How Not to Screw Up Your Kid

So there's this funny thing about giving...

I've been pondering the subject of giving lately. Specifically, what happens post-giving. Example: I give or do something that isn't necessarily easy for me, for someone else. And then am flooded with random blessings.

My question is this: Is it karma, or do we simply see things differently after having made a sacrifice?

Sleep, Allergies and Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Also known as bleh. (The cookies. Ok, maybe the other two, too.)

Good Reads: BPA, Levaquin, Easy Iron-Rich Baby Recipes, etc.

Here are some links to things I've been reading recently. Hopefully I will get to writing on the last 3 this coming week!

SPD in Pregnancy and What Worked for Me

About the 30 week mark the past two pregnancies, I start getting some pain in my left leg. It starts in the hip, down the thigh, and progresses until it reaches my foot. No position brings relief- sitting, standing, laying down. Sleep is elusive due to the discomfort. Walking is even worse. I believe this, my friends, is called Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction!

Thirsties All in One: Review

The other day I was placing my millionth Amazon order for Camilia(more on that stuff later) and you know, just can't resist the 25$ minimum order free shipping. Crafty, crafty marketing! In addition to the things we truly needed, I decided to get a new cloth diaper to try out: The NEW Thirsties All in One! Honestly I didn't even know it was new at the time. Then after ordering of course saw a ton a buzz on the 'net about them.

Look at me lookin' like I have some clue as to what's going on(not really).

Wordless Wednesday- Haircut!

Looking for a new Ped: Vaccination and the Right to Choose

*Recognizing this may raise the ire of some, but that's ok. We are all entitled to our own opinions. Please remember, if you have something to say and it's not kind, post it on your own page. Thank you!

Last June, my son stepped on a rose thorn while gardening at the front of the house. I got to him immediately and removed it; making sure there were no additional thorns or anything left behind. Either Tuesday or Wednesday(can't remember for sure which!) after his bath I noticed the bottom of that foot had an odd bruisey-rashy thing going on. We soaked it in some hydrogen peroxide and that seemed to reduce the redness some.

Bottombumpers AIO diaper: Review

Who doesn't love a bitty in some cloth diaper fluff?!

Spring cleaning

Spring is definitely in the air! Not only do I have almost all of my garden seeds in my hot little hands, but I've also caught a big case of Spring Cleaning. It's times like these, I'm so thankful for my little house!

There was a great article in the Vitacost newsletter last week talking about clutter. Basically, that we are stressed out because we have too much junk in the house. I totally believe it. In the past I attributed my craziness with things being in their place or toss/donation happy to a light case of OCD. Now I'm starting to wonder if my brain is just ahead of the game!

Have you seen a Hemangioma?

One thing I've learned repeatedly with all my kids- each kid is different. Very different! I thought I'd seen it all until Annie came along. She had some swelling in the chest area due to hormones(had read about it but never saw it with the other kids; that was interesting) and she also has what's called a hemangioma.

Honeysuckle Breastmilk Storage Bags

In my quest for breastmilk storage bags, this time I turned to Amazon to see what was out there. Sure, I could get the usual Lansinoh or Medela in town. But I haven't been thrilled with them. The Medela ones were just too small and stiff in my opinion. And Lansinoh I dislike even more. After using them for almost 4 years, I decided we were through playing the 'Is this one going to break and we'll lose all that milk?!' game. 

A Little Love for the Ladies!

Here's a little peek at the lovely ladies supplying us with seemingly endless eggs of late:

Our Black Australorp

An all white Easter Egger

One of our Barred Rocks(the other escaped the camera)

Our other Easter Egger

Our Rhode Island Red.

And my favorite chicken of all. 

They really are so fun to listen to outside. I love closing my eyes and feeling like I'm on a farm! The kids love to watch them, too. My husband says they are his friends. I'm not even joking. These are some very coddled hens. They've spent nary a night this winter without their heat lamp on! But hey, whatever makes the man that's cleaning the coop happy!

Hope for those Little Brothers and Big Sisters...

... In 20 years. 

Wordless Wednesday- Smooshy Cheeks

Ewephoria Knits, shout out some love!

There are some really wonderful people I've had the pleasure of purchasing from over the last several months; I'd like to do some shout outs so you can be introduced and hopefully fall in love with their work, too!

Today I'll be introducing you to Ewephoria Knits!

At some point I realized I wanted a car jacket for Annie- and it needed to be baby friendly wool. I'm a bit particular on patterns and it wasn't until last minute that I came across the Shluttli pattern. Then, being so close to the end, began a desperate hunt to find one in time!

In my Google search of the pattern I was blessed to come across a listing Kelly of Ewephoria Knits had in her Etsy shop. It wasn't quite the right size, though! On a whim I decided to ask her if she might be able to make another for me that could get to us in time. She didn't think she could get it to me before Annie's birth but at least it would be soon after. Even with getting to pick out my own yarn and buttons, Kelly managed to do both beautiful work and beat my prenatal clock!

 Is it not perfect? We've worn it almost every day now! Any time we go out, on it goes. It is such a breeze to get on her and I love how soft the wool is. We get compliments on it all the time. The knitting is just flawless. What I'd give to have one in *MY* size!

Kelly's Etsy shop is on vacation right now, but check out her feedback to see some of the things she has done in the past(and loads of other happy customers!). Also scroll through her photo albums on facebook for more delicious knits and yarns!

Thanks, Kelly, and all the other wonderful work at home people that make such beautiful things with love and care.

Wordless Wednesday- And Then There Were Three

Watch out! She's gettin' crafty...

I decided for Christmas I wanted to make Annie's gift from us. I did some google for ideas, thought a lot, drew it out on paper and then... waited until the last minute! Ha! And my machine jammed part way through, requiring a dear friend to come to my rescue with her Viking. Hello, like how am I supposed to go back to my dinky Kenmore after that?!

Without further ado, Annie's Christmas softbook:

Back page and Front page- I put a layer of fleece between each side to give it a soft form.

Homebirth: Why it's not for Me

*Gasp*

What is she saying?!

I know this may come as a shock to some. At least, it sort of was to me after all the glowing 'reviews' on homebirth. So let me explain why I've come to the conclusion it just isn't for me. Apologies for the ensuing novel! I kept trying to cut it back and gave up.

Here chick, chick, chick!

Well, so much for blogging about the ladies as they grew from chick to hen! I've got some pictures at least saved up to share that I hope you'll enjoy!

Cheep cheep! The day we got them(in the mail)

Introducing: Annie

Annie, 11-18-11, 2:30am, 8lb 8oz, 21in

We're 11 weeks out now from our birth and I think it's time to introduce my peanut and get her birth story down!

In my prenatal meetings with the midwives and doula, I told them this wasn't going to take long. That my labor would start at night, I'd estimated it at 4 hours, and if the Hypnobabies was working I wouldn't appear to be as in labor as I was. Check, check, and check.