Wordless Wednesday: I love this kid...

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Wordless Wednesday: Meerkats are funny and I get snuggles

Collin's reaction when he was watching the meerkats:

I love me some snuggles:

Why I Won't Be Attempting a VBAC

While I think it's great that more and more doctors and moms are embracing VBACs, I will not be attempting one.  I've had a few people wonder why and I thought I'd share!

With Collin's labor, everything was going so well! My water broke on its own (3 weeks early), I was dilated 3 cm by the time we got to the hospital.  I received an epidural (very low pain tolerance here, my friends) and pitocin (one of the only things I regret).  I labored for 10 hours...dilated the full 10 cm and was ready to push! And I pushed for 2 hours...Collin didn't move...at all...I know now that I probably could have tried other positions to push  but I'm not convinced he would have come out anyway.  I produce large headed babies :)  And baby #2's head is already measuring bigger.  So we had an unplanned C-section.

Fast forward to our first OB appointment with my doc for baby #2.  We discussed VBAC and the risks (I already knew the risks with c-sections) and decided it was not a path we wanted to go down.  While a c-section is major surgery, I feel like it's the best choice for me and baby #2--based on my past birthing experience.  I was just so exhausted after trying to pass Collin vaginally...it really slowed my recovery.  This time around..I won't have to deal with that exhaustion (just the exhaustion of having 2 under 2, hehe).  I also have great respect for my doctor and trust her advice and opinions. She's very laid back and takes excellent care of all of us!

Honestly, for me, I don't really care how the baby gets here..so long as he is safe and healthy, and me too of course :)  I know some people really want that natural birth experience, but that's not for me.  And that's ok! I just wanted to share this because I believe everyone is entitled to choose whatever works best for them with regards to having a child--be it a c-section, VBAC, natural birth, home birth, etc.  I think the most important thing is that mom and baby are safe and healthy. 

Thanks for listening :)

Our Big Summer Vacation

This year we took an amazing family vacation.  My parents rented a beach house on Folly Beach in South Carolina and invited us all down.  My family plus 3 of my 4 siblings and their kids were able to come down.

We had such a good time.  Collin got to play with 2 of his cousins--Collin's 6-9 months older than them--so they are all pretty close in age.  They had a ball!

We all had dinner together 3 nights--it was awesome.  There was a table big enough to fit everyone around it, including the babies.

The rest of the time we all just did our own things.  We took Collin to the aquarium and he LOVED it! We even took him to see a 4-D show.  He kept his glasses on almost the entire time--the only time he was scared was when a vacuum sound came on.  Otherwise, he loved it!

And mostly, we just spent the early mornings on the beach and then napped during the heat of the day. 

We did venture to downtown Charleston a few times--including one night for my little sister's 21st birthday.  No, we didn't take Collin.  My older brother and his wife kept an eye on him while we were gone (he was sleeping).  But each time we went in a bar, I kept thinking of the Sweet Home Alabama line -- "You have a baby...in a bar" (referring to the baby in my belly). LOL!

We even squeezed in a date night...where I had the MOST AMAZING meal ever...crispy steak calamari (not pictured) and flounder in an apricot glaze...it was unbelievable.

We didn't leave until we absolutely had to on Saturday.  It was just such a good, relaxing time. 

Woot! 50% off Code for the Changing Diapers book!!

Hey guys!!

Kelly Wels has set us up with a 50% off coupon to share with my readers. 

The code is  BIEHL and is valid until Sept.30th and can be used at http://www.store.kellywels.com  -- 

of course you can always feel free to shop through my affiliate link:  http://store.kellywels.com/?AffId=32  

How exciting is this?!  50% off!! Woohoo!!

Now go, shop!

Kelly Wels: "Changing Diapers" Giveaway Winner!

Out of 345 entries, #46 was the winner!

Michelle Mussell


Congrats!! You have been emailed! Please respond asap :) 


Thanks to all who entered!! Don't forget to pre-order your copy today:  http://store.kellywels.com/?AffId=32

Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering {Review and Giveaway}

Over the 4th of July holiday, I got the opportunity to read Kelly Wels' book Changing Diapers:  The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering.  


Every pregnant/expecting mother should read this book.  I'll get to the reasons why in a bit; but first, let me tell you what you can find while reading this book.


What's Inside?


All the information you could ever need to understand and get started cloth diapering...successfully! "Really, Crystal..all the information I could need?"  YES.


There are chapters on why cloth diapers are a good choice, choosing the right diapers and styles for your needs, what to do if you are going back to work, cloth diapers in daycare, cloth diapering multiples, how to wash your diapers, what to do if rashes/leaks occur...there's an even a chapter devoted to DAD!  


In addition to covering all the information, there's a wealth of extra resources at the end of the book.  There are suggestions on how to pack your diaper bag.  There's a chart to keep track of what you have and what you need, with regards to cloth diapering.  There's an empty log for you to keep track of your "fluffy" purchases.  There's even a place for you to take notes!


While you are reading, you'll find fun quotes and tips ("Fluffy Stuff" as she calls it) about cloth diapering, beautiful photos, and helpful diagrams.  Additionally, she offers suggestions on several brands on the cloth diapering market.  Granted, there are HUNDREDS, so she can't address them all -- but she hits the big ones!




What you WON'T find inside:

Acronyms and abbreviations that make no sense to you.


Someone sounding all "preachy" on why you have to use cloth diapers.


Boring, useless information or shameless product plugs. 


"Ok, it sounds good.  But I don't have time to read..."


Trust me, you have time to read this book.  I read it in just a few hours on a car ride down to my parents' house.  It's written in a conversational tone that makes it easy to flip right through.  And with all the photos, diagrams and "Fluffy Stuff!" -- you'll breeze right through it.


And that's one of the things I love about this book.  It obviously written by a parent who understands how valuable our time is. 


Kelly writes in a way that feels personal.  It's like you are sitting down and having a conversation with one of the leading cloth diaper experts--right there in your living room.  


"Can't I just find all this information on the internet?"


Sure...do you have several hours to spare?? I WISH this book was around 2 years ago when I looked into cloth diapering.  I can't tell you how many different sites I went to to gather all my information.  At the time, I only had ONE friend who cloth diapered.  So I had to go to the internet to find information.  


Kelly's book covers it all--and it's right there at your fingertips, no need to search for hours through thousands of cloth diaper websites.  


"But I'm not even interested in cloth diapers..."


Doesn't matter.  I truly believe that if you read this book, you could quite possibly change your mind.  There are so many misconceptions about cloth diapers and the amount of work they require.  This book will give you the real picture.  


"Ok, ok..I'm sold! Where can I find this book?!"


You can pre-order your book by clicking on the following link:  http://store.kellywels.com/?AffId=32

The book will ship in September of this year (2011).


To Sum It Up:


Easy to read.


Easy to understand.


Informative.  


Useful.

NECESSARY.




Now go on...pre-order your book :) 

ON TO THE GIVEAWAY!!



One lucky reader gets to win the following:


1 Rump-a-Rooz OS Cloth Diaper


One “I’m a Hip Mom and Love Cloth Diapers”
reusable fabric bag

One ”I’m a Hip Mom and Love Cloth Diapers”
Eco-Friendly Tattoo


Woohoo!!  

To read all the rules and entry methods, you can click on this link: http://bit.ly/o7hLrV




 

AppleCheeks Swim Diaper WINNER!!! (finally, lol)

Out of 401 entries, the winner was #133...

Kristen N.  B.

Congrats!! You have been emailed!

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

 This week is World Breastfeeding Week, and as I am an avid supporter/encourager of breastfeeding, I thought I would share the things that helped me be successful in breastfeeding.  Maybe something that worked for me can also help you out!

click for image source

#1: Get educated! I was told by a friend that breastfeeding isn't something you just KNOW how to do.. you and the baby have to LEARN how to do it together.  So, my husband and I took the breastfeeding class offered by our hospital.  It was fantastic.  They talked about all the different positions, how breastfeeding works, we watched videos...it was incredibly informative and as my hubby pointed out -- there were boobs! :)  And the best part was that they gave us a free book that, in my opinion, is the absolute best book on breastfeeding.  It is called "Breastfeeding : A Parent's Guide" by Amy Spangler.

This book spells out breastfeeding in a simple, easy to read format.  It offers advice for nearly every situation imaginable.  It even has a chapter for Dad! My husband actually took the book to work and read it so that he could be there to support me 100%.  I was worried that he would miss out on bonding if I breastfed, but it wasn't like that at all.  In the beginning, he would encourage me and I'd always have him assure me that I had a good latch, etc.  He was my cheerleader for nearly a year and a half. Which leads me to #2.

#2:  Seek support! Get your husband/spouse/partner involved. I mean, sure, he's not going to sit there and hold your boob while the baby is eating, but he can encourage you...get you some water (funny sidebar:  I never realized how thirsty I was until each time I started nursing..I would always say "hey Mark..can you get me some water?" lol..eventually, he would catch me before I sat down to nurse and say "do you have your water with you?" hehe), he can be there to assure you that, yes the baby is latched, yes he is eating, yes you are doing a good job, he can be reading the breastfeeding book or googling something and say "yes, that's normal!"

If you don't have a partner to support you, seek out support on the internet! Places like The Leaky Boob and Best for Babes are great places to go online for breastfeeding support.

If you are lucky like me, my hospital offered free services from lactation consultants, including weekly breastfeeding mom groups.  They had a 24 hour hotline as well!

 #3:  Don't fall into the "booby traps" of breastfeeding.  What is known about breastfeeding NOW is a lot different that what was known when our parents and grandparents breastfed.  Don't feel pressured to do something because "well that's how we did it way back when." I can't tell you how many people were shocked I wasn't feeding Collin solids at 4 months old "oh your breastmilk isn't enough for him" "he'll sleep through the night" "he won't end up liking solid foods" --- none of these were true...NONE.  And I didn't let them pressure me.  I did what I knew was good for Collin -- and thankfully we have a pediatrician who simply said "when he's ready for solid foods, he'll tell ya!"

#4:  Be patient.    I know, easier said than done--especially when you are sleep deprived, exhausted..maybe a little cranky.  Collin was born with jaundice and so he was a lazy eater.  We would have to tickle his feet to keep him awake so he'd eat.  In the beginning, it would take him about an hour to get a good feeding in...only to be ready to eat in another 1 1/2 to 2 hours...it was tiring and frustrating..but you know what? That stage doesn't last long! Just like all the other challenging stages in that first year.  Stick it out...find a cheerleader who can say "you are doing so great! just hang in there" -- it really does make a difference.

#5:  Get a good latch! This should probably be number one.  I can tell you that in the almost 18 months I breastfed Collin, I never experienced pain.  We had learned that the most important thing about breastfeeding successfully is to get a good latch -- my friend had told me with her first child, she just wanted her to latch and didn't bother to see if it was correct or not--she ended up with cracks and sores! But she learned for her 2nd and had a much better time! If Collin didn't latch correctly, I would stick my finger in the side of his mouth, get him unlatched and reattach! lol...sometimes we did this several times, but he quickly learned how to get the milk correctly!

click for image source

#6:  Get a good breast pump! As a first time mom, who knew she was going to be a SAHM, I wondered if I needed a pump.  While at the hospital, the L.C. had told me that if I pumped for 10 minutes on each side, after each feeding, that my milk would come in more readily and less painfully...so while at the hospital, I got to use a hospital grade pump (amazing!).  I went to the hospital store and after talking with the lady in charge, ended up getting a Medela Swing breast pump.  EXCELLENT PURCHASE! I followed the L.C.'s instructions and my milk came in plentifully and with no engorging or pain! Seriously...I felt like a dairy with the amount of milk I produced. 

#7:  Let those ladies air dry! Lol..this may seem silly, but as much as I could, I let the "ladies" air dry or used my hemp nursing pads to pat them dry.  By doing this, I lessened my chances of experiencing mastitis (thankfully, never went through that--it sounds absolutely terrible)...and my cupcakes got to breathe a little ;)

#8:  Get some sort of nursing cover or nursing hat.  If you don't want to have to mess with bottles and you aren't uncomfortable with nursing in public, find a good nursing cover or nursing hat (I recommend MoBoLeez).  I know nursing in public isn't the most fun thing in the world -- but when baby is crying, hungry and you are at the mall..you gotta do what you gotta do!

He's nursing..can't see my boob!

And please, don't feel like nursing in public is any way wrong or inappropriate.  You are fulfilling a basic need of your child's--you can't help it if he wants to eat in the middle of Olive Garden! There are plenty of ways to cover up (if you feel the need) -- and trust me, nobody's going to see your boobs..I mean, unless you pull your shirt off and just flop 'em on the table...they might catch a glimpse of some small part..but really, it'd be so quick..they may wonder what they even saw -- and are you ever going to see that person again?

I often found that if I just watched my baby, I was oblivious to anything going on around me.  Nobody ever said anything negative to me.  However, several times, old ladies came up to me and said "oh I just think it's great that you're nursing!" lol...

And you know, there are lots "worse" things than breastfeeding in public...

#9:  Get a good nursing tank top--I recommend Bravado.  I wore mine under EVERYTHING -- that way, I had a built-in nursing top regardless of what I wore.  I could lift up my shirt and my beautiful, fully plump, stretch-mark laden belly was covered by the tank :) But I could still easily feed Collin discreetly or indiscreetly if I was at home and could let  it all hang out!

#10:  Listen to your body.  For some moms, it just seems easier/less stressful to pump and bottle feed--there's nothing wrong with that.  I know a mama who pumped and bottle fed for a year! That's commitment! I didn't think that was easier, so I rarely pumped.  Ultimately, what matters is that baby is getting breast milk -- who cares if it comes through a bottle or a boob?

#11:  Get a Milkies Milk Saver.  If you end up leaking when your baby is nursing, you will want a Milkies Milk Saver.  I collected over 100 ounces of milk by just sticking my milksaver in my tank top on the side I wasn't nursing on.  I'd then pour that milk into some ice cube trays and bam! Instan milk supply with no effort. This also cut down on how often I had to wash my reusable nursing pads..and they didn't end up soaked!!

#12:   Be ready for a few surprises :)  Without going into great detail, let me just say it takes awhile for your brain to understand the difference between the release of oxytocin for a feeding...or for other activities (wink, wink)...Breastfeeding, like every part of parenting, is a learning experience--just embrace it!

#13:  Get some bling! There is a company called Mommy Necklaces--they specialize in making necklaces that are baby-proof (won't break when they get ripped off of you!) but also beautiful.  These are great for that baby who likes to fiddle while breastfeeding..instead of messing with your shirt or your other boob, s/he can play with your necklace! I own 3 of these and I want more!

#14:  Be positive! In the breastfeeding book I recommended, one thing she writes is that you have to be confident! Believe that you can produce the milk for your baby, trust that your body knows what it is doing, and have confidence in yourself. 

I can tell you that I was genuinely EXCITED about breastfeeding before Collin was born.  Not going to lie, if for some reason I couldn't have breastfed him, I would have been really sad...because I got myself so psyched about it! I knew it was going to be the best nutrition for him...and I knew it was going to be FREE!! And I think those positive thoughts played into our success!

Like I said in the beginning, these are things that helped me be successful.  Every person is different and will have different experiences.  But I find it's helpful to share your own experiences so that maybe someone out there can say "yeah, that's what I went through" or "wow, I didn't know that!"

As mothers, we have to support and encourage each other--because there are plenty of other people who won't do that for us.

So feel free to share your experiences -- the good, the bad, the milky.  Maybe you can help someone too!


Love to you all <3