Bandana Bibs

Anyone who has kids has probably, at one time or another, owned a bib.  I know I have owned lots of them over the years.  Most of them had cute little sayings on them, and weren't very stylish.  I wish I had known about Kompis of Sweden when my kids were babies.  They have the cutest bibs that look like little bandanas.  They come in a variety of colors, and are designed to keep kids dry from drool and clean from snacks, and they are small, so they won't get in the way at playtime.

They are seriously cute. I may have to get some for all the babies I have to buy for this year at Christmas!

Being Proactive!

 I am turning forty in about a month and a half.  Most women dread this number, but I am looking forward to it.  I am done having babies, and the babies I do have are about grown.  I'm lucky.  Some women try their whole lives and never have one baby, let alone three.  These days, there are so many options available for women who want to have children.  Women of all ages are now freezing their eggs, though it seems more and more women are doing it while they are younger to use at a future time. 

I was never into having a career.  I always wanted to be a mom.  But, some women put their careers first, and then find that when they are ready to have kids, their biological clocks are no longer cooperative.  It's women like this, among others, that are being proactive, and freezing their eggs while they are still young.  Of course, there are also women who donate their eggs to women who can not produce their own, and a lot of these eggs are frozen as well.  It's funny.  I have heard of sperm banks before, but never about places that store a women's eggs.  It makes sense now that I think about it, though.

Some people may be uneducated about the whole thing (like myself), and there is a ton of information available about the safety of egg freezing.  It's pretty interesting stuff, too.  Nowadays, couples who can not conceive have so many options.  I remember when adoption was the only way for infertile couples to become parents.   Having carried three children myself, I can understand a women wanting to carry a baby herself.  All this new technology has done wonders for making that a possibility.

Thankfully, I didn't have problems getting pregnant, and I hope my girls have just as easy a time when they decide to have families of their own.  I just hope they don't make that decision for many, many years.

I Have A New Niece!

Yesterday morning I got a phone call from my mom saying that my sister-in-law was in labor.  She wasn't due until the end of December, but I guess the baby didn't want her birthday too close to Christmas.  I headed to my mom's house and rode with her the 90 minutes or so it takes to get to my brother's house.  On the way we got the phone call that the baby was born, and both mom and baby were doing great.  I love babies, and was thrilled when I got to hold my beautiful new niece for the first time.

This is their sixth child, so they are both pros when it comes to child care.  However, I am sure there are moments when they both wish they had an extra set of hands.  Carrying around a new infant while chasing after five other small kids is not going to be easy, so I was thinking that they might need some things to help make life a little easier.  I don't know if she has ever used a baby carrier wrap before, but these things look pretty awesome.  My sister-in-law would be able to keep the new baby close while still being able to use both hands.  Of course, I am sure she would do a little research first to find the best baby carriers available.  I know I would. I would read all the reviews I could find before making a decision. 

It still amazes me how much information is readily available on the internet.  I don't know how we ever made informed decisions before googling things. 

Babies On The Brain

My new favorite show is Private Practice.  Once I watched every episode of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix, I needed something new to watch, and since Addison is the star of Private Practice, it seemed like a good idea.  Since she is a baby doctor working in an office that also deals with fertility issues, there are a lot of pregnant women and babies on the show.  Seeing all those newborns make me want another baby in the house.  The only problem with that is that I do not want to have another baby.  I don't want to ever be pregnant again.  I don't want to have to worry about stocking up on baby products.  Plus, I have nowhere to put a baby in this apartment.

I wouldn't be opposed to babysitting a baby every now and then if someone wanted to lend me one. I would love to keep one for a couple of days, just long enough to remind myself why I don't want a baby of my own.  As much as I love the smell of a baby, and as much as I enjoy the feel of a baby sleeping in my arms, I know what happens when they grow up.  They turn into monsters with attitudes that talk back and don't listen.

Okay, so maybe I just talked myself out of the baby thing.

Babies

 Brandi loves to play with her baby dolls.  This comes as no surprise to my long time readers, who know all about Hailey, and how people always think she is a real baby.  Since the move to the new place, Hailey has been neglected, because the girls still have not unpacked their room, which means that all of Brandi's toys are still in boxes.  That includes all of her baby accessories.

You would think that at 9 she would be outgrowing the playing with dolls stage, but instead she is asking for more.  She used to have the swing, playpen, stroller, and high chair, but over the years they have gotten broken and were thrown away.  Out of all of those things, I think she misses the high chair the most, so I went online trying to see if I could find one that would last longer than the last one, and I found a site that sells amish toys, doll furniture.  I found the cutest little wooden high chair that I think she will love. Check it out:

Cute, right?  Now I just need to find the money to buy it.  Maybe I'll just start saving now and buy it for her for Christmas.  Is it too early to already be thinking about Santa?

It's Triplets!

My daughter is going to need to start using an infant hip carrier if she continues to take her babies everywhere we go.  Let me introduce you to, front left to right, Hayley Brooke, Hazel Brianna, and Hannah Bridget.  Aren't they adorable?

Yes, she named each one herself.  I love how they are all Ha first names and Br middle names.  She's pretty creative like that.  I can't wait to see what she names her real kids one day.

Yesterday, we went into our local Goodwill store looking for a bunk bed for the girls room.  Brandi took one look at the little baby clothes and begged for new outfits for her babies.  I didn't have any money on me, so I told her we would go back when I did and she could pick out a few outfits. 

We went back today, and she picked out about five different outfits, three of which the girls are wearing in the picture.  She tried to convince her dad and I to buy her a stroller, too, but we didn't.  She has a variety of baby carriers already.  It's the fact that she can only carry one baby at a time that has her wanting a stroller.   I have written before about my rule that she can only bring one baby into the store with us, and most of the time she picks Hayley, and that people think she is a real baby.  I wonder what they would think if I let Brandi carry her babies in baby carriers backpacks?   People would probably do triple takes thinking I let my nine year old carry my baby on her back.  

Boudreaux's Butt Paste

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.
 It has been a really long time since I have had a child in diapers.  My youngest potty trained herself at about 18 months, which was awesome.  I remember those diaper days, though, and sometimes, no matter how often you change them, babies get diaper rash.

If you have a baby, you should try Boudreaux's Butt Paste the next time you are dealing with a diaper rash.   (if you click on the link you can get a free sample!)  This Butt Paste was "specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care".  My sister actually uses is, and she loves it.  Unlike other diaper rash creams, it wipes off easily.  If you are a mom of a child with a red butt, you know how important it is not to have to fight to get the diaper rash cream off.  I mean, you are using this stuff to help their little bottoms feel better, not worse.  You can easily throw some in your diaper bag, too, because it comes in a variety of sizes, from 1 ounce tubes to 16 ounce jars.

I am going to keep this stuff in mind the next time I have to make up a gift bag for a baby shower.

Saving Money On Baby Formula

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
Do you have any idea how much money parents spend on formula for their kids?  I just used the Parent's Choice Savings Calculator and I was shocked by the number it came up with.  Check it out:

The prices they used are from 2008, so I am not sure if they are reflecting the prices of formula today, but still.  By buying the store brand, instead of the name brand formula, you can save over $600 a year.  Think about all the things you could do with that money.  You could start up a college fund, buy diapers, or any number of different things.  It has also been proven recently that all infant formula must meet specific FDA guidelines, so the name brand is just as nutritious for your baby.

I remember when we had Brandi, she went through several different types of formula before we finally settled on a lactose free one, so I know first hand how hard it can be finding the perfect formula.  If you need help, try using this Parent's Choice Formula Finder. Just answer three simple questions, and they will recommend one of their formulas.  Don't think it's a definite, though, because when I answered the questions based on Brandi's needs as an infant, they told me they didn't have a formula for her, which is weird.

I love that Parent's choice has so many different resources available to help parents find the answers they are looking for.  I wish I knew about this when my kids were infants.

I Hung Out With Lylah Today

I forgot how much work it is to have a baby around the house.

I babysat my little niece, Lylah, today. She has a cold, and instead of being miserable at daycare, she came and spent the day with me. She's almost six months old, and a total sweetheart. She wasn't cranky (too much) but she wanted to be held most of the day, which wasn't really a problem for me :). The problem was that I must have blocked out how much work little ones are. The bottles and diapers and binkies. I didn't eat or pee the entire time she was here! lol! (maybe she should come everyday...that would sure help with the whole losing weight thing! lol)

I enjoyed every second with her. We watched a few movies, a couple of television shows on demand and basically just chilled.

She also made me realize that I in no way, shape, or form want to have another child.

I like eating and peeing way too much! lol!

Keeping Baby Close With The Beco Baby Carrier

My niece is almost five months old. I can not believe it! When I was a kid, I remember hearing the adults saying that the older you get, the faster time goes. I don't think truer words have ever been spoken.

My sister also has a three year old, and sometimes she needs five hands when, like the rest of us, she only has two. This is where the beco baby carrier, which can be found at La Stella Blu, would come in handy. It would allow her to carry my niece, and still have free hands to help my nephew, or get some housework done. I was reading about this specific carrier, and I like that it comes with something you put inside of it to make it comfortable for newborns.

I wish I had one of these when Kasi was born. Ryan was 18 months old at the time, and this carrier would have made my life a whole lot easier.

Welcome To The World, Ansley

I am so excited! When Brandi gets home I am heading to the hospital to cuddle a brand new baby girl! My good friend Nicole gave birth yesterday afternoon, and both mommy and baby are doing great! Nicole's mom emailed me last night saying the baby had a head full of black hair, long enough for a bow. I don't remember the exact weight, but I know it was over 8 pounds, so she is probably a little chunker. I can not wait to see her!

Tuna Is Good For Babies Brains

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of HealthyTuna.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have three kids, which means I have been pregnant three times. During each pregnancy, I tired to eat the right foods to stay healthy. I developed gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy, and was borderline with both Ryan and Brandi, although I didn't become borderline with Brandi until my 35th week. It was because of the diabetes that I had to learn what was good for me, and what was bad.

One of the things I remember most was being told not to eat too much fish that contained mercury. I assumed that this included tuna, which was not true. Eating healthy tuna during pregnancy can actually help the child's development. One study showed that women who ate 2 ounces of fish a day had children who had higher developmental scores than those whose mothers ate less fish. Did you follow that? Simply put, eating the right fish during pregnancy can actually benefit your baby.

Of course, you should stay away from shark and swordfish, because these fish are high in mercury, and that is not good for the baby. I didn't eat any fish during my pregnancy, but that was only because I don't like fish. There was a study that found that women who stopped eating fish during pregnancy had a higher risk of depression. I wasn't depressed, but I never ate fish before getting pregnant, so my body wasn't missing anything. At least that is the way I see it.

You can check out these studies for yourself here. They are really interesting, and if I were to ever get pregnant again, I will try and include some tuna in my diet.

All Infant Formulas Are Nutritionally the Same

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I want all of my readers who have infants, or who know someone who has an infant, or if you plan on having a baby anytime soon, to read what I am about to write, especially if they feed, or are planning to feed, their babies formula.

Wow, that was a mouthful.

I have written in the past how store brand formulas are just as good as the name brand formulas, and now I have proof that I am right. PBM Products sued Mead Johnson, the makers of Enfamil, for false advertising, and won. It seems that there were advertisements out saying that the store brand were inferior in nutritional value, and that people should buy the store brands.

Turns out that the only significant difference between the two is the price. You can pay about 50% less if you buy the store brand over the name brand, and when you have a baby, every cent you can save helps tremendously. I would be a little upset if I was one of the parents who bought into Mead Johnson's claim and spent hundreds of dollars that I didn't really need to.

The bottom line is that buying the store brand formula is an excellent way to save money, without taking any nutrition away from your child.

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Have you made your Christmas gift list yet? Have you checked it twice? If you know of someone who is having a baby, think of giving them a C'elle gift certificate for Christmas. They can use it to help pay for the cost of storing their child's cord blood.

I know for some this can be a touchy subject, but from what I have read, there are so many potential benefits that make saving the blood a good idea. Not only can the stem cells be used to fight off many diseases, like cancer and heart disease, for the child the blood was collected from, but there is a good chance it can be used to help that child's siblings. Before making up your mind, find out more about stem cells, and what they can be used for.

Now, I know banking your child's cord blood can be expensive. That is why giving gift certificates is a wonderful idea. Given in denominations of $50, receiving several can really help lower your out of pocket expense. It's just a matter of letting family and friends know that this is what you want. I wish that I had know the value of cord blood when I was pregnant. I would have looked into banking my kids cord blood.

Look Who's Here!

Say hello to my newest niece, Lylah Caroline. Isn't she sweet! (please don't look at me...I only got 3 hours sleep last night!) I spent the morning at the hospital, waiting for her to make her arrival. As you can see, she is a little bitty thing. My sister's section was delayed, so we all sat in the waiting room, worrying about her. I was going to look into Hyper-V backup and Protection while we waited, but my mom forgot her laptop. I can not wait until February and I am able to get my own laptop. Just think. If I had a laptop, I could have posted this picture hours ago.

I can not wait to go back to the hospital tomorrow and spend some more time with the new baby.

It's The Big Day

Just wanted to let you all know that I won't be around much today. I am about to head to the hospital...my sister is having her baby this morning. Then it's trick or treat time with Brandi, her BFF, Faith, and Missy and gang.

Say a little prayer that my sister and newest niece or nephew are happy and healthy after delivery. The section is scheduled for 9, and hopefully all my pink thoughts will bring me a niece...not that I wouldn't love a nephew, but we need to even things out a bit. I have 8 nephews and 3 nieces...we need more girls!

Breastfeeding Versus Infant Formula

Eight more day and I will be an Aunt, again. I am so excited to meet this little girl or boy. When my sister decided not to find out the sex, I was disappointed. I mean, I make baby blankets, and I needed to know if it should be blue or pink.

I made a gender neutral multi-colored one.

Her timing for this baby is perfect, because it puts her on maternity leave for the Holidays. I am looking forward to helping her make the transition from one child to two. Wait, that sounds wrong. I mean I am looking forward to doing whatever she needs me to do to make her life a little easier the first few weeks with the new baby.

There, that sounds better.

The only thing I won't be able to do is feed the baby, because she plans on breastfeeding. That was always my favorite time with my kids when they were infants, especially the night feedings. I loved being the only two awake, sharing quality time. Weird, I know, but the truth. It was especially true with Brandi, because I worked during the day and didn't have a lot of one on one time with her. Maybe that explains her separation anxiety.

I tried the breastfeeding thing three times, and all three times I failed. I truly believe that it was because my boobs were too big. I did pump for the first couple of months for all of them, but after that they were strictly fed formula. Brandi drank the lactose free, and I just recently recommended the same thing for my nephew. My sister said she switched him to soy formula because of gas problems, and I suggested trying the lactose free first, because I have heard that the milk based formulas are better on babies tummies than soy based ones. (I do not know that this is a fact; it's just something I heard somewhere) I know she buys store brand formula to save money, and that is such a smart thing to do. I do know that this is a great idea, because all baby formula has to meet the same nutrition guidelines, and they are strictly regulated. I was on WIC with my kids, so they got the name brand formula through that, but I always had to buy an extra can or two every month, and I would buy the generic.

Why waste money where you don't have to?

An Update On My Sister

My sister Tami is still in the hospital, and they are not sure when they will be letting her go home. She started running a fever, almost 103, so they want to find the source of that. They told her today they will not send her home with the fever. She had a whole bunch of tests done today that came back negative, so tomorrow she will have an ultrasound of her heart, and I think they said something about seeing the infectious disease doctor tomorrow.

I know she is not happy about being stuck at the hospital, and I know my mom is anxious for her to be released, too. I think she might stay a little longer than she planned, too, so she can help Tami once she is allowed to go home.

Please continue to pray for her, and that the doctors will find what is wrong so they can treat it.

Jake's Christening

I spoke to my sister this morning, and she is still stuck in the hospital. They are hoping she can be released tomorrow, or Thursday. She has a long road to recovery ahead of her, so please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Baby Jake is doing wonderfully. Tami said he is eating like a champ, and is not a fusser, which is awesome. I seriously can not wait until I am able to see this little guy. Me and Missy are talking about taking a trip up when Jake is Christened, which will hopefully be after the first of the year. I was looking at baptism gifts now so I had some idea of what I want to get, and how much money I need to save to be able to buy it. The trip up there is going to cost me an arm and a leg, so if I can get the gift early, that will help me out.

Gone

My sister requested I remove her baby's picture from facebook, so I figured I better get it off of here, too. She is convinced the internet is evil, so I must abide by her wishes.

She is doing better, but seems to have one thing after another go wrong. Hopefully she will be home with the baby by Wednesday.

I am taking a little break from the blog thing for the weekend...I'll be back tomorrow!