas :) I have the travel swing and his floor gym in the car, hopefully he'll take a good nap so I can get some time in.
Major pet peeve, when my baby smells like cigarettes. I HATE that he smells like that after relatives who smoke hold him. I really try to limit his time in the hands of smokers but man it makes me want to cry when my babies hair smells like that. I can't believe that I used to smoke considering my current reaction to that smell.

Started decorating

The tree is looking less Charley Brown than I thought it would, makes me much happier. The ridiculous amount of garland and lights really help the situation. I forgot how much the cat likes to eat this tree though.. whomp whomp whomp.. Anyone want a cat??

Mine is way less cool than these

Fake Tree

We're thinking of going fake this year, gasp.. I don't know if I can handle it :)

So excited

I've been looking at pictures of my nieces and nephews first Christmas' and I can't wait to start making these memories with Bug. We're planning on decorating the tree this weekend and starting the Advent Wreath on Sunday. Next week we are heading up to Hershey for the Anniversary of our first date and also our engagement. I'm so excited to bring our little boy to our special place :) We've been talking all week about fun things we can do with him when he's older and traditions to start with him. I'm a self proclaimed Christmas nut so this is all too exciting for me :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Fall Colors Fall

Unique party invitations and announcements by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Remember kids give thanks in all situations, our God is good!
Yes this is our turkey!!!

Thankfullness

I've been reflecting on the difference between this year and last. Last year was the deepest valley of my life and I'm just so thankful to be on the other side of it. Those valleys certainly help you appreciate the peaks. Right now we are standing on a peak but I know that there are times and seasons for all of this and that there are other valleys we will have to walk through and other peaks to ascend. I'm thankful right now for both the valleys and the peaks because both of them make you who you are.
I'm so excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow, we are going over my moms and I don't have to cook. We are also bringing a turkey over to my parents house to have my brother fry. Soo not only do I not have to cook but I still get leftovers.. How thankful am I for THAT! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and run out of fingers and toes when you count your blessings. :)

Family

Nursing in a ring sling!

Wow, so last month I was having such a hard time even contemplating nursing in public. I'll admit to thinking I would be relegated to my house for the rest of our nursing relationship. The few times I did venture out I was bringing my nursing pillow and basically exposing myself in the back of my car. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get proficient at this whole nursing deal. I'm still not that great, I do alright with my Hooter Hider (thanks Anna!) despite flashing my friend Lisa some nip today. It has gotten drastically better though, like I don't start sweating every time he looks like he's rooting outside of the house. Today I did the unthinkable, I nursed in the middle of Target WHILE WALKING AROUND with him in a ring sling. Dude I was so proud I had my friend snap a pic :)

Buggy Smiles make my day

My little bug just started smiling this week, it melts my heart. He's such a happy guy that he smiles for most of the time he's awake. Happy Sigh!

Birth Announcements Done

check off my list woot woot.
Now to finish ordering our Christmas cards as we're sending them out together.
This is amazing, I feel so productive :)

Mother's Heart

I'm learning so much about my faith with my little Bug. We are God's children and He loves us with a perfect love, he loves me and my Bug far more and better than I could ever. My Bug has a weak muscle in his eyelid and it seems he needs surgery to correct it. I learned today that my little tiny 6 week old baby needs surgery and I would do ANYTHING to make him not have to go through that. If I could give him my eyelid I would, if I could take that from him I would in a heartbeat. How much more would our Father in Heaven do for us. Just reflecting on the love I have for him with my limited heart makes me realize how much more the perfect love my God has for both of us.
I'll do what I can, I'll learn as much as I can and make the best decisions that I can for him. I'll love him and smother him with kisses. Then I'll rest in the knowledge that there is an All Powerful God that loves him even more than I do.

I was made for this

I wore my baby and went out to hang up his diapers this morning. Pinning each one on the line I was just filled with peace. I've never been happier than I am right now. I realize this probably sounds crazy and stupid but I love the place I'm in. I love keeping my house and taking care of my baby. I'm pretty sure most people don't feel this way when doing laundry :) I'm a lucky girl!

Free pictures

So there are all these free offers flying around for pictures. I've been using picture websites that I don't usually use to take advantage of them since I have about 300 cards to buy between Christmas and our Birth Announcement. Let me just say that I definitely am happy with the site that I normally use. I've had such problems with the new ones! Just so you know I would never link to a site or service that I'm unhappy with for the sake of free pictures I have always used and liked Shutterfly. Ha ha and yes this counted for nablopomo, I was going to post a picture of the Bugs outfit today cause its an original but that would mean I would have to find my camera cable and upload my pics so sorry. Hopefully I'll stop being lame with these posts soon!

Great Link for dad's to bond with thier breastfeeding baby

So the hubs has really been thinking of ways for him to bond with our peanut. He asked about me pumping so that he can feed him and I was a bit hesitant because of nipple confusion. Then I found this link up on Facebook:
How New Dads Can Bond With Their Breastfeeding Baby
It has some great tips on it that we're totally trying. I'll let you know

A little nastalga

This is a picture I took 5 years ago, I lived in that cabin by myself and LOVED it. It was built before the United States of America was the United States and was once a one room dirt floor cabin. When I lived there you couldn't see any other houses or the road from the cabin, the views were all trees and fields. I would do the dishes with views of deer running through the fields and wild turkeys running around. I would fall asleep to the sound of the whipperwills. The hubs and I dream of one day building a cabin in the woods for ourselves, but for now I just treasure that memory.

Bloggaversary

Tomorrow is my 5 year Bloggoversary, I started this blog about 2 weeks before I started dating my now husband. It seems so weird that my life has changed so much in this time. I'm so happy to have a record of all these changes even if I wasn't always the greatest at updating.

I'm having a hard time with this Nablopomo thing mostly because I'm exhausted. The little man is going through a growth spurt right now so I'm literally nursing him ALL THE TIME. He also won't go to anyone but me right now so taking a nap on the weekend is all but impossible as he'll scream the whole time if I'm not holding him. He is such a wonderful little boy and I'm so happy right now but I'm really really really hoping for just a bit of sleep tonight. Its 7:30 and we're all in bed for the night so I'm crossing my fingers :)

Anyway I hope to update with some good stuff this week to make up for my lameness in the past few days.

I'm gonna be an aunt again!

Thats all I've got, its late, I'm tired and excited.
night.

Most used infant products-the first month

So I thought it might be useful or interesting to hear my most used baby items so far.

1. My Moby Wrap- I have LOVED this. The bug adores being in it and will snuggle right up. I love having him so close to me and rarely if we're out do we use the stroller. Its just been easier to use the Moby.


2. The My Brest Friend Pillow. I love this pillow and love how secure it is. Those first few weeks of nursing can be tough so anything you can get to make it easier do it. This was one of my favorite things that I had.

3. My Kleen Kanteen- The hubs makes sure that this is always filled and I don't think I would drink anything in those first weeks unless it was right there for me. I love these and bring them EVERYWHERE.

4. Zippy Pajamas-I loved not dealing with buttons or snaps in the middle of the night.

5. Sophie the Giraffe-This toy is so cute, I love it. The bug tracks it with his eyes and will bat it with his hands too :)

Sometimes there are just no words

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas Card time!

I used to be one of those people who bought Christmas cards and never sent them. I would write them all out and then come March I would throw them out, yeah that was a great use of my time and cash. Since I've been hitched though I've been so good with sending them out, patting myself on the back for that. We've used Shutterfly and we couldn't have been happier. We actually have used shutterfly for other things too, we even made a photo book as our wedding album and for albums for our parents.

This year is a little more exciting for us with our little Bug so we're so excited to send our Christmas cards out with a picture of our little man included. This year the Count Your Blessings card is definitely ringing true for us.

I also like the Good Blessings
Its one of my favorite verses and songs, I also love the artwork on the front.

I also like the simplicity of the Scarlet Script Frame and Vintage Merry Christmas.

I know this year we'll be looking into getting some other things from Shutterfly; both for us and for gifts. I would love a photo ornament to commemorate Bug's first Christmas and could see getting them for the grandparents as well. I know the grandparents would freak their freak over a wall calendar with 12 months of cuteness on it. I have been so happy with the quality and also the customer service in the past with Shutterfly and will be ordering with confidence this year.

***This post is part of the Shutterfly free card promo. Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Great Great Great

Today Bug met his Great Great Great Aunt Ginny. It was sweet to see how much it meant to her to hold my little man, and it warmed my heart to see how he responded to her. She sat and rocked and sang to him and he ate it up.


This is something that is important, I think, to have your children visit the elderly. They can learn so much and they also can bring so much joy. It was amazing watching the eyes of my 93 year old great great aunt light up when she met my little man, and the way she watched me as I rocked and nursed him. You could tell it made her day.

Comparison

My boy is getting so big, I just went through his closet and had to pack up all the newborn clothes and a decent amount of the 0-3 and 3 month clothes. I put him in his first 6 month shirt today. Can't believe that he's already had a graduation of sorts.

Milestone!

I nursed in a restaurant and didn't flash anyone!!!

Big Day Out

So today the hubs went surf fishing with my brother while I had some friends over. When he got home he watched the Bug so I could get a nap, then we decided to rent a movie and get sushi. I decided to go get it myself to just get out of the house a bit by myself. Well I pick up the sushi and am driving down the road and pow... I get a flat.
Now its about 40 degrees and I was wearing flip flops with no jacket (big surprise for those who know me). Whomp whomp whomp not the big outing I was hoping for. I started changing the tire myself, cause thats right I can give birth and change a flat--I'm totally singing "I'm Every Woman" in my head. A nice guy came up and started helping then my father in law pulled up to help(the hubs called him to help me since he was at home with the baby) so we got it changed in no time. I got home and we watched Iron Man 2 (well I watched it while the hubs slept) and ate the sushi. All ended up well but I'm really hoping thats the end of our tire woes cause this is the 2nd tire in a week to blow. So yeah this really has no point but I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS NABLOPOMO

1 month letter

Dear Buggaboo (Bugs, Bugsy, Chunky Monkey, Boo Boo Face, Sweetie Boy),
I can't believe it was only one month ago today that we first saw your sweet face. It seems like forever ago and just a moment ago at the same time. To say you've turned my life upside down is an understatement, but the biggest change was my heart. I've never loved so much. When I was dating your dad I said that it made me understand God's love for me a little more because I had never known love like that before. You have shown me yet another depth of love, and I'm amazed again at God's love for me. I keep saying I can't believe that God gave his only son for me, that is a love that I cannot even fathom. I pray every day to live that out in my life that I can be an example to you of this great love.


We are starting to catch our groove with each other. Nights are sometimes rough, you usually wake up about 2 times a night. A good number of those nights though I admit to staying awake much longer than needed to just look at you. Nursing has been one of the sweetest experiences of my life, it has come with its own set of obstacles but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm amazed that the only sustenance you've ever had has come from me. I'm still not so great at nursing in public so we haven't gone out too much or for too long, I'm hoping to get better this month and get out of the house more.

I love watching you with your daddy, he loves you so much. Every night you fall asleep on his chest, he usually falls asleep too. I didn't think it was possible but you've made me fall more in love with your daddy more. I'm amazed that God used the two of us to make you, I love looking at you and seeing all the ways you look like your daddy, EVERYONE says you look just like him. I pray that you grow up to be a good man just like him.
You are out of newborn clothes and some of the 3 months are a stretch for you as well. Daddy has weighed you a few times and the last time we checked you were around 11.5lbs, we'll find out next Friday for sure what you are up to. I love wearing you and it seems your favorite place to be is in the Moby. One day daddy came home and kissed your head and said you smelled like Chicken soup, well that's what I had for lunch and I'd been kissing your head all afternoon. You don't seem to mind though so I keep wearing you.

I love you with all my heart little one, and I'm so thankful that you've made me a "mommy". I feel like all my life I've been waiting and preparing for this, to be a wife to your daddy and a mommy to you. I promise to do my best by you.

Love,
Your mama

The Weaning

We've had Halloween candy in our house for about 2 weeks I have been indulging a little too much, using my sugar high to diffuse the sleep deprivation. We ran out yesterday and lets just say today has been rough, like so rough I wanted to spell it ruffffff. Resisting the temptation to run out and shop the clearances...
So for today this is all I got.

Cloth Diapering so far

pic of my Bug's cute little cloth diapered tush!

Some of our parenting decisions were made automatically for us; cloth diapering and breastfeeding being the biggest. It was VERY important to both of us for me to stay home to raise the bug and for that to happen we had to lessen the cost of having a child. Diapering a child comes with an obscene cost, cloth diapering seemed like the best way to cut that and it has been. Thankfully we had purchased some cloth when we took care of my nieces twins and one of my friends handed me down some of her cloth diapers as her kids outgrew them; so even the cloth diapers didn't really have a significant impact on our budget. Even if we did have to purchase them it really just does make sense financially to go cloth. There are other bloggers who have gone into the cost analysis so I'm not going to do the math, I'll just link up a few here, here and here. I also like the environmental aspect of cloth diapering and appreciate how my frugal choices also tend to be green.

What we didn't realize is that when we left the hospital they would give us TONS of disposable diapers, we literally left with 5 packages. These 5 packages proved to be a great incentive to start with the cloth, we both HATED them. The bug some how leaked so bad that every time we changed him at night we were changing the sheets and his clothes too (some times ours as well).

It was so irritating, and both brands that they gave us let to the same effect. The hubs and I were so happy when we started using cloth because they really held the business in. We honestly haven't even noticed the laundry part of it too much, it works out to be an extra load every 2-3 days and you don't have to fold them!

So yeah, we cloth diaper and it isn't at all horrible like everyone insisted it would be when we were pregnant (all while giving us knowing looks and saying "we'll see how long that lasts"). It just works for us and for the boy, although I could see how if you were working full time or didn't have a washing machine cloth diapering would be hard. Also breastfeeding has its own advantages on cloth diapering so if I was formula feeding I might be singing a different tune.

The one thing that bothers me when people talk about cloth diapering is that they believe you have to buy the fancy expensive diapers. You can go crazy with cloth there are many many different options and some of them cost over $20 a diaper but you can go way cheaper than that. We opted to purchase prefolds, cheap prorap covers
and snappis to secure. Diapering with those options it costs about $50 per size and you can reuse for subsequent children, super cheap!

So what do you do? What made your decision for you?

A Moment

He sighs contentedly in his sleep, nestled up against me. He grasps my necklace with both hands. We sit like this for hours each day, he finishes nursing and I hold him. I know this won't last long, that my tiny man will grow so much quicker than I will like; so for now I will let the dishes sit in the sink and the clothes will lay unfolded. I'll take a deep breath and breathe in his baby smell. I'll make myself remember how tiny his hands are, how soft his hair, how he fits perfectly all nestled against me.

I know this is special.

Napoblomo! For Real!

So yeah I'm doing the Napoblomo, I've gotten way out of the whole blogging thing but have alot going on. I'm figuring this will help me get back into blogging. I also have a little Bugaboo that is A-dorable that I can fill space with pictures of if I run out of things to say.
We are starting to hit our groove after the birth of our son, our groove is a different groove than it was. Its a much more sleep deprived groove than it used to be but it also contains an obscene amount of cute and the fiercest of love. So yeah I have alot of posts flying around my head about being a first time mom, breastfeeding, natural birth, and then just my crazy random thoughts.
I'll leave you with a picture of the cuteness.