Pumpin' Ain't Easy

I was lucky enough to stay home with Sprout until she was six months old! Two days later...I went back to work full time. I dealt with oversupply at the beginning of my breastfeeding experience, so I was leery of pumping much when I was with my little one. Well, I regret not having built up more of a stock pil of milk...now, back to work, I pump 3-4 times a day and am always worried about having enough milk to send to the sitter's the next day. I've tried several pumps (Ameda Very Truly Yours, Medela Symphony (manual), and Medela Pump in Style Advanced). I've read LOTS of good things about Hygeia -- eco-friendly pumps.

The Baby Guy just did a review of Hygeia breast pumps...and has me wanting one more that ever.

Check out the Hygeia giveaway from HERE (while you're there, marvel at the amazing West Side Story-inspired music video all about the virtues of the Hygeid pump!) :)

More on my pumping experiences soon...any maybe even a musical tribute... :)

How my Boba helped me make new friends!

On Saturday, I was out with my daughter -- we met up with a couple of friends at Panera before going wedding dress shopping with one of my close friends. Among the dress-finding crew was another mom with her toddler - a woman I adore and greatly respect, but someone who chuckles over how little we have in common when it comes to parenting choices. I have lots of great friends who are also parents, but often feel like my parenting community (i.e. the place where I find like-minded mamas) is online rather than in real-life...

Enter the Boba...

We got up to leave, and I put on my Boba 3G (Tweet). Two moms at the next table looked over and commented on how beautiful it was! "Oh, thank you! I love my Boba..." (begin conversation about the virtues of the Boba 3G and babywearing in general). I walked over to chat with the moms. "Is that the 3G? I just love that print! I have the 2G..." Wow! Babywearing mamas!! In real life!!

These mamas were great -- we chatted about our love of babywearing, and I mentioned that I didn't know many other mamas in the area (Chicagoland). One mama invited me to her breastfeeding support group (to connect with other moms - she said they conversation and support isn't limited to breastfeeding, but that she'd been able to consult other moms about cloth diapering and other topics as well). Whoa! Cloth diapering mamas, in the flesh?!?! I thought they only existed online!!

Then, if I weren't already excited enough, the other mama told me that a friend of hers was hosting a baby wearing party the following Saturday (along with a local natural parenting shop) - they would have several carriers and wraps available to check out, and moms and staff on hand to help answer any babywearing questions! Would I be interested in coming? Heck yes!!

So - I gave her my number and left the restaurant feeling like I'd just been asked out on a date by my long-time crush. The other mom I was with laughed as we left, saying, "See Mandy, there are some more crunchy mamas for you to hang out with!" Ha!

And that's how my Boba helped me to make new friends! Thanks Boba!! Just another entry on my long list of reasons why I love my Boba.

Cloth Diaper Giveaway MANIA!

Three moms, three blogs, thrity days of cloth diaper giveaways! Check it out - the entire month of January!

Happy 2012!

Kelly's Closet

My favorite place to buy cloth diapers and CD accessories: Kelly's Closet.

Use the link below if you're interested in exploring the site or making a purchase - they'll know that I sent you! :)

Kelly's Closet has a great rewards program, as well as fabulous giveaways and coupon codes!

Tree Huggin' Baby Blog Event

Now that our darling daughter has arrived (she's 2 months old now!) I have had much less time to keep up with all the great blogs I discovered during my pregnancy. One blog that I always check in with (and subscribe to via email) is The Tree Huggin' Momma.

Check out this amazing blog -- and the month of giveaways she's hosting starting September 19!

Homemade Cloth Diapers

We are very lucky to have talented family and friends - and to have received a number of handmade flannel fitted diapers (with velcro to close) made and used by one of my lovely aunts. I also received a number of flannel pieces all cut out and prepped to become fitted diapers - which my mother-in-law kindly sewed together for me.

I love the flannel - but since the fabric is such a tight weave, it needs to be secured with pins rather than a Snappi (which I find intimidating).

I just found a great YouTube tutorial for making incredibly inexpensive prefolds from one of my favorite websites: http://greenmommydiapers.com/

This is super simple - for any level of sewing experience - and, the best thing: the final product can be used with a Snappi (no pins required!).



And -- here is a simple video showing how to put a pre-fold on your baby. I have prepped ours for our anxiously awaited little one a bit differently - simply by tucking the right side into the little pocket created by folding the bottom up, and the left side in (this keeps them together nicely so that they are completely ready to use):



You would put a diaper cover over this.

Of course, there are many ways to fold a prefold diaper -- once we have a favorite, I'll post again - but check out YouTube for video tutorials on the many ways of folding these simple, inexpensive diapers!

Cloth Diaper Giveaways

Ah...giveaways...the excitement of potentially winning some exciting fluff to add to my stash... I can't even tell you how much time I've spent entering these giveaways.

Freckleberry Finds has a TON of kid & baby giveaways all the time -- and a super simple entry form!



For the best fluff giveaways, I subscribe to The Cloth Diaper Whisperer. Each week, they have another great giveaway (not to mention -- when you make a purchase from Kelly's Closet, keep an eye open for coupon codes for free diapers -- I've received a free cover and GroVia AIO).

This week - TCDW is giving away TWO GroVia AIOs! Check it out here.