From My Kid's Closet: Patriotic Outfits

This fourth of July was Bug's first fourth! Unfortunately, thanks to the lovely rainy weather we were having, we weren't able to fully experience the day. In other words, no fire works or parades or anything like that. Instead, we got to snuggle with my family in a little cabin.

There was a brief break in the rain and we were able to go out and hike to a nearby waterfall.

My brother and his girlfriend were also at the cabin with us. It was great to spend time with them and Bug loved trying on Uncle Bo's hat.

Bug's outfit was all hand-me-down, most of her things are.

Photo Dump

In no specific order...

//hiking on the fourth//exhausted after first time swimming//first time eating bananas//

//enjoying jacuzzi time//happy 4th of July from little miss USA//look Mommy, I'm a little princess//

//bedtime reading with daddy//what's up Mommy?//look Mommy, I'm a big girl!//

//so much drool//wearing Uncle Bo's hat//happy happy happy//

//gray eyes//Hank and Bug bff//jacuzzi snuggles//

//silly girl, crawling all over Mommy//she's such a funny sleeper//someone got stuck//

//we're working on the word "no"//

for more photos follow on instagram {at}awood009

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!
Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Stephanie from Dreams Turned To Plans and her post My Two Peanuts Are Here!  I get so excited when I see birth announcements/birth stories linked up. They are the best!

Check those cuties out!

Now it's time to link up your posts! All you have to do is...

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs and The Mrs. 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

the Cloth Diaper Adventures #4: The One Where I Answer Questions

Question: How long is one size good for?
Answer: The cloth diapers that we chose grow as Bug grows. As Bug gains weight, we can lengthen and widen the diapers. So far we've gone up in one size by undoing the snaps and lengthening the diaper.

Question: Are you planning on diapering with cloth until she's potty trained?
Answer: That's the plan. I've heard that it's easier to potty train with cloth, but I don't know yet. I will keep you posted though.

Question: Do you really save a lot of money doing cloth diapers?
Answer: So far, I don't really know. We haven't had to buy disposable diapers. When we've used cloth diapers they are the ones we received from our shower. But we would have flown through those diapers if we hadn't of used cloth, so I imagine we have saved money.

Question: What do you do with the poop? 
Answer: Right now we are exclusively breastfeeding, so the poop just washes right off in the machine. When we start doing solids, I'll have to adjust my methods.

Question: What type of cloth diapers do you use?
Answer: We use AlvaBaby pocket diapers. I was a little hesitant to use the pocket diapers, but I have found that they are actually a lot easier than I thought they would be! And the hubs doesn't mind them either. Bonus.

Question: Where did you research cloth diapers?
Answer: I did a lot of researching on Pinterest. I found great blogs on cloth diapering. I wish I had saved them so I could share them on here with y'all. Unfortunately, the baby brain didn't let me. Of course, a lot of what I did was trial and error and finding out what worked for us.

Question: How many cloth diapers do you have?
Answer: I have 25. That's a little overkill though, but I do think it will serve us if we ever have 2 in diapers at the same time (no I'm not pregnant...this is an "if" and a "when").

If I missed any of your questions, or didn't explain anything well feel free to leave a comment! I love talking about cloth diapers. They have been a great experience for our family!

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!
Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

The most viewed link from last week's Mommy Moments belongs to Gloria from Life On Carr Street and her son Preston's 4 year old update! Happy Birthday Preston!

Now it's time to link up your posts! All you have to do is...

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs and The Mrs. 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

A Letter To Mommies-to-Be

Dear Mommies-to-Be,

You are beautiful. Amidst swollen ankles, clothes that don't fit, and feeling like a mess. You are beautiful. I don't know how many times I can say it. You are beautiful. I know how being pregnant can mess with your self image. You are beautiful. Your body is changing and doing things that you had no idea it could do. You are beautiful. People may comment on how "you're glowing" and you may look at them with disdain. You are beautiful. You're body is doing amazing things, do you realize that? And you are beautiful. Do you get what I'm trying to say? You are beautiful.

Enjoy those last few weeks of those baby kicks and punches. They are wonderful. Yes, there are times that your little one just enjoys bouncing on your bladder sending you to the bathroom every five seconds and it seems to be driving you insane. Enjoy them. You will miss them when they are gone (and at least while they are in the womb, they're not leaving bruises from their ever continuing kicking you and discovering their new legs). Memorize those kicks and punches. They are special and they are wonderful. Enjoy them.

Don't worry about stretch marks. Don't stress about getting back to "pre-baby" weight. Enjoy what your body is doing. Don't wish the time away. Those last few weeks of pregnancy are precious. They are filled with anticipation and wonder, along with a bundle of nerves. Your life is never going to be the same. It is about to change for the better. Do you remember the Grinch and how his heart grew 2 sizes in one day? That will be your heart. You will hold your precious little one, and though you've already grown to love them, the instant they place that beautiful baby in your arms, your heart will grown exponentially.

Enjoy the last few weeks with your significant other. Love each other and dream about what is to come. Take those nesting instincts and run with them! It will be hard to get much done when the baby gets here. But that's okay.

And in case you forgot...You are beautiful. Cankles and all. You are so incredibly beautiful. I hope and pray you never forget that. You are beautiful.

Love,
Alli

Comparisons

I think it's funny looking at these little comparisons. She's always been such a chunk, even in the womb!