official

I'm officially a cloth diapering momma. I started on last week and have slowly been transitioning my way into the world of cloth diapering.

It took me some time to even get up the courage to wash them so they'd be ready for use. I had to do some prep work first. I went out to Target and bought a drying rack because little did I know that drying my covers all the time will wear and tear on them. Once the sun decides to come out on a regular basis I'll be sticking my rack out back and letting our bum gear dry the old fashion way.
Lydia has had a slight diaper rash here and there so I took a day break from the cloth to try and clear it up and so I can wash the dirty diapers.

So far (ha in my whole 2 weeks of experience) I'm liking these diapers. Last night she had her first leak. I only had the smaller insert in and after wearing it all night she showed the diap who was boss. Her pee. I'll start stuffing with a thicker one for night time use.

We bought the diaper sprayer from bum genius. I'm trying to decide what I think about it. It kind of makes a mess when I use it. Maybe it's the user and not the after sprayer?? It just gets the toilet seat all wet and sometimes even the floor. I could be angling it the wrong way. I'll keep trying and see if I can't figure it out. If it keeps it up though I ma send it back and get more diaps.

a turkey in my freezer

Back around Thanksgiving or Christmas (can't remember now which one) Patrick's work gave us a turkey. I love turkey. I'm just terrified of cooking my own turkey. I used to have a hard time touching raw meat to cut it. Watching my mom make meatloaf amazes me. I have the hardest time sticking my hands in a bowl of raw meat and squishing it all around with some eggs, ketchup, and oatmeal. It kind of makes me sick just thinking about it.

This why nearly two or more months after getting this turkey it still sits in our freezer. Taking up lots of space. I just don't want to dig out the gizzard and all that other fun stuff inside that I'd rather imagine was never there. So if any of you super women out there would like to encourage me in this endeavor or shoot even come help me, I'd love it.

I'm sure Patrick would like some turkey sandwiches for lunch these coming weeks and I'd like a little more room in my freezer. So bring on the encouragement (or help).

right now

I'm holding a cuddly sleeping baby.
I'm afraid to move my legs that are also asleep because I don't want to wake up said sleeping baby.
I'm so thankful I have a baby to hold tight.
I'm wondering how she'll do sleeping in her own room for the first time tonight. (yup today's a big day)
I'm also wondering how cloth diapering is going to go...
I'm putting off stuffing cloth diapers for the first time. (remember I'm holding a baby)
I'm curious as to how in the world she can sleep through the loudest barking our dog can bark.

right now I'm loving my baby.

2 mo

Lydia turned two months last Friday the 21st. We had her 2 month appointment with her pediatrician and got our first round of vaccinations. Those were tough... on both of us. The nurses had me hold down her little legs while they gave her shots in both legs at the same time. She let out the worst scream I had ever heard. I buried my head in her chest and started crying too. The nurses looked at me like I was kind of silly and asked if I'd be okay. She eventually calmed down after I nursed her and then I calmed down as well. I'm trying to convince Patrick to go to the 4 month appointment so I don't have to. Or at least come with me for moral support.

At the doctor we found out she weighed 9 lbs 15 oz. She's almost a ten pounder (well she probably is now). She has also grown 2 inches in the last month. She's now 23 in long. I had put up the newborn outfits and move her up to 0-3 mo clothes. Those feet were started to look squished.


This 9th week has been so much fun. Sunday it seemed as if she had really turned a corner as far as smiles go. We have been getting lots of sweet grins and all out smiles this week. Every time she smiles at me my heart swells.


I will leave you with one picture from my phone...I was taking off Lydia's shirt this morning and while it was stuck on her head it reminded me of a hat. I made a horse out of some pants and a scarf and took a picture... I drew inspiration from this blog.

tummy time

Here are a few videos of Lydia working on her tummy time.

Schedule

I am by no means a schedule nazi. I do however like to have a schedule with Lydia. We can deviate from it if we need to, but like a rubber band it will take on it's proper shape even if it's been flexed. I have read baby wise and like it but haven't followed it to a strict T.

Here's our schedule as of now:
7:30 am: first feeding of the day. This is one of Lydia's cutest times of day.
7:50 - 8:30: change diaper and usually outfit (because she spits up so much)and then have some play/awake time with mommy.
8:30 - 10:00: sleep time. If I go work out at the seminary this is when I do it. If I am not working out, this is when I shower and get ready for the day.
10:00: Feeding and then awake time.
11:00 - 12:30: Sleep time
12:30: EAT some lunch and have fun awake time.. laying on bed talking to mom or sitting in the bouncy seat talking to mom
1:30 - 3:00: sleep.... your probably getting the routine by now huh? She eats, is up for an hour, sleeps and eats again 2 1/2 hrs after the start of last feeding. This goes until 10:30 when I give her her last feeding for the night. She sleeps until 5:00am and then we feed and then go right back to sleep without awake time and then wake up for our day at 7:30am.

This schedule is working pretty well so far. It gives me time to do things while she's sleeping. Thankfully she sleeps well through noises and in her car seat so I can take her with me places.

Lydia has been waking up some through the night lately with gas. I have tried to not feed her because I know she's not hungry (when she's hungry she will not stop crying until she's fed). I know it's gas because of her squirmy nature and the noises I hear coming from her rear:) I try to rock her and hold her and give her her pacifier until she goes back to sleep. I'll lay her back down once she's asleep. I'm hoping that in the next week or so she'll drop that 5:00am feeding and just sleep from 10:30-7:30. Yes, I'd like that a lot.

Videos of our girl

We have taken some videos of Lydia and I've been really bad at putting them up. So this is the post where I dump what we have on the blog and if you want to watch them you can. Some may think they're boring but I think they're cute.

Here is Lydia doing tummy time on Patrick's chest at 5 wks.


I had mentioned a few posts back that Lydia has a favorite way to be held. Patrick demonstrates that for us in this video.


Here Lyds and I were having a chat at 6 wks...she was smiling in the very beginning.


These last 3 were from this week at 7 wks




Can you tell we are the slightest bit proud of our girl?

Cow Print

You know you're good looking when you can look this cute even in cow print.





I absolutely love this girl

Attempt at a family picture... Kirby is even partly in it.

Lydia is still doing fabulous! What sweet girl we have. She is changing so much. It seems like each day even is bringing new things. She is starting to be a little more expressive and a lot more alert. She was following me with her eyes really well earlier. She has given a few more smiles and coos. I really can't wait until those are flowing freely.

I ran 1 mile today. Lydia also pooped on me today. Ha.

I just wanted to post some pictures really quick of our cute little cow.

She just woke up from her nap with gas. She's not supposed to be up for another 30 min... I was counting on those 30 min to make dinner. I may just have to strap her in the carrier and make her go back to sleep. She loves that thing.

She is not loving me right now... crying babe here I come.

A Dad and His Girl

Finding myself very thankful for Patrick.



Thankful for his all his hard work and love for his girls.





Here's to you babe!

Big Pictures and Lyd Update

I am so happy right now. Raechel over at Finding My Feet posted a tutorial on how to post pictures that fill up your entire text column. I've always been annoyed with blogger and the size of their "large" pictures that take up a 1/3 of my column. Well now the problem is fixed! Thank you Raechel.

Here are some pictures of Lydia. My sister crocheted these little leg warmers. How cute are they?

I said I felt like I had an 80's girl on my hands... or does it look more like 90's? I was too young in the 80's to really know what the style was.


Another fun feature Raechel exposed me to: Collages! I'm pretty sure you can make one without the black border. I'd like that better but am too lazy right now to change it. Next time.

Lydia has gotten so big lately. See how chubby those cheeks are in that top left picture. In the last week she has gone from newborn diapers to size 1. Yay! Now I can buy 50 instead 36 and still pay the same amount. I don't really understand why they charge you more for a smaller diaper...you'd think it'd cost less to make. The girl is also fitting into some of her 0-3 mo clothes. They are still somewhat big but will have to do because newborn is getting a little too snug.

I bought a Moby wrap today. I think I'm going to like it! I have waited and waited because I think $40 for a simple (long) piece of fabric is a little silly. I thought maybe I could make my own but decided just to cave and pay the money. I carried her around in it today and she fell right to sleep. I wont do this too often because I'm really trying to make sure she can sleep in a bed and not have to be held all the time. But it is nice when she is fussy to have my hands free to do other things... like laundry or the dishes.

Colton: 1st Birthday

Meet Colton. He turned one on Dec 15th. I was in the waiting room when he was born. My niece and him were born in the same hospital on the same day. I have known his mom and dad for quite some time. We go back to when I was a wee toddler myself. Mr. C was a cutie hamming it up for the camera.






Happy 1 year Colton! What a joy you've been to your family.

books read in 2010

I started writing down the books I've read back in 2009. I like to be able to look back and remember the adventures or lessons learned from these books. Here is my list from 2010:

1. Harry Potter and the half blood prince (J.K. Rowling)
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling)
3. Because He Loves Me (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
4. Q.B.Q (book read for work stands for the question behind the question)
5. Big Truths for Young Hearts (Bruce Ware)
6. Northanger Abbey (Jane Austin)
7. Faithful Women and Their Extraordianry God (Noel Piper)
8. Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp)
9. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
10. George Muller (Roger Steer)
11. Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way
12. Fearlessly Feminine (Jani Ortland)
13. On Becoming BABYWISE

I hope to read more this year.

scik

Yeah, I misspelled it. That's how I feel this morning. Sick and disoriented. Last night I went to bed feeling just fine. 4 a.m. not so fine. Sat up for a while. Then it started coming out.

I hate the feeling of being sick but knowing you have to take care of a baby. I don't want to get Patrick or her sick either. Yet she needs to be fed. I have milk in the freezer that we could give her in a bottle. But then I have the hassle of pumping. (I think pumping is a hassle.)

So I'm missing church and about to go back to sleep. Maybe I'll get up and take a shower and see if that helps. Patrick took Lyds to church with him. (BIG HELP!!!)

I guess I'm thankful this happened today and not tomorrow when he starts his first day of a Jterm.

Well Happy New Year. I'm scik.

p.s. our girl is 6 weeks today.