Keeping it real

My poor neighbors have to look at my diapers drying in the front yard.. Our back yard is too shady this time of year... And doing our part to conserve water= ugly lawn! 

My Thoughts on Our Baby Gear

A few posts ago I shared some of the baby and maternity items that I had purchased and I have since used them all .. And am sharing my thoughts on those items and maybe a couple others as well.

I bought this Baby Be Mine gown for the hospital and it was so worth it to feel pretty and have a fresh clean new gown of my own... The shoulders unsnap for breast feeding just like a regular hospital gown and it was nice for photos. I sold it to a friend who is due soon for half the price I paid .. If I was a first time parent I would have kept it for the next time... But we are done!

The Milkies Milk Saver is one of my favorite purchases and I really recommend it.. It works amazingly. It goes on the breast you are not nursing on... And when your milk lets down it goes into the milk saver....It is a tad big and bulky....which makes it  not very convenient when you have company or are in public... But in private you can use it once or twice a day and stock up milk.  I can usually get 3-4oz if I use it twice a day...having it handy to where you feed baby is key. 

The jury is still out on this one. Shrinkx hip shrinker....  I find it hard to sit down while wearing it so i don't wear it often enough.  

In theory this Puj Tub would be a great product ....in reality it didn't work any of the sinks in my vintage house which caused it to come apart.... not safe or comfortable for baby at that point.    I ended up returning this because it wasn't working for me, the only good things about it are it was easy to store and I like the color.   I replaced it with this tub.....

The Fisher Price Little Lamb Vibrating tub.. It is great!  I can hang it up on the shower curtain rod to dry, the hammock part is super comfy.. Chad was saying they should make those for adult bath tubs! I have not used the vibrating part.. just have not felt like messing with batteries.  This tub has plenty of room and I will be able to use it for quite awhile and it was less money than the PUJ.

I really like the Cool Wazoo... I really have only used it one of the many ways it can be used... as a changing pad and laying it on the ground for Parker to hang out on.  My only complaint is it is a bit big and bulky when folded in my diaper bag.  It washes well and is a great size for changing baby on.


This is the Ubbi Diaper Pail ... I love it! It was pricey but so far it has been great. You can use any trash bag in it for disposables or a pail liner for cloth diapers.  We used disposables for the first 2 months and just started with cloth... more on that in another post... and with both types of diapers there is absolutely no smell... unless you leave the little door on top open. The pail is super cute.. comes in many colors and is made of stainless steel... the only thing you have to be careful of is not to overfill it or it makes it hard to get the bag out.


I am still looking for a baby monitor.. there are a ton of choices ... I know I want one with good range a big viewing screen and the ability to talk to the kids from the parents unit.. in case the bigger two are bugging the baby! Still doing my research.

I purchased this stroller after tons of research and a recommendation from a friend. Its the city select stroller by baby jogger
It can be configured 14 or 16 different ways.. it comes in tons of colors... this is the color that we got...we have the baby bassinet that goes on it so its like a pram.. which Parker Loves! We can pop our car seat on it and I purchased a second seat so Scarlette can ride when needed.. the seats pop on and off easily, it folds easily, I love all the configuration options, it has a hand break which is awesome, it isn't a jogging stroller... which is fine for us. It is expensive.. but so far it is soo worth it.

I am off to do chores and headed to a clothing swap with my girlfriends.

*all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Items for me and Baby

 Three posts in three days... its a record for me this year.. I have missed blogging and hope to be back at it more consistently... life has just been super busy... yes, I know I'm adding a 5th child to the equation... but,  I have been working at the shop and doing child care at home as well as taking care of my kids etc.

 I will still be working at the shop and making things at home for the shop.. but I decided doing child care on top of it all was just too much... So, I am hoping that by eliminating that I will have a bit more time for my home, family, crafts, blogging and me time!

 I thought I would share some of the fun items I purchased for me and the baby.... I unfortunately had given away or sold pretty much every thing after Scarlette was done with it.  With the exception of my vintage high chair, a pack n play and a few clothes from when Graham was a baby.  Friends have given me some nice hand me down items and threw me a shower so I pretty much have everything I need at this point other than a video monitor, which I will not need for a bit.... until he is in his crib in the nursery with Graham and Scarlette. Then it will be an absolute necessity... because I fear Scarlette deciding she needs to sleep with him in his crib... because she has all ready asked if he could sleep in her bed with her! YIKES  If you have and recommendations on a great video monitor with a large screen and the ability to talk to the kids through it I would love to hear about it ... Oh and not SUPER expensive!


This cute hospital gown by Baby be Mine... because this is soo much more fun than the ones the Hospital provides.





I thought I would try this out as a way to help collect milk for when I have to go work in the shop. It is called Milkies milk saver... you use it on the side you are not nursing on and it is supposed to catch any milk that leaks... We shall see how it actually works! It is a lot bigger than I thought it would be.




I ordered a tummy belt/girdle for after to help shrink my belly back... Last time I used the Brook Burke one and it was pricey so I read amazon reviews and decided to try this much less expensive one based on the fact it received good reviews. It is made by underworks.  Again we shall see how it works and if it works as well as the one I had before.

I also ordered a hip shrinker when it was on sale on Zulilly. It is made by Shrinkx and supposedly works great! I will be lovely and all wrapped up... but we have a trip planned to Puerto Rico in January and I can not look like a big old blob!




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For the baby I ordered this fun Tub... Called the Puj Tub.. I love that it is flat when not in use..... so much less bulky  than the regular baby tubs. The Photo below is when it is flat!





I saw this on shark tank way before I was pregnant and thought that is such a great idea!  It's called the Cool Wazoo.  It happened to be on sale on Zulilly so I purchased it. Its a changing pad, high chair cover, cart cover and a park swing insert to keep your baby from getting too hot in the swing. I all ready know this will get a ton of use!




I will try to do a post after I have tried all these items out and let you know what I think of everything. We are still working on the nursery.. It is almost done and I will share photos of that as well!

Baby Stroller dilemma

Here are the strollers I am considering at the moment... However, I can not make up my mind.  The @babyjogger city select offers the most versatility .. But it is the bulkiest and I like the looks of the other two better.  

The @britax b-ready offers the second most options and is a bit less bulky and will be offering a free infant seat with purchase starting June 1st. So cost wise best option. 

The @uppababy vista is the best single option but doesn't offer the extra options and is the Most expensive. 

Scarlette will be 4 when baby arrives but occasionally likes to ride when we go for long walks or are at the fair or an amusement park. And I will occasionally have to take  one of my two year old day care kids on field trips for preschool etc. 

I would love to hear opinions or other options that are similar.  

Baby #5 Update

Today was my first ob appointment... Happy to report that there is just one tiny little baby in there! My due date is September 20th... Which makes me 9 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I saw the heart beat and the Dr. said everything looks wonderful.

We are all excited ... Even Gabby .. Who said to me today "I'm excited to have another one" she said this while she was looking at her current littlest sibling... Who fell asleep in the car after dance class. Like my Grandma said.... it is all going to work out:)

Still crazy to think we are going to have 5 children ... That's a whole lot of kids!

Our family is expanding...

I know I haven't blogged in eons...it's not because I haven't had tons to blog about. It's a technology problem... My lap top and desk top both died. So my phone is the only option at the moment which takes forever. I'm getting a new laptop next month and hope to get back to blogging! On to the subject at hand....

The big news is I am expecting baby number 5! It was a giant surprise to both of us. Yes, we know how it happens and yes we were using protection.... We just happened to fall into the 1% who conceive despite the contraception. Sorry if this is TMI!

I'm not sure of my exact due date it could be mid Sept-early Oct depending on my last period which if I knew when that was it would be helpful... I have an appointment on the 19th and they will give me an exact due date.

A few weeks ago I realized it had been awhile since my laat period... So I started asking different friends that I talk to daily if they remember if I had mentioned when my last period was and no one remembered... Including myself. My best guess was shortly before Christmas. I was in a bit of denial... I told myself I was really tired because I was getting ready to start and we had been sooo busy, my boobs were sore because I was going to start...I was nauseous because I had a touch of the flu ... I was late because I just lost ten lbs so my cycle was off ... Basically I had a good reason for every symptom.

Last week my sis was asking if I ever started and when I said no she started asking about symptoms and when I answered yes to so many of the questions she said go get a test! Even up to the second right before the + popped up on the test I was sure it was going to be negative ... So when the + popped up I was so shocked I almost fell of the potty!

My hubby was shocked as well... But we are both excited now that we have had a chance to absorb it. Gabby was appalled and said we were to old to be "doing it"... Which cracked me up! Gwen was mad ...they both have come around though.
Graham was funny... He said. "i want a brother so I'm not the only boy...except old dad!" Scarlette is excited to be a big sis and wants it to be a girl.

I literally got rid of every baby and maternity item except the high chair and pack n play. So we are starting from scratch.. I would love any recommendations on the latest and greatest baby gear!

I turn Gulp... 39 next month and now I'm having a baby! Chads company is going to Puerto Rico in Jan and we were planning on my in laws coming to stay with kids and me going with.... Looks like we will be taking the baby with us on the trip... Which will still be a vacation for me:). Chances of twins increase as uou age ... cant wait for my Dr. appt so i can know there is just one baby! These are the things that run through my head. I will be raising kids from the age of 23-57... That's a long time!

I don't want anyone to think I am complaining .. Because I love my kids and am so lucky to have 4 and hopefully 5 healthy kidos!!! I hope this pregnancy/labor is as uncomplicated as the others.
And we need S name ideas!!

The Birth of My Niece Nataliyah...

Yesterday my niece was born..... this is her birth story. 

 The c-section was scheduled for 12:30 yesterday(Dec 7th) afternoon.  My sister Keely and her husband Gabe arrived at the hospital around 10:30 am, my grandparents and I arrived shortly there after.. and our parents arrived around 11:30.  My sister really wanted me to be in the room with her and Gabe while the surgery was performed. Her Dr. said it was ok, but was up to the anaesthesiologist.  I was so excited and nervous because I REALLY REALLY wanted to be in the room.  I have been dieing to see a baby be born.  The anaesthesiologist arrived around 12:30   checked in with us, performed a quick epidural. Finally, the nurse asked him if I could be in the room.  He said yes... my sis and I cheered.  The nurse brought me some scrubs..... and we finally got to go in around 1pm......

Welcome to the world: Nataliyah Lorann

Gabe and Keely before the surgery.

Last photo of her being pregnant EVER.

On their way back to the room after a trip to the bathroom.

Me in my scrubs..... can you tell I am soooo excited!

Disposable scrubs are one size fits all so Gabe's fit him right and I looked like a fat snow ball:)  Always worried about fashion:)

Almost time

Nervous papa..

Me all ready to go.
Excited Auntie!

Keely... prepped and ready to go.

She looks calm and happy... HA... she had everyone fooled.
  At one point she told the anaesthesiologist " I'm freaking out."  and he said" you are the calmest person I have seen who is freaking out."

Loving words from Gabe. He was the hand holder and I was the photographer.

Their Dr. making the first cut.

I was not at all creeped out... it was actually sort of surreal... Was hard to fathom that what they were cutting into was actually part of my sisters body.

Just a few Short minutes later, they were pulling her head out.

I't was AMAZING.

She is almost out.

Tiny bit more and...

She was born at 1:36pm.

I'm pretty sure some day she will either love or hate the fact that she is in full view on the blog:) At least her private parts are covered:)

I cried and Gabe and I cheered. It was so exciting.

Getting cleaned up.

Gabe took this one... He only got my hand... it is me I swear... 

I got to cut the cord.

She is a hairy little monkey, soo cute.

Meeting her Mama for the first time.

Kisses.

Can you tell that was my favorite picture.

Petting her chubby little cheeks.

The nurses let ME carry her to the nursery!

Grandma and Great Grandparents anxiously waiting at the nursery window.  

Papa Carl took these.

She has a hair style all ready since she has SOOOO much hair.

I just want to eat her up.. she is sooo cute.

I got to stay in the nursery with her the whole time.

Getting weighed.

She was 7lbs. 3oz.

19.25" long

Cute baby toes and more fur on her cute legs.

The nurses were checking her vitals.

She has really long fingers... which might be the only thing she inherited from our side of the family.

Getting measured.

Sweet face

After her bath.

She laid on the warming table like this for a long time... so funny with her legs straight out.

Me showing her to the grandparents.  They all cried ... so I cried again and so did a couple of the nurses.

I loved being in there while she got everything done. 

Do you have any doubt who her Daddy is. She is a mini version of her Daddy.

My sis in her room looking great and super happy.

Grandma Sherri gets a turn.

Great Grandma Colleen gets a turn.

Big brother Eli meets his baby sister.

Kissing his baby.

Such a proud big brother.

Time for a snuggle.

Thank you Sis and Gabe for letting me be part of such an important day in your life. It was amazing and wonderful. I love you all so much!