Counting down

Well, hello there neglected blog! I think it's about time I updated you and the sweet people that keep up with us!

For starters, let me just say that I'm so tired of this crazy heat! I've compared it to being snowed in. After a day or two, we're all over it and are completely miserable being stuck inside. However, the problem with the last part of that statement is the fact that I am the mother of a toddler who has the energy of spastic dog on Redbull. Staying home all day everyday is not an option at our house.

So, in my attempts to keep her busy, stick to our budget, and keep myself cool and sane...we often resort to running the isles at Target, Lowes, and Wal-mart. Sounds so fun, huh? Please, feel free to join us at any time if you just can't resist! :)

Oh, how I wish it wasn't 95 by 10:00 a.m. I'm missing our pool time and my awesome tan I had going.

On another note...I am doing well otherwise. I am 28 weeks along with a little (big) boy who will be named Parker Sullivan Ault. No, that is not a family name...just something we came up with. Seems like the first question I get when I tell people that. I guess it will be a family name for him though! The naming of this child was quite weird actually. We had been set on another name for so long, but as soon as the ultrasound showed that little "extra" part I couldn't commit to it. We discussed it and I lost a lot of sleep that night because I swear God was repeating the name "Parker" over and over and over in my ear. I finally just said "Okay God...got it...his name is Parker!". I made Sam agree on the name at 5:45 a.m. the following morning and the announcement was made. I love it and have no regrets!

Olivia is now almost 22 months old. Holy moly, what a kid. She is so beautiful and smart...it amazes me. Her vocabulary is growing and sometimes we just laugh at what she says. The funniest thing I think comes out of her mouth is "toot toot" which is obviously her word for the expelling of gas. It's super funny when she "tells" on someone! For example, "mommy...daddy toot toot". Oh, we laugh so hard. So, watch out when your around Olivia...don't try to sneak one by her!

People have asked me if I'm ready for Parker. Um, gonna have to say "NO!" I feel quite unorganized at this point of the pregnancy and for all that know me, you know I'm very Type A and very OCD when it comes to organization and having a plan. I'm focused on getting things figured out, but it is causing me a lot of stress right now. Problem is...Sam is too. We both have to just tell each other that it's okay to not know the answer or not make the decision today. We have time.

One thing we've committed to is cloth diapering. That alone is a lot to learn. There is so much more than what our parents and grandparents had (thank goodness!). It's quite overwhelming at first. I feel that I've got a grip on it and I know what we need as far as supplies, etc. We will see how it goes when the diapers actually come out of the closet and onto baby's bottom! I'm so thankful (and kinda shocked) that all of my family has been supportive of this. There's been lots of questions like "what do you do with the poop?" or "what do you do when your out and about?". Even the menfolk in the family are on board with this decision and that makes me so very happy.

If you are wondering why I've chosen this route...there is a lot of reasons: Here's the main ones.

1. Obviously, so much better for the environment. Did you know that a single disposable diaper will take about 300 years to biodegrade? And the average child to the age of 3 will use approximately 30,000 diapers. That's 9,000,000 years of waste for just one kid. Whoa...that's a tough pill to swallow for me.

2. Never again will I have to cut into my grocery budget to buy diapers. More food for us!

3. The financial gain is outstanding. I'll probably spend $300-500 upfront for cloth diapers that we can use until potty training vs. $3000 in disposables.

Okay, yes...I'm a little "crunchy" or "granola" or even "hippie" at times, but that's me and that's how I've always been. So, don't be surprised when you see me out with my cloth diapered baby, listening to the Grateful Dead and wearing a skirt. At least I won't be smokin' a doobie! But, you may want to stay away from my "brownies"...kidding!!! Haha!

Anyhoo...life is treating me pretty good right now. I keep having flashbacks to how beautiful the weather was the day we brought Olivia home from the hospital. A cool, crisp 60 degrees and sunny. There is an end in sight...I just have to survive until then.

And here's a warning to all who may come a knockin' on my door at some random time this summer. We don't have blinds, and it's hot as crap outside, so don't be shocked when you see me and my kid running around in just our panties.

Sincerely,

The Hot Momma