tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40530706342135657532024-03-18T21:21:54.126-07:00Any Mom Every MomAny Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-41153630467832877172013-03-11T15:46:00.001-07:002013-03-11T15:46:22.126-07:00A fail kind of day. Biggest is having trouble focusing in school, she is also having trouble turning in assignments. Sometimes because she lies about having homework, and sometimes because she is so disorganized that she simply can't find her finished homework. I blame myself, we live an unscheduled random life with little organization. This is not the first meeting we have had. This time they mention "I don't know if she has ADD or ADHD or whatever, but ..." and then trails off. I wonder, once again, if we moved her ahead too fast. They reassure me that she can handle the material, "she is smart enough...maybe developmentally she isn't ready."... "She won't make it next year if things continue like this." Yes, I say, and then I think of how after the other meetings I was really good about getting her to sit down and do her homework everyday for about two weeks, sort of like I make a new cleaning schedule for the house and succeed for 2 weeks."Change in diet, maybe."..."She doodles a lot, maybe a coping mechanism, I don't know what she's coping with..." In my head I wonder, is it the financial situation, do I yell too much, I've been very absent since I started college. Talking to sister later and she says Biggest seems to be in charge of baby an awful lot. My going to school might be bad for my kids, but not going to school is bad for them too.
I'm changing our diet, at least that is what I am starting with. It's gotten really bad since I started school. I'm cutting out HFCS, artificial dyes and preservatives. I am not replacing the food currently in our house but integrating new food and working through our stockpiles. Day #1 went well, although I almost ripped open a box of girl scout cookies 4 times. Day #2 was sort of a failure. Oldest wanted to make muffins. I said I would help, ended up hanging laundry and then getting stuck on the phone with the phone company. She forged on without me and I wasn't able to explain how I substitute butter or applesauce for the shortening. I haven't even had shortening in the house for years, I bought it for their combined party, I messed up the last icing and tried to stick with my mom's recipe. It still didn't work. Anyway, Oldest used 3 cups of shortening instead of 3 tablespoons. It was a stinky, bubbling mess in the oven. I hated to waste expensive blueberries so I turned the rest of the batter into frosting by adding powdered sugar. After running a self clean cycle on the oven I put in a duncan hines strawberry cake, which is loaded with every nasty thing I am cutting from our diets.
It's been a fail sort of day, I'm exhausted from the past 5 nights being interrupted by one girl or another. Sickness, vomiting, sore toes, teething. I need sleep and I want time without kids. I want to magically be an organized person who can help teach my daughters to be the best them they can be. Instead I'm a frazzled, tired housewife who spends too much time on school work and mundane chores to give them the time they need. It's spring break, maybe I'll catch up this week. Oh and my dog is covered in something that smells amazingly nasty and I on Saturday I got bit by one of three dogs prowling the neighborhood. Thankfully the kids weren't with me. Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-84708535149642883892012-12-28T13:23:00.001-08:002012-12-28T13:23:40.349-08:00Today is December 28thToday is December 28th. Christmas is over, it went well. Reality is back in motion and our kids were blessed to get a lot of spectacular presents thanks almost entirely to people giving us money or actual presents straight from their Santa lists. Thank you to those people. Middlest will be 7 in a few days and we were scrabbling to figure out how to pull off her party. An actual birthday and a party should have food the child chooses and seeing as how most of our food is coming from food pantries I wasn't really sure how that was going to happen. Luckily a friend is trading some of Hubs plumbing services for grocery money. Yay!! Another friend has chairs and tables to lend so we don't have to rent a shelter at the park, a prospect that seemed very well impossible. Shortly after Middlest's birthday I start college, this is huge, this means that I will actively be doing something to ensure we are not broke losers forever even if it will take some time before we benefit from this move. That same day Littlest (who hold on, needs her butt wiped right now)starts at the college's child development center. She has, for quite some time, been excited about starting "school".
Today is December 28th and I saw my husband cry, oh not a full blown cry but he started to and you could see him trying so hard not to. This is a man who has literally not cried since he was a child. Things are that rough and I am trying to hide it from the kids since Biggest worries too much about such stuff. Hubs will start college in the summer, he already has an AA but now he's going to get a degree that will actually help him get a job. We are poor but we are not dumb and we are not losers. We are going to go back on food stamps but we are not lazy. We are blessed, by wonderful friends, by a Government willing to help those out who need it and to have intelligent, healthy daughters and each other.
Today is December 28th and I am thankful.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-67437401468332355572012-07-17T07:17:00.000-07:002012-07-17T07:17:22.077-07:00StuffI feel like we are being overtaken by stuff, it's pouring out of the rooms and across the floors, it is dripping from the shelves and congesting the whole house. In a matter of minutes a clean floor can be covered. When I sweep there are toys, papers, bottles, magazines, books, shoes, tissues and lots and lots of sand. The girls room can not safely be walked through, peril comes to people or their stuff. No one in the house has any true respect for most of the objects in it. The insanity must stop, I have attempted on multiple occasions to pare down, I have gone on rampages of de-cluttering bringing 2-3 garbage bags out of the house at a time, yet we still seem to be overtaken by everything. It's hard for me sometimes to get rid of some of the kids toys, hard to let go of that cute shirt that my first daughter wore but the others won't wear. I need to disconnect emotion from objects, I need to accept that the kids MAKE their own toys when they want something, that the best toys are sticks, ropes, dirt and their own imagination. What is a reasonable amount of items? How can we fit 6 of us in a 2 bedroom house more comfortably? I want something all of us can keep under control. I hope this doesn't turn into most of my quests, a strong start with a resounding fizzle as it gets past over in the next great project.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-71538089817844380892012-07-09T12:34:00.002-07:002012-07-09T12:46:32.425-07:00Fun with Contact PaperA friend of mine posted about an activity she learned through parents as teachers, so when my girls were whining about wanting to watch TV I decided to give it a try. It only requires a few things, contact paper (I always have a roll on hand because I LOVE that stuff, I buy mine at Home Depot.) Bits of paper, yarn, beads, etc. You then tape the contact paper to the window sticky side out and let them stick bits of paper and yarn or whatever you have on hand.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OApTiFh29YuBXSqZZlfNJarchkiz5eoyGW1hWfmwTMV8n8BBZ6X0TBBZKEgBldzmkKTLg_R6vQy4nUUAblOtLA5oT7iTbBySXcaGWQMll5m9HymvSS6iHpX4uuK8L5MR6SbDAfPtYHs/s1600/P1020586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OApTiFh29YuBXSqZZlfNJarchkiz5eoyGW1hWfmwTMV8n8BBZ6X0TBBZKEgBldzmkKTLg_R6vQy4nUUAblOtLA5oT7iTbBySXcaGWQMll5m9HymvSS6iHpX4uuK8L5MR6SbDAfPtYHs/s320/P1020586.JPG" /></a></div>
They have been at this activity for over an hour now.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuajupNqcv4kOMDrkplwitgFyyioDQOhZ7TOa5Fs89WQCdPHhxYZ4tWTGEnPq_Ra65CT53I5V6ZD3vYw1UB8ANdZx7eBSzesBFFhGwYRRwwqaGtumUh40LW6_3SNtJ2T_2xGonF9Kym1M/s1600/P1020596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuajupNqcv4kOMDrkplwitgFyyioDQOhZ7TOa5Fs89WQCdPHhxYZ4tWTGEnPq_Ra65CT53I5V6ZD3vYw1UB8ANdZx7eBSzesBFFhGwYRRwwqaGtumUh40LW6_3SNtJ2T_2xGonF9Kym1M/s320/P1020596.JPG" /></a></div>
Once they are finished you just pull it off and stick the sticky side where ever you want to hang it. We now have some decorating the walls near all the girl's beds, one on the fish tank and I have now started cutting them to the size of the windows flanking the front door.Previously I have tried a variety of different solutions for these windows although none of them involved real curtains. We have used sheets, extra fabric, a pirate flag and a $30 roll of this sticker stained glass stuff from home depot. My kids had most of that peeled off within a week. Now I have started to place these creations by my children in the window. The whole roll of contact paper was about $14.00 I believe. I use it all the time and have been using the same roll for months. I have used the contact paper to seal up a poster Littlest got from a Yo Gabba Gabba concert her Aunt took her to...smartly so, since it has ended up under the bed and in her bed countless times and without the contact paper covering would be in shreds by now, I use it to make charts for the girls into checklist that you can use dry erase markers on and covering calenders for us to record upcoming events. This project is cheap and I think it will look way better than any other window solution we have used to date. I am also hoping that because it's their artwork they won't peel it off the windows.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6cf2m7upXw_9WBM03YpQSiMbXrivqZg-gPdukERdiM4sCS0zUDsuN_UGHKUzEKCtpm69aKiXV5beOu27fT5Wq6CDDsGh2qP67uL9GOYBJ67jlVAZ8Cet7B_VTDPa42oppPTQc-BtHaE/s1600/P1020599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6cf2m7upXw_9WBM03YpQSiMbXrivqZg-gPdukERdiM4sCS0zUDsuN_UGHKUzEKCtpm69aKiXV5beOu27fT5Wq6CDDsGh2qP67uL9GOYBJ67jlVAZ8Cet7B_VTDPa42oppPTQc-BtHaE/s320/P1020599.JPG" /></a></div>
I also appreciate that this is going to make my living room more private and I can therefore worry less that random strangers or mailmen will see the girls and I wandering around half naked.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZTjT8X3ggmIfExi02riU85gESBpNV94Uith0Oaq6YDvcYXuN2aoqdR4GZ137Ckz5SmFIXhwAhSwdgtrmg2bOaAtu1NH9z0qC1R4qgUg6W7e3VXykVQ8Jk6-jyqGyiV5tEwtpg8JffM/s1600/P1020600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZTjT8X3ggmIfExi02riU85gESBpNV94Uith0Oaq6YDvcYXuN2aoqdR4GZ137Ckz5SmFIXhwAhSwdgtrmg2bOaAtu1NH9z0qC1R4qgUg6W7e3VXykVQ8Jk6-jyqGyiV5tEwtpg8JffM/s320/P1020600.JPG" /></a></div>Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-84320639778270519562012-05-18T07:53:00.003-07:002012-05-18T08:26:07.591-07:00a letter to my momThe truth is I'm a bitch and I'm sorry, I don't actually want to hurt your feelings and I know it must be so hard to be in the position you are in, but it's just stressful when you call me for everything and I can't really help you. I have no car, I have no money and I have 4 kids I NEED to take care of and the burden of caring for you pisses me off because most of the time you won't help yourself. There is so much pent up feelings from when you weren't there for me or you blamed me for what went wrong in your life; as if a teenage me dealing with past sexual abuse and feeling tormented in my mind could not cut herself as if getting baker acted for it was somehow my fault and all a plot to make your life miserable. So the car was taken and it was my fault but I know they wouldn't take the car for one late payment there has to be more to that story. and that you would scream at me ad blame me years later after I got my act together or bitterly spit out how I used to be a "drug addict" when I was that fucked up teenager. It's not the same as a 50 year old alcoholic that can't remember even how the hell she got home from the bar or who doesn't actively do anything to change her life. You have had months and months to figure out your living situation , to change it. We offered our (tiny) house (that doesn't even adequately hold our family) as a place to crash so you could save up a down payment for a place you could afford, and I know it would suck to lose your autonomy but it would be a step towards getting it back with the ability to pay for it and you stubbornly refuse. This is my house and I won't give up everything! but it's not forever, Mom! It's so you don't lose everything, it's so you can save some of what you have and move on to other things, so you don't end up on the street or scrambling with no money and no home. It's for me too, so I don't have to be the one trying to figure out what to do with you and your stuff on a moments notice, it's so I don't have to live for over a year wondering what the hell is going to happen to you next month, what's going to happen if you can't pay your rent. I don't want to drive you to the store, I don't want to swing by the library, I don't want to have to take care of you, I want you to take care of you. I want the mom you were to come back, the one who was amazing when I was little, who cooked, and sewed, who was in the PTA and my girl scout leader, the one who was sure of herself and involved. I hate that you stopped parenting when I became a teen because I needed you. I hate that when I stayed at your house and I was sick and coughing you came out and told me to stop coughing, as if I could, because I was disturbing your wife. I hate that when I just wanted to hug you that one day, you pushed me away and went across the street. I hate that you smoked pot with me and I hated even more when you got drunk with my friends and you were so embarrassing and sloshy and slurry.I hate that you basically abandoned my twin for your girlfriend, that you told her at 17 that she had to go find her own place. I hate that I am scared that I will give up on my kids, that I might decide I don't want to parent anymore. I know I wasn't an easy teenager, I know you helped me and that in all rights I should help you when you are going through a rough time but I am angry that it's happening already because you made shitty choices. I hate that I can't forgive you and I hate that you had such a rough life and I hate that I am such an ungrateful daughter and I hate how I am so like you in some ways yet love some of the other ways I am like you, I hate how I seemed to get the worst things of both parents. I hate that you don't have a special person like I have Hubs. Please, if you can just try to help yourself a little more and not wait until the last damn minute, if you can call Hubs when you want something from him instead of calling me to get him to do something for you, if you could pull yourself together and be the mom of my youth, the crafty, involved would stand up and fight for her kids mom. If you could just understand you are worth fighting for like you used to fight for your kids.
and please, understand that I am trying. That when I do those little stupid things for you,when I ask about farmville or make a little joke, when I reach out I am trying. Trying to understand, trying to forgive. trying to rebuild our relationship and I am sorry for making you cry.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-50965786759496760052012-04-29T15:13:00.000-07:002012-04-29T15:18:55.884-07:00Baby Arrivesone handed typing while I nurse my new babe.
The older girls will stay Biggest, Middlest and Littlest and new babe will be Baby.
Baby was born March 30th at 12:33am, my smallest baby at 7 lbs 12 oz and my shortest at 20 3/4 inches, the other 3 were all 21 inches.
Despite my really thinking she was a he, she is indeed a she. I am in possession of the most fabulous sentence and sometimes I just like to say it aloud to hear it "I have four daughters." It is this pleasant warm feeling that gives me goose bumps and makes my heart swell. When I told Hubs about it he said he had been saying it too.
She was born at home and I had her in the water this time, which is new and different for me and totally awesome by the way. It was a perfect birth which is not to say it was pain free, there is something about a baby moving down into your hips and the way they open up that honestly doesn't feel awesome. I go into the birth thinking that I want to just accept this feeling in a positive way but while I know it is bringing me my baby it hurts and I can't deny that. So I move and I moan and I rock and I hang from Hubs and I imagine what the baby looks like as she descends and these things make it easier. I also laugh and I joke and I enjoy the company that surrounds me. I had a crew at the birth and while I didn't want to spend the whole time interacting with them I needed them there in the background, making noise, having a good time, filling the house with positive happy energy. My sister, husband and kids of course. Then my friends who also happened to be the midwife, birth assistant and photographer and a doula who I later felt bad for having her there since I didn't need her at all with the amazing support team I already had. The evening was a light hearted evening that ran in the way time does at birth's. It's not linear but all blurs together and it's the moments that stand out. Looking back it's magical the way birth's are if you are the one in labor or the one there supporting the mom. In the moment it was hard work, important life changing stuff that made my little family not so little.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYlHtAAxXG3s5e9KiJ-iAjJAK14M7wQpWSJGhAV53W1M3EnOJB0m_B9g7RKTlLbWREJiSdmSFy3LIJyMk1Yc66Ihr-9i1M7DGXB35-QMugjMUY67HUBc4Ks7OPnveit2qXLra47kMOHc/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="256" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYlHtAAxXG3s5e9KiJ-iAjJAK14M7wQpWSJGhAV53W1M3EnOJB0m_B9g7RKTlLbWREJiSdmSFy3LIJyMk1Yc66Ihr-9i1M7DGXB35-QMugjMUY67HUBc4Ks7OPnveit2qXLra47kMOHc/s320/blog+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6alsl1bSt3-iqjKXQfsHeqVlHTwvfWj-LtKCBpaoOxuPMcXrFKqrTMkNv4IJCkyZwoKh2wLz9aO_AOyYksoUbFFnC3l9TgCWjl-GHPIzikJfPG40k-njOXZNHatdBiUF0SJibhlCF5o/s1600/blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6alsl1bSt3-iqjKXQfsHeqVlHTwvfWj-LtKCBpaoOxuPMcXrFKqrTMkNv4IJCkyZwoKh2wLz9aO_AOyYksoUbFFnC3l9TgCWjl-GHPIzikJfPG40k-njOXZNHatdBiUF0SJibhlCF5o/s320/blog+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4_F7yfAg5t6QwaQ3wYhh1OerxNLkFTffqEIWMo-BRTpaK4FHZKPLqwkMZVNT4SShrl7beFKyqOFFQytRqCuEDwIlWyjZS2FFYc780n4metVrc2_LL18R3Ae3flx9NMygC379OV0gTJU/s1600/blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4_F7yfAg5t6QwaQ3wYhh1OerxNLkFTffqEIWMo-BRTpaK4FHZKPLqwkMZVNT4SShrl7beFKyqOFFQytRqCuEDwIlWyjZS2FFYc780n4metVrc2_LL18R3Ae3flx9NMygC379OV0gTJU/s320/blog+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoQKfhbv_iBfox-rm6-N_s5pero8rvVUtHJjCenarHhNe1ZE58LB8AEre-jDZVobaTVJlOHQRXJtYTTPtISdEp0Ma3akazDq_zdHdKY8L2L58i2Hb6mOzB554HeZ8dIZOsAIFdYGovCk/s1600/blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoQKfhbv_iBfox-rm6-N_s5pero8rvVUtHJjCenarHhNe1ZE58LB8AEre-jDZVobaTVJlOHQRXJtYTTPtISdEp0Ma3akazDq_zdHdKY8L2L58i2Hb6mOzB554HeZ8dIZOsAIFdYGovCk/s320/blog+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWMVyOgCspE8LUY65IFDa0JcCeXInVMyw8GdTz1KX54sZNHDFdXGJoYSKgbMHN6b2gSPt-_JakT-f0B24Zx-9c0SYQ18IzBsMYeLWkjYw3XFTSEeJyMlvp6L60zdeLQkEBpUos4rjK-I/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWMVyOgCspE8LUY65IFDa0JcCeXInVMyw8GdTz1KX54sZNHDFdXGJoYSKgbMHN6b2gSPt-_JakT-f0B24Zx-9c0SYQ18IzBsMYeLWkjYw3XFTSEeJyMlvp6L60zdeLQkEBpUos4rjK-I/s320/blog+4.jpg" /></a></div>Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-85729643904361110932012-03-18T04:25:00.004-07:002012-04-29T16:09:50.176-07:00worryMoms worry, a lot. I am no exception. Every pregnancy seems to have me worry more that something might happen and the law of odds seems to make it more likely. How many times can one get so lucky as to easily become pregnant, carry a healthy child through a normal pregnancy and deliver a beautiful, intelligent child? I have been down right scared these past couple weeks because I can not imagine the baby after she is born, there is a disconnect between her and my picture of her as a baby in my arms and in my life. I think of the stories I have read where the moms JUST KNEW something was wrong, just had a sense that they were not going to get to know their babies and I am terrified, I clutch my belly and I beg her to please be okay, I tell her how badly I want her, how badly I want my fourth little girl, my own little women. Then I go back to being terrified that something will happen when she is born and I will not have her. This has never happened before, I have always been able to imagine my girls and this is what makes it so much more real and scary.<br /><br />This morning I woke up at 6am, I lay in bed and I felt her move, and I rubbed my belly where she was moving and I thought about all this and how much I wanted her. Then I did something. I imagined her as a he and their he was, I could imagine HIM as a baby, I could picture his birth and him in my arms and as a small child. Why would I even try this? Because the first time I heard the heartbeat "he" flooded my veins with every beat of the heart, the thought "he" is what popped in my head when I talked to him, touched him thought of him before we were told "80% chance" at the sonogram, before we cut the gender reveal cake and it was pink. Then when I tried to say "she" it just felt wrong so I kept saying "the baby" and I could tell I was offending people by not accepting this little girl. They pushed "she" and I knew if I persisted everyone would think I was the mom with all the girls who truly wanted a boy. BUT the thing is before they told us what the baby was I honestly could not decide WHAT I wanted more a boy or a girl, I truly had no preference. A lot of parents will tell you that and honestly it is rarely true, this time it was...until the cake was pink, in that moment I was SO FUCKING HAPPY to be having another girl, to be getting my little women. I jumped up and down and screamed and smiled and even cried a little to be getting my fourth girl, how damn lucky could one mom get?? But then, girl just didn't seem right, but I made my plans anyway, saying "she", naming her, falling in love with this girl, so devoted to my fourth little girl mostly forgetting the "he, he, he" beating in my veins with his heartbeat, forgetting the dreams where he came out a boy, forgetting how sure I was, how I just knew, I just knew he was a boy. I was wrapped up in my daughter but as birth approaches and I can not imagine her I have grown scared, afraid I will lose my child at birth and this morning I wonder if I have found out why, because what if I will lose her when she is born? What if she is a he, this morning I imagined my son and he was real in a way she has not been. She has only ever been real since the cake was pink, she's only real in my womb. What if I can't imagine her because she doesn't exist and a son exists. I have about 2 weeks to know the ending of this. I want a baby, any baby as long as it lives and breathes and grows into an adult. No doubt if she comes out a girl I will feel guilt for thinking so adamantly that she was a boy, and if she comes out a boy I will be so happy to have a boy, yet I will also have to mourn the loss of the daughter I think I know. I guess we shall see.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-46193584780890707882012-01-25T13:41:00.000-08:002012-01-25T13:47:37.545-08:00Cloth Diapers-the lowdown<a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408996_10150619109217518_671497517_10995929_1137981602_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 960px; height: 720px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408996_10150619109217518_671497517_10995929_1137981602_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My start up newborn stash<br /><br /><br />Lingo<br /><br /> <br /><br />One-size- These diapers have an array of snaps that make it possible for different sized children to use them. You will hear the phrase "from birth to potty training" This is very neat with the caveat that most one-size don't really fit newborns and some people report that one size doesn't always fit as well as a true-size diaper.<br /><br /> <br /><br />True-Size- This is a diaper that is sold for a certain weight range like newborn, small, medium. Every diaper company has different weights that fall under those categories so you need to read about the individual diaper or cover. Some brands of both one-size and true-size fit certain shaped babies better. Some fit chubby babies better while other brands fit skinny babies better.<br /><br /> <br /><br />AIO- All in one, this is like a disposable diaper in how it's put on the baby and that it is all one piece. They are pretty expensive and they take FOREVER to dry. some AIO's have answered the drying problem by having an insert of sorts that is stitched on one side and is sort of like a flap.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Pocket- This diaper goes on in one piece like a disposable but it has inserts that slide into the pocket of the diaper from an opening in the back. An added bonus of pockets is the material that is against babies skin wicks moisture away, meaning the fabric against babies skin stays dry! This is in my opinion the ultimate of ease and functionality. The system is still on the pricier side of things.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Fitteds- These look like disposable diapers in the way they are put on. They are diaper shaped, have elastic at the legs and some way to hook the diaper like snaps or aplix (this is similar to velcro). Fitteds do require a cover over them.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Contours- this is shaped like a diaper without elastic at the legs and no closure device. you need to use pins, a snappi or you can just secure a cover over top. Like the fitteds this is not waterproof and needs a cover over top.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Prefolds- These are rectangles of diaper that have multiple layers. they will be written as 4-6-4 or 4-8-4 or something along those lines. This is the number of layers in each part of the diaper. the 2 sides have fewer layers then the center. Prefolds can be secured the same way as contours (pins, snappis, a cover over top), they also need a waterproof cover over top.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Flats-these are large squares of single layer fabric. there are many different folds you can choose from when diapering a baby. These are also the very cheapest way to diaper.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Sherpas- these are a rectangle of all the same thickness of fabric that is supposed to be very nice to the touch. some are 100% cotton some have some polyester in them. They go on sort of like a prefold, in that they don't need all the extra folding a flat diaper needs.They are secured the same way as contours and prefolds and need a waterproof cover over top.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Inserts- a rectangle of assorted types of fabric that you insert inside a pocket diaper.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Doubler- a rectangle of assorted types of fabric that you lay inside a cover with another diaper to make it more absorbent,<br /><br />COVERS<br /><br /> <br /><br />PUL covers- these are made with polyurethanes laminate they go over a diaper and are secured with snaps or aplix. They are very affordable.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Fleece- these covers are made with fleece which is a man made material. they are secured with snaps or aplix.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Wool- there is a variety of wool. from covers that snap, aplix, or tie, to pull on covers, shorties, longies and skirties. They can not be washed in the washing machine and must be lanolized to retain their waterproof qualities.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />For ease of use you can't beat AIO's, one diaper means not stuffing, not looking for multiple pieces it's truly grab and go. Like I said they can take a long time to dry and they are rather expensive. AIO's start at around $15.00 a diaper.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Pockets come close to the AIO's ease of use, stuffing inserts into the pocket as you put them away from the wash is super easy, the bonus to pockets is you can adjust how much you put inside the pocket to cater to heavy wetters. Pockets are also an expensive way to go, but you can buy seconds, used (you need to be careful since some pockets could have been improperly washed making them unusable) or from WAHM (work at home moms), as well as buying in bulk. Pockets start around &10.00 a diaper, make sure you look to see if the diaper comes with an insert.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Fitteds are one of my favorites, I love that at home the diaper has it's own latch system so baby can wear just that without a cover. the leg elastic makes it so poop won't leak out. Fitteds are easy to get on a baby who is on the go. When you want something waterproof you just add a cover on over top. Fitteds start at $7.50 a diaper<br /><br /> <br /><br />Prefolds- prefolds are extremely affordable and fit every baby. There is a slight learning curve to learn how to keep that newborn breastfed poo in, but other than that these are a great option. I also often had my babies in the house with just a prefold on using snappi's or pins. (note-it is not recommended to put a snappi on without a cover because the snappi has somewhat sharp plastic teeth, the only problem I have come across doing this is the snappi catching on my clothes). Prefolds are generally sold by the dozen and start at about $25.00 dozen<br /><br /> <br /><br />Flats- I have not as of yet used Flats. I have heard that they are nice because they fit every baby and you can customize them to make a certain spot in the diaper more absorbent. They are also sold by the dozen and it seems they start at about $15.00 dozen.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Covers come in true-size and one-size and certain brands fit chubby babies or skinny babies better. PUL covers start at about $8.00 a cover and are the most economical out there. Fleece covers are more breathable than PUL and start at about $14.00 a cover. Wool is breathable and natural and has a very wide price range, from about $20.00 to $80 for custom, hand made fancy works of art. You can also buy up-cycled wool covers for starting around $12.00.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My favorite system?</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />Diapering Itty-Bitties<br /><br /> <br /><br />Prefolds for little tiny babies, what my husband and I refer to as itty-bitties, Itty-Bitties lay still for diaper changes, they grow extremely quickly and to me spending a bunch of money on diapers they won't wear long just isn't practical. The added advantage of using prefolds on Itty-Bitties is that those prefolds can later be used as inserts for pockets or even as a doubler. prefolds also become great cleaning and dust rags. We use PUL covers for Itty-Bitties, my favorite of all time are diaperaps, although I admit I have only used the old kind, I have heard that the new ones have been improved. The one brand I recommend you stay away from Imse-Vimse. The cover tends to curl in and the aplix scratches the babies belly, also the aplix seems to lose it's grippiness and the cover tends to pop open. For brand new Itty-Bitties it is nice to get a cover that has a dip in the front for the cord, but many covers can just be folded down a bit as well.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Crawlers/Walkers<br /><br /> <br /><br />Crawlers are a whole new world. They want to get away from you and laying for a diaper change is not at the top of their priority list. Prefolds still WORK, but fitteds are so much easier as you can put these on a baby as they crawl away. So if you have the money I fully recommend switching to fitteds with a PUL cover. I don't have a lot of money so I use a combination of fitteds and prefolds. Another thing to consider at this stage is that they are sleeping longer at night therefor peeing MORE in their nighttime diaper. This is where I introduce my night time system. This took me awhile to develop and I woke up covered in baby pee A LOT before I figured this out! I use a pocket diaper stuffed with a prefold and an insert then I cover the whole thing with a double layer fleece cover. You can of course just use extra stuffing and a fleece diaper, but the reason I use a pocket diaper is because the layer of fabric against babies skin stays dry. The pee soaks into the stuffing but your baby doesn't wake up with wetness against his/her skin. I add the fleece cover because I fond without it pee leaked out the legs and I woke up wet. I also like to use pockets when we are going on longer car trips or to events were it will be harder to change diapers often because as I said the lining keeps the wetness off babies skin. I have recently heard of silk liners and disposable liners that supposedly do the same thing. I have not as of yet tested it out.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Potty Trainers<br /><br /> <br /><br />They have cloth trainers, I have not tried these, although they seem cool. They have just never been in the budget.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-37164680519010288962012-01-05T13:11:00.000-08:002012-01-18T13:47:20.861-08:00A List of what you REALLY need for babyMy DDC(due date club) and I have discussed what one really needs for a baby. There are a million lists to be found everywhere. When my husband and I were pregnant the first time we went to register at Babies-R-Us like you are supposed to. We grabbed the little gun and the list of stuff they recommend you buy and we walked the store...for over an hour! Looking at this pages long list, our minds reeling. We were sure we didn't need all this stuff but we really didn't know what we WOULD need. We walked out without registering for a single thing. <br /><br />Most checklists look very similar,something like this(although the babies-r-us list includes a LOT more):<br /> <br /><blockquote>Baby's Nursery<br /><br /> * Crib sets<br /> * Crib mattresses<br /> * Bassinets<br /> * Cradles<br /> * Bumpers<br /> * Sleepers<br /> * Nursery decor<br /> * Changing tables<br /> * Dressers<br /> * Small lamp or Nightlight<br /> * Rockers<br /><br /> Feeding<br /><br /> * Baby bottles<br /> * Nipples<br /> * Bottle liners<br /> * Bottle brush<br /> * Bottle rack<br /> * Baby bibs<br /> * Teethers<br /> * Breast pump<br /> * Breast milk storage bags<br /> * Breast pads<br /> * Pacifiers<br /> * Highchair<br /> * Cream for nipples<br /> * Nursing pillow<br /> * Nursing bras<br /><br /> Baby Bedding<br /><br /> * Crib bedding<br /> * Crib sheets<br /> * Receiving blankets<br /> * Mattress pads<br /> * Waterproof liners<br /> * Baby blankets<br /><br /><br /><br /> Clothing<br /><br /> * One-piece outfits<br /> * One-piece pajamas<br /> * Sock and booties<br /> * Mittens<br /> * Fleece outfits<br /> * Sweater or Jacket (for winter)<br /> * Bonnet or Cap (for summer)<br /><br /> Diapering<br /><br /> * Cloth diapers<br /> * Disposable diapers<br /> * Wipes<br /> * Washcloth's<br /> * Diaper powder<br /> * Sealable trash can<br /><br /> Baby Bathing and Health<br /><br /> * Soaps & Lotions<br /> * No-Tears shampoo<br /> * Newborn tub<br /> * Baby oil<br /> * Hooded towels<br /> * Ointment<br /> * Thermometer<br /> * Petroleum jelly<br /> * Sterile cotton balls<br /> * Baby powder<br /> * Washcloths<br /> * Baby nail scissors<br /> * Baby nail clippers<br /> * Liquid aspirin<br /> * Baby brush<br /> * Nasal aspirator<br /><br /> Miscellaneous<br /><br /> * Car seat<br /> * Stroller<br /> * Baby monitor<br /> * Smoke alarm<br /> * Toys<br /> * Dreft laundry soap<br /> * Books on parenting<br /> * Flowers from dad<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br />My list is not quite so extensive:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Baby's Nursery</span><br />You don't need it. Studies have shown (despite fear mongering ad campaigns financed by crib manufacturer's)that co-sleeping <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/sids-latest-research-how-sleeping-your-baby-safe">(SAFELY)</a> helps to regulate babies breathing and actually reduces the risk of SIDS. I know, the idea of a sweet little room all decorated in cute decor is enticing, I did it myself the first time. 9 years later it is still decorated the same and it now holds 3 amazing girls. <br />If you REALLY want to decorate a nursery here's my recommendation <br />1) Decorate it so it can grow with your child. <br />2)skip the crib and put in a twin mattress. My babies had no interest in going to their own room until they were about 2.5 years old. Before that a twin bed can be handy if one parent needs to get sleep and the baby is fussy, if one parent has been drinking or needed to take sleeping pills (these are co-sleeping dangers, My Hubs would sleep on the couch if he had been drinking when our girls were babies). It can also be handy for naps for Baby. I used our bed as a place for us all to sleep and as my laundry folding table so I found it helpful to have Baby nap somewhere else.<br />3)a dresser IS helpful. Skip the specialized expensive changing tables (We have always used my bed or the couch, sometimes even the floor to change diapers) but if you REALLY want a designated changing area you can use one of those low dressers and place a changing pad on top of it. This will grow with your child!<br />4)some type of rocking chair is VERY nice. I have always longed for those nice padded gliders but they were not in our price range. I do have a lovely rocking chair though. A few things to remember-make sure the chair is wide and the arm rests aren't too high. You will be nursing and holding a sleeping baby in this chair, you need elbow room. A padded seat is nice, you will be sitting here for extended periods of time. Do you NEED this item? No. Any comfy chair will do, have a table nearby to keep a glass of water on as well as some snacks and reading material. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Feeding</span><br /><br />Let me introduce you to your breasts, they are amazing lumps of fat laced with mammary glands and an intricate duct work system. Until now they have been mostly for show and a little bit of fun. As my 6 year old has said about these type of breasts "Wasp has boobs, they don't do anything yet, she doesn't use them, someday she'll have a baby and use them". A quick science lesson- we are called mammals. This name is derived from mammary glands. You see mammals are the only animals that nurse their young, this differentiates us from every other animal on the planet. Hooray for us!<br /><br />So you think,I am breastfeeding, I don't need anything else besides my boobs, and in the strictest sense of the word, no, you don't. But here is what is nice to have:<br /><br /><br />1)The phone number to your local <a href="http://www.llli.org/">LLL</a><br />2)breastpads- many women leak in the beginning while their bodies adjust the milk supply.<br />3)lansinoh- this is nipple cream, it is a very wonderful and amazing thing. You will be told a lot of conflicting advice about breastfeeding. It hurts so badly, it doesn't hurt or if you are doing it right it doesn't hurt, etc. In my experience it hurt a LOT to begin with that first time I would pray she wasn't hungry when she cried for the first 3 days. The hospital lactation consultants were hacks and so NOT helpful. My nipples DID sustain damage and lansinoh helped them so much. (NOTE-if your are experiencing pain call your local LLL leader she can help you...for free! If you have ANY breastfeeding questions call them.If there are meeting near you go BEFORE you have the baby, you can pick up handy hints and it's nice to have a face to put with the voice over the phone if you do need to call.) Also many birth centers(and maybe hospitals too) give out free samples of lansinoh, you won't need a whole tube of it and should be able to get by on free samples if you can find them)<br />4)nursing bras-you can get inexpensive nursing bras at target...unless you have large breasts, then I am very sorry you must buy the specialty bras online and they will run about $60/bra. (My boobs are small so I have no experience with this, but I have gleaned this information from LLL meetings). I have been able to use regular bras and just fold them down, but this ruins the bra and then it often pops up and in the way of the nipple annoying the baby.<br />5)breastfeeding pillow-unless you have big breasts, I have hear that big breasted women do not need these. You do not have to buy a specialty nursing pillow as you can use regular pillows but I LOVED my boppy. It saved my back. These are really only needed when baby is very small then they become places to sit your child in and eventually they just sit on the couch and your husband curls up with them for an afternoon nap...especially cute when the boppy is pink.EDITED to add- A friend with larger boobs said she DID find the boppy extremely helpful.<br />6)tank tops-yes tank tops, skip the expensive (and hard to fold, hard to free your boob nursing shirts) and wear a tank top under your regular shirt. When you need to nurse baby simply lift up your regular shirt, pull down tank top and your flabby post baby belly isn't hanging out for the world to see.<br />7)Covers-Babies don't like them. Your right to breastfeed is protected in many different states. Don't worry about making other people uncomfortable, the important thing is to take care of your baby. There will always be ignorant people, ignore them.<br />8)Bottles and pumps. Some women return to work, if you do you will need a pump and bottles. I am not the best person to help with this information. If you are not returning to work you don't need bottles or pumps. I used a pump and bottle for my first daughter. My next 2 girls never had a single bottle. I do plan on introducing this baby to the bottle between 8-10 weeks old as I hope to go to school to become a midwife when she is older. I tried to introduce a bottle to my youngest 2 when they were over a year old and they would have nothing doing with it. I was lucky enough that I didn't have to push the issue since I could just stay with them. If you introduce the bottle fill it with EBM (expressed breast milk). If you just need the occasional bottle you can hand express the milk instead of buying a pump. (If there is interest I can try to post a blog about that). Now there is some concern about the introduction of bottles, especially when a mother is already having breastfeeding issues. The nipple on a bottle is different then a breast. The baby holds the nipple in it's mouth differently, the action the baby uses to express the milk is different and it can cause a problem referred to as nipple confusion. Bottle nipples are easier to get milk out of, on the breast a baby has to work a bit harder this is a good thing though, as mammals we were meant to do this harder work with our jaws and it helps in the development of the jaw and tongue. So tread carefully if you are introducing bottles, and if you don't need to for work or school it's a pain in the butt and an added expense you can skip. Don't worry about that whole "well how will other people bond with baby if they can't feed them?" tagline that gets tossed around, there are a LOT of ways for others to bond with the baby.<br />9)High Chairs-you do not need these until baby is older. Some people choose to just use the boosters that strap onto a regular chair. We have one of those wooden high chairs restaurants use, it was bought at a flea market. I LOVE it. The baby is then http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=durabib&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=dura+bib&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=BFe&pwst=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=DTsXT7aFFM3MtgfhocDyAg&ved=0CFYQrQQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=a7e335efb9265e18&biw=1440&bih=730"></a>right at the table with you instead of in this giant contraption away from the rest of the family. The booster seat high chairs also have this same advantage.<br />10)Teethers- these are handy, you can also use a wet wash cloth you have cooled in the fridge or freezer or those mesh teethers with some frozen fruit in it.<br />11)Bibs-they are cute, the little ones you get at showers are USELESS. You need a larger bib, one with a pocket is nice, but they can't be the ones with the pockets just sewn on, they stay closed. We have one that is flat until you do four little snaps then the pocket stays out. I also recommend feeding them topless or naked, baby skin wipes off very easily.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Baby Bedding</span><br />1)waterproof mattress cover for your mattress. Skip the expensive especially made for baby options and go for a cheaper option. Big box stores offer waterproof sheets that fit on your mattress like a fitted sheet or waterproof pads that you can lay underneath a spot on the bed. Others have also suggested the thin wool blankets you can get at army navy surplus stores. They have also suggested laying 2 down. Peel off the dirty sheet and the first cover and then lay a new sheet down. Likewise you could layer it like a lasagna, waterproof pad, sheet, waterproof pad, sheet. Silly you think. Let me explain middle of the night accidents. YOU.ARE.EXHAUSTED! And friends, this is not just for kids potty accidents or a diaper that leaked. You have just had a baby and a few things are happening. Namely, you are leaking stuff. You very likely are leaking milk as your body adjusts the levels it needs and you will be bleeding for about a month, longer if you are over active before your body is ready...which is very easy to do. I ruined my mattress after my first baby, mostly with the massive amounts of milk that sprayed, not leaked, out of me.<br />2)Twin blankets, one for you, one for Hubs. Babies should not be covered in blankets and trying to share a blanket while also NOT covering the baby is pretty much impossible. In fact my Hubs likes 2 blankets so much he says that even when there isn't a kid in our bed he wants to keep having separate blankets. (Can you tell that I am the blanket thief in this relationship?) <br />3a few blankets for baby, not for sleep but for in the carseat or while carrying them around. Receiving blankets work great to toss over your shoulder while holding baby, prefold cloth diapers also work well for this. They randomly spit up and you will indeed get used to having spit up, pee and snot on your clothes it is STILL nice to attempt to avoid it. In this vein keep a baby washcloth in your pocket at all times to wipe off their faces.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Clothing</span><br />this in large part depends on the season<br />1)gowns these are AWESOME, easy diaper changes no annoying snaps to deal with<br />2)socks-you will loose a LOT of these as well. I totally suggest all of one color.<br />3)onesies<br />4)t-shirts, the kind with the overlapped shoulders or the kimono style tops<br />5)some full body suits<br />6)baby hats<br />skip the cute clothes that look like big people clothes such as jeans, t-shirts and dresses, they don't work well on newborns, when they get older you can deck them out in little grown up clothes. <br />Shoes are not needed if they do not walk. Save your money.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Diapering</span><br />yes. you need diapers.(although their is a group of people who disagree with this, I don't really know a lot about elimination communication.) <br />1)I like cloth, that is a post unto itself and it will be written soon. There are some great diaper boards out there with lots of information like diaperpin and diaperswappers. I will just say that I had my first in disposables, the leak something awful, poop especially. It squishes up the back, out of the diaper and all over everything. It even sometimes leaks out the legs. This is very gross. *shudder* PLUS the environmental impact of disposables used over the lifetime of one baby is mind boggling. I tried to imagine once, what every diaper Oldest ever wore would look like in one pile and I swore to use cloth after that.<br />2)wipes-cloth wipes work about a million times better then disposable. We are talking one cloth wipe can do what 5-8 disposable wipes do and I am not even exaggerating. I made my own out of receiving blankets, you can also buy them but they are pricey, or you can use the cheap baby washcloths, the kind with the hemmed edge instead of the sewn on trim works better.<br />3)diaper cans- let me just start this with THE DIAPER GENIE SUCKS! <br />if you are cloth diapering some traditional diaper pails won't work. <br />If you are using disposable diapers you just need a can that somehow blocks odor. don't get the kind that turns and wraps each diaper separately like the diaper genie, the amount of bag used for each diaper is horrifying. If you are cloth diapering in all honesty you need a bucket, or a trash can with a lid, they sell these things called wetbags that drop into them, they also sell wet bags that hang from a door or wall. A wetbag is sewn bag that is waterproof. I often just had a wetbag on the floor that I tossed the diapers in. <br />4)a diaper sprayer- these hook up to the toilet and you can spray the poop off the diaper and into the toilet. (You do not need to spray off breastfed poops, but you can if you want). I admit I have never actually had one and have successfully cloth diapered 2 kids, but if you can afford one get it. They start at about $30.00 and you do not need a plumber to install it (although my husband is a plumber so I f I ever do get one, I'm making the plumber do it.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Baby bathing and Health</span><br />1)shampoo-please not Johnson and Johnson, it's full of carcinogens.No more tears works because it numbs the babies eyes. Go for a nice natural or organic cleaner. I love Burt's Bees, a bottle lasts for so long! (bathing baby daily actually drys their skin, and hair really only needs to be washed once a week)<br />2)baby nail clippers-cutting baby nails is scary but important. Do it while they sleep or while you nurse them...or well they are sleeping and nursing at the same time.<br />3)washcloths-for washing baby, "brushing teeth", and keeping in your pocket to wipe sppit-up and snot off your kid. (mentioned previously)<br />4)baby towels<br />5)baby baths- these are nice for a little while but a kitchen sink also works great, just lay down a washcloth. Also once the cord falls off you can just shower with baby. (I recommend having someone else at home who can dry baby and dress baby after you have washed Baby, then you can wash yourself.)<br />6)Baby powder- m'eh, you don't need it. I still have the same bottle I was given 9 years ago at my daughters shower. I haven't really used it on the babies but I have used it for a few other things. Here are some handy hints<br />a)if it has been awhile since you have showered and your hair looks a bit greasy, a little baby powder in your hair takes care of it quickly.<br />b)baby powder in shoes and in your bra helps to keep sweat down<br />and finally remember that if babies breath in baby powder in the air it is bad for their lungs.<br />7)Lotion-it can be useful, again go with natural or organic your skin does absorb whatever is put on it.<br />8)Diaper Cream-you don't need to use it every change, I only use it when they get the rare rash. I swear by Dr.Smiths Diaper Ointment. A rash is most helped by diaper free time and sunshine on their bums. Also some diaper creams can ruin cloth diapers.<br />9)tooth and gum care- use a washcloth and just wipe the gums for newborns. when they get older there is a handy finger brush thing. Once teeth come in I switch to a baby toothbrush and fluoride free natural toothpaste.<br />10)Thermometer<br />11)cottonballs<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"> Miscellaneous</span><br /><br />1)Carseat-research, research, research. car seats are not all made the same!(this needs it's own post and I will get to that.) Many babies can only fit into those infant bucket seats for 4 months. Many babies can also go directly into convertible seats, mine could not. Babies should remain rear-facing until at least 2 years old. Facing forward is NOT a milestone!! I thought it was and turned my first daughter before a year because she was such a strong baby. I have learned a lot since then. Rear Facing is life saving!!! My almost 3 year old is still rear facing and will remain rear facing until the seat no longer safely rear faces for her weight.<br />2)Stroller- not important for a newborn. Get a baby carrier, wraps work great for newborns, then I like pouches and those buckled carriers. I DO like strollers for schlepping stuff, not so much kids although they enjoy the occasional ride. Get one with an easily accessible under storage. To save money used is awesome.<br />3)Baby monitor-some people use them. If baby sleeps with you then no need to have one at night, but if you are going to be away or outside at naptime it could be useful. I only had one for my first and haven't felt impinged upon by not having one for my other babies. I also have a small house and can hear things no matter where in the house I am.<br />4)playmat or bouncy seat- you just need one that you can move around to lay babe on while you shower or cook dinner. <br />5)toys and books- nice when babe gets older, you don't need a ton though. Most likely they won't want the toys they will want the real thing.<br /><br />I think that's it, and when you think of the things you need in just those first months the list is even smaller. Many of the items can be acquired second hand. Thrift Stores and baby re-sale shops are wonderful. Garage sales usually advertise if they have baby items available. If you know people who have had kids; talk to them. <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 item that it is VERY important you don't get used is the carseat.</span> If a carseat has ever been in an accident it is no longer safe to use. Carseats are not for riding in the car, they are in case you get in an accident! This is the piece of equipment that can save your babies life and most likely you will never need to test it, but if you do you want it to work. The other problem with old seats is that carseats expire, after a certain amount of time has passed they are no longer safe to use. After very firmly stating the previous warning I admit I have used a used carseat, it was from a friend so I knew it had never been in an accident and I knew it was not expired. If you can not 100% guarantee that just don't use it! A stranger off craigslist who gives you their word is not worth the gamble of your baby's life.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Recap aka just the list without the talk</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">newborn</span><br />*dresser (you can add a changing pad to the top if you want but beds are also useful to change babies)<br />*comfy spot for mom to sit<br />*your breasts<br />*breast pads<br />*lansinoh<br />*The number to a LLL leader(see link above)<br />*Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-65978390935062554462012-01-04T08:13:00.000-08:002012-01-04T08:23:57.880-08:00DiapersIt appears a lot has changed since I researched cloth diapers over 6 years ago...and my memory has grown faulty in regards to why I did or did not like certain diaper covers. For instance was it imse vimse that curled in and scratched the babies belly or was that Bummis? Was it Bummis or was it thirsties that tended to wick moisture through the seat of the cover and which ones were the ones that wicked moisture around the legs?? One thing I do know is I LOVED the fleece stacinator deluxe 2 thickness diaper cover, it was perfect for my nighttime system. I can NOT find it in stock anywhere, and I only found it at 2 stores. Sigh. <br /><br />I have a friend sending me some of her old diapers so I guess I should just wait to see what she has for e then plan my stash around that. I just feel compelled to organize the diapers...even if it's on an online registry. I WISH I had them set up on a shelf in the room so I could look at them, but that is just fluff nerdiness and I suppose a small part nesting. 27.5 weeks, we are getting closer.<br /><br />I know I want to use fitteds and some prefolds, along with some pocket diapers for when she will be in one diaper a little longer than normal, plus a pocket diaper for nighttime with a fleece cover over top. I dread the trial and error of finding a pocket diaper that fits her (few worked well on Littlest. I want 2-3 nighttime set-ups, at least 6 easy to use, keeps the skin dry pockets for extended outings, 8-12 fitteds for around the house and 12 prefolds (or these sherpa diapers I recently discovered) for cheap diapering convenience, plus I will need 6-8 covers. I should make a list.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-24533702694599190792011-12-08T05:35:00.000-08:002011-12-08T05:47:52.127-08:00asthmaWhen I was a kid I had sports induced asthma. It made track difficult. They said I would run and you could se my face turn gray and I would just keep running. They didn't understand, when they asked me why, I said "I didn't want to let my teammates down." (I ran in some relays). I have been having some problems this pregnancy. Shortness of breath, speedy heart/chest, extreme fatigue, headache for 2 weeks straight, dizziness. On quick investigation it was found my iron levels were much lower, drastically lower then the last time they were checked. I have stopped eating dairy foods after about 3, really trying to pack in iron rich foods and taking floradix in the evening. The dizziness and headache has gone away but not the shortness of breath. I am not AS exhausted but still pretty tired. I was laying in bed trying hard to breath and it was just HARD.I would take these giant breaths and still not feel like my lungs had filled up. That's when I realized I think it is asthma. This is what my sister described, she had asthma all the time it was triggered by activity, stress, allergies. I have never had an attack when I wasn't running so I wasn't sure what it felt like. I think I have developed stress induced asthma. The stress is also why I am still tired, I often lay awake for an hour or so in the middle of the night my mind racing with all the things bugging me. The house and the condition it's in, how much colder it will be inside this year then in the past, Christmas, the girls birthdays, the new baby and all the things we need for that, my moms horrible health and her financial situation. I don't really know what to do about the stress we aren't exactly in a position to make the stressers go away. Chris can't work less, I can't make my mom better, the baby will come, Christmas will come, the girls birthdays will come. I can't decide what my mom will do about where she lives or what she chooses to do. I think I need to go see a regular doctor to see if there is anything I can do about the asthma, I imagine it can't be good for the Baby if I can't get in enough air. I will call the midwives later today and my sister to confirm that this is what asthma feels like.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-1808281840414894082011-11-28T13:52:00.000-08:002011-11-28T16:04:46.918-08:00the to do listsGetting really excited abut Baby as I realize we are closer to her birth than I had thought. Not, I suppose that we were further away, just that I hadn't considered how soon it really would be. I have made a list of stuff to do before baby and began crossing the list off as I have been sewing baby wipes and a friend gave me 3 garbage bags full of clothes from birth through 18 months. Exciting stuff. I think I have settled on a name for her and I just need Hubs to give his approval of the name as THE pinned down name instead of just a name on the list. <br /><br />I have also been secretly working on a little dollhouse made of cardboard for the girls solstice present. Last night I "wallpapered" it with fabric and watered down fabric glue...which it turns out does not wash easily off ones fingers. I am very excited about it, I think they will like it a lot. It is for their lalaloopsy dolls that they are all pretty much obsessed with. I told them today that for solstice we will all make presents for each other. Biggest wants to make Middlest a stuffed animal, the others have not started to plan yet.<br /><br />So much crafting to do, birthday parties to attend and some shelved obligations I need to get back to. Not to mention Christmas to get in order. Today I optimistic about getting things done in a timely manner.<br /><br /><br />My LIst<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />get cloth diapers back<br /><br /><s>baby clothes</s><br /><br />make baby wipes<br /><br />make quilt for baby<br /><br />find spot to put baby supplies<br /><br /><s>wean Juniper</s><br /><br />move Juniper to her own bed<br /><br />get homebirth supplies<br /><br />buy 2 waterproof sheets for my bed<br /><br />buy new fitted sheet for my bed<br /><br />get stroller<br /><br />get playmat<br /><br />make/get big sister/ little sister shirts<br /><br />find first outfit<br /><br />name baby<br /><br /><s>make or buy boppy</s><br /><br />freezer meals<br /><br />figure out who's attending birth/watching girls/taking pictures<br /><br />teach Junes to get her own snacksAny Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-20535090616450051682011-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:002011-11-28T13:44:33.032-08:00This makes me happy- interactive facebook statusBlog Writer<br />finish the statement- Today happiness is....<br />Like Unlike · · 2 hours ago<br /><br /> *<br /> *<br /> *<br /> *<br /> *<br /> o<br /> Blog Writer <br />a growing stack of freshly sewn baby wipes.<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Patricia <br />wasabi & soy almonds<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Simone <br />elusive<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 2Loading...<br /> o<br /> Lindsay <br />my pumpkin spice latte and seeing my honey on lunch<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Sharon <br />finding purple m&m's for Dalias rainbow birthday cake.<br /> 2 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1Loading...<br /> o<br /> Shari <br />rain.<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Sue <br />the baby sleeping on my chest in her wrap.<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Sarah <br />Both girlies napping at the same time (one upstairs and one on my breast :)<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Morgan<br />a toddler who toots when he laughs.<br /> 2 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1You like this.<br /> o<br /> Shana <br />getting through the day.<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Elizabeth<br />Quiet.<br /> 2 hours ago · LikeUnlike<br /> o<br /> Judy M<br />Today, happiness is knowing there is hope.<br /> about an hour ago · LikeAny Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-34337581658652637972011-11-16T08:17:00.001-08:002011-11-28T13:49:22.029-08:00frustration vanquished by a baby girlughh feeling stressed out a bit. I am having 2 little girls come over after school and I was going to pick them up BUT it turns out I can't drive around 2 extra kids because one of the seat belts is broken in the van. I HATE that van. I am seriously close to trading in it and Hubs blue van (that doesn't even get used and might possibly not even have all of it's engine together right now)for a newer van with latch, working AC, a working door and all seat belts in working order. This situation has put me in a mood. I have now acted like a bitch to my husband, my mom and I didn't say bye nicely enough to my kids when I dropped them off for school. sigh. <br /><br />I am some horrible wife who wants my husband to give up his company and go to work for someone else. I want normal, consistent paychecks. I want to pay all the bills on time, and be able to actually save money. I want to be able to FIX our house, I want my husband to be home occasionally instead of working himself to the bone. I have not shared this information in a helpful way though. I have railed against him and the way things are going. I wonder if I should get a job. Maybe I should give up the at home mom thing and just stick Littlest in daycare. Maybe I should stick the baby in daycare. It goes against what we wanted for our kids but maybe it's what has to be done. Maybe I could just go to work until Baby is born and use that money to get a new car. I don't know.<br /><br />Speaking of Baby, we had the ultrasound and baby had it's legs crossed. It was a cute little skeleton baby. We had a fabulous party that almost went very badly. There were NO SHELTERS at all in the park available. We found 1 grill near a small square table that wouldn't hold all the food. Friends rallied and tables were brought for the food and blankets were laid out and we enjoyed the meal picnic style. There was much excitement when it was time to cut the cake and...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382937_10150457847032518_671497517_10391400_929737615_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 960px;" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382937_10150457847032518_671497517_10391400_929737615_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />GIRL!! I was insanely excited to see pink, and very surprised because I was sure it was a boy. My sister suggested that since it is our fourth girl we give her the middle name March, and I LOVE it. Now to come up with a first name. <br /><br />I wish I could spend more time being excited about this baby, but I feel there is so much going on right now. The stupid car, the house, my mom is all kinds of sick, I have my new girl scout troop and Holiday Helper is still going on. I am looking forward to just a moment to breath and I don't really know if I will get one before baby comes. We have the holidays and then we start in with birthdays and then the baby will be here. Is it crazy to look forward to the babymoon as a time to finally get to just STOP? There will be the exhaustion that comes with a newborn but I can just lay around and nurse the baby..her : ) Her, another girl. Amazing. Then I'll come out of newborn stupor and it will be summer vacation and I will get to have my girls around me and we won't have a schedule. Ahh sweet summer.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-67553319310570886952011-11-06T07:05:00.001-08:002011-11-06T07:07:10.438-08:00plansMy sister bought us a magazine, the new pioneer. I feel like we have been mired in the day to day survival of an extremely limited at times inadequate budget. As long as we think like this we won't advance. I know it can be hard to plan when their is literally not enough money to survive but we have to move past it. We MUST make a plan. I want more from life, I want to make our dreams happen. The city is the wrong place for us.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-79379204841254618882011-11-05T10:17:00.000-07:002011-11-05T10:27:06.758-07:00Sewing DayI have been sewing all day, making things for some of the families in need. I have made a sweet little cape that could be a princess cape, a fairy cape, or even a super hero. it's pink with a sweet flowered print on the other side. It's for a little girl who wanted dress up clothes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298982_10150446485577518_671497517_10337851_501150953_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 960px;" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298982_10150446485577518_671497517_10337851_501150953_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I also made a little green pouch for a little girl who has asked for a circo 4 in 1 baby care set and a baby carrier. Hopefully someone will buy the little baby care set from target.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9wkgN3OmUy6v48rzmRnFhrh2OFtK9Zdle0XWxVQSr1E0SNUoG8a8I89un-o5zJJMJjc7sW1rZCvJdlGlO-aDgpKlOaUtyNdxb_6k3_q5BX91rtEZY4rYbrnxAVL7GiJObkBaa6cA2ig/s1600/pocuh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9wkgN3OmUy6v48rzmRnFhrh2OFtK9Zdle0XWxVQSr1E0SNUoG8a8I89un-o5zJJMJjc7sW1rZCvJdlGlO-aDgpKlOaUtyNdxb_6k3_q5BX91rtEZY4rYbrnxAVL7GiJObkBaa6cA2ig/s320/pocuh.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671564373752143346" /></a><br /><br /><br />Next I have some sewing for a paying customer, which will help me buy thread and other supplies and maybe even some stuff for Christmas will be here before we know it. Thankfully Hubs work has picked up so we have been able to pay the bills, get flea medicine for the animals and start getting the girls stuff. Sometime before Thanksgiving we need to get the van door fixed. It will all come together, things do for us, we have our really hard times and then things pick up. I truly believe it's because we are good people.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-31633936361186347782011-10-25T05:36:00.000-07:002011-10-25T14:51:17.126-07:00inappropriate public railingToday is not a good day. I want to post on facebook<br /><br /> " I don't give a shit about your new iphone, your trip to the bar, the concert, some exciting locale, Good for you! My van door is broken and won't shut properly, I don't know if it will fly open while I am driving. Hy home is not a safe place to be I live in fear that part of the ceiling, a beam or the front door will crash down on my kids, so NO I don't give a fuck about your remodeled house, your fancy gadget or whatever else you spent money on!!"<br /><br />I will not do this, it is rude, and it is not their fault WE have no money. I told Chris we need a new van, one that does not leak, one with latch, all doors working and AC that works throughout the whole thing. He told me to get a fucking job, to buy a van, and all the money I make is to pay for the van. I did not take it well. I have been suggesting I get a job off and on for years, the answer is always no, it won't work, it just won't work with his work schedule. If I got a job the kids would go into daycare/after care. After paying for that we would have close to nothing left. Sometimes I feel trapped.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-20992904974379684232011-10-24T10:58:00.001-07:002011-11-05T10:29:50.015-07:00Holiday Helpes and HalloweenI'm helping with Mothering.com's holiday helpers and was worried because I haven't been on mothering in over a day, we were pretty busy with parties, haunted woods, and crafting that HAD to be done. Luckily, I didn't miss anything regarding Holiday Helpers, we will start taking Families in need tomorrow, then making a master list of need's and ASSIGNING Families to helpers, that's the part I am doing keeping track of FIN and making sure their needs get met. In the past I have been a family in need and I have donated, but this is the first year I am helping organize. I am really excited as this program has saved Christmas before.<br /><br />The Haunted Walk, thoughts- there were SO MANY people. Waiting in our car to get in (I had to pee, of course) was so long, we got lost getting to the park and Oldest was bored and worried because the chickens weren't put up. She was moaning as we waited that sitting here was a waste of time "a waste of chickens!", we didn't want her to be upset the whole time so even though our neighbor hadn't gotten back to us about our request to put the chickens up, we told her he had. We FINALLY got in and then had to wait in line to use the bathroom, and then we had to wait in line to go on the Haunted Woods tour, luckily a father with 2 boys about the girls age was in front of us, and the kids entertained themselves. We told the kids what it would be like, and we really thought they were big enough. They were not, Middlest was in tears clutching Hubs so tight he said it felt like a vise grip. Oldest would not let go of my hand and spent about 1/3 of the time crying. Eventually people stopped jumping out at us because of the girls wailing. Afterwords everyone agreed we would stick to the Farm Pumpkin Patches for a few more years. Then we waited in line for the hayride until the kids were so tired they just wanted to leave. So to recap that night, lines, lines, sheer terror, lines, home. Yep, farm pumpkin patches are more fun. <br /><br />The next day was the neighborhood pumpkin parade, I found out the night before and did not have Middlest's costume done yet. So Sunday I was slated to sew, sew, sew. On the way to buy velcro (total cost of Middlest's costume $0.79 for velcro, but I only used half) my firend called and told me our friends 3 year old daughter's birthday was later that day. Which meant 2 things, I needed to make her a present and I had to leave the house 2 hours earlier then I had planned. I am happy to say I got everything I needed done in time..well almost, I finished the wings for Middlest costume at the birthday party.<br /><br />The Wasp<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/184453348/wasp___avengers_emh_by_montecreations-d31th44.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 700px; height: 700px;" src="http://www.deviantart.com/download/184453348/wasp___avengers_emh_by_montecreations-d31th44.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Middlest as the Wasp (she asked where the Antenna were, oops, I'll be making those now. Didn't even notice she had any)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgVtRw0gevU-O4v_YdjIvQ4qUzPocSAdnXMQG4-x9N5g-TjczAgOyzsBLJ2UOduIQNO6XvM2kJIUzo8PHbIiSE1-SqCTVt-nZC4YANi0r9FkG4hUsfPBZB-end1D1crDgOUnWSaTQAPQ/s1600/The+Wasp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgVtRw0gevU-O4v_YdjIvQ4qUzPocSAdnXMQG4-x9N5g-TjczAgOyzsBLJ2UOduIQNO6XvM2kJIUzo8PHbIiSE1-SqCTVt-nZC4YANi0r9FkG4hUsfPBZB-end1D1crDgOUnWSaTQAPQ/s320/The+Wasp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667126712744878098" /></a><br /><br />my 3 Halloween Girls, Oldest put together her costume all by herself!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLA3gjVx9Zo_NR-tiVR_anhyGgtuXq8MpsWauvPiBIlqkxIAgjI_XXKBOO0YKq5GeY54v9ltwskEADpxo37u9D1E01rWWL2nByvz0UqZsW71oWbQXg4uDsAMZmO47LDI2X0suKkwr8rM/s1600/Halloween+girls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLA3gjVx9Zo_NR-tiVR_anhyGgtuXq8MpsWauvPiBIlqkxIAgjI_XXKBOO0YKq5GeY54v9ltwskEADpxo37u9D1E01rWWL2nByvz0UqZsW71oWbQXg4uDsAMZmO47LDI2X0suKkwr8rM/s320/Halloween+girls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667127701418837266" /></a><br /><br />and the crown bracelet set I whipped up for the birthday girl, pretty good for no prior notice or plan, I think I will try and get more felt so i can list these on my etsy site.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoZaEcs_bBFQwUnE6esYAXZmCvk7ii3XTKORNZiDsm96xZywkSRtSPgIo1-Q5BvnXpmWZUXK4BX9h1ElVRG0TBy0fHBHUJ7vkjimf_mJw3BGK0pzwc1QJK1h8-8kpFl5MQE8GjLorOog/s1600/crown+bracelet+set.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoZaEcs_bBFQwUnE6esYAXZmCvk7ii3XTKORNZiDsm96xZywkSRtSPgIo1-Q5BvnXpmWZUXK4BX9h1ElVRG0TBy0fHBHUJ7vkjimf_mJw3BGK0pzwc1QJK1h8-8kpFl5MQE8GjLorOog/s320/crown+bracelet+set.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667128129231224306" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also, I have no reason why my actual blog writing is so skinny.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-3901582000669594882011-10-21T10:51:00.000-07:002011-10-21T10:52:54.271-07:00CompassionI pulled up to an intersection where a bum was sitting leaned up against a sign post. My window was down and Queen was blasting. When I realized he was asleep I turned the music down and though "wow, that's a bad place to sleep" and then he fell over right into the road. Since my car wasn't in park I couldn't jump out, but I leaned out and very concerned asked if he was okay. It was such a scary situation because I realized how badly it could have turned out if the light had been green when that happened. It made me think of a few things. Barbara Coloroso's theory on bullying and how people don't care when that person is outside of the circle they perceive as people worth caring about and the little 2 year old girl who got run over in China and people didn't even stop to see if she was okay. How can people walk past a human being? Everyone deserves compassion, even horrible people, not that this bum was horrible, just unfortunate. He's okay, he got up and seemed confused. I wish I could have done something more.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-89031656278168253462011-10-17T10:07:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:24:04.110-07:00My crafty daughterMiddlest's best friend just turned 6! We were brainstorming what to make her for her birthday with supplies we had at the house, and I had to nix the first idea because of a shortage of time. Middlest pointed out that buying something was the quickest thing to do but I had to remind her there wasn't money for shopping. We perused the family fun magazine she gets in the mail and I tried to sell her on the partially woven fleece scarf. She shot it down. Then she came up with the idea to make a skirt for her friend. She chose a neon orange fleece and showed me how she wanted me to make it, and while I sewed it up she made a pumpkin applique with curly vines and showed me which fleece she wanted me to use for each. I was super proud to have her creating this idea for her friend and happy that I could make it a reality. Also imagining the day she will make the plan and put it into action. Middlest is VERY into sewing and she loves fashion so I have no doubt that she will be designing her own clothes one day. So, here are the photos of the skirt. In no way did my camera phone show the neon brightness of this skirt.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwqVLxDUdJ5ZmD2yVLisguDi7nukgpZLtx2qgVb9E9RRB6aMg_Cmj2LsKjaRoflhqBEW5sxOdrJIteVdwRd8IXWr7tUxMl_SY3Zn32THYV3hsnOzaDnHCkBzVkX4SoDNvFeSNF8aq_VQ/s1600/skirt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwqVLxDUdJ5ZmD2yVLisguDi7nukgpZLtx2qgVb9E9RRB6aMg_Cmj2LsKjaRoflhqBEW5sxOdrJIteVdwRd8IXWr7tUxMl_SY3Zn32THYV3hsnOzaDnHCkBzVkX4SoDNvFeSNF8aq_VQ/s200/skirt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664512894460962066" /></a><br /><br />and a close up of the applique. She did not like the way I originally sewed the lines on the pumpkin, so I redid it and this one met her approval.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwN2OABCRaD2rzD2NJnV2KqeOo03FuZQ-Qa2GLNcMTAT4z4BF3lpcuQg1QukxMV_Hsg1usGoVrmjAKr8eVfLB-X9fWTG6KjePfXY7lJPSn7Xg1l3UPF5Weu_fqQq9vk0MFxWwHFzlHg/s1600/applique.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwN2OABCRaD2rzD2NJnV2KqeOo03FuZQ-Qa2GLNcMTAT4z4BF3lpcuQg1QukxMV_Hsg1usGoVrmjAKr8eVfLB-X9fWTG6KjePfXY7lJPSn7Xg1l3UPF5Weu_fqQq9vk0MFxWwHFzlHg/s200/applique.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664513052719517202" /></a><br />I LOVE what she made, and her best friend loved it! Her best friend(who also enjoys designing clothes) really appreciated her design and the hard work it took to make it. When I asked Middlest about making it she said she "thought really really hard, as hard as she could think in order to design it." I thanked her for her hard work and told her I thought it came out great.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-52066113287442456512011-10-10T17:30:00.000-07:002011-10-10T17:37:46.048-07:00Finding Peacesometimes things fall into place or you make them fall into place and a great night happens when you really need it. Littlest had a late nap and I was later then I should have been picking the girls up, I felt bad for the teacher that had to wait. BUT we got home and initially there was a cacophony of noise 1) littlest crying 2) Biggest singing badly (now I know how bad it sucks for Hubs when I sing badly and loudly just for fun) and 3) Middlest reading me a story. There was just no way to listen to everything that was going on, but eventually they all quieted down and I got to making dinner. A bit of comfort food is always good when you are having bad days, so pierogi's, kielbasa, and sauerkraut. Just cooking it improved my mood. I got Biggest to do the laundry while I cooked, and Littlest decided to do dishes (yeah, she's 2 so I had to redo them, but still) Middlest practiced Dance Mat Typing and then cleared and set the table. Hubs was not able to be here and won't be here until after the girls go to bed as he had a busy day (THANK YOU UNIVERSE!) and then had a list of stuff to do at the school on top of the regular sweeping and clean up. I miss eating with him, but I am happy the kids go to the school they do. <br /><br />When we sat down for dinner it was with lively conversations about god, goddess, earth, creation, and teaching Littlest letters. That was biggest, what a help she has been, I think having a 9 year old when the baby comes is going to be pretty amazing. So now I feel so much better then earlier today or yesterday, or the day before that. We might not have money but damn, we have a great family, full of love and really that's the BEST thing you could have. Now to put the girls to bed. Story time!Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-91046814341792930942011-10-10T12:02:00.001-07:002011-10-10T12:34:43.139-07:00stressedUggh, I can't get anything figured out with medicaid. I have no idea WHY we weren't approved for pregnancy medicaid. Of course if you don't call the office right when they open you won't be able to get through any other time and I had to work at the girls school today so I couldn't call. I was hoping the birth center could bill us twice for the whole she-bang but they can't, and except for the blood work, the sonogram, and the actual birth nothing will go over our share of cost. We do not have that much money a month. I had to get my sister to pay $20.00 so Biggest could go on the field trip with her classmates, one of the teachers is covering the cost so the girls can participate in the Spanish heritage meal. I mean it's $10.00 who can't come up with $10.00 AND if I can't come up with that how am I supposed to come up with over $4,000. for the birth?? Yep, I can't. We always joked because of the increasing birth freedom we had as we had each additional child (hospital w/ midwife, birth center w/ midwife, home birth w/ midwife) that if we had a fourth kid it would be an unassisted delivery. Who knows, maybe it will be. I won't make any plans until I talk to medicaid, maybe they just didn't see the paperwork confirming the pregnancy. It seems unlikely, but at some points in the last pregnancy we didn't qualify for food stamps but I still qualified for pregnancy medicaid, this last reapplication they raised the amount of food stamps we got. (Which is totally good because we were spending the last 1-2 weeks with no money for food, eating through the pantry!)<br />I hate being so broke. Hubs reminded me that I said I would rather be poor then have him travel for work, and it's true...but not this poor. Work is picking up for him so hopefully the pressure will be alleviated. He might just get an actual job and leave his dream of owning his own company behind if we don't start coming out on top more anyway. That would suck I think he can make this company work, he's honest and fair and that's hard to come by in a service person. He's had company's tell him to screw people over. He refused of course, but it's hard on him being in that environment with bosses who don't actually care about the customers. Hopefully medicaid will cover the birth. Oh and I decided to not feel guilty about crying yesterday and being so sad about the money issues. I am strong all the time, I am always looking to the positive side of things and making do, I think I am entitled to a break down every once in awhile. <br /><br />In positive news I have been feeling the baby move quite a bit, it's a nice feeling. Comforting AND Biggest was so excited when she found out she could go on the field trip thanks to Auntie.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-27061629749300085872011-10-08T14:33:00.000-07:002011-10-08T14:54:45.614-07:00PoorI know my kids go to school with people who have money, it's a $9,000/year school and we barter for their education but one of the parents told me they were also on food stamps, they said that's how they could afford the school for their one child. We could not afford the school even if we paid for our own groceries. Today we went to their house for their daughters birthday party. These people have money. They have a nice house, they have a big truck, they have a wave runner, 2 motorcycles, a pool, a pool table, a trampoline for their child and a not very old, giant amazing outdoor treehouse/playset for their child. Maybe some of the stuff they have had for awhile but the playset was new and the materials must have cost at least $1,000.00 It just hit me so hard. I am normally pretty okay with not having money even with all these families around us who have money. But I thought, wow someone else is sort of like us. But they aren't. I can't even spend a dollar right now, I haven't been able to spend even a dollar for months. I was puking non stop and couldn't spend a dollar on a stupid mcdonalds sandwich.My kid needs new shoes, my oldest doesn't have a bathing suit that fits. I was so glad the other parents were talking and I was on the other side of the yard with the baby because I was about to cry, and if anyone had said anything to me, I would have lost it. I did pull myself together and I did have a good time, the kids had a good time, driving home I was so thankful for what I do have, but then the foodstamp/medicaid letter was in the mail and even though I am pregnant I did not get qualified and share of cost went down, but it's still $227/month. I can't spend a dollar right now, I don't know how I can spend that. I just lost it. I bawled and I looked at our falling down house and I thought about how even among our working class friends not at the fancy private school we are poorer then them. I should be grateful for my healthy family and the blessings we have, and I will be later today. I have stopped bawling, it upset the kids. But I am sad, I am frustrated and I think it's stupid that we are having another kid even though I am so happy about it.<br /><br /><br />I wish someone could take the kids, it's really hard not to cry right now. This is one of the hardest times we have ever had!Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-88791918644704261622011-10-07T10:18:00.001-07:002011-10-07T10:33:24.832-07:00Sock Monkey's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDWHpgJyXTX6tguuFqK4XPfr0xWvq9HXj0ZK2RDMMDwMeVC27-SXDcAGFYNPqJb9tmswY9vz8qJt-Ss9V9pMhhvtm68-Bc2_ilSCaa114z0ofVNqCIBJKNVaVRyPe9fPy-UBrIaicyy8/s1600/IMG_20111007_102511.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDWHpgJyXTX6tguuFqK4XPfr0xWvq9HXj0ZK2RDMMDwMeVC27-SXDcAGFYNPqJb9tmswY9vz8qJt-Ss9V9pMhhvtm68-Bc2_ilSCaa114z0ofVNqCIBJKNVaVRyPe9fPy-UBrIaicyy8/s400/IMG_20111007_102511.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660801853404888674" /></a><br /><br />The sock monkey's are done and delivered. They do look really cute even though I am not overly fond of sock monkeys in general. The star eyes I sew makes me like them more then your average sock moneky. I also picked up a few sewing machine tips from my friend which is great because most of my knowledge base is trail and error. <br /><br />I have also put out invitations for our annual dinner and trick or treating. I am kind of worried this year because I am not sure if we will have the money for candy for trick or treaters, pizza and the supplies for Monster Eyes. We can't not have the party though, the kids look forward to it, we have it every year and have since I was pregnant with Biggest. Of course back then we didn't trick or treat but just hung out and handed candy to the trick or treaters. PLUS my sister will be visiting from Denver, which the kids are going to flip over! I am super excited to see her too. I did mention in the invite that if people want they can bring food to share or candy we could hand out so maybe that will relieve some of the financial strain. Being poor sucks sometimes, I am usually pretty good about it, I don't want that much stuff and I can mostly make do with what we have and turn almost nothing into something, but when it comes to the kids it makes me sad. I have taught them well to make do with what they have, as we speak Biggest is making a puppet theater out of an old cardboard box and our art supplies, but I would like to be able to do things for them, show them things, take them on adventures. I think Biggest is going to have to miss a field trip because it is $20.00 and they are going to have to pack their lunches on Jason's days at school, which might be all that much harder because I am the one that runs the program for the school and hands out the lunches every Wednesday. It almost makes me wish I could just keep them home that day so they wouldn't know.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053070634213565753.post-27767312150611228052011-10-04T07:16:00.000-07:002011-10-04T07:38:00.316-07:00SewingI am sewing 2 sock monkeys for my friend in barter for her husband tuning up my sewing machine when it needs it. I think this is a fabulous trade, as does she. (I am contracted to sew extras for her in case she gets invited to birthday parties. I finished one monkey then couldn't find the socks for the second monkey but being in a sewing mood I wanted to do SOMETHING and decided to see if I had fabric in my stash for one of the kids Halloween costumes. I did in fact have dark and light pink fleece that would be perfect for Littlest's Foofa costume. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.families.com/media/yo_gabba_gabba.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://blogs.families.com/media/yo_gabba_gabba.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Foofa is the pink one, and Hubs is going to be DJ Lance Rock (the human) because he knows Littlest will be thrilled beyond belief. His costume will actually be the only one this year that will cost any money. I have fabric available for the other costumes, well I need to decide what I am going to be. But paying for supplies for just one costume is pretty good out of 5. Littlest was SO happy when her costume was made, she actually stood next to the sewing machine to help me feed the fabric through as I sewed it. I did accidentally reverse the colors, but you can see fromt he picture she doesn't mind. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YG4pym_XhCxkpZzeRxKs7FzxKtR1UgeBAeQNqrQZsM9XgPR2ngr1VFsLDAStIsIHbg6jo7DVcN8k1oqXZWNn4fQRDAzbmq_ypuG5xnzhpPzwErRkpEKAnso5P_jY3fYGvMCfwcKv7kg/s1600/336864_10150402176277518_671497517_10065268_2120863566_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YG4pym_XhCxkpZzeRxKs7FzxKtR1UgeBAeQNqrQZsM9XgPR2ngr1VFsLDAStIsIHbg6jo7DVcN8k1oqXZWNn4fQRDAzbmq_ypuG5xnzhpPzwErRkpEKAnso5P_jY3fYGvMCfwcKv7kg/s400/336864_10150402176277518_671497517_10065268_2120863566_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659644265979134514" /></a><br /><br />Then I decided that fleece pants would probably be too hot so I added a strip of dark pink to turn it into a dress. I think the whole thing looks GREAT.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcWTf6jnHpIi366OGauKRw1zIUkR8AHUrw7iHCxylStaV-Wa_Aij-XGnunqc_g5jbPR8J1T7um66M_Lmj04DzaaNkOrKQDXkUIPruB6WvVPoVqiEvi7tVUd15-nSNBw6B_asKiuv0UJ4/s1600/338969_10150403129612518_671497517_10069182_1367074944_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcWTf6jnHpIi366OGauKRw1zIUkR8AHUrw7iHCxylStaV-Wa_Aij-XGnunqc_g5jbPR8J1T7um66M_Lmj04DzaaNkOrKQDXkUIPruB6WvVPoVqiEvi7tVUd15-nSNBw6B_asKiuv0UJ4/s400/338969_10150403129612518_671497517_10069182_1367074944_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659644272731320674" /></a><br /><br /><br />I finally found the socks I was looking for, so when I finish both monkey's I will post a picture, then it's on to sewing Middlest's Wasp outfit, she's a super hero from the cartoon the Avengers. The girls and their Dad watch the show together, they are all really into it. Oldest this year has decided to put her own costume together, it really makes me so proud to watch them craft and use their imagination to make themselves toys, costumes, etc. It may make my house a mess, but it is satisfying to the soul.Any Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06688533405435323183noreply@blogger.com0