why i'm a snaps convert

when it came to cloth diapers, i was a tried and true believer of hook and loop fasteners until a couple of months ago. i ordered all my diapers in aplix if i could, and registered only for aplix closures when i was pregnant with austen. while the rest of the cloth diapering world talked about how they much prefered snaps, i was the loner. velcro seemed easier, and i thought one would be able to get a much better fit on the waist with velcro, and that velcro was easier to use than snaps. and when it goes out, you can just replace it with snaps! the life of the diaper will be extended! besides, you can't fix a broken snap once it pops out! i would say with confidence.

but after two and a half years into cloth diapering, i have officially changed my mind. i admit it. snap closures are the way to go. one of the reasons i have decided to give in and love snaps is because you don't have to pull those awful diaper lines out of the wash. not only are they obnoxious, they are bad for the elastic, too, with all that tugging and pulling tangled diapers out of the wash. and as for getting a good fit with snaps, it is totally doable, and some diapers have snaps placed specifically to help prevent the dreaded wing-droop. it may take a bit of a more familiar hand to snap the diaper on with the best fit, but it's not difficult -- i mean, hello, they're cloth diapers. it's not rocket science.

but the main reason i prefer snaps? consider my collection of worn out diapers. i have four diapers that are unusable because the velcro is completely worn. i used them as long as i could, until i had heard "mama, mama! my diaper!" looking over to see a half-naked river too many times. they went into a bag that is marked "keep," but when am i going to find someone who can put snaps on them to extend their life? replacing worn-out velcro with snaps to extend the life of your diaper is a great idea in theory, but unless you live near someone local who can do it, or you have your own snap machine (is that what they're called? snap machines? probably not, but that's what we'll call them) it's probably not going to happen. sure there are women all over america who offer snap installment services, but by the time you pay for shipping and the cost per diaper to have it done, you might as well just buy a brand-new cover. you know how many snap closures diapers i have that are unusable? none. i have zero diapers that have detached snap closures. maybe i'm lucky, but that's enough for me.

so consider me a snap convert. do yourself a favor and go with snaps.

giveaway from shabby apple!

I've been thinking a lot about taking care of myself lately. Getting dressed in the morning, instead of staying in my PJs until the afternoon. Doing my hair -- I'm talking totally busting out the straightener. And occasionally, doing my makeup even if I'm not even leaving the house. Wearing accessories. Painting my nails. All those estrogen-lead things. When you become a mother, all your focus goes to your child, and often we forget that sometimes we have certain needs that make us unique and beautiful as women. Just because you are a mother does not mean those wants must be pushed to the side. There is nothing wrong or selfish about doing something for yourself. I find that personally, I am more productive during the day and more attentive to my children if I am put together. I feel good about myself. I've done a few giveaways on my blog, and all of them have been for the babes. Who doesn't love a brand new cloth diaper for the cute little butt in your life? But this time mamas, I'm hosting a giveaway for you. yay!

I am so excited about this giveaway from Shabby Apple! You can find tons of gorgeous, vintage-inspired items at shabbyapple.com, a classy, fun online boutique -- anything from maternity clothes, little girl's dresses, beautiful accessories, even fashionable fitness wear!

Today Shabby Apple is generously giving away a piece from their Alice in Wonderland-inspired jewelry collection. It's called The Queen's Rose, and I am in love. It's a rich, romantic piece with a creamy rose in the center: perfectly feminine with a delicious vintage feel. To win this beautiful necklace (a $52 value), please "like" shabby apple's facebook page  (Leaves of My Tree does!) and thank them for this giveaway!

There are many more ways to enter below! Make sure to check out shabbyapple.com and browse their lines. I am excited to say that all Leaves of My Tree readers get 10% off their entire purchase from Shabby Apple by using the following code: 

LEAVESOFMYTREE10OFF

essential baby wearing

i have learned that baby wearing is absolutely essential to being a mommy of two. when austen was a couple weeks old, my husband had to go on a photo session for a couple hours and i was left alone for the first time with the two babies while both were awake. river was filthy from playing outside and also needed a new diaper, so i decided to give him a quick bath to clean up, and i had to put austen down. she was not happy about this at all. what started out quiet grunts of protest lead to full-on screaming, and by the time i was finished with river and could pick her up again, she was crying so hard she could hardly catch her breath. her entire little body was red and hot -- it broke my heart! she was a generally a content newborn and i had never seen her so upset. river certainly never got to that point, because my arms were never busy with another child. i scooped her up and calmed her, then situated her in my sling and went about picking up the house while she cuddled contentedly against my chest.

when i first tried the sling it was incredibly awkward. i felt she either wasn't secure enough, or it was too tight, or the sling felt too tight on my shoulder, or she seemed to be in an uncomfortable position. i had same the problem with river and quickly gave up, feeling discouraged. but this time i decided it was essential that i had something to do with this baby who wanted to be close to me, since i couldn't hold her in my arms and at the same time, tend to all the things my toddler needed. after a few tries i finally found a great position -- one that we both loved. when she was teeny tiny, every time i wore her in the sling, she was close to me and my hands are free to do other things. often, she would fall asleep, and slept great for a couple hours. during our trip to olympia, i wore her in the sling while river rode in the stroller in the airport. if it weren't for my sling, i don't know what i would have done!

i love baby wearing for a few reasons, and found it absolutely essential during the first three months of her life.

she is close. call me a paranoid parent, but during those first couple weeks of life, i am constantly checking my babies to see if they're breathing, or to make sure they're not too hot or too cold. i loved having austen right here with me, knowing i am aware of what she is doing and how she is doing.

she is swaddled. the womb is not a very roomy place. during the last couple months of pregnancy, baby is pretty snug inside. they are used to this feeling and suddenly, they are in a wide open world where limbs flail and they feel like they are falling. baby wearing allows them to be in a comfy fetal position against the warmth and heartbeat of the body in which they were growing for nine months.

there is constant movement. there is hardly a time when a baby in the womb isn't experiencing constant movement. even sitting at the computer with austen in my sling, i had two hands free to type, but i could rock her back and forth or even bounce, and the movement was very relaxing and comforting to her. and of course, it doesn't take a consious effort to keep baby moving while walking around wearing the sling. the rhythm of walking is the most soothing thing to a newborn being worn.

during those first three months i used a sling ezee ring sling, and now that she is bigger and wigglier, and isn't too fond of being so contained, she frequents the water wrap (which is designed for use in the water, but is also great for every day dry activity ;). there are so many options out there. i really hope to make my own mei tai carrier someday!

    

if baby wearing is something you do with your little ones, what is your favorite kind of carrier? have any advice or tips for successful baby wearing?

my new obsession: turquoise & red

sources:
1. DIY sewing kit, lots of pink here

2. kitchen towel pillows, the 36th avenue  

3. aqua & cherry dots seat, sweet seat

4. bicycle calendar print, elaine fong 

5. kitchen textiles, bed bath & beyond

6. appliqued airplane onesie, the paisley moon

7. gigi nightstand, urban outfitters

i'm a phone photographer!

i have found my new best friend. i recently got a new free-with-rebate phone (an android xprt), which has a fantastic little camera and a fun app to edit photos. today we got acquainted.  it was a gorgeous day, sunny and a "warm" 52 degrees. absolutely perfect! the cherry blossoms are sprinkled on tree branches and gardens are starting to blossom. i sought out a new park with a playground and found an adorable one with a community garden and a dog park. the grass is green green, but i have to remember that it is rarely dry here. the ground seems to be perpetually soggy. even though it rained two days ago, when river was spinning in circles in a little field and fell, his bum was completely covered in a thick layer of mud. we had a good laugh. (me, after deciding it was so not something to get upset over, and river, after he saw me laughing, and decided the same thing.) it was so nice to not take around a clunky camera -- it's just not always possible with two babes. we have just arrived home to have  lunch and let austen get her nap in, and i'm trying to find a good soundtrack for today as i edit these photos. tomorrow the daddy has an entire work-free day, so as soon as the sun obnoxiously shines brightly through our window to wake us up (because tomorrow is another rain-free day, and truthfully, i love being woken up by a blinding morning shine) we will be on our way, taking advantage of a gorgeous spring day and off to find another park, where hidden mud puddles in soppy grass will be avoided to the best of our ability.

  
          

living room inspiration

when we moved from texas to washington in december, we got rid of 90% of what we owned. while this is mostly awesome because we got rid of a lot of crap we didn't need, it also means that we've been furniture-less going on four months now. i've convinced myself that part of the fun of this is starting with a blank slate. my challenge is to find most everything second-hand or make it myself. i've decided to make some inspiration boards with a few adorable things i've found in the wee hours of the morning --  people, there is some cute shiznit in internet land.

1. orange succulent pillow, kainkain

2.  mutabilis pillow, anthropologie

3.  bigger boat throw pillow, mengsel design

4. fescue bud vase, anthropologie

5. i heart you print, courtney oquist

6. cubist retro wall clock, bai design

7. red cabinet, ikea

8. vibe rug, rugs USA

9. karlstad sofa, ikea

10.  lace tall pendant, room & board

11. brown triple tree branch lamp, target

shuffle and scoot

watching brother

right now, of course, their relationship consists more of sister watching brother than sister playing with brother. and laughing... lots of laughing. he is the only one who make her absolutely crack up. she's a very serious girl, but sometimes all river has to do is chuckle at her and he has her rolling.

she will watch his every move. a glance at her retrieves a glance at him, with those big doe eyes.

and lucky for me, he loves her back.

he's always been sweet, laid-back. and now that baby sister is here, that demeanor remains in the way he treats her.

i mean, every once in a while, i'll have to use those words you have to use with every toddler, "be gentle!" but mostly, he is. gentle and loving and involved and helpful and kind.

we are in the process of learning that when sister has something he doesn't want her to have, he must replace it with something she can have. don't want her to have your blue car? then take it gently and give her the red car. and another car. and another. okay, not on her face, please!

i know we still have a few more months to go before we really see the sibling rivalry kick in. soon, austen will crawl and snatch and screech when the red car is taken away.

but right now, it's so sweet. this brother and sister, together.

easy, yummy mama lunch

i just can't get a green smoothie down. there was a time when i was drinking them every day, but i just can't do it anymore. i finally admit that i don't really care for them, probably never will care for them, and well, i just don't feel like drinking them anymore. i never make them entirely healthy, either. i may load the blender with greens, but i also cheat by adding juice to sweeten things up. but i have found a filling way to get my veggies down. forget iceburg lettuce salads with ranch dressing. these salads are fresh, fancy, and delicious. i can eat a giant bowl of this -- the possibilities are practically endless and the ingredients last a surprisingly long time!

pick your green - my favorite is spinach by itself, but any garden mix will do.
pick your fruit - dried cranberries, cubed apples, pear slices, grapes, tangerines. whatever sounds good to you.
pick your cheese - i love feta in my salads. in the salad above, i used white stilton with apricots. yum!
pick your crunch - walnuts, almonds, pecans, or flax seeds are yummy additions.
dress - finally, top with extra virgin olive oil & a rich balsamic vinegar. you can also add a little splash of juice if you want; orange or cranberry are delicious.

enjoy and feel good about what you are putting in your body!

mama, it sunny today!

today's to-dos

my to-do list for the day:
- make lunch
- general pick-up (how does it get so messy so fast?!)
- wash all the blankets and linens
- wash one load of clothes
- fold and put away (why are there so many steps to the laundry process?!!)
- put the infant prefolds & covers in storage
- start marinating chicken for tomorrow's dinner
- finish editing photos for the san antonio birth center
- watch the latest episode of desperate housewives (oh hells yes.)

austen's to-do list for the day:
- make sure none of this happens

i am currently rocking her to sleep. she has already nursed, but no -- she will not nurse to sleep. i am playing her "please go to sleep austen" playlist i made for her bedtime on youtube; it works in magical ways. she responds to it by closing her eyes almost instantly -- i guess i've played it enough for her when she' sleepy that she associates it with bedtime -- but every time a song ends, she pops her eyes open and starts fussing, looking quite perturbed, until the next song plays. my particular little girl! i love her personality. it makes me laugh. i wonder how she is going to blossom in the next few years to come.

i think she is asleep now... i can feed the hungry toddler. he is bringing me hard-boiled eggs from the fridge, and i'm pretty sure i heard one being cracked repeatedly on the kitchen floor.