Hotsling giveaway

Love Hotslings? Want to enter for a chance to win one? Go to http://justformeandyou2.blogspot.com/2009/06/hotslings-review-giveaway.html

wrap giveaway!

I love wearing my daughter! in a ring sling, in a pouch sling, in a wrap.

Don't have a wrap? Want to win one? Go to


http://yourmamareviews.com/your-mama-loves-wearing-baby-in-a-wrap

bummis swimmi giveaway

http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/06/bummis-swimmi-review-and-giveaway.html

Babylegs giveaway!

Want to win some baby legs? Check out http://www.theshoppingmama.com/2009/06/babylegs-cool-review-giveaway.html

Do you baby wear?

Baby wearing can be not only beneficial to you, but to your child as well. Remember, baby spend 9 months with you, so will enjoy being on you at all times.

Want to win a pouch sling? Go to http://www.makesmomhappy.com/2009/06/meeup.html

Teething bling giveaway

Go to http://www.theshoppingmama.com/2009/06/smart-mom-jewelry-teething-bling-review.html for a chance to win some bling from http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/

Awesome Bummis cloth diaper kit giveaway

Want to win this kit?? Go to http://clothdiapertips.com/win-a-bummis-organic-cotton-diaper-kit-value-160 to enter! Good luck!

Giveaway - HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition from Intel!!

Go to http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-style/giveaway-hp-mini-vivienne-tam-edition-from-intel for a chance to win!

Miracle blanket giveaway

http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/05/miracle-blanket-giveaway.html

Oreck Halo giveaway

Want to win an Oreck Halo? Go to http://twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.blogspot.com/2009/06/oreck-halo-review-and-giveaway.html for your chance to win

Cloth diaper giveaway!

To celebrate Cloth Diapering 101 week here on Simple Mom, several companies want to give away some of their products to the readers!

Go to http://simplemom.net/the-simple-mom-cloth-diaper-review for a chance to win!

AppleCheeks giveaway

Like AppleCheeks diapers? Go to AppleCheeks pick your favorite color, and post back at http://monkeytoesreviewsandgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/06/applecheeks-review-giveaway.html

Safety Caps Giveaway

Need to get your outlets covered? Check out Safety Caps

Want to win some? Go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/safetycaps-review-giveaway-610.html to enter

Don't Bite Me Patch

Bug sprays not working for you? Heard of the Don't Bite Me Patch?

Want to try it? Head over to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/dont-bite-me-patch-giveaway-614.html

Green giveaway

Visit http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/sun-chips-giveaway-68.html to win a market bag from The Green Effect

Wee Squeak Giveaway

These are some seriously cute shoes! WeeSqueak

Go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/weesqueak-610.html for a chance to win!

Win Skoy Cloths

Visit http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/skoy-cloths-review-and-giveaway-two.html

for a chance to win SKOY Cloths

baby bug GC giveaway

Baby Bug Creations is offering a $30 gift card to their shop

Just go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/i-was-contacted-by-wonderful-lady-who.html
to enter!

Dream sacks giveaway

Check out Dream Sacks. Their products look so nice and comfy! Want to win one of their throws? Go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/dream-sacks-bamboo-dreams-64.html

Huggies Pure and Natural

Like Huggies? Want to try their new Huggies Pure and Natural?

Go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/05/huggies-pure-and-natural-giveaway-63.html for a chance to win!

Kodak EasyShare z1015 IS Digital Camera giveaway!

Like the new Kodak EasyShare z1015 IS Digital Camera? Want to win one? Visit Barefoot Mommies at http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/06/kodak-camera-fathers-day-giveaway-621.html to enter to win one!

RCA SmallWonder Camcorder giveaway

Check out RCA SmallWonder Camcorder. How neat is that?? If you want to win RCA SmallWonder Camcorder

head over to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/06/rca-small-wonders-camcorder-fathers-day.html to post your entry!

Sleepy Wrap Giveaway

Like baby-wearing or want to try it? Check out http://www.sleepywrap.com

Want to win one of these? Go to http://blessedwithfullhands.blogspot.com/2009/05/sleepy-wrap-review-and-giveaway.html to enter!

3monkeysclothdiapers giveaway

Want to win diapers from 3monkeysclothdiapers? Head over to 3monkeysclothdiapers and pick out your favorite color. Then go back to http://monkeytoesreviewsandgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/05/3monkeysclothdiapers-review-giveaway.html to post. You have more than once chance to win!

AppleCheeks diaper giveaway

Like AppleCheeks diapers? Go to AppleCheeks pick your favorite color, and post back at http://twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/applecheeks-cloth-diaper-review-and.html for a chance to win!

Purple Ducks giveaway

Check out Purple Ducks diapers!

Want to win one? Go to http://monkeytoesreviewsandgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/05/purpleducks-review-giveaway.html

Fuzzibunz giveaway

Go to http://twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/fuzzibunz-cloth-diaper-review-and.html to win


and don't forget to check out their website at FuzziBunz

Apple Cheeks diaper giveaway

To win, go to- http://www.ourlifeupstate.com/2009/05/applecheeks-review-and-giveaway.html

Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet giveaway!

Bamboo Fun pen tablets by Wacom help you convey your ideas more clearly. With the natural feel of pen-on-paper, Bamboo Fun makes it easy for you to express yourself in a digital world.

Pen tablets are easy-to-use input devices that plug into any computer through a USB port. They include a free-moving pen and an ergonomic pen tablet. With the pen in your hand, you move over your tablet and press the pen tip to the surface when you want to click.

Every point on the tablet maps to a point on your screen, so it's a cinch to navigate your desktop and to use in any software application. Pen tablets are one of the fastest and most comfortable ways to work with your computer—offering you an alternative to working with a mouse.

Want to win one? Go to http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/06/bamboo-fun-pen-tablet-from-wacom.html

Paisley Baby wet bag giveaway

Want a wet bag for your wet things? :) Go to http://www.ourlifeupstate.com/2009/06/paisley-baby-wet-bag-giveaway.html to enter before 6/15

Post-it Recycled Notes Giveaway

There is a new line of Post-It's available and they are made from 100% recycled paper with 30% of that coming from post-consumer content!! What I though was even cooler was that you can buy them with two different degrees of stickiness - regular and super sticky.


Go to http://mamamichiesreviews.blogspot.com/2009/05/post-it-recycled-notes-review-and.html to enter.

This contest will run until 11:59 pm CST on 5/31/09

Spa Time Baby CozyCare Cape giveaway

Go to http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/05/23/spa-time-baby-cozy-cape-giveaway

The CozyCare Cape is very cool because you WEAR it and just pick baby up and wrap your arms around him or her and VOILA! you’ve got a dry baby! The CozyCare Cape is 100% Cotton Terry Cloth with a waterproof panel so that you don’t soak yourself while you’re drying your little one.

Lullaby Exercises DVD/CD Giveaway!

Go to http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/05/25/chicks-n-chickens-lullaby-exercises-giveaway-get-in-shape-while-bonding-with-your-baby/

Well, these Chicks have got it with their Lullaby Exercises DVD and CD! Chicks N Chickens is an exercise program hatched by creator Darcy Novo Albrecht and created for moms and babies. Darcy had the same dilemma of balancing exercise with the needs of your baby and found herself dancing around the house to get her baby to sleep. Why not kick that up a notch and turn it into a fun, upbeat workout? She did!!

All you need to get back into those baby jeans (besides not eating sooo many cupcakes) is the Lullaby Exercises DVD/CD combo, the baby sling of your choice, your baby and a little room to cut a rug!

Earworms Learning Rapid Language Giveaway

Head on over to Things Moms Like for the Earworms Learning Giveaway!

http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/05/25/earworms-learning-giveaway/

-earworms mbt® has taken the knowledge that music, repetition and rhythm play a big part in the “science” of how we learn, and created a system that absolutely ANYONE can use to learn another language or brush up on a language they learned previously.

meeUp Giveaway!

Go to http://meeupcarriers.blogspot.com/2009/04/summer-giveaway.html to win a baby carrier. These are really cute with adorable prints!

One year ago...

One year ago.... I was just out of surgery, and being moved to a room. I had a football sized cyst removed from my right fallopian tube.
We had been trying to have a baby for months, and months, and months... It wasn't happening. I finally went to see my OB/GYN, and after a lot of testing, the cyst was seen on a sonogram. And it was getting bigger.
As I laid in the hospital bed, My doctor talked to me about the surgery. She had never seen a cyst that size in that location. However, she was sure that the cyst was not the cause of our infertility. Something else was going on. And that scared me. I cried. I cried because I hurt, and I cried because I thought our chance at a baby was gone.
Hours after the surgery, I got my period. Which I had only been getting sporadically for the past few months. The doctors assumed it was just post surgery bleeding. But I knew different.
A few weeks later, I thought I ovulated. The doctor strongly disagreed. But I asked for the blood work anyway. It turns out I did! All on my own. Without the intervention of drugs, that the doctor believed I needed.

Today, I have a beautiful, three months old tomorrow, baby girl. It turns out, not only did I ovulate, but I was pregnant, before there was even another cycle. I am so happy, and Sophia fills my heart completely. I am complete, and it's wonderful.

Flip giveaway!

Want to win a Flip video recorder? Go to http://theflockofbirds.blogspot.com/2009/03/flip-video-review-and-give-away.html and follow the directions to win!

Hot, hot, hot!

Looking at the forecast for today makes me want to put the AC in!! It's supposed to get up into the 70's!! It's been unbearably hot in this house for the past couple weeks, but last night and today have been the worst. Even Sophie is down to her diaper!

We are looking forward to getting out to the park today though :)

Apparently...

I didn't post a picture of the family on Valentine's Day. Silly me.

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Ahhh...

Today is Matthew's first day back to work. (Well, not really, but this is the first day of his new full time job). Up until today, he'd only worked a couple days since Sophie was born. Nice to have around to help, not so nice on our savings account.
The point basically is that I'm terrified! Matthew will be gone ten hour days five days a week. That's including the one hour each way that he'll have to drive. So I'm worried about him making that commute as well.
I'm hoping we'll be able to get on more of a schedule and that things will even out soon enough. I sure hope so! I'm exhausted enough.

Losing it a little

I could totally just kick myself right now.

During my pregnancy, I gained about 12 pounds. Which was really awesome. And I had basically eaten whatever I wanted (within reason) while pregnant. So the lack of a major weight gain was great.
What was even better, was that in the first two weeks following Sophie's birth- I lost thirty pounds!! You hear that!! Thirty pounds!!! And I'll admit it, the first and second week I barely ate. I was too busy with Sophie, and when I wasn't with her, I was asleep. I managed on a small meal each day, with a ton of water. And I felt like I didn't need anymore than that.
In the third week, something changed. I was hungry. ALL.THE.TIME. And by all.the.time. I mean, I would finish eating something, and immediately get up and grab something else.
Even worse, by the fifth week, I was no longer grabbing the healthy options, but the junk that we had laying around.
So for the past week, I've been eating crap along with a good lunch and dinner (not always lunch though). Some of this I attribute to being up all night with Sophie. I don't have the option to get much else done, besides laying with her on the couch. And I'll probably snack if the snack doesn't involve needing both hands. Because Sophie will be in one arm.
And from eating very poorly this past week, I can already tell that I've picked back up a few pounds. I know I need to start eating better again, but ugh!! That is just too hard. And I'm kicking myself for even allowing myself to eat the crap that I have been.

Maybe writing it down will help me in the long run. But I am going to eat better!!! I was healthy for a few weeks, and I can do it again :)

Not Me! Monday...First edition

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Okay, to start off- I am NOT writing this on Tuesday. It's called Not Me! Monday, not Tuesday.

I didn't get to write this sooner, because Monday was NOT an awful day (it really was). And the mastitis and thrush, that I do NOT have, did NOT keep me from the computer.

Earlier in the week, I did NOT put Sophie's diaper on backwards at a 4AM diaper change. I did Not realize it an hour later, because, well, I wouldn't do such a thing.

I also did NOT scramble to make my husband a homemade valentine's card from Sophie, as he was on his way home from work. I did NOT just finish it as I heard the front door open.

Speaking of Valentine's Day. Matthew and I did NOT venture out to dinner, with Sophie in tow. We all know how crowded it is. And taking a newborn to dinner is never all that fun. Thankfully, we did NOT go to Denny's. And Sophie was NOT good the whole time :)

So even though I'm NOT late in doing this, head over to MckMama's anyway and post what you did NOT do this week :)

Ouch!

Even before I knew I was pregnant, I wanted to breastfeed. I knew that unless I absolutely had to, Sophia would not receive a bottle.
So of course, the following day after Sophia's birth- The nurse recommended that I supplement, because Sophia still had not peed. I think Sophie took maybe 2-3 bottles in the hospital. And then while at home, she took maybe 4 spaced out over a few weeks. And those bottles were just because I needed that extra sleep. And Matthew was willing. Bad me, I know.
But, we have been bottle free for like 3 weeks now. We do have bottles/formula here, just in case of an emergency. But I have no plans on her getting it otherwise.

However, the downside of breast feeding, at least for me, is that Monday started my second bout of mastitis. Thankfully the first time I had it, it wasn't bad. Just a really sore painful breast. I didn't get any of the other symptoms that typically come with it. So I could handle it. And in a few days, with antibiotics, I was feeling better.

This time... I feel like I am going to die! I have the chills, fever, every thing you can possible imagine to make how I feel even worse. I've already started antibiotics. But ouch!

And... To top it off, I have thrush on both nipples, too! Lucky me.

I wouldn't give up breastfeeding for these things, but I wouldn't mind not getting things that cause me pain, especially since I'm doing something so good! What a trade off...

Really?

I looked at the ticker on my myspace today and realized that Sophie is One month and four days old... Seriously? Where did the last five weeks go?
I can already see such a change in her. Getting longer, her face thinning out some, little rolls forming on her thighs... I am terrified of her growing up. Why can't she stay my little baby forever?

I'm so lucky to have such a good baby. She has this laid back personality, and only cries for a minute if I'm late on getting her to the boob. And her sleeping has finally started to shift. Last night she slept from 12-6, waking 2-3 times for food/diaper change, then back to sleep. I hope this continues! Too bad my schedule is all messed up, and I can't sleep at night now!

Here is Sophia at one month old... Posing on the lovebug ladybug. We plan to take her picture each month with the bug, just so we can see how much she is growing from month to month.

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How cute is that? Seriously. I love her so much!

Meeup Sling Giveaway!

I came across a blog that is having a sling giveaway!

http://4littlemen.blogspot.com/2009/02/meeup-giveaway.html

You can enter up to two times, or visit http://www.meeupcarriers.blogspot.com/ to purchase your own carrier!

Just a test...

Just a test, seeing if this is easy enough for me to handle.
More to come at a later date :)