5am is too early to be awake!

I'm awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed, at 5am. I have been waking up more and more in the middle of the night, and early morning these days, so I figured I would write a little bit about something that has been on my mind a lot these past few weeks.

Why is it that people automatically assume that because they have/had a difficult baby, that everyone else will too. I have had so many people tell me things like, "just wait until she cries all the time", or "just wait until she won't sleep"... just wait this, just wait that. Why is it that "veteran" parents can't be encouraging to new parents, and support them in the new journey? Instead, new parents are being scared to death because someone else had a colicky baby, or a non-sleeper.

I don't believe for a second that being a parent will be easy, don't get me wrong, but where is the encouragement? Everyone seems to think that warning us about their doom and gloom is so helpful, but to me it's just another way of bringing us down, and scaring us into doubting our abilities in caring for our girl.

I am sorry if you had a difficult infant, but does that mean you have to doom us to the same fate?

Why not say something positive about your child, so that when we hit a rough patch with ours, we can remember that it isn't all doom and gloom to have a baby, but rather a beautiful, wonderful miracle, even if it is difficult at times!!

23 weeks (a little late, as usual)

Here is a picture of me while out with Eric and his family this past week. I was 23 weeks on Wednesday August 8th.

And just because he is cute, a picture of Cooper while he was trying to give me kisses this morning!

Cloth Diaper Purchase, Consignment Sale Shopping, and Family visit...

Yesterday, I made our first BIG cloth diaper purchase. I ordered a total of 11 diapers including 2 newborn All In One (AIO) diapers, and 9 one size pocket diapers. I ordered them off of gogonatural.com and with a 15% of coupon code, I spent $214 total. I got free shipping for spending over $75.

I ordered (one of each) colors Amethyst, Bermuda Blue, Crimson, Powder Blue, Lazy Lime, Platinum, Spring Green, Tulip and White in the one size pocket diapers, and a Sunshine Yellow and a Platinum in the newborn AIO diapers. Each diaper comes with a Microfiber 6r soaker set. They are all snap diapers.

Here is a photo of the colors for the diapers...

A few weeks ago, I purchased a Lux diaper to show Eric before I made my big purchase, so I have a total of 12 diapers right now. I am looking to get about 24/25 diapers total, just to make life easier, and so that i don't have to do Laundry every single day.

In other news, Eric's mom and dad, aunt and uncle were here this week to visit. We did lots of fun things, but the most exciting might be that Eric's parents ordered Reegan's crib for us. We decided on the white Delta Bentley 4-in-1 crib. You can find it here at Target.com. We love this crib because it goes from a crib to a toddler bed to a full size headboard. During our adventures, Brenda ended up buying Reegan some pretty adorable little outfits from both target and Gymboree. Reegan is going to be one stylish little princess if her grandma's keep buying her such pretty things.

Last but not least, I went to my first consignment sale out here the other day. I found a bunch of clothing items that I purchased, a playmat specifically geared towards tummy time play for $8, a pink Bumbo seat with tray for $15, and a BabyBjorn carrier for Eric to use for $20. I spent $100 dollars total and I am sure that I am forgetting to list something that I/we got. all in all it was a great week with family, and for baby purchases. 

Question ~ What were/are some items that you refused to pay full price for when shopping for your baby? I would love to know!

Baby Buys!

I have been so excited to start purchasing some fun things for baby girl. I have been searching Etsy for the perfect little things for Reegan and I recently purchased a few items that I am so excited to use.

 First off is a super soft blanket made from minky (the gray "bumpy" fleece) fabric and flannel. 

 Next is a nursing shawl, which will be nice when I don't wear nursing clothes (which are crazy expensive, by the way!)

 Next is a set of three burp clothes made from fabric and a cloth diaper. they are really soft and durable and they are big enough that I won't have to use a ton of different clothes. I am planning on purchasing a few more sets of these, they are really goo quality.

This last one is hard to explain. You attach the button to the carseat handle with the shorter piece of elastic (at the top of picture). When baby is not in the seat, you secure the strap to the car seat handle with the long strap with the ribbon. this way, you can set baby in the car seat without having to fumble with the straps. I am excited to try this out and so a review on it after baby is born!

Here are links to all the different etsy sites that I got my items from...

Blanket... 

Nursing Shawl...

Burp clothes...

Car seat strap thing...

I am also realyl excited because I bought a My Brest Friend nursing pillow at Once Upon a Child (a kids clothes and items resale shop) for $8.50. Those babies retail for $45 in store. I registered for a new cover for it because the cover on it now is pretty dingy, but otherwise it is in really good shape.

My next purchase is going to be my first set of cloth diapers. I am going to purchase 5 or 6 depending on what kind of coupon I can find. I cannot wait, I am really excited about all the fun things that are beginning to fill our house!

~Amy