New Endeavors

House closing is this Friday. 

Aside from the slew of other things I could write about this summer, I'll stick with the future for now. 

Brian and I have been talking about money. Although we'll be in about the same position as we were before with bills, we also know all the repairs and maintenance on this place will be ours alone to deal with. So I need to start adding to the income somehow. 

I'm stubborn and I know it. I like being a SAHM. I know that pretty much every person (maybe it's more so women? I don't know, I'm sure dads feel the same sometimes, too) wishes they could spend their time watching the children grow up. I know I'm not special. But I will admit one thing: This feels like what I'm supposed to be doing. I graduated high school. I graduated college. I've had some jobs. I've had hobbies. But the thing I love the absolute most is being able to raise my kids and take care of the house. I'm sure there are some women out there who cringe to think that I find happiness is something this simple. But it's true. I just want to be a housewife and SAHM. If money weren't an issue, I would probably have a few more children. I think Brian feels the same way. Sadly, it's the money situation that is ruining any hopes for a future family we might have. 

Anyway, I have this massive creative energy that is burning me from the inside out. I swear I actually feel anxious sometimes, as if I'm supposed to be doing something, anything, crafty or creative and it's being contained. I want to so badly be able to turn this weird drive into something financially productive. Whether it be sewing something, painting something, building something, decorating something, I don't care- I just KNOW that I should be taking this energy and putting it to better use than I have been. 

I just don't really know where to start. My problem is that I've always started a project or teaching myself something, but usually get distracted and lose sight of what I wanted. The other problem is the same problem as above: money. If I wanted to get started making something, I'll need to invest a little bit of money first. Money we don't really have. 

So Brian mentioned to me the other day that I should sell some of my canvas paintings. And Brian never supports any of my shenanigans. He lets me do what I do, but he'll playfully roll his eyes or sort of ignore me when I come home with bags from A.C. Moore. But this time, it was HIS idea. So it means something. 

I've painting a couple of things for my daughter's rooms. They are nothing too special- I didn't do it to impress anyone except my 4 year old daughter and myself. So I did them quickly and they're very basic, but so are many nursery paintings sold. With more effort and time spent on them, I think I could do something pretty nice. I have no formal art training, but even as a child my dad says I drew all the time. He was sure I would grow up and do something with drawing. I'm years from that point in my life, but still have held on the a basic idea of how to draw and paint. With practice, I'd be pretty good. 

So my first plan- to get started on these paintings. I'm going to look around at nursery bedding sets, and get ideas on themes that seem to be popular and then come up with some designs to match. 

I also am trying to think of simple sewing projects that I can get better at. Boppy covers and soft soled shoes, come to mind. On my more ambitious days, I work out the process of making high chair/shopping cart covers. I bought mine for 60 dollars- and by the looks of it, they can't be made with more than 5 bucks worth of cotton fabric, a little bit of batting and some elastic. I've looked at the seams and have gotten a decent idea of how to draw up a pattern. I think I could also do nursing covers. I'm also confident that I could make things for around the house- ruffled shower curtains, for one. I can sew rectangles. 

I don't know about cloth diapers, although my dream would be to make and sew cloth diapers for a living. I love the idea of picking out patterns and fabric. I love the idea of stocking up and having a shop and doing what the hyenacart sellers do- release them at a certain time of the week, have giveaways on Facebook and a following of people who love my stuff. 

On a less creative note, I've also been trying to convince Brian of the benefits of buying things from co-ops and reselling them. People appreciate American sellers for China diapers for several reasons, and when you can buy them for less than 4 bucks and sell them for 8 or 9, that's a decent profit. He's not entirely convinced of that idea. I think the next co-op, I'm going to order some just to resell and see how they do. If I can resell a few, then I will most definitely look into it. I can also get Ergos for about 40 bucks, and they resell new on ebay for sometimes 80 or more. 

Brian thinks I should just work for Target for 12 hours a week so we can get a discount. Even just the idea of that makes me sad. I swore I'd never work retail again once I graduated- back again? Not sure they could pay me enough to deal with that. 

Well, we'll see. Once we're settled in the house I'll focus more and see where my inspirations lead me! 

The Contained Poo- Cloth Diapers

Reason number..... well, I never really numbered them before, but let's say... five? That I love cloth diapers:

The contained poop-splosion. 

The pictures to follow will be gross. Please refrain from looking if you're weak of stomach or whatever. 

The guilty party:

The Look of things:

The truth of the matter:

If you're worried about a poop-explosion, then it's the runnier, newborn or breastmilk poop that is concerning. As they start eating solids and getting older, their poops stop being so liquid-like and are much more likely to stay put even in the worst-fitting of disposables. 

But there is no disposable that offers THAT sort of protection against leaks as seen above. 

Proof for me- I switched into disposables for the remainder of my stay at my Mother-in-law's house at her request, and we've already had three massive blow outs. I've experience a couple of leaks here and there with cloth because of them being snapped incorrectly, or because of a onesie stuck in the leg hole. But not once, even with the runniest breastmilk-poop, have we had a poo-going-up-the-back-of-the-shirt-and-down-the-legs-incident like we've had since the temporary switch. 

So yes, they really, really, really do work better with leaks. 

Breastfeeding: I powered through.

Somehow I managed to keep breastfeeding. I know my last nursing post was about how things were going downhill, but being stubborn, I guess I powered through it. Ok, truthfully, I'm lazy. I can't believe I"m saying this now, but nursing her is actually easier than the idea of making and cleaning bottles. Even though I'm wanting to transition her into her own bed now, I still appreciate the ability to bring her next to me in the middle of the night and let her nurse herself back to sleep. I'm also cheap, so the thought of buying formula is irritating. 

I do worry that she's getting enough. She was 8 pounds at birth and is only now just doubling her weight at 7 months. Her appointment last week showed her weighing 16 lbs. 13 oz. and she dropped on the growth chart quite a bit. My mother-in-law's doctor, who we went to because of the confusion with the move now, isn't concerned after checking over her charts and taking a look at her. But I'm pretty sure Kayla was already nearly tripling her weight at some time around now. She's getting some solids now and finally a little interested, but it's only practicing at this point. I don't know. Mommy concern sometimes gets a little out of hand. 

Well, regardless of all that, I'm really glad I just kept at it. It's not my favorite thing, but I'm glad I'm able to do it. I know it's best for her, even if formula is also a perfectly good option, as well. I'm proud of myself for not giving in because of my awareness of the fact and how readily available those cans are in the store. I still haven't gotten used to nursing in public and probably won't, but I am also fine with finding a private place or feeding her in the car before heading into wherever I need to go. I have done it twice though! Once at the Detroit Zoo, and once at Sesame Place. Both times were awkward, but I can at least say I've tried. And that's not anyone's fault but my own- I think and wish that breastfeeding would be more common and acceptable. There's nothing wrong with anyone who does freely nurse in public, and I find myself bristling whenever I hear people bashing it. 

All in all, I'm still here! Yay! I have no idea how much longer I'll do it for, and I might wake up tomorrow and decide it's been long enough. But so far, I know I'll stop on my own terms instead of what my milk ducts decide and that's pretty awesome.