The Stay At Home Mom

Mooooo

2011-12-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

It has been my goal to breastfeed B from birth to 1 year, minimum. And I did it! 14 months and counting, not even a drop of formula. Go me!

Before B arrived, I had had a bit of anxiety about breastfeeding. I heard it was painful, challenging even, and I was worried that a boob might accidentally slip out during a feeding in public. Some moms are cool with that, I would be mortified.

Nonetheless, when B arrived I got started. Yes, it was painful. Yes, they were raw. Yes, it took some practice. But practice makes perfect and after a week or so, I earned a black belt in breastfeeding. Oh you didn't know they gave those out? Okay they don't. But if they did, I would have one.

I've compiled 10 reasons to breastfeed for the benefit of baby/mom. Our pediatrician would be so proud.

For Baby:

Nothing is more soothing than being held close to mom while breastfeeding. Hearing mom's heartbeat, smelling mom's scent, it's almost like being in utero again.
Breastfed babies have higher IQ's.
Reduces the risk for obesity in children and teens. Bottle-fed babies lose touch with their hunger cues and develop a habit of overeating.
Protects against a whole list of diseases, as well as childhood leukemia and SIDS.
From better jaw and tooth development, to fewer instances of gas, breastfed babies tend to be all around healthier.

For Mama:

Running for a bottle of formula instead of breastfeeding is selfish. Everyone knows the best mothers are selfless.
Helps mother's lose that baby weight, and reduces a mother's risk for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer.
No warming bottles, refrigerating bottles, sanitizing bottles, mixing formula, measuring formula, packing formula, etc.
It's conviennent, your breasts are always right there.
It's free.

Formula gets recalled for sometimes life threatening reasons. It's bananas to me that some mothers prefer formula.

So for the moms out there who are breastfeeding, or have breastfed theirs, excellent work.

(Pumping counts, still breastmilk.)

For the moms out there who tried/wanted to, but couldn't (for health reasons etc.) you're still amazing.

To anyone who thinks breastfeeding is gross or wrong, you are wrong. Breast is best!

I'm like a cow, ya'll. Mooooo.

B-day Zoo Trip

2011-10-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

I have this thing about zoos and not going to them. They tend to be very hypocritical with supporting conservation efforts for keeping wild animals in the wild, while simultaneously shoving a wild animal in a pint sized enclosure, with barely any stimulation. But I must say I was impressed by how large and well maintained the enclosures were at Oakland Zoo. They helped me feel less guilty about us bringing B there for his 1st birthday. And I'm so glad we did, it was a lot of fun!

Took brown t-shirt paint, wrote "1" on the back and "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY" on the front chest pocket.

Easy peasy custom b-day tee.

He kept laughing at the siamang that was howling and swinging from the trees. On our way out he chose a little monkey stuffie from the souvenir shop. It makes monkey noises when you press it's belly.

Next best thing to a real one I suppose.

His 1st Birthday

2011-10-10T01:47:00.000-07:00

We took him to the zoo (pics to come later), then we got him a dark chocolate cupcake from the finest cupcakery in the world, which he clearly devoured, he got to open his presents, and later in the week he had a party. Do you like my cupcake stand?

I made his "Happy Birthday" banner in coordinating Sesame Street colors.

First I cut out 4" circles from construction paper using this tool from Martha.

Then I used white acrylic paint to freehand the letters, applied double stick tape to the backs and hung them in the dining room.

They went with the theme and didn't even cost a penny.

I made Cookie Monster cupcakes too. You can make them also:

Bake cupcakes.

Color the icing royal blue, apply.

Color shredded coconut royal blue. (I used a teaspoon of water to dillute the dye for this part.)

Dip cupcake in blue shredded coconut.

Cut a slit in the "muffin top"and insert pre-baked chocolate chip cookie (I applied a bit of icing to the bottom of the cookie so that it wouldn't fall out of the cupcake.)

Paint black circles using cookie icing onto white candy melts.

Apply a dab of leftover cake icing to edge of eyeball for support, then put in place.

Remember Cookie Monster's eyes are allover the place so don't make the eyes too perfect!

Part of the menu included a variety of sandwiches I made with my cool new sandwich press/sealer from William Sonoma.

Vanilla Italian soda in mason jars with punched lids.

B had juice.

And I even hand painted the goody bags because he's worth it.

Happy Birthday to the silliest most cutest boy I know. I love you B.

Redwoods And Banana Slugs

2011-10-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my parents took my brother and I on regular camping and picnic trips to Portola Redwoods State Park. I have plenty of fond memories there so I'm purdy bummed they're closing for 5 years due to budget cuts. The park is located in La Honda and the windy drive there makes me want to yak but it's totally worth it. Lots of different animals, creatures, and enormous trees to see. I'm hoping we will be able to fit a camping trip in next season before it closes. Oh look a banana slug.

Here's B strolling through the forest in his old school New Balance sneakers.

We're out of Robeez and into "real shoes" now.

The steel owl is welded to someone's gate off the main road.

Oh Mr.Son, Son, Mr.Golden Son

2011-09-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

When we were in the hospital giving birth to B, my mom was spending the day in Half Moon Bay, where she bought me this cast iron sun from Half to Have It. It's one of my favorite possessions and a special reminder of the day our son arrived. I haven't decided what to do with it just yet. We don't have an awesome garden or patio to display it. Womp womp. Anyways B, my mom, and I went to explore downtown HMB last week and of course we stopped at the coolest store in town which now has an adorable pooch to greet customers.

This is the little old jailhouse a block away from Main Street. Cute right?

We bought a bag of shells, a glass gnome ornament, and 2 cardstock masks. (Clint Eastwood was trying to get ready for work today and didn't want to take a picture. Hence the big smile.)

I Heart gDiapers

2011-03-01T00:51:00.000-08:00

We use gDiapers on B and I’m confident that they are the best diapers out there. A gDiaper consists of a gPant, like a diaper cover but cotton. Then comes the snap in waterproof liner. And inside the liner you can place a gRefill, an insert that’s 100% biodegradable and plastic free, or a gCloth, an insert made from fleece and hemp/cotton. Cloth diapering has come a long way.

The gRefills can be flushed, composted, or tossed. The gCloths go into a diaper pail until laundry day. We primarily use the gCloths since they are reusable and therefore save us a bundle. Plus, gDiapers aren’t bulky like other diapers, even when they are full, are really easy to use, have soft velcro closures, and come in all sorts of cute colors. Oh and they also have a cute "g" on the back, the first initial of our last name!

Some Facts…

It is ILLEGAL to trash human waste. Soiled diapers must be scraped clean over the toilet. Cloth diapering makes obeying the law simple because gCloths are easy to scrape, and gRefills are flushable!
An average family who uses disposable diapers will spend $2500 per child on diapering. From birth to potty trained, the gDiaper system will run you a little over $400 and can be used to diaper one child after another.
Cloth diapers reduce the occurrence of diaper rash, and blow-outs. We’ve been using gDiapers on B for almost 5 months now and he’s had 0 diaper rash, and 0 blow-outs while wearing them.
Disposable diapers take 500 years to decompose in a landfill.
Disposable diapers contain plastic, carcinogenics, and toxins, none of which belong on baby’s skin.

How I’ve made cloth diapering work for us…

dropps are the only laundry detergent I use. Use dropps on cloth diapers from the start and you won’t ever have to worry about stripping them. (Stripping is the process of removing build-up to retain maximum absorbency in cloth diapers) dropps are eco-friendly and will leave your laundry spotless. They work for all colors, all fabrics, all washers, at all temperatures. I order them by the case.
I toss the soiled gCloths in our Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag. There’s another pocket in the front that I toss soiled gPants, liners, etc. into. The bag hangs neatly on the bathroom door knob. It contains everything including odor, is super sturdy, and the bag itself can be tossed in the wash.
When on the go I use a kushies drawstring waterproof bag to hold soiled gCloths. I purchased a 2 pack from Amazon.

How to score a deal...

diapers.com frequently offers promotions for gDiapers.
Wait for babysteals.com. They post the 6 packs of gPants every so often.
Register with Amazon Mom and set up auto delivery to save on gRefills.
Try Craigslist, people sell all sorts of gDiaper products on there, sometimes brand new.

When it comes to diapering we’re saving money, saving the earth, and diapering B in the healthiest way possible. I hope that you will consider the idea of cloth diapering but if disposables are best for your family, then I hope you will consider Seventh Generation disposables. While Seventh Generation diapers are not biodegradable, they are chlorine free, fragrance free, and non-toxic.