My Tough Mudder

I hardly ever post pics or talk much about my hubby, but his weekend achievement is one that deserves a huge shout out and I can't wait to share!

NorCal Tahoe  Tough Mudder!

my tough mudder (and a guy from his team)

He, of course, claims that the obstacles were pretty easy - but that mostly uphill, high-altitude, 12-mile run were what made it hard.

We actually stayed in Tahoe the night before which made it easier to get there in time.  So, after leaving the cabin before the sun came up, we headed to Northstar Ski Resort (where the event was being held).  I'm not sure what the stats were on the race, but there were THOUSANDS of people there - most of them were running, but there were a lot of spectators too.  This was my first time attending a big racing event as an adult and definitely the first time with a baby!

Sadly, we were in a team and they didn't get there early enough for their original start time - guess they underestimated the traffic and parking situations.  They all had to park farther down the hill at other ski resorts and catch a shuttle bus up to the resort!

source

waiting for the rest of the team before the race!

While we waited we were able to watch the fastest people of the first group tackle the half pipe (which you can see behind the hubs above).  There were lots of fun costumes (I should have taken pictures!) and we had a ton of fun watching some of the early goers tackle Everest.    It's really cool how people will help each other (even total strangers!)  tackle Everest.  The Hubs made it by himself first try then hung out and helped pull his teammates up!  Such a cool experience.  I actually missed watching them on Everest because I was waiting at the next (and last) obstacle to cheer them to the end!  Watching Electroshock Therapy was interesting - there were some people who totally ate it and fell face first into the giant puddle, some who came through screaming (in pain), and some who took it like it was nothing (read: my husband).  I'm not sure how I'd feel doing that obstacle!

Everest

When he and his team came out the other end, they were COVERED in mud.  Yes, it's tough mudder and a mud run, but they made the other mudders look downright clean.  I found out later that this was because they were doing cannonballs into the puddles during the Mud Mile after one of their teammates fell in accidentally!  He's still cleaning mud out of his ears and nose!

Mud Mile 

source

I was hoping to take the spectator path and catch as much of the run as I could, but between the huge number of spectators, gravel paths that even the jogger stroller was a challenge with, and the fact that I was SUPER thirsty with the elevation and drank all my water less than halfway up to the start, I couldn't catch up!  (They wouldn't allow babies in carriers on the chair lift, but if they could walk to the lift they could ride?  Scary.  I'd rather take a trapped baby in the carrier than a wiggly, walking, one-year old!)

Overall it was a fun experience and I half want to do it myself!  However, the 12 mile run would probably be too much for me!  I've never run farther than 4 miles in a straight go - more of a sprinter here!  I also think I'd completely eat it on Everest, struggle with Hold Your Wood, and completely lose it when facing Electroshock Therapy!  

Speaking of Hold Your Wood, my absolute beast of a husband grabbed one of the biggest logs (6ft) and ran with it BY HIMSELF.  When I heard that, I called him a show-off!  Apparently most of the other runners were saying the same thing!  Haha.  Gotta love him.  

All-in-all, it sounds like the guys had a GREAT time and I'm wondering if I should try training for a race, or even the mudder!  It actually sounds like fun.  I just don't know when I'll have the time to get back to that level of fitness with the beeb.  I've been working on getting workouts back into my daily routine, and it's a struggle, but worth it to me to try harder.  So much to do, so little time, and such a lovely little distraction!  

mommy's little distraction

Recap of the mudder:
Lots of fun.  HUGELY crowded.  Muddy Hubby.  Teamwork for the win.

a couple more photos:

The Guys after the race - all muddy!

Caterpillar Mudder

at the end of the race... baby is tuckered and daddy is all MUDDY!

and a video of our guys (Team Dragon!) running through Electroshock...Forgive the loud, high screaming... I was so excited and so proud!  

Happy Mudding!

~Errant Soprano

Cloth Diapering - UPDATED [video]

Boy, oh boy, is there so much I can write on this!  I am a huge advocate for cloth diapering for those who are interested.  There are a lot of benefits and it's not as hard as it was when my mom was cloth diapering me!  I realize this isn't for everyone and of course, mine is only one opinion, but there are so many cool things about cloth diapering now that I'd love to share - they will also let you know why we are CDign with our little one.

PROS.

1. Cute diapers.  

REALLY REALLY CUTE.  just look at this cutie rocking his diapers
! 

1. Lots of options and choices on how you do it:  
• Traditional prefolds and covers
• source
• Pockets
• Brands include BumGenius, SunBaby, FuzziBunz, Kawaii, SoftBums, Maci Grace, etc... There are LOTS of brands out there.  (We use primarily SunBaby with a side of BumGenius and a touch of maci grace, fuzzibunz and whamies)
• http://sunbabydiapers.com/
• http://macigrace.com/
• http://www.bumgenius.com
• They are SUPER easy - inserts and outers that have the waterproof liner and an awesome microfleece inner that wicks away moisture into the soaker inserts.  you can also put several inserts in to up the absorbancy.  
• A lot of Pockets are one size, meaning they fit from 7 or 8lbs to 35-40lbs, depending on the diaper.  this means you need one diaper size for all the time your baby is wearing them! (which means fewer diaps bought, less money spent)
• These are often more expensive, but you can join facebook b/s/t s and get them used on places like craigslist and at Just Between Friends sales.
• You take them apart to wash (inserts out) and stuff them again when they are dry.  it's kind of like stuffing a pillow into a pillowcase, but way more fun (I think)!  
•  source
• All-In-One (AIO)
• I have 4 Thirsties all in ones and they are great, but not for our boy!  He pees around in 2 seconds flat.  The pluses to them are how easy they are to use - everything's already done for you.  put them on, take them off, in the laundry they go - no need to take anything apart or re-stuff.  
• The downside is that they take longer to dry, but they are cute, easy, and come in really fun designs.
• I haven't seen any one-size.  I don't know if they exist.  the Thirsties that we were using come in 2 sizes:  6-18lbs (which he's almost out of already at 3.5 months) and 18-40lbs
•  source
• 
  
• etc, etc.  For some more info on types, you can always check out this website: 
2. There are also fabric choices - we have inserts in hemp, microfiber, and bamboo as well as cotton prefolds (which also come in hemp and bamboo).  there are so many choices and they all feel different, absorb differently, and you can pick whichever takes your fancy/works best for you and yours.http://www.dearestdiapers.com/
3. Cost Effective
1. you buy the diapers upfront and they you've bought them . No more diaper runs when you spend $50 on 200 diapers that the baby will go through in a month or less.  
2. you have options - like one size pockets or prefolds w/ covers - that will last you the ENTIRE TIME your baby is in diapers.
4. Easy
1. put clean diaper on baby
2. take dirty diaper off baby, take apart (if necessary), and put in washable laundry bag like this:     source
3. Laundry bag goes in wash with the dirty diapers - no need to touch again, just shake the dirty diaps in the washer, drop the bag in too and off you go!
4. Laundry is easy.  this is what i've been doing with my washer:
1. drop diapers in on extra rinse (cold)
2. when that's done, I set it for regular hot wash, cold rinse with an extra rinse and use about 1/4 the deterget i'd usually use on a load that size.  They have special detergents, but i'm cheap and prefer to buy what i can touch first (and know won't make mine or my son's skin break out in rashes) and have been using this: 
•     You can check this chart to choose detergents.
5. No Chemicals against baby's skin. just soft, soft fabric.
6. Baby's bottom:  fabric vs. paper.  which would you rather wear on your butt?
7. Baby's bottom, V.2  - Less diaper rash.  I bought a ton of diaper rash cream and haven't had to use it yet.  *knock on wood* , but the fabric is really good about pulling away from his skin and it looks way better than when we've gone on weekend trips and used disposables.  (so we didn't have to carry cloth/launder cloth)
8. Blowouts and Leaks - we've still had some, don't get me wrong, but in 3 months of cloth we've had 1, maybe 2 poop blowouts and maybe 10 leaks (when I waited too long to change him).  In one weekend with disposables we had 2 poop blowouts and 3 leaks.
9. Better for the environment - no filling the landfills.  'Nuff said.  (this was seriously the last one on our list of why we did cloth.  money was probably the first)

CONS

• Diapering is a little more hands on.  and you wash your diapers ( you can get a laundry/diaper service)
• carrying around dirty diapers when you're out all day.  
• take up more space in the diaper bag.  (so get a bigger diaper bag?)
• ...
• that's all I can think of.  If you have others, let me know!

Diaper Changes with Pocket Diapers:

As you can tell, We love our Cloth Diapers.  :)  Feel free to ask questions - I'll answer the ones I can and send you on to places with answers for the ones I can't answer!

~errant soprano

Can I do it all?

So much to do/achieve today... it's not all necessary, and of course it's all harder with a baby... can I do it?

need to:

• pack
• laundry
• clean kitchen
• teach
• errands

want to:

• workout
• fold all laundry and put away
• clean out car
• snuggles with the wee one!
• work on upcoming blog posts

Things that will keep me from getting stuff done:

• this face:  
• facebook

Ready, Set, GO!

CAN IT BE DONE?

Groovin'

I disappeared again!

In my defense, we were going on some trips!

: First to this place:

 source for all Asilomar photos

Then to this place:


where I did some of this:

and took these guys to the pool! 

Last weekend we went here:


and this guy was super excited about it:


our little party animal:


I've got a bajillion posts I want to do - they've been building up in my mind, I just haven't found the time to write them because i'm so busy snuggling with this guy:



I'm back to work (in a much quieter capacity), We have one more trip to a beautiful place and then the hubby is doing Tough Mudder.  Hopefully I'll find some time to write these posts in there!

"Our Experiences travelling with a baby 3 months or younger"
"Cloth Diapering - pros, cons, and why we went for it"
"Getting my work out on"
"Four Months Postpartum"

baby gear - episode 2: pacifiers

Sooooo... the great soothing debate!

as a baby, and then a child, and (embarrassingly) almost a preteen I was a huge thumb sucker. its the ultimate of self soothing and it was incredibly hard to break me of the habit. Even after I stopped sucking my thumb consciously, I would wake up sucking my thumb.

with all that in mind, and against recommendations, I brought pacifiers to the hospital. (gasp and judge if you must...)

I brought 2 kinds and we introduced them on day 2.

Baby D only liked one kind and to this day he rejects all others...
Let me introduce you to the Avent Soothie!

videos of D's reactions:
rejection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0cfvmaooR8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

acceptance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Qt0Znh98g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Getting back in the Down Dog

I've decided to move my fitness posts to here as well!  For the old ones you can check out my old fitness blog:  www.buildingsexy.blogspot.com

So, this petite soprano and mommy has started to exercise again - just a little bit.  One of the things the end of my pregnancy taught me is that there is such a thing as doing too much and that it can have a hugely negative effect on your body.
After my icky post-partum experience I was on modified bedrest for 7 weeks.  When I got the go-ahead to exercise, I got a little gung-ho and went on two 2+ mile walks, and yoga class, plus lots of errands.  The result of that was some crazy soreness... not workout soreness, but 'female' soreness.

Note to self - go easy on the exercise after birth.

Since then, i've taken it a lot easier - no more long walks since then, so I've knocked out my hope of walking a 5k (race for the arts ) in late August.  Its just going to take longer than that for me to heal enough.

Yesterday was mommy and me yoga.  LOVE that i'm able to do yoga again! the class generally follows this pattern:

1. mommies (and dads sometimes)  Check in and talk about being a mommy/dad  Source - this is where I do yoga
2. yoga for baby (mommy/daddy helps baby into yoga positions)                   Source
3. yoga for mommy (poses that mommy does alone, while interacting with baby) Source
4. yoga for mommy with baby (baby is added weight for strong mommies)  source
5. Savasana                                                                                         source

The whole class is baby-driven.  If baby needs to nurse or needs a diaper change, you just take care of their needs and join back with the class when you can.  

One of the things you do in the 4th part of class is squats while holding baby...

My legs are SO sore today!  The good kind of sore, the one that says, My muscles got some good work!

This momma's getting back in shape!

~ The Errant Soprano

Baby Stuff - Episode 1

Its what every mom to be wonders...

which of these will I actually use?  What am I wasting my money buying?  Will the baby actually like/use that?

So, starting here, starting now, I'm putting in my 2 cents from what I've learned so far...  more review and items as I go along!

7/10/12
MOBY wrap carrier:
source

PROS: 

• Fits mom and dad (aka, one size fits all)
• can be wrapped in multiple ways
• pretty comfy (and he falls asleep in it all the time)
• allows mom (or dad) to comfort by proximity while still having the ability to get things done
• soft fabric, easy to wash
•  good for 8-35lbs

CONS:

• pain in the butt to put on when the baby is screaming
• takes a while to put on, even when you're used to it
• when putting on, it drags on the floor (maybe that's because i'm short?) so, i don't want to put it on in a parking lot -- put it on before you leave the house

I've heard the baby K'Tan is basically the same thing, but not as complicated... cons i can see occuring:if mom and dad are very different sizes, it's not going to work for both = you'd need different sizesWe also have the Ergo Baby carrier, which i haven't used much yet, because the infant insert is uncomfortable to me and he needs it until he's 12lbs (but he's almost there...)


7/31/12


ERGOBaby carrier (original)
 source source

I LOVE this now that he's 12lbs! So, here's the breakdown:

PROS:

• pretty easy to put on
• Super supportive of mom's (or dad's) back (LOVE the hip belt
• Supposed to be better for baby's hips than the carriers that just let his/her legs hang
• strong material, feels super sturdy
• works for infants/toddlers 12-45lbs with an infant insert for under 5-12lbs
• holds baby close
• can wear baby 3 ways - front, side, back

CONS

• baby can only face inwards - towards the wearer in all positions
• hot fabric - the canvas is super sturdy, but my husband MELTS between his heat and the baby's in the Sacramento Summer heat - this is probably true of just about any carrier, though.
• doesn't pack up particularly small.

Honestly, these are both awesome products and we haven't had as much opportunity to use them as we thought we would as I was on bedrest for 7 weeks after he was born and slowly healing since then.  I'll add comments or just update when we come back from our 3-4 trips in the next 2 months!