I realized last week that I may or may not get a sewing machine when we first get to Moldova, and even if I do, I will not have nearly as much time to sew over there. So all of the projects I’ve been wanting to do all summer are getting done in the next couple of weeks.
First up was a fitted diaper for J made out of old t-shirts and some strips of terry cloth. I wore that tie-dyed shirt in the opening number of a state beauty contest when I was 16, but we don’t have to tell him that.
It’s still a little big, but that is better than being too small because he can grow into it. I’m so proud!
First, I use cloth diapers and wipes. Our entire diaper stash was purchased either as baby gifts or with baby gift money, so we have spent exactly $0 purchasing diapers in the last 6 months. Yes, there is a negligible amount of money spent on laundering the diapers. About 6 cents per load for electricity and water. Compare that to the average cost of about $70 per month for disposable diapers and wipes.
Second, I breastfeed. Compare that to buying formula, which costs roughly $180 per month (that’s actually on the very lowest end of the price spectrum), and buying all of the bottle-feeding supplies, which will be about $100 extra if not more. I understand that the extra $100 for supplies could also apply to breastfeeding moms who pump, but I haven’t bothered with any of that so in my case it doesn’t count.
Also, don’t forget another hidden savings of breastfeeding… the US Department of Health and Human Services reported that “Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.” (see here)
So add those together and I saved my family *at least* $1,600 just in the last 6 months! And the saving just keep adding up every day… awesome!
So last Sunday J said his first word, “Da-da.” Then a few days later, in the midst of some happy morning babbling, we’re pretty sure we heard him say “Jesus” at least a couple of times.
So now we are just waiting for his third word to be “Holy Spirit.”
This is only the second wool soaker that I have ever made!
The sheep were from a chart I made myself that was inspired by the Baby Sheep Hat made by Melissa at Indigo Mouse (look in her free patterns links on the ride sidebar), which was inspired by the Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan made by Jen at Looking Glass Knits.
The pattern is the free Flowerpot Tots shorties pattern, which can be found here. I really love the shape and fit of these shorties and I definitely plan on making many more from this pattern.
I would write more but I have a fidgety baby who is dying to get outside and play in his kiddie pool.
Since having J, Hubs and I have spent many, many hours pacing the floors and singing to him in attempts to lull him into dreamland. During that time, I’ve noticed that most children’s lullabys are seriously lacking in substance.
For starters, most of them are WAY too short for the amount of time that it takes J to fall asleep. I don’t know, maybe some people out there have babies who can fall asleep in 10 seconds or less, but I don’t. And I get tired of singing the same 4 lines over and over again.
Also, the subjects of these songs can be atrocious! Think about singing, “Hush little baby, don’t say a word, Mama’s going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won’t sing, Mama’s going to buy you…” The whole song is based on the idea that money can fix everything. I don’t need to be filling our heads with that nonsense.
Or let’s sing “Rock a bye baby, in the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and down will come baby cradle and all.” What??? Am I the only one who doesn’t see anything soothing about images of my baby and his cradle crashing to the ground in a windstorm?
Ok, enough ranting about lullabys and onto the purpose for this post. Hubs and I have been singing hymns to J as we walk or rock him to sleep. They are wonderful to teach your children and personally encouraging for me. We quickly tired of the same handful of hymns to which we knew all of the words, however, and flipping through the hymnal to find songs that are both soothing and ones you know can be a challenge.
So this morning I put together a collection of Lullaby Hymns to be printed out and kept for easy reference during sleepy times. Some of the songs may have to be slowed down a bit from how you are accustomed to singing them, but make wonderful lullabys when you do so. I then decided to post them on here as a resource for any other parents who may be tired of their lullaby options. So without further ado, I give you:
J has this crazy leg that just kicks all of the time lately. Last night, he was trying to chew on his foot and kick his leg at the same time and it was sooo funny! I promise, I wasn’t touching his leg and making it do that!
I'm just a small-town Kentucky girl married to a small-town Kentucky pastor. I love the Lord, my husband, our son, our friends and families, and being crafty.
I’m so proud!
