Joy to the World

I love Christmas. 
I love the hype. 
I love the build-up. 
I love the true meaning of Christmas.


I appreciate the stores putting up Christmas stock right after Halloween. 
Ours is the house in the neighborhood that gives all the other guys the argument... Their lights are up! 
To me it seems silly to not decorate before Thanksgiving.  All that work, all that transformation... it deserves to be enjoyed for 2 months. 


This Christmas was awesome!  SBR does not quite get it. I think next year will be a little more exciting. 
His big gift was the Cozy Coupe with trailer.   His reaction did not disappoint.  Having recently learned "car"- said "caw," it was perfect.  


in car, out car, open present, in car, out car, open present. 
while adorable, we had a lot of presents... 


So after all the gifts are opened, stockings emptied, bellies full and heads sleepy, it's all over.  Thus,  I've come to the conclusion- my least favorite part of Christmas is Christmas night. 
All the clean up, the tear down, the bareness. It's kind of sad, but, I'm already thinking of ways to do it bigger and better next year!

We hope you all had a very blessed Christmas!  We look forward to many adventures and memories in 2012!

Bye!!

Christmas afternoon

LOVE him!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

All month I've been reading Christmas books to SBR.  He's gotten very good at recognizing things and saying what they are in books.   Bird, ball, bebe, duck, etc.
He's also good at answering the question:  What does <insert something that makes sounds> say?
I've been pointing to Santa and saying his name outloud to get SBR to recognize him.  I try to point him out in stores and on movies, anywhere we see him.  All in preperation for this morning. 

SBR has the biggest date of his life, thus far, today.  Breakfast with Santa.
The only thing we have going for us is his Papa resembles Santa on many levels. 
Mr. Husband dressed like Santa for our church's Winterfest... SBR was not that pleased with his dadda being in costume, so back to zero.

I asked SBR the other day- What does Santa say? 
He took this question very seriously, after a long contemplation, he held up his right arm with a claw like gesture and said "RaaaaAAaRRR!

I can't wait to hear how breakfast goes!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!  from across the country, We Love You!

There is only one reason to celebrate at Christmas.  We celebrate the life of our Lord and Savior.  Celebrate the gift that God has given to us all.  Please do not forget to reflect on Him, to remember all you have to be grateful for!

Here's to much Joy this Holiday season!!

Look at mommy....

 We got a BEEEAUTIFUL new camera.  

Hope you enjoy the snapshots almost as much as we enjoyed taking them!

*(R) denotes, Mr. Husband took the shot

Mr. Husband's grandmother's porcelain Nativity (R)

 Duck's in the park (R)

CHEEKS!

Christmas Tree shopping

Pretty Little Girl

 D.G. = Daddy's Girl

 Christmastime is here!

WEEEEE!!  (R)

(he actually says that :) 

 Playtime 

(Depth)

"..we were just trying to get him to shut up...."

This is what an accepted Grad Student looks like! 

Congrats to our Man of the House!!

Make a Wish

I recently read an article:

9 Ways Toddlers Say I Love You. 

One of the things that caught my attenion is that toddlers do not have a concept of time.  So when they lolly-gag or mosey around, it really is to stall.  Because they are with one of their favorite people and they just want to soak up all they can.

This has helped me on our walks.  Now that SBR has the curious mind of a monkey, he can barely stand to sit in his stroller to get around the block before he is pleading, "Down?!"  So we've developed a routine- once we get back to our street, I get him out and let him walk down the sidewalk himself. 

He stops to pick up leaves, point and meow at the neighborhood's 27 cats, hit a tree, pretend fall on his booty, pick grass, whatever his fancy. 

This has taken our quick 15 minute walk around the block to about 45 minutes.

But, I no longer find this annoying.  He's an explorer, wanting to absorb everything he can in his surroundings while he enjoys my company. 

These are precious moments.

Crazy

Getting crazy used to look a lot different in my world.

My friends and I did stupid things all the time.  Nothing worth mentioning or admitting to.
Crazy and stupid were interchangeable to us.

The face of crazy has changed drastically for me and Mr. Husband.

For example: 

We found all four balls at once and have them in the proper place with the hammer??

Now that is KraZy!

Also gives the words getting hammered a whole new meaning.

Reid to Me

Mr. Husband and I are huge readers.  Our passion isn't just for reading, but for owning books, displaying them, sharing them.   One of our favorite dates is to go to Barnes & Noble and spend hours there just purusing the books while we enjoy our favorite lattes.


To prepare SBR for our book loving family, I had a 'Storybook' baby shower.  In lieu of cards, you sign your favorite children's book to help start the baby's library.  
(This was awesome & wildly successful, HIGHLY recommended!)


I think reading to your child (and numerous studies have proven) is very important.  When SBR was a newborn and he would cry, my mom said... you just have to talk to him, talk to him about anything.  I could never think of what to say, so that is when I began reading to him.   Just days old.


There are some very well written, beautiful children's books.  Some that can make a very horomonal new mommy cry and cry and cry. 
Just a few of our favorites:

On the Night You Were Born

Guess How Much I Love You

Love You Forever

You Are My I Love You

Now every night, he gets a story (or 4) before bedtime.  I end each book w/ 'The End!' and close the book.  SBR will then grab the book, flip it over and say 'gen?, gen?!' he is just precious, isn't he?

So it would seem, being born into a family from a long line of avid readers, has worn off on our SBR. 

I look forward to reading longer books, trips to the library and book store.

When I Grow Up

What will SBR be when he grows up?  

 

Will he be an artiste?

A computer geek?

Perhaps a Football star?

Or a Model?

Maybe he'll use his height and be an NBA sensation?

Take after his daddy and be a DJ?

Maybe he'll be the next Beckham?

He just may put those long fingers to use?

No matter what he chooses, no matter what he tries and fails or succeeds at...

he will certainly always be our baby.

A Walk in the Park

What have we been doing? 

Trying to stay cool, trying to stay busy, trying to slow down.

Two out of 3 isn't bad, eh?

Here's some pics of our latest outting to SBR's favorite new hang out, the park.

I love this park, I started walking here all the time when I was pregnant, SBR has spent many trips around the little lake/pond and doesn't even remember it.

This is also a practice park, so there are tons of softball, football & soccer practices that he LoVeS to watch.  I wonder what he will play...

It's My Earth Too

We are making the diaper switch.  Disposable to Cloth. 
There are a few fellow hippy mom's that are on board with me, that are pioneering me through the change.  Muchos Gracias to them! 


Many have varied opinions on it.  A lot of the unsupporting people fall into two categories.
A.) My parents' generation. 
They have the horrible image of dunking and swishing diapers in the toilet, late night diaper changes of poking baby in the side with giant diaper pins, and laundry.  Loads and loads of laundry.
or B.) Don't have children or are the parent of children that never really changed diapers. (I'm sorry, but those opinions don't count for much to me.)


I have heard- Disposables were made for a reason... That's disgusting!....   The water and energy used to care for cloth is more damaging to our Earth than disposables... It's SO much work... Can't wait to hear when you change back... on and on our spectators go...


So I will plead my case one last time.
(I will also include unsighted facts I've learned along the way as true as I recall them.)


My number one reason is savings. 
The average child from birth to potty training goes through about 7,000 diapers.  That's roughly $2,500.

This is what 5,000 diapers looks like.

 

Thus far for 12 diapers, 2 Swim diapers, 200 biodegradable inserts, 2 laundry bags, and detergent, my total is approximately $270.  Ideally that will take us through our next children as well, adding more detergent, of course.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will spend more money.  I know I will.  Especially when we have a girl.  I will have to outfit her w/ the tons of adorable prints offered for girls.  I'm sure I'll even buy more for boys, though there are far fewer selections.

Second, the Diaper Genie.
I DESPISE that thing.  No matter how many times you scrub it with bleach, leave it outside to air dry, spray it with disinfectant, that thing smells.  Horrible, gagging, disgusting, baby-poo-stench smells.
Diaper Genie was actually reason #1 for a couple weeks there.

Lastly, cute and comfort. 
They are so much cuter than 'sposies.  They make SBR look like he actually has a booty.  I'm no longer eager to put a pair of shorts on him to hide the ugly dipe and let him run around (in the house) in just a diaper.

And if you felt one of these things.... you too, would want that on your butt. 

Have you ever changed a completely full diaper and seen those little clear gel balls on baby?  That's horrible.  Did you know that the abosorbency chemical in disposables was removed from tampons because it was too dangerous to be in a product that grown women use for 5 days a month?  But yet it's okay for a diaper that our babies wear 24 hours a day for, on average, 2-3 years?! Sure the difference is that the diaper doesn't go inside the baby, but still...

Saving the earth was low on my list of reasons to switch.  I know that many people will try to say that the maintenance of a cloth (manufacturing, water and energy usage) is just as or more damaging than disposables.  I'm sorry, that's simply not true.  Typically those articles (I am told) are put out by disposable companies.  The care for cloth is no more than adding a person to your house to use your toilets, use your shower and energy.  And really, isn't that what we have done?  I know my SBR is very much a person.

Did you know it takes 9 generations for sposies to biodegrade?  NINE.  That's insane.

In the end, although it wasn't a reason of mine to make the switch, I am very proud that our family will not be leaving that carbon footprint.

About the diaper:

We went with the pocket.  They are the middle of the road on price.  They have a nice microfiber fleece that goes against baby's skin.  You then stuff the absorbent insert in the pocket. 
You can select snap or Velcro to fasten around baby.  We went with snap, since they tend to last longer and I plan on doing this for subsequent children.

How it works: 

It really is not that much different than using a 'sposie.  To change the diaper-  If it's just urine, you remove the insert, place it on top of the diaper and toss it in the laundry bag. (that does not stink, mind you)  If it's No. 2, you can take it to the toilet, toss in the deed.  If it's not 'solid' you can use a sprayer attachment, scraper or whatever you've decided will work best for you. 
SBR is pretty regular and predictable, so we opted for the biodegradable liners.  This will go between baby and diaper, once the diaper is soiled, you can just strip out the liner, toss into the toilet and flush. (Not recommended for septic tank users)

Maintenance/Care:

I will do a load of laundry a night; I've hung a retractable clothes line in the garage to line dry.  It will prolong the life of the diaper and I live in the desert... I should've had one a long time ago!

So there you have it.  With Mr. Husband very on board, as well as that cute little waddling toddler, I am very happy to have made the switch.

I mean, just look at that diaper butt... how cute IS that?!