Cloth Diapers-my stash-i will write explainations later

1 The explainations are mostly for those who don't cloth diaper. These are my fitted diapers with the white in terry cloth, the cream in bamboo fabric, and green in a super soft "teddy" diaper. These velcro on much like disposible diapers do. They are the absorbent part of the diaper, much like the terry cloth squares of yesteryear sans pins to fasten.

2 This is what they look like opened up, complete with an oval booster for extra absorbancy in case of a heavy wetter like Alex. Ooo! they are so soft and fuzzy and lovely against my baby's skin.

3 This is the teddy with out the booster in it, just so you can see.

4 With these kind of diapers, we use a waterproof wrap that velcros over top the diaper. Think of the rubber pants of yesteryear, but more diaper changing friendly as well as baby skin friendly. The wrap have proven to be the "fun" part in cloth diapering as you will see further on. This one is just a basic white one.

5 Diaper in!

6 This is where you imagine baby wearing the yummy softness that is this diaper!

7 All done up.

8 We also have some prefold flat diapers that we use. and the following few pictures are just showing a fold or two and wearing those in a wrap.

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12 Cloth diapering can be versatile as well. We have used a couple of boosters on some of the small wraps to go under some outfits that require slimmer, or less fluffy diapers.

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14 My pocket diapers... these are great for grandmas or other care takers as all they have to do is put them on baby without worrying if they have all the parts in the right order or right way around (poor sweet mother-in-law on one of her first solo changes got the order right, just the wrap in backwards.) These diapers have a pocket that an absorbant cloth is stuffed into before hand and are similar to a disposable in that once assembled is basically one piece.

15 Here are the blue and green diaper opened up with their absorbant cloths on the outside.

16 Partially stuffed--kind of like putting a pillow in a pillowcase.

17 And fully assembled. Once used, simply pull the cloths out and put into a dry pail with a lid and wash when you have a full load. Or, I am L.A.Z.Y. and wash the whole pocket diaper together, and separate the parts when I hang them up to dry.

18 The fun part! Wraps! This is my collection of wraps--I have some more plain white ones, but I wanna show off the better ones. This is a front view, but it is the next picture that delights me so much.

19 Fun Hineys!!! I love the floppy ears of Dudy Dog and the adorable Tractor Ron (the company we purchased them from gave them the names) The Blue Propeller Butt (our name) is made of faux velvet, but so soft. The red cow butt makes me giggle and the angels are sweet. The wraps can be worn as outer clothing on warm days when most babies are sporting white disposable butts, the wraps are dual purpose function and fun, and I love it when I buy things that have more than one use, as I feel I am getting more bang for my buck! Wraps need not be changed at every diaper change like the inner diaper, unless they are dirtied by number two.

20 Like I said before, I am lazy, but washing and drying diapers, dare I say it, is a breeze. We got into a routine and it is second nature to was and dry and fold. If *I* can do laundry like this, anyone can!

21Neatly stacked and put away with love

Woot! An assortment of pictures!

1 Z and L in the pool. I figured since we are in the middle of winter, we all could use some warm pictures!

2 Cousins Becky and Ruth, my older brother-Scotty, and me in the cement stock watering tank down on Grandpa and Grandma Evans' farm, circa 1980.

3 Z and L in the same stock tank circa 2007

4 Happy Z :)

5 Sad Z :(

6 Warm and cozy inside, brrrr cold outside. I love my parents' big picture window. L and I used to sit on a couch right by the window and I'd look outsite at the birds and squirrels as she nursed.

7 Sometimes we'd see things like this Amish horse and buggy.

8 L showing off one of her new dresses

9 Pretty in pink!

10 Brave L! She had blood drawn and here is her bandage.

11 A child of mine *actually* likes doing dishes!!!

12 I *heart* the apron!

13 Silly L!

14 My dad broke his ankle by standing up too quickly, and his foot was on the floor wrong and *CRUNCH* it broke and he fell over. You know why he got up quickly? To answer the phone---UH my Dad loathes talking on the phone! His new name--Grace.

So I am a Picture Happy Mom

Finally! A picture of Alex and I that I like!


Pictures using my cell phone

Tractor Ron Butt

Too cute diaper cover! I wish it were a green and yellow tractor though, but oh well. I hope his tractor loving Papa approves


Here is Papa and Grandma Awww!

Duuuude!--Babies are Such Chick Magnets!

When M, Alex and I go out grocery shopping or running errands, I wear Alex in one of the 4 carrier wraps that I made. Today M asked if he could have the wrap on and carry Alex around while we went out shopping. So I put the black wrap on him, popped Alex in and away we went. M was surprised at how snug and secure the wrap felt, and Alex just snuggled down and went to sleep nearly right away--aww!

While we were out, M got a lot of looks from people, mostly accompanied by smiles, but some were quizzical, and some were downright confused (Why is that bloke actually carrying his baby rather than putting the babe in a proper pushchair/buggy/pram?) THEN there were the looks from the young women that looked my Hubby up and down, and had I not been there, M figures that he'd have gotten some phone numbers (Yeah ladies, I know he's HAWT, and he is a WONDERFUL Daddy, and he's ALL mine!!!)

Here is Alex all snuggled up in the wrap---he loves to be in the wrap and it is almost instant naptime when he's in it!


See! Sleeping baby! Awww!

I wish I had know about wrap carriers when I had Z and L. They are so cheap to make and once I practiced once or twice, they were super easy to put on. Here is where I learned--http://www.mamatoto.org/

Why I Love Cloth Diapering

Isn't this diaper wrap just THEE CUTEST EVER!?! We just got this in the mail today and within minutes of M opening up the package, Dudy Dog was on Alex. <3 <3 <3 It is so soft and fluffy and Dudy's ears are floppy. Wraps like this are what made me want to cloth diaper my baby in the first place.


Alex's Daddy was holding him and one foot slipped out of the blanket, and I just *had* to take a picture of the foot cuteness!
Daddy and Alex spending some quality time together <3 <3 <3

Reason One Bazillion and One Why I am Glad I Breastfeed

The night before last night, one of my brilliant neighbors decided to dry her clothes in front of a high heat output electric heater and set her livingroom on fire. We were woken up at 3 am by a fireman knocking at our door saying that there was a fire in the building. We rushed to get dressed, as we only wear underwear to bed, get the cats in the pet carriers, I put a wrap on and put Alex in it, grabbed the diaper bag and blanket and our coats and got out. We were allowed to stay inside on the ground floor because the firefighters believed that they had the fire contained to the original apartment on one of the upper floors (we live in a 9 storey building). So we waited to hear what was going on.

In the mean time, Alexander was ready to eat, so I found a quiet corner, sat down and fed him. It was then that I realized that had I chosen to formula feed, we would have been in a world of hurt--I would have never remembered to grab the formula, water and bottles! I told M that I was so glad that I was breastfeeding and he wholeheartedly agreed.

Within the hour, we were given the all clear to return to our apartments. Ours was a teeny tiny bit smokey but all right after having the windows open to air out for a bit. Alex nursed to sleep, and M and I soon went back to sleep as well.

Whew! Crisis averted!

Ahhh Smiles! ~15 days old~

This morning at 4:30, Alex gave Daddy and I some genuine smiles! I had told Daddy ages ago that the first 2 weeks of Baby's life tends to be pretty tough with establishing breastfeeding and figuring out sleeping patterns and what soothes and what isn't liked at all. Then around the 4 to 6 week mark, they tend to start smiling and cooing, and it makes all the sleepless night just melt away. We got our reward a bit early at 15 days. We both felt the sleepless nights go M'Buh bye now as soon as Alex smiled at us. We slept the rest of the night(morning) very soundly and restfully :)

And because I love giving baby love, more pictures! (if it works)