This is how we roll...

Or should I say how we dry, around here!

Ahh! Beauty on a line! (excuse the brown looking stuff below them that is suppose to be green. We have had unusual weather in these parts lately.)

Yep, those are Bum Genius 3.0's. I literally ordered a stash full (18) a few months before the 4.0's came out. I must say though, they are my favorite! I have absolutely no regrets that the majority of my stash are BG's. We have no issues with them. The fit is great, no leaks, super absorbent inserts. I started Baby K9 in these at about 4 weeks and have not looked back! Right there in the left corner is a Rumparoo. I got it free. It's super soft and is very absorbent. My only issue is that I have it on the next to the last setting and it is still almost too small for BK9. I'm not sure this dipe will last through his diapering years.

Now, part of me was nervous hanging so much money in diapers out to dry so far from the house. But, you would have to be stupid to steal from a cop, right? Wait, dumb question. They did, after all, name a show about dumb criminals. In an effort to try and save energy, I have been hanging my inserts out to dry too. I bring them in at night and in the morning will pop them in the dryer for a quick dry to finish and fluff. This seems to be working for us. I was having to do 2 dryer cycles on high heat to dry them. We don't have a HE dryer so that was a lot of waste! Hanging them out to dry also works to bleach them. So far we have no stains, no dingy looking inserts and no stinkies! I don't know what I will do come winter. We got our first electricity bill since CD'ing for the whole cycle and our bill did go up about $50/2 months. That also includes doing extra laundry for BK9. Not bad! Still a savings over using sposies!!!!! I'll stick to my CD's, thank you very much!

3 months and 4 days

That is what my little lilypie ticker told me today when I got onto my blog. It was a bittersweet notice. Joy because as he grows a new milestone is reached and more fun ensues. Sad because I miss the little bug that loved snuggling up on mommy's chest and could lay there contently all day if I allowed him.
This is what I got now:

Pretty darn cute!

And this:

Oh and this, playing ball with his buddy, Hunter:

Yep, I got a cute boy!

In other areas, I made this lovely blankie for him:

Except, this time, I cheated! Shh...don't tell! I have a really good excuse though! I went to Joanns to look at some John Deere fabric to make him a no sew blankie. Well, they had this all in a kit. A kit, just meant it included the fabric with lines already drawn on it to cut. I compared it's price (on sale, 25% off) to the price of just buying the fabric myself and I really would have only saved a couple of dollars but by buying the kit I saved a whole lot of time! Sometimes, saving time outwins saving money, especially when we are talking about a couple of dollars. So I bought the kit! I love this pattern, it is too cute! I must say, it was also good to buy the kit because it gave me the opportunity to see how the blanket should line up and the cuts should go, etc. I was thoroughly surprised at how large this kit blanket was too. Much bigger than if I had bought the fabric myself. Baby K9 loves it. Hunter also loves it.

I love how he was watching Hunter!

I also made some of  my own cloth wipes. At Joanns, in the scrap bin, I found 3/4 yard of flannel. The perfect material for your own wipes. I also bought a simple beginners sewing kit so I'd have thread and a needle. I sewed the first one, it took an hour! Then I thought, why do I need to do this? If I had a sewing machine this would go way quicker! So, I decided to not sew the rest. I washed each square (I cut the fabric into 8x8 squares) and quickly realized why you are suppose to sew the edges! I had a tangled, fray mess! Ugg! So I dried them then cut the edges. I have spent each night sewing a few here and there after Baby K9 goes to sleep. It is getting quicker. I'd post a pic but my sewing is below amateur. I won't embarrass my self. I figured they are to just wipe his bum so who cares what they look like as long as they stay together! So far, after one washing, they did. They clean his bum nicely too and I think he likes the feel. We decided to just use water. Based on another blogger's comments, I put some water in my diaper warmer and then I store the cloth wipes in an old huggies wipe box. They pop right up! I dip the wipe in the warm water and wipe. This way I can feel confident washing my wipes with my diapers. I read some mixed reviews on washing wipes that have been in a solution with your diapers. I don't want to risk any repelling issues so water it is! If we get a really tough mess though, I do have a squirt bottle of water and castille soap ready to go. Those wipes I will wash separately. I will also use a different set of wipes that I have from when he was a newborn and I used with diaper creams. They are already "contaminated" so to speak with cloth diapering no-no's. No big deal, those can be washed with other towels. For now, I am keeping some disposable wipes for on the go. That may soon change!

This Sunday we are dedicating Samuel to the Lord and I am so excited for the day! What joy to know that my boy will grow up in a home that loves the Lord! I can't wait to teach him about Jesus' love for us. Well, I kinda already started! Never too early to start planting the seed!

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Debt free

My good friend at Being Gently Led has been blogging about her journey to debt freedom for a month or so now. She began the story here. After a few posts there she continued the story at Being Gently Led. Today's post also included a giveaway! She is giving one blessed reader a copy of Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover. I have heard amazing things about this book's ability to guide it's readers to total debt freedom. How amazing would that be??? I encourage you to read her story from the beginning, it is a journey which I believe we can all relate to in one way or another. However, if you want to just skip to the giveaway, start here.

Rev 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

CAN I GET AN AMEN!

I am feeling very blessed today by my family. It was a good day. It was a great evening. My plans got switched around. That tends to happen when you have this cute face in the house,

Even though my plans did not turn out to what I thought this evening would be, it was a great evening. One which I will file in my mind of best memories. I would not have changed how things turned out at all. Thank you Lord for the amazing family you have blessed me with!

Giveaway!

Remember these cute diapers I just got,

from Nicki's Diapers, their Best Bottoms.

Well......Dirty Diaper Laundry is having an awesome giveaway to win one cover and 3 inserts! That is 3 diapers in 1! Go to their blog to find out how to enter. I hope I win!

Nicki's is also having a giveaway on Fuzzibunz. I have been wanting to try these, they adjust at the rise so they are suppose to be a fabulous fit! I had hoped they would be one of my free diapers, but no. I might have to splurge on one more diaper....

Good luck all!

Got a awesome verse today when I opened my computer:

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Ouch, a little conviction and a lot of hope and joy!

The goings ons around here!

This is what is going on here:

photo credit: Pioneer Woman

I found this delicious recipe on the Pioneer Woman's site. Monkey Muffins! Oh, My, Goodness. Like serious goodness! Like, I never needed to find this recipe, goodness. I promise, you won't be sorry if you make this. It is a really easy recipe. No mixing, everything is made right there in the muffin tins! I have made them twice now, once with refrigerated biscuit dough and now tonight with homemade dough.Both are equally yummy! I am making them tonight for my Christian Cop Wives Club meeting in the morning. I pre-made them tonight and will pop them in the oven tomorrow before Baby K9 and I head out for his first meeting!I'm so excited for our meeting! I haven't been since before Baby K9 was born. I miss my cop's wives! I miss having that dedicated time of prayer for our husbands with those gals. Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."


Now, go make the muffins, now! Oh, and they are LEO approved.

In other happenings in the K9 house,

Love this onesie from my co-workers! The front says, "One fish, two fish, red fish." So cute!

Baby K9 is growing up a storm! At last count he was almost 14 lbs! He is long and lean, with little sausage looking arms and legs. Love them! I love to kiss on his cute little toes and he loves to smile while I do it! He is getting so strong and enjoying tummy time much more! Phew!

"Hi world!"

He enjoys doing his exercises on this fun ladybug from Infantino or on mommy's big exercise ball. He really loves going for runs with mom and dad! His neck is getting stronger and stronger and he is moving his arms and legs like crazy!

He is now officially moved into his own room. *sniff sniff. This is his 4th night there and he loves it! He is sleeping so good, at least 6-7 hours a night. I know he is sleeping better than he was in our room but I sure do miss his little noises at night! I thought getting up in the middle of the night for his feeding would be tough with him in the other room, but it really isn't. I have a nice, comfy rocker recliner in there and if I doze off, I wake up pretty shortly after he drifts off. I swaddle him back up and put him back in bed! He still likes to be half swaddled, arms free! I tried using just a sleep sack and for some reason he just doesn't sleep as well. Even though a half swaddle is pretty much the same thing! I don't know! We set the Angel Care Monitor in there and the Levana Video Monitor. We got all kinds of eyes and ears on him. It is pretty fun watching him sleep. He is getting better and better at soothing himself and thankfully we haven't had any big fits of crying yet! The most we get is a little fussiness while he tries to get his thumb or fist in his mouth. It's kinda cute to watch him get so frustrated! Shh, don't tell him I said that!

I have completed my addiction with CD'ing with a few last accessories purchases. I bought a larger wet bag to store dirty diapers, it will be perfect when we travel. I bought some disks for the diaper pail to help with the smell, we'll see if it works. I got some cloth wipes, 15 for $7.95! They estimate that by using cloth wipes you can save about $100/year. I'd have to think it was more than that! I plan on making his old receiving blankets, that he never used, into wipes as well. I am going to follow this easy how-to from Passionate Homemaking. Looks simple, it's just a matter of finding the time! I don't have a sewing machine so I'll be doing it by hand. My final purchase for CD'ing was some grovia bioliners, got those free when I ordered the other stuff from Kelly's closet. Woo hoo! They will come in handy if BK9 does get a rash and I need to use a cream and I have read they work great for on the go poo holders!

My MIL is finding me a sewing machine she has in her storage and is going to teach me how to sew! I'm super excited! There are so many things I could be making for BK9 that I keep buying! Now that I am a SAHM I am all about being frugal. I think I was pretty frugal before but now it's a mission. I'll keep you posted how it goes.

Year one, done!

I am completely in love with this man:

and his partner!

One year ago, well, over a year ago but I've been a little busy with a newborn! Anyway, one year ago on June 13th, I married him, because I love him so much!

 Jenny fancied up my makeup:

 

I put on the shoes:

I put on the dress:

And I walked the aisle with this man for one of the best days of my life!

We met at the alter, said our "I do's",  had a kiss and then had one more! 

 

We have lived happily ever after and have not stopped kissing!!!

The proof:

God commands us, in Ephesians 5:2, And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Just as Christ as shown us love we too show each other, each day in the little things we do for each other. In the silent movements that speak love. I know I am loved, respected, honored and cherished. I hope I demonstrate enough that he can also say with certainty that he is loved, respected, honored and cherished, because he is!

In all my "dreams" I never could have made up the husband that was chosen for me. He is greater than anything I wished for and anything I thought I wanted. He is greater than anything I deserve. Yet, I was chosen to be his wife long ago and he was chosen to be my husband at the same time. We were chosen to raise that baby. What a blessed life I have, if I have nothing else, I have love. And love, is the greatest of all!

1Cor13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.

My post today is for you, Officer K9. What an amazing weekend we just had. I am so grateful you have 3-day weekends. While we did absolutely nothing of significance this weekend, it felt like the most special 3 days. I loved sitting on our back patio with you staring at the work you have done to give us a beautiful yard. I loved making s'mores with you and chatting about nothing. I loved snuggling with you, Baby K9 and Hunter in the mornings. I basically just loved being with you this weekend and can't wait for the next! Now, go get some bad guys!

New additions have arrived!

Yesterday I received Baby K9's new Best Bottoms in the mail!

Cute, right? Okay, so I probably have the cutest baby on the block! (I'm sure we each have said that about our child at some point in his/her life.)
I got some hemp inserts with these, I'm anxious to try them out. I have read that hemp is an awesome absorber and gets even awesomer (not a word, is it?) the more you wash it. I checked with OK9 and no chance of Hunter indicating on them.

Today I received another package of fluff from Kelly's closet. Now, I ordered our original, first stash from Nicki's diapers. I qualified for free shipping and received two free pair of baby legs with our first order. I'm thinking, "wow, fantastic!" Then I stumbled, literally, upon Kelly's closet. Free shipping with orders over $49. Sweet! Easy to spend that on fluff and fluff accesories. Even better though, she is always having these amazing promos for free diapers! I just got 2 free ones in the shipment today! Check out her FB page (diaper shops) for the codes. You can only use each code once, and one code per order. However, I just placed two seperate orders on the same day and got my two free diapers! There are still 4 codes I haven't used yet! UGG! The torture, I pormised OK9 I was done for now. For each code you only have to spend $25! Maybe I can just place one more order...I am sure there are accesories we need.
I still love Nicki's for the Best Bottoms and will continue to shop there for them or other items on sale. Nicki's has an extensive swim diapers site too. It'll be perfect to order from next summer when we need one! Did you know regular diapers are a no-no in most public pools? I had no idea, but then again, why would I? This is my first baby! Anyway, swim cloth diapers are super absorbent without the bulk of swim disposables and they are better for the environment! My little part in being "green." Now, onto the cuteness!

I was really hoping for a fuzzibunz, I am dying to try them. Instead I got.....

On the left is a CuteyBaby-all in one. I'm anxious to see how this works out. All in one means no stuffing! It's all included! The really cool thing with this one is that the velcro tabs come off so no sticking to other dipes in the wash! The print is pretty cute too, they are green monkeys if you can't tell by the picture. In the middle is a rump-a-rooz. What a cute name! It's a pocket, one size. I love one size! That means it will grow with Baby K9 and even be usable with the Baby K92. No, there is no Baby K92 on the way. Now, back to the fluff! The rump-a-rooz has 4 size settings and the soakers have 6! The inside is made of microchamois. Oh my softness! It also has inner leg gussets to help keep leaks in. I'll let you know how well these two keep them in. So far, our Bum Genius have done a fabulous job, except at night when he sleeps in long stretches or mom gets too lazy to go change him! So, we have been using a thicker insert at night which has contained the leaks. I am happy to say that Baby has been rash free for 6 weeks now! Woot Woot! On the right are my new Flip by Bum Genius covers in Butternut. I love the yellow! I also ordered some new flip inserts in stay dry. So, I ordered one Flip and 3 inserts in one order and got a free diaper (worth $23.50) and in the second order I ordered one Flip and 3 inserts and got a free diaper (worth $24.95.) Each order came to just over $30 with shipping. I think that's a pretty sweet deal! It's a great opportunity to try out different diapers too! Another way to try out different diapers is to enter the amazing giveaways they have on their blog, the cloth whisperer. This weeks fluff friday giveaway is for a Babykicks.

(OK9 just came home and said I good order some more and use the codes to get more free fluff! I love him so much! I love him so much that I will wait. He works hard to earn us money and I will be a good steward of what we have been given.)