BPA freein' my house

I spent some of my time this week replacing plastic items around my house that have BPA in them. All of the Take and Toss items I got as gifts contained BPA as well as all of my Avent bottles so I recycled it all and went out and bought new Take and Toss items. When I registered last year, BPA wasn't a problem but now that it's up in the air if BPA is really bad for you, I'm not taking chances. Since Benjamin is nursing less and drinking from cups and bottles, I wanted to make sure the products weren't leaching chemicals into his formula and juice. We've been using Born Free products since about three months old and I picked up Parent's Choice 9 oz BPA free bottles from WalMart when I was in Omaha (note to Super Walmart -- I miss you! I know, I should like WalMart but I do esp the grocery part).

I had a brand new set of Avent 9 oz bottles I never opened and tried to return to Target. Apparently, I can't return them because they now sell the new Avent BPA free bottles which sucks. The lady in line told me to put them on craigslist as some moms don't care about BPA. I'm not sure how I feel about that -- even giving them away I feel liable.

It didn't cost much to replace everything I had -- maybe $20. Small price to pay for the health and well being of my child.

Viva la revolution

Months ago, I posted a message on Twitter asking for cool father's day ideas for my husband. Jen suggested I get Brian a handmade mug with Ben's handprint on it from Mug Revolution. I've heard of Mug Revolution before mainly from all the COWPU people talking it up how great it was and how it was one of the best SEO websites out there. I contacted Owen the week Ben was born (remember, it was a surprise he was born three weeks early) and I never made it over to get the kit to make the hand print. I went back to work and I completely forgot about it.

Fast forward to this week. I log onto Twitter and see Mug Revolution has a Twitter handle. So, I make Owen from MR my fellow tweet and then add to my to do this "get Brian's mug made." Then out of the blue, Owen sends me a message. He sees that his new tweet contact is a blogger so he offers to make me a handprint mug.

Today, we went and met Owen to stamp Ben's hand. He's a pretty cool guy! He makes these mugs full time -- lucky for him, it's what he loves to do. So after a little tour of his studio and get to know you chit chat, we get down to the business of getting a clay stamp of Ben's hand.

1. you get the clay soft by working it with your hands.


2. you make it the shape of a pancake and set it on cardboard.


3. you sandwich the clay between two pieces of carboard to smooth it out.

4. guide the hand onto the play and press (this is a two person job and the clay is non-toxic)

and here is his print....


Owen makes these for people all over the country and even for animals. You can buy kits and do it yourself and send it to Owen and get a mug with your child's handprint on it!!!

If I would have thought of it, I would have made one with Zach's paw print before he died. Owen gave us an extra kit to try on Charlie the dog.

When the mug comes, I'll be posting it for the world to see. Stay tuned!

Miracle cleaner

As Lil B lies face planted in his crib fast asleep this afternoon, I'm going to write about a great product I've been using to clean his room, toys and just about everything he touches.

I made the decision before our little wee one joined our family that I would start either making my own cleaning products or buying non-toxic ones (along with that, I promised to try to eat healthy and organic -- doing ok with that one). It wasn't until I went back to work that I found Better Life Cleaning Products. I love Delight.com and have been know to buy from them now and then. When I saw they were selling a nursery product, I pulled out my credit card and ordered a starter kit of their products. The description reads:

The nursery cleaner that works when you’re pooped. And your baby already has. Perfect for the three P’s (poop, pee and puke), 2am Miracle™ takes on everything your wee one (pun intended) dishes out. Any–surface safe (cribs, changing tables, etc.), with essential oils for natural cleansing and aromatherapy properties. A safe nursery cleaner made for cribs, changing tables, changing pads, car seats, highchairs, diaper pails, toys, walls, doors, floors, and mattresses. 32oz.

The other good thing is that you can use it as a spot treatment on baby clothes too!

I've been using it and I.LOVE.IT. So, if you're looking for something non-toxic to clean your home with -- give the Better Life Cleaning Products a try.

Five months

Dear Benjamin,

Tomorrow, you will be 5 months old. Wasn't it just yesterday we just brought you home from the hospital? First off, you met your Grandpa Casey. Your grandpa never thought the day would come he'd be holding you and it stirred up a lot of memories for him of when I was a baby like you.

Over the past month, you've developed your own personality. You love the Old MacDonald puppet book and you've graduated from the bouncy chair to the bumbo chair. You're favorite toy is froggy with the mirror and you love the sassy mirror though we have to take it out of the crib at night because you'd keep yourself up playing with it. We have started to let you play in the exersaucer and the jumper too. I think we're going to need a storage unit for all of your toys.

I'm happy to say, you've mastered sleeping. It was a rough week and mommy and daddy but we toughed it out and BAM, you can fall asleep on your own. You're favorite position to sleep is on your side with your hands on your face. Sometimes we'll find your on your belly but that's OK, you've mastered rolling. We'll put you in one position in the crib and find you in the complete opposite. On a good night, you'll sleep 9 hours straight but mostly it's 7-8 hours, then back in the crib until 5 or 6 a.m. and then you snuggle in bed with me. That is my favorite time of day.

You love to kick your legs too. I'm gonna have to take a video to properly explain what I mean by this but you love to kick.

Dr. V gave the go ahead for us to start feeding you rice cereal. At first, you didn't seem to care about it but then something clicked and you love going in the high chair for breakfast and dinner. I think it's helping you sleep too.

Benjamin, you have discovered your surroundings. You're reaching and grabbing. This past week you realized that we have a dog named Charlie and you reached out with amazement and petted him.

You have nicknames too! Benji is what they call you at day care. Daddy penned you Lil B on twitter and I mostly call you Ben, Benjamin or Benjamin Boo Boo Bear. Janette calls you Bennyhanapoopoo. Hopefully, you won't be confused in a few months.

Month five will bring more challenges but if we can get through transitioning from sleeping in the swimg to the crib, we can tackle anything. (I hope)

Love,
Momma

What Benjamin is getting for Christmas!

I saw this on TV and I want it for Benjamin so I decided this is what he's getting from us for Christmas.

Other ideas I've thought about are a red flyer wagon (maybe for his birthday, I'm thinking). I think the wagon will come in handy for all the Bend events Ben will be going to next year!

Baby Product: LilyPadz

For the working mom, LilyPadz are a godsend. The alternative to nursing pads, these sticky pads go on your nipples and prevent leaking. They last about two months but are worth it because it doesn't make it look like you're nursing (disposable nursing pads look bulky under your shirts, fyi) and you're not throwing away pads each day. They are easy to clean and are well worth the $20 I spent!

Baby product: The Ultimate Baby Wrap

Right now, I'm "wearing" Benjamin down for the evening in my Ultimate Baby Wrap. It's awesome if you need your hands free and he always seems to go right to sleep when I wear it. At first, it's sorta hard to figure out but it comes with a video and after about a half a dozen times of using it, putting it on becomes second nature.

New section! Baby products

It seem that everyone is having babies right now and is looking for recommendations on stuff to get. Each week, I'll try to carve out some time to talk about some items I absolutely LOVE. Today, it's the Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle.

When it's time to go to bed and sleep training, experts say set a sleep routine. Ben's sleep routine includes bath, slideline nursing and sleeping in his Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle. He has two: one cotton and one mircofleece. This signals him that it's time to hit the sack and grab some zzzzs.