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Lessons Learned in Cloth Diapering: The Basics

Here's a basic outline of the options out there for cloth diapering that  I have tried.

NOTE: I've included Amazon links throughout.  While sometimes their prices are a little more, they do have great prices, awesome customer service, and if you're like me and use swagbucks then you probably have gift cards burning a hole in your pocket.

The All-In-One Diaper (aka the AIO)
This is the diaper that is most similar to a disposable.  You just put it on EXACTLY like a disposable, and take it off the same way.  Nothing to stuff, no cover needed, can go under regular clothing.  This is typically the trimmest diaper, in my experience.  The cons:  they take FOREVER to dry.  I typically hang mine in the sun, and then follow it up with some dryer time.  If there is no sun, I run it through the dryer twice.
Brands I love:

• BumGenius SIZED AIO.  These are being discontinued so they are hard to find, but there are some out there.  They are sized.  These were great as XS for newborns (I'm thinking of stocking up for #2), and I've recently stocked up on large.  Places you can still get them: http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/gentlyused/excellentconditionbumgeniusdeluxev3allinone   and http://www.kellyscloset.com/bumGenius-DELUXE-All-In-One-Cloth-Diapers-_p_3965.html
• BumGenius One-size, organic AIO.  This is the trimmest diaper I've ever used.  AND it's one-size so you don't need to buy sizes as your baby grows.  AND it's organic. 
• OsoCosy AIO http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=943  These are great because they are like a prefold that has been turned into an AIO.  Pretty bullet-proof, in my opinion. 
• http://hyenacart.com/nanasbottoms/index.php?c=19  Nana's Bottoms AIO.  I don't know how she does it, but these diapers are THE BEST.  TRIM TRIM TRIM and super affordable.  She ALWAYS has a sale code on her site, too.  Just go to the home page and there is a listing for it.   

 The Pocket Diaper
Pretty much exactly like an AIO only instead of all of the nice absorbent stuff being sewn in, the diaper is more of a "shell" and with a hole in it and you stuff it with absorbent stuff.  What you get is a diaper that goes on very similarly to a disposable, but doesn't have the LONG drying time of an AIO.  Also, you can customize the absorbency of the diaper.  You can make it REALLY trim but slightly less absorbent for day, or you can stuff it full for nighttime.  I'll make another blog post about what to stuff it with.  Stay tuned.
Brands I love:

• BumGenius Pocket  Probably the most famous pocket diaper. 
• Sunbaby Diaper.  These are an ebay diaper.  They are made in China (hence why they are so cheap) but I know someone who did testing on them and they meet all US standards for lead and all the other junk that you wouldn't want in a diaper.  I've heard that they aren't great on skinny babies.  Because my baby is a chunker, these are awesome.  :)  http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=sunbaby+diaper&_sacat=See-All-Categories
• A note on Fuzzibunz:  Fuzzibunz are similar to BumGenius Pockets and lots of people love them.  I hated them.  Could never get the fit right, SUPER bulky, and they were constantly leaking.  Some people love them, though.  No judgement if you do too.  We just can't be friends.  

Fitted Diaper
A Fitted is a diaper that does not have a waterproof outer material, so you need to put a cover on it.  Now that my son is older, I don't really like them.  They tend to be too bulky for me.  I did love them when he was a newborn, though.
Brands I love:

• Thirsties Fab Fitted.  These now are more of a customized size fit.  When I used them they were sized and awesome.  I'm sure these are great too.  
• GoodMama.  These are like the Ferrari of cloth diapering.  Really expensive but really nice.  I once bought one on super clearance (I think I spend like $15) when I was pregnant, never used it, and sold it a few months ago for $65.  For reals.  These are like collectors items to some people, but for those of us who don't care they are just really great diapers.  http://shop.thegoodmama.com/category_s/20.htm
• REALLY easy to make your own.  I made my own pattern.  I'll post it as a future blog post.

  PREFOLDS
I used prefolds when Asher was a newborn and had mixed feelings.  I recently ordered more to try again and they will be here tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  Prefold post to come.  :)

Flats
See future prefold blog post.  Same story as prefolds for right now.

Covers
If you are using prefolds, flats, or fitted diapers you need to have a waterproof cover.  Here's some options:

• Thirsties Dup Wrap cover:   Best cover out there.  Period.  Wipes clean so you only need two.  Adorable colors.  Have literally NEVER had a leak with this cover.  
• Wool.  If I win the lottery, the first thing I'm going to buy is a really nice bottle of wine.  The second thing I'll buy is as many wool cover as I want.  It is soft, breathable, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and amazing.  You can "up-cycle" and make your own from wool sweaters.  Wool does require very special care/treatment but I think it's totally worth it.  Here's some of my favs: http://www.kellyscloset.com/Sustainablebabyish-Knit-Wool-Covers_p_4329.html , http://www.etsy.com/listing/78269393/custom-sizecolor-hand-knit-organic-wool?ref=sr_list_5&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=wool+longies&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade , And my FAVORITE EVER http://greenmountaindiapers.com/disana.htm
• Fleece.  I make and sell fleece covers.  Fleece is not as bullet-proof as wool, BUT it is CHEAP (like, really cheap) and comes in cute prints.  Also, you can wash it with regular clothing--you don't even need to do your cloth diaper wash routine (also topic of a future blog post) you can just throw it in with towels or whatever.  Here's my etsy store  :)  http://www.etsy.com/shop/fiddy123?ref=si_shop

Phew.  That's a lot.  There are more options out there, but I'd say these are the basics and what I've had the most success with.  

Next cloth topic:  how to buy/sell used diapers to make them cost NOTHING.  That's right, I never  try not to spend more than $10 on a diaper and every a lot of the time I've sold one I've actually made a profit on it, making the diapers I've kept free or at least really really cheap.  I know it sounds like I'm trying to sell a pyramid scheme, but I'm not.  :)  There are resources out there to help make cloth diapering even more economical.  Post will come soon!!  For now, I have to go fold laundry.

Lessons Learned in Cloth Diapering: Why I Cloth

So my friend Amy recently has been blogging about cloth diapers, and I thought I would continue the "series" I had begun "years" ago.

As I described in my earlier cloth-related post, I started researching cloth diapers when I was pregnant.  Why?  Well here's why I was interested and why I still use cloth.

1. I read an article when I was pregnant that talked about how chemicals and materials that used to be found in feminine hygiene products but have since been outlawed are still found in disposable diapers for babies and toddlers.  So something isn't safe to have near my reproductive organs for four days out of the month but it is safe to be on my baby's twenty-four seven for the first four years of life??  Awesome.  (Armstrong, Liz and Adrienne Scott   Whitewash: Exposing the Health and Environmental Dangers of Women's Sanitary Products and Disposable Diapers, What You Can Do About It. 1993. HarperCollins.)
2. They are super cute.  
3. You save THOUSANDS of dollars over the cost of disposables.  
4. They don't leak.  Seriously.  I have had probably three times more leaks in disposables than in cloth.
5. Nuggets like this: "In May 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers, and that prolonged use of disposable diapers will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal spermatogenesis."  Need I say more??
6. Environmental issues up the ying yang.

Bottom line is that disposable diapers are a relatively new invention, and they are packed with all sorts of gross-ness that we just don't know the long-term effects of.  Cloth is cheap, clean, healthy, cute, and all around better.   I do use disposables at night or when we are out and about (blog post to come regarding that) but I feel like any time my son is in a cloth rather than disposable diaper it is a better thing.

Recap: Asher 14 Months Old

I haven't blogged in a long time.  I'd say I feel guilty about it, but I totally don't because I have been having way too much fun with my TODDLER.  That's right, I said toddler.  Asher is almost 14 months old and I cannot even begin to believe it.  He is a walking, talking, little stack of pure joy that leaves a path of destruction in his wake.  Because I don't have the time nor the patience to blog about all of the truly amazing experiences I've had with him over the last sixish months (or however long it's been since I've blogged) I'll just give some bullets.

• I am proud to announce that he is SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!  Hooray!!!  It started happening maybe a month ago.  I never had to do anything traumatizing, I didn't have to "train" him by letting him scream for hours, I didn't even have to turn off the monitor.  He just started sleeping.  Every once in a while he stirs and asks to nurse--but I'd say he sleeps through the night at least five nights a week.  Also, the nights he sleeps through the night he sleeps in an extra 1-2 hours in the morning.  Go figure.
• Yes, I am still nursing.  I've kinda started weaning.  I give one bottle of cow milk to him everyday.  I think I have plans to give one more, which would just put me down to nursing before Asher's nap and before bed, but I'm no sure.  Whatever--we'll see what happens.
• Asher is running all over the place.  He has no fear when it comes to walking/running.  We are on bloody lip number five and countless bumps and bruises, but it doesn't seem to stop this daredevil.
• While he is bold in his physical movements, Asher is going through this shy phase.  I'm not sure if it's a phase or if it's just his personality, but he doesn't like loud places or new people.  Once he warms up he's great but he really prefers to be buried in mom's arms than have to meet new people.  
• He can identify his head, doggy's nose, and his feet.  It is really cute.  Like, seriously the cutest thing ever.  Yesterday we were working on "button" (for belly button) he had it, but then lost it.  We'll keep working, stay tuned.
• Words he says: mama, dada, doggie, papa, up (this is his clearest and cutest word), out, ago (his way of saying again), out, shoes (or "oos" as he says it), leaf, hat, doe (avocado) and car.  Signs he knows: milk, all done, more, bread, apple, banana, gentle, snack, giraffe, hippo,zebra, doggie, and water.
• Favorite food:  bread.  Bread bread bread bread bread bread bread.  If someone on tv is eating a sandwich, he has a meltdown for bread.  If he can see the package of bread, he won't rest until he eats some.  He's addicted.  
• He LOVES books.  He is so cute: he goes over to his bookshelf, grabs a book, brings it over to us and sits in our lap and starts turning the pages.  He usually likes us to read him the book, and then he goes to the beginning and "reads" it back to us.  He gets mad if we don't pay attention.  This is seriously like the happiest part of my day.
• His favorite person in the entire world is Wilson.  Loves him, asks for him when he cries, points to him if he walks by, giggles uncontrollably if Wilson pays him any attention.  It is very sweet.  Wilson is rather apathetic about the whole situation.
• He bites his friends.  He goes in to give them a kiss, gets excited, and bites instead.  I'm hoping this doesn't mean that he's some sort of sociopath or is unable to love or something.  Stay tuned.

Truly, I am still the HAPPIEST I've ever been.  I honestly feel grateful that I get such an amazing son to share life with.  He is happy and I just think he's great.

Asher's First Christmas: 4 days of food, family, fun.

I thought I would take the time to document Asher's first Christmas.  On the 23rd, we had a nice morning as a family and then packed everyone up for my family's house.  Mom made a delish dinner of steak, fondue, and other yummy stuff that is so good you feel your arteries clog as you smell it.  We spent the night, and then on the morning of the 24th had a little pretend Christmas morning.  It was so fun having toys under the tree again.

After a hearty brunch and lots of games, we headed home to get a good nap in.  Christmas Eve, we went to my parents' church for their children's Christmas Eve service.  Mom helped direct it, and the little kiddos were so cute.  Asher was the only baby in the service who was content to stand on Dad's lap and watch.  He loved sitting with Grandpa and was especially interested in all the candles for "Silent Night".

On our way home, we decided to start a shameful Christmas Eve tradition and do a progressive fast-food dinner.  Don't judge--it was a long car ride and the baby was sound asleep.  We got cinna-twists and Taco Bell, fries at McD's, and jo-jo's and root beer floats and A&W.  Don't be jealous--it was amazing.  :)

After a full night of sleep (thanks, Asher!) we had a quiet Christmas morning just with our little family.  After showers, we headed out for Tyler's family.  Soon after we got to his parents' house, our nephew and his parents arrived.  Asher and Eli have spent lots of time together, and we love getting everyone together.  Jenn, Tyler, and I cooked a big breakfast for everyone, and we spent the day laughing and watching the boys open gifts (okay, we got some, too.)  The boys were great and even took naps throughout the day!!

Later, Tyler's Aunt and her family came over and we had a huge Christmas dinner with all the fixings.  So good.  After dinner, the rest of Tyler's extended family came over and we had tons of desserts and lots of fun.  

We got back LATE Christmas day.  On the 26th, we got up, packed up, and headed out to my Aunt's house.  We didn't think we were going to get to see my extended family this year, but my cousin/good friend was in town and we really wanted to get together.  While we were there, Santa came by the visit Asher!  He was a very brave boy and seemed fascinated.

Christmas Lessons:

1. We are so very blessed to have the best family in the world.  
2. Christmas is SO MUCH MORE FUN with a kid/baby.
3. The joy of Christmas has ZERO to do with gifts.  You could probably say we made out gift-wise better this year than any other year--but that was truly not even close to the best part.  We are grateful for how our families blessed us, but we are most grateful for their love.
4. Four days of celebrating Christmas is exhausting.
5. Progressive Fast-Food Dinner: great idea in theory.  Bad idea gastro-intestinally.
6. There are really really good foods our there in the world.  In the last three weeks, I've gained three pounds and Tyler six.  Totally worth it.
7. Above all, it was wonderful celebrating the birth of the Savior surrounded by those we love.
8. Asher makes everything better.  

Merry Christmas!

Asher, I am so proud of you.

I wish there was a way to tell my little six-month-old how proud I am of him.  Since this blog has served as a sort of "record" for his firsts, I thought I would write him a letter.  Maybe when he's an adult he'll read this, cry, and hold his mommy and tell me that he'll never love anyone as much as me.  I can dream, right??

Dear Asher,
           I never had any clue just how remarkable you would be.  I knew you would be cute, I knew I would love you, I knew you would be smart, but I had no idea what an amazing miracle you would be.
       Your latest "tricks" have been crawling backwards, and rolling in all directions to get something you want.  I just can't believe that you have figured out a way to move.  The look on your face is so cute--sheer determination to reach the toy that is just out of reach.  When you do reach it, you turn your head to find me and give me a big, proud smile.  You're amazing.
        Right now you are upstairs taking a nap.  Even how you go to sleep is amazing.  When you get sleepy, I put you in a sleepsack and start to nurse you.  While you nurse you keep your eyes tightly closed.  When you've had enough food, you open one eye (as if to make sure I'm still there) and put your right thumb in your mouth.  When I place you in your crib you roll on your side, keep sucking your thumb, tightly close your eyes, and go to sleep. Daddy and I love to watch this--we think it is so entertaining and adorable how you know exactly what you need and put yourself to sleep.  Every night when we leave your room after putting you to bed, Daddy and I look at each other and comment on what an awesome kid we have.
      You could not be more boyish.  You laugh after you poop, you are a very stinky kid, and you are attracted to things that are fast or shiny.  You are also the smileyest baby I've ever known--you honestly smile all the time.  Even if you are crying and fussy, if someone smiles at you you can't help but give them a giant smile back.  Your laugh is infectious and I would do just about anything to hear it.
         I love you so much and am so proud of you.  I adore you and feel so very blessed to be your mommy.  Always know that you are so very loved, valuable, and perfect just how you are.
Love, Mommy.

Christmas Cards!

One of our accidental traditions as a family has to do with our Christmas card.  Our first year of marriage we weren't sure whether it was appropriate to send a letter because we didn't have cute kids for our friends and family to tape to their fridge.  We ended up sending a card from shutterfly with a wedding picture.  Nice, simple, real crowd pleaser.

So, in 2008 we were not going to send anything at all.  Again, no cute kids to speak of and we had always mocked those who sent cards without kids.  I mean seriously, what are we looking at?  How you have changed your hair since last year?  However, that was the year of the huge snowstorm.  We were snowed in and stranded for about three days, but really life was not normal for about two weeks.  When the snow first started, we ran outside, asked a random guy putting chains on his car to take a picture, and got this gem in one shot!

So, in the middle of the snowstorm, we ordered cards from shutterfly and overnighted them.  We then had the genius plan to write a letter from Wilson's perspective and send it with the card.  We sent the photocard with the letter and were mocked mercilessly for the letter and got raves about how cute the picture was.

2009:  We are now pregnant and busier than we have ever been.  We now own a house, work full time in very demanding careers, and are trying to have a social life before little baby gets here!  We decided to send the letter from Wilson, but not  a picture.  We literally got emails and notes on Christmas cards asking where the photocard was.  People were ticked!  

So, for this year, we will not make that mistake again.  We have scheduled our pictures with our photographer and are determined to get a Christmas-card-worth pic.  We will certainly be ordering our cards from shutterfly.  I find their products to be the BEST and their customer service cannot be beat.  They are giving me free cards for blogging about them, but I think I would rave about them even if they didn't!

Since we don't have a picture yet I haven't picked which cards I want, but I have looked!  You can see their holiday cards here. 

Here are some of my favorites!