So Soft Scrub sent me their new rim hanger toilet cleaner to review & some coupons to give folks to get own products for free. Go read my review here and enter to win for yourself.  On another note, enter to win a 1-year's supply of Soft Scrub and $1,000. Boom.  

So Pea was a screamer. I think if you've been around this blog long enough, you know that. Since the day she exited the womb she cried screamed and really we have had no reprieve from that. She doesn't scream anymore, but she is an expert at whining and crying still at the age of four and, she is free to a good home... kidding (sort of). I had heard of The Happiest Baby on the Block  when she was about one and had grown so accustomed to the screaming, crying and b.s. nonsense how disagreeable that she was that I didn't bother to invest in it. It was too late for her anyway (or so I thought). So when I found out I was pregnant with C.J. I knew that I wanted, no I needed to cover all of my bases and arm myself with as much knowledge as possible. I know that you should not believe everything that you read, but I also know that with the right amount of information, you can make a more informed decision for yourself. I mentally prepared myself for two things: 1. C.J. to have colic as well and 2. To get my tubes tied or get the husband an appointment for a vasectomy because there was no way we would continue to reproduce and bring miserable children into this world. I was so wrong. C.J. is the Happiest Baby on the Block... by default. He sleeps well and only wakes up to eat. He smiles, he laughs, he plays and he loves to snuggle. But, I still wanted the information... just in case. So I am pleased to have been able to read The Happiest Baby on the Block and watch the DVD to bring you that information. First of all, if you think you have babies figured out, think again. Not for one minute do I think I have children figured out, nor do I think I have mastered the art of being C.J.'s mommy.  I knew that I needed to swaddle him. I Googled Dr. Karp's (author and creator of the Happiest Baby movement) methods all summer long. I had swaddled Pea when she was an infant and sometimes it worked really well. Do you know what I learned after watching the "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD? I HAVE BEEN SWADDLING WRONG. Well, not completely wrong, but semi-wrong. I have swaddles that will do the magic for you with velcro, which I love. Sometimes, though, I try to swaddle with a blanket and I always have one end loose when I am done that I can't tuck into anything and don't know where it goes. Those nurses at the hospital were swaddling ninjas and whenever I tried to duplicate their swaddling skills, I fell short. The DVD was a lifesaver (I mean, seriously). I think it's one thing to read the book, but an entirely different thing to actually see the swaddle being performed. Dr. Karp modeled the swaddling technique three different times (thank you for doing that) and for visual learners like me, it helped so much. The number one thing that I took away from what I read in his book about swaddling? Was that it is not the feet that matters- it's the arms. This makes sense to me. Baby flails arms around. Baby can't calm down. Duh! Why the hell hadn't I figured that out with Pea? FOUR YEARS AGO. He also mentioned that even though the baby may be resistant to swaddling at first, in the end it is what is best for them in regards to helping calm a crying baby. BOOM. I tell my husband that all of the time. When C.J. was first born I would swaddle the MESS out of him if he even sounded like he was going to cry and my husband would be all "honey, he doesn't like that" or "honey, it seems too tight." I'd be all "watch this magic" and sure enough, he'd settle down eventually.  Back to The Happiest Baby on the Block book. Dr. Karp talks about the calming reflex. Which according to him can be "activated" by doing his five S's:

1. Swaddling
2. Side/stomach position
3. Swinging
4. Shushing &
5. Sucking

  Now you can have the amazing scent of Purex Crystals with the awesome cleaning power of Purex Laundry Detergent in one bottle. Instead of pouring the Purex Crystals into the washing machine and adding the laundry detergent separately, Purex has combined these two products into one with Purex Detergent plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance! We washed our towels with this detergent, because what's more awesome than warm towels straight out of the dryer that smell amazing? The answer is nothing. I poured a capful of the Purex detergent with fabric softener into the washer and then added my towels. This detergent eliminates the need for you to use a separate liquid fabric softener as it is already in it! I will say, though, that I thought the detergent was a bit watery and it does not sud up very well. I'm no laundry detergent expert, but my thought has always been that thicker laundry detergent is better as opposed to laundry detergent that is more thin. You start to believe that maybe you didn't use enough when you don't see soap suds and so you tend to overcompensate and use more. Therefore, if you are like me, will you really save money? Maybe. I had to trust the directions on the bottle that filling it to a certain line was good enough. That's really my only criticism. Otherwise, when my robe came out of the dryer I was in heaven. The scent lasted for a few days after that, so when I would go to put on my robe after I showered, I would smell this amazing scent. This year, all of the Purex detergents will be "upgraded" to now contain the power of DirtLift Action, which will work deep into your clothes to remove stains and dirt. According to Purex, you can save up to $45 per year when you use Purex with Crystals fragrance detergent as it costs half of what the leading brand of laundry detergent costs. Experience the Enchantment Sweepstakes Purex is proud to introduce the Experience the Enchantment Sweepstakes featuring Purex detergent plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance! One lucky winner will receive $1,000 and a year of FREE Purexdetergent plus Fabric Softener, while 500 second place winners get to try this powerful, fresh detergent for FREE! Go. Enter. Win! Free Bottle of Detergent In addition to entering the Purex contest, I will be giving two readers a free bottle of urex detergent plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance. Enter for your chance to win below and good luck! Legal Stuff: The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex detergent plus Fabric Softener  with Crystals Fragrance in exchange for a product review. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.    a Rafflecopter giveaway