Merry Winter Weather

Well, we're going on day 10 of snow, wow. JP just got the van up the drive, it was stuck on the street, bless his heart, it's 12:30 am.

The top pic on the last post was Liam's creation, he's getting into legos and using his imagination! Horray! Him and Adelle have also played w/the Christmas village set a lot, too. Adelle's such a cute girl, anything can become "Mommy" and "Daddy". She's going to love her dollhouse this Christmas!

Four pics down are the two on the couch w/their Mickey and Minnie dolls, they're nursing them :) I'm glad they're growing up w/a sense for what's best and how to love a baby. I LOVE nursing my babies. Two weeks ago I got mastitis (again, but first time w/this baby) and my milk supply dropped dramatically, so about 1/2 the time I have to give Eva a bottle. Makes me so grateful for the other 1/2 the time that I can nurse her and give her the benefits of breastmilk.

Liam and Adelle LOVE to dance. Liam is quite the leader, too. What a charmer, he sure makes me melt.

So, we've been in "survival mode" the past two months. Postpardom this time has been more difficult. Then caring for two small, constant children. They are all generally easy, but sure add up, and make for a very demanding day. Parenting is officially "full time", and I feel as though I've been initiated into life! It's hard to get on the comp to write notes and updates, like now I should be sleeping, but I appreciate JP so much I want to wait up for him. I guess he's helping our neighbor get chains on his tires.

Eva's such a joy. She's become quite interactive, overflowing w/joy and smiles. When she's awake it's games of smiling and tickling. And laughing, oh, she's adorable when she laughs. Her sleep schedule is evening out, the first month was a doozer, we did not get much sleep, she preferred the hours between 11pm and 2am.

Well, JP's in now! I'll write more later, got more pics to post of my sweet cheeks Eva and family Christmas photos.

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Three under Four

Jean Paul brought this up yesterday, sure puts into perspective the state of our household! Well, he just picked it up and did some dishes (yes, what a man!) for me, although he can choose to brush off clutter and mess, he can't live without pathways open.

Today I did all I could (within reason, I did enjoy my kids, too!), and still couldn't keep up on the place! We made it to Costco for groceries (wow, what a feat to even make it into the van, no kidding), and shopping is now a new experience. It's a mission, and it's most likely a one-stop trip with three small kids, so if it means getting everything at Costco, so be it. Five minutes into our shopping Liam chimed the typical, "I have to go potty." He's already been telling me he's hungry (because he didn't want to eat his food at home, too bad for him). Well, where as before I'd probably have broke down and taken him and Adelle back to the bathrooms, he got to hold it the entire circut through the store, this is a mama on a mission, and we're going to get 'er done before Eva wakes up (because once she wakes up, she wants to nurse, needs to burp, needs a new diaper, wants to nurse, needs to burp, needs a new diaper, and most likely wants to nurse again, not condusive to making shopping quick or easy). I had to laugh at the sight of me w/the kids. Eva was snuggled in the wrap on my front (thanks, Mom, I am loving the wrap! The Moby wrap, I highly recommend it for babies, moms!), two other kids I'm constantly trying to talk to/with, keep close and busy.

Well, here's a hodge podge of pics! From June until now. Us at the park, the river, blueberry picking in the mountains (I love the mountains! I'd love to move up there), Jean Paul and his siblings (currently ranging in age 12 to 26, they're all together, this is an amazing moment! Geoff recently moved to Scotland for a couple years, Nic lives in Florida, and Sarah's down there now, too... more moving around to come, I'm sure!) The day at the river and blueberry picking was one of the hottest days of the summer, so humid, and the river's deep chill helped cool us down (well, I only got in as much as my feet, but sure felt good!)

Baby Eva!

She's here! Born Wed night, 7 #s 19.5". (After two 8.5# babies, I didn't think I'd have a smaller baby!) She's beautiful. Extremely healthy, great color, sound, strong. She's a full moon baby, too! I woke up Wed. morning at 5am w/contractions, but all day it was a wonderful labor, quite easy for what's to be expected. I loved being home w/Jean Paul and the kids, and Liz (his sister) was here helping us, too. I kept busy to keep my mind off the contractions when they did come, did laundry, made dinner, did dishes. Charlotte (my midwife) arrived about 6pm w/her two assistants, and they were a great bunch to keep company with, so kind and helpful, easy to be with.

Eva's been such a pleasure, she's full of peace. The past two days I've felt good, but JP and I have been so tired. Very thankful for the family, friends, company, and help we've received! After the first 18 hours I woke up from a nap and felt like I'd been hit by a truck. And caring for our two children, plus baby, and myself, while JP plus whomever else (Liz, family and friends) do the housework. I look forward to taking over the house and cooking again, yes, I need to really soak in the break, but it will be nice to be independent again.

Today feeling better, showered (cleanliness is next to godliness, I'm convinced), healing up well, and taking it easy. JP took the kids to his family's house for the afternoon, I get Eva all to myself :) Admiring her, playing w/diapers and outfits on her, watching her sleep, feeling how soft she is and smelling her new baby smell. I like the quiet, so I'm soaking this up w/o the kids talking to me and asking question upon question. They love Eva, Liam loves (insists) to be a helper, Adelle is excitable, both are loud in my ears when they're smothering Eva w/attention!

Baby Eva Update

Well, yesterday we went in for an ultrasound, and this baby is probably a girl! We're calling her Eva, meaning bearer of good news. Going through a list of names I'd written, this name stuck w/both JP and me!

Due date is Oct. 6, we went in because Eva seemingly hasn't grown for three weeks, I haven't been gaining weight, and my tummy isn't growing. Her heart rate was up yesterday, too, though she was moving a LOT. The ultrasound went great, the technition sees no reason for concern. We're guessing she's just a smaller, excitable baby! She may also be adjusting her positioning, more down and back than out. Ultrasound estimates her at 5 1/2 to 6 pounds. It could be also that my due date is off, and this will be a later baby. I have been told by my midwife that from here out protein is my life, I need to eat and drink it! Last week it was my iron intake song and dance, so I have a pretty narrow focus nutritionally. Helps w/meal planning!

JP's loving his new job so far. Sounds like he's doing a good job, a man gave JP an unsolicited complement last night on the paperwork that he does quality work and is professional. Go hubby!

Kids and I have been keeping busy. I'm meal planning today, I just reorganized my freezers, getting ready to make banana and zucchini breads :) Also freezer jam. Been sorting baby clothes (Yea! finally), too, organizing the kids' toys and stuff. What a great morning!

Kids and I spent some time in Seattle at JP's grandparents while he trained for work, we took the kids to the zoo and park, and Liam shadowed his great grandpa the whole time, Grandpa loved it. We're so blessed that our kids are well behaved and we can stay w/grandparents (three days) and not overstay our welcome. Sure takes so much work and effort though! There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend. Parenting, self sacrifice! Sure sounds more romantic than the outworking (and inworking) of it, huh?

All you need to know to cloth diaper!

This was an email I just sent to a friend, I thought it might help someone else out there.

I've tried all different systems. I started w/Fuzzi Bunz (a brand of pocket diapers which I still use) as well as some older style all in one diapers (AIOs), the AIOs took so long to dry, but I'm sure they make them better now. I've tried onesize Bum Genius pocket diapers, but have had little success w/those, they aren't as absorbant as the FBs and my girl sat in her urine for too long in those, creating terrible open sores. They are now covers for our prefold system, great as diaper covers!

I love the prefolds, they work wonderfully and are financially manageable. I used to be intimidated by them, but they're called "prefolds" because they're "prefolded" for you! In the 50s women would use LARGE pieces of birdseye cloth and fold them a zillion times into something worthy for the baby's bottom, and all we have to do w/our prefolds is fold them into thirds, lay it into the cover, and snap or velco, and voila!

We are die hard FBs for night time, because now our kids are older and sleep all night, the layer of fleece repels the moisture away from their skin to keep them drier than cotton against their skin. The SAME effect can be done by cutting fleece strips and lining the diaper w/them.

Note: I've ruined many several FBs by using barrier creams w/them, like zinc oxide, A&D ointment, etc. Liners are a must if using barrier creams, unless special creams are made/purchased. Olive oil or shea butter or jojoba oil washes out well. Angel Baby Bottom Balm is good on cloth diapers. I also have disposable liners that are flushable that I use, great esp. for poopy diapers.

I make a wipes spray to clean my baby's bottom, mostly water, add some liquid baby soap, some tea tree oil, some lavender oil, and some jojoba (or olive) oil. Use cloth wipes, warm w/warm water first, works wonderfully! My favorite wipes are Kissiluvs terry wipes, although most of mine are normal baby washcloths or homemade wipes from extra cloth. Also, I make a spray similar to Kissiluv's diaper lotion potion (I am reusing my bottle, actually!) w/witch hazel, add tea tree and lavendar oils, spray on the baby after wiping, no need to wipe up, like an astringent, and it's anti-everything (bacterial, microbial...)

OK, so I recommend prefolds, esp. to start. Cost aside, it's what I prefer. Babies grow SO fast, and at $13- 17 per pocket diaper when you need 36 to diaper an infant for 3 days, they say, it's a little harder to swallow.

There is a site that you can try out different systems for a reasonably small fee ($10 plus shipping both ways, so about $28), may try these for 21 days:
www.jilliansdrawers.com
I recommend this to purchasing items and later deciding there's probably something better, like I did. If only I knew!

The best site for great prices on infant prefolds are www.affordablediapers.com

Note: I've had a poor experience w/the brand Tiny Tush Unbleached prefolds. I'm sure their bleached are fine, but the oils never washed out of my unbleached, so they never quilted up like they're supposed to, and they take the longest to dry.

Bummis diaper kits can be a great way to go, economical, including diapers and covers and a roll of liners! For the expense, you should also get free shipping, google it and shop around. About $130.

Upon receiving prefolds, be prepared to wash them about five times before use to get all the oils out! They'll start to quilt up and look pretty.

Basically, if you spend enough, most sites will give you free shipping. www.diaperpin.com has a sales and annoucements page where you can even find discount codes or min. orders for free shipping. There's also a directory of merchants. There's a lot out there, it's very overwhelming and can be very consuming. Weigh the time vs. saving a couple bucks.

For covers, I recommend trying several kinds at first to find your favorite. They all have pros and cons. I really like my "onesize" covers because they can accomodate both infant and toddler. Since my bum Genius pockets were a flop (I don't recommend these at all) I use them as covers, love them as that, but they're not worth $17 each as a cover. The velcro is decent, and somewhat flimsy so it's easy on the baby.

I like my onesize WonderWraps, they are thick and come in a variety of colors to pick from! I love my bright raspberry color for my girl. The velcro on these is SUPER velcro extremely sticky, also big and thick, maybe too much for a newborn. I think it's worth having one around, esp. for the future.

Bummis is the most popular brand, and they have a couple I recommend trying. The Super Snap is a wonderful, non intrusive choice for babies, during the sitting stage the snaps are less disturbing when the baby folds than velcro may be (a highlight to the Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers). The Super Snap comes in plain 'ol "white".

Bummis Super Whisper Wrap has an effective yet gentle velcro. This comes in a variety of designs (or white), including a cute flower print. In their "whisper wraps), bummis now has Super Brites in trendy, modern colors and designs, worth getting one of these, too.

Thirsties is a brand w/PUL covers, too, like the whisper wraps, w/gentle velcro and a huge selection of covers. I haven't tried these, mostly because it looks like there's not as much fabric between the velcro strip and the top of the cover, so it looks like the Bummis brand would keep the velcro off the baby's skin better, but I really wouldn't know. Worth trying!

A great place for diaper covers is: www.nickisdiapers.com
They ship their covers for free and have a great selection.

There are other brands w/cheaper ($7) PUL covers, like prowrap or litewrap. These brands also have $12 covers that are cotton or hemp blends.

There are many covers that are fleece or wool instead of PUL, they are more breathable. Fleece is easy to care for, wool needs special care. These aren't easy to put under clothing, but w/a girl in the in summer these could be a very good option. Bummis Polar fleece or Stacianator are great places to look for these.

I recommend hooking up a toilet sprayer to hose off the diapers. To do the cloth diaper thing, this will make life more sane and cloth diapering bearable and worth it! These are about $32. It's worth it, every cent. My husband put on together for us, but he still spent $26 putting parts together at Home Depot. Save yourself and get the assembled, esp. if you're not so mechanically inclined.

I just found a site on detergents, what to use or not:
http://www.bummis.com/en/Detergent-Residues.html

It recommends, as do I, Country Save detergent. I tried it partially because it's a local company to me, and also because of learning the difference between soaps and detergents, studying the brands, etc. Also, this is probably the cheapest (at least how I buy it) for me. Here's a site w/a list of stores in FL that sell it:
http://countrysave.com/cgi-bin/store_search.cgi?action=Search&search_field=5&sort_on=2&search_for=FL&x=7&y=16
They also have "Comparative Lab Test Results" on the site by an independent company, using the powder detergent. I use liquid w/success as well.

www.diaperpin.com has a ton of info on cloth diapering, a store directory of their merchant members, product reviews, washing recommendations, and more. Great resource.

DO NOT use detergents w/enzymes (basically most of what's available in the store), particularly Arm & Hammer: This brand in particular has had TERRIBLE results on babies.

I cold rinse my diapers first, then do a full hot/cold cycle with 1/2 (or less) the amount of typically recommended detergent. A 2nd rinse isn't usually necessary. I've used baking soda in the wash as a booster and vinegar in the rinse (both to deoderize), but I must not have the ratios right or something because it throws off the pH balance and burns my girl's butt.


On Baby Carriers:

If you're thinking of baby carriers, for infants, I recently visited a friend w/a New Native baby carrier, a sling of sort, over one shoulder, pouch like. Her baby was so snug! Looked very easy! For my upcoming newborn I'd like a Moby Wrap, I really like how I see them worn, the weight spreads a lot more evenly through the shoulders and back, and it's very versitle how it's tied. The moby has some stretch but doesn't slide around.

We love our Ergo carrier, I've had the most success w/it for babies 5 or 6 months and up. Front or back, up to toddler/preschooler! My 3 year old can still go. It's very comfy, spreads the weight very well. HIGHLY recommend it, $100, you won't be sorry.

I don't recommend Baby Bijorn or Snugglis, although they're getting better on the make. Unless the seat area is 15 inches or wider for the baby, the seat can compress the baby's spine, terrible on the chiropractic end of things, like the Baby Bijorn. Also, the baby bijorn always makes me nervous since the latch to secure the baby in is in the crotch, what if it comes undone? Ah!

Well, that's a lot. Hope it helps. :)

I'm so blessed!

Last year I began juicing, I picked up a juiceman jr. at the goodwill for a starter (you can find them UNUSED there for $8!). We love juicing and the trial appliance wasn't doing it anymore, so I sold some stuff off and bought my Omega juicer! JP and I got it out last night, and it works like a dream. Our apple juice pulp was almost dry! We juiced 3 grannies, and got two plus cups of juice and less than a cup of pulp! No kidding! This morning I made OJ for the kids, and the machine was so quiet they didn't realize what I was doing. And the juice was a rich orange, not a creamy orange, it tasted so pure!

Also pictured is my new stoneware muffin pan. We LOVE muffins, and this batch was a dream, too! They baked so evenly, not crispy, and came out of the pan perfectly. My other metal pan is so rank from the sprays and I always have used paper cups and had to peel off part of the muffin w/the paper. I am so blessed!