Cloth Diaper Review-- Still my favorites!

Rose in her prefold diaper, before I put the cover on.

Prefolds. These are the good old fashioned diapers that many of us wore as kids. I have read that the ones you want to look for are either Chinese or Indian, and you should look for diaper service quality. You can get 24 of them for about $20 to $25. If you really want to save money... Get these! If you have a couple of good covers they really aren't that hard to use. We don't use pins we use a Snappi that just hooks onto the diaper.

Mamabearbabywear
This is a seller I found on ebay. Her name is Amy Washington and she's a mom who makes diaper covers. The link above goes directly to her personal site. Her covers are very well crafted and they are an awesome design. She made a one-size cover that looks like your average pocket diaper. You can adjust the size with snaps and you close it with Velcro. Plus it's great to support other moms!

Rose modeling the cover from Mammabearbabywear.

Another view of the Mammabearbabywear. Note the gussets around the leg.

Mother-ease
This is a wonderful brand. These are like prefolds but you don't have to worry about pins or any kind of contraption to make the diaper stay on. They have a variety of different designs. I have two of the Sandy's (I think I have the Sandy's Organic) and one of the One Size Cloth Diaper (I have the Bamboo). These diapers are super soft and they seem so comfortable. Rose actually wanted to sleep with one of them the other day. Plus they work well. I can really adjust them to fit Rose.

Mother-ease has the BEST covers. I have several Rickki Wraps. These have really effective gussets (gathering around the waist and legs) They also have what they call Airflow Snap (breathable covers), I really like these as well.

The Table: The Missing Link

One of the joys of getting a handle on the clutter in my house is the rediscovery of furniture. One piece that we have been missing for quite a while is our dining room table.

It has always been my intention to have regular... if not daily meals at the table. What young wife doesn't envision her family sitting down like a Norman Rockwell painting while she swoops into her chair--- Cool, Composed and Collected... not to mention Chic wearing her 50's style vintage apron. 

Then reality hits... AKA…babies enter the picture. As I look back over the past three and a half years I see that we have tried to sit at the table. But many meals have been spent with me doing the nursing mom thing. Feeding me, feeding her, spilling food on baby and using the burp rag as a napkin. We tried variations of family table time with the baby in a bouncy seat, swing and then later high chair. 

However, I would often survey our average meal time: The girls at the kids table, Rory eating in his spot over the sink, and me sitting in a chair somewhere... or for the past six months after surgery I ate in bed and couldn't physically sit in a dining room chair.

So now, as a recovering back surgery patient, and a recovering 'Messie'--- We are embarking on new territory of meals at the table.

There are so many benefits to eating together at the table. It is a great time to reconnect, to teach manners, to enjoy our food and many more. One definite plus is that my kids eat more of their food if we sit down and eat with them. This is huge. The family meal table isn't just about building relationships it also leads to better eating habits in our children!

So pull up a chair! Bon Appetit!

Watch for some meal time tips and more benefits I have discovered along the way.

Cloth Diaper Update-- After Two Years of Use

Rose asking the question: 'Does this diaper make my butt look big?'

Cloth diapering.... what a ride! We have done cloth diapers through the many ages and stages of Rose and through the potty training stage of CJ. Our diapers have seen close to two years of straight use (this is factoring the six month break we had to take due to my surgery). In that time the diapers have more than made up for their initial cost.

Here is a report on how the diapers held up:

My Bum Genius all need to have new Velcro tabs replaced, which is really a minor sewing project but something I haven't gotten to. I have had to buy more inserts over the years. I have also had to strip them regularly to keep them smelling fresh. I strip the diapers by occasionally running them through the wash with vinegar and baking soda or lemon juice. Since we have gotten our front-loading washing machine I usually soak them in a bucket with vinegar to strip them.

When it comes to stripping the diapers I recommend looking at the manufacturers website to see what they suggest.  

I have been using the Kushies lately because they are less worn out, and Rose has grown out of many of the covers that I have. We stopped using the Kushies early on because I find it really difficult to keep them smelling fresh. This continues to be a problem. But between borax, baking soda and using an odor eliminator, I think I am making progress.

If I had to buy diapers all over again I would probably just buy prefolds and covers. Prefolds can be so intimidating when you are starting out. Pocket diapers and all-in-ones seem so much like disposable diapers, they seem easier and safe. BUT, one thing that I have learned about pocket diapers is that they create a lot more laundry than needed. Doing cloth diapers already increases the laundry, why make it more than needed. 

I like being able to reuse the same cover through out the day, or rotate between a couple. I also think that the prefolds are easier to soak and wash. Plus you aren't having to deal with so much work before putting them in the washing machine. With pocket diapers you have to remove the insert and fold down the tabs. This may not seem like much, but I don't relish spending quality time with yesterday's poopy diapers. 

Rose sporting a prefold and Snappi. 

Once you get the hang of prefolds they really aren't as hard as they look. Trust me! I still like using the Snappi, but with certain covers you don't even need them. I still really like the covers from Mother's Ease. But, I have been hearing great things about the G diaper. 

When I was starting out the G diaper was a combination of cloth and flushable eco-friendly disposable inserts. They were also really expensive. Now, I am hearing that they have a great cover that you can just fold your prefold up in the newspaper fold and stick it in there. The covers are super cute, and hold up well. The most important thing to look for in a cover is the gussets around the leg. You really want to make sure that it is leak proof. I am told that these are really awesome. I am thinking of ordering a few to test them out. 

And that, folks, is my cloth diapering update. Stay tuned for more articles on the many facets of cloth diapering. 

Weather Station

Welcome to our Weather Station. This is a spot on the front window of our house that CJ can monitor the weather. (I will hopefully be able to make the Weather Report Card available for you to download for yourself soon.) At the Weather Station she can monitor the temperature, and check the clouds and sky. Then based on the information she finds out she can decide what kind of clothes she should wear to go outside. This also gives her a chance to practice writing numbers. 

This has been a fun little activity.
CJ loves to record things on her Weather Report, especially if she notices a change in the weather.
The was really fun when it snowed. 

In addition it has been a great way to watch the transition between the seasons take place. 

The thermometer is a vinyl cling that attaches to the outside of the window. 

I bought it off of amazon for about $6. My only complaint is that it doesn't show all the numbers in between. But, we have used this as a learning tool, and just counted the tick marks in between the larger numbers.

We may have a meteorologist on our hands! Whatever the future may hold, we have a preschooler who is engaged and learning about her surroundings! 

Mamma shouldn't get sick-- Part One: Prevention

In a perfect world the Mommy would never get sick or hurt. We would always be in great health and able to run after our children. For many women this is not their reality.
According to my husband (the guy who majored in Math) I am sick at least one week out of the month. This is in addition to chronic pain caused by benign hyper mobility syndrome and recovering from a spinal fusion less than a year ago. When you are slow going to start with and easily tired out, you have to set life at a slower pace. This is something that I struggle with.

Also, when your month revolves around getting sick, being sick and getting better you have to make your routine in that ebb and flow.  I find myself constantly moving through three stages:
-1. Prevention -2. Survival Mode -3. Recovery to Routine. This article is focused on Prevention.

Of course I don't want to be sick in the first place! I take my vitamins, eat healthily and try to stay up on my physical therapy routines, and get as much sleep as possible. I am even on a regime of apple cider vinegar. And we pray! I would love to see the end of this cycle of sickness!

Another detail my husband has noticed about my regular pattern of sickness is that I usually get sick after we have a busy week. Even if it is a week full of 'fun' activities. I have pretty low stamina and get tired, or exhausted easily. It seems that when I reach this overtired, exhausted phase I am most at risk of getting sick.

Here are a few ways I am trying to prevent getting overtired.

* Find out what my body perceives as stress versus what my mind recognizes as stress.
I have recently started trying to reduce 'stress' in my life. In order to do that I have had to step back and take a look at what my body perceives as stress. This is very different from what my mind thinks stress is.
I think for me, I often look at activities and ask the question--- Is God in this? Is this fun? Is this something that I want to be doing? Is it good for my kids? --- I somehow got into the habit of thinking--- well if it is 'good' then it isn't stressful. Too much business, visiting, activity, church events, etcetera does not add up to a good thing.

*Start with the basis of sleep and rest and create a schedule from there. 
I have been starting with activities I want to do and revolving my day around them. I have been approaching our activities backwards. Activities are not the priorities. I need to ask the question--- How much rest do I need? How much time at home do I need? How much rest and home time do my husband and kids need? Once I come up with that answer I need to work backwards from there.

The girls enjoying some home time. Just hanging out!

After we have put the right amount of sleep in our schedule. What about quiet time reading and studying the Bible? I can't forget to allow time to plan and prepare good healthy meals. How about all that time to do my physical therapy to keep recovering from back surgery? Then comes the housekeeping and home schooling. How much time is left?

* Change my currency from hours in the day to energy for the day--- Instead of looking at things based on how much time something will take up--- The question is --- How much energy will this take out of me? Will I be able to come home and care for my family after participating? My problem, is that I don't usually like the answer to those questions. I want to be free to go out and do things! (Spending six months mostly in bed will make you a little stir crazy!) What I can handle well is so far below what I think I should be able to do.

For me, too much activity equates to a stressed-out body. I think this might be contributing to the amount of sickness I have been experiencing. When I make choices that leave me too sick and tired to care for my family it causes stress for them. This behavior is selfish when I think about it. Doing more than I can handle--- especially when it is optional is ridiculous! Keeping the house, making meals and keeping up with my kids is hard enough and not always possible. Adding extra curricular activities on top of it leaves me an empty shell of a Mamma and Wife.

So I am going through the painful process of cutting out the extras and learning to keep it simple. But I am excited to realize the joy set before me!

From the capillaries of the heart

There are so many instances in life that produce an instant response or reaction. We hear about a situation--we react. We are invited to go somewhere or do something--we respond. When introduced to someone new--we react. In every day interactions and encounters, we in turn respond with our every day reactions. Every passed day infuses our new days with either wisdom or bitterness. Old experiences taint the new, we find each fresh experience laced with something familiar, either sweet or sour flavors from our past.

Sometimes reactions and responses can happen so naturally. We don't stop to consider the Lord or the scriptures. Our past experience starts to justify our current response rather than aligning ourselves up with God.

Since I work with Women's Ministries and have been involved in more than one church over the years, I have noticed a trend. Women are afraid to get close or interact with other women. Our life history has taught us that women can be cruel and unpredictable. They can be gossips and back biting. They can be full of complaints and talk bad about their husbands and men in general. For some women, (more than you may think), spending a day or a weekend with a bunch of other women sounds like torture.

There is no denying it, women are horrible sinners. We often find ourselves succumbing to torrents of emotion, and letting the hormones loose on those around us. Others of us allow the green-eyed monster of envy to ruin relationships. For some an absent or unstable mother has taught us to keep our distance. And for many the betrayal of a good friend has turned us from opening our hearts up to anyone else.

This is just one example of how our automatic responses can stop us from evaluating each new situation through the lens of the scriptures. Our past does not lie, it is really true, there are times from our past that hurt and were not good experiences. However, a wonderful question to ask the Lord in the present is: "Lord how would you like to redeem that past situation today?"

Sometimes the answer is simply, to let it all go! Sometimes there are valuable lessons that you can learn from bad experiences to help you be part of solutions or prevent a similar event from replaying itself.

Let the Lord examine your heart. Every reaction stems from a source in your heart. Where is this response flowing from? Does it stem from a well of bitterness and resentment? When you respond to others are you splashing cold and bitter water on those around you? Or does your response stem from a joyous spring that is fed by the Word of God? Is the water flowing out of your soul bringing tides of encouragement and nurturing growth in those around you?

Jesus taught that our hearts are where evil thoughts come from. In Matthew 15:18 He said, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (NKJV) The Amplified version of the Bible puts it this way: "But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles (him)."

The wonderful Psalm of David offers a perfect prayer to invite Jesus to come and search your heart and cleanse it out. Invite Him in, let Him dwell in you and change you from the inside out. Test each reaction and opinion with God's word to make sure it is true. May the Word of God flow from your heart as naturally as breathing.

Psalm 51

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
         And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence,
         And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
   
 ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
         And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
         And sinners shall be converted to You. 

**( Mark 7:18-23 and in Mathew 15:18-20)

A crafter's challenge

Bracelets assembled from a bag of beads bought at the goodwill a year and a half ago. The bag of beads  probably cost about $3. Beading string left over from CJ's 3rd birthday party, got on an after Valentine's day sale.

 For us, Christmas is a time of extreme creativity. Our budget per person is usually in the $1 to $2 per person range. This takes some scavenging and a sharp eye through out the year to come up with something to exchange at gift giving time. The thing about handmade gifts is you want all your  hard work and time to create an actually nice present in the end.
This year was extra tricky. I spend about six months of the past year in bed, so not a lot of gleaning took place. And due to medical bills our budget for this year was $0 per person. Even though our family and friends totally understand our inability to produce gifts this year, I still wanted to have some token to hand out.
So I rummaged through what I had in the craft box and this is what I came up with.

Despite the spending freeze, I was still aware of the tricky line that a hand crafted gift has to walk.

I have found that responses to handmade gifts either go one or two ways....

"Oh thank you for this handmade craft" OR

"Hmmm.... thank you for this interesting piece of crap... I mean craft."

I think gifts should either be a novelty... something the person actually likes and would not usually buy for themselves, or something moderately practical or useful. I love gadgets! However, with handmade items it is hard to fall into either of those categories. 

With crafts  you rely completely on ability and how that translates to ascetics. The biggest insult is, "Oh did you make that yourself?" Or even worse... "Awh did your three year old make this? It's amazing!!" 

This year we had some highs and lows with the gift outcomes.

Item #1-- My first attempt to paint on canvas. My first attempt of a landscape that wasn't on a baby food jar. (AKA candle holder)

I bought this canvas 6 years a go and never had the guts to paint on it. 

 Item #2- The Hats. I  had  not crocheted for a while. The first hat was picked up from a hat I started a long time ago. You can tell where I started....so it is half good. The second had turned out great. The third hat I ran low on yarn and could not find more...so I had to get creative, but it was still too small.

Hats made out of left over baby yarn from a blankets I made  6 to 8 years ago. 

 However, they looked great for this picture!

Cousins! Couldn't be cuter!

Cost of Plaque $1, I believe I bought last Christmas. Adorable girl... priceless!

 Then came the plaques.... I think Mackenna's turned out cute. You can't see in this picture, but it has sparkles on it too.

However, the plaque for my new niece or nephew that is on the way... did not turn out as planned. Not only did it get ruined, because paper got stuck on it... well... not scoring the ascetic points I was hoping for. So this one scored a big ol' 'C' - C- for Crapt that is! Oh well, you win some and you loose some. Hopefully, I come through with a better gift for the baby shower!

In the end, it really is the thought that counts. And my girls had so much fun presenting these presents to our family. I really wanted them to experience the joy of giving, and my hope was that it would give 'getting' a run for it's money. 

This plaque get's the crap award of the year. Not only did it not turn out as cute as I  hoped, but it got paper stuck all over it! Oh well!