I just entered a cloth diaper giveaway on Our Growing Garden (if you're friends with me on Facebook, you probably how obsessed I am with these said giveaways). This particular giveaway offers the CUTEST ruffly diapers by a work at home mom with an adorable shop. Not to mention, I love this blog...anyone who breastfeeds (exclusively and extended) and cloth diapers is awesome in my book.
Check out the giveaway here.
I've won a bunch of things from online giveaways, but a diaper would definitely take the cake-especially a CUTE diaper!
January 27, 2012
January 26, 2012
Shane's 28th in Pictures
Parker coloring and talking on the phone.
Lily hard at work on her homemade card.
From Lily and Faith
Ice cream cake
An Update on Night Weaning
I didn't realize that Parker knew how to read. I guess he read my blog post the other day and said, heck with it, I'll just sleep. I don't want to jinx anything or be superstitious, but since I offered him only that teeny bit of booby milk the first night, Parker will sleep from 8-515, waking to nurse and then going back to sleep. I can soooo handle that. Not that I love getting up at 5, but I cannot complain. He does want to nurse more during the day now, but I still practice the don't offer, don't refuse. However, one night he fell asleep in the car, and I was paranoid that if I didn't nurse him, he might wake up and be out of sorts in the middle of the night (shrug, I never said I was super woman). I feel both sad and empowered and proud of him at the same time. He will always be my baby boy, but it sure is nice for him to act like a little man and sleep!!
January 20, 2012
A High Needs Baby
I can't really decide how I want to do this post. I almost feel like I'm standing up and saying, "Hello, my name is Callie, and I have a high needs baby." It's not really a confession because I haven't done anything wrong. However, whenever babies are clingy, attached at the hip, or overall brats, most people have their own opinion, usually that its mommy and daddy's faults.
I've known Parker is a high needs baby for awhile. He needs lots of physical touch, lots of attention, and he is very intense. The moment he was born, he came out SCREAMING and did not stop until he got to nurse. Not much has changed in the last (almost) 19 months.
Other high needs qualities that Parker possesses include that he can be draining, he has always been a demanding nurser, "schedule" is not in his vocabulary, he is demanding, he awakens frequently (this is what spurred this post), he is often unsatisfied, he is rather unpredictable, he is VERY sensitive, he is not a self soother, as a baby he could NEVER be put down, and he has serious separation anxiety.
Let me first say that I am not complaining about all of these qualities. I just recently compiled a list from Dr. Sear's website and wanted to include them in this post for my records. I have known many of these things for a long time. Parker and I are together all day, and I am very accustomed to his behavior. I try to correct him when he is naughty, but I don't fault him for being sensitive, afraid to leave me, or demanding of my attention. Also, Parker is EXTREMELY happy when he IS happy, he is a total goofball and always has us laughing, and he is a VERY smart little boy.
The absolute hardest thing about having a high needs baby is the sleeping. I'm sure I've made 10 posts on this blog about Parker sleeping, I post it on my parenting message boards asking questions. It's been 19 months of lack of sleep, and honestly, it is the most draining experience.
I recently read on Dr. Sear's website about just why a high needs baby has difficulty sleeping. The description fit Parker to a tee. Basically, he is extremely used to having physical contact during the night and that is why he continually wakes up.
Last night I decided that I was ready, and I wasn't going to wimp out or give in. Parker went down at his usual bedtime around 8 pm. He did better than usual, skipping the midnight crying and waited until 330 am. I got up and picked him up and cuddled him for a second. I nursed him on both sides for a minute or less. When I put him back in his crib, he cried for a minute at the lack of booby time, but then dozed off.
Around 415, he began crying again. I hadn't even fallen back asleep yet. This time, I went in and held him and cuddled him but did not nurse him. I put him back down, and he cried for several minutes. He then went back to sleep until 615.
Tonight, I plan to only offer him on side for a minute and then continue with the cuddling. My main goal is to make these nightly meetings less exciting. If there's no booby, then why wake up, right? When I don't offer him any milk, I'll be sure to bring in a sippy cup of water in case he really is thirsty.
I've been dealing with this forever. I know he's not in pain, I know he's not sick. I think we ALL really need some good rest.
Being a mommy is so hard sometimes, but I have to stick with my gut decision...
I've known Parker is a high needs baby for awhile. He needs lots of physical touch, lots of attention, and he is very intense. The moment he was born, he came out SCREAMING and did not stop until he got to nurse. Not much has changed in the last (almost) 19 months.
Other high needs qualities that Parker possesses include that he can be draining, he has always been a demanding nurser, "schedule" is not in his vocabulary, he is demanding, he awakens frequently (this is what spurred this post), he is often unsatisfied, he is rather unpredictable, he is VERY sensitive, he is not a self soother, as a baby he could NEVER be put down, and he has serious separation anxiety.
Let me first say that I am not complaining about all of these qualities. I just recently compiled a list from Dr. Sear's website and wanted to include them in this post for my records. I have known many of these things for a long time. Parker and I are together all day, and I am very accustomed to his behavior. I try to correct him when he is naughty, but I don't fault him for being sensitive, afraid to leave me, or demanding of my attention. Also, Parker is EXTREMELY happy when he IS happy, he is a total goofball and always has us laughing, and he is a VERY smart little boy.
The absolute hardest thing about having a high needs baby is the sleeping. I'm sure I've made 10 posts on this blog about Parker sleeping, I post it on my parenting message boards asking questions. It's been 19 months of lack of sleep, and honestly, it is the most draining experience.
I recently read on Dr. Sear's website about just why a high needs baby has difficulty sleeping. The description fit Parker to a tee. Basically, he is extremely used to having physical contact during the night and that is why he continually wakes up.
Last night I decided that I was ready, and I wasn't going to wimp out or give in. Parker went down at his usual bedtime around 8 pm. He did better than usual, skipping the midnight crying and waited until 330 am. I got up and picked him up and cuddled him for a second. I nursed him on both sides for a minute or less. When I put him back in his crib, he cried for a minute at the lack of booby time, but then dozed off.
Around 415, he began crying again. I hadn't even fallen back asleep yet. This time, I went in and held him and cuddled him but did not nurse him. I put him back down, and he cried for several minutes. He then went back to sleep until 615.
Tonight, I plan to only offer him on side for a minute and then continue with the cuddling. My main goal is to make these nightly meetings less exciting. If there's no booby, then why wake up, right? When I don't offer him any milk, I'll be sure to bring in a sippy cup of water in case he really is thirsty.
I've been dealing with this forever. I know he's not in pain, I know he's not sick. I think we ALL really need some good rest.
Being a mommy is so hard sometimes, but I have to stick with my gut decision...
January 12, 2012
Iphone Updates
Cozy nights.
We love going out to eat, and Parker loves terrorizing every restaurant we go to.
Even when he gets a big boy cup of ice water.
NYE snuggles.
Reading to brother.
I think Oscar ate most of these. I only swept up a few.
Nerd alert!
It's no wonder Lily's nickname is Goose.
Cabin fever.
Baby love.
January 9, 2012
A new way to clean
I only have natural cleaning products now. Tomorrow, I will be making homemade dishwash detergent. I've also ordered some soap to make the kids shampoo and bath soap, as well as hand soap. I'm even trying my hand at homemade toothpaste. As Shane would say, I'm on a kick. I'm a little fixated. But once you buy a few ingredients, you have everything you need to keep going. If you google some of the break downs, you will be amazed at how much money you are saving.
I really want to make my homemade laundry detergent, but I'm still learning how to use my HE washer, and I would hate to ruin it before we paid it off.
Here are the essentials I think you need to start:
Baking soda
Lemon Juice
White Vinegar
Borax
Washing Soda
Tea Tree Oil
Other yummy smelling essential oils-lavender, etc.
I found most of my recipes from diyNaturally. I will be sure and credit all the sites that I used though below. Happy, healthy, safe cleaning yall!
All purpose cleaner: (me, after lots of research)
1 part white vinegar
3 parts filtered water
2 drops tea tree oil
Store in a spray bottle
Glass cleaner: (me, after lots of research)
1 cup white vinegar
3 cups filtered water
Store in spray bottle
Dishwasher Detergent: Bonzai Aphrodite
1 part Borax
1 part washing soda
Combine powders in a bowl and break up any clumps. Store in a closed container with lid, and shake daily to keep from clumping. For an extra shine, add white vinegar to your rinse.
Liquid Hand Soap: EnviroMom
1 cup water
1/4 cup liquid castille soap (I ordered Dr. Bronners with Aloe Vera, the baby kind since I am also using this to make shampoo)
1 tsp vegetable glycerine
Mix all together. I'm going to get some cute soap pumps to stick in the bathrooms and next to the kitchen sink, or you can resuse your old ones.
**Note: Homemade shampoo is made with the same ingredients...and perhaps a dash of essential oil for a yummy smell. Also, did you know that you can use 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water as a conditioning rinse?
Homemade Toothpaste: diyNaturally
2/3 cup Baking Soda
4 tsp salt
1-2 tsp peppermint extract
water to reach desired consistency
Mix all together until you reach desired consistency. Store in a container with a lid.
I really want to make my homemade laundry detergent, but I'm still learning how to use my HE washer, and I would hate to ruin it before we paid it off.
Here are the essentials I think you need to start:
Baking soda
Lemon Juice
White Vinegar
Borax
Washing Soda
Tea Tree Oil
Other yummy smelling essential oils-lavender, etc.
I found most of my recipes from diyNaturally. I will be sure and credit all the sites that I used though below. Happy, healthy, safe cleaning yall!
All purpose cleaner: (me, after lots of research)
1 part white vinegar
3 parts filtered water
2 drops tea tree oil
Store in a spray bottle
Glass cleaner: (me, after lots of research)
1 cup white vinegar
3 cups filtered water
Store in spray bottle
Dishwasher Detergent: Bonzai Aphrodite
1 part Borax
1 part washing soda
Combine powders in a bowl and break up any clumps. Store in a closed container with lid, and shake daily to keep from clumping. For an extra shine, add white vinegar to your rinse.
Liquid Hand Soap: EnviroMom
1 cup water
1/4 cup liquid castille soap (I ordered Dr. Bronners with Aloe Vera, the baby kind since I am also using this to make shampoo)
1 tsp vegetable glycerine
Mix all together. I'm going to get some cute soap pumps to stick in the bathrooms and next to the kitchen sink, or you can resuse your old ones.
**Note: Homemade shampoo is made with the same ingredients...and perhaps a dash of essential oil for a yummy smell. Also, did you know that you can use 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water as a conditioning rinse?
Homemade Toothpaste: diyNaturally
2/3 cup Baking Soda
4 tsp salt
1-2 tsp peppermint extract
water to reach desired consistency
Mix all together until you reach desired consistency. Store in a container with a lid.
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