Swing time

Auntie Boo bought Emily a really neat tree swing to celebrate Emily turning 9months old! :) Yea, she is spoiled with love!
Emily LOVES to swing really high and she laughs and giggles the entire time.
The days are getting longer and this gift is the perfect way to enjoy those awesome warm evenings to come.
Thank you Auntie Boo...oh, and Tio Brian ;)
(Brian insists on being called "tio" instead of "uncle")

CleanWell

*I am talking hand sanitizer here, not antibacterial gel...

I've been looking for a safe, non-toxic hand sanitizer/wipe that I can use on Emily when we are out and about. I'm a big believer in hand washing but there are situations where I'm not able to wash my hands or Emily's. For those times, I do use hand sanitizer.
I often cringe at the sight of kids and toys getting slathered with blobs of alcohol based gels or wipes. But I also understand the paranoia a parent feels at the thought of their kids catching some icky virus.


Those hand sanitizers that are loaded with alcohol, and soaps that are brimming with the chemical Triclosan. Yes, those products work to kill germs, but they can also make your children sick. Unfortunately, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can poison children who ingest them, and it turns out that Triclosan may be a pretty nasty endocrine disruptor (you know, the stuff that makes children go through puberty well before their time) and may possibly make bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Because Emily always has her hands in her mouth, I'd rather she not ingest alcohol. ;)

CleanWell Facts Kills 99.99% of harmful germs on contact. Including MRSA (resistant Staph), E.Coli and Salmonella. Safe for Kids. No ingestion risk. Made with a revolutionary green technology that is a patented blend of essential oils lab-proven to kill 99.99% of germs. A safe and all-natural germ killer with no toxic chemicals. Free of toxic chemicals such as Triclosan, Benzalkonium Chloride, and Alcohol. Biodegradable active ingredient, which means it breaks down quickly and completely without upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem. Certified cruelty-free. Not tested on animals.

The wipes are my top pick for us.  It feels like we can really get our hands clean with the wipes. I've also used the Orange Hand Sanitizer Spray and I will probably continue to buy it to carry in my purse. CleanWell products are available at Whole Foods Market, The Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Amazon.com, select Target stores, and a growing number of retailers.

I went into two Target stores and our local Henry's and they did not have the wipes. I ordered mine online through amazon.com with free 2day shipping! :)     Click here for more information: http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/# I also emailed the company regarding whether they recommend their products (specifically the wipes) for children under 1 year old.  They promptly emailed me back and assured me that they are safe to use on my little one.  :)

Green Dishwasher Detergent

As you know, I am on a mission to completely replace all my products with naturally healthy green products.  And I've finally switched out my dishwasher detergent to a more natural one that has no scary chemicals or toxins in it.
I am using BabyGanics Dishwasing dazzler and I like it! I've used it several times and it leaves my dishes sparkly clean! I've read some reviews regarding some awful residue it leaves behind but I haven't had this experience at all.  Maybe it depends on the water or type of dishwasher you have?  It works for us and you can buy it at Babies R Us and some Walmarts.  :)

Pampers Dry Max = Chemical burns! Yikes!

Not sure if you heard about this last month...but I wanted to share it.

An article came out in wall street journal about the pampers dry max product saying:

"Some mothers who blame the reengineered diapers for causing rashes, even "chemical burns," have started a Facebook page to detail their claims and press P&G to reverse course. The claims quickly gained traction, leading this month to a lawsuit and inquiries by product-safety regulators in the U.S. and Canada."

Nearly11% of Procter & Gamble's $79 billion revenue comes from the pampers brand.

Yikes, right?   It just fuels my decision to cloth diaper.  Hopefully more parents will now be INFORMED consumers! :)

Also, in case you didn't hear:

Drop-side cribs are malfunctioning and trapping and smothering kids. There have been at least 32 deaths in the last 9 years caused from them.  Several of these cribs have been recalled in the last few years.

Read more here.  Please see all recalls here.

Our Ergo!!

We ordered our Ergo and guess what?...we got an amazing deal!  We are soooo blessed.  Everything we've received or bought has been so discounted or free that it is unbelievable!
 
Jesus said, 'Give, and you will be blessed'...and that is exactly what we do..In honor of God’s provision, we gladly pay Him our tithes.

The Ergo's are quite expensive but we decided to make the investment.  My clever hubby emailed the company asking if they ever give discounts.  We received a reply back from a friendly associate stating that they would give us a deep discount if we called them (at least 20% OFF)!!!
Josh called them and we told them that we wanted the Ergo SPORT model and prayed they could give us a discount on it.  And she did!! We got it for $65.00!!!!  Josh also asked about the Infant Insert that is "needed" if baby is less than four months old in order to safely carry your baby in the carrier. And she threw the infant carrier in for free!!!  She must have been feeling gracious.  What a blessing, right!!  Can't wait to use it!

Nursing Cover: Nurse Simply

I fell in love with the Bebe au Lait/ Hooter Hider nursing covers and I wanted one so badly.  I decided to look around online to see if could find one that was cheaper than $40.  I stumbled upon a site called Nurse Simply who claimed that the quality of her nursing covers is parallel to Bebe au Lait/Hooter Hiders for half the price!!  I decided to give her a try. Her covers are only $20 with cheap shipping!!!  I received my nursing cover a few days ago and I am so impressed!!  The quality is awesome and I love the pattern I choose!
My friend has a Bebe au Lait nursing cover and we compared them to each other and you really can't tell the difference...besides the little label in the corner.
If you are in search for a cute, trendy, quality nursing cover but don't want to spend too much money...go with Nurse Simply , you won't be disappointed!!

She also has the same pattern selection that Bebe au Lait offers!
<------ this is the pattern I chose!

Ergo Baby Carrier

After some research we've decided on buying the Ergo Baby Carrier. We've chosen the Ergo carrier because it encourages the "natural sitting position", unlike some other carriers that have baby dangling by the crotch (like Baby Bjorn).  Even though this doesn't seem to be a widespread concern yet, it does make sense to me that this position is not a natural position for a baby to be held in.  Just looking at pictures of babies in the Baby Bjorn vs. Ergo or Beco carriers, shows a major difference in the sitting positions.  
The Ergo Baby Carriers can be used from newborn (with Infant Insert) to toddler! And they have some cool accessories too!

Check out these other baby carriers that encourage the natural sitting position:
Beco
Boba

Must have for Pregnancy!!!

Every pregnant women needs one of these awesome Be Maternity Seamless Ruched Tanks sold at Target. This tank has been my best friend early on in pregnancy.  It is long and comfortable and smooths out lines from jeans.  It works great under all my shirts & blouses and I haven't had to buy any maternity blouses yet (and I don't think I will ever have to)!!
It gives the pregnant mommy a great shape and hugs belly so comfortably.   It doesn't ride up like other tanks normally do.
Don't waste your money buying maternity blouses because your normal shirts don't give you enough belly coverage anymore...just buy this tank and wear it under EVERYTHING!!
It's only $16.99 right now!!  They also sell it in white and beige.

Laundry Detergent...

For the past few years I have been using Seventh Generation Free & Clear and Method Free & Clear exclusively. And I am very satisfied with both laundry detergents. However, I am on the hunt for one laundry detergent that is safe for baby and works great for all of our family needs (especially for Josh's uniforms and other items that need to be cleaned really good).

Although I would continue to use Seventh Generation and Method detergent, I want something more human friendly for us and baby without Enzymes, Brighteners, Dyes, Fragrances, Softeners or Bleach and something that doesn't leave detergent residue. The detergents I am currently using have some enzymes and brighteners....which is okay for our not so sensitive skin but probably not good for baby.

Why Avoid these Ingredients?
Enzymes: Enzymes attack organic matter and help dissolve stains when activated with water or moisture. Sweat, urine, and feces are all organic matter so there is a risk that these substances that are lingering on baby's skin will be a target for these enzymes. In particularly sensitive children, these enzymes can cause blistering, bleeding, sores and rashes.
Fragrances and Dyes: These are harsh and unnecessary chemicals for a baby's laundry. It is best to avoid them. Artificial fragrances are often made from petroleum. Many do not degrade in the environment, and may have toxic effects on both fish and mammals. They can cause allergies, asthma and skin or eye irritation.
Optical Brighteners: These are actually tiny particles that stick to the surface of your clothes after washing. These particles make colors appear to be brighter by absorbing invisible ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as blue light. Although these optical brighteners may make your clothes appear brighter, they are chemical residues that are intentionally left behind on your clothes and may cause skin irritation or other allergic reactions.
Fabric Softeners: Fabric softener, either in liquid or sheet form – leaves a water-repelling residue on your laundry. When left on clothes, cloth diapers (and towels), this residue makes them less absorbent and useful in the very purpose that they serve.

Dryer Balls also help soften laundry. A new product is The Static Eliminator Re-Usable Dryer Sheets. These sheets contain no chemicals and are hypoallergenic. In addition, they don't affect the flame resistance of clothing (which is very important to us, especially for Josh's uniforms as well as baby clothes).

What Is Detergent Residue?
Detergent Residue is a film that is left behind on clothing (or on my cloth diapers). Why is this a problem? Detergent build-up and residue can lead to repelling or beading of liquid; leaks and wicking; skin rashes and irritation; dulling of colors in fabric. Residue problems are usually caused by additives in your detergent such as brighteners, fabric softeners, natural additives like citrus extract or grapeseed extract, soaps, and stain guards.

Here is a list of some of the leading detergents for comparison:

Image	Detergent	Enz- ymes	Bright- eners	Dyes	Frag- rances	Soft- eners
	*Mountain Green Baby Detergent A PETA acceptable product	No	No	No	Yes	No
	*Mountain Green Free and Clear	No	No	No	No	No
	20 Mule Team Borax	No	No	No	No	No
	All Free and Clear	No	Yes	No	No	No
	All Baby Care Plus	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
	All Small and Mighty	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Arm & Hammer FabriCare	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	Arm & Hammer FabriCare Free	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Arm & Hammer Essentials Free Note: The Mountain Rain edition has fragrance and dyes	No	No	No	No	No
	Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Bio-O-Kleen Laundry Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Bio-O-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry Powder	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Charlie's Soap Charlie's Soap Caution: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent. Note: see “Do Detergents Disinfect?” at bottom of page	No	No	No	No	No
	Charlie's Soap Charlie's Soap Caution: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent. Note: see “Do Detergents Disinfect?” at bottom of page	?	No	No	No	No
	Cheer Cheer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Cheer Free and Gentle	Yes	No	No	No	?
	Country Save Country Save Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Country Save Country Save Powdered Detergent	No	No	No	No	No
	Dreft Dreft	Yes	Yes	No	No	?
	Earth Friendly Products Baby Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap Vegetable & Coconut Based Soap...may not be strong enough to launder cloth diapers	No	No	No	No	Yes
	Ecos Free and Clear Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Ecos Powdered Laundry Deteregent	No	No	No	No	Yes
	Ecover Non Bio Laundry Vegan Approved	No	No	No	Yes	No
	GAIN GAIN	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	GAIN GAIN HE Powder	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	Ivory Snow may not be strong enough to launder cloth diapers	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Kirkland's Kirkland's Signature (Costco brand) This product is nearly identical to Tide	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Kirkland's Signature Environmentally Friendly contains vegetable based surfactants including those derived from coconuts	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
	Maggie's Soap Nuts Maggie's Soap Nuts Note: 100% natural - Grows on Trees!!!	No	No	No	No	No
	Method HE Laundry Detergent	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Method Baby Laundry Detergent	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Method Free and Clear	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Mountain Green Original Citrus A PETA acceptable product	No	No	No	Yes	No
	Nature Clean All Natural Laundry Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Nellie's Nellie's Laundry Soda contains coconut oil based ingredients.	No	No	No	No	No
	OXY-PRIME OXY-PRIME Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Penguin Sport-Wash Restores factory applied waterproofing (DWR). Contains biodegradable vegetable surfactants	No	No	No	No	No
	Planet Ultra Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Purex Purex	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Purex Baby	No	Yes	?	Yes	No
	Purex Free and Clear Note: Many moms have expressed satisfaction with this detergent.	No	Yes	No	No	No
	SensiClean SensiClean Note: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent.	No	No	No	No	?
	Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Baby	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
	Seventh Generation Free and Clear contains vegetable based surfactants and enzymes including those derived from coconuts	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
	Seventh Generation Natural Laundry	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
	Sun Free Note: Many moms have expressed satisfaction with this detergent.	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin HE	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Surf Surf	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Surf Aloha Splash	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Tide Tide	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
	Tide Free	Yes	Yes	No	No	?
	Tide HE	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?
	Trader Joe's Cleanliness is Next to Godliness	No	No	No	No	No
	Wisk Free Clear Ultra	Yes	Yes	No	No	No

I was leaning towards Mountain Green Free & Clear for all our laundering needs...but then I stumbled on what looks to be an amazing product created by a WAHM (Work AT Home Mom) ROCKIN GREEN DETERGENT. I've read nothing but great reviews all over the internet and it is reasonably priced.

My only concern was the "scents" she offers are made from synthetic oils...not natural oils. I emailed my concern and she said that the NEW all natural scents line is replacing the old line and should be available in a few weeks!! Great timing, right!

Rockin’ Green is:

• Dye free
• Comes in several yummy scents (& an unscented version for sensitive skin)
  
• No fillers
  
• No enzymes or optical brighteners
  
• 100% Phosphate free
• Vegan
• Great for sensitive skin
• Easy rinsing formula
• Approved for military use
  
• Perfect for cloth diapers
• HE compatible
• Reusable packaging
• Great for all water types
• Economical at .13 cents a load!

I am going to order my Rockin Green Detergent in a few weeks. I can't wait!!!!