butternut squash teething biscuits

ridiculously easy homemade teething biscuits (or dog treats for that matter)

Piper is teething and will chew on anything and everything. My iPhone was getting a little slobbery and I had half a leftover baked butternut squash - so these crazy simple biscuits were born!

{Pre-heat oven to 425}

 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 -3/4 C mashed butternut squash (or pumpkin or banana) 2 Tbsp coconut oil, and 4 Tbsp water.

place all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix. And mix and mix and mix. You don't want these to be light and fluffy, you want these suckers to be rock hard. Roll out onto a floured surface with a rolling pin so they are relatively thick (I am a very precise baker, as you can tell)

Cut in fun shapes - a circle! a heart! a christmas tree!

I did the funnest of them all - a scalloped circle. Piper is gonna love it.

Bake for 15 minutes or until rock hard (but not burnt, come on now)

give to baby.

{obvi always supervise your baby while eating, I cannot promise these will not break off in to pieces)

store in airtight jar or tupperware

Piper loved them! I'll be honest though I had to break it in half to let her know it was food and not an actual toy. They are are that rock hard. They gum up nicely and do not break easily. It entertained her for a good 20 minutes while I prepped dinner. Win!!

She dropped the other half on the floor and it took the dog a good 5-10 minutes to play with and eat too so... double win!!

diy cloth wipe solution

I have written about cloth diapering and how I use cloth wipes as well. Before you call me crazy, hear me out. I think it is easier. You toss the cloth diaper and the cloth wipe into the diaper pail and call it a day. No need to separate out a disposable wipe (and risk touching...well...all the crap)it just all gets washed together.

There are dozens of wipe solution recipes out there but this one is so stupid easy I have just never ever tried another (lazy much?!)

{THE SOLUTION}

1. Dr. Bronner's baby wash - 2-3 squirts. The baby wash is so mild its perfect for cleaning sensitive little baby bottoms.
2. Tea Tree Essential oils - I buy mine at Whole Foods, but everyone and their mama is selling oils right now so just look to your left...and to your right...and I'm sure your neighbor and all her friends can sell it to you also. ; ) 3-4 shakes. The tea tree oil prevents mold, prevents diaper rash and soothes any rash that does crop up. It is potent if used directly on baby's skin. *
3. H20 - enough to fill the tupperware you choose            

*I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING UNDILUTED TEA TREE OIL ON BABY'S SKIN*

That's it. So simple. 

I keep my tupperware in the fridge and the solution lasts about 2 weeks. About every 2-3 days I wet a stack of cloth wipes and divide them between 3 Lunch Skins (aka reusable sandwich baggies). One for the diaper bag, one for her changing table and one for my purse. 

I love Lunch Skins (the yellow one below) because they are the perfect size for the wipes, fit easily in any baby bag or purse and their patterns and colors to choose from are fab! Also they double as a tiny wet bag for the wipes if need be so I always carry an extra empty one for that reason! 

 I exclusively use Family Cloth Wipes sold on Etsy. They are the best IMO. Perfect size, thickness and shape. I love, love, love them. The small ones also fit perfectly in my tupperware so - score!

There you have it. The easiest cloth wipe solution ever. Perfect for a busy mama like me!

 (and all of us really...what mama ISN'T super busy?!)

cloth diapering

There are SO many posts out there about cloth diapering, I want to throw my 2 cents in, if I may.

I always planned to cloth diaper, not really for any strong, convicting reason (I mean I love the earth, some might call me a little crunchy) other than I like the idea of it. It has been great for us and over the last 6 months I have been mildly successful at it so I thought I'd share my thoughts and go to essentials!! Disclaimer I do use disposables at night to prevent prolonged exposure to urine on sensitive baby skin so I digress I am not perfect. ; )

The Essentials

THE DIAPER

We exclusively use gdiapers - an Oregon based company. Really only because a friends used them on her daughter and I liked them. I don't know all the weird cloth diaper lingo but they have a cloth cover, a snap in liner and cloth or flushable inserts (we almost always use the cloth ones). Its important to use a cloth diaper that fits YOUR needs. Try a couple different ones out, check out what friends are using and see what fit your schedule and kiddo the best. Gdiapers work best for us. Try it and see how you like it! 

THE DIAPER PAIL + CLOTH LINER

At first the price is a little shocking...but UBBI really is the way to go if you are cloth diapering!! The metal frame seriously keeps the stinkiest of stinky diaps from stinkin up the room! They are clean, modern looking and its one of the only pails that you can use a cloth liner with that meshes with the

whole cloth diaper deal! I LOVE our Ubbi, we have one in white. The little door on top is super handy too when your hands are full just press down and push and in the diaper goes!

THE WASH

Honestly I am probably the worst cloth diaper rebel ever...shhh don't tell...I don't really use special cloth diaper detergents. Whoops. I use plain old Mr's Meyers laundry detergent and Nellie's laundry soda. Now before you slap my wrist let me say - I do an extra rinse and a second wash so the diapers get thoroughly rinsed (the have a tendency to get clogged up with detergent - much like towels do) and Mr's Meyers and Nellies are very gentle and natural on their own. I don't think I would use a standard commercial detergent on my diapers. Ive never had a problem with clogged up diaper liners so I have never switched or tried to find an alternative.

THE WIPES

My theory is - if you are gonna do cloth diapers why not just do cloth wipes too?? For me it just makes sense, I toss the cloth wipe in the diaper pail with the cloth diaper and voila. Done. No separating at all. For me it is easier, not the other way around. I discovered the best cloth wipes ever before I gave birth and I went a little nesting crazy and bought 60. Yes you read that right I bought 60. 6-0. And I'm glad I did! (although I could get by with much less!). I exclusively buy my wipes from Family Cloth Wipes from Etsy. They are fab. They have 2 different sizes, tons of colors, the thickness is perfect. I can't say enough nice things about them. 

wipe solution:

{in a square tupperware}

*couple squirts Dr. Bronner's baby wash

*couple shakes tea tree essential oil

* fill the rest up with good old H20

{tutorial to follow}

I keep my wipe solution in the fridge in a small square tupperware container. I use those reusable sandwich bags to store my wipe in. and make enough wipes for about 2-3 days. The tea tree oil keeps the mold away. I make 3 bags. One for the diaper bag, one for Piper's changing table, and one for my purse just in case.

THE WET BAG

Ok so I saved the (usually) most hated part of cloth diapering for last. The dreaded wet bag. So you are telling me I have to change the poop and then lug it around with me for the rest of the day...no thanks! Ha...I know what you are thinking but it really isn't that bad! Wet bags are designed to hold the smell in and I have never had a problem with them. I use Planet Wise wet bags and I love them. Tons of colors and patterns to choose from and different sizes too! I use a medium one in my diaper bag and it is plenty big enough to hold 3-4 diapers at a time.

So there you have it! My cloth diapering essentials. I do not have a toilet diaper sprayer although I would love to try one out sometime!

I don't have tons of time on my hands or more than 24 hours in a day -  I am a busy working mama who loves cloth diapering and have really made it work for me and my hubby! Believe me if I can do it - you, whoever is reading this you can to! 

I mean is there any thing cuter than a cloth diaper front butt? ; )

our little red

Yep, she's a gem. 

Piper 3 months

3 months young. 

This girl keeps us on our toes, but has the sweetest darn spirit. She is calm and happy, the stubborn and fierce. Her personality is starting to show and we are loving it!

{Wear: Dress Little Foot Boutique Tights: local baby shop Moccassins: Freshly Picked }

piper brave month two

two months. 

wow Miss Piper we sure are in love with you.

Oh hey Mr. Fox, thanks for holding me up,

Piper's Birth Story

I am so excited to finally put this amazing story down on (digital?) paper. I love hearing people's birth stories, they are all so, so unique and something no woman ever forgets. My grandma and my elderly patients still can remember exactly the way they felt seeing their babes for the first time and all the details like it was yesterday! I love Piper and my's story. I too will never forget a single detail.

6/30/14 at 8:00am - I woke up to braxton hicks as I did most mornings getting closer to the 39th week. My younger sister came over to help me pack our stuff for our move (another story for another day) and to help me organize the house for our impending permanent roommate. The braxton hicks remained throughout the day pretty consistently. So after she left I thought I would test them - since most of the time they went away on their own if I relaxed, showered, etc. I did everything - showered, laid on the couch, laid on my left side and drank water. And they remained. 

My parents were coming home from being out of town and Greg had men's group until late so I texted them both at around 6 letting them know this might be IT. My mom and I texted back and forth for an hour as they got closer to home and at around 7:00 they were stopping for dinner - they said I should join them to get my mind off things for a while. This is when I knew it was different than before because I suddenly realized these "braxton hicks" were too strong for me to feel I could safely drive. Since Greg was still out (waiting by the phone for any "it's time" texts haha) my parents offered to pick me up and take me to their house so I could rest until Greg got home. 

at around 9:00pm I got a contraction that was a game changer. It came so fast and furious that I immediately texted Greg and said "You better come get me." He arrived at my parents house about 20 minutes later to pick me up. Three contractions later and a seriously annoyed "on the way to the hospital" picture my mom took we were off. We swung by the house to pick up the bags and got to the hospital around 9:40pm. From the parking lot to the OB department I had about 3 or 4 more contractions so I figured I was good to go. They triaged me and had me change into a gown to be checked by the midwife. at 10:00pm on the dot the midwife came in to deliver the most dissapointing news - "I'm so sorry you are only dilated 1cm." 

ONE CENTIMETER?! 

After all the debilitating contractions. Ugh.

But they for some reason had pity on me and said "It's late, why don't you hang out for two hours and we'll check you again at midnight. If you progress we'll keep you if not we can send you home with something to help you sleep." So we held off telling anyone to come since we were convinced we would be going home at midnight with no baby. 

The next two hours were by far the most intense hours of my life. I have never know pain like this, it was literally blinding. The nurse visits were scarce if at all since they were all convinced a first time mom had no chance of delivering any time soon at only 1cm dilated. 

I mostly labored alone.

 Unbeknownst to my wonderful husband who literally thought I was asleep this whole time....ummm what? He kept me going with occasional little sips from my water bottle between contractions and held my barf bag - what a guy! : )  At 11:50pm I called Greg over to have him help me to the bathroom before the midwife came back to check me the second time. I was in so much pain at this point I could hardly see. I remember looking up at Greg and saying 

"I don't think I am as strong as I thought I was. If this is 1 or 2 centimeters I think I need to get an epidural...is that ok?"

Haha of course he said yes, and looked at me like I was crazy for even asking permission.

I had started bleeding, which I thought was a good sign so I hobbled back to bed to wait for the midwife. At midnight the widwife came in and asked if anything felt different. I said yes I had started to bleed and the contractions felt worse - I might need an epidural. Probably chuckling to herself at what a wimp I was for asking for an epidural at 1-2cms she put her gloves on a checked me. 

I got concerned because she was checking me for a very long time. Eventually she said "Umm...have your contractions gotten A LOT worse?!" I nodded.  "Well that is because you are at a 9...do you still want something for pain?"I replied "No! If this is a 9 I can totally do this." Haha my exact words. I was a little loopy at this point from the pain. I quickly looked at Greg panicked and asked him to hurry up and call my mom to get down here. I could tell everyone thought Piper would come fast and furious because my room suddenly became a circus. The midwife literally ran out of the room to gown up, 2 nurses raced in - one to bring in the baby warmer and quickly set it up and one to start asking me admission questions. In transition and being asked admission questions - I would love to go back and read my answers! Haha 

My water broke the minute the midwife left the room and I felt the strong urge to push. I was terrified to tell you the truth. I panicked, and yelled loudly. I was scared - My husband was in the hallway calling my mom, my mom was across town, and my midwife was gowning up. Greg and the midwife and the 2 nurses rushed back in and got me on my back. All the sudden the midwife said "Your baby's heart rate is dropping, look at me...you need to get this baby out NOW" 

Again, I panicked. I couldn't breathe - they put an oxygen mask on me and I pushed with everything I had in me. It wasn't enough. Everything was a blur the MD came in talking about a C-Section, and the midwife told me they NEVER do this but she would have to cut an episiotomy to get her out. 

The nurse next to me said you need to push for your daughter she needs to be born now. 

I pushed with everything I had two more times and she burst forth in to the world. 

Literally. She came out so fast and with so much force amniotic fluid got in the midwife's mouth.

I was mortified - she said she would definitely never forget me and she even wrote about my fast delivery in my medical chart because she said she has never seen anything like it. 

Piper was here. 12:38am on July 1st, 2014 at 39 weeks exactly.They put her on my chest right as my mom and sister came running in. They missed it, but they got to be there for the best part. Her being out and alive and beautiful.

7lbs 9oz and 19.5inches long. Red hair, long, graceful fingers and the cutest little expressions I ever did see. She is her father's clone. Which makes me so happy, he's pretty cute! ; )

Piper Brave Horton
We are pretty in love.

piper brave one month old

Its been a month since this little firecracker has been in our lives.

our mellow but opinionated

night owl ginger baby. 

We love you brave girl.