If you see Old Man Winter, warn him I'm looking for him!

Typically I love snow. There's nothing more I love than being "Snowed in" with my loves!!!  I love being stuck inside, playing games, watching movies, sipping hot chocolate. It's always so much fun. But I'm over it. I couldn't believe it when I got up this morning and school was cancelled, again. That makes 2 make up days we  have now due to snow. Every time I look outside and I see the white stuff coming down, I want to puke!  Sooooooooooooo sick of winter.  I curse you groundhog. I just want SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Is it too much to ask for a little bit of sunshine and warmth?!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Swaddlebees.......our first attempt at cloth diapering!!!

After finding we were pregnant this time, I became adamant that we were going to try cloth diapers!  So from the very beginning, I set out to find the "best."  I quickly found myself completely overwhelmed with all of the brands and styles and realized I was in WAY over my head!!  So I posted to my Facebook friends and through another friend, found someone who had used cloth and she has been my lifeline!!  *lol*  She hooked me up with some Swaddlebees and with the website http://www.nurturedfamily.com/ in which I found a boatload of resources to help educate me on the best brands and how to care for cloth diapers. 

So I have been patiently awaiting Aiden's umbilical cord to fall off and it finally did so we FINALLY got to use the Swaddlebees and I LOVE them!  They are the All in one diapers........we have them in white, yellow and green. They not only look adorable but I am finding that there isn't much of a difference between them and Pampers. They have yet to leak or anything and they just look so darn comfortable!!  These particular diapers snap on the sides and there are 3 sets of snaps so as baby grows, you just have to snap them different. These have the pocket in them so you can add layers with the microterry soakers. So far we have just used one of the soakers during the day but might try 2 soakers tonight since Aiden sleeps around 4 hour stretches at nighttime. So the swaddlebees AIO have an outer layer of waterproof PUL, 3 sewn in layers of microterry, a layer of microfleece and a full layer of cotton velour!  No wonder these babies don't leak! *lol* And I even noticed when I changed Aiden that he wasn't wet at all. The soakers really do their job!

So I would say so far, I give cloth diapering 2 thumbs up!  We still have 2 more brands to try....Fuzzibunz and Kushies.  When we purchased these, I bought a little bigger sizes so we have to wait a bit longer to try these out but I am looking forward to it :-)

A baby's gotta eat!

When each of my children were born, bottle feeding was never even considered.  I always knew I would breastfeed, no matter what the cost or sacrifice, and I know that my children have benefited greatly from it but holy cow, sometimes it's so exhausting!!  I feel like all I get accomplished some days is feeding Aiden!!!  At nearly 2 weeks old, he has already gained almost 2 lbs. and some days he eats every 1-2 hours. My hubby commented one day that every time he walks into the room, Aiden is attached to me. *lol*  He does really well sleeping at night, sometimes going for 3-5 hour stretches without waking up but during the day, it feels like all he does is eat! 

I am also finding that Aiden has a sensitive belly!  It seems like I cannot eat anything with any amount of flavor without it hurting his belly so I am on a very strict, bland diet for now. No more spaghetti and garlic bread. No more Chinese or Mexican food. No chili. No caffeine. No chocolate. And the list goes on and on! *lol*  I love it when people question me and ask me why I would ever continue nursing if it is so much trouble.........I guess it's just worth it to me. If giving my children the best nutrition possible means giving up some of the foods that I love, then so be it!  I don't mind at all.........although I would give my right arm for some Chinese about now :-)  It really is worth it to me........I don't have to worry about making bottles of stinky formula. I don't get nasty formula spit up on me or on Aidens cute clothes. I know exactly what my baby is eating at all times and I know that it is building up anitibodies for him to be healthier and stronger in the longrun.

So what was your motivation in your choice to breast/bottle feed?! 

                                                                  My happy, little man :-)