Friday, June 29, 2012

Life: Saved

Okay, that may be a little bit overdramatic, but seriously - once you have a child who eats solid foods, it is no fun going places without your diaper sprayer. At least, that's how it is for me. Somehow traveling makes her BM's happen about 5 times as often as normal. Not having my diaper sprayer, I'm reduced to shaking and scraping (swish & dunk has never worked for me). This time around, I've decided to give biodegradable liners a try.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Free is Good

I love free patterns. But seriously, who doesn't love free?

This week, I used these instructions made by Elizabeth at E Tells Tales to make a new changing pad cover for N:
soooo 
the closest to happy on the changing table we might ever get

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Diaper Rite Pocket Diaper Review

So I let you know a few weeks back that I'd won some Diaper Rite pocket diapers. Well, I'm finally ready to share my thoughts!
diaper rite pocket diaper review
Razzmatazz and Parrot

I was lucky enough to win both the stay dry, suedecloth lined pocket as well as their bamboo terry lined pocket. Before this, I really had no experience with the brand, so I was excited for the opportunity to try them out. Both diapers are one-size with a three snap rise front. N is on the petite side (she can thank her genetics for that... unless she decides her dream is to play for the WNBA, in which case, she can curse her DNA.), so she's wearing these diapers on the smallest rise right now. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Writing Elsewhere

Look at me - I'm a guest blogger! Check out my post over at the Cloth Diaper Whisperer. I'm talking about economical diapering, and you know what that means (at least when I'm the one talking): FLATS! Head over there and check it out (feel free to leave a little comment love for me, too, while you're at it).


Saturday, June 23, 2012

I would walk 500 miles...

Or maybe just 5. Before this last pregnancy, I was running 5 miles on a daily basis. But then I stopped... because I was pregnant and tired and swollen and that seemed like a good enough excuse. I have a friend (with 4 kids 5 and under) who generally gets back into running within weeks of delivering her babies. I am not so motivated. It would be nice if I were. I actually love running. I'm just lazy and it is so much work to get back in shape when you've been out of things for so long.

Today, I finally made an effort. I didn't even try to run, though. I'm getting back into things a little slower than that. I strapped N into the Beco and went for a brisk walk. It was probably closer to 3 or 4 miles, but it's a start. I plan on making it our after breakfast routine for the next couple months. I figure once I start running again, it will seem super easy because I won't be wearing N. Although, I might need to take her in the stroller... and I'm not sure how long I'll be able to convince G he'd rather stay home (with DH, of course) while I leave the house with N. We might need to look into a double jogging stroller... Remembering how much work pushing a single is, my arms are getting sore thinking about pushing a double! One day at a time, right?
my view of N in the Beco
at the top of the hill, about to head back down

Friday, June 22, 2012

Jonesing for Another

Sometimes I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with me... My baby is not even a year old and I am wishing I was pregnant again already. What?!! Maybe it's the serious lack of sleep between the teething baby (N now has 7 teeth and more ready to erupt any day) and the 4 year old who has figured out that if he crawls into my bed in the middle of the night, we're too tired to kick him out. (G claims he's had a bad dream - Every. Single. Night.) Or maybe it wasn't all just talk that I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mom (a stay-at-home-mom, at that). Either way, I've found myself doing some serious scouring of newborn cloth diaper rental packages. With N, I didn't start using cloth until she was about 3 or 4 weeks old. Next time (if I can talk DH into a next time), I want to use cloth from the very beginning.

1. Cloth diapering is way easier than I had anticipated. I know what I'm doing, I have a routine for dealing with dirty cloth diapers, and diaper laundry.

2. I love how much less garbage comes out from the nursery. Seriously, for those first few weeks, it seemed like we were emptying the garbage/diaper pail EVERY DAY.

3. Think of how many diapers and wipes it takes to fill up a garbage pail every day, and I'm thinking of the $$$ I'll be keeping in my pocket thank-you-very-much.

4. Cloth diapers are so cute and little-bitty cloth diapers are even more cute!

I could go on...

image source: Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Facebooking

So... I just set up a Facebook page for this blog. So far, I'm just talking to myself, which made me think I should maybe share the news. If you're interested in liking my page just go to facebook.com/aclothlife. Hopefully, I'll see you over there!


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

First Camping Trip

This weekend was our first time camping with cloth (N's first camping trip ever). This was also my first time camping in almost two years. Needless to say, a few tricks for making the trip go smoother had been forgotten. And I have a major sunburn on my back & shoulders that makes me wish I could sleep it off. Oh yeah, and it rained pretty much the whole second day. As far as the diapers went, though, it all went off without a hitch. I brought a dozen GMD flats, plus a few receiving blankets, some diaper pins, fleece liners, and my Thirsties Duo Wraps.
a GMD flat folded up in front of some flour sack towels
Once the car was unloaded, I set up the back of our Explorer as a pretty sweet changing station. I even left our suitcase in there. I don't have a dedicated changing pad (but oooh I would love to get one), so I folded up a fleece blanket to lay N on. I had my bag of diapers and wipes to the side and hung my large Planet Wise hanging wetbag from a hook in the car. Worked like a charm.
the ONLY picture I got of the kids on this trip

Friday, June 15, 2012

Serenity Now...

I wish this had been around (and I had one!) when both my kids were born...
image source: Aden and Anais
Seriously - feeding diary, sound machine, room temp, night light and clock? By the time you buy all those things seperately, it all adds up to the same $ amount anyway, right? That's what I'll be telling my husband if we ever have another baby... 

And speaking of new and delicious looking products... Did you see the pictures Imagine Baby Products posted on their facebook page last night? 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Party Planning

N's first birthday is coming up. Being Korean-American, this is a HUGE deal. Lots of food, lots of pictures, gifts of gold jewelry, beautiful dresses.

I just need to get the invitations out.


The insert reads: 
In Korean culture, a child's first birthday, or Tol, is an important milestone involving many traditions. One major ceremony is the Toljabee.. For this, items are placed around a table for the child to choose from. The first items the child grabs are considered the most important and believed to predict his or her future. In another customary tradition, the child is carried around the party with a drawstring purse (the Bok Joomoni). Guests place cash gifts in the purse to represent good fortune and well wishes. For Nyree, this money will be added to her college savings. 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Rough Life

It's so hard being 4 with a baby sister. Apparently. G told me today he wishes he didn't have a baby sister and he doesn't like me. He also said he wanted to live in the house by himself. I thought I got another ten years before this drama started...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Diaper Rite Pocket Diapers

A few months ago, I won 2 Diaper Rite pocket diapers from a blog giveaway hosted on Babble.com by Danielle Elwood and sponsored by Diaper Junction. Unfortunately, by the time the giveaway had ended, the diapers were back ordered.

They finally arrived yesterday and we're taking them on their test run today!

 I'm going to get a review up once we've really broken them in. So far, so good, though!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Happy 11 Months!

My baby is 11 months old today. That means I've been the mother of two for almost a year. What a ride, that's what I say. And wouldn't it be fun to have just one more? (My husband might disagree... Hahaha)

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Sleepless Nights, Restless Days

N is getting in all four of her front top teeth. G has some fantastic virus giving him temperatures of close to 104.F and occasionally vomiting on the floor. I am physically and emotionally exhausted today. But I figured I should post something (it's been almost a week), so here is my little girl singing me a song with her head smooshed against mine while I try to get her down for a much needed nap.