14 Weeks

Gestational age:  14.5 weeks :)

Baby's current size:  3.4 inches, CRL

Similar in size to:  A super-cute lemon! (see above)

Weight gain:  Another half pound, putting me at my pre-pregnancy weight.  Not bad for 3.5 months along!  I'm in all maternity pants now :)

Looking forward to:  That 20 wk ultrasound!  Can't wait to find out what this darling little one is!

Not looking forward to:  Still frettin' about that glucose test.  One of these days, I'll actually look it up and find out.

Biggest food craving:  Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers from Wendy's (hold the bun and mayo, please).  YUM!  I also truly enjoy grape juice.  I love a nice, big glass with ice in it :)

Biggest food aversion:  Still yucky on eggs, and particular about cheese.

How this pregnancy compares to the others:  My back is starting to give me problems, but it's okay if I baby it.  Still the best pregnancy yet!  What a pleasant surprise!

Nervous about:  Procuring the desired larger vehicle BEFORE baby's arrival.  However, the Lord will provide for our growing family.  Even if it means traveling in two separate cars for awhile!  We know the vehicle type and specs, just looking for the right one for the right price.  I sure would like to know how to drive that big thing before the babe is here as well.  (As a side note, if you're selling an Excursion with a third bench row, please leave a comment... :D)  

Four Moms Open House: Master Bedroom

Since I love the blogging project of Four Moms, 35 Kids, I wanted to join in on the Open House fun (a few weeks late).

So here is our Master Bedroom, in all it's glory :)  Normally, we put sheets on our beds.  However, I am blogging and the sheets are still sitting there.  The dresser on the right is where I keep Emmie's cloth diapers, as well as where the new baby will be keeping his/her clothes.  There is also a small end table on the left side, but it's not really visible because of the shadow.

This is the view from the closet (which is the big dark thing on the left of the above pic).  Yes, those are blackout curtains, and I love them dearly :)

Please note that this is as close as you will get to the inside of my closet.  Semi organized, yet stressful all at the same time.  AND an empty hamper (for all the clothes in the hall!) :)

And, looking at the dresser and mirror from the closet.  This furniture belonged to my grandparents, and it means a great deal to me.  The angel picture on the bookshelf belonged to my other grandmother (my father's mother).  It hung over her bed, and she told my aunt that the picture reminded her of me.  My aunt gave it to me in July; I think of her every time I see it.  It will be on the wall soon.  As for the TV and the blue table, those also belonged my grandparents (the same ones that owned the furniture).  We don't watch it, and it's taking up useless space.  I'll take it downstairs eventually.  The dresser holds Shawn and I's clothing. 

Well, there ya go :)  Our bedroom is teeny tiny, but cozy.  I love our room and the simplicity of it.  For more pictures of Master Bedrooms in the Open House, check here.  Hope you enjoyed a taste of our home :)  

Gentleness of Voice

Please take moment to read this humble poem on tone of voice.  It truly is my heart's desire to be loving in every way, my tone included.  Good words are not enough.  In order to convey one's words clearly and effectively, one's tone must be gentle and full of love.  What a neglected concept this is!  But what a necessary virtue, which so honors the Lord and clothes His children with beauty.  What a noble thing it is to be self-controlled and gentle, loving in all ways.  Lord, change my heart to be more like You!!!!  Work in me this gentleness and joy, that You may be glorified in this home and that the children will see You in me!  

Oh the Fluff!

Today I ordered four new diaper covers.  Typically, I use prefolds or fitteds with a cover for Em.  I have a few Thirsties covers that are a bit large for her (in gender neutral colors).  I also have two Bummis covers (also gender neutral), and my wool.  The wool covers are great, but real care-intensive.  They have been my favorite so far.

Flash back to last summer.  I let my sister-in-law borrow all of my girly cloth diaper supplies - covers, fitteds, all-in-ones, and pockets.  I saw no time in the next few years that I would be using them again!  It appears that B has gotten a good bit of use from them, which thrills my heart!  My heart is missing the girly fluff though :)

So this morning I went to the Swaddlebees website (one of my personal favorites!).  Swaddlebees has an AWESOME clearance/seconds page, and I have gotten some great deals over the years.  Today was no different.  I bought four diaper covers for $5 ea.  All told, I spent $25 (including shipping) on products that normally retail for $86 (including shipping).  Now THAT is wonderful!!!  I could not make my own for that price!

Three of the covers are minky (which is SO SOFT!!!), and one is a standard fleece cover.  The picture above is similar to one that I purchased :D

So if your'e wanting to add to your stash or take the plunge and get started with cloth diapering, they are a great place to start!

Pampers DryMax and Cloth Diapering

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very... um... "invested" person.  I'm either totally, 100%, wholeheartedly into something, or the opposite is true.  I am finicky about everything.  I hate this about myself.  

I say this because I want you to know this is not a post about how everyone should cloth diaper.  I used to feel that way.  Then the weight of the task of cloth diapering several children at once, along with underlying health problems, fell on me.  I could handle it for a few days, then I was back to sposies, trying desperately to catch up on everything else.  It was a bad cycle to be in, but I had to come to the decision that, while cloth diapering is ideal, I had to do what was best for my family (and my workload!).  When I felt up to it, I'd go back at it.  But every time it became a burden instead of a help, it went out the door.  

Things are different now; I am healthy.  I'm not suffering from chronic fatigue or depression, nor does my back give me problems.  I don't have severe joint pain, nor constant migraines.  My laundry has been manageable for quite a long time, and I can definitely add in an extra load every few days.  I love this.  All of this!!!!

But, as C.J. Mahaney says, let's "keep the main thing the main thing."  This whole Pampers Dry Max thing.  Seems as if lots of babies are getting chemical burns and bad rashes from this diaper since Pampers has changed the chemicals in it.  And Pampers is basically saying it's not legit.  Hmm.  It really points out some things that have ALWAYS concerned me about disposables.  Remember, I'm not against them (see above).  But they concern me.  And here's why:

1.  A potential link to asthma

2.  Unnecessary chemical exposure (here, here, and here)

3.  Expensive, even with coupons  (See how my friend saved money with cloth diapers!) 

4.  How long they take to decompose

5.  Several of my children have been sensitive to different brands of disposable diapers.  That alone is concerning, since nothing touch a baby's bottom should be harsh enough to cause a reaction.  Nothing.  

Anywho.  All that to say, I think we mothers should think twice about what we use on our children.  Again, I'm not anti-disposable, but don't be naive enough to think that Proctor & Gamble (and the other big-name companies making other diapers) actually have your (and my!) baby's best interest in mind.  Just like the carcinogens found baby wash (which, mind you, has not changed!!!), money to them is more important than safety.  Be well informed.  Make good decisions for your family.  Don't let catchy commercials on TV blind you from some legitimate questions that are not addressed by these companies.

And, may I urge you, to consider cloth diapering?  This is not a high horse for me, but a wonderful thing to consider.  Check out all of the benefits, the cute diapers, and how money can be saved.  Here is a cost calculator to play with.  Know that with a little bit of know-how with  a sewing machine or knitting needles (or even a crochet hook), it can become a lot of fun too!

11 Weeks

Gestational age:  11 weeks on the day

Baby's current size:  A little over an inch and a half!

Similar in size to:   A fig (see above)

Weight gain:  Half of a pound.  Oh yeah.  Still in regular clothes, but thankful.  Usually I have gained about 10 lbs by now!

Looking forward to:  The end of the first trimester, to put my mind at ease a bit more

Not looking forward to:  Wondering if the gestational diabetes test has gluten in it?

Biggest food craving:  This week, it's been Nut Thins crackers with cheddar cheese.  Oh my goodness.  I love it so much that I greatly anticipate my next snack/meal.  It's kinda sad.

Biggest food aversion:  Chicken, smelly foods, and of course eggs.

How this pregnancy compares to the others:  Still no back pain, WAY less weight gain, and no depression so far.  Yay!  Still shaping up to be the best one yet :D

Nervous about:  Well, I am running out of cheese and crackers.  This, contrary to popular thought, is indeed a dilemma.  It is not unheard of for me, in my pregnant state, to shed a few tears over a food craving.  The emotion just gets to be too much sometimes.

I've Come to Realize...

...that I started out as an Ezzo parent, and have ended up a Sears parent.  But shhhhh, don't tell anyone! :)