The Flats Challenge!

     Recently we made the switch to cloth diapers. The biggest factor was money, though it has quickly become an addiction and I don't know how much money it will really save us because they're so dang cute and I just want more!! 
     In my recent journey, I have grown to appreciate other benefits to cloth diapering. One is that I am no longer exposing my son's poor little bottom to all the nasty chemicals that are in disposables (we have all seen that gel crap that comes out of a wet disposable diaper).
     Another benefit,  is that I can feel great knowing I'm not adding to the billions of diapers ending up in landfills all over the world. Can you imagine what the pile of just one babies diapers from birth to potty training would look like? What about two? Or THREE?? How about every disposable diaper ever used and that ever will be used?... yuck....
     In switching to cloth, I have learned a lot about the different types and what does and doesn't work for us, though of course there is a  LOT I still don't know. I found out that one of the cheapest ways to diaper your baby is actually found at Walmart.  No, I don't mean the typical Gerber brand you find in the baby section. What I found is actually in the kitchen section, of all places. Flour sack towels! Who would have thought! In learning about how absorbent these towels are, and of course learning the different diaper folds, I stumbled upon the Flats Challenge.
     The more I heard about it from other mommies, the more excited I got! I already had everything I needed, so why not?  Then I learned why this challenge came about (and it may or may not be the main reason, but is good enough for me)...And the meaning of the challenge changed for me. It wasn't just for the fun anymore. It was for a cause. You see, I read about the cost of disposable diapers, and about the low income families who, because they are tight on cash, will leave their child in the same diaper all day, or as long as possible, instead of changing them into something clean and dry. I almost cried!

     I am doing the Flats Challenge to bring awareness to this unfortunate, skewed view of diapers and money,  and to help show those mommies out there that their babies can be clean, dry, and stylish, on very low income, with or without a washer and dryer,  and that cloth doesn't have to be scary!

My Beautiful Family

     The last time I posted was to announce the gender of our little bundle of joy. This post is dedicated to announcing his arrival (four and a half months late), and showing off my cute little family!

 John Patrick Lewis Jr was born November 21, 2013 at 6:13:16 AM. He was absolutely perfect.

We only stayed in the hospital for a day after he was born, but I was kind of there two days. My water had broken while I was at work just across the street from the hospital! Of course, I finished my shift and went to the hospital. I regret not having eaten anything first, because they wouldn't let me eat anything once I was admitted :-(

 This Photograph was taken of my two sweet men a couple weeks after bringing home our little guy. Daddy kinda likes him, can you tell? ;-)

              Patrick had a little bit of Jaundice, but he did not need to be treated!                                        

Now these are just this last week at four months old with mommy and daddy taking our engagement pictures! That's right, we are getting married! I couldn't be happier, and he looks pretty happy too!
              

   

   

So, so, so excited!

     Can't wait to meet our sweet baby boy, John Patrick <3 love him more than anything and everything already!

I think I need to stop making promises

     It seems every time I make a promise to post on my blog more often, I go even longer than normal between posts. So I am NOT promising to post more...or ever...maybe now I can keep up on it and won't have to post a bunch of news in ONE article!

     Last time I posted, I talked about my camera and how excited I was to try new things with it. Well, the desire to learn more photography skills have kind of dwindled with news of a much higher magnitude. I suppose I could still use the camera, but honestly, have been very preoccupied and haven't even wanted to do much of anything in that regard. 

     On to my news! I'm sure many of you already know by now, at least I hope so! 

John and I are expecting! Due November 29th, the day after Thanksgiving. Our little turkey will be so dang cute :-D.

     This was our second ultrasond, done at 10 weeks 6 days.

     I had a small hemorrhage that we had to check on, but it was all gone and all was well! In fact, baby was kicking up a storm. John called it his little Karate Kid (can you say adorable?).  We find out the gender a week from tomorrow, an announcement will follow shortly ;-). Pretty excited! All this time worrying about whether or not I'd even be able to have my own children, and I am suddenly blessed with this little miracle. I can't wait to meet him/her. I already love this baby so much! Definitely looking forward to letting you all know what Baby Lewis will be....the anticipation is killing me!!!

When The Men Are Away, The Women Play

     John went out of town for a couple of days this week and I was left trying to figure out something productive to do with my time, seeing as how I rarely get much done when he is around... :-P. With my new business starting up, I realized the need for more space in the already small and cluttered space that is my bedroom. Still having some tax return money, I bought a small office set to help with the organization of everything pertaining to my Slumber Parties, and set to work cleaning up, getting rid of things, and making space. In the midst of all of this cleaning and organizing, my new toy (i.e my camera) arrived in the mail. SO FREAKING EXCITED I can't even tell you ;-).

     I haven't had a chance to play around with it much, but my mother, as well as Button and Dash had fun posing for me. I can't wait to actually go out and have a little bit of fun with it, though that probably won't happen for another week and a half when we all go down to Zions for a day. Now, THAT will make for some great pictures :-D.

     When all is said and done, however, even though I have kept busy, I do miss my man...luckily for me, I get to see him tomorrow :-D yay!

First Hike of 2013

     Yesterday the temperature got up to about 53 degrees. Not exactly warm, but kinda toasty when compared to below freezing! It was quite nice, and we all decided (a week ago) to get out and go on a hike to celebrate the warmer weather while we could. Seems like everyone else had the same idea because there were tons of people there! I don't mind sharing a trail with others though, sometimes you get the opportunity to meet some pretty cool people!

     John, Meaghan, my mom, our animals (Chango, Dash, and JJ) and I all went up Battlecreek. It was snowy, and kinda tough to walk in, but it was so much fun, and we all got ourselves a bit of exercise! Just what the doctor ordered. I just have to say, I love having these people in my life. I don't know what I'd do without them, especially Meaghan. It's great to have a bestie that'll get out and do stuff like this with me... Ahhh good times :D


   
Seriously love gettin' out and doing stuff like this, and I'm determined to get out as much as humanly possible all year long! Even better than having just a best friend to come with me, is having a boyfriend willing to do the same! :-D The cherry on top...He doesn't mind when I snap photos of him :-P.

     Little man got to have himself a bit of fun as well, and had his first snowy encounter! He had a long day, being drug around, going to the pet store, meeting new people, and finally tunneling through snow! He didn't know what to do with himself when I put him down. Was a lot of fun to watch him try not to freeze his little feet off.

   

Can't wait for more fun this summer when it's finally warm enough to actually get out.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

   

Open for Business!

     I finally got my Slumber Parties kit in the mail, inventory is done, and I have officially made my first sale! I'm having to start out pretty small, considering I don't have a whole lot of money to get myself started, but putting all of my sales toward getting more stock will definitely help! I'm so excited to start this new chapter in my life, and to finally be able to feel like I'm doing something worthwhile! Plus, it doesn't hurt to know all of my sales will be going toward more stock and the leftover money is money that is not already allocated to go toward any bills...aka I may actually get to go shopping on occasion!

     Being completely honest, though, it is all a little bit overwhelming. There's so much to learn, and so many things I still need in order to keep my business and myself organized and stress free! One day at a time, Emily, one day at a time!

     Things keep on looking up for me, and I see even better things on the horizon. Here's to a new month, a new career, and new experiences.