How have we been...

It's been over a month since i've written on here, so I'd figure I would do an update for people who actually read this (I don't think there's a lot!) So how have we been.....hmmm...busy for sure!

Autumn just turned 9 months old last week and she's changing everyday! She's now a professional crawler, and she's pulling up on things  to stand up. I give it  2 months max and she'll be walking in no time. She has 6 teeth now! 4 on top, and two on the bottom. And since she has all these brand new little teethies, she likes to bite, and chew, and knaw on everything including books, mommy, and her crib. Teeth marks EVERYWHERE.

Since Autumn is getting older and venturing out into the world of foods, I have decided not to make her baby food anymore, pureed chicken & apples & rice baby food, it's too much for me to make all of these combinations, especially since I'm working. I just don't have the time to do it. SO we opted for organic babyfood! Mainly Plum Organics, Happy Baby, and Ella's Kitchen baby food. Granted their options are amazing and they have a huge variety of fruits and veggies, but they can be a bit pricey from .89 to 1.80 for one packet. But you get what you pay for right?

Breast feeding is going great, no problems anymore now that I'm not pumping at all. I've been taking Autumn to work with me for about a month now and it is AWESOME. SOOOO GREAT. I'm so glad I can pack my pump away and never have to look at it ever again. No more supply issues!! YAY!

Cloth diapering has been going great as well. Although now I'm having stink, buildup, and leaking issues. I'm pretty sure it's time to strip the diapers again (I just stripped them two weeks ago and I saw no difference). I'm pretty sure it's because of the detergent I'm using. I've been using Tide Free & Gentle, which is "okay" to use on cloth diapers, but you have to be careful because they have enzymes in them which can cause rashes for sensitive skin. But I'm pretty sure thats what is causing the problems. So I ordered Country Save Detergent (great for CD) and Rocking Green Funk Rock (meant for diapers with stink issues). Picking those up today, can't wait to try it! I've also been branching out and trying different brands of diapers. Since April, my views on certain diapers have changed completely. I used to be in love with Happy Heinys Diapers, but since I've tried different ones, I'm now favoring Charlie Banana and Oh Katy Diapers. They fit great and they have cute patterns/colors.

Another issue we've been having with diapers is Autumn's night time diapering. Since she's asleep for a long period of time, the diaper has to be more absorbent to hold all of the pee-pee. We were using Charlie Banana's but recently in the past two weeks they have been leaking every single night. Which has resulted in us using disposables at night...blahh!

Autumn's sleep patterns have been really crazy the past month or so. When we went to Michigan in July, she was still being swaddled and waking up throughout the night. But since it was 200 degrees and no AC we didn't swaddle her so she wouldn't melt! We didn't plan on weening her off of her swaddle but thats how it happened. So when we got back from Michigan we continued to not swaddle her and she still isn't swaddled....at night. Naps are a different story. When she's at my work she's swaddled (i'm not quite sure why) but when she's napping at home she's not swaddled. VERY CONFUSING! Also we (I mean myself)  started sleep training Autumn last month, it took about 4-5 days for her to put herself to sleep at bedtime....I felt VERY accomplished for achieving that. But she was still waking up at night to nurse. So I started leaving her in her crib to cry it out...but that didn't go too well because Bryon doesn't like her crying.. So now we're back at square 1 again. I'm still getting up every 2 hours..ugh.

Also Bryon got switched to 1st shift! So he now goes to work during the day like a normal person. And he's able to come home and help me out with Autumn in the evenings. Thank you baby jesus. I couldn't ask for anything better.

You have a Youtube Channel?

So some of you may know have noticed that I haven't blogged in darn near a month, but there's a reason behind it. I've had my own youtube channel for a while and have only started making videos religiously as of March. And VERY few of my Facebook friends knew about it and some of my Facebook friends have met me off of Youtube. And for the LONGEST time I was so scared to tell people about it or even put my YT link up because I was so worried about what my friends would think. And by friends I just mean people who have known me for years, have worked with me, have gone to school with me and who are related to me. I don't know why, but it worried me more of what those friends thought about it, in comparison to people i've never met! But now i'm just at the point where I don't care what people think about my channel. If they like it then WONDERFUL!!! And if they don't then whatevaaaa.

So a little about my channel (for people who don't know about it)...

I make videos about:
Cloth Diapering Topics
Cloth Diaper Reviews
TAG videos
Breastfeeding topics
any issues or struggles I have as a mother
ANY topic for that matter

ANDDDDDDD I have my own youtube series called Mommy Memoirs #whatever.
Which is pretty much a video summary of my week (although I've been neglecting it for some time).

And I've met some of the AWESOMEST women on youtube! Seriously...I love them! They're so supportive and give amazing advice and they're just all around great people. I wish I was a millionaire so I could buy plane tickets to go visit all of them. But anyways...

SO NOW I WILL FORMALLY ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD....
HERE IS MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL LINK.

www.youtube.com/user/mms2071

ENJOY <3

May Likes & Dislikes

So here are a couple of things that I really liked and disliked throughout this past month.


Likes:

1. ELF Studio Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 20: In certain area's of my skin I get really dry skin, normally around my nose and chin. And foundations tend to really dry me out in between days where I exfoliate. This tinted moisturizer has never ever dried me out, and it has just enough coverage to even out my skin tones. I wouldn't use this on a date night, but I normally use this on days where i'm running errands or working.











2. Coolababy One-Size Velcro Pocket Diapers: Absolutely my favorite diaper at the moment. I love the prints and i've never had a leak in them at all. Also these diapers can definitely hold in poop. So it's for sure been my go-to diaper this month and I highly recommend them. And I mean, honestly I can put Autumn in one of these diapers and a shirt and she can look as cute as a button...even though she already is :)

3. Sheepish Grins Washy Wafers: Oh my gosh!! I am so glad I bought these!! These little coin sized wafers are used to make diaper wipe solution. All you have to do is add 1 cup of boiling water and TADA!! They come in many different scents and the one I purchased was in "Fresh Baby". Before I bought these I was making my own wipe solution with soap, baby oil, and water. But it just took too much time to make it. So this was definitely a good decision to switch over.









Dislikes:

1. ELF Essential Duo Eye Shadow Cream: Worst WORST WORST thing I have ever bought!!!! There was no pigmentation, and it creased like no tomorrow. And they left my eye lids super greasy and oily. I had ordered 3 of them in Butter Pecan, Blueberry, and Black Licorice. Good thing they were only $1.





2. Nuk Ultra-Thin Nursing Pads:  You might as well put a piece of toilet paper in your bra because thats as useful as it gets. First off, there's no sticky adhesive to keep the pad snug in your bra. Secondly, there's no closure on the edges so all of the liquid leaks from the sides. Another negative about this product is that it doesn't contour or fit in a bra. COMPLETELY USELESS!!!!

Baby Items I Regret Buying!!!

Okay so every one is different, but here are some baby items that I either never used, found useless, or disliked.

NUMERO UNO: Baby socks: I don't know how this has occurred, but I think Autumn has more socks than me. Probably over 40 pairs. And what baby needs 40 pairs of socks? Not including the fact that she kicks them off after 5 minutes. USELESS!!!!

2. Nasal Aspirator (aka: booger sucker): It's not that I dislike this product because I don't. I just added this to the list because I went and bought one and I completely forgot that hospitals give you one for free...most of the time. So now I have 2 of them.

3. Receiving Blankets: Okay...it's 2012, most people use "swaddle me" blankets which are pretty much pre-sewn blankets with velcro so it's easier and less likely for the baby to bust out of their swaddle. Everyone ALWAYS told me "you can't have enough receiving blankets"...I extremely beg to differ. I have less than 10 receiving blankets and I use maybe 1 a week. I mean what are they really used for...receiving? Receiving what?? I only use them if I don't have a burp rag or Autumn doesn't have a bib on. The good thing about receiving blankets though..is you can turn them into cloth wipes if you're cloth diapering.

4. Baby Mittens: After 1 or 2 weeks...these become completely useless! Unless you're afraid to cut your babies nails (which you'll have to overcome someday). I have maybe 5 or 6 pairs and I only used them twice. And when I did use them Autumn just soaked them with slobber.

5. Crib Bumpers: I honestly feel that crib bumpers are purely decorative. Unless you have a baby that scoots around a lot (which I know babies that do that) But in that case there are breathable bumpers which are much safer than the bumpers that come in a crib set. The decorative bumpers are SO thick!!! And seriously..think about it...you have bumpers in your babies crib when they're a newborn so they won't hurt themselves, but they can't even roll over or move yet. But when they start rolling over you're supposed to take them out because of the risk of suffocation. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of bumpers??

Autumn's 6 Month Update

Yesterday Autumn turned 6 months old, and I would've written this then but I wanted to wait until after her doctors appointment. As of today Autumn is 17 lb 14 oz.  and is 25.5 in long. Since her last 4 month appointment a lot of things have happened. She's rolling over, sitting up by herself, she has her first tooth, and she's babbling. The next step is crawling!!! She is also allowed to drink water from a sippy cup...woohoo!!!

Cloth diapering is going great!! I just bought 5 more to replace the crappy ones I bought when I first started CDing. My all time new favorite brand is Coolababy. If you don't know what they are then I suggest you look them up!
Breast feeding is also going wonderfully perfect. BUT pumping on the other hand is becoming quite the issue. I seriously cannot wait until I can take Autumn with me to work so I don't have to pump anymore.
She also got her 3rd set of shots...not too happy.

After Shots

Before Shots

Cooking Homemade Apple Sauce

Since Autumn is nearing the 6 month mark, I will be experimenting with other fruits and vegetables in making her homemade baby food. Today I had some left over apples in the fridge so I decided to make some applesauce. And I have decided to share the applesauce-making-process with you guys. :)

I had three apples, now when making applesauce you can either keep the peel on or off. I just decided to peel it but I'll probably in the future leave it on since the peel has the most vitamins. So peel, core them, and then cut them into chunks.

Now once your apples are chopped up you can put them in a pot with some water, but you don't want to completely submerge the apples. It shouldn't take too long for the water to start boiling. Once they start boiling stir them occasionally and cover them for about 20-30 minutes (or when they become soft).

Once they're done, drain them with a bowl so that you save the water. Saving the water will help when you puree you're apples and you want to thin them out (and if brings more flavor).

Drop them in the food processor and then TADA!!! APPLESAUCE BABYFOOOOOD! Also when your baby is old enough you can add different spices to it for a different taste.

3 apples made 5 big jars of baby food. Imagine what a dozen or TWO dozen of apples could make.

Netiquette?

So todays topic is internet etiquette.  If you've looked at my Facebook recently then you saw the guy that decided to be the Facebook Photo Police and told me that I "look like someone off of Toddlers & Tiara's" and he's "Sorry for the way I look". Even if I did look orange who are you honestly to judge me? Because I think I look damn good after having a baby 6 months ago. Thank you asshole for giving me inspiration for my new blog post.  Anyways....internet etiquette...where to even start.

I think that people "grow some balls" on the internet because they're not insulting someone to their face...so they grow a back bone while they're typing on their little keyboard. People lose their humanity when they log into their Facebook or twitter or youtube. I have read so many comments from people who lack manners, classiness, and compassion. So I found these  guidelines for network etiquette...or "netiquette"

Rule 1: Remember the Human- Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you. Imagine how you'd feel if you were in the other person's shoes. Stand up for yourself, but try not to hurt people's feelings.
When you communicate electronically, all you see is a computer screen. You don't have the opportunity to use facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice to communicate your meaning; words -- lonely written words -- are all you've got. And that goes for your correspondent as well.

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life- In real life, most people are fairly law-abiding, either by disposition or because we're afraid of getting caught. In cyberspace, the chances of getting caught sometimes seem slim. And, perhaps because people sometimes forget that there's a human being on the other side of the computer, some people think that a lower standard of ethics or personal behavior is acceptable in cyberspace. BE ETHICAL!

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace- When you enter a domain of cyberspace that's new to you, take a look around. Spend a while listening to the chat or reading the archives. Get a sense of how the people who are already there act. Then go ahead and participate.

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth- It's a cliché that people today seem to have less time than ever before, even though (or perhaps because) we sleep less and have more labor-saving devices than our grandparents did. When you send email or post to a discussion group, you're taking up other people's time (or hoping to). It's your responsibility to ensure that the time they spend reading your posting isn't wasted.

Rule 5: Make yourself look good online- I don't want to give the impression that the net is a cold, cruel place full of people who just can't wait to insult each other. As in the world at large, most people who communicate online just want to be liked. Networks -- particularly discussion groups -- let you reach out to people you'd otherwise never meet. And none of them can see you. You won't be judged by the color of your skin, eyes, or hair, your weight, your age, or your clothing, but by the quality of your writing.

Rule 6: Share expert knowledge- The reason asking questions online works is that a lot of knowledgeable people are reading the questions. And if even a few of them offer intelligent answers, the sum total of world knowledge increases.

Rule 7: Help keep "flame wars" under control- "Flaming" is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion. It's the kind of message that makes people respond, "Oh come on, tell us how you really feel." Tact is not its objective. Flame wars is just online arguing and is rather unattractive.

Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy- Of course, you'd never dream of going through your colleagues' desk drawers. So naturally you wouldn't read their email either.

Rule 9: Don't abuse your power- Knowing more than others, or having more power than they do, does not give you the right to take advantage of them. For example, system administrators should never read private email.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other peoples mistakes- Everyone was a network newbie once. And not everyone has had the benefit of reading this book. So when someone makes a mistake -- whether it's a spelling error or a spelling flame, a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer -- be kind about it.