AdvoCare anyone?

After taking certain AdvoCare products for over a year now, I have decided to become a distributor. I did this mostly for my own benefit in receiving a discount on the products I use, but it is a nice perk to be able to sell AdvoCare products as well. If anyone is interested in either using some Advocare products or becoming a distributor you can go to my website and do it all online or give me a call and I can order for you. Just make sure my name is in the top left corner before ordering.

I will come back to this post when I have more time and tell you what I use and why.(Trevor is doing fish lips/cheeks to Ethan, and now saying I'm going to step on baby brother and then sorry Ethan, I didn't mean to! He didn't actually step on him, I would not allow that!)

I'm sew busy

Yeah, that's a totally corny title! I have been staying busy with diaper orders, but I have been wanting to get a few different items on my hyena cart that will appeal to a wider range of potential customers. The first thing I have decided to add is Lil' Loveys. They are small (approx. 10"x10"), and super soft and cuddly. Perfect for every lil' baby to love! I am making them with or without ribbon tags (no loops, sorry the taggies co. has a patent on ribbon loops!) per customers requests, and I have a beautiful variety of fabric choices and colors (all minky, messy to sew but oh so soft to love). They are available for sale right here on my blog or on my hyena cart . Here is a picture of the one I made Ethan (his has loops and can because I did not make a profit on it):

Here are a few diapers that I just finished up for a customer (1 newborn AI2, 1 newborn fitted, and 1 medium fitted)

Headed to AZ!!!!

Yesterday I was pretty sad and missing my sister terribly. Ted and I had dinner plans for us to have a night out, no kiddos (this doesn't happen very often!), and I mentioned at dinner how I was missing Tash and was down about it. Ted told me to take Ethan and fly out to see her, I was SO excited! We had wanted to fly out as a family, but financially it just wasn't a good idea. I don't know why I never thought of just me (and Ethan) flying out? I told my sister last night of Ted's great idea, and she was just as thrilled as I was. No later than a few minutes after taking to me, Dad call's Tash and she tells him that I am going to fly out.

Fast forward to this morning when I run into my dad he asks if we (as in Ted, the kiddos, and me) all wanted to go to Arizona to visit Natasha. I told him of course, but we don't have the funds to do so. He then lets me know that himself and my mom would help pay for us ALL to go visit! I spent the afternoon finding the best deal I could and booked a 4 day, 3 night trip for ALL five of us to see my sister!!! Landon adores Tashie and is going to be so excited when he heres the great news!!! I can hardly wait for October 17 to get here! I think I would squeal if Ethan wasn't sleeping!

I love you Etan...

...Trevor said to his little brother and then planted a big, wet kiss on his forehead!

The kiss part occurs about 50 times a day and is nothing out of the ordinary, but the "I love you" was the first time Trevor told Ethan that he loved him. What a sweet brother, I was so proud of him!

Feedback...

This is a review of my diapers so far:

Overall, what do you think? How can I make them better?
I really like it...A LOT!! I think that I would like one more soaker layer in the in the soaker. I love how trim the diaper is. Seriously, it rocks for trimness. It fit great under clothes. And the only other thing is making that wiast have a few more snaps. Other than that, GREAT JOB!! I will get some more too b/c of how trim it is. Thanks for letting me test and good luck to you. I will let you know how it washes up and how it is after a few more wears. But, seriously. I REALLY like it!!

Open for Testers

Last night I officially opened for business! I started a thread on diaper swappers as well as a hyena cart account. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about posting the thread, but I took a deep breath, clicked publish post, and was then excited! I got some interest right away, and hope to get more over the next week. I marketed these diapers as testers, which means the buyer gets them at a discounted price and then gives me feedback on how I can improve them.

As of right now I have 3 diaperswappers and a friend that have offered to test my diapers. It seems like medium and large sizes are the most popular, as well as fitteds. I still have open slots for newborn fitted and AIO/AI2, and medium AIO/AI2, and large AIO/AI2.

If you are interested in testing, you can check out my thread at diaper swappers:
http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8340973&posted=1#post8340973
or visit my Hyena Cart (don't forget to enter code test4me at check out for 25% off):
http://hyenacart.com/sonupdesigns/

back to cutting and sewing!!!

Sicky Pup

Do you know what the title of this blog means? It took Ted and I a few months before we figured it out! Trevor is a very good speaker for his age. He is talking in full sentences and is very articulate and easy to understand...for the most part. He had this phrase that we just could not quite under stand, and we weren't even quite sure what the phrase was. Was he saying sticky bob or sicky bop. No, finally we figured out he was saying SICKY PUP. We figured out what he was saying AND what it meant. If you just switch the "C" with the first "P" it all makes so much sense...SIPPY CUP! Finally after months of not knowing, we figured out this mystery phrase that just meant Trevor was thirsty and wanted his cup.

First day of SCHOOL!

Landon started preschool today. I blinked and my baby turned into a boy. Landon had been looking forward to this day when he found out he would be going a couple of weeks ago. Finally the day came, and the first thing that he said was, "SCHOOL!" He was still laying in bed and had a huge smile on his face. We had breakfast, got dressed, and then he put on his backpack a good 10 minutes before we had to leave. Ted called and asked for us to come pick him up from work so he could be there to drop Landon off on his first day (what a good daddy!). We pick Ted up, and get to his school a few minutes early and wait outside until the teacher opens the door. The teacher comes and the kids start going in with their parents, all the kids were pretty much not leaving their parents' sides. Then there is Landon, he said bye and took off for the classroom not caring about Ted and I and just plain excited to get into the room. Finally we caught up with him and got his backpack and folder in their places and then he was off on his own again. If you know Ted and I, you know that Landon did not get his outgoing nature from us. Ted and I were always reserved and shy, especially at that age.

I picked him up three hour later and he came out of his room just like he went in when I dropped him off ... excited and wearing a huge smile! He told me all about his day, excited and proud of everything he had done! I am so proud of my little guy!

It's Official!

I got the paperwork from the state saying SON up till SON down Designs can be open for business, and that I can charge sales tax for the state of Iowa. I can't believe how fast I got the OK! Now I really have to get my butt in gear!! I made a one size fitted diaper yesterday during nap time, and have an AI2 started (John Deere per Trevor's request). PUL and bamboo velour arrived in the mail yesterday, I am quite excited to use it all up and oh my is that velour ever so soft! 

Just finished Trevor's (and Ethan's) John Deere AI2

More diaper talk ...

I have been keeping quite busy. In my quest to be a stay at home mom, but also help out a little bit financially as well as have something I can call my own I have come up with SON up till SON down Designs. My love for being crafty and sewing combined with my silly obsession of cloth diapers is what brought this on. I have been taking care of my boys and my house and when I get a bit of free time I am sewing diapers. I have been trying out different patters and am a tester for a one size pattern right now. I hope to get that test diaper made today. I have created a website for my business and hope to find (and license if need be) a diaper pattern that I really love soon. I am really liking the Hippy Hippy Snap pattern, but I have a few more to try out before I make a final decision. I would love some feedback on my website, as it is a work in progress and any advise to make it better is much appreciated. Here is the link: http://web.me.com/sonupdesigns

These are my latest diapers I have sewn:

Hippy Hippy Snap, size small fitted

Super Front Snap, size small AIO

Super Front Snap, size Medium AIO

Yesterday was laundry day (diaper laundry day!), and here are my lovely dipes hanging out to dry:

Quick Work-Out

Ted has been working on a pretty big project at work, so I missed out on 2 days of kettlebells this week. I decided to do a quick workout at home today, and thought I would share in case anyone else would like to try it out. It is only 15 minutes, so everyone has enough time to do this workout!

Set your timer for 15 minutes and do as many rounds of these 5 exercises as you can:

1) 10 push-ups

2) 10 v-ups (or any type of sit-up you prefer)

3) 20 mountain climbers (10/leg)

4) 10 burpees

5) 10 sqauts

Now go work-out!

Wanted to add that I got 8 rounds in, your body can do amazing things IF you set your mind to do it...

Cookie Monster

I haven't really blogged about Trevor, so I want to write down something he said that gave me a good smile the other day. The title of the blog is Trevor's alter ego, he is most certainly the 'cookie monster'! He has a sweet tooth like I have never seen before. He will scale the pantry to get to the cookies that I try to keep out of reach. I just had to explain about Trevor's tremendous sweet tooth, otherwise what he said would probably be cute but you wouldn't really find it funny.

It was Monday morning and Ted was off to work before the boys woke up. They ALWAYS want to know where daddy is when they wake up. Landon asks were he was and I explain that it is Monday and that daddy works on Monday. Landon then asks me what days daddy doesn't work. I explain to him that Saturday and Sunday daddy stays home and does not work. Trevor is listening and chimes in "cookie dough sunday!" I love it, the cookie monster strikes again! I honestly think he thinks about candy, cookies, icecream...SUGAR...about 70% of the day, the other 30% he is thinking about tractors, lawn mowers, hay mowers, and combines.

One big turd, and lots of little turds

I have been meaning to blog about this for a few days now. It is a little on the 'eeww' side of things, but I find it just too funny to not write about it. Landon has been going on the potty for almost 6 months now. He does it all on his own, but likes to get some help wiping after he goes number two. I will ask him if he is done, usually he says no. When he finally is done I will go in and help him wipe and he needs to use the spray to make it smell good, because he starts gagging. Gagging to the point where I think he might puke. Then he says, "Mom, I did one big turd, and lots of little turds." You can tell by the way he says it that he is quite pleased with himself. 

We were over at my cousin Bree's the other day for a fun play date and Landon had to go poop. He comes out and tells Bree in a 'I'm too cool' type of voice, "I did one big turd and lots of little turds." How can you not laugh about that!!

What a BEAUTIFUL sound!

My baby boy laughed for the first time today! It was one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. So crazy that hearing my children laugh can actually brings tears of joy to my eyes. It is just such a pure and innocent sound that is filled with 100% happiness. It really doesn't get much better than that!

I will add pictures of the little man latter today, because he is officially 12 weeks old today! Here are the pictures (so far), and of course my cloth diaper obsession took over and I decided to take one of him at every diaper change today (I didn't get his first diaper change of the day, but he was wearing a green gro baby):

Size small Bottombumper AI2

Bumgenius Organic AIO

Gro Baby

Size small Bumgenius AIO

Another size small Bottombumper AI2

The Power of the Sun

I started cloth diapering in the toddler stage, so I was not familiar with exclusively breast fed poo and how easy it is to clean and how easy it is to cloth diaper a baby that is exclusively breast fed. I was familiar with how easily it stained! I had heard about sunning in the ever so addicting Diaper Swappers forums, so I tried it on my toddlers diapers to find it didn't really get the stains out. I thought I must not be doing this right and there certainly must be some type of trick to this sunning thing.

Then Ethan came and so did those big yellow, breast fed poop stains. I tried the sunning thing again, and this time was amazed at what the sun could do! Now when I notice a stain in my clean diapers that are out of the dryer I just lay them out in the sun and they vanish! Just to give you all a visual of this miracle check out these two pictures taken only about an hour apart (and yes this is the same diaper insert):