Adventures in Preschool: Shaving Cream!

I read this article not too long ago and it made me really want to try and work more sensory play into our days. You can read about our first experiment here.

Our sensory experiment today was playing in shaving cream. I used his little picnic table and just squirted the cream directly on it. After we were done, he loved spraying himself and the table off with the water hose, so this was a completely mom-free experiment. I have oodles of shaving cream in my coupon stash, so this was like a 25 cent project and he played with it for over an hour. I got to mop my floor, people! For 25 cents! Anyway, he really loved it and it was tons of fun to hear him giggling while I mopped.

How I am a SAHM: Homemade Laundry Detergent

When I wanted to stay home, we took a really close look at our finances to see what we spent the most on, what could be eliminated, etc. and realized that even with coupons, we still spent quite a bit of money on laundry detergent. We then decided to try making our own and it has worked out great! This post is to show you how we do it!

Recipe:

2 quarts water (boiling)

4 cups bar soap (grated) (We use Fels-Naptha, Zote or Ivory.)

4 cups borax

4 cups washing soda

 

You can find all of these ingredients in the laundry detergent aisle at your store. The soap is around $1 and the Borax and washing soda are $2-$4 each (in East Tennessee, anyway!).

 

1. Finely grate the bar soap. Add the soap to the boiling water and stir until it is melted.

 

You have to be patient during this step. This takes a while! I would also recommend having utensils just for making your detergent. You probably don't want to grate your cheese with your soap grater or make chicken noodle in this pot:

 

 

2. Pour the soap water into a five gallon bucket and add the borax and washing soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.

3. Add 4 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.

 

We went to Lowe's and bought this 5-Gallon Paint and Compound Mixer for $5. It attaches to my husband's drill and makes mixing very easy.

 

 

4. Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry.

 

After mixing, I put some of my laundry detergent in a juice bottle. This way, when I need to wash, I can just shake it up, pour into my measuring cup and into my washing machine.

 

Also, you can dissolve a bottle of Downy Unstoppables (add when you are dissolving the bar soap) or your favorite oil to give your detergent a scent if you would like.

For all the cloth diaper mommies, know that this recipe has worked great for us. I have to do an occasional sunning for the EBF poop, but my diapers stay very clean and I have had no trouble with build-up.

 

Please know that this detergent is different from what you are used to. It does not make foamy bubbles. It is not smooth and beautiful blue. The liquids and solids separate so you have to shake it up before you use it. That being said, we really have learned to love it and our clothes are clean, so overall, we are happy!

 

 

Ten Reasons Not to NOT Breastfeed

I hear stories from moms almost daily about why they are choosing not to breastfeed. Some are legitimate reasons. Most are not. This post is intended to debunk some of the misconceptions I often hear and hopefully provide some truth about breastfeeding.

Ten Reasons not to NOT Breastfeed:

1. "I have to go back to work."

Many moms are able to successfully go back to work and breastfeed. Being away from your baby obviously requires a little more effort at breastfeeding than having her right with you does, but it can be done- fairly easily even, in most cases! There are also laws in most states protecting your right to breastfeed at work, so that can be a great advantage to you.

2. "My mom didn't make milk."

Every breastfeeding situation must be addressed individually. The lack, abundance or just the right amount of milk is determined by many, many factors. And generally, what your mama had or did won't effect you.

3. "Everybody I know uses formula."

Though it may seem like formula is prevalent in our country, there are lots of breastfeeders out there! More than you think! You never know who or where you may find a breastfeeding advocate. And, most importantly, regardless of what others are doing, be confident that you are doing what's best for your baby.

4. "Nobody else can feed him if I breastfeed. I will have to do all the work!"

Let me be honest with you. Breastfeeding is a commitment. That does not mean, however, that you can never have help. There are many ways that you can be helped as a breastfeeding mother. If you choose, you can pump milk and have a helper feed the baby. My husband and I tag-teamed night feedings and he would change the diaper and I would do the feeding. I, personally, loved being the only one able to comfort and feed my child, especially in those first few days when everyone seems to want their hands on them. This is not true for everyone, however, but just know you do have options!

5. "My doctor, grandma, mother, friend, sister... told me formula is just as good."

I hate to argue with your grandma, but she's just plain wrong on this one. There are a zillion reasons that breastmilk is the best food for your baby. You can read more about some of them here.

6. "Breastfeeding isn't really cheaper for me. I'll just get WIC to buy me formula."

I hear this all the time and it is a huge misconception. WIC is an amazing program for people that need it. BUT, it is a supplemental program. Moms only get 25% of the formula they use through the WIC program. That leaves 75% that will be bought from YOUR money. Seriously $1,000- $3,000+ per year out of your pocket. That is not to mention additional healthcare costs of babies fed formula as mentioned here or here.

I also hear that the amount not covered by WIC can just be bought with food stamps. That might be true, but would you not rather buy food for yourself than baby formula? I would personally rather be eating lasagna than spending my food money on formula. Do your research before you assume you will have help in buying formula.

7. "If I did it, I would only do it for a few weeks anyway."

Any breast milk is better than none at all, so go ahead and try! And, once you have gotten through the first few weeks, you have gotten through the hardest part, so you can make goals that work for your baby and you as time progresses.

8. "My boobs, nipples, body... are too big, small, flat..."

There is no perfect body for breastfeeding. Your parts are perfectly made to feed your baby. No matter what size or shape. If there is an actual medical condition, there are many times that it can be easily corrected to ensure breastfeeding will work, but don't worry unless it is determined by a medical professional that there actually is a problem.

9. "I read this article that said if I breastfeed, my baby is going to get BPA through my milk."

Unfortunately, BPA is all around us. There have been some studies linking BPA to mother's milk, however, formula feeding mothers also face this challenge in the bottles that they choose to use and other environmental factors. I can promise you that the benefits of breastmilk are HUGE and we need to do lots more research before we start worrying about BPA in mother's milk.

10. "My diet is not good enough to give her all the nutrients she needs."

What you eat does not determine what your baby eats. Your milk is perfect for your baby no matter what your diet is. Though there are some suggestions for maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle while breastfeeding, your baby will still benefit greatly from your milk, no matter what your diet.

Be confident in knowing that breast milk is the best thing for your baby, no matter what your circumstances are. Your body was made to feed your baby and I can't promise that it will be easy, but I can promise it will be worth it.

Toddler lunches- what will these little humans eat?

I have been blessed to always have babies that are really good eaters. However, within the last several months, I have begun watching a couple kids in my home while their mommies live busy lives and these kids are not quite as willing to try different foods. So, I have found myself getting creative to keep these babies eating well and I wanted to share some ideas with you.

My first tip for getting your little one to try new things is to get them involved. My little one loves to pick fresh veggies from the garden and snack on them right there in the yard. He loves watching the plants grow and is delighted to pick the fruits of our labor. Secondly, let them cook with you. In this picture, my toddler is simply sprinkling cheese on top of baked whole wheat spaghetti, but he couldn't wait to tell his dad that he helped with dinner and was also happy to eat two servings!

 

 

The next suggestion I have for you is to play with their food! If it looks fun, they are more likely to eat it! Even simple things like using fun plates makes my little one want to eat to get to the picture at the bottom.

 

 

I would also encourage you to change up your venue. My little ones love to eat snacks on the porch or on a picnic blanket at the park. Packing a lunch and taking it somewhere fun gives me kids willing to eat.

 

 

 

Lastly, I would encourage you to take foods and make them kid-friendly. My toddler will not eat a whole sweet potato or a slice of ham, but when I cut them into bite-size pieces, he can use his toddler-size fork and will devour an entire plate. I love foods like this, too, because I can use my food mill to make them into puree or "baby-led weaning size" pieces for my littlest one.

 



 

What are your suggestions for getting toddlers to eat healthy foods?

 

How I am a SAHM: The basics

Let me start this by saying, being a stay at home parent is not the right thing for everyone. I had a friend tell me one time that she was a better mom because she was away from her kids two days each week. It made her more patient, kinder, saner! There are people like her. And there are people like me. I don't even like to leave my babies for ten minutes, much less to go to a job.

This post is not to bash working moms or even to try and convince anyone to stay home. The reason I am writing this post is that I have moms tell me all the time that they wish they could stay home with their kids but they "just can't." There was a point in my life, with a four month old baby boy, that I was saying the same thing. I went back to work part-time. And after three months of crying almost every day, I decided, even if it killed me, I would be home with my babies. If you are there, this post is for you.

Let me say, first and foremost, that I am not the reason I am at home. My husband has a great job and it enables us to pay our bills. Secondly, God takes care of me and continues to provide for my family in ways that I can't even believe. Being faithful in prayer and in giving to God has really led to some pretty awesome things happening for us.

What I am able to do fairly well is utilize the resources I am given. I would like to share some of these with you and I encourage you to make them your own.

The first and biggest things that have enabled me to be home with my boys are breastfeeding and cloth diapering. If I had to dish out hundreds of dollars per month for diapers and formula, I would be right back to work. Cloth diapers are an investment up front, but utilize your resources. Register for them on your baby registry, buy them used from Craigslist, etc. For more information, check out Hot Mess Nest or any of the other million cloth diaper resources online.

The next biggest factor to me being home is simply budget and sacrifice. I am extremely blessed to nearly always have everything I need or want, but sometimes it's just not possible. You have to make the commitment that being home with your babies might sometimes trump a new pair of Steve Madden heels. This is something I consistently struggle with, but I know that no amount of material possessions can make up for waking up to those two sweet smiles everyday.

I would also encourage you to seek out like-minded parents. Not only can you share ideas and information, but you also can share responsibilities. Watch each others' kids for date nights or grocery shopping or have game or dinner nights together. You may not be able or willing to go out and spend money on babysitters and fancy dinners like you did with two incomes, but there are still ways to enjoy life together frugally. I will also admit that there are times when you will need a break. Even if it is just to go to the grocery store alone. These friends can be that for you and you can reciprocate for them.

Couponing has also been a huge step in my journey to be home with my boys. Couponing gets a bad rap as something that has to be all-consuming. I started spending a couple hours a week working on coupons as well as planning my meals around what's on sale that week. Just in doing that I nearly cut my grocery bill in half. If you are looking to get started or feel overwhelmed by it all, my favorite coupon site is Southern Savers. She has an amazing way of making saving money easy.

I am also at home because I take every opportunity I can to make money. I take secret shopping assignments, I get paid to keep the nursery on Wednesday nights at a local church, I provide in-home daycare for a couple friends, the list goes on and on. Since I have committed to being home and raising my boys the best way I know how, God has continuously presented me with ways to make money and still be with them. You have to take these opportunities as they come to you. It might not be consistent income, but it might be those last $20 you need to pay a bill or fix a broken washing machine. I also committed to doing our family budget when my husband and I decided I could stay home. Not everyone is blessed with an amazing husband like I have, but he could care less about where his money goes as long as our bills get paid. If you are going to stay home, take this into consideration. If it is something you both are comfortable with, it can be a way to take control and enable yourself to be home. In our situation, I feel like my husband works hard for us and he shouldn't have to worry about where the money to pay the electric bill comes from. Being responsible for the budget lets me know when I need to pick up an extra secret shop or two and make sure we are covered. He is always there to support me, of course, but the majority of figuring out what comes and goes where is on me.

I am also always being thrifty in getting the things my boys need. I simply cannot go to Gymboree and buy matching outfits for every occasion on one income. I can, however, buy them at consignment stores or sales for a quarter to half of the original price. Check out my blog post about consigning on Hot Mess Nest.

Planning ahead is also a great strategy. If a friend has kids that are bigger than yours and asks if you want hand-me-downs, say yes! Check out off-season sales when you can as well. An area consignment store just had a sale where you could fit all the off-season clothes you could pack into a grocery bag for $3. A friend got next year's coats for her kids and several other items for $3! You can stick them in a tub in your attic and pull them out when the time comes.

These are not the only ways to be a stay at home mom. There are millions of opportunities out there for you to find. I just wanted to share with you some of the ways that we make it work. Be confident in your child-rearing decision, whatever that may be and know that if God puts it on your heart, He will make it happen.

Adventures in Preschool: Our Easter projects

My oldest just turned three and I am loving him being old enough to do fun stuff! I wanted to share our Easter projects with you.

 

I think my husband and I almost had as much fun as my toddler coloring eggs. When we were dating we always did fun holiday stuff and as married people, it is important to me that we still have fun together! These are our favorites:

 

This year, I found that coloring eggs does not last near enough time for a three year old. Plunking two dozen eggs into the dye and pulling them back out took him about ten minutes and he was ready for more! I was frustrated because it took me longer to put out the newspapers and get the dyes ready than it did for him to color them all. So, in saying that, I decided to let him also color the eggs I was going to use for Easter dinner. It really prolonged the experience because it took a little more soaking to get them colored (so we had a little lesson in patience) and he was happy to sticker the shell-on eggs while the peeled eggs were soaking. It was super fun and the next day it was fun for him to show everyone how he contributed to dinner.

 

 

I also loved this idea from one of my friends. They used a whisk to let the little ones color eggs and I just thought that was so cool (and much less messy!). We are definitely trying that next year!

 

 

 

This next project was not as three-year-old-friendly, but we happened to have some older friends on Spring Break this week to help out. I started this project by cutting wreath-size circles out of cardboard boxes. I then let them hot glue Easter grass on. Then we used foam shapes and glitter pens to decorate plastic eggs. They were then attached to the grass with hot glue. Lastly, I used a knife to cut the middle of the wreath out and attached ribbon at the top for hanging. This was a great project that they worked on for a couple of hours.

 

 

 

Lastly, I wanted to share our Easter bunny cake. There are lots of different ways to do this, but this one is just freestyled. My toddler is really into eating the legs, nose, arms, etc. off of his animal crackers and/or other assorted creature-shaped foods, so he especially thought it was fun. It made for such a fun centerpiece for the food table and was delicious to eat.

 

 

Happy Easter!

 

Baby led weaning and how it works for me!

Everybody wants to know what you baby is eating, how much they're eating, if they can feed them, etc. etc. and then wants to give you advice on how to do it "the right way." This is not that post.

I read a book when my son was around one year old called Baby Led Weaning and it blew my mind! It sounds crazy, but these people were telling me to give my six month old a whole carrot and I thought it was a good idea.

To give a little disclaimer, this is not for everyone. Lots of people tell me I am crazy for doing this and I am not trying to create another aspect of mommy wars. It is working for my family and that is why we do it. Do what works for your family and know you are doing the right thing.

With that being said, I would love to share our adventure with baby led weaning with you.

My little one has just turned six months old and we are beginning to experiment with feeding. These mesh bags are our starting point. He has done whole carrots, celery, etc., but I also like the ease of these bags because whatever we are eating, I can place in the bag and he controls the feeding. I can put whole green beans, peas, bananas, strawberries, soft meats, anything really!

My other disclaimer would be the inevitable mess. I am an extremely laid back mom, so the mess doesn't effect me much, but if this is something you decide to try, know that your baby sucking blueberries through a mesh bag is not a very clean process and plan accordingly.

There is some great new research about delaying feeding and I love that we are just experimenting at this stage instead of forcing purees. I am excited to see where this journey takes us and hope you will follow along as we go!

Adventures in Preschool: Conversation Heart Alphabet

I found these conversation hearts on clearance after Valentine's Day for .25.

 

After letting my little one color some, I wrote a letter on each one. I then let him sort them, put them in order and try spelling words. It was such an inexpensive and easy learning adventure!

Adventures in Preschool: Sensory birdseed experiment

I have decided to do some at-home preschool with my three year old. I am so excited to try new things with him and watch him learn and grow through adventures together! This is the first post about our new adventure and  I promise many many more!

Today I used a bucket of birdseed and threw in some dollar store lizards. These babies loved using slotted spoons to search for the lizards! It was a great sensory experience. It was also a great learning tool as I asked questions along the way (Where is the blue lizard?, How many lizards did you find?, etc.). They had so much fun and it took two minutes to prep!