cloth diapers part 2

the last time i blogged about cloth diapers i was still pregnant.  so i thought i would do a follow up post since i have been at it for 3 1/2 months now.  i have several friends that are considering it, and in my infinite (ha) wisdom, i thought this might help.  i wish i knew (or sortof knew...) someone that used cloth diapers, rather than just read about it from people in colorado i didn't know at all.  so for those of you that aren't interested in cloth diapers- this is a dull post. 

what i like about it: 1. it really is sortof like a hobby.  i can't explain this any other way, it's just fun.  and it's much easier than i thought it would be (even for stephen!) 2. environmentally friendly- this honestly wasn't a factor when i was deciding but i like that our diaper trash is minimal.  3. money- we have probably spent a total of $500 on cloth and i could spend more if i want, but i don't have to.  i'm pretty sure i would have spent close to that by now on disposables.  4. they are cute. 5. B has only had diaper rash when she was in disposables. 6. she can go longer between changes- i like to change as frequently as she needs, but if she poops in a disposable i have to change it immediately, but in cloth she will be ok.  this is especially helpful at night.

what i don't like: 1. we have a front loader washer.  top loaders are better for cloth. but nbd.  2. cleaning them- this is also nbd, it would be a perfect world if you didn't have to clean them.  3. i have to stay on top of laundry- if i don't, no diapers.  i do diaper laundry about every other day. 4. the smell.  this was my BIGGEST concern when deciding if i wanted to do it.  i won't lie like some people and say there is no smell.  there is.  we keep all our dirty diapers in a hanging cloth diaper pail in our bathroom in the basement.  because this is also where we clean and wash the dipes, the room has a little funk to it.  BUT when i light a candle, you really can't smell a thing.  AND it's still not the funk you get with poop+disposables.  5. not everyone can change her diaper.  we just make sure we have disposables for when someone else might change her.  6. out of town trips- when we go to my parents i still use them, but anywhere else i just use disposables so i am not toting around dirty diapers.  those are the cons- but honestly, none of them are as big of a deal as i thought they would be. 

what i use(ed):
Rumparooz G2 one size pocket- like it
bumGenius 4.0 one size pocket- love it
thirsties duo- like it
bumGenius all in one one size- don't like it but i am glad i have a few
flips diaper by bumGenius- like it

bumGenius 3.0 size xs- loved it, but it is about to be too small

lil joeys by rumparooz- they were ok, wouldn't recommend them.

kissaluvs fitted size xs- dislike. 
prefolds- dislike
fuzzibunz one size pocket- dislike- this one might be better when she gets bigger
fuzzibunz size small pocket- dislike- ditto

velcro is easier, but snaps last longer- snaps are nbd once you get use to them.  most diapers come in both.

if i had to do it over i would have bought one of each kind/brand i was considering and used them for a week or two and made my decision from there.  i would however recommend having a variety and not just go with one brand- i think my favs will continue to change as she grows. 

who should do cloth?  anyone who wants to.  if you don't think you'll enjoy it, i don't think it's worth it unless you need to do it to save money.  but if you think you might enjoy it then you probably will. 

any questions?  :)

me A-Z

 These are silly, but bring me back to my immature days of forwarded emails about 15 years ago.  Ha! 
A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: queen
C. Chore you dislike: dishes.  PTL my husband does them for me 99% of the time.  I know, I know....lucky girl. 
D. Dogs: I have been begging Stephen for 3 1/2 years and will continue to do so until we have a furry little friend. 
E. Essential start to your day: i'm not a routine kinda person.  each day is different for me.  i do put my hair in a bun first thing in the morning though. 
F. Favorite color: green
G. Gold or silver: i like both.  my rings are all silver/white gold, but i love me some big yellow gold jewelry as well. 
H. Height: 5'9. 
I. Instruments you play(ed): mandatory violin in elementary school.  a little known fact, though, is that my husband has incredible guitar skills. 
J. Job title: wife, mom.
K. Kids: Blakely Lynn- 3 1/2 months
L. Live: Lawrence, KS
M. Mom’s name: Theresa/Teri
N. Nicknames: sary.  i won't divulge the many ridiculous things my husband calls me.
O. Overnight hospital stays: blood clot junior year of high school, and B's birth
P. Pet peeves: piles. 
Q. Quote from a movie: "you think i don't know a buttload of crap about the gospel.  but i dooo."  -any guesses?
R. Righty or lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Joe- 28, Micah- 23
T. Time you wake up: 7ish.
U. Underwear: Yes.
V. Vegetables you don’t like: green beans.  i'll eat them but i never want them. 
W.What makes you run late: blakely
X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, broken arm in 6th grade
Y. Yummy food you make: I love to cook.  i'd like to think it's all yummy. :)
Z. Zoo animal favorites: gorillas! 

tummy time

blakely screams through every bit of tummy time.  i fear for her developmentally because i do it so infrequently because she just hates it so much.  well, today i discovered how to peacefully get in a little tummy time: march madness. 

she will now crane her neck to see the tv.  it's hilarious.  i fear we are just feeding the monster. 

Socialization

So....Blakely has terrible social skills.  I don't mean the occasional fit, or passing gas (or worse...) on someone's lap, or gooping on someone's shirt... I mean she will be in a good mood, and if someone holds her besides me, Stephen, or my mom, she SCREAMS.  Any other moms have this problem?  Sometimes she even cries if they just get too close to her.  Especially older men.  My poor grandpa and neighbor, Ralph.  Quiet old man from across the street, barely ever heard him talk, and we went over on a nice day.  He got up and came over and talked to Blakely way more than he's ever talked to me, and about 10 seconds later out came the bottom lip.  I know it's not like it's my fault or anything, but I feel rude for her.  Like I need to awkwardly apologize and make up some excuse "oh...she's just tired..."  But really she's just afraid of you.  My grandpa has tried to hold her twice and literally as soon as he picks her up she screams and is almost inconsolable for quite a while.  I think I feel bad because I know how it feels to be the one screamed at.  It's a pretty bad feeling to take a happy baby and be the one responsible for ruining it.  Has anyone else had to socialize their babies? 

3 months

 Can you believe it?  I can't. She is growing up so fast....

But seriously, she is already 3 months old?  Isn't it funny how time draaaaaaags by when you are pregnant and it feels like you will be pregnant forever?  The best parenting thought/advice I have gotten was: "The days are long, but the years are short.  Cherish each day."  I haven't experienced the "years" yet, but I can already tell it's true.  Sometimes it seems like her bedtime will NEVER get here....but it also just seems like yesterday that I was taking her 2 month pictures!   I already wish I could go back in time and hold that little puny 4 pounder.  She weighs 10lbs 6oz today.  Suppose to triple birth weight by a year?  Psh. 

We have turned a few corners recently.  First of all, I think slowly but surely, she is outgrowing her colic.  It really feels like she is getting better each day.  She still has her fits, and I have my breakdowns but she is getting better.  Sometimes she is so content that I really don't know what to do with her.  Should I be teaching her something?  Playing with her?  How do you play with a baby?   She never lets me worry about it for too long though.  Second, remember when I told you about the bedtime routine that turned disastrous?  Well, I decided I needed to give it a fair shot since she was sick...so we have been doing it since then, and it has changed. my. life.  Seriously.  She is asleep by 7:30 or 8 each night!  AND since we have been consistent, she doesn't even fight!  There's still a big fit after the bath and she still hates book time...but I think she hates it less than she did at first.  I still feed her at least once a night, sometimes more, but its not so bad.  I know one day I will miss it.  She actually slept 9 hours without eating last night.  Stephen and I both woke up at 4:30 in shock.  Now, she's not sleeping perfectly...I was still up most of the night a few days ago, but she is getting better and better.  She has even put herself to sleep THREE times now!  And just for going public with this info, I am sure she will give me an eventful night tonight.  

I think she is going to be type A.  She is just a little ball of stress.  Even when she is happy, she is stressed.  She will get so excited and be kicking her legs and waving her arms and screaming (happy screams) until she works herself up to a cry.  It's actually kinda funny.  So when she is extra excited, we just take breaks with her pacifier periodically.  Seriously.  As soon as it seems like she is a little too worked up, I pop it in, she relaxes a little bit, then we can go back to being excited.  She also does this when she is standing up.  She gets so intense when standing on my lap, trying to walk on me, and then she gets frustrated.  So I pop the paci in and she just crumples.  It's like if she is sucking then she has no muscle control.   I can't believe there was a day I considered going "no paci."  Stupid. 

Doesn't she just look like she is trying to manipulate me in this picture?  She is, I am sure.  Stinker.  Last week we were having a rough day and I was desperately trying to get her to take a nap- which is nearly impossible- and I was trying to cheer myself up.  And the thought popped in my mind of Blakely walking and talking.  Not like walking in 9 months...walking and talking NOW.  Like a big person.  And I just pictured little Blakely walking around our house just bossing us around.  I laughed out loud.  So take a moment and picture this little squirt walking up to you, tapping you on the shin and giving you a piece of her mind.  Cause that's what she would do if she could walk and talk.