What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Linking up Jamie @ This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday.

I'm loving...that I was on call last night and didn't get called in.

I'm loving...that I got a good night of sleep since my sister had Hunter.

I'm loving...that we are having family Christmas pictures made tomorrow.

I'm loving...this sweet picture from Hunter's 6 month session...

I'm loving...that Alan is off work for the next 10 days.

I'm loving...that we are having Thanksgiving dinner at my Mom's this weekend.  I can't wait to see everyone.  I LOVE family time.

I'm loving...that I have bought AND wrapped all the presents for the KIDS in our lives.  I think last year we had 3 to buy for and this year there's about 10!

Oh How Pinteresting

Made this for supper tonight...DELISH!

Source: pinterestwithmonica.weebly.com via Shaina on Pinterest

Making this for Thanksgiving dinner...hope it tastes as good as it looks

Source: kevinandamanda.com via Shaina on Pinterest

Can my hair look like this please?

Source: yelp.com via Shaina on Pinterest

LOVE this house!

Source: eplans.com via Shaina on Pinterest

On my Christmas Wish list!

Source: misikko.com via Shaina on Pinterest

6 Months

Hunter Cole,

...you are 6 months old!

...you are still wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes.  You can wear some of your 6-9 month tops.

...you are still in a size 2 diaper, but size 3's work also.  You are still in cloth most of the time.

...you sleep is getting better but you still aren't sleeping through the night.  Right now you are getting up once usually around 2 and then back down until 4 or 5.  Then I usually put you in the bed with me you sleep till 7.  You are back in the rock n play sleeper.

...you still need to nap after being awake after hours.  You still don't like to nap.  Maybe one day sleeping will get easier!

...you are nursing every 2-3 hours during the day.  We let you try rice cereal for the 1st time (October 14th)while we were at the beach, you weren't impressed.  However, we are giving it to you with fruit every evening and you LOVE it!  We are giving you baby food 1-2 times a day.  You enjoy it but would much rather have our food.  Most of the time I tear off whatever I'm eating and give you some.  We give you juice sometimes and we are having to do some supplementing in the evenings with formula and you are holding your bottle all on your own.  Sometimes you get mad if we try to help!

...you are still doing GREAT riding in the car.  We only had to stop once the whole way to and from the beach because you were upset!  We were really expecting to be stopping VERY often but you were WONDERFUL!

...you finally rolled from back to belly.  You are starting to do it more frequently and you are figuring out how to get around.

...still loving the jumperaoo but mostly we sit you in the floor with a boppy around you.  You are a great sitter now!

...you officially have 2 teeth.  Your Aunt Cole actually noticed the 1st one before I did.  It was your bottom, middle, left tooth.  Now your right one has poked through.  I tried to get a picture of it, but it's nearly impossible!  You still love to chew on my finger, but now it REALLY hurts!

...you still love being outside.  You were such a HAPPY baby at the beach and I think it was because you were outside so much.

This month...

...You went to dinner at Nick's with us, your Pa Wayne, and his friend.  You sat in a highchair and did pretty good.

...You went on your 1st trip to the beach.  We went to Panama City with Aunt Cole, Uncle Michael, and Uncle Logan.  You did great on the ride and were a happy baby the whole time we were there.  You loved the beach, the sand, and the water.  We put you in the pool in your float and you were so relaxed.  

...You went to lunch with Nana, Poppy, Uncle Logan and me.  Poppy fed you rice and cheese and you LOVED it.  I gave you some chicken and you liked it too.

...You went trick or treating for the 1st time on Oct 27th.  We just dressed you in camo and you were such a cutie but you looked so grown up.  :(  

...We went to see Krystal and Mylee and spent the night.  

...You started holding your bottle (November 4th)

...Rolled from back to belly for the 1st time (November 4th)

...Noticed your 1st tooth (November 5th)

You are such a happy baby and we are so blessed to be your parents.  You are growing up too fast!

Saving Money and Going Green!!!

When I 1st mentioned making our own laundry detergent Alan thought I was crazy.  I had seen people on pinterest and blogs do it and I wanted to try.  Initially it wasn't because I wanted to save $, I just liked the thought of being crafty.  Alan was totally against it but one day he decided we should try it.  After success at making our own detergent we have incorporated more and more things to help save $ and help the environment at the same time...

-We make our own laundry detergent...This is so easy and quick.  I do powder so it's easy to store!  I am still using the original ingredients that I bought.

-use vinegar for laundry softener

-hang clothes outside to dry whenever possible

-stopped buying bottled water and use a brita water pitcher

-cloth paper towels-Alan gives me a hard time about this, but I have adjusted fine!

-homemade cleaning products-febreeze, wrinkle releaser, shower cleaner, etc.  Usually vinegar, dawn, peroxide, and/or baking soda will take care of anything.  In addition, I feel like these products are much safer than some of the more traditional cleaning products.

-reusable eye makeup remover pads

-cloth diapers and wipes...we still use a disposable at night though

-homemade baby food

-no paper plates

It's so nice to know we don't have to buy paper towels, wipes or diapers (very often), expensive cleaning supplies, bottled water, baby food, paper plates, laundry detergent, or softener.  

Favorite Things...

I want to remember some of our favorite items from this time period...

Once again...Medela pump in style. Since I'm back at work I'm having to used this more often and it so easy to use and gets the job done.  I've never used any other pump so I don't know how it would compare but I love this one.  It has help up well so far...I'm pretty rough on it.

Dr. Browns Pacis-These are Hunter's favorite paci's right now.  He won't take anything else.

Aden and Anais swaddle blankets-Pretty sure we should have bought stock in this company!  I love everything we have from them.  We have used these Aden and Anais blankets from Day 1.  Hunter loves them.  Sometimes we still use them to swaddle him.  They are perfect to throw over us when he is nursing. We now have 2 of the security blankets, the dream blanket, and 3 of the burpy bibs.  We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their products.

Sunbaby cloth diapers-My friend and I ordered some of these cloth diapers.  I was very skeptical about them because they are cheap compaired to other pocket diapers.  However, I love them.  They are so easy to stuff and the inserts are super absorbent.  They also have cute patterns.  I can't wait to order more.

Planet wise wet bag-I have a different pattern but it works great for me  No leaks and no odor.  This is what I take with me when we spend a couple of days at my Mom's.  I have the medium size bag and it holds plenty of diapers.

Fisher Price Love You Zoo Jumerpoo-I go this at a consignment sale and Hunter loves it.  I can put him in the middle of the room and he will sit in it while I get some things done around the house.  He is just now getting tall enough to touch the ground without anything under him.  It has plenty of engaging toys!

Boppy Play Mat-My mom got this for us and even though it is a bit pricier than some of the others it has been well worth it for us!  Hunter LOVES it and always has.  Also, they have great customer service.  I had to contact them about the music and they were quick to reply and offered to send me a new one if needed.  Boppy customer for life!!!

Bright Stars Elephant-Hunter loves this little elephant.  It makes a crinkle noise and he loves to chew on the feet!

Infantino Stick & Play suction toy-I love this toy.  It suctions down so he can't throw it in the floor.  The flower rotates in a circle and also moves back and forth.  Each petal has something different and the petals rotate.  Lots of neat things packed into this one toy!

Baby Bjorn carrier-I'm not sure which style we have but Alan uses it all the time!  He puts Hunter in it so he can get things done outside and also so he can take him for rides on the 4 wheeler.  Hunter doesn't mind being in it!  We also use it at the mx races!

Snuza Monitor-I'm still paranoid about SIDS.  We have the Angel Care Monitor but he doesn't sleep good in his bed.  So I clasp this onto his diaper and it gives me peace of mind during the night!  I am sure I would get much less sleep if I didn't have this!

9th week-July 7th-13th

I think I'll just hit the highlights of the week now instead of writing what we do every day!  Over the weekend Mom and Logan came up and we went out of the boat to Pates Ford to watch fireworks.  Sam, Jordan, and Brent came with us!  Hunter didn't mind the fireworks, I'm not sure he even noticed them...ha!  Sunday, Mom watched Hunter so Alan and I could take Logan to watch the new Spiderman movie.  I actually enjoyed it!  Tuesday, I went home for a couple of days.  It rained the whole time I was there.  Hunter was spoiled by his aunt Nicole!  I told her we gave him the right middle name because he's a lot like her!  He hates shopping, being bothered, and he snores like she does.  Thursday we went to Knoxville to get some items off of her registry and then I finally came back home.  Alan isn't crazy about us being gone so long but he understands that I get bored here at the house.  Logan came back with me.  Hunter slept through the night both nights at the house but was up constantly last night :(.

Breastfeeding...

I wanted to make sure and write this down, so I can remember for next time!

I don't think we ever really got Hunter latched on in the hospital.  I delivered late on a Friday night and was discharged on Sunday so I never got to see the lactation consultant. While I was in the hospital I mostly pumped but I did put him to breast some with a nipple shield.  Once we got home I continued to put him to breast with the shield and pump some too.  It took him an hour or more to eat each time and he ate so often that I felt like all I did was feed him.  He made the biggest mess and the nipple shield was hard to use when we had company.  Finally around week 3 I went to see the lactation consultant.

She got Hunter to latch on immediately without the shield.  I was so happy!  Once we were home I got him to latch with out it for the 1st feeding, but after that he wouldn't stay latched on.  So we did the shield some, but always tried without it first.  Eventually it got to the point that we didn't hardly ever use the shield.

Breastfeeding was so hard for the 1st several weeks.  The sore nipples are awful!  Then Hunter would always kick or hit me and I would be jumping in pain.  It was bad.  Finally I tried to leave them open to air as much as possible and to use the Medela lanolin.  I think it worked so much better!  After a while they would only hurt when he latched on and then they were fine after that.

I wanted to quit so many times.  Each time I told myself I'll get through this week and if it isn't any better I'll stop.  Every time it had gotten a little bit better!  Alan didn't encourage or discourage it!  He just wanted me to do whatever was best for us.  He didn't really have a preference either way.  Now, 9 weeks or so out, I am so, so glad I didn't stop!  The pain is completely gone (and has been for quite a while.)  It's so easy.  I don't have to worry about bottles, formula, water, etc when we leave the house.  I've only had to feed him in public a couple of times.  Once during breakfast with the girls and then at Nicole's rehearsal and wedding!  No one really seemed to noticed that much!  Now he only eats from one side at a time and usually is done in 10-15 minutes.  I haven't given him a bottle in forever, but my mom says it takes much longer for him to eat from a bottle.

He is still a messy eater, but we have found a solution to that problem.  I think I've already forgotten how bad it was in the beginning, kinda like pregnancy and childbirth!

So glad I stuck with it and I'm so thankful for the people who encouraged me...mostly Tonya!