Attack of the youngsters! Just kidding. But I could use some help...

My brother is getting married at the end of the summer and I'm in charge of the kids room. There are a lot of kids! Here's the count: 5 one year olds, 2 twos, 2 threes, 1 six, 3 eights, 2 nines, 1 ten, 1 eleven, 2 twelves, and 8 between 13-18 years old. I wasn't kidding when I said a lot of kids!

The wedding is at my parents house and I've got a nice big room with attached bath to work with. The wedding is outdoors. The room I have is up a few (maybe 6?) stairs right off the main outdoor area. It has a medium size deck. It will be HOT outside and this room is air conditioned.

I live out of state so I'll only have a week in town to prepare this stuff. I'm flying so I can't take much with me. My parents are currently visiting and are driving home so I can send some stuff with them.

Here's what I'm thinking... Put a (walk through) baby gate at the top of the stairs to contain the kids on the deck and in the room in question. I'll have 3 areas within the room.

Area #1 - Teens. There's already a couch in the room. I'll move a TV in there and set up a Wii. The teens can escape there if they want to.

Area #2 - Kids. All 9 of the 8-12 year olds are girls so I think I'll set up a craft area. I'm not exactly sure with what but I'll hit up Michael's and/or JoAnn's and pick up some stuff. I'm thinking along the lines of friendship bracelets and apron painting. Maybe coloring books? Do kids that age like coloring? I'll have a couple of comfy chairs and a table for the crafts. This will be right next to the teen area.

Area #3 - Toddlers. I think I want to separate the toddlers and the older kids so the toddlers aren't jumping on the teens or getting into the craft stuff which will likely have small pieces and paint. I already have this wooden playpen (it has an easy to maneuver walk through door). The way the room is set up I should be able to block off a big portion by attaching the playpen to 2 parallel walls (not in a circle but as sort of a fence between 2 walls - similar to the second pic in the Amazon link). I might need to buy the extender but I don't mind.

My mom bought a pop up tent and tunnel thing with a small hoop on one side. I have a ton of ball pit balls that I'll send home with them. There's a twin bed in that room that I will set up for diaper changing. I'll try to borrow some toys from friends who live in town but does anyone have any ideas on good group toys for toddlers?

How does that sound? Am I forgetting anything?

Here's the layout:

2011.

Today is the last day of 2010. So here I am writing my obligatory New Years Resolutions post. I want to be more green in 2011. Here are some of my plans:

• Fill only one small trash can per week
• Turn the water heater down (check!)
  
• Start a garden
• Can and dehydrate all the excess from said garden
  
• Hang laundry to dry more often
  
• Clean the coils on the refrigerator
• Use more EF products (especially in the bathroom)
• Re-use more (like unpaper towels, cloth wipes, re-usable snack bags, etc)
  
• Remember my cloth bags at the store...
• Eat organic and locally
• Have a plastic free kitchen
• Add weather stripping to doors

So there you have it. My be green 2011 plan!

My stash explored.

My stash consists of 17 fitteds, 8 pockets, a dozen prefolds, 3 upcycled longies, 1 knit longy, 1 knit soaker, 1 wool capri, 1 wool shorty, 1 wool cover, and 2 PUL covers. That's a total of 37 diapers and 10 covers.

Fitteds:
6 Very Baby one size fitteds (made by my fabulous mom)
4 GoodMamas one size fitteds
2 unknown sized fitteds
1 Happy Hempy sized fitted
4 Thirsties Fab Fitteds sized

Pockets:
1 Blueberry one size pocket
7 Fuzzi Bunz sized pockets

3 amazing upcycled longies made by my amazing mom

1 Sustainablebabyish (SBish) capri and 1 SBish shorty

1 SBish knit longy and 1 SBish knit soaker

1 wool cover, 1 Fluffy's PUL cover, and 1 Swaddlebees PUL cover

It makes me sick.

The breast vs formula debate makes me sick.

If you know me you know how hard it has been for me to breast feed. I suffered through mastitis, clogged ducts, thrush, a baby who couldn't latch, open sores on my nipples, and so much more. I did it because it is what I wanted, almost needed. So I suffered through. I'm not going to lie. I thought about quitting multiple times a day. There were days I think I cried more than my baby because I couldn't breastfeed. Breastfeeding almost gave me postpartum depression.

But I still cringe every single time I hear the phrase "Breast is best". Best for who? That's a hurtful, ignorant statement. Do you know how hard it is to try to feed your newborn 12 hours a day while your breast are engorged, painful to the touch, and you feel like you are going to die from the flu? Because a new mom with mastitis does. Do you know what it's like to try to find a balanced diet when you can't eat soy or dairy? What about the feeling of letting your child down if you accidentally ingest dairy and your baby screams in pain for hours because her body can't tolerate milk protein? How about the feeling of failure if you try everything you can but you just can't produce enough milk?

Do you know how it feels?

Then I'm politely asking you to shut the fuck up. If you don't know how it feels then you can't say that breast is best.

I'm all for breastfeeding. It has so many wonderful benefits. I'm glad I stuck with it. I plan on breastfeeding for another year. But just because it is right for me does not mean it is the best thing for everyone.

As mothers I think we should support one another. We should be there for each other when one of us is having problems breast feeding and we should be there for each other when we're panicking because our baby's formula has been recalled and we're worried they're going to get sick.

This isn't about YOU. It's about our children. And our children will be okay whether we feed them breast milk or formula.

The Mama Machine: I'm Not That Mom

Here's a great post by the Mama Machine on motherhood:

The Mama Machine: I'm Not That Mom: "I'm not that mom. . . . who tells her children they can't touch the piano simply because they can't 'play a song' yet. (I'm the kind of mom..."

I wish I had known...

This is somewhat of a spin off of my previous post. Some friends and I were talking about things we wish we had known before having a baby:

Don't listen to all the advise people give you! Every baby is different so what worked for them, just might not work for you.

Gerber clothes run really small.

Gripe water is much cheaper at an Asian market.

Leave the tags on most of your clothes and don't wash them. You never know what is going to work out. Keep receipts and tags so you can return things.

Keep boxes! If something doesn't work you can return it. Plus, it ups the resale value on CraigsList or at Once Upon A Child.

If you are having problems breast feeding see a lactation consultant ASAP. Don't wait or try to figure it out on your own.

It took me a few months to feel like myself again.

Follow your baby's cues. Don't turn to a method right away.

It's okay to ask for help.

Most babies only want to be awake for 1-2 hours at a time.

Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you're not comfortable with.

Don't feel like you have to keep everything that people buy you. I'm sure they would rather you exchange it for something you can use then have it sit around and collect dust.

You can't spoil a newborn.

Infants are developmentally unable to self sooth until at minimum 6 months.

Some babies are difficult. Just because you have a difficult baby doesn't mean you're a bad mom.

Your husband is your equal partner and your childs parent. He us not a babysitter.

A lot of parenting is trial and error. Just keep trying things until you stumble upon something that works.

Limit the number of visitors and how long they stay.

Garage sales are awesome for finding inexpensive baby stuff.

The hospital snot suckers are terrible. Get a Nose Frida.

If you feel yourself becoming frustrated with a screaming baby take a step back and breathe. You can't hear your baby crying from the shower. If it becomes too much, don't ever be afraid to ask for help.

Nursing bra pads and nipple cream are your new best friend. Find the biggest bra pads you can. You will leak. It will soak through your bra and shirt.

Do your research. Yes, there are many ways of doing things but some are safer than others. Just because someone says, "I do it and we've had no problems" doesn't mean it's okay. There are warnings out there for a reason.

Don't buy a bunch of newborn things until after baby is here. You could never need them or you could use them for months.

You will have a hormone crash. Accept it.

If you get the opportunity to stay an extra night in the hospital, take it.

Breastfeeding is HARD! It's difficult and it's painful. Pair that with your hormone crash and it is a recipe for disaster. If you really want to do it, stick with it. It will get better! If you end up quitting, don't feel guilty for your decision.

Tucks pads are awesome.

You will bleed the first time you get up. My god, the amount of blood.

It's normal to feel alone in the beginning.

Take home extra pads, disposable undies, and the peri bottle from the hospital. The pads are so much better than store bought ones and the undies can just get thrown away. The hospital has to trash them if you don't take them with you.

Don't rock your baby to sleep every night!! Put them down drowsy no matter how sweet and precious they look. Teaching them how to self soothe will keep you from lots of looooong nights in the future.

It is ok to ask anyone and everyone to wash their hands before holding the baby. If they get sick, YOU are the one who has to help them and deal with them.

Don't hesitate to call the Dr. That is what they are there for. I seriously called the nurses line once a week for the first two months. They were always nice, and in the end it gave me a peace of mind! They are used to new mom's!

Thomas eating and giggling

Thomas couldn't stop giggling while eating last night. So cute (and messy)!