fuzzibunz

A dilemma in our household lately as we make our final preparations for baby girl has been to brave the world of cloth diapers or go with the standard disposable.

We have officially decided to give cloth a try.

While I was on the fence Jimmy had a strong opinion favoring the idea of cloth diapers for various reasons. The top concern for him of course is baby. What’s the best for our baby? Concern #2 waving heavily for him was the environmentally impact of disposable diapers. While I consider ourselves environmentally conscious consumers there aren’t many areas of our lives where I’d say we go above and beyond to be environmentally friendly. That being said, here are just a few environmental statistics that really “hit” me:

·  It’s estimated that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the    US.

·  No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it’s estimated to be about 250-500 years!

·  Disposable diapers are the 3^rd largest single consumer item in landfills. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.

·  A family who chooses cloth diapers prevents one ton of solid waste from entering the waste stream.

I actually ordered 2 different brands of cloth diapers – BumGenius and FuzziBunz because I’m a visual person and needed to see for myself how these things would work and what exactly I would have to do differently with this process opposed to the standard change and toss of the disposables. Well of course my engineering minded husband had the things taken apart in no time and for various reasons we are choosing to order the FuzziBunz brand. They seemed to be softer, more durable, more versatile in terms of sizing (we are going with the one size option – meaning our babe will wear the same ones from newborn to potty training), and easier to take apart for washing. They also offer these handy laundry bags that allow you to load the diapers in the top, and then unzip the bottom over the washer causing the diapers and inserts to go directly into the washer, toss the bag in with the diapers and wash them all together – less messy! They (as in most cloth companies, not just FuzziBuns) also offer biodegradable, flushable inserts that you can put directly into the diaper as well – avoiding the need to shake or scrap out the diaper when baby performs #2. I must admit, that was the #1 thing I was wanting to avoid in this whole process and they now offer a way around it so I had no excuseJ

Of course there are some cost benefits to using cloth vs disposable – although with some bulk buying options out there this is debatable. But, this wasn’t a big part of our decision making it’s always nice to save some bucks, right?!

Regardless of the statistics and convenience for me the determining factor was truly my husband’s desire to give cloth a try. I saw so many conveniences in disposables but discovered that this was something that was important to Jimmy. Cloth diapers have come so far from where they used to be. My mom’s first reaction to me telling her we were going to try cloth was “have fun with that!” but when you look at the way they have evolved today’s cloth diapers are quite a bit different from the days of our childhood, don’t you think? No more folding and pin snaps, shaking out the solids, soaking them in bleach buckets, etc!

So that’s been the big dilemma in our household the last month or so and is now solved – our babe’s stash of FuzziBunz cloth diapers are on orderJ

what's in your bag

I got this idea off another blog and that it was a cute and interesting way to learn something new about someone.

Those who know me know I love big bags, especially if they’re CoachJ so I usually have more than enough stuff than necessary in my bed since it’s so big.

Today I’m giving you a glimpse inside the endless purse to show you what’s in my bag.

Here’s my current arm candy of a bag. I LOVE this bag and am so happy my friend Lindsey decided to sell it me it AFTER she had already bought it (there was only 1) because I loved it so much!

Wallet – I’ve had this pink Coach wallet for a long time and it’s the perfect size for the things I carry in it – not too big and not too small.

Cell phone – my phone is pretty much always in my purse.

Gum – I usually have both a mint and fruity optionJ

Chapstick & Lipgloss – can’t live without my Burt’s Bees and VS lip gloss.

Planner – I’m still a little old school and write everything down in a planner, while I use my phone calendar quite often I haven’t gone to using it 100%, yet!

Little notepad – you never know when you need to write something downJ

Wristlet – this little Coach wristlet carries all my awards cards, coupons, voter registration card, etc. and my ipod.

“Beauty” pouch – and this little pouch carries all my beauty essentials – bobby pins, extra hair ties, perfume, tums, hand mirror, ibuprofen, eye drops, more lip gloss, blue oil for headaches, pretty much everything…..

Randoms – and lastly a few other randoms. Hand lotion, hand sanitizer, sharpies (you never know when you’ll meet someone famous and want their autographJ), a pen, and my hands free head set for talking on the phone in the car.

And that’s it – what’s something you never go without in your bag?

35 & 35

I saw this on my friend Bailey’s blog and really liked it. I remember jotting down a note to myself to add the idea of 35 & 35 to my blog ideas way back when and now its here.

35 & 35 means that I am 35 weeks pregnant with only 35 DAYS to go! What a journey this has been. And think about how fast 35 days really goes - I feel like I say this every week but now I really feel like she will be here before we know it!

I remember so vividly the day back in August when I ran into the garage in my towel waving a positive pregnancy test in the air to Jimmy while he mowed the lawn. I remember the days that followed pondering the fact that I was really pregnant. I remember telling my family Labor Day weekend in Denver, CO. I remember telling the Grover family later that month during a visit home to Iowa. I remember seeing my belly get its first resemblance of a bump and being so excited. I remember feeling her kick for the first time. I remember holding Jimmy’s hand at the ultrasound as we saw our precious baby and discovered she was a girl! I remember buying her first outfit and thinking how unbelievable small it was. I remember Jimmy’s face and the look in his eyes the first time he felt her move. I remember coming home from a trip to Denver to a pink room complete with a chandelier. I remember organizing her clothes and putting her room in order. I remember reading her books and Jimmy playing his guitar for her as we lay down together for bed at night.

What a blessing this child is. God already knows the person she will be, who she will marry, the trials and triumphs she will experience, what her talents will be, what her weaknesses will be, what she will be when she grows up, all those things! And those are all the things Jimmy and I can’t wait to discover about her. Except maybe the who she will marry part as Jimmy has already said she’s not allowed to go on a date until she’s 18 unless it’s a double date with he and I – I’m sure that will go over wellJ

So as we enjoy these final weeks together just the 2 of us I love to think about those 35 weeks we’ve already experienced. I’ll try to forget about all the discomfort and aches and focus on what lies ahead in the next 35 days, or so.

Latest update: From now on, baby's growth is mostly in the plumping up department -- though he won't get much longer, he'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. (He's about 15 percent right now and will be about 30 percent by full-term.) His hearing is totally developed (tip: baby responds best to higher pitches), and if he really is a "he," his testes have probably completed their descent.

my kindle

Jimmy got me a kindle for my birthday and let me just say that I’m already in love with it! It took me just a short time to figure out how I can load books, read them, flip through the pages, organize archived material, etc. and now I’m off and reading.

I had just bought and started reading a new paperback for our road trip back to IA and I hate reading two books at once but I wanted to start reading on my kindle. So I cracked and downloaded “Something Borrowed” per my sister’s recommendation and now have started reading that on my kindleJ

When I first added a kindle to my birthday wish list of ideas for Jimmy neither of us knew if I would really like one. We were both worried it would feel like I was reading a computer screen all the time, which I get plenty of at work throughout the day. But the kindle looks just like a book – the finish on the screen in a flat, black and white finish, so it truly does resemble a book! The other thing we were worried about was a glare, but since it has a flat finish there is no glare. I love that it slides right into my purse – it’s super small and thin, much smaller than any book. I am definitely going to invest in a case for traveling though just to be sure and keep the screen nice and scratch free.

So from one reader to another – get a kindle, unless you’re like my mom and just love the smell of booksJ

her nursery

Baby girl’s nursery has been a gradual process it seems. We acquired her furniture slowly, Jimmy painted and hung her chandelier while I was out of town for the weekend, we (Jimmy) assembled her crib one night last week while I put other things away in her room, and her closet organization has been a gradual process but definitely filled up quickly!

We still have to put the finishing touches together by hanging things on the walls but I plan to save that for when my mom is down in a few weeks to get a second opinion. But I thought I would show you what we have so far.

Ever since I knew I was pregnant I knew I wanted to do the nursery in pink and zebra print if it was a girl, and didn’t have a definite plan if it was a boy. So, when I found out she was a girl I began the search for bedding, accessories, furniture, etc. I have loved putting her room together. I can just picture laying her in her crib and how little she will look in there; I can picture her laying on the floor on a play mat to do tummy time as she learns to roll over for the first time; I imagine our late night feedings in the chair with a blanket over us both drifting in and out of sleep; I can smell the distinct scent of a baby filling her room as it becomes her own! Sometimes I just sit in the chair and look around in awe that she will really be here so soon and she will be all ours. What joy she has already brought us and we haven’t even met her yet!

Anyways – onto the picturesJ I will post final ones once we get everything hung up but I’ve been asked several times for pictures so here’s what we’ve got so far. Enjoy!

34 weeks

The nursery is complete, except for the final touches, her clothes are washed and hung, her car seat is sitting in our living room, her stroller is on order. I think we are ready. 6 weeks until her due date!

My feet and fingers are swelling every day, I am still craving apple juice and pizza, frequently I am short of breathe because I feel some sort of limb in under my ribs, somedays at work I stop and watch my belly as I see her move from one side to the other, the dark line down the center of my belly has gotten darker, less of my clothes are fitting comfortably, my belly is gigantic, I've re-entered the no sleeping phase. BUT I can't wait to meet this tiny baby that's been growing inside me for the last 34 weeks, I have LOVED putting together her nursery with her in mind, buying her little clothes, thinking about introducing her to our families, thinking about the daddy Jimmy will to her - I could go on and on.

The reality is our baby girl will be here before we know it and our lives will forever change. We are celebrating our 1st anniversary today and it's surreal to think of all that's happened in just 1 year, and that this will be the only anniversary we celebrate without a child!

We can't wait to meet you baby girl - hang tight for just a bit longer and then if you want to come a few weeks early that's ok with mommy:)

Now here's a  few photos since I never took a 8 month one you get them at 8 1/2 months - sorry for the picture quality and poor lighting, just focus on the belly:)!

Update says still the size of a melon.
Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: She now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

34 weeks - taken 3/20/11

1 year ago - 3/20/10



One year ago I remember so vividly sitting in a back room of the church anxious and excited to see my groom. I touched up my makeup, fluffed my hair, straightened my dress and walked arm in arm with my dad down the aisle to my future.

all ready - except the dress

with my dad

There is no doubt in my mind that God created Jimmy with me in mind. God knew that one day that man would be my husband and make me feel loved in a way I never knew I could.  Jimmy is my rock, I love him more than anyone in this world, he makes me laugh every single day, he makes me feel so beautiful, he knows my heart and loves every part of me – the good and the bad. Jimmy is my very best friend, the father of the baby girl growing inside of me, he is who I choose to spend my entire life and future with and I’m so excited for what that future holds.

seeing my groom for the first time

Jimmy – thank you for all the memories we have shared this past year. I cherish each one. We have learned so much about marriage, love, sacrifice, friendship, commitment, and respect and I know we have so much more to learn! I can’t wait for this next year as we experience the journey of parenthood together. You will be the best daddy, I can’t wait to see you with our baby girl! My love grows for you every single day. The very best part of each day is laying down next to you at night and waking up to you next to me every day.

You are my everything; I am forever yours. I love you baby – happy 1^st anniversary!

we're married

weekend in iowa

This past weekend we had a great long weekend in Iowa. It’s the last week I was ok’d to travel so we took a couple extra days vacation and headed north. Here’s our weekend in review.

Thursday afternoon/night we drove up. Due to my loving husband we stopped frequent to ensure my comfort and got in to the Grover household about 11:30pm or so.

Friday we spent the morning bumming around and catching up with Jimmy’s parents. I hadn’t been back since Christmas so it’d been a long time since I’d seen family. Later that afternoon we headed over to visit Jimmy’s grandparents. Then onto Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party for my nephew Devin. Devin turned 5 on Thursday so it was perfect timing for us to come home and spend the night playing away at Chuck E Cheese. I think the air hockey game was the hit of the night! After the party we headed back to my parents and spent the night there after staying up way too late for some good late night chatsJ

devin & eden taking on air hockey

Saturday morning we were off to my baby shower that my best friends were throwing. It was so good to see some friends I hadn’t seen since our wedding and catch up with everyone! We got lots of nice gifts and of course ate way too much yummy food. After the shower we made a few additional stops in Cedar Falls then headed back out to my parents to hangout. That evening we made our way back to the Grover’s to see Jimmy’s aunt and uncle that came up last minute from Texas. We had dinner with his family and grandparents and enjoyed a low key night watching movies.



the decor




advice cards




friends



the hostess & i - katie, hayley, me, bailey & miss kinley:)



my beautiful mama & i




the soon to be grandma's & i

Sunday we were up early, and definitely feeling the repercussions of daylight savings, and headed back to my parents to meet them for church. After church we grabbed lunch and headed back to their place. That afternoon we headed back into Cedar Falls to meet up with my brother, sister in law, niece, and nephew and all of Jimmy’s family for a night of bowling and Pepper’s (one of my fav local restaurants) to celebrate my birthday!

my brother & his adorable fam - sister in law kristle, devin & eden

jimmy & little sis jena

mother in law robin, cousin marcus, sister in law jalissa, dan & erica

jimmy's aunt shelly from texas & brother josh

Then Monday we made a stop at my brother’s to get some of our big baby items they were handing down to us, including her crib! After getting all packed up and spending some time with the kiddos we were on our way. One more stop at my grandparents to see them and visit for a bit and we were on our way to MO.

It was a busy but fun weekend. I hadn’t gone that long without seeing my family in a long time so it was great to spend some quality time with them all and celebrate lots of birthdays! It’s crazy to think that the next time we head that way we have a 3^rd member of our family!

We have some busy weeks and weekends ahead of us. This week has been a bit crazy. We got home Monday night, we had dinner with friends on Tuesday night, celebrated my birthday by gifts (a kindle and a massageJ), stroller shopping, and dinner out last night, tonight we have a breastfeeding class at the hospital, and then this weekend is our 1^st anniversary so we plan to head out and finish up our baby purchases and have dinner at one of our favorite places nearby! Next weekend we have our birthing class all day on Saturday, then the following weekend my parents will be down for a visit, and then we are only 3 weeks away from her due date!

I keep reminding myself to slow down and take in the final days of this pregnancy as I will never have this feeling of our first again but at the same time I cannot wait to meet our little girl and not be pregnant anymore - I’m ready to go for a run with baby in towJ!

Anyways – that’s our weekend recap plus a glimpse at our crazy week this week and the weekends ahead. It sure will make this time go fast, if nothing elseJ

Hope you had a great week!

33 weeks

Another week passes and I always seem to miss my weekly post the day of. And I have yet to take an 8 month picture from last week. Where does the time go?

This week I have become a little less comfortable – it just seems almost daily that my belly is getting bigger and my stamina is getting smaller.  We enjoyed a long weekend back in IA with family and friends and had a baby shower too. It was lots of fun to catch up with girls I hadn’t seen in way too long. I’ll do a full weekend recap with photos later this week. That was also our last road trip before little miss joins us! Crazy to think next time we travel that way we will have another in towJ

I have noticed less vigorous movements of baby girl during the day and night. I can tell she is running out of room and while I still feel her moving they aren’t as tossy and turny, more subtle and confined. When I am sitting for a while at my desk I start to feel her little legs up under my ribs and have to lean back to get them moved or catch a good deep breathe.

My workout routine has almost completely subsided. I really want to focus on getting in some frequent and good yoga sessions these final weeks as I think that will help maintain my flexibility and relaxation but it’s been hard to find the time. My to do list at work seems to be a mile long of things I need/want to complete before my maternity leave and our at home project list isn’t getting any shorter either. I’m finding it hard not to get stressed but also know there is only so much I can do between now and then.

Other than that not a whole lot of pregnancy updates. No weird or distinct food cravings this week, the pizza craving has subsided but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still averaging our weekly pizza nightJ

My update tells me she has moved up to the size of a honeydew melon and may grow up to an inch this week! Which means more discomfort for mama and less room for babyJ

Hope you have a great week!

Things are heating up inside as well: Baby may grow up to a full inch this week alone, and his brain is developing like crazy. Pretty soon, he'll be able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Also, his bones are hardening, and he's started to keep his eyes open when he's awake.

my weekend in denver

As I said in my last post I spent this past weekend in Denver, CO with my sister and her family. My sister had a baby just 8 weeks ago and he is the sweetest thing.

Sam is a snuggle bun to say the least. He absolutely loves to snuggle and be right up next to your face and I LOVED it. Ivan, my brother in law, was out of town for the weekend so I stayed in my sister’s bed with her and got to snuggle Sam every morning after his morning feeding – I sure missed that this morning.

So here’s my weekend recap:

Friday I took a ½ day off work so I could fly out and get there at a decent time Friday night. Friday night I got in and was greeted by a ball of fire 3 year old Asher and snuggle bear Sam.

asher opening up a little gift we brought him

Saturday we went for a walk at the park, let Asher play, have a picnic lunch, and then stopped for ice cream on the way home. He went on and on about the big blow up blizzard in the Dairy Queen so of course we had to sit next to thatJ Kirsten and I were able to get in a little shopping and coffee/jamba juice later in the afternoon as well. Saturday night we made a yummy lasagna dinner with berry cobbler for dessert then settled in to watch a movie after putting Asher down for bed.

swingin at the park

me and sam sam

Sunday we took the kiddos to church then spent the afternoon hanging out at home with the boys before heading out for pizza Sunday night. We went to Golden, which is located just outside of Denver, and had the yummiest pizza ever. It definitely hit the stop as that has been my pregnancy craving of choice lately. Then back home for another redbox movie and night in while the snow fell outside.

so handsome

doesn't my sis look great after just 8 weeks!

Monday my flight didn’t leave until 7pm so my friend Hayley who also was in Denver visiting came over to meet Sam and hangout. We headed to lunch at Pei Wei then back to hangout a bit more before heading to the airport. I’m pretty sure the only time Kirsten got to hold Sam was when he needed to eat – I didn’t want to let him go! Then it was off to the airport for my trip homeL

I always love visiting Denver, it’s such a beautiful place and it’s always fun to spend some time with my sister that I don’t get to see enough. I absolutely loved holding and snuggling on my new little nephew and attempting to keep up with Asher as well, which is not an easy task at 8 months pregnant! Asher has such a strong little personality, so funny and such a mind of his own. He is so smart and picks up on every little detail. Little Sam is definitely more laid back then Asher was as a baby and loves to have you just hold and breathe on him – what a sweetie! I will definitely miss these 2 little ones and my sister (Ivan tooJ) but look forward to seeing them this summer in IA when I will introduce them to our little one! Until then, pictures will have to doJ

a tired little boy after church

sam napping on my big bellyJ

32 weeks

Another crazy week has passed and we are now just 8 weeks away, or less, from meeting our baby girl! This past weekend I was in Denver, CO visiting my sister and her little family, which includes my new baby nephew! It made me so excited to hold and snuggle our baby girl in just a few weeks!

No new symptoms or issues much with pregnancy this past week. We had an appointment today and everything was good. She made the comment that little girl is really growing and that her heart rate, my blood pressure, measurements, etc were right on track and good. I actually had several things to ask her about this appointment. I wanted her thoughts/opinions on cord blood banking, epidurals and/or other pain medications for birth, any recommendations/suggestions on pediatricians and if we needed to have one established before her birth, and her schedule or policy for trying to be the one to deliver our baby and who will if it’s not her. So I had lots of questions and as always she gave us plenty of her time and addressed them all for us.

Sometimes it just feels so surreal to know that I am going to be the one having a baby in just a few short weeks. I felt this way leading up to my wedding as well.  Which, by the way, was a year ago in just a week or so - isn’t it crazy how much can change in just a year? I truly feel incredibly blessed every single day for the man that I call my husband and the man that has (with my helpJ)created the life growing inside of me.

They still say baby girl is the size of a squash but here’s her update.

\Baby's now the size of a squash!
Ready or not, baby's getting ready to emerge. She's probably in the head-down position by now, with her bottom facing up. This is the comfiest way for her body to fit in your increasingly cramped womb and will make her eventual exit (only a few months away now!) much easier. (If she's still head-up, don't panic -- there's still time for a flip before birth.)

My 32 week picture will come this week – get ready for one big belly! I’ll also post a recap of my Denver trip but here’s a picture of a sweet bundle, that happens to be my nephew, to tie you over for a few daysJ

 

31 weeks

This post is a little late.

Sunday marked week 31. Every day and week my anticipation to meet our little girl grows. My dreams have become much more vivid – dreaming about what she will look like, how she will sleep, how Jimmy and I will be as her parents, etc. As our March calendar fills up the realization that she truly will be here before we know it is so exciting.

We have lots of to-do’s before she arrives and I’m most excited about getting her room put together. We have learned that we will not be moving prior to her arrival so it’s nice to finally know where we will be once she’s born. Now we just need to get going on things at homeJ This past weekend Jimmy and I made a shopping trip to the outlets in Branson to get little miss some final things. Lets just say Jimmy was excited and was throwing things in my “cart” left and right. I loved watching him pick out little clothes for her and picture him getting her dressed – he will be such a wonderful dad!

Quick story – I was ordering her a swimsuit online because no stores seem to carry them in 0-3 and 3-6months. I found this one on Gymboree and knew I had to have itJ So, being the good wife that I amJ, I showed it to Jimmy to get the ok before ordering. I also asked if I could get her the matching hat and he replied “well yes but then she has to have the flip flops.” I reminded him that she would be only a few months old during our pool outings this summer and therefore, didn’t need the $20 flip flopsJ He made a few additional comments about it being a complete set but I’m proud to say he didn’t persuade me to purchase the $20 flops. I just thought it was funny how he was the one doing the convincing instead of the usual other way aroundJ

After our shopping trip, and several cute outfits later, I got all her clothes washed, organized by size, folded in her dresser, hung in her closet, and her wardrobe is ready! Now just to pick out which outfits and bows to bring to the hospitalJ

Other than that we haven’t gotten much done in terms of her room. That’s on the to-do list for the coming weeks. We are still coming to a compromise on whether or not we will be painting and hanging her chandelier at this homeJ I promise to post pictures as soon as we get things going.

Things to come include a trip to Denver, CO this weekend, then a final trip back to IA to see family and have a baby shower thrown by my bff’s – can’t wait! And then we will be staying put, due to doctor’s orders, until little Miss makes her debut!

As for me, I’m feeling pretty good, all things considered. The discomfort is definitely getting worse but I seem to have found a few positions that aren’t too bad. My latest food craving has definitely been pizza. While it’s always been a favorite it’s borderline out of control these days. Poor Jimmy, it seems we’ve been ordering pizza almost twice a week lately! On another note, sadly I replaced my weddings rings with a fake this past week. My doctor strongly suggested doing so in the case that we have an emergency and can’t get it off on our own. I haven’t noticed my swelling getting much worse but staying about the same. I told Jimmy the other night that I felt my fingers are resembling little smokies or a package of hot dogs lately. But hey, I’ll take fat fingers and toes over puking and peeing my pants anyday (those may or may not be current symptoms of one of my pregnant friendsJ)

Picture to come next week as it will mark 8 months! As always, here’s the excerpt from my weekly pregnancy update.

Have a great weekend!

Baby's now the size of a squash!
Baby's going through major brain and nerve development these days. His irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (He won't pick up anything from his nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)

westbound

I am so excited to be heading, last minute, to Denver, CO this weekend.

I’m off to first my sister and meet my new nephew, Sam! Jimmy and I had originally planned to go this weekend but in waiting for a response about his job we hadn’t bought tickets.

So, on Friday afternoon I’m westbound and so excited to spend a few days out there!