10 Month Must Have's

I can't believe I am writing this post....I have a ten month old.  10 MONTHS!  Is someone playing a joke on me?  Seriously, this isn't happening right?

I can't believe how fast the time is going!....I also realize that I skipped our 9 month must have's.  Perhaps I chose not to write one because I was in denial I had a 9 month old.

Well in honour of having a double digit baby I'm going to do a double digit post!  My 10 - 10 Month Must Have's for Emmett and my own personal 10 Mommy must have's (tomorrow)!

1. Aden & Anais Dream blanket

This blanket is amazing.  4 layers of soft, breathable muslin.  It is Emmett's new favorite crib blanket.   Mommy bonus?  Actually there are two! 

1.  It is light weight so I don't worry about him getting tangled or trapped in his crib with it
2.  It is big enough to snuggle under (A & A does make a grown up blanket which isn't available in Canada yet....once it is...you bet I'm snatching one up!).

2. Nuby Monster Snack Keeper

Emmett is up to 3 meals and snacks a day.  This snack cup is great because he can grab the snacks himself without making a mess AND he thinks that it is a toy!

3. Hatley Rain Bundler

 

4.  Robeez Shoes

 

Emmett has a very wide foot and finding shoes to fit is a challenge.  I like Robeez because they are soft sided and the width is generous.

 

5.  Sippy Cups

 

Emmett still refuses to hold his own bottle.  He can....just won't...sigh....

 

He will use a sippy cup with a straw to drink water (no juice - hates it) however I can't trick him and put formula in it.  It's like he knows!

 

We use this one...

 

 

6.  Sorting toys.

 

Emmett tries so hard to fit the right shape into the right hole or match the right piece of a 3D puzzle to the board. 

 

We recently purchased a few of these to keep him busy.

 

7. Push toys

 

We have this one for my parents house:

 

And we have a Jeep for at home.  He loves walking around behind these! 

 

8.  Lovies.

 

Emmett is starting to develop favorite toys and items and notices when something is missing.  His current favorite is a Scentsy Buddy.  A Lion that we have named...Lion.  Original, I know.  And his minky blanket that Mommy made him. 

 

 







9.  Bamboo Baby Breathe Easy Wipes

 

Tis the season for colds....nuff' said!

 

10.  I'm going to lump together all our medical things here.

 

Between colds, teething and upset tummy lately we have used the following frequently: Baby Vicks Gripe Water and Tylenol (which isn't actually Tylenol but the name of what we use is escaping me right now...and trust me it is driving me INSANE).

 

So there you have it!   Stay tuned for My Mommy must haves tomorrow!

 

Welcome Fall!

Oh hi there readers....waves sheepishly....

I have been the worst blogger lately!  Most people have crazy, hectic summer schedules but not us!  Fall = chaos for the Columbus family!

Since my last post we have done the following:

Apple Picking
One last trip to the berry farm
Weekend away at a cold, wet Girl Guide camp (well me...not the boys)
Craig & I completed Tough Mudder Toronto

Modelling Mommy's coveted orange headband.

 

I thought about overloading this post with pictures to recap but decided I'd rather apologize, beg for forgiveness about my absences and spend the time writing next weeks posts (which WILL have lots of pictures). 

Until then I leave you with cuteness overload (all unedited...deal with it)....

Little handsome at the apple farm!

First family photo for a few months!

Tushie Talk Tuesday: Stripping with Blue Dawn

Yeah, yeah.  I know it's not Tuesday...again.

Things have been crazy around here the past few weeks and unfortunately my poor little blog has been neglected!

I had to write this post even a few days late because every cloth diapering Mama NEEDS this info!

Tushie Talk Tuesday: Stripping with Blue Dawn

Yup, that's right.   You CAN strip your CD with dish soap.  It is also the best dang stripper you can use!

I've had a couple diapers lately that no amount of soaking in Rockin Green, Funk Rock or RLR could cure....

I've read lots of blogs, articles, etc. that suggest Blue Dawn works wonders.  Desperate and not quite willing to bleach the diapers just yet I decided to give it a shot.

Holy.  Freakin.  Moly.

The diapers are like new.  No smells, not stains (well some time in the sun is to thank for that also), nothing.  Zip.  Nada.

So.  You want to know how right?  Easy peasy.

1.  You must use BLUE DAWN.  Not apple scented, not unscented yellow.  Blue Dawn.  Don't know the science behind it....don't care.  it works.

2. Your diapers have to be clean.  Do a regular wash (you can skip the first rinse if you want - I did it just to be extra sure they were clean but skipped the second rinse).  Use your normal washing detergent.  They don't have to be dry - just clean. 

3. Add Blue Dawn.  For top loaders add 1 TABLESPOON, for front loaders add 1 TEASPOON.

4. Wash with lots of water

5. Rinse, rinse and rinse some more!  Keep rinsing until the suds are gone.  I needed 2 extra rinses and I have a top loader.  You may need more for a front loader (or top loader depending on the amount of agitation your washer provides). 

That's it!  You are welcome ;)

Some companies warranty may become void when using alternate cleaning solutions (blue dawn, bleach, etc.).  If you are concerned about the warranty on your diapers consult with the company prior to washing.

Homemade Baby Play

Emmett has hit a stage where his attention span is about 30 seconds long. As soon as you put him on the floor to play he beelines for the first non-toy he can find.  This includes tables, furniture, curtains, walls, etc. 

Despite the dozens of toys he has (per room) not much holds his attention right now. 

Enter PINTEREST!

There are so many great resources available through this site that it was hard to choose which to try first!

While I have a list of about a dozen activities I am going to try (and I will blog about them of course) I picked these two first because I had all the materials at home.

#1:

Original Pin - Coloured water in ziplock bags.

This pin just links to a picture but the instructions are in the comments.

Super easy!  Add about 1/4 cup water to a medium sized Ziploc baggie.  Add a few drops of food colouring until desired colour is achieved.  Zip bag closed.  I taped over the seal for added protection!

That's it! 

Emmett loved squishing the bag around!

 

Emmett seemed to enjoy this activity.  It was the first thing he hasn't tried to put in his mouth for awhile!

 

I also tried making one with dried beans in it to add texture.  The difference didn't faze Emmett much and the next day the beans were soft so the bag had to be thrown out.  I'd suggest just using water & colour.

 

# 2:

Original Pin - Ice Cube Painting

This activity has so much potential for fun!  I don't think Emmett was quite old enough yet but he still seemed to have fun....he definitely enjoyed licking the coloured ice!

This was very easy.  Fill an ice cube tray with water.  Add a few drops of food colouring.  Freeze.  Give to baby! 

 

We tried this twice.  Once outside.  FAIL.  It was so hot that the ice quickly melted resulting in a very colourful and wet Emmett.

 

The second time was a rainy day and I had some cubes left over.  I stripped him down (do this...seriously don't skip this step!) and plunked him in his highchair.  I put down a disposable table cloth from the dollar store under his chair to protect the floor (I'd recommend not skipping this step also). 

 

This was much more successful than the first time. 

 

I gave him a piece of paper to "colour" which he didn't have as much interest in.  Once I removed it and just let him play on his tray he had a lot more fun....

 

I still kept it for the fridge...such a Mom

 

It kept Emmett busy for around 30 minutes.  We had quite the mess afterwards but it was worth it.

 

Also, Cloth Mamas....put a sposie on for this.  Trust me.

 

These activities were a lot of fun and a nice break from the normal.

 

I have two more activities ready to go for this week!

 

 

On a totally unrelated note: I returned to Girl Guides as a leader last week!  I was a Brownie leader at the same location for 7 years and took a break 2 years ago.  I had such a great time at the meeting last week and am so excited to be back.  I needed the break but I'm refreshed and full of new ideas!  Expect some Girl Guide updates/craft ideas on the blog periodically now as well!

 

I bought these slippers at Walmart a few days ago because they spoke to my inner Girl Guide...hehe...I can't wait to wear them to camp in a few weeks!  Emmett likes them as well!

 

 

 

Have you tried any sensory activities with baby?

 

Were you ever a Girl Guide/Scout?  For how long?

 





Tushie Talk Tuesday: Destashing

Don't worry I'm not falling off the cloth diaper train!  Quite the opposite in fact.  My stash is OUT OF CONTROL.

Seriously, for one kid we are pushing 75 diapers (it may be more I won't count....afraid).  I just can't help it! 

I've thought about it before but every time I do I can't decide which are my favorites.  Even though most days I can tell you which I do and don't love anymore.

I think I've decided I am going to destash my original Glow Bugs.  As much as I love them I love my newer Glow Bugs even more.  The rest have fallen to the bottom of the storage system.

There are a few others that I have to talk myself into parting with that fit Emmett well when he was smaller but aren't a great match right now.

And as I sit here typing this I think....but what if I need them for our next child?

Oh great, here I go again!!

How many cloth diapers do you have?

Do you destash less loved diapers or keep them for potential future children?

What Emmett Ate Wednesday

One day late this week! 

We had a few set backs last week with BLW.  A combination of Emmett having a cold with sore throat and being out and about a lot.  He didn't have much interest in solids while his throat hurt so we feed him puree - which I am guilty of giving him from a pouch.  We don't have purees on hand anymore and I just didn't have time to make them! 

Usually when we are on the go Emmett eats off our plates but that sometimes gets messy at restaurants so we occasionally give him a pouch instead.

He was slowly starting to accept he had to feed himself again until the teething pains started.  While he is eating he isn't eating much.  He is more interested with pushing food around on his tray and then throwing handfuls on the dog....

 

In addition to formula...

Breakfast:  1 Banana and half a thins bagel with cream cheese...he ate the banana

Lunch: Baby Gourmet - Pear & Garden Greens pouch.  He ate half - usually he eats the entire thing

Dinner - Chicken, veggies and a rice/lentil/quinoa blend

 

He ate all the chicken and a few veggies and rice.  The rest went on the floor. Hopefully he gets his appetite back soon!!

Review: Glowbug Cloth Diapers

Disclosure: I did receive product in exchange for writing this review.  In no way did this influence my opinion of this product/company.  These opinions are my own and not those of the company.

You all know I love my Glow Bugs.  They are super fun, easy to use and wash and hold up against leaks.  I think we have over 30 Glow Bugs now!  At the end of June I contacted Glow Bug about using some photos/links from their website in a review of the 2012 diaper.

Of course these amazing ladies went and did one better and offered to send one us one of their new and improved diapers to review.  Ummm...heck yes!?!

What's the difference between the old and new diapers?  Why the new 360 degree gusset!!


Photo credit: glowbugclothdiapers.com

This adds extra leak protection to the diaper and it works!  Usually when I review a diaper I have to wait and wait for the ultimate test of a diaper...the poop!!  Which when you are only working with one of a particular diaper can take a while!  Not.  This.  Time.  First time I put this guy on EJ I took it off 20 minutes later.  It did the job!

Now we still used a liner in this diaper but I patted it down into the gusset and it kept the shape pretty well!  Rather than the poop sliding up the back of the diaper it got trapped down in the gusset.

These diapers also feature the same snaps as the old diapers.  Lots of waist and length sizes and the hip snaps that the 2012 diapers included.

Also new to this version was the male and female parts on the inserts so you can snap additional inserts for added absorbency.

They still have the great prints from 2012 and added 12 new unisex prints!


Photo credit: glowbugclothdiapers.com

My verdict?  5 FRICKEN STARS!

LOVED this new diaper!  The new features are awesome and the overall quality of the diaper just gets better and better!

The new unisex prints are fun and colourful AND they are still the same great price!  $150 for 12 diapers.

I'm seriously considering de-stashing some of my old bugs to trade up for these new ones!