Cloth diapering, early mornings, and coffee!

Prior to Josiah, just like any couple, we talked about ways to save after baby.  I told Wes I was willing to try cloth diapering.  A few weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought a few to start.  For those of you expecting safety pins etc, this is what we're working with...

Cute, right?  I call this one the "Mickey Mouse" diaper.  

After a few hours of research, I landed on Charlie Banana.  Other brands looked perfectly fine and affordable, but I liked the feature for CB that allows you to use disposable inserts.  "Disposable inserts?!  What's the point of that?  Isn't that just like a disposable diaper?"  Well sure, you could look at it that way.  But if decide to use these more than just part time, then we have an option when we travel or when he is in the nursery, etc.  One of the other many great things about this diaper is that it's one size, meaning as he gets bigger the diaper will still fit because it's adjustable.

Let's look at affordability.  Pampers is our choice brand for disposable (fits him well).  A box of 100 diapers is $24.99 at Target + tax.  Let's just say J goes through 8 diapers in a 24 hour period.  That box of 100 diapers is used up in less than 2 weeks.  So we're looking at a cost of $50+ a month for diapers.  After 3 years that's closer to $2,000 (again, very conservative).  I realize as babies get older they don't go as often, but think about all of those times you put a new diaper on and after a rather disturbing noise 2 minutes later you have to change the diaper again!  The other day I went through 3 diapers in 2 minutes.  How is that even possible?!

If I buy CB in packs of 6, they are between $100-$120.  If J goes 8 times a day, I would probably want at least 16 diapers in my reserve.  The liners are $10.99 for 100.  These are the only things that need "restocking".  If I bought 3 packs of 6 CB's and enough liners for three years, I'd be spending around $1,300.  Baby 2 comes along, assuming baby 1 is potty trained at this time, and I am only adding the cost of liners while I am adding another $2,000 for starting over with disposable.  A family with 3 children is spending $6,000 on diapers at least.  Combine our two cars and the net worth isn't $6,000.

Granted, it can be gross because, let's face it, babies can be gross.  Since we're only doing this part time, I try to be strategic about when I use the cloth diaper.  Disposable diapers are way more convenient and  it's really NBD for anyone else to change the diaper.  Honestly, I'm a fan. 

But he is seriously cute in his CB.

It's not for everyone and perhaps I'll decide it's not for us in a few months, but for now, I don't mind cleaning them so it's working for us.  But I TOTALLY get that it's not for everyone.  Some things work for other families but I've found they don't work for us and there is no judgement here!  Just information.

On another note, my baby is 2 months old!

I've been back at work for a little while now and J gets to spend time with daddy, grandma, and a good friend.  I am very thankful he is in such good hands.  After I lost my mind early on, I decided to implement Baby Wise.  Best. Decision. Ever.  Within 3 days it was like clockwork.  It makes it easier for those taking care of him while Wes and I can't and it makes it easier to plan our day.

I love my mornings with him.  We play, then he goes down for his morning nap before I leave for work so I have a chance to drink my coffee, read the Bible, or get some work done for HEART or the business.  I am a morning person so the fact that J wakes up in the morning at 6, works perfectly for me.

It's a beautiful thing.  

Well, for friends and family faraway, I hope this gives you a glimpse of how we're doing.  :)

Our Life as a Family of 3

Clearly I'm not much of a blogger, but for friends and family far away who are curious about how we're doing over here-there's much to catch up on.
We had a baby...he's cute.

Everyone says he looks like Wes.  I just think he looks like a baby, a really cute baby.

On a whim around month three, we decided that we wouldn't find out the gender of our baby.  Our decision was met with "Don't you want to be prepared?" and "Oh, I could NEVER do that" from people.  1) No, we don't want to be prepared.  Not knowing the gender means we don't know if we're supposed to buy diapers or make them go outside.  Oh puhleeeze.  2) Yes you could.  You just chose not to.

Pregnancy wasn't an awful experience, being sick in the morning wasn't my favorite and having to eat the MOMENT I got hungry was annoying.  I never felt like I was "glowing" or if I was it was just the sun reflecting off of my greasy non-make-uped face.  However, being pregnant in winter is great.  You're always warm when everyone else is freezing and comfy sweaters are currently in style-win!

March 8 (1 day after due date)
After attending a class at church, I came home and felt somewhat strong contractions.  Within a few hours they were a mere 3-5 minutes apart and I thought I was going to rip in two.  "It could take 20-30 hours since it's your first", said the Dr, "stay at home and comfortable as long as you can".  GREEEEAT.  A half hour after that phone call we were on our way to the hospital...I don't like pain.  He was born 5 hours after checking in.  Whew!  Not wasting any time, I knew I was going to like this kid.

Now we're almost 2 months in.  Life is good...but I feel myself getting crunchier with every passing day.

I got some "are you crazy" looks when I mentioned that I wanted to try cloth diapering very part-time.  So stay tuned to hear how that's going...So far I LOVE our Charlie Banana diapers.  Seriously, I want collect all the different prints and colors like some people collect shoes.

House Sitters At Your Service

We have seemed to make the rounds as qualified house sitters in our circle of friends.  It has come at a time God knew we needed to stretch out a little.  We live in a cute box in a cute neighborhood.  In reality we have more than we need but not everything we want.

Through various friends, we have been given the opportunity to house sit for a week at a time.  We quickly become kids in a candy store soaking up every moment that life becomes a little more simple (no 3 hour trips to the laundry mat, no standing over a sink washing the dishes that have piled up etc).

Through God's perfect timing, we find ourselves house sitting yet again.

During this time of house sitting (shall we call it our "vacation home"?) we have been given the opportunity yet again to take a break from some stress factors in our life...we watched the Hawks game while doing laundry, the dishes washed themselves while I went to bed, and the silly little list of conveniences could go on.  But this silly little list of conveniences allows us to take a vacation from little things that have taken up our time so that we can spend some time focusing on things we've wanted to do but just haven't had time for (and no, I don't just mean watching a Hawks game...I mean strengthening relationships, being less stressed, etc)

We wouldn't have seen what a big blessing it is if we had everything we wanted not just everything we needed.  We wouldn't have appreciated or even seen the extra time we have on our hands if we had always had that much time to work with.

It reminds me that even when I don't understand our circumstances, get frustrated, angry, and tired, I need to give thanks because He is working.

Home

Whelp, we've been a little busy around here to say the least!  We hit the ground running in 2013.
God is good and he has blessed us in so many ways.  I am in constant awe of His goodness.  We've hit our groove.  We're in a season of life where things just seem to make sense.
That being said...we feel God calling us to put down a few more roots.


...and the HOME search begins...


We'll keep you posted ;)

Processing...

Sometimes when a child hears too many multi-step directions you can see that child processing in their mind.  The poor child is running through everything they were just told and trying to make sense of it.  Kind of like a computer being told too many things at once...that dumb little hour glass becomes visual and you think "crud...this is going to take forever" It's a sweet surprise when it takes just a few seconds and a disappointment when after you use the bathroom, get a drink, eat your ice cream, text a friend and it's still "processing".

Sometime I feel like that child or computer.  "Processing...processing...processing" said in a monotone voice like a GPS...

I had a day like that today.  There was so much good stuff in it I just wish I could have Tivo'ed it so when I'm through processing one part I can slowly transition to the next and pause when I need to.  Alas, I got one shot at today.

I struggle with anxiety a bit.  Perhaps it's genetic, though my parents do not share in this struggle, or perhaps it is due to life experience.  Who knows, doesn't matter.  When someone says "The Bible says not to worry" I want to deck 'em.  Like it's that easy.  I try not to worry.  I pray about it.  But what hits me and stops me from praying sometimes is the fact that others in third world countries are dying at this moment.  Where is their comfort?  Don't they have every reason to be terrified of the future?

I don't in any way want to trivialize what others go through but a wise person opened my eyes to a different perspective.  This world is not all their is.  If it is...That would be cause to worry.  But there is something greater for us than just this world.  My worries are so centralized on the here and now.  My eyes are not seeing clearly.  I am so focused on worldly things.  When those worldly things disappear I find myself feeling lost.  I don't mean to fall into that trap.

One of my favorite songs to play on the guitar (okay...I don't play well...) is
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace.

Processing...processing...processing...

I'm not through processing.  These are just thoughts held together by memories of the day.

Tweaking the Goals...is that allowed?

I thought I would update the blogging world on my ambitious goals...
#1 Run a 5K
Well I'm slowly but surely trying to get there.  I am starting week 5 of my "Couch to 5K Plan" but I highly doubt I will be ready to run 3.2 miles in 3 weeks (Red Dress Run).  I did get my 15 minute mile down to a more respectable 13...but I still have a ways to go.  I need to stop hyperventilating when I run.
#2 Make my own cleaning supplies
Well...I bought cleaning supplies that are more natural and supposedly healthier does that count?  I think this idea was in the heat of the moment...this is about as far as I'm going to get for now.
#3 Make a new meal a week
How about make A meal a week...Our schedules don't exactly allow consistency.  We have dinner 2-3 times a week but one of those is our "pizza night".  I still want to get on this but it's hard to be motivated to use the oven when it's 100 outside.

Let's revise, shall we?


#1 Run a 5K 
We'll keep that one 

#2 _______I'll fill this one in later

#3 Make a new meal a MONTH
Ugh...fine.


Wes and I decided we want to try to go through the Bible in year.  It's tough to be consistent when our schedules don't coincide like we want them to but so far it's been going well...so perhaps that can replace number 2.  I'm finding that with the plan laid out of what to read it's not overwhelming and I really look forward to doing it.  It's even better when your best-friend encourages you as well.  We've found we have new things to talk about because of our reading.  So cool.  I want our kids to grow up in a home that knows being in the Word is important...more than important....necessary...a MUST.  My mom gets up early every morning and dives into the Word.  She has since before I can remember.  How then did I see that example and only now try to do the same?  How then can I expect my kids to get it if I don't make an effort to practice that discipline?  Hopefully we can get this down and routine before little ones are not just a figment of our imagination.

Anyway...perhaps these goals won't change a month from now.

New and I like it.

There have been so many new "happenings" around here lately; I feel like I'm living a different life.

We moved into a cute place in Barrington.  We have definitely had to simplify our life a bit.  We gave a lot of our furniture to family who can use it at this point more than we could, we sold a good portion of our books (thank you HalfPrice books for the $87), and I boxed up about 1/3 of what was in our kitchen to sell at a garage sale in July.  Simple is good.  It continues to remind me how nothing is really mine anyway.

Pulling two jobs a day is no more!  I will miss my previous place of employment but I am excited about this new chapter.  I am greatly looking forward to pursuing photographer even further because of my less rigid schedule.  Here are some fun pictures from the session with my brother and his family two weeks ago.

 He is sooo my brother's child.

I have 3 goals now that life looks a lot different than it did a few months ago.  I hope to keep an update here on how I'm doing.  Accountability is a good thing.

#1 Run a 5K

There is a 5K in August that I hope to run in.  I began the "Couch to 5K" plan last week and am already on Week 2...7 weeks to go!  Let's see if I can bring my 14 minute mile down to a less embarrassing 10.

#2 Make my own cleaning supplies

I don't feel quite educated enough to do this yet, but I have made a huge effort to buy supplies that are a lot safer.

#3 Make a new meal a week

Heh...we'll see how long this one stays on the list.  It's not that I hate cooking.  I don't.  There is just this small part of me that wants to rebel against the statement that "a woman's place is in the kitchen".  If someone were to ask me to bake brownies I would probably subconsciously do it wrong just so I'd never be asked again.  There are a few things I make well.  Mostly...mac n cheese.  No, but really, I can cook.  I just don't want anyone to EXPECT me to...because I'm a woman, a future Pastor's wife, etc.  But I suppose now that I work until 2pm everyday instead of 7pm I should take the lead on meals.  I suppose that's fair.

I'll let you know if I can control my subconscious and make something edible.