my days are numbered

our "someday..." posts have resonated with moms everywhere. you name a mom who doesn't dream of what life will be like "someday," and i can pretty much guarantee that we are not friends. parenting is hard. anyone who tells you differently is lying. it's exhausting. it is filled with moments when you want to shake your fists at someone and scream, "why?" it is the hardest thing you will ever do and there are days when i dream that i can see a light at the end of this very long parenting tunnel.

with five kids, that tunnel has gotten longer and longer. we are, however, for the first time ever, at a place where we have finally said, "we are done having kids." it was a long time coming and the truth is, i am grateful to be at a place where i can say that i am happy with five. i don't feel like something is missing. i'm content with what i have. that, too, has been a long time coming and i am thankful to finally feel that way.

now, for the first time in my life, i am on the other side of babydom. i will never again be pregnant. i won't have to go through nursing again. my body, such as it is, is officially my own again and i am relishing some of the great things that come from saying goodbye to infants and toddlers. i am nearing the end of an 11 year relationship with diaper changing. i no longer have to scrub out baby bottles. the poor, rickety crib is holding on for a couple of remaining months until we move on to the final "big-boy bed." the bib drawer will soon be a thing of the past. huge infant paraphernalia is slowly being consigned or given away. our house is turning into a big kid house. i almost don't know what to do with myself.

part of the transition is liberating. my grocery budget alone jumps with each new stage. no formula to buy? money for other things! no diapers to buy? how about a starbucks? that poopy diaper bucket just outside our garage door? that thing will soon be a thing of the past! some things are truly fantastic.

there are other moments when the loss of it all makes me feel like i cannot catch my breath. my fifth born is going through a bit of separation anxiety. lately he has cried every night when i put him to bed. with my first ones, i would have let them cry it out. with my last one, i go back in there every night and hold and rock my last baby. i am all too aware what happens next. i have seen the transition that happens when friends become cooler than parents. i have seen the look of embarrassment when i walk into my fifth grader's classroom. i have seen big hair bows give way to pony tails. i have seen tutu's and tiaras stuffed into the bottoms of drawers and thomas trains left pushed into the back of closets. i have watched as hugs and kisses have become less frequent and information about their days has to be pried from them.

don't get me wrong. i am grateful for the next stages as well. i love seeing the people my kids are becoming. i love the big belly laughs around the dinner table when we all get the same joke and can laugh in unison. i love spending bits of my day with them and seeing the world through the eyes of my growing children. still, they don't quite fit in my lap like they once did. they won't lay their heads on my shoulder and let me rock them to sleep. those days are quickly fading, even for number five. and so, my days are numbered. i once heard that with children, the days are long but the years are short. this has become painfully and wonderfully true, simultaneously. so, i'm determined to love the new stage we are entering. still, if my toddler wants to be rocked to sleep, i won't miss a night of it. when there is an expiration date, the moments and the memories become that much sweeter. i will hold onto them for as long as i can.

friday fun finds: simply right diapers

i used to be a diaper snob. with my first couple of kids, i somehow felt that i had to buy the most expensive diapers for their sweet little buns. i remember standing in stores like sam's club and staring at the diaper aisle. there were two options: one box of diapers that held the name brand version of disposable diapers and one box that held the less expensive brand of diapers. there were only two options so the price comparison was easy. still, i somehow always went with the more expensive option. surely, paying more money would mean that i was a smarter mom, right?

then i had a friend that looked at my diapers and said, "do you really think it's worth the extra money? you do realize they hold poop, right?" yeah...that changed things for me. why was i so concerned with buying the more expensive diapers? was it because i really believed those other diapers did a better job or was it merely because i was concerned with what people thought of me personally if i bought the more expensive brands? 

when it came down to it, i was worried about a few things. number 1: i wanted to take care of my sweet babies well. i was worried that the different diapers would not be as soft on their baby skin. number 2: i was tired of cleaning up newborn poopy explosions. who likes to do that, right? number 3: i was honestly concerned that people would judge me by the types of diapers i purchased. this one still makes me cringe as i take a frank look back at my former self. as a younger mother i was so worried that people were critiquing aspects of my parenting that it clouded my judgement. 

then, one day when money was really tight, (let's be honest...it usually is when you have as many kids as we do) i purchased a more inexpensive brand of diapers. the earth didn't shatter. people didn't look at me differently. the poop stayed in as well as it had with any other type of diaper. something else happened as well. there was a freedom that came from removing certain expectations on myself. why was i so bound up by appearances? these are the little disposable wonders that hold poop, for crying out loud! why was i thinking that paying more for them made me somehow better? freedom from worrying that you are messing things up is something that seems to plague mothers everywhere. letting go of one little piece of that unrealistic worry started an avalanche. i was saving money. my baby was happy. i was happy. things were good.

i have been using a package of SIMPLY RIGHT diapers and wipes from sam's club. the diapers have all of the elements that i like in a disposable diapers: the quality is excellent. they have elastic around the legs, elastic at the back of the diaper to keep "things" from climbing up the back, and good, extra stretchy side panels that were easily attached and unattached. my baby is one the move and these diapers have worked great as i've been chasing him all over, everywhere, all the time. 

the SIMPLY RIGHT wipes are just as helpful. they were thick and easy to use. i especially liked the packaging on the wipes better on this brand as the latch keeps little hands from leaving a huge pile of baby wipes on the floor when you walk out of the room. my kids don't have sensitive skin so allergies are not a problem but the wipes are hypoallergenic and fragrance free, just in case. they are soft and clean well. what more do i really need? the best part? these wipes are just as good (with a better latch and packaging) than other brands but cost less. why would i throw money away on more expensive products that are for wiping up poop?

i figured it out and when i stopped purchasing name brand diapers and wipes, i saved close to $400 a year. seriously. that's a lot of starbucks. most importantly, i'm a smarter mom than i was when i started. i can be more proud of myself for being frugal and still finding a great product than i ever was of myself for spending money unnecessarily. plus, i can reward my good shopping habits with a chai tea latte. now that is smart parenting! what about you? what products do you love that save you money and allow you to reward yourself in little ways during this parenting adventure?

For a FREE sample of SIMPLY RIGHT™ diapers or wipes, visithttp://simplyrightbabycare.com/sample.html today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SIMPLY RIGHT™ Baby Care Products.

getting ready for baby: bathing must-haves

the first time any of us were getting ready to have a baby, we didn't have a clue what we were doing. so much of first-time mommyhood is trial and error. i see brand new mommies-to-be stumbling through babies-r-us looking dazed and confused and i wish i could take their hands and guide them through the process. this series of posts is our way of doing just that. you don't have to take your registry scanner and copy everything we have here but you can take this advice and let it help you in your journey. if you haven't read our first two posts, check them out here:


getting ready for baby: diaper bag must-haves for newborns

getting ready for baby: diaper bag must-haves for older babies

newborn bath-time:


one of the first things you'll have to tackle when you bring your precious bundle home is the task of giving him or her a bath. bathing is very different for newborns than it is as your child grows so the bathing supplies you'll need are divided by your baby's age. again, we're not experts, just experienced mommies. here is what has worked for us:


baby bathtub or a bath sponge - it is much easier to put your baby into something that is made for their little size. i personally like the baby bathtubs that have the little newborn net inserts specifically designed to keep a newborn comfortable. little, soapy babies are really slippery. it's great to have a place where they can sit and not have to be picked up until bath-time is over. having them only partially submersed in water also helps in the bathing process. it may seem like an unnecessary purchase but you'll be glad you spent the $20.00 or so to purchase something for your newborn. chach, on the other hand *loves* the ease of the bath sponge. like i said, find what works for you.....ever mommy and every baby is different.

Infant Tub with Sling

Summer Infant Comfy Bath Sponge

wash cloths - there is a reason this one is plural. first, you'll need one just to wash your sweet baby. i've also purchased the little newborn cleansing cloths and those work just as well. it's important to have something to wash with as your baby grows. in each little fold of your baby's skin, you'll find a new and unpleasant smelling treasure. i had babies who spit up and i would find stinky milk in the oddest places. wash cloths help to get your baby clean all over. if you have a little boy, you'll want to bring another wash cloth along to bath-time. for some reason, when babies hit that warm water, they instantly want to pee. for little boys, that means a spray that goes straight up, all over you, into their own faces, onto your counter-tops. a second washcloth strategically placed over your little sprinkler can solve this problem.

Johnson's Disposable Washcloths

Luvable Friends Washcloths, Yellow, 12 Pack

baby wash - save yourself a step and purchase the body wash and shampoo in one easy bottle. if your baby has sensitive skin, buy a wash like aveeno or another brand specifically designed for your baby's needs. the baby wash doesn't need to be fancy...just needs to get the job done. you really don't need to break the bank buying something over the top to wash your baby with. save your money, buy something inexpensive to wash them with and then get them a cute outfit with all the money you save...or better yet, save up for some fabulous portraits of your newborn.

Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash

hooded towel - hooded towels are a life saver. newborns don't generally enjoy being pulled from the warm water of a bath into the stark freezing air outside the water. a hooded towel gets your baby's head covered and they are instantly warmer. i always left my baby wrapped up as much as possible while i got the diaper on and applied the baby lotion. for convenience and for a happy baby, you'll be glad you have one or four of these. i will say that you'll want a few of these. anytime your baby is naked for any amount of time, they will pee. it's just inevitable. it may not happen every time or even every week but it will happen. having an extra towel or two will keep you from going crazy...or staying up until midnight to get one washed. if you have a baby who spits up. you'll also end up with baby vomit on your towels. work to preserve your sanity and have a couple of extra on hand. you'll be glad you do.

Trend Lab Dr Seuss ABC Hooded Towel

baby lotion - maybe this is a luxury, maybe not. everything i've read says that any contact you have, skin to skin with your baby helps to foster the mommy-baby bond (or the daddy-baby bond). a little baby massage after bath time with some baby lotion is a great moment for both the parent and the baby. there is also something very soothing to a newborn about having lotion rubbed on their little bodies. this combined with the relaxing scents that accompany baby lotion and you have just established part of a night-time routine. anything extra that signals "night-time" to your baby will help to establish good sleep habits...and one bottle of lotion lasts forever. it's worth a couple of dollars and you will end up loving those moments with your baby.

Johnsons Baby Bedtime Lotion

infant to toddler bath-time:
as your baby grows, he or she will eventually be ready to move to a full sized bath-tub. this is really up to the comfort level and preference of each parent. my babies were long so tended to outgrow the newborn tub rather quickly. they loved being able to splash around and kick in the big bathtub as soon as i would let them. here's what i found helpful as my babies grew.


a bath sponge or a bath support - babies do love to lay down and kick in a couple of inches of water but the bathtub can be pretty hard on their little heads. there are great bathtub supports for babies that keep their heads cushioned and out of water while letting their legs dangle and splash away. my babies loved these.

Summer Infant Comfy Bath Sponge

toys - bath-time always became another playtime for my kiddos. it still is. my kids love to take baths. toys help to foster this fun time for your baby. buy some simple play things that your baby can pick up and chew on in the tub. they'll think the toys along with your undivided bath-time attention are the greatest parts of the day.

Sassy Bathtime Pals Squirt and Float Toys

Munchkin Snail Stacker Bath Toy

Green Toys My First Red Tug Boat

toy storage - toy storage becomes important. if toys don't dry out, they will start to mold and mildew. a toy storage container where toys can drip-dry between baths is key. some people love the frog pod (chach does and has never had any problems with hers); mine never stuck to the bathtub. pretty much anything with a suction cup or a sticky eventually fell to the floor. still, some type of storage is helpful. i found a bath shelf to house a bunch of toys and a bath bag that i could hang over the faucet worked best for me. anything that houses toys will work and you may have to try a few to find one that works in your situation. besides letting toys dry, if you share a bath with your baby, it will also keep you from having to step around toys on those rare occasions you actually get to bathe yourself.

brica super scoop

brica corner bath basket

bath seat - as your baby gets more and more stable and mobile, you'll want a bath seat. these suction to the bottom of the bathtub and allow your baby to sit upright in a tub and easily reach for their bathtub toys. this makes bath-time more enjoyable for you and baby as they grow.

Dreambaby Deluxe Bath Seat

bucket or water pitcher - you need something to pour over your baby's head to rinse them off. a bucket, a large cup or a little water pitcher helps get baby rinsed off in one quick motion.

Safety 1st No Tears Rinse Cup

tubside kneeler/stool - this isn't a necessity but it is helpful. you as the parent will end up spending most of bath-time on your knees bending over a bathtub. this can be super uncomfortable. a bath mat or a little stool can make the time much easier on your body and much more enjoyable in the long run. you know the saying, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." this holds true for bath-time too. i've learned there's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself...you'll enjoy parenting so much more if you do.

brica bath kneeler

that's it! is there anything else we missed? i know there are tons of other products out there, little duckies that say "hot" or "cold" on the bottom (when did our hands become insensitive to temperatures?), little visors you can put on your kids to keep water out of their eyes (i always make my kids close their eyes...they learn that skill early on), or a complete blow up bathtub that you can put inside a regular bathtub (really...it's just a regular bathtub in miniature. if they can sit up in the small one, they can sit up in the big one) and other items that are pushed on new, unsuspecting parents. if you happen to love those items, by all means, use what works for you. i tend to buy less and then have less to donate to charity later. regardless, every parent is different and every baby has his or her own unique needs. start with the basics and then discover what else can help you on the parenting journey.