Cloth Diapers

Remember how I freaked out about all of the chemicals that I realized were in baby wipes?  My freakish-ness took it a step farther and switched the kid out of disposable diapers (sposises, as many "crunchy" mom's call them) and put him in cloth diapers.

I am in love.  The husband? Well, I can say that love is not what he feels for the cloth diapers, but he tolerates them.  The kid seems to like them!

A good friend of mine was ready to sell her cloth diapers (this is not a gross thing in the CD world, totally normal since the diapers can be cleaned and sanitized very well) and I took them off her hands.  It's been a learning experience, that's for sure!

We have a mix of BumGenius 3.0, BumGenius4.0, FuzziBunz One Size, FuzziBunz One Size Elite, Smart Bottoms Too Smart, and Smart Bottoms All-In-One (AIO).  I love having a variety of diapers! The Smart Bottoms are by far my favorite! They are super slim and perfect for a busy little guy. They have amazing inserts that are so super absorbent - perfect! Also, a second cousin (or something close to that) is the creator of this organic 100% made in America diaper brand! 

All of the diapers I have right now will fit babies from 8lbs to 35lbs.  B is 33lbs right now and has room to grow, but he has gotten tall and slim.  They may fit him a bit longer.

I make my own detergent. I have learned to strip diapers. I have asked a million annoying questions.  I had my dad install a poop sprayer in my bathroom and I have enjoyed almost every second--even with the messes--of cloth diapering so far!

This is my new awesome drying rack! I am in love! It works well for indoors, and will be great for outdoors once the rain stops an the sun decides to grace us with its rays!  Sunning diapers is a good way to get stains (yes, poop stains) out that do not completely come out with cloth diaper detergent.  The sun also is another way to kill any germs left over from the wash. 

It Was One of Those Days

Ever since I became a mom tragedies seem worse. 9/11 was horrific. I remember crying and being so scared.  But yesterday was different. Maybe because I have more to loose? Because I have more to live for? Because I appreciate life more? 

All I know, is last night when I got home from work I couldn't wait to hold my 2.5 year old baby.  I couldn't wait to tell him how much I loved him.

Last night, we prayed at dinner for everyone in Boston and all of those hurt.  We found out there was a sweet little boy who died and so many other children hurt.  My heart aches for those kids and their families. 

He woke up at 3am and came in our bed to snuggle.  At 4am, he and I came out into the living room to play so his dad could get some sleep before he had to go to work all day. I was barley groggy, I definitely wasn't upset about being up with him.  We snuggled, I did some laundry and cleaned up the kitchen.  I spent time with my kid that I otherwise wouldn't have.  I am so tired today, but I'm thankful for those peaceful hours we got to spend together.  I'm thankful that I get to tell him I love him as much as I want to. I'm thankful for today.

I told my sweet boy that most of the people in the world were good, but that we needed to pray for the "bad" people too. He doesn't have a clue what I'm saying. I was probably more talking to myself, but he's a semi-good listener, so he got to hear it.

Homeade Baby Wipes

So, my kid has had a stomach virus twice in the past month.  The first time was a lot of puke and this time is more of the runs.  He also has a sinus infection on top of the virus.  The sinus infection wouldn't be a big deal if it didn't come with antibiotics.  Antibiotics = diaper rash on top of the one he already has.

Worse than the puke and poop? The diaper rash and the screams that come with a diaper change.  The diaper rash itself isn't horrible, but wiping hurts him so much.  I've never heard him scream like that and it has made me cry on more than one occasion (could we go ahead and blame that on the pregnancy hormones?).

Last night I was thinking about how to make this better and it dawned on me to check to see what was in his wipes.  Do you want to know what I found in the wipes? This: Water, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, DMDM Hydantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Malic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Fragrance.

What the heck!? I can't even pronounce most of that quickly!  I feel terrible that all of that junk has been going on his booty for the past 2.5 years.

So what did my impulsive self do? Well, I decided to make some DIY baby wipes.  Instead of using paper towels like many of my friends and people online do, I decided to haul out my (over stuffed) drawer of tshirts and sacrifice a few (I'm really never going to wear those size small tshirts again anyway).

I cut the tshirts up into small rectangles, washed them in hot water and my DIY laundry soap, dried them and got out a Sterelite container I've had in the bathroom with pads and tampons in.

I put all of the tshirts...er...wipes into the container

 Next, I mixed up:

• 4 cups of distilled water (warm)

• 2 Tablespoons of Baby shampoo/wash

• 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil - It’s naturally anti-bacterial, microbial, and fungal, and a moisturizer! (olive oil or vegetable oil are both options, too)

I used Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo and coconut oil

 

I poured the mixture over the wipes.  I also picked up half of the pile and poured some of the liquid half way down just to help the wipes soak up the liquid a little more quickly. 

Just as I was closing up the bin and shaking it around, I smelled the stomach virus and got to use the wipes right away.  There was no screaming!!  He wasn't happy about having his butt changed, but he didn't scream!  I may have converted for life!  I have already been looking into flannel options and thinking about that for B and the new babe.  

We will still use packaged wipes when we are out, but I think that this is our new route!

My husband will be so excited when he gets home from work and sees what his impulsive wife has made changes to today! ha

Oh! And you may be wondering, "what are you going to do with all of those poop covered wipes?" Well, you see, I have this awesome wet bag that I got from Lilies and Jasmine when B was tiny for wet bathing suits/clothes.  That will now be hanging on his dresser for dirty wipes. Shoot Megan a message on facebook, she can hook you up with cute wet bags, reusable breast pads (that are also amazing!), and all sorts of other hand made goodies!

A Few Things You Should NEVER Say To Or Ask A Pregnant Woman.

Sometimes you may feel like you know a pregnant women well enough to ask personal questions.  Ask these questions at your own risk. Your sweet pregnant friend/family member may answer your question, but she's probably swearing at you and telling her friends what you said long  after you asked. 

I haven't faced most of these gems in this pregnancy (yet), but here is a small list of questions/comments that have been said to myself and friends of mine in pregnancies past...

Were you trying to get pregnant?   

 Does it matter to you? Unless you were in the business of making this child, It's none of your business, no matter who you are. This is an offensive question and it's RUDE.

How many are in there?  

Go ahead, just call her fat.

Oh you look so great, you haven't gained a pound!  

We're pregnant, not stupid. Don't lie to our faces.  Better yet, NEVER comment on a pregnant woman's weight, whether you think it's a compliment or not.  It will not be a compliment to her.

You can't really feel sick all  the time.   

Want to bet? Watch out or I'll barf on you...at the least dry heave in your direction to freak you out.

Are you sure you want to eat that?  

Are you sure you wanted to say that?  Back away slowly.

Oh my gosh, when I was pregnant (insert war story here).... 

Keep it to yourself.  Pregnant women have enough to worry about, keep your crazy stories to yourself unless they're asked for.  Oh, and we don't care that you only "gained 20lbs" and we also don't believe you.

You're never going to sleep a full night again!

Do you really think I haven't though of that already? Really.  I mean I'm not even half way done with this pregnancy and I get up to pee 2-3 times a night.  Add in the 1 year old needing things randomly in the middle of the night.  Somethings are worth it, kids are one of them. Moms are well aware of sleep or lack there of.

I can tell by the way your carrying/hair looks/zits/ass size

 that you're going to have a ____.

Baby.  I'm going to have a baby.  You're right! My belly is growing, I have good and bad hair days, just like before I was pregnant, i have zits (seriously...try these hormones for an hour) and did you just seriously say something about my ass?!  The way you're looking at me and analyzing everything about how I look is creepy.  I'll let you know the sex of my baby when we find out...if I want to.

Your son has so much energy, how will you handle another?

 I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out...thanks for your concern? I mean really, what did you think asking this question was going to accomplish? 

I have just got to touch that belly!

 No you don't, really.  If you rub mine, I WILL rub yours.  How would you like it?

Get an epidural/don't get an epidural! 

I'm sorry, is this your body that's going to push this watermelon out? This is a personal choice, if she wants your opinion, she'll ask for it.  Which leads me to...

Keep your unsolicited advice to yourself. 

This goes for during pregnancy and after the kid is born.  When a woman wants your advice, she'll ask for it.  Otherwise, you're just being frustrating.

Do you have anything to add to the list??

So, I'm pregnant!

I realize i haven't blogged in a while. My bad. Life gets so busy that sitting down for a few minutes every day to type something out just doesn't happen.

Lately, I've been busy growing a human, so sue me.  Okay, okay.  it's only been the past 9 weeks, but still.

I'm sick, though not horribly.  I'm bloated, horribly. I'm so stinking tired.  But above all else, I...WE are blessed.  We are so, SO excited. 

Rembmer When...

I am seriously the worst blogger in the world?  I will probably do this a few times..ya know, forget this exists.  Life got CRAZY!!

Mom, sis and I went black Friday shopping.  Um...seriously, new tradition!  SO much fun and so productive!  I am now 99.9% done Christmas shopping. 

We went and cut down our tree together this year, also a new tradition. 

School is out of control.  I have a redic teacher.  Thank goodness classes are only five weeks long! 2 weeks to go with this one!

my Scentsy business is also out of control.  Out of control in this case is a GREAT thing!  Scentsy MORE than paid for our families Christmas this year!

I don't really have anything else to say at the moment.  I'm all jacked up on coffee and can't focus.

Life of me with A.D.D.!

Attention Mom's (or gift givers) Of Disney Freaks!!

The Disney Store  is running an awesome offer right now!  If you have a Disney freak to buy for, this is a perfect low cost gift that he or she will love!

A Fleece blanket with a Disney character on it that is typically $19.50 is on sale for $10 right now.

To top off that great deal, if you personalize the blanket (typically $3.95) for FREE you also get FREE standard shipping (usually $4.95)!

My total after checkout was $10.60 due to the 6% sales tax in Michigan.  What a steal,  I saved $18.40!

Use the Promo code FREEPZ  after you add the blanket AND the personalization to your Bag! 


Don't tell the kid, but he's getting the Mickey blanket with his name on it!


Let me know what blanket you're getting away with!