R-E-S-P-E-C-T... what does it mean to you?

So this has been an article that I have been wanting to write for several months now, but I now finally have the time to write it!  The topic of respect seems like a common sense issue, like manners or being kind to one another... but as I look at the world around me I'm just floored by how LITTLE respect I am seeing.

A few months ago I was shopping at Target and as I was waiting in the check out lane, there was a family of 5 in front of me.  The husband and wife were having a disagreement of some kind and were getting kinda loud.  Their three kids were running amuck and being unruly, which I'm sure was adding to the parent's stress and aggression to each other.  Then the mom said something to her husband, that I was shocked came out of her mouth.

"Make your self useful and just go sit in the car... get out of my face so I don't have to deal with you."

YIKES!!!!  First I couldn't believe the disrespect that was just directed toward her husband and on top of that it was in front of all three kids!  As I left and was making my way to my car, I passed by the family again and they were still flinging insults at each other.

Now this was an isolated incident, but as I observe people more and more, the more I feel our society's level of human respect for each other has fallen.  Where are the ladies and gentlemen of yesteryears?  By being emotionally impulsive we are teaching the next generation how to disrespect other people and that this behavior is okay.

One thing I first loved about Mr. D was when we were dating he NEVER let me open the car door myself.  It was second nature for him to always come to my side first and let me in the car.  Now that we have two children we are both getting the kids in the car, but it was that first impression of being a total gentleman that was really attractive to me.  I think we as a society need to get back to the roots of 'Treat others how you want to be treated.'  We teach kids this important life lesson, but then turn around and show them how we don't respect other adults and even our family!  Actions always speak louder than words especially when it comes to kids.

So my challenge for all of you and including myself, is to constantly remind yourself of the golden rule.  Every hour of everyday before you speak or act ask yourself if you are being respectful.  This will make you a happier person and you WILL see changes in your children and family.  And just maybe we can bring back a more respectful society :)

Cloth Diapers.... A Year Later

You all know we did something new with baby ET and invested in cloth diapers instead of disposables.  Here is the blog I wrote about a year ago.... Click Here for Article.

So how are we liking them one year later?  Would we do it all over again?  YES!!!!  I have to say I was a little nervous in the beginning writing about the pros and cons of cloth diapers for the world to see, and then using them for the first time.  But I am very happy to report that we still love our cloth diapers and you couldn't pay me to go back to using disposables.

Horrible pic... but I don't have many of just him in his diapers... and yes it is purple :)

Now that we have it down to a science, let me explain our life with cloth diapers.  First we invested in 24 of the Bum Genius 4.0 snap diapers, two packs of flannel cloth wipes, a toilet poo sprayer, and a plastic garbage bin.  All of this ran us about $450 and that has been all I have spent on his diapers this entire year!  We love the savings of not having to buy disposables and wipes and more than that I love that all of those diapers are staying out of the landfills.  My favorite part of using cloth is how much ET loves them.  He has never had diaper rash with the cloth diapers and we only use water on the flannel cloth wipes so there are NO Chemicals touching his skin.

People always ask me about the work of cloth diapers, and to be honest it isn't much more work.  We wash the diapers ourselves in our washing machine about every three days.  I just think of it as one more load of laundry, and the benefits far out way that one extra load of laundry.  

If you or someone you know is thinking about cloth diapers and you have questions please feel free to contact me via email or my facebook page!  I love talking about our experience and supporting others in choosing cloth.  It can be overwhelming and scary at first, but you will love it in the end!

Hello Again.... We are back!

HELLO AGAIN!!!!!

I feel like I have been raised from the dead or something!  I have missed blogging this past year more than you know, but I am happy to tell you I am starting anew again and will hopefully find some time each day to get back to my blogging.

So what has been happening this past year?!?!

Well,  our little E.T. just turned 1 this past week and is an amazing little walking man.  He says mama, dada, ut oh, and a whole slew of baby gibberish.  He also signs milk, more, please, food, and water.  We are very proud of him.

We have also relocated.... and are now living in Oklahoma City.  It has been a big change for all of us, but we love being closer to our family and friends.

Mr. D jumping for joy in a nearby OKC park :)

We are still homeschooling Miss KJ in first grade and going strong.  

And we are currently looking for a house so I can unleash all of my pinterest ideas on it!  So that is what we have been doing.  I hope you missed me as much as I missed all of you and writing these blogs..... but rest assured.... I'm BACK!