B is 6 months!

I like to:
~Spit with my tongue
~Kick my legs
~Touch faces
~Roll everywhere

I AM
~Eating 2 meals of veggies/fruit a day
~Trying to crawl and sit up
~Very vocal!

DIY Baby Gates

This week B has been more interested in how to get around. Not only is she trying and determined to crawl she is moving her walker (only inches) around the kitchen.
Baby proofing a house can be very expensive for good quality materials. Luckily I have a pretty handy husband who loves a good challenge. I asked Clint to build me baby gates out of some pallets we had lying around. He was all in.
We went to home depot and invested in some hinges, latches, and stain all for the price of 1 good quality baby gate! They are coming right along and will be done soon. I was so excited I had to share my progress pics right away!

Cloth Diapers

So as many of you know I am using cloth diapers on baby B. Many think it's an old school way of thinking, some don't have the time, and most child care facilities don't allow the use of them. However, being a SAHM and always looking for another way to save a buck I decided to be brave.
I did all the research I could on brands, types and all that jazz.  I chose to go with Alva Baby. They are much cheaper than many brands, but are built and function all the same. I chose to use the pocket diaper vs. the all-in-one, also because of the expense.
They are super easy to clean and take no time to stuff, just gives me another thing to do a few days a week.
I have started off with 24 diapers and only have to wash about every other day to every couple days. Some blogs I looked into recommended starting off with more, but this seems to do us just fine!
Before starting solids her stools were water soluble and could just be thrown in the wash with no rinsing. I do use a cold soak and wash before finishing off with a hot wash and cold rinse. The detergent I use is All with Oxi, and it does a great job eliminating the odor and keeping them super clean.
Now that she is eating solids her stools have changed and are more than just a colorful puddy. So in light of that, I had Clint make a diaper sprayer. The sprayers on the market can cost upward of 50-60 dollars. We made our own for only $30. I love it!
The cloth diapers are a great thing for me and we save a lot of money per month.  I do still use disposables at night due the absorbancy factor so I'm not changing a diaper at 2:00 in the morning. We also use disposables for travel and church.
I highly recommend them for any SAHM!

Baby Food Adventure

I decided while pregnant with Brinley that I would homemake my own baby food. It has been an awesome experience for me. Not only have we already saved a lot of money, but I know its the best for her. Throughout the process I have continually referenced my "Super Baby Food" book, courtesy of my good friend Robin Hartman.
Explained in the book are all the ways to prepare, store and serve your homemade baby food.
Mostly your job is to cut, cook, and store all your food for months at a time. The process takes no time at all and gives you months worth of meals all in about 20 or 30 minutes. My favorite is to steam, puree, and freezer cube all my food. After cooking and puree I place my food in an ice cube tray and freeze, once frozen I pop the cubes out and place into freezer bags to store. So before meal time I grab a cube or 2 out of the freezer and thaw. So easy, and B loves it too!

B is 5 Months!

Sorry were a little late, but it has been busy and wonderful around here!

I love to:
~Giggle
~Taste everything
~Splash in the tub
~Sing songs
~Throw my toys
~Take walks

I am:
~Eating 6 oz. at a time and Loving vegetables
~Sleeping through the night
~Napping three times a day

Baby B's First Christmas

Brinley's First Christmas was a success! We had a great time everywhere we went! Grandma and Papa Bowen's House, Mims and Poppy's House and Gma J and Papa Omer's House! Thanks to everyone who made her first Christmas so special and also for all the great gifts, we love you all!

B is 3 Months! Happy Holidays!

I love to:
~Tell stories
~Put everything in my mouth
~Pick up toys that make noise
~Splash in the tub

I am:
~Eating 5-6 oz. at a time
~Sleeping through the night
~Holding up my own head
~Trying to sit up every chance I get

2 Month Shots

She was much braver than I! Only cried for a moment while it was happening then when she got into my arms she was just fine. I cried pretty much the entire appointment, the anticipation was killing me for at least 2 days before hand. I officially hate shots!

Daddy and Brinley at home before we left, getting extra cuddles!

Getting some love after the shots! So brave!

B is 2 Months!

Oh boy she is growing! She is changing right before our eyes and we are soaking in every little moment.

Here at 2 months I weigh, 11 pounds 12 ounces and am 22 inches tall!

I love to:
~Cuddle, especially with mommy and daddy in their bed in the morning
~Go for car rides
~Look at myself in the mirror
~Hear mommy sing to me, sometimes I try to sing along
~Take a bath!

I am:
~Eating 4-5 oz. at a time
~Sleeping in my own crib, in my own room
~Only waking once at night to eat
~Interacting with everyone I meet!

Can't wait to see how much she will change next month!

All Smiles Today

I got B's first smiles on camera today! I feel like super Mom!

 

The Breast Isn't Always Best

When B was born I had decided to breast feed exclusively. This was a decision I made based on what was best for her and the family as a whole. It was the best nutrition I could give her and it would save us a ton of money! The first day in the hospital went very well, putting aside the pain my breasts themselves were in.  She was getting the colostrum she needed and things were flowing. I thought our baby girl was the definition of health as far as a newborn was concerned, and I hadn’t been told otherwise.
The morning after she was born the pediatrician, Dr. Sindelar, came in to assess her health.  He informed us that she was jaundice, which seems to be fairly common among full term newborns, and also had a heart murmur. He explained to us some of the reasons why and how a newborn would have a murmur, and referred us to Children’s Hospital for an echocardiogram right away. So at noon on Tuesday we were discharged early and made the trip to Children’s Hospital. During the echo, the nurse didn’t say a word to us, and it upset both of us pretty bad. It had already been a long 24 hours as new parents.
When we finally got her home she was sleeping a lot and was pretty yellow in color.  Our first night home was pretty rough and when she was awake she was crying and I couldn’t seem to help anything, not with feeding , swaddling, or anything in-between. We were to see Dr. Sindelar the next day to discuss the results of the echo and check her bilirubin levels as well.
When we went in, they checked her weight. She was only just over 48 hours old and she had lost just less than a pound. Now, with newborns they do tend to lose about 10 percent of their weight, but it’s usually over the first week, not the first couple days. Her bilirubin levels had also increased to the point that we were fairly certain she would need to be under the glow light for a while. We came to the conclusion that I had stopped producing colostrum/milk and she had not eaten for approximately 24 hours.The stress of her heart murmur, being discharged a day early, and being a new mom with no direction stopped my milk production and I had no idea.
That night we went home and fed her some formula and she was the happiest I had seen her since I brought her into this world and it warmed my heart. He recommended I start pumping to help encourage my milk supply to come in.I was pretty discouraged I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed, so I called the lactation consultant that we were supposed to meet with in the hospital before we were discharged. I walked in to her office and she asked me to undress Brinley and I and we would weigh her before and after feeding. I mentioned to her that I wasn’t producing anything and literally at that moment my breasts became engorged and by the grace of God, there was my milk! It was a wonderful feeling to know I was producing and could feed my baby.The next week went great, I was feeling better and so was Brinley.
Unfortunately at the end of the week I got mastitis. I wasn’t able to bring her to the boob and was pumping exclusively. My hormones were altered yet again and I stopped producing once more. With not having my full milk supply in, I needed the action of her on the boob to keep the hormones flowing. So yet again I was introducing formula back into her diet. And yet again the stress of figuring this out was not helping my milk production at all.I had finally broke down and called my lactation consultant. She told me to keep putting her on the boob and then formula feeding after to top her off. I was then pumping for 2 one hour sessions during the day through the weekend. I did and it seemed to stay about the same, I would pump and only get about a half an ounce at a time and was still giving her about a 3 oz. bottle. On Tuesday I decided the stress of it all wasn’t good for her or me. They say “happy momma, happy baby”, and it was true. I have had some guilt about her not getting more than 1 months worth of my milk. That feeling has subsided a little, but I did a lot of it my way, and it wasn’t working. I am determined to breastfeed our second, and I’m sure that knowing what I now know will help me with the process.
Through it all my husband was so supportive. He encouraged me all the way and never gave up even when I wanted to the most. Clint and I have grown so much throughout the past year. Through loss and life, he is my best friend.

B is 1 MONTH!

Our little princess is 1 month old! I just can't believe it!

I weigh 8 pounds 8 ounces

I eat 4 ounces at a time

When Mommy and Daddy talk to me I smile 

I love riding in the car

I love being wrapped in a big blanket

B's first bath!

She loves her baths! Mostly because she loves to be warm, and she hates when she has to get out and be cold!