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!

Beep, Beep!

Yesterday Marissa and I stopped in at the neighbors house to say hello since they were playing outside.  Marissa took a little buggy ride and loved it!  The picture quality isn't that great since they were taken on my phone, but it's better than nothing.  We may have to invest in one of these!

She already has her hands perfectly placed at 9 and 3. 

Beep, Beep!  Honk, Honk!  She was having so much fun and she is way too cool to look at the camera!

7.5 Months

Danny comes home from travel today so I'm excited for that.  We are having a low key weekend since we have been so busy the past few weekends.  Depending on the weather, we might do some yard work.  We desperately need to trim the bushes, spread weed killer on the driveway, pick weeds from the flower beds and mow the grass. 

I was thinking last night, the only good thing about Danny being on travel is that the house stays clean. =)  I was able to mop and vacuum last night and since the dogs are still at my parents house I don't have to worry about drool, dog hair and tracking in mud.  I haven't turned on the TV since he left so it has been really quiet around the house.  My dinners have consisted of left over chicken and one night I had ramen, a bowl of cereal and garlic toast with marinara.  Healthy, huh?

Easter is right around the corner and I need to finish Marissa's basket.  I had to break into it last night because we ran out of puffs.  I know she won't remember this as her first Easter, but I still wanted to make her a little basket.  It won't have much in it, some hair bows, puffs, empty plastic easter eggs (maybe we'll put some money in a few?) and you can't forget the Reese's peanut butter eggs.  Oh wait, those aren't for her...

Marissa is getting really good at feeding herself.  She's a pro at putting puffs in her mouth now.  She also likes yogurt melts.  Lately I've been giving her cut up banana and avocado and she is getting better at picking it up, though it is kind of slippery so sometimes she has a hard time.  Still no teeth, but she does really good at moving the food around in her mouth and chewing. 

She is getting up on all fours and rocking, but still no crawling.  She can move backwards though!  She has also gotten in the habit of rolling to her belly in her crib, which results in her getting mad and momma having to go in and flip her over in the middle of the night (she can roll both ways just fine, but for some reason prefers for me to do it for her).

Have a great weekend!

Why Cloth Diaper?

I have had a few friends recently inquire about cloth diapering (which has me beyond excited) and the responses and reactions they are getting from their friends and family are, well...not exactly positive.

You all know I have a serious cloth diaper addiction appreciation.  People tend to fear the unknown and trust me when I say I heard every excuse, every reason and every horror story while I was pregnant as to why I shouldn't, couldn't or wouldn't be able to stick to cloth diapering.  I've said it before, I'll say it again...here I am almost *8* (how is that possible that my baby is almost 8 months old?) months later, going strong and spreading the "fluff" love one cloth diaper at a time! =)

I thought I would compile a list of reasons why I cloth diaper and possibly give you ladies (and gents?) that are interested in cloth diapering some ammo to use against those annoying people who know nothing about cloth diapering but want to dictate how you change a poopy diaper people who aren't up to par on the current cloth diapering trends!

Why Cloth Diaper?

• No harsh chemicals on or near your baby's bum.
• Some research is indicating that disposable diapers could be a factor in increased infertility due to reactions to the chemicals in disposable diapers, this has not been proven but I do believe it should be researched more thoroughly!
• Less trash you generate in your home and at the land fill.
• Fun Fact: Did you know it takes over 300 years for O-N-E disposable diaper to decompose in a landfill?  That means no one currently living has seen one single disposable diaper decompose in their lifetime!
• You save a lot of $$$
• It is said that on average you spend $1,700 the first year on disposable diapers.
• I have spent about $800 currently on my cloth diaper "stash" and I have a lot of diapers!
• You can't deny the cuteness of a fluffy butt.
• No need to buy one of those stink holding Diaper Genies.
• No running to the store in the middle of the night because your sleep deprived husband forgot to pick up diapers.
• Often times, cloth diapered babies potty train earlier than babies in disposables
• The reason?  Disposables have a gel like material that absorbs urine (baby can't feel if they are wet), whereas cloth diapers are just that, cloth, so baby can feel when they are wet.  When your baby can start associating wetness with using the bathroom, it might be a good idea to plop them on the big boy/girl potty!  Disclaimer: we are nowhere near potty training yet so I have no direct experience on this, but do some research and you might be surprised at what other people have experienced!
• ETA: My daughter, Marissa, was daytime potty trained at 22 months.  She only sleeps in a cloth diaper at bedtime.  How's that for some proof?! :)
• Have you ever heard the term "poo-splosion?"  If you've ever used a disposable diaper, you probably know what I'm talking about...poop up the back, out the front and both leg holes sounds fun, doesn't it?  Just another reason why I love our cloth diapers, no mess outside the diaper, just in it!
• Your house will not smell like a landfill.  I can almost always tell if someone uses disposable diapers, they just have that smell to them.
• I believe that cloth diapering really opens the door to a better lifestyle.  It makes you more conscious of your waste and can lead to things like recycling!
• Feces is properly treated when you cloth diaper (flushing poo down the toilet) rather than letting it sit in a landfill and then seep into the ground and back into our drinking water, lakes, rivers and ponds that we swim in, etc. Yum.
• Did I mention they are cute, cute, cute?!
• You are providing a better future for your child by contributing less waste to our earth.  Our children, our children's children...and so on...will have to live here on this earth, why not make it a better place today so they can live a better life tomorrow!
• Modern cloth diapers are just as easy as disposable diapers.  No pins, plastic pants or "swishing" if you don't want to!
• Fewer (if not any) diaper rashes.
• Can be used for multiple children, to increase the $$$ you save.
• You can re-sell your diapers when you are finished with them to gain some of your money back that you initially invested in the diapers
• I know buying used diapers is not for everyone, but a lot of people sell on swapspot.com, craigslist, e-bay, etc.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but it's a start!

Missing These Two

 Sadie (yellow) and Eli (chocolate)

Eli and Sadie are at my parents until Easter and the house is SO quiet without them here.  Danny and I both feel almost lost without them.  When I get up in the middle of the night for Marissa I always check to make sure I'm not going to trip over them, Danny goes to let the dogs in every time he walks by the back door; I expect them to be waiting at their bowls for breakfast or for a treat.  Sometimes they drive us crazy, but they are such a big part of what makes our house a home and we miss them.

Give them big hugs and sloppy kisses for us, mom.

Wash Routine

I've had a few people recently ask me about my wash routine for my cloth diapers so I thought I would dedicate a post to washing!  Keep in mind what works for one person, may not work for another person, but it's a start.  Cloth diapering is an art, not a science.  As a lot of factors, like hard water, can come into play with how you wash and care for your diapers.  It doesn't have to be hard or difficult, you just have to find what works best for YOU.


For starters, you want to start out with a cloth diaper safe detergent.  Don't skimp on this...seriously!  I've talked to several people who are using detergents that really aren't recommended for cloth diapering and they are now having issues (rash, stink, repelling, etc) and they wonder why.


Here is a very helpful list of detergents to use and to avoid:


http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html


Personally, I use Allen's Naturally detergent.  I bought a gallon bottle (for about $37.00 with shipping) and I've been using it since day 1.  I still have a TON left, so while it may seem expensive up front, it lasts a long time (7 months and counting). 


Now on to the wash routine (note, I have an HE front loading machine, which requires less detergent than a top loading machine):

1. Cold rinse, no spin with no detergent (takes approximately 9 minutes)
• Note: HE machines are just that, high efficiency, so they use less water to save energy.  I do the cold rinse with no spin to "trick" the machine into thinking it needs more water.  The weight of the wet diapers will tell the machine that it needs more water to get the load clean.
2. 1/4 ounce Allens Naturally detergent, fill fabric softener dispenser to line with white distilled vinegar
• Vinegar is great for many reasons...1) it kills odors and 2) it can also kill bacteria, which is obviously a good thing when cloth diapering and 3) it is a natural product so no harsh chemicals like bleach on babies bum!
3. Optional, add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar.  I use lavendar oil, but I have read that adding grapefruit seed extract is a great way to prevent and cure yeast spores (often times a baby will get a yeast rash after being on an antibiotic)
4. Hot wash, followed by two cold rinses (takes approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes on my machine)
5. If no soap residue (bubbles) are in the machine, you are ready to dry your diapers.
• If you see soap residue, you need to do another rinse and you may be using too much detergent.  Soap build up can cause lots of problems (which leads to stripping).  Soap build up can cause your diapers to repell and make them unable to absorb.  It can also lead to rashes on baby.  If you see suds, rinse again!
• If your diapers come out stinky, you probably didn't use enough detergent.  If they come out soapy, you probably used too much.  It's a fine line but once you find the routine that works for you, stick with it! :o)
6. No suds?  Throw those babies (I mean diapers) in the dryer.  The majority of my stash is made up of pocket diapers.  A pocket diaper has 2 parts, a cover and an insert that goes in the pocket (usually made up of microfiber (MF), hemp or bamboo).  I put all of my inserts in the dryer (along with my fleece liners and cloth wipes) with wool dryer balls (found on etsy.com and most cloth diaper stores).
• Note: Do not use fabric softener or fabric dry sheets with your cloth diapers. It will cause the diapers to repell.  Fabric softener also makes clothing highly flammable, so I don't even use it on our clothing (especially Marissa's) anymore.
7. I hang dry all of my covers inside when it's cold and outside when it is nice!
8. Once everything is dry, I stuff all of my pocket diapers and get them ready for use.  It usually takes me about 15 minutes while watching TV to stuff all of them.

Currently, I do 2 loads of diapers a week.  It really depends on how many diapers you have in your stash that will depend on how often you have to do laundry.  I currently have about 45 pocket and all in one (AIO) diapers.  I wouldn't recommend going longer than 3-4 days between washes, just because you don't want them sitting around dirty for too long.


In the beginning, when we were using prefold diapers (newborn stage since pockets were still too big) I had 28 prefolds (size infant with green stitching) and 3 Kissaluvs Size 0 (KL0s) and I washed every 2-3 days.  It sounds like a lot but it really wasn't, I was on maternity leave and had nothing better to do anyway, right? :)  I used Thirsties duo covers to put over the prefold as a waterproof cover to prevent leaks.  Next time around (yes, I am already thinking about baby #2), I think I want to try some workhorse fitteds instead of the KL0s.  They are much cheaper and I've heard great things about them!


If you are interested in prefolds for the newborn stage, check out this site with great pictures and tutorials on how to use prefolds, snappis and covers!  http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/


So I got off on a few tangents, but hopefully you now have an idea of how to wash your cloth diapers!


Questions?