Weekend in Review

We headed to my parents house on Friday for Easter weekend.  It was an uneventful drive and Marissa slept pretty good Friday night.

Saturday my grandma, grandpa, Uncle, cousin, and some family friends all came for a big Easter dinner.  The weather was nice and we had so much food it wasn't funny.  Danny ate so much that he snuck away for a little cat nap on the front porch.

He woke just in time for the CAPS Game.

Marissa was such a good girl all day, so of course, she had to ruin it by sleeping like total poo that night.  She went to bed fine, but at 10:30 pm she woke up and would not go back to sleep until 2:00 am.  Luckily, my mom helped out and stayed up with her so Danny and I could get some sleep.  She was up again at 5:00 am and up for the day by 7:30 am.  Again, I can't think my mom enough for helping us out.  I think a big part of the problem is she is sleeping in a pack n play at my parents and she also sleeps in the same room as us.  Right as I was going to bed is when she started stirring.  I think it's hard for her to sleep with us in the room and she isn't used to not having her own bed with her own smells.  She may have had a tummy ache, a bad dream, teething, who knows.  Everyone loves to diagnose a baby, my diagnosis is she's stubborn!

We stopped on our way home to visit some friends which was nice.  Then we had Easter dinner at Danny's parents house.  Marissa chowed down on some green beans, sweet potato fries, banana and of course you can't forget the puffs!  No banana pudding for her yet. 

I know that most kids go through a picky phase, but I'm seriously considering holding off on hot dogs, chicken nuggets and all those other foods that kids love.  Danny and I have decided that we don't want to be fixing her hot dogs and nuggets every night (not only are they not very good for you but I just don't think you are setting a good example or creating a healthy lifestyle for your children when you do this).  When she is a little older we feel that she needs to eat what we are serving.  Sometimes I feel like parents take the easy route and just get kids McDonald's or junk food so they don't have to deal with fruits and vegetables.  Maybe I will be eating my words in a few years, but in the meantime this is our plan.  Also, no dessert if she doesn't eat her dinner!  We're such terrible parents, aren't we?! :-P 

Here is Marissa eating some green beans from her Grandpup's garden

All done mommy, you can wash my face now?

It was so beautiful yesterday that I took Marissa outside for a quick photo shoot.  I'm still working on learning about my camera.  While I love the outcome when I get a good picture, sometimes it takes 50 pictures until I get a good one.  ::Sigh:: It's a work in progress, I'm no professional, so cut me some slack.

She loves clapping her hands!

And how can you not love these CHEEKS?!

Do you see her crazy hair?  She has so much on top but it's still pretty thin on the sides.  We try to comb it to the side but it never stays that way.

The dogs came home with us from their 3 week "gran-cation" at their grandparent's house.  I'm not sure if they were just wore out from the stay or if they are depressed, but they've done a lot of sleeping since we've gotten home.  It's nice to have them home and I've resumed my normal checking the side of the bed before my feet hit the floor in the morning to go get Marissa.  Sadie has without fail been there every morning.

This weekend we are going to celebrate Hunter's 1st Birthday!  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was going to the hospital to see Jeremy and Mickey and their new bundle of joy!

We may also be going to see Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert with Erin and Robey.  They invited us along and we haven't been out on a "date" in so long that I suppose it is over due.  With working full time, I just don't want to spend a single minute away from Marissa.  I feel like if I was a part-time or stay at home mom (SAHM) then I would need a break and want to go out more often.  I only get to see her 3-4 hours a day max, so I cherish every second with her ad I just don't have a huge desire to leave her over night or be away from her on the weekends.  Also, since I'm still nursing, her only nursing session of the day is first thing in the morning.  The rest of the time she gets bottles.  So that's a special time just for her and me. 

I can't believe my little girl is going to be 8 months old in just a few short days!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Happy Birthday, Mom!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

Since we can't be with you on your birthday, I will shower you with pictures of Marissa. :)

Playing at Grammy's house!

Singing a tune while clapping!

Laughing in her new Princess chair from Grammy and Grandpup

Marissa with Grammy and Grandpup on Easter weekend

The Easter Bunny brought Marissa a bunny!

Uncle Fuzz, 2nd cousin Taylor, Marissa and Mommy

Dad, Mikey, Josh, Mom, Taylor, Marissa and me...oh and you can't forget Dixie.

4 Generations: Mam, Mom, Me and Marissa

In her pretty Easter dress but wouldn't look at the camera...

One of my favorites, look at those lashes!

MAKE A WISH!

On The Fence?

Okay, if I have any readers who do not give two cents about cloth diapering, I apologize in advance. =)

Something that I don't think I've mentioned before (but maybe I have?) is cloth diaper trials.  If you are on the fence about cloth diapering and don't want to invest a lot of money on something that you may not like, then I suggest doing a cloth diaper trial. 

Jillian's Drawers does a great program and you are not obligated to buy anything you don't like.  Check it out here:  Jillians Drawers

Nicki's Diapers also does a trial program.

Try it out, if it doesn't work, you're not out much!  But at least you can honestly say that you gave it a shot and know what it's all about.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, everyone!

In celebration of Earth Day, there is a great cloth diaper change challenge happening tomorrow all over the world.  The goal is to put cloth diapers in the Guinness book of World Records by having the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously!

From their Website:

"Cloth diapers have come a long way in past 10 years, and it’s time to stand up and be noticed. Celebrate Earth Day, by joining the North American and International cloth diaper community on April 23rd, 2011 at 9AM PDT to set the world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously.

There are many ways to participate so please take a few minutes to explore the site to find a location near you or offer to host a location of your own. The more babies participating the better, so every cloth diapered bum counts. Can’t attend an event near you? Consider getting involved in your local cloth diaper community by learning more about organizations like the RDIA and RDA.

We can’t wait to put cloth diapers into the record books!"

Since we will be at my parents, I'm not sure that I will get to participate.  The nearest check in is in Harrisonburg, so we'll see if we can get up and get there by 9 am.  Either way, I think it's great they are doing this and hopefully it will get more people interested in cloth!

I challenge everyone to make Earth Day everyday!  Pick up some recycling bins, be conscious of your waste, change out harsh chemicals you use for cleaning for safer, greener options, tell a friend about cloth diapers, plant a tree or a garden.  Anything you do to make a difference counts!  Don't sit back and say "well, no one else is recycling" or "what I do isn't impacting the earth that much."  If everyone had this mentality, we would drain this earth of it's beauty.  I'm just as guilty as the next person, but I've made a conscious effort to change that; now I challenge you to do it too!  It really is a great feeling and I promise you won't regret living a Greener life!



Diaper Review

I have several different brands of cloth diapers, though the majority of my stash consists of pocket diapers.  It can be overwhelming when venturing out into the cloth diapering world, there are so many brands that range in prices that it's hard to tell what a good deal is. 

I've compiled a list of diapers I have and pros and cons to each.  This is not an "end all be all" list.  My favorite diaper might be your worst nightmare and vice versa.

Here goes!

BumGenius 4.0
Average Price - $14.95 - 17.95

Pros:

• Great fit for Marissa
• Average cost, not too high
• Versatile fit, ranging from 10-35 pounds
• Cute colors and a few prints are available
• Available in snaps or velcro
• Good quality
• Comes with two microfiber inserts
• Can buy at almost any cloth diaper retailer
• Good resale value
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Some babies have an allergy to the microsuede material lining the inside of the diaper, this can usually be remedied by using a fleece liner

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SmartiPants
Average Price - $13.95

Pros:

• Smart sleeve technology, no need to remove inserts since they agitate out in the wash
• Good fit for Marissa
• Versatile fit, ranging from 10-35 pounds
• Made in USA
• Good quality, lower price than other competing brands
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Only retails through their website
• Colors are available, but no prints
• For the velcro lovers, I believe they only come in snaps

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Rumparooz
Average Price - $23.00 - 25.00

Pros:

• Double inner leg gusset to contain messes
• Comes in velcro or snaps
• Cute colors and prints
• Versatile fit from 10-35 pounds
• Comes with two microfiber inserts
• Good resale value
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Has a short rise on Marissa, I don't think they will last as long as our other diapers as far as fit
• I have two in velcro and they look terribly worn compared to my other velcro diapers and snaps
• Not as cost efficient as other brands
• Due to the rise being shorter, I find these to be bulkier

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Fuzzibunz
Average Cost - $17.95

Pros:

• Adjustable elastic in the waist and leg
• Easy to replace elastic in the legs
• Comes with an extra elastic replacement
• Great for skinny or small babies
• Cute colors and some prints available
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Not the best fit for Marissa, I'm not sure if it's their microfiber inserts or just the fit, but she leaks in them on occassion
• For the price, I would rather spend my money on a diaper that works better for us

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Kawaii
Average Cost - $8.00 - $12.00

Pros:

• Cost efficient
• Cute prints
• Available in snaps or velcro
• Great for larger babies
• They have an overnight diaper that seems to have thicker material which works great (especially when paired with a microfiber insert and a hemp insert)
• Also available with minky fabric
• Fast drying time (with the exception of Minky diapers, they take longer to line dry)

Cons:

• Hard to get, I've found Jack Be Natural to be the best site as far as availability, but sometimes it is hit or miss
• Manufactured in China
• Velcro does not hold up well, making diaper look worn after a short period of use

Comments:

• I have several Kawaii's and they are all different.  I'm not sure if this is good or bad.  They all seem to be shaped differently and fit differently.  If you are looking for consistency, this may not be the brand for you.

Regular Kawaii
 This is the "heavy wetter overnight" diaper
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Blueberry/Swaddlebees
Average Cost - $18.00 - 25.00

Pros:

• Cute prints
• Available in velcro and snaps
• Available with hemp inserts
• Good fit on Marissa
• Also available with minky fabric
• Versatile fit from 10-35 pounds
• Fast drying time (with the exception of Minky diapers)

Cons:

• A little pricier than other brands
• Sometimes hard to get, especially prints
• Hemp inserts need to be folded before inserting into the pocket.  For me, this is no big deal but for others it may be an extra step they don't want to worry about

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

BG Elemental/Organic

Average Price - $25.00

 

Pros:

• All in one diaper, no need to stuff
• Great over night diaper, no leaks
• Made of organic materials
• Trim compared to many pocket diapers
• Comes in colors and a few prints

Cons:

• Takes a long time to dry (line or dryer)
• Expensive (but so worth it, In My Opinion (IMO))
• Natural fibers stain more easily than cotton, fleece, etc.  

 

 The outside looks just like a BG 4.0

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prefolds and Thirsties Covers (with a snappi)
Average Price for Prefold - $1.50 - $3.00
Average Price for Covers - $10.00 - $12.00

I almost forgot about newborn cloth diapering!  Most one size diapers do not fit a brand new, itty bitty, teeny tiny baby.  For the newborn we used prefolds (you know, the diapers your mom probably used) along with a Thirsties cover.  There are lots of covers out there to use, I've heard that rumparooz makes a great cover as well!

Pros:

• Cheap
• No stuffing required
• The Chinese prefold diapers from cottonbabies.com can be purchased by the single, so you can have as many (or as few) as you want!

Cons:

• Stains easily (but nothing the sun can't fix)
• Little bit of a learning curve to learn how to fold them and use a snappi
• Green Mountain prefolds get great reviews, but you are limited to buying by the dozen (for me 2 dozen wasn't quite enough, but 3 dozen was too many, I settled for 28 of the prefolds from cottonbabies)
• Prefolds require a cover, they are not water proof
• Bulky on an itty bitty baby, but you get used to it...it's not like they are crawling around yet

Thirsties Duo cover Prefold w/ Snappi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kissaluvs Size 0 or Cloth-eez Workhorse Fitteds
Average Cost: $4.95 - $12.95

Pros:

• Great fit for newborns. 
• Easy to use, I used these at night so I didn't have to mess with a snappi
• Thirsties covers also work with these
• Snap down rise for when the umbilical cord is still attached
• Kissaluvs come in a few fun colors

Cons:

• Fitted diapers require a cover, they are not water proof
• Kissaluvs Size 0 are a bit expensive, but the workhorse fitteds are a cheaper alternative
• Short period of use, since they really only fit small babies, they fit Marissa until about 2.5 - 3 months
• Since they are more expensive than prefolds, I only purchased 3 of these

  Kissaluv Size 0 (KL0)      Workhorse fitted

Free Weekend!

We finally had a free weekend with absolutely nothing on the agenda and that is exactly what we did!  Nothing! :)

Saturday it was raining so we lounged around the house and visited the in-laws.  Marissa got this little rocking horse for Christmas and we brought it home from the in-laws house since she is now big enough to use it.  We still have to be really careful with it and make sure we are watching her; but she had fun on it.  She loves rocking.

I also finally uploaded her 7 month photos...just in time for us to turn around in a week or two and do her 8 month photos.  Ooops!

Clapping her hands.

Pretty girl!

Marissa and Dada

We don't have too many pictures together and of course she was biting her bottom lip when we took this one.

Rocking on her horse

Momma, this is fun!

Watching the Capitals game on Sunday with daddy

C-A-P-S, Caps, Caps, CAPS!  Unfortunately, they lost on Sunday.

Marissa laid back in the beach chair at Michelle's house, this is from our trip to Williamsburg.

 We are heading to my parents on Friday for Easter.  We have been missing the pups (but not the vacuuming and dog hair) so it will be nice to see them and bring them home.  I bet they miss us. :)

Tips of the Trade

There are so many tips and tricks out there for cloth diapering, here are a few things that work for us!

• Sunning your diapers after they have been washed is great for getting out stains and the sun is a natural disinfectant.
• Fleece liners (you can make your own by purchasing no pill fleece from a craft store and then cut them into strips to go inside your diapers) are great for protecting your diapers and keeping your baby's butt dry.  Fleece wicks away moisture and they keep our diapers looking new and fresh!
• Essential oils can be multi purpose.  Place a few drops on a cloth wipe and throw it in your pail liner or wet bag to keep things smelling fresh.  I personally love to use lavender.  
• I use white distilled vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser on our washer, I also add in a few drops of essential oils.  Vinegar is great for disinfecting, killing odors and cleaning your diapers naturally.  
• Note: I have read that hard water and vinegar may not go well together, you will need to decide what is best for your situation.
• Hang drying your covers will prevent wear and tear on the elastic, buttons and velcro; making them last longer for future use!
• Wool dryer balls can cut down on your drying time.  I recommend using at least 3 balls.  We use these with our regular laundry as well.
• Most diapers come with an option of snaps or velcro.  Personally, I like the snaps.  We have no problem getting a nice fit and when Marissa gets a little older, it will be harder for her to undo the snaps versus undoing the velcro.  
• Sprinkle baking soda in your pail liner or wet bag after a few diaper changes.  Baking soda is a natural deodorizer (you know, the stuff you keep in your fridge) and it can minimize and even eliminate odors from your pail.
• Use cloth wipes!  It is so much easier to use cloth wipes so that everything goes in the same pail, no need for an extra trash can at the changing table to put disposable wipes in.
• Get a nice sized diaper bag.  Most cloth diapers are a bit bulkier than disposables (hence the name "fluff") so have a diaper bag that can accommodate your needs while out and about.  I have a Vera Bradley Miller Bag and I love it!  I normally keep 6 diapers in there, a wet bag, wipes, a spray bottle for the wipes, an extra change of clothes, toiletries like: soap, a comb, lanolin cream, etc., a blanket, a hat, a changing pad, a few rattles, a thermometer, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. :)  This bag holds a lot!  Plus I got a matching lunch bag to take on the go. 

These are just a few tips that I found helpful when diving into the cloth diaper world.  You may find that some of these things don't work for your or don't apply to you.  Do some research and figure out what works by trial and error!

I hope to do a review of the diapers we currently have and what we love about each one...stay tuned!

One More Picture...

I forgot this picture from a week or so ago.  The sitter decided to take the kiddies for a stroll and she texted me this picture:

Gavin in the front and Marissa in the back.  So cute!