Earth Week, Day One

 Last year Tyson and I went to our first Earth Day in Balboa Park and fell in love with the amount of resources and organizations San Diego has to offer.  We were surprised in how many of the groups applied to our cooking/gardening/fun outside activities kind of lifestyle.  Since then, we joined Slow Food Urban San Diego, have done some volunteer work with the community gardens, dived into more organic gardening in our backyard, have used more natural cleaning products and have attempted to eat more organic and local.  We feel better about ourselves and have tried to grow a routine in which Maxon can acquire.  It makes sense to live healthy and environmentally conscious.  And for the second year in a row, Tyson and I ventured out to Balboa Park to enjoy the sunny Sunday afternoon with a bunch of Earth loving hippies.  We stopped at Peace Pies for our favorite Vegan food, picked up some seeds at Urban Garden and tasted loquats at the Roots booth.  We also visited with the women of the Babywearing Group and the Cloth Diapers Group.  We learned that cloth diapers are not as scary as we assumed and that with the diaper delivery service, can be affordable and accommodating.  We will take all of this into consideration.   Giving us motivation for gardening our favorite veggies and flowers, Tyson and I stocked up on organic potting soil and more pots.  We planted kale, horseradish, arugula and some lovely flowers. 

Day One of Earth Week was a pretty one!

Leaving Balboa Park with some seedlings

   

Baby curly Kale in hanging pots (perfect view from our  kitchen)

    Bib Lettuce growing in our garage sale purchased wooden boxes

Bright Celosias growing along our fence

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

I am trying with all of my will power to plaster a smile on my face when I hear TWO more women gave birth to their annoying little babies over the past few days. Tyson calls is jealousy....I call it annoyed. It is as though these women are rubbing it in my face on purpose. Why couldn't they have kept their news to themselves??!! I am perfectly aware that Maxon's time will come and his due date is not for another 11 days (20 hours, 14 minutes, 11 seconds), but as I sit here praying for some sort of water leaking, agonizing contraction and/or spot of blood, my patience is wearing down to nothing. I am literally dying from boredom and waiting.....

But to speed up the days, my baby research continues. From a friends recommendation, I attended a Babywearing meeting that advocates mothers to "wear" their children in slings, wraps and carriers. I am all aboard on this and find that with carrying Maxon in my belly for 9 months, I will want him as close as possible. There are so many different products out on the market and with this group, I am able to try them all for a month (with a yearly membership of $30) and find one that suits me. I already own an Ergo Baby Carrier, but want a wrap until Maxon is old enough to hold up his head. I looked at Didy's, Moby's, Mei Tai's, water wraps and more. It was a very comfortable atmosphere with kids of all ages around, breastfeeding mommies, and chatter of how to wrap, using cloth diapers and upcoming events. I even left the group having an open mind on cloth diapers, which I was against. While I am not on the "cloth diaper train" I am more open to the positive aspects of using cloth diapers....no diaper rash, no butt explosions, environmentally beneficial, less money, and not as difficult as I assumed. I am going to attend a future meeting of mommies with cloth wearing babies to learn more about the pros and cons.

Another week passes by (slowly) and another one begins. On our schedule we have another car seat installation (because our first one doesn't fit into our cars), Padres game, prenatal appointments, Food Justice conference, a party we are catering, yoga, coffee dates and advanced planning for Mother's Day, Tyson's birthday, and Alex's Birthday. There is still SO much to do before Maxon gets here and Tyson really wants me to keep my legs crossed until next week since we have such a busy week......looks like he will get his wish.

Baby Stealing Obsession

When I was a few months pregnant, I was recommended by a friend to a website devoted to baby items and maternity clothes at a discounted price. Sounds good, right? Well here is the catch......Everyday, at 8am PST, Babysteals.com features an item at a FANTASTIC price (items can sell for 20-90% off of the retail price) at a limited supply. So if you sign on at noon to get the newest posh diaper bag with matching outfit that usually sells for $200 but is on Baby Steals for $60, chances are that the item is SOLD OUT!

Just this morning I purchased an Ergo Baby Carrier for $70 after my fellow mommy friend texted me about it. I ran downstairs, signed on and plugged in my info. It makes mornings very fun and kind of mysterious, in that you have no idea what it going to be featured. Everything from Not Sox, Fashionable Teething Necklaces, Daddy Diaper Bags, stylish maternity jeans, to Baby Einstein DVD's. You are able to sign up for the daily emails, but I usually don't receive the emails until mid afternoon and by then, most of the items are gone.

Check out their sister website, Kidsteals.com and Scrapbooksteals.com for more outrageous deals!