This is what I do

So I've decided not to be an insecure parent any more and to prove it I'm going to tell you all the things I do.

I hold my baby, a lot, because I like to and if I were a baby I'd like to be held a lot too.

I use cloth diapers, on what I would consider a regular basis, in conjunction with disposables (because sometimes when you're out and about it's better to throw it away rather than smell up your car). They're great because they ALWAYS fit, I can load them to hold more if I need to (some nights he pees more than others don't ask me why) AND I don't have to feel guilty for changing his diaper because I feel like I need to even if he's only a tiny bit wet.

I let Kylan sleep with me, between Corey and I. I get more sleep and so does he. He has his own room with his own crib in case he'd like to sleep in it; in fact I put him in it sometimes for naps and the begining of the night, but in the end, he sleeps with me.

I wear my baby when I need both hands: loading the car, unloading the car, running errands (way better than packing that big heavy carseat around) & making dinner.

I let him play on the floor. He likes to crawl/skooch around and pull himself up on stuff. I'm raising a good little explorer.

I bring him rock climbing & camping with us. He loves to chew on sticks Corey has whittled. I let him play with dirt and dry grass and I clean him off when we're done.

I nurse my baby anywhere and everywhere it's necessary and I DO have a cover as a courtesy not as a necessity.

I don't currently feed him food. I feed him when he's interested, so when he's interested in more solid food I'll feed him more solid. He HAS had a banana because HE was interested and not because someone else was interested in his reaction.

I talk to my baby. I play games with my baby. Most importantly, I love and care for my baby :-)

back to technolization

So we have not had Internet at our apartment for the past monthh, and we survived. We have it back now so I'm hoping to actually ba able to post some of our summer time adventures.

Saying Goodbye To Virgil Twitchell

On September 3rd my family gathered together to say goodbye to a great man, my grandfather.  He lived a good and very full life teaching many in all of his years.  My dad's father passed away in WWII when dad and his brother were very young.  Virgil took the two boys and Vivian their mother in and raised the boys as his own.  My dad never knew his real father, but to him Virgil was his real father.  Goodbye Virgil you will be missed........ until we meet again.

A Death and Family Gathering

Why is it that it takes a funeral to get a family together?  Ever since I was a little tyke both sides of my family held yearly family reunions, and we still keep at it.  I remember these events being full of cousins and being surrounded by family.  Every year I look forward to attending these events of joy.  As of lately though attendance has fallen dramatically.  Everyone has their own excuse and that is all that it is.... an excuse!  2ish years ago my mother's father passed away.  This funeral was the one event that brought all of my cousins together.  It had been close to 20 years since we were all under one roof!  Two days ago my father's step-father passed away.  His funeral is on Friday.  Relatives are coming from all over and I am sad.  Sad that this is what it takes to get us all together.  This is what it takes to get us all to take a step out of our busy lives to socialize with our families, the ones that we love the most.  I realize that sometimes there are instances that don't allow people to gather such as extensive distance ie: europe, australia, etc...  But those who live within an hour or two from the event have NO EXCUSE!!!!  Choose your priorities wisely!

Busy Summer

Our summer has been pretty busy.  We have travelled all over for work and vacation.  It has made raising our little one a bit interesting, but I guess the good things in life don't come easy.  We have attended 3 reunions so far this summer and are currently gearing up for a 5 day backpack trip.  And yes, we are taking Kylan with us.  This photo was taken at the King reunion.  We have got a lot of photos and stories to share.  Now if only I could get Jentri to post instead of me....