Comparison-A Diaper Review

I've been pretty stressed out this week, probably why I've managed to blog twice.  When I'm stressed blogging really helps me unwind.  It takes my mind elsewhere.  *breathe*  *ahhhh*

Ok, to me cloth diapering is hands-down one of THE best decisions we've ever made for our family.  I was planning on doing the Flats Handwashing Challenge that I did last year...until I found out that it was while #1 was out of town for a week and I had all four kids by myself plus 7 ballgames scheduled in that time.  (Thankfully 3 were rained out)  I'm not a complete idiot and quietly bowed out of the challenge.

So instead of blogging about how you CAN wash your own diapers if there was an emergency and cloth diapering CAN be done on any income level (you can technically diaper a baby from birth till potty trained on $50...click on the link above to see how) I'm going to do a quick diaper review.

 Here is most of our stash of diapers.  There are a three pockets, two All In Ones (AIO) and some miscellaneous covers missing-most are in the wash.  I'll define those things in a moment.  I'd like to say first thing that NO ONE needs 28+ diapers in order to cloth diaper.  (I also have NB diapers I'm not even going to get started on today...so I probably have more like 40 some diapers)  We have lots for two reasons.  I've cloth diapered two children at a time three times.  Also I used to blog for a cloth diaper blog that would give me free diapers as compensation.  A third and TOTALLY irrelevant reason is because I may or may not have a cloth diaper habit.  Or should I say "had" a habit.  I've bought one (cloth) diaper since May of last year.  Not bad.

So here in the picture above are 23 cloth and 23 disposable diapers.  The 23 disposable diapers came in a pack of 36 which cost $10.  Those diapers cost about 28 cents each.    You can get cheaper disposables (these are Luvs) and you can get way more expensive ones.  We use one overnight and occasionally send Sweet Pea to the nursery at church in one.

So there sit 23 disposable diapers with a cost of $6.39  The 23 cloth diapers on the left cost me $369.04.   WHAT?  You spent nearly $400 on DIAPERS????  Well, in a minute and I'll show you that you've spent nearly $2,000.  Per kid.

 Here are my Kawaii diapers.  These are my cheapest.  I also have a very pretty purple one with white daisies that a friend gave me when Sweet Pea was born.  You don't want a picture of it right now, I assure you.  Pocket diapers have a cloth insert you put inside, then pull out to wash.  All of mine have snaps in the rise so they fit a variety of size babies-often from about 8 pounds to 30 pounds.

The three polka dot ones cost $12.95 each and come with double inserts as they can be used overnight (and they work!).  The yellow and red cost $10.95 each and while they are ok, they are cheap and haven't held up as long as others we've had.  The velcro isn't attached well.  They are comparable to the Bum Genius diapers you'll see in a minute...at first...the quality tapers off much quicker.  I'd recommend the snap (instead of velcro) diapers.  The red and yellow have been used on 3 kids.  Keep that in mind.

 Ah, I'm in love.  Bum Genius diapers.  Buy 5 get one free.  But I never bought 5 at a time, so I paid about $17.97 (current price) each over the past 5 years.  These are also pocket diapers.  Eight of these have been worn by three kids.  I have a little stretched elastic at the legs of a couple of them that were LMM's and one velcro is getting quite used...but other than that they are FANTASTIC.  I have a Bum Genius AIO (in the wash) but it takes a long time to dry and I don't appreciate that.  These are my recommendation to anyone wanting to cloth diaper.  Take the plunge, buy these, and be happy.

These are also pocket diapers.  I have a cute white one with rainbow snaps-I believe it is still hanging out to dry as they dry S L O W.  They're made of organic bamboo.  I couldn't find these being sold anymore, they now have microfleece instead and are retailing for $15.99..but I don't think that is the price I paid for them.  Two of mine I have had on 3 kids, two of them on only 2 kids.  Many many people have complaints about these diapers...but I don't. Except the slow drying time.  These fit skinny babies.  I have skinny babies.  Got a chunk legger?  Don't bother.  Got a long and or skinny kid?  Fantastic fit.  Oh, they're called BabyKicks.  

 Diaper covers (be careful when you go to buy pockets that you're not getting covers...read carefully) are used over fitted diapers (ACK.  HATE.  They're these fleece things that LOOK like what's above and have to have a cover over them.  I think they leak and are kinda useless but others rave about them.  My blog, my opinion!) or you can put them over flats or prefolds.  Flat diapers are what I used last year in the Handwashing Challenge and are a single piece of fabric that you fold.  Go to You Tube and search "flat folds" and you'll see lots of examples.  Prefolds are what many people still use as burp clothes today.  They are thick in the middle and thinner on the sides.

The purple cover is a Palm Tree that I got for free as a promotion.  I don't know exactly what one by itself would cost as the site I buy from sells them in a set of covers, flats, and fastener.  My best guess when dividing all that out is individually it would be about $13.21.  It has been fine but I don't use flats a ton.

The pretty pink and white one is a Bummis Whisper Wrap.  It retails at $12.97 and also has worked fine.  I do use both of these over velcro pockets these days.  Why over a pocket?  Because at nap time or anytime she doesn't have pants on Sweet Pea removes her velcro diapers.  #1 prefers velcro diapers so I don't have many snap closure ones.  So if I don't have a snap closure diaper to put on her, I put one of these over it so she can't take it off.  I call it security.

The diaper on the left is a Thirsties Duo diaper.  Thirsties is the first brand I ever bought.  I started with them because they had cheap covers with good reviews and all I could afford was a few covers and my mom gave me all the old flats and prefolds that were mine when I was a baby.  I still have a couple of those original covers (even Snug used them) but have sold most of them off.  I like the Thirsties Duo diaper but not as much as my Bum Genius ones.  At $17.50 each, I'd rather pay the extra 47 cents and get diapers I love.  It is a good diaper, and this print is cute.

Last and absolutely least is my (not so) Happy Heiny.  I don't have lots of nice things to say about it.  I've owned 2 and when this one joins its friend in the trash someday I won't shed a tear.  I think it is intended for chunkier babies.  It just fits poorly.  Again, other people love them.  I wasn't going to talk about NB diapers, but I do want to say something nice about this brand.  They have a NB size diaper that I really really like.  This particular diaper is a pocket and retails at $18.97.

Ok, so like I said, pictured was about $369.04.  That's based on current pricing, but diapers really haven't changed in price much in the past 5 years.  That seems like a TON of money.  

But think about this.  We'll base my numbers on a pack of 36 diapers for $10.  Say you change your baby only 6 times in 24 hours (when they're little way more than that I would hope).  That's 168 diapers a month-$46.67 a month.  Most kids are in diapers at the very least 24 months-most much longer-overnight way longer.  If you don't take into consideration that younger babies need to be changed much more often (but  have 5-6 more diapers per pack) and that as they get older there are LESS diapers per pack, and that many people pay more than $10 per 36 diapers you still get $1,120 for one kid to be diapered, and many people would consider that to be a low estimate.  

Suddenly my $369.04 doesn't seem like much.  Now I admit we buy one pack a month, so we spend probably between $120-$150 a year on disposables.  HOWEVER...of the diapers pictured, you'd only NEED about 16 and if you did all those in my favorite Bum Genius diapers at buy 5 get 1 free you could change your price to $251.58-much less.  Those diapers fit (per the manufacture) babies 7-35 lbs.  

Keep this in mind too.  Cloth diaper babies potty train months earlier than their peers.  They often are trained (even overnight) right around their second birthday.  According to the University of Michigan The average age for kids in disposables is girls 29 months and boys 31 months-and not overnight.  They say "it is common for children to wet at night until they are 5 years old".  Guess what?  Back when everyone used cloth, the average age to start to potty train was 18 months-and be diaper free overnight by 2.  MANY cloth families today will tell you this is very possible.  

One more thing.  With my large stash $369.04 plus lets say 2 years worth of disposables $300 (on the high end) I'm spending $669.04 (that four cents is really important, evidently .  Still not the (low) estimate of $1,120.  BUT IT GETS BETTER.  Of the pictured diapers, 13 belonged to LMM (read: three kids have used them), and all but maybe five or six (can't remember) BOTH of my girls wore.  So the cost goes down again.  Because it isn't $369 (dropping that four cents, its annoying) PER KID, its that PER FAMILY.  

If we are blessed with another baby, there are several of my diapers that might have to retire.  Always sad.  I've only ever had to ditch maybe 5 or 6-and all but one of those I bought off of other people who had used them on 2+ kids.  But even if I got an entire new stash, I'd still be saving money...and the environment (don't get me started).  

I admit cloth diapering isn't for everyone.  Neither is babywearing.  Neither is co-sleeping.  Neither is breastfeeding.  Or amber teething necklaces.  Many many things about parenting are not one size fits all.  I just wanted to put this out there for parents who are considering cloth diapering.  

Now I've blogged and am all de-stressed and ready for a three day Memorial Day weekend!  

THANK YOU to all the families who have lost a loved one to help make our country free.  We are so blessed to live in a country where we can decide babywearing or stroller.  Co-sleeping or crib.  Breast or bottle.  Amber or Tylenol.  Cloth or disposable.  So very very blessed.  

Day 7

Well, I made it. Seven days of flats and covers and handwashing. My clothesline is full of laundry and my arms are buffer. I will be using what I've learned in the future, and I hope it will also help others. If nothing else, I have been able to talk to many many people about cloth diapering. I really believe it is a cost effective, environmentally friendly option that everyone should consider. I want to thank Dirty Diaper Laundry for doing this challenge. It has been fun.

Day 6

Ah, Day 6.  Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge.  I went over to Dirty Diaper Laundry to find out what I was supposed to blog about today and found out it was "blog whatever you want" day.  I decided to basically blog about what she had.  Doing flats/covers while out and about.  Because I didn't just stay home. Of course not!  Life is busy!

 We of course were doing lots of this!  #1 (my husband for those of you visiting from DDL) coach Little Monkey Man's baseball team.  I'd change Sweet Pea right before we left for the field and if she had a fleece soaker she'd last till we got home.

 We also did some of this!  I'll put up more pictures next week, but we went strawberry picking.  Sweet Pea needed a change while we were at the farm, so I just changed her on the front seat of the van like I normally do.  Really not a big deal.  She's kinda squirmy, but it was doable.

We also had school pick ups and drop offs along with grocery shopping, church, and going to the mall.  Again, I just did what I always do.  Load up my diaper bag and go.  

The only difference was that when I left her in the church nursery I went in periodically and changed her pants.  Not that I couldn't have stuffed a pocket diaper with a flat diaper like many people did, but I'd rather just do it myself and I was able to talk to other people about the challenge!

Check out what other people are doing...

Day Five

 The point of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge is to determine whether it is possible to handwash and use inexpensive flats.  In real life would people supplement with disposables or go to a friends or laundromat too?  Probably.  We are pushing the extreme end to prove that the real life scenario can be done.

Today's blog topic is "What Have I Learned So Far?"

 I have ditched the origami fold for the diaper bag fold.  It just seems to fit Sweet Pea better.  The first couple of times I used my Boingos I didn't really like them.  I switched to the Snappis.  But I went back, and as they got used, they got stretchier and worked better.  Also, they work better on the diaper bag fold than the origami.

 My milk supply took a dive today.  Not sure why.  I only had one cover and three flats to wash along with my overnight with inserts.  Very discouraging.  Not enough wet diapers for sure.  Back to pumping after every feed. (I already take 6 Fenugreek and drink 3 cups of Mother's Milk tea every day.)

 Today I left my cushy life of using my bathtub and readily hot water.  I gave up hanging my diapers indoors in my air conditioning.  I washed outside with my hose in the muggy weather.  This should give a better picture of how it would be to cloth diaper in a third world country (I even used all the water on my plants when I was done with it) or how it will be for me at camp this summer. Yup, going to be doing this for 2 weeks this summer at camp.

 I had some helpers tonight too.  We plunged and plunged and plunged...

 ...but those diapers were not coming clean.  Hmmm.

I finally used a stockpot to boil water and added it to my soapy-ness and they seemed to get a little cleaner. Still badly stained tonight.  I really think hot water is key in keeping them clean.  If you didn't have access to hot water like I do in my bathtub handwashing would get much much harder.  Snug took this totally attractive picture of me washing out on the deck tonight.  I had just gotten splashed when I plunged too vigorously.  This wouldn't have happened if I was using my bucket lid, but I find I can agitate MUCH more effectively without it.

The diapers are now out on the line "drying".  I did use a towel to help dry out my covers.  I rolled them up in the towel and then wrung them out.  This has definitely aided in the drying of my covers indoors, so I am going to HAVE to use it for outdoors.  I doubt they will be dry in the morning as it is seriously humid out there.  Having used so very few diapers today I will be fine for tomorrow, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have that many.

 I have learned so much this week.

Day 4

Today is the fourth day of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  As a reminder, this is a 7 day Challenge where participants can only use flat cloth diapers and have to ditch their washer and dryer in favor of good ol’ fashioned handwashing.  We are close to 500 participants this year and many are blogging their journey.  You can find their posts linked at the end.

Today's blog topic is "Whatcha Think About Handwashing?"

Well.  It hasn't been that bad.  I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER want to do it with my AIO (all-in-ones) or pocket diapers.  But for my flats and covers, it hasn't been too bad.  I do wash a pocket and 2 inserts each evening, and they take the most of my time. 

I have it easy though.  I am doing the challenge with an EBF (exclusively breastfed) baby.  That means the BM is completely water soluble.  That means she isn't a huge kid with stinky urine.  I feel like I cheated a bit because two weeks ago I potty trained my toddler.  First and foremost I potty trained her because she was ready...but in the back of my mind getting her done before the challenge didn't seem like a bad idea either!

So I am only washing diapers for one.  I do wash the wipes (I use 90% cloth wipes, and this week we are 100%) that I use on her bottom after she uses the potty.  So I guess there is some "gross" ness to the handwashing.  I wash about 7 flats and two covers, the previous night's overnight diaper (KaWaii Baby Heavy Wetter Overnight), about 10 wipes, and probably 3 fleece inserts that I use when we are out and about for extra absorbency.  I also have 2 homemade wetbags in my rotation and have washed them each once in the three days I have washed.  

I wash in the evening.  Each night I have tried something new.  

Night #1 I bent over my bathtub and washed in my camp washer with the lid on all nice and perfect.  

Night #2 I kept dragging my camp washer OUT of the tub and into the entryway so I could watch TV with my husband.  I'd take it back to the bathtub to dump/refill during commercials.  I ditched the lid and just used the bucket and plunger.  Much better.  I also noticed my hands HURT.  

Night #3 I sat with my feet in the tub and washed in my camp washer.  No lugging of the bucket. No standing and bending over. That was killing my back.  Timed the entire thing and found it takes me about 40 minutes. I also wore gloves. 

I like the way night #3 went the best, and will probably continue to do it that way. It also gave me some quiet time to reflect on my day and think about the Bible study I am currently in.  I am doing "Experiencing God" and it talks about listening for the Lord and waiting upon His timing.  This is quite the opportunity to do that as handwashing is pretty mindless.

This is my wash routine:

Fill 1/2 bucket with hot water

Agitation.
Dump and squeeze out water.

Put back into bucket.

Fill 1/2 bucket with hot water

Agitation

Dump and squeeze out water.

Put 1/2 tsp of Rock In Green detergent in

Fill bucket 3/4 with hot water

Put diapers back into bucket

Agitation for 5 minutes

Dump, wring out

Rinse bucket, and then put diapers back in

Fill bucket 1/2 with warm water

Agitation

Dump, squeeze out

Rinse bucket, and then put diapers back in
Fill bucket ALL the way, and bring out each diaper individually, run under the faucet
WRING OUT

Hang on drying rack/clothesline/pants hangers (thanks to Christina for the idea)

I basically am following the same wash routine that I do when I stick my diapers in our washer.  I've tried MANY things, and this is what I do right now;  rinse & spin, rinse & spin, wash, rinse, extra rinse.  

Esther left a comment yesterday (thanks Ester, always nice to know someone is reading!) and asked what I do about the "muddy" diapers.  I think I answered this before when I said that she is EBF.  Basically I don't have to deal with that part!  However, a diaper sprayer is allowed in the challenge so I could be using it if I needed to.  

Below I copied the list of rules...in case you are wondering.   (Note, I did receive 2 free covers that I am using for this challenge but not because I am doing this challenge.  It was because I was being "paid" for blogging on their cloth blog-just about using cloth in general.  There is a difference!)

Materials Allowed

The following diapering items can be used:

• Any flat cloth diaper, store bought or handmade.  A flat should be only 1 layer of material for easier handwashing and faster drying.
• 1 night time diaper per night of your choice although you are asked to make flats work for you (this diaper must also be handwashed)
• Doublers (not inserts meant to be absorbent enough to stand alone) if you absolutely must.
• A diaper sprayer.
• Wet bags/diaper pails for storage.
• Handmade “washing machine” for diapers such as the camp style washer I made last year.
• Non Electronic Portable washing machines (must be powered by you and cost less than $100.
• Commercially available or handmade covers.
• Commercially available or handmade detergents.
• Snappi, Boingo, and Pins for closure.
• Pocket diapers STUFFED WITH FLATS. (note that the potential for repelling on the stay dry lining could make your challenge harder but you can see what happens)
• Homemade or store bought fleece liners.
• Iron (to use in order to expedite drying time or sterilize)

Materials Not Allowed

• Electronic washer/dryer.
• Pockets with inserts other than flats, AIO’s, Fitteds, Contours, Prefolds, AI2’s, etc.
• Flushable liners.

Rules for Everyone

• You cannot use your washer or dryer.
• If for some reason something arises and an exception is made you need to disclose in the Conclusions Survey or on your blog if you are a blogger.
• There is no limit on the number of flats or covers you can use.  Should you purchase 100 flats for $100 and go a whole week without washing?  No.  Use your common sense on this one.  As a tip the more diapers in your camp washer/ sink/ tub the harder the washing will be.  

Rules for Bloggers

• You cannot be sponsored by received free flats or covers to use.  Bloggers will see a link to the rules in the form of a .pdf after signing up within the sign up application.

Day Three

Today is the third full day of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  As a reminder, this is a 7 day Challenge where participants can only use flat cloth diapers and have to ditch their washer and dryer in favor of good ol’ fashioned handwashing.  We are close to 500 participants this year and many are blogging their journey.  You can find their posts linked at the end.

No leaks for me!  So far so good in that department.  That was one of my worst fears-that I'd have leaks like crazy.  I have had a blue bum a couple of times from the tie dyed flats, but now that they've been washed a couple of times that has disappeared.

The hand washing has been going pretty well too.  I wash in the evening.  I use my camp style washer and also my bathtub (that's how I get the water in the bucket).  The drying has been really quick and no problems with my flats and covers.  But my nighttime diapers?  Well...that is proving a little harder.  It is muggy here today and  my inserts and pocket for my KaWaii baby heavy wetter overnight are not dry yet...and baby goes to bed in less than 4 hours.  I tried outside drying on my clothesline, and inside on my drying rack.  They are now downstairs perched in front of our dehumidifier.  Here's hoping!

If they don't  dry I will try a diaper bag fold and see what happens.  And hope that I don't get a bath in the middle of the night from her leaking all over me.  She nurses at least 4 times between 7am and 7pm if not more.  So overnight can get messy  :o)

I really don't know how one would do anything but flats and covers if they didn't have dryer access in a tropical environment.

Today's blog topic is supposed to be "How Do You Use Your Flats?".  I was just folding them in triangles but then I noticed they were not staying put too well.  I looked on YouTube and found a video on how to do an oragami fold and that has worked great today.  That's all I have to say on the topic.  Very exciting stuff.

Day Two

Today is Day 2 of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and our topic of discussion is “Supplies.”  What are we using for the challenge in terms of flats, covers, acessories, and washers.

 I'm using several items in the flats and handwashing challenge.  (The flats aren't such a challenge.  That's how I started cloth diapering back in 2008.)  I am using approximately 12 flat diapers. I tie dyed a few, and the rest are plain old white.  Many of them were mine when I was a baby, some I bought when LMM was a baby.  The tie dye kit cost $9.87

I am also using a Palm Tree one sized cover, four medium Thirsties covers, one Bummis Super Brite cover, and a pair of homemade wool shorties.  I had all of these already or got them in my free diaper mail.

For extra absorption I am using eight homemade fleece soakers.  They are made out of some extra fleece I had from a project and some more I made from an old pair of footie pajamas.

Overnight I am using two KaWaii Heavy Wetter Overnight diapers.  They take awhile to dry so I am using two.

 For washing I made a camp style bucket washer.  I used the directions from this link.

 We started using Charlie's Soap in 2008.  We bought this bucket in July of 2009-as you see the date on the bucket.  We finished the bucket two weeks ago.  (It isn't 128 washloads, it says 1,280).  We used Charlie's on all of our laundry until I had Rosebud, but she got ammonia burn as a reaction.  We switched to using Charlie's on all of our clothes and the Rock In Green on our diapers.  Problem solved.  We paid $125 including shipping for this bucket.  So we did our laundry for nearly three years for $125.  It is 1,280 if you use an entire tablespoon each time.  With our washer we often only need 1/2 TBS.

The bucket is now my "washing machine".

 Drilling holes in my plunger which I paid $3.00 for.  So far the challenge has cost me $12.87.

 The holes help the water swish around with less resistance.

 All finished!!!  Rosebud thinks it is pretty cool.

 I also bought Boingos!  I think they cost $3.  We're up to $15.87.  They are basically a "cool" Snappi.  I don't see any benefit of them over a Snappi.

I am also using a couple of Snappis that I already owned.

I probably shouldn't have spent the money on the tie dye, it totally wasn't a necessity.  I did want to try the Boingos as I hadn't before and I needed a clean plunger.  But part of my doing the challenge was that I would already have everything I needed to do the challenge.  I didn't want to spend unnecessary money on things I didn't need.

If all goes well, I plan on doing this while I am at camp this summer!

Day One

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!  

Bright and early this morning I put Sweet Pea into her newly tie dyed flat (which turned her bum blue, but whatever) and we started the challenge!  

Today I am supposed to post about WHY I am doing the flats challenge.  For those of you who normally read my blog posts I've explained it a little.  I am horrified that people would re use dirty disposable diapers.  I know that diapers, either cloth or disposable, cost money, but I firmly believe that using cloth diapers saves average families thousands of dollars.


I also want to do the flats challenge because I hope in the future to be able to share the information I learn with missionaries who have babies/young children.  Being on the mission field brings a whole new set of "interesting" to any parent's life.  Using flats is a cost effective option, even in humid conditions.  Drying them in humid conditions may prove hard, but I intend to recreate that environment at some point this week and see what I can do to get my flats and covers to dry.  

Sweet Pea Does A Post

First of all, I have to show off  my free fluff!  My mommy blogs for The Cloth Diaper Whisperer about what she learns about cloth diapers...and I got all of this!  Wa-HOOOOO!

Diapers clockwise from top:  Thirstie's Duo (pocket) "Alice Brights", Thirstie's Due AIO "hoot", Bummis Super Whisper Wrap (not sure print name), KaWaii Baby Overnight "Blue Dottie", Palm Tree Diapers cover (purple), KaWaii Baby Overnight "Lime Dottie".  

And I was wrong.  My mommy just told me she did have to pay fifty seven cents for these diapers.  So technically I guess they were not free.  Just mostly free  :o)

I've been hanging out on my mommy quite a bit lately.  I love love love my new sleepy wrap (now called a Boba Baby) that she got secondhand from a friend of ours who didn't need it anymore.  Mommy and I love it so much we may not keep our Moby wrap much longer.  But we haven't decided that for sure.  Don't want to do anything crazy!

I even spend time riding around on mommy's back while she coaches my brother's baseball games.
Today we went to a big open air market in our nearby big city.  I slept most of the time snugly against my mommy, right where I love to be.  There were lots of other cloth babies there.  Mommy met a CHRISTIAN natural mommy with a booth at the market.  This nice lady gave mommy some free samples of a different tea to help her milk supply.  It is a daily struggle for my mommy.

The nice lady and my mommy have a passion to see cloth diapers in the hands of underprivledged families who can't afford disposable diapers.  My mommy's new friend is even already working with our local women's center to get that ball rolling....something my mommy has been hoping to do by doing the "Flats Handwashing Challenge" (starts Monday!).  Isn't it great how God puts people together?

Let's see.  Oh, my shirt is new.  It is hard to see on my wriggly little body, but it says that I am a "breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth wearing, sling riding, loved little girl.  Yep, that about sums up my life.  Cafe Press had them on sale a couple of weeks ago.  Mommy bought me a 2T because normally shirts that are silk screened like this run REALLY small-I've almost grown out of my 12 month one my Uncle Nathan made me when I was in Florida.   Guess what.  This one is an exception to that rule.  I'll be wearing it for quite some time.

I'm almost back to my normal smiley self.  I got a vaccine on Wednesday and it really hit me hard this time.  Mommy and daddy don't agree with how the AAP wants me to get shots, so they spread them W A Y out and only make me have one at a time.  It still swelled up pretty badly and hurt me for a couple of days.  You can still see the mark on my thigh.  My doctor is happy with my growth as I am staying on my curve.  I now weigh 13 # 5 oz.  My doctor also is really encouraging my mommy to get more organic produce, and change the beef we eat.  We already eat organic free range chicken and it is not easy on the grocery bill.  That was part of the reason we went to the market today, to price out some things. If anyone has a good suggestion for us, we'd love to hear it.

Well, I'm getting a little cranky, so it is time for a nap.  Night Night!

Tie Dye Fun

I'm getting geared up for the Flats Handwashing Challenge I mentioned a few days ago.  Below are two items, training pants for Rosebud and a few flats.  I started cloth diapering using flats, snappi's and covers, so that part isn't going to be anything earth shattering (handwashing...probably will be).  

 But as I gazed at these items.  They seemed a little...well.. dull.  Several of Rosebud's training pants are pink or have little butterflies...but these are about as exciting as a woodchip on a playground.  I need her to be excited about the potty.  And I needed to be a little more excited about white flats.

 So...I bought a box of tie dye and got started.  I love tie dye.  I would probably tie dye everything I wear except I want to fit in a smidge...sometimes.

 This was the end result.  I was THRILLED!!!!

 I had the prettiest line in the neighborhood today.  Ok, I HAVE the prettiest one.  It is 11:00pm and I didn't go back out and get them yet.  Oops.  I also tie dyed a couple of old stained onesies with the leftover dye.

 These underpants are WAY more exciting, don't you think?

 These are Sweet Pea's 5 month pictures.  My friend Lindsley saw them on Facebook and offered to run them through photoshop.

I loved how they turned out, and it was so kind of her to make them look professional!

For all of our other children I got monthly pictures done at Wal-Mart (except Rosebud's 8 month ones, I did those).  For Sweet Pea I'm taking on the challenge of doing hers myself every other month.  Wish me luck!  I hope she doesn't get upset with me someday when she doesn't have the same ones everyone else does.

Bravely Going Where I Have Not Gone Before

I haven't been posting much, but the weather is BEAUTIFUL and I've been outside soaking up every moment I can.  And working on some projects.  Project #1 being Operation Declutter.  Wow.  That is SO hard for little old packrat me.

This has involved  trips to Once Upon A Child, multiple donations, and a garage sale.  Tired much?  Sadly, it hardly has made a dent in our copious amount of stuff.  I get that having six people under one roof will require quite a few items, but really it is ridiculous.  I finally have the boys' clothes under control, but the girls have so much I can't close their drawers.  That is just sick.  

Not sure our family has reached its maximum, but no more babies in the immediate future.  We'd rather not store a bunch of stuff that we're not using when someone else could be.  Also, if we don't have any more children what a waste.  The chances of the items being damaged or getting dirty/broken/etc. is just high so we're downsizing and hoping others can benefit.  

It is NOT easy to get rid of baby things.  I keep thinking "oh!  I remember when....".  #1 says "you've taken pictures of everything they've ever worn, played with, sat in,"  Yeah.  I know.  But it is still hard.  My favorite is when someone I know needs something and I can give it to them.  That makes it easier knowing someone I love will get it.  

Project #2 is being the coach.  This is giving me exercise and is also fun.  I have a team of mostly 3 and 4 year olds, a couple of five year olds.  Interesting doesn't even begin to describe it.  I am not athletic.  I am not very knowledgeable about baseball in general (men's softball...I know much more about).  However, when your team is preschoolers you just have to know more than them.  That's not too hard  :o)

Project #3 our garden.  I have a love hate relationship with gardening.  I love the food.  I love to SEE my garden looking all nice.  I don't really love pulling weeds, watering, general garden care.  

Project #4 officially starts May 21st.  I will be using flats and covers (along with Snappis and Boingos) only for a week.  That's nothing super exciting as it is how I started cloth diapering way back when.  But this is different because I will be washing them all....by hand.  

What?  Am I crazy?  Yep.  

Dirty Diaper Laundry is doing a handwashing challenge.  There are no government programs right now that give any assistance with diapers.  Unless you have a local food bank that has diapers, you are on your own.  People are resorting to some drastic things like not changing their babies but once or twice a day or reusing disposable diapers.  That.  Is.  Disgusting.  We're doing this challenge to show another drastic alternative.  Use cloth diapers.  And we're taking out all of the excuses.

No washer?  No problem.  We will demonstrate and collect information (and share it) how to handwash diapers.  So many families in need don't have immediate access to washing machines.  

No Money?  Well, if you are buying disposables at all, then you can do this.  A dozen flat diapers typically cost between $15 and $20.  If you washed everyday, that is all you'd need.  Diaper covers that have snaps to fit a baby 8lbs-30 lbs can cost as little as $5.50 each.  You'd need 3-4.  Snappis usually come in 3 packs and cost typically $8/pack.  You can use one everyday for at least six months.  If you're keeping track, we're up to $50.  Technically you wouldn't need anything else.  You could technically diaper a baby from birth to potty training on $50.  I doubt most people diaper their kids for much less than $50 a month.  

Not interested?  Probably you won't want to read much more I post this month.  I'm declaring May my cloth diaper month.  I haven't really written much about them in awhile, and it is high time I do!  There will be a smattering of other things (Sweet Pea turns 5 months, boys' first baseball games, Sweet Pea's baby dedication) too but cloth diapers here I come!

After nearly four years of cloth diapering, I am bravely going where I have not gone before. Back to the dark ages.  Where they handwashed flats.  

The (not so ) Great Cloth Diaper Change 2012

I have been looking forward to today for a few weeks now.  THE GREAT CLOTH DIAPER CHANGE!  Snug and I took Rosebud last year (she was the one in a diaper) and we had a great time.  The event was held at an organic garden center and tons of vendors were there for Earth Day.  There were probably at least 75 babies and their caregivers there to participate.  It poured, but we were in a green house, so no big deal. 

 This year the event was MUCH closer to home, only about fifteen minutes, as opposed to an hour.  However, we had a really hard time finding where it was as google dumped us off in an abandoned lot.  

 This event takes place all over the world, I think I read this year there were 500 locations.  Our location?  In the middle of the city in a park.  April in our neck of the woods isn't predictable.  Today's rain and 44 degrees isn't unusual.  MAN were we chilly.

 Rosebud pretty much hated the whole thing.  #1 was a really good sport about it.  He is the greatest cloth diapering dad ever.

 These trees were the warmest thing there, trust me.

 Yup, I was freezing.  My nose hasn't stopped running since we were out there.  Luckily Sweet Pea was in a sling against my body and had her warm blanket.

 This is where our event was held.  I'm dead serious.  See that "platform" with some chairs around it over to the left?  That's where we were to change our babies.  I felt bad for the girl who was running our location as I'm sure she was picturing a much different scene.

 However, with the true grit of cloth moms (and a few dads) we participated in the change!  One of the women pictured here is a friend of #1's from high school.  Cool huh?

 We had, in the end, 21 babies.  We needed 25 to qualify.  So sad.

 I was glad that Sweet Pea was dressed warmly.  She didn't even fuss!  She fusses all the time in our warm house with toys and electricity and no rain dripping on her head.  Maybe I'll move her bed to our deck!

Yeah, Rosebud was NOT feeling the love today. 

This baby was very happy.  He didn't seem to be affected by the weather either  :o)

It was too bad the weather was so icky.  It was still fun to meet with other cloth and babywearing moms.  Despite it not being what I expected this year, I'll participate again next year too!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig Jog

I'm baaaack!  You probably didn't even miss me seeing as I post so very little these days.  I'll try to get pictures off my camera and on my computer tomorrow. Then we'll see if I have time to blog.

My niece Ivy is just beautiful.  It was so fun to see her and her parents and her grandparents.  Sweet Pea got completely spoiled having my undivided attention (as well as 4 other adults to dote on her).

We got to visit a brand new cloth diaper/natural living store while I was there.  If I had the moolah I'd open one right here where I live, seeing as no such thing exists.  It was so fun.  I couldn't sell water in the desert, but somehow I've been able to reach out to other moms and "sell" cloth diapering.  Now I'd like to make some money at it.

It was also fun hanging out with my baby-wearing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding SIL.  Kindred spirits I tell ya!  I miss her already.

Sweet Pea did fabulous on all of her plane rides.  I could not have asked for easier travel.  Very blessed.

That is all I have time for tonight.  Thinking of starting my own "business"-besides my daycare.  The cloth diaper/natural living store truly inspired me.  We'll see how long I have the energy...right now it is but a twinkle in my eye.

Goodnight all.

22 Months

Ah Rosebud.  She is one stylin' girl.  She loves her jewelry and anything sparkly/shiny/pink/glittery/frilly.  Her mama likes browns/jeans/sweatshirts/crocs.  We may just be polar opposites in the fashion world.  

Rosebud now can quickly and quietly take off her clothing.  She loves to be down to a diaper (and apparently BabyLegs...those stayed on).  She completely accessorized herself also.  

 She wanted her picture taken and kept saying "cheese"!

She is a total ham and attention seeker.  She loves the camera.  

 When she wants to be.

 But there are other times.  Like when I was trying to take her 22 month pictures.  That she is NOT feeling it.

 Not one tiny bit.  And nothing you can say is going to change her mind.

But wait a few minutes, and she'll come around.  Too bad we now were on our way out the door and this is the only picture I could snap!

Rosebud is 31.5" tall and weighs 21 lbs, 0 oz.  We are having some problems with her digestive tract (I know, surprise, surprise) and investigating what the problem could be.  We had trouble with her about a year ago and then it seemed to get better.  As of probably November we've been having problems on and off...mostly ON.  As of this morning she is gluten and dairy free.  We already cut out fruits and veggies (many of which we thought were the culprit but may not be).    I am just praying it isn't dairy.  I can deal with gluten.