He eats, sleeps, and breathes this stuff!!

Raegen has always loved playing ball...ANY kind of ball!

Here's a short video of him at a birthday party recently...

Baby Steps...

We have a name.

We have a first name.

We have a first name, only.

Well, the last name too, but...

Okay...

Goodbye Mr. Bojangles, hello...

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\/

Lynden

{taken from his daddy's middle name, Lynn...

just as Raegen is taken from his mama's middle name, Rae}

Congrats!!

YOU'RE the first to know!! :)

Long live black paint!!!

You may recall when I showed you the office/playroom redo here {can you believe I've already "redone" the "redo"?...expect that post soon too!}, that I neglected to focus on the bookshelf in that room. It's a wonderful custom built bookshelf that was a wedding gift from Billy's pastor. However, as you can see in the below picture, it has become cluttered with numerous books, Bibles, and other literature. It really stuck out like a sore thumb, so...

I took everything off

{and may or may not have made pile upon pile of books in the closet of the office/playroom...

"Daddy! Please come quick and help me build my closet shelves!!"},

moved it to my craft room,

and....

Painted it black!

{I couldn't let that gallon of black cabinet paint go to waste! ;)}

I love it, I love it,

I LOVE IT!!!

The other furniture in my craft room is black so it looks great in there. I plan on filling it with my "craft" supplies...ribbon, thread, paints, brushes, etc.

All the colors will look great against the black background.

Expect a "completed project" post soon as I want it

D.O.N.E.

before baby "Bojay" arrives! :)

We have a winner!

Congrats to Kim in CA!!

She was my 20,000th visitor and she has the pics to prove it!

Her ChicLittleBirdee gift should arrive soon!

When daddy's away, momma will...

call up her sister and cry

"Get over here! There's work to be done!"
And, being the wonderful, amazing, always helpful sister that she is, she will!

Last week B was gone on business all week and I took that opportunity to make a mess of the house and get many projects completed before baby arrives.

Painting my cabinets has been a project on my "to-do" list for quite some time. I've had the paint and supplies for about six months, but not the courage. Not to mention, the hubs and I were disagreed on the color. I'm a fan of black cabs, and he is not...

at all!

So, in hopes of being a good, submissive, helpmate of a wife to him, I chose to walk away from the gallon of black cabinet paint. Besides, any color on my cabs would be better than this...

I started by prepping my cabs with this...

It's the lazy and dust-free way to sand. Just take a tack cloth and wax on, wax off. Ten short minutes later and you're ready to work!

Next, I grabbed my putty knife and some wood filler and got to work filling the hideous design on my cabinet and drawer fronts...

Twenty minutes and several frustrations later, I saw the true beauty in that design and chose to knix the whole idea. However, the less challenging work of filling the holes from the door handles took little to no time to complete. I simply filled the holes, let it dry, then lightly sanded. I've always disliked having the handles in the center of the door because it makes it difficult to get the door OPEN! {It may have something to do with the house being 30 years old too} Moving the hardware to the top corner is more sensible.

Next, Stacy painted the cabs white with some paint I had lying around. I'm sure you all know what white cabs look like, so no picture...and if not, use your imagination. :)

Now, for the moment I've been waiting to share.

I stumbled across a great blog last week, Shanty2Chic. If you have two or twenty hours, hop on over and take a peek...trust me, it's addicting! These two sisters have great decorating ideas and they're willing to share! One of their fave products is Ralph Lauren Faux Technique Glaze, tinted smoke. It's sold at Home Depot and the sisters seem to use it on EVERYTHING!

I made a trip to Home Depot and picked up a gallon. Before trying it on my cabs, I decided to "test" it on a few pieces I've been meaning to "update".

These pictures frames were all gold and black and ugly all over {except for the great details!}. Stacy gave them a couple coats of white paint...

And then we applied the faux glaze...

It was as easy as "wipe on, wipe off"!

Satisfied with our "test", we moved on to the vanity...

Again, simply "wipe on, wipe off"!

After it dried I replaced the hardware that I spray painted "Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze" AND...

repositioned my cabinet handles...

I purchased this template at Lowe's...

It works on both sides of cabinet doors {top and bottom too!} and also does horizontal placement.

Simply locate the holes that align with your hardware...

mark...

and drill!

It's that easy!

I'm more than pleased with the outcome...

And thankfully so is my husband! I have plans to complete the kitchen cabs, but I do believe that will have to wait until AFTER baby arrives...there's only so much an 8 month prego can do!

I'm sooooooo grateful to my wonderful sister for helping me with this project {and NUMEROUS others I will share in the coming days}. She's one of those people that just shows up and says, "what can I do to help" and she's willing to do any and all. Let me remind you that my sister is a stay at home mom to FIVE children, three of which she homeschools. So, it's not like she's got a lot of time and ENERGY on her hands {if any!}. I don't know how she does it all AND finds time to help me, but I'm so thankful that she does! :) I'm also thankful her husband was able to keep the three oldest boys so she could come help me for two days. We were able to accomplish so much with an 8 year old, nearly 3 year old, and 8 month old...I'm not sure if we would have made it past serving breakfast had we added a 2, 4, and 7 year old to the mix! :)

Welcome Baby!

Congrats new mom and dad!

Your new bundle of joy is precious.

Raegen is ready for baby to get "bigger" so he can come visit. ;)

I have a feeling this may come back to haunt him some day...

T minus 7 weeks...

That's right! Just seven short weeks and baby "No name" Stain should be here {maybe 8}! :)

Okay, I seriously didn't plan this...haha...

I thought it would be neat to see what I looked like last time I wore this dress and it turns out I dressed Raegen the same too!

And this is why I'm *secretly* thrilled it's another boy...

matching outfits!!

Sadly, Daddy doesn't share my enthusiasm.

boo.

I have promised not to dress them alike EVERY day...

let's all note there are SEVEN days in EACH week.

Just sayin'.

These are a couple bargains I just ordered from Gymboree...

I have a feeling Daddy will not oppose this one...

all images courtesy Gymboree.com

Cloudy with a chance of rain in the house?

No, not quite.

Have you heard of rain gutter book shelves?

photo from RaisingOlives.com

My sister told me about the idea a few weeks ago, then a friend sent some pictures of the finished project in her nephew's bedroom. I found a great tutorial at Raising Olives and thought I would share with ya'll. Click here to read how-to.

This is a definite for Raegen's playroom!!

34 Weeks...no hurry, babe will be here by April...

***WARNING:

Do NOT look directly at photo without proper eye protection. A welding helmet is recommended, but sunglasses will do in a pinch.***

Please forgive me. Thirty-four weeks preggars also translates to "forget the hose!"

Looks like I'm not the only one running out of room... ;)

Wait for it, wait for it...

It's coming...20,000 visitors.

That is insane, and just TWO people away!

If you're it, take a pic of you and the monitor showing you're Numero 20,000 and I'll send you some cute baby gifts...or a camera strap...or whatever I can make that would be a relevant gift for YOU! :)

Game On.

I finished Raegen's "game tee" yesterday just in time for the big game last night...

The front is recycled from his tee last year and the back is a Cricut creation...

When Raegen put his shirt on he said, "I wuv it mama!"

I chose not to take Billy's point and shoot to the game because it would just make me sad. I'm pregnant and hormonal and bad pictures just send my blood pressure rising. So I thought it best to go camera-less.

We've had to wait for the police report to get "finalized" and now we're trying to work out the details with the insurance company. Another wrench in my plans for a quick replacement is that my Nikon D60 is no longer in production. I have no doubt we'll figure something out, I just want to make sure we figure that something out before baby arrives! :)

Groundhog Day

Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow...

my days all begin the same...

my little king comes into my room...

climbs atop my bed {and me!}, and says...

to which I reply...

'Tis true.
Daddy needed to "borrow" the bedroom TV for a project at the shop. So every day I have the same convo with my little king. I'm hoping one day {soon!} we'll open the armoire to find a fancy new replacement. :)

Week Thirty-Three!

Where we are...

Where we've been...

And where we're going...
{since a few of you don't believe I could possibly get any BIGGER! ha. Rest assured, I can and I will!}

{day I was induced with Raegen}

Just nine weeks to go!!

{maybe 10!}

You know the rules...

Being my friend isn't easy...

I come with baggage.

He's about six, maybe seven feet tall, and he comes to live in your yard when you have a baby!

Congrats friends! ;)

Squeaky Clean

Because you asked...

Here are a few links from those that have made their own laundry soap:

Click here to read how the Domestic Diva Lindsey gets crafty.

And here to read how New Yorker Jacqualine does!

I buy my detergent from Nurtured Family and use Allen's Naturally Detergent - 5lb Powder {though there are others to choose from}. It is generally just under $20 a box and lasts a looooong time, approximately 8 months or so {$2.50/mo}!

What's in a diaper?

***Back by popular demand with new and improved information!***

Original post was published May 2009

The choices for cloth diapers are endless...

One Size
Sized & Fitted
Pocket
AIO (All In One)
Prefolds & Covers
Organic

I would recommend "testing" a few out before you buy a bundle. See if you can borrow from a friend or relative or you may be able to find a great deal on craigslist.com.

It's just a good idea to see what works best for you and baby. Some babies have sensitive skin and the microfleece used with pocket diapers is far too harsh for them, for others it's a perfect match.
~
Why did you choose cloth diapers?
I got my start with cloth diapers when Raegen had just turned one year. My sister had been using cloth diapers for a few months and was unhappy with Fuzzi Bunz. Her son has sensitive skin and the synthetic fabric was too harsh for him. She planned on selling them at a children's consignment sale so I decided to give them a try and see how Raegen AND MYSELF! did with them. My sister moved on to Chinese prefold diapers and covers {and she LOVES them} and Raegen had great success with Fuzzi Bunz.
~
What are pocket diapers?
A pocket diaper is a diaper cover that has an opening for an insert or folded Chinese prefold diaper to be placed into the opening. The following is a picture of inserts.

Photo courtesy of New & Green Baby Co.

They come in different sizes to correspond to different size diapers. Typically one insert is used during the day and a "doubler" or two inserts are used at nighttime to contain heavy wetting.

Pocket diapers come in sizes S, M, and L. I felt this would help reduce the "bulk" that is common with AIO diapers, but give me the convenience. Pockets dry faster because the insert is removable for washing and drying.

After testing the diapers on Raegen and reading several reviews, I chose to go with "Fuzzi Bunz" diapers. They are very easy to use, two snaps on each side similar to disposable tabs. "Fuzzi Bunz Diapers consist of a breathable waterproof outer layer, a microfleece inner layer, and an absorbent removable insert. The micorfleece inner layer wicks moisture away, keeping your baby dry, rash free, and comfortable." from: http://www.fuzzibunzworld.com I have found that to all be true. :)

I also bought two "Happy Heiny's" with velcro tabs to use at church and with sitters. Though few people have had problems with the snap tabs.
~
Where did you purchase Raegen's diapers?
I purchased all of Raegen's diapers through nurturedfamily.com I compared prices on several websites and felt they had the best prices (shipping paid!) and warranty. I bought 12 new from Nurtured Family and found others through consignment sales and my sister! I have approximately 25 size M (15-30lbs) diapers.

{I used cloth from approximately 12 months old through completion of potty training. I used the cloth diapers in place of training pants by simply removing the insert. Potty training is now a success story and not once did I have to use disposable training pants. Talk about double duty!!}
I did have a couple snaps that didn't want to snap, but replacing them was easy. I simply called Nurtured Family and they had me mail the faulty diapers, along with a copy of my receipt, and they gladly exchanged the diapers for me.
~
How do you clean Fuzzi Bunz diapers?
If the diapers are soiled, I dump as much as I can into the toilet.
{I would like to mention that NO waste is meant to be thrown in the trash, whether from a cloth diaper or disposable. In fact, disposable diaper packaging instructs parents to dump solid waste into the toilet and flush it away. When those instructions are not followed, human fecal matter is going into our landfills where it can leach into groundwater and possibly spread disease. Cloth diapers release solid waste where it belongs - into the sewage system where it is treated with other household waste water.}
There are also toilet sprays available to aid in the removal of waste from diapers.

I have two small step-cans in the laundry room, one for diapers and the other for cloth wipes (yes, I use those too!). The Fuzzi Bunz are NOT cotton and therefore can not be washed with cotton (such as the cloth wipes), they should only be washed with other Fuzzi Bunz or similar diapers.


When it is time to wash (usually every other day), I do the following:
1. Rinse in cold water (set washer to LARGE load setting)
2. Run a hot wash/cold rinse and use minimal detergent
3. Run an extra rinse at the end
The rinses help to remove the waste as well as the detergent which can build up over time. It's a good idea to use the same detergent for all your laundry because it will build up on the inside of your washer as well. Buy a good detergent that has no perfumes, no dyes, no softeners, etc. I use Allen's Naturally detergent for all of our clothes, it is CONCENTRATED which means "a DASH will do ya." In this instance, less is best!
Click here for a good chart on various detergents.
~
What is stripping?
Build-up from detergents will occur over time so it is NECESSARY to strip diapers once a month (I strip mine on the first of the month so it's easy to remember). The build-up can cause your diapers to have an unpleasant odor, decrease absorbency and cause leaking.

When it's time to strip, I do the following:
1. Rinse in cold water (set washer to LARGE load setting) to remove soil
2. Wash in HOT water, THREE times
Notice I did NOT add detergent. The point of stripping is to remove all the built-up detergent so there is no need to add extra. There are various ways to strip diapers, but this works best for me.
~
What are prefold diapers?
I have only experienced prefold diapers and covers with my sister’s children, but I plan to use prefold diapers and covers for our new baby boy.
Chinese vs. Indian
Prefold diapers are available as Chinese or Indian prefolds. Chinese prefolds are known for their durability and my sister has had great success with them. Indian prefolds are known for having a soft hand.
Bleached vs. Unbleached
Bleached diapers are bright white and unbleached are the natural color of cotton.
Sizes
Prefold diapers are available in the following sizes:
Preemie
Infant
Standard
Premium
Toddler
If the diaper is too big you will have problems with leaking. My sister used the preemie size on her son for 3-4 months, despite the sizing recommendations found online that claim the preemie size is only good for 4-9lbs. She HIGHLY recommends buying the preemie size for newborn through 4 months. You will regret it if you try to save money and put an infant size diaper on a newborn!
In fact, her son that is now 2 ½ never wore anything larger than a standard size diaper!
How many?
Three dozen diapers will allow you to wash every other day and still have a small stash in the car, diaper bag, etc.
You can read more about prefolds on the Wee Bunz site, here.
~
What are covers?
Covers are placed on top of prefold diapers to prevent leaks. There are numerous types and brands available. Of all the brands she has tried, my sister prefers Bumkins.
“Bumkins covers work great over a prefold, fitted, or contoured diaper. Velcro closures give you a fast, snug fit that holds a diaper in place without the use of pins. Super-trim fabric, similar to that of a wind-breaker, never wicks. Unique vent in the back allows better air circulation to your baby's skin. These wash up so easily and hang dry so quickly, that you will only need 4-6 of them. Thus, Bumkins covers over prefold diapers are one of the most economical diapering systems you can find.” From: http://weebunz.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?pg=16
She did caution to make sure the flap for the vent in the back is down. If not, it is possible for the diaper to leak. Also, make sure you go up a size when baby grows because wearing a cover that is too small will also cause leaking.
How many?
Three covers is plenty for each stage. When baby is dirty, you simply change the prefold only {unless the cover is soiled as well}. With pocket diapers, you have to change the entire diaper which equals a lot more washing and drying.

The most economical way to purchase prefold diapers and covers is as a package. On the Wee Bunz website, you can order prefold diapers and covers in various sizes in any of their package deals. My sister has found their prices to be the best available.
~
What are wool covers?
Wool covers are commonly used for nighttime use with prefold diapers. Wool is very absorbent and breathable, making it a great choice to be used at nighttime or naptime when baby will be wet for an extended time.
Click here to read Why Use Wool for Diaper Covers? And click here to read Cloth Diapers: Lanolizing Wool Covers.
~
How do you clean prefold diapers and covers?
These are my sister’s instructions:
1. Rinse diapers, covers, and wipes on COLD
2. Add detergent {Allen’s or similar} and wash diapers, covers, and wipes on COLD
3. Remove covers from washer
4. Wash diapers and wipes on HOT
5. Dry diapers and wipes in dryer or on clothes line

The Bumkins covers will air dry in a matter of minutes.
~
Pros and Cons
{Please do not take this the wrong way, but to be completely honest, once you've put your child in cloth, there are NO positives to disposables}
Disposables
Pros- Easy to use, can be thrown away
Cons- Expensive, bad for environment, more diaper rash, chemical used to make the super-absorbency of disposable diapers is Sodium polyacrylate {which has been linked to TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) and can cause allergic reactions}, always buying diapers!! :)
Cloth
Pros- They’re adorable!! A baby's bum in a cloth diaper is like no other!, cheaper, can be used for subsequent children or sold second hand, less diaper rash, never have to put "diapers" on your shopping list!!, can double as "training pants" for potty training
Cons- Must wash, dry, fold, put away or you will have a NAKED baby! ;), can't just throw away a dirty diaper {Trust me, sometimes I wish I could!! I use a wet bag to hold all dirty diapers when I'm away from home and sometimes a plastic sack too!!}
~
What about diaper rash?
Most babies and children experience NONE or very few diaper rashes when in cloth diapers.
When Raegen was 16 months old he had a small rash that progressed into a yeast infection. We went to the doctor THREE times in TWO weeks and were prescribed THREE different ointments. Nothing was working and after pressure from the doctor and friends {"you're just going to have to break down and let that poor kid wear a disposable!"}, I bought some disposable diapers for Raegen. The reaction was instant! His rash spread from his private area all the way down to his knees. He looked terrible and was obviously having a NEGATIVE reaction to the disposables. I promised right then I would never put him in disposables again, and thankfully I have not had to go back on my word. As for the yeast infection, I visited our local health store and got some good advice on combatting a yeast infection {no white sugar, flour, or dairy...I even attached a sign to his diaper bag and shirt when I dropped him off at the church nusery; he doesn't go to daycare so that was the only place he was never directly under my care...trust me, this child was in PAIN and I would have gone to any length to ensure it ended} and I also picked up a bottle of "Jarro-Dohpilus". With the combination of the two, the yeast infection quickly went away. I still monitor his sugar intake and we have not had another episode.
~
Regardless if you choose synthetic or natural diapers, the key to having success with cloth diapers is to WASH, WASH, WASH!! It is an absolute must to wash AND dry your diapers REPEATEDLY to remove any natural or synthetic oils or buildup BEFORE the first use! The more you wash your diapers,

the more absorbent they will be.
~
What will your diaper stash

consist of for new baby Lynden?
3 dozen Chinese natural {not bleached!} preemie prefolds, 3 NB Bumkins covers
3 dozen Chinese natural {not bleached!} infant prefolds, 3 S Bumkins covers
After he has outgrown the infant prefold diapers, I will switch to the Fuzzi Bunz I used with Raegen. Those should, once again, last through potty training. For me, this is the most economical choice {not to mention, less laundering!}.
3 GroBaby Shell sets for nighttime

I received ONE free GroBaby through THIS giveaway. They are perfect for nighttime because the organic cotton soaker pad is SUPER absorbent. They have recently switched to GroVia and all the GroBaby merchandise is deeply discounted. They are similar to prefold and covers because if the cover is not soiled, you simply snap out the insert, replace with new, and go on your merry way. Otherwise, you replace the insert AND cover. Best of all, the prints are super cute!!

~
Did I leave anything out?

~

Because you asked...
Here are a few links from those that have made their own laundry soap:
Click here to read how the Domestic Diva Lindsey gets crafty.
And here to read how New Yorker Jacqualine does!
I buy my detergent from Nurtured Family and use Allen's Naturally Detergent - 5lb Powder {though there are others to choose from}. It is generally just under $20 a box and lasts a looooong time, approximately 8 months or so {$2.50/mo}!

~

Did I leave anything else out? ;)

Good Morning Mrs. Rappold's Class!

I heard it through the grapevine that you were all stalking my blog and I thought I would be the first to say hello.

So, "Hello!"

I'm sure you're all wondering how I knew you would be at school today despite the hysteria that "the snow is coming, the snow is coming!" I've lived 'round these parts long enough to not get my hopes up, that's how. So I'm sure many of you are wishing you hadn't slept with that wooden spoon under your pillow last night because all it got you was an aching neck. And the whole wearing your pajamas backwards? Trust me, your back is telling you to "talk to the hand!" because sleeping on a row of buttons is just never enjoyable. Also, don't worry about the two ice cubes you flushed down the john, they're long gone so no need to try and rescue them. I promise they're in a happier place. Maybe.

Welcome, welcome, welcome!!

Blogs are a lot of fun and are designed for a number of reasons. I began my blog as a means to record the daily events of my family and share that {easily} with our extended family. Some mothers keep scrapbooks, I keep a blog. In other words, I'm a lay-zee-mohm.

Take a look around.

On the right you'll find a picture for each family member and little about each one. Following that is a collection of my "followers" {those that are "members" of my blog} and directly below is my "blog list" {blogs that I enjoy reading}.

On the left are a lot of "widgets" that make it easy to search my blog by topic or date. At the VERY top of the screen you will see a blank box. If you type in a word and hit enter, all blog posts containing that word "should" appear. Another way to search is by "label." I TRY to label all my posts {I didn't use this feature when I first started so I'm still in the process of labeling my earlier posts} so you can click on any label and it will bring up all posts I created and labeled with said topic. And under "What's Been Hap'nin?" you can search by date.

Next you will see my Twitter updates, followed by two very cool tools, Feedjit and Blogpatrol. These are great to use to see who's stalking you and where they're from! :) And they're FREE!

Let's talk about free.

Every widget on my blog is available at no cost.

background

comment system

related posts with thumbnails

traffic feed

blog counter

Before I leave you, let me stress the importance of ambiguity. I'm sure you're all aware of the "dangers of the internet" and a blog is no different. You should never give out personal information {address, school, etc.} through your blog. There is also the option of making your blog private where only those that are invited can view. I created our blog for our family and those that view my blog don't even like the process used to leave a comment, so I know for a fact they wouldn't go through the process of "signing in" to my blog! :) That said, I am susceptible to the "dangers of the internet" and the crazy people that are out on the prowl.

So, have fun creating your own "page" on the world wide web and most of all, be careful!

Oh, and go read this because it's just funny.

Starting the New Year out right...

Raegen spent the first two days of the New Year visiting his buddies. We enjoyed a belated Christmas with his friend "Loooke" {it's so cute to hear Raegen say his name!} and family. This is their last playdate, this is their first, and this and this and THIS are a few in between!

The boys are just under three months apart...

can you tell who's older? It's a trick question!

Watching them fight over the "Cars" table, as Luke called it, was probably the funniest thing all night. Instead of eating like most boys their age want to do, they engaged in a game of tug of war with the table...over, and over, and over!!

They always have such a good time together, though they are getting older and don't necessarily want to share! We all look forward to many more playdates in their future.

The next day we extended "ringing in the New Year" by watching the Hogs win the Liberty Bowl with a few friends.
Raegen makes sure he is always VERY nice to his little girl buddy

{her daddy has a four-wheeler!}.

Don't try this at home...

What a great way to start a brand new year!

FREE 8x10 PHOTO CANVAS!

I just ordered my free 8x10 photo canvas from Canvas People.

Click here and you can order one too!

I saw the offer on Angie Smith's blog and just had to share.

This is the picture I used...I'm currently obsessed with it!

The photo wraps around the sides of the canvas. I had to re-crop mine a few times to get it just right. The offer is for a FREE 8x10 photo canvas or $55.00 off any other size canvas. You do have to pay shipping and handling charges. The total was $14.95 which is still a good price for a photo canvas.

Raegen's fallen and he can't get up!

Oh, it's just his pants...

This begs the question, is laziness learned or inherent??