Bum Genuis Cloth Diaper Giveaway

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Yes 12 of them...

Lesson Learned

Before I had G, Z ate lunch at 11:30 and started her nap 12/12:30.

Baba was taking care of her for one week and instead of keeping on the program he did things his way....late lunch 1pm and sometimes a trip to the park after ward then naps would start between 2 and 4pm.

Now she naps anywhere between 11am and 4pm and I can't do anything about it. I put G down turn my back for 3 seconds & she wakes him up. Sometimes I just set him down or move him & he wakes up.

Long day (can you tell?).....

As soon as G turns 3 months it will get even easier and I'll work on a schedule for us all.

Cloth Diapering

So finally I am cloth diapering almost full time for Gibo. Seriously I think it was a great choice. I have 12 Bum Genius pocket diapers and they are working really well. I am doing laundry every other day and Gibo sleeps better at night while he is wearing them. I also have less problems with leaks. Strangely enough I am not really getting peed on with diaper changes when I use the cloth.

The bad news is, these diapers have 3 size settings and Gibo is already on the middle one at 6 weeks. I guess I shouldn't be too suprised considering I am a week or two away from taking out the 6-9 month clothes.

If you are looking to buy these cloth diapers the best deal is from cottonbabies.com and using coupon code BESTDEAL for 5% off. I recommend buying the 6 pack, if you try oneor two and don't like them, you ca always sell the other 4-5 you don't use for the same price you paid for them on ebay.

Last night I realized people are happy and life is good because they say it is (not because good or bad things determine it.)

I thought about this because how is it that some people can constantly be so down on their life and feel like all they have is crap, when others deal with things 100 times worse and still go on and manage to smile and be happy at the end of the day.

I truly love my life and enjoy every minute, even when I am half way asleep at 3 am and covered in pee and poop, I just wish I could clean it up while sleeping. :)

I guess my mom wasn't lying when she said, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes stronger" and "All things happen for a reason."

My children, my husband, and I are healthy, feed, and happy, life is good :)

Flying with 2

We left on Thursday afternoon. One child in the go-go-kidz travelmate & car seat and the other in the infant seat and stroller and then one suitcase.

Security wasn't too bad, but we were anything but fast. We had the row in front of the exit row, which did not allow car seats, so Zuzu sat without it. She was upset and fussy whe she had to put on her seat belt (it was nap time) but we distracted her with a snack. Once we were up in the air both kids were sleeping.

We landed and got a rental car. A new Crystler Town & Country. Nice cause it was a mini van but drove & guzzled gas like a truck, and it was gutless (even for a minivan.)

We got to see friends & family on our trip. Thursday night the fire alarm went off in our hotel at 11pm, but both kids slept through it. Z got worn out Friday night and got a little fever, but was better by morning.

Sunday we flew back home. This time there was a 14-16 month old girl that was screaming so it really muffled Z's sadness of puting on a seat belt. G slept the whole way and Z was awake until we started the desent. Funny how she waited until it was time to land.

Overall we had a great trip and I would gladly do it again.

My list of accomplishments

Feeding a 2 year old (table foods) and 3 week old at the same time. Putting a 2 year to bed & reading her stories while ursing the other.

Grocery shopping with 2 by myself in a very small car. (Donations will be excepted to buy mama a newer model minivan since my husbad's car is more like a clown car for midgets-which luckily I am close to being one.)

...Coming soon: Flying with a 2 year old and a 5 week old.

Gibriel

Pronounced: Gib-reel

He is after God's messenger, just in Arabic. DH had a dream about this being his name a few weeks ago, but I wasn't fond of it. So we were really going for Ayoub (Job in Arabic) but when we saw him he was obviously a Gibriel and not an Ayoub.

So Gibriel joined us two days ago and is enjoying milk and naps :)

Birth Story

As you all know I had teaser contractions for about a month prior to birth. I didn't sleep well the night before. More of what I thought were teasers and lots of using the toilet. Morning came and the teasers didn't go away and after all the bathroom visits I knew it would be that night.

So all day yesterday I stayed closed to my friend the toilet and relaxed listening to some Beatles music and just tried to rest up. For the most part they were 7-10 minutes apart while I was laying down and relaxing, but when I would get up to do anything they would come closer. To me they really didn't feel to bad. About 10:30 or 11 am they started getting about 5 minutes apart and a little more intense, but they still didn't seem too bad. So I decided to go take a warm bath. When that didn't make a difference on the contractions and they continued to intensify I told baba he should let the mid-wife know we would be on our way soon. (I didn't want to spend 20 minutes in the car in hard labor so I told him let's just go.)

We arrived around 1pm. They were intense but still not what I would call full power (when compared to Zuzu's birth). So I got in the tub there and relaxed. Then just to get an idea of where I was at I had the mid-wife check me. She said I was at 8 cm. I was completely shocked. I thought for sure she was just trying to be nice or something. (I was thinking maybe 5-6 cm.) About an hour after that I was at 10 cm.

I started pushing. This time was different. I had to work a lot harder to get the water to break and him to crown. It was probably all of 3pm by then. Then I took my time stretching myself so I wouldn't tear. Pushing was so much harder this time, especially in relation to the labor. This time I could feel so much more with his head coming out. It was really weird.

Finally my little man was born at 3:41pm. He came out blue. The mid-wife said it was normal though I wasn't so sure, but he was breathing well and she said to give him some time to get some color.

I ended up with a 2nd degree tear. Which I thought was weird since I was being so careful. Turns out I tore in the exact same spot. I got stitched up.

Later we found out he was 8lbs 5 oz and 21" long. Zuzu was only 7lbs 1 oz, so I guess the extra 1 lb and 4 oz needed to escape some how :D Now I am just worried the next one is going to be 10lbs or something crazy.

We left the birthing center as a family of 4 at 7pm. I came home and rested while baba and Zuzu got me a Fatburger. :)

I'll try to get a picture or two up soon. There are only 3-4 pictures currently in exsistence and baba has them all. I will say he does have light brown hair but nothing when compared to Zuzu at birth.

Sleep is over rated.....

Windy rainy weather. A daughter that got out of bed twice. Going pee every 30 minutes and contractions on and off all night. I think I slept 2 hours maybe 3.

Update

This is way too much info. but I keep this here for my record if nothing else since I don't think I have too many regular readers.

Today my ho-ha feels alive. I believe it has more blood circulation than normal. Not really like tingly (like after good sex), but like more blood is pumping around down there. Almost like when you have to pee badly and you feel it hitting the sides as it comes out.

I am also having little cramps, but they are very little and barely worth mentioning, especially compared to other ones I have experienced.

At my mid-wife appointment last night my blood pressure was way down like 106 over 70, and the heart beat was only in the mid to upper 120s, where it is usually in the 140s. I am also having a harder time getting to sleep even though I am exhausted. My guess is more hormones are kicking in and are almost in full gear.

1pm PST we have the "bloody show". So I guess my ho-ha felt weird for a reason, it is the blood vessels in there rupturing.

Still pregnant

Just keeping the blog updated. I am ready, but I guess baby is not, so I will just try to enjoy my time.

I was killing time this morning...

So I made up my own top 10.



You know your baby has dropped when.....

10. Half of your lap is gone.

9. Your belly no longer grows, your baby just drops.

8. Even though your bed is tall (and you almost have to jump to get into it) you have to roll out of it.

7. You ask your almost 2 year old for help getting up and you seriously consider a digging your hiking cane out of the garage.

6. Clothing that covers the bottom of your belly leaves an inprint (from being compressed between your belly and lap) after you have been sitting for more than 2 minutes.

5. You start to think about what you could put between you belly and lap during the end of labor so that baby comes out with a "cool" imprint on his/her shoulder. (I would really never do this, but I am sure if guys carried babies this would happen all the time.)

4. You go up the stairs on your tippy toes because you have short legs and you are not sure your legs could clear the stairs and your belly going up.

3. You feel like you have a ball between your upper thighs.

2. You start to think that having someone's head between your legs is normal.



*insert drum roll like Letterman*

...And the #1 reason you know you have dropped is when...

....the head starts to stick out of your ho-ha.




Looks down, doesn't see anything, grabs a mirror....phew we are still okay on that last one... :D

Still as big as a house....

I am still pregnant. Yesterday was another "teaser" day. Cramping and back pain most of the day. Monday I tried walking, spicy food and sex. Got a little bit of cramping Tuesday but nothing that did anything or progressed.

I am really tired of being teased and I am ready to have this baby come out. If I wasn't being teased so much, on a deadline so baba can spend a good amount of time with us, and concerned with spending more money on the birth (Baba had a fit when he heard the price and the thought that it could be more after June 1st makes me want to plug my ears), other than that another week or two are good for me.

At my appointment this week my belly was measuring the same and my protein was high, but my BP was normal.

Come on out baby! Your family is waiting. :)
(No I wasn't nearly as bad with Zuzu, she didn't tease me she just did her own thing and came out at the perfect time.)

So bored...

Today I woke up cleaned the stove and microwave THEN ate breakfast. This is seriously insane. I was hungry but I felt like I just had to do it.

Then we went out and bought some food. Then ate some more food and took our nap.

Next I vacuumed and wiped down everything from the bathroom, walls, and even base boards. Yes I know we have only been here 2 months.

If I had a cleaner that didn't stink so bad I would probably clean the shower door better and the sliding glass door.

Now I am looking at the clock wishing it was a little later so I could start dinner.

So not like me, but I want everything to be done and ready because I know I won' t really touch anything again for 3 months.

What I learned last night

Early labor dragging on for 3 hours straight is no better than real labor. At least with real labor you know you are getting somewhere.

If this is all I needed to do to get 30 minutes in a warm bath while Baba and Zuzu pick me up dinner I would have done it a long time ago :D

My mid-wife says sometimes Benedryl (even children's) can slow things down. Didn't have to try it but came very close to considering it.

Now I am hoping to make it to the weekend. Not sure how realistic that is but I can hope.

We are getting to close for comfor now...

Baba was away last week. Wednesday through Saturday night.
Friday of I had a scare. Little contractions for about an hour.

Today I decided to go the store before it got warm. Getting off my butt, BIG mistake. Nothing but little contractions for the 30 minutes I was out.

It is 4:30 and now I can't stand up with out a cramp.

Here is something else interesting I want to look into. Friday my temp was around 98.5, Saturday it was 98.1, then yesterday it was 98.4 and right now it is 98.8. I am not sick just PG and hot. In dogs a change in temperature is a sign of labor....

Almost ready.

Had my mid-wife appointment on Tuesday. Baby's head is down and engaged in my pelvis.
I am "enjoying" walking around with my legs pinched together...yes that great feeling like the baby is trying to get out and putting pressure on everything.

My bowels are going crazy on me, the "ring of fire" is mild compared to what I experienced today.

In one week we will be a go for this baby (37 weeks). I just hope baby waits until after my birthday.

Very Useful Items

A great outdoor blanket for half the price of the ones found in baby/toddler stores. Plus you can always use one of those coupons you have laying around to save more. Just don't wait. They usually run out quickly and don't restock until next spring.

I have had mine (same as above but outside is green) for two years now.

http://www.bedbathand
beyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=114044




Misty Mate. I have owned 2 of the deluxe 24 oz models both times my husband gave them away. They aren't cheap but they are worth the $30-40. I used one in Egypt in 130F weather and while pregnant and birthing Zuzu. (Hormones always give me hot flashes worse than 130F heat by far.)

I found this one online here Doctors Foster and Smith and walked away with it for $27.50 using a $5 online coupon code (that expires today.) Not exactly the deluxe but it does the same job (just not as pretty) and if my husband gives this one away I probably won't be quite as sad....plus this time I am buying it with his money, not mine :D

Before you ask...no this was not made for reptiles the site is just marketing it as such since they are a pet store.

A good resource

(Bought from Amazon


I just got this book and it is fantastic so I had to share. I want to spend more time on focused instruction for Zuzu since I will be home schooling her until she is at least 7. This book designed more for a 3 year olds classroom setting but can be easily adapted.

It is organized by theme. For Zuzu I am going to start on shapes. It gives art and craft activities, snacks, science, music, sensory, movement actives, a few other topics and then a list of books that also work nicely with the unit. If you are a teacher it even has a letter you can send home to parents introducing the topic and the things that will be covered.

I have to order a few supplies before starting but nothing unusual. The book does make me wish Zuzu had her own space or we had a nice yard to set up a small work station/table.

I bought the book itself from Amazon. I shopped around and with (no) shipping it was only about 50 cents more than the cheapest place. Also note this is the 5th edition. If you are on a budget I am sure the older editions would work just as well.

2 nights in a row

Zuzu has transitioned to her own bed in her own room.

When we moved here she spent the first week to 10 days with mama and baba co-sleeping at night. Then she spent 2 weeks on her crib mattress on the floor and mama sleeping next to her on the air mattress. The second week was on and off. (She cries mama goes in and comforts her and then sleeps there for a while.)
Then her big girl bed got set up. For about a week mama slept on the floor next to her on and off (comes in when she is upset usually about an hour at 1 am and then 5am to wake up at 6:30am.) Upon waking up we would go in and wake up or find baba.
Then I took down the air mattress all together. For a week or two I would still go in when ever she needed me and snuggle with her in her bed. As time went on over the next two weeks she needed me less and less and would come wake us up at 6:30.

Naps during the whole transition followed the same pattern as night time. If she needed me I was there. If she didn't need me I was doing my own thing. The last two weeks I let her get up on her own when she is ready and I meet her at the top of the stairs or let her stand at the top and call for "mama" before coming.

It was a long and slow transition (especially) being pregnant and trying to get up from an air mattress but if it works, it was all worth it.