RagaBabe Love

I've been introduced to the cloth diapering world. At first, when my mom suggested it (when Drake was first born), I told her she was crazy. Now, when I first thought about cloth diapering, I thought about the gerber white cloths and the plastic pants. Yuck. But, the cloth diapering world is so different now! Now fast forward to 1 year later. We are cloth diapering. My absolute favorite is the Ragababe. This diaper is like magic. And they are so cute to boot! Granted, I have to shake poop into the toilet now, but it's so worth it if it's going to save us money. The upfront cost of cloth diapering is expensive, but will save us thousands in the long run...especially if/when we have more kiddos. We have 6 AIOs and 6 2 Steps. And, I just ordered 2 more AIOs! AIOs or all-in-ones are just like disposables. The 2-Steps are the shell of a diaper and it has inserts that you snap in. So, if Drakey Drake pees on the insert, I can just put the shell aside and reuse it and throw the insert in the wash. I am so excited for this! Fingers crossed that it goes well!

A Merry Fluffy Christmas from Lauren's Little Lovies!

I'm quickly becoming a HUGE fan of cloth diapering and Lauren's Little Lovies is participating in a giveaway from my favorite cloth dipering family - Ragababe! They have AWESOME diapers...the best I've tried. I am so excited about this! Even if I don't win, I'll be glad that someone out there will be able to try Ragababe! If you are curious, you can visit Lauren's Little Lovies - A Merry Fluffy Christmas at http://laurenslittlelovies.blogspot.com/2010/11/amfc-sponsor-spotlight-5-ragababe.html.

Go Long! Go Green! Giveaway!!

A new blog I'm following is doing a giveaway with Go Green Pocket Diapers...Awesome! I am trying cloth diapering and can use all the help I can get! I have tried it and love it so far...for all of you out there considering it, please try! Amazing how one can become a diaper snob :)

Long road ahead...

It's been about a month and a half since I last blogged. I was spending every spare second with my husband, who is now gone. That sounds ominous. He's not gone for good, just until the middle of September. AIT for the Army. 10 long weeks without him. I took him for granted. I didn't realize how much I needed him until he was gone. You would think I would know, since we went through this last summer, but it's amazing how much a year can make you forget. Forget the longing. Forget the pain. Forget the heartache. Now it's all back. I miss him terribly. I wake up in the morning and look beside me at the empty bed where he used to lay. I know he is waking up in Missouri, doing the same. Sometimes, it hurts to breathe. The loneliness is stifling. Family and friends try to make it better, and I am so grateful for them, but it's just not the same. My best friend is a thousand miles away...16 hours. We can't even talk on the phone right now. Thoughts of him consume me. Is he doing ok? I can only hope. I guess at this point, no news is good news. I just thank God everyday for him and that this isn't a deployment. My heart goes out to those whose spouses are serving overseas. God bless each and every one of them. I love you Charles.

My First Mother's Day!

It was wonderful! I took full advantage of having the hubby home with me all weekend. This was a first in many weeks. Guess what I wanted to do? CLEAN! I had every intention of cleaning all day Saturday so I could enjoy the actual day on Sunday. Well, that didn't go as planned because Drake came down with a cold on Thursday. And that meant I came down with a cold on Thursday. So, all day Saturday, I sat my happy hind end on the couch and watched reruns of One Tree Hill. The hubby and Drake slept in the chair for 3 hours! 3! I loved it. After lazing around all afternoon, we got up and went out. Where, you ask?? Why, to Wal-mart, of course! We bought Drake a mess-proof bib! He started eating green beans on Saturday, his 5 month birthday! What a big boy! After feeding them to him, we realized cloth bibs do not cut it. Then, we ate at Zaxby's. It was a good Saturday. Sunday, I woke up feeling even worse, but trucked through some cleaning. We decided to eat at Cracker Barrel for Mother's Day. Delish! But, I still felt like yuckliness. So did the hubby. Drake was fine. We headed to Wal-mart (shocking!) and then to the in-laws, then finally home. Thankfully, I feel much better today, however, I was a little disappointed that on my first Mother's Day, I was sick. Boo.

3 weeks!

No, I'm not three weeks pregnant...I think I would pass out instead of blog. What I mean is: 3 weeks until my sweet sweet husband is home with me for summer vacation! I cannot wait! June will be an outstanding month! I am so ready to spend day in and day out with him for an entire month. I intend to occupy his time entirely. It is so bittersweet. I've waited all year for June to roll around so we could be together with our baby, but at the same time, I've been dreading June. Because once June is gone, so is he. For 3 months. 3...long...months...It's the hardest thing ever. Being apart. Waking up from a dream about him and realizing your best friend is not beside you. Walking into the kitchen to fix coffee and knowing he won't be there to share a cup with you. Eating alone, whether at home or at a restaurant. Taking the dog for our evening stroll without him. Taking care of our sweet baby, wondering if what you're doing is right and wishing you had his opinion to help you out. The loneliness. That's the worst. It's so hard having your best friend with you everyday, then having him ripped from the fabric of your life for 3 months. I really shouldn't complain since it is 3 months. At least it's not forever...I love you hubby! You don't know how much you will be missed.

Getting to Know You

My friend from college does this on her blog and I love reading it! It's a lot of fun, so I figured I would do it to and let my 4 followers know all about me :) Thanks Amber!

The questions..



1. If you could star in any movie genre..what would it be..romance..horror..comedy..suspense or action?
Well, I used to say horror, but now I'm such a chicken. Overactive imagination! Definitely comedy because there is nothing like laughing to make you feel better.


2. Do you recycle?
Nope. I'm so lazy.
3. Have you ever been to a strip clup?
Yes. A real one and a rinky dink one in Carrollton. Why? I'll never know. I guess just to say I have been, although that's really nothing to brag about.

4. Do you have a nickname?
Juliebean, Jules, Julio
5. What's a name you can't stand to be called?
I don't really think there is one I absolutely can't stand to be called...unless it's obnoxious...
6. What are your Summer staples?
Tank tops, flip flops, diet coke, Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney
7. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?
Breast milk storage bags and nursing pads. A real treat, right? Oh, and a book. That was a real treat!

8. Are you happy with your boob size?
No! They are too big at the moment! I just want to lay on my tummy again! It has been over a year since I've done that!

Feeling helpless...

I have no idea what to do with my 4 month old son. I mean, you can only jump in a jumperoo, do tummy time, swing, and bounce in your bouncer for so long. I feel like he is getting bored. They can do that you know. Get bored. I also feel guilty when I'm not right there with him 24/7 while he is awake. Is that wrong? I mean, I feel like I get absolutely nothing done. Our favorite thing to do here lately is to go for a walk. But, it has been so cold the past few days, that has been out of the question. I guess the reason for this blog is that I feel helpless. I don't want him just lying around on his back. I feel like he needs to be active, but I have no idea what to do. If there are any ideas out there, or you have been through this too, please tell me and let me know what you did! :)

2 days until spring break!

Thank God. I am so ready for my hubby to be here with us for 4 whole days. I need a break. Is that bad to say? Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my baby boy. I just hate having to be the only one home during the day when he goes down for a nap. Or when he wakes up in the middle of one. He cries. I cry. It breaks my heart to just leave him in the crib. I do go in and try to soothe, but I try not to pick him up. I am hoping against hope that it will get easier. A little guy his age is supposed to take a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap. He wakes up after about an hour sometimes. I know he needs his sleep, but is it really sleeping when he is crying? He is supposed to learn to soothe himself to sleep. I just want to soothe him myself. This is sooo hard. Can you tell I'm typing this as I listen to him cry? Come on Spring Break!!!

Am I Babywise...or do I have a wise baby?

Both. Drake is wise. He knows how to tug at my heartstrings to get what he wants. However, this week, we are trying Babywise again. I tried it when he was first born...not so much. I was stressing myself out over it. I did take the eat/wake/sleep idea and ran with it. That has worked out well. Now, I'm trying the sleep part. So far, it sucks. The first nap went swimmingly. He slept from 10:45-12:15. His second nap is not going as well. Apparently the 45 minute intruder snuck in and woke him up. So I fed him. And changed him. And he's still crying. Not just wimpering, but screaming crying. I hate it! I know there is nothing wrong with him physically, but I just ache to go pick him up. Oh Lord, how long is this going to last?

Thursday = rainy yuckliness

So, it's not raining yet, but I know it's coming. You can tell by looking outside. It's very gray and cold looking. Has been all day. But, it's not cold...not yet. I took Drake, aka he who never takes naps at least not long naps, outside earlier and it was really windy, but, not cold. Nice change. Now, just need to get rid of the gray clouds and wind and we'll be all set. I need sunshine! We do get to get out of the house today though. We are going to Target! Love Target. I have money to spend, but I know as soon as I get there, I won't want to spend any of it. Because, if I do, that means I won't have any money to spend on my next shopping trip. The more money I have, the less I want to spend. The less money I have, the more I want to spend. I'm messed up.

This and That

Well, Drake is sleeping so I figured I would take advantage and blog. Here are a few things:

1. We did get our BOB! It is wonderful, amazing, fabulous...and too big for our son at this point in his life. Bummer. I was so excited to use it. I can put him in it and go for walks, but if I were to jog with him in it, he would be jostled all around. So, we must wait.
2. I registered for the Peachtree Road Race. Last year, the AJC had online registration. It was HORRIBLE. I was online for 3 hours trying to register 2 people. I kept getting a message that said the website was experiencing a billion people at once and they weren't prepared for that. Not prepared?! Do they know how big this race is? Well, this year, I almost missed the registration until my sis reminded me. I was psyched to go to Wal-mart and pick up the AJC because surely they wouldn't commit the colossal mistake of doing it online again. They learn from their mistakes, right? NOPE. It was online again and again I got the same stupid message. When are they going to learn?
3. I went for my first run last night since August. My excuse from August to December was "I'm way pregnant. I can't run." My excuse from January until last night was "I think running will hurt my milk supply." Well, I bit the bullet and ran. All the websites I read and all of my friends who are runners and mothers said running would hurt my supply. I trust them. And, if it does, I have a freezer full of milk to last for at least 1-1 1/2 months. I hope it doesn't though. Formula is WAY too expensive.
4. Every time I finally get Drake to sleep (albeit in his swing), Toby, our puppy, decides he has to bark at whatever is outside. Today, it was the wind. I mean, this dog barks at anything when the timing is just right. Ask him to speak and he looks at you like you're an idiot. Go figure.

Well, that's all for now. Thank God for naps and sweet baby boys!

2 hours!

Drake slept for 2 whole hours!!! Wah-hoo!!!

To have and to hold

That is what Drake wants. To have his mommy hold him...24/7. Just within the last few days too. He was doing just fine. He would eat around 9, we would play until around 11, then I would put him down for a nap in his swing...the only place he would even think about napping. I gave up on the naps in the crib a long time ago. Well, since Sunday or so, he has REFUSED to nap. His schedule is all messed up now. He will sleep for about 30 minutes in the swing, then he is done. He wakes up fussing and as soon as I pick him up, he stops. I can't hold him all day long, and that is what he wants. What to do, what to do. He is in his swing, at this moment, fussing because he is soooo tired, yet wants to be awake and held. Oh, wait. He is asleep...oh, for how long though? Another 30 minutes? Please oh please let it be for 1 1/2 to 2 hours! Stay tuned...

You know the drill

Well, the hubby is at drill this weekend. That's something you have to deal with when your hubby is in the National Guard. Drill. And at drill, they do nothing, so he is away from us on this beautiful spring day for nothing. Boo. It's just me and Drake this weekend. The first time I've ever spent the night alone with him. So far, the day is going well, with a little bit of a rocky morning. We went to a bridal shower that was during his morning nap. Big no-no. I'll never do that again. I do know the drill and I didn't do it. Cried, cried, cried. As soon as I put him in the car, he stopped. Nice. Now, he's sleeping for his afternoon nap. I hope until 5:00. Then he'll eat and hopefully, we can get a little shopping done. Wish us luck!

The BOB

We are going to REI tonight to pick up our BOB jogging stroller! I am so excited! This means that I can start running again with my sweet baby boy right there with me. And, it's Friday! What a great day!

2 Days in a row!

I'm on a roll. I guess I just realized how much I love to read everyone else's blogs and how disappointed I am when I go to read them and they are not updated.

I read a great blog yesterday and stole the following little story from it. It is so sweet/sad, that I just wanted to keep it and share it all at the same time. It's about what love means to children and this was an excerpt from the story:
*There was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

In the midst of teaching, I forgot how sweet and innocent children are. This story brought tears to my eyes because it made me think of my grandfather when he lost my grandmother. It was Christmas 2008, just 2 weeks after she passed. My husband, sister and I were at my grandpa's house when he gave us our Christmas presents. Grandma had made them before she passed. It was a letter from her and a candle that smelled like her scent. We all cried when we opened them. After we calmed down, grandpa started to cry. It was then that my dad came in and just went over to grandpa and held him.

Just thinking about that memory makes me cry. In a way, my dad was that little boy helping his dad cry.

I'm back!

Hopefully for good! I get so busy during the day that I forget to blog...no, sorry. I can't lie. I get so lazy during the day that I forget to blog. Yeah, that's more like it. Drake takes mini naps throughout the day and when he does, I surf the web. Mostly facebook and other blogs. Or, I shop the web. I feel like I'm doing so much when he's alseep, but at the end of the day, I realize I haven't done squat.

Drake is still doing well. He is so used to being held that when I try to put him down for a long nap, he cries. Then I go comfort him and he falls asleep. I leave the room. He wakes up and cries. I comfort him...it's a vicious cycle. I eventually just pick him up and let him sleep in my arms. Not good if I want to get things done around the house. When the hubby comes home at 4:15, I'm usually holding Drake, who is sound asleep.

Drake has moved on to a 4 hour feeding schedule, which is FABULOUS!!! I feel like I am getting some of my life back. I can actually go out and shop a little before he has to eat again. And, he sleeps so well during the night. So far. I'm still waiting for those 12-hour nights. :)

I have found the most wonderful baby carrier. I can carry Drake 9 different ways with one carrier. It's better than the Baby Bjorn because it doesn't have any buckles or buttons. Drake never really seemed to like the Baby Bjorn. I hope he likes the new carrier. It's coming in the mail any day now!! A pic of Drake:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In passing...

It has been so long since I last blogged, I'm not sure I know how to do it anymore! It's been a busy life being a SAHM. My life revolves around Drake and when he eats, plays, and sleeps...which is just fine with me. But, sometimes I wonder if I'll ever have time to myself again. Probably not. Well, I have good and bad news. First the good.

Drake had his 2 month check up. His shots hurt me more than they hurt him! I tried so hard to keep it together at the doctor's office. Pat me on the back...I didn't cry in public! Ha! He weighed (at his checkup a week ago) 13.6 pounds and is 24 1/2 inches long! Big boy! The doctor said he was the size of an average 4 month old! I'm so glad. I don't know what I'd do with a little baby!

Now the bad. I just got in from Florida on Tuesday. I went down last Wednesday. My grandfather was in his last few days. He was moved from the hospital to his home on Wednesday where a nurse from hospice stayed around the clock. I won't go into the details, but he passed away on Friday, February 12, 2010. He was a wonderful grandfather and I know he is in a better place. He is with God and my grandmother, where he wanted to be. I love you Grandpa Dale. You will be greatly missed. :'( <3

Drake did well on the trip to Florida, but he lost out on a few naps during the day, which led to one crabby baby at night. Once he fell asleep, however, he was out. He will sleep anywhere from 9:30 to 5:30ish. Sometimes later, so I'm not complaining!

Snow in "the deep south"

Yeah, it snowed. Or should I say, "snowed"? (that's me with air quotes). But, I'm THRILLED!! Even though it looks like some dumped over a salt shaker outside, school was cancelled and Charles got to stay home today!!! We did nothing but hang out together with Drake and it was a wonderful day. Now, on to SUMMER!!!

Just the two of us...

Today is the first day I have been alone with Drake. All alone. I'm a little nervous! I am used to having Charles here with me. But, he is at a wrestling match all day long and I'm here...by myself with Drake...all day long. Deep breath. So far, we're doing well. Oh yeah. Toby, our boxer puppy, is here too...this should make for an interesting day. He wants to play, Drake wants to eat, and I've got to work...I need to get used to this though. Starting Tuesday, we'll be making a habit out of being just the two...er, three of us!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I can't believe 2010 is already here. It's weird to say "I had a baby boy last year." Drake is now 3 and a half weeks old and weighs 9 lbs 8 ounces. 2009 was a great year, mostly since we found out we were pregnant, but there are a few things I could have done without...Charles being gone for 2 and a half months being the main thing. But, you take the good, you take the bad, and there you have...the facts of life. He will be going away again this year, only it will be for 3 months. But, I'm not going to dwell on the bad. I'm going to focus on all the milestones we will see together as Drake grows. This new year holds many mysteries in store for us and I look forward to seeing what they are! Hopefully, they will be good mysteries! Yay 2010!