The Great Diaper Adventure Continues

I’ve been mulling this post all week. Since Holly is posting about it today, too, I thought I’d try to spell out where we are in the cloth diapering adventure.

I was quite naive when I jumped into this two months ago. (Has it already been two months?) I thought that the “new” cloth was “just like” disposables – except that you had to wash them. And the washing could be tricky. I didn’t realize that the “wearing” could be tricky, too. I read lots of diaper reviews and decided to jump in with the Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers. They were supposed to work like washable disposables – or at least that was my perception. And I had the ability to stuff extra inserts to adjust the absorbency. This was necessary with my super soaker son who needs a diaper change 3 hours after he goes to bed. Sometimes he still doesn’t make it through the night. I checked his size vs. the size chart and ordered a whole bunch planning to go the full nine yards with this.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

The Fuzzi Bunz leaked like crazy. I thought it was my washing, but it really wasn’t. I doubled up the inserts. Still leaked. I even tried triple, but that was just too much for daily activity. After an ugly carseat episode, I decided to send the unwashed ones (I had only washed part of my load) back. In all fairness, I did try a medium FB, which fit Zach, but just barely. I didn’t want to invest in the diapers and then a few months later have to buy more. My original plan had been to put Zach in diapers that he could wear between now and potty training.

I also have tried a couple of Bum Geniuses. This is another pocket diaper, but it’s “one size fits all”. I’ve had leaks at times with them as well, but not as many. They are a little trimmer in their cut and seem to hold it in better. My issue with the FBs is around the legs where the elastic is just too big on Zach – even though his thighs met the measurement for this diaper.

How do we use our cloth diapers? I have 10 total diapers. I use them when we are at home. For naps and overnight, I also use disposables. If Gil is home with the kids, I put Zach in disposables. We use between 3-6 cloth diapers in a typical day depending on our schedule. Some days we don’t use any. I’m still contemplating getting a couple of fitted diapers and covers to try for nighttime. I have lots of inserts and have thought of making some inserts – thinner.

I think my biggest mistake was in thinking I could go 3 hours without changing a diaper. I have to be much more on top of things with the cloth diapers – especially first thing in the morning. I have had a diaper leak after wearing for 20 minutes. Zach is not a particularly easy kid to change diapers on, so that’s been a frustration as well – pinning him down to do the little snaps.

Washing has probably been the least frustrating thing. I have my diaper bag. When it gets full, I soak, rinse and wash. I hang my diapers to dry on our Fisher Price Basketball hoop. I put the inserts in the dryer. Ta-da, piece of cake. I use the arm and hammer perfume free detergent and it works with no problems it seems on both kinds of diapers.

We have reduced our diaper usage by about 1/3 to 1/2, I’d say. It’s hard to tell. The last two weeks, Zach been a fluids machine. He doesn’t want to eat, he wants milk. At night, I’ve changed him 2-3 times. We had a few leaks. I’m trying to push the food, but alas, the kid just won’t go for it. We keep working though.

That’s where I am. Any comments or suggestions welcome.

 

The Nap

On Wednesdays I take Bump to a Mother’s Morning Out program. He loves it. I love it, too. Since Zach is a morning napper, it’s prime time for me to get a ton of things done. Most days he sleeps almost the full 3 hours that Bump is gone.

As a mother, I’ve discovered that I’ve become more of a doer in some ways. I really don’t have leisure time like I used to. When I have free time, I’m always futzing around and doing something. I’m cleaning or cooking or blogging or vacuuming or reading cookbooks and making lists or organizing toys, books, fabric, clothes or exercising or vacuuming or laundry or sewing or cutting out fabric. I might sit for 15 minutes to watch one of my Netflix favorites or read for a few minutes before bed, but that encompasses my freetime. And well, naps, those don’t happen much at all – especially during the week.

I came home from dropping off Bump. Zach had a rough night last night and had gone down before 9. I sent Gil out the door. And then, I put some laundry away, had a little breakfast, sat down to read, and then fell asleep – for an hour. I woke up and laid in bed, snuggled under my blanket (photos to come on this one. It’s so cool.) I did nothing. I laid there. That was it. Eventually, I could hear Zach starting his wake-up routine, but I lingered until he was ready to get out of the crib.

It felt so good – almost like having a day off.

And tonight what do I do? Pick up toys, clean the kitchen up, read blogs, make a pillow, clean up my sewing area, and now it’s almost 11. But I had a nap. And it was good.

 

The Library – Zach on the Loose

We haven’t been to our local library in about 3 months. I know this because our books were due – and I had renewed them twice (we check out for a month at a time.) It’s always a little chaotic with the two of them, but now my little Zach has wheels – feet a moving.

Our library is a good sized building with lots of open spaces – which is nice. We typically go in the afternoon when there are sometimes more adults there, but usually less kids. I started this day by popping Zach into the stroller and heading strait back to the stacks 646.2044 – looking for books on sewing machines and sergers. I had checked online and knew there were at least 2 titles I’d like to check out. I ended up with 4. Then we rolled over to the kids section.

We always start with videos and then work our way over to the train table, blocks and other toys. I scan the books while Bump plays. Zach usually is confined to the stroller for the entire time. As soon as we hit the videos, he wanted out. I scooped him out and he headed strait out the way we came. I glanced through the DVDs, pulled out a few and then ran and grabbed him and brought him back. Bump was checking out the vast collection of VHS and talking up a storm – and laughing every time Zach took off. I finally got what I needed, zoomed over to the Frankline VHS tapes, grabbed a couple (chased Zach) and came back through the non-fiction stacks to Bump who was now in the stroller admiring the DVDs I picked out.

I did this a few times with Zach, grabbing some books off the shelf as we came back through. I tried to look for more, but the little guy was just too determined to make a break for it.

We took a pit stop in the nature viewing area where there is a large window overlooking a small clearing. There used to be a birdfeeder there, but now it’s a birdhouse. A few squirrels and birds hung out there. I don’t think the boys even noticed. They loved jumping on the chairs in that area. Yeah, bad idea. Let’s move onto the area with the toys.

I really thought Zack would be keen to playing with all of the trains and things. But alas, he found more pleasure in having me chase him through these low stacks – which were slanted at an angle from some other stacks that gave him a bee line to the aisle that led out of the children’s area. How he knew the way, I don’t know. So I quickly gathered up a few fiction books by authors we know and packed Zack back in the stroller for checkout.

I must have seemed like a highly disorganized person as I pulled umpteen books, videos and even software from below my stroller – searching for my library card which was stuck in the pocket of one of the book bags. Bump had a conversation with the library lady on Franklin and how we had gotten the soccer one again. He plays soccer and just got a new ball. What else he said, I don’t know because my head was ready to explode. Zach was trying to climb out of the stroller, and I had to actually buckle him in before he took a nose dive. Then, he started crying because he hates the seatbelt.

Yes folks, they were very happy to see us roll out the door. So was I.

 

16 at 16

Here’s sixteen things about my Zach, who just turned 16 months yesterday.

1. He’s Mr. Outdoors, and grabs his shoes first thing in the morning and demands to have them put on. He is often seen walking around with PJ top, diaper and crocs….
2. Conversation is slow to come to my little sweet pea. He really doesn’t have any words yet, just mama an dada. Although he does make lots of noise – mews like a kitty, growls like a bear, etc. And he knows exactly what you are talking about – especially when you say the word “outside” (See #1)
3. He is a cuddle bug. He loves to be hugged and snuggled all day long – but not when he sleeps.
4. He loves to go to sleep when he’s tired. He’ll stand by his crib and wait for me to come over and hoist him in.
5. He bears a glaring resemblance to his mama (Don’t listen to what my bro-in-laws say.)
6. He’s a great walker and moving into the running department. He loves to be chased and tickled.
7. He loves to climb and his favorite spot is the kitchen table.
8. He loves music and dancing. We do it all day long. I think his favorite is the theme from Curious George.
9. He has excellent fine motor skills. I can’t believe the things he builds, puts into slots, and his drawing is great! He eats with his fork all the time.
10. He’s a mama’s boy for sure. He is fine as long as he knows I’m hovering. If he can’t find me, he gets a little grumpy. He’s doing okay in the nursery at the
11. He’s been an early bedtime boy for a long time…but now that is changing. We’ll see what happens there. He takes one nap 2-4 hours. Yeah, depends on the night time thing.
12. His two favorite kitchen gadgets are my colander and potato masher.
13. His oldest brother, Kevin, fascinates him. They are 24 years apart.
14. He has two cousins (girls) that are both the same age. They truly scare him and he avoids them at all family gatherings.
15. Big Brother Bump is his #1 idol.
16. He’s a meat eater – hot dogs, ham, turkey, chicken, meatballs – the kid loves it all. He’ll eat his meat before he eats anything else on the plate.
17. He has the sweetest smile.

The one thing that has amazed me much these last 16 months is how different my two are – yet how much they are the same. What a blessing this time has been and continues to be!

 

Fuzzi Bunz

Here’s my little 15 month old in his FBs.

We’re still battling it out in the trenches with the cloth diapers. Today, he wore 7 cloth diapers and 4 disposables. He had a busy day! And I have to change him one more time. I actually change him before I go to bed. He drinks so much that he’d never make it until morning if I didn’t. Sanity saver! And I don’t mind putting a cloth diaper on him for an hour – like I did before bedtime. I still don’t trust the cloth for sleeping. For now it’s still Pampers.

Anyway, back to the boy who turned 15 months old today.

Can you believe it? It seemed like yesterday that he was a little armful. Now he’s a toddler for sure. He finally broke through on the walking about a week and a half ago. The last few days, he’s really been trying hard to walk more. But if he wants to get there in a hurry, crawling is still it.

He doesn’t say much yet. Mama, Dada, NaNa, Hi and ChooChoo. He mews like a kitty and growls like a bear. He makes a mean face. He wave “hi”, but not “bye.” His fine motor skills are outstanding. He can already feed himself with a fork and spoon. In play he can manipulate things with such precision. It amazes me.

I’m not sure what he weighs these days. He has slimmed down some since he’s been more active.

His eating comes and goes. He likes some fruit, goldfish crackers, pasta, pizza, bread and butter and meat. He’ll eat any kind of meat you give him. He’s still figuring out the veggie thing, but hey so am I. He’ll try whatever I’m eating and usually eat most of it. I still occasionally feed him a jar of baby food or applesauce – mostly when we’re running short on staples for him. No allergies to speak of – peanut butter and strawberries are a-ok.

He’s just the sparkle in our day – with his laughter filling the house. The kid is mostly happy. Late in the day, he starts to get grumpy and clingy. If I take him up to his room to play, he’s fine. He loves to be tickled and wrestled and hugged and kissed.

He’s my little toot.

 

Help – Part 1 – Cloth Diapers

I’ve long been dreaming of putting Zach in cloth diapers. But until about 6 or 8 weeks ago, I still felt like I was in the clouds. I couldn’t even hardly get dinner on the table once a week or finish my laundry, how could I manage the extra load of cloth diapers?

Finally, a few weeks ago, we decided that it was time. We figure we have one more year of diapers left and Zach will fit into the same size for the rest of that time, so there’s only one initial investment up front. I had heard a lot of good things about Fuzzi Bunz, so we went for it. And it’s been a disaster.

Zach is kind of too big for the mediums and too small for the larges. And they are leaking all over the place. I’ve tried detergent combos and line dried everything. We have multi-inserts and combos there, too. Leak. Leak. Leak. Leak. Leak.

I’m at my wits end. The whole rest of the process – the washing and drying has been effortless. I love the diaper pail bag thing I got with them – works so well. But I just am frustrated. I don’t want my little guy in wet ones!

Please share any advice you might have in comments or in email…shellysjournal ****at **** gmail ******dot***** com.

Thank you!

 

Monday Motivation

I’m always hyper on Mondays. No matter how tired I am or how sore I am from a weekend workout, I always seem to cruise on Monday. I think it’s because weekends are disorder in my life. Our days are ordered M-F and then the unpredictability of my husband (you know, like remodeling the bathroom on a whim) just sends me over the edge. I’m in a holding pattern. Once he’s out the door on Monday, I make the world ours again.

So how did I make it ours?

I vacuumed.
I cleaned out a box of items from the storage area in the bathroom.
I packed up some other stuff for storage in the garage.
I did 2 loads of laundry.
I rearranged/cleaned out the everything closet in our kitchen.
I organized some homeschooling material.
I played ball with Bump.
I went grocery shopping.
I cooked dinner. (shock, surprise, wonder – recipe to follow)
I cleaned up my boys’ rooms.
I cut out some stuff for sewing projects.
I cleaned up the living room – 2x.
I cleaned up the kitchen – 3x.
I took the dog for a walk.
I tried to get Zach to walk.
Bump and I did lessons.

It was a day where I went from one thing to the next.

Our lessons today consisted of Lesson 4 of reading, puzzles on shapes and numbers, and science books (why leaves fall and butterflies.) The kids is so smart sometimes is scares me.

And now for delicious dinner – simple, and fast.

Ingredients
1 package of chicken breasts (3 split breast in mine) – cut in halves or thirds
6 small red potatoes – quartered
1/3 cup of mayo
3 TB of Dijon Mustard
2 cloves of pressed garlic
salt and pepper
frozen veggie of choice

Directions
Whisk the mayo and mustard together in a large bowl. Add potatoes and chicken. Mix to coat.
Pour into a 9×13 glass baking dish (don’t forget to coat with something to keep your meal from sticking)
Add garlic. Salt and pepper to taste. (I use it liberally.)
Optional: Add some frozen veggies on the top. I poured on some green beans to make it a little more healthy, although potatoes are very healthy. They get a bad rep for being white like rice and bread, but they are full of vitamins and a great carb.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (That’s what the recipe says, but I baked mine for an hour, but I have an old stove that might end up on the garbage pile with the kitchen vanity if it’s not careful!)

Putting this together was so fast. I even did it with Zach in the high chair.

By the way, we ordered one of those little plastic slides for Zach. Yes, ordered. I scoured the town for one to no avail. Bump got a slide in his room. I have to photograph that. Gil got an old plastic slide from someone at work, cleaned it up and mounted it on the side of Bump’s bed. Both boys love it. I thought that Zach might like one his own size for downstairs. Bump loved his (we bought used), but it’s now out in the backyard and not possible to get it back in the house. Finally, it came. Yes, it came in a big brown cardboard box. I pulled it out, set it up and ran in the kitchen to finish putting away my groceries. When I came back, there was my beautiful slide on one side of the room, and my two boys fighting over the box on the other side. Oh the ironies of life!!!! Zach eventually got into it some – especially the ladder. Then he started rolling cars and balls down it. So fun!

More insanity tomorrow and maybe even sewing. I’m heading upstairs to wind bobbins in all my project colors!

 

13 at 13

Zach is 13 months old today. Wow. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed. I remember this time last year when he was just a little toot, lying in his swing and just looking cute. Now he looks cute as he climbs on furniture, chew on his toys, and crawls with a fury around the house.

In general, he is a joyous and happy boy only crying when he comes in from the back porch or gets shut out of the bathroom, refrigerator or the staircase. He smiles almost all the time, although he has a “mean face” that he makes – but it’s more cute than mean. He loves music, clapping and making me clap. He even took my hand off his piano yesterday for hogging it, I think. He loves drums, pianos and can even blow on a recorder or whistle.

He pushes our little rocker over next to the big recliner so he can climb up with his brother. Which raises hoots and hollars from the Bump. He’d go up and down the stairs all day if you’d let him. And goes all goofy laughing when you grab him and swing him while counting 1 – 2 -3, then throw him on the couch/chair/bed. He can’t stop laughing.

He still drinks from his bottle, and at times crawls around with the nipple clenched in his teeth and the bottle hanging down. We’re almost converted to milk, but he still loves his formula right before bed. He sleeps through the night, usually until 6:30 or 7:00. He’s down to one nap these days, but it means a longer night sleep.

He’s big – about 28 lbs. and 32 inches. His feet are 6.5 already. He has the cutest pair of crocs that I put on him. Although he’s a cruiser, he’s not a walker. Won’t do it. Won’t try it. He can get there faster by crawling, thank you very much.

He looks like a little boy now, no longer a baby. But he still loves to snuggle in the carrier, sit on my lap and smile at me like I’m his #1 girl. (Well, I am.)

While I love the cuteness of babies, I love when they get to this age and we begin to see their little personalities, what they like and dislike.

I’m so blessed to be the mommy of two cute little boys and just amazed at where God takes us in just a year.

 

The Greatest Tip

I learned a new DVD tip from reading a review on amazon this week.

Once your DVD starts, press the following buttons:

STOP

STOP

PLAY

This will skip you on past all of the “previews” without having to figure out if you have to ffwd or next button or whatever. It worked on our DVD player and I was so thrilled. There are a few DVDs that we have that are very annoying with previews and you can’t “next” through them.

Try it and let me know if it works! I should probably put this up on Works for Me Wednesday!

 

Sleeping in his Crocs

The things a three-year-old will do if his mom will let him.