Family Day

Andrew got home, yesterday, from being in Germany on Business for 2 WEEKS! Josie and I missed him terribly, as he missed his girls. A soft-spot has developed when Andrew revealed he had brought home an owl print outfit for Josie and an owl key chain charm for me (spoiled...) We missed being together on Valentines's Day and Josie turned 2 months while he was away. Andrew said that the biggest change he saw in Josie was her "bulkiness," (thankfully, he didn't say the same about me...). Josie and I tried to stay as busy as possible and were able to completely transition into cloth diapers--post coming soon! Anyway, tonight we made up for Valentine's Dinner with steaks on the grill, salad, beans, and garlic bread. Today we decided to make it a family day to make up for lost time. Being that it was 68 degrees today, we took the dogs to the state park to go swimming. It was also Josie's first trip to the beach :) 
As Andrew said over dinner while we were recalling our day...LIFE IS GOOD!
Enjoy the pics...

The worst part of our trip was that we managed to lose Josie's awesome sunglasses. I was pretty bummed....

Mommy Lifesavers

Here is a list of items that I couldn't imagine life without...

• Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier
• It's basically a third limb. I can get so much done when I carry her around in this. I often opt for this over her car seat/stroller combo when I grocery shop or run errands. The best part is she is asleep within 10 minutes of me toting her around in it.
• Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifiers
• Josie takes a pacifier well, but does not NEED it. She is just as content falling asleep with it as she is without it some nights.
• This pacifier is designed for use 0-3 months, we are planning to switch to GumDrop Pacifiers by The First Years once she is at that stage.
• Pampers Swaddlers Diapers
• We used Huggies and I cannot tell you how much better Swaddlers work. Their absorbency is crazy and I like how the net layer pulls everything away from their sensitive bottoms (it makes cleanup so much easier, too!)
• We are, however coming to an end with these diapers as we have recently switched to cloth! (Which I am loving!) But for the beginning, the swaddlers were the way to go!
• Medela Calma Nipples
• Because we were going back and forth from breast to bottle, I purchased one of these nipples to help with the transition from nipple to nipple. It is supposed to simulate a mother's nipple, making it easier to switch back and forth.
• Now that we are solely bottle feeding (with breastmilk) Josie has had difficulty switching nipples. Her suction power puts a dirt devil out of commission. She was flattening any nipple we tried and sometimes choking in the process because of the fast flow, but found that she was not able to flatten the Calma nipple and is in control of the flow, so we have purchased two more. --I know, crazy we only have 3 nipple for the bottles, but they are $15 each...so we make it work!
• Medela InStyle Advanced Breast Pump
• Love the ease of use and transport. It stays next to my bedside, but I have also used it on a day outing, using the car cigarette lighter adapter. No complaints!
• Baby Bath tub
• I couldn't find the exact model, but ours is similar to this one...
• http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Deluxe-Infant---Toddler/dp/B001UCWIEI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1392257593&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+bath
• It is an infant to toddler transition tub.
• I honestly believe because of the way she sit in it has made her LOVE bathtime.
• Its super easy to use and I have had no worries using it with her from day one.
• Muslin Swaddle Blankets
• I think the brand we have is Aden+Anais.
• They are a great in-between blanket (not too thick, not too thin) and their size allows you to use them in many different ways!
• Evenflo glass bottles
• I find it easier to pump into the Medela plastic bottles and store and feed from the glass ones. I like keeping them separate since they have separate jobs.
• They conveniently have the same thread pattern as Medela so everything can be mis-matched.
• I feel like they refrigerate colder and hold the heat longer for feedings.
• For whatever reason, I feel like I can clean the glass ones better, but I'm sure its just my OCD.
• My new VAN!
• Andrew is leasing me a 2014 VW Routan for the year. It has automatic side doors and hatch, which has made my errands go so much smoother. I am spoiled.
• It will be so nice when we have to travel with Josie and the dogs, so everyone can have their own personal space without any bubbles being invaded for a smooth trip.
• Internet
• I have been able to FaceTime with my brother and grandma at different times and they can keep up with Josie.
• I send emails constantly with updated photos of Josie.
• Recently I discovered how to take video and send it I recently captured Josie laughing and was able to share it...<3 <3 <3
• Sweatpants...enough said.

Big Hearts

I am so excited to share with you my latest project. I will be putting together a cookbook compiled of easy peezy recipes for New and Busy Mamas ( and their non-mama friends, too!) My goal is to have it done in time for Mothers Day. I have already put in a lot of time and thought into this and find it will be much more rewarding if I can complete it with your help. I NEED YOUR HELP!

I am looking/accepting recipes to put into the book....entrees, appetizers, desserts, soups, etc.
I am not looking for specifics (low calorie, carb counter, etc) but will consider putting those in the book. Lets be honest, what new mama has time to count calories or worrying about carbs...certainly not this one, but if you fall into that category, more power to ya! I want recipes that will be filling, as many of us know, breastfeeding mamas especially, could put a teenage boy to shame in an eating contest. I need some ideas that will stick to the bones...but like I said open to healthy but hearty also. Your submission will be on its own page and be credited to you. Example a recipe I submit will say my name at the end (or initials or remain anonymous if you prefer).

The very best part of this recipe book is that ALL profits, yes 100%, will go to a charity of your choosing with purchase. I am also looking for suggestions for charities. I want a maximum of three that the person buying the book can choose to donate thier $$ to. The one requirement for a charity suggestion is that it benefits children or mamas (as much as i love animals and other causes, this project is specifically to benefit children and mamas) an example of an appropriate chairty may be Childrens Miracle Network. Not acceptable for this project: the humaine society. Basically how this will work is someone will pre-purchase a recipe book (there will be limited numbers, not sure how many yet) and they will pay for it cash, check,or PayPal. They will leave their shipping address and charity choice. After fees of binding and shipping is taken out, all profit will go to their chosen charity. I have run #s and looking at $10 per book, with at least 1/3 of that going to charity. I am still waiting on quotes from a few more binding places...like I said its in the works.

Requirements for recipe submissions:
-not time consuming (let's be honest what mama has time to shower let alone cook a 5 course meal)
-easy ingredients (no specialty ingredients that can't be found at a normal grocery store)
- quantity to feed a family of four (minimum) with exception to one serving snacks for Mama
-reasonably priced to make (please don't submit recipes with ingredients that will take up the whole grocery bill)
-quantity of ingredients ( please try to stick to recipes will few ingredients)
-quality (no recipes like "Campbell's chicken noodle and grilled cheese" lets try to stick to as much homemade as possible. Having that said, premade frozen pie crusts or frozen vegetables etc are ok!

We want this recipe to be as easy on Mama as possible. For all recipes please keep this in mind!

All charity suggestions must be submitted one week from today, deadline: Sunday February 23

All recipe submissions must be submitted one month from today, deadline: Sunday March 16
**please no more than 2 recipes total submitted per person.

And don't forget to credit those you got it from, example naming a cookie recipe as "Grandma so and so's no bake cookie" etc...

All submissions and questions must be emailed to me at sadiewilt@gmail.com by the above deadlines. I will not accept any recipes or suggestions through text or facebook! I will keep you posted through the blog. Please don't hesitate to pass on this info!!

So excited for OUR recipe book! Xoxo

Bad Mommy

Everyone has their opinions, everyone thinks that their way is best, everyone does something a little different than the way you do it...
THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS!

Here are a list of things that have labeled me as a "Bad Mommy..." I will not explain myself for why I did these things, I will only say that I only do what works best for us, in Josie's best interest.

• I gave my 3 day old daughter a pacifier, which we are still using.
• I pump instead of feed her from the breast.
• She sleeps with us, in our bed, between our heads majority of nights.
• I let her sleep on her stomach if she wants. 
• I heat her bottles up in the microwave.

This post is not to make anyone feel guilty for letting me know what they think or to tell you you are wrong, it is simply to let other mom's who have done some or all of the above things that they are NOT a bad mommy and encourage them to keep doing what they are doing because what works for one baby doesn't necessarily work for the next. This post is also not to encourage you to do any of these things just because it works for us, JUST DO-YOU! Don't feel guilty for doing things that are said to be VOO-DOO in the baby/new parenting world. Why do you think they make dozens of different style bottles, different shaped pacifier nipples, different fabrics blankets, and quite the variety of diapers---ALL BABIES ARE DIFFERENT, that is one thing that makes them so uniquely yours...

Mommy Issues

No I'm not referring to Sigmund Freud's views or Austin Powers' Daddy issues from the scene "Daddy wasn't there." I'm talking about the daily challenges I face as a Mommy, things that bother me, things that I wish I could change or be in control of. Now, I will vent:

• Showering: Who knew that it would be such a struggle to get a shower in some days. Or I can associate guilt with not showering--I am paranoid and feel guilty when I feel that I start to get "ripe." (Quick Side note: I have yet to go more than two days without a shower, so don't picture me in soiled clothes covered in spit up and my hair lookin like a cave woman with some body stench that is unidentifiable--that hasn't happened-yet.) I'm talking about getting past the point of your own B.O. comfort zone. The guilt comes into play when Josie is feeding and I know her nose is right up in my armpit--hey she put herself in that situation for not taking a nap longer than 10 seconds. The paranoia sets in when Andrew gets home and is holding Josie, "She stinks." (Deep down inside I totally know its not her, but I blame it on her anyway--hey I can do that until she defend herself). Showering is now a rush thing--I have mastered the 2 minute shower.
• Meal time: I have to force myself to get enough water down in a day let alone eating. It seems some days I will eat my lunch and dinner together (I should be 600 lbs by now) or have 20 snacks to satisfy one hunger. I obviously do not purposly skip meals--I love my food. Its just crazy how my body can hide my hunger because Josie has to eat or diaper change gets trump card. I will look at the clock in the morning and next time I do 6 hours have gone by and I need to start thinking about dinner! 
• Breastfeeding: I wish there was some way to prepare yourself better for breastfeeding (or maybe you could have a built in gauge letting you know if the tank is full or empty.) Wouldn't that be convenient. There is really no schedule. Sometimes Josie will feed for 12 minutes, sometimes for 4 and be completely satisfied each time. The worst is when she just wants a "snack" and feeds for 1 minute and then leaves me with a "leaky water-balloon" and forces me to pump the rest. The past few days have been -snack throughout the day, days- She will feed for like 4 minutes then be done and want to eat again every hour (this continues through the night). Then the next day she will feed like a pig so I will pump to stock up the fridge in case my supply runs low. Just kidding-back to 4 minute feedings and a fridge full of 6-5oz bottles that get dumped down the drain.
• I wrote this post a few weeks ago, and have made the permanent switch to pumping--upcoming post about that experience.
• Productivity: I have always been a busy person. It has taken me the most effort to get used to the change in my daily productivity.
• A pre-Josie productive day: Me showered--(I use body lotion and my hair done), Laundry done and put away, house vacuumed, Dishes washed and put away, Homework complete,Hot dinner on the table when Andrew gets home.
• A post-Josie productive day: (Choose ONE of the following scenarios)
• Me Showered (no lotion, deodorant if I remember, and lucky to have product in my hair which stays in a permanent pony-tail)
• One load of laundry washed and made it in the dryer
• One side of the kitchen sink is empty
• The vacuum gets used once out of the five days I have been staring at it sitting in the middle of the living room.
• I log into the computer.
• I have some clue what dinner will be or at least have meat thawed.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want it any other way than to stay home with my baby girl, and I know it will get easier. It would just be nice some days to do my thing. But it's probably God's way of making me slow down and take in every moment with my Josie, who seems to be growing at the speed of light.