I have gotten to the point with Cloth diapering that it's almost a hobby for me. I'm constantly on the look out for a diaper that the girls might like more. I love looking at patterns. I even like washing them. Which is funny because I hate doing laundry.
As a matter of fact I will talk about it with people who CD and I talk about it with people who don't. I get excited about Fluff coming in the mail. I don't care what you use for diapers. I want to talk about it. I want to talk about the different styles. I want to talk about my plans for Ella next summer so she doesn't get a heat rash again. It's definitely become my new hobby.
I get excited just thinking about cloth diapers. I really do. I'm thinking of switching to mama cloth just so I can continue to be excited about that after Ella is finally potty trained. Either way. Do you CD? Is it your new hobby? Have I lost my mind?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Conceptions and misconception of an over sexualized generation
I had an epiphany today. Lily and I took a shower today. While waiting for me to finish drying off so I could dry her off she started dancing. She wiggled and wiggled her butt in a way that if she were an adult would be sexual. Only she is not an adult and it wasn't. She was a 3 year old that was dancing. There was nothing more to it than that. It hit me that I've been very stupid and that my daughter just taught me something on accident.
A naked 3 year old is a natural phase and to be expected to some degree. You add clothes to that child and suddenly it's wrong and sexual. They're just clothes until we add meaning to them. The problem with children's clothes these days isn't just the clothes. It's our preconceived notion of what these clothes mean. We put a meaning to them and shove them down our child's throat.
Lily's generation and the generation before hers is not over sexualized because of what they wear. It's over sexualized because of the attitude we have about what they wear. It's time we realize that clothes are just that...clothes.
A naked 3 year old is a natural phase and to be expected to some degree. You add clothes to that child and suddenly it's wrong and sexual. They're just clothes until we add meaning to them. The problem with children's clothes these days isn't just the clothes. It's our preconceived notion of what these clothes mean. We put a meaning to them and shove them down our child's throat.
Lily's generation and the generation before hers is not over sexualized because of what they wear. It's over sexualized because of the attitude we have about what they wear. It's time we realize that clothes are just that...clothes.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Lily Anna
Before my daughter I didn't realize how awesome being the mother of a girl could be. Not just because she's a girl. I had let myself be limited by preconceptions people gave me about having a girl. Lily is an interesting combination of Greg and I.
She is my animal lover. Lily loves all animals and thinks you should love them as well. She also loves tractors and farms. She's also her father's shadow and wants to be where he is no matter what. They go fishing together and have gone "hunting" in the yard. It's absolutely adorable.
She has a love/hate relationship with her little sister right now. Her brother is her partner or crime most of the time. Of course as true siblings they don't get along all the time, but she's quick to forgive him when he pisses her off.
She loves to help people clean or plant. She's my girl girl boy. She's like me when I was younger, but less inhibited. Which is awesome.
She is my animal lover. Lily loves all animals and thinks you should love them as well. She also loves tractors and farms. She's also her father's shadow and wants to be where he is no matter what. They go fishing together and have gone "hunting" in the yard. It's absolutely adorable.
She has a love/hate relationship with her little sister right now. Her brother is her partner or crime most of the time. Of course as true siblings they don't get along all the time, but she's quick to forgive him when he pisses her off.
She loves to help people clean or plant. She's my girl girl boy. She's like me when I was younger, but less inhibited. Which is awesome.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dedrick Paul
I was going to write the 10 truths to motherhood, but I can't. Motherhood is something that is an individual experience and my truths might not be your truths. Besides some of mine are private and I don't care to share them. I will however write a blog entry about each of my children. One entry per child starting with the oldest.
Dedrick was my ultimate oops child. I found out I was pregnant after getting out of an abusive relationship. Pregnancy with him was hell. I'm sure if he hadn't been my first he would have been my last. It didn't seem to matter what I ate it came back up. I went through 6 months of this. I ate a lot of peanut and jelly sandwiches because it was one of the few things I could really keep down. Honestly, I had originally been hoping for a girl, but in the end I just wanted him to be healthy.
He is so smart. He's so smart that he's almost too smart for his own good. He's clever, thoughtful, emotional, and loving. He dotes on his sisters and even though he's awful for chores he tends to think of other people first. He's also stubborn and willful. He's a perfectionist and if he messes up he tends to give up. It's something we're working on.
He loves outdoor science. He loves learning about animals and their habitats. He asks a million and a half questions. He can come up with some crazy questions. He knows so much about dinosaurs that half the time I just kind of nod and smile. I don't know what dinosaur he's talking about, but he's really excited about it. He will tell anyone that is willing to listen to him random facts about animals that he's learned about. He told his cousin about fireflies because they were catching them on the 4th of July.
He can drive me up a wall with his unwillingness to clean sometimes or his hatred of vegetables. His enthusiasm for cooking makes up for that though. He wants to help, he wants to be involved, and he's going to ask you a dozen questions. He's definitely his own person and he tends to do his own thing. I hope he stays that way.
Dedrick was my ultimate oops child. I found out I was pregnant after getting out of an abusive relationship. Pregnancy with him was hell. I'm sure if he hadn't been my first he would have been my last. It didn't seem to matter what I ate it came back up. I went through 6 months of this. I ate a lot of peanut and jelly sandwiches because it was one of the few things I could really keep down. Honestly, I had originally been hoping for a girl, but in the end I just wanted him to be healthy.
He is so smart. He's so smart that he's almost too smart for his own good. He's clever, thoughtful, emotional, and loving. He dotes on his sisters and even though he's awful for chores he tends to think of other people first. He's also stubborn and willful. He's a perfectionist and if he messes up he tends to give up. It's something we're working on.
He loves outdoor science. He loves learning about animals and their habitats. He asks a million and a half questions. He can come up with some crazy questions. He knows so much about dinosaurs that half the time I just kind of nod and smile. I don't know what dinosaur he's talking about, but he's really excited about it. He will tell anyone that is willing to listen to him random facts about animals that he's learned about. He told his cousin about fireflies because they were catching them on the 4th of July.
He can drive me up a wall with his unwillingness to clean sometimes or his hatred of vegetables. His enthusiasm for cooking makes up for that though. He wants to help, he wants to be involved, and he's going to ask you a dozen questions. He's definitely his own person and he tends to do his own thing. I hope he stays that way.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Cloth bra pads...the review
I got a free sample of cloth bra pads. Honestly I cannot remember the brand name, but they're white...and awesome. I am now washing them and had to switch to disposables temporarily because I ran out. The cloth are so much better. They're more comfortable, they do a better job of absorbing the milk, and they're reusable. I was half afraid when I first looked at them because I was afraid I'd get milk on my bra. There is no plastic between the cloth and the bra. However as long as I'm on top of things and change them as soon as I need to I'm okay. I can even wear them over night without fear of leaking onto my shirt. I could just use more than 4 pairs of the darn things.
If you get a chance to buy cloth bra pads do it. They'll save you money and they're better at keeping the moisture away. Keeping the moisture away leads to happier nipples and happier nipples lead to a happier you. Though I'd be even happier if they were pretty, but I'm a girl like that.
Here are some places you can get them.
The Green Baby Store
Kelly's Closet
Jillian's Drawers
If you know of any other sources feel free to leave a link in the comments.
If you get a chance to buy cloth bra pads do it. They'll save you money and they're better at keeping the moisture away. Keeping the moisture away leads to happier nipples and happier nipples lead to a happier you. Though I'd be even happier if they were pretty, but I'm a girl like that.
Here are some places you can get them.
The Green Baby Store
Kelly's Closet
Jillian's Drawers
If you know of any other sources feel free to leave a link in the comments.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Making a change
As some of you may know I plan to go cloth with my children. For those of you not in the know of what that means it means I'm ditching my disposable diapers for cloth diapers. It's cheaper in the long run, it's better for the environment, and they're cute as all hell.
I spent years considering this. I spent years talking to everyone I know about what I'm getting myself into. I hate using disposable diapers. It gives my children rashes and it's horrible for the environment. I like the planet I live on and would like to do right by it.
However I'm completely afraid I'm going to screw this up. Standing on the outside looking in it seems complicated and confusing. There are rules about how you're supposed to wash them. I'm sure some of this is fanatics making it seem more than it is, but to us on the outside it's overwhelming. I want to do this, but it's like thinking you have to jump in ice water. You stand there as long as you possibly can because it's going to be a shock and you know you're going to be overwhelmed. I'm sure at first I'm going to screw up at least a little...I think. Either that or it will come naturally to me. I don't know. I just needed a push. I'm sure I'll thank the people who pushed me for it later. Even the jack asses that got the economy to the point where the reason I'm finally really doing this is so I can stop buying disposables and start using that money toward things like food and clothing.
I just had to write this out because I feel like I'm going crazy. I feel like I'm going to disappoint myself and I feel very anxious about the whole situation. I feel like any time I ask questions I'm being stupid. I know I'm being hard on myself, but you can't help how you feel. As soon as I get my stash I'll start posting about the different diapers I got and how things are going with them. I'm going to start with Lily because she needs less diapers than Ella does. Soooo, wish me luck?
I spent years considering this. I spent years talking to everyone I know about what I'm getting myself into. I hate using disposable diapers. It gives my children rashes and it's horrible for the environment. I like the planet I live on and would like to do right by it.
However I'm completely afraid I'm going to screw this up. Standing on the outside looking in it seems complicated and confusing. There are rules about how you're supposed to wash them. I'm sure some of this is fanatics making it seem more than it is, but to us on the outside it's overwhelming. I want to do this, but it's like thinking you have to jump in ice water. You stand there as long as you possibly can because it's going to be a shock and you know you're going to be overwhelmed. I'm sure at first I'm going to screw up at least a little...I think. Either that or it will come naturally to me. I don't know. I just needed a push. I'm sure I'll thank the people who pushed me for it later. Even the jack asses that got the economy to the point where the reason I'm finally really doing this is so I can stop buying disposables and start using that money toward things like food and clothing.
I just had to write this out because I feel like I'm going crazy. I feel like I'm going to disappoint myself and I feel very anxious about the whole situation. I feel like any time I ask questions I'm being stupid. I know I'm being hard on myself, but you can't help how you feel. As soon as I get my stash I'll start posting about the different diapers I got and how things are going with them. I'm going to start with Lily because she needs less diapers than Ella does. Soooo, wish me luck?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Losing loved ones
I had never really lost anyone until my Grandma died and no death since has hurt me as deeply. She was the kind of person you wanted to be related to. She didn't let you feel like a stranger. She loved everyone and gave hugs instead of handshakes. She cooked from scratch and kept a garden until she was too sick to do that. Yes, everything she made was better. She spoiled me without actually spoiling me because she didn't want me to be a brat. She loved me for who I was and not for what she thought she could get out of me or what she thought I might become. She would tease me about not having a boyfriend because a beautiful girl like me should have a boyfriend. When I lost her I lost the biggest positive influence in my life and every day she's gone is painful. It doesn't hurt as much, but it still hurts a lot. I sometimes wonder if it will ever stop hurting. I can still cry when I think about her because I wish my children could have known her. I cry because the longer she's gone the harder it is to remember her. She was the best person I ever knew. I wish you could have met her, you would have liked her.
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