Welcome to the fifth and final day of fluffy giveaways! I really hope you have all had as much fun with this event as I have, I just love sharing fluffy love. I wish all babies were cloth babies.


How A Merry Fluffy Christmas works:

Each of the 5 days of this event, there will be one post up on each blog. In each post, there will be one or more items to be won! Each day is ONE prize package, so there will only be ONE winner for each day for each blog. Each giveaway is open for 3 days.

You MUST do the Mandatory Entry to enter the giveaways! If you do not do the Mandatory Entry, all your other entries will be deleted.

Please remember to read ALL instructions on each blog. We are all a part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, but we are each doing different ways to enter. Please read ALL instructions or you might miss something and your entries will be deleted.

The Extra Entries are just that, extra and optional! You can, if you'd like, enter only the Mandatory Entry and call it a day. But entering ALL Extra Entries as well will provide you with a greater chance at winning! :)

And don't forget to visit ALL 19 BLOGS! You can find the Linky at the bottom of each giveaway post..

So the point...? Just make sure to read ALL the instructions on each blog before entering and get out there and HAVE FUN!!!

Day five sponsor

Me!!!

***Please note: In my original post I accidentally listed the prize as a Fuzzibunz perfect size diaper, it should have read: Fuzzibunz ONESIZE diaper. So sorry!
Because I love my readers and subscribers so much and appreciate you all, I'm giving away one of my favorite diaper combos: A Fuzzibunz onesize pocket diaper and a Loopydo insert. This awesome pairing is practically bulletproof and should get any heavy wetter through the night, it worked for my super, duper heavy wetter! I purchase from either Kelly's Closet or Earth Angels Diaper Company, so prize is limited to stock on hand. And....because I have them to give away, you'll also get a couple Snappis.

This giveaway closes on Dec 7th at 11:59pm EST, so hurry and enter!

How to enter:

Again, please read ALL instructions before entering! Also you MUST leave a valid email! If you win and have no email, I will have to choose a new winner. I must be able to get a hold of you.

Mandatory Entry:

You must do BOTH mandatory entries before completing ANY of the Extra Entries!

- You MUST follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), that's it!


Extra Entries:

- Subscribe by email to my blog (3 extra entries!)

***If you earned extra entries and want them to go toward this giveaway, leave a comment on this post.

Merry Fluffy Christmas- Day Four!

Welcome to A Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway event and thanks for visiting my blog!

How A Merry Fluffy Christmas works:

Each of the 5 days of this event, there will be one post up on each blog. In each post, there will be one or more items to be won! Each day is ONE prize package, so there will only be ONE winner for each day for each blog. Each giveaway is open for 3 days.

You MUST do the Mandatory Entry to enter the giveaways! If you do not do the Mandatory Entry, all your other entries will be deleted.

Please remember to read ALL instructions on each blog. We are all a part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, but we are each doing different ways to enter. Please read ALL instructions or you might miss something and your entries will be deleted.

The Extra Entries are just that, extra and optional! You can, if you'd like, enter only the Mandatory Entry and call it a day. But entering ALL Extra Entries as well will provide you with a greater chance at winning! :)

And don't forget to visit ALL 19 BLOGS! You can find the Linky at the bottom of each giveaway post..

So the point...? Just make sure to read ALL the instructions on each blog before entering and get out there and HAVE FUN!!!

Day four sponsor

Kim from Rockin Green is giving away a 45/90 bag of detergent in the winner's choice of scent and formula. Go here to read my sponsor spotlight and enter extra entries if you wish.
I am also, personally contributing a 1 ounce container of Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm, my absolute favorite diaper cream. It's cloth diaper safe, smells great and WORKS!!

This giveaway closes on Dec 6th at 11:59pm EST, so hurry and enter!


How to enter:

Again, please read ALL instructions before entering! Also you MUST leave a valid email! If you win and have no email, I will have to choose a new winner. I must be able to get a hold of you.


Mandatory Entry:

You must do BOTH mandatory entries before completing ANY of the Extra Entries!

- You MUST visit Rockin Green and tell me which scent you'd choose if you won.

- You MUST follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC)

Please leave ONE comment with both mandatory entries and your email address.


Extra Entries:

- Subscribe by email to my blog (3 extra entries!)

If you earned extra entries and want them to go toward this giveaway, leave a comment on this post.

A Merry Fluffy Christmas- Day Three!

Welcome to A Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway event and thanks for visiting my blog!



How A Merry Fluffy Christmas works:

Each of the 5 days of this event, there will be one post up on each blog. In each post, there will be one or more items to be won! Each day is ONE prize package, so there will only be ONE winner for each day for each blog. Each giveaway is open for 3 days.

You MUST do the Mandatory Entry to enter the giveaways! If you do not do the Mandatory Entry, all your other entries will be deleted.

Please remember to read ALL instructions on each blog. We are all a part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, but we are each doing different ways to enter. Please read ALL instructions or you might miss something and your entries will be deleted.

The Extra Entries are just that, extra and optional! You can, if you'd like, enter only the Mandatory Entry and call it a day. But entering ALL Extra Entries as well will provide you with a greater chance at winning! :)

And don't forget to visit ALL 19 BLOGS! You can find the Linky at the bottom of each giveaway post..

So the point...? Just make sure to read ALL the instructions on each blog before entering and get out there and HAVE FUN!!!

Day three sponsor

Llana from Applecheeks is offering up a package of diapering accessories including: a roll of flushable liners, a 6 pack of super soft bamboo wipes and a bottle of gentle cleansing solution. Go here to read my sponsor spotlight, see examples and enter extra entries if you wish. I will also add a couple Snappis.

This giveaway closes on Dec 5th at 11:59pm EST, so hurry and enter!

How to enter:

Again, please read ALL instructions before entering! Also you MUST leave a valid email! If you win and have no email, I will have to choose a new winner. I must be able to get a hold of you.

Mandatory Entry:

You must do BOTH mandatory entries before completing ANY of the Extra Entries!

- You MUST visit Applecheeks and tell me another item you'd love to have.

- You MUST follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC)


Please leave ONE comment with both mandatory entries and your email address.


Extra Entries:

- Subscribe by email to my blog (3 extra entries!)


If you earned extra entries and want them to go toward this giveaway, leave a comment on this post.

A Merry Fluffy Christmas-Day two!

Welcome to A Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway event and thanks for visiting my blog!

How A Merry Fluffy Christmas works:

Each of the 5 days of this event, there will be one post up on each blog. In each post, there will be one or more items to be won! Each day is ONE prize package, so there will only be ONE winner for each day for each blog. Each giveaway is open for 3 days.

You MUST do the Mandatory Entry to enter the giveaways! If you do not do the Mandatory Entry, all your other entries will be deleted.

Please remember to read ALL instructions on each blog. We are all a part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, but we are each doing different ways to enter. Please read ALL instructions or you might miss something and your entries will be deleted.

The Extra Entries are just that, extra and optional! You can, if you'd like, enter only the Mandatory Entry and call it a day. But entering ALL Extra Entries as well will provide you with a greater chance at winning! :)

And don't forget to visit ALL 19 BLOGS! You can find the Linky at the bottom of each giveaway post..

So the point...? Just make sure to read ALL the instructions on each blog before entering and get out there and HAVE FUN!!!

Day two sponsor

Anna from Baby Legs is offering up a fun grab bag filled with an assortment of leg warmers, tights (for girls), and socks in your choice of size and gender. Go here to read my sponsor spotlight, see examples and enter extra entries if you wish.

This giveaway is open from Dec 2st 12:01am EST - Dec 4rd 11:59pm EST.

How to enter:

Again, please read ALL instructions before entering! Also you MUST leave a valid email! If you win and have no email, I will have to choose a new winner. I must be able to get a hold of you.

Mandatory Entry:

You must do BOTH mandatory entries before completing ANY of the Extra Entries!

- You MUST visit Baby Legs and tell me which item is your favorite

- You MUST follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC)


Please leave ONE comment with both mandatory entries and your email address.

Extra Entries:

- Subscribe by email to my blog (3 extra entries!)


If you earned extra entries and want them to go toward this giveaway, leave a comment on this post.

A Merry Fluffy Christmas has begun!!!!

Welcome to A Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway event and thanks for visiting my blog!
How A Merry Fluffy Christmas works:


Each of the 5 days of this event, there will be one post up on each blog. In each post, there will be one or more items to be won! Each day is ONE prize package, so there will only be ONE winner for each day for each blog. Each giveaway is open for 3 days.


You MUST do the Mandatory Entry to enter the giveaways! If you do not do the Mandatory Entry, all your other entries will be deleted.


Please remember to read ALL instructions on each blog. We are all a part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, but we are each doing different ways to enter. Please read ALL instructions or you might miss something and your entries will be deleted.


The Extra Entries are just that, extra and optional! You can, if you'd like, enter only the Mandatory Entry and call it a day. But entering ALL Extra Entries as well will provide you with a greater chance at winning! :)


And don't forget to visit ALL 19 BLOGS! You can find the Linky at the bottom of each giveaway post..


So the point...? Just make sure to read ALL the instructions on each blog before entering and get out there and HAVE FUN!!!

Day one sponsor

Stphanie from Abby's Lane is ever so kindly donating a $25 gift certificate for her awesome online store. You can get anything you want! Go here for my sponsor spotlight post and for some ideas on things she carries.




This giveaway is open from Dec 1st 12:01am EST - Dec 3rd 11:59pm EST.

How to enter:

Again, please read ALL instructions before entering! Also you MUST leave a valid email! If you win and have no email, I will have to choose a new winner. I must be able to get a hold of you.

Mandatory Entry:

You must do BOTH mandatory entries before completing ANY of the Extra Entries!


- You MUST visit Abby's Lane and tell me which item is your favorite


- You MUST follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC)


Please leave ONE comment with both mandatory entries and your email address.

Extra Entries:

- Subscribe by email to my blog (3 extra entries!)

If you earned extra entries and want them to go toward this giveaway, leave a comment on this post.

Episencial winner!!!!

With only 35 entries, everyone who entered had a really good chance to win and Random.org picked number 8

Camille said:

i follow thru GFC

--camille :)

Congrats Camille, you've been notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email.

My breastfeeding struggle: Emma's birth story part 2

So, like I mentioned in my birth story natural birth and breastfeeding were two of the most important things to me and what I was most looking forward to. As it happened, neither was in the plans for me. I had a breast reduction about 8 years ago, so I had a feeling that breastfeeding might not come so easily for me. Also, pardon the graphic-ness, but I have inverted nipples. I expressed concern over both of these situations at each of my prenatal appointments and all my doctor would tell me was "we'll just have to wait til the baby is born to find out". Needless to say, this was very disheartening!

All I could do was wait and pray. Well, as I got toward the end of my pregnancy, I remember people asking me if my milk had come in or if I was leaking yet. I wanted so badly to say yes because I knew that these things were supposed to be happening but they just weren't. I never had any signs of milk.

Emma was born. The nurses showed me how to manually express what should have been colostrum, but nothing came out, so they tried to get her latched on naturally but it just wasn't happening. Step two: the nipple shield, "yay!"  I thought, a miracle invention that will let me nurse my baby! Yeah, right. Nothing about the whole situation came easily. Even with the nipple shield, Emma didn't seem to be getting anything. I was so worried, but the nurses kept telling me that even if she wasn't getting anything it would be ok because babies are born with extra fat that they can live off of for a while. That did make me feel a little better, but I was already so ashamed that I couldn't feed my child in the natural, God-given manner!!

I think it was day two that they brought out the breast pump. The nurses wheeled in the pump on a little stand and showed me how to work it. I pumped what I could, which was just a tiny bit of colostrum. I didn't want to resort to bottles yet, so we started tube feeding. We'd run a tube from the little container of colostrum and tuck it into the nipple shield and then get Emma attached to the nipple shield. That way, she was still getting my milk, but it was coming from the tube. It must have been day 2 or 3 when nurses brought in the formula. Just the sight of it made me want to cry! But I didn't want my daughter to starve, so what could I do? By the time we left the hospital she had lost more than 10% of her body weight, so we were referred to the lactation consultant.

We visited the LC about 5 more times in the month following Emma's birth. It was always the same story: couldn't get her latched, couldn't produce enough milk to solely breastfeed. I was so devastated, depressed and felt really lonely. My life was all about pumping, all day long I sat on the couch, pumped, fed Emma, pumped some more, etc. I think the most I ever got in one pumping was almost 5 ounces, that was a good day! I tried everything the consultants recommended, I took Fenugreek supplements and drank Fenugreek tea. I also took a prescription that has an off label use to increase milk supply, and it did, a little. So, my daughter was mostly formula fed with a little breast milk supplement. I kept up the pumping routine until my milk totally dried up when she was about 6 months old. It was the worst feeling ever!

People tell me that I did the best I could and at least she got a little breast milk in the beginning, but nothing anyone did/will ever say can make me feel better about the situation. I feel like a total failure, I couldn't do the most natural thing in the world for my own daughter. Weirdly, though, I don't regret having the breast reduction. Even the surgery wouldn't have changed my inverted nipples and who knows if I would've had the same supply issues or not. Regardless, the surgery was the right thing for me at the time and I'm glad I was able to have it.

So, here I am, pregnant again and hoping beyond hope that somehow, someway a miracle will occur and I'll at least be able to produce enough milk this time to have my baby mostly breastfed. I'm not delusional and I know that I probably won't be able to get a baby latched on and I'll most likely be tied to the pump again, but I'm OK with that, really, what choice do I have?

This is why I am such an avid breastfeeding supporter and I get really upset when I see moms formula feeding thier babies. I know I shouldn't because I don't know the situation and it's a bit hypocritical of me to judge other moms for using formula when I did it myself, but I can't help it, it's my initial, gut reaction. My feeling about the situation is this: I would've given ANYTHING in the world to have been able to nurse my daughter and I think too many people take it for granted and don't use the most wonderful, natural, free, nutritionally perfect resource available for feeding their babies. If you've got it, use it!