wall graphics

I am getting excited about redesigning Van's nursery in a new house. Yes we are officially moving and it will be a new adventure. It is a Little too much for me to wrap my head around at the moment for fear that it will fall off of my body, but I am gathering strength from those around me at the moment in order to prepare for this life changing event. We are moving to Florida. But my blog will remain on the information super highway for years to come! Anywho I have been thinking I will be using some of these fabulous wall decals to make his room more exciting. Check out ellynelly's creations on Etsy.

Nothing like having a fake dog on your wall to look at... I took my dog to the vet today and they called me with some concerns..... They said number one he is severely overweight, has really bad plaque (is that why his breath smells like a trash can?), and he has a couple little cysts on his side. Zeke is a special dog, and I mean that in the nicest way. But lately I have been disappointed in him, he takes books off of our book case and rips them to shreds while we are gone and lately he has been chewing up my shoes..

I walk him 2 times a day, and he still has it out for me? If Van didn't love that dog so much I might just send him off to Jenny Craig or something... But he is truly van's best buddy. He lays on him, hugs him, and sits on him pretty much any free moment that he has. So we will keep him for now.. Once a rescue dog always a rescue dog!

BPA free-dom!!!

So I was wandering around the internet looking for some more info and this is what I found on a great blog about family health and parenting.

BPA Free Bottle Products

• Adiri Natural Nursers
• Avent “Via” disposable bottles
• BornFree - All bottles and cups BPA free *see note
• EvenFlo Glass bottles
• Playtex Opaque Soft Bottle, Playtex Drop in liners
• Gerber: Gerber Clearview, Fashion Tints (also called “Plastic Pastels”), Gerber GentleFlow
• Medela: All bottles
• Sassy MAM bottles (UltiVent), Baby Food Nurser Kit
• Green to Grow Bottles **see note
• Sassy Baby Food Nurser Kit
• ThinkBaby Bottles
• Momo Glass Bottles
• Nuby: Standard Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, Standard Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, 3-Stage Wide Neck Easy Grip Feeding System with Non-Drip Nipple.
• Nuture Pure Glass bottles
• Babisil Silbottles
• Weego Glass Bottles
• Siliskin Glass Bottles
• Dr Brown’s: Glass Bottles (all vent system pieces BPA Free), Dr. Browns Polypropylene bottles (due in store’s April 15th)

• BPA Free Sippy Cups

• Avent Magic Cups
• Playtex: Coolster Tumbler, Insulator, Einstein Training Cup, Sipster, Create My Own, Quick Straw, Insulator Sport, Sip and Discover, First Sipster
• Gerber: Sip & Smile Spill-proof Cup, Easy Grip Insulated Soft Straw Cup, Insulated Cool Cup, Fun Grips Color Change Spill-proof Cup, Grins & Giggles Spill-proof Cup (source)
• BornFree sippy/drinking cups
• Kleen Kanteen
• Thermos Foogo Sippy Cups, and drinking bottle with straw
• SIGG Toddler Water Bottles
• Kid Basix The Safe Sippy
• Boon Sippy
• GrowPure Multi-Stage Feeder and Sippy Cup
• iPlay Aqua Bottle
• ThinkBaby Training Cup
• Sassy Snack Time Infa-Trainer Cup
• Munchkin: Cupsicle, Cupsicle Straw Cup, Big Kid Sippy Cup, Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cup, Mighty Grip Trainer Cup, licensed character Sports Bottles, Re-usable Straw Cups, Re-usable Spill-proof Cups
• Nuby: No-Spill Sports Sipper, Insulated Soft Silicone Spout Cup, Soft Spout Easy Grip Cup, Gripper Cup with Soft Silicone Spout, 2-Handle Cup, Tinted Mega Sipper
• The First Years: Take & Toss, Spill-proof Cup, Insulated Cup, Licensed character sippy cups, Insulated Spill-proof Cup, 2 Handled Cups

BPA Free Food Storage

• Avent Snack Cup / Formula Dispenser
• So Easy Fresh Baby Food Kit
• Baby Cubes
• Laptop Lunch System

Just Livin...

Van went to Conner's office the other day for a visit, and he learned that headphones are awesome especially when mom is talking...... hmmm

Van's excited he just found out advent is coming out with a BPA free bottle in summer 08! We are smart about our plastic bottles and sippy cups now!
I just added some new cards to the vanerwin.com collection they can be for girls or boys. If you would like to place an order please feel free to email me.
$12 per 8 or $23 for 16.... Great for birthday gifts, cause all kids need to learn how to write thank you's. They are printed on 100% recycled 100lb pape (thick paper). enjoy.

Earth Day 2008

In honor of earth day tomorrow, I purchased all new bulbs for my kitchen to replace with the old ones that don't save any energy whatsoever. The eco-bulbs last up to seven years. So I am virtually saving 70% in energy costs with these new bulbs. The prices are usually discounted by the electric companies as well. If you replace your old bulbs with these new ones you will save money on electricity bills, use less energy, reduce your carbon footprint, and help stop global warming.
Van and I went to the beach yesterday and picked up trash along the shore. It was disappointing to see how much trash was in the sand. Go out and do something for your mother this week, she is so good to you!

A new way of thinking...

So I was getting the mail at the mailbox yesterday and as I was walking back to the car, I was stopped by a man who uttered these words "how often do you work out"? I looked around and then I checked behind me to see who the heck he was talking to....
Then I realized he was TALKING TO ME?
I repeated his question out loud to him, with some snickering, behind my glasses.
I said "I work out about three times a week I think!" I smiled and quickly got back into the car.

Was that a pick up line, or just a guy being nice? I am so jaded that I think everyone is being weird when strangers talk to me. I immediately look for an escape route. I created this way of thinking for myself, I really don't think it is my surroundings but I like to blame it on where I live.

I am reading a good book Eat, Pray, Love that is slowly teaching me to control my way of thinking in order to find stillness and peace in my every days.
I am slowing down enough to hear my inner voice and peeling back the layers to find stillness is waiting.

Just say no to BPA

My head is spinning from all of the emails from friends who have heard about all of the research being released about plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, tableware, utensils, feeding aids, pumping supplies, etc that contain BPA. I just found out I have been using the wrong type of bottles all along too and they leak BPA into my sweet child's body. We go out and buy the best car seats, the fancy strollers, and the 400 thread count organic sheets, but we use pacis and baby bottles that leak BPA? I think not! I just purchased a few of the bottles that are BPA free from thinkbaby.
The company produces PES (polyether sulfone) plastic bottles and sippy cups. And stainless steel and plastic drink bottles for adults as thinksport.
First of all what the hell is BPA anyways right?Bisphenol-A is a hormone-disrupting chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been known that scratched and worn polycarbonate feeding bottles will leach this chemical into liquids.

I know this sounds a bit obsessive but I am trowing away all of my freakin Dr. Browns bottles tomorrow because they are scratched and worn. Goodbye old bottles hello new bottles with out the BPA. Goodbye wallet.

I am tired and weary but I have so much more information to share with you.
I will leave you with this list of companies that produce BPA free baby items & and a few images that makes me smile.


BPA-Free Brands:
Adiri | Baby Bjorn | Baby Cie | Babylife (Wee-go) | BFree | Born Free | Brita | Combi | DCI | Ezee Reach | Emily Green | Green to Grow | iPlay | Kidbasix | KidCo | Klean Kanteen | Medela | Mother's Milkmate | Mud Pie Baby | Not Neutral | Nurture Pure | Obentec | ORE Originals | Prince Lionheart | Rivadossi Sandro (Trebimbi) | SIGG | Silikids | Skip*Hop | Steadyco | Thermos | thinkbaby

Healthy Stuff

My good friend Cassie sent me a link to this great website and i wanted to share it with you all. I have always had a fear that plastic cups and bottles leak out harmful chemicals into the food and drinks we consume.
So here are some great products that are save and free of any toxins that might just be getting into your food and drinks. they have some really cute ones for the kiddies too.

As you know chemicals released by plastics can cause cancer (It is not the water that affects you but the chemical released from the bottle)

Check the bottom of the bottle there should be a triangle sign and there will be a number on it. If the number is higher than or equal to 5 --> then this bottle is safe to use. Numbers under 5 will release the chemical. For most bottled water, the number is 1. Remember to check and stop reusing those bottles.

article via: plastic myth busters

Do Something....

I've just signed a petition asking my senators to co-sponsor the reauthorization of PEPFAR, America's response to the emergency of global AIDS, malaria and TB.

ONE is trying to get fifty senators to co-sponsor this lifesaving legislation. You can help by adding your voice.

http://www.one.org/pepfarsenate

ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans - one by one. So far, over two million have joined ONE in support of a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world.

Together as ONE we can make a difference!

Thanks!

Feeling not so groovy, baby.

We took Van into the ER on Saturday night, he had a fever of 104 and his heart was beating so fast. He had short breaths, was not eating, and was sleeping way too much. On top of that he was lethargic and completely out of it. I felt so helpless, this was the first time I could not do anything to make him feel better. This past week was long, and drawn out. I felt completely exhausted by it. Worrying about your children takes all of your energy away, doesn't it?
The only thing that seemed to take his little mind off of his state was taking a walk in the bob, or watching baby einstein in our bed. Did I mention that he only wants to be held? I love holding him close when he is not feeling well. I know he has just felt scared lately and probably wondering why he is feeling so bad. It is a test of patience however, I am hoping tomorrow will be a little easier for all of us. The Dr. at the hospital told us he had a virus but my friend mentioned this specific virus to me today I just researched it and this is what I think he has.

1. Coxsackie virus – It usually affects children ages 6 months to 3 years. Symptoms include:
   • High fever – often up to five days.
   • Severe fussiness – this is often the worst part of the illness.
   • Severe mouth pain or sore throat
   • Copious drooling
   • Refusal to eat or even drink
   • Rash – small, red or white spots may, but not always, appear on the hands or feet (thus the name of the illness). A red, lacy rash can also appear anywhere on the body.

The funny part was while we were in the hospital Conner was eavesdropping on all of the other people who were in the emergency room. Especially the illegal immigrants who the police dragged in after getting into a fight!

Design on a dime...

I was checking out Wal-Marts new line of baby stuff baby mod and I found these for only $39 on clearance. They have great modern furniture that looks similar to the Ouef crib that Van has.

• Set includes comforter, bumper, fitted sheet, and bed skirt.
• Fabric: 100% cotton, 180 thread count

I have to say I am loving simple modern design in interiors lately. I found this great article about interior design on a budget and thought I would share it with you! I love what they have done with each room and I am stealing some ideas for my house.
These are too cute and they play chimes when you rock em . $7.50
Check out their website where you can purchase them.

Happy Day

Happy Birthday Husband & Dad! One more year for you and what a year it has been!