Diaper Stash!

I just want to start by saying, I do NOT think that "cloth diapering" is a badge of honor for me or any sort of sign of superior motherhood. It's actually just something that has been a lot of fun for me and so since so many folks are curious about it, I thought it would make a fun blog post!

We have chosen cloth for 3 basic reasons (that I borrow from Lisa Bartle).
Money.
Environment.
Baby.

Cloth diapering can be outrageously expensive. It can also be really reasonable. The entire cost of ALL of the cloth diapers that I've purchased for Violet is somewhere around $250. This includes a full size small stash that is now in storage, a full medium stash most of which we are currently using, and the beginnings of a large stash. Best part is, I'll never have to buy smalls or mediums again....even if we have 10 more babies! (Which is NOT going to happen). Doesn't mean I WON'T buy more dipes (it's really really addicting!), I just won't HAVE to. I feel really good when I hang my dipes out to dry and look at what I kept out of the landfill. For me, this is just one way that I'm working at being a "steward" of the earth God has created. And I know that 'sposies have strange gels and chemicals in them that help them absorb 'better.' That way they work so great at night or on long trips! But it comforts me to keep that off of Violet's skin when I can.

Remember those old plastic pants? The ones that reeked of urine even straight out of the wash? And were hotter then heck? And squeaked a little when one walked? Well forget 'em. That is ancient (well, relatively) history! Cloth diapering is now fun, easy, stink-free, and well.....chic.

When we use those "old fashion" type diapers, we don't use pins either. We just fold the dipe in third and lay it in the cover, like so:


We have a dozen prefolds and 5 covers right now. The covers are all pretty, have velcro closures and feel much more like a really light canvas than plastic.


Robbie still likes the prefold and cover deal, but I much prefer the All in One (AIO) or All in Two (AI2) variety. These seem a lot like the 'sposie dipes and are great for when we're out or when someone else might be responsible for a diaper change.

These Bottom Bumpers are currently my favorite. I found them all used on-line here for about $12 each. See the absorbent layers? That is a separate piece that snaps out to speed drying.


These Blueberry dipes were our "daycare" diapers because they are literally all encompassed and seem just like using a 'sposie.


Cloth diapering can be outrageously expensive....especially when you get into embellished or the most favored brands. The pink diaper in back is a bumGenius which we received as a gift -- AMAZING diaper. The others were again on-line deals: First Class Baby, Lucy's Hope Chest, Crystal's Cloth:


We've had varying luck with using cloth at night, due to skin irritation. We are currently using 'sposies at night but when we are successful these Dream-Ez dipes are bulletproof! I got all 5 of these diapers in a trade with another Mama -- I sent her scrapbooking supplies and she sent me these!


We've found cloth wipes to also be better and more gentle for cleaning a bum. We have some actual cloth "wipes" but the rest of that stash is just baby washcloths. We just wet them with water, wring more out, and store in a wipes warmer.



This is a pic of our whole stash, all organized and put away.


Ahhh..... the things that excite me. Haha....

Beach Bums

I am so thankful for my one day a pay period that I get to "Flex" at my job. By working 9 hour days regularly, we are able to take one day off every-other week. This helps both the employee (less $ on commuting, saves a day of child care, weekday to conduct business) and the employer (extended service hours, decreases over-time, fewer time off requests). Robbie and I work really hard to make sure that we "take advantage" of my flex days and to make sure that I get to enjoy the extra time with Robbie and Violet.

Yesterday was one of the best flex days this year.....although it didn't start that way! We had to take Violet to get blood drawn for allergy testing and we went on my flex because neither one of us wanted to have to do it alone. She was SO good the whole time, even though they ended up sticking her twice. She sat perfectly still, and never tried to kick or hit, but the tears just kept rolling. Even the chocolate chips that we brought for distraction were met with a solid "Nuh!" Lots of hugs and kisses later, she recovered and was ready to embark on a better kind of adventure.

Shortly after we got home from the lab, Robbie got a call that Gramma and Grampa (his parents) wanted to drop something by on their way to the beach. What a perfect day for the beach! So, we crashed their party. The water was really too cold for swimming (or at least for the wimps we are), but we enjoyed watching the waves and building a giant moat. Violet would NOT set foot on the sand and would stand at the edge of the blanket and grunt because she wanted someone to come pick her up! I'm not sure if she just didn't like the feeling on her toes or if she was afraid of getting dirty!

With Gramma and Grampa...


Robbie's moat really did hold the incoming tide back for a bit...


Well, at least it's a good pic of me!


We topped the afternoon off with a trip to YogurtLand -- YUM! Just two weeks til I get to do it again! Any ideas for a great destination for next time?

Destination: Scottsdale

We had the pleasure and privileged of celebrating Nana's (my mom's) birthday with her this past weekend. It was a wonderful, low-key, relaxed time with lots of swimming, napping and family time. I am so excited for Violet to continue to get to have consistent time with her Nana and Hal, despite the distance - be it in person, on the phone or by Skype.

Violet's favorite part of the weekend was all of the "Ga-ga!" there was a small pond with fountains right outside of the condo we were staying in. She loved to crouch or kneel down and stick either a hand or foot in and splash around. Anytime she got bored, she would point to the backdoor and ask "Ga-ga?"




She also love going for a ride in her "Blo-lo" (boat) in the "Big Ga-ga." On our last morning there, we had a pretty scary experience when she reached over the side of her Blo-lo to splash just as I gave the boat a little push. The whole boat capsized and now her feet were sticking straight in the air with head pointed right at the bottom of the pool....and down she sank like a rock! Robbie had her in about 4 seconds, but man was she mad at her boat after that!



I think that my favorite part of the weekend was a full day of time with my Momma -- at the spa no less! The only gifts that she asked for were time with Violet (and Robbie and I) and a spa day with her daughter! Lucky me for having a Momma ask for something so nice for me to share in! We had body scrubs, massages, facials and a mani-pedi! Wow were we relaxed!!!






Now we are anxiously looking forward to our next visit with Nana and Hal during their wedding weekend in August!

Violet Speak

Violet cracks me up with her "words" and is now trying to repeat things that she hears more and more... She says:

Ma-ma
Da-Da
Baby
Ki-ee (Kitty)
Ga-ga (Water)
Chee (Cheese)
Ba-lair-ly (Berry)
Ba-la-lah (Banana)
Ju (Juice)
Maa (Milk)
Co-Co (Coke)
Mmmmmm
Nuh (No)
Pri-ee (Pretty)
Blo-lo (Boat)
Ba (Ball)
Kee (Keys)
Ha-o (Hello)
Go
Shoo (Shoe)
Weeeee
Poo
Pee
Boom