Life Recently via iPhone

We had so much fun this week! So much, that I didn't take enough pictures!

I've been working all week, and Clara's waking hours with me have been so precious that I was just in the moment with her always and enjoying it. 

This weekend, Clara got to have a sleepover at my sister's house with her cousins, who she loves spending time with. And I got to sleep in until 8! Woohoo!

Lee and I took Clara to the Grand Rapids children's museum, and she had soo much fun. She's still a bit small, but she played until she couldn't anymore. Proved by her passing out as soon as she got back in her car seat.

Back at home, she played with her doll house, and stacked rings because she just loves perfecting her fine motor skills.

 

1. Boredom tree at work 2. Time with an old friend 3. Going to see the cousins

4. Stacking 5. Cheesin' with daddy at the children's museum 6. Working on fine motor skills

7. Vegan breakfast. yum! 8. New (to us) doll house 9. She loves throwing all the dolls in the minivan

Friday: Things I've Found This Week

Oh. Hi. Hello. 

It's Friday. Thank goodness. Are you excited for this week's links? Cuz I am!

1. Aha! Parenting- I'm really excited about finding this website.Want legit, expert answers to your questions about your kid? Check this page out!

2. Leaving Children in a Hot Car- I can't fathom leaving Clara in a car, but parents do it every day. Be careful this summer, and never ever leave your child in a car unsupervised.

3. Raising Boys From a Father's Point of View- "Let’s get one thing clear from the get go: moms are generally better parents than dads. And that goes double for me." 

4. A Mother's Prayer for Her Child- A lovely piece by Tina Fey.

5. Parent and Child Date Coupons- Perfect idea for the upcoming holidays for mom and dad.

6. Different Parenting Styles?- Couples still need to have each others' backs. I always remember that if mom said no, dad would say yes.

7. Spanking or Not Spanking: A Tale of Parenting Peer Pressure- Spanking debates are perennial: When a complete stranger approaches a mom to weigh in on it, parenting peer pressure becomes very real – if you're not being judged for one thing, it's another.

8. Thirty-Five-Hour Work-Week Recommended for Parents- Raising children isn’t considered work, of course.

9. 7 Ways to Save on a Kid's Birthday Party- I wish I would have had this for Clara's party.

10. The Guide to Mother's Day for Bad Dads and Everyone Else Everywhere- Mother's Day is coming up, and while all the Good Moms will smile and say it’s totally OK if you forgot Mother’s Day, or if you’ve booked a golf trip all day, or if her Mother’s Day is being spent at your Mother’s house where she will be subjected to passive-aggressive jabs and jell-o salads, be aware this crowd of Bad Moms sure won’t let you off the hook that easily.

Q&A: Week 1 and GIVEAWAY!

In the spirit of blogger's block, I've come up with a new weekly installment:  
Weekly Q&A. 

Excited? I know, right?!

I won't do this post on the same day every week, just when I have writer's block. I hate not posting on weekdays, so I'm hoping this will get me over the hump and on to better posts.

 Also, here's a cute spring baby:

In the meantime, I need your help! Have a question you want me to answer? A topic you'd like me to cover? AWESOME. I welcome them. nay. I need them. Give me your curiosity.  

If you would like to participate, send your question/idea to frombean2baby[at]gmail[dot]com, of leave me a comment at the end of any post. Or, in the rafflecopter form below. If you're a fellow blogger, ask a question in the rafflecopter giveaway, and enter to win a YEAR of your button up on the blog. Win, win. no?

With that said, bring it on!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life Recently Via iPhone

1. Brunch and Bubbles! 2. Happy bedtime baby 3. Tub time

4. Big girl 5. Ponytail attempt 6. Ketchup face

7. Tub time spelling 8. Brunch 9. Puppy rockin'

10. Happy baby 11. Playing with Daddy 12. Big-kid slide

 

Friday: Things I've Found This Week.

Welcome to this week's edition of Things I've Found This Week.

I know, I know, it's been awhile since I've done one, and you're missing my links so bad it hurts. 

What can I say? I love to stumble. 

1. It's Gonna Be a True Blood Baby!- I wonder if it will turn out like twilight... I hope it will be written into the upcoming season!

2. Baby Restraints- This seems like a good idea in theory, but Clara would find her way out of it. Or she would have a tantrum party at the slightest mention of being held down.

3. Things I want to Teach my Children- Most of them are fantastic! I need to start a list for Clara.

4. Things that Help Rid Working Mom Guilt- I have working mom guilt. Bad. And Clara barely knows I'm gone. I don't foresee a time in which I don't have to work to make ends meet. Maybe I'll even get to retire by age 80! Such is the life of a single mom. But I do worry about making time for Clara, and missing out on her developments.

5. Making the Most of What You Have- Make a difference in the environment and in your budget.

6. Baby Grow App- Chart your baby's growth using your iPhone! Available on the app store for $2.99.

7. Are You a Helicopter Parent?- Take this quiz and find out!

8. Saving for your Kids Without Straining your Budget- I like the concept of setting aside a portion of your tax return.

9. Totsy.com- A shopping site similar to Zulily.

10. Punishing Kids with Public Humiliation?- We have reached a new low...

11. What We See Vs. What Kids See- I'm half and half on these.

12. Teach a Kid to Argue- Basically what my father did with me... and I turned out alright?

13. Parents did not Know Their Son was Missing- That sucks! Maybe you shouldn't have so many kids if you don't realize one of them is missing...

14. How Infant Circumcision Affects Everyone- I don't really have an opinion on this, as I have a daughter. Parents of little boys, what's your opinion?

15. 11 Signs You're a Hipster Parent- Turns out I am!

Clara's Belated Birthday Update!

Please note: I did not take these pictures. They were taken by Emily Goodemoot of Emily Goodemoot Photography.

Cloth Diapers: Alternative Liner that Works!

I read on someone's blog (I wish I knew where so I could give credit) that flour sack towels used as liners are more absorbent then microfiber, hemp, and bamboo liners. With the price of liners being so high (to me) I decided to give them a test run.

I bought two 4-packs from Target at $4.99 each. I prepped the towels like I did my cloth diapers, running them through 4 wash cycles with no detergent. I then folded them four times, and again in half before stuffing them in each diaper. Let me tell you, these babies work like a charm!

Without any other liner, these towels held up even overnight and have had no leaks to date!

In the coming week, I'm going to cut and sew them into a proper liner so I don't have to fold them. 

Try it and let me know how they worked with your pocket diapers!

Life Recently Via iPhone

Hello. Thanks for welcoming me back. It's been too long.

Here's what's been going on recently.

1. Playing 2. Cousins 3. New car seat!

4. Winning 5. Clara ignoring food for TV 6. Visiting me at work on my birthday

7. Finally getting around to it 8. Off to see the butterflies 9. Tub antics

10, 11, 12 Day-date with dadddy (the downside to being picture shy- there are none of you)

13. New favorite beer 14. My niece wearing her mom's high school shorts 15. Busted!

16. Playing on the day-date 17. Shopping pro 18. Birthday beer