Our New Cloth Diaper Addiction

I really wish we would have started this cloth diaper deal from the beginning of little Noels life. We are jumping on the train a little late in the game. Late is better then never I guess. Im going to answer the Whys? and the Whats/Hows? as far as cloth diapers and how they are involved in our family now. Enjoy!:)

 

Our stash to thus point plus a robins egg blue and a bright yellow!:)

 

Why in the World would we decide to cloth diaper??? Well I will give you our top 3!

1.)$$$$$$$$$$ <- Money! Yes! That is our number one. Noel has a super sensitive hiney. Thus, we have tried nearly every kind of disposable out there and the only kind that seemed to treat her okay was Pampers Sensitives. So lets go into a little math..... A big box of Pampers sensitive is 45.99 at buy buy baby. Usually, a month we would go through 2 boxes. Then we will throw in a box of wipes a month which is 12$ at target. Soooo I plan on having Noel potty trained by the age of 2. SOOOO 2 years of disposables equals 1391.76, and that doesnt include my gas/time to go to Knoxville for the big boxes of diapers. To this point I have spend close to 180$ on 18 cloth diapers, a wet bag, probably 30 inserts, special detergent, stain remover, a bamboo night time insert, cloth wipes, and pump soap for cloth wipes. I do not plan on spending more then 300$ on cloth diapers. Yes our water may go up just a bit but not much. Plus with the beautiful weather lately instead of using the dryer I just line dry in the sun. ***Helpful tip: Sunlight helps bring out stains:)
Oh BTW if you wondering what you cost may be I have stumbled across a helpful lil cloth vs disposable diaper calculator. Here is the web address: http://www.groceryalerts.ca/cloth-vs-disposable-diaper-calculator/



2.)  Well I already touched on it above but our second reason is Noels sensitive hiney. But to add a little more to this second reason our families notion that we want to be self sustaining and more natural has helped push the topic. I hear about all the yucky chemicals/burns in disposables in all my mommy sites and Im over it. Its my resposibiliy to keep my daughter healthy and safe and if that means washing her diapers then so be it! ***BTW Im not a cloth diaper prude if you dont cloth diaper thats cool beans or whatever but for me and my family these are our beliefs:)
******Side note: Just had to spend two days out of cloth due to what I believe is a reaction to the detergent.... New detergent as of today so hopefully that helps....

3.) I keep hitting reasons in other reasons. So to go along with the all natural stand we are making, our third reason to cloth diaper is because its better for the Earth. Ive read somewhere that in a 2 year span(birth to 2) you will change somewhere between approx 5,000-6,000 diapers. Can you imagine all of those diapers in a land fill. Goodness it kinda make me sick thinking about it. :/

 

There are more reasons including; how stinkin cute Noel is running around like big booty Judy, or the multitude of designs, etc. But, I am going to link a lil video from one of my favorite bloggers. I align very closely with her views. Shes does her own personal video on her families reasons why cloth diapers are better then disposables its a great watch: http://youtu.be/9YxIvhjkC7g


Now we shall enter the *WHAT?!

When we started cloth diapering I was so lost on the terminology and the whats and hows and what kinds/brands mumbo jumbo it was almost intimidating! So basically this is what we have decided on......

 

 At first I thought I would go with a ALL IN ONE or for the cloth diaper savvy a (aio)... Why? Well because they are all in one.... there is no extra step they are the closest thing to a disposable diaper but it being cloth. You dont have to have any sorta snap together contraption or inserts etc etc. All you do is clean them out rinse and throw them in the washer. Therefore, I thought that would be the easiest adjustment for us(Christopher). Well then he saw the difference in price a aio diaper was compared to a pocket diaper.


What is a pocket diaper you ask?

 

It is basically a diaper cover and you have to stuff inserts into the pocket. So there is that added step of putting in the insert and taking out the insert. However, there is a difference in pricing. Thus, we decided we would go with pocket diapers. I do have 2 aio diapers of which I love. However, it take a whopping like 5 mins more to stuff the pockets so I dont mind.  When it comes to kinds we have a few different kinds. We have: Alva babys, a Bumgenius, a Blueberry Simplex, and a Thirsties diaper. I would say my least favorite is my thirstie diaper just because of lack of snaps and fit. That brings up a good point. I got a tip from one of my cloth diaper friends to stick with snaps. Why? Because she said at the rate the diapers are to be washed the velcro kind tends to run their courses pretty short into their lives. Therefore, I have all snap diapers. (Of which is a good decision now that Noel can take off her sposies:/ )

And now the one everyone seems to get caught up on *THE HOW*

..... you mean you have to clean out their poo? Thats what I hear.... but honestly, tell me as a parent you have changed your child and never got pee or poo on you?! Tell me... be honest!!!!! Okay exactly!

---Here is my process for a pee diaper---> take diaper down stairs to our utility sink... take out pocket...spray out diaper and insert/ ring out/ hang or put in pail until wash time.

---Here is my process for a pee diaper---> take diaper to the toilet clean out what poo I can into the toilet.... take diaper down stairs... take out insert spray out the diaper/insert.... apply spot remover(CAREFUL HAS TO BE DESIGNATED FOR Cloth diapers)..... hang or put in pail until wash time...

Wash with detergent that is cloth diaper safe.... Air dry on a cloths line outside ( or dry in dryer on the low setting) *BTW the sun is a great stain remover!!!

Then stuff inserts:)

Thats it.... all done.... not that hard... its really not that gross either! :)))

Im going to link another how to from mama natural because they are awesome and Id be lost on this journey with out their helpful videos: This video is cloth diaper set up:) http://youtu.be/ujJ0s-6-xro


I know I am missing tons of information(stripping the diapers, night time, etc) I plan on doing a update on this topic in the next couple months! :)))

-<3Kim

Some images from google search images:)

This is me...take it or leave it.....

This is a general blog kinda to go along with my introducation blog.... This is me take it or leave it.....

-I make it very hard for people/anyone to really get to know the real me.... Its just in my nature..... Id say maybe a handful of people know me good enough to where Ill joke around with them and be open....
-I find it very very very hard to trust people.... To this point there are about a handful of people whom I would actually let watch Noel.... If I dont trust you... You absolutely can not watch what is most precious in this world to me.... If you have in any way ever broken my trust just forget it...
-In person I am very introverted.... I dont like big crowds... Id rather sit at home and read a book... Small talk isnt really my strong point thus I dont care for it much.... Also, I like what I say to be fact based.... Thus, when Im asked a question Im not certain on Id rather go home and read into it rather then blurt out something that isnt necessarily truth...
-I as a person whom saw her life revolving around a educational atmosphere always had the general belief that people always have the option to improve themselves and that they ultimately want to better themselves and that they deserve to be better.... However, I have found in my life experience that some people are content not doing these things at all.....
-I as a person hate drama.... I hate people CRAVING the need to be in my business....
-I use to think people were generally good..... and not just good in front of your face so that they can get whatever they want out of you but then turn around and talk trash about you behind your back.... the later is what I have become to know is true with a good portion of people....
-I use to believe that trying to better your family whether by living healthy or living your life for Christ or working hard to provide for your family was something people would come to brag about and be happy for, instead these days people use that sort of thing to look at you and say "see they go to church or they eat organic so they think they are better then us"
-I use to think that ultimately my opinion didnt matter about topics, but now having a daughter has opened my eyes to the fact that my opinion matters because of how I choose to raise her and what kind of person we are producing
-Things I am very passionate about(breastfeeding,natural parenting, holistic dog food, holistic living, healthy diets especially for little ones, childrens rights for a happy healthy Christ centered childhood, God recognized marriage) certain topics so if the topic arises yes I will in fact be VERY VERY OPINIONATED and will usually pull facts out that I have actually read into and researched and believe....
-My husband and I are not the norm... whether that is because we have not always been stuck in this bubble known as east TN or for whatever other reason... we are choosing to live and parent differently then what most around us seem to believe ... however, we see it as best.... so no people I am not blindly leading my husband.... You dont have to go home and say poor poor Noel Kim is crazy and Christopher just goes along with the ride... We actually as a married couple sit down and talk about EVERYTHING... everything from what food to feed Noel next to what our feelings are about different topics like how to raise our child.... so No people its not just me....


I have a beautiful family and a roof over my head and heat when its cold and parents that are always a call away for help.... but with all the blessings I wonder why life has changed me to have this just negative outlook and/ or negative influences around me..... Why did I have to experience these people or these event to get me to the above conclusions or thoughts?.... I remember one of my first small group meetings we did a small activity with three different people with different characteristics and it baffled me to hear most everyone say they didnt know a person with some of these certain undesirable characteristics.... ....

At our weekly church small group meeting there were a few questions and one that really struck me was, "What do I as a Christian think a Christians characteristics should be?" There was a ton of great answers... humble, caring, patient,... but my sole answer was genuine..... Genuine to me is a characteristic that combines alot of other good characteristics... A person whom is genuine is a person whom is real, they care about you overall, they want what is best for you in every situation, they are helpful when needed, they wont stab you in the back for their betterment, they dont mooch or take advantage of you because they want whats for you, they encourage you when you are down and like I said they are just real they arent one thing infront of you and then another behind you.....


Let go into a situational experience:

***I am very opinionated(yet, again!)***
 I think sometimes my opinion is soooooo strong because I see so many offensive things.... This picture above caused a little stir on my personal facebook page because more then likely the way I worded the intro to this picture. In my very honest opinion I know that this product is crap combined into a cute lil monkey shape.... Please look at the ingredients.... I found it offensive that this product would A)be made for childrens consumption  B) That this would be given to my child to eat.... It is my full belief just like I believe in the Lord above that if something is not in some way nutritional for my child it should not be consumed.... seriously the carnauba wax that you see there in the ingredients list is used also in car wax.... exactly what I think should be polluting my precious angels body right?! (I understand some parents dont look this deep into things and to each their own.... I do and I find it crazy parents wouldnt look into it<--Personal opinion of which Im entitled to) Thus I was soooo offended I posted about it and yes maybe it came off insensitive and maybe judgemental but in my mind I had the whole world agreeing with me because this product is crap....and its offensive...

Now lets jump back to the genuine person talk a few paragraphs back.... After much thinking and a conversation with someone.... Have I been over exposed to these people/events whom are very not genuine thus making me the person I am now... someone who is cold and wouldnt be descibed as genuine... someone who is needing to get my point across in a very judgemental way instead of a Christ centered genuine way? I believe so.... Do I want everyone to see my side, even though many may see it as hippie or "better then them"? Yes... I believe knowledge is power and that people are only in the wrong if they know better.... Do I need to be so pushy ehhhh probably not...... Did I post the picture to harp and call out people whom dont look further yes and no.... Like I said I need to change my delivery I think.... So I guess what I could say is instead of harp on me and think Im crazy be in prayer with me to be more informative and less shame bashing/demeaning of those whom dont know better and would be open to information I may have to share..... And no Im not rude.... I am strong willed and strongly opinionated when it comes to my daughter.... :)

End rant/blog....

-<3Kim

Why smoking around kids stinks.....literally......duh,,,,

 I am writing this because I got such a thrilling (JP) response on an article I posted about smoking being child abuse. In all honesty it really took me off hand by the amount of opposition I had from people. After I got over the general shock of people finding this okay I felt sad that there are people in this world that find it completely acceptable to raise children around this nasty habit. I am going to go ahead and tell you that this information is all factual and if you are a smoker it may offend you….. However, it shouldn’t offend you because it is based all on facts. I am not singling anyone out. I have smokers in my family and in my extended family and in my husbands family. I also live with the thought that your not in the wrong unless you know better. So if you don’t know better I hope this blog will show some sort of awareness to you. If you do know better then quit it! I also want to say that I post this with personal ties from the effects of smoking I have a family member who has to rely on asthma medication to get them through the day because of being exposed to so much secondhand & thirdhand smoke. I also had a family member pass away from emphysema. Therefore, I am not posting this blindly.

I was taught from a young young age that smoking is bad. In my mind it is the persons own decision that they don’t care about themselves enough to want to do this to their own body, a slow suicide I guess you could say. That’s why it really boils my water when someone close to me decides to live this lifestyle. Let me also say it really didn’t so much bother me until I became a parent. Let me throw a few random facts at you real quick: (Yes….I’m sure you probably already know them.)

 

Tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced.

• There are more than one billion smokers in the world.
• Globally, use of tobacco products is increasing, although it is decreasing in high-income countries.
• Almost half of the world's children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke.
• The epidemic is shifting to the developing world.
• More than 80% of the world's smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
• Tobacco use kills 5.4 million people a year - an average of one person every six seconds - and accounts for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide.
• Tobacco kills up to half of all users.
• It is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of deaths in the world.

Sited from: The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS website

http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/tobacco_facts/en/

 

  If I wanted to I could completely write this article about how smoking sucks and that by doing so it’s not very smart. But you know what; I don’t smoke so that’s not my battle. I choose to live and want to have a healthy lifestyle for myself and for everyone around me including my daughter. That’s where it gets the point where I start getting aggravated about smoking. Its not that the person is silly for doing it it’s for the innocent children that have to suffer because of their selfish parents choosing to do this nasty habit. Look at the fact up there; “Almost half of the world’s children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke.” That disgusts me. I am not the person that throws around the term child abuse lightly but, what is abuse defined as? Abuse is defined by dictionary.com as, “to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way.” So by the definition how is smoking around your kid any different???? Its harmful to their health; and to top it off its offensive to make your child be subdued to being in the same environment!

  By it affecting a child or another person it can be classified as secondhand smoke. Well Kim, what is secondhand smoke? Defined on smokefree.gov this is the definition,” Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke that comes from your cigarette and smoke you breathe out while smoking. Breathing in any amount of secondhand smoke is dangerous.” (http://smokefree.gov/impact-on-others)  I think of secondhand smoking of the parent whom smokes around their child or is smoking in the same vehicle as their child. Some of the effects from secondhand smoking around children are children with: More severe asthma attacks, Bronchitis, pneumonia, and other breathing problems, Coughing and wheezing, Ear and lung infections, possible ADHD and many behavioral problems, cognitive impairments, and the list goes on and on. Another effect that is close to my heart because I have an infant is SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome.) Did you know that an infant that is exposed to secondhand smoke doubles the risk of having SIDS? Did you also know that a mother whom smokes triples her child’s chances of having SIDS?

 This takes me to a whole different topic. I am sorry if you get offended by this statement that I am about to make but if you are pregnant and your smoking its proves two things to me: A) your selfish…. Selfish in the thought that you can’t put your child’s health before your nasty addiction B) Maybe you’re not quite ready to be a parent. In my mind, if you are a parent, you are living everyday putting someone else’s needs above your own. By smoking while pregnant you’re showing that you don’t quite understand that concept.

The thirdhand smoke is a more recent idea that directly affects children. “Thirdhand smoke consists of the tobacco residue from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products that is left behind after smoking and builds up on surfaces and furnishings. It may seem merely like an offensive smell, but it is also indicative of the presence of tobacco toxins. Tobacco smoke is composed of numerous types of gasses and particulate matter, including carcinogens and heavy metals, like arsenic, lead, and cyanide. Sticky, highly toxic particulates, like nicotine, can cling to walls and ceilings. Gases can be absorbed into carpets, draperies, and other upholsteries. A 2002 study found that these toxic brews can then reemit back into the air and recombine to form harmful compounds that remain at high levels long after smoking has stopped occurring. The homes, hair, clothes, and cars of smokers can have significant levels of thirdhand smoke contamination. Young children are particularly vulnerable, because they can ingest tobacco residue by putting their hands in their mouths after touching contaminated surfaces. (http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=671).”

A great video explaining thirdhand smoke is at this link: http://youtu.be/G2vlk_b6UyE

Thirdhand smoke can end in many of the same ailments that happen with secondhand smoking and even DNA damage. Yuck! Just another little side note my husband whom is a radiological technologist tells me all the time that someone whom smokes a pack of cigs a day gets 8 times more radiation then what a RAD worker can get in a year of work. But that’s cool right? Smoking is cool….Its calming…. It keeps you skinny…. Its harming your children’s quality of life…. But cool right?! Naw!

  Now that I have posted the facts and physical effects of it what about the emotional effects. Some of you may be say huh?! I worked within the school systems and one of the days I was working I remember this event very vividly because it made me sad. This little boy in second grade spent the better half of our outside play time trying to get someone to play with him. He finally broke down crying and when the teachers there with me and I asked him what was wrong he said no one wanted to play with him. When we asked the kids around that he was trying to play with why they wouldn’t play with him their answer was, “We don’t want to play with him because he stinks!” They weren’t lying he smelled like he came from a very heavily smoked in home environment. I can’t imagine what it feels like to be a kid that small rejected by his peers just because his parents are careless and send him out stinking like a smoke box. So yes it does affect them emotionally. I know personally if I know someone that smokes and smokes a lot I limit my exposure to them for the ‘mere fact that that smell ultimately gives me a headache.

I don’t understand why people got so upset and hurt by me posting my opinions about this topic.(Especially, when facts back my opinions.) But I do understand that when it comes to parenting no one whom may be guilty of an unsavory habit wants to hear they are wrong, even though they really do know they are. So suck it up people the truth hurts sometimes. I know the word abuse it a bit strong but if you sit and really think about it... it could apply based on the severity of it. I hope if anything my post shined a light onto the subject, even if you only read the straight facts quoted! There now you know better! ;)

-<3Kim

 

 

-Photo credits: google.com images search

Happy Happy Happy

  Well Noel and I had a full day... so by some grace of God, she is off in dreamland already. We spent the morning at a mommy and me class singing and dancing and playing away. Then we came home and did some baking, and then rushed off to our weekly church community group meeting where Noel got in some more playing with her friends! I figured while I have a few minutes I would update this lil gem of a blog! :)

  Can I first just say that God always provides for us. These last few weeks have been quite a transition for the three of us. Christopher got to come home from Chicago before Christmas time and we have be praying and waiting for a new job opportunity to arise. Ill be the first one to go ahead and say its not been easy. I still consider myself a newlywed...(Its only been 2 yrs).... imagine this all of my married readers... the thought that you have to get use to living with your husband again. Can you imagine that thought? Before Christopher started traveling that thought never crossed my mind. He would go to work.... I would go to work.... then we would come home together and do what needed around the house and go to bed and thats just how it was..... Everytime now when he comes home its like a conditioning period and I HATE IT! We usually end up having fights and getting on each others last nerve. Im mad he is doing something instead of what I think he should be doing. Im sure its the same the other way. I am use to the rules I have in place and the way I am living to have him come back in and change it all up again.... (Im not to fond of the idea of change....) Well 3 & 1/2 weeks later, I think we have finally passed the hump and on the downhill climb of this conditioning....

I guess what I am finally getting at is I can sit here and say I am happy/content. We are pretty positive Chris has a job nailed down. (Me not so much......) But I am happy...My husband is home, my child is healthy and growing, my family is well, there is a roof over my head and heat(brrrrr cold outside), I have a wonderful church & church family, my friends are awesome<- Of COURSE!, Im a SAHM... I look at my life and the way it was going about 6 months ago and how out of control and sad and the feeling of behing left behind and like a failure and I can finally officially say ....  I am happy again. Yes Yes I know I should not base my happiness on someone else...blah blah blah..... But I am married for a reason for the help the companionship and most of all because I am soooooooo head over heels in Love with my husband its silly! <3

ANYWHO;)

Heres a couple pictures from the last lil bit:

 

This is our everyday life pretty much playing with a mix of cartoons (of which today I decided she was getting too much tv so that shall be docked) with her baby sitter(Honey Bear)! :)

                                         Our Family Christmas Picture:)

                    Noels Christmas Morning spent opening gifts and playing with her new toys...She was the winner of the best presents award this year(I see that being a yearly thing) She got a tricycle, a rocking horse, and a ton of other things! And up there is a nice picture with her Grandparents even though her grandpa was being silly!

And this is the Christmas day Nap:)

                    The homemade pizza I made.... Im getting into this making from scratch baking.... That way I know whats in it especially with our all natural switch we are trying to do!!!!

Noels aunt Kelly and cousin Taylor came down and we got to go to the aquarium with them! Such a fun day! :)))

Many faces of Noel!!!

 

 

YAYAYAYAYAYAY We got a snow day! :))) *******

-<3Kim

This is how I see it..... Call me a hippie or a over analytical parent... Question Medical Anything

This is how I see it... Call me a hippie or a over analytical parent.... at least I dont feel guilty about the choices I make for my daughter.....

I will preface with whom I use to be... I use to be the person that every time I had any sort of ailment I would run to the advil bottle or the doctor. I placed my whole trust in the doctor I was seeing when I was sick, never questioning anything they prescribed or any advice they warrented.


I was that person until I had a very disturbing event happen to us as new parents. We had Noel and when I had her I knew I wanted to breastfeeding. I had read information and talked to my sister in law about the benefits of breastfeeding and it was my opinion that that was the very best I could do for Noel. Theres no need to really go into benefits of breastmilk, but if you dont know it yet it is God's gold juice and its worth your time researching that option if your expecting. Back to the incident. I had Noel and little did I know this information:

 

This I attribute to the fact that the hospital I delivered at did not have a lactation consultant...:/ What I didnt know then was that by the nurses pushing formula because she wasnt getting enough when ultimately making it take longer for my milk to come in all the way.... however, she did get colostrum because her diapers said so.... That was my first mistake that I regret.... I regret that formula ever touch her little lips. She lost a pound after she was born this I attribute to the nasty formula she was eating and the acid reflux it gave her. This scared our (I have many select names for the crappy*putting it nicely*) nurse practitioner. She immediately forced us on this special kind of formula, that Noel did not tolerate at all. She also scheduled us with an appointment with a GI doctor in Knoxville. ((IMPORTANT FACT))During this time Noel had more of that crap formula then breastmilk. Id say 90% 10%. The GI dr did some tests and when I called the nurse (*they never gave me the actual results to the tests they did*) she told me that it looked like she was allergic to my breastmilk and that I should stop breastfeeding her. WHHHHHAAAAATTTTTT!!!!!! I cried.... I cried ALOT! I called my sister in law I talked to my husband and I cancelled any further appointments with that stupid GI doctor. Obviously, if some nutritionist and or doctor or nurse was going to tell me to completly quit breastfeeding then they obviously were IDIOTS! I was at the end of my rope..... Fortunately we had a Drs appointment within the next few days.... Our doctors appointment resulted in very minimal weight gain.... This concerned the Nurse practitioner so she finally called to ask the results of the GI test Noel had done.... The results were that she was her gut was severly inflammed and that was the result of the breastmilk. The advice to my doctor was that I should quit breastfeeding and continue on this crap formula. Now explain to me HOW they could get that answer, that her gut was inflammed because of the very miniscule amount of breastmilk she was actually getting????? Wouldnt it seem more correct that the formula that she could barely stomach was at fault??? Christopher and I were getting scared... she wasnt gaining weight... So even though I didnt trust the crap nurse practitioner we were seeing we called for advice and the receptionist or nurse that we talked to us scared us with thoughts that her head wasnt growing properly because of the breastmilk, that she would be behind developmentally etc.... So on a very cold day Christopher and I packed up and went to Childrens Hospital with Noel :( We did tests like crazy.... we did a ultrasound of her stomach, x rays, blood work, etc... When we told the ER doctor the situation he said, "Breastmilk is the best thing I could do for our little one. I needed to drop the formula and up the breastmilk" Thus, I dumped our first pediatrician like a bad habit and made a appointment with a new pediatrician. (((SIDE NOTE: LETS JUST SAY THE DR HAPPENS TO BE IN SEYMOUR.... I did not trust the nurse practitioner that I was seeing... So we cancelled our next appointment with that doctor and made a new appointment with a new doctor. That and the fact that I wanted to continue to breastfeed prompted this crappy doctors office and crappy nurse practitioner to call DHS and reported us for neglect and malnutrition... got that cleared up obviously it was a stupid decision on their part and they should have known from the get go how much we were worried and how much we loved her that there was no way we would ever be harmful to our child))))((((SECOND SIDE NOTE: THIS crappy nurse practitioner that reported us goes to our church.... it makes my skin crawl every time I see her...thats another story for another time though)))))

This next Dr was somewhat pro breastfeeding... I told her the situation and she told me to document her intake/outake and to nurse on demand... that next we when I took her in for a appointment she jumped up a whole pound...(crazy right?)..... However, with the doctor I was more knowledgeable of what I believed.... I happened to believe these folks:

World Health Organization

"Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond."

&

American Academy of Pediatrics

"The AAP recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months of life. This means your baby needs no additional foods (except Vitamin D) or fluids unless medically indicated. Babies should continue to breastfeed for a year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby."

 

However, this new doctor told me(these exact words),"If I didnt start Noel on solid food between 4-6 months not only would she not know how to use her tounge it would prevent her from speech development." PSH that lady was cuckoo bananas!!!! My belief on that topic was this: http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/ I also believed that noel would tell me when she was ready for food. How would she do that? By doing these 5 things:

Signs that indicate baby is developmentally ready for solids include:

• Baby can sit up well without support.
• Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
• Baby is ready and willing to chew.
• Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
• Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth. -Kellymom.com

She told me at around 7 months that she was ready to start solid foods.

These two medical professionals failed me and my family. The first one took my trust and completely crushed it... and the second one showed me that even though they may have a DR behind their name they may not really know what the heck they are even talking about... maybe because they are outdated maybe because they are getting formula/flu shots/etc kick backs....


I write this to explain why I ultimately feel this way.... I feel that if God didnt grow it such as natural herbs/remedies and if it is not impartitive for my daughters survival I do not want any thing foreign in my daughters body. I do not want aluminum clad(which has studies that say leads to alzheimers) in flu shots in her body. I do not want meds when there is elderberry syrup or echineacea for immune support. As a matter of fact, I do not want anything but organic cage free food in my babies belly. The thought of her eating food clad with GMOs and fruit and veggies with pesticides all over them or meat pumped full or steroids makes me quite sick. Call me crazy.... but Im going to breastfeed her until she stops... Call me a hippie because I think natural remedies are better then things large companies give doctors without taking thought to what kind of side effects there are.... call me a over analytical parents but in my opinion if you cant take the time to research stuff for your own child and you are a "sheep" to the BIG man and the social norms then where is you heart really?


BTW I forgot to mention if you need a pediatrician I have found a amazing one!!! I am so thankful for Lisa Ross Breastfeeding Center of which I called crying in the first doctor situation and also in the second situation and they quickly told me that I need to find someone new and that my momma instincts are right on point! What a great community of mothers and professionals in my area to be a part of!

 

This is a recent picture of my little princess reading a book! :) Love her so much more then words can describe! -<3 Kim

Noel turned 1!!!

Hello All,

  I'm getting time to blog while Noel is taking a awesome power nap.:)
We had Noel's first birthday this last Saturday and all my hard work paid off. We had a great time. Noel probably could have had a better time if she would have felt better:( She had a little bit of a cold, of which, she is over now thanks to a whole lotta nursing! YAY thats another huge milestone we have hit a year breastfeeding! YAY us!!! And for all of you asking,"Sheesh when are you going to quit that... the answer is... that is Noels decision to make not mine!!!" Anywho, I thought I would share some pictures from these two huge events!!!:)... BTW most credit of the party goes to great pinterest ideas!!!:)

Of course why dont we start with my Birthday Girl and Me!:)

All of the foods had something to do with Mickey Mouse clubhouse... We had "toodles soup" aka Chili, Figaros Fruits, Goofys Grapes, Cuckaloo Cornbread, Clara belles cupcakes, Plutos popcorn bar, Daisys Dip, Hot diggity Dogs :0)

 

 

WE HAVE EARS SAY CHEERS!!!!

Noels Chalk board with facts I made for her! :) Such a cute idea!

 

I printed out a TON of pictures!!!! We had pictures hanging everywhere! We had a timeline of months of Noel, The many faces of Noel, Mama & Me, Dada & Me, and My friends & me! A lil over 120 pictures in all!

Cute Pinterest Idea, A birthday book all the guests sign! :)

These are Noels minnie cupcakes and her minnie cake! We had a awesome cake maker maker her cake and it tasted as good as it looks.

The Princess in her throne! Ill link the healthy birthday cake I made! It tasted delicious!

We had Plutos ball Pit, a coloring table, and a bubble wrap run that the kids really enjoyed! :)

 

This is Noel and her daddy opening all her fun presents! She got alot of great things!!!!

Some pictures of Noel with her Grandma and Grandpa... (They were babying her because she wasnt feeling good... While I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off!)

A couple shots of us cutting Noels cake. (Well everyone elses cake... to much sugar for Noel!)

 

And a couple shots of some of Noels Friends! Sheesh there was a ton of people there that I missed pictures with! :(

 

 

Anywho, Noel didnt even smash her smash cake I made for her. She wasnt feeling the best! But, I being the health freak that I am didnt want her exposed to things she wasnt already exposed to so we had a very healthy apple sauce and banana cake (with breastmilk instead of other milk!) and apple sauce/nondairy cream cheese icing.

The link for that cake is here: Noels first birthday cake recipie

 

We wouldnt have had such a great party without all the help and family and friends that came to share this day with us! Thanks so much yet again!!!!

 

 

We made it to a YEAR!!!!! YAY Next Goal is: Psh goal! Whenever the princess decides shes done! We've went one whole year without having more then a cold and spend every night falling asleep nursing. I am giving my daughter the best!

 

-<3Kim