Saving tons and tons of cash, helping the environment, and caring for your baby

Cloth diapering.
















Here are some interesting figures: http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_howtosave.asp

Parker has been wearing the same cloth diapers since November (age 4 months). For all 28 diapers, my wet bag, my diaper pail, and my diaper liner, I have spent apprx. $200. If you visit the above link, you'll see how much you'll spend on plastic diapers during the course of your child wearing diapers. My diapers are all in excellent condition, and I'll be able to use them with my next little one. I have no clue how we afforded diapers with Lily. Looking at the aisles of Target now, I am shocked. Those things are pricey!

My water bill has not increased but maybe by a dollar. I wash 2-3 times a week.

Not to mention, every time I change a cloth diaper, I am keeping one more diaper that is not going to degrade for over 500 years out of a landfill.

People worry about it being gross. I have a pretty weak stomach, and I have no issues. All you need is a diaper sprayer by your toilet for poopy diapers. All the diapers go into the above mentioned diaper pail with the washable liner. You just dump all the diapers and the liner into the laundry machine.

Finally, I have to add that Parker never gets diaper rash. I have brand new tubes full of Destin if anyone needs them. The only thing that touches his skin is cotton and fleece. And no nasty chemicals.

People say that cloth diapering is what people did back in the 70s because they had no choice. But it's easy: There aren't any pins. There are snaps equavilant to those on a baby's onesie. Even Shane can snap them. Or even easier-there are ones with velcro tabs.

Save tons of money, keep diapers out of landfills, keep chemicals off your babies skin. I have never ever once regretted switching to cloth.

Parker at Age 1

My third Parker post today! Sorry, but your baby only turns one ONCE!

Just so I remember, here is what Parker is doing at age 1 (12 months!)

1. Taking two naps a day-one around 1030/11 am and one around 330/4 pm)
2. Going to sleep around 8-9 and waking up around 5 to eat and then waking up for the day around 730
3. Crawling like a madman, standing up without any assistance, taking 1-2 steps when coached
4. No clue how much he weighs. Need to make a pedi appointment
5. Saying uh-oh, no no, dada, dog dog, mama on occasion, shaking his head no, waving bye bye, and I think he says Lily sometimes
6.Having lots of tantrums
7. 1 year of breastfeeding and still nursing
8. Still rear facing (Please research this before turning your baby around!)
9. Wearing cloth diapers for 8 months. They are still in wonderful condition.
10. Eating lots and lots of adult food and drinking from a sippy cup and a straw
11. Loves any kind of ball, these are his favorite toys by far
12. Sleeping in his crib at night
13. Already fighting with his sister
14. Doesn't like the swimming pool or spray grounds
15. Has 8 teeth
16. Loves other little kids
17. Very defiant and headstrong
18. Loves to hug and kiss (Give "love.")
19. Hair turning very blond and skin turning tan even though he wears sunscreen
20. Wearing a variety of sized clothes-some 12 month, some 9-12 month, some 12-18 month, and some 18 month.

There! That about does it.

Baby Daze

Happy First Birthday Sweet P! We love you so much, and we look forward to another wonderful year!

Parker's Birth Story Revisted

We arrived at the hospital around 615 the morning of Monday 6/28. I got signed in, and I went back to get ready. First, they took my blood pressure and monitored the baby. All was going well. Then the nurse had some big white bag/blanket thing that I had to put over me to heat up my body temperature (the way she explained it, it was good for recovery?) I had never heard of it. I also got my IV. When I was laying there, I started to get really hot and claustrophobic, and I think I freaked myself out a little. People kept coming in and introducing themselves to me, nurses, etc. But I just felt a bit freaked out-this was really happening.

I got wheeled back to the operating room, and Shane had to wait behind. I was then really freaking out. I got my spinal, and things got weird. It's so weird not being able to move/feel your lower body. I felt very very out of it. I got some oxygen, and they put in the catheter (which I didn't feel, thank goodness.) The next thing I knew, the doctor was there, and someone ran to get Shane, who had suited up in his scrubs and grabbed the camera.

The whole process seemed to take awhile. I felt really really tired and generally out of it. Shane watched the whole thing and took lots of pictures. Parker arrived at 8:16 am weighing 7 lbs., 5 oz. He came out SCREAMING. I cried when I heard him cry. They brought him over to meet me, and I got to kiss his little cheek.
After I met him, they took him to the nursery to get cleaned up, and Shane followed. I had to hang out in the OR to get stiched up, and then they wheeled me to recovery. I wasn't in recovery long at all. After less than an hour, I was wheeled to my room. My mom and my sister were waiting for me. After what seemed like forever, they FINALLY brought Parker to my room so I could nurse him. He actually latched on right away.
Lily came by in the afternoon to visit. The rest of the time at the hospital was a slight blur. We had lots of vistors-including Shane's parents, his grandmother, his sister and brother, my dear friend Katherine, and Shane's uncle, aunt, and cousins. I finally got up the next day, and it was slow process, but I walked a bit and took a shower. I was so glad when we got to go home.


Note: I just re-read this, and while I was full of joy and happiness, I have to encourage anyone who has a c-section not to let their baby be gone getting cleaned up in the nursery so long. I had to wait almost two hours to nurse him after he was born. Needless to say, I feel like I missed out on some bonding time, and while we have an excellent bond and nursing relationship, I will be putting my foot down next time!

Easy Homemade Quiche

Here is what we had for dinner tonight, with a Caesar salad . Best part is, this recipe makes two meals. So we are eating one right now, and we froze the other one for sooner rather than later.

Quiche


2 frozen pie crusts
1/2 bag frozen spinach, thawed
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup milk
4 eggs
2 cups Cheddar cheese or Colby Cheese
1 Tablespoon flour
1/2 stick melted butter
Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt (no measurements, I just eyeballed again)

Mix all together and pour into crust. Bake at 350 for an hour. Eat the first one, and let the second one cool. Then wrap with plastic wrap and then wrap with foil. Freeze and enjoy later.

I must add, Parker and I loooved this. He ate almost as much as me! Lily totally refused it and ate Captain Crunch. Shane liked it too!

A year ago...and some newborn yummy-ness to reminisce

I am feeling very emotional that this is the last day before Parker will be exactly one year old. A year ago today was a Sunday the 27th. I just checked and I didn't post a blog that day. Probably because even though it was my second c-section, I was freaking out. Worrying and hoping that the birth would go smoothly and that little Parker would be safe and healthy, wondering how much he weighed, obsessing over breastfeeding, stressing about pain, you get the idea. I had the nursery ready, my hospital bag packed, Lily's bag packed, the house clean, the car clean, food in the fridge, you name it. I had help set up for the following week, and family members planning to be at the hospital bright and early with me. Shane of course, was cool as a cucumber, but that's his M.O.

I don't even really remember what we did on my last Sunday without little sweet Pea. I know I went to the hospital to give some blood since I was having a repeat C-section. I think we stopped by Shane's parents house to say farewell. I remember we took Lily over to Troy and Michelle's late afternoon since she was staying with them, and I cried. I'm sure we got a bite to eat that night, but I couldn't tell you where (I'm sure I didn't have to cook!) I remember lots of sweet phone calls from my parents, friends, and other family. It was funny to hear my brother say "I love you." We both love each other immensely, but we don't usually say that everytime we talk on the phone. I guess maybe since I was having surgery, he wanted to make sure I knew, but that was one of the most touching moments I remember. I remember watching a movie and straightening my hair the night before (so I would look decent during surgery? Who knows...) I think I actually was able to sleep a little bit. And I'll tell the rest of the story tomorrow!

And to reminisce a little further, here are all of my favorite pictures from when Parker was a tiny sweet newborn. Who can forget the sweetest newborn photo shoot from Katie Davidson Photography ? You can check that blog post here.

Margarita Cake

Another food post in the same day? Yes...and it is your lucky day because this cake is probably the best thing I have ever made.

Margarita Cake:
1 box white cake mix
3 egg whites
1 10-oz frozen margarita mix (non alcoholic. I got the Bacardi brand)
2 T. oil
1 T. lime juice (I just squeezed all the juice out of half of a lime)

Mix all, bake at 350 for about 30-35 minutes

Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 T. lime juice (again, I just squeezed all the juice out of the other half of the lime
4 cups powdered sugar (next time I will only use 3 though!)

Leave your cream cheese and butter out on the counter for a couple hours to soften. Then blend the cream cheese and butter together with a mixer. Then add your lime juice and lastly add the powdered sugar slowly.

I will probably be serving this cake in the form of cupcakes at Parker's birthday party. Delicious!

French Toast Casserole with Strawberries

I never, ever cook breakfast, so this was a nice treat for my family. The best part about this recipe is that you make everything the night before and in the morning, you just pull it out of the fridge and bake!



You will need:

1/2 loaf French bread
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups milk
1/2 T. vanilla
4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
Cinnamon Sugar
4 T. butter, melted
Sliced strawberries
Powdered sugar

1. Cut your french bread into small chunks and place them in a casserole dish.

2. Mix eggs, vanilla, sugar, salt, and milk together and pour mixture over french bread. Let sit in fridge overnight.

3. Bake in oven at 350 for 45 minutes.

4. Pull out, pour melted butter all over it, and generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 10 more minutes

5. Serve with fresh strawberries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup!

Summer Happenings/Wordless Wednesday

Cheer Camp.

Pool time.




Sure has been quiet around here, but we are slowly settling into our summer routine.

Plans for Summer in List Form

1. Free movies-and free popcorn when you bring a canned good
2. MacIntosh Water Park
3. Tie Dying Shirts-Check!
4. Swimming at the InLaws-Check!
5. Visiting my dad in Jersey
6. Desperately praying for cheap flights to the Cape
7. Cheer Camp-Check!
8. Vacation Bible School
10. Trips to Lake Acworth
11. Stone Mountain Laser Show
12. Fourth of July Fireworks
13. Trips to the Library
14. Extreme Couponing-Check!
15. Visits with Friends
16. Visiting Sara Babb Pool
17. Shane's Superior Softball Games
18. Starting our co-ed softball season
19. Riding Bikes-Check!
20. Getting the baby pool out for the kiddos
21. Walks around the neighborhood-Check!
22. Netflix-Check!
23. Strawberry Picking
24. Going more Organic
25. Parker's first birthday party
26. Lots of family birthdays
27. Bowling at Stars and Strikes
28. Skating at Sparkles
29. Build A Bear
30. Getting our family portraits made-Check!

What a fun list right. I need to get cracking on some of these. So glad the summer is here and we can finally relax and breathe!

Pictures by Julianna Grey Photography

We recently got our pictures taken by the talented Anna Grey of Julianna Grey Photography. You should really look on FB and check her out...Here are some favorites from our first ever family photo session. Enjoy!