Dairy Free Picky Eater

I will say it - I am a picky eater! So when Cash's pediatrician asked me to go dairy-free temporarily, I was SHOOK.

No ice cream slushes?
No milkshakes?
No cereal or milk and I couldn't even eat PIZZA?

It was a hard adjustment. I had days when I had absolutely NO appetite and would force myself to eat crap because I had to eat and drink to keep my milk supply up. But let's start from the beginning.

Cash has been EBF (exclusively breast fed) since birth. For the first month-6 weeks, we had no problems at all! But then, the poops started. I thought it was a spicy meal I had eaten, but all of the sudden, poops were mucusy, runny, and DARK algae green. I let it go for a few days, but when it didn't change, I started looking to reasons why it might be that way.

I looked into foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, so I would pump, mix the milk, and feed him. I started back to work soon after, but poops never changed.

And EVERYTHING I read online said: milk protein allergy.

I refused to believe it, really. I tried other things, but at his two month appointment, the pediatrician suggested that I "eliminate or limit" dairy for two weeks. After those two weeks, when nothing had changed, we brought in a stool sample, which was positive for blood, but negative for bacterial/other infections. They wanted me to try two more weeks, so I brought a diaper at 4 weeks of no dairy. There was less blood, so "keep doing what you're doing!" We are now at 7 weeks of no dairy, with no changes to me, except his poop has gone from an algae green to a light green and sometimes mustard yellow. Still no change in texture. (I am looking into "overfeeding," but that's just my own research. We go back in a few weeks with another stool sample.)

So dairy free has been hard. I am a super picky eater, so I didn't know what I could even have. My go-to meals use include butter or milk of some kind.

But I'll be damned if I want to give up breastfeeding and then would have to rinse my cloth diapers before washing! (However, the fact that I was coming back from Christmas break with 12 hour workdays and a new mom and I couldn't have my white chocolate mocha with whipped cream from Starbucks hit me HARD.)

So here is what I have stuck to for the last seven weeks.

MEALS

• Spaghetti (no Parmesan and no garlic bread. Instead, I would put olive oil and garlic salt on white bread and toast it. It tasted similar. Also, any kind of chicken in a tomato based sauce is good too!)
• Baked chicken (we smoked chicken last night in our smoker, and it was great!)
• Turkey sandwiches (from Subway, I had to switch from Italian Herb & Cheese to wheat. I also add lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. I also make these at home)
• Peanut butter sandwiches (just because I'm not a jelly fan, but jelly is dairy-free too!)
• Burger (I have never really liked cheese on my burgers - I just make sure if the bun is toasted, it is not toasted with butter on it.)
• Chicken fajita taco (fajita meat, lettuce, tomato, on a flour tortilla)
• Chili (we had deer chili - so good! No cheese on top or cornbread on the side, but you can eat with Club crackers)
• Salad (if that's what you're into)
• (some) cereals with Almond Milk (actually not bad at all. I get the sweetened vanilla flavor, and it honestly tastes like chocolate milk, just a little thinner)
• BBQ (YES. And BBQ sauce is dairy-free!)
• Steak (duh. If you like bearnaise sauce, that's out - sorry, unless you can find a dairy free recipe. Then send it my way!)
• Pork chops (not my favorite, but hey, it could be worse.)

SIDES

• Baked potato (I put Smart Balance butter on it - wasn't great, but was better than nothing. Sweet potatoes can be a good alternative, too.)
• French fries (sorry not sorry)
• Fritos (Doritos are my usual go-to, but NOOO they have to betray me like that.)
• Grilled veggies (especially mushrooms and onions! A lot of people like corn and asparagus, as well)
• Rice (flavor with tomato sauce or chicken broth, then skip the butter. You can also do dairy-free cream of chicken soup to put over chicken and rice. I have not tried myself, but plan on it soon!)
• Beans (not my thing, but dairy free none-the-less!)
• 
  

SNACKS - Check the labels to ensure they are dairy free.

• (some) Belvita snacks
• Iced oatmeal cookies
• fruits and veggies (I love to add carrots to my lunch)
• pretzels (can also be dipped in peanut butter - yum!)
• crackers (ritz, club, and saltines are all dairy free)
• Girl Scout Cookies (Thin Mints, Lemonades, Thank Yous, and some others are vegan! Sorry bout ya Samoas)
• All-natural popsicles (not great for this cold weather, but I would be lying if I said they weren't in my freezer)
• Chips and salsa or guacamole (RIP queso)
• Oreos (I don't like Oreos, but this a very popular dairy free sweet snack!)
• Peanuts
• Duncan-Hines brownies (check the labels, and you can't have milk chocolate brownies, but I have heard that these are dairy free. Have not tried these yet - must try soon!)
• Applesauce

EATING OUT

I use this guide when eating out. There are more on the web, but this has kind of been my go-to if I know we are eating out! Dairy Free Eating Out - my faves when eating out were burgers, grilled chicken, flautas, (some) onion rings, (some) fried chicken, 

Another great idea is to use whole 30 meals. You know they are dairy free, but you can always add in beans, rice, bread products, and sugar.

Go forth and eat!

Cloth Diaper Talk

Let's talk cloth. Fluffy Butt. Fluff Baby. Big Booty Judys. You know what I'm talking about. Cloth diapers!

Blake and I took a cloth diaper class at The Nappy Shoppe in Plano, TX, but my sister was right - you don't know what you like until you try them. We tried many different kinds, but definitely found our niche! So I will start with the different types/the ones we tried, and the ones we settled on.

Also to note: we have a baby with very runny poops. If your baby has more solid poops, other options might work better for you. We have a heavy pee and runny poop situation.

All-in-One

The all-in-one diaper is just as it says - this is the only diaper you need. No inserts, no covers, just a diaper just like a disposable, except you wash it and re-use it.

To be honest, yes, not having to stuff, snap, or clip it together was nice, but there were SO many bad things about all-in-ones to me. Different sizes are available. We had newborn and one-size.

They were not near as absorbent as other kinds. He leaked through both kinds that we tried, to the point that I was afraid to try more brands because it was too messy to deal with. They are expensive. Almost twice as expensive as other diapers. They take a long time to dry. Do I need to go into further detail? That part sucks, because no part of it can go in the dryer.


4th place for us.

All-in-Two

They are reusable. When baby goes potty, you can just snap/slide in a new insert and you are good to go.

They leak if the poop is runny. Which ours always are, so I really only use these after he's had a poop, when I know it won't leak out.

They are easy. Just snap it in and out, and the covers are reusable.

2nd place for us.

Pre-fold/Cover

After we got out of disposables (we were in those for about 3 weeks for reasons,) these were what we used for about a month. They take some getting used to, and there is a learning curve, and you have to touch pee and possibly poop. We liked them, for what it's worth, but they just weren't our favorite and we don't use them anymore.

They are inexpensive. Without runny poops, one cover might last all day. We really made it through with like, six covers and quite a few inserts. The covers are reusable. One pee, fix up the wet part, then throw the cover back on. You can choose snappies or velcro closures. Makes it good for newborns as well as when they get bigger. Different sizes are available. We had newborn and one-size.

Get ready to touch wet cloth. I never prepared myself for this. It's literally like a moist kitchen towel to touch, which was unsettling at first. There is a learning curve. Blake HATED to put these on. I feel like the sizing was never perfect. To ensure the butt was covered, plus the front, plus used a snappy, plus got the cover on over our big baby, it was kind of a hassle.

3rd place for us (probably last place for Blake!)

Pocket

We accidentally got these at Blake's diaper shower when we asked for cloth diapers. I didn't even know what they were, to be honest. I was like, how the heck are we supposed to put an insert on there? I'm pretty sure I just laid an insert on there and put it on him once, until I realized there was a pocket. Good job.
In all honesty, these have become our go to. The sitter doesn't mind them, Blake doesn't mind them, my mom doesn't mind them, and they are even easy for my grandmother. I could gush over these, to be honest, even though I know these are not everyone's favorites.

You can prepare as many day's worth at a time as you have. Every other night, I wash covers and inserts, I dry the inserts and hang the covers (even though it says that you can put them in the dryer.) They are easy to use for everyone.

There is only one elastic band around the leg, so it does leak sometimes. Sometimes, little pieces of the cloth/fuzzies get stuck to him, including on his tee-tee.

First place for us!

There may be other kinds, but these are what we started with/learned about in our class, so all others are more foreign to me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Must-Have Baby Items

Since becoming a mom, I know there are many things I have and don't use, yet there are a lot of things I don't have and wish I did. We are all surviving, though! Here is my list of top items to have.

Hudson Baby Swaddle Blankets

These swaddles are my ABSOLUTE favorite. They are extra stretchy, large, and soft! They are my favorite swaddles by far, and we still use them even though he doesn't stay swaddled. Some swaddles are not as flexible and almost feel scratchy, but these I LOVE.

Keekaroo Changer

In a few words - WORTH THE MONEY. My sister had this, and my mom begged me to also get it. I thought it was too big of an expense, but Cash LOVES this bad boy. I put him on it and he will talk, smile, giggle, and is comfortable enough on it that I can put together his cloth diapers while he is busy looking at the wall/peeing on the floor. Negative side - it is rubbery in texture, so it's a little cold on his bum/feet/back when changing and it's cold in the house. We have a few receiving blankets dedicated to being put on this, and we also keep a cloth diaper insert under his head for spit ups.

Munchkin Bottle Drying Rack
We go through so many bottles now that I'm back at work, and this bad boy never gets put up. It is functional enough for me, and I'm happy with it!

Leachco Lounger

My niece had one of these, and OMG LOVE. We affectionately call it "The Pod" and it's a great resting place. We put it on the couch next to us when we watch TV, he naps in it, and just hangs out and talks to us in this. It's great!

Graco Pack N Play
Although there are SO many brands of this, we got the Graco one for the price, and it does its job just perfectly. Cash has slept in it since he was about three days old and didn't take to the Rock N Play. It's super easy to pack up and take with us anywhere, as well!

Boba Wrap

I love my Boba Wrap! It was a lifesaver when traveling by plane, because you don't even have to take the little toot out of it to go through security. Downside? It gets VERY hot, especially when you have a furnace like I do. I think that's a common complaint with the Boba Wrap and a lot of soft wraps, but we also have the Infantino 4-in-1 carrier that Blake can use if he ever wants to and is a little more practical/functional for Dad.

Infant Optics Monitor
This is great! Blake enjoyed putting it together. We use it for naptime now, but we are almost ready to move Cash to his crib full time, so we will get more use out of it.

Munchkin Wipe Warmer
Not sure if you should get a wipe warmer? Get one. But- No, really. Get one. It makes it better on you and the babe. I'm so glad we ended up getting one.

Fisher-Price Sit Me Up

We love this! I know not all babies love this, but we have used it a lot. I don't love the toys that come attached, so I added a rattle and a teething toy and attached them. No biggie. This really is awesome, though!

Nose Frida
Just get it. Don't think about it when you use it. It works miracles. (Pair with saline spray.)


Cloth Diaper Must Haves
Osocozy Insert
We use this brand and the Dandelion brand (black stitching in Osocozy, dark green in Dandelion) to stuff our cloth diapers (we use pocket diapers.) These are the most absorbent!

Ikea Octopus
Makes drying cloth diapers so easy, plus it just hangs up in his closet.

Planet Wise Pail Liner
We just bought a new trash can (seriously, like $5 at Walmart,) and put this in it. We usually get about a week out of it (washing diapers every other night,) and then it just goes right into the wash with teh cloth diapers and hung up to dry. No touching poopy diapers!

Sprayer
Have not used this yet, and won't until solid foods, but don't forget your sprayer!

Natural Butt Paste
Great brand, and can use on cloth diapers!


Things We Got But Never Took To
Turtle Bath Thermometer

We loved this for about a month, but then the screen stopped working, so it just shined as a color. Now the color is even off. Just wasn't the best quality. I probably wouldn't get a bath thermometer again, because just feeling the water is good to find a comfortable temperature to me.

Swaddler
I'm not sure we ever had this exact brand of swaddler, but we had multiple brands, and Cash HATED being swaddled from the beginning.

Boppy
I WISH I loved my Boppy as much as I wanted to. I'm not sure why I never took to it. Cash uses it as a pillow sometimes, but for breastfeeding, it never worked for me. I always just used a fluffy pillow.

Nursing Bra
I have some nursing bras I love - this is NOT one. The armholes are too small to me. Just uncomfortable. The end.

Snuza Hero
We bought this, have this, never used it. Not sure why. We just changed his diaper SO much when he was small that it was just another thing to add. Also, he loves sleeping on his belly.

Other must-haves
Lanolin (if breastfeeding)
Gripe water (Not sure if it ever worked, but maybe gave me some ease of mind?)
Infant tylenol
Gas drops
Burp cloths
Small rags (we have extra cloth diapers, as well as homemade cloth wipes that we constantly use)
Lots of jammies (we go through these like crazy)
Socks and MITTENS (his poor hands would get so cold, so he wore these for like 2 months!)
Sea-sponge bath sponge (super soft!)
Bath sling
Breast pump (I have only tried Medela, but I love it and Cash took those bottles immediately!)

Thanks for reading! I may make an updated post once he is a little older!

It's Not Okay - Andi Dorfman

This would be the perfect book for a woman who likes to drink wine and is freshly broken up with. Seeing as I'm neither of those things, I didn't enjoy this book, even though it was time for me to read a nonfiction book. I had tried to start this book two times before, so it wasn't REALLY easy to get into at first. I only finished it because I was committed AND because I love The Bachelor and its franchise.
Would I recommend this? Probably not. I am interested to read Courtney Robertson's telling of her time on The Bachelor, which will be within the next few months!

Next on my list - The Hate U Give! Very excited about this one!

Attachments - Rainbow Rowell

Another easy read, so I finished this one pretty quickly as well!

Attachments is a story about a man whose job is to scan the people who work with him's email, to flag and notify people when their emails cross company ethics line. Yet he continues to find himself sucked into reading the emails between two women, and find himself attracted to one of the women who he has never met.

This book was VERY easy to read, just like Rainbow Rowell's Oliver & Park, which I read last year and I LOVED. I probably liked Oliver & Park a little more, because this book was a little more predictable and even though it was written about adults, it seemed to be written for young adults. Didn't take from the story any, because it was still a really good read!

I Regret Nothing - Jen Lancaster

I believe this is my first non-fiction of the year! I actually got this book at her book signing in Dallas a few weeks ago, and I really think this is my favorite of ALL the memoirs I have read by her (which have been A LOT.)

I Regret Nothing is basically Jen's story about how she decides to live without regrets, and starts that with making a bucket list. She checks things off her bucket list as the story goes on, but that's not the part that got me.

I guess that for as long as I have read her books, I have been a "kid" for the most part. Not really an adult, or figuring out how my life is supposed to work. This is the first book of hers that I have read as an adult about an adult. It really resonated with me that this is a woman as well, who is deciding to live her life without regrets. The passages about living in the moment, trying new things, going new places - that is something I need to do in my life! And I really think that a lot of women could benefit from her story of living without regrets!

A+, would recommend!

We Were Liars - E Lockhart

I actually finished this book two Fridays ago, but seeing as I'm almost done with the next book on my list, I figured I better post this one now to give me a little time between this one and the one I'm almost done with!

So I ready We Were Liars by E Lockhart. I really didn't know much about this book when I started it - I had seen that it was on the "Popular" page on my lending library, and Carrie had told me a little about it, so I jumped right in.

As a warning, this book is young adult. I didn't even know that it was young adult until I started reading it and found out the age of the narrator, and she doesn't really get much older through the whole book.

With that being said, I think I needed a young adult book, because it was SO easy to read! I read it in three days, and the story was really great. For most of the last half in the book, there is information that the reader and the narrator don't know, but everyone else knows. I was DYING to know what had really happened!

Young adult books are so easy to read, which is why I'm glad I chose this one after the long haul of Serena. This was a great book, and if you need an easy read over the summer while you lay out to get tan, I would definitely recommend this one!