tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52723926245147797722024-02-21T00:37:04.500-05:00My Life's Journey: With Mama CampbellJoin Mama Campbell on her journey through mothering 2 beautiful little girls & a handsome little boy while experiencing real life as it happens--no apologies!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-41526849063360967272015-09-21T11:15:00.001-04:002015-09-21T11:20:38.352-04:00Whoops!!! Update desperately needed!I forgot I had a blog here! So much has happened to the Campbells in the 2 years since I last blogged.<br />
<br />
I had the baby. It was a boy born just before Christmas on Dec. 19th at 11:59pm and his name is Benjamin James. He was born in the water at Birth Care Birth Center & was the most amazing drug free birth experience I've had. I'll share his birth story one day. He will be 2 soon & is my little pal during the day. He's quite the daddy's boy though & loves nothing more then to watch sports (any sports mind you) with his dad.<br />
<br />
Sophie, Maddy & Noah are all in school all day now! Sophie started 3rd grade and is loved by everyone. I swear she knows every single person in the school! She's incredibly bright & has a big heart. She just turned 9 (!!!) last week and still loves Monster High!<br />
<br />
Maddy is in 1st grade and really starting to come out of her shell. She has been making a lot of friends and shares all about the adventures she has at school. I cannot believe she's reading and writing now. Wasn't she just a preemie yesterday?! At 6.5 years old, she's in love with everything Frozen (mainly Elsa) and is quite the comedian once she's comfortable in her surroundings.<br />
<br />
Noah is in all day Kindergarden & does so well already! He's an excellent listener and eager to do as the teacher asks. He makes friends easily & has 2 best friends from church, Hunter & Benaiah. They love being rough and tumble boys and are hilarious to watch play!<br />
<br />
Brian started a job last summer at Fox Pool company as a network administrator and loves his position. He also does side computer networking and repair that he has plans of one day pursuing full time. He finally got his own actual truck & we've made use of it quite often already hauling things!<br />
<br />
I'm busy maintaining our new house that we bought last summer after nearly a year of waiting due to it being a complicated "short sale". It was a jungle outside and the inside needed fixed up, but I've worked my butt off and it's awesome. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath rancher with a full attic and semi-finished basement (the water heater broke and flooded the basement before settlement so we had to rip out carpet and drywall etc upon moving in. We have new flooring and are slowly refinishing the basement again). It also has a separate inlaws unit for Brian's mom, Linda. Outside , we have an above ground pool (dark green when we moved in, and swimmable and clear this summer!), about an acre of fenced in yard, a big fire pit, horsebarn, 2 man-made frog ponds, a neat playset for the kids and gardens galore. This year I planted mostly heirloom veggies and my garden thrived. I'll be sad when frost hits in a few weeks and I'll stop being able to go outside and pick my salad off of the plant! Our flower beds were a mess, but I've filled them with annuals and perennials, so now they're something I'm proud to show off.<br />
<br />
I haven't doula-ed since I became fully certified almost 2 years ago now, but I've been keeping up with my knowledge and enjoying the time I took off to be with my young children. I've also started teaching Puggles in AWANA this year (2 & 3 year olds) and it's been so fun! That age ground is a blast to be a part of.<br />
<br />
Last August, just after we moved in & Brian's parents moved in, we lost Brian's dad. He was an incredible man that I wish we had many more years with, but I'm glad he has new lungs now in heaven. He was able to meet all of his grandchildren & the oldest kids have fond memories of J.C. to last for the years ahead. It was a hard transition for all of us here, but I'm very glad that God gave us this house with the inlaws unit already here so we could grieve and move on together.<br />
<br />
It's amazing how God plans out every detail, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time. He is truly awesome! And He's brought some of the best friends we've ever had into our lives as well. We're a part of a small group that meets biweekly, but we see each other way more frequently then that. One of Brian's best buddies leads the small group and is a pastor at our church. If you would've told me 2 years ago that Brian not only goes to church, is involved with a small group, volunteers at church and is best friends with a pastor, I would've laughed at you! God is amazing with house he has blessed our lives.<br />
<br />
The struggles we've faced throughout the years have made us stronger and built up our character. I am so glad that my faith has grown stronger, as have God's blessings.<br />
<br />
I hope that's enough of a quick update for now. There's so much to do everyday, and never enough time to do it! But I'll keep trying to do my best! Blessings to you!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-84270808089472924162013-07-05T11:58:00.001-04:002013-07-05T11:58:28.580-04:00Baby News Well Recieved!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">So I finally shared our exciting news on Facebook yesterday like this:</span><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">"With all of these statuses celebrating Independence Day, I feel compelled to share our joy of celebrating the 4th from the Campbell's!"</span><div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETAfuRSq-f4RckgPn_MvpLNmRZcu6XwPVHEqyHpZRALnFPIeqNXvQ9i4E50VDPWmtgpTgAczEO5xYLUwfq28cFN3m1Opw1H6gKPOe65ozybPjTLZ3fwybLLCiB73DTWlU3oiU14z0Ixg/s640/blogger-image--1939808660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETAfuRSq-f4RckgPn_MvpLNmRZcu6XwPVHEqyHpZRALnFPIeqNXvQ9i4E50VDPWmtgpTgAczEO5xYLUwfq28cFN3m1Opw1H6gKPOe65ozybPjTLZ3fwybLLCiB73DTWlU3oiU14z0Ixg/s640/blogger-image--1939808660.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">And we have received overwhelming support and love. :) It really made me feel good to have so much excitement about another adorable Campbell joining our family. This wasn't exactly the timing we had planned for adding to our family, but God has different plans and everyone who matters to us is happy for us too. :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">And truthfully, this baby won't cost us anything extra except for gas money to dr appointments, as we've already met our deductible this year "thanks" to my allergies/sinus/ear issues & the fact I have a full set of cloth diapers in perfect shape for another babe if not for 2 or 3 more babies, all seasons of clothing for a boy or girl up through age 2+, an infant seat that won't expire for 3 more years, tons of toys/baby carriers/swing/blankets/baby extras/etc from the others & my BFF has already put aside some of her milk for the likely chance that the new babe will need to be supplemented. I also scored a few hundred milk bags at a consignment sale last weekend for $2 to give her. But I have been proactive with trying to build breast tissue and have a solid plan in place for the third trimester to help as well, with a goal of the new babe receiving only breast milk for 6+ months. We can do it!!! And Noah is still nursing every once and a while, so maybe that will help as well. I never thought I'd make it to nearly 3 years of nursing, but here we are. :) Nursing while pregnant is no easy feat, so extra kudos to all of the mamas out there doing it! You all have my deepest respect. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">I've been feeling movements for about 5 weeks now, but they're starting to get stronger. I cannot wait until the kids can feel the baby too. Sophie asks about what he/she is doing and their size all of the time. Maddy & Noah have been fighting over it being a boy or a girl. Maddy insists its going to be a girl with blonde hair & blue eyes named Sarah. Noah says its a brother. We should hopefully find out in about 5 weeks--likely on my birthday for our big ultrasound! What a great way to celebrate the big 3-0! And my mom is planning on being down that week so we can share that moment with her too. I cannot wait!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Just glad for such a positive reception for this sweet babe! :)</span></div></div>Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-82707731208956712052013-06-24T16:51:00.001-04:002013-06-24T16:51:49.919-04:00Life Update!So it's about time I officially announce our big news on the blog! If you've noticed the updated "about me" section, you'll see that we're expecting baby #4! I'm due Dec. 22, so this new babe may be a Christmas baby! Pregnancy-wise, I've been feeling fine. A bit of nausea in the early weeks & I've been easily exhausted, but I really can't complain about feeling terrible. <br />
<br />
However, I've been sick with a sinus/ear/throat issue since Mother's Day, which I'm FINALLY getting to go to an ENT to check me out tomorrow. I've been on 4+ different meds my family doctor prescribed before sending a referral out. I've been counting down the days to get some answers/relief!<br />
<br />
Our "blessing" of a car turned out to be not as great as we thought. It's been in the shop 3x since we bought it for things that supposedly checked out fine. So we pretty much bought the truck twice and ate up all of our savings. :( But at least it has room to carry all of us (and the new babe when he/she arrives). I'm just praying we can save enough again for a 2nd car, even if it's just a commuter car for now. I'm also praying Brian finds a new job, as some of his coworkers are being incredibly rude about the new babe. One of them keeps telling Brian that he should've just "had it taken care of", meaning murder a tiny baby though abortion. Brian reminds him that it's not an option and he will be taking care of it once it's born and for the rest of it's life, but this ignorant guy keeps at it almost daily. He's getting tired of this behavior & I just pray another position opens up somewhere (closer to home would be even better!).<br />
<br />
The kids summer vacation has been going great so far. They've been playing outside a lot, having fun and today we even went to the new splash pad our community put in. They all had a blast & took some awesome naps too (hence the time for a quick update here!). :)<br />
<br />
I had better go start some dinner for the troops, but hopefully will be writing more again soon! :)Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-1669930745227779192013-04-15T10:37:00.000-04:002013-04-15T10:37:56.813-04:00God Hath Provided!We've been praying for months--probably a year+ now--for a new car. Well, last Thursday I get a text from Brian that he wants to check out a Dodge Durango that's on a car lot about a mile from his work. We finally got our refund check last week after waiting about 10-12 weeks for it, so we've looked at a ton of other cars, and even almost financed something else, except that the payment was about $50 more than we could do. We've been praying & a bunch of people at church have been praying and I knew God would help us when the time was right. So Brian checked out the truck & it was perfect. Plenty of room for all of us, good condition, strong engine/tranny and it was even less then we had saved! No monthly payments required! So after talking it through & saying a quick prayer, we decided to buy it! We still have a bit saved toward a down payment of a van for me to replace our current old/broken car. I know God will provide for us again. We have prayer warriors prayerfully working on it. I am working on keeping my faith strong that God will lead us in the direction where we need to go & will show us where he wants us to work so we can finally move out and on in our lives. He is ever faithful!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-47899112925026644652013-02-26T16:53:00.001-05:002013-03-01T09:13:43.736-05:00Updating after a long break...I haven't updated in months, but there's been a lot of amazing things happening. Bringing God back to the center of my life has really helped me through some dark feelings as well. It's hard to not feel depressed when you're living with family, drive a dying car, and are still drowning financially despite your husband working and you sticking to a tight budget. Life has been HARD. But life has also been amazing. The kids & I have started going to a new church that's only 5 minutes away from the house. And God has really been working in our lives and it seems that those feelings of being "stuck" were from being "stuck" far away from Him. My kids adore going to church every week & to Awana on Wednesday nights. I love church, our pastor, and our church family. I love Wednesday night Bible study, Thursday night praise team practice & getting to fellowship with fellow believers almost daily.<br />
<br />
Both girls are in school now, but different schedules, so there's lots of running around, but I usually only have 2 kids to tend from 8-3:30pm now. hehe. Sophie has been in afternoon kindergarten since summer and is THRIVING. She's completed all of her "end of kindergarten goals" before Christmas & is now in some specialized extra learning groups to keep her love of learning going. Her teacher loves her and Sophie has really done well making and maintaining friendships (and a boyfriend named Damian!). I'm so proud of her! Maddy is in a morning preschool program (Head Start) since early January & is growing leaps and bounds already. She is learning independence away from me & didn't cry today when I dropped her off. She's been crying for a few minutes most days, but it's getting shorter and shorter in duration. She is also starting to sing independently and discovering more of her voice. She can write a few letters and knows her phone number now too and is making friends! I was so worried she would have trouble making friends, but she proved me wrong! Way to go Maddy! Her speech is growing too. We've been reading tons and tons of books since starting story time every week (which sadly, Maddy misses due to preschool at the same time now), but slowly Maddy is learning about sentence structure and words are getting easier to understand (mostly). My 4 year old is growing into a little girl now and I am so proud of her!<br />
<br />
Noah had a vocabulary EXPLOSION!! He talks SO SO SO much! I swear he talks more then Sophie did at his age. This kid even talks in his sleep sometimes. He finally night weaned and has been sleeping much better at night now too. I'm grateful for that. Now if only he could go to sleep on his own. One thing at a time...one thing at a time. He's potty learning, and is mostly consistent all day (including naps & short car rides), so I'm hoping we're nearing the end of day time diapers for the time being. He might be able to go to Head Start in the fall, so aside from potty training, I am trying to get him used to being watched by someone else without me there. He doesn't mind if I leave him home with Brian when I go to church, but he has a fit if he has to be in the nursery without me for more then 20 minutes. I'm praying we can start a church nursery ministry, so we can have consistent helpers he can get used to instead of switching between me and a friend all of the time. It would be amazing to be able to actually listen to a sermon on Sunday morning as it's being spoken, instead of a recording later or not at all.<br />
<br />
Brian still enjoys his job, though they are low on work right now and he's still drastically underpaid. I pray that he either finds a new job or more work will come his way so he won't have to worry about how we will pay our bills, get a different car or finally get ahead. I am faithfully praying for peace in that area & know God will show us the way. I've also been praying that God speaks to Brian's heart and he joins us at church soon. He told me last week that he would like to join us at church on Easter, so that's a start! One step at a time!<br />
<br />
I've been busy with making cakes/cupcakes/cake pops for church events, running kids all over the place, and trying to keep on top of the housework, while still eating as healthy as possible and throwing a bit of exercise in every once and a while. I feel spiritually renewed and want my body to feel renewed as well, so I'm hoping to lose weight to become a healthier version of me. And to set a healthier example for my kids. I also want to be able to be the best doula I can be. I haven't been actively seeking out winter births because honestly, I hate the anxiety winter causes me. I hate driving in snow, worrying about weather, finding childcare to watch the kids despite weather...it just stresses me out a whole lot. So, I'm finishing my certification stuff (still need to read that last required reading book!) until it gets warmer so I can find clients again. I also hope to be able to teach childbirth classes in the future as well as become a lactation counselor. It's frustrating that this area has very little in the way of natural birth resources, but perhaps this is a need that I am here to help satisfy. :)<br />
<br />
God is working in our lives. Things will continue to change and look up for us. I feel like this year is our year!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-64710610127246006752012-09-20T11:05:00.001-04:002012-09-20T11:05:16.681-04:00Random ThoughtsLife is busy. Our routine is getting a little easier finally, though naps for Maddy & Noah still are not totally consistent yet. We'll get there. It's still annoying having pm kindergarten (if you're reading this, sign your kid up early for kinder so they'll have better chances of am kinder--we literally signed up a few weeks before school started, so we were put wherever there was space), since I feel like we can get nothing decent accomplished in such short blocks of time. Like I want to go check out the damage from recent storms to our storage unit, but it's an hour away. So that means round trip 2 hours, so even only spending an hour there means I'll likely be rushing home to make sure I'm there for Sophie's bus to drop her off (I was late 1x because I went to walmart after dropping her at school and rushing back to pick her up on time, but afternoon traffic got in the way). Ugh! And now that we signed her up for Saturday morning swimming lessons, I have to make sure I'm not doing involved things then as well. Just annoying that's all.<br />
<br />
Sophie turned 6 on Sunday. Where has the time gone?! Wasn't she just my little colicky baby like yesterday??? She's so grown up and such a sweet girl. She cares so much for everyone and loves to help me and her teacher. My mom said she not only looks almost exactly like me, but that her personality is so much like I was as a child, she has to double take sometimes. Yeah, I'm proud! :o) She celebrated Saturday with Brian's parents, his sister and our nephew and Sunday with my mom and extended family at my Mom Mom's picnic. Sophie & Maddy played all day with my cousins (9, 5, & almost 4) and slept SO well Sunday night! lol! We are having 1 more gathering for her birthday for my dad's family on Sunday. Sophie's counting down the days of course! I cannot wait until we have a place of our own where we can just invite everyone down for 1 birthday instead of having to break it up 3x and be more stressful.<br />
<br />
Maddy and Noah have been really good pals since Sophie started school. They didn't really play too much together (or gang up together!) before then, but now they're best buds. I think Maddy gets a kick out of telling Noah to say new words, so she's trying to say more words too. She's definitely not talking like other 3 year olds do, but since I can't afford private therapy, Head Start won't call me back and she can't get reevaluated for a few months, we just wait and keep reading books, repeating words, etc. Noah's language is exploding though! He will repeat everything and it's really helping him speak a lot!<br />
<br />
I'm finding it a bit difficult to be inspired to read my required reading birth books lately for my doula class. For example, I LOVED reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth a few years ago, so I got her Birth Matters book to read for my class requirements and it's hard getting into it. I think it's only because my brain knows I have to write a paper after finishing it so it's being difficult. I just wish I could pour through them like I know I normally would. I need to do that and find 1 more birth to support and I'll be finished with my requirements! It's exciting to think that I'm almost certified though!<br />
<br />
It's still challenging living with my dad & step mom. I love them, I am grateful for them opening their doors to us, but I HATE 2 of their pets!! They have an old 15 year old dog who they inherited from an aunt. The dog, Holly, barks all the time and has woken the kids several times. She also is unreliable to go pee or poop outside and thus it ends up on the carpet. Gross. But not as gross as my step mom's 15 year old cat Hobbes, who was born with half a brain. He is disgusting, plain and simple. He cannot take care of himself and his fur is matted and falls out in chunks all over the place. He cannot climb into the litter box very well, and sprays everywhere or half the time he cannot control himself and poops all over the hallway. He is utterly disgusting and I just pray that death finds him soon. My dad hates him too, but since my step mom rescued him as a kitten, she can't just put him down. He's mean and meows if we're near him at all. Brian is also very allergic to him. I have allergies too, but I must be getting used to it since I don't take my meds anymore and just deal with it. I'm debating starting a kickstarter fund to have him euthanized! lol! We all like their other cat, EB, since she's nice, clean and quiet. And the kids like the hermit crab we got my dad a few years ago! ;o) It's just frustrating dealing with 2 gross pets who are probably only still living so they can annoy the crap out of us. It is what it is.<br />
<br />
We're also praying for a new car. We're trying to save money to buy something more reliable and so we have 2 cars (at least temporarily since my car is on the verge of dying. boo!). We were talking about how much we miss our van the other day, so we're hoping that life sends us another one soon. It got way better gas mileage for one thing and the space was awesome so we didn't have tons of hitting and screaming. But if we get another sedan, we will make it work. As long as the turn signals work, it doesn't need brakes, the parking brake light doesn't constantly ring, the windows work, the interior lining isn't falling off, and the transmission is fine--all stuff that's going on w/my car currently--I'll be happy!<br />
<br />
Ok, enough typing! Must go get the kiddos lunch before I need to take Sophie to school and try to figure out how to spend the next 3 hours. ;o)Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-20843841842768561882012-09-02T23:56:00.002-04:002012-09-02T23:56:41.272-04:00Slowing Down...I feel like I've been going non stop for weeks now...probably because I have been. Getting Sophie signed up for school, getting the "must haves" on her new school list, moving the necessities to my dad's house, getting his house settled for 5 more people there (I'm not lying when I say it's the size of an apartment. yikes!), getting our stuff semi-organized, cleaning and vacuuming daily because of the disgusting cat that Judy has, making lists, more lists & more lists!!! I feel like there is always something that needs to be done and never enough time to do it.<br />
<br />
I'm about halfway done with my doula coursework, but don't have "me" time to complete everything right now. I'm so bummed about that. I just want to finish and only have to wait to support a mama to have her baby (I need 1 more birth to meet the certification requirements). All in due time, right? <br />
<br />
Oh, and I know I need to start planning ahead for Christmas projects, so I have time to get them done. That will be the key to our Christmas this year...slow and steady so we can afford things and so we won't be scrambling at the end like last year. Luckily, I was smart enough to pin some things on pinterest this spring (when I had time apparently!) for Christmas gifts, so I have an idea of what all I need to get done. <br />
<br />
And then there's the meal planning! Oh how I HATE planning meals! I don't like cooking meals. I just don't. I <strike>like</strike>, no, love baking!! Just not cooking. And these people want to eat every day! Jeesh! So I've been trying to plan meals out for more then 2 days at a time and am doing a crappy job at it so far. I need to find something that works to feed 4 adults & 3 kids around the same time everyday and it still be healthy/affordable. Does anything like that exist anywhere? It needs to!!<br />
<br />
And Sophie started school last week too! She LOVES it! And has been counting down the summer to go to school. Heck, she's counting down the days this weekend until she can go back. Only my kid would wish away vacation so she can go learn! :op But boy does that throw a wrench into things. She goes from 12:30-3:30 roughly, so I have a small chunk of time in the morning to feed the kids twice (breakfast & lunch), get them ready, do some small chores/errands and then off to drop Sophie at school. Maddy & Noah cried so hard when we dropped her off the first day, so we went to the park afterwards and now they expect that! lol! So if we don't do the park, we have a short amount of play time, naps (hopefully. They've been taking totally crappy naps lately! And super late in the day too. ugh!), mom gets some more small chores done or *gasp* has time to check her email!! and then it's time to wake the littles up and walk to the bus stop to pick up Sophie. Walk back home, snack time, Judy gets home, think of something for dinner before dad & Brian get home, get dinner cleaned up, baths for the kids, books and bed. And by that point, I'm exhausted too and want to go to bed, but stay up too late trying to catch up on everything else and squeeze a chapter of my doula book in if I can. I hope we can get a better routine figured out soon so I can make better use of my time. If I get up any earlier, I'm in everyone else's way (3 adults getting ready for work in the morning w/only 1 bathroom gets hectic!), so I just hope & pray we settle into a better routine soon!!<br />
<br />
I am SO ready to SLOW DOWN! Even just for a day or two. I'm kinda looking forward to winter for that reason, but am trying hard to not wish the beautiful end of summer and fall days away. This is my favorite time of year and I want to somehow cherish it too. Getting pulled in every which way is just getting so dang tiring! But the show must go on.<br />
<br />
All in due time...all in due time...Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-74564484530068813832012-08-13T14:45:00.001-04:002012-08-13T14:46:48.939-04:00Career GoalsA while ago, I realized what finally want to do for a career (aside
<br />
from motherhood) & how I can use my social work degree at the same
<br />
time. I want to become a doula & lactation consultant. It fits my
<br />
passions perfectly, my desire to help vulnerable people & uses all of
<br />
the skills I learned from my social work classes. It's simply perfect.
<br />
<br />
I've been supporting friends/family through births for almost a year
<br />
now, but I wanted to make it official and get the certification &
<br />
training to get better. My mom believes in me & what I am doing, so
<br />
she helped me pay for my doula certification class which I'm about
<br />
halfway through now. She said it was an investment in the future,
<br />
which I completely agree with. Reading & learning in this class has
<br />
further proven my desire to support pregnant & laboring mamas. It
<br />
feels so incredibly right. And I finally witnessed a completely
<br />
natural physiological labor and birth when I was doula-ing for a
<br />
friend a week as a half ago. It was incredible to witness no
<br />
interventions and her body go through each stage of labor like a
<br />
textbook. I'll blog about that soon for sure. I also felt honored to
<br />
be welcomed into her birth space & learned a lot for the future from
<br />
it as well.
<br />
<br />
I also realized that I need to find a way to become a lactation
<br />
consultant. I have helped so many friends and friends of friends
<br />
through messages, texts & even while visiting after birth. Apparently
<br />
I'm the safe go to gal for everyone to ask a bazillion questions. I
<br />
don't feel bothered helping them learn their baby & how to meet their
<br />
needs. I actually feel empowered by giving them the best information I
<br />
can and supporting them through a challenging time. I finally found a
<br />
local LLL meeting place to start attending meetings, but with the
<br />
sudden move we're likely doing, I will need to start over and look for
<br />
another chapter to attend. I'm hoping to gain some experience with
<br />
them and eventually through WIC (though York county does not have a
<br />
peer counselor program--maybe it's something to push to start one!). I
<br />
wish I could afford to get the classes on my own, but I think the
<br />
experience from these programs will help me gain confidence talking
<br />
and interacting with people again.
<br />
<br />
It's exciting to find a way to use my degree & hopefully help
<br />
supplement my family's income (eventually) in a field that I feel so
<br />
passionate and knowledgeable in!!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-54248475558282092892012-08-12T20:07:00.000-04:002012-08-12T20:12:01.847-04:00Praise & Prayer Requests: Job & Home RelatedSo we have a praise to report. Brian was offered a job on Thursday & he starts tomorrow! It's great hours, and there's potential to move upward. The downside is that the pay isn't great (better then no money though!) and the fact that it's far from Brian's parent's house. He will have to stay at my dad's house during the week to make any money otherwise all of his paycheck basically goes to gas. Once we could get a 2nd car, we could travel more to see Brian after Sophie's school day is over and such, but who knows when that might be. So in an effort to keep our family unit together, he asked my dad & step-mom if they would let us stay here with them until we get money saved and such to move out on our own again. That wouldn't be too big of a deal if it was still summer, but Sophie is about to start kindergarden in 2 weeks, so that throws a big wrench into the plan. We would have to reregister Sophie here, which means more stress for me--figuring out what she needs in her new school, how to get her to and from (we only have 1 car & they only provide transportation 1 way whereas our current district provides transportation both ways), and how to prepare her to not go to school with her friends or really see them much anymore. She likes being at Oma & Opa's house for a few days, then gets bored and misses her friends, so how will she handle not seeing them for weeks at a time?<br />
<br />
And after 3 years of resisting putting down roots or making connections where we are, I finally have a very good friend, I've been making connections with the LLL people and WIC people to help me get started with the lactation consultant stuff, and making friends with the neighbors. All of our stuff is there, so we would need to move things out here, which would require more gas to get there & back too. Plus the fact that it's hard to live with 7 people in a teeny tiny house (it's a 1 level 2 bedroom, 1 bath house that's basically the size of an apartment but at least has a yard compared to living in a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse with common areas of grass, but no yard) with pets and carpet that I'm allergic to so my allergies go crazy.<br />
<br />
I guess it's my anxiety really kicking in and being afraid of change. What happens if something goes south with Brian's job? Then we're stuck here with Sophie in school here until he finds something else. Or what if it takes a long time to even have money saved up enough to move out on our own? He will not be making much money at all, and while I hope we get some part time job hours still, it won't be enough to help out much when we still have bills to pay off to just be back in the positive again. Ugh.<br />
<br />
But a plus to being here, my dad & step-mom are amazing grandparents and love and support in every way they can. We're closer to our church & closer to my mom when she visits (and easier visits since Sophie will only be 45 minutes away compared to 2 extra hours so we could meet up in the morning or afternoon depending on when Sophie has school).<br />
<br />
So many major decisions to make this week & I frankly wish I didn't have to do it. Any thoughts of encouragement/advice/prayers very welcomed!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-78118394787705171602012-08-06T08:44:00.000-04:002012-08-06T08:44:00.090-04:00Happy 3rd World Breastfeeding Week to Us!!I cannot believe we are celebrating our 3rd <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2010/08/celebrating-world-breastfeeding-week.html">World Breastfeeding Week</a>! Noah turned 2 on July 28th & is still nursing several times a day. I'm grateful for that time with him to reconnect too and I know it's helping him grow, even if he still eats like a bird. He is healthy, smart & quite the snuggler! I am SO SO SO proud that we made it the full 2 years that the World Health Organization recommends & I don't see us ending anytime soon. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I really cannot believe we have made it so far! It's like those <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-new-best-friends.html">early days/weeks/months</a> of struggle have really paid off. <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2011/08/random-nursing-toddler-musings.html">Nursing a toddler</a> is so incredibly rewarding. He says please when he wants to nurse, he will choose which boob he wants to start breastfeeding from like I'm a boobie buffet, tells me "a now one" when he's ready to switch sides and he giggles, claps and says "YAY!!! Nuh-Nuh's!!!" when I say I'm ready to nurse (which cracks Brian up!)! My boy is a boob man for sure! LOL!<br />
<br />
Another perk of "extended breastfeeding" is that Noah can be comforted or lulled to sleep pretty easily with some boob time & despite the nursing toddler gymnastics from time to time, it's really sweet getting to snuggle my little boy so much still. I also get a kick out of nursing in front of family, friends or even strangers. I'm so comfortable <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2010/11/nip-nursing-in-public.html">nursing in public</a> now, it's almost weird not to! I keep waiting for someone to roll their eyes or make a comment, but as we enter our 3rd year of nursing, we have not encountered anything major.<br />
<br />
I'm so proud of our accomplishment & really hope to be able to encourage other IGT or low milk supply moms to keep it up! Breastfeeding is so much more then the amount of milk you make! <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2011/01/bewb-obsession.html">Every drop</a> that your little one gets counts, so stick with it! I'm SO SO SO glad I did!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-26569774479351949172012-08-05T13:39:00.001-04:002012-08-05T17:32:29.272-04:00Where has the summer gone?!I was looking through Sophie's school supply list & realized that she has 3 more weeks until school starts & her summer comes to an end. It made me so sad & so proud in the same moment. She will only be gone for a few hours (they do half day kindergarten here), but will be growing up without my help. Sophie has always been incredibly independent & makes friends easily, but I'm a bit worried that her friendliness will be taken advantage of by other kids. She's been so extremely emotional in the past 6 months or so & I guess I just worry she wont be able to handle them if someone is mean, won't play with her or is not sharing (her triggers for tears here). I know you can't protect them forever, but darnit! I want to! ;o)
<br />
<br />
Maddy us adding new words to her vocabulary slowly but surely. I've been working so hard reading to her, practicing saying words & phrases properly & we sing a lot of songs. She's such a sweet little thing & very shy and quiet like I always was. I'm hoping that by her finding her voice more and more, she will gain more confidence. For example, she regressed from going to Sunday school confidently with the bigger kids, to requesting the church nursery again, so maybe she just needs more time to get it back. But she's been so super snuggly lately too, which I am enjoying.
<br />
<br />
Noah just turned 2 a week ago & acts so much older. But he's only 21.7lbs & 31.5", so he looks much younger, so he totally surprises people all of the time by how much he talks. He has entered the copycat stage & repeats everything anyone says. He is even stringing words together...close to catching up to Maddy! He finally is sleeping through most of the night & sometimes he even sleeps in his "bed" (crib mattress on the floor with Elmo bedding in it). He never lasts the entire night, but baby steps in the right direction!!
<br />
<br />
I was hoping our housing & life situations would've improved over the summer, but that's not in the cards at the moment. It is getting so hard trusting God to provide & guide us, when what I'd rather do is complain & cry. But He has us where He wants us to be right now & I must remember that when life starts to feel impossible again. I was feeling down the other night for having to spend my birthday money (turning 29 on Wednesday) on bills instead of sneakers which I really need. But I soon realized how blessed I am to even have my mom care & support me after all of her struggles. I am blessed to have bills because that means we are still living on this Earth. God is shaping & molding us, but for what I don't know yet. I just hope He makes His plan a bit easier to understand soon. ;o)
<br />
<br />
So this summer has gone by too quickly, but I'm grateful for all that we have experienced during it. Continued prayers for better jobs (and hopefully a WIC peer counselor position open for me soon!) would be appreciated!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-30790865022707106572012-06-08T21:59:00.004-04:002012-06-08T21:59:37.697-04:00Busy little bee...I've been a busy little bee lately working on sewing projects that have been sitting in a pile forever. Hopefully I'll remember upload pictures from the camera and post them of the projects I'm working on soon. I've made the girls each 2 dresses, a bunch of stuff for a friend's baby due next month, a dress & cover up for me & am starting 2 more dresses for each of the girls. I have a ton more left to do and things to make for Noah too, but there just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done and still take care of the kids & the house. So I keep chugging along. <br />
<br />
Part of me loves sewing because it reminds me of my mom and it's a way to bond with her, even if I'm not in the same room as her. I have some great memories of her sitting in front of her baby blue Singer, sewing with such love and passion and making incredible things for my brothers and I. She made gorgeous Easter dresses for me and I hope that one day I'll be even half as good as she is. :o)Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-1161764042237843292012-05-27T11:12:00.000-04:002012-05-28T11:16:50.572-04:00Repressing the Desire to HelpSometimes I hate that I'm a caring person who desires to help people. I hate it because I don't have the money to help them, but the desire doesn't go away. It usually gets stronger and I can't stop thinking about it. Right now, it's on my heart to help a friend who lost most of her cloth diaper stash in a dryer fire about 2 weeks ago. She has an 18 (almost 19) month old son & is expecting a baby girl this summer and was drying diapers when it happened. Thank God that no one was hurt & the fire was contained to the laundry room and a bit of the backroom. She said insurance will help with some of the expenses, but who knows when that will be and they need diapers like yesterday. She has 4 pockets left & 1 newborn fitted that was spared, but everything else was burned or PUL melted in the heat or just ruined. They lost a baby swing out there too, but I found one of those on freecycle the other day and she said her hubby picked it up yesterday. She has been battling depression throughout this pregnancy & I just wish I could do more to help her. I just want to help and give her some hope darnit!<br />
<br />
I spent the morning (skipping church because we woke up late! shhh!) looking on fb and diaperswappers for ultra cheap diapers, but I just can't afford to buy her what I'd love to. I'm going to try to make a fitted or two out of tshirts we have lying around, but my sewing skills aren't grand yet and I'm terrified of working with elastic for some crazy reason. I just hate having this extremely strong desire to help and not having the finances to do so. I've been praying like crazy for her and her family, but sometimes it feels like prayers just are not enough. <br />
<br />
And I know my family could use prayers so we can get out from under this rock of extreme financial hardship too, as we're down to just Brian working sporadic part time hours now. I wish there was a way to make money from home that wasn't babysitting kids. I hate watching someone's kids, getting used to a little extra income and loving on the kiddo & then them moving away suddenly. I guess that's why I wish to become a birth doula, since it's a way to help someone (in a field I am utterly passionate about) and receive some payment for without tons of time away from my family except for when the mama is in labor. :) It will happen someday, but somedays seem so far away!<br />
<br />
Ok, enough venting. Must go make lunch for the boy & be productive. The girls are with my dad & Judy in the mountains, so it's strange having time to do stuff w/out everyone up my rear every moment. Must take advantage of this break! haha.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: After sharing my friend's story a few places online, I was able to get her a BUNCH of pockets, flats, a few covers and I made her a wet bag. Plus some baby girl clothes. I am constantly amazed by the generosity and decency of people out there. Especially fellow cloth diapering mamas being amazing!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-30309593827720141302012-05-04T10:38:00.003-04:002012-05-04T10:45:55.911-04:00Speech Evaluation Results<br />
I'm frustrated. Maddy "finally" had her speech evaluation on Tuesday that I've been fighting to get for 2 months now. She was a gem & followed directions perfectly. Perhaps a little too perfectly. She was having a good speech day so I was a bit nervous to begin with. I hate that she has good days and bad days. :(<br />
<br />
Apparently she's on the low side of average (around the 35%), but state requirements to be offered services are for those at 25% and below. So no help for Maddy. Never mind that she NEVER uses sentences, only phrases or short commands. But apparently since she can say the word spoon today (normally she just says "poon" but today she rocked it), that takes her score high enough to not need help. Never mind that most people aside from Sophie & me can understand her and how frustrated she gets when we can't understand her. Or how the neighbor kids won't play with just her since they can't understand her either (they'll play w/her if Sophie's there, but even then sometimes exclude her--even kids that are also 3!).<br />
<br />
The "advice" that the speech ladies gave me was to read more (how?! I have 3 kids and we read a lot as it is!) and to correct her when she says a word wrong or doesn't use a sentence. I try to do that already, so I don't know what else to try. If she's still having speech issues in 6 months, I'm supposed to have her reevaluated.<br />
<br />
I am SOOOOOO frustrated!! I almost want to cry! I just want to be able to understand my daughter & want others to do the same. I dont want her to be behind in life even more. The poor girl had a rough start to life & now cant catch a break. Noah is only slightly behind her in speech & hes not even 2 yet! There has to be other things i can do for her, but I don't know what. So if anyone knows of programs to use or books or ANYTHING else to try, please let me know! I'm going to google to look for things to try too, but if anyone has a program they recommend, please let me know! I'm desperate to try anything to help her and give her the break she so deserves! I can't give up on her, even if the so called "professionals" did. :(Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-38629679569669996272012-04-28T21:34:00.002-04:002012-04-29T12:47:23.360-04:00Still homelessI feel like we don't have any place to belong lately. I've been praying a lot for peace and comfort to withstand the situation we're in, but lately it's just been SO hard not yelling at my mother in law. She treats her son horribly and is downright mean and cruel most of the time we're here, I just hate it. I wish she could see how much she hurts him and try to heal those wounds, but no. She pushes the knife in a bit further. Brian has a parttime job at a local radio station (and one w/a game stop store that he gets like no hours for anymore)& after working all week, long hours most days actually, he came home & was greeted with sass and annoyance by her. I'm so grateful he has a job, even if the pay's terrible & it's not too many hours. It's a job! And it brings him a lot of joy doing & he's good at it too. His attitude is drastically different & he's not as mean or snappy. That is, while we're at my dad's house. The minute we come back to his parents and his mom starts digging into him, it's back to cranky Brian again. I wish we could stay at my dad's house full time, but there's just not enough room in that house. And they have cats which make our allergies go nuts & I have to take meds to keep the allergies at bay which in turns makes me so sleepy and lethargic while I"m there that I don't feel like doing anything. I know my heart and mind are aching for a home of our own, but we're stuck waiting for God to show us where that home will be.<br />
<br />
I dream of a someday house a lot. One on a big plot of land, so there's room for my gardens & even a few chickens running in the yard. And with plenty of room for my kids to play and explore & even neighbors with kids not too far away to play with. There'd be a small cottage at the end of the lane for my mom to live in. A garage for Brian to have his truck & do manly car working stuff in it. A large enough downstairs to hold our family & friends for birthday parties. And most importantly, room for my family to be a family. I am dying to not be judged for how I wash the dishes or clean the toilet, getting guilt for making dinner for my family that doesn't include 3 different vegetables, getting attitude for my kids having toys on the floor while they're playing with them or just not having space to breathe!<br />
<br />
I cannot believe it will almost be 3 years that we've been here. It's so depressing to think about. I see all of my friends and family going about their daily lives in homes of their own & it takes everything in me to not be jealous. I'm jealous of families with more then 1 car darnit! Or even friends who get to pay off their college loans. I wish so bad that I could pay off my debt every month and see those numbers go down instead of the interest make them go up higher. I cannot defer anymore & it just sucks.<br />
<br />
I'm also frustrated that I finally figured out what I want to do with my life. I want to become a doula & lactation consultant. I have such a passion for these fields & think it would be the perfect blending for my social work degree (one of my professors agreed too!). Just one problem. I can't afford it right now. There are no WIC Peer Counselors programs in my county or the next county either, and I don't have $1000+ just lying around to get certified. I finally found a passion that I cannot stop thinking about, but no way to act on it. Just depressing.<br />
<br />
I try to not let myself get down most of the time. Try to focus on the positives & thank God for our blessings. Today just was rough I guess. Hopefully next week will go better as we'll be at my dad's again & at least we all feel loved and appreciated there. God, just please help us get through the weekend & make it there!!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-39683011498633386962012-04-19T12:45:00.000-04:002012-04-19T12:45:00.286-04:00FINALLY!!I finally got ahold of the EI people and we FINALLY have an appointment in May set up for Maddy's speech evaluation! Thank God! I'm actually excited to have her evaluated so we can have a better idea of what we will need to do to help her. The poor girl wants to communicate and talk, but something just isn't working right for her to get it out. Oh I hope we can find something that will work well for her!! Please pray that we do & that we get some answers finally!! C'mon May!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-22038996011201865242012-04-17T13:58:00.001-04:002012-04-17T13:58:41.576-04:00Stay & Say Cheese!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I still haven't mastered getting them to sit still for a picture...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiVwHjfRIsRWGHcE8-uX99hDaY7dclEtti1dZ4vrhKi1MG0AoL5AY6rbpKKYCR40rShKMu0Dv7kOLw0mmyXS4GQ1Rfx_dV_UUUK6WtS_1PEo3qlWA2a-uMoYLqXWEUNxnI53mCuhDGRg/s1600/THESE+ONES+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiVwHjfRIsRWGHcE8-uX99hDaY7dclEtti1dZ4vrhKi1MG0AoL5AY6rbpKKYCR40rShKMu0Dv7kOLw0mmyXS4GQ1Rfx_dV_UUUK6WtS_1PEo3qlWA2a-uMoYLqXWEUNxnI53mCuhDGRg/s320/THESE+ONES+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0DKg0wgJhOxxy80-TTGJKF7CRhOOAILcyrMz5p0hxj5E0Gffs9aewzC0fCW20637PRYcQjEMF23TEmV6Ey-9unbSmhaUQVZ4O_94715yvjGKXl8p5TdHdHCoi7NDxI330YBToLmw53Q/s1600/THESE+ONES+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0DKg0wgJhOxxy80-TTGJKF7CRhOOAILcyrMz5p0hxj5E0Gffs9aewzC0fCW20637PRYcQjEMF23TEmV6Ey-9unbSmhaUQVZ4O_94715yvjGKXl8p5TdHdHCoi7NDxI330YBToLmw53Q/s320/THESE+ONES+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsRcONgBTF1uHs3i6nqSqdqNamTapWlHX39zk8G8RznsCTJPd2jd8TNwiPmj8E5Sit8H4gmY9Az0QSvbec4nftjGc9DT6B1lJssLE4q-UZMDnVhg-dccataRhter5HaU3HSWBByG1DAA/s1600/THESE+ONES+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsRcONgBTF1uHs3i6nqSqdqNamTapWlHX39zk8G8RznsCTJPd2jd8TNwiPmj8E5Sit8H4gmY9Az0QSvbec4nftjGc9DT6B1lJssLE4q-UZMDnVhg-dccataRhter5HaU3HSWBByG1DAA/s320/THESE+ONES+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWqgUCYM98Udf_xGje_Gn6brhEXMjQrgdvV8lNHENOnzj0jqmXWbTh60xP87ZvrQKW7kccmULupDSJClrfIYVj9zGVyX8J5aasXu0ltJqPsi9iYUdqboAA8OKYDYu_6wFw4Uyx849I2k/s1600/THESE+ONES+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWqgUCYM98Udf_xGje_Gn6brhEXMjQrgdvV8lNHENOnzj0jqmXWbTh60xP87ZvrQKW7kccmULupDSJClrfIYVj9zGVyX8J5aasXu0ltJqPsi9iYUdqboAA8OKYDYu_6wFw4Uyx849I2k/s320/THESE+ONES+(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-76902077227650848262012-03-28T13:15:00.002-04:002012-03-28T16:07:12.239-04:00Speech FrustrationsI'm starting to get very frustrated. Maddy has speech delays. Her pedi wants her to get some help finally after months of me pressing that her limited vocab and lack of sentences isn't age appropriate. So I've been told to contact the IE people & you know what? They aren't responding to my calls!!!!! I'm so frustrated! I've been trying for almost 2 months now to just get her assessed after originally playing phone tag for 3 days, they just won't return any of my calls. Its been 3 weeks since they've called me back! I want to get Maddy help that she needs and deserves. I want to be able to understand what she's trying to say better. I want her to not be so frustrated when she's trying to tell us something or get mad she has to repeat something a million times before we figure out what she's trying to say. Noah's speech is catching up to where Maddy is & it's not fair for her to have to suffer. I'm reading to her, engaging her and we're getting her to repeat words/phrases if we can. We also try to get her to sing songs. I feel like I'm failing her by not getting her help & I feel like these people who can help are failing her for not responding to my calls. I don't know where else to go or who else to contact or what else I can do at home with her. I'm just so FRUSTRATED!!!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-73154134834049865072012-02-17T16:41:00.001-05:002012-02-17T16:57:18.416-05:00Long time no update!It's been a LOONG time since the last update. Whoops. Well, we had a good Christmas. 5 different "Christmas" events. The kids were spoiled by family & I made them some gifts with fabric & stuff I had stock piled, since we just didn't have the money to buy them anything. They loved it all! :o) It also gave me more confidence in my sewing, so hopefully I'll work up the courage to make more stuff!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm9iLpOPjlRwRXholJ3T5QFEEqxsQH8MJQ0B0h9XdOpU4zpfigDLPm6nRzbFPu_P4-u3GDuHFdiTDtj_EItGWznn0UXmvpjhLRP6Fv7J9p3usiMq5LNUhxNeOm5XTL-Dcp1HHWElCJJY/s1600/stuff+I+made+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm9iLpOPjlRwRXholJ3T5QFEEqxsQH8MJQ0B0h9XdOpU4zpfigDLPm6nRzbFPu_P4-u3GDuHFdiTDtj_EItGWznn0UXmvpjhLRP6Fv7J9p3usiMq5LNUhxNeOm5XTL-Dcp1HHWElCJJY/s320/stuff+I+made+(1).jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">top left: 2 purses for the girls<br />
top right: soft bag for Noah<br />
bottom: 2 crayon rolls for the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDylcv3h1gzO4DoIr2EvZebtzOdV851ctyaCOKNKeCfgfs_-uOs52TDjEeBf9z_1EpX5VW_AdQBu4A1flsqGaMVcw8cFjEd5Xoxwm1iHOIxFESeexKoqKBldBgIWUC2VjgSr_qj9SMtdE/s1600/stuff+I+made+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDylcv3h1gzO4DoIr2EvZebtzOdV851ctyaCOKNKeCfgfs_-uOs52TDjEeBf9z_1EpX5VW_AdQBu4A1flsqGaMVcw8cFjEd5Xoxwm1iHOIxFESeexKoqKBldBgIWUC2VjgSr_qj9SMtdE/s320/stuff+I+made+(2).jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aprons for Maddy & Sophie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxxlztzOJKGdzzKbt7WBaaejHiEB7xb-NxLQu3u8QDt_hrZRqsBLVdEIRvx6lx2oBOXIV_IuHKYLVAThelVy9tj_ky1nX1wsBo1MZvSM-m7s6eU49J3pHP9DCLd3SS8PUL7pRTs-r3y4/s1600/stuff+I+made+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxxlztzOJKGdzzKbt7WBaaejHiEB7xb-NxLQu3u8QDt_hrZRqsBLVdEIRvx6lx2oBOXIV_IuHKYLVAThelVy9tj_ky1nX1wsBo1MZvSM-m7s6eU49J3pHP9DCLd3SS8PUL7pRTs-r3y4/s320/stuff+I+made+(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">colored pencil roll for my nephew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iM4gm8BkZ0oxuXDCnLPrgtV-ucJ3Ffyhl2kTROFE2R-jFPAjenuzH9eH8xUO00jq7lfV_pbqGclFPWtx5PK2OSyBsUddHF2zGeoNZKUXHyBXZlOfQLqyey26khmEd3suNIqHhREerYA/s1600/stuff+I+made.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iM4gm8BkZ0oxuXDCnLPrgtV-ucJ3Ffyhl2kTROFE2R-jFPAjenuzH9eH8xUO00jq7lfV_pbqGclFPWtx5PK2OSyBsUddHF2zGeoNZKUXHyBXZlOfQLqyey26khmEd3suNIqHhREerYA/s320/stuff+I+made.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">felt cookies & "dough" for the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Maddy also had her 3rd birthday almost 3 weeks ago! It's hard to believe my sweet little preemie is now a 28lb 3 year old! She had a great birthday too. I made her a huge box full of felt food & she loved it! I've been<a href="http://mamacampbellsale.blogspot.com/2011/11/modern-cloth-diapers-for-sale.html"> trading & selling diapers</a> that we just don't really use, so it was kinda cool to get all of the stuff to make all of that food for Maddy from trading diapers!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEkBo7DC7PYyInh_FiZOPKNSzz0gqmt3Avw-MoRv8Aws62AQ8ofu_Nd5tg0EsWIHFvEdoTTJaA6NWie74xl5QwyW2DdGxZ2DQYvHOfCfdK11_Fr22h53VAKM-KRgWlbjkGUsAXfXb4h0/s1600/stuff+I+made+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEkBo7DC7PYyInh_FiZOPKNSzz0gqmt3Avw-MoRv8Aws62AQ8ofu_Nd5tg0EsWIHFvEdoTTJaA6NWie74xl5QwyW2DdGxZ2DQYvHOfCfdK11_Fr22h53VAKM-KRgWlbjkGUsAXfXb4h0/s320/stuff+I+made+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of Maddy's felt food:<br />
3 kinds of donuts, pancakes & syrup, toast, butter that slices, twistable bacon, eggs,<br />
juice boxes, sandwiches, cheese, bologna, olive loaf, lettuce, tomato, pickles, peanut butter,<br />
jelly, green chips (what Maddy calls her favorite sour cream & onion chips), gold fish crackers,<br />
spring roll, sushi of all sorts, chinese takeout box, fortune cookies, pizza with tons of toppings,<br />
ravioli, bowtie pasta, sauce & cheese and breadsticks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She had her 3 year old well check-up & FINALLY someone referred us for a speech therapy evaluation. Maddy doesn't speak in sentences, lots of commands & she leads words with an "ah" sound. For example, "ahNoah ahwant ahball in dare (there)." or "Mama! ahSnack! ahHungry! Maddy Moo!" She is communicating, but it's still rough understanding what she wants a lot of the time, so hopefully she will get some help with her speech. She'll probably be eligible for Head Start this fall too, which I think can also really help.<br />
<br />
Sophie has been 5, going on 15 lately. This girl has such an attitude when we tell her to clean up her toys or go do something. The other night, we said if she cleaned up the toys in her room, she could have a shower bubble bath (we turn on the shower & let it fill the tub so it gets bubbily from soap and they love it!), and when she refused to clean up and kept getting distracted and it was well over an hour to still be cleaning up a small pile of Barbies (and I reminded her ever 15 minutes she need to clean to earn the shower bubble bath), I said she couldn't have one since she didn't listen. She threw a wild tantrum full of "you just don't love me anymore", and "You're the meanist mom on the planet" and "you're ruining my life". Oh joy. I need to nip this in the bud somehow, but I'm not quite sure how to do so. I've been trying to spend more 1 on 1 time with her & do big girl stuff with her, but then she has these spells that are just awful to deal with. But then other times she's a gem. Oh this girl is drama city!<br />
<br />
Noah had his 18 month well check up last week & he's still only 19.7lbs. We didn't see our usual pediatrician, but instead one that was available & he labeled Noah as "failure to thrive". It broke my heart to see that because we work so hard to give Noah extra calories. The boy is just a slow grower, because he DID gain a lb in the past 3 months & grew a few inches. And he's at or above his developmental milestones, he's just petite. But I've been working hard to give him pedisure mixed with carnation instant breakfast every evening before bed & putting butter and stuff on food as the dr. recommended a while ago. The thing with this boy is that he just loves healthy foods! He'll devour a whole banana or cucumber no problem, but barely licks a cookie or other junk food. I'm thinking this might be why he still isn't a great sleeper at night. When he gets more calories in him throughout the day, he sleeps better. When he doesn't, we wakes up hungry at least 2x. Poor little guy!<br />
<br />
So here's hoping Maddy soon is easier to communicate with, Sophie's attitude takes a turn for the better & Noah gains weight!! Oh, and Brian gets a full-time job so we can get into our own place pronto. I'm going insane being stuck between my dad's house & Brian's mom's house. I feel like we're intruding & have no place to belong no matter where we are, but I'm praying faithfully that this will be taken care of soon. God will and does provide.<br />
<br />
Ok, that's a good sum up of what's going on lately with us. Gotta go figure out something for dinner now for the kiddos. Hopefully I'll feel better about blogging and such again soon. I really have no desire to blog or tweet or even facebook, but I need some social interaction. I have no friends IRL anymore, and if I isolate my online ones, who do I have left?Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-19310099569364903072011-11-23T00:33:00.001-05:002011-11-23T23:41:30.691-05:00*Sigh*So not much new to report. Still broke thanks to more financial set backs. Ugh. Still cosleeping with a little boy who refuses to sleep (or even be) further then a foot away from me. He cries if I'm not in the same room as him, even if he's with familiar people. Brian stayed with him while I took the girls into their dentist appointment a few weeks ago & Brian said Noah cried the entire 1.5 hours we were in there. *sigh* I need a break away from him sometimes & can't get it. :o/<br />
<br />
Noah is also still waking at night a lot, making me hate this situation more. And he barely eats still during the day too--he will eat about 2 bites of something before he refuses to eat more. It's SO frustrating because he dropped off the weight charts (he only gained 0.5lbs in 3 months & now weighs a whopping 18lbs) & he's grown length wise a little bit, but still is so tiny. It worries me. He is nursing a lot still, but when I'm pumping it's mainly foremilk now & very little hindmilk, where the fat mainly is. :o/<br />
<br />
Maddy still doesn't poop on the potty consistently. More like 1x a week. I'm so frustrated with her, but can't let her feel that pressure. I'm letting her lead still, but trying to remind her to sit on the potty or catch her before she poops, but dang this girl is stubborn!!! I traded some diapers for training pants, and they're too big or she thinks they're diapers. Blah! :o/<br />
<br />
I'm feeling pretty down about our situation lately & have been staying off of Facebook/twitter/blogging because I just don't feel like doing any of it. I'm trying to stay positive & rely on God for answers, but it's just hard sometimes. <br />
<br />
So yeah, nothing new or exciting to write about. Just *sigh*Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-20288688218181096812011-11-04T23:13:00.001-04:002011-11-04T23:13:30.003-04:00Sleep continued...So the other night was rough. After Noah fell asleep, he slept about 2 hours before he cried & we just couldn't do that to him anymore. I'm desperate for sleep, but not that desperate again. He slept better last night between us, but I think his last molar is finally coming through as he was really drooling & chomping down on stuff today. Poor guy. Just pray we start to get better sleep. I'm tired of being tired & cranky mommy. That's just no good for anyone.Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-47198704656951917322011-11-02T23:28:00.000-04:002011-11-04T23:13:37.252-04:00SleepSo lately I've been really been resenting cosleeping with Noah. It's not bad if it's just the two of us, but with Brian in bed too, there's just no room. I've typically just rocked him or nursed him to sleep & then put him in the crib. He would wake after about an hour, I'd rock him back to sleep & he would sleep 2 hours & back up again. Then he would refuse to settle until we got up for the day. He wouldn't nurse, lay down in his spot (or any spot for that matter), would flip around, hit, fuss & cry. It's just been awful lately. He sleeps fine enough at my dad's where he has his own space in the room where the kids & I sleep, but once we are home: forget it!! I'm just tired of being so tired from it. My patience is thin, I'm short with my kids, I'm bitchy & just apathetic. Something needs to change & change soon. So tonight the girls camped out on the floor in our room while I let Noah cry it out. I went in every few minutes to calm him & then put him back in the crib where he instantly screamed & cried again. After an hour of this going in every 5 minutes, calming for 5-10 minutes, rinse & repeat....well, he did eventually fall asleep on his own about an hour ago. I feel bad for letting him cry, but I can't take it & Brian's no help with the nighttime routine. I wish I was a perfect mom who could handle a kid like him without crying. <br />
I can't help but wonder if this might help Noah when I drop him off at the church nursery--he will know that I will be back for him then. I love being a 24/7 mommy at home with my kids, but I do need a little time to be me as well. I wish he would go to anyone but me all of the time. Is it possible he is too overly attached to his mama? Because if so, he definitely is. Ugh!!<br />
I just don't know what else to do here. I just need Noah to sleep at night. Period. Then we can work on naps. Ugh. :(Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-13834592223350938062011-10-25T15:09:00.000-04:002012-07-31T15:41:49.423-04:00My "Cloth Diapers Explained" Post! (part 1)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I LOVE that my friends often refer me to their friends who are interested in cloth diapers. I've successfully "converted" several friends to cloth & have shared the fluffy love with a bunch of others. I love being a cloth diaper advocate & of course don't mind taking the time to answer any and all questions. So I figured it was about time that I wrote down all of that info and have it posted in one easy to find spot! So here goes!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First of all, I LOVE cloth diapering. I love how cloth diapers contain messes (especially breastfed baby poo if you're planning on nursing. that stuff is explosive!) I've only had <5 blowout diapers in the 2.5+ years I've been cloth diapering. I love how after the initial purchase, you never have to buy diapers again & save money (although it's so addictive, you just may find you "need" to buy more diapers from time to time). Noah's been using the same diapers my daughter Maddy wore & he's been a very inexpensive child between nursing & cloth diapering! :o) I love how I don't have to literally throw money away at each diaper change & I never have to frantically run to the store or scrape up a few bucks for another pack of diapers (which we did w/Sophie). I love how I am not contributing the 3rd largest single consumer item in landfills & keeping my babies bottoms out of all of those chemicals. Dioxin (a by product of the bleaching process of disposable diapers/feminine napkins) has proven links to cancer & it is illegal in most countries except for the US. I love how I decrease the risk of my baby boy having fertility problems or testicular cancer in the future, since disposables raise the temperature in a baby's testicles and cloth is more breathable and actually cools them down to a safe level. But most of all, I love how cute cloth diapers are!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BmLRhsGuc_wEOu7XXJpmVcaf9nX5RtJzoHI2PLJ-8z-hl7B8pRuzZsnEFWom1UgoT5Qk5hX19S83j7wRImjBQSVs43hKLir1ftSPpmepM4n16oNLS-hexP38ryuc-0nOKIpuSi7ScrI/s1600/happynoahfluff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BmLRhsGuc_wEOu7XXJpmVcaf9nX5RtJzoHI2PLJ-8z-hl7B8pRuzZsnEFWom1UgoT5Qk5hX19S83j7wRImjBQSVs43hKLir1ftSPpmepM4n16oNLS-hexP38ryuc-0nOKIpuSi7ScrI/s320/happynoahfluff.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">ONE SIZE DIAPERS:</span></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Many modern cloth diapers come sized for a better fit, or "one-size" (OS) to fit from 8-35ish pounds, supposedly from birth to potty training. You get the most out of OS diapers, but they don't always fit newborns well until they reach the 10lb mark and if you have a big toddler or late potty trainer (which many babies in cloth train sooner from feeling the wetness instead of the polymers in disposables soaking it away), it may be better to get a few sized ones as well. I love that my OS diapers can be adjusted in about 2 seconds to fit Noah or Maddy, depending on who needed the change & it cut down on the diapers in my diaper bag before Maddy was potty trained!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two most common forms of OS diapers:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-8i_tgpv7qp6PUwPXjYdCcbwc6Lgc6Kd8oLgeY8GN3zPtIKrrPQA54_fwLsAHkwImNC17Ro0Vu04RHXfgMqHEgU8Ps3PEnxCUlYGyccoXSjloJUsqLzq6f_TeeNj6XNG3pe_Cw3RFOQ/s1600/OS+FB+diaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-8i_tgpv7qp6PUwPXjYdCcbwc6Lgc6Kd8oLgeY8GN3zPtIKrrPQA54_fwLsAHkwImNC17Ro0Vu04RHXfgMqHEgU8Ps3PEnxCUlYGyccoXSjloJUsqLzq6f_TeeNj6XNG3pe_Cw3RFOQ/s320/OS+FB+diaper.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Fuzzi Bunz OS diaper with adjustable elastic in the legs & back by pocket opening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUwFeqiSGKiFBhQ__Yc25hfq5lFHi6wKk97SWaTCZuIJTmeSWa_p7VZLEroQtUfVDaM31B7oPf8xG38CzGZcwvG6hFXQD4otArNzTH3cneoxbHaB1YII2K90snNPndHMuc-RFh8J8tpw/s1600/OS+diaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUwFeqiSGKiFBhQ__Yc25hfq5lFHi6wKk97SWaTCZuIJTmeSWa_p7VZLEroQtUfVDaM31B7oPf8xG38CzGZcwvG6hFXQD4otArNzTH3cneoxbHaB1YII2K90snNPndHMuc-RFh8J8tpw/s320/OS+diaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Bum Genius OS diaper with snap down rise adjustment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><u><b>DIAPER CLOSURES:</b></u></span><br />
Most modern cloth diapers are secured with velcro or snaps. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, but I have both in my stash. Husbands, babysitters, grandparents & daycares typically find velcro the easiest to use (most like a disposable diaper) & I find I prefer velcro for a more adjustable fit. They're also very simple to grab for nighttime changes. I do prefer snaps on toddlers, so they cannot remove diapers on their own & I like how durable snaps are. Velcro tends to get curly & lose it's stick after a while, so it will need replaced eventually (they do sell <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=137&products_id=935">refresher kits</a> for Bum Genius or you can just go buy & cut velcro pieces to fit properly). It is a simple process when they need done & I don't mind doing it one bit if it means I get a little help changing diapers.<br />
<br />
If you want to go old school, you can use pins still too. I personally am terrified of pins (I have several sets that I just haven't used ever on diapers), so I use something called a snappi (kinda like an ace bandage holder) to hold diapers shut. Great tutorial <a href="http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/prefolds.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>here</b></span></a> for using snappis on newborns. But depending on folding techniques, you don't even need one of them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwtKHZH8RdPoBqVW9DwkYoGMpRPCUwIcBlsocklbS4nsVs3D1qi-TNNFXyRxcLkaFfegOVcIxnfGlfG4URNJcFzora5QFsFdOxNmRDyAHyDL7cFDvANA-kDCJUkeOomt_mgLvZHrBnDA/s1600/snappi+on+a+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwtKHZH8RdPoBqVW9DwkYoGMpRPCUwIcBlsocklbS4nsVs3D1qi-TNNFXyRxcLkaFfegOVcIxnfGlfG4URNJcFzora5QFsFdOxNmRDyAHyDL7cFDvANA-kDCJUkeOomt_mgLvZHrBnDA/s320/snappi+on+a+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Noah in a nb prefold closed by a blue snappi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">PREFOLDS:</span></u></b><br />
As for what diapers to get, it depends on what you want to get out of it--if you want cheap, I would suggest going with prefolded diapers & covers. They are cheap, and you fold them around your baby to contain messes & put a cover overtop of that to keep their clothes dry. I used these in the beginning & prefer these for the newborn poo days to keep messes contained with 2 separate layers of protection. These are typically the cheapest to find--costing around $2/diaper and $10-13 for a cover. I recommend 24-36 newborn prefolds and 5 covers to last the first few months at least. Prefolds are basically flat diapers (large piece of absorbent fabric) that are pre folded into a diaper with extra layers added to the middle & sewn together. You can fold them different ways as well to get more customized fits. <a href="http://www.journalistictendencies.com/diapering101/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>HERE</b></span></a> is a great tutorial.<br />
<br />
My favorite brand is <a href="http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm">Cloth-eeze</a> as they are super soft, pre-sized from preemie through toddler, so you don't have to custom fold them to cover your baby and thereby less bulky & they are amazingly absorbent. I keep these on hand even when I'm not diapering, because they are great spill catchers as well! My least favorite brand of prefolds is Gerber--they're just not as absorbent, no matter how many washes to prep them I did & they're not soft and fluffy either.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTuNs25yOoLKA-VrgSlF2yp4L05fzaXG3whQvHjAybpyFBBeZ_3WuMH9QsVAtaTId2ctYvVFQKcxHdIfO-4RaNjX_X3OsSq34nE_WfwQmW5diMIHBNv-bfS3DKpRWgNCsQ_Ni3zJR3wo/s1600/prefold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTuNs25yOoLKA-VrgSlF2yp4L05fzaXG3whQvHjAybpyFBBeZ_3WuMH9QsVAtaTId2ctYvVFQKcxHdIfO-4RaNjX_X3OsSq34nE_WfwQmW5diMIHBNv-bfS3DKpRWgNCsQ_Ni3zJR3wo/s320/prefold.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">medium brown edged GMD prefold diaper unfolded</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N47ujJNCi9yvwqo59u0F_OtIhxmQGnoJboutJiSJjNIHpnlTrQI3oOyRcsya7BD6BL9-_CIN5GdUVhGKaJEnotbOOoy8eX69KeXoRJj21j0TmT4bHVAbdHRVTy7ede_uV_-vUIA-e9E/s1600/Picture+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N47ujJNCi9yvwqo59u0F_OtIhxmQGnoJboutJiSJjNIHpnlTrQI3oOyRcsya7BD6BL9-_CIN5GdUVhGKaJEnotbOOoy8eX69KeXoRJj21j0TmT4bHVAbdHRVTy7ede_uV_-vUIA-e9E/s320/Picture+069.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Orange (nb), Yellow (small) & brown--newly replaced with red (medium).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">COVERS:</span></b></u><br />
<div>
These have come a long way since the pull on plastic pants our grandmothers used! They're cute, durable, breathable & easy to use now. Fitted diapers & prefolds require covers to keep baby waterproof. There are 3 main types of materials used to make diaper covers: PUL (polyurethane laminate), fleece & wool. PUL & fleece are man-made materials, which tends to be easier to care for (just throw in the wash with your diapers if smelly or soiled--easy!) & wool comes from sheep, but needs to be handwashed and lanolized if they get poo on them or once a month or so. I love how wool breathes & is wicks away moisture for my heavy wetters & is antibacterial, but I also love how trim PUL covers are and low maintenance. And fleece is like the best of both of those worlds--low maintenance & very breathable. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe7DqGasSSp9fBcMTozNK4KZmwSgCQowCKSp-20GWg3VvKViMYQ0zpTwujlcTmOFF8CJMOVRMHuKqQfBT5CW3vu__VtxY1uP7dJYts4q37LppkmfEmwT7yRN1EfUPk9EQmg0WT6koyUc/s1600/Picture+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe7DqGasSSp9fBcMTozNK4KZmwSgCQowCKSp-20GWg3VvKViMYQ0zpTwujlcTmOFF8CJMOVRMHuKqQfBT5CW3vu__VtxY1uP7dJYts4q37LppkmfEmwT7yRN1EfUPk9EQmg0WT6koyUc/s320/Picture+059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thirsties duo wrap size 2, PUL cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ps_8C825BBvNorVlVILOhLDw2JyO2BjR5Gl5FJJXCuWJxRYLWpDR77wf_SDAFZqLf-pNNFsD01YoEskntMRtGJyqjdWOfLWeU8VCHNZzE1TgzhPDI5WjsWdJKkqaZdxtJnI4Q2H6eHQ/s1600/Picture+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ps_8C825BBvNorVlVILOhLDw2JyO2BjR5Gl5FJJXCuWJxRYLWpDR77wf_SDAFZqLf-pNNFsD01YoEskntMRtGJyqjdWOfLWeU8VCHNZzE1TgzhPDI5WjsWdJKkqaZdxtJnI4Q2H6eHQ/s320/Picture+057.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">inside of Thirsties duo wrap size 2 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B6pzGAwCYfzIgPanPAKX5PdEwi3l1n407yKcsYT7gInF6uUMJRjY7oxjVaqch0ptgmUSBUJ2i3WMj80DTQ1_xgWZMAFji3_Git92xl0erJfNSf8UUKF1Ba0UjiBtF4I23RicmkQLMAI/s1600/Picture+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B6pzGAwCYfzIgPanPAKX5PdEwi3l1n407yKcsYT7gInF6uUMJRjY7oxjVaqch0ptgmUSBUJ2i3WMj80DTQ1_xgWZMAFji3_Git92xl0erJfNSf8UUKF1Ba0UjiBtF4I23RicmkQLMAI/s320/Picture+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thirsties duo wrap standard inner gussets! They contain EVERYTHING!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVR24w78c-knWF1JcYBQtm7bnuErT7ILTffmHCaT0ozJrn-7P1131in4xxRSGCEVfEaAqoztjqeyEvP4UyMnddm50ca3W8bI7Mb61qaskypTN251ir1ZoM88K-hC13XgXGD_coLnolio/s1600/Picture+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVR24w78c-knWF1JcYBQtm7bnuErT7ILTffmHCaT0ozJrn-7P1131in4xxRSGCEVfEaAqoztjqeyEvP4UyMnddm50ca3W8bI7Mb61qaskypTN251ir1ZoM88K-hC13XgXGD_coLnolio/s320/Picture+026.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Wool diaper covers:<br />
knit shorties (left), recycled sweater pull on cover (top right)<br />
& Nifty Nappy recycled sweater wrap (bottom right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><u><b>POCKETS/ALL IN ONES:</b></u></span><br />
If you want easy to use, I suggest starting with a pocket diaper (basically a cover with a stay dry layer that you stuff with an absorbent insert in between) or an all-in-one (AIO-a cover with an absorbent layer sewn in, so there's no stuffing--closest thing to a disposable diaper, except you wash & reuse). These diapers are typically more pricey at $15-20/diaper, and I'd recommend at least 20 diapers. I use these for my hubby to change, my parents/babysitters/etc. and many daycares will change these types as well, since they're very easy to use.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7lBdW-z3iAOe27WMl2jlXrxGV7Bp3rYkW2XejEZeQiWFludrG-wDVdhV4AOiRzDObucVXDPgqOG4GrRGBFovQsrXN7P_kkU-HQleME-yQg9K79jN2F7T43KOu4kAy2_DrIYT9YkcaEo/s1600/Picture+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7lBdW-z3iAOe27WMl2jlXrxGV7Bp3rYkW2XejEZeQiWFludrG-wDVdhV4AOiRzDObucVXDPgqOG4GrRGBFovQsrXN7P_kkU-HQleME-yQg9K79jN2F7T43KOu4kAy2_DrIYT9YkcaEo/s320/Picture+056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Bum Genius OS pocket diaper with snaps;<br />
can also get them with velcro closures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3O-vTgE02FaLy7QsVJGpES_fwIijh1wOt_rg17rlDSL_yYxLnkRyvP7KKGflH_X41IOE0B5YZwZLZrp-wq7uS9DTwxCTjFx_TVYgIfAjrvHTA7w4fAsmVoIwRT1LljGOnKXKHMosxEI/s1600/Picture+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3O-vTgE02FaLy7QsVJGpES_fwIijh1wOt_rg17rlDSL_yYxLnkRyvP7KKGflH_X41IOE0B5YZwZLZrp-wq7uS9DTwxCTjFx_TVYgIfAjrvHTA7w4fAsmVoIwRT1LljGOnKXKHMosxEI/s320/Picture+055.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Inside of Bum Genius OS snap diaper--<br />
the flap at the top covers the opening where you stuff inserts into the diaper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9QuO19OSppm5J6r26gLpe5Tihbxyc1mOjDllhLOYI_vcVsD4IbU5oJ1PWr2X3rtipxifVMFs9WV8vA2KHQY8bF2lwP428K2Gj30dFMU-DCeuTManVzunngiMJUjfWjhQrFO3NWUVHK4/s1600/just+ducky+AIO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9QuO19OSppm5J6r26gLpe5Tihbxyc1mOjDllhLOYI_vcVsD4IbU5oJ1PWr2X3rtipxifVMFs9WV8vA2KHQY8bF2lwP428K2Gj30dFMU-DCeuTManVzunngiMJUjfWjhQrFO3NWUVHK4/s320/just+ducky+AIO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Just Ducky AIO with hidden PUL layer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1In3hVUFBtMsp4k4j2J9svIWs4LdYaE9BwYiWpz9TPXW7u0sDjv6EdzdAOcX9IQV7xtejuhJxDbQM0easvxel7AgPHujNcmmuDjQtTPV28cUnywLj9cVsF-4h1tGq-BsqdJdoKVh_1s/s1600/just+ducky+AIO+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1In3hVUFBtMsp4k4j2J9svIWs4LdYaE9BwYiWpz9TPXW7u0sDjv6EdzdAOcX9IQV7xtejuhJxDbQM0easvxel7AgPHujNcmmuDjQtTPV28cUnywLj9cVsF-4h1tGq-BsqdJdoKVh_1s/s320/just+ducky+AIO+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Inside of Just Ducky AIO--no stuffing required.<br />
Everything is already sewn in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">HYBRIDS/ALL IN TWOS:</span></u></b><br />
If you want a hybrid system, there are diapers like grovia, gdiapers & flip that all have a cover and you put a disposable insert in the middle. You can toss/compost/flush most of these inserts and wipe the cover and you're good to go again. I find these the easiest to travel with since you just need an extra cover and several inserts; they take up very little room in my diaper bag this way! And if I need a disposable option, but don't want to support <a href="http://mamacampbell.blogspot.com/2009/11/ugg-pampers-makes-me-sick.html">Pampers evil ways</a> or prefer your baby to be in less chemicals while they need to be in disposables, hybrid systems are a great option. They also make cloth inserts for these diapers that you just wash the inserts between uses which are also called an all-in-two system (AI2).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmibqPJpLcS7OcOF8SZAGvT1lmgRbMA_CFGkyWBfq5KKaURM38kEcu7SLuWjmqoOu6stWn2WrFgdg81ntOQMY8YeQAcMaBbkSxTXXEwnlUlnVhQUtbKYj3RRMO4rahRQ7DJ67y25Vgodc/s1600/Picture+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmibqPJpLcS7OcOF8SZAGvT1lmgRbMA_CFGkyWBfq5KKaURM38kEcu7SLuWjmqoOu6stWn2WrFgdg81ntOQMY8YeQAcMaBbkSxTXXEwnlUlnVhQUtbKYj3RRMO4rahRQ7DJ67y25Vgodc/s320/Picture+097.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Bum Genius Flip disposable insert (top) &<br />
Gdiaper disposable insert (bottom)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIcGZJ4VxYIS49_VYOqRFgBd353SwbWWJr2PAdZHHx0HUARm5uktMRas4f57FNmtHkoI5GU6vZLiFwZfvQtwbaga-N07A9JG3D38hHQWD4m8hM4hKwHEv8Et8dYlYclZB0hBtYadGpGU/s1600/Picture+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIcGZJ4VxYIS49_VYOqRFgBd353SwbWWJr2PAdZHHx0HUARm5uktMRas4f57FNmtHkoI5GU6vZLiFwZfvQtwbaga-N07A9JG3D38hHQWD4m8hM4hKwHEv8Et8dYlYclZB0hBtYadGpGU/s320/Picture+099.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Flip cover with disposable insert laid inside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgL7VDIlC3f7curvES9QmJ1g8bJOk0nLQpwuM-FnYO4tUgO750btPuIKfL22wmS0O7k4PJjjJCjWen7Y5Gwfje-U0pU1rhDEyJbrpJ2AvC8Tbk8yW-y4EwAvEqZWbboEVk0Dg6DHMc4k/s1600/Picture+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgL7VDIlC3f7curvES9QmJ1g8bJOk0nLQpwuM-FnYO4tUgO750btPuIKfL22wmS0O7k4PJjjJCjWen7Y5Gwfje-U0pU1rhDEyJbrpJ2AvC8Tbk8yW-y4EwAvEqZWbboEVk0Dg6DHMc4k/s320/Picture+102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Outside of OS Flip cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ScW47BplRynMDvJ8UyF3X3_B6nFE9NBibidA6RrqMCF_6GW4XNELrtM4719MgiGWgMHj8X2q6VudwalevUwRep3uqCH_Dfu2dkCEcQiPizmYHwHYINBtlRmm_PDF2cFbQx9xsUeTKQ/s1600/Picture+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ScW47BplRynMDvJ8UyF3X3_B6nFE9NBibidA6RrqMCF_6GW4XNELrtM4719MgiGWgMHj8X2q6VudwalevUwRep3uqCH_Dfu2dkCEcQiPizmYHwHYINBtlRmm_PDF2cFbQx9xsUeTKQ/s320/Picture+104.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Flip organic (left) & stay dry (right) OS inserts.<br />
These are to be washed & reused.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC9IuD_MG9k6u5Dlm2BPs_pF24Mpjbyj12xUYk_-VDuC1gV3zfyLAzl3UjGFDjAqL50fnZJ3gKHYv_gwGD-4ObgeYOMUgS67Z-OGyfsyM4WQMVdEi2I8DMMR-NYzkqVZ6KidqmiADL_g/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC9IuD_MG9k6u5Dlm2BPs_pF24Mpjbyj12xUYk_-VDuC1gV3zfyLAzl3UjGFDjAqL50fnZJ3gKHYv_gwGD-4ObgeYOMUgS67Z-OGyfsyM4WQMVdEi2I8DMMR-NYzkqVZ6KidqmiADL_g/s320/Picture+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Grovia OS cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpEk5q6jhnJ5HjqbJMQ13t3C3GqxMZ3n7Hb0kjHFO0JDRLjS6rfCosei4Avu8baHKDLeRDBIlbisYwep8GsHZI0JgUD4XGA2A_P1o7z13RaDdJv9va8NYgkJgHA2yewUJ9jPaHy7JQts/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpEk5q6jhnJ5HjqbJMQ13t3C3GqxMZ3n7Hb0kjHFO0JDRLjS6rfCosei4Avu8baHKDLeRDBIlbisYwep8GsHZI0JgUD4XGA2A_P1o7z13RaDdJv9va8NYgkJgHA2yewUJ9jPaHy7JQts/s320/Picture+016.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Grovia cover with cloth insert snapped into place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">FITTEDS:</span></u></b><br />
My personal favorites are fitted diapers (diapers that have snaps/velcro to keep them on baby securely, but are not waterproof & require a cover) and a wool cover. These tend to be a more pricey option though. And my favorite fitteds are from <a href="http://niftynappy.com/products/cloth-diapers/">Nifty Nappy</a>. I love how absorbent her hemp/bamboo fitteds are and how cute! The Heavy Doody fitted she designed is the only thing that kept my kids dry all night because of how many hemp layers & extra protection of a fitted and a cover on top. I don't even tend to use covers with them unless I'm going out of the house or putting Noah down for a nap. And while Vilate isn't selling diapers anymore, <a href="http://redbarnclothdiapers.com/">Red Barn Cloth Diapers</a> is an official licensee for the Nifty Nappy cottage license & makes the same amazing fitted diapers now! YAY!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX1lbMR5hI0qoyt2gDEl2gIzPJJDOgmgGWIoD8n_dbgWWmtABZmQ3m_57YU8HubNSx4xeGM_B3zbS72vMMkrmy055yuyf8MjziS6PeIRUZA6AnAMTdw1fvXais8p3YI8t9c1gJStDBpg/s1600/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX1lbMR5hI0qoyt2gDEl2gIzPJJDOgmgGWIoD8n_dbgWWmtABZmQ3m_57YU8HubNSx4xeGM_B3zbS72vMMkrmy055yuyf8MjziS6PeIRUZA6AnAMTdw1fvXais8p3YI8t9c1gJStDBpg/s320/Picture+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Nifty Nappy fitted diapers:<br />
Regular fitted (left), Heavy Doody fitted (middle) & Bitty Bum (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU302seq0Na-0Xf3Hm25FzkAbT6va0RX3wfN6efJ7or7pRydTU_mpHtkqqnUTpcnX2yBWkDxcHk4eqnf7SzIfCk30VZA81Nx21ShEQa8cW7eV3VPm9jms6H-J7JEgILLHrJPFsj57Ok0/s1600/Picture+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU302seq0Na-0Xf3Hm25FzkAbT6va0RX3wfN6efJ7or7pRydTU_mpHtkqqnUTpcnX2yBWkDxcHk4eqnf7SzIfCk30VZA81Nx21ShEQa8cW7eV3VPm9jms6H-J7JEgILLHrJPFsj57Ok0/s320/Picture+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Inside of Nifty Nappy fitteds with folded doublers for extra absorbency.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">WASHING DIAPERS:</span></u></b><br />
Washing diapers isn't hard either. I use 1-2 Tablespoons of Purex Free & Clear to wash a load of diapers, so that big $6 bottle lasts about 6 months washing every other day (when I have had 2 in cloth for 7 months; now I tend to wash every 2-3 days but my stash is big enough to make it much, much longer then that! lol!). There are fancy schmancy cloth diaper friendly detergent brands out there--but honestly, I didn't notice that big of a difference & the Purex got my diapers clean, bright & didn't cost a fortune. But my favorite fancy schmancy cloth diaper detergent is <a href="http://www.purecleanb.com/amazingdetergents.htm">Clean B</a>. While her customer service sucks, her product rocks & it's now only sold through retailers like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diapezecom">Diapeze</a>, so it's easier to obtain without waiting 6+ months. **UPDATE: It appears that the owner of Diapeze and a business partner bought Clean B's recipe and make their own soap now called <a href="http://www.ahappygreenlife.com/">A Happy Green Life</a>. I got my first batch & it smells and cleans exactly like the Clean B I loved, but with stellar customer service!! Hurrah!!** Clean diapers with a light scent that doesn't leave residue & rinses thoroughly (a common problem with some detergents is they cause build up on the diaper when they don't rinse clean or have things like brighteners in them that stick to clothing and diapers) & the scents are delicious!! There are also all natural options like soap nuts that you literally just throw the little bag of these dried berries in your washer. So cool!! I LOVE taking these along when I travel--no scoops or messes to deal with in my bag!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTIaNjeTghnCfgt7lcR7FTbjymb6LhIuTZpbvrZ1tXmNON3l2FI48_qoq9KpoToeVTrnJo0sN9Xx0TCvB2ap6EPApjKEU_AUMzZjkliI7ljxOX8XoXwabimbcon5At9buYGw1Sf-NmNk/s1600/Picture+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTIaNjeTghnCfgt7lcR7FTbjymb6LhIuTZpbvrZ1tXmNON3l2FI48_qoq9KpoToeVTrnJo0sN9Xx0TCvB2ap6EPApjKEU_AUMzZjkliI7ljxOX8XoXwabimbcon5At9buYGw1Sf-NmNk/s320/Picture+111.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Clean B detergent (top left), Purex free & clear (right)<br />
& EcoNuts (bottom left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Breastfed baby poo is very water soluble, so ther's no need to rinse off diapers before washing either! I personally dunk & swish the poo off in the toilet before tossing them in the washer, but they also make little "diaper sprayers" that are basically kitchen sprayers hooked to a toilet that you can spray off poo and never have to even touch it. There are also flushable liners you can use so you can just flush the liner and poo away. Easy peasy. I store all of our dirty diapers in a trashcan with a waterproof pail liner and then take the pail liner w/diapers to the washer & wash everything. My routine is a to put the diapers & pail liner in my top loader on a 20 minutes cold/warm soak & rinse cycle (sometimes adding 1T of detergent if it's especially stinky) on the biggest load size we can make it go, then a hot/cold wash cycle on the medium load size with 1-2 T of detergent followed by a large load size on extra warm/hot rinse cycle. After reading <a href="http://rockingreensoap.com/?p=655&cpage=1#comment-9999"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>THIS</b></span></a> that Kim from Rockin' Green soap wrote, I discovered I was getting the most out of my washing & my method has morphed into the above. I've heard people use the argument that using all of that water can't be cost effective/good for the environment, but I haven't noticed a jump in our water bill from washing 2 or 3 loads of diapers a week and I have to remind them that water is a renewable resource (unlike the trash disposable diapers create let alone the process to make & ship them).<br />
<br />
<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">DIAPER CREAMS:</span></b></u><br />
Anyway, let me get back on track here. You can't use regular diaper rash creams with cloth diapers as it will cause diapers to repel, but luckily most kids in cloth have fewer rashes from the breath-ability of cloth & getting changed more frequently. If the baby gets a rash, I use <a href="https://store.nutiva.com/coconut-oil/?gclid=CMPp652dgqwCFUKo4Aodz3RjLw">coconut oil</a> (a tiny bit goes a LOOOONG way & is way cheaper than a white, zinc-based cream) & a it's typically gone in a day or so. I started using cloth with Maddy when she was a preemie because she kept getting horrid rashes from disposables & they went away with our switch to cloth. The few times I've had to use disposables since have been awful & made me even more grateful for having switched to cloth diapers for my kiddos.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">WHERE TO BUY:</span></u></b><br />
I get most of my cloth diapers preloved on the internet, since they're hard to come by in actual brick & mortar stores--and the ones you can find at Walmart or Babys 'R Us like the Gerber brand prefolds are just not very good. There are great deals to be found on craigslist, <a href="http://diaperswappers.com/">diaperswappers.com</a> (you can buy diapers/accessories on their forum & their message boards are active with tons of moms eager to help), and several facebook groups (search fluff swappers & cloth diaper swap). I also scour the internet for great deals from mom & pop retailers with free shipping (<a href="http://abbyslane.com/">abbyslane.com</a>, <a href="http://cottonbabies.com/">cottonbabies.com</a> & <a href="http://happybabycompany.com/">happybabycompany.com</a>) and they often offer monthly newsletter codes or facebook fan savings as well. While there's an upfront cost to cloth diapering, you will quickly find there are significant savings (a great diaper savings calculator <b><a href="http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a></b>). <a href="http://diaperpin.com/">Diaperpin.com</a> is also great resource to find testimonials about certain brands. I'd recommend trying a few different types/brands before investing a lot of money somewhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
I suggest checking out my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2111627&id=48501512">cloth diaper picture album</a><br />
and my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2118872&id=48501512">newborn cloth diaper album</a><br />
and even my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2093602&id=48501512">"fluffy bums are cuter" album</a> for good measure. ;o)<br />
<br />
And it can't hurt to try them & if you don't find them to be a fit, you can always resell them & recoup at least 50% of the cost. I have been selling off some of the diapers I don't use very much and am always amazed when I get money for them--you can't sell a used disposable!<br />
<br />
I am passionate about cloth diapers & would love to help spread the fluffy love to others! Ask me questions anytime & be on the look out for more cloth diapers explained posts!! I have SO much more to write! :o)</div>Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-34630600004696042162011-10-20T13:58:00.000-04:002011-10-20T13:58:36.227-04:00Happy Belated Birthday Sophia!I haven't posted in about a month. Yikes. Big happenings were that Sophie had an awesome birthday.<br />
<br />
Sophie turned 5 last month. She's 5!!! That means I've been working my dream job for 5 years now. I am so amazed by her every day & while she just turned 5, sometimes it's hard to believe she's <i>only</i> 5, more like going on 14! lol! <br />
<br />
She's a sweet, helpful girl who follows directions very well (unless it involves cleaning up toys), shares everything with her siblings, is a wondeful "little mother" to Maddy & Noah, can tie her own shoes, write her name & count to 100. She loves to learn & is trying to figure out how to read. She loves Monster High toys & her favorite doll is Lagoona Blue. Her favorite colors are pink & purple, she loves watching the Ravens with Daddy & still loves watching Strawberry Shortcake. She also loves to help me cook, make the beds, set the table, and pour drinks for everyone & has discovered she likes to earn an "allowance" of sorts when helping out. lol! I love this girl with all of my heart & am so proud of the little lady she's growing into. I'm thankful she still adores cuddling with mama, because I need it probably more than she does.<br />
<br />
Her party was nice. Small & intimate, but she had a lot of fun & got a lot of neat toys too. My brother, Aaron & his girlfriend Jess gave the best present: the Lagoona Blue bed set that Sophie requests to look at each time we go to walmart. She was so happy!! :o)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kRScWWZoM3RGHCR3AXUOeU-3cXL2R8FkFr5DpsvNT45D5VrtHQpbq9OqJsK_zjQJOUhZ0uNiMKa5hwWId02RL4poOB235v2u7hq10fHwsfC2l-6Vj6wdLCBHOkyFaQsSy_0O042BmPs/s1600/bday+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kRScWWZoM3RGHCR3AXUOeU-3cXL2R8FkFr5DpsvNT45D5VrtHQpbq9OqJsK_zjQJOUhZ0uNiMKa5hwWId02RL4poOB235v2u7hq10fHwsfC2l-6Vj6wdLCBHOkyFaQsSy_0O042BmPs/s320/bday+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie in LOVE with her Lagoona Blue present!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsxvHtTA00Rl7CkbYRL5CxpJ7Zl4n3YREVHV0KM6WrFypRBaiktZeXxT47o4QDrqjhfTRgsgC1-2mysdoA42dZ-z9lRLz2dx5NwsYl-xeYtZBcq-plqcONFk8Zz9uluHkhMmOOg3OTL8/s1600/bday+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsxvHtTA00Rl7CkbYRL5CxpJ7Zl4n3YREVHV0KM6WrFypRBaiktZeXxT47o4QDrqjhfTRgsgC1-2mysdoA42dZ-z9lRLz2dx5NwsYl-xeYtZBcq-plqcONFk8Zz9uluHkhMmOOg3OTL8/s320/bday+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">opening more great presents!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfZiRZkHdYhjiYk6k7RyvWuPiEOcnxfZN58c_kAwhOOBAkEtQ7Z2lIPNQ6YBxwQ4iPHUJubVp8qiYtsBH47uT4hrECp_g3Tw_BpjqXIdVm0nnW0l3oiTkKz_kt16gtzPVlTa0MdHvw38/s1600/bday+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfZiRZkHdYhjiYk6k7RyvWuPiEOcnxfZN58c_kAwhOOBAkEtQ7Z2lIPNQ6YBxwQ4iPHUJubVp8qiYtsBH47uT4hrECp_g3Tw_BpjqXIdVm0nnW0l3oiTkKz_kt16gtzPVlTa0MdHvw38/s320/bday+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blowing out her candles (with Maddy's "help")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
She also requested I make a rainbow Monster High birthday cake, so I obliged (it was actually very easy! woo!) & everyone loved it. Yay!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPwKRNSB55eGbO_TCS34o7DNfVRG5xB7nxVw3CfTmt-ZKM70fFVkHiCNr5HEAQts_xK0DEs2W_1XxYD1FcaSor5vgsnikpkZlpniufW_L3EEp26Qj7jHiirgA0iTjixqsn511PEYROs/s1600/bday+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPwKRNSB55eGbO_TCS34o7DNfVRG5xB7nxVw3CfTmt-ZKM70fFVkHiCNr5HEAQts_xK0DEs2W_1XxYD1FcaSor5vgsnikpkZlpniufW_L3EEp26Qj7jHiirgA0iTjixqsn511PEYROs/s320/bday+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cake before it was baked</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4umZTHEK_MzCjc1sBfgwK_ayK-ov65zbNrK7hDp4-h3gVxnR4cVU9wTjZxYFqgDDBnmCt0E8ouAzd2HJ7PYOv2dIOYKVWaFJ8Dz3uuC3pe6vdw1Np0ew4lnt0MlWpcU3rvKfO2GmCrPo/s1600/bday+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4umZTHEK_MzCjc1sBfgwK_ayK-ov65zbNrK7hDp4-h3gVxnR4cVU9wTjZxYFqgDDBnmCt0E8ouAzd2HJ7PYOv2dIOYKVWaFJ8Dz3uuC3pe6vdw1Np0ew4lnt0MlWpcU3rvKfO2GmCrPo/s320/bday+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">decorated cake!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yKHOjCEmHkFeWDD100v5bP5DI_XlnIjySXwGt_lka81dceyYYpyJoW0F76P7Y967CWW21J6Gt55W6URZ66kAJa8B-xV5wdIBpsdiLhsQJVq-J0zKvU-8QFvMnLAGZ80-WXvJmk4CNNQ/s1600/bday+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yKHOjCEmHkFeWDD100v5bP5DI_XlnIjySXwGt_lka81dceyYYpyJoW0F76P7Y967CWW21J6Gt55W6URZ66kAJa8B-xV5wdIBpsdiLhsQJVq-J0zKvU-8QFvMnLAGZ80-WXvJmk4CNNQ/s320/bday+%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rainbow cake inside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiHZBYXRzgmaWBkHhUJ6cVQJBRi6LBVjWuV1_FVyKK-450_RVbpeW7wSNEicbZ-aYbqjdPvE9moZKLyinFtrcsKuUBEfyIAz450yxrPil0CGLEm0azdX8OOwns9NWDoXjSRJr75eIAFc/s1600/bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiHZBYXRzgmaWBkHhUJ6cVQJBRi6LBVjWuV1_FVyKK-450_RVbpeW7wSNEicbZ-aYbqjdPvE9moZKLyinFtrcsKuUBEfyIAz450yxrPil0CGLEm0azdX8OOwns9NWDoXjSRJr75eIAFc/s320/bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful rainbow inside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I still cannot believe she's 5!!!! Jeesh, does time fly or what?!?!Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272392624514779772.post-66725073163446572512011-09-21T14:21:00.000-04:002011-09-21T14:21:35.602-04:00Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Preemie Breast Milk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was packing up some baby bottles and storage containers and looking through an old bag full of stuff when I happened upon all of this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Hf-klKmuXm2O8xNaZd437x7qX2LEuFqKlb_XI-_Lfj-ITCTW6R_c98SLU1R9q0Eqxx1y9xVzt7jxICPbX5dihRdKDeSjskMRy79qD8TCT2FrsigD10n9hR1976Pw-ry3EClbNEUAcQ/s1600/preemie+milk+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Hf-klKmuXm2O8xNaZd437x7qX2LEuFqKlb_XI-_Lfj-ITCTW6R_c98SLU1R9q0Eqxx1y9xVzt7jxICPbX5dihRdKDeSjskMRy79qD8TCT2FrsigD10n9hR1976Pw-ry3EClbNEUAcQ/s320/preemie+milk+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">different sizes of containers to put pumped milk into for Maddy while in the NICU</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aFSophu5iuY1Uhyphenhyphenf062IZxha1uuWs-_gmEDv55_xh0Ym8lU2qyC16YaE3U1huGfKCdvIgMRorUVpdhWfJx93rbEicReXAaVkabnYGe2JnTVw2_wtf0twLDGtCyNQaQBcrkL-BHKHTbA/s1600/preemie+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aFSophu5iuY1Uhyphenhyphenf062IZxha1uuWs-_gmEDv55_xh0Ym8lU2qyC16YaE3U1huGfKCdvIgMRorUVpdhWfJx93rbEicReXAaVkabnYGe2JnTVw2_wtf0twLDGtCyNQaQBcrkL-BHKHTbA/s320/preemie+milk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">prescription label for any milk I pumped for Maddy while she was in the NICU</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will keep this in Maddy's keepsake box forever because it is just so neat & is a testament of how hard I worked to pump every precious ounce for her during those long 18 days in the NICU. But I just can't get over how neat it is to see Mothers Breast Milk as the prescription title. YES!! Now if only every preemie had access to human breast milk!</div>
Mama Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659759140144611479noreply@blogger.com0