Co-sleeping gone viral

This adorable video of a bed-sharing mama and kitten went viral last week. How could it not?! That sweetness could just melt your heart!

It really got me thinking back to how much I loved cuddling up with my babies at night. Sometimes I wished I had more space in my own bed, but waking up to smiles made the cramped quarters totally worth it! My husband also really appreciated the time we had together, realizing that they might be too cool to crawl in bed with us before we know it.

As a breastfeeding mother, bed-sharing was essential for me. I know many women that plan to sleep with their children. I also know many women that did not plan to share a sleeping space with their baby, but ended up doing so because it just made sense for them. So which ever category you fit in, these resources can be a huge help!

• UNICEF pamphlet
• Dr Sears article on research and safe sleeping tips
• And all the links you could ever hope for from DrMomma

Some furniture therapy.

I never would have guessed how much I would love this piece of furniture. When I brought the Learning Tower into our home, I thought it would be nice to not have Henry dragging chairs across the floors to the kitchen counter. I also thought it looked pretty cool. I thought it would be fun, and look cool.

The Learning Tower has been a big hit at some of the local events that we have been to this spring. It is an attractive piece of furniture that is available in 9 colors. The layered birch construction offers a sturdy and safe boost for your little ones. The tower is designed to hold 2 children and has been tested to hold up to 500 pounds. We get lots of oohs and aahs with the product.

I knew the tower was a safer option, but I kind of figured that my children could handle standing on a chair. Then I had the opportunity to bring the Learning Tower into our kitchen. Begin immediate family healing therapy!

My husband is not home in the evening during the week. Dinner prep time can get a little hairy. I’m sure this sounds familiar to a lot of people: I’m trying to cook dinner. One child is running circles around me while the other is pulling on my leg. They both want my attention and want to help with whatever I have my hands in. Sometimes I can throw one of them on my back in the Ergo, but that would only win half the battle.

What a difference the Learning Tower has made for our family! The boys can crawl up in the tower together and hang out with me while I fix dinner. I can give them a project…the smallest thing makes them feel very important 🙂 And a bonus is that my oldest has taken on the role of teaching these projects to the younger. Very cute. Last night I gave them a bowl with a small amount of water in it and some spoons and asked Henry to teach Levi how to stir. They had a blast!

Our evenings have gone from stressful and frustrating to a time we look forward to together. The family now has an opportunity to bond and play together. Thank you Learning Tower!

Preparing for Monday

So Monday is the big day to start the flats challenge that I have posted about earlier this week. I’m a little nervous:)

I must admit that the challenge is not completely fair for me. You see I practice elimination communication with my daughter, Eden. So while many are handwashing diapers with poop on them, I will not be. I type that but expect to wash a few since she isn’t 100% but at least it will be less than the average.

So how have I prepared for the challenge? I have been using flats all week which has actually been fun. (weird, I know) Also keep in mind that I do not wrap my daughter with prefolds or flats so diapering is pretty easy. Just a simple fold and lay in a cover.

I just hope the Harrisonburg weather is great this week so I can line dry outside:)

Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I have used cloth diapers since my first child was 3 months old.  While researching cloth diapers with him, I thought pockets just made a lot of sense to me.  I could wash the diaper laundry, stuff them, and put them in a draw until they were ready to use.  Velcro was also a no brainer for me since I had no idea what snaps were other than the metal snaps we all know and hate.

I has happily a pocket diaper user until my son was potty trained.  Then I shortly became pregnant with my second child.  During this time, I realized that all the pocket diapers I owned from my son were shot.  Many of the big diaper companies has also realized that elastic just doesn’t hold up and have now made it easier to replace.  No so with my diapers.  So I needed to replace our diapers.

I had purchased larger prefolds when Ivan (my first child) was around 1 1/2 years old.  I wanted to love them but the thought of getting a prefold on a toddler sounding crazy to me.  So I continued using our pocket diapers (and ECing – another topic but planting a seed, hahaha).

Now before Eden was born and before Simple Little Baby was opened.  I order 3 dozen infant unbleached prefolds.  I had some XS and S Thirsties covers than someone had given me.  Prefolds and covers have been my diaper method of choice since Eden was about 3 weeks old.  Now let me tell you I also EC with her so poop is not the problem most of the time and I do not use snappis or wrap Eden in the prefold.  I use a simple newpaper fold in a Thirsties Duo Wrap.  I can proudly say I have never had a leak!

Well today my postman bought me a challenge.  I received 24 unbleached flats in the mail today.  I have signed up for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  In one week, I will not be using my washer and/or dryer to clean my diapers instead I will be using my laundry sink.  I hope to post during the upcoming week and tell you how it is going.

Today I wash (via machine) and dried (also via machine – as it was raining in Harrisonburg today) by 24 flats.

For the challenge, I can use 5 covers.  I hope to use different cover brands.  I currently have 1 – Ecobum, 1 – Flip, 1 – Thristies Duo Wrap, 1- Bummis Polar Wrap.  Anyone have another cover brand I can borrow for a week?

If you can, please join me in this adventure.  Be sure to let me know how it is going if you do.

Meal Planning Monday: Pancakes

Breakfast shows up on the calendar on a regular basis at our house. How often is too often? 🙂 We like pancakes and eggs a lot. A big batch of pancakes also leaves some leftovers to snack on the rest of the week.

I found a good recipe in How to Cook Everything: The Basics. In the intro to the recipe, Mark Bittman says “It’s a shame mixes ever gained a foothold in America, for these are so easy to make.” They really are very easy! And you can leave them basic or add yummies like banana, chocolate chips, blue berries, or pecans. What do you like in your pancakes?

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (I like to use 1 cup unbleached and 1 cup wheat)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter

Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat while you make the batter.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Beat the eggs into 2 cups of milk, the stir in the cooled butter. Gently stir this into the dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; don’t worry about a few lumps. If batter seems thick, add a little more milk.

Cook and enjoy!

Side note: I get my wheat from Heartland Harvest at the Farmer’s Market. It is amazingly wonderful. I end of eating half the batter while I’m cooking (um, don’t do this at home)!

Why we love it – Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer

Funk Rock – Do you have the funk? Stinkies? Ammonia problems? Diapers that make your eyes water? Have you considered a kryptonite lined diaper pail to contain the smell of your dirty diapers? Did fluffy or fido have an accident on your bunny slippers? Dealing with the dreaded toddler pee? You need funk rock! This 100% natural compound is unlike anything you have tried before. It targets funk at the source and leaves no prisoners. Just 4 tablespoons is enough to de-funk up to 20 diapers in one sitting. A little to your pre-wash to keep the stinkies from coming back. That’s right, this little 9 ounce bag will keep the diaper funk away for over a month! Phosphate Free – Enzyme Free – SLS Free

So I have now washed all my diapers in Funk Rock and let me say, I’m very happy.  I have tried vinegar.  I have tried baking soda.  I have tried RLR.  I have tried blue Dawn.  You name it I have tried to get the funk out of some of my microfiber only to have it come back with the first pee.

My stash is prefolds, microfiber inserts, hemp inserts, covers, pocket diapers, and all-in-one diapers.  After one soak and wash with the Funk Rock, I’m happy to say even our night diaper is horrible in the morning.  (that is a smell no one wants in their house)

The only other thing I can say I have used that works just as well is the good old sun.  Right now the sun is not an option unless you like frozen diapers (even as beautiful as today was).

I will be following up on this post in a few weeks to make sure my excitement isn’t short lived but for now Funk Rock will be in my laundry room to help keep the smells away.  I’m secretly hoping my old cat will peed on my bathroom rug so I can try it out on dreaded cat pee.  Of course not really but it makes for good reading.

Have you used Funk Rock?  We would love to hear what you think.  Do you want to try Funk Rock?  Now is the time, through tonight it is 10% off plus if you are a facebook fan, we have an additional coupon posted on our facebook page.

Cincinnati Chili Followup

So I made the Cincinnati Chili tonight for dinner and I have to say I still think the chili over spaghetti is very odd.  In fact, I couldn’t bring myself to do that part of the recipe.  After our meal was over, my husband remarked that he understood why they put it over a starch.

The recipe is sweet.  Not your standard spicy chili with lots of beans that I love.  I had a hard time putting all the sweet stuff in the recipe.  The cocoa powder really threw me but I’m a person who follows the “rules”.  I don’t measure things like this but I still put everything in that the recipe calls for.

The verdict…good recipe but not my cup of tea so this recipe will not be making it to my recipe book.

Meal Planning Monday – Cincinnati Chili

I don’t know about you but I have a busy week this week. Lots of deadlines. My house is a mess since my family has been sick for the past two weeks. (if you’re lucky enough to talk to me on the phone, you will hear my new voice that I wish would go away)

So needless to say I need a few easy meals this week. Easy clean up would be even better. Since it is cold out, I was thinking a crock pot meal. When I think of crock pots, the first thing that comes to my mind is…chili. I’m a pretty simple cook but I decided my dinner for Monday night will be Cincinnati Chili. For those of you who don’t know I lived near Cincinnati and worked in Cincinnati for 3 years. I made fun of the chili all the time. One weird thing about Cincinnati chili when you are in Cincinnati is they serve it over spaghetti. Yes spaghetti. You also order your chili as a “way”. A 3 way, 4 way, 5 way. You get the idea. I had to go onto Skyline Chili’s website to remember what that actually meant. A 3-way chili is spaghetti with chili and topped with cheese.

Ingredients:

Spice Mixture:

• 5 whole allspice*
• 5 whole cloves*
• 1 bay leaf*

Chili:

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 c. water
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
• 1 lg. onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 lg. cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 red pepper, cracked
• 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• kidney beans
• hot cooked thin spaghetti
• Chopped onions
• Grated Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Combine the whole spices and bay leaf in a garni bag or make a cheesecloth bag to hold them.Brown ground beef; transfer to crockpot; add water, tomato paste, chopped onion, chili powder, garlic, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper, cocoa, Worcestershire sauce, and the cheesecloth bag with spices. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, adding the drained beans the last hour. Serve over hot cooked thin spaghetti and top with chopped onions and cheese. This sauce could be used for chili dogs. Makes about 6 cups.

Source of recipe is from about.com – here
I will be sure to let you know tomorrow how my family liked the recipe. I will be serving it with fresh bread and probably a little broccoli.

Helping Our Sick Babies

The stomach bug seems to be hitting hard this winter. Simple Little Baby families have not been spared. It’s really hard to watch your babies while they are sick. You try to comfort them and wish it would subside. Not only are you worried about how uncomfortable they are, but you also know dehydration is a serious problem.

DrMomma wrote a great piece: Rehydration Recipe for a Vomiting Baby. The article gives great information for nursing babies and older children (and adults) no longer nursing. This has been a great help to my family, for sure!

Why We Love It Wednesday- FuzziBunz

We are now carrying FuzziBunz One Size diapers. I am crazy about these diapers. Fuzzibunz has been known for years for their Perfect Size diapers, and now has a One Size version. The rise is adjusted in the leg elastic with a button. This also means that the elastic is easily replaced if it starts to wear out. The polar fleece is so soft and does a good job at keeping baby’s bum dry. The snaps are secure and allow for leg and waist adjustments. And the colors…oh the colors!

You have to try these diapers. Find them on our website at 10% off retail price now through New Year’s Day.

FuzziBunz was also recently featured on a CBS Eye on Parenting piece about the basics of cloth diapering.