Lessons Learned from my One-Year-Old

Ryenne has been growing like crazy these days. While we were on a recent vacation to Kauai spanning a little over a week, she out-ate both of her cousins (3 years old and almost 2), and put on two or three pounds during! She is the friendliest toddler you'll ever meet - waving and smiling at children, little old ladies, teenagers, grouchy looking old men, and even homeless people! She has absolutely no prejudice towards any person at this point in her life. And that's such a beautiful thing.
Ryenne has also been quite the jabber mouth lately. She is really into imitating sounds and intonation, and has been able to put more and more words together. Lately a phrase that you'll hear her say quite often these days sounds something like "Mah-mah, Mama." As a professional Ryenne-Ashley-language-interpretor, I have deciphered this little phrase to mean, "Help me, Mama." It's something that I've been saying for her in an attempt to model what the proper way of communicating her needs was rather than whining or crying or pointing when she would get stuck or her toy would fall over or her food would drop to the floor from the table. It's so amazing to me how quickly she picks up on things and how much she wants to learn. She tries desperately to communicate with us all the time, and we do our very best to understand her and respond as quickly as possible so as not to discourage those attempts. It's so important to listen to your child when she expresses a need because that is going to build so much trust and security into your relationship. A parent who ignores their child as she tries to communicate her needs is teaching their child that her needs are not important, that the parent does not understand her, and that ultimately whatever the parent is consumed with is more important than the child. While I, too, have been guilty of staring at my phone or computer rather than trying to meet the needs of my child, I do try so hard everyday to show Ryenne that she is my priority.
And I don't mean to say that Ryenne is the center of the universe. In reality, God is always going to be number one and pleasing Him is what is most important to me. Second to that is always going to be her daddy, David, and she comes next. In the context of communication though, David and I both feel that it is of utmost importance to do our best to listen to our daughter as she attempts to vocalize her needs, thoughts, feelings, or wants. But, it is still up to us as the parents to decide how best to respond - and sometimes that means having to say "no."
Anyway! Back to my story. This new phrase of Ryenne's ("Help me, mama") has me completely melted just about every time she says it. There is something so precious about that little voice asking me for help. I would do just about anything, as long as it was in her best interest, to meet whatever her need is when she asks me in such a sweet way. My heart overflows with joy to help her in any way I can.
This tender example of my own child asking me, the parent, for whatever it is she needs, has got me thinking often about the way my Heavenly Father looks at me.
A passage in particular that is very dear to my heart comes from Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV):

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

You are probably able to guess by now where I am going with this story. As a parent, when Ryenne asks me for help, I would do anything in the world to meet that need as long as I was able and it was in her best interest. And when I am able to meet that need, it brings me so much joy. So, how much more does God delight to answer me when I ask Him for help? He may not always answer me in the way that I am asking Him to, but that is only ever because it is in my very best interest. Sometimes I have to try to explain to Ryenne why I am not able to fulfill the need she is expressing. She doesn't understand for the most part yet, other than knowing that she's not getting what she asked for, but over time, she will hopefully be able to see why it is that sometimes I must say "no" to her. The same thing with me as a child of God. I may not always understand why God is not answering me in the way that I want Him to, but without fail, His reasoning is always in my best interest.

And what about the times where He does grant my request? That doesn't mean that He is answering my request because I've done anything right to earn it as a reward. It actually means the same exact thing as when He says "no:" it's because it's in my best interest. And if I receive so much joy in helping my daughter and giving her the things that she asks for, then how much more does it delight my Heavenly Father to help me and grant my requests!!! And oh, how much greater is His love for me than the love that I have for my little girl.

I am so thankful for the privilege it is to have my wonderful husband and my precious daughter as God's two greatest means of revealing Himself to me in new and beautiful ways. I have never felt more valued, cherished, protected, and loved by God as I do now, and I am so so thankful for the lessons He teaches me daily through my duties as a child of God, wife to David, and mama to Ryenne.

Randie Megan

Move over, Pinterest

Every night after Ryenne Ashley goes down to sleep I close her bedroom door, walk out to the living room, and am met with one of my favorite views as a mother and wife. No, it's not a Pinterest-worthy room with white walls, geometric shapes, modern furniture, and a vast array of trendy artwork hanging on the walls. The scene that I am usually greeted with consists of baby toys scattered about the room, a little shoe here and there, my husband's lunch containers sitting on an end table, board books scattered far from their place on the bookshelf, David's work uniform crumpled in a heap on the floor... a room very much lived-in. Many people might actually describe this sight as a complete mess (and on more than one occasion I admit that I would have agreed), but I look at it and it is the most beautiful home in the world to me. Tonight it finally hit me - why it's so beautiful to me:
What a blessing and privilege it is to have a husband and a baby to clean up after!
Those scattered toys and books strewn across the room? That means there was a little person who played and read and discovered today. The dirty lunch tupperware? That means there was a husband who enjoyed a good meal today. Those little shoes sitting in random places on the floor? They belong to a pair of adorable little feet that are not only walking all over the place, but growing way too fast! And the dirty pile of laundry? That means that there's a hard-working man in the house who ran, sweated, and worked in that uniform all day to provide for his family.
How could I see these things and not feel grateful?? The absence of them would possibly mean that that room could have the potential to be pinned on Pinterest, but oh how empty my life would feel without the laundry, the dishes, the little shoes, the toys, and the books to bring purpose and fulfillment to my life! There is no other title in the world that I'd rather have than "Wife" and "Mama." I know I didn't do anything to deserve either of those titles, but God in His sweet grace chose me to be wife to David and mama to RyeRye nonetheless.
And so it brings me great joy to clean up after my two precious charges every night. Goodness knows where I'd be without them :)

The most Pinterest-looking part of my home currently haha
David brought me these beautiful roses just because....
just because I'm a lucky girl :)

Xoxo,
Randie Megan

Comparison: Ergobaby Carrier vs. Sakura Bloom Ring Sling

It's been some time since writing my last comparison entry on baby carriers. Since then, my daughter has grown quite a bit what with turning 1 and all, and as a result I have found myself reaching for different carriers than I used to! Like I said before in my comparison between a Bibetts and Sakura Bloom ring sling, I don't have nearly the elaborate stash that you'll find many mamas have, but I do have a Bibetts ring sling, a Sakura Bloom ring sling, an Ergobaby carrier, and a Mei Tai.
Before I get to which carrier is my absolute favorite, let me make a short list of my favorite things about each, starting with the Sakura Bloom.

Ryenne (~6 months here) & I at the Farmer's Market
"Kangaroo Carry"

Sakura Bloom Ring Sling (Classic) in Acadia
$98.00

• completely adjustable
• lightweight and non-bulky - easy to keep in the diaper bag
• linen
• machine washable
• the Classic version is a single layer of linen which allows for a front carry, kangaroo carry (front forward facing), and hip carry

We like to use it for:

• shorter walks
• "emergency" situations (aka my child only wants to be held and my arms are about to fall off)
• since it is so lightweight and non-bulky, we keep it in the diaper bag at all times so that we always have a carrier on hand

Ryenne (~6 months) & David
"Front Carry"

Original Ergobaby Carrier in Aussie Khaki

$115.00

• more of a "backpack style" carrier
• includes a hood
• 2 pockets
• ergonomic (meaning that it keeps the baby's legs spread apart in a natural "froggy" fashion rather than holding up the baby by the crotch - a known cause of hip dysplasia in babies)
• cotton
• all straps are adjustable (even the hood)
• 3 carry positions - back, hip, and front
• machine washable

We like to use it for:

• hiking
• shopping trips
• going on walks
• putting her to sleep - it's the only carrier she will sleep in (and she falls asleep FAST)
• anything and everything

Based on that last point, you are probably already guessing which carrier is my favorite. The Ergobaby. As much as I do LOVE that I am able to stow away the ring sling so easily (and, let's be honest, it's so pretttttyyyy), the Ergobaby is much more comfortable on a long-term basis now that my daughter is bigger and heavier and longer. Maybe if I wore the ring sling enough I would develop better back and shoulder muscles in the right places, but the thing I love about the Ergo is that my daughter is basically one with me! It's like being pregnant again... sort of. Her weight is evenly dispersed between my shoulders and my hips - with NO strain whatsoever to my back. Even my mom, who has back issues (sciatica and an inflamed disc), was perfectly comfortable carrying my daughter in the Ergo.

Bonus: my husband prefers the Ergo as he feels it is more "masculine" than the ring sling - although he has worn the ring sling before too ;) (Real men do it).

And if you have read my comparison between Bibetts and Sakura Bloom, you'll note that I had mentioned that my daughter did not like the Ergo. Well, one day she just decided that it didn't bother her anymore, and now she loves it. I think it had something to do with her finally being able to peer over the back of the carrier instead of being tucked away deep inside. That being said, I do think that if we ever had another baby that the ring sling would once again be my go-to as baby would be much less heavy as a newborn, and you really can't beat the convenience and ease of toting around a light piece of fabric that magically transforms into a baby carrier.

So, I guess the real answer is that BOTH are my favorites - but at different stages of my baby's life! I loved the Sakura Bloom for her infancy, but the Ergo is unbeatable for carrying a toddler. Currently my (and my husband's) favorite baby carrier is the Ergo. It comes along with us pretty much everywhere despite the awkward shape and bulkiness. The comfort of the fit when it's on totally outweighs the hassle of lugging it around.

Which carrier do you prefer? Do you have an Ergobaby or a Sakura Bloom?

Thanks for reading!!

Randie Megan

And an extra picture just for kicks:
Ryenne Ashley knocked out on Daddy's
back during a family walk one day haha

Comparison: Bibetts vs. Sakura Bloom Ring Slings

Do you baby wear? Chances are if you are reading this, you do - or at least are interested in it! Baby wearing was a pretty foreign concept/term to me pre-baby, but as a new mama I have fallen in love. Like all self-proclaimed babywearers, I do have a few different carriers (ring slings, an Ergo, and a Mei Tai), but I definitely have my favorites. And that would be: the Ring Sling.
Like I said before, just a few months ago I had absolutely no idea what ring slings were. I had, in fact, seen a few mothers wearing their babies in ring slings, and just assumed that was another hippie mother thing to do. For some reason it reminded me of wearing a turban. Don't ask me why, but those are the images that came to mind when I would see women walking around with their babies all wrapped up in these long pieces of fabric.
I began searching for alternate ways of carrying my daughter, Ryenne, when I realized that as a newborn she was constantly wanting to nurse, which meant that I was constantly sitting down holding her and watching my house decay and the dust build up and the dishes pile high. It was pretty miserable. I started to wonder if maybe I could wear her and learn to nurse like that. I grabbed my Ergo carrier and tried to give it a shot. Well, as much as I love the Ergo and think that it is probably the most comfortable way to carry a baby, my daughter would have absolutely none of it. She would stiffen and scream and wail in that thing. Plus, it was pretty hard to nurse in. Maybe it's because I don't have the most voluptuous boobs, but whatever the reason, nursing in the Ergo was almost equivalent to trying to nurse an angry cat.
I started researching baby carriers, and that's when my eyes were opened to the world of ring slings. Suddenly turbans weren't popping into mind, but instead I was envisioning the freedom I could potentially have to simultaneously nurse, clean, cook, and cuddle!
Well, something else that I stumbled upon while doing all my research was the sobering reality of just how expensive most ring slings are. There was no way that my husband and I could afford to buy a sling for upwards of $100. With that information acquired, I began looking at my options for more budget-friendly ring slings.
That's when I discovered Bibetts.
Bibetts sells handmade, pure linen ring slings for about $40 + shipping. They had wonderful reviews, so I was thrilled that my ring sling dream might become a reality!
Here's where my comparison/review comes in:
I'm sad to say that Bibetts has terrible customer service. I did not receive my sling for two weeks +, and when I tried to email the shop owner about it, she did not reply for days. The sling sat in Texas (where the shop is located) for most of that time, until the shop owner got back to me saying she had lost an entire order of slings (mine included) and that she was now sending out a new one.
But! That aside, my first ring sling was life changing for me! It took a little while for me to get used to it and fall in love (especially with the shipping delays), but eventually I was hooked! I love that I can throw a sling in the diaper bag and that I can carry my daughter in so many different carrys - she can face in, face out, sit on my hip, or even recline in a nursing position.
Bibetts was a GREAT way for me to be introduced to the wonderful world of ring slings. Here are some pros and cons that I have found with my Bibetts pure linen ring sling.

pc: Bibetts Etsy shop - Listed at $39

Pros:

• Purchasing a sling from here was extremely budget-friendly. $40 for a ring sling - you can't beat that!
• The linen is sturdy but also lightweight, making it breathable and comfortable to wear even on hot days.
• After several washes, it has become "worn in," which means that it is floppy and comfortable and basically you feel as if you aren't wearing anything!

Cons:

• Bibetts has (had, perhaps? To give them the benefit of the doubt) terrible customer service.
• In my experience, it takes a long time to ship your sling, and consequently that really caused me to lose a lot of my enthusiasm for this "deal" overall.
• I've noticed a little fraying along the hem of my sling. Not sure if this is a problem yet, but it could potentially be in the future.

Now that we've covered Bibetts, I'll switch gears to my Sakura Bloom experience!
I have been following Sakura Bloom's Instagram account (username: lovesakurabloom) for a few months now, and I have always, always been drooling over their gorgeous slings. They make their slings out of the most beautiful colors.
The reason I didn't run out the door and buy a Sakura Bloom right away though, is because they are actually pretty pricey! Their "cheapest" slings go for $98 plus tax and shipping. Not cheap!! They also make slings out of silk which I can't even fathom being able to purchase...
Anyway, for Christmas my in-laws gifted my husband and me a good chunk of Christmas money and insisted on spending it on something for ourselves (aka not on groceries or bills haha). It took me a couple of weeks to figure out just what I wanted, but once I realized that I finally had the opportunity to buy one of these beauties, I was sold!
On top of that, because I was following Sakura Bloom on Instagram, I was aware of a fluke sale that they had for one day only! They were offering 20% off of ALL their slings - and just so you know, this was the only discount day that Sakura Bloom has ever had! I am so glad I stumbled upon that happy discovery. I hopped online and was able to finally purchase one of their beautiful classic linen slings at 20% off :) That still meant that I got it for under a hundred bucks!
I have had a few weeks now to try out my Sakura Bloom, and let me just say: it is definitely my favorite. Here is my list of pros and cons for my Sakura Bloom ring sling.

pc: Sakura Bloom's website - Listed at $98
Sakura Bloom "Acadia"

Pros:

• This sling is durable. I never have to worry about my daughter not feeling secure enough in it, which is something that I sometimes worry about with my Bibetts sling just because the fabric is so thin and flimsy.
• My Sakura Bloom is both wider and longer than my Bibetts ring sling. Wider means that my daughter has even more fabric to be "pocketed" into, and longer means that I have a longer tail with which to cover myself when nursing, or shade baby on a sunny day.
• The color. It's just beautiful. The pictures don't do it justice.
• I feel that because the linen is sturdier and thicker than the Bibetts sling, that it is easier to maneuver when adjusting. I don't have to worry about pulling some seams or something like I might in my Bibetts sling.
• I prefer the way that the Sakura Bloom's rings are sewn in place over Bibetts. I have included a couple comparison shots at the end of this post so you can get a better idea of what I mean.
• Shipping was FAST! I received my sling within a WEEK. Talk about instant gratification...

Cons:

• Let's face it. Sakura Bloom slings are not cheap. As if they aren't priced high enough, they also tack on shipping and that adds another several dollars.
• Because the fabric is thicker and more durable, that also means that it is a little hotter to wear than I've experienced with my Bibetts sling.
• Again, thicker fabric = bulkier material, which results in it taking up a little more room in the diaper bag.

Despite the very few cons that I have listed for the Sakura, I honestly do not think those are big issues at all when you realize how great of a product you have. There is a world of difference between the feel of both slings. Overall, the Bibetts sling is cheaper, lighter, and to some degree comfier, but the Sakura Bloom is more durable, more quality, easier, longer, wider, bigger, better, and basically just beautifuler.

That said, if you are looking to invest in a really good quality sling, I highly recommend going with Sakura Bloom. But if you are just wanting a good introduction to the world of slings, then by all means try it out by getting a Bibetts :)

Close up of my Bibetts ring sling's rings and the way they are
sewn in. As you can see, there is a little bit of frabic, and just
overall wear beginning to show.

Close up of my Sakura Bloom's rings and sewing detail.
Yeah... 'nough said.

Thanks for stopping by and reading today! What are your favorite baby carriers? Do you have a Sakura Bloom or Bibetts sling?

//EDIT 08.13.15//
Check out my ErgoBaby Carrier vs. Sakura Bloom Ring Sling comparison post to see which carrier I prefer to use with my now older baby!

My Oily Journey + a Wipe Solution Recipe!

Well folks, here comes my confession. I am an oily mama. You may have guessed it already after reading that I cloth diaper my daughter, but yes, I am also into essential oils. Young Living Essential Oils, to be specific :)
My oily journey actually started out as a cloth diapering tangent. I was busy researching away, when I read that when cloth diapering, you typically use cloth wipes as well because it makes a lot more sense to just throw everything into one (laundry) bag rather than throwing the diaper in one bag and the wipes in another. Before I knew it, I was reading about baby wipes and baby wipe solution, when I came across a curious ingredient: "a few drops of essential oils." What was that?? I hadn't really heard about essential oils before, so I began researching that as well.
A week or two before this discovery, I had heard a good friend of mine casually mention essential oils at a women's retreat, so I decided that since she obviously knew a thing or two about oils, I would ask her if there was a way I could purchase some Lavender or Tea Tree Oil through her (those seemed to be the most common and were called for in a baby wipe solution) - as long as it wasn't too expensive. She was more than happy to talk to me about them, and promised to bring a few samples the next time I saw her.
I, however, being the impatient person that I am, was way too excited about my cloth diapering journey and wanted to get crackin' on wipes and the wipe solution. I decided to head over to Trader Joe's and see if they might have any Lavender or Tea Tree Oil, and then to figure out the rest of the ingredients on my own. Trader Joe's had some Tea Tree Oil, and I assumed (wrongly) that all oils are created equal and so this would be sure to do the job nicely. Before I knew it, I had whipped up a batch of "wipe solution" and was able to start using it on my daughter without having to wait on my friend's samples! It seemed like I was all set!
Within a few days, my daughter's skin started to redden. At first I wasn't sure what the cause was, but I soon discovered that not only was Tea Tree Oil not the best choice of essential oils for babies under 6 months, but I also learned that not all oils labeled "essential oils" are actually therapeutic grade aka the real deal! Devastated that my hastiness had resulted in a sore bottom for my little girl, I began to be more thorough in my essential oils research.
I learned that Lavender was actually a better choice for babies under 6 months because it is a whole lot gentler than Tea Tree. My friend also got back to me as promised, and instead of giving me a few samples, she and her husband gifted us an entire Young Living Premium Starter Kit. To understand the amazingness of this gift, here is a little visual aid:

This kit is $150 wholesale, with a retail value of over $300!

I was both blown away and touched by our friends' generosity! Little did I know, this would be one of the best gifts I would ever receive: the gift of health + endless possibilities.
Now that I knew that I had an amazing starter kit on the way, I began researching even more. I had never heard of Young Living before - only doTerra, and I was curious as to why one company would be a wiser choice over another. I learned that doTerra (which is actually a company that branched off from Young Living), while cheaper, does not offer as near as many oils as Young Living does, and that they do not oversee their oils and farms in the same amazing Seed-to-Seal process that Young Living faithfully maintains. I also learned that Young Living has been around a whole lot longer - 20+ years, to be exact! All of this information made me all the more excited to begin my oily adventure.
By the time my kit came, I could scarcely contain my excitement. After days of constantly checking the mail, it finally arrived one crazy hectic day while my husband and I were in the midst of our HUGE move from Chicago to Hawaii. I was most excited about my diffuser, and so I opened that bad boy up, plugged it in, and - now the best part - which oil would I diffuse first? We chose Stress Away (a blend of oils put together to promote stress relief), and - just like that, I became an oily wife/mama. I was hooked.
Since then, I have incorporated these precious oils into my everyday life. At night I apply a diluted blend of oils to the bottom of my daughter's feet which promotes sleep (her sleeping habits improved dramatically after the very first time I used it on her), I diffuse a little Lavender + Cedarwood in our room to help us sleep better at night, I will dab a little Tea Tree Oil aka Melaleuca Alternifolia on any acne and it dries up by morning, rub some Peppermint on my temples to combat my horrendous allergies, and in the morning I have the exciting task of choosing which oil(s) I will diffuse for the day!
I have also been able to make my OWN, safe, non-toxic, non-poisonous, natural cleaning supplies! From glass cleaner, to all-purpose cleaning spray, to bug repellant, to toilet cleaner! And I can't tell you what a relief it is to know that should my increasingly mobile daughter ever decide to raid my cupboards and get into Mommy's cleaning supplies, I won't have to call poison control and make a trip to the ER!
The possibilities are ENDLESS with Young Living Essential Oils. Note that I only recommend Young Living as it is the brand that I trust after thoroughly researching the different brands of essential oils and the different essential oil making processes. And like I mentioned earlier, not all oils are created equal - and I can attest to the bad side affects that can occur when using another "essential oil" brand.
If you are wondering how you can get started on investing into your family's health via the oily train, then wonder no further! I'm here to help :) Getting your hands on Young Living's essential oils is easy once you know someone who can help you out! There are two options to consider when converting (haha):
First, you can purchase the oils as a retail member. You will purchase whatever oils you want that Young Living has to offer (and believe me, there are TONS!) at retail value + shipping. This might be an ideal choice for you if you are unsure about essential oils, but still want to get started on one or two that you have heard good things about, without investing the initial $$$ it costs to become a member with wholesale privileges.
This leads me to the second option. You can also purchase essential oils as a wholesale member by signing up using my link (here & below)! This enables you to purchase oils at a wholesale cost which is 24% less than retail!! In order to become a member, you need to purchase a starter kit. Like cloth diapering, this is a lot of money upfront, but in the long run it pays itself off and is the cheaper option! I highly recommend the Premium Starter Kit (above) as it not only includes samples, cool info, a roller attachment, and a diffuser (worth $100 itself I might add), but it also includes ELEVEN essential oils! This is an amazing way to jumpstart your oily journey! I have been able to create SO many concoctions with my starter kit oils! It was over 3 months before I began to run out of certain oils, and even today the majority of my oil collection is oils that I was first introduced to from the starter kit!
So! This is a brief overview of how you can get your hands on some oils, so I won't bother you with all the hundred other benefits that stem from being a wholesale member of Young Living oils. I can save that for a future post! But for now, I will stop here and leave you with that Wipe Solution Recipe that originally got me interested in the wonderful world of essential oils :)

Fluff Wipe Solution

• 1 T oil (olive or melted coconut - I use coconut)
• 1 T Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Castille Soap
• 4-5 drops essential oils (Now that my daughter is over 6 months, I use 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Melaleuca Alternifolia/Tea Tree)
• 1 C water
• A squirt bottle (I use the bottle they gave me at the hospital after I had Ryenne)

Add all the ingredients into the bottle. Shake before each use to make sure oil is evenly distributed.

I usually squirt this solution onto the wipe right when I'm changing my daughter's diaper. Then I just toss it in with the rest of the cloth diapers! The reason I prefer to use coconut oil over olive is because coconut is also really good for getting rid of yeast infections, so I use it as a preventative measure. 

For cloth wipes, I simply use the hundreds of baby washcloths that we were gifted at every baby shower haha They do the job perfectly!

Lastly, here is my sign-up link if you would like to purchase some oils or become a wholesale  member yourself today!!

https://beta.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?site=US&sponsorid=2270059&enrollerid=2270059

As always, email me if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions!

Happy oiling, my friends! What are some of your oily adventure stories??

Review: Classic Skwish by the Manhattan Toy Company

The Manhattan Toy Company "Skwish"
Classic Rattle & Teether Grasping Activity Toy

Today I am doing a review on a "new" toy that Ryenne Ashley has acquired thanks to some dear friends of ours here in the city! The other day we visited a family that I used to babysit for, and while we were there they gave us some hand-me-down toys. As a matter of fact, all of Ryenne's toys are hand-me-downs from this family!

When I first saw this "contraption," I was definitely intrigued as it is unlike any toy that I've ever seen for babies! The colorful pieces are wooden, and the black are stretchy elastic, so it is actually bendable/movable. The thing that is so great about this toy for my 4.5 month old, is that her little fingers can grasp it so easily and bring it up to her mouth to gnaw at (she has been all about biting, grabbing, feeling, and touching lately! And she is so fascinated with this little gadget!

I'm a little particular when it comes to baby-related items as I'm not a fan of brightly colored, overly-stimulating, lights-flashing, music-playing play things. I don't have anything against people who do enjoy those types of toys in their homes, but personally I like toys that encourage children to use their imaginations a bit more. Sometimes toys nowadays tend to do all the "imagining" for the kids. This one is perfect for curious little babies. The fact that it stretches and bends makes it exceptionally interesting, and there are wooden "beads" that slide back and forth along the wooden pegs making a gentle sliding sound.

The mother of this family actually mentioned that this toy was around when she was a baby! She said that initially she was a little worried about the beads coming loose and becoming a potential choking hazard, but after growing up with it and then having one with her own two children, she saw firsthand that that was never a problem. The fact that this toy has been around for about 40 years tells me that there's something special about it!

Well, to wrap up, I found this unique rattle/teether on Amazon for just $12! It's originally from the Manhattan Toy Company, and I read on their website that it is actually the winner of the 2014 Family Choice Award (apparently it's quite popular and I'm still just very new to this baby world!)! 

I know that the next time I attend a baby shower, I am including this as part of the gift! It's already a family favorite in our home.

What are your favorite baby teethers/rattles? Please share!

Cloth Diapering as a Newbie Part I: bumGenius 4.0s & AIOs

If you would have asked me just 6 months ago about cloth diapers, I would have laughed and probably even rolled my eyes. You see, I used to think that only hippie moms used cloth diapers. But then I had a baby of my own. The first month or two were fine as plenty of people had gifted us with disposables in size N through 1, but over the next couple of months (my daughter, Ryenne, is 4 months old now), I learned that the cost of buying disposables adds up. FAST. It felt like we were always heading to the store to buy more diapers or wipes, and sometimes, when we would need them in a pinch, we would just buy them at the nearest Jewel Osco or Wal Mart Express instead of waiting for the better bargain by making a trip to Costco.
That's when I first began to consider cloth.
I started researching cloth diapers: washing them, using them, buying them, etc. It just so happens that there are about a billion and one different types of cloth diapers. And there was all this fancy lingo like "AIO" or "pockets" or "stuffing" or "pilling" that everyone kind of assumed that all mothers knew. Well, I was clueless. I had no idea where to start.

This is basically me after I began researching cloth.

After being advised to just pick a brand and try it out, we decided to go with bumGenius 4.0s and Freetimes. It's pretty confusing to look up those two styles of bumGenius though, because they appear to be exactly the same! One helpful mama took the time to actually take pictures of what exactly a pocket-style and all-in-one looked like. That's when it clicked and I finally understood how these confounded diapers worked! So that's exactly what I'm going to do with you! However, since I am still a newbie at all of this, you are only going to get to look at two different styles of bumGenius, since that is all that my stash consists of at the moment. So far, I'm not even curious about trying other styles because I am just so happy with my bumGenius diapers.

Style #1: bumGenius 4.0 Pocket-Style Cloth Diaper

Pocket-style means that there is a pocket in which you "stuff" the microfiber insert (it comes with two: the resizable one that you can adjust as your baby gets older, and the infant insert, which works GREAT for layering overnight). Confused yet? That's why I'm including lots and lots of pictures. I don't know about you, but things are always much easier to understand when there are pictures!

Close-up of the 4.0

I chose to go the snap route instead of the velcro because I
read that snap diapers tend to have a longer life expectancy 

4.0 Opened up

Here's the pocket with the microfiber insert inside (it came
with the diaper)

This is all that you get with a bumGenius 4.0 diaper:
Infant insert, adjustable microfiber insert, & pocket-style diaper

Style #2: bumGenius Freetimes Cloth Diaper

The Freetime diaper is an all-in-one diaper. Looks pretty identical, right? That's why I was so confused at first. The difference is when you open them up:

Left: Freetimes All-in-One
Right: 4.0 Pocketstyle with Inserts

Instead of inserts like the 4.0s, the Freetime inserts are actually attached to the diaper itself. It looks like this:

Personally I like having both of these, but I will admit that I favor the 4.0s. Oddly enough, when I first heard about these two styles, I thought for sure I would like the Freetimes better because they just sounded so easy! But, I LOVE that you can layer inserts (or not) in the 4.0s, and that's what makes it more of a winner for me. Yes, you can still layer inserts in a Freetime, but that makes it way too bulky in my opinion. Bulkiness was one of the biggest adjustments for me. I really like the slim fit of disposables, but with cloth, my daughter's teeny little behind is magnified by 10x into a bubble butt! Someone pointed out, though, that this is actually a pro for when baby starts walking as it cushions the landing on their little tushies.
Another concern that I had when I first starting using cloth was the fact that my daughter's legs seemed to "froggy out" a lot more than they did in disposables. I have been reassured by many mothers that this does not inhibit their growth and development in anyway, and they even pointed out that just a few years ago everyone wore cloth. And no one is walking around with cloth-diaper-induced disabilities. That made me feel a lot better.
Here is one last picture so you can see what the diaper looks like completely unsnapped and at it's largest size:

Right now Ryenne is still on the smallest setting and that works perfectly. I read on the bumGenius website that when you layer multiple inserts (like you might do for overnight use) that it's a good idea to go up a size to allow for more room. However, I tried that on my daughter and the legs were way too gappy. So she still sleeps comfortably with the smallest setting.
I think that pretty much wraps up the very basics of these two diapers. Stay tuned on New Wife, New Mama to read more about my cloth diapering experience: using, washing/drying, my list of essentials,  favorite cloth-diapering links, etc. This is only Part I!