Playroom Ideas

I put together a couple of "idea boards" for my two playroom ideas.  These aren't necessarily the exact items I would use, but they give a pretty good feel for what I'm imagining.



Jungle
 

Dr. Suess

I Need Help Y'all

Clint and I have decided to turn our third bedroom into a playroom.  Right now it is an "office," but really it is just a catchall for junk.  Our desktop isn't even working.  The room is basically a waste of space as it is.  It doesn't make sense to turn it into a guest room because someday it will be baby #2's room (no, there is not a baby #2 yet, just thinking ahead!).  It doesn't make sense to purchase furniture that we will just have to take down and store, so playroom it is!  I am desperately trying to reign myself in and not go completely overboard, but I am ridiculously excited about planning this room!  I just need to keep it under control, because again it doesn't make sense to go crazy decorating a room that will be turned into a nursery in a relatively short time. 

I definitely want to paint the room a bright, cheerful color and add some type of fun wall decor so it's not boring.  My ideas are orange walls with a modern jungle animal theme (here's my inspiration) or aqua walls with red accents and a Dr. Suess theme.  Either way, I could probably create any artwork/murals myself so both would be pretty affordable.  Clint has already voted for orange walls, but OMG how adorable would Dr. Suess be?!  Although, I might be much more likely to go overboard if we do Dr. Suess because I already have so many ideas.  So what do you think?  Orange Jungle Animals or Aqua/Red Dr. Suess?  Leave your vote in the comments section.

March for Babies

The March for Babies was today, and guess what?  I didn't even get to walk!  I'd been looking forward to this thing for months, but I let he forecast scare me away.  I had originally intended to take Isabella with me, but it was supposed to rain so I decided I'd leave her home with Clint and walk by myself.  Unfortunately, Isabella has been nursing pretty frequently lately, and I didn't really plan ahead.  I just didn't have enough milk ready to keep her going while I was gone.  Instead I went alone and turned in my donations and stayed for our team photo.  When I got there I realized that everyone else had brought their little ones, and I was really wishing I'd brought Isabella so we could walk.  Of course, the car seat was in my car so I couldn't call Clint to bring her to me.  I'm still bummed about it.  It didn't even rain!  There's always next year I suppose...

So true

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.


by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Blueberries for Breakfast

She's a messy eater :)

Bonus: You can see her teeth!

Making Your Own Baby Food

Truth be told, I'm not really doing this anymore in the sense that I'm no longer making purees.  Isabella is doing so well with finger foods that I've decided to use up the purees in my freezer, but not make anymore.  I'm still making Isabella's food, but now we try to feed her what we're eating when possible.  For those times when we're eating something she can't have (too spicy, too hard, too allergenic, etc.) I am cooking and dicing veggies for her.  I can put a couple days worth in the fridge and measure the rest out into 1/4 cup serving sizes to freeze.  I just take the individual servings and put them in snack size Ziploc bags then put all the bags into either a larger freezer bag or a plastic container labeled with the food name, amount per serving, and date.  I just get them out and thaw as needed.  I've done this with veggies, shredded chicken, and pasta.  It is much easier for me to spend a Sunday preparing a large batch of food and freezing for later than it is for me to cook up a little bit for each feeding.  Fruit is a little trickier.  It it is soft enough I'll just dice up fruit and feed it to her, but some things need to be steamed a little to soften them up.  I haven't tried freezing diced fruit, because I'm worried about browning.  I try to buy frozen fruit when I can that way I can take what I need without worrying that anything will go to waste.  I buy a lot of frozen veggies too, that way if I can't get to it right away it will be fine in the freezer, rather than worrying that fresh produce will rot in the fridge.  I'll probably buy more fresh produce when the Farmer's Market opens.

For those of you interested in making your own purees, I'll tell you what I was doing.  I would buy my fruits and veggies and either steam them or bake them depending on what it was.  I would puree most things in my food processor, but green beans and peas pureed more smoothly in the blender.  I would freeze everything in these trays (For the record, I once tried freezing breast milk in these trays, but wasn't happy with the turn out.  I definitely prefer my Lansinoh bags.).  Once frozen, I would pop out the cubes and place them into a labeled freezer bag.  Each evening I tried to remember to take out food for the next day so it could thaw overnight in the fridge, but sometimes I forgot so I would just thaw it in the microwave.  I liked to freeze everything individually and then thaw together to make combinations, but some people mix before freezing, it's just a matter of personal preference. 

By far, my favorite resource was the Wholesomebabyfood.com.  I looked at several books, but I didn't like any of them as much as this website.  You can actually buy a PDF version of the website's information to print off if you like, but it is over 500 pages, so I decided against it.  I would highly recommend this website to anyone looking for information about feeding babies/toddlers.  It has the answer to pretty much every question you'll ever have on the subject.

Babywearing

Part II of my "crunchy" series :) 

First of all, some of you might be concerned about the recent recall of some slings.  The slings that were recalled were by Infantino.  If you're going to wear your baby you must make sure that baby is positioned properly.  The baby's chin should NOT touch their chest, if it does that means they can't breathe.  Before you try babywearing read this.  Err on the side of caution, if something doesn't feel quite right to you, it probably isn't.  The Babywearer is a nice site to check out for information.  Also, always follow the instructions that come with your particular carrier.  All carriers are not created equal, so some carriers may have different instructions than another carrier, even if they are the same type.

I don't wear Isabella nearly as much as I like.  I simply don't have enough carriers, I mean jeez I only have five!  Many people have one carrier and they love that carrier and use it all the time while others, myself included, prefer to have different carriers for different circumstances.  I currently have the following:  a ring sling, a Moby Wrap, two pouch slings, and a Baby Bjorn.  For those of you unfamiliar with the different types of carriers, let me give you a brief description of each:

Ring sling-  A long strip of fabric with two rings attached at one end.  You feed the loose end through the rings to secure baby.  Baby can be worn in a cradle carry, at your front facing either in or out or on your hip.  A back carry is possible with an older toddler.

I have this one. I have never actually used it haha.  I've tried several times but it never quite felt right.  Maybe I just haven't gotten it adjusted properly because I know plenty of people who love their ring slings.  I'm also not really a fan of the material, it's stiff and thin and just doesn't feel particularly nice.  I also really don't like the color of it (while I love the color green, I just can't get behind this particular shade).  Honestly, I'd probably try a lot harder to make it work if I thought it was pretty 'casue I'm just vain like that. :)

Moby Wrap-  A looooong strip of fabric with a bit of stretch.  You basically just wrap this around your body and tie.  Instructions vary with the type of hold you want.  There are a wide variety of carries, but baby can be worn in all the basic holds:  cradle, front facing in or out, hip, or back.

This thing really intimidates some people.  I can see why since my Moby taller than I am even when folded in half.  Since I had trouble adjusting the ring sling it may surprise some people that I LOVE my Moby wrap.  It is by far my favorite carrier.  It was perfect for the newborn stage.  Isabella was snuggled securely against me and it was comfortable enough for me to wear while she napped.  I still use it occasionally, and would use it more if I could get Isabella  into a back carry by myself, but I haven't had any success with that yet. 

Pouch sling-  One loop of fabric that you fold and put over your head.  Baby can be worn in a cradle carry, upright at your front, or on your hip.  A back carry is possible with a toddler, but not necessarily recommended.

Like I said, I have two and I'll explain why.  The main problem with pouch slings is getting the proper size.  My first one, was a little big.  I ordered it while pregnant, so I had to kind of estimate and it was just loose enough that Isabella didn't feel secure.  She could lean back just a little too far for my comfort.  A few months ago I order a Hotsling.  This one is just a touch small, but it has just a little bit of stretch so it works.  I keep this in the diaper bag to use while we're out.  It is fairly compact and easy enough to get on in a pinch.  We like it for the hip carry.

Baby Bjorn- A structured carrier.  This is probably the type of carrier that comes to mind for most people.  Baby is worn in the front and can either face the parent, or face out.

Why this thing is so popular I'll never know!  It is not at all comfortable for the parent.  Your back and shoulder will ache after about 10 minutes of wearing this.  It can't be very comfy for baby either, given the way their legs dangle.  Run, don't walk, from this carrier. 

So that's a run down of my current carriers.  Right now, I'm really wanting a mei tai, which is an Asian-style carrier.  Baby is worn in the front, facing either in or out, or on your back.  I really want this for the back carry, as it seems it would be easier to get Isabella into a back carry by myself.  I'm eyeing the BabyHawk.

I'm also interest in the Ergo, a soft-structured carrier.  Baby is worn on your front facing in, or on your back.  It's a little pricier than the BabyHawk though, and Isabella likes to face out when I wear her in front.  Maybe for baby #2.

I am certainly no expert, just sharing what I know.  I encourage you to do your own research if you're interested in babywearing.  I may have some incorrect information, particularly for the carriers I don't use. 

Anyone have any babywearing experiences they'd like to share?

Crunchy? Who me?

Apparently, I am becoming the crunchy mama in my circle.  Who would have thought?  Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions about some of my crunchier ways (cloth diapers, babywearing, and baby food making to be specific).  I am certainly no expert in any of these categories, but since I've received so many questions on the subjects  I thought I'd put together some of my favorite resources for those who are interested. Since I don't want to overwhelm anyone I'll stretch these out over a few days.  Today's topic: cloth diapering.

Let me just take a moment to get on my soapbox and say that disposable diapers take approximately 500 years to break down and they are the third most common item in US landfills. Ok, now that we've gotten that out of the way, here are some of my favorite cloth diapering resources:

PinStripes & PolkaDots has a wealth of information.  I especially like their charts for laundry detergents and rash creams.

(By the way, we currently use liquid Planet detergent on Isabella's diapers, but I'm having trouble getting it to rinse clean from our diapers, so I don't know that I'd recommend it.  We also have hard water and a front-loader so those could both be contributing to our issues.  I think I'm going to order some samples of Rockin' Green detergent in both the Classic Rock and Hard Rock versions and see how they work for us.)

Diaper Pin- Another nice source for information on cloth diapering.  The reviews are really helpful.

So far I have purchased from Abby's Lane, Kelly's Closet, and Cotton Babies and have had wonderful experiences with all three.Abby's Lane and Cottton Babies   Abby's Lane and Kelly's Closet both offer rewards both offer free shipping on all orders and Kelly's Closet has free shipping with orders of $49 or more.  I am a total cheapskate when it comes to paying for shipping and will do pretty much anything to avoid it.  Abby's Lane and Kelly's Closet both offer rewards points for every dollar spent that you can later redeem for store credit.

I hope you all find this information to be useful, and if nothing else I hope it helps some people to see that cloth diapering has come a long way and is no longer restricted to Gerber prefolds, pins, and plastic pants.  It's also really not that much work, just an extra load of laundry here and there.  For those of you concerned about the smell, don't be.  We use a regular 13-gallon plaatic trash can with a lid and a pail liner and I wash diapers every other day.  We have no smell issue, and in fact I think it was worse with disposables.  If you're wondering what to do about the poop, we just dump it in the toilet and flush.

Next time: Babywearing!

Mommy and Isabella are teething together!

Well, kind of. While Isabella is working on cutting her second tooth I realized today that my top left wisdom tooth has started to come in. Fortunately, it hasn't bothered me at all. I wouldn't even know it was there if I hadn't felt it with my tongue. My first wisdom tooth (top right) started to come in right after our wedding and still hasn't completely descended, but it hasn't b0thered me either. Let's hope it stays that way. Isabella doesn't need a mommy hopped up on pain meds!

Dear Hubby,

Remember back when our daughter was just a squishy little newborn, and I asked when you would get around to installing those baby-proof cabinet and drawer locks? You said you'd do it once she started crawling. I said it then and I'll say it again, "that is too late!" Oh, and I also remember when you laughed at me for installing the outlet plugs when she started rolling over. Guess what? I know Isabella isn't doing a full crawl yet, but she might as well be! The child is everywhere and getting into everything! When will you be baby-proofing the cabinets again?

Love,
Your exhausted wife

In all seriousness though, she is everywhere and getting into everything and the outlet plugs are the only baby proofing we've done. We're going to Indy Saturday so we can visit the baby stores and stock up on baby-proofing supplies. Little does Clint know, he will be spending the rest of the weekend installing everything!

Nap aftermath

Yesterday I went to get Isabella up from her afternoon nap and found this:


Her hand, perfectly imprinted on the side of her face.


Must have been some nap.

Isabella's First Easter

Of course she had an Easter dress




You try getting a nearly 8-month old to look at the camera, it isn't easy




Her matching hat, ruffle socks, and a shrug to keep her warm




The Easter Bunny brought her a basket of goodies




She went for Mickey right away




And proceeded to roll around on the floor with him for a good 10 minutes




She didn't mind the bunny ears at all




Hmmm, let's push this basket over




Puffs = baby candy

8 Months

Isabella is 8 months old today! It's hard to believe how fast time has flown, but our little girl is closer to toddlerhood than the newborn stage. I actually find myself saying, "When Isabella was a baby..." simply because she has grown and changed so much. She is such an amazing little person. It is fascinating to watch her personality evolve and to see her developing her own preferences. She is such a joy and I feel like I have the best job in the world because I get to be her mommy.

This month has been a pretty exciting one for Isabella, here is an idea of what she has been up to this month (in no particular order):

-First St. Patrick's Day
-First time playing in grass
-First playdate at the park
-First time eating table food (grilled cheese, peas, beans, mashed potatoes, toast, scrambled egg yolks, pancakes, graham crackers, peaches, and cheese so far)
-First time eating meat (chicken)
-Learned to drink water from a sippy cup
-Down to one night-nursing (usually around 5am)
-Puts herself to sleep (knock on wood)
-Army crawling, and soooo close to a regular crawl
-Definitely recognizes the sign for milk; we also started attending a baby sign language group
-Will pull herself up on mommy (She tries on the couch, but can't seem to get a good grip there)
- Has developed a preference for certain toys; she really likes small toys that the can hold in her hand while she rolls everywhere
-Still eats purees, but definitely prefers finger foods
-Had developed a little bit of separation anxiety with mommy and sometimes freaks out if I leave her sight

and...

-Cut her first tooth!!! It's her bottom left and it seems that the bottom right isn't too far behind. I haven't gotten a picture yet because she rarely lets me get a look at it, but I can feel it, especially this morning when she bit down on my finger while I was trying to feel her gums. Ouch!

And, of course the photos you've all been waiting for. Warning: This might be a lot since I usually only post them once a month.



Playing with her Learning Home




Touching grass for the first time




I think she likes it outside




So big!




Daddy does my hair




First time playing in the backyard




That tongue is always sticking out




Happy girl




So excited about St Patrick's Day




Gotta love the shades




Pestering Audrey




Working on this crawling thing




She loves her puppy




Relaxing