I'm a bargain hunter. You know how some people are really big into name brands and brag that they paid $200 for their baby's name brand onsie? Not me. I'd rather shout from the rooftops that I got the onsie for $1.00 at a huge sale.
However, when it comes to diapers, this all goes out the window. I will happily pay $5.00 more per box to get a diaper that doesn't leak or give my baby a diaper rash. The way I see it, even though the diapers cost more, they save me in the long run. I go through the "cheap" diapers faster and they leak. Leaky diapers equal more laundry. More laundry equals more money. If I had used the name brand/quality diapers (personally, I prefer the Pampers Swaddlers for newborns), I wouldn't be changing my screaming 2 week old's pj's at 3:00 a.m. I could just change his diaper and get him back to bed. Also, if he didn't have a rash, I wouldn't have to buy some butt paste, Cha-Ching!
With my first son I tried the generic Walmart brand diapers hoping to save money. Big mistake. The leaking wasn't as bad as the horrible diaper rash, though. Now, this could have all been a coincidence, my son could have just had really sensitive skin, there are all kinds of excuses I came up with so that I could try the Walmart diapers once again with my youngest son. I desperately wanted the Walmart diapers to work. Too bad. If possible, I think the diapers are worse now than 4 years ago. They feel like cardboard, chaffe baby's backside and leak. I've had an equally bad experience with Huggies. Luv's are good at stopping leaks, but they are also rough on baby's new skin. After two babies, I have discovered (at least from my experience), that when it comes to diapers, you really do get what you pay for.
The best diaper I have used is, without a doubt, the Pamper's Swaddlers. Once baby gets a little older (about a diaper size 2 or 3), I change to Luvs. They are just as good at stopping leaks as Pampers and not as expensive. They aren't as soft, but as baby get's older, it's not as much of an issue (they don't feel like cardboard, they just aren't as soft as Pampers). As far as the worst diapers I have used, the prize goes to the Walmart "Parent's Choice" diapers. As I mentioned before, they are as hard as cardboard, leak, have poor fit, and the parts that don't feel like cardboard (i.e. the elastic around the legs), feels like scratchy plastic. I would NOT recommend these diapers, although I wish I could. I hate how expensive diapers are. One last brand that I'm not impressed with is Huggies. I tried and tried and tried Huggies and have had no luck with them either. They leaked just as badly as the Walmart brand.
Again, this has been my experience, I'm sure there are people out there who LOVE Huggies and Parent's Choice. For those people, I'm really happy for you, I wish it could be me. My wallet wishes it could be me, but since it's not, I had better get back to work so I can afford to keep my son in diapers!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thankful Thursday - Photography
"Nicholas must be the most photographed 4 year old ever." I've heard this many times from many people and it makes me smile. Yes, I take a lot of pictures of my beautiful blessing, but probably not for the reasons you may think.
I came from a family of very little means and a camera and film were just not something in the budget prior to the age of two. Because of this, there are all of about 4 or 5 pictures of me prior to turning two. If my grandkids ever want to see what grandma looked like when she learned to walk, had her first solid food, took her first bath, etc., they will just have to use their imaginations because those types of pictures don't exist. I don't want that for my kids. One day, I'd like to show my grandkids what their daddy looked like growing up. I also want my kids to be able to see pictures of events they may not remember without the aid of a picture. Hopefully, the picture will jog a memory for them.
Most importantly, with every picture there is a story. The story is the most important element to me. Sometimes, I have trouble remembering what I ate for dinner last night. There is a good chance that 25-30 years from now, I will forget the funny story that goes with Nic's first bath, or Caleb's first time eating solid foods. The pictures will help me to remember. There is also the reality of the chance that I won't be around or that if I am around, I will have no recollection of these important times due to Alzheimer's or some other illness. That is when the pictures will be even more important. I will need the pictures I have taken to tell the stories that I won't be able to. I see pictures as an opportunity for future generations to learn about their family and get to know them in new and interesting ways. I know I love to look at old pictures of my grandparents and like to know what story goes along with the picture. I want to do that for my children and grandchildren as well. It is so true that a picture is worth a thousand words. I want to make sure my children have millions of words to share about their life growing up, the pictures will help ensure that. This is why for this "Thankful Thursday" I am thankful for photography.
My new favorite photo. We were all snuggling together, just talking and feeding the baby, it was a precious moment and I grabbed my cell phone to take the picture and capture the moment.
My other new favorite pictures capture how much Nic loves his little brother:
Monday, January 4, 2010
Confessions of a Mother on Bed Rest
Bed rest. Separate, these words sound great. The word "bed" conjures up images of warm, cozy comfort. The word "rest" is one that no one could find fault in. It's a way to de-stress and something everyone seems to need more of these days. Used together, however, these words create an oxymoron. At least it does when you are a mother.
Have you ever heard the saying, "There's no rest for the weary?" Well, you'd be hard pressed to find someone more weary than a woman who is a mother, runs a business, a home and is nine months pregnant. With that being said, rest is not possible for this woman, ergo bed rest is contradictory. Bed rest is an oxymoron.
Confession #1 - Anyone who knows me, knows that my son is my life. In my eyes, the sun rises and sets in this little guy and spending time with him is always a joy. Well, almost always. I have been on bed rest for 5 days now. For the last 5 days I have been confined to about a 6' x 6' space. This is not enough space for anyone as enormous as I have become, but even less when you share the space with a very bouncy, active 4 year old and his toys all day, every day. The little guy has been worried about his Mama, so he doesn't like to venture too far from me, which means he and his toys spend most of their days in bed with me. The first day or two, it really wasn't too bad. But after 5 days of children's programs, Leapster games, Connect 4, toy helicopters, cars, jumping up and down right next to me, silly kid songs, coloring and other various 4 year old activities, my brain is fried. I am mentally exhausted. I am use to spending my days in a 4 year old world, but when not on bed rest there are times when he can occupy himself while I get grown up things done. Not now. If I hear one more kid song, I'm going to scream.
Confession #2 - By comparison, bed rest was pretty great the first time around. I was on bed rest for the last 3 weeks of my first pregnancy. I thought that was tough. I didn't have a clue. With my first bed rest experience, I had a little fridge and microwave right beside my bed. I had books, magazines, a TV, pen and paper. I could actually rest. I didn't have to get out of bed at all. After the first week, I was sick of it, but looking back, I should have enjoyed it more. Bed rest when you have a child is TOTALLY different from bed rest when you don't.
Confession #3 - I don't actually stay in bed 24/7. It's not possible. For the most part, I do stay in bed all the time, but I have done a few loads of laundry, helped my hubby take down Christmas decorations, bathed and fed the little guy, along with various other tasks for him. I have also had to sit at my computer downstairs to complete some projects for work that can't be done on my laptop. I do these tasks very quickly and get right back to bed. I may get out of bed for about an hour on a daily basis, but that's it. My hubby is great, but he can not do it all himself. He can not run his business, my business, this house, take care of the little guy, me and the millions of other tasks that pop up everyday. For example, when he is at work during the day, I have to get up and fix lunch for the little guy and I. When the little guy gets his button or zipper caught when trying to use the potty, I have to get up and take care of it, when it's snack time, my 4 year old can not cut up his strawberries for his yogurt himself, when he spills his milk, Mama has to kneel down and clean it up. It is NOT possible for a mother to stay on bed rest. Again, it was so much easier the first time around!
Confession #4 - I feel like a burden. I am not the kind of person who likes to do nothing. I feel best when I'm up doing things for my family, when I'm working, when I'm helping friends or just spending time with friends and family. I can't do any of the things I normally do, so now I have to depend on others to help me do them and I feel so bad for my friends and family. Everyone is so busy these days and I feel like I'm just adding to the heavy weight so many people already carry. I know my friends and family don't feel this way, just as I wouldn't if the shoe were on the other foot. I know they are all happy to help however they can and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love and appreciate them for it. But, I still can't help but have a part of me that feels like a burden.
Confession #5 - I would do it all again, without hesitation. Being a mother is the best thing to ever happen to me. I truly feel God put me on this earth to be a Mom. I love children and raising these two little boys is the most precious gift I could receive and the most important thing I will ever do. It has been a very long and hard road, but I know it is worth it. These nine months are but a moment in time, just the blink of an eye, when compared to the lifetime of love and laughter that will come from my boys. Yes, I would do it all again without a moment's hesitation.
Time to put down the laptop and roll over onto the left side. Wish me luck!
Have you ever heard the saying, "There's no rest for the weary?" Well, you'd be hard pressed to find someone more weary than a woman who is a mother, runs a business, a home and is nine months pregnant. With that being said, rest is not possible for this woman, ergo bed rest is contradictory. Bed rest is an oxymoron.
Confession #1 - Anyone who knows me, knows that my son is my life. In my eyes, the sun rises and sets in this little guy and spending time with him is always a joy. Well, almost always. I have been on bed rest for 5 days now. For the last 5 days I have been confined to about a 6' x 6' space. This is not enough space for anyone as enormous as I have become, but even less when you share the space with a very bouncy, active 4 year old and his toys all day, every day. The little guy has been worried about his Mama, so he doesn't like to venture too far from me, which means he and his toys spend most of their days in bed with me. The first day or two, it really wasn't too bad. But after 5 days of children's programs, Leapster games, Connect 4, toy helicopters, cars, jumping up and down right next to me, silly kid songs, coloring and other various 4 year old activities, my brain is fried. I am mentally exhausted. I am use to spending my days in a 4 year old world, but when not on bed rest there are times when he can occupy himself while I get grown up things done. Not now. If I hear one more kid song, I'm going to scream.
Confession #2 - By comparison, bed rest was pretty great the first time around. I was on bed rest for the last 3 weeks of my first pregnancy. I thought that was tough. I didn't have a clue. With my first bed rest experience, I had a little fridge and microwave right beside my bed. I had books, magazines, a TV, pen and paper. I could actually rest. I didn't have to get out of bed at all. After the first week, I was sick of it, but looking back, I should have enjoyed it more. Bed rest when you have a child is TOTALLY different from bed rest when you don't.
Confession #3 - I don't actually stay in bed 24/7. It's not possible. For the most part, I do stay in bed all the time, but I have done a few loads of laundry, helped my hubby take down Christmas decorations, bathed and fed the little guy, along with various other tasks for him. I have also had to sit at my computer downstairs to complete some projects for work that can't be done on my laptop. I do these tasks very quickly and get right back to bed. I may get out of bed for about an hour on a daily basis, but that's it. My hubby is great, but he can not do it all himself. He can not run his business, my business, this house, take care of the little guy, me and the millions of other tasks that pop up everyday. For example, when he is at work during the day, I have to get up and fix lunch for the little guy and I. When the little guy gets his button or zipper caught when trying to use the potty, I have to get up and take care of it, when it's snack time, my 4 year old can not cut up his strawberries for his yogurt himself, when he spills his milk, Mama has to kneel down and clean it up. It is NOT possible for a mother to stay on bed rest. Again, it was so much easier the first time around!
Confession #4 - I feel like a burden. I am not the kind of person who likes to do nothing. I feel best when I'm up doing things for my family, when I'm working, when I'm helping friends or just spending time with friends and family. I can't do any of the things I normally do, so now I have to depend on others to help me do them and I feel so bad for my friends and family. Everyone is so busy these days and I feel like I'm just adding to the heavy weight so many people already carry. I know my friends and family don't feel this way, just as I wouldn't if the shoe were on the other foot. I know they are all happy to help however they can and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love and appreciate them for it. But, I still can't help but have a part of me that feels like a burden.
Confession #5 - I would do it all again, without hesitation. Being a mother is the best thing to ever happen to me. I truly feel God put me on this earth to be a Mom. I love children and raising these two little boys is the most precious gift I could receive and the most important thing I will ever do. It has been a very long and hard road, but I know it is worth it. These nine months are but a moment in time, just the blink of an eye, when compared to the lifetime of love and laughter that will come from my boys. Yes, I would do it all again without a moment's hesitation.
Time to put down the laptop and roll over onto the left side. Wish me luck!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Blessings & Nic's First Solo
I can't believe I haven't updated since Thanksgiving! I need to get back to it, especially my Thankful Thursday posts. In my defense, I'm more than 35 weeks pregnant and sitting at my desk typing is physically painful for me anymore, but I just had to share this.
First, the back story. My son, my beautiful gift from God filled me with such happiness Christmas Eve, but the best part is that it wasn't just me he touched. He was asked to sing a solo at our church's candlelight service.
The candlelight service itself was gorgeous, full of the true Christmas spirit and a blessing to behold. Then when my little guy got up on that stage and in his sweet 4 year old voice sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus" of course, my heart was full. After the service and then even the Sunday after, dozens (and I mean literally dozens of people, some I didn't even know their name) came to me to tell me how my little guy was their favorite part of the service or how he really touched their heart or how he truly filled them with the Christmas spirit. THAT is what filled my heart to overflowing. To know that my little 4 year old could touch people in that way. That God had given him such a gift to evoke such emotion from people. What a blessing. I told him to go up there and sing for Jesus and he did, with no fear, all by himself.
As a mother, I pray that I lead my children in the right direction, that I teach them to put God first and to use whatever blessings and talents He gives us to glorify and serve God. I think my little guy is on the right path. He shared a blessing God had given him and he did it with a joyful and willing heart, just as Jesus taught us to do. I couldn't be happier.
If you'd like to see his performance, I've attached the video. The sound quality isn't that good, I was just using my handheld camera to record it, but you get the picture.
To make it all even better, my best friend and her family came up for the holidays! They attended the service with us and just having them there was the best gift ever! Then the rest of the holiday was filled with food, laughter, fun and for the first time in my life, even snow! It truly was the best Christmas ever. I got to share this holiday with my wonderful husband Larry, my best friend Angelica and her husband Chris, their son Jacob and my beautiful boy, Nic. Having two little boys to read to on Christmas Eve and then wake up together Christmas morning.....how fun! I am so truly blessed and thankful to God for all of the blessings He has put in my life and how He always takes care of me.
First, the back story. My son, my beautiful gift from God filled me with such happiness Christmas Eve, but the best part is that it wasn't just me he touched. He was asked to sing a solo at our church's candlelight service.
The candlelight service itself was gorgeous, full of the true Christmas spirit and a blessing to behold. Then when my little guy got up on that stage and in his sweet 4 year old voice sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus" of course, my heart was full. After the service and then even the Sunday after, dozens (and I mean literally dozens of people, some I didn't even know their name) came to me to tell me how my little guy was their favorite part of the service or how he really touched their heart or how he truly filled them with the Christmas spirit. THAT is what filled my heart to overflowing. To know that my little 4 year old could touch people in that way. That God had given him such a gift to evoke such emotion from people. What a blessing. I told him to go up there and sing for Jesus and he did, with no fear, all by himself.
As a mother, I pray that I lead my children in the right direction, that I teach them to put God first and to use whatever blessings and talents He gives us to glorify and serve God. I think my little guy is on the right path. He shared a blessing God had given him and he did it with a joyful and willing heart, just as Jesus taught us to do. I couldn't be happier.
If you'd like to see his performance, I've attached the video. The sound quality isn't that good, I was just using my handheld camera to record it, but you get the picture.
To make it all even better, my best friend and her family came up for the holidays! They attended the service with us and just having them there was the best gift ever! Then the rest of the holiday was filled with food, laughter, fun and for the first time in my life, even snow! It truly was the best Christmas ever. I got to share this holiday with my wonderful husband Larry, my best friend Angelica and her husband Chris, their son Jacob and my beautiful boy, Nic. Having two little boys to read to on Christmas Eve and then wake up together Christmas morning.....how fun! I am so truly blessed and thankful to God for all of the blessings He has put in my life and how He always takes care of me.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
There aren't enough words in the English language to adequately give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this Thanksgiving I put together a collage of the biggest blessings in my life. Even all of these pictures and the thousand words that go with each of them, are but a drop in the bucket. Thank you God for my beautiful sons, my wonderful husband, my family, my best friend and "sister from another mister" Angelica and all of the remarkable, supportive friends I have. I have a beautiful church family, a loving and supportive sister, great brothers, parents, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins....I appreciate you all and am thankful for all of you. I love having such a big family! I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks to God for all you have in your life and remember those less fortunate.
God bless!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
4D ultrasounds, my Thankful Thursday post
This Thankful Thursday I am very thankful for 4D ultrasounds. We are getting ours tomorrow of our son and I am so excited that I think I will barely be able to sleep tonight! I got one with Nic as well and to be able to actually see what our baby will look like before he is even born is such a blessing! It doesn't only allow me to get a glimpse of our bundle of joy, it also give a little extra reassurance that everything is okay with the little guy. Especially if you are like me and have extremely difficult pregnancies.
I can't wait to see you tomorrow, little one. In the meantime, here is Nic's 4D ultrasound taken 4 1/2 years ago:
I can't wait to see you tomorrow, little one. In the meantime, here is Nic's 4D ultrasound taken 4 1/2 years ago:
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thankful Thursday
This week we celebrated the United States Marine Corp. birthday and Veterans Day. This really made me focus today on how thankful I am to live in a country where I have so many freedoms. Of course, those freedoms aren't free, they come at a very big price. I am thankful for all of my friends and family who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make. Thank you for helping to provide the freedom that we all enjoy. Thank you God, for blessing me with being an American.
What are you thankful for today?
What are you thankful for today?
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