Things I Love Thursday: Lysol Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes

I have loved disinfecting wipes since I first tried them several years ago. They are fantastic for quick cleaning, and are definitely convenient. The only drawback, in my opinion, is the fact that most disinfecting wipes aren't very sturdy. If you try to scrub with them, they shred & start to fall apart.

Then, prompted by a coupon, I tried the Lysol Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes. These wipes have a wonderful feature - one side has scrubby material! I was skeptical that it would really make a difference, but it does! It's wonderful! It's great for cleaning kitchen counters, but I use it most often for scrubbing the dried-off bits from the high chair. It also works very well on the powdered formula gunk that gets on the counter (because I'm messy) - that stuff gets moist & sets up like concrete, but these scrubby wipes take care of it in no time!
I still use my regular disinfecting wipes for most things, but if there's going to be scrubbing involved, I grab these wonderful Dual Action wipes. They're great!

For more product recommendations, visit The Diaper Diaries for Things I Love Thursday!

Biology 101

A conversation from this morning, while changing David's diaper:

Wendy: (pointing) What dat?

Me: (knowing, but in denial) What's what?

Wendy: (pointing more emphatically) What dat? DAT?

Me: (Rats.) Oh, um, that's Baby David's pee-pee.

Wendy: OOoooohh! Dat special one? Dat special pee-pee?

Me: (giggling) I'm sure HE will think so!!

WFMW: Rag Curls

My daughter has very fine, straight, shoulder-length hair, and it's still baby-fluff hair that is hard to style. I decided to try rag curls last week, and didn't have much success. After doing some more research, I decided to try again - and they certainly worked this time!


Here's what I did:

1. Cut 1" x 8" strips from an old T-shirt. I used 10 strips for her little head; for a bigger girl or thicker hair, you'd need more strips.
2. Washed her hair, conditioned well, let air dry.
3. Gathered comb, mousse, rag strips, and child, and turned on a fun DVD. (For an almost-3 year old, that last bit is essential if you want her to hold still!)
4. Combed her hair out, and liberally applied mousse. Lots and lots of mousse.
5. Sectioned the hair, starting at the top of the head, and rolled each little section on a rag strip, then tied the strip in a knot to keep it in place.
   

I rolled her hair in the late afternoon, and before bedtime I had to re-roll a few curls, because her play had loosened them. In the morning, all I did was carefully untie the strips & unroll the curls, and run my fingers through them to loosen them up a little.

The curls were a bit tighter than I would prefer, but I'm sure with more practice I'll get it just right. I may try sponge rollers, too, if I can ever find them at the store. These rag curls were really quite easy, and they were comfortable for Wendy - she wore them for over 12 hours, and didn't seem to be bothered by them at all.

Rag curls work for me! For more tips & ideas, visit Works-For-Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family!

WFMW: Cutting the Facebook Clutter

Today's tip is a really simple one, but it makes a big difference in how I use Facebook. During Facebook's recent update, they changed the flow of the home page. Now there are quiz results, game scores, and all kinds of other items cluttering up the home page.

A friend walked me through an easy fix for this, and I love it! If you're interested in seeing just the status updates of your friends, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Facebook home page.

2. In the upper left, there is a list of options. It may say things like, "News Feed," "Family," etc. based on how your friends are labeled. Underneath that list is a little tab that says, "More."

3. Click on "More" to display a bigger list, and find "Status Updates."

4. Click on "Status Updates" and drag it to the top of the list of options, above "News Feed."

5. That's it! Now, when you go to your home page, the default view will be of new status updates. You can still access everything else by clicking on the "News Feed" option.


I hope that helps! I'm certainly happier with my home page set this way.

For more tips & advice, visit Works-For-Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family!

Lifesavers

There are countless products available for parents of newborns. They range from the basic to the bizarre, from simple to elaborate, and from very useful to dust-collector. I've put together a list of things that have been indispensable to me this time around, in the hopes that it helps someone else!

1. Swing
We have a Graco Lovin' Hug swing (in a retired print) that we bought before Wendy was born. It's battery-powered, comfy, sturdy, and fairly lightweight. Wendy used it occasionally, but David loves it! He naps in it almost every day, and he sometimes sits in it to play, too. It's also the quickest place to put him if I need to set him down suddenly to take care of Wendy. The batteries last a pretty long time, too - we put new ones in when he was born, and haven't had to replace them yet after hours and hours of use!


2. Moby Wrap

I've written about my love for the Moby Wrap before. It's comfortable, easy to use, easy to clean, and I just can't say enough about it! I wish I had known about them when Wendy was a baby.

3. bumGenius 3.0 diapers

We started using cloth diapers for David about two weeks ago. Before we commited to a certain kind, I tried several. The bumGenius 3.0 one-size pocket diaper is definitely our favorite! It's easy to use, adjustable, comfortable, fairly trim (for a cloth diaper), and washes easily. We've had a few leaks, but it's been because they weren't adjusted correctly. I really enjoy using these diapers, and I definitely enjoy not throwing more money away on disposables!

4. Bumbo

The Bumbo is something David is not quite ready for, but I expect to be able to use it in just a few weeks. It's a baby positioner, and holds them in a seated position once a baby is strong enough to hold his head steady. Wendy really liked it - in fact, she still likes it, and somehow squishes her giant almost-3-year-old self into the seat to watch TV!

5. Ministar baby shoes

If you have a baby or toddler, you need these shoes! I can't overstate how wonderful they are. We discovered them when Wendy was about a year old; I had a coupon for them & decided to give them a try. They are similar to Robeez baby shoes, but are much more affordable. The best thing about them is that baby cannot get them off! Wendy wore them up through last winter, because she would not leave her socks on. Even being 2 1/2 at the time, she could not figure out how to get them off, and so her socks would stay on!

6. Tide original powder

We use Tide for all of our laundry, and it has never let us down. It's especially good for the cloth diapers, and gets them clean & smelling fresh. We buy the big box from the warehouse store, and it lasts a long time!

7. Diaper bag w/ lots of pockets

I always pack a lot of stuff when going out with a newborn. Pockets help me to stay organized on the go. I found this bag on sale for $40, and I love it! It's not too diaper-baggy, if you know what I mean, but it definitely does the job. It's neutral, so James can carry it without looking like a doofus, and it will last for years. My favorite feature is the buckle straps for fastening it on a stroller - we haven't used it for a stroller, but I use it all the time on shopping carts!

8. Thermal knit blankets

These have been wonderful for swaddling David. We've got several inexpensive ones (not the Pooh one pictured - it was the only image I could find!) and we use them all the time. They are lightweight, slightly stretchy, and usually a little bigger than the typical receiving blanket - which helps when you have a BIG boy like ours!

9. Johnson's Bedtime Baby Wash & Lotion

Scent is very important to me when it comes to choosing bath supplies, and I love the scent of Johnson's bedtime bath! It makes David smell so yummy and good and clean!

10. James!

Well, you can't get one of these at the store. And you can't have mine. Best of luck finding your own.

Monday Cuteness

My Little Stinker

Saturday Stirrings: Quesadilla Quiche

Today's recipe is one I first tried as a newlywed - which is kind of appropriate, since today is our anniversary! (Happy Anniversary, James! It's been a great 11 years!)

I first saw this recipe on the inside of a box of Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust. It came from one of their Bake-Off competitions, and something about it piqued my interest. I gave it a try, and it quickly became a staple in our meal planning. It's very easy to put together, and tastes great, especially when topped with sour cream & served with a side salad.

Without further ado:

Quesadilla Quiche
1 15-oz pkg Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium tomato, coarsely chopped & drained
1 4-oz can sliced black olives, drained
1 4-oz can chopped green chilies, drained
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
2 or 3 drops hot pepper sauce
2 cups sharp cheddar or colby jack cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare pie crust according to package directions for two-crust pie using a 9-inch pie pan. Place 1 prepared crust in pan; press in bottom and up sides of pan.

In medium skillet, saute onions in margarine until tender. Stir tomatoes, black olives, chilies, garlic powder, cumin, and black pepper into cooked onion. In small bowl, beat eggs with hot pepper sauce; reserve 2 tsp. of mixture. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese over bottom of pie crust-lined pan. Spoon onion mixture evenly over cheese. Carefully pour egg mixture over onion mixture; spread to cover. Top with second crust; seal edges. Slit crust in decorative design in several places. Brush with reserved egg mixture.

Bake at 375 F on lowest oven rack for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes; serve warm with sour cream, salsa, or other desired toppings.

For more recipes, visit Saturday Stirrings at FiddleDeeDee!

Photographic Memory

I don't want to be the kind of parent that lives life from behind a camera - but there are certain times that I wish I had one ready to capture a perfect moment. Instead I focus on the details of the moment, trying to etch them in my memory, freeze them in time as a reminder of the blessings of my life.

One such moment happened on Wednesday night after church. One of Wendy's favorite things about church is running in the auditorium afterwards. It's a privilege she only gets when she's been good, and she really loves it - the freedom, the speed, the joy of it all. We let her do it because it's in an out-of-the-way area, so she won't mow down any little old ladies, and she's perfectly safe and confined.

I watched her run on Wednesday night, and this is what I saw:

A faded patchwork sundress

Tanned shoulders

Sturdy legs (bruised & mosquito-bitten)

Arms flung out to the sides

Head tilted back

Pigtails streaming behind her like twin contrails

Blue eyes snapping & sparkling

Wide smile, full of joy and life and laughter and exuberance and WENDY.

I hope I always remember that picture.

******

Last fall, we got The Wild Little Horse, by Rita Gray, from the Imagination Library. It quickly became one of Wendy's favorite books, since it is about a "baby howwise." In reading it to her over and over again, I began to think of it as a book about Wendy - my very own Wild Little Horse.



"And now he's off, racing past,
running, running, running fast!
He runs with the wind held in his mane,
a wild horse, no longer tame.
GALLIPITY-LIP GALLIPITY LOP
This wild horse might never stop!"

My own wild little horse is strong, and independent, and smart, and beautiful, and I wonder how she will change the world.

WFMW: The Double Swaddle

Swaddling has been used for centuries to soothe & calm young babies. We swaddled Wendy for every nap & bedtime until she was seven months old; it really helped her to sleep better. It was easy when she was a newborn, but as she grew & became stronger, it was harder to get her swaddled securely enough that she would stay that way. David is only 12 weeks old, but we were already having trouble keeping his arms secure - until I figured out this trick, which I call a double swaddle.

(The idea isn't original with me; I figured this out after watching a video about the Miracle Blanket. I thought it was a great idea, and then realized I could accomplish the same thing just using two thin receiving blankets - of which I have a whole stack!)

It starts like a traditional swaddle, except that you lay out two blankets, one on top of the other, both with the top corner folded down.

Place your baby right in the middle, with his head above the top edge of the blankets. (Be sure to smooch his baby cheeks when you do this; it's essential for the swaddling process.)

Here's where it is different. Take his left arm and pull it down against his left side. Take the top layer of blanket on that side, wrap it around his arm, and tuck it under his rump.

Do the same with the other arm. At this point, his arms are pretty effectively pinned against his sides, with the blanket tucked up under his behind.


Then use the outer blanket to swaddle him like you normally would, tucking one side in snugly, and wrapping the other around & tucking it underneath.


And there you have it! A securely wrapped bundle of cuteness. I wish I had figured this out when Wendy was a baby, because it would have saved us a lot of frustration from her getting loose & waking herself up. David can't budge at all when he's wrapped like this, and he loves it - he usually grins up at me once he's securely wrapped.

Because there are two layers of blankets, make sure you don't over-dress your baby before swaddling him like this. David usually just wears a onesie & socks to bed, and he seems to be perfectly comfortable with his two flannel receiving blankets around him. (The only reason he was in a footed sleeper for these pictures is because he was fresh from a bath.)

Double-swaddling definitely Works for Me! For more great tips & ideas, head over to Works-For-Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family!

For my previous WFMW entries, click here.

Brainwashing

The brainwashing begins...

Most people have strong feelings about their alma mater. I am a second-generation graduate of Harding University, in Searcy, Arkansas, and I am no different - I loved my college experience. Harding University is a private Christian college, and for me it was the perfect transition to adulthood. I've got fond memories involving just about every part of campus life, from chapel to classes to club activities to dorm life.

I really want my children to attend a Christian college, and I really want them to choose Harding. I won't insist on it - forcing them to go to Harding would not end up with the best results. If they choose another college, we'll support their decisions - but we sure would love to be Harding parents someday!

"Look at mah belly - you know you want to kiss it!"

Bound to Happen

Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. Wendy is very, very active, and is always thinking up new & creative ways to jump, run, dance, fall, and otherwise injure herself. It was just a matter of time before she got her first fat lip.


Actually, I'm kind of surprised that it took her so long.


This fat lip is the result of running too fast (which is a phrase uttered all the time in our house - "I run too fast!") and stepping on a book that had been abandoned on the floor. The book sent her skiing across the carpet, until she fell right into the corner of a laundry basket. Once I cleaned up the tears & blood, I gave her a Fruit Chiller to help with the pain & swelling. Wendy thinks that the Fruit Chillers are ice cream, and she cheered up right away!

I'm sure it won't be the last time I fix an owie with "ice cream"!

Saturday Stirrings: Chicken Piccata

I used to participate in a weekly blog carnival called "Saturday Stirrings," at FiddleDeeDee. It looks like the carnival is starting up again, and I'm happy to participate! I searched my recipe files for something I enjoy but hadn't yet posted, and here it is! Chicken Piccata!

I haven't made this in several years, but it is GOOD. After seeing this recipe again, I think I'm going to have to make it this week.

Chicken Piccata

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, split

2 cups flour, seasoned with salt and black pepper

6 eggs

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/3 cup grated romano cheese

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh basil

2 cups olive oil

Combine eggs, cheeses, parsley and basil together in a large mixing bowl. Heat the 2 cups of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Dip the chicken breasts in flour and then in the piccata batter. Coat evenly on both sides. Carefully place it in the skillet and fry. When edges are golden brown, turn and brown the other side. Take the chicken out of the pan and place in another pan lined with paper towels to absorb most of the olive oil.

Place in a 350^o F oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve with warm, buttered pasta.

Suddenly

On a hot, sunny day - just the other day, really - we brought a tiny, wrinkled, pink girl home from the hospital.

But today? That tiny baby girl is big, and loud, and active, and funny, and just...Wendy.

The change seems sudden. And every day, I fall in love with her again.