Pinning Foxes for Jones

Have you found Pinterest yet?  It's a great place to find inspiration and ideas, as well as keep up with your internet finds.  You can also "follow" other people's boards to see what they're "pinning."

You can keep multiple "inspiration boards" and it is super-easy to save things directly to them via a handy internet browser tool bar button.  My boards include: Stuff for Jones, Books Worth Reading, For When I Have a Girl, and Feeding Baby, among others.

I have quite the obsession with foxes as of late, not sure why, but here are some "foxy" things I've added to my "Stuff for Jones" board lately:

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And some other random things that I would love to have for Jones:

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And, there's where my head is today...have you been "pinning" lately!?

Happy weekend,
XO

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Weekend Round-Up

Here's the plan for our weekend:

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All-Local Farmer's Market--it's been too long since I've been and now that Jones is trying new foods, I can't wait to find some cool local produce to make into baby food for him!

Abby and Peach

Dog wash fundraiser at Earth Fare.  It's only $7 per dog and all proceeds will go to helping find retired racing Greyhounds new homes.  Abby and Peach will be in attendance; (they just don't know it yet).  The shampoos used to bathe the dogs will be organic (naturally), and all dogs get a goodie bag to take home.  11 am- 3 pm.

Possibly a trip to Buy Buy Baby...I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket, plus Jones really does need a few things:

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We need a couple new sleep sacks--love the Aden + Anais ones.  Jones is almost too long for the ones we have now.

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I need some additional freezer food storage for the baby food I'm making.

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Now that the babe likes his baths, (hallelujah!), we need some fun bath toys for him to play with...Boon toys are the cutest and they're BpA, PVC and Phthalate-free.

Father's Day lunch on Sunday with my Dad by the pool--homemade hamburgers.  Father's Day dinner with my husband's family.  Jones has a couple cute first Father's Day gifts up his sleeve for James :)

Another cool thing going on this weekend--the SC State Farmer's Market is giving away FREE BLT's to the first 1,000 through the gates on Saturday morning!  You can sign up to get a weekly text from the market letting you know what will be going on each Saturday by texting HARVEST to 313131.

Happy weekend, loves!  What are you up to?

B

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Thursday's Thinking of Food

I have dipped my toe into the waters of making baby food...another venture that some said wouldn't last (like the cloth diapering--which we're still doing when he's not at daycare, btw)...and I love it!  There is nothing more satisfying than knowing exactly what is going into my child's body, and knowing that I prepared it.  

So far I have "made"-- and when I say made, all it entails is pureeing and sometimes steaming the veggies--peas and squash.  The peas were frozen organic peas and the squash is fresh squash just in from my CSA, Gruber Farms.  Gruber farms is out of St. George, SC and we have been really pleased with them.  My mom, sister and I are splitting a family share and we always have more than enough stuff to go around--we've gotten strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, patty pan squash, kale, cabbage, green beans, peas, red potatoes, broccoli, amazing corn, turnips, beets, and more!

Here's what I did to make the baby food: 

Chop the squash into small pieces.

Bring water to a boil in a large sautee pan, add squash, cover and simmer until tender.

(It would probably be easier to simply steam the squash, but alas, I have no steamer basket-yet.)

Then, puree with a little of the pot water in a food processor.

My sister and I went in halfsies on a baby food making set last year--

the KidCo Baby Steps Natural Feeding System

Click here to see a video as seen on Martha Stewart's show about the KidCo system.

Food processor that came with the KidCo set--it also comes with a food mill, freezer trays, and serving dish--all for $60!

Spoon the squash out of the processor and into the freezer tray for storage, or into the serving dish if you want to feed baby immediately.

And here's a picture of the peas.  I didn't even cook the peas, I just defrosted them and pureed them.

So far, I really like the KidCo system.  There are a lot of other baby-food-making systems out there, and I have heard that the Baby Bullet is a good one, but I have no complaints about the KidCo thus far.

As a side note, while researching the KidCo website, I realized they also make the Go-Pod that we just purchased to take to the beach a few weeks ago--another affordable and really user-friendly baby item!

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Jones in his Go-Pod at Litchfield

I'll let you know how Jones likes his very first taste of squash and peas!

I want to get some more freezer trays/small containers to freeze and serve the baby food from--anyone have any suggestions on brands?

Happy almost-Friday!

XO

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The Down and Dirty (literally) on Cloth Diapering

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I posted last week that James and I are loving cloth-diapering Jones, and we really are.  I mentioned that our favorite diaper is the Bum Genius 4.0 all-in-one, but I didn't give details on how we were rinsing and washing and drying the diaps, so here we go for those who have asked:

I found this Potty Pail on-line before we even had Jones and knew that this was what I wanted to use to rinse out the diapers.  My husband is pretty darn handy, so he saw the product and knew that he could make his own version cheaper, so here it is:

5 gallon bucket with hole drilled in the bottom, placed on top of the toilet

tubing with toggle that connects to water at the back of the toilet (turn on and off as needed to rinse diapers)

sprayer attached the other end of the hose

the silver hooks are simply shower hooks that we got in a package of 12--you can use them to hang up rinsed diapers while they drip-dry in the bucket or to hold the sprayer (shown above), or to hang washed diapers on a shower rod to dry

diaper pail that I inherited from my sister--she used it for disposable diapers, but I'm using it for our cloth diapers; after a diaper has been rinsed and dripped dry (mostly) in the potty pail, then I put it in this baby until I'm ready to wash

Most parts of the homemade potty pail we got at a plumbing supply store.  James just took in a photo of the parts we needed and showed it to an employee, and he gathered everything we needed--I think it came to about $30 total.  The 5 gallon bucket we already had, and it came from Lowe's, (obviously).  The silver shower curtain hooks are from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I wash diapers about every other day and there are definitely times when Jones wears disposable diapers.  From the beginning we decided not to pressure ourselves, but to make the cloth diapering routine user-friendly for us so that we would stick with it.  

Some things we have learned along the way: 

1- I was scared to put Jones in a cloth diaper overnight at first because I was scared of leakage.  (The cloth diapers don't have quite as much absorbency as the fake fibers that wick moisture into the disposables, so they get wetter faster).  But, I was wrong.  Since we started cloth diapering him at night, Jones has had nary a leak.  We put 3 absorbent inserts in the diaper for overnight, (as opposed to 1 for day-time use), and we have had less leaks from the cloth diapers than we have the disposables.

2- I thought the cloth diapers may leak poop more readily than the disposables.  Wrong again.  Jones has had some blow-out diapers, as I assume all babies do at one time or another, and almost all of the blow-outs that were super messy were in disposable diapers.

3- We like the BumGenius 4.0 diapers with the velcro better than those with the snaps.  They are both fine to use, and we have an equal number of each because we didn't know what we would like best when we bought them, but we no know we like velcro best.

4- Use just a 1/4 of the amount of laundry detergent to wash a load of cloth diapers as you would to wash a normal load of clothes.  If you use a regular amount, the diapers will still be soapy when the wash cycle is finished.

5- There is no need to take the diaper inserts out of the dirty diapers before rinsing or before washing in the machine--they will get just as clean inside the diaper, and many times the machine agitation will pull them separate from the diapers during the cycle anyway.  You can separate them to dry.

The diapers we use can be dried in a clothes dryer, but I prefer to line dry them to save energy and also to save the life of the diapers.

If you have any other questions about our routine or anything related to our cloth diapering experience, feel free to ask!  I am by no means an expert, but I do know what has worked best for us.

XO, B

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Stroller Envy

The babe is now 15 weeks old...I have no excuse for the fact that I have not gotten back into a hard and fast workout routine, except for the fact that having a child totally changes your ability to workout whenever you want!
My hubs works at times 5 nights a week, so this means we are ships passing the baby off when I get home from work most days.  I was in a pretty good running routine before I got pregnant, so I would love to get back into that now, but the stroller we have is a (much appreciated) hand-me-down and not meant for jogging.  My sister has a bangin' 2-seater jogging stroller, but to have to go to her house to borrow it every time I feel like running is a bit of a hassle.

So, this brings me to the point of this post:
we got a new jogging stroller, and so far we are loving it!  We got this InStep from Buy Buy Baby.  It was the floor model, and the last one they had in stock, so we got it on major sale for only $110!

InStep Grand Safari Swivel Wheel Stroller

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We took it for a spin last night and Jones fell right asleep in it (bonus!), and it handled beautifully.  I had previously thought that we could not afford to buy a good jogging stroller that would last, but we did the research on this baby and here's the review that really sold me:

"I had a more expensive stroller that we loved, but I accidentally bent the frame....so when shopping for a new one was sooo happy to find this one!!! It had all the features the $300+ had, for a fraction of the price...i set it up myself in 20 minutes, and we love it!!! I definitely recommend it, especially because of the price for what it is!"

In other baby gear news, we are loving using cloth diapers!  I was a little intimidated at first to get started, but now that we're in a routine with them, it's so easy.  And we're saving not only tons of money on diapers, but the Earth too!  Our favorite diaper is the BumGenius all-in-one.

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My Favorite Baby Gear

I cannot believe that Jones will be 6 weeks old on Wednesday.  The past 6 weeks have flown by and have been filled with amazing highs and unbelievable exhaustion, but mostly a growing respect for mothers everywhere, especially single ones.

Anyway, over these 6 short weeks as a mother, I have already come to love certain baby products and items, and I thought I would share with you my current list of must-haves for a newborn: 

1. Kimono-style onesies.  My favorite onesie BY FAR is a kimono-style.  Not only are these onesies sooo much easier to get on Jones--they snap up the front rather than go over his head--but I also think they are cuter.  I don't know, there's just something kinda stylish about them, don't you think?  And my favorite of the kimono-style that we have is Kate Quinn Organics.  I love the color combinations and the simple prints, and they come in short or long-sleeve!  You can buy them locally at KD's Treehouse, or watch for sales on sites like Zulily.com...I just bought 2 for $9 each!! 

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2. Aden + Anais swaddler blankets.  These can be found lots of places all of a sudden--Target, Buy Buy Baby, or on-line.  They are very large blankets, perfect for swaddling, and made of muslin, so they are very breathable and soft and perfect for baby.  Not to mention, they come in tons of stylish prints.

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3. The Woombie.    I read about this item on a blog long before I had Jones and I bought one and let my sister try it out on her new baby, Taylor.  Well, after one night, she was sold.  Taylor slept in the Woombie until he could roll over, and now we're using it with Jones.  The website describes the Woombie: " The Woombie comforts, softly confines arms & gently compresses baby's unique curves to hug baby... preventing Startling issues, face scratching, overheating and also preventing dangerous loose unraveled blankets from covering baby's face."  We love it so far.

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4. My Brest Friend.  Hokey name, essential breast-feeding accoutrement.  Better than the Boppy for newborns because the pillow actually latches around your body and it's adjustable--baby rests on the pillow and mom's hands are free.  Seriously makes breast-feeding a lot easier.

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5. The Oball Rattle by Rhino Toys, Inc.  This item was a gift, and Jones loves it.  Not sure what it is, but it is by far his favorite toy to gaze at while he lies on his playmat.

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6. Serena & Lily sling.  Jones loves sleeping in this thing, and we'll be able to use it for months to come...see the picture below of an older baby in the sling.  I read a study recently that indicated that "worn babies" can learn more from their environment because they are secure in knowing that they are attached to a 
parent and needn't continually look around for a familiar face.  I intend to "wear" Jones as much as possible :)

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So, that's it for now.  I will update this list with more of my baby must-haves as we go along.  What are your favorite baby products?

XO

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Baby Shoes- Not Always Practical, But So Cute, Right?

**Disclaimer--I promise to calm down with the baby posts once I go back to work, but while I'm on maternity leave, baby is pretty much on the brain all the time.  (And should be, I think).  But, for those of you who aren't impressed or interested with all the baby posts, I just wanted to reassure you that soon I will resume more adult-focused posts :)

But today, baby shoes is on the brain.  Jones received the pair below as a gift--they fit snug even on the tiniest little feet.

from Little Lambs and Ivy on Devine Street

And I just bought these on-line at Gymboree last night--on sale.  Pretty preppy, but adorable little moccasins, don't you think?!.

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Happy Thursday!

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Handmade Baby Stuff

As much as I wish I were a talented sewer and knitter, and that these arts came easily for me, alas that is simply not the case.  But that does not stop me from trying anyway!  With help from more talented friends and family, I have managed to produce a few items for the baby that are quite cute, if I do say so myself.

The hand-knitted baby blanket that I have been working on for a few months, (I am a very slow knitter!), is mere days away from being complete--pictures soon!  And the items below I just finished working on with my mom last weekend.  (My mother is an insanely talented sewer and crafter--she made so many of my and my sister's clothes when we were children.  I am trying my best to learn from her so I can do the same).

Here is the baby bib that we made from some vintage fabric that I thrifted years ago:

And here is the baby gown that I made from one of James' old t-shirts.  Pattern found here.

The gown was a little more difficult than the bib--mom helped a lot.  But, I'm a novice, so for anyone who has some sewing skills, the gown would be a breeze.  The pattern calls for using elastic at the bottom, but my sister (who has 2 babies) suggested a drawstring, as elastic is too easy for the baby to poke his tiny legs out of.  With a drawstring, (we used satin brown ribbon), you can tie his legs up in the gown!

Mom and I have 2 more gowns we're going to make this weekend from James' "I'm a Keeper" t-shirt and his "I Pass on Grass" t-shirt :)

And, just because I love this picture...here are my babies gazing out our front door at the snow a couple weeks ago.  Peach and Abby definitely know that Jones is on the way soon and they are not sure how they feel about it...we're trying to give them lots of love and attention now.  I honestly think they'll be fine and grow to love the baby, but we'll see.  (Only 3 weeks left until my due date!)

I'm planning to go to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse this weekend to take advantage of their Restaurant Week special menu and I have another baby shower tomorrow-fun!  What are your weekend plans?

XO, Becca

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I Get to See Geoffrey Canada!

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Don't know who he is?  Well you should...he is the founder and CEO of Harlem Children's Zone--one of the most innovative and promising education systems working to end the cycle of generational poverty in America today.  He has taken poor, under-educated children and families in Harlem and produced amazing academic results.

He was recently named one of "America's Best Leaders" by the US News and World Report.  He was also featured in the movie Waiting for "Superman"--which you should see if you haven't already.

Basically, you cannot have a conversation about how to fix education in America without mentioning his name.

Can you tell I'm excited!?

He is speaking tomorrow from 12:30-1:30 at the Brookland Baptist Conference Center as part of a fundraiser for the Eau Claire Promise Zone.  Click here for the invitation.  Not sure if there are seats left, but possibly...

I have a baby shower this weekend too--can't wait to see so many family and friends in one room celebrating Jones' impending birth with me!  Then, on Sunday, James and I plan to go do some baby shopping at Buy Buy Baby--haven't been there yet, but I hear it's amazing.  And, then we're going to see Love and Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.  Anyone seen it yet?



XO, and Happy Weekend (almost)!  What are your weekend plans?

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My Sweet Muffin

I couldn't resist posting some items I recently bought from one of my new favorite on-line baby/kid stores, My Sweet Muffin.
I found out about this store from one of my favorite blogs, Bluebird Vintage.

And, without further ado, here is what I purchased:

HABA Rotundo Clutching Toy- for nephew Taylor for Christmas

HABA Fabric Ball Miniland

 

Born to Love Waffle Visor Beanie- My absolute favorite thing I have bought for Jones so far!

(Sorry the pic is sideways...couldn't figure out how to turn it...)

Aden Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddling Wraps- also for Jones

Hope everyone has an amazing Fall weekend!  I have to work all day tomorrow, but am headed to Miyo's for dinner this evening and maybe one last trip to the Fair on Sunday.

XO, Becca

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