*Our Story*

This is the ramblings of a Marine Wife, Mommy, and Gym rat. Home is where the Marine Corps sends us. NC -> TX -> CA. Welcome to my sometimes stressful, mostly crazy, but always beautiful life.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Pain Relief and Plain Relief

       I've been really terrible about blogging. I constantly think about things I "need" to blog about, and then I just forget. Connor keeps me so busy. He's in to everything, and if I try to get on the computer while he is awake, he walks over to me and shuts the laptop.

Pain Relief
      Anyway... a couple of weeks ago Connor started to get really fussy. He still only has the 6 teeth that he has had since 10 months, so I assumed he was teething. I mean, when I say really fussy, we're talking crying all day long. When Connor first started teething, a friend of mine suggested I get him an Amber teething necklace. I forgot about it, and then a couple of weeks ago, I decided to research the Amber teething necklace. When a friend of mine recommended I get one for Connor, I thought it was like a "crystal" type thing. You know, that "promotes relief" or something. I had no idea that it actually contains succinic acid. The amber rubs against the childs skin (the necklace is short enough so Connor doesn't even notice it), and it releases a natural oil into their skin that enters their blood stream, and it relieves pain. I read reviews that raved about these necklaces, so I thought, "what the hell?! It can't hurt..." So, I ordered it for Connor, I got it in the mail in 2 days, and automatically put it on him. It's a miracle.. He is so happy and hardly whines at all. I highly recommend any mom who is pulling her hair out because of teething to look into it. It worked for us, and nothing was working for us! I tried ibuprofen, teething tablets, orajel, teethers, popsicles, etc. Look into it! Knowledge is power people!

Plain Relief
     Also, Adam and I have been discussing the future. We know we want more children but have avoided the topic since we had Connor because, obviously, he is still really little, and having Connor wasn't exactly easy on us. I decided to go ahead and research new OBs, and a friend recommended an OB to me. I went last Friday to have a consultation and talk to him about everything. I told him what happened with Connor, and he was not impressed with the hospital's/doctor's decisions. He told me that I am healthy, and there is no greater chance of me getting pre-eclampsia and developing the same problems. He checked my blood work, and everything came back completely normal. So, that is a HUGE relief. He is very confident that I won't have the same problems, but assured me he would take care of me. We are so relieved!! Don't expect any sort of announcement anytime soon. We were just seeing if the possibility is there.. and it is! =)





Wednesday, June 20, 2012

updated bumGenius review for a friend!


bumGenius 4.0 one size pocket review

Closures
   The diapers I ordered have snaps. I also have a few that are Velcro (hooks&loops). You can decide between snaps or hooks&loops. I prefer the snaps, but both work really well. The diapers are one size and will very much fit a newborn - toddler. The snaps adjust down and across, so that as your baby grows, your diaper grows too. The snaps are secure on the diaper and have not budged since I've had them for over 10 months. I read that the hooks&loops are easier for a squirmy baby, but Connor is very, very squirmy and the snaps are just as easy. Way easier than disposables. That was quite the challenge.

Colors
     There are plenty of colors to choose from, and they are adorable. The good thing about the bumGenius diapers is that you don't have to buy diaper covers. They are pocket diapers, so the shell is waterproof (PUL) fabric. Connor has every boy color they have, and the pictures online are pretty exact to what you see when you open your diapers. I was really impressed. I've also noticed that the colors have not faded at all after washing them A LOT and bleaching  them once a month!

Fit
    From the time we got the diapers until now, the diapers have fit Connor very well. We started cloth when he was 4 months old, and he is 14 months old and still in the same diapers with the same great fit. Obviously, the diapers have grown with him (snap setting) over time. They are a little “bulky” but not so much that I am bothered by it. The diaper is also elastic so that as your baby grows, the diaper stretches!

The inner layer
     The microfiber inserts are incredibly soft and absorbent. It's amazing to me how much these pieces of fabric can absorb. Each diaper comes with 2 inserts (one big insert and one newborn sized insert). Connor is 14 months and can usually use 1 big and 1 small during the day, and 1 big, 1 small, and 1big hemp insert at night. (He sleeps 12+ hours and doesn’t usually leak).

Durability
      The bumGenius diapers are very durable. I have about 25 bumGenius diapers, and I haven't seen a flaw in any of my diapers since I've had them. I was them about every other day and they are all very much intact. I plan on using these same diapers with the next baby, too. They recommend 24 or more diapers especially in the newborn stage. I would agree and recommend collecting that many or more just to save you the washes.

Leakage
    When I used disposables, we had a lot of trouble with leaks. I know the diapers were on securely, but Connor is a heavy wetter and he would pee through disposables. It is rare that Connor leaks in his cloth diapers, and if he does it is because I haven’t stuffed his diapers well, haven’t put enough inserts in his diaper, or I have gone too long without changing him. At night, it was an experiment until recently. I use 1 big, 1 small, and 1 big hemp insert, and he can go 12+ hours with no diaper change and no leaks.

Washing 
Go ahead and get a cloth diaper friendly detergent. If you don’t, you will regret it because your diapers will start to build up detergent and leak. I ordered the bumGenius detergent for $11.95, no tax, & free shipping on cottonbabies.com. 66 loads too! I advise to just buy the correct detergent. Saves you a lot of time & money! Besides, what is the difference if there is no tax, and shipping is free? Also, The Dreft has ingredients that can cause your diapers to break down. I would prefer my diapers to last me as long as possible. Washing is easy. I do a Cold Rinse, Hot Wash, and another Cold Rinse.(Sometimes I do 2 cold rinses if they still smell stingy afer 1 rinse) I, then, hang up the diapers and throw the inserts into the dryer, and the diapers dry really quickly.

Smell
If your diapers start to smell, it is time for a bleach treatment! You can wash your diapers like normal, and just throw in ¾ cup of bleach! It should take care of the smell. If you continue having problems, I would strip your diapers using 1tbsp of blue dawn dish soap or RLR. IF you strip your diaper MAKE SURE your diapers are CLEAN before stripping them. 

Price

    bumGenius 4.0 are $17.95 a diaper. It seems a little expensive, but to put in perspective, I have 25 diapers equaling out to about $450. I did get mine on sale and saved money, So look for a sale. Over the course of your child's diaper days, you spend at least $4,000. The average family with a baby spends about $2,000 a year in diapers. So, I'm saving at least over $3000. It seems like a lot because it is money up front, but in the long run, you are saving sooo much money. Besides, you are doing something wonderful for the environment. It's win-win.

Convenience
    Go ahead and say it, "ewww gross" you touch your baby's poop. All I have to say to that is, "Did you give birth? Because it doesn't get more ' eww gross ' than that." It is really NOT that bad. Poop rinses off the diaper very easily. These diapers do not inconvenience me at all. I am a stay at home mom, so I am the one who is usually dealing with the poop diapers, but my husband has cleaned one or two poop diapers and it does not bother him. I did order flushable diaper liners. They are so wonderful! The liners make going out in public so easy. You place them in your diaper and it catches the poop. So, when you are out in public, cleanup is not a hassle at all.. and they flush! Talk about easy. I do recommend the flushable liners for "outings." It was $12 for 200, and I only use them when I go out. I fully expect them to last me at least 6 months.

Rash
    Connor has sensitive skin, and he hasn't had a rash at all with these diapers. If he does get a rash, I put CJ’s butter on his butt. It is cloth diaper friendly. I order that from sweetbottomsbaby.com It's great!! He's happy, I'm happy, my husband's happy :) It's a beautiful thing.

I do have other brands of diapers that I do like, such as blueberry and several WAHM diapers. I suggest that you research what is best for you and have a “main stash” and then “wild cards” of different brands. I prefer the bumGenius 4.0s, but some people have other preferences. My  bumGenius  have definitely held up the best!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

bring it on home to me..

  

    I have tried not to complain too much on my blog about recruiting duty. You all know that my husband and I live in Texas with our son, Connor. 1200 + miles away from our family and friends. I have been truly blessed to have gotten to know several friends in Texas, so that I am not constantly conversing with a one year old.. but it still gets lonely. My husband works so much. It can be 12 or more hours a day, and most weekends he AT LEAST works 1 day. It gets hard, and often times I find myself getting frustrated that I'm here.. alone. But, I'm trying so hard to be a great wife and mother. My husband busts his ass for us, and he is constantly feeling the pressure from work. I have been through a deployment where I only talked to Adam MAYBE 10 times in 8 months. We could email, but not "chat" on the phone or skype often at all. I am an artillery wife, so I have done weeks in the field.. but none of it compares to this. Before we left for recruiting duty, we were told by many people that this would be the hardest job for Adam in the Marine Corps, and it would be a huge test to our marriage. On top of that, I had Connor 1 month after being here and 1 month before Adam went on production. It's been tough. We have definitely had our ups and down, but I am so happy to say that we are almost halfway through recruiting duty! I think it's harder because when he deploys, he's just gone, and I miss him, but it is a different kind of stress. I am so sick of hearing "well, at least he comes home at night..." because most nights we are either in bed or I've barely made it, waiting up for him. Yes, I am thankful that our son knows daddy, and Adam gets to spend time with him, but the stress is outrageous. We only have each other here, so we've really had to concentrate on our marriage, and we have realized that communication is key. Recruiting duty means that Adam is on domestic soil, but it doesn't make it any easier on our family. I don't think a family can truly understand the stress of recruiting duty until they've been on it. I am grateful for the wives and families I have met out here who have stuck it out and lend an ear and shoulder when it is needed. Tonight has just been one of those nights...

Friday, June 1, 2012

How do we do it?



       This past week, Connor has had some really great days and some really "not so great" days. We've been working on 1 nap a days. He's not feelin the 2 naps a day since he sleeps all night (over 12 hours most nights). So, I'm down with it, but really just need him to get the hang of it asap. Adam has been working non stop.. Needless to say, tonight I am drinking some bud light lime and watching sex and the city 2. This scene came up an I almost died laughing. I didn't have Connor when I saw this movie for the first time, but now it is so hilarious and makes more sense. "HOW DO WOMEN WITHOUT HELP DO IT?" Some days I have no idea! But today, I've done it through the giggles, smiles, kisses, and at night...beer :) Cheers to us ladies without help!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Things that make me say, "what the effing, eff?"

     Today has been a day full of WTFs. First, I (Adam too. It's actually more Adam's fault than mine) got a "toll violation" in the mail for $150. It should have been about $10, but Texas is really awesome and charges $1 for toll and $11 for a violation fee. Are you kidding me Texas? Then, I decided we needed food for the week, so I headed to HEB with Connor in tow. People don't surprise me anymore. ESPECIALLY not since I've had Connor. But, this man kept starting at Connor. I couldn't figure out what he was staring at,.. until he walked up to me and said, "When I see a cute baby I just have to touch it." Woah.. did he really just say that? Then, he started petting Connor's head.WHAT is wrong with people? I was dumbfounded, so I just said "Wha, Wah, excuse me!" On the way home I thought of plenty of things to say if that EVER happens again. Don't you hate that? I am never good at thinking on my feet, but I can think of plenty of things to say after the fact. My favorite idea was to say "When I see a creepy man I just have to high five him in the face." What the effing, eff?

Monday, May 7, 2012

Where's the Poo?!

   We've had a pretty crazy weekend and start to the week full of NEWs. :) Saturday, we adopted a pup! His name is/was Grayson, he is a one and a half year old Pitbull. And the sweetest little pup, ever! He's still quite hyper and growls and barks at me (playfully) and he's keepin' Lilly young. We really didn't think we would get another dog, let alone another pitbull. Not because we don't absolutely love our squishy pits, but they are just hard to have while moving around they have a bad rep. Poor puppies. Anyway, Grayson (working on the change of name) was rescued at 4 months from the side of the road. His breeder tried to make a "pocket" pitbull, and Grayson ended up being deformed. He is bowlegged, and his foster mom said that made nobody want to adopt him. His little bow legs are soo cute to me! I love it! He is great with Connor... lets Connor crawl all over him, and it's nice to not have to worry. I still keep an extremely close watch on him though just because I don't "know" him very well yet. I grilled Grayson's foster mom, but she swears he is a little angel pup, and I believe her. He's been around kids his whole life (After he was rescued), and she has trained/raised him since then. He is the perfect little puzzle piece to our family :) After we got Grayson, we loaded up the pups, Connor, Adam, and I into our Chevy Equinox to head to the park.. That's when Adam and I realized how tiny our crossover is. We've discussed the possibility of a baby in the not so distant future (not too near either), but there is no way another baby is going to fit! It's extremely crowded now.. Well, tonight we went to "look" and ended up with a Navy Blue 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. It is basically the upgraded Equinox, it has 18,000 miles on it, it's newer, and we got our monthly payments lowered. I feel good about it! Hooray for 3rd row seating! Which brings me to my story... phew
   Toddlers are crazy. Connor went with us to the dealership, and it was a trip. He doesn't want me to hold him, and he wants to run around everywhere. Well, after taking a test drive in the Traverse, Connor kicked off his flip flops, Adam just throws his shoes in the car, and we go inside to haggle... "what's that smell?" "Oh wait.. it's Connor's poop diaper." Lovely. I take him into the bathroom to change him, and as you all know, I'm a cloth diapering Mama. It was a disastrous mess. Connor's new "thing" is carrying around plastic baby bowls, forks, and spoons.. So, I am trying to scrape his poo out of the diaper and he's barefoot, running around the bathroom, sticking his baby fork in the poop filled toilet. VOM. I flung my arm to try and keep him from playing in that nasty toilet and poop goes flying. Oh Mylanta! I could NOT find the poo. WHERE'S THE POO?! I looked all over Connor and myself for a good 5 minutes, and still have no clue where the poo went. I was convinced it was in my hair or Connor's mouth. Oh Lord Have Mercy.. TODDLERS!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Toddler Life..

     Tonight, my toddler, (wahhh, TODDLER!) ran up to me about five times in a row and gave me a huge hug and kiss. He is the most loving little boy, and I cannot get enough! I love him to bits. I have rocked this child to sleep every night since he was born, and the week of his first birthday he started walking into his room around bedtime. So, the first night he did that I laid him in his crib and walked away. It was about 6:45 p.m., and I never heard a peep once I turned the light out and walked out of his room. For almost 2 weeks, that has been the trend for nap time and bed time. It was as if he knew he wasn't a little baby anymore. It breaks my heart, but it is a huge relief. I was beginning to think I was going to have to rock him until he was 10 years old, but to be honest, I didn't listen to the books that told me to let him "cry it out." I never, ever, let my baby cry it out, and he did it on his own when he was ready. I'm not gonna lie, that was a proud mommy moment right there. I just can't believe the little boy he is becoming..