I'm happy for all of the new moms, and their adorable babies. Really, I am. And hearing news about a baby on it's way makes me smile. But there is a lingering sadness underneath it all as I wonder if I've had my one chance and that's it for me. I've bought a new "I'm a big brother shirt" for BB. He's outgrown the first one without ever having a chance for it to be worn. I think I'm going to stop buying clothes on faith.
This past weekend with my sister was SO hard. I've dreaded it ever since I heard she was expecting. I know part of it was jealousy, although I don't want her baby; just another of my own. In my current mindset, it is easy to fall into the habit of thinking that many people who have kids don't deserve a kid like I do.
However, on the flip side of that, I often hesitate to ask God for another. There is a thought in my head that tells me that I don't deserve to have another because of my past. The thought goes on further to say that I would have another child if God saw me doing a better job parenting the child I have. I don't believe this thought, but it doesn't stop me from having the thought.
And in answer to your unspoken question, no, I still haven't actively pursued any medical avenue about this. Which is frustrating to me, because I am a "now" person. I don't want to wait for things that I want. But I'm also an afraid person. As long as I don't question the doctor about why it has taken so long, I don't have to get an answer that I don't want to hear. Yes, I know that "perfect love casts out fear," but I'm still human. I'm not perfected yet.
Also, there is the fact that every time I think about taking a more aggressive approach, I get the verse "By faith, Sarah* herself received power to conceive." stuck in my head. Not that I'm old like Sarah, but I often think that if it was going to happen, it would have happened by now. I'm sure that Sarah must have thought that many times herself as she waited for Isaac. Really, that whole reference is interesting in itself to me. Prior to BB, and all through my pregnancy with him, I never thought of Sarah, I thought of Hannah. In fact, BB's verse is 1 Samuel 1:27. So I wonder if Sarah comes to mind for a reason. I wish I knew.
I love being the mom to only one. In every way, my life is easier now than if I had another child. I just can't help feeling that something is missing. I realize that I have posted about this topic before, but it really is a pressing thing with me. I'm trying really hard to not get down about all of this, but it's hard. I'm having a hard time praying about it, which doesn't help. On one hand, I find myself just wanting to whine to God and go, "Please? Please? Puh-leeeeeese?"
I try to keep Romans 5:3-5 in mind through all of this. There are two endings to this situation. One, God will give me the peace to give this desire to Him and parent only BB, being grateful for what I have. Or two, God will use this time to perfect my character, which undoubtedly needs much work, especially if I am to have more than one child.
So when you post about your new baby, or your baby on the way, I'm happy for you. I truly am. I try to remember to pray often for all of the new mommas and mommas-to-be. But I might not always comment on your post. And more likely than not, I'll have to stop and have a cry.
*Hebrews 11:11, ESV. Most versions list Abraham, however, with Sarah receiving an aside, if any, mention.
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
June 15, 2009
July 20, 2008
Tunnel Vision
We moved BB to a toddler bed Friday night. I hadn't originally planned on moving him to a toddler bed until he started climbing out of his crib. However, I found a gently used car toddler bed at Goodwill that only needed a mattress and the board that goes under the mattress. Both items were easily scavenged from the crib, and after a thorough cleaning by DH (thank you!), we were good to go.
BB didn't quite know what to make of his big boy bed at first. Previously, we would put BB down for the night in his crib and put lots of toys in his crib for him to play with until he fell asleep. He typically would throw out most of his toys immediately and then talk to himself for a few minutes and conk out. With his new bed, however, there was no need for us to supply toys for him to play with. We placed him in his bed, gave him his stuffed cars, and left the room. BB howled and cried for his toys. He didn't figure out that he could get out of his bed and get anything that he wanted all by himself.
After a few minutes of fussing, we went back into his room and showed him that he could get in and out of his bed by himself and that he could get to everything in his room. He thought this was great fun, and played in his room for quite a while before he feel asleep.
When this first was happening Friday night, I thought it was funny that BB didn't realize that he could get out of his bed on his own and get his own toys. But then I started thinking about it and I realized that a lot of people are probably this way about God.
Before we come to know God, we are all in our own little cages. We get used to being trapped in our cage. We may sometimes try to get out, only to fall back inside. Toys (temptations?) are brought to us to keep us occupied so we won't fuss about being in our cage. Then God comes along and dismantles our cage. He places us in our "big kid bed" that allows us freedom.
However, we are used to our cage. Even when we are no longer bound, we think we are stuck. We cry that we are trapped, helpless, until God comes and shows us that in Him there is freedom. With Him, we are no longer confined to a cage. We can move about as free people. Even better, we can get our own toys. We don't have to depend on what someone else thinks will amuse us or what they say we can play with. We discover that there are even more opportunities for fun and that these options are more exciting than what we had before.
This isn't a perfect analogy, but I found it interesting.
BB didn't quite know what to make of his big boy bed at first. Previously, we would put BB down for the night in his crib and put lots of toys in his crib for him to play with until he fell asleep. He typically would throw out most of his toys immediately and then talk to himself for a few minutes and conk out. With his new bed, however, there was no need for us to supply toys for him to play with. We placed him in his bed, gave him his stuffed cars, and left the room. BB howled and cried for his toys. He didn't figure out that he could get out of his bed and get anything that he wanted all by himself.
After a few minutes of fussing, we went back into his room and showed him that he could get in and out of his bed by himself and that he could get to everything in his room. He thought this was great fun, and played in his room for quite a while before he feel asleep.
When this first was happening Friday night, I thought it was funny that BB didn't realize that he could get out of his bed on his own and get his own toys. But then I started thinking about it and I realized that a lot of people are probably this way about God.
Before we come to know God, we are all in our own little cages. We get used to being trapped in our cage. We may sometimes try to get out, only to fall back inside. Toys (temptations?) are brought to us to keep us occupied so we won't fuss about being in our cage. Then God comes along and dismantles our cage. He places us in our "big kid bed" that allows us freedom.
However, we are used to our cage. Even when we are no longer bound, we think we are stuck. We cry that we are trapped, helpless, until God comes and shows us that in Him there is freedom. With Him, we are no longer confined to a cage. We can move about as free people. Even better, we can get our own toys. We don't have to depend on what someone else thinks will amuse us or what they say we can play with. We discover that there are even more opportunities for fun and that these options are more exciting than what we had before.
This isn't a perfect analogy, but I found it interesting.
May 8, 2008
Mommy Tips
Use an over-the-door shoe hanger as a baby clothes organizer. The small pockets are just the right size for those tiny outfits. Shirts and shorts can go together in a single pocket for an easy outfit change. If your door is far away from where you normally change your baby, place some hooks on the wall and hang the organizer from there. To ensure that everyone's outfit gets worn by the baby before it's too small, don't restock the organizer until all pockets are empty. Then when Aunt Agnes asks you about her outfit, you can assure her that you know the baby wore it and loved it without trying to rack your sleep-deprived brain remembering which onesie she bought for baby.
Once your baby is eating finger foods, use a formula dispenser as snack dispenser for goldfish, cheerios, etc. The container fits easily into a diaper bag, keeps the snack from getting crushed, and is easy to find. The small opening also makes it harder for your munchkin to get out too many snacks at a time.
Make “Wet Ones” disinfecting wipes in the same way as making your own baby wipes. Just use ½ of the baby oil, twice the rubbing alcohol, and the same amount of soap as the baby wipe recipe. Or omit the alcohol and substitute ½ C of kitchen surface disinfectant for part of the water. Make sure that the disinfectant you use is approved for food surfaces, and clearly mark that the wipes are not for baby butt!
If you are having an outdoor party for your child's birthday, use a Frisbee as a paper plate holder. Once the guest are done eating, they can play with their Frisbee, which also makes a nice take-home present for your guests.
Instead of using ice cubes that melt and make a mess, use rice or popcorn kernels the next time your child has a boo-boo. Place the rice or popcorn kernels in a durable ziploc bag and keep the bag in the freezer. The rice or popcorn will get cold but will stay moldable to the injury. There's no melty mess and the bag can be wiped off and placed back in the freezer for another time.
When giving a present to a child, wrap the present in an inexpensive t-shirt and tie in place with a jump-rope. The novelty of the wrapping will make your gift seem more special, and you can spend less on the actual present. Keep an eye out for clearance t-shirts or blank t-shirts at craft stores and stock up on sizes you'll likely use. Jump ropes can often be found in packs of 8 as party favors and will cost less than a dollar each.
Dishwasher detergent is typically stored under the kitchen sink. However, the humidity and possible leaks make under the sink a poor storage place for detergent. Under the sink can also be a potential danger if you have small children, even with a safety latch. To solve this problem, place a small amount of detergent in a child-proof bottle and keep that bottle under the sink. Store the larger container elsewhere in the house, away from water and small children. As an added benefit, the smaller container will make it easier to pour less detergent into your dishwasher (you really only need a TBS or so for most loads). In the event that your child manages to undo both the cabinet and the bottle, the smaller amount of detergent will at least ensure that your child will have less of a dangerous substance to interact with.
If your child's clothing has a zipper pull that is hard to grasp or the zipper pull breaks off, use a small washable key chain fob. The larger size of the fob will make it easier for little fingers to grasp and fasten the zipper and will provide some novel personalization to your child's clothes.
Make your baby's or small child's bed with two sets of fitted sheets and mattress protectors – mattress protector, fitted sheet, mattress protector, fitted sheet. When you need to change the sheets in the middle of the night, simply pull off the top fitted sheet and mattress protector and you're good to go. No fumbling around in the middle of the night while trying to simultaneously console a wet or sick child.
If you have a baby monitor that has several speakers, use the speakers throughout your house to create a whole-house stereo system. Simply place the music next to the baby monitor itself, and the sound will play throughout the house via the different speakers. The quality won't be the same as a professional system, but it's a lot cheaper!
If you are traveling with a baby and you don't want to bring your baby tub, use a small plastic laundry basket set inside the regular bathtub. The holes in the basket will allow bath water in, and the size of the basket will make it easier to bathe baby.
The knees of kid's jeans will last longer if you use iron-on patches on the inside of the jean leg when the jeans are still new.
Being a mother has unique challenges and situations. I'm convinced parents are often more creative thanks to their children - as a survival mechanism, if nothing else! In honor of Mother's Day, here are some handy hints and tips, Mommy edition:
April 11, 2008
September 21, 2007
26 Reasons to Have a Baby
Lest some people think I am trying to discourage them from pursuing parenting...
Tiny toes – have you ever looked at baby toes? They're the size of corn niblets! Honestly, some of these toes are so tiny, they don't even have proper toenails yet!
Tiny fingers – how can you not love these tiny little fingers that are too small to completely wrap around one of your fingers?
Wispy hair – I don't know if it's static electricity or just the texture of baby hair, but the little wispies of hair that stick up and out to defy gravity are so darling.
Floppy ears – I guess it makes sense for baby ears to be so movable, considering the tight fit most of them have coming out. Baby ears kinda remind me of Dumbo – even if the ears aren't big, they're very pliable, and you have to be careful with them.
Chubby cheeks – baby cheeks just beg to be squished. Especially when the cheeks are so chubby that their eyes can't open all the way. And the cheeks are so soft! How can you not just kiss them over and over all day long?
Fat rolls – I love the little fat rolls on baby legs before they start walking. I love chubby babies! Something about a chubby baby just makes me melt.
Pot bellies – once again, a chubby baby trait. But isn't it so cute to see how babies and toddlers just let their tummies pooch out? They don't know to suck in their gut like grownups do. There's something that's just refreshingly honest about how they go blissfully along, not caring if anyone sees their fat.
Baby hugs – babies will be hard at work playing, and then suddenly drop their toys and give you a hug. How great is that? Grownups don't do that. Older kids don't usually do that. But babies just suddenly realize that they love you and they want to show it. Sometimes they'll stay around to cuddle, but more often than not, they'll simply go back to their toys.
Baby kisses – babies don't know how to pucker up, but they've been kissed enough to know that they should press their mouth against you. So they open wide, and slime the side of your face in their little attempt to kiss you. The imperfection of this will melt even the Grinch's heart.
Expression – babies are so honest with their emotions. They don't worry about what you will think, or how they come across. They just express whatever they feel at the moment.
Little socks – you will have dozens of itty bitty socks, some of them so small you can't even fold them up together. Everything that goes with a baby is itty bitty. When my son was younger, I could wash every outfit he owned in one load, and he had a lot of clothes!
Bottoms up – my son refused to sleep on his back. So against the SIDS people's advice, I let him tummy sleep. Every baby that I've seen tummy sleep will curl up with their legs bent up under them, and sleep with their bottoms up in the air. It's so adorable.
Wonderment – everything that we take for granted is new and exciting to a baby. Whether it's going to the mailbox, or running to the bank – babies are amazed at all they see. There's no boredom, unless they're strapped in a stroller. They want to see, touch and taste it all.
Christmas – you haven't experienced Christmas until you have a baby. Having a baby so small and fragile really helps you think what it must have been like for Joseph and Mary. No one would ever choose for anything so precious to be in a dirty, smelly barn.
Easter – now that I've had a baby, I can't ever think of Easter without remembering that Mary His mother was there at the cross. I can't imagine her pain as she watched her baby suffer. Knowing that Jesus came to Earth as such a frail thing as a baby has renewed my faith as I watch my son. God loves His Son way more than I ever could love mine, but He loved us - sinful, imperfect, ungrateful us - enough to send His Son to live among us and die. I was grateful for salvation before, but now knowing the love a parent has for their child, I am amazed that anyone could love so much as to sacrifice this.
Trust – babies trust wholeheartedly that you will keep them safe. They watch you with their expressive eyes, nuzzled up against you as they drink their milk. You will never experience anything quite like this.
Attachment – to a baby, you are their world. They hate to see you go, and they get so excited to see you when you've been gone. Other loved ones may feel the same, but not to the degree that a baby does. Who else will give you a big smile first thing in the morning, and start jumping up and down, just because you walk into the room?
Development – I love to watch my son figure things out. You can almost see the wheels turn in his brain as he investigates things. The leaps and bounds that he takes in development are amazing.
Helping – babies love to help, even if they aren't too good at it. For example, my son has seen me unload the dishwasher countless times. So every time he sees the dishwasher open, he'll toddle over and pull things out, regardless if I'm loading or unloading it. He has such a big smile as he pulls things out and gives them to me, I don't have the heart to correct him. I just thank him and wait for him to turn around before I put it back in.
Baby giggles – there's no better laugh in the world than that of a baby. Their whole body laughs. They can't fake laugh. Their whole face lights up, and they stop what they're doing to just laugh.
Sleep – as much as I love my son, I love it when he's asleep. He is so adorable when he's asleep. When he was a baby, his favorite place to sleep was on me or hubby. I guess we made him feel safe. He took many naps curled up on us. Having a baby sleep on you makes you feel ten feet tall. You're invincible, because you have this amazing little life to protect, that loves you and trusts you so much that it wants to sleep on you rather than any comfy bed.
Reason for a new camera and/or a new camcorder – after all, you need to capture every precious moment and cute thing they do!
Tax credit – people with kids don't pay as many taxes.
You can come late and leave early for anything, and it's okay.
Baby dance – whenever babies hear music, they all do the same baby dance, where they bounce up and down with their little bubble butts.
Theology – I've learned more about how God sees us watching my son and I interact than I've learned in a lot of sermons.
September 17, 2007
Sad but True...
If a mommy goes to wash some bottles, she'll notice that the trash is full.
When she empties the trash, she'll notice that there's a bad smell, so she'll go to the laundry room to get the oust.
While she's in the laundry room, she'll realize that she's forgotten about the wash, and it's started to mildew. So she'll empty the washer and pour some clorox in and run the washer empty.
When she puts the clorox away, she'll notice that she's getting low on stain spray, so she'll go to the kitchen to write on the shopping list.
While she's writing on the shopping list, she'll notice the reminder to pay bills.
When she finishes paying bills, she'll go to enter them in the checkbook, and realize that there are receipts to enter, so she'll balance the checkbook.
When she's balanced the checkbook, she'll go to throw the old receipts away.
When she gets to the trash, she'll see that she needs a trash bag, which will remind her that she still didn't get the oust. So she'll go back to the laundry room.
While she's in the laundry room, she'll notice that the washer has stopped, so she'll put the clothes back in to wash them again. To make sure that she doesn't forget them, she'll write herself a note on the frig.
When she sees the refrigerator, it will remind her that it's lunch time, and she's hungry, so she'll make herself some lunch.
When baby sees mommy's lunch, he'll want some lunch too, so she'll make him lunch as well.
When baby has finished his lunch, he'll get sleepy and he'll want to take a nap, so mommy will put the baby down in his room.
When mommy goes into baby's room, she'll notice that baby has a pile of clothes to be washed in his hamper, so she'll empty it out and take them to be washed.
When she opens the washer to put the baby's clothes in, she'll see the load of wash she ran, so she'll put those clothes in the dryer.
When she puts the clothes in the dryer, she'll empty the lint trap, and realize that now the floor needs to be swept, so she'll get the broom.
When mommy is done sweeping the floor, she'll decide that she might as well mop the floor while she's at it.
When mommy is mopping the floor, she'll notice that there's a stain on the carpet in the next room, so she'll go get a rag from the laundry room for the carpet spray.
When she goes to get the rag, she'll see that the clothes are dry, so she'll fold the clothes and put them away.
While she's putting the clothes away, she'll hit her shin, which will make her yell, “Ow!”
When she hollers “Ow!”, baby will wake up.
When baby wakes up, he'll want a bottle, so she'll go get a bottle.
When she goes to get baby a bottle, she'll see that the bottles are dirty and need to be washed.
August 28, 2007
13 Baby Ways to Save Money
This is for all you pregnant people...
1. I use plastic bibs instead of cloth - this doesn't work well when baby is drooling due to teething, but it is great when baby is eating. Just wipe off food and drink, and toss in the wash every now and then. I wish I had done this from the start, instead of wasting time and a lot of money on stain spray and rewashing bibs.
2. I buy juice in big containers - sure, the Gerber four-pack is cute and convenient, but so what? I just make sure that the juice I buy is 100% juice (and either on sale or I have a coupon for that week), and then I transfer the juice into a small reusable Rubbermaid bottle for when I'm on the go. I did buy the Gerber juice for vacation, however.
3. I use a reusable bottle for water - when I have to make formula on the go, I use water that I've packed that morning from a reusable Rubbermaid bottle, or from a reused 20 oz. bottled water container (I wash them thoroughly after each use). Since I only use filtered water for my son's bottles, this way I know what I'm putting in his bottle is actually filtered, not to mention cheaper and more ecologically sound.
4. I didn't use formula unless I had to the first 8 1/2 months. Need I say more? Unless circumstances prevented it at the time, most bottles had all-natural. I stopped once he started crawling, and I estimated that I saved $150 each month for those months.
5. I use store-brand formula. I didn't do this at first because my son used Alimentum, which doesn't have a store-brand version. But once he could have regular formula, switch! The nutritional info is nearly the same, and some store brands are made by the same companies that make name-brand formula.
6. I buy store-brand diapers - unless there is a sale AND I have a coupon, I use Target's brand of diapers (WalMart doesn't work well for boys). I pay around 14-16 cents a diaper for size 4, and I have paid 11 cents. When you go through 8-10 a day, the savings really add up! I will say, however, that Luvs diapers are reasonably priced if you buy a real brand. I also use Huggies Overnight diapers during the night - otherwise, I'm up at 2 AM with a crying son, changing wet sheets and pjs.
7. I make my own baby food - I buy fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, cook them, and then toss them in my food processor with a little juice or water, and voila! Much cheaper than most baby food, which is 40-60 cents a container. I don't used canned fruits and veggies because most of them have sodium, and there are concerns that metal might seep into the food from the can and impede brain development. For meat, I make a plain version of what I'm making for dinner, and mash or puree it. Now that my son is older, I occasionally give him what we're having, depending on the seasoning. This sounds time-consuming, but for the fruits and veggies, I do it all in a few hours and freeze it in individual portions.
8. I make my own baby wipes - I gladly used store-bought wipes from my showers, but once I ran out, I only had to buy wipes a few times before I decided to make my own. I actually prefer the homemade ones, as they are wetter and not as rough. I do buy wipes for when we are traveling and to put in his wipes case in his diaper bag, but it takes months to empty a container.
9. I buy baby clothes from consignment and thrift stores, or on retail clearance - I don't have a problem with hand-me-downs, and it's not like my son cares, so why not? This way, I get to buy more clothes for the same amount of money. As for retail clearance, some clothes will eventually go on clearance for less than what you would pay at a thrift store. You just have to keep checking. I've gotten shirts and shorts for 90 cents, brand new.
10. I buy toys at consignment shops and thrift stores - I examine the toys very carefully, and I check to make sure that they haven't been recalled.
11. I buy gender-neutral clothes - as hubby and I don't know when or if about the second munchkin, I try to buy mostly clothes that a girl could get away with wearing. I will buy "manly man" clothes for my son, but usually only for church or an event.
12. I got rid of my diaper genie - to me, this item didn't work very well at containing odors, no matter what I tried. Since we empty all our trash at least once a day, I just use the trashcan for wet diapers. For dirty diapers, I place the diaper in a plastic bag, tie it up, and then place it in the trash. I find that the bags that newspapers come in and bags that produce come in are just the right size. I actually get two uses out of these bags. After I put the first diaper in, I knot it close to the diaper, cut it loose, and then tie a knot where I just cut. The second diaper will then be placed in a bag that has a knot at each end. Since I only get a newspaper once a week, and only a few produce bags a week, this really helps. Dollar stores will sometimes carry baggies for dirty diapers, 100 for $1. If you can't find those, bags for doggy pooper-scoopers work just as well, and they cost 1/2 as much as the Munchkin or Eddie Bauer bags made for this purpose.
13. I use washcloths instead of napkins or paper towels when feeding. My son is messy, and rather than use napkins or paper towels to wipe face and hands, I use one of the dozens of baby washcloths that I received as shower presents. I just rinse it out and toss in the wash the next time I do laundry. I don't worry about stain spraying these, because I figure they'll be worn out by the time the next kid arrives anyway. I do make sure that I only use solid-color washcloths for this, however. I save the cute ones and the white ones for bathtime.
Whew! I hope this helps someone out there! I'm sure some of you veteran mothers have even more tips that I have never even thought of!
1. I use plastic bibs instead of cloth - this doesn't work well when baby is drooling due to teething, but it is great when baby is eating. Just wipe off food and drink, and toss in the wash every now and then. I wish I had done this from the start, instead of wasting time and a lot of money on stain spray and rewashing bibs.
2. I buy juice in big containers - sure, the Gerber four-pack is cute and convenient, but so what? I just make sure that the juice I buy is 100% juice (and either on sale or I have a coupon for that week), and then I transfer the juice into a small reusable Rubbermaid bottle for when I'm on the go. I did buy the Gerber juice for vacation, however.
3. I use a reusable bottle for water - when I have to make formula on the go, I use water that I've packed that morning from a reusable Rubbermaid bottle, or from a reused 20 oz. bottled water container (I wash them thoroughly after each use). Since I only use filtered water for my son's bottles, this way I know what I'm putting in his bottle is actually filtered, not to mention cheaper and more ecologically sound.
4. I didn't use formula unless I had to the first 8 1/2 months. Need I say more? Unless circumstances prevented it at the time, most bottles had all-natural. I stopped once he started crawling, and I estimated that I saved $150 each month for those months.
5. I use store-brand formula. I didn't do this at first because my son used Alimentum, which doesn't have a store-brand version. But once he could have regular formula, switch! The nutritional info is nearly the same, and some store brands are made by the same companies that make name-brand formula.
6. I buy store-brand diapers - unless there is a sale AND I have a coupon, I use Target's brand of diapers (WalMart doesn't work well for boys). I pay around 14-16 cents a diaper for size 4, and I have paid 11 cents. When you go through 8-10 a day, the savings really add up! I will say, however, that Luvs diapers are reasonably priced if you buy a real brand. I also use Huggies Overnight diapers during the night - otherwise, I'm up at 2 AM with a crying son, changing wet sheets and pjs.
7. I make my own baby food - I buy fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, cook them, and then toss them in my food processor with a little juice or water, and voila! Much cheaper than most baby food, which is 40-60 cents a container. I don't used canned fruits and veggies because most of them have sodium, and there are concerns that metal might seep into the food from the can and impede brain development. For meat, I make a plain version of what I'm making for dinner, and mash or puree it. Now that my son is older, I occasionally give him what we're having, depending on the seasoning. This sounds time-consuming, but for the fruits and veggies, I do it all in a few hours and freeze it in individual portions.
8. I make my own baby wipes - I gladly used store-bought wipes from my showers, but once I ran out, I only had to buy wipes a few times before I decided to make my own. I actually prefer the homemade ones, as they are wetter and not as rough. I do buy wipes for when we are traveling and to put in his wipes case in his diaper bag, but it takes months to empty a container.
9. I buy baby clothes from consignment and thrift stores, or on retail clearance - I don't have a problem with hand-me-downs, and it's not like my son cares, so why not? This way, I get to buy more clothes for the same amount of money. As for retail clearance, some clothes will eventually go on clearance for less than what you would pay at a thrift store. You just have to keep checking. I've gotten shirts and shorts for 90 cents, brand new.
10. I buy toys at consignment shops and thrift stores - I examine the toys very carefully, and I check to make sure that they haven't been recalled.
11. I buy gender-neutral clothes - as hubby and I don't know when or if about the second munchkin, I try to buy mostly clothes that a girl could get away with wearing. I will buy "manly man" clothes for my son, but usually only for church or an event.
12. I got rid of my diaper genie - to me, this item didn't work very well at containing odors, no matter what I tried. Since we empty all our trash at least once a day, I just use the trashcan for wet diapers. For dirty diapers, I place the diaper in a plastic bag, tie it up, and then place it in the trash. I find that the bags that newspapers come in and bags that produce come in are just the right size. I actually get two uses out of these bags. After I put the first diaper in, I knot it close to the diaper, cut it loose, and then tie a knot where I just cut. The second diaper will then be placed in a bag that has a knot at each end. Since I only get a newspaper once a week, and only a few produce bags a week, this really helps. Dollar stores will sometimes carry baggies for dirty diapers, 100 for $1. If you can't find those, bags for doggy pooper-scoopers work just as well, and they cost 1/2 as much as the Munchkin or Eddie Bauer bags made for this purpose.
13. I use washcloths instead of napkins or paper towels when feeding. My son is messy, and rather than use napkins or paper towels to wipe face and hands, I use one of the dozens of baby washcloths that I received as shower presents. I just rinse it out and toss in the wash the next time I do laundry. I don't worry about stain spraying these, because I figure they'll be worn out by the time the next kid arrives anyway. I do make sure that I only use solid-color washcloths for this, however. I save the cute ones and the white ones for bathtime.
Whew! I hope this helps someone out there! I'm sure some of you veteran mothers have even more tips that I have never even thought of!
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