It's that time of year again . . . time for fabulous hats and flip flops and sunscreen. (At least, it is if you're in the Northern Hemisphere.)
It also means it's time to talk about the Big C: Cancer. (And the lowercase w: wrinkles.)
How can you protect yourself and your kids? I've got some fun and easy ways everyone - regardless of complexion - should be protecting themselves every day. Come check out my post on Natural Parents Network today to learn more, Be Safe in the Sun! 5 Easy Ways Kids and Adults Can Protect Themselves from Skin Cancer and Wrinkles.
If you're paying any attention to food at all lately, you've noticed that it's not enough anymore to simply buy the food your parents bought while you were growing up and trust that it's just as chock-full of nutrients as it always has been. In addition to the familiar Organic vs. Traditional debate, there are GMOs to consider, labor conditions, corporate donations, food miles, and the welfare of the animals that will wind up on your plate. Add to that your family's need to stick to a budget as well as your desire to serve only food that tastes amazing…and you've got quite a conundrum on your hands. Which takes priority? Your conscience? Your bank account? Your taste buds? Hopefully, there are ways to satisfy all three.
This is an ongoing series in which we'll address each challenge in depth, but I thought I would start by talking about how we do it in our house. It's really simple. Are you ready?
Do the best you can with what you have.
Read more at Natural Parents Network >>
***So I got this GLOB kit as a freebie through NPN - under the impression that I was doing a review/giveaway for them. But I'm NOT doing a giveaway. I do, however, love this little paint kit, so here is my review.****
I was super excited to do this review - we're big painters around here and the idea of natural pigments that we can mix to our exacting specifications is very appealing. Then I did some research on the company and it just got better and better. They're based in California (where the paints are made) and the company uses only natural, botanical sources: seeds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. The company is also really focused on the community - once a year they give a selected school paints and art supplies to help keep art in the school despite the budget cuts that seem to get deeper every year.
Mixin' it up!
We really enjoyed the process - picking the colors (we started with two) and mixing them and then, of course, painting. The consistency was a little hard to get right - I used WAY too much water (I should have read the directions, in retrospect) but we got to see the saturation as I added more pigment to get it right.
The pigment bags look like seed packets, which is super cute, and they include a little compostable cup with a lid for each color (you could use condiment cups or ramekins for blending, if you were so inclined.)
The pigments themselves are gluten-free and vegan, so if you have those concerns, you can breathe easy. It says on the bags that it's neither intended for consumption nor recommended for those under 6, but I wouldn't worry about either of those too much. After all, even the pros eat a little paint here and there.
I can't think of anything I would improve - maybe more color options and a better sealing packet for the unused pigment, but those are really minor concerns. Ultimately, these are going on my "excellent gift" list for future gift-giving occasions. Trust me. They are that awesome. Get your own HERE.
The finished product. Notecards for every occasion!
This holiday season, we're doing another felted homemade gift - beeswax candles. Super easy, infinitely customizable, and so cute.
I'm just going to get this out of the way - my inspiration came from here and here. Except my felting technique was taking from here instead of the other. It works for us.
So this was pretty easy and fun and these will be gifts "from the boys." Baz actually did help felt that two that we made for the purposes of this post, and will help with the rest of the jars. Ultimately we'll have twelve.
Here are the tools and skills you'll need for twelve half pint beeswax felted candles.
*12 Half Pint Mason Jars
* 5lbs beeswax - purchase locally or from a variety of etsy stores. I had a schmorgasboard and am actually about a pound short, so I'll be make another order to fill that void.
*candle wicks - I bought mine at Michaels and they were pre-cut to 3.5 inches. You can also buy a large spool and cut it down.
*Felting Wool. Again - I had a variety. I will say that the wool I bought from a local boutique (now closed - SOB) is far superior to what I got at Michaels, but the wool from Michaels worked just fine so don't stress out. (It's back with the embroidery, if you're looking.)
*Felting needle - not necessary, but nice to have. And you can needle felt a design onto yours, if you're so inclined.
*Optional: essential oils to mix into the wax. I like the smell of pure beeswax, so I left it plain.
Step one: wrap jars.
However you like, with whatever colors strike your fancy. It won't lay perfectly, and that's ok. It's being made by a person, not a machine.
I did a bit of needle felting to get the strands to stay in place, but then I ended up dunking it to get it wet before wrapping the whole thing with a stocking.
Yes, we eat popcorn from that bowl. You'll want soapy water (I actually gave a squirt of dish soap on each jar) and you'll want to use actual hose (the toe part) to keep everything in place. Then you just agitate until the fibers tighten up. I also suggest felted with the lid on - to keep the fibers in place so you can close it up later.
While they're drying, put the wax in a pot and turn up the heat. You don't want it too hot (obviously) but too cool and the wax doesn't melt evenly.
I experimented with the pouring of the wax - some I filled up straight away and some I layered in. I found that layering helped keep the wicks straightest. Also - some of the wax has now cracked and caved in a bit, so when I melt the final pound to finish the jars, those will get a dollop on top to even things out.
You could do the wax part first - in fact, the only two jars that were felted before they got waxed are the two below.
So that's it. Given the right circumstances, you could do these in a weekend - counting drying and cooling time. Then just wrap them up and gift them to people who could use a little glow in their lives.
***The product in question was provided by the company for the purposes of review. The opinions are purely those of mine and my family.***
(Adding pictures to the bath/bed routine also added a dimension of chaos.
This is our best picture of the undies.)
About a month or so ago, I heard through the blogger grapevine that Super Undies was looking for testers. Since we are THROUGH with diapers (I'm more through than Baz, but that's a whole other thing) I contacted them.
Long story short: we ended up with a pair of Nightime Undies for testing. They arrived in the mail and I could tell from the bulk that they meant business. And let me tell you, folks, this kid's bladder has always been remarkable in its production. His kidneys work just fine, thankyouverymuch.
I ran them through a pre-wash (we wash everything before we wear it) and immediately realized they were going to take twice as long to dry as our previous nighttime solution (in diapers: he was wearing a fitted with a doubler and a wool cover. Lately, he's been in night time disposable pull ups.)
So the NEXT night, we put them to the test.
Here's what we thought:
*Baz enjoys them - he's not generally a fan of disposables for non-pooping purposes, and he liked being able to pull them on by himself.
*They're bulky without being gigantic - so they fit under his regular pajamas
*The bulk means they take forever to dry, and due to our lack of a recent cloth diaper routine, I found myself wishing we had more than one pair so that I didn't have to wash every day/supplement with pull ups. (At roughly $30/pair, though, they're certainly an investment. The real test will be how they hold up for Rerun when he's at this stage in 2-3 years.)
*Some nights he wet right through them. But, considering he's still not waking at night to potty, and he's leaked through every night diaper "solution" out there - I'm not remotely surprised, nor do I blame the Super Undies. Most nights, he did not wet through them. (He's also been sick, so the most recent wet-through could be a fluke completely related to all the fluids we've been pushing.)
*They're cute without being babyish. Let me just say that when your kid decides to be a Big Kid and not a Baby anymore - everything needs to reflect that or you'll get a lot of push-back in the form of: "Don't like dat! Dat's for baby!" The simple color blocking is appealing. (Not that we'd turn down a digger or race car pattern - he is still a boy, after all.)
*If we were at the beginning of our Potty Training endeavor, I would also pick up some of the pull-on undies for long car rides and days when we're just out running errands all day. We're a cloth diaper family and the cloth trainer options are few and far between.
Welcome to the "I'm a Natural Parent - BUT..." Carnival This post was written for inclusion in the carnival hosted by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. During this carnival our participants have focused on the many different forms and shapes Natural Parenting can take in our community.
***
A few weeks ago, on the Natural Parents Network facebook page, there was a big kerfuffle about how you "CANNOT be a Natural Parent AND vaccinate". Which led those of us who think too much about these things to say "hey! We need to do a whole bunch of posts where we all confess the things that stray from the Natural Parent Ideal."
Apparently, a few people had an actual list of regulations pertaining to Natural Parentness, They included (but were not limited to): babywearing, co-sleeping, exclusive breastfeeding for at least a year, extended breastfeeding in addition to eating ONLY organic food until the child decides it's time to stop nursing without any coaching from you or your partner, not a single vaccine (obviously), not circumcising, no antibiotics, make all of your own cleaning products and clothing (with fabric you wove from fibers you either grew or sheared off the sheep you treat better than most people treat their children, obviously), no harmful chemicals, no exposure to sunlight, and certainly NO TV.
Well, Natural Parents, to that list I give a big ol' pffffbbbbbtttthhhhhhhh. Because SWEET MOTHER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN no one living in the 21st century adheres completely to that list, not all of the time and not while remaining sane.
Now, I could spend my time filling this space with a huge defense of how I AM A NATURAL PARENT, dammit, and we could all get riled up and have a big debate but who has the energy? So instead, without (much) explanation or defense, without any hope for keeping my "crunchy hippie mom" crown, I give you a list of the ways I have failed* at being a Natural Parent.
* "failure", in this case, should be taken to mean: "If this is wrong I don't want to be right" and "the only right way to raise your kids is the way that works for your family."
So here we go:
#1: I cuss. A lot. (Sorry Mom, blame Dad.) This video is NSFW. Or people who don't like swear words. Do I cuss in front of my kid? Only if I slip and then I try to cap it at the initial sounds, you know like "shhhhhhh" when I stub my toe. Mostly I say things like "Sweet mother of abraham lincoln!" and "son of a nutcracker!" But in daily life, out of the range of preschool ears? I have no filter.
#2 (no picture) We vaccinated. Almost fully and fairly close to the WHO schedule.
#3: Sometimes, you have to break out the big guns. (He needed to be in the picture, how can you say no to that face? Well, I know how, and I do - easily - but I pick my battles.)
#4: from top to bottom: Record player, Wii (and games, and PS3 games. And the Big Lebowski anniversary edition in a bowling ball.) Analog equalizer that we will have until it becomes unrepairable. Kids movies (some of them are Signing Time, some of them are *gasp!* Disney.) PS3, home to more games, netflix, and hulu+. Also, coasters. Yes, I use old (washed, people) breast pads for coasters. They're the perfect size and absorbency.
#5: Mexican Coke. We all have our vices. This is mine.
There are more, but these are the ones that stick out.
I'm going to leave you with some words of wisdom from someone who isn't me.
*** This carnival was created by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. We recognize that "natural parenting" means different things to different families, and we are dedicated to providing a safe place for all families, regardless of where they are in their parenting journeys.
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants: (This list will be live and updated by afternoon February 26 with all the carnival links.)
***
This carnival was created by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. We recognize that "natural parenting" means different things to different families, and we are dedicated to providing a safe place for all families, regardless of where they are in their parenting journeys.
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
My kid is a technophile — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction hasn't turned in her natural parenting card yet, even though her son prefers electronic toys
I'm a Natural Parent, but...I use medicine! — Adrienne at Mommying My Way admits that while she hesitates to do so, sometimes she does give her son some medicine when his symptoms get really bad.
I'm Only Half Planning a Natural Birth — Shannon at The Artful Mama discloses how she is planning her semi-natural hospital birth and still dares to call herself a Natural Parent.
Why we aren't rear facing — Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about her decision to turn her one-year-old daughter's carseat around, and how the argument always given for extended rear facing makes her feel.
10 Reasons to Revoke My Natural Parent Card — Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door discusses why some of her less-than-crunchy practices are better for her family.
Crunchy on the Inside — Wolfmother at Fabulous Mama Chronicles muses about how the stereotype of a natural parent does not do justice to the very dynamic group that this parenting philosophy attracts.
My Reality — Megan from The Other Baby Book confesses a few things about her parenting.
I'm Crunchy But... — Christy at Mommy Outnumbered shares confessions on all of her "non" crunchy ways.
Crunchy, But Not Crunchier Than Thou — Instead of comparing yourself to others, Dionna at Code Name: Mama encourages you to give yourself permission to be as crunchy as you can for right now.
I’m a natural parent but…I love bedtimes — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle would never let her children cry-it-out, but she has a selection of other methods to encourage early bedtimes.
I'm a Natural Parent - BUT... — Lani at Boobie Time Blog believes that following the principles of Natural Parenting doesn't mean you fit a stereotypical mold of societal view.
Confessions of a Low Supply Mom — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children confesses her insecurities about being a low supply mom.
I'm a natural parent, but. . . — Not eating her placenta is just one of the ways Ashley at Mama Raw falls short at being a natural parent.
I'm a Natural Parent BUT — Carrie at LoveNotesMama confesses her gratitude for disposable diapers.
Intestinal Dissection — Melissa from White Noise talks about how imperfection can be beautiful when it is buffered with love.
How much sugar is too much? — Tat at Mum in Search shares how her no-sugar policy evolved into a balancing act, with the balance point not where she'd like to see it.
I'm a Natural Parent, but. . . — Amyables at Toddler In Tow talks about three of her parenting habits that are not super "natural."
Minus Ten Crunchy Points — Joella at Fine and Fair discusses how some of her parenting choices seen as "too crunchy" by those she knows in real life could get her kicked out of the crunchy mom clubs online.
The Natural Parent "Model" — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about her love for not-so-natural cosmetics and beauty products.
Nice to meet you. — Eileen at Love & Greens talks about how being a natural mama means something different to her every day.
I’m a natural parent…BUT… — Ashley at Daisy Pedals touches on several natural parenting topics; from cloth diapers to cleaning with natural cleaners.
I’m a Natural Parent, but…. I don’t shop local — Luschka at Diary of a First Child confesses one of her greatest 'natural' failures - she doesn't shop local and support her community, despite wishing she could.
Green Mommy Guilt — Jen at Jen and Joey Green talks about how being a perfect Green Mom is overrated.
Life Coping Devices — Amy at Anktangle discusses two ("non-AP") coping strategies her family has used for getting through difficult times with her son: the pacifier and the stroller.
We use disposable diapers. There. I said it. — The mama at Our Muddy Boots shares a bed, nurses her 4 year old, is vegetarian, and is committed to homeschooling; but Pampers adorn her child's bottom. Ugh!
Committed to Cloth, but... — Sheila at A Living Family affirms her love of cloth diapering, despite the draw of disposables.
Natural Parenting as a Doorway to Deep Truths — Amy from Peace for Parents guest posts at Natural Parents Network and shares how for her "natural parenting" is much less about a definition and much more an avenue to explore truths of life.
Chicken No-nos — Jessica at Pace Family Place strives to live naturally but feeds her oldest son some not-so natural things
I've been trying to think of the End-Of-Life of the things I buy. It helps keep the house free of clutter and helps keep me from impulse buying (too much.)
So for example, I picked up this $10 set of (stainless!) pans from IKEA, knowing that they would have a nice long life of being played with and may even be in decent enough shape to pass along to a new family when our kids have outgrown them, whenever that may be. For the money, it's an investment.
I wasn't wrong:
I also, a few months ago now, bought a bag of wooden beads from a local Waldorf-inspired toy shop that I frequent. They're meant to be strung, but I thought Baz would enjoy sorting and dumping...and again I was not wrong.
Then, a week or so ago, it occurred to me that I didn't hesitate to drop a whole bunch of money on a sand and water table that isn't the best open-ended toy, is a giant hunk of plastic (go petroleum products!) and will likely wear out before it can be donated to the next family. I bought it because I knew he would enjoy it. And we're entering Stage 6, which means it's time to step up our game (yet again.)
And I was right: he loves it.
So then, because of his impending Stage Sixness, and my desire to own things that are not only useful but beautiful, I went back to the Toy Store and I plunked down the money for the bead box. (I was also spurned on by my sister, who is a first grade teacher, saying "isn't he about ready to sort by color?" Whether he is or not is irrelevant. The box is art and that was all the incentive I needed.)
I can see all the way past childhood with this bad boy.
I am now going to wax poetic about quality here, people. This product could be reproduced by someone with time and skills, but I am not that someone. I recognize my limits and I am ok with them. I will happily keep a local shop in business by paying them to stock the things I cannot make myself. (This thing is made by this company.)
So 1st: notice how the beads disappear in the boxes. QA, people. It's not just a fancy acronym.
Second:
prettttyyyyyy
3rd:
Note the mitered corners? And the dovetail joints? That makes these bad boys glue free and less likely to off-gas.
4th:
even the tray has mitered corners.
5th:
The tray - a basic piece of this set - it need not be pretty because it's to be filled with boxes. But if needed, it's pretty enough that I can take the boxes off and serve cheese on it. (on parchment, obviously.)
6th:
Even out of order, the colors are beautiful.
Every time I walk past his little table and I see this smiling up at me it makes me happy. When he's too old for sorting, it can hold crayons. And then colored pencils. And brushes. And then flowers. (I may not wait for flowers.)
Our children will enjoy it and then it will take up residence in the space I use to create, inspiring me with it's age and beauty. And then I will pass it down to grandchildren, who will also love it.
And it was only slightly more expensive than the sand and water table. A bargain, in my book.
I didn't just buy a sorting box. I bought an heirloom.
If only every purchase were as fulfilling.
(the little pull-toy under the table came from Baz's aunt and uncle. He has recently discovered pull-toys as they are intended and it gives him great delight to make this one follow him.)
In case you're reading in a reader and missed the two new buttons on my blog, I've teamed up with the Natural Parents Network to help bring the Good News of Crunchy Love to people all over this fine planet.
Today, we're having a link-up, and all of the rest of the lovely parents have shared their favorite post with you.
Amy at Innate Wholeness offers simple tips to be present with family whether you're having fun and want to soak it up like a sponge or would rather run and hide in a cave.
Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares sound bites from her miscarriage journey of forgiveness and gratitude.
Shannon from Pineapples and Artichokes writes about how she is trying to raise her daughter to be accepting of everyone.
Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses the overuse of the word "no" and offers some aid in finding creative ways to avoid "no."
Shannon of The ArtsyMama shares her top ten list of things she wishes she had known more about before the birth of her son, Little Man.
Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings has some helpful insights, tips, and tricks to share for babywearing with twins.
Julia at A Little Bit of All of It tells the story of how motherhood came to her and how a miscarriage shaped her feelings and perceptions surrounding the birth of her first daughter.
As part of an ongoing series about balance, Amy at Anktangle writes about a daily ritual she has adopted to help her maintain balance in her life.
Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife is reminded that while the days may sometimes be long, the years are short, and after a rough day the best thing to do is give thanks for the best parts and try again tomorrow.
Dionna at Code Name: Mama offers 7 Alternatives to Good Job: "Good job'ing" kids can be a mindless habit to fall into. Instead of using a generic "good job," try one of these ideas to really connect with and nurture your child.
Alicia at Lactation Narration discusses the long journey of child-led weaning, during which she thought several times that her child was weaned before she really was.
Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children: Letting go of the illusion of control opens up a an entirely new world.
I am waiting for a new type of insert to arrive in the mail and then I do have plans for an update. Quickly, though, I love our fuzzibunz, still. The grobaby (now called grovia) are too short in the rise for our long, skinny boy, so they've been retired. I've replaced them with Thirsties Duo covers (the inserts that I'm waiting on) and am also using Thirsties Fab Fitted inserts. I have a couple of Bum Genius All-In-Ones, but I'm not a huge fan because the fit is weird. But that could be because our little guy is long and skinny. The grobaby/grovia disposable inserts work with the Thirsties shells and are still the only 'sposie insert I recommend. It's not necessary to use the tape to keep them in place, but that might change as Bunny gets more mobile. When the new inserts arrive I will post a blog with pictures and more in-depth reviews.
I've been lamenting our small eating space for a while. Thinking that if we had room I would shift our mid-century heirloom table out into a proper dining space and bring in a cute mid-century diner table better proportioned to kitchen eating. Or put in a booth or something. The possibilities are endless.
Turns out, all I needed was to TURN THE TABLE.
I apologize for anyone who has had to maneuver around the table and blame it completely on the fact that it was moved into the kitchen last summer while I was knocked up, heavily drugged, and should have been in bed. It was moved by very nice men who put it where I said and then didn't touch it because you don't want to piss off the heavily drugged pregnant woman. Had I had my brain on correclty I would have said "can we turn it, please?" And everything would have been hunky dory and a year's worth of guests wouldn't have been so cramped.
That's the Tripp Trapp Stokke back there against the wall. It's a trip hazard so it's out of the line of toes.
And yes, we use real linens at every meal. Don't you? (PS - for the record, when shopping for napkins or fabric with which to make you own napkins - only 100% cotton or linen will do. Synthetics just don't absorb as well, even synthetic blends. So when you're eating something really slimy (barbecue, anyone?) a not-cotton/linen piece of cloth will just smear it around. I like reddish toned napkins for barbecue. I could actually do a whole post just about napkins. I wish I were kidding.
I picked you up off the shelf to read for 3 reasons:
1) We get a farm box every other friday from our CSA and I am getting tired of making the same dozen recipes for each seasonal offering. Your cover stories of new tapas and eggless brunches seemed like it would help with that.
2) My son likely has a minor milk allergy, so I'm going to cut back heavily on my dairy and that's like learning a whole new language for me so it must be done in minor steps. Again - I was encouraged by your cover.
3) The coffee taste test cover story looked very interesting as I have an unhealthy interest in coffee.
I've just read it cover to cover and I'm more incensed than the last time I read The Atlantic cover to cover. Here's why:
1) I enjoy my animals and their by-products. I buy everything as local as possible (even when it's more expensive and means I have to buy less of other things) and as humanely as possible. Taking a not-meat ingredient and making it masquerade as meat is insulting. Also - being told that "eating meat and calling yourself an environmentalist is like Donald Trump giving a dollar to a homeless man and calling himself a humanitarian" is not the way to win readers and influence the population. It's insulting and frankly it's a huge turnoff. It makes me want to go buy the Double Down and leave it on your doorstep. (The Vegan Magazine equivalent to a flaming bag of dog poo?)
2) See above. Also: Tofu does not equal eggs. Not now, not ever.
3) A half-page table with 4 words in each box is not a comprehensive taste test. Those are tasting NOTES. The next time you put something on your cover, actually cover the topic. YEESH.
So, on behalf of all the people out there who KNOW that mass-produced beef is bad for every single thing involved (including our colons,) who do their reasonable best to live as responsibly as possible, and who enjoy bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast, I would like to quote Jon Stewart: "Go Fuck Yourself."
Thank you,
Responsible Omnivore Emily
PS- Cats should never be VEGAN. You spend all this time preaching about being nice to animals and the planet and then you go and do that to cats. Hypocrites.
Tally:
Diapers in the landfill/days spent in environmental purgatory:15
Outfits changed due to diaper failure: 3
So a few weeks ago my sister, brother-in-law, and I took Bunny into San Francisco for the day. He was wearing a shell with a flip insert and there was badness on the train. By "badness" I mean I heard the tell-tale frat-boy sounds coming from his pants and then remarked to my sister "wow, this one really smells bad!"
Well, it turns out that the inserts weren't absorbent. This isn't me bagging on flip...except that I wasn't sad that we proceeded to use the rest up that day. Unfortunately, that meant that we were without diapers and were looking at an hour-long train ride home. With a baby who hates being wet and dirty.* So we stopped into Walgreens (CVS?) and picked up these:
Yesterday I noticed that the CDs are having that lingering odor (specifically - the wetbag actually smelled when I was putting diapers into it) so it's time to strip. And since I had been putting off doing the load that was in the full wetbag, I decided that this weekend is the perfect time to use up all those 'sposies before he outgrows them and they truly go to waste.
Also, the argument I hear most frequently is how much easier 'sposies are than CDs. Specifically, that CD's are a "pain in the ass" - all that laundry and extra work! So we're going to see if today is any "less" work than a normal day in CDs. (The fact that I'm stripping them today is not normal. In fact, it's only because we have wicked hard water and I was using not-cd detergent for too long that they need to be stripped this soon. Usually it's a need that arises less frequently than once a year, to my understanding.)
7:30am: We woke up and he went from his last clean GroBaby (nighttime diapers are usually double-stuffed fuzzibunz or BumGeniuses, but we were working with depleted resources) in a Huggies and daytime clothes. Still using cloth wipes, which might be the biggest PITA because it's a spray and then wipe situation. Diaper change otherwise is the same.
8:30am: new diaper due to lots of wetness.
9am: new diaper, and he peed in the potty (we started EC this week, it's still catch and miss, but we keep offering and he keeps..um...performing.)
10:30am: new diaper and first clothing change of the day due to the #3. (Normally he's done so much drooling/spitting up that he gets a new outfit around lunch. Occasionally the edges of the cloth will become soaked and seep the the edges of his onesie - but that's happening less with the EC, and will continue to happen less as he grows into the one-size diapers.)
He's in pants because if he's going to #3 all day, I want it contained in his pants and not all over me, husband, or whatever he's sitting on.
11:45am: wakes up from power nap, eats. I wait too long after feeding him and his diaper it aready soaked so he just laughs at me when i put him on the potty. Literally. These diapers are certainly more trim then we're used to, but that's because you chose: chemicals or bulk.
1:45pm: another power nap, and before food he gets a pottytunity (success!) and a new diaper.
3:15pm: we've been outside gardening, so I bring Bunny in to check his diaper and have a pottytunity. Wet, wet. But we avoided a #3 because 1 + 2 went into the potty. these 'sposie results will be skewed. But I will say that his skin in the diaper area is an unfortunate shade of red. :-(
4:30pm: Husband changed him out of his wet diaper...it was uneventful. His skin is still red, though.
5:30pm: Singing in the rocking chair and there's that frat boy sound again. Decide it's late enough to have night-time routine (since it never ends with sleepytime anyway) so Husband cleans him up (full containment) and leaves him naked for the bath. So far, aside from the redness, I'm not seeing much of a difference in the PITA category. If we were doing prefolds (or flatfolds) then this would be loads easier...but not with the pocket/AIOs.
I should add that we got Huggies - rather than another brand- because it was they had in his size.
By 2:00pm the Sunday - more diaper changes, one leaky LEAKY wet diaper (it wasn't even very saturated, it just leaked all over his outfit), a husband who declares that while Bunny's skin has stayed fairly dry, the poops are just ALL OVER and a pain to clean off of him. They were pretty decent overnight (we stretch those changes in favor of uninterrupted sleep. He got 3 when there probably should have been two, but I heard frat boy noises and went to the logical, but incorrect, conclusion.)
VERDICT: His skin reacted quickly and unpleasantly to the 'sposies, which is enough for me to switch to CDs. I can't even imagine what many consecutive days would do to his poor heiny. Granted - the results were skewed by the many EC Catches we managed. Also - I'm now spending a solid 2 weeks in Environmental Purgatory to make up for the eternal landfill waste that I added. I'd rather do a few extra loads of laundry a week than constantly be purchasing new diapers (which require water to make - so that's a wash) and it's also nice to know that Bunny's little brother or sister will be able to use these same diapers when the time comes. Cloth Diapers = free stash for consecutive kiddos...and if they're in good shape: resale. Word.
*Most days when I change a wet/dirty diaper I sing:
They see me grun'in'
My face red
I know they're all thinkin'
I'm so wet and dirty
Look at me
I'm wet and dirty
Guess I'm just so
Wet and Dirty
I'm just so weeeet and dirrrrty
I wanna roll with the babies
But so far they all think
I'm too wet and dirty
Look at me
I'm wet and dirty
Guess I'm just so
Wet and Dirty
I'm just so weeeet and dirrrrty
More lyrics to come because it giggles me. And if anyone knows where I can find just the background music, I'm totally making a video. It'll be a parody of a parody:
Since you asked. All of you. At least once, even if it wasn't always out loud.
In fact, once people found out that we were planning to cloth diaper from the start (and with the exception of in-hospital and a few days waiting for his umbilical cord to fall of - we did) that was more a topic of conversation than almost anything else (wait until we start talking schooling, people.)
A sample of remarks:
"Aren't you worried about sticking the baby in the belly with the diaper pin?"
"Won't that stink?"
"That's so cool!"
"Where do I buy you rubber pants?"
"Good luck with that."
"You say that now."
"It's worth clogging landfills for me to not have to deal with poop."
"I want/wanted to try that. But disposables are just so much easier."
Right.
So I'm not going to try to sell you on cloth diapers. Because, really. You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus. (I may try to convert you to EC when we get that going. But we're not there, yet.)
So. Here's how it's working out: it is awesome.
Part of our stash. The top two on the left are fitted all-in-ones that are too big for him, but which I picked up for a song. The solids are fuzzibunz (except the blue, that's a rogue bumgenius,) the patterns on the right are GroBaby and the inserts for the GroBaby are those 4 white folded pieces up there. Those two are my favorite so far. But Bunny is young.
More (but still not all) of our stash - on the left are the inserts for the fuzzibunz and the patterns are bummi covers and then on the right are the pre-folds. I'm not sure we'll keep using the prefolds when he outgrows those covers. I'd rather stuff the diapers as they come out of the dryer or snap in new inserts than try to fold and hook a pre-fold onto a squirmy infant - especially once he's mobile and constantly on the brink of death.
Our wipe/etc drawer. Wipes on the left, a couple of bottle of bumgenius spray, some nose spray, snappis for the prefolds, a gumdrop, and some Earth Mama Angel Baby products, and extra elastic for the fuzzibunz. (They have fabulous leg gussets so you can make sure the leg is tight enough - which is nice if you're child is long and skinny like ours.)
So here's how it works: Bunny lets us know he's wet/soiled in the usual way (and generally about 1 second after it's happened) and we head to the changing station in the bathroom*. We whip off the old diaper and drop it into the handy fuzzibunz bag that keeps all the yucky smells inside (we also have a bin liner and I'm not as big a fan. I'm thinking another fb bag is in our future because...) and has a handy zipper on the bottom: time for laundry, simply unzip, dump, and go. Then we pull open the drawer, pop out the spray and a wipe, spray his bum, wipe his bum, drop wipe into the same bag the diaper went into, and put on a new diaper. When we're out it's the same story, but with a smaller bag. And when I travel to Seattle in May I'll use flushable/compostable inserts.
The difference from disposable? I do more laundry (although as our stash grows and as his output slows down I'll do less and less - also there will be EC, but more on that later.) And his butt is cuter. Also - there's bulk, but that's the trade for not having chemicals against his skin. The other trades are a lack of diaper rash, and a noticeable lack of what they referred to in our parenting classes as "number 3."** (the exception to this happened when Bunny was about 2 weeks old. He'd been constipated all day, poor guy, and Husband had him settled on his lap, wiggling his legs and cooing and then there was poop leakage onto Husband's jeans...but I don't blame the diapers for that one. If you were laying on your back having your constipation worked out by having your legs waved around...there'd be a big mess, wouldn't there?)
If you google "cloth diapers" you'll find that the possibilities are endless. But that's what we use (the bummis, in all honesty, were given to us to test - but not because they read my fabulous blog. Because I begged them to pick me. But I haven't reported to them, so I won't report to you except to say that my Husband prefers that method so far. For the daytime at least.)
If you've got more questions, I'm happy to answer. But like I said - you're either on the bus or you're off the bus.
Happy Hump Day!
* I put it there for two reasons: first the countertop is the perfect height/size. Second - if all potty-related activity always takes place in the bathroom, then the bathroom is never a big mystical room in which to play. In theory, at least.
Because what's a New Year without a giant list of the ways in which you suck and can be better?
Reducing our consumption, waste, and clutter are one of the battles I feel like I'm constantly fighting.
To that end, I've made a list of the proper waste-recepticle and have hung it on the wall above our garbage area. It's a weird little spot by the back door...and it's GARBAGE - so there's no picture. Just think up something Martha Stewart would do, make it look slightly more neglected, and there you have it.
We fill it daily and then go drop it on our "slow compost" heap in the backyard. (It's a drizzly day - and again, it's GARBAGE - so no photos of that, either.)
Recycle goes out weekly. Our goal? Less than one bag of trash a week. With an infant coming. And months of house-guests queued up for Winter/Spring 2010.
I've got plenty of inspiration, though, and I've just subscribed to THIS BLOG - whose goal is to reduce the trash of the world to zero. I know that a zero-trash (as in Landfill trash) is impossible. It's the 21st century. But I also know that our output level can be drastically reduced.
Simple steps we've taken to reduce our trash (sometimes I feel like a broken record, but people ask and so I answer)
* Cut back on paper towel purchasing, and only purchase recycled paper towels at that. In the kitchen we use bar mops to clean the counter.
* ONLY cloth napkins. And cotton/linen at that. Blends don't absorb and if you come from a southern family like ours that loves it's fried chicken...you know that anything aside from a moist bath towel just won't cut it.
* Cloth Diapers and wipes (again - cotton. Organic when possible)
* Recycle everything possible
* Compost everything possible.
A note about that - we don't compost meat waste because it attracts critters and goes rancid before it breaks down. If we had the crazy welded contraption that a friend of the husband's has - then we would toss our meat in - both the enticing raw meat smell and the stomach-roiling rancid meat smell are contained and the enzymes and the heat and blah blah blah. But we don't. We're Luddites. We have a big pit in the backyard that we throw all of that shit into. (Not literally - NO HUMAN OR ANIMAL WASTE IN COMPOST THAT GOES ON FOOD BEARING PLANTS)
So there you go. Step one. Reduce.
Step two - re-organize. Or something.
PS - there is differing opinion on whether or not you should compost wood ash (from your fireplace) and the decision we've come to is that it will be spread over the grassy lawn part of the property and on specific plants. Because of the pH levels and the chemicals present as it breaks down, it's good for hardier plants but not for delicate plants (like the blueberry bush I feel the need to have.) Which is why we collect it, but it doesn't appear on the list. It's a special item.
If you're paying any attention to food at all lately, you've noticed that it's not enough anymore to simply buy the food your parents bought while you were growing up and trust that it's just as chock-full of nutrients as it always has been. In addition to the familiar Organic vs. Traditional debate, there are 
Posts
