Grateful for unconditional understanding

I could name a million things as to why I am so grateful for my husband and I am pretty sure that over time I will share many of them with you, but this past week, I was reminded again how understanding he is. To say that I am unconditionally loved is an understatement.

I have screwed up many times over the 12 years that we have known each other. Probably the worst was two weeks before our wedding. I won't go in to details, but let's just say it included me getting us kicked out a MSU football game and losing my cell phone and credit card (alcohol was involved). I was pretty sure the next morning when we woke up he was going to leave. I woke up first staying completely still, not wanting to wake him up, so afraid of what might happen in the aftermath. And when he woke up, he rolled over and hugged me. All of my fears disappeared and I knew how unconditionally loved I was. 

Now, this past week, I did nothing like that. It was not nearly as bad, but it still reminded me that Bob is just such an understanding guy and he knows what is important. 

Last Friday, I was out and about with the kids using our double stroller. I went shopping, got what I needed, and went home. Three days later, I went out again and at the store, realized the double stroller was not in the car. I thought my husband must have taken it out at some point. Oh well. 

Well, that wasn't the case. It seems that in my rush the past Friday, I put both kids in the car, but the double stroller did not make it. I left it on the sidewalk. And of course, did not realize it till 5 days later. Yep, I am rock star. 

Bob's reaction: It's replaceable. 

Unconditional love and understanding. 

Thank goodness it was a garage-sale find and we are not out $500 or more. But we now have to find another double stroller. Yeah us. Let the search begin. 

Good-bye stroller. You are replaceable.

Dreaded Yeast Beast

I love that we cloth diaper. I love how cute my kids look in their diapers. I love never really running out of diapers. I love that cloth and not chemicals touch my babies. I love that I am not throwing away 12-16 diapers a day. I love the money that I think that we have saved. BUT what I don't love is YEAST!

I feel like I was a little blindsided by yeast. I had heard a little about it on diaper forums, but I had no idea how bad and annoying it can be and how much trouble shooting I had to do to figure it out and get rid of it. 

I am not exactly sure when our yeast issues started, but at about 14 months, Calan started to get rashes. I would get one healed and then the next would start. I would think we conquered it and another would appear. Luckily most of the time, they did not bother Calan, but a few times, the open wounds (yes open wounds) were pretty painful for him and it broke my heart. 

I used so many disposable diapers over the last 5 months that I hate to use, but I just could not figure out why my yeast kept coming back. 

Here is what I think I did wrong:

• I kept thinking just washing and using would get rid of the issue.
• I kept thinking that if I could get rid of the rash that it would disappear in the diapers. 
• I kept thinking that using enough cream would cure the issue.
• I kept thinking that my wash routine was fine.
• I kept thinking that toddler pee was the same as infant pee.

Needless to say, I had denial issues when it came to yeast. When I was researching cloth diapers, I read how few diaper rashes babies in cloth had. I have horribly sensitive skin. I figured that there was a good chance my kids would have skin issues, so fewer rashes sounded great to me. 

Not sure when Calan had his first rash, but I totally believe that rash-free diapering in cloth or disposables is a complete myth. I truly believe that rashes are unavoidable.

However, when it comes to yeast, there is hope. I never thought I would figure it out, but we have been rash free for 2 weeks and his butt looks great. 

Here is what I did:

• I finally took all of his pocket diaper micro-fiber inserts and boiled them for about 10 minutes. I could not believe all the pee that boiled off. It was my first hint that my wash routine was not as great as I thought it was. 
• I changed my wash routine. I was having yeast issues before we got a new washer and dryer for Christmas, but the HE washer was just another obstacle to resolve. I currently have a LG HE Top Loader. I start with a rinse and spin cycle with an extra rinse at high speed spin. Then I do a rinse cycle with no spin. I then do a hot cycle with detergent and  a 30-minute soak and an extra rinse. 
• Sniff test does matter. I do way more smelling. If the diapers seriously do not smell clean, then I do another rinse. I use to think that they smelled OK, but I now see that a little smell does matter. 
• I dry on high heat. I know that high heat is not great for PUL, but it is killing the bacteria that causes yeast. 
• After spending a ton of money on cloth-diaper safe cream and still battling rashes, I have fallen in love with pure coconut oil. At about $10 for a huge jar, you just can't beat it. 

For first-time cloth diapering mommas, it is nothing but trial-and-error. From leaks and fit to washing and rashes, I have struggled with it all. I still love cloth diapering, but it hasn't all been easy. The bright side to problems is that there really is a solution out there. Hang in there. When you have your second child, these issues disappear. Cloth diapering Maisie has been a breeze. 

Busy Bag Giveaway *closed*

Games clockwise from left: Shape memory game, Clothes pin color game, Noah Ark felt board, Button Snake, and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" matching game.

I have a few extra activities that I would love to giveaway. I have never hosted a giveaway before, but I thought that someone would love to have these games.

The bag includes:

1. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" Head and Tail matching and memory game
2. Felt Button Snake
3. Noah's Ark felt board
4. Shapes memory game
5. Color clothes pin matching game

Plus, a target reuseable bag

The only mandatory entry is that you like me on Facebook and leave a comment on the blog telling me so. If you already follow, just leave a comment telling me so. 

For extra entries, follow me any other way (google+ and GFC) and leave a comment telling me how you are following me. Also, blog about or share on Facebook about this giveaway, and be sure to either leave a link or comment telling me you shared the giveaway.

A winner will be chosen using random.org on Monday, Feb. 13. Good Luck!

Complete Busy Bags

Thanks ladies for all your work! From matching games to scavenger hunts to colors and animals, you guys did a great job!

Button Snake

Easy to make Felt Button Snake

This week I am hosting a Toddler Busy Bag Swap with a couple of my friends. A Busy Bag is just basically little activities that are small, quick, transportable, homemade, and reusable. I decided to make a button snake and a "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" matching game. The Button Snake was easy and pretty inexpensive to make. This is by no means an original idea. I got the idea by searching Busy Bag activities. Here is what I did:

Materials

Different colors of felt or other stiff fabric (I used 6)

2 large buttons

Ribbon

Needle and thread

Fold the ribbon over at
end so the button is more
secure and ribbon doesn't fray.

Directions

• Cut felt or fabric in any shape or size that will accommidate your button. I just did square because I was making 9 of them, but you could do circles, triangles, stars, etc. too.
• Cut slit into fabric large enough for button
• Cut a decent length of ribbon. I used 15 in.
• Fold ribbon over and into a point. I did this so that the button was more secure and the ribbon won't fray. Stitch a few times to keep in place.
• Sew on button.
• Repeat with second button

Extra pieces to work with

patterns as your toddler

gets older

Bonus: I had some left over felt that I cut into small squares so that as the kids get older the Button Snake can be used to work on patterns as well. 

I have only let Calan play with his snake once so far and all he wanted to do was wear the "snake" part around his neck like a scarf. So, he might not be ready just yet to play with it, but I am so excited to have all these activities for when he is ready. They will be great for errands, eating out, doctor appointments, you name it.

Get your own Button Snake by entering my first giveaway.

Winging it

So this week I am kind of winging it. Bob isn't sure what nights he will be home for dinner, and while I love my children, I hate cooking full dinners with all the dishes that go along with that for just us. Because of that, I am pretty sure, my meals will be pretty flexible this week. We also have some fun stuff going on that should keep us pretty active. Hopefully, I can keep their running noses at bay and keep them healthy long enough to enjoy this week.

Events
Monday: Play date with the Royal Oak Mom's Club to officially join. Do laundry and start cleaning for Wednesday.
Tuesday: Clean and prepare and finish craft for Wednesday
Wednesday: I am hosting a Toddler Busy Bag Swap. I'll share more about this on Thursday, but it should be a fun play date with several of my friends.
Thursday: We are going to Playaway to make up a class we missed last session. Because of Calan being sick and one day having a dead car battery, we just didn't make it to any this session.
Friday: CLEAN AND ORGANIZE. It is getting harder and harder to stay on top of everything.
Saturday: Normal Saturday morning with breakfast and farmer's market. And not much going on Saturday evening. I thought that we had a swimming event, but just realized that is next week. Oops.
Sunday: Church and then our church small group is meeting for our church-wide study on "The Hole in the Gospel." I am still reading the book, but so far, it really does challenge you to live differently and open-handed. Bob and I have decided to forgo family Sunday dinner while doing the four-week study. It was just a little much the last time. (We haven't told our family yet, so if you read this, sorry. It was just too stressful for us last time.)


Menu
Monday: Cheeseburgers, carrots, sweet potato fries
Tuesday: Lawry's Southwest Chicken Skillet
Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Chicken pot pie

Friday: Quisadillas with salad and sauteed peppers

Saturday: Chicken stir-fry

Sunday: Leftovers

So that is our week. Luckily Calan is starting to sleep better at night and Maisie is just waking up once, so I am finally getting more rest to make it through these busy weeks.

31 Small Things to be Grateful For ...

I meant to do this last week in honor of my birthday and just did not have a chance.

1. Being able to drink more than one cup of coffee in the morning
2. This blog and blogs I love to read
3. Facebook (it is my outlet to the world)
4. iPhone (so many ways to entertain myself and Calan although he isn’t allowed to touch it.)
5. Having a local year-round farmers market
6. My new washer and dryer and vacuum (domestic goddess, I know)
7. A husband who loves that we use cloth diapers and regularly tells me how he hates the smell of disposables when he has to change Calan at night.
8. Not nursing or being pregnant at the same time (not a huge difference in my life, but still nice to know someone else’s health is not directly linked to mine)
9. Having friends who are also stay-at-home moms
10. English toffee cookies
11. The PBS Sprout channel
12. Our space heater that we lovingly call “The Vornando” (the brand)
13. When both kids nap at the same time
14. Friday nights and Saturday mornings and Sunday dinners
15. When my kids just wake up and feel so warm and snuggly
16. When Bob does the dishes for me
17. Still having childhood friends
18. Living on a budget (makes money arguments and worries basically disappear though it does take a few months to get use to)
19. Not having to work
20. Living a few miles away from the Detroit zoo
21. Other crafty women who think of great ideas
22. Not having to figure out how to find a non-family member babysitter
23. The opportunity to go up north to multiple locations during the summer
24.  No car payments
25. The room changes we made before Maisie was born. They have really opened up our house and made it feel more like a home.
26. Bath time for  my little ones
27. “Footloose” (the 80s version). It just puts me in a good mood. I have so many good memories attached to that song.
28. Sushi and Chinese food
29. That I never dated in my 20s
30. This warm winter (it freaks me out, but makes it easier to go out with the kids)
31. And of course having our first 2 children so close in age (I love that they are siblings)

19 month/ 6 month update

Another month has past and by far, this was our hardest month. It seemed like the perfect storm. The kids have gotten into a schedule that is basically a tag team and that includes their night sleep. I am hoping that this month everything gets better.

Despite all the craziness, there have been some amazing moments too. Maisie has grown leaps and bounds and Calan is just a bundle of toddler fun. He is into everything and it is getting fun (and exhausting) watching him explore. He continues to be an amazing big brother getting things for Maisie and helping her. However, he has injured her as well exploring his ability to bite. He has only done it twice - once last month and once this month. I am just praying that it is not a regular thing. He has some chompers!

Here's what the kids have been doing this month:

Sleeping

• Calan – He has been waking up in the middle of the night and really having a hard time settling down. I have had to sleep on his floor twice in order to get him to rest. Not fun! With him being sick with a cold most of this month, we would switch back and forth from one-nap and two-nap days depending on how he was acting or slept the night before. He was pretty good switching back and forth. I could tell when he needed them. But overall, not a good sleeping month.
• Maisie – Still not sleeping through the night. Pretty much my fault at this point. I am working on getting her to stretch it out, but I still seem to wake up twice. She is good with a pacifier for one wake up, but usually needs 2-4 ounces of formula during the next wakeup to settle back down. She is down to 3 naps already. Her morning is actually her shortest, which isn’t exactly normal. She usually sleeps about an hour. Her afternoon nap is usually about 2.5 hours, and her evening nap is usually 1-2 hours.

Eating

• Calan – Starting to wonder if veggies will ever go back to being easy. He still loves bananas and now stands at the fruit bowl saying banana-nana over and over and over again. He usually eats a HUGE breakfast and a good-size lunch, but tends to eat way less at dinner. Probably because it is the meal I give him the most veggies.
• Maisie – We have started to give Maisie some oatmeal cereal. She is not doing very well with it, but each night we try just a little and she is getting better at it. She just is not quite getting the whole tongue and swallow thing. I know that it takes time, but it is still frustrating. Hopefully by next month, we will have it done and working on some veggie purees.

Milestones

• Calan – Again, Calan’s vocabulary and understanding astound Bob and I, as well as his ability to tune me out already. He loves to sing and has started to sing-along. He inserts the words he knows in songs like the letters C, G, and P in ABCs or High and Sky and Star in “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” I love listening to him sing to himself as he is going to sleep or while playing in his pack-and-play. It cracks me up!
• Maisie –Maisie has had an amazing month on milestones. She got her first tooth and the second should be popping out any day now. She is rolling over back to stomach. She has started to connect a few rolls together, but still isn’t getting too far yet. She just loves to be on her belly now. She scoots around to get to things she wants to grab. She is starting to sit up. I still need to have a Boppy around her for support, but she does sit up for about 20 seconds unassisted.

Activities

• Calan – Calan is all over the place as usual. He is all boy when it comes to activities. Hates doing crafts, but loves playing with his trucks, cars, and balls. Unfortunately, he is also getting use to some TV programs and has begun to ask for them. Pretty much a sign that I have let him watch too much. I’ll be trying to wean him a bit this next month. Calan also loves to clean. Don’t ask me why, but the vacuum just is amazing to him. If he is getting whiny or irritable, we usually start cleaning together and his mood perks up instantly. I hope he stays like this FOREVER.
• Maisie – She is a burst of energy. She is so awake and active right now. She is pretty much always smiling and loving her new tricks like rolling over and sitting up. She is really exploring and studying things right now. I am pretty sure over the next month, she is going to be giving Calan a run for his money. Not sure what he is going to do once she is mobile.

Schedule

• 7/7:30 a.m. – Maisie and Calan wake up. Maisie eats and gets dressed. Calan slowly rises and either plays with some toys or watches TV.
• 7:30/8 a.m. – Family eats breakfast. Maisie plays in her bouncy chair.
• 8:30 a.m. – Bob leaves for work. Calan plays in his pack-and-play. Maisie plays either in her bouncy chair while I shower or her play mat while I do some chores.
• 9 a.m.- Maisie nap
• 9:30 a.m. – Calan finishes pack-and-play time and he gets dressed. Helps me with some chores.
• 10:00 a.m. – Calan has free playtime. Maisie has been waking up usually between 10 and 10:30.
• 10:30 a.m. – Maisie eats. Calan watches some TV or if he is playing well with toys then no TV.
• 11 a.m. – Calan and Maisie play together. This is usually with Maisie in the exersaucer and Calan playing around her.
• 11:30 a.m.- Calan and I have lunch. Maisie usually goes down for her second nap.
• 12 p.m. – Calan has blanket time.
• 12:30 p.m. – Calan naps
• 1:30/2 p.m. – Maisie wakes up
• 2 p.m. – Maisie eats
• 3 p.m. – Calan wakes up
• 3:30 p.m. – Calan snack time.
• 4 p.m. – Maisie has her third nap for the day. Calan has free playtime.
• 5 p.m. – I start cooking dinner, so either Calan continues playing well or if he is cranky, TV gets put on again (I know … This is what I need to change.)
• 5:30 p.m. - Maisie wakes up has some solids.
• 6 p.m. – Dinner for everyone.
• 6:30 p.m. – Bath time
• 7 p.m. – bedtime if Calan had a bad nap.
• 7:30 p.m. – Maisie and Calan bedtime

Overall

• Calan – Calan continues to listen pretty well to us. He follows instruction 70% of the time and I think that is great for a toddler. He laughs at everything. Says hi to EVERYONE. Loves being social and loves to sing.
• Maisie – Maisie has completely broken out of her shell. She is nothing but sunshine and smiles. Even when she wakes me up in the middle of the night she grins from ear-to-ear. For being a lump on a log for so long, she has become a fast learner. She has exploded in size, going from 10lbs 12oz at 4 months to 16lbs 4oz this month. I hope she slows back down a little.

New favorite way to play. 

Out to lunch. 

Best nap hair yet!

Wordless Wednesday: This big

Maisie went from 10 pounds 12 ounces at 4 months old to a whopping 16 pounds 4 ounces at 6 months! She is huge and we couldn't be happier about it.

I {heart} this time of year

I have been addicted at looking through all the different heart-shaped and valentine decor that is EVERYWHERE. I am not a big Valentine's Day person. We actually don't do much for it. It is not on the top list of holidays for us. BUT, since the holiday is so one-shape focused and one-color (maybe two-color) focused, it is a great for teaching Calan red and hearts.

Here are a few things I have snagged:

Heart window decals. Calan had a good time helping me put  the hearts on our family room door. Though ,  once takes one off the door it is a little hard for him to get it back on by himself since it tends to roll up on him., but he still has fun trying and sometimes getting it. 

More window decals, valentine themed cookie cutters, and stickers. We haven't tried the cookie cutters yet,  but Calan did like the stickers. 

I love these little felt hearts that I found for a $1 at Jo-Ann. I think the tweezer sorting was a little advance for Calan. He did not quite get the squeeze, but he tried for a few minutes.

And this is why stickers are not easy for toddlers. It does take coordination. Calan is not very coordinated. Pretty sure he gets that from me. Poor kid.