Money-saving tips on baby products

When Samuel was born, I was unrealistic about how much money I would have to spend on baby products. I started out using all Aveeno baby wash, diaper rash cream, and lotion. Pampers were the only diapers to touch his bottom. Dreft was the only detergent I used to wash his clothes. I soon found out how expensive these products were and how I could easily save money by shopping around.

So, I just love Aveeno baby products, but they are so stinkin' expensive. After Samuel was born, I found Aveeno coupons on eBay and used those for awhile. When I ran out of coupons, I found that Target sold a generic Aveeno. I was so excited!!! That enthusiam died by the time Samuel was a year old because Target stopped making them. Never fear though... Publix saved the day. I found out that they have a generic version at a good price. Just check the baby aisle. They are right beside the Aveeno products. Oh, and Publix sometimes puts their Pampers diapers on sale for $5 or $6 less than you would pay elsewhere. Check the online ads or your local Publix if you shop there. I rarely shop at Publix, so I tend to search the ads. Also, since I'm a member of the Publix Baby Club, they send me notice of sales and coupons too.

By the time Samuel was 8 months old, I started using the Target brand of Desitin diaper rash cream (blue and white box), which I love even more than the Aveeno brand. I use it every time I change Samuel's diaper, which has prevented him from getting a diaper rash. I highly recommend doing that! Recently, with Samuel teething so much, I noticed some redness (not rash but redness), so I use Boudreaux's Butt Paste most of the time. It works like a charm. It is messy though, and I will warn you that it can stain clothing. It stained my changing pad cover. :( I will quit using it when I feel like he's over the teething. By then, I hope he'll be potty trained.

When Samuel was born, I used Pampers Swaddlers. So many people gave me diapers, that I didn't buy Pampers Swaddlers for 4 months. Even though I had a ton of Pampers Swaddlers, I felt like I was throwing away money if he only wore them a few minutes, so when Samuel was about 2 or 3 months old, I started using Luvs diapers when I knew he wouldn't have the diaper on for very long (i.e. right before I nursed him). I used my stockpile of Pampers the rest of the time. Because I wasn't too thrilled with the fit of Luvs (no stretch at all), I stopped using Luvs once Samuel went to a Size 3 diaper. Pampers Cruisers are so expensive though, so a month ago I went back to Luvs during the day and a Cruisers diaper at night. I was pleased to see that Luvs got their act together and added stretchy tabs. I haven't been disappointed. And Luvs are much cheaper!!!

Now, in order to save money on baby detergent, I shopped around and found that for $19.99 I could buy a HUGE container of liquid Dreft at Target. It's 200 or 300 oz. I would check, but I quit using it when Samuel was 18 months old. That container lasted months, so it was in no way a waste of money. For dryer sheets, I shopped at Babies-r-us and found a baby friendly one that I still use some. Ok, so at the 18 month mark, I decided to quit using baby detergent. I found Tide Free, and now I use Tide Free for all of our family's laundry. I think I will stick with that with the new baby. It's basically Dreft without the baby scent, right?

I almost forgot to mention that my FAVORITE stain remover for babies is Baby Oxyclean. The cheapest place to buy it is Babies-r-us because they sell a container 3 times the size of the container at Target. I wouldn't waste your time with any other stain removers. You can use this to make a paste on a stain or soak clothes in it when you have a little one around. (Once they're bigger, I just use Shout for stains.) Some people don't realize that you can use Oxyclean in every load of laundry to get your clothes cleaner. I've been using the regular Oxyclean in every load for years. Once Samuel was born, I was concerned about the chemicals until I saw the baby version. At 18 months, I also quit using the Baby Oxyclean and use the regular one.

If you have any questions, let me know. I would love to help any new moms out there!

A 2.7 year old memorizes and recites scripture

I frequent Monica's blog; she goes to my church and has so much encouragement to offer me on her blog. Her sister also has an inspiring blog. Today on Monica's sister's blog, I was amazed by the scripture memorization of her niece. Here's a link to the You Tube video. If you're like me, you will be in awe. You will also be encouraged to memorize more scripture yourself and continually read scripture to your children. It would be great to have the Word on your child's heart at such a young age. They might not understand it when they memorize it at such a young age, but I believe it's the beginning of understanding. Be encouraged!

I love my hubby!

I was just sitting here reading about the Nags Head family (post below) while Samuel naps. I was thinking about how blessed I am to be married to Jeremy and how much I miss having him around.

Here are some of the reasons that I love Jeremy so much:

-He loves me unconditionally.
-He has such beautiful blue eyes (superficial, I know).
-He makes me feel special.
-He tells me how pretty I am when I feel the furthest thing from pretty.
-He works hard to take care of our family even when that means sacrifice.
-He is a great father.
-He calls me a lot when we're apart.
-He makes it a habit to tell me how much he loves me.
-He is patient with me.
-He forgives me when I goof.
-He doesn't hold a grudge.
-He is so easy to please. (Ex. He would eat Spaghetti O's out of a can for dinner.)
-He is spontaneous.
-When I was pregnant with Samuel, he went to every OB appt. with me because he wanted to, and he would go to every appt. this time if he were in town.
-He loves to pamper me.
-He appreciates my upbringing.
-He keeps no secrets from me.
-He is respectful.
-He only has eyes for me.
-He tells me how glad he is that he married me.

I could go on, but Samuel just woke up.

Prayer for a Mother and Daughter

I was reading the Pioneer Woman Cooks. In the comments of a cookie recipe I found a link to a random woman's blog. When I arrived at her blog, I found a big prayer request. Here are the details: There is a family living in Nags Head, NC. The wife's name is Tricia (or Pattysue to her husband), and she's only 25 years old. She has cystic fibrosis and was awaiting a double lung transplant when she found out that she was pregnant. Yesterday at 24 weeks pregnant, they did a c-section due to some complications Tricia was having. They named the baby Gwyneth, and she weighed 1lb. 6 oz.. Tricia's husband is Nate, and he is a worship leader at their church (where his dad is the pastor). Nate has a blog called Confessions of a CF Husband, which has updates on Tricia and Gwyneth's progress. Visit his blog and please keep this mother and daughter in your prayers! Tricia also has a blog; there is a link on Nate's blog. I have read enough to be inspired by this couple's faith. I have a lot to learn from them! You WILL be encouraged! Thanks for praying for them!

Our growing boy and growing baby in the womb

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

When I look at pictures from last Christmas, I can't believe how much Samuel has grown. It's sad but exciting at the same time. I miss my little baby, but I love what he is becoming. Today I took him to the doctor with me, so he heard the baby's heartbeat. When I mentioned it to him later, he started imitating the noise he heard through the doppler. It is so cool how he listened carefully and now can make a similar noise. He has done it several times since then.

Speaking of the baby in the womb, all is well. Once again I forgot to get the heart rate, but we did hear a healthy one. The 16 week appt. is so easy since they only weigh me and listen with the doppler. I have my 20 week appt. and ultrasound scheduled for Feb. 5th. My doctor's office has a ultrasound machine and technician, so you have the ultrasound first and then meet with the doctor. I'm excited that it will be my turn to meet with the doctor who delivered Samuel. Jeremy will be here, and we will probably take Samuel with us. I want him to have a chance to see the baby. I know he probably won't understand, but I still want him to be there. One day we can tell him that he was there when we found out if we were having a girl or another boy.

Have a great day!!!

Top 100 Recipes of 2007

If you like to cook, you might want to take a look at this. Food Network has put together the Top 100 Recipes of 2007. Enjoy!!!

Chocolate Cake by Martha Stewart

On Friday, Jeremy and I watched Martha Stewart's show. Jeremy isn't a dessert person, but after seeing her make a chocolate cake, he was sending me off to the store to buy the ingredients. Would you believe that Wal-mart didn't have a single box of cake flour? We ended up going to Bi-lo later that day, and I made the cake on Saturday. That is the first cake I've made from scratch. Now I know why... It's very time consuming, and then the homemade icing was even more time consuming. I'm not complaining because it made Jeremy happy. I just won't be making another one next week.

I definitely recommend this cake and icing recipe. Just keep in mind that it is very rich... The cake is actually called Devil's food cake. I don't know the difference and couldn't taste the difference. Maybe someone could enlighten me. To me, it was chocolate cake.

I think the cake turned out well. Jeremy and my parents agree. (My Kitchen Aid mixer was a huge help. The paddle attachment worked wonderfully.) Tonight I took a piece to 4 neighbors, and I will be curious to see what they thought. I warned them that it's my first cake from scratch. I'm sure the next one will be better.

One suggestion- Despite what the recipe says, set your timer for 25 minutes and check the cakes with a knife or toothpick. ( I set my timer for 30 minutes but wish I had set it for 25.)

Moist Devil's Food Cake with Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Icing