Feeling Domestic

I don't know why but I'm developing a 'domestic' attitude lately. This does not mean that I enjoy cooking, or know how to sew (though I want to learn), or quilt, or keep a clean house . . . or anything truly domestic, but I'm starting to feel it more. Let myself explain myself :) I think the fact that we are going back to school and will no longer have an income has led me to start thinking a bit more creatively. I could start working, but the kind of job I could get with my degree would barely cover the cost of child care, so I'd rather stay home with my children if those are my options . . . anyways, so I've started trying to think of ways to save or spend less money and it turns out 'domestic' things are actually quite cost effective. I actually prepared a 'menu' for the week and only bought the things we needed for those specific meals and snacks. I used to do this long ago before children entered the scene but I suddenly didn't seem to have the time and stopped doing it. I decided to do it again and I'm going to keep doing it because it really does save money. I might venture to learn how to do coupon cutting, but it seems a little daunting to me (any teachers??) The biggest thing though is that I've switched to . . . drumroll please . . . cloth diapers. When my friend (you know who you are) first told me she used cloth diapers mostly because they are less expensive, I thought she was a little crazy (please don't be offended). Well, I started doing some calculating and realized that with 2 little ones in diapers we will probably spend over $1000 on diapers alone (that doesn't include wipes) this year, which will be promptly thrown out in the garbage (a whole other issue for someone else) and leaving us with that much less in our already empty pockets. I did a lot of research . . . alot because I really don't want to mess with grossness, but it turns out cloth diapers today are not what they were when our mothers and grandmothers used them. They're all in one now, and can just be washed and dried in the machines. I even use a flush-able liner that I just throw in the toilet so I don't have to mess with ringing out the diapers and yes, I'm even using cloth wipes . . . they actually work better in my opinion. Anyways, they can be a little spendy to start out, but they pay for themselves in a matter of a couple months or if you're good at sewing you can even make them yourself. Call me crazy, but I'm goin back to basics!







I think his little tush is very cute in them! (I'm using Bum Genius 3.0 by the way)

Fashion Show

You gotta love a 2 year old's sense of fashion. Luke loves to wear his jammies and snow boots, just add mommy's belt and you've got a great outfit!

Photoshop = Awesome

So, we did a little family photo shoot while we were in AZ and we had several different pictures that were good of different people, but not really one of everyone (typical), so I did a little mad editing and this is the final product. I'm actually really happy with it! The first picture came from the last two.

Pictures from our Vacation in AZ

No you can't, you're too YOUNG!

This is something I expected to tell my children when they start asking if they can drive, or date, or go to college, etc. This is NOT what I thought I would be telling my 5 month old when he started crawling!

Happy Easter

We had a fun and relaxed Easter. Luke really enjoyed his first egg hunt and he was thrilled to find candy inside, of course!

Good to be Back

No, I haven't actually been gone, but in a sense I haven't really 'been' here for several months. I've been feeling off and very unlike myself pretty much since Seth was born and everything was compounded by the fact that he's had reflux and hasn't been a good sleeper (often waking every hour or so). I had a really difficult time bonding with him and I just felt so angry, tense, anxious, etc. Anyways, I finally realized that it might be postpartum depression, so my mom came out for a week to help me out and I talked to my father-in-law (aka our family dr.) and things are SO much better now. My mom was able to help me do what she called a 'baby boot camp.' We got Seth on a pretty strict schedule and we taught him to fall asleep on his own. Some nights are still a little rough, but overall he is sleeping so much better. I am feeling so much more like myself and it's wonderful. I feel like the mother I used to be and little things don't drive me over the edge now like they did a few weeks ago. Seth and I have developed a much closer relationship and I love him so much! Being a mother can be very challenging in many ways, but when I look at the sweet, innocent faces of my little boys I know it's all worth it. I know Heavenly Father will bless me in my efforts and I am so thankful for these sweet little people in my life.