I need a favor, please

Filed Under Blogging, Input Needed | 4 Comments

My friend Mae needs some votes for her video clip. She is neck and neck with some other chick for first place. If she wins, she is donating all the money to a women’s and children’s shelter. That other lady? She’s probably going on a selfish shopping spree. So go vote for Mae! You have to register but I did, and I promise they do not spam you.

Here is the link:
http://www.mindbites.com/tags/the-baby-formula

And the person you vote for is the one with the title “Cleaning up toys” or something like that. She has brown hair and a big hot pink boa around her in the picture.

If this is any inspiration to you- comment and let me know that you voted, and I will link to your blog. I know that’s nothing huge, but who couldn’t use some linky love?

On another topic- I was curious if anyone has gone through Insurance Bureau for auto insurance. We got some info from them and I was wondering if anyone had an opinion. We have considered switching from State Farm, but right now we get a multiple line and multiple car discount, so it would have to be a whole lot cheaper!

I need a graduation present

Filed Under Gifts, Input Needed | 11 Comments

We just got an invitation to our neighbor kid’s graduation party. I have absolutely no idea what to bring except money. I really don’t want to spend more than $20 and I am worried that a $20 check looks shabby. It’s a guy, and he is going to a state college for engineering in the fall. He likes outdoors stuff (camping, working in the yard, etc) and I think he’s a little bit dorky. Oh and he’s a wrestler. Is there somewhere cool that I could get him a gift card for? Or a gift that wouldn’t be cheesy? I have no idea what to buy guys, honestly, except for my husband. Please give me some suggestions.

Also I should probably say that my husband and this kid’s dad talk a lot and they came to Bailey’s birthday party and stuff. So they aren’t just random neighbors, we actually know them fairly well.

Google Reader issues

Filed Under Input Needed, Technology | 3 Comments

For some reason I can’t add any new feeds to my Google Reader. You know how normally you click “Add” or “Add Subscription” or something like that? It’s not there anymore. I am not normally this dumb with internet stuff but I am totally lost.

Fuzzi Bunny

Filed Under Cloth Diapering, Input Needed, Seven Months | 4 Comments

I got my Fuzzi Bunz diapers in the mail on Friday, and got them washed and tried them for the first time today. So far we have only done about 2-3 cloth diapers each day. I only have 8 total so far, since I am still waiting to get a lot of them in the mail/delivered. Plus I have been nervous about putting her to bed in cloth, but today she used a Fuzzi Bun(z?) at naptime and she didn’t leak. Here is a picture of her trying one on for the first time. (The black spot is where I removed our last name from her bottle)

In fact, she hasn’t leaked yet in cloth. I noticed that the leg holes are a little gappy between her legs in the FBs. I have them snapped on the tightest setting for both legs and waist. They are mediums, and she is kind of at the beginning of that weight range still. Is it really bad that they gap a bit like this? Is there something I can do to make it better or is it a matter of her just growing into them?

I tried to take a picture in case anyone has any input.

Instead of a drug rehabilitation I think they need to make a rehab for cloth diaper junkies. I always thought people were crazy for being so into them. I spend way to much time shopping online for them and reading about them.

Housekeeping

Filed Under Blogging, Input Needed | 3 Comments

‘Scuse me while I try to find a new template I like. I want to go with something Christmassy. If you use Blogger, what templates do you use? What have you found are the easiest? And do you lose all your customizations every time you change or is there a way around that?

Anyway, I couldn’t deal with the Fall orange one anymore. So we are in girly mode until I find a suitable holiday theme.

Weight loss shakes, supplements, etc

Filed Under Input Needed, Weight | 1 Comment

So I have been doing the working out thing lately- but I know I can’t really “diet” while I am BFing. What I am trying to do is cut out the junk but still get enough calories. (You can read about my weight loss issues on my other blog, Nine Months Off).

But what I am wondering is if I can do any sort of nutritional supplements or shakes or anything to help me get the stuff that I need. I am always afraid that I am cutting TOO much out of my diet. Has anyone had a really successful pregnancy plus previous extra pounds weight loss/exercise plan? Want to share?

Jonathon’s loans

Filed Under Input Needed, Money | 3 Comments

Does anyone know anything about student loan consolidation? We only have one student loan but it’s enough that it annoys me. We constantly get the letters in the mail about consolidating. Someone at my bank (our mortgage person) recommended NOT doing this because then the interest is no longer deductible because it’s not considered a student loan anymore… but that’s really the only input I’ve had so far. It just sucks because over the past few years the interest rate on it has gradually risen to a little over 8 percent!

Any advice?

Somewhat Public Pumping

Filed Under Breastfeeding, Input Needed | Leave a Comment

So yesterday I sure did use my breast pump between the wedding rehearsal and going to take pictures… only it was used on Hwy 44 (while Jonathon drove) and only slightly stuffed up my shirt, with my dear friend Faith riding in the backseat.

Yeah, I actually got a car AC adaptor for it. I am serious about my pumping. Sometimes when I tote around the bag for it I think people think I have a portable oxygen concentrator or something.

Here’s the thing. The darn thing takes two hands which is especially annoying in the car or when you are trying to be inconspicuous. Ha. As if that’s possible with two moving, whooshing funnels hanging from your breasts. Anyway, I know Medela sells a pumping free attachment kit (you have to scroll down the page a bit to see it)… has anyone used something like this before? I am kind of curious about it but you have to buy the Medela brand nursing bras to use them, and mine are all just from Motherhood.

Vitamins

Filed Under Input Needed, Two Months | 5 Comments

We started Bailey on Poly-Vi-Sol last night… she didn’t like it a whole lot and managed to get most of it out of her mouth by sticking her tongue out over and over. Then she smiled. It’s like she knew she had accomplished something. I think we might try putting them in her bottle tonight, unless anyone knows any other tricks. I have heard they stain so I am trying to be careful when we do them. Last night it was in the bathtub.

Can’t Wait To Take Bailey HERE

Filed Under Input Needed, Travel | 5 Comments

Disney World. That has been my favorite vacation place since I was six. Well, I have to admit I haven’t been there lately, but I used to love it. I wanted to go there a year or two ago and Jonathon insisted that we wait until we have kids to take. I was like, “No, it won’t be as fun…” but now I can’t wait to be able to take Bailey there and show her everything. I’m sure a lot has changed but some of my favorites were Space Mountain, It’s a Small World, and the Jungle Cruise ride. Oh, and MR Toad’s Wild Ride, because it looked like a train was going to crash into your car. And the Peter Pan ride… I could go on and on. I wouldn’t mind getting an Orlando vacation home so I could go there whenever I wanted!

Anyone been there lately? Tell me your stories and make me jealous!

I have even kind of been playing around looking at tickets for Disney. There seem to be some pretty good deals out there. We would definitely want to stay at a Disney hotel (last time I was there we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort) and go to The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Universal Studios. I know there are tickets called Magic My Way where you can get deals on all the theme parks together. I have also found some cheap Universal Studios tickets.

I know Bailey is too little to do it yet, but here is my question- if you have taken your kids to Disney, how old were they and was it a good age for your trip?

Diapers

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Input Needed | 6 Comments

Well, it’s official… Bailey’s little bottom is moving up to Size 1 today. She has two newborn diapers left to wear and then we are done with those. This is technically the first thing she has outgrown. My favorite newborn diapers were Pampers Swaddlers but they seemed to run the smallest. Then she wore Target ones for a while and then moved into the Huggies which seemed the biggest. (We have quite the variety thanks to our diaper shower and my mom).

I opened a pack of Pampers Size 1 and they look huge. Without opening ALL my diapers and going through them, does anyone know what seems to run the smallest in this size? And prevent leg-hole blowouts the best? We haven’t had many but that is the only spot that leaks on her- not the back or front of anything, just those legs. I noticed it more with Huggies I think they didn’t seal as tightly. Also, have you found a cheap generic diaper that works well? The Target ones seem decent but I’m willing to try others.

Last night I got a little delusional and looked at a cloth diaper website. Then I remembered I didn’t want to wash poo every day. Plus, those things are expensive!