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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Our Journey To the Land of Fluff


Some people might wonder why we decided to use cloth diapers, so here is how it began...
With Aiden I never even entertained the thought of using cloth diapers. Then when I was pregnant with Landon a couple of my friends were using cloth on their kids. I looked up a little information, decided it wasn't for us, and figured that was the end of the story.
Fast forward to after landon was born. He was a few weeks old, we had two kids in diapers and I was spending a fortune on Landon's alone. So I revisited the thought of cloth diapers. I looked up a lot of information online, I decided that if I used cloth diapers part time for even just a couple of months we would be saving money, but my hold up was the initial investment.
That's when I found AI2s (all in twos), and came across Flips. It was $50 for a 'day pack', 2 covers and 6 inserts, and the covers could be reused throughout the day. So I decided I would wash them every day, and use disposables when we were out or when they were dirty. And then if I didn't like cloth diapers I wouldn't feel committed.
I called Cutie Tooties (they were Knoxville's cloth diaper store, who are now sadly closed) and they had lots of Flips in stock, so we drove to bearden and made our first cloth diaper purchase.
I had also read that we could only use particular detergents, but I wanted one that I could easily purchase, so I bought a box of original Tide.
I got my diapers prepped and ready to go, and had leaks the first 2 changes. I was discouraged. But I knew the diapers had great reviews, so I knew I must be doing something wrong. We played with the fit a little bit, and soon they were working great !
I loved it! It was so neat, change the diaper, throw it in a pail, when you have enough to wash-throw them in the washer , and Voila! , more diapers, with no money spent.
Within a couple of days I wanted a couple of more, so I had my husband go to the cloth diaper store and get me an Econobum trial kit. It's an one size diaper cover, with 3 prefolds. I thought this was a good idea because it was pretty cheap, at $12 for the set. So when we stopped using cloth diapers there wouldn't be any money lost...
I was loving it even more, we were full time cloth diapering with our little bitty stash at that point, so I started watching for sales, and buying more diapers, online and in store. I decided we would use them exclusively for 6 months until he started solids, and then if I couldn't handle it we would stop.
We ended up with a
I eventually switched from Tide to Rockin Green, a detergent for cloth diapers.
Then I made another big step. I had read about cloth wipes, but decided that that was far too 'crunchy' for me. After finding disposable wipes being washed with my diapers, I realized that maybe cloth wipes would be so bad. I mean, we are used to rolling our wipe up in our diaper and throwing them away, and at that point I was finding wipes in our washed diapers, where I wrapped it into the diaper and forgot that the wipe needed to be thrown away separately. So it seemed logical that using cloth wipes would be simpler.
I bought 2 dozen wipes(I love tiny tush terry wipes) , some bumgenius bottom spray, some kissaluvs diaper lotion potion, and some washy wafers to dissolve and make wipe solution.
And now, we haven't used a disposable wipe or diaper on Landon since.
My thoughts on pros and cons on cloth diapering:
Pros:
It saves money.

Its 'green'.

If changed properly they help prevent diaper rash .

There's no worrying about whether you need to go to the store because you are out of diapers.

They are sooo cute!

They keep messes in better.

Cons:
You need to use a liner for diaper cream, but we've never had a rash with them, so that's no problem.

You do have to do laundry to have clean diapers, but come on, the washing machine does the work.

They take up more room in a diaper bag ( but flip inserts and covers take up much less!)

They are more expensive up front. But it didn't take us long at all to build up a decent stash. And the money you save in the long run is well worth it.

They can be sold, saving you even more money. Think, you spent, say $200 on diapers. You easily resale them for 50 percent of what you paid, perhaps much more. In the end you spent $100 . Come on, who can beat that. ;-)
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Eggplant Parmesan!

I dont know about you, but I love me some Eggplant, well, really anything, Parmesan.
Here is the recipe and pictures for how I made it last night.  It was A+mazing!  ;-)

1 eggplant, peeled
1 1/2 c seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 c parmesan
4 eggs, beaten
1 c flour
At least 4 c pasta sauce
Spaghetti
16 oz mozzarella, shredded
Vegetable Oil
Salt, pepper


Preheat oven to 400.
Mix the parmesan with the bread crumbs.

Slice the eggplant about 1/4 inch thick.
Season with salt and pepper.

Heat oil over Medium High.









Dredge the pieces in flour, then dip into the egg, and then coat well with the bread crumb mixture .












Heat oil over medium high, brown the pieces, a small batch at a time, turning carefully with tongs.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spoon pasta sauce into baking dish, line the bottom of the dish with eggplant.          Top with more sauce, spreading evenly, and then  half of the cheese, then start a new layer of eggplant. 
 
Top with more sauce and cheese.
 Bake for about 20 min, until cheese is melted.
Cut and serve with spaghetti.
 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Biscuits and Gravy

I get hooked on these and have to watch myself or I'll be making them every day !
You can buy the sausage and freezing it in sections. If you like extra chunk gravy you can use the whole thing, but you can also cut it into fourths and and just use a fourth of the roll per recipe, which stretches your sausage farther.

Gravy :
1/4 to a whole roll ground breakfast sausage.
1/4 c flour
2 c milk
Salt and pepper

Brown sausage over med-hi. Add flour, cooking another minute til flour looks dissolved. Stir in the milk, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any brown bits. Let simmer until it starts to thickeni, stirring.often. Remove from heat. It will thicken more as it stands.

Biscuits:
2 c self rising flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp shortening (butter can be used)
Buttermilk (about one cup)

Sift flour and baking powder. Cut in shortening with your fingers, until there are no pieces bigger than a small pea. Lightly, Stir in some buttermilk, just using enough to moisten the mix enough to form a ball. Transfer dough to well floured surface. Very lightly knead to fold in the flour from the surface, 3 or 4 times. Don't handle the dough too much. Pat out to desired thickness. ( about one inch). Cut into circles. Place on baking sheet and brush with butter. Place in oven preheated oven at 450. Bake for 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Pointless Post

I have nothing important to say today. I'm just very tired of being stuck at home ! We have been getting ice and snow here in Knoxville, and today is day FOUR that I haven't left home.
Not that getting out by myself with a 23 month old and a 4 1/2 month old is a real thrill anyway, but we need a change of scenery.
On a sad note, Aiden learned how to get out of his high chair today. Ya, I know, he's almost 2 years old so it shouldn't come as a surprise. But it as nice while it lasted!
There are a couple of pictures of Landon above, from last night doing the dreaded tummy time.


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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Cloth Diapers- 'You're Gonna Use What!?'

     If you cant tell, I've fallen in love with cloth diapers.  I know, it sounds crazy, but come on, they are just so darn cute!  If you haven't seen the 'new world' of cloth diapering, then you are probably thinking 'How could this crazy lady think a diaper is cute?'.
  Cloth diapers have come a long long LONG way from what your parents or grandparents used.  It is difficult tho to enter the world of CDing (cloth diapering), and all of this world's lingo. So below Im going to give a breakdown of terms and various types of cloth diapers.

The costs:
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diapercosts.htm
Helpful Info:
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/basics.htm

Most Brands come with a variety of colors, prints, one sized or sized and closure options.                

Pocket Diapers:                                                                                                    Bumgenius 4.0 pocket:
These diapers have a waterproof outer layer, soft fabric to go on babies bottom, and have a pocket to stuff an insert in to.
Most brands come with the option of snaps, or aplix for closures.
Some popular brands are Bumgenius, Fuzzibunz, Blueberry, Happy Heiny, and many others.
To wash you just pull the insert out and wash both pieces.

                                           Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size and Landon in a Fuzzi Bunz size small:



















AIOs (All in Ones):
All in ones, are just that. The diaper is one piece. These are the most similar to a disposable.  They are much like a Pocket diaper, but the absorbent part is sewn into the diaper and cant be removed. These are often the diapers of choice for daycares or grandparents because of their ease. They do tend to have longer drying times since the inserts can't be removed.
Shown is a Bumgenius All in One.



AI2s (All in Twos) or Hybrids:
These are newer on the scene of cloth diapering.  Most of these systems include a waterproof cover, and an insert.  Some inserts are simply laid under a small flap in the cover, some are snapped into place.
My personal experience has been with the Flip system.  It is a One Size waterproof cover, that comes with the option of a Stay Dry liner, an Organic liner, or biodegradable disposable liners.
These diapers are an affordable way to cloth diaper, because the cover doesn't have to be replaced at every change.  There is no need to replace the cover unless it becomes soiled, you just wipe over the inside and replace the insert.
Some other brands include Grovia and Gdiapers.
                                                 Landon in a Flip:












One Size Diapers:
Most brands of diapers carry a One Size diaper.  These are great!  They allow you (in most cases), to use the same diaper all the way from birth to potty training, meaning there is no need to spend money again on bigger sizes. You can find Pockets, All in Ones, Hybrids, Covers, pretty much any type of diaper with a one size option.  What makes them 'One size' is what is referred to as the 'Rise' on the front.  Most of these have rows of snaps, and you can snap the diaper into small, medium or large.
                              


  






                                                                                      

Sized Diapers:
Different brand's diapers are sized differently.  Some people prefer to buy sized diapers because they feel that the get a better fit, and that one size diapers are bulkier on a smaller child.


                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                            



                                                                                                                                 Kissaluvs fitted:

Fitteds:
Fitteds are made from various materials, and
need to be worn with a cover over them.  This is
another solution instead of using Prefolds or
Inserts in your diaper cover.  They come with
snap or aplix closures.




 Diaper Covers/Wraps:
These are what they sound like, a cover for your diaper.  They come in an array of prints, sizes, and snap or apliz closures.  Most AI2 covers can also be used in any way a regular diaper cover can.
Thirsties Duowrap Cover:                                                               Landon in Thirsties Duo wrap:





















Closures:
Many diaper brands now have a choice of closures, snaps or aplix.  Many people like snaps because of their durability, and many people like aplix (velcro) because of the ease and similarity to disposables.


















Prefolds:
These are a very budget friendly way of cloth diapering.  They do require a little more prepping than other diapers, but this only has to be done once.  They can be fastened around baby with a snappi, or trifolded. There are various other folds that can be used.  You will put a diaper cover over your prefold.
Unbleached prefolds:                                                              A trifolded prefold (you just lay it in the cover):





Snappi:  


Wetbags:
A waterproof bag for your soiled diapers, available in small sizes to fit up to 3 diapers for use in your diaper bag, to medium and large, all the way up to sizes called 'pail liners', to line a big diaper pail at home.
Planetwise wet bag:

Cloth wipes:
      I was hesitant about these at first, but think about it....   When
 poeple use disposables, don't they usually put the wipe in the
 diaper and throw it away?  Well when you use cloth diapers,
 you will be putting them in their pail/bag, and then have to put
 the wipe in the garbage. (And ive had more than one wipe that didnt make it to the garbage and ended up in the washer..)  So why not use a cloth wipe, and still be able to throw it in the diaper, and wash them both!?  Its really so much simpler.  There are various kinds of wipes, fleece and terry cloth being common.  Im personally partial to the terry ones.
There are also solutions for cloth wipes.  You can buy them in a spray form, that you can spray directly onto babies butt, or in a tablet/drop form that you dissolve into water and pour over the wipes.

















Cloth Diaper Detergents:
That's right, they do need a special detergent. Some detergents can cause your diapers to repel moisture, or create buildup.  Some good detergents are BumGenius Cloth Diaper Detergent, Rockin Green, Tiny Bubbles.  There are many other approved detergents, here is a great list:
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

Prepping your diapers (my recommendations):
When you first get the Diapers they will need 'prepped'.  For most diapers, I'd recommending washing 3 times, full hot cycles, with extra rinses. Then dry completely, wash a full hot cycle with extra rinse one more time.
For prefolds (they take a bit more work to prep):
For the first wash, do a Hot wash, with a couple drops of Dawn dish soap. Rinse, and Extra rinse. Wash full hot cycle again, no detergent, with an extra rinse. Wash again, full hot cycle,with detergent, with an extra rinse.  Wash again, full hot cycle,with detergent, with an extra rinse.  Dry completely.  Wash again, full hot cycle, with detergent, extra rinse.

Washing Your Diapers:
There are many many different ways of washing diapers, it depends on many factors, including your location, water type, detergent, and washer.
What works for us is:
Keep Diapers in a Dry pail.
Put in Washer, Do a cold rinse.
Do a hot wash, with the recommended detergent amount (about 1/4 or less of what you would use for the load size), with the normal cold rinse.
Do an extra cold rinse.
(To tell if you are using too much detergent, check your diapers during the last rinse. If the water is still sudsy, do ANOTHER rinse, and add less detergent the next time that you wash.  It may seem a little much at first, but Once you get the routine down it will be second nature.)

For stains:  The SUN!  Really, I was skeptical how well sunning would work, but it has taken out every stain Ive had so far.

NEVER use fabric softeners or bleach on your diapers.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Breastfeeding- My Failures, Successes and Info you should know


  Why breastfeed?  Why not just use formula?
Health benefits:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/bf-benefits.html
Cost:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/bfcostbenefits.html

      I thought I would post some parenting topics on here, there is an insane amount of information on everything and anything online, but for first time parents, or even parents of multiple children, it is sometimes overwhelming to know where to turn.
Todays post is on Breastfeeding.
  Lets start at the beginning of this journey...
When I first found out I was pregnant with Aiden, I knew I would breastfeed, that wasnt even a question.  BUT, I wasnt totally sure how long I wanted to nurse, I wasnt sure whether I would supplement, and so on.  I researched A LOT when I was pregnant with him, thats pretty much all I did for the last trimester, since I was just sitting at home.  I knew 6 months of breastfeeding was recommended, but noone I knew personally had nursed that long, at least noone that had ever mentioned it.  So I decided we would shoot for 3 months, exclusively, then I would allow myself to supplement if the need be.  That is what I decided I would be DETERMINED to do.
 So I read and read about proper latch, how some people have a little trouble at first, but you will surely figure it out, how there may be some discomfort, but it will pass...
  Forward to Aiden's birth.  (I had pain medications and an epidural with him).  I waited maybe an hour or so to try to nurse him.  There were friends and family in the room, they wanted to see the baby, and even tho I had just given BIRTH in front of most of them, I just wasnt comfortable with breastfeeding with everyone in there.  So once some people left the room, I tried. It didnt work so well, at all.  Aiden was asleep, he really didnt want to wake up to eat.  ( And this is where having a birth plan comes into play...  I have been to the hospital when others have given birth, in most cases if the baby doesnt eat after the first couple of tries, the nurses will push formula on the mother.  I had written in the birth plan and handed it out, saying that NO formula would be used, so thankfully the nurses at my hospital NEVER brought it up, no matter the troubles I was having. So write your birth plans!!)  He would try to latch, and wouldnt suck, or he would suck, but wouldnt be latched, and most of the time he was just sleeping.  We tried torture. Stripping the hours old baby naked, putting wet rags on him, we did everything we could to wake him up at his feeding times.  It just wasnt working.  It also didnt help that his bad latch had me bleeding, cracked, and in pain. The lactation consultant came, she didnt have any more success than anyone else, because he just wouldnt wake up.  I saw the lactation consultant the one time, and that was it.  We went home after 2 days, in the same situation as the day before, with no help other than a nipple shield. (A nipple shield is a plastic piece, think a paci or bottle nipple, that you place over your nipple so that the baby can latch to it and possibly eat easier).
    We get home, and he had really barely eaten at all for 2 days, whenever I tried to feed him he was getting frustrated and screaming, and especially as a first time mom, it was very nerve wrenching.  So....   I started pumping.  I would pump, feed him, wait 3 hours, pump feed him, etc.  This went on for 6! weeks. Six long long weeks. I would occasionally try to nurse him, but we were both just so used to our routine that I didnt try it often enough.  At 6 weeks old, he learned to latch. One day he just decided that he knew how, like he had always been doing it.   That sounds great right?   Well it seemed like it.  But, all of the scheduled pumping, had caused my milk supply to be, well, crappy.  He was wanting more to eat, and I was only making enough to get by. As the next month and a half went by, we were still doing scheduled feedings, because that was the routine we had gotten so accustomed to, and my supply wasnt keeping up.  By 3 months it was a daily struggle to feed him enough. I would sit with that awful pump for ever, and sometimes not even make enough to feed him.
    I had reached the goal I had been determined to meet, so we began supplementing.  It was honestly felt like a relief at that point.  Two months later, I was hardly making any milk.  We were out of town at the beach, and I can still remember that day.  It was in the afternoon, and I got in the bath at the condo, Aiden needed bathed too.  I sat in the tub and he immediately found me and began nursing, something he usually wouldnt do.  I think we had never had the 'nursing relationship', the bond, that you hear so many people talk about.  And I felt that bond for a moment, I let him eat, and I knew that that would be the last time.
  At first it seemed like a relief after we stopped, but my emotions soon took a toll on me. I really felt like a failure as the weeks went on.  I really regretted my milk supply, I felt like I should be able to change things.  It was just depressing.  I eventually just realized that I did my best, way more than most people do, and that we would have another child, my nursing days weren't over.
    Fast forward...........  
   So I get pregnant with Landon, and am determined again to breastfeed.  But this time I set no limit.  I decided 6 months exclusively, would be the minimum, and there would be no limit as to how long we would go. (Now Im determined to shoot for 12 months). I again read and read, but focused much more on the details of breastfeeding, not just the main points.
So here are some things that I learned that I did do wrong the first time, should do this time, I have used, and they have worked.
   I put out of my mind the anxiety of nursing in front of others.  If I was going to do it, and REALLY do it, I couldnt be concerned with that. Now Im not an exhibitionist, I do cover up, but I wasnt going to let others make me shy away from feeding my child.
  I got a GOOD pump, I was so afraid we would have troubles again, and a crappy pump can lead to a crappy supply.  So if I needed it, I was going to have the best at my aid.  (Never buy used pumps, only hospital grade pumps should be used by multiple users.  There is no effective way to sterilize a used personal pump. The milk can get in the diaphragm, and there is no way to clean that. See http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/14/can-i-buy-or-borrow-a-pre-owned-breastpump  )
   I was at the hospital for a friends birth while I was pregnant, and noticed that the baby was the most alert within the hour after she was born.  I realized then that the articles that say 'Feed your baby within the first hour after birth' were true.  If you want the baby awake and eager to eat, that is the time to do it.
  With Landon I had no pain meds or epidural, as soon as my stitching was done I took him while he was still alert, and tried to feed him.  I was mentally prepared for battle.  I was not going to get frustrated by his cries, I was not going to give up, he could and would nurse.  Well, he did. He was a pro.  I was fortunate this time.  Then again could it have not been chance, but my own preparation?...
    Remind yourself that women have nursed for CENTURIES, when formula did not exist, it was not an option.  Someone honestly not being able to nurse, is rare.  It happens, but it is not the norm.
   Dont let yourself give in to pumping because you are having trouble.  Unless there is a medical condition that makes this necessary, dont give in to the pump.  It is recommended not to pump for the first 6 weeks.  It also recommended not to give the baby a paci the first few weeks.
  For the first few days, and ESPECIALLY the first couple of days,try to feed the baby whenever he is awake.  The hospital recommends you feed every 2-3 hours.  But that is the minimum. Anytime the baby is awake, feed him. If he hasnt been awake in 2-3 hrs, wake him.  If he wont wake up enough to eat, wait half an hour and try again.  If the baby is hungry, he WILL eat.  The baby mostly sleeps the first couple of days. It is NORMAL for him to not eat much during that period.  When your milk comes in, usually in 3-5 days, the baby will start eating more.
  The recommended way to feed your baby is: Start with one breast. Let the baby eat from it 10-20 minutes or until it is empty. If you dont want to time it, you can assume that side is done when the baby takes himself off or falls asleep.  (As they get older they may take less time to eat, you will get used to telling if you are empty).  Switch the baby to the other side, again let him feed til he falls asleep or takes himself off.  The next time you are ready to feed him, you will start with the last side that you fed him on.
   The football hold is an easy hold to use for a newborn.  Here are various holds:
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/positioning.html
    Most nurses are unfortunately very uneducated on Breastfeeding.  It is unfortunate, but you cannot rely on their knowledge.  You need to gain this knowledge for yourself, before your baby is born.  If you have a friend who has successfully breastfed their children, keep them on hand.  If a nurse tells you your baby needs formula the first couple of days, second guess them.  If they tell you you are in no condition to pump, second guess them.
   When your milk comes in it may be difficult for the baby to latch, and you will more than likely be in a great amount of discomfort.  If you are too engorged for the baby to latch, you may need to pump a little bit to relieve the engorgement. But try to avoid pumping, it will make the engorgement worse because it will be signalling your body to produce more milk.
   Trust your body.  Many people may think they dont make enough milk.  This is most often not true, especially if you nurse on demand.  Let your baby nurse when he wants. Some days it may make you crazy. He may cluster feed, wanting to eat every 30 minutes some days. This is normal, he is telling your body to make more milk.  Its hard to do, but trust yourself and your baby.  If you get the baby on a schedule that you wont break, and dont let him cluster feed, you may very well end up with a low supply.
  Dont skip feedings.  It may be easy to think, "I need some sleep, Ill pump some extra milk, and my husband can do a night time feeding'.  If you skip feedings, your body will make less milk, thinking the baby doesnt need it.  There will be times when your baby is older that you will give him milk in a bottle and possibly skip a feeding, and that is ok, but it cant be routine. It cant be a daily thing.

Special Problems:
   Ive had many issues with clogged ducts. The best solutions Ive found:  Dont skip feeding.  Let the baby completely drain the breast.  If you get a clogged duct, usually massaging it and pumping/feeding the baby will help a clog that is just starting.  If it gets bad, fill a water bottle with boiling hot water ( I use water from the keurig), wrap a washcloth around it, and apply the heat, as hot and as long as you can stand it. Massage the clog, pump, repeat if necessary.  Clogged milk ducts can be VERY painful , so try to prevent them.
   For especially large breasts-  If your are having trouble keeping your breast elavated enough for the baby, try rolling up a receiving blanket/towel, lifting your breast, and put  it underneath. Then put the baby in the football hold and try feeding. (For those that know me, you know I dont have this problem!  But its on here for those that do.)
   Sore nipples:  I swear by Lansinohs Soothie Gel Pads. Put them in the fridge first, they work wonders!  You should also have some Nipple butter or Lansinol cream on hand.

Sites that I recommend you read:
http://www.llli.org/nb.html  -The La Leche League Site
http://kellymom.com/

Milk storage guidelines:
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html


My favorite products:
        
                         Soothies gel pads: http://www.target.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Gel-Pads-Pair/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1


   Lansinoh lansinol:  http://www.target.com/Lansinoh-Breast-Creme/dp/B000067DYG/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2






  If you have any questions, let me know or leave a comment!

Friday, January 7, 2011

New Diapers Are Here!

I ordered some diapers from Cottonbabies.com the other day, a Bumgenius 4.0 artist series and 2 Bumgenius AIOs (all in ones), and I just found them in the mailbox!  They are washing right now, but in my excitement I thought I would do an 'unboxing' of the Bumgenius 4.0 below!

The newest additions to our 'family':
Now, the Bumgenius Chelsea Perry Artist Series in 'Retail Therapy' Print-
In packaging:

 The front:
Inside, inserts nicely packaged:

Back, with Chelsea Perry logo:
Front, unsnapped. You can see the double rowed snaps to snap the top, along with the 3 rows of snaps to adjust the rise to small , medium, or large:


The Stay dry inserts, 1 one size that snaps down to size, and then the newborn insert/doubler for heavy wetters and overnight use:

The inside, the flap covers the opening to the pocket, to prevent the insert from poking out and wicking moisture onto their clothes:

The pocket, to stuff the insert in to:


Side view,stuffed with one size insert:

So far it looks just beautiful!
Ill add a picture of Landon wearing it once we get it washed and dried.
And Ill review it and the AIOs later on.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ham and white bean soup

This soup is thick and filling, a great recipe when its cold and snowy like it has been the last couple of days. I had sliced ham already in the freezer that I dethawed to use. You could also substitute the dried beans with canned beans for a quick soup if you are in a hurry.

1c carrots
1c onion
1c celery
2 T olive oil
3 clove garlic, minced
1 lb ham, chopped into small pieces
1 can chicken broth
1 can beef broth
16 oz dried white northern beans
Bay leaves
Salt,pepper
Thyme, parsley

Bring beans to boil in about 4 quarts of water. Turn off, let sit to soak an hour. Bring back to a simmer until beans are done, about 2 hrs. Drain water from beans. Set aside.
Dice carrots, onion and celery. Pour olive oil in large pot , add carrots onion and celery. Cook until soft. Add half of the ham and the garlic, cooking 30-60 seconds. Add both cans of broth, half of the beans, 2 bay leaves, salt, pepper, and a dash each of thyme and parsley. Let cook over medium low at least an hour and a half. Use immersion blender, or pour into regular blender, and blend. Return to heat. Add in the rest of the beans and ham, add a few dashes of hot sauce (optional). Cook a little longer, til hot and simmering. Serve hot.
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Starting our bliggity bloggin journey...

Hello! I'm Amanda. I'm a stay at home mom to two little boys, who are jumping on me as I type. Aiden will be 2 in mid February, and Landon is 4 1/2 months.
Our family loves to eat! So I will post recipes and pictures on here of foods we make.
We are also cloth diapering our youngest child, I will go into further detail about that on a later post. I will share information on cloth diapering along with reviews on diapers we have tried.
I'm excited to get started !
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