Soft Christmas Ornament Tutorial.

This is a repost from last year (and the photos were from the year before!), but I think it's worth sharing again. I originally made these soft ornaments in 2011, and they are still holding up well on (and off) our Christmas tree with two little boys now!
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Need a bunch of soft Christmas ornaments for the bottom portion of your Christmas tree? Last year, I discovered that our tree was sorely lacking in the "toddler-friendly" department, so I went on a mission to find some. And, the only ones that I found were much more expensive than any ornaments ought to be (let alone the non-breakable sort!). So, I made my own. Here's a tutorial for some super easy, kid-friendly, and cute Christmas tree ornaments!

Supplies:
felt
thread (in colors to match the felt)
ribbon
scissors
marker
circular object to trace (2" to 3" across)

1) Trace circles onto the felt. You will need approximately 7 circles for each ornament.

2) Cut out the circles.

3) Give scraps of felt to toddler for entertainment purposes.

(Hey vintage Nate!)

4) Fold a felt circle in half.

5) Fold the (already folded) circle in half again, and stitch in place. Place several stitches (one on top of the other) to hold felt in place. Repeat steps 4 and 5 without cutting the thread until you have all six felt circles attached.

6) Stitch the first and last (folded) circles together to form a ball.

7) Place a few more stitches along a length of thread (tied in a circle) to form the hanger. Knot the thread, and trim excess pieces off.

8) Enjoy your new ornaments!

(Nate enjoyed taking "his" ornaments off and on the tree approximately 100 times/day last year!)

Real Food Good-Better-Best Principle.

I found this great chart at WeedEmAndReap, and I wanted to share because it's a super visual for the foods we choose. In this house, we buy a lot of our foods organic (& local when possible), and we try stay away from GMOs and other chemically processed "foods". But, we've still got a lot of progress to make in our clean eating journey! I'm planning to print and laminate this chart for my refrigerator ASAP!

(If you are having trouble reading the chart, open the link below and check it out there!)

Image from here:
http://www.weedemandreap.com/the-good-better-best-principle

I'm still THAT mom....

I recently came across this post from over two years ago. It's a blog entry about how much I thought I knew about parenting before I became a momma, and how much I would have judged future me had I seen myself raising my boy beforehand. Interestingly enough, I was pretty spot on with my "prediction" for our parenting of future theoretical Baby #2. We do treat him a little differently than we did/do our oldest, but not necessarily because we made mistakes or did things wrong the first time around. We do things differently because he's a different person. (On the other hand, because we're the same old parents, we do a whole lot of things the same old way!)
The things that we do differently with Levi are indeed things that some people might consider our "mistakes" with our first child--co-sleeping and pacifier use are the two biggies that come to mind. Nathaniel slept in our bed until he was almost two years old, and he used a pacifier until he was about 18 months. I don't consider either of those decisions to have been mistakes, and I don't regret that we did either one of them with Nate. Nor do I regret that we don't co-sleep or use a pacifier with Levi! The reasons that we did/didn't do those things with our sons are simple; we did what was best for each boy. Nate needed to be close to us, and he used the pacifier to soothe himself. Levi wanted his own space, and he had no interest in a pacifier. We gave both boys the same options, and they both made their own decisions. They're different people, and will make different decisions for rest of their lives; why were we surprised that they started being different as infants?
On the other hand, there are many ways in which my boys are very similar. And, as far as making "mistakes" as a momma--well, I think that mistakes aren't necessarily a bad thing. (How else would we learn?) But, on that same note, your mistakes might not be mine--and vice versa. I rocked Nate the sleep for every single nap until I was too pregnant to hold him comfortably in the glider. Mistake? Some would say so. But, for us, it was not a mistake at all. I have never regretted that I did that, and he had no problems transitioning. I absolutely still rock Levi to sleep for his naps and bedtime now, and it's not a mistake at all. Both of my boys can/could put themselves to sleep alone...but, they'll have years to do that; why shouldn't I enjoy the rocking and snuggles while I still can?
There are lots of other things that I do as a momma that I'm sure lots of people would judge and whisper about. So what? I'm doing the best that I can for our family, and I'm not hearing any complaints from my boys! (Yet!) Being a parent is hard work, and there isn't any textbook answer for raising good children. Every single momma is different, which is a good thing because every single baby is different too! I studied a bit about the Nature Vs. Nurture Effect while I was in college, and always tended to lean a little bit more on the Nurture side of the spectrum. Now that I've had two [very different] babies, I understand the Nature argument a little more. Clearly, there is no real "answer" to the debate, but it's an interesting concept.
As a mother, I love comparing my boys to one another, particularly at similar ages. I don't do it to see who's ahead or behind, but rather just to see how they're different and the same. My precious boys are opposites in so many ways, but I love how they both fit perfectly together into our family. We never knew it before, but these are the exact two little boys that our hearts were missing before they came along! And, even though our parenting might be spotted with "mistakes" here and there, our boys are growing up to be super, awesome little guys!

quick update.

I haven't been keeping up on my blogging recently because we've been busy around here! Nothing bad (we're all healthy!), but lots of things are going on. I'm in my element of planning with lots of events happening within the next few months--Valentine's Day, Easter, a bridal shower, and of course, the boys' birthday party! (Yes, I'm aware that the boys' birthdays are 7 month away; I said that I'm a planner!)
I've taught myself to crochet via youtube videos. Easier said than done....but I'm getting better with practice!
We're also in the process of cleaning up our eating habits. Like, a serious clean-up to rid our kitchen entirely of processed foods. It's not going to be easy, but the more I read, the more determined I am! If you're interested, here is a link to the 100 Days of Real Food Challenge that we're planning to use. Will definitely update more on that.
My other "pet project" recently has been our master bedroom. Since we moved into this house almost 4 years ago, we've redone every room in the house. And, I've loved every single room--except the master bedroom. Ironic, huh? So a few months ago, we bribed asked a few family members to help us paint and rearrange furniture. Since then, we've enjoyed our "kinda sorta redone" room. Within the past few weeks, I've really been working to make our master bedroom a real treat for us with new wall art, pictures, etc.
The last thing that has been taking up our time and efforts is something that we're not quite ready to share yet. I almost didn't post anything here about it, but I'm choosing to do so because we do want your prayers. We are fairly certain that the Lord is leading our family in a new direction, and while we are very excited, it's a big change and an even bigger challenge. Keep us in your prayers as we make this decision. (No, J, I'm not pregnant!)
If you've made it through this post, I will reward you with a photo of Nate dancing....

Homemade Laundry Detergent.

To make your own laundry detergent, you will need:

20 Mule Team Borax (76 oz)...........................$5
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz)..............$4
Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap (1).....................$1
Ivory Soap Bars (10 pack)............................$5
a cheese grater (the finer it grates, the better!)...free (I used an old one that I rarely use in the kitchen)
a large bucket.......................................free (I used an old cat litter bucket)

First of all, you will need to shred the Ivory soap with the grater. Yes, it's a lot of grating--but the soap is very soft, and it's easy. Seriously, it's not bad; I did all 10 bars in about 15 minutes (while shooing toddler fingers out of the bowl).

Next, grate the Fels Naptha bar soap into the Ivory. This is a bit harder--be glad that there's only one bar this time! When you're finished, mix the shredded soaps with the borax and the washing soda in a large bucket. Mix thoroughly. That's it! You've made your very own laundry detergent!

I use about two tablespoons per load in my HE frontloader.

Why make my own laundry soap? Because it's more economical AND allows me to control the ingrediants (no added scents, chemicals, etc). I've used this detergent on several loads of laundry, and it's worked wonderfully. My real test was a full load of dirty cloth diapers and wipes....and it passed with flying colors! There was no odor, residue, or grime left on any of my laundry! If you're interested, you can use white vinegar in place of fabric softener, and it will make your clothes softer (no, there is no vinegar smell). Both are safe for HE washers.
I saved my receipt because I wanted to include my exact cost for making this detergent, but my husband threw it away. The prices above are all approximate (averaged to the next dollar amount). I found all of the ingrediants in my local grocery store's laundry section (except Ivory soap, which was in the hygiene section). My total cost for the homemade detergent was <$15, and it made about double the amount of powdered detergent that I usually buy (for about $15).

Baby Products.

Since I'm getting to the point in this pregnancy that I'm starting to sort Nate's baby things/buy new baby things, I got to thinking about my favorite (and least favorite!) products. This is a list (in no particular order) of my most essential products when Nathaniel was a baby.....we'll see soon enough if Baby #2 follows in his big brother's footsteps (er, crawls?)!

My Favorite Baby Products:

Nosefrida Snotsucker - This product is, hands down, my favorite baby item. It is used to, you guessed it, suck the snot out of a baby's nose! It's easy to use, and way more effective than those little blue bulb suctions that they pass out at the hospital (and those are way better than the store-bought ones!). The Nosefrida is a contraption that actually allows you physically to suck the snot from the baby's nose, meaning that you have lots more control over the suction. There is a filter (and lots of space) between your mouth and those boogers. I can't imagine that many babies really enjoy the snot-removal process, but this is about as painless as it gets. And, I credit this little contraption with teaching my son how to blow his nose himself. Really. I can't express enough how useful this product has been during the last 19 months--especially when Nate has gotten a cold.

Moby Wrap - I loved my Moby Wrap, and I can't wait to use it again! I ordered mine when Nate was probably about a month old, and we used it constantly until he was about 8 months old (he didn't outgrow it, but wanted to stretch out his legs more than the Moby allowed). It was a lifesaver when he wanted to be carried around all day, and I had housework to do. It was also handy for getting out of the house easily with a small baby (to take walks, carry him around the store, etc). If you don't know the benefits of baby-wearing to both parent and child, I can't encourage you enough to read this article! After we stopped using the Moby, I used the Ergo carrier. I liked the Ergo a lot, and I would absolutely recommend it for a larger baby--but nothing beats the Moby for infant carrying!

Lansinoh Lanolin Cream - I stocked up on every nursing "essential" that I could find before Nate was born because I really wasn't sure what to expect. What I found out was simple: the only nursing products I really needed were my breasts and a baby. And, to eliminate embarrassing wet spots while in public, nursing pads (Lansinoh was also my favorite brand of nursing pads because they were the only ones that didn't appear bulky under my clothes.). It was several months before I realized that lanolin cream was a real essential! When Nate started teething, he occasionally bit me when he was finished nursing. It was after the very first tooth popped through that those bites started to HURT. Lansinoh Lanolin Cream was the only product that could provide relief when I was bleeding from that razor-sharp little tooth and needed it to heal up before the next nursing session in only a few hours.

Hyland's Teething Tablets - These teething tablets are an absolute lifesaver for us! When Nate was teething, he was an absolute grump (for good reason!), which, in turn, made me a grump. I gave him Tylenol for the pain/swelling sometimes, but I was uncomfortable using it daily. The teething tablets, on the other hand, I was much more comfortable with because they are a natural, homeopathic remedy. And, truthfully, I think the teething tablets provided faster and longer-lasting relief. If you're interested, you can read my entry here about why I will not use Orajel (or any other product containing Benzocaine).

Snappi Diaper Fasteners - I wasn't sure about this product when I ordered it because I couldn't decide how it worked, but I figured it was worth a shot. I'd been cloth diapering (with prefolds) for a few months, and Nate was getting too wiggly for my old-school diaper pins. The snappi diaper fasteners were a lifesaver! They're easy (and quick!) to use, and eliminated any risk of pin pricks. It's been over a year of daily use, and our snappis are still holding up well. If you're planning to use prefold cloth diapers, Snappis are essential!

Sophie the Giraffe - I bought this toy with much hesitation because it's expensive, and I couldn't justify spending so much money on a simple rubber teething toy. (I only bought it because I had a gift card AND a coupon!) After seeing the way that Nate loved this toy, I would pay full price for another one in a heartbeat (for Baby #2, of course). It was his favorite teether for months, and I never worried about the safety of it. Sophie the Giraffe is made of natural rubber, and colored with food-grade paint. She is very lightweight, squeaks when squeezed, and appeals to babies visually. On top of all that, she is adorable!

Most Overrated Products:

Boppy Pillow - I know that this pillow gets a whole lot of hype for being the most essential baby product, but I never really got much use out of ours. I honestly thought that it was more comfortable to rest Nate on a regular throw pillow when I was nursing/rocking him; the Boppy was just too big and bulky for me.
I will admit that I used the Boppy behind/around Nate when he was learning to sit up fairly often. But, again, as soon as he got some control of his core muscles (when he stopped falling sideways), I just used a regular throw pillow behind him (for falling backwards). Sitting him "in" the Boppy was convenient at first, but as soon as he got more confident in his sitting abilities, he starting wiggling around so that he was out of the Boppy. And, as soon as he'd wiggled out of the Boppy, it was simply a pillow surrounding the hard floor where he would fall back and hit his head. A regular pillow behind him didn't move, and he rarely hit his head that way.

Swaddle Blankets - I received several of these special swaddling blankets (in several different brands) before Nate was born. To me, they looked a bit complicated to use, but I washed them all because I "knew" they were essential. When he was born, I think I used one of them one single time. It was easier for me to simply swaddle him in a regular blanket, especially during the winter months when I wanted to use a fuzzy, warm blanket, rather than the thin cotton swaddlers. I think that the swaddle blankets are good for confining babies who fight their way out of a swaddle, but we never had that problem.

What baby products do you love? What "essential" product did you never use? I'd love to hear your opinions on these (or any other popular) baby products!
All of the above opinions are my own personal opinions/experiences. I was not compensated to write about any of these products.

Ergo Sport Carrier.

As you probably remember, both Nathaniel and I have been long-time fans of the Moby wrap. But, while he still fits within the weight range, a bigger Nate has recently not been happy to be wrapped because it is so confining. And, though it was fine for autumn and early spring walks, I'm pretty sure that the Moby will be way too hot to wear during the summer. We've been walking with the stroller, but I do prefer to baby-wear--especially when I'm the only one walking with Nate and the dog.
So, after some research, I decided to get an Ergo sport carrier. The Ergo is supposed to be one of the most comfortable carriers on the market for both the wearer and the baby. One of the other reasons that the Ergo attracted me was its versatility; it can be worn on the front, back, or hip. Since we've had our Ergo (only Saturday), I've really enjoyed using it! It is more comfortable than the Moby now that Nathaniel is bigger, as it distibutes his weight more evenly. And, I don't think that we will be nearly as hot. He seems happy in it, which is important to me, as I wasn't sure how he would react to facing me in the front-carry. I haven't quite mastered getting him onto my back alone yet, but we'll keep practicing (as long as Eric will spot us!).

Another reason that the Ergo is "better" is because of its ergonomic design. See how his little tush is totally resting in the carrier? That means that his weight is evenly distributed like he's sitting, rather than being concentrated on his crotch (many carriers "hang" babies by their crotch area). Obviously, an even weight distribution is better for his hips and spine--and I'm sure that it's more comfortable too!

Snappis!

I'm not usually one to rant about a product on my blog, but these things are way too amazing to not mention! Like, if I was cool enough to endorse a product, this would be it! Let me introduce to you....SNAPPIS!

As you probably know {if you read regularly}, we use cloth diapers on Nathaniel. I chose cloth because:
1) disposable diapers have weird chemicals in them, and I don't want them on Nate's bottom all the time {we do use disposables when we're out for long periods};
2) cloth diapers are "green" {and we try to be "green-ish" around here};
3) over time, cloth diapers are cheaper;
4) cloth diapers hold more {we have NEVER had a poop-plosion in a cloth diaper};
5) cloth diapers are way cute; disposables are not.
Notice that none of my reasons mention pins. This is where Snappis come into play...these strange little contraptions are used to hold cloth diapers on babies. They are super easy to use, and {so far} work wonderfully! Best of all, no more diaper pins! When we started using cloth diapers, I bought diaper pins because that's what my mom used (yeah, 20+ years ago). I know that there are cloth diapers with velcro (eliminating the need for pins), but the prefolds are more economical {cheaper!} and withstand washing better. The pins worked, and I never gave them much thought. But, if you've ever tried to cloth-diaper a 6-month-old, you know that wielding sharp objects around those pudgy, 45 mph legs is not easy! Nate has been scratched more than once, and I've poked my own fingers many times. {Those suckers hurt!}

I came across Snappis products online a few months ago, but they looked weird and hard to use, so I clicked past them. After a recent diaper pin jab, I hopped back on the internet and hunted them down. I read several reviews, and decided to give them a try. The package arrived in my mailbox yesterday afternoon, and Nate has been wearing a Snappi ever since!

These things are fabulous! Not only are we avoiding the danger of a sharp pin, but the Snappis are way easier/faster to use! Any product that makes a diaper change faster is cool, right? So, although my Snappi experiences have been brief thus far, I'm eagerly anticipating lots more Snappi time in this household!

*5 stars for Snappis!*

Cloth Diapers.

     We have recently switched from using disposable diapers to cloth.  Why?  Well, we have a few reasons:
A) I don't like unknown chemicals on my baby's bottom.  Seriously, what is that stuff that crunches in a dry Pampers, then solidifies pee? 
B) Disposable diapers don't decompose in landfills...or anywhere else for that matter.  Nathaniel is just a baby; he doesn't need to be filling his new world with thousands of pounds of diapers {full of the aforementioned chemicals} before he turns three.
C) Cloth diapers are cheaper.  Disposable diapers are approximately $.17 each; cloth diapers are $1 each.  It is cheaper to by 36 cloth diapers {and 7 covers at $5 each} and stop buying diapers, than it is to buy 36 disposable diapers every four days for three years. 
D) Cloth diapers appear to be more comfortable than disposables.
E) Cloth diaper covers are way cuter than disposables.