Cloth Diapering.
While I was pregnant I had all these grand ideas to cloth diaper my baby. I stocked up on newborn prefolds and covers, a few one size pockets, and 4 Thirsties All In One's (AIO). Then Bear was born.
There was the stress of the NICU, the first few weeks home, the doctor's appointments, and the constant screaming. I couldn't add one more thing to my plate, I just couldn't.
Then Bear has chronic constipation because of his muscle issues, so between MiraLax, Lactulose, Suppositories, Diaper Cream and play doh poop I just didn't feel ready and put it out of my mind.
Fast forward to last week. Obviously the Newborn prefolds and covers and 2 of the Thirsties AIO (size small) weren't going to fit. But I have about 6 one size pocket diapers and 1 medium and 1 large Thirsties. So I figured, these diapers are wasting space in my closet and I'm almost out of Target daytime diapers. So let's try them out.
I figured I'd just use them for pee for now and when Bear got the "poop face" that I could change him. All went well for the first day, however Bear decided to break me in fast. The next morning he pooped before I even knew it. I almost panicked. I wasn't prepared for poopy diapers. So I just went in the laundry room, pulled the insert out of the pocket and threw it in the laundry bag. I went to the bathroom, swished the dirty diaper in the toilet. It was shockingly easy. The poop came right off, and I just flushed the toilet.
I did my first load of cloth diapers last night and it was so easy! I'm hooked. Bear, I and my Mom are even going to a cloth diaper event this coming weekend.
We are going to need more, I believe I have 8 diapers and that is just not enough to even make washing them worth it. Thankfully the ones I love are on sale because they're being discontinued, so I believe we will be adding to our stock soon.
Currently, I still use disposables at night (Bear is a heavy wetter) and if we go out. I don't have a wet bag or any extra inserts to up the absorbency. So if we're out and I have to change him, I'm stuck. I hope to remedy that soon.
Showing posts with label April Accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April Accountability. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
April Accountability #4
My diet.
About 6 months before getting pregnant I went gluten-free. I was tired, I had gained about 60 lbs effortlessly and extremely uninterested in anything but laying on the couch. It was suggested that I could have Celiac Sprue disease by my Gastroenterologist so I did a gluten elimination challenge. I felt amazing about two weeks later and decided to have the blood work to check for the antibodies of Celiac. My test came back negative, however, I tainted the results by eliminating gluten for over two weeks. Since I felt amazing, and the only cure to Celiac is to be gluten-free, I decided to forgo repeat testing while eating gluten or a small bowel biopsy.
Then I got pregnant and remained gluten-free until about the 2nd trimester. At this point my stomach was not a happy camper. I sailed through the 1st trimester with no morning sickness or food aversion. Then Thanksgiving hit. While I was nausea free, ever single food made my stomach do somersaults. The only thing my body really seemed to respond to was, yep you guessed it, gluten-filled foods. Bread, pasta, and crackers were staples in my diet. I didn't seem to have a very negative response to it so I kept a gluten diet.
Then Bear was born and there was the stress of the NICU. I ate the free nursing-mother meals, which were gluten filled comfort foods. I lost 15lbs of the baby weight easily (then again Bear weighed 9lb at birth) and the rest have been stuck.
I've lost and regained the same 5lbs for 6 months now. I just figured it was the stress of special needs, and the hospitalizations, the fast food, the comfort eating. However, once things started to calm down I decided to clean up Hubs and my diet. I made homemade wheat bread and we ate salads and sandwiches. And I didn't lose a pound.
In the past two months I've been becoming increasingly more exhausted no matter how much sleep I have. And **TMI WARNING** my monthly period has been coming less and less. Last time was 90 days and I'm already up to 45 days this cycle. I'm guessing as my immune system is regulating it's becoming more and more sensitive to gluten.
Wednesday I had enough. I said farewell to some of my favorite friends and embraced my gluten-free lifestyle.
(all images from google search)
I know there are many gluten-free alternatives but the specialty flours are extremely expensive and most recipes are highly disappointing. Although, I do recommend the Betty Crocker Baking Mixes. I really liked the Chocolate Chip Cookies, however with a stick of butter they are probably pretty unhealthy.
I do think I will invest in some gluten free oats to try to convert a few recipes I have.
So on top of budgeting, driving less, cooking at home and working on my marriage. I have to frugally cook gluten-free.
I do this by
1) Buying very few gluten-free alternatives. My one allowance is pasta. I buy corn past from The Christmas Tree Shoppes for $1.29/bag. I haven't bought it in a while so the price may have changed.
2) I cook like a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I usually make some sort of protein, and a vegetable and starch.
3) I replace pasta with brown rice. Except for tomato sauce (yuck). We have turkey and gravy over rice, chicken and wild rice soup, you get the picture.
4) I do not buy seasonings or instant anything. There is LOTS of hidden gluten so the easiest way to avoid this is to cook at home.
In the past 2 days, I have more energy and am feeling "lighter". We'll see if this lasts.
About 6 months before getting pregnant I went gluten-free. I was tired, I had gained about 60 lbs effortlessly and extremely uninterested in anything but laying on the couch. It was suggested that I could have Celiac Sprue disease by my Gastroenterologist so I did a gluten elimination challenge. I felt amazing about two weeks later and decided to have the blood work to check for the antibodies of Celiac. My test came back negative, however, I tainted the results by eliminating gluten for over two weeks. Since I felt amazing, and the only cure to Celiac is to be gluten-free, I decided to forgo repeat testing while eating gluten or a small bowel biopsy.
Then I got pregnant and remained gluten-free until about the 2nd trimester. At this point my stomach was not a happy camper. I sailed through the 1st trimester with no morning sickness or food aversion. Then Thanksgiving hit. While I was nausea free, ever single food made my stomach do somersaults. The only thing my body really seemed to respond to was, yep you guessed it, gluten-filled foods. Bread, pasta, and crackers were staples in my diet. I didn't seem to have a very negative response to it so I kept a gluten diet.
Then Bear was born and there was the stress of the NICU. I ate the free nursing-mother meals, which were gluten filled comfort foods. I lost 15lbs of the baby weight easily (then again Bear weighed 9lb at birth) and the rest have been stuck.
I've lost and regained the same 5lbs for 6 months now. I just figured it was the stress of special needs, and the hospitalizations, the fast food, the comfort eating. However, once things started to calm down I decided to clean up Hubs and my diet. I made homemade wheat bread and we ate salads and sandwiches. And I didn't lose a pound.
In the past two months I've been becoming increasingly more exhausted no matter how much sleep I have. And **TMI WARNING** my monthly period has been coming less and less. Last time was 90 days and I'm already up to 45 days this cycle. I'm guessing as my immune system is regulating it's becoming more and more sensitive to gluten.
Wednesday I had enough. I said farewell to some of my favorite friends and embraced my gluten-free lifestyle.
(all images from google search)
I know there are many gluten-free alternatives but the specialty flours are extremely expensive and most recipes are highly disappointing. Although, I do recommend the Betty Crocker Baking Mixes. I really liked the Chocolate Chip Cookies, however with a stick of butter they are probably pretty unhealthy.
I do think I will invest in some gluten free oats to try to convert a few recipes I have.
So on top of budgeting, driving less, cooking at home and working on my marriage. I have to frugally cook gluten-free.
I do this by
1) Buying very few gluten-free alternatives. My one allowance is pasta. I buy corn past from The Christmas Tree Shoppes for $1.29/bag. I haven't bought it in a while so the price may have changed.
2) I cook like a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I usually make some sort of protein, and a vegetable and starch.
3) I replace pasta with brown rice. Except for tomato sauce (yuck). We have turkey and gravy over rice, chicken and wild rice soup, you get the picture.
4) I do not buy seasonings or instant anything. There is LOTS of hidden gluten so the easiest way to avoid this is to cook at home.
In the past 2 days, I have more energy and am feeling "lighter". We'll see if this lasts.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Cooking Success and Failure Week 2
Let's see how we did this week!
Saturday April 9
Lunch: we had a fun visit down to Amish country and picked up some lunch meat at a bulk food store. We had a picnic on the front porch of a furniture store (don't worry we stopped in to buy something first) with some homemade bread from home and snacks.
Dinner: I wasn't very hungry so Hubs had leftovers from salisbury steak night.
Sunday April 10
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: hot dogs, macaroni salad
Monday April 11
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Pizza Hut. We got home so late from the hospital and were wiped. Bear was melting down and by the time we got him settled and in bed it was so late and we were so hungry.
Tuesday April 12
Lunch: Sandwiches or Pizza
Dinner: Applebee's. I made a chicken crockpot dish. It smelled revolting and looked even worse. So we decided to go out (Yes twice in one week, but I felt it was warranted)
Wednesday April 13
Lunch: I picked up salad for lunch because I started Gluten Free (GF). Hubs had sandwiches
Dinner: Caesar salad, hot dogs (I had mine without a roll), frozen canteloupe and canned peaches
Thursday April 14
Lunch: Leftover salad or sandwiches
Dinner: Pancakes (I found a box of GF mix someone gave me) and turkey breakfast sausage.
Friday April 15
Lunch: Au Bon Pain for me, it was the only thing at the hospital and I was unable to bring anything from home, Hubs had Wendy's, he was on the road for work
Dinner: Jimmy John's, I had Cornish Hens out but Hubs said he really wanted sandwiches. I know you're all thinking, but didn't she just go GF? Jimmy John's offers an Unwich. It's they're sandwich (same amount of meat and condiments, etc) all wrapped up in very large lettuce leaves. It was fantastic, and the Beach Club (Turkey and Avocado) was only 200 calories. We also had potato chips.
I know it seems like we went out an awful lot, and we did. However, this has been one of THOSE weeks so the fact that we even made it through is success. I wish I could have cooked more, but days like yesterday (driving 40 minutes by myself with Bear at naptime, walking the 20 minute walk to the doctor's office, then back to the car, then back to the doctor's office, then back to the car, and then the 40 min drive home in traffic which became an hour) it took all my energy just to survive. So tough luck. Next week is a little calmer, however it ends in Easter. Although in our house holidays=leftovers!!! and less cooking afterwards.
I ended up having to purchase romaine lettuce and 2 packs hot dog rolls and macaroni salad and potato chips.
And as a follow up, that GF pancake/waffle mix was absolutely HORRID. Ruined the whole pancake experience. I thought with enough syrup it would mask the flavor. I was wrong, very wrong.
Saturday April 9
Lunch: we had a fun visit down to Amish country and picked up some lunch meat at a bulk food store. We had a picnic on the front porch of a furniture store (don't worry we stopped in to buy something first) with some homemade bread from home and snacks.
Dinner: I wasn't very hungry so Hubs had leftovers from salisbury steak night.
Sunday April 10
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: hot dogs, macaroni salad
Monday April 11
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Pizza Hut. We got home so late from the hospital and were wiped. Bear was melting down and by the time we got him settled and in bed it was so late and we were so hungry.
Tuesday April 12
Lunch: Sandwiches or Pizza
Dinner: Applebee's. I made a chicken crockpot dish. It smelled revolting and looked even worse. So we decided to go out (Yes twice in one week, but I felt it was warranted)
Wednesday April 13
Lunch: I picked up salad for lunch because I started Gluten Free (GF). Hubs had sandwiches
Dinner: Caesar salad, hot dogs (I had mine without a roll), frozen canteloupe and canned peaches
Thursday April 14
Lunch: Leftover salad or sandwiches
Dinner: Pancakes (I found a box of GF mix someone gave me) and turkey breakfast sausage.
Friday April 15
Lunch: Au Bon Pain for me, it was the only thing at the hospital and I was unable to bring anything from home, Hubs had Wendy's, he was on the road for work
Dinner: Jimmy John's, I had Cornish Hens out but Hubs said he really wanted sandwiches. I know you're all thinking, but didn't she just go GF? Jimmy John's offers an Unwich. It's they're sandwich (same amount of meat and condiments, etc) all wrapped up in very large lettuce leaves. It was fantastic, and the Beach Club (Turkey and Avocado) was only 200 calories. We also had potato chips.
I know it seems like we went out an awful lot, and we did. However, this has been one of THOSE weeks so the fact that we even made it through is success. I wish I could have cooked more, but days like yesterday (driving 40 minutes by myself with Bear at naptime, walking the 20 minute walk to the doctor's office, then back to the car, then back to the doctor's office, then back to the car, and then the 40 min drive home in traffic which became an hour) it took all my energy just to survive. So tough luck. Next week is a little calmer, however it ends in Easter. Although in our house holidays=leftovers!!! and less cooking afterwards.
I ended up having to purchase romaine lettuce and 2 packs hot dog rolls and macaroni salad and potato chips.
And as a follow up, that GF pancake/waffle mix was absolutely HORRID. Ruined the whole pancake experience. I thought with enough syrup it would mask the flavor. I was wrong, very wrong.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Going to the big D and I don't mean Dallas
I didn't like what the judge had to tell us. I got the jeep and she got the palace...
Sorry I can never think/talk/blog about this subject without that song jumping in my head.
The big D. Divorce. No I'm not getting divorced but this subject has been on my mind a lot lately with some ongoings of people close to us. And with April Accountability going on, I'm figuring this is going to be #3.
April Accountability #3- My marriage
No on in my family is divorced, while half of Hubs' Aunts and Uncles are divorced.
He fits the stereotype for America, approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce.
Bear is a special needs child that includes a love of screaming and a hatred of sleeping. For about 3 months, Hubs and I slept in shifts because Bear did NOT sleep. We have overcome those horrid, horrid months but he still does not sleep well. The stress of a new baby, especially one that comes with extra stress and needs, puts us at a high risk of divorce.
I'm writing this to open the forum. To open the discussion of what to do when your marriage is in trouble. Now I'm by no means an expert on HOW to repair a marriage, I'm simply going to elaborate how Hubs and I are WORKING (did you notice the ING on the end there? This is a work in progress. We have small successes followed by failures and hard days, but in the end we're still working) toward a better marriage and a better future.
1) My husband is the second priority in life. My first is to God, my third is to Bear. While this may seem strange, especially a baby with his own set of special needs, but this is how God wants it. God created Adam first. Therefore, your first relationship is with God. Second, he created Eve, therefore your second relationship is with your spouse. And third, he gave Adam and Eve children. God clearly defines the order of importance of your family.
2) We sought marriage counseling. It has helped us communicate better and to learn to weather the storm. It has given us the validation that we are tired, we are stressed, but it has also helped us turn inward rather than outward.
3) Sex. This is something that God gives to married couples, it's not just intended for procreation, in fact, it's referred to as intimacy most often. Intimacy is more than just the gratuitous act of sex, is a joining of mind, spirit and flesh with your spouse. It's an act of love that helps diffuse anger, arguments, petty worries and doubles joy and halves sorrows. I am a married woman and intimacy with my husband is an important factor in our marriage. Could you imagine never hugging your child? Or telling them "I love you"? Or that bond when they fall down and skin their knee and look up to you for comfort? This is how you show your bond with your child. A lot of times a new baby means lack of sex. Their is the 6 week postpartum period where we're all petrified of ever going near our nether regions again, or if you had a C-Section the ripping pain across your abdomen. Then there is the new mom exhaustion, if your breastfeeding there is the constant touch all day long of a newborn, add in to that the fact that you can remember when you last showered and it's completely understandable why intimacy is so lacking in a marriage. However, this is part of my bond with my husband and while I will jump and run to my baby every time he cries, I must jump and run to my husband when he shows a need for an intimate bond with me. Believe me, it's not easy, and sometimes I do have to force myself to do it. But it's always amazing how much happier I am with myself and my husband when we are intimate. It grounds me in our marriage.
4) Time and space. Sometimes these walls start closing in and Hubs and I need space. Sometimes I leave Bear with him and I take a long, leisurely bubble bath and I read a book. Sometimes I go run errands by myself. Sometimes I let Hubs go outside and work in the yard or do something enjoyable for him. We all
have the need for quiet, ME time. And it's important that we facilitate this for each other.
5) We eat dinner together every night possible. Even if this means it's 9:30PM (the other night) and we're tired, we eat together. We may not talk in the morning or be awake together, so it's very important that we end every day together.
6) Commitment. Hubs and I are very committed to our marriage. (Obviously there is no abuse or adultery and we are both happy with each other).
I understand there are extenuating circumstances and reasons for divorce so I'm only stating what has worked for us. What has helped us grow together as a family with a new baby instead of apart.
And he's still my best friend. Some pictures from our wedding day. My hope is that for the rest of our lives together we can still look at each other with as much love in our eyes. (We look SO young!)
Sorry I can never think/talk/blog about this subject without that song jumping in my head.
The big D. Divorce. No I'm not getting divorced but this subject has been on my mind a lot lately with some ongoings of people close to us. And with April Accountability going on, I'm figuring this is going to be #3.
April Accountability #3- My marriage
No on in my family is divorced, while half of Hubs' Aunts and Uncles are divorced.
He fits the stereotype for America, approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce.
Bear is a special needs child that includes a love of screaming and a hatred of sleeping. For about 3 months, Hubs and I slept in shifts because Bear did NOT sleep. We have overcome those horrid, horrid months but he still does not sleep well. The stress of a new baby, especially one that comes with extra stress and needs, puts us at a high risk of divorce.
I'm writing this to open the forum. To open the discussion of what to do when your marriage is in trouble. Now I'm by no means an expert on HOW to repair a marriage, I'm simply going to elaborate how Hubs and I are WORKING (did you notice the ING on the end there? This is a work in progress. We have small successes followed by failures and hard days, but in the end we're still working) toward a better marriage and a better future.
1) My husband is the second priority in life. My first is to God, my third is to Bear. While this may seem strange, especially a baby with his own set of special needs, but this is how God wants it. God created Adam first. Therefore, your first relationship is with God. Second, he created Eve, therefore your second relationship is with your spouse. And third, he gave Adam and Eve children. God clearly defines the order of importance of your family.
2) We sought marriage counseling. It has helped us communicate better and to learn to weather the storm. It has given us the validation that we are tired, we are stressed, but it has also helped us turn inward rather than outward.
3) Sex. This is something that God gives to married couples, it's not just intended for procreation, in fact, it's referred to as intimacy most often. Intimacy is more than just the gratuitous act of sex, is a joining of mind, spirit and flesh with your spouse. It's an act of love that helps diffuse anger, arguments, petty worries and doubles joy and halves sorrows. I am a married woman and intimacy with my husband is an important factor in our marriage. Could you imagine never hugging your child? Or telling them "I love you"? Or that bond when they fall down and skin their knee and look up to you for comfort? This is how you show your bond with your child. A lot of times a new baby means lack of sex. Their is the 6 week postpartum period where we're all petrified of ever going near our nether regions again, or if you had a C-Section the ripping pain across your abdomen. Then there is the new mom exhaustion, if your breastfeeding there is the constant touch all day long of a newborn, add in to that the fact that you can remember when you last showered and it's completely understandable why intimacy is so lacking in a marriage. However, this is part of my bond with my husband and while I will jump and run to my baby every time he cries, I must jump and run to my husband when he shows a need for an intimate bond with me. Believe me, it's not easy, and sometimes I do have to force myself to do it. But it's always amazing how much happier I am with myself and my husband when we are intimate. It grounds me in our marriage.
4) Time and space. Sometimes these walls start closing in and Hubs and I need space. Sometimes I leave Bear with him and I take a long, leisurely bubble bath and I read a book. Sometimes I go run errands by myself. Sometimes I let Hubs go outside and work in the yard or do something enjoyable for him. We all
have the need for quiet, ME time. And it's important that we facilitate this for each other.
5) We eat dinner together every night possible. Even if this means it's 9:30PM (the other night) and we're tired, we eat together. We may not talk in the morning or be awake together, so it's very important that we end every day together.
6) Commitment. Hubs and I are very committed to our marriage. (Obviously there is no abuse or adultery and we are both happy with each other).
I understand there are extenuating circumstances and reasons for divorce so I'm only stating what has worked for us. What has helped us grow together as a family with a new baby instead of apart.
And he's still my best friend. Some pictures from our wedding day. My hope is that for the rest of our lives together we can still look at each other with as much love in our eyes. (We look SO young!)
all photography courtesy of Photography By Nelson
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
April Accountability #2
To drive less.
Generally Bear and I go out almost every day Monday through Friday. Then on Saturday we do something as a family, and on Sunday we go to church. Church is about 30 miles away.
That's a lot of driving.
We did however recently downsize from an all time four wheel drive SUV to a small car that gets 30mpg or better. So that was step 1 in reducing our fuel costs.
Thursday and Friday this past week we stayed home. And ya know? Bear napped great. He slept pretty well at night too, however I noticed he gets bored. Probably because when I'm home I'm rushing around trying to clean up, do laundry, eat, go to the bathroom and he wants to be entertained.
So now I have to work on a schedule for allotting clean up time and play time. And I need to make a weekly rotation so that my cleaning is effective. I generally feel like I'm chasing our mess around the house.
So I decided to break down my day by what we already do that works.
8:00 AM - Bear usually wakes up about now so I change his diaper and put him on the floor to play. I immediately get his medicine ready and give it to him. He needs to take his reflux medicine on an empty stomach so it's easiest to do it now.
8:30 AM - I usually sit down and have a cup of coffee while he is playing and watch the news to try to wake up. Bear is DONE playing (and loudly letting me know) so I sit him in the high chair and attempt to feed him breakfast (he has a feeding aversion from all the medicine so it's a hit or miss game, mostly miss)
9:00 AM - After a lot of fighting, game playing, electronic toys making noise, I give up trying to get him to eat. Sometimes I get a whole container of yogurt in him, some days it's a half a spoonful. I then allow him to have a bottle and he chugs it right down.
9:30 AM- I rush around throwing laundry in and trying to tidy up dishes or unload the dishwasher, do a quick tidy of things, throw last nights bottles in the sink, etc.
10:00 AM - I look around at the state of our house and I just want to go out. Usually about now is when I start getting packed up, I get him dressed, diaper bag ready and we head out. Usually it's to Target, or Walmart or the small mall in the next town over.
12:30 PM/1:00 PM- Somewhere in here, Bear is ready for a nap. Depending on what time we get out of the house and we get home this is when chaos ensues.
4:00 PM - Bear wakes up and depending on what we've done for the day I usually rush around trying to get dinner made and him fed and I'm just worn out.
The days that we've stayed home I've pretty much cleaned from 10-12 and this makes Bear frustrated because he wants to play with me.
In the next few weeks I'm going to work on creating a schedule. It will be a very loose schedule, mostly just things I need to get checked off within basic time constraints.
My goal is to drive less. Gas is over $3.50/gal here and depending on where you live, it could be astronomically higher. Driving also emits carbon monoxide which is slowly killing our planet. I'm a Stay At Home Mom who doesn't stay at home. So for now, we're going to work on concentrating our efforts to stay home more and make a more productive use of our time out of the house.
Generally Bear and I go out almost every day Monday through Friday. Then on Saturday we do something as a family, and on Sunday we go to church. Church is about 30 miles away.
That's a lot of driving.
We did however recently downsize from an all time four wheel drive SUV to a small car that gets 30mpg or better. So that was step 1 in reducing our fuel costs.
Thursday and Friday this past week we stayed home. And ya know? Bear napped great. He slept pretty well at night too, however I noticed he gets bored. Probably because when I'm home I'm rushing around trying to clean up, do laundry, eat, go to the bathroom and he wants to be entertained.
So now I have to work on a schedule for allotting clean up time and play time. And I need to make a weekly rotation so that my cleaning is effective. I generally feel like I'm chasing our mess around the house.
So I decided to break down my day by what we already do that works.
8:00 AM - Bear usually wakes up about now so I change his diaper and put him on the floor to play. I immediately get his medicine ready and give it to him. He needs to take his reflux medicine on an empty stomach so it's easiest to do it now.
8:30 AM - I usually sit down and have a cup of coffee while he is playing and watch the news to try to wake up. Bear is DONE playing (and loudly letting me know) so I sit him in the high chair and attempt to feed him breakfast (he has a feeding aversion from all the medicine so it's a hit or miss game, mostly miss)
9:00 AM - After a lot of fighting, game playing, electronic toys making noise, I give up trying to get him to eat. Sometimes I get a whole container of yogurt in him, some days it's a half a spoonful. I then allow him to have a bottle and he chugs it right down.
9:30 AM- I rush around throwing laundry in and trying to tidy up dishes or unload the dishwasher, do a quick tidy of things, throw last nights bottles in the sink, etc.
10:00 AM - I look around at the state of our house and I just want to go out. Usually about now is when I start getting packed up, I get him dressed, diaper bag ready and we head out. Usually it's to Target, or Walmart or the small mall in the next town over.
12:30 PM/1:00 PM- Somewhere in here, Bear is ready for a nap. Depending on what time we get out of the house and we get home this is when chaos ensues.
4:00 PM - Bear wakes up and depending on what we've done for the day I usually rush around trying to get dinner made and him fed and I'm just worn out.
The days that we've stayed home I've pretty much cleaned from 10-12 and this makes Bear frustrated because he wants to play with me.
In the next few weeks I'm going to work on creating a schedule. It will be a very loose schedule, mostly just things I need to get checked off within basic time constraints.
My goal is to drive less. Gas is over $3.50/gal here and depending on where you live, it could be astronomically higher. Driving also emits carbon monoxide which is slowly killing our planet. I'm a Stay At Home Mom who doesn't stay at home. So for now, we're going to work on concentrating our efforts to stay home more and make a more productive use of our time out of the house.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
April Accountability #1
My first accountability goal for April is to cook at home 6 days a week. Sundays is a day for the Lord and for our Christian community.
To us this includes fellowship with our friends and generally after church we either go to lunch as a family or with another family. Sometimes we have carry-ins after church.
Lately church has poorly coincided with Bear's naps. However, he has recently dropped from 2 to 1 nap a day. He seems to sleep better with 1 long nap versus 2 shorter naps. So while we may not be there very long we do make an effort to go.
Also, Hubs parents will be out helping with some landscaping renovations and I know we will go out to eat at least once with them.
And then, we are so grateful, a woman from church has so graciously offered to babysit Bear for us. So Hubs and I will probably have an afternoon date one weekend and I'm sure that will include a lunch (because I don't see it warming up enough for a picnic) out.
On top of that, the end of April is Easter and my family will be visiting. So I've made a realistic goal and included 4 days of eating out.
I started Thursday night with making a slow cooker pot roast. It was one of those last minute lucky meals. The roast was still frozen, I had 3 potatoes left, and a bag of onions. I threw it together, added some seasoning and prayed it would be edible. It actually turned out great and Hubs and I both have lunch for April 1.
So 1 meal down, only 54 to go (not including breakfast, I generally don't eat anything and Hubs has oatmeal until it runs out).
To us this includes fellowship with our friends and generally after church we either go to lunch as a family or with another family. Sometimes we have carry-ins after church.
Lately church has poorly coincided with Bear's naps. However, he has recently dropped from 2 to 1 nap a day. He seems to sleep better with 1 long nap versus 2 shorter naps. So while we may not be there very long we do make an effort to go.
Also, Hubs parents will be out helping with some landscaping renovations and I know we will go out to eat at least once with them.
And then, we are so grateful, a woman from church has so graciously offered to babysit Bear for us. So Hubs and I will probably have an afternoon date one weekend and I'm sure that will include a lunch (because I don't see it warming up enough for a picnic) out.
On top of that, the end of April is Easter and my family will be visiting. So I've made a realistic goal and included 4 days of eating out.
I started Thursday night with making a slow cooker pot roast. It was one of those last minute lucky meals. The roast was still frozen, I had 3 potatoes left, and a bag of onions. I threw it together, added some seasoning and prayed it would be edible. It actually turned out great and Hubs and I both have lunch for April 1.
So 1 meal down, only 54 to go (not including breakfast, I generally don't eat anything and Hubs has oatmeal until it runs out).
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