Things I won't need for this baby.

After having my daughter and first child, I realised how many unnecessary things we buy for our babies. I got so many gifts and bought so much that was never used or used only a few times, the second time I knew better and bought only what I thought it was essential, but now I realise that even then, there were things I could have done without.

Practicing attachement and natural parenting is not just good for bonding with your baby/child, it saves you tons of money too.

These are some things I won't need for my new baby:

This will the biggest saver for use, cloth diapering is so much better for babies, it's healthier for their bodies and skin and it's eco-friendly too!

Wipes 15.99 per package, you will need tons of these. Me, I don't, I'm using eco friendly cloth wipes, they don't irritate the baby's skin, and are eco-friendly too.

Diapers, oh boy! I leave a link to a comparison table between cloth diapering and disposable diapers.

Our saving will be approximately $2000, probably more, since I already have over a dozen from my last child and I will be making the other myself.

The cost of diapers are more then the retail price.

In our stagnant economy, it makes sense to use cloth diapers. The initial investment may be a deterrent for some families but when you take a look at the overall savings, cloth diapers are highly cost effective.

* Disposable diapers average $1167/year, $3500/ three years

* A diaper service averages $800/year.

* Purchasing and laundering 20 cloth diapers (3 washes per week) averages $634/one year, $1102/three years

Baby Bath tub.

Saving of $17.99

I don't quite remember how we did it, I just know that I had one of these and used it a couple of times with my daughter, never with my son, I think we used the vanity sink with a towel on the bottom for cushioning.

Shopping cart cover

Saving of $29.99

I had one of these with my daughter, but we like it much better in the Mei Tai, up on my back or front, communicating all the time, exploring everything from my view.

On the go bottle warmer

Saving of $12.99

Because I breastfeed, I don't need this extra thing to carry around, my baby's milk is always at the right temperature, I don't have to worry about warming it up or if it's too hot it will burn my baby.

Bottle cleaning system, warmer gift set.

Saving of $99.99

I can't believe I had one of these with my daughter, and gazillion plastic bottles we didn't get to use.

When you breastfeed, there is no need for this mess around the house, I can't believe some people think this is easier, I never had to wash bottles! that was easy for me.

BPA free bottles

Saving of $18.99 or $113.94 when you buy a dozen.

BPA free bottles, we want whats best for our new baby and these sound like they are fantastic, I mean they are BPA free. But! breastfeeding is so much better, imagine all the chemicals in these plastic bottles that one will keep a baby from getting exposed to, just by breastfeeding.

When you put together the years your child will drink formula and compare it to simply breastfeeding, oh the saving is great, and the planet is much happier too.


BPA free Pacifier

Saving of $4.99

Breastfed babies don't usually need pacifiers (neither of my kids needed one) because they get the amount of sucking necessary to keep them happy from breastfeeding, formula fed babies do usually need pacifiers, because when feeding they don't have to do much sucking and therefore their sucking reflex isn't satisfied.

Pacifier holder/cover

Saving of $4.99

This are great for babies that do use a pacifier, they hold the pacifier onto the baby's clothes and it also has a cover for when not in use.

Stroller and car seat system.

Saving of $249.99

With my daughter I was convinced I needed this as a set, yes taking the baby out in the car seat right to the stroller seems so easy and so convenient!

For me this was a pain! I got to use this as a set once, went into the mall and realised how much I hated the bulky stroller and having my baby so far away from me, and don't even get me started about just using the car seat as an infant carrier, boy is that uncomfortable!

With my daughter I liked much more my snuggly, but that didn't last long before it was too little for her, this time I'll be using our AngelPack Soft Baby carrier.

I'm not saying I don't need a car seat, I do, but not this type of set up, my car seat will be a 5 point hardness car seat that will take my baby to toddler and childhood, yes, I'm using a "Sunshine radiant 80" they can be used with a newborn baby and up to 80 pounds, the cost is about as much as this set, but unlike this car seat, I won't need to buy another one for years!

Play mat.

Saving of $59.99
A play mat, very colorful and oh so much fun? my daughter never cared for it, instead she would try to crawl away to explore the house, the funny thing is, my son didn't have one of these, and he started crawling and walking sooner than my daughter, so the exercise she got on here it wasn't that great to help her crawl. As for my son, he was always too interested in exploring everything around the house, crawling up and down the sofas, so I think he did just fine without it.

Crib and Changing Station.

Saving of $249.99

What a deal! you get the two things in one, right?, with my first I used our changing table a hand full of times, with my second, I didn't need one.

As for the crib I won't need a crib, to us this was a big useless thing, my kids were always in our bed and the crib was just a waste of money.

Crib bedding set.

Saving of $179.99

Since I don't need a crib, I don't need crib bedding either.

A play pen.

Saving of $169.99

Play pen or play yard. With my daughter we had one and didn't use it much, with son, I thought we might get more use of it to keep him safe from the toddler in the house, however, he hated this things, and it was just taking up space, I got rid of it by the time he was about 6 months, and we got to use it to store clothes and toys, but not really for the baby, this was unnecessary.

Baby Bouncer.

Saving of $35.99

We used a bouncer with our daughter, after all it was a beautiful gift, we our second child we didn't even remember this thing existed and we didn't need one.

I think having a baby sling to put the baby on your front or back it's a lot better than this.

Ahhhhh I love speaking to myself lol!

This pictures was taken at 4 1/2 months.

I'm so not keeping up with this blogging thing, and I know no one is listening! lol!
but just in case I'll post here in my blog, our news. We Are Expecting a new Baby!!

Last December I found out about our little one, it's been a long seven plus months, but we are almost there!

According to the sonogram (my husband ruined my surprise)the baby is a boy, that will be FUN!
I didn't' want to know the sex until the birth, but the kids and hubby, especially hubby wanted to know, so I let them know. Angie was very sad because she was expecting to have a sister, Gabriel was super happy because he want a BOY! now we are all just happy to have a bigger family, and are looking for names, Daniel is the one that has made it to the list, nothing else has been accepted by everyone.

I hope to have new pictures of me with the baby in an AngelPack up on our website soon :).

Kimono tutorial.

Tutorial:Draft a Kimono Patten by `taeliac on deviantART

"Setting Up AngelPack Production" the dominican way.

I can't believe what I wrote here last year. LMBO!
Setting this business up was the most time consuming and straining thing I've ever done. Last year was an interesting and I guess testing time. I went down to Dominican Republic with my two kids. Everything that could have gone wrong, did.

We went to D.R. at the end of June. To start my husband's passport didn't make it in time and so I took the trip with the kids by myself. We got home and it was all beautiful and fun, magical! right.
We get to "our home" this is my husband's place, his grandmother's place "our home" first it was too inconvenient and too dangerous for little Gabriel, too many tempting electric cables and such. I didn't want to dry the great-grandma crazier! we had plan all of this around the fact that she needed some one to stay with her, helping her get better, but we couldn't stay there because we would be too much trouble.
So I ended up at my mom's house (my aunt and adopted mom) we had quite an interested sleeping arrangement, but the kids seemed to be happier there and we felt more welcomed. So we stayed here.
In all this, our fabrics and materials are stocked in customs and we ended up paying extra for the time THEY held the materials because the inspector was "sick" Goodness this took about a month!!!
Then the sewing machines, weren't ready when we expected them to be ready, so another two weeks.
After this two weeks the fun begun, my so promised "seamstresses" couldn't sew a straight line! to save my day!
So here I am two months later and no job has been done. I started to do all the cutting work and sew as much as I could, which really wasn't much due to the big fact that in the Dominican Republic the electricity is almost always gone, so basically there is a black out every single day for most of the day. Hurray!
I searched high and low for a good seamstress, I went to the city, I tried teaching some home sewers, but I had no luck!
Finally one of my machines broke down "Again" and the guy who sold them to us came to fix them to our location, and I explained the situation to which he showed interest in the job. It was a big relief, he said he would be back on Monday to see how it's done. This guy used to own a factory in New York and moved it down to Dominican Republic before things went sour and had to close it down.
I was happy! I was relieved! until I hear from my friend the news, there was a family accident and he was involved in it. Oh no! it was tragic.
While this happened I tried finding some one else again, not knowing that he would be back in a week. No luck!
Finally! he came and explained what had happened, he looked at a finished AngelPack, told me exactly how I had sewn the outside of it just by the looks of it. Made an appointment for me to go to his house and show him how to make one from start to finish.
We did that! within an hour he was done with the First AngelPack LX, fallowing my instructions. It was beautiful!! I have never sewn that well.

I have to say, I'm very thankful for finding him. I actually knew his family our grandparents are related. I had also been a sitter for kids in their family and I even babysat two of his daughter when they were babies, his wife was always so nice, even when I got her lost in the City, lol!
Anyways, finally our carriers are being made in our home town, NOT China, by people we know and have known for ever.

This is the short version of what happened, but it absolutely did not go smooth or easy for me, for the kids, some days were scary for them, others were sad, others full of junk food that I don't even dare to bring into my house, but that was something that made them happy and not cry because they missed their home, their food, their DAD!

Through all this something that helped out a lot, was breastfeeding, breastfeeding seemed to calm them down at night and nap time. No matter where we were we had this breastfeeding section for the two of them on my arms and it was a blessing. It kept us close and less stress.

Now there was that! I still don't feel like going into too many details, but this is much more than I have ever talked about the trip to "Setting Up AngelPack Production" the dominican way.

AngelPack is moving to Dominican Republic

I'm so happy! this vacation-work away from home time is turning into my long time dream becoming true. As a little girl I remember designing and making dresses for my Barbie, always wishing and dreaming of having my own sewing machine, I remember I use to pet my -adoptive-dad's sewing machines, he is a custom tailor and I spent countless hours in his shop :lol: Going back and doing this means so much to me, spiritually it makes me feel that I'm accomplishing something, that I'm doing what feels right, my goal is to bring my community a source of work-income, normally people in "Sabana Iglesia" have to travel an hour to their work place, and the paying is very poor. My heart always keeps going back to them and thinking how I want to set up a sewing shop there, and now I'm working on this very thing, God is wonderful! my AngelPack baby is going to help me find my dream and help some families back home. I'm taking this slow, one step at the time, but with my faith in God that everything is going to blossom and we will grow into a successful sewing house-company-name brand. I will be updating in the forums as the project becomes true!

Long time no post.

Woha! it's been a long time, I'll leave a link to my new web shop just in case any one can see this lol!
WWW.PreggyAndBaby.COM

My Test!

I can't believe it that I took 5 minutes to do this, but it looked interesting, I like some of the results he he! some things I don't like.
Posting here until I get some time to properly post about holidays and updates on work and with the kiddos :).

The Maid of Honor Deliberate Gentle Love Master (DGLMf) Appreciated for your kindness and envied for all your experience, you are The Maid of Honor. Charismatic, affectionate, and terrific in relationships, you are what many guys would call a "perfect catch"--and you probably have many admirers, each wishing to capture your long-term love. You're careful, extra careful, because the last thing you want is to hurt anyone. Especially some poor boy whose only crime was liking you. Your exact opposite: Half-cocked Random Brutal Sex Dreamer We've deduced you're fully capable of a dirty fling, but you do feel that post-coital attachment after hooking up. So, conscientious person that you are, you do your best to reserve physical affection for those you respect...so you can respect yourself. Your biggest negative is the byproduct of your careful nature: indecision. You're just as slow rejecting someone as you are accepting them. ALWAYS AVOID: The False Messiah, The 5-Night Stand, The Vapor Trail, The Bachelor CONSIDER: The Gentleman, someone just like you. Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating. My profile name: angelicmomcupid

Lost in Mei Tai Land.

I'm totally lost in my sewing room, floating on Mei tais straps... Soon baby soon I'll be done and will be able to seat back, browse the forums and waist some precious time searching the web LOL!

Lost in Mei Tai Land.

That's Weird!!! (breasts without milk)

Last night as I was putting the kids to sleep, Angie decides that she has to get up and check on daddy one last time, so as she leaves the room a tell her "If you leave now you won't get any more mom moms"... She left anyways.
Later she comes back and wants to nurse to sleep again, so I remind her that she doesn't get to nurse anymore because she left the room and now I'm too tire. She asks "please mommy", I remind her "No, you are done", "Please mommy, I need teta" I tell "Angie you can do it" "You can go to sleep without it" and she responds "No Mommy I'm not Strong Enough", "I need it". I just cracked up and hugged her and kissed her and let her nurse again. Now she is alone so she has two boobies to choose from; she nurses from one, then switches to the other, and realized that the milk is gone, so in disbelieve she goes back and forth before checking them with her hands and exclaimed "Umm that's weird!" Once again I had to crack up! And ask, what's weird Angie? And she responds, "That's weird the mom moms have no milk"
I just love my little girl. She is growing up right before our eyes.

Carrier Fairy II

I got this totally cool package the other day, it was from my carrier fairy (baby carrier secret gift exchange sort of) my fairy made a mei tai hand made specially for me and one for Angie, we love our carriers! It's so nice to have some one make something for you for a change :)
I'm posting pictures for the fairies from carrier fairy group, you all rock mamas!

BabyTalk Sing Along (breastfeeding) Cute!

From babytalk magazine: Sing to the beauty and the beast song. Go ahead, sing it outloud, it makes it better!

See our breasts, see our breasts -
Everywhere, half-naked chests.
While we nurse,
The prudish curse
And wish we'd button up our vests.
Sorry, folks, look away
If we're too decollete,
But this is what boobs are made for,
Not those Wonderbras you've paid for.
We refuse to go feed
Hunched in bathroom stalls - indeed,
We're appalled that you would make such rude requests.
Would you agree to eat
Upon a toilet seat?
See our breasts, see our breasts, free our breasts!

Daily Bible Verse.

Let's talk Toys.

We are searching for a couple of good educational, durable toys to keep the kiddos busy while using their imagination and interacting with each other. I have two on the list that are now a must... And a couple of other I'm thinking we may get too.

I like this one a lot, it's the Wonderworld Wooden City Beads available at Target.com I wish they had it in stores :(. This should were the super saucer is.


Tent-Tunnel

I think this one could help me keep Gabriel from crawling up the side table up to the sofa and falling down the sofa, well at least now he makes some noises to ask me to come take him down so he can go again, yeah he it's quite the Little Boy at just 9 months, what can be next, lol! I'm not sure how good these things are but I'm hoping it's durable they are on sale at Toys R us for $49



Angie's Kitchen.
This is what she has been asking for lately, "I want a kitchen and a car", she says. This is the kitchen I picked out for her they have it at Toys R us and Target.com. I think we will get it at Toys R us if they have in store, Target doesn't have them in store :(

(update) we actually bought the kitchen on eBay, it's very sturdy and we weren't expecting it to be so good! Angie and even Gabriel love to play with it cooking and washing dishes or just opening and closing the doors (Gabriel). I paid $159 with free shipping, which I thought was very good because of the high shipping in other places.


For the car, it's not just any car her car has to have doors and she is picky about the colors and oh yeah two seats one for her and one for "Gordo" that Gabriel :). This will be my husband's choice together with Angie.

I'm not into spoiling my child buying lots of toys and such, but this is the reason while we agreed to buy those things and a couple of other good educational/entertaining toys. Up until now they have mostly what people give them as gift, and we buy a couple here and there, but I'm ready to throw out all the small toys!

Not a toy but this is for mommy!

I got it put it here so I don't forget when my husband ask what I want for anniversary gift, I always, always forget when my birthday or holidays or anniversary, I can't think of something I want until is too late, duh!

Mia Bossi Caryn Diaper Bag, in snow patch.

AngelPack LX (Testing 2 )

I was inspired by many carriers that I like. I picked out the feaures I liked best and put them all together to design the AngelPack LX.
The arm cut out "holes" are inspired by the Baby Bjorn. The head rest-support was inspired by The First years baby carrier. The waist belt it's one of the most compact belts in the soft structure carriers market, it's aproximately 4" wide and its divided into 3 sections so that it shapes around the waist.


There is a sleeping hood for taller babies and toddlers, it supports their heads while sleeping.
The body is tall to provide some head support even when the hood it not in use.
The selection of fabric is gorgeous and very diverse.
You can find the newest version at www.PreggyandBaby.com

Angelica.

He is Walking!!!!!!

Gabriel is walking!!! He just turned 9 months. I knew he would do this early but didn't expected to be so soon, he is already doing 3-4 steps and trying to chase his big sister. Angie goes nuts when he walks, she cheers him up! Just as I do :)

I think he feels the need to catch up to his big sister and that is going to make him learn things faster. I just enjoy so much their beautiful relationship, they can't get enough of each other and make each other laugh even when they aren't in a good mood. I love my kiddos!

AngelPack LX!

At last I'm "almost" finish with this one, the LX AngelPack. This one is #13 of all the designs and testing I've done over the past two plus years. I have added a couple of things to make it a bit different and added some other that seem to be essential and comfortable.
For the past two year I had been working on a carrier with buckles. first I worked on the body shape, however there has been so many changes and some new products that were launched in that time that are similar to what I had designed, for that reason I felt the need to redesign the body shape, I'm so glad! I love the shape of the LX, it seems to work well with little ones and older ones.
We are getting ready to start production on this one! I can't wait to start playing with different fabrics and textures. I love the design!


Last Saturday I even got to test it with my cousin's baby "Christian" he is 3 months old and 13 pounds... We took some pictures and they look precious.