Cloth from birth!

Well everyone, my EXTREME delay in posting can only mean one thing. Baby K is here!  He was welcomed into the world by Polish Prince, B, and myself one month ago today and it's been crazy ever since! I'm happy to say I was able to achieve my completely un-medicated VBAC when it came to his delivery. (It didn't help that by the time we got to the hospital I was already at a 9.5! No time for meds now!).  Anyway, I thankfully had packed our hospital bags a couple days before and had plenty of fluff for our new little man! 

Very first diaper! Rumparooz Lil Joey!

Polish Prince getting in on the action

Welcome Baby K! 9lbs 13oz!

 I'll be doing a post on my experience with the various diapers we've tried. But just to give you an idea, we have: 

Lil Joey's AIO

GroVia newborn AIO

One Sweet Pea Newborn AIO

Thirsties AIO size 1

BumGenius XS AIO

Bumkins Snap In One OS

Oh Katy pocket OS

Geffen Baby prefold size Small

Rumparooz and One Sweet Pea covers

Such a good big brother!

We were only in the hospital for about 26 hours, so there weren't many shift changes in the staff, but all of the nurses and the on-call pediatrician loved little man's fluffy bum! One was shocked at how easy they were to change on top of how cute they were! Plus, he looked so awesome rocking the colorful diapers with the little half shirt the hospital provides. I had no issues with the mecomium coming out of the diapers when I washed them and all of the diapers we brought fit into a medium wet bag so there was no need to worry about the laundry until a couple days after we were home. Overall, it was such a great success and I'm so happy we did it (and are continuing)!

ME time

As I put B down for his nap today, I realized I hadn't blogged in a while. Sure I'd been keeping Facebook updated, but my poor, neglected blog was...well...neglected. It wasn't until I logged in that I realized I have done nothing since the end of April! FOR SHAME! I tried to reflect and figure out where the last month has gone. My conclusion was that I have no clue. 

The past week we had our gender reveal party and had family in town, but prior to that just seems like a blur! My intent when I started my blog was to not only share my experiences as a new parent, but to maintain memories of life with B as well. Truth is, toddlers are hard work! They are constantly moving, all day long! When he does finally nap I find myself needing a mental break and sometimes writing doesn't always give me that. When I prioritize what needs to get done family comes first, followed pretty closely by laundry ;). So while part of me feels bad for not documenting all of our memories and experiences, the other part of me knows that for that time I was not blogging I was "in the moment" with my family. That, to me, is the most important thing at the end of the day. With that being said, I will be making more of an effort to write, review and discuss, but please know when I'm not it's because this little dinosaur needs my attention! 

MommyCon Phoenix Review

I'm sorry for the delay in posting this. MommyCon Phoenix was April 14th, but with all the craziness of the Great Cloth Diaper Change right on it's heels, I didn't have a chance to get this typed up. I'm also going to apologize for the quality of pictures, and overall lack of pictures. I brought my camera to be able to really share the fun with you, but when I went to take my first picture, I realized there was no memory card! (I blame pregnant brain) So I was forced to rely on my "smart"phone which constantly aims to out"smart" me.  Here's a little taste of what you may have missed:

Feeling like the Real Housewives of Phoenix!

With the lovely Krystyna from Sweet Pea Births

Learning about different options for babywearing

All about cloth diapers!

Setting up for soothing infant massage lessons

I know the Phoenix event was labeled a "mini" and to be honest, having not been to another event, I'm not sure what defines a "mini" versus an actual event. I think there was a great variance of information provided as well as a select number of vendors to seek additional information from. As a vendor, I think it was nice to limit booths with similar products/concepts, but as an attendee, I would have liked to have seen more options. Not just from people selling/making certain products, but by other companies and agencies in the area. Especially when dealing with midwives, doctors, doulas, etc. Selecting someone like that is a very personal experience and having a chance to meet with more than one agency would have been great.

Some of the presentations I attended included babywearing, carseat safety, information regarding GMO's, birth choices and healthy pregnancy. I thought it was great having professionals in these areas providing information that I hadn't considered or heard about before. I also think it was great having a babywearing "lounge" where there was an opportunity to try on multiple carriers and learn from babywearing experts how to properly wear your baby. While the presentation on GMO's was informative, I would have liked to have seen a naturopath, herbalist, farmer, or some type of nutritionist present it.  I think there is a lot of information on that particular topic that could be given, and having a professional provide it and supplement with handouts as well as having the the opportunity to followup would have been nice.

Overall, I had a great experience. I think this is a great event if your expecting your first or your fifth child. You are never too "experienced" to learn something new. The speakers were engaging and there were TONS of amazing giveaways. Which, let's be honest, who doesn't love free stuff? :) To me, the information was tailored towards expecting and mothers of infants/toddlers. Perhaps as this event grows having workshops or information for older children (preschool, homeschooling, peaceful parenting/discipline etc) would be a great addition. Also, I left B with Polish Prince for the day, but noticed plenty of little ones roaming around. The play area was a bit small, so I think having little play areas in each of the presentation rooms would be nice so the babies could stay entertained/safe while the parents paid attention to the speaker. Oh, as I type that, these play areas could be "supervised" by local nannies or daycare providers that are open to natural parenting methods (babywearing and cloth diapering etc). Just a thought!

When it comes down to it, if I had the opportunity to go again, I definitely would. If I had the opportunity to go to a "full" event versus a "mini" I would jump. I would love to see the differences between the two. It's a great way to get exposed to what other options are out there for parents and an easy way to gather resources for current and future pregnancies.

Making it Official

When I found out I was pregnant with B, Polish Prince and I had been going through fertility treatments so we knew in the back of our minds it was always a possibility. We were surprised with how quickly it happened, but overall, not super surprised that we were going to have a baby. With this one however, there was all sorts of surprises. With surprises, come fun announcements. So here are a couple ideas for announcing a second pregnancy.

1) Telling Polish Prince:
After my initial freakout started to subside, I started to think of fun ways to tell my hubby. I went to my good friends at Zoolikins for help. In addition to cloth diapers and other natural parenting products, they also sell a variety of Dr. Seuss items. I thought it may be fun to do a Thing 1 and Thing 2 theme. So I picked up a Thing 1 t-shirt for B and a Thing 2 onesie for the baby. When hubby got home from work that day, B was wearing his Thing 1 shirt. He immediately noticed and said "Whoa, cool shirt buddy! Where'd you get that?" So I told him I took a trip to Zoolikins and saw it and thought it was cute. Little did I know Thing 1 and Thing 2 were Polish Prince's favorite characters. So anyway, I told him that I picked him up something as well, but it was in his stocking (since it was close to Christmas time). So he went to open it and pulled out the onesie. He looked confused for a second, and then looked at me and it clicked.

2)Telling my family:
We were planning to visit the midwest for the holidays to tell the majority of our family the good news, but my father lives in AZ nearby, so we wanted to tell him before we went home. We put a recent picture of the 3 of us in a Christmas card and brought it to his house. We were giong to watch a football game, so we grabbed some beer on the way over. On the inside of the card we wrote:
Gas $3.22
6-pack of beer $8.00 (or whatever it was, I don't remember now :))
Christmas Card $1.00
Watching your face when you realize there are 4 of us in this picture: Priceless

It took him all of 30 seconds to figure it out. My step-mom was next to him and read the card over his shoulder and figured it out just as quick.

3) Telling the in-laws
This was supposed to be a fun Christmas present, we were going to try and figure out a way to have B help tell them our news. Well, since I was so sick right away, there was now way to hide it. My in-laws weren't buying the "flu" theory, so we ended up telling them at dinner the night we got into town.

4) Telling extended family:
My extended family has a Christmas Eve tradition of getting together at my Grandma's house for Santa and snacks. Each person receives a gift from Santa that they are allowed to open that night. For B's gift we wrapped a toy and a copy of the book "I'm going to be a Big Brother". When it was his turn to open, he opened the present and my cousin's daughter was sitting near him. Everyone was asking what the book was, and she read the title outloud. Everyone's face was pretty shocked as they started to "get it" and it was quite fun to get to see it in person.

We had some fun with the announcements this time around. Have any of you done anything fun/creative? I'd love to hear it! 

Getting ready for two

As I adjust to this pregnancy, I can't help but feel some sadness mixed with my excitement. Sad because it happened so soon, sad because I'm worried about the adjustment, sad because it will no longer just be my little man and me and the undivided attention I am able to devote to him now, will have to be shared. I know parents say they love their children the same, but I wonder how/when that happens.

Someone shared this poem with me, and thought I'd share for those of you with more than one child, planning more than one child, or expecting more than one child. 

Loving Two

As I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me" And I hear myself telling you in mine,"I can't," knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her -- as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two.

There are new times -- only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how she adores you -- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments.

And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong.

And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you -- only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you -- you each have your own supply.

I love you -- both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

-Author Unknown-

The holidays are here!

I'm getting excited for Christmas this year. B is really starting to take an interest in all the festive-ness that's going on around him. He loves the lights, the tree, the ornaments (we're working on this) and even loves playing with the snowmen and Santa dolls that sing and dance. I'm even getting excited to take him back to the Midwest for the holidays and hopefully getting to see some snow and do some ice skating! There are a couple things I'm struggling with though as I write this. 

Christmas is not about presents and Santa. It's about the birth of Christ. I want B to recognize the Nativity scene as easily as he recognizes Santa. I want him to know why this day is important, and I want him to sing "Away in a Manger" as often as he sings "Jingle Bells". How do you teach this to a toddler, when do you start? How do you know he's following what you're saying/doing/teaching? 

What about the family members that aren't with him anymore. The holidays always seem to exemplify the absence of loved ones who have passed. The traditions I remember as a child will not be the same memories B has. He will not get to have memories with such important people in his family. With all the spirituality that surrounds the holidays, how do you remember and honor those people without feeling the sense of longing that accompanies such amazing memories?

I'm sure as time goes on we'll figure all of this out, but I always want B to remember how special the holidays and family are, and not just focus on what's under the tree (or ON the tree as it seems this year :)).

Thankful Thursday part 3

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! I swear this month has flown by, not to mention the entire year! It's been a busy week, but I can't forget to refocus! 

1) My Education- True, at this moment I may not be using my degree per-sea, but I'm thankful I have it to go back to when B is in school full time. I'm thankful for what I've learned through that degree both in and out of the classroom, and I'm thankful that it will afford me many more opportunities in the future!

2) My Car- When we made the decision for me to stay at home I was worried I would become a shut-in, but having a car and the ability to go where I please, when I please is something I try to not take for granted. The fact that it's a safe car in addition to being spacious enough for my family is a double bonus!

3) Jeans- Well, all pants really. I'm glad it's now finally cool enough in the desert that I can wear pants and go a couple days without shaving my legs! :) I guess that makes me thankful for marriage too... :) 

Anyone else care to share? Feel free in the comments!

Thankful Thursday Part 2

It's been such a busy week so far, but I still want to take time to be thankful, so here go. Once again, no particular order:

1) Polish Prince-Sometimes I take for granted how hard he works to provide for our family. I find myself getting annoyed when he leaves at 6 in the morning and doesnt get home until 7:30-8:00 some nights. Then I realize he does that so I can stay home with B and have a relatively comfortable existance. I hope B inherits this work ethic as well.

2) Fall weather-Living in the desert you really begin to appreciate any weather that is not in triple digits. It's been a nice, mild week and I LOVE having the windows open. I'm also going to be thankful for my lower energy bill!! :)

 

3) Family-The majority of our family members live out of state, but getting to spend time with the ones who live here is fantastic. I love that B will have memories and moments of growing up surrounded by family and love. And for those family members that don't live nearby, I'm thankful for Skype!

Thankful Thursdays

I'm going to admit, I've been grumpy lately. B has switched up his "not-so-great" sleeping habits with terrible sleeping habits and I've had a few "woe is me" kind of moments as of late. Since today starts November, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I've decided to take a step back and turn my crankiness into thankiness <--you heard it here first folks, that will be a word! So, each Thursday I'm going to share 3 things I'm thankful for at the moment. These will be in no particular order!

1) SLEEP-I'm thankful that once he decides to sleep, even if it's for an hour, that hour is mine to do as I please, and you know what, dishes are not on that list today!

2) Laundry-I know it's weird, but as it's sitting here staring at me on the table, ready to be folded, clean laundry means my family has clothes to wear and the means to wash them. It means that even when there are clothes needing to be washed and needing to be folded, we still have plenty of clothes to wear. 

3) Hugs/Snuggles from B- Yes, he has been extra clingy and needy lately, but I'm thankful that he knows I will meet his needs. I'm thankful that he can communicate those needs to me and that he is home, safe, and healthy. So many parents would long for their babies to snuggle them, I'm going to take advantage, even at 3 in the morning. 

Please feel free to share in with your own things you're thankful for!

Our first Graduation!

One of my favorite things about giving birth to B in the hospital which we did is their "family centered" approach. When we toured the hospital I was impressed by the warmth of the rooms, they didn't have that "hospital" feel, and I loved that the baby was with you the entire time after birth (barring any medical necessity to be in the NICU). It made me feel comforted to know that we would be the ones caring for little B, but there was a staff on hand to answer any questions and help with any problems that may arise. One of the most important people on that staff team (in my opinion) was the first International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) that I had ever met. Her name is Tracey and she is one of the sweetest women I know. I believe she is a HUGE part of why B and I have been successful breastfeeding. Not only was there assistance and support offered in the hospital, but a "support" group was also available, free of charge, for the first year. Being a new mom I took complete advantage of the excuse to not only get out of the house but to meet some new mommy friends as well. 

So, fast forward a year later and B is officially graduating from the affectionately nicknamed "Boob Group".
I am so thankful for Tracey's leadership, wisdom and inspiration. I'm thankful for the women that I have met that I now consider close friends. They have helped me to not only become the mother that I am to B, but learn to laugh at the mistakes that I've made, and will continue to make! I love that these women are like-minded without being my clones. I love that we can have candid conversations about parenting, marriage, families, and even poop without fear of judgement. I also love that this first year is just the beginning, we will continue to keep in touch with Tracey and the other women from this group and look forward to the adventures that the next years will undoubtedly bring!

Congratulations to my little man on your first graduation, and congratulations to all of his classmates and families as well! :)

1,000 Fan Celebration!

I still can't believe I'm writing this post. When I started blogging just 7 months ago, I never thought I would actually have people beyond my family and friends interested in reading what I have to say. What I'm most thankful for is the sense of community that blogging has provided me. A sounding board for opinions and advice, a network of like-minded (and sometimes not) people to discuss tips and tricks, learn from, and ultimately grow together.

I wanted to say thank you, not just in words, but in prizes. Because, let's be honest, many of you may have stumbled upon this blog after finding a giveaway or two! I figured it was only fitting to return the favor with a fun THANK YOU celebration! I took some time to put this together because I wanted to really thank you from my heart, so I chose products from a brand and store that I really love and trust and wanted to make sure you guys were getting the best of the best!

Remember one of my first posts about a local cloth diaper/natural parenting store Zoolikins? Well, they teamed up with Bumkins and are sponsoring this AMAZING giveaway! Zoolikins was always my favorite store locally because of caring people that work there. They really know what they're talking about and they stand behind all of the products they sell. This is a HUGE comfort to a newbie parent. We've all been that wide-eyed "now-what-do-we-do" parent a time or two and having people that you can trust to give you the truth and not just sell you a product is a blessing! Zoolikins carries multiple brands across all product lines but one of their biggest sellers (and a personal favorite of mine) is Bumkins brand. They are fantastic because they appeal to all parents, whether you cloth diaper or not. (I know! Some people still don't cloth diaper! Weird! :) )

Anyway...Bumkins were one of the first cloth diapers I purchased and I'll be honest, they weren't my #1 favorite go-to diaper, but here's why I respect the brand and gave them another try. Like the people who work at Zoolikins, the brains behind the Bumkins products care. They listen to feedback, are open to suggestions and are constantly working to serve the best product, for the best price to their loyal customers. Bumkins has made some amazing modifications to their cloth diapers. The new prints are beautiful and the fit can't be beat. They are by far one of the most trim diapers I own! I also love their snaps. B has recently started to pull at his diaper and prefers to go au natural. My floors do not prefer this, thankfully the Bumkins snaps are tough and he has yet to be able to rip them off! And, because I'm quirky, they have cross-over snaps on the right side of the wing tabs. This may not seem like a big deal to others, but if you have a "system" like I do, you always snap the right side first, but then you realize that your baby is having a "skinny day" and have to overlap, well, there's no overlapping snaps on the right wing, just the left, so you have to unsnap the right, then snap the left first, then re-snap the right again, all while trying to keep a wiggling, squirming, flipping one year old to sit still for a diaper change. THANK YOU BUMKINS FOR OVERLAPPING SNAPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE!!  And my final favorite features: the fact that their one-size all-in-ones (AIO's) are made with both fleece AND cotton/bamboo combines the best of both worlds for baby. Their one-size stuff-its (pockets) come with a microfiber insert and have the same great fit as the AIO's.

So, Kristin, I don't cloth diaper (gasp!), I don't feel like this giveaway is really thanking ME. Well, my dear reader friend, this giveaway IS thanking you too! Bumkins does not just create cloth diapers. They have adorable pajama sets, waterproof wipeable bibs and toddler smocks, reusable snack bags, diaper bags, organic burp cloths and hooded towels, and the list goes on. Bumkins is also a official licensee of Dr. Seuss products as well. So not only can you get a great Green Eggs and Ham (another personal favorite) cloth diaper, but you can get the coordinating PJ set, a bib, a lunch box, or other clothes so your child can match their favorite book! What a great way to encourage literacy at such a young age!




Have I psyched you up enough? Are you feeling the love coming from me to you? Please accept my giant THANK YOU and enter to win a Dr. Seuss by Bumkins Prize Pack on the Rafflecopter form below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. www.KrazyforKlothandKids.com is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.   

I'm definitely a crappy mom!

One of my fellow bloggers, Life with Levi, threw out a challenge to those that oppose the "mommy wars" that seem to be never-ending. A way to embrace the title of "crappy mom" that other parents choose to label someone who does things differenty. 

As parents I feel like we make the best decisions for our children based on our own experiences, knowledge, research, etc. Whether your a first time mom or Michelle Duggar, parenting can be scary. You always wonder how the decisions you make will affect your child, the last thing you need is some complete stranger at the grocery store, on the internet, or wherever to pass judgement on you simply for doing what you feel is best. Now, I'm not going to say I haven't been that person myself a time or two, but I try my best to internalize my judgement and not let it pass through my lips. If it passes through my lips, I try my best to share those feelings with people I trust and not at the mother/parent who's parenting style I may not agree with. Catty/snarky? Sometimes, but it's reality, let's be honest. 

I do my best to live by the philosophy that as long as the child is safe and loved that each parent's style for child-rearing is up to the parent. So, with that being said, I'm following suit with Life with Levi and proclaiming the ways I'm sure I've messed up Little B by someone else's standards: 

I had a c-section. 

I got an epidural as soon as they let me

I never read "What to Expect..."  and I never took a Lamaze or Birthing Class

I've breastfed (and am still breastfeeding) B since day 1

I'm a lazy babywearer, I use wraps/slings/soft-structured carriers because I don't want to invest over $100 in something made of organic whatever and learn 19 different ways to tie it

I don't work outside the home

We cosleep

B has been caught more than once with dog food in his mouth (as far as I know he hasn't actually eaten any of it)

We have pets; 2 dogs, 1 cat, our house has furballs...constantly

Our decision regarding circumsicsion was made between my husband and myself, it was our parenting choice either way

We immunize

We never used rice cereal

We never bought (or fed B) pre-made baby food

I often don't buy organic fruit

We do not own 85% of "recommended items" on standard baby registries
We cloth diaper (obviously ;))

When B cries at night, I pick him up, most times nurse him. He has never "slept through the night"

We listen to all sorts of music in the car, none of it resembles the Disney Channel

I've forgotten "story time" once or twice

When B pees on the floor during diaper changes, I laugh

His "off-white" rocker in his nursery is more than just "dingy" 

I haven't had a drink, by choice, since starting fertility treatments back in 2010. (Actually, that's not entirely true, I did have half a glass of wine on our anniversary and drove home without the headlights on, not smart)

I'm almost positive this list is endless and there's probably 10 million other things I'm missing. I'm also positive that some people reading this have pretty strong objections to some of the choices Polish Prince and I have made. Heck, there are times that I even question what we're doing. But at the end of the day, when I look at B, and he is a happy, healthy, playful, developmentally "normal" 1 year old, I can't help but feel like we're doing something right. Other people have done, and will do, the exact opposite and also have happy, healthy 1 year olds and that's fine. That works for them. This works for us. I hope that going forward I will remember that and bite my tongue when I'm about to pass judgement. 

Oh my dear...

I know I've taken a blogging hiatus lately, but I didn't realize it had been so long! The summer has flown by and the holidays are already upon us. Kicking off the fall is a very special "first" for us. Our "little" B turns one tomorrow and it's very bittersweet. I'm sure I'm not the first, or last, parent to feel this way. It's been a whole year since our lives have changed, a whole year of changing diapers, of sleep deprivation, of crying, of giggling, of milestones, a whole year of growth that will never be matched.

This time last year I was waddling through the grocery store, smiling while gritting my teeth through this conversation:

Well-intentioned complete stranger:(WICS): "Whoa, you're going to pop any day now huh? What is that, twins?" 
Me *awkward laughter* "Yup, today's actually my due date, so we'll see I guess!"
WICS: "Now honey, I'm a nurse, and it looks like you're going to have that baby soon, you should be resting. "
Me: (not in the mood for "friendly" advice). "Oh, ok, thank you. Have a nice day. 

Polish Prince was not too far away and the complete look of shock on his face was pricelsss. It's weird that men don't realize how when someone is pregnant, it seems anyone within eye-sight, earshot, or 100 yards seems to lose their filter and say and do very inappropriate things to complete strangers. Mind you, said pregnant woman (if they are anything like me) is genearlly hormonal and "over-it" at this point. So yes, getting back to it, Polish Prince was shocked that not only was WICS giving me unsolicited advice, she also asked the twin question. At least she refraind from touching my belly. That was a pleasant surprise. Another side note, since when is someone *not* touching your belly considered a surprise...

Anyway, we had been home for about an hour after the grocery store excitement and I was folding laundry on the couch when my water broke and the adventure began. That day will live on in my memory forever and I hope I rememeber it as vividly as I do now. I also plan to take some time tomorrow to write B's complete birth story. Perhaps I'll share it when I do. 

Until then, please be patient with my lack of attention dear blog, I promise like an old friend I will return soon! I have big plans for you! :)

At the stoplight outside of the hospital. Going in a family of two, coming out a family of three!