According to the US Census Bureau, August is the month most babies are born! For the month of August, Diapers.com is offering a special deal – 20% off newborn size diapers. Limit 2 per customer. Discounts are reflected in sale prices shown.

I remember when my mom made us lemonade popsicles and I thought they were awesome. I never realized that not only was she saving money she was also giving us healthy stuff! Kudos to mom!! To this day the memory of that white tupperware container filled with cold delights makes me happy, so I was delighted to see this in a newsletter this evening. Want to buy it for yourself? Go here!

Juicy Pops
Instead of buying popsicles at the grocery store that are laden with high-fructose corn syrup and scary food dyes, make your own at home!

Your toddlers can participate in the fun. Get some popsicle molds and purchase juice that is naturally sweetened with cane juice, beet juice or organic sugar, available at health food stores or grocers like Whole Foods.

“My kids love organic lemonade, or cranberry juice popsicles. My 6- year-old fills the containers with juice and my 4-year-old adds the sticks,” says Kristen Horler. “I place the popsicles in the freezer while they’re at summer camp and the entire family has a special dessert that night.”

Babies R Us is offering 4 classes this month ranging from breastfeeding know-how to baby-proofing your home. To see the events in your area visit their website, type in your zipcode to find a store in your area then click on the events image on the left. Click to see the flier for Sarasota.

This story taken from La Leche’s website made me melt. I feel in complete harmony with this post and know this is why I’m having a hard time parting from my sleeping son. He’s grown up so much already (he turns 1 on the 19th) that I’m trying to enjoy as much time with him as I can before life interests him more than mommy-time.

Holding My Baby

Heidi Poliafico
Lancaster PA USA
From NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 18 No. 6, November-December 2001, p. 208

Some people are closet nursers. I’ve read all about them. They are mothers of toddlers who are still nursing but never, ever in public. When the conversation leans toward breastfeeding, the closet nurser quickly changes the subject or may even bend the truth. These mothers are doing what they believe is right for their child and their heart.

I wonder what people would say about me. I’m nursing a toddler, Lauren, who is 15 months old and I’m seven months pregnant. I plan to tandem nurse and I tell anyone who will listen. To add to everyone’s horror, we have always had a family bed and we already have the “sidecar”set up for the new baby to join us. Again, I tell anyone who will listen.

However, it is naptime that I have yet to “come out” with. I tell people that Lauren naps fine. What I don’t tell them is that I hold her during her naps. That’s right, I’m a closet holder. I can’t help it. My heart melts when she falls asleep in my arms nursing, her breathing becoming slow and heavy, her face relaxed and beautiful. How could I possibly miss a minute of that? It’s intoxicating and I can’t give it up. Not yet.

It all started with the sling. Lauren was fussy during her first few months and I would wear her from morning until night in the sling to keep her contented. With the help of the sling she nursed and slept all day in my arms. She was happy and I was deliriously in love.

When she was able to sit up, crawl, and play, I missed the time she spent nestled in my arms. My friends, family, and pediatrician all lectured me about maintaining my independence and creating hers, “Don’t spoil her. She’ll control your life.” But nursing her to sleep and then holding her while she napped just seemed natural me. As reinforcement, I saw the benefits every day. Lauren has always been a good nurser and a very easy child who is almost always happy. My husband, Joe, must have noticed this too as he never complained, even when the housework fell miserably behind and his cooked meals became more and more sparse.

I have missed many parties, movies, dinners, and hours on the treadmill because I can’t lay Lauren down and get away while she naps. I’ve made up countless excuses to avoid confessing, but it has all been worth it. When Lauren is an adult and on her own, I will have the memories of the hours I spent smelling her hair and feeling her breathe while she slept peacefully on my chest. I will always remember watching her drowsily wake up with hot rosy cheeks only to look at me lazily and snuggle back into my neck or into my breast to nurse again into dreamland.

Lauren will soon outgrow my arms, especially with a new baby on the way. This has made me hold on to and treasure our naptime even more. I have well-meaning friends who tell me I should “try not to pick Lauren up so much. If you keep picking her up all the time, she’ll have a hard time adjusting to the new baby.” I just nod. If only they knew.

Last updated Friday, September 29, 2006 by njb.

Babycheapskate.com has posted their weekly “whos-who” in places to buy diapers. See below for what they had to say:

It’s a stock-upportunity! Kmart has their Pampers jumbos for $7.99 (thanks, Fatima!).

Elsewhere: Walgreens has Pampers jumbos for $8.99. Walgreens also has “Big Boxes” of Pampers for $19.99 The problem is, “big box” isn’t an official size package, and the quantity has been airbrushed out. Hard to say whether this is a good deal or not. Maybe one of you readers could report on the number of diapers in a “big box” of size 3 Cruisers there?

The Safeway circular has a coupon for a Pampers mega for $11.99. That’s a dollar off the price to beat for megas.

CVS brand diapers are BOGO 50% off (read the review). Publix has their “big pack” of store brand diapers $24.99 a box (read the review) through Wednesday.

No formula deals yet, but I’ll post ‘em when I find ‘em.

Sales start 8/5 except for Publix. So what are the best diaper & formula deals in your town?

The Waldenbooks book store in Southgate mall in Sarasota is closing. They currently have items (including sale items) discounted at 25% off. Some select items are discounted 50%, such as stuffed animals and some children’s puzzles, etc. They are planning on further discounting around Aug. 19th.

I’ve been in there twice and bought Anthony a musical box set (tambourine, triangle, etc.), a book on potty training, and a box set of books by Eric Carle, which includes The Hungry Caterpillar.

So think about upcoming birthdays and holidays that you could give books at and stock up now!

What a wonderful idea and a great way to tap into those discounts offered when you provide a school ID! Get a free homeschool ID card mailed to you.

Stuffed Plush Horse/Pillows and Fairy Dolls have been recalled because plastic button eyes on the stuffed horse and the pompom nose on the fairy doll toy can easily detach, posing a small parts choking hazard to young children.

Stuffed Horse: The plush brown horse/pillow was sold as an accessory with the purchase of a Horse Animal Sleeping Bag. The horse pillow has outstretched fore and back legs, a bushy black mane and tail and attaches to the sleeping bag with a hook/loop attachment on the belly of the horse. Stuffed horses with eyes directly embroidered on the plush fabric are not included in the recall.

Fairy Doll: The Fairy Doll toy was sold as an accessory with the purchase of a Unicorn Animal Sleeping Bag. The stuffed fairy doll has a sewn-on pompom nose, a pink satin dress with glitter netting as a ruffled collar, sleeves and dress apron. The doll attaches to the sleeping bag with a hook/loop attachment on the bag and between the doll’s wings. The fairy doll is one of three toys that attach to the sleeping bag. Also included are a large unicorn pillow and small flat unicorn. The unicorn attachments are not included in the recall. Sold through: The Orvis Company mail-order catalogue and the firm’s Web site from September 2006 through December 2006 for about $70.

Consumers should take these toys away from young children immediately and contact the firm to obtain a refund or replacement horse and fairy doll. Consumers can continue to use the sleeping bags while waiting to receive replacement toys.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Orvis Company toll-free at (866) 531-6199 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.orvis.com/recall.

I was in Target today (in Sarasota, FL) and they have summer-related and other select toys 30 – 75% off. Included in those mark downs are clothing and shoes too. I managed to score some great things for Anthony and his friends for their birthdays and Christmas!

Also on clearance are the large value-packs they have over in the seasonal sectional. Diapers and wipes are also over there and included in the sale! Bring a coupon and save even more! Go to this site and scroll down for some good diaper/wipe coupons.

In 1982, Gerber Childrenswear introduced Onesies® one piece underwear – a comfortable, versatile garment which has become a staple in every baby’s wardrobe. This calls for a celebration, and parents can join in the excitement by entering a sweepstakes for the chance to win a $25,000* savings bond, or one of hundreds of First Prizes worth $100 in Gerber Childrenswear Onesies®.

Parents can also sign up for the Preferred Parent Program to receive coupons, information, and other great offers, and don’t forget to invite your friends and family to join in the excitement too. Enter today, and let the celebration begin!

Enter contest here