Our Blogging Giveaway Week begins tomorrow – Friday, March 20th!! You don’t want to miss out on these great giveaways, I only wish I could enter.

Since I’m only one day out – here’s my 37 week update!

I woke up with contractions, and was kinda getting excited! They’ve backed off, which I’m also okay with, since the baby would still be 3 weeks early. Still, this is better than the preterm I had just before 33 weeks!

I got my order of cloth diaper supplies from Hope’s Cloth Diapers yesterday and was so excited! The bamboo diapers are “OH SO SOFT”, and some of the covers don’t seem near close to the right size. Since they seem larger than I would think they should be, that’s good with me – I can use them longer.

It was so funny, DH didn’t realize until HOURS later from first looking at them that there were 2 pink ones in the mix! HA HA!! He’s already told me that NO boy of his is wearing a pink diaper – even if he’s not home to see it.

I tried to justify using it if needed, by saying that “he” would only be pooping on the pink – wouldn’t that be a good thing?? Apparently not. Oh well, I’ll have pink for the future should this be a boy.

I’ve been nosy looking at some online pics of other preggie moms like myself, and can’t believe how big their bellies are when mine is still so small. Hubby is trying to remind me that I don’t usually  get big (explode) until the last 2 or 3 weeks. This IS true, but still I worry. I don’t know why, I’m completely happy with a less than 8 lb. baby coming out!

I am having to look into laundry soaps now, as I saw on some of my new covers that you can’t use concentrates. I’m not sure if ALL comes in anything but concentrate? I hope so, since the Free and Clear is all we’ve been able to use on our’s plus the baby’s items.

I finally gave into my craving for something OTHER than water for breakfast this morning – turning my diluted goat’s milk into chocolate milk! Now that I think about it, I did have a lot of chocolate milk with one of my past pregs, as well as drinking a gallon of milk every 2 to 3 days (by myself). This in addition to having eaten daily honey buns back then is probably why I gained 33 lbs. with those pregs vs. the 25 lbs. I seem to be stuck at with this one.

Alright, I’ll see you back tomorrow – be ready to win some great stuff! Oh, these giveaways are pre-written, in case I go into labor (well, I’m still working on a few), but they SHOULD all be done. If I go in and have the baby early, the winners announcements might be a little delayed FOR THAT REASON ONLY!

“Little Mommy”

Remember I told you that I had found a really good deal on some cloth diapers?? The site has been down this week, but it’s up today! For some really good deals on supplies – plus a 10% discount using the code “Clover”, AND FREE shipping for orders over $49….. visit: http://www.babyhopesclothdiapers.com/.

I wasn’t thinking I had that much stuff, UNTIL I checked out! Oops! I had to go back and remove a few things, still spending over $100. That’s a killer for me, but I keep hearing in the back of my head how these pay off over time.

What’d I get?

Some fleece covers on clearance (last ones?)

Cot N Wrap covers (clearance)

Bummis covers (I wanted one or two name brands in case the no names weren’t good)

Wickeeze Bamboo diaper (clearance?)

IV Contour (Not as cheap as prefolds, but I wanted at least one for easy changes for DH)

IV One size (Longer life)

Hemp Inserts (clearance?) Hemp is a GREAT soaker, so these will be for naps and overnight times.

There’s still 2 other sites I’m eyeing products on – different products/ different sizes. For what I bought above, this was the best site/ prices. I’ll get the other items up when it’s not 11:17 PM!!

Little Mommy

I came across this link – http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php - while reading Jessica’s blog tonight. It presents info on cloth diapers vs. disposables and diaper services.

There was some very interesting info on baby boys wearing disposables… a safety concern I wouldn’t have ever thought of…

———–

For any family that is interested in our upcoming baby needs, I’ve found some really great sites/ prices on the cloth diapers that we’ve decided on (hint, hint…). Just email if you’ve like to get the links.

———

I would love to hear if any of you have little ones that have used cloth diapers, especially Fuzzi Buns (is that right??). I’ve heard from many that these develop a very bad odor, but maybe it’s just the diapers go too long without being washed?

For the beginning, I believe I’ll look into the unbleached Chinese prefolds, and some Thirsties covers (found these at a really great price online!!). Bumkins has a really neat looking Bamboo cloth diaper that interests me as well. Bamboo is best for avoiding bacteria.

I’ve also just ordered some Diaper Spray from Cheeky Maiden Soap (see her button on the sidebar), along with some Plain Jane soap for the baby, and Nettle Shampoo bars for myself and the children. Note – she has the Diaper Spray on sale right now.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but my children are extremely sensitive to chemicals in soaps and shampoos. Even the Johnson’s baby soap/ lotion at the hospital makes them break out!! My daughter’s head turns RED when we use children’s shampoos on her!

So, I was really excited to try out Cheeky Maiden’s line recently. I’m sure the Plain Jane, plain ordinary soap with no extras, should fit our bill perfectly!

She shared a sample of her Baby Bar with me last baby, which has lavendar added for a calming effect. I thought I’d try out the Plain Jane this time though, since my sense of smell has gotten UNREAL the past month!! Everything stinks!! The outdoors, my children after being outdoors, our water, foods…. I feel like I’m back in the first trimester.

I finished up the Breakfast Bar soap and Nettle Shampoo bars from my ‘end of the year order’ about 2 weeks ago, and can already tell a difference – mainly with the shampoo bar. My hair now feels sticky and thick, after starting regular shampoo again.

And when I think about it, I really don’t want all those chemicals from store shampoo on my head! You know it can’t all wash out, since the smell is still so strong! So, Cheeky Maiden, if you are reading this post – PLEASE hurry up with my soaps (yes, I know I JUST placed the order and it is a weekend…..).

Okay, I’ve gotten a little off topic here… Maybe you’re beginning to notice I do that a lot? I just want to be sure I get everything out that I’m thinking.

In closing, a very special congratulations to Amanda and her new baby boy, born last Friday! Amanda recently found our little spot in cyberspace, and I’m so excited that she wrote in to share her wonderful news!

“Little Mommy”

I’ve had many questions about cloth diapers, and have come across someone with some answers! I made a list, and Michelle, from Snooty Booty Diapers, LLC has been gracious enough to take the time to answer them!

Hope this info helps some of you too! Let’s get started:

*What’s really so bad about disposables? They are much more convenient, no washing, just throw it away!
This is a hard question to answer, as so many studies draw different conclusions on whether cloth diapers or disposable diaper are better! For those who choose cloth diapers, they feel that the convenience of disposable diapers comes with a greater environmental cost. They are not comfortable with the waste that disposables create. Others dislike the many chemicals used in the diapers. They prefer more natural fabrics against their baby’s skin. Others choose cloth for economic reasons. While they require more money up-front, quality cloth diapers can be used on multiple children and will save money over time.

*How are you supposed to kill germs? It seems gross putting tee tee and poo poo in your washer.

There are several natural ways to help kill germs and keep your diapers fresh! Some people use tea tree oil in their wash. Others use vinegar. Vinegar can also be used as a natural fabric softener.

*Since hot water and the dryer is bad for PUL covers, are AIO’s not the best route?

There is a lot of debate about putting PUL in the dryer. PUL is made to withstand high temperatures. Many people believe that putting PUL in the dryer occasionally will help to reseal the PUL and keep it waterproof. I have several PUL wetbags that go in the wash and dryer a few times a week. Although a couple of years old, the PUL still looks great and is still waterproof. Quality PUL should give you few problems in the dryer. It’s still best to use low heat in the dryer, however, to preserve diaper elastic. I’ve seen more problems from elastic than with PUL.

*I’ve seen so many options as far as diapers go, what are all of the options and what do they do?

There are many kinds of diapers, and to describe them all would be a post of its own! Here’s a VERY quick rundown:

Prefolds: These are the diapers you may have seen in Babies R Us or other retailer. They are rectangles that appear trifolded. You fold them around the baby, fasten them with a pin or Snappi, and add a waterproof cover so they don’t leak.

Fitteds: Like prefolds, these diapers also need a cover. Many fitteds are made of natural fibers. Fitteds look like other kinds of diapers (all-in-ones, pockets), but are not waterproof.

All-in-ones: This is the kind of diaper that many parents who want something “like a disposable” choose at first. True to their name, all-in-ones (AIOs) are one piece and easy to put on. They come with snap or aplix closures. They are waterproof and do not need covers.

Pockets: Like AIOs, pockets are waterproof. They often have stay-dry inners to keep your baby dry. Instead of one piece, pockets have a pocket opening at the front or back of the diaper. You put an insert into this opening. Inserts can be made of hemp, microfiber, bamboo and more. The closures are identical to AIOs and just as easy to use.

Covers: Covers are what go over fitteds and prefolds to make them waterproof.

*Do I need a wet bag, or can I just use a large plastic grocery sack?

A wet bag is not essential, but it is great to have. Many people use vinyl pillowcase covers and nylon bags. The great thing about wet bags and pail liners is that they are specifically designed to be waterproof bags, rather than other items you may improvise with. Grocery bags are fine in a pinch, but you’ll probably want something a little more durable for your diaper bag. You’ll also appreciate a secure zipper to contain messes and odors while you’re out. They also make great beach and pool bags for storing wet bathing suits!

*How do I keep soiled diapers until time to wash?

A great way to keep soiled diapers is in a wet bag or diaper pail with a pail liner. To help keep the bags fresh, many people sprinkle baking powder in the bottom of the bag. There are also scented pail powders you can try. Some bags come with a place to put essential oil cloths as another way to keep bags fresh.

*What materials are best to look for? Fleece, hemp, cotton, sherpa, microfibers?

Once you decide what you want in a diaper, you’ll be able to select diapers made from those fabrics. For some, all-natural fabrics are important. Those people will choose fibers like hemp, cotton, sherpa, bamboo and wool. Bamboo and hemp are both thirsty fabrics that don’t create a lot of bulk. Fabrics like microfleece are great for a stay-dry diapers. Microfiber absorbs liquids quickly. Most people use diapers made from a variety of fabrics, but ultimately you’ll go with what works best with your baby’s skin.

*Why can I not use bleach on my diapers?

Bleach is a harsh cleaner that should not be used regularly on diapers. You’ll find that many people admit to using bleach occasionally, and some diaper manufacturers even recommend it (although sparingly). There may come a time when you’ll feel a need to bleach your diapers. Inserts and prefolds will take bleach best. If using it on PUL or diapers with elastic, try to use the smallest amount possible.

It’s best to always try and follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions. Regular use of bleach may degrade the diaper fabrics and elastics. If using bleach, run your diapers through extra rinses to ensure all bleach residue is gone. You don’t want to irritate your baby’s bottom!

WOW – Thanks Michelle! I met Michelle through a great group of moms on Mom Pack, and look forward to visting her site often! Besides her online site – http://www.SnootyBootyDiapers.com, she writes extremely helpful info on her blog – http://snootybootydiapers.blogspot.com/.

When visiting, please mention Nine Months or Less, and thank her for her helpful information!!

“Little Mommy”

There’s a strange feeling this morning (and I know what it is), but for you first time moms, let me first backtrack….

I woke up feeling great this morning! I was IN bed before 11 PM, though my body isn’t used to going to bed that early. I was probably able to fall asleep in 20 minutes or so. It felt WONDERFUL to get that extra hour of sleep last night – since the baby didn’t wake up until 7:45.

Before, I would’ve said that was way too early (which it IS early for us most days), but with the earlier bedtime, I was rested enough that it didn’t bother me.

When I mentioned to DH the other day how I’m getting tired earlier each night, he only had to say “it’s about time” with a sarcastic laugh. I am, and always have been a night owl. Let me stay up til 12 or 1 and I can get so much more accomplished. That works, unless you have children that don’t let you sleep in til 9:30.

Okay, back to this morning, I was ready to go! I didn’t turn on the computer to check mail, since I was so pepped for going full steam ahead. I had breakfast on the table by 8:30, and we were all enjoying our morning together.

Then, I picked up 18 mo. baby from his booster seat and lowered him to the floor – and there it was….

Something that was different, uncomfortably so. You’ll know it when you feel it – a very tight, pinching feeling way down low. I quickly moved the baby to my hip front my front and set him down. Okay, much better.

As the little ones played, I began washing off dishes to fill the dishwasher I’d just unloaded. Funny how we’re now doing a FULL load of dishes every day now! And there returned that very pinching, sharp, stabbing pain – like someone stabbing up you with a screwdriver or something.

I kept telling myself to ignore it, and just finish the dishes - which I did partly. I finished the dishes, but couldn’t ignore it. I quickly had to sit down!

Now, veteran moms probably know exactly what’s going on, but do any first timers know what I’m talking about?

Well, at 32 weeks and what – 3 days? – the baby is now head down! Yep, this tiny little head causes this pressure everytime as has now settled into the birthing position. And my guess is that it’s not floating anymore – but is already at one of the first positions.

With my first (at this same exact time), I was 4 cm dilated/ 50% effaced/ and the baby was at -1 position I believe. So, I’m not completely surprised that just as my previous pregnancies, my body is already preparing around the 32 week mark.

This change of events has caused me to rethink my statement made last night. Instead of waiting til 36 weeks, I WILL be keeping my appt. in two weeks now. And if the pressure gets stronger, will possibly try to get in next week too.

I called DH to tell him this morning, and not 30 minutes later, he’s calling back just to tell me he thinks I should keep my appt.

It’s exciting, knowing we’re getting so close now!! This will really limit what I’m able to do from here on out – pretty much any type of exertion will work this baby farther and farther along. As I’ve mentioned before, I haven’t ever ‘started’ labor under being 4 cm dilated already – meaning, I have always been at least 4 cm at my last dr.’s visit before I end up going in to have a baby a few days later.

Oh – update on the Yucky Ducks….

I tried these out yesterday. Turns out, I do like the velcro, and can see how it fits the baby much easier. The soaker insert worked well, and the waterproof cover kept his clothes dry. He was kinda fussy, so I’m wondering if it’s just from feeling the wetness after going tee tee.

He was funny when I first put it on, patting the diaper and smiling/ laughing. He could tell it was different.

My drawbacks – the large size barely fits him!! Plus, there’s not ANY extra material, so it was rather low in the front and back. It was also large between the legs, but IMO (in my opinion), this gives more room for messy diapers.

Last night while researching the diapers trying to find more inserts (since I can simply change them instead of changing the whole diaper, if I put it on top of the diaper instead of in the pocket), I can across MANY negative reviews on these diapers.

Apparently, they are cheap in price for a reason. The low rise not providing enough coverage (can see that – always allow a size larger than you need, or maybe two) and the waterproofing failing after a month or so.

Well, reading this, I know for sure that I won’t be drying them, since this would melt down and deteriorate the PUL quicker. Overall, people said they were good for emergencies. I can see that they ARE better than the Kooshies brand I bought second hand years ago, so they aren’t 100% bad. I am glad to have some ‘less expensive’ diapers, but from here on out will be buying higher quality.

“Little Mommy”

Looking back over the past 5 years, from the time I was about to have my very first baby shower to present day, I can see HOW MUCH has changed in what’s really needed, and what will soon pass.

For those of you I know reading that are pregnant with your first, I hope this helps you a little as you begin to plan your registries and make purchases for your little blessing! Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll share what I personally believe in and recommend.

Things To Get (MUST HAVES):
*Diapers!! Cloth or Disposable (or both). These might not seem like fun things to register for, but believe me – you’ll be grateful! Not all towns have a great diaper place such as we do, to find diapers at WAY below normal costs.

We have a local mom and pop store that often offers LUVS big cases for $11.98 – $12.98. These are ‘on sale’ at larger stores for $16-$18. LUVS also used to occassionally slip coupons in their boxes, though we haven’t seen this in a while. They also offer $3 coupons in Sunday inserts (again, haven’t seen this lately).

Register for different sizes, stopping at size 3. You don’t want 20 packs of size 1′s – then have to drag them all to the store to exchange them.

On average, we probably could’ve used 2 packs of newborn diapers. I believe there are less in a pack than size 1, but for our children (all under 8 lbs.), size 1′s were just too big! We had to fold them over for weeks!

I’d say 2 packs newborn, 2 to 4 packs of size 1, 4 to 6 packs of size 2, and with our middle child – she was in size 3 for over 2 years! BUT our baby at 18 months is a size 5 – so no two are alike.

Even though I am looking to go cloth, we still will probably end up buying a pack or two of newborn disposables – to get through the meconium stage. We already had a couple packs of size 1′s from before, and will keep these on hand for outings and emergencies.

Breastfed babies are all I can speak for – they poop a lot (once or twice a feeding/ 8 to 12 times a day), and this would be a LOT of cloth to wash!

I would say brands are easy – avoid cheap store brands!! They leak, velcro doesn’t work great, they can rub the baby’s skin the wrong way…. I’m a thrifty shopper, so of course had to try the cheap brands. They just don’t work!

Another thing against cheap brands being they don’t work well with circumcised little boys! We found they would stick easily to the healing skin – causing it to rip back open. The inside liner just doesn’t match the quality of brand name diapers.

Oh, one tip for circ. boys – you’ll need to buy a squeezable tube of petroleum jelly. You won’t want to use a q-tip to allow the jelly  (at least I didn’t). We would just squeeze a generous amount all of the way around the healing skin.

The jelly prevents the gauze or diaper from sticking as bad. We would also rub some on the diaper in that area. DO be aware that a lot of bleeding is NOT normal, and call the pediatrician if it keeps up. We were also told to be sure and ‘pull down’ the skin each diaper change.

With one of our boys, we didn’t do this every single change, and the dr. ended up having to pull it down after it had begun healing ‘closed back up’. A LOT of tears for Mommy and baby!

As you read above, we use LUVS, but mainly because of the price. They have worked well for us, though if you let them get completely soaked (as a mom of 3 little ones is likely to do), the moisture WILL seep through the diaper and wet your child’s pants. (This is true for Huggies as well)

Between Huggies and Pampers – ooh…. a hard one. We tended to go with whichever one stores had on sale, and which ones had coupons. BUT that was 5 years ago, and stores rarely mark down these packs to $5.99 anymore.

Pampers was overall the best one as far as moisture not seeping through. I also found that Huggies had a design printed on the front of their diapers – which was cute – but it would rub off onto the baby’s clothes. Yep, the ink would bleed right through and come off onto some really ‘before’ cute outfits.

Pampers has different styles. If you want luxury – definitely go with the Swaddlers! These are SO soft, and the tabs are smaller. This is one thing I didn’t like about some of their styles – the tabs were almost an inch wide, and would cut into the baby’s leg. Don’t quote me, but I ‘think’ it was the Baby Dry style??

We never stuck with the same brand for another reason – each size fit different. So what brand worked great at size 1 might not be the same brand that worked at size 2.

So, here I am saying to register, but you don’t know which to register for! Confusing, I know – but diapers can be. You have to learn what you like and what works best for you. Pretty much I’d only recommend LUVS, Pampers, and Huggies as far as disposables go.

You can register for these, but do NOT open all the packs – as much as you want to prepare the nursery and have everything ‘just perfect’!! This way if a particular diaper doesn’t work great for you (or your baby is allergic to it), you can swap the unopened packs for a different brand.

Be sure when changing your newborn’s diaper, to always fold down the front, so the diaper doesn’t rub on the umbilical cord – causing it to bled and ooze. I believe it’s Huggies that has a notch cut out for the cord, but it’s been a while, and we only had a sample from the mail.

Wipes – Go natural with homemade wipes from flannel or terry cloth, or buy UNscented wipes! While the scented wipes DO smell good, they contain CHEMICALS that make them smell that way. A brand new baby doesn’t need harsh chemicals – I really have no idea what these people are thinking inventing this stuff.

Avoid diaper rashes and allergic reactions by choosing unscented. And if (when) you do face diaper rash, do NOT use wipes! No matter the kind, they all contain chemicals, and will burn that poor baby’s bottom.

For diaper rash, we use Bordeaux’s Butt Paste (not sure of spelling). Desitin would make our daughter scream, and some others just weren’t thick at all. You mainly want one that is high in zinc, as this is the main ingredient fighting the rash.

For cloth diapering, avoid diaper creams altogether. These will not wash out of the fabric, but will instead affect the absorbing action of the material causing leaks.

You also need to be sure to rinse the diapers, then wash with a small amount of soap in hot water, then rinse once or twice in cold water. This removes any excess detergent that could irritate that little bottom.

I haven’t learned all of the soaps yet, but the most common diaper soap is Charlie’s. I’m not sure that I’ll try it, we ourselves have had to use ALL Free and Clear (or allergen free) for each of our babies. They came out with such pretty skin, but immediately began breaking out in red bumps and splotches.

It took several weeks to realize it was our detergent. Not just for the baby’s clothes, but ours as well. It makes sense, for here is this little one laying it’s head on your shirt! (Not to mention bath soap on you – another post)

Dreft can be expensive, and some babies could still react to it. It does have a strong smell. The Free and Clear has been the ONLY detergent we’ve found that wouldn’t bother our babies. ALL isn’t too expensive, and they often give coupons for 50 cents (which doubles) and $1 to $1.50 off!

Do NOT use baby powder!! It is now known that baby powder has an ingredient that causes cancer. Breathing in the powder will place this in your baby’s lungs. For best treatment besides diaper cream, try go without a diaper when possible, change diapers frequently, and oh – you can cover diaper cream with Aquaphor … it’s like Vaseline, but thicker.

I still have to say that cloth diapering is the ‘healthiest’ way to go. I wish I could share all the ‘dirt’ on disposables, but I’m not that knowledgable yet. I have read some great articles, exploring the dangers hidden inside those diapers! Convenience is tempting, but if you really open your eyes to what chemicals are in diapers – you’ll very likely be swayed to cloth as I am being.

Just do a Google search on:

*what dangers are in disposable diapers

*why are disposable diapers dangerous or unhealthy

*risks using disposable diapers

And I’m even MORE convinced on this now, as my pregnancy nose is really kicking in…. I am almost knocked over by the smell of LUVS. I’ve not noticed it until the past few packs, so I don’t know if it’s new, or just being pregnant – but you can smell the chemicals STRONG!

Okay, diapers alone are overwhelming aren’t they!! Give me a little more time, and I can get you some great links for diapers/ deals.

I am SO excited that the cloth diapers I ordered arrived this afternoon!!!

These are the Yucky Ducks AIO (All In Ones), with a velcro closure. I ordered 3 med. and 3 large. I can pretty much already say that these will NOT be my favorite diapers.

It’s not that they probably don’t have tons of people that love them, but they do seem rather bulky (just from looks) and as I thought, I’m not wild about the velcro. I’m washing them as I type, so we’ll see how the little flap that’s supposed to keep the velcro clean works.

I DO think the inside is nice and soft, and I’m very impressed with the quality of the insert that they came with. I myself would be happy with the softness of these on me – baby or not. So, I guess I’m really basing my dislike on the velcro – plus the fact I ordered white. It’s boring, not cute – but would work with either gender, and match any outfit.

I came across a diapering site today that made a good point. From what I’ve read up so far, it’s best not to wash the covers with the diapers. Something about the hot water can cause the waterproof lining to deteriorate faster.

Well, with an AIO, you HAVE to wash the cover with the diaper – it’s attached! I’m really not sure how all the cleaning action is supposed to work. You can’t use hot hot water on the covers, you can’t use bleach (which I’m assuming also means color free bleach). So how in the world are you supposed to kill all the germs?

Some places say to keep soiled diapers wet, others say dry…. Some say to place in a solution of vinegar/ water, others have you buy special stuff to keep them in….

I’m hoping to try out the Yucky Ducks tomorrow, on 18 month son. He’s probably 25+ lbs, in 24 mo./ 2T clothes – and just from the looks, the mediums will already be too small. I’ll post on how they work!

Little Mommy

Well, I’m excited – I purchased my first set of cloth diapers yesterday off of eBay. I have asked TONS of questions, and unfortunately I have received tons of answers! Why is that bad? Everyone has a different opinion!!

So, I decided to browse all the great links people sent me, and make my purchases from the best prices. My first purchase was a set of 6 Yucky Ducks. I’ll admit, I’m not sure that I’ll like these. In my mind, I won’t like velcro closures – I think I’ll prefer snaps. DH isn’t for cloth diapers at all, but leans toward velcro over snaps anytime. (Is that just a male being lazy??  HA)

Top picks have had to be Bum Genius 3.0, Fuzzi Buns, Prefolds w/ cover, Bummis Super Whisper Wrap. I might have some of the names wrong – sorry, I’m new to this.

The Yucky Ducks are AIO’s, or “All In Ones”. These means it’s the cloth diaper AND waterproof cover together. I believe these are the PUL covers, which is a type of plastic. All I have to do now is order inserts/ soakers/ or liners for extra absorbing power.

This is where it starts to get complicated, as if picking a diaper isn’t hard enough! There’s cotton, microfiber/ microfleece, fleece, wool, hemp….. Can you see the dilemma I’ve been facing lately?

Pretty much, from what I’ve heard, is to buy several different options, because everyone is different in their likes/ dislikes. AND each baby is different – while some diapers fit great on some babies, they will leak on others.

That’s one point about velcro closures (hook and loop) that I’ve read – that they fit more snug = less leaks possible. But one point that I’m not wild about on ‘some’ of the velcro is that you have to have different ones for different sizes. With the snap options, the same diaper will fit from newborn up to potty trained in some cases!

I’ll continue to post as I continue on this new adventure!

“Little Mommy”

Wow – only 10 weeks (more or ‘hopefully’ less) to go!! Due to the fact that I’m not completely miserable, I’m still guessing this is a girl. But then there’s the big basketball belly that makes me doubt myself – since that’s boy….

Things have pretty crazy here lately, mainly due to Sonbeams. The cd I’ve been working on for almost a year and a half is finally done and going to be released this Sunday. This has had me working day and nights pretty much for a couple of weeks. 6 hours of sleep isn’t much to go on with 3 little ones AND being pregnant – it used not to be enough just me!

Yes, children have changed my life. I cannot see how in the world I had free time before – sleeping 10 to 12 hours (lazy!!), watching hours of tv a day (again, Lazy!), being ?? what’s the word – bored!!? (LAZY!).

We’ve had our house on the market, though not actively trying to sell. Although we do have our new land, I’ve lost interest in moving now. I think part of it must be the nesting instinct, knowing the baby is so close now – it’d be too much to pack up and move/ build. We had hoped to have a garden this year, but I’m starting to think about container gardening now instead.

Although, we might could try a garden on the land – visiting on weekends and maintaining it. No goats though, so we’ll have to keep paying $3.36/ quart for that – yuck! For new readers, I discovered that cow’s milk was what was causing my children’s reflux issues. This is a very handy piece of info for new moms – don’t trust drs. all the time, sometimes meds AREN’T needed – just a change of diet!

I am excited about getting an email today. The ‘new’ thing in baby land (at least in my world) are nursing covers. Not some that I knew of years ago, but these are cute! The pattern I got was more basic than some I’ve seen at church, but will still serve the purpose. Once I get the time, I’ll save it online and put a link to it in case any of you are interested in making one.

This baby has me wanting only certain items, and a nice nursing cover was one of them. Of course, now I still have to find the time to make it – ha!! Since our oldest is a boy, and will be close to 5 when the baby is born, I figured it was time to start being more covered for nursing time.

My other biggee that I’ve kept my eyes open for are cloth diapers. Again, these have come a LONG way! I do know from past buying that I don’t want ones with velcro – they stick to everything nice in the laundry.

In my mind, cloth diapers are rectangles held together with pins…. but now… WOW! They velcro, they snap, they buckle! The snaps look the most interesting, and from what I’m hearing from other moms, the one in alls aren’t as good of a route to go as the individual pieces. But then, how in the world do I know what all is needed??

There are inserts, wool and hemp, covers, etc… But when I read all the info coming out about the chemicals used in diapers – I feel I have to try these. What if it IS true that these chemicals have caused a spike in cancers? It only makes sense to me!

Well, the final 10 weeks are here – and look busier than ever. So much to get done and so little time to do it! I am about ready find someone to maybe swap children for a little bit – to at least give me time to get some stuff done around the house. It seems these 3 here can demolish more – quicker than I can clean up now!

“Little Mommy”