I am excited for you all to meet this awesome cloth diapering, baby wearing mama and her lovely family. Interestingly enough her and I shop at the same store…the thrift store! 🙂 Read on to learn more about Melissa and her family.
Who are the members of your family?
Daddy, who is a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard and in his civilian job he works for Parks and Trails. Mommy, who is currently staying at home with the kiddos but was a Police Officer for five years before they decided to have her stay at home. Our oldest daughter will be 9 in December and is in third grade. She’s about to compete county wide for an academic excellence award for her school. Our middle son turned two in July, and is a little monster! He is high speed, non-ntop, and is quite literally a noise with dirt on it, haha! Our youngest is five and a half months, and was quite a surprise! Mommy’s IUD ended up in her appendix, and when Daddy came home from Iraq littlest appeared 9 months later! She talks non stop (or babbles), and is the sweetest, happiest little girl ever! She completes the family though!
How did you meet your significant other?
Through my little brother. He had just joined the National Guard and introduced me to this very attractive Sergeant of his. Needless to say we hit it off, and were married shortly there after. He is my soul mate, and I couldn’t get through this hectic life of ours without his unending support and love. He is such an amazing husband and daddy! He’s been on three tours overseas for a total of 4 years overseas! I am so very, very proud of him, we all are! He even received the Bronze Star his last tour.
What is your favorite baby carrier and why?
My ergo! I love it! I have had it for over two years now. It’s gone on several Disney trips with us and always for at least 12 hours. I never had a sore back during those longs days of walking the parks and I believe it was because of the Ergo! My two year old still gets back carried in it, but it’s mainly used by the littlest as a front and back carry.
Describe your cloth diaper stash:
Oh geeze, haha…well, I have roughly 90 diapers…give or take a couple. 😉 Granted I do have two in diapers though!! Most of my diapers are WAHMs (made by work at home moms) and I LOVE that! I love being able to support mom’s who want to stay at home with their kiddos! Right now I have Pirate Booty Fluff, Bunzuke, Tweedlebee & Tweedlebum, Holden’s Landing, and Sassybumz. The “name brands” I have include Tots Bots, Blueberry, Bumgenius, Sunbaby’s, FuzziBunz, Charlie Banana, and my newest ventures have been into the sustainablebabyish world of wool and fitteds!
What’s your number one secret for stretching a dollar?
Thrift shops! I love them, my mom and I try to go at least once a week with the kids. We call it our “therapy” haha. We buy goodies, but never spend more than a couple dollars on things. She found a brand new Charlie Banana (diaper) for $1.50 one time! Needless to say my hubby encourages our “shopping sprees”, lol.
Share one special family tradition you have?
On Christmas Eve we all go to my parent’s house. We cook up some hot cocoa and cookies. All the kids gather around in a big circle and my mom reads them The Polar Express. At the end all the kids get to ring the silver bell. I think I look forward to it more then the kids haha! Then we all look up Santa’s location on the Nordic Santa locator online.
What is one of your favorite quotes?
Carpe Diem, Seize the Day. I had a close friend of mine on the force who died and I had this tattoo’d on my wrist after his death. I look at it daily to remind me never to take things for granted and to live life to the fullest.
Thanks Melissa for sharing your awesome family with us!!
Would you like to have your family featured in a Friday Family Spotlight AND win a FREE $10 gift certificate to Mom’s Milk Boutique for your participation? If so email sarah@momsmilkboutique.com with the subject line “Friday Family Spotlight Inquiry” and share something interesting about your family in your email message.
HAPPY FRIDAY ALL!
-Sarah
