Pregnancy Update!

Finally into the second trimester and it feels so good! 

I am starting to get my energy back.  This is easier said than done with a toddler who loves to be outside and is constantly on the go.  I am much better than I was the first trimester as far as my energy level.  My nausea was pretty much a constant during the first trimester and it has gone away for the most part.  I still get nauseous if I don't eat for an extended period of time.  That doesn't happen often because I feel like I'm ALWAYS hungry the past week or so.  I've started to pop out a bit and its uncomfortable to sleep on my back (due to the extra weight on my spine) or stomach.  Here's a side-shot Matt took this evening:

I'm about 14.5 weeks today.  Please excuse the messy hair...

With all things in motherhood, the things I've learned (or so I'd like to think) from having one child, I'm trying to apply to the one I have yet to give birth to.  Namely, I've become obsessed with looking at newborn cloth diapers!  I simply can not resist researching and looking at the teeny, tiny little things!  Yes, I've even purchased a few... and I did so way too early in my pregnancy, but oh well!  Here's the beginning of our newborn diaper stash:

Rumparooz Lil' Joeys... They come in two-packs!  How cute is that?!  They are all-in-one diapers, so that kind of makes me nervous because I prefer pockets.  They have a snap down for the umbilical cord stump so I feel as though I should give them a shot!  Plus, my favorite color is green, illustrated by my green shirt in the picture above.

This is a pocket newborn diaper, that snaps down to two different rises.  This might help with the umbilical cord stump.  I've read good reviews, better than the ones for Happy Heiny's one-size pocket diapers, so I'm hoping they'll work for us!

I also plan on getting a number of prefolds and covers for the newborn days too.  The reason I want at least some pockets/all-in-ones is because I think they're much more convenient for trips outside the house.  If I'm going to have a toddler and a newborn outside the house, I need convenience!  I've also heard rave reviews about fitted diapers with wool diaper covers.  I have a friend who will be trying some with her newborn this summer so I can't wait to hear how she likes them!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Happy Easter!

We went to an Easter egg hunt yesterday with some friends!  Here is quite possibly the cutest kid thoroughly enjoying himself!

What's an event (or just an ordinary day) with my son without a cookie?

Shaking the eggs because they had candy and "monies" in it!  He was thrilled to find the coins to go into his bank at home!

Finally getting the concept of putting the eggs in his basket, instead of just being happy with shaking one!

My happy boy!

Hope everyone has a very blessed Easter!

Photo Challenge: Day 23

Today's challenge: Color

I've been trying to find the right theme or color scheme for Jack's big boy bedroom.  I hadn't found any bedding that really "spoke" to me.  Today we went to the Catholic bookstore to get a gift for my RCIA candidate and Jack made the decision on his room for us when he picked up this wall hanging and refused to put it down:

I love the bright colors, and the fact that its a truck is perfect for my little boy!  I absolutely love the prayer on it, perfect for those of all ages :-)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter tomorrow!

Day 21 Photo Challenge

I know, I know... I've really not been good at this photo challenge, but I'm promis I am trying!  Doesn't help that work has been particularly busy these days...

Here's one of my favorite pictures from our Germany trip this January.  I love all of the hand painted work in this church!

Hope everyone is has a wonderful Easter Triduum!

The Infantino Cloud Cart/Highchair Cover

When I was pregnant with Jack, I swore I'd never be that mom that tried to protect her baby from every possible source of germs.  I held true to that pretty well, the one thing I did give-in on wanting was a high chair/cart cover when he was about 5-6 months old.  He was chewing on EVERYTHING and when sitting in either a high chair or shopping cart the handles and bars seemed to be within easy "reach" of his mouth.  It didn't so much gross me out with the germs factor (but it was cold and flu season and he couldn't get the vaccine at that point) but the danger factor that these seats can cause.  Now, most carts and highchairs aren't in that bad of shape, but I had come across quite a few rough wooden highchair and rusty shopping carts with exposed screws.

I recently was approached with the opportunity to try the new Infantino Cloud Deluxe Shopping Cart Cover.  I must say, this is one high quality, and intense, cover!  Here's a picture of the package I received:

Front view with description and uses.

Top view with the handle for carrying when not in use.

I don't have picture of Jack in it because he is at the age where doing anything Mommy wants him to do is not good, but I did eventually get him to ride in a shopping cart with it.  He was just very angry about being in the cart to begin with.  Here are my pros & cons of my experience:
Pros:

• Very comfortable and cushy, perfect for those babies that are just sitting up!
• Adorable pattern
• Machine washable (a must for any baby item)
• Very stretchy, would easily fit on a lot of different shapes & sizes of shopping carts!
• The velcro that keeps the sides together through the bars of the shopping cart.  I like this as opposed to ties for a quick set-up

Cons:

• Hard to put on one-handed (using other hand to hold baby), wouldn't be an issue if I were out with Matt (he'd hold Jack and I'd get the cover on).
• Leg holes seemed small for Jack, but would be perfect for a younger/smaller baby.
• Too big to put in the diaper bag (has to be carried separately), but all covers I have seen are.
• Because it is meant to go across the handle of the shopping cart, if you get a cart with a wonky wheel (which I did while trying this) it makes it very hard to steer the cart.
• Would also be too big for a wooden restaurant high chair.

Overall, this is a great cover!  You definitely need two hands and it would be better for a smaller baby and early sitter, but it is definitely high quality!



Disclaimer: I was contacted by a representative of Infantino Test & Tell Mom program. I received the cart cover to facilitate my review. I have not been compensated in any other way for this post, and my thoughts expressed above are completely my own.

April Photo Challenge Day 17

Today's theme:  Anything showing emotion

"Pure Joy"

You can almost hear him giggling!

April Photo Contest Day 5

Today's topic: spring!  Spring is definitely coming and we've been lucky enough to experience a few spring weather days already this year.

Spring to me is my little guy getting to enjoy our wonderful backyard!  Its perfect weather because its not too hot or too cold to play outside... perfect for blowing bubbles!

April Photo Challenge Day 4

I know, I skipped yesterday... whoops!  Today's topic: water.  It certainly wasn't a challenge to find water today as it rained hard all day!

Our driveway is asphalt and, while it gets a few puddles from being slightly uneven, when it rains it looks flooded.  This is a view off our back deck of the driveway from this evening.

I should have taken a picture of my pants after I walked across the parking lot today.  The entire front of my khakis were SOAKED; looked as though I had just put them on straight out of the washer, without going through the spin cycle.  Alas, I didn't have my camera with me at work.

Day 1 & 2 of April Photo Challenge

So, I'm a little late on the first photo... but better late then never!  I'm joining in on Angie's (from Blessed Beyond Words) April photo contest.  You can find out more details and join in if you have a blog.

1st picture: Self-portrait

I'll call this "1st Trimester Motherhood" because I look so tired & yuck!

You may be wondering if I actually took this picture myself... well, technically I used a mini-tripod that we got for Christmas from my parents.  If you don't have one, I highly recommend it... we have a JOBY mini-tripod with flexible legs.  Its really helpful when I try to do family photos of us when we're by ourselves, and it sits in our junk drawer so we can pull it out and put it on the counter or on top of the tv for picture taking!

2nd picture: flight

We went for a walk but I couldn't get any pictures of a bird in flight, but it turns out my husband is an excellent paper airplane maker!  Can't wait to show Jack how it flies tomorrow... he'll love it!