Orajel numbs your gums... and your lips too

Cloth Diapering

It's time for an update on how it's going with cloth diapers... I've loved using them for a few reasons:

1. comfort for Abigail. She has had no diaper rashes when using cloth. She has had a 2 rashes but it's always when we've used disposable diapers and wipes (on vacations). The chemicals irritate her skin I think.

2. it's cheap. My mom and I made them for about $6 each. We've spent a little over $100 on the whole collection which is only 4 months of 'sposies'. (obviously very rough math since it depends on size, brand, and use of diapers) We use cloth wipes too. Which were bought on discount or sewn from a second hand receiving blanket.

3. It saves all kinds of environmental harm. Less dipes in the landfill, yada, yada.

So what do I have to do? I put the wipes in the warmer. Some people roll them or fold them all fancy. Not me. Hmm, although, I guess I do try and stack every other: flannel and terry. That way if I need a thinner softer one or a good 'ole get-the-job-done one I can grab either.

The red bottle? You fill it with water (about 2 cups?), add a quick squirt of baby soap (about 2 teaspoons?), and add a long squirt of baby oil (again about 2 teaspoons?). The oil squeezes harder, that's why you have to do it longer. Shake it up and squirt it on your stacked wipes and they'll warm up and smell so nice.

Now, it's time to use the diaper! Then, when it's been "used" just fold the Velcro tabs in on the sides (so they don't stick to stuff in the washer) and pull out the inserts and throw it all in the wet bag (which just means a dry waterproof hamper bag that can hold wet items). No dirty hands!

This diaper was actually a wet one. Aren't the purple and pink tractors cute?! Derek helped me pick out the fabric. It's micro fleece inside to be soft and wicking and it's waterproof PUL (the purple) on the outside.

Laundry day (every 2-3 days): take the wet bag and empty it into the washer, pushing the contents out of the wet bag so that the bag turns inside out. Wash that too. I still have clean hands! Prewash, normal wash (hot, not extra hot), rinse (maybe a second rinse if you added too much soap, we do 1/4 of the soap with our front loader) and you're done.

Hang it all on a rack, toss in the dryer, or hang on clothes lines so the sun bleaches out the stains. I usually machine dry the inserts and wipes and hang dry the diapers because they dry instantly since they're synthetic.

Fold the inserts; which are really microfiber car washing towels! Fold 2 together into thirds.

It doesn't take long at all, then stuff them so they're ready!

Look at those beauties!

You HAVE to watch this iBand video!

What have we been up to??

I can't tell you now or it will ruin the surprise but here's a clue:

A peak into our days at home

We unload and reload the shelf in the kitchen:

 We pull down and rehang the kitchen towels:

Gingerbread Houses, Cookies, and Breakfast

Last year, my oldest niece and I made a gingerbread house during a snow day off from school. This year both my nieces came to my house and we made one again. Abigail just wandered around the kitchen while we decorated the gingerbread house.

 Hannah was so excited to be included on this "big girl" activity this year. I was surprised how well she did at it, we only had to remind her a few times to not eat the candy... but what kid (any age) doesn't try to eat some of the candy?!

 They were so proud of their little candy house. We set it out for everyone to see at our cookie exchange that weekend. Here's my mom and grandma with the [great] grandkids.

 All three of them LOVE to hold Abigail. It's one of the first questions that comes up when we see them.

We enjoyed some coffee and breakfast. This is a monthly tradition among the family (breakfast, not cookie exchanges) so I decided to host the December one at my house and combine it with cookies.

Six Month Photos