Newborn Stash

As my due date seems to be quickly approaching, I find myself pulling open my cloth diaper drawer.  I started using cloth diapers with my son when he was about 9 months old.  We started out using prefolds and covers, then soon bought some bGs.  I fell in love with cloth and started using cloth on A as soon as her cord stump fell off.  I think she was around 2 weeks and we started cloth diapering full time.  This time I made sure to stock up on cloth that had cut outs/snap downs for the stump.  This way I can start cloth diapering immediately!  I love prefolds and covers because they are so affordable and really work so well at keeping in the BF poo!  I also wanted to have some easier cloth for Daddy and Grandma (though she knows how to use pf..she cloth diapered me) if they don't feel like messing around with the prefolds.  I bought some AIOs and also some fitted and contours to make using the covers easy for them as well.  I just can't wait to get a sweet little bum into all this cute fluff I've been collecting!

 Drawer full of fluff!

 Swaddlebees, WAHM, Grovia, Smartbottoms AIOs

Tons of covers...Mama made, Swaddlebees, Thirsties, Amp, Kissaluvs

  2 doz Green Mt Diaper Orange Edge Prefolds (my absolute favorite PFs)

Thirsties Fitteds, Kissaluvs Contours, Swaddlebee Flats

 Snappis, Cloth Wipes, Baby Bum Drops (for wipe solution), 3 fleece Scantinator NB covers

 Just this week I received a fun piece of mail.  Lovely Pocket Diapers was nice enough to send me one of their Newborn stuffable AIO to review.  I am dying for Dec to roll around so I can test it out on my sweet baby!  I received the red with yellow snaps, so cute!  From an experienced cloth diapering mama, I found some features that I absolutely love with this diaper.  It has 3 rise snaps so it can fit from 5-15 lbs, and at 11 dollars, that's a great value!  It is an AIO, which means it has an absorbent microfiber insert already attached, yet this also has a pocket that you can add more inserts into.  Making it very easy to use and very versatile!  This newborn also has the snap down for the umbilical cord.  Which like I said before is so wonderful because you can use this diaper from day one, no issues with the cord.  We all know how that BF poo can be and with the double leg gussets, I know that this diaper is going to be great at catching it and keep it in the diaper where it belongs!  As I said I haven't tried this out on a baby yet, but from what I see it's a wonderful value and great quality diaper. It really is impressive!  Stay tuned in Dec for a full review of the Lovely Pocket Diaper Newborn stuffable AIO! 


You can also check out Lovely Pocket Diapers on FB!

Already a Change

So last time I wrote I spoke briefly on my daughter and some of her issues.

I've also spoke on our homeschooling journey that we've started.

And now that journey has changed already.  I started out with the A Beka Curriculum. I loved the all in one - give me daily lesson plans, etc.  And while I love the Numbers curriculum and the success we are having with it - we've already ditched the Phonics and Writing (CURSIVE! for a 5 yr old!!!).

The phonics just was not working for her - we were on week two and things just weren't 'clicking'.  The curriculum started with vowels.  I realized she just wasn't retaining the information. When I asked her what sound I made she had no idea.... if I asked her what sound I made in 'pig' she knew.... if I asked her what vowel was in 'pig' she had no idea. If I asked her what vowel is in 'pig' like in Indian (the word we used to learn the I sound).... she did know that. But only because I said Indian - not because she knew the sound.  She could associate the vowel with the word we initially learned it with but not beyond that.  It was a very frustrating process to both her and I - it was no longer enjoyable (which is what I really want my homeschool experience to be!).

While I was at the A Beka curriculum fair another young mother and I exchanged contact info. She later called me to tell me she didn't feel like she could speak freely in front of the salesman.  totally understandable. But she did not like the phonics section either and used a different book for reading... oh I wish she would have told me that before we bought all of it.... :( but oh well. Live and learn right?

So two weeks ago I went ahead and ordered the new book (Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons).  Then spent 4 days reading the instructions and mentally preparing for switching approaches to reading. So far it's going great!!!  We are on lesson 6 and only yesterday had a rough day with my little one not wanting to sit still and pay attention.  And those days are going to come and looking back on it all three of my children were wild and out of control - must be the cool weather!

But anyhow - I've come to realize already that things aren't going to be perfect, I'm going to have to tweak constantly and who knows maybe A Beka will work for my son or we'll have to go with a completely different program.  It's going to be a learning experience for me too - about myself and more about my children!

Does anyone have any thoughts on this book or the A Beka curriculum?

Fuzzibunz XS Newborn Review

I didn't start cloth diapering until Miss A was one, so Baby J was my first time cloth diapering an itty bitty!  But one of my favorite diapers when I started cloth diapering Miss A was our Fuzzibunz so when I was building my stash for Baby J, I made sure to stock up on the Fuzzibunz XS for newborns!  If you would like to read more about my initial findings with cloth diapering a skinny baby and our rocky start to cloth diapering Baby J, please see the Intro post here.

Fits:  4-12 pounds

This diaper comes in both Snaps and Hook & Loop versions.  I will be including both in this review.

Price Per Diaper:  (4/5 Stars)  This diaper retails for $13.95 in snaps and $14.95 in Hook & Loop.  Many of the AIO newborn diapers are more expensive than this, so this might save you a few bucks.  Being that this is a pocket diaper, you also have the added feature of being able to add other inserts to this in order to increase absorbency.

Leaks:  (2/5 Stars)  I have mad love for Fuzzibunz diapers, but for skinny newborns this diaper just does not work!  I tried this on Baby J as one of his first cloth diapers at 1 week old and there were HUUUUUUGE gaps around the legs.  Not small gaps like many of the other diapers...I'm talking a gap large enough to fit a whole other leg!!!  I didn't even try to use these for weeks.  In fact, I took the diaper back off as soon as I put it on him that first time, there was no use leaving it on with gaps like that!  Once we got up to 8 1/2-9 pounds, I tried using these again...there were still gaps!  The gaps were not near as large, but still too big to be able to use these!  It was not until Baby J reached 10-10 1/2 pounds that these diapers finally fit well and the manufacturer weight maximum is 12 pounds.  Once we were able to start using these, they were a favorite.  They fit nicely and were very absorbent. The Hook & Loop version and snap version had the exact same gap around the leg.  I was not able to tighten the H&L one to make the legs any tighter.

Fit:  (3/5 Stars)  It is hard to pick a numerical rating for fit, I will explain why.  As I mentioned above, these diapers were completely out of our rotation for a long time due to the leg gap.  This was a huge disappointment to me given my past love for this brand.  The label says that this should fit starting at 4 pounds, I cannot imagine how!!!  On my skinny guy, the snap version would have been out at first anyway due to the waist not fitting as well!  This diaper does not have overlap tabs, which I feel would make a huge difference!  The H&L version can be overlapped and therefore does offer a better fit on the waist but this does not fix the gaps at the legs.  Once my skinny little guy hit around 8-8 1/2 pounds, the waist started to fit well but the legs did not fit well until 10-10 1/2 pounds.  

Ease of Use:  (4/5 Stars)  These diapers are quite easy to use.  They are a pocket diaper so you do have to stuff them with the included XS insert.  The pocket is pretty small to stuff, so if you have large hands this might be a challenge for you.  They are quite easy to put on baby, the H&L is a cinch and the snap version does not have a ton of snap options to confuse you!  Washing is simple, just a quick unstuff and into the wash!  Also, these diapers wash EXTREMELY well!  I love how nice FB diapers wash!  They don't stain and wash back to white!

Washing:  (5/5 Stars)  As I mentioned above, these wash SO well!!!  Even pesky EBF poop came out on the first wash!  No staining here!!!  These are a cinch to wash, just unstuff the pocket, toss them in the wash, in the dryer (or hang), then stuff the insert back in, and ready to go!  The MF inserts do retain some staining...but no one sees that except mom! ;)  On the H&L version, after washing, the tabs tend to curl which can look funky under clothing, snag on clothing and open, and tend to come undone easily.  I like the H&L for fit issues but do feel that FB needs to redesign their H&L.  Also, make sure to TIGHTLY secure your H&L tabs for washing, these have a tendency to come undone in the wash as well!

Overall Performance:  (3/5 Stars)  I love Fuzzibunz diapers and I really thought this would be a home run for us.  Most people (Like Me!) would read that these fit from 4 pounds and would think they would fit any size baby well!  Wrong.  I was so sad when I discovered how BIG they are!  My guy was 7-12 at birth and dropped to around 7 pounds at his lowest.  I would have never guessed that a diaper meant to fit from 4 pounds would be so big on a normal (but skinny) size baby!!!  Big :( on this one!  These are still a great NB diaper!  I still recommend them highly...but only to those who have a fairly good idea that their newborn is going to be chunky!!!  The H&L does offer a tighter fit around the waist but I am not a huge fan of this H&L since it did tend to come undone quite easily both on baby and in the wash.  The snap version does not go as small around the waist, but you avoid the issues that you have with the H&L.  Both had the huge leg gaps.  So the decision is up to you if you like H&L or snap.  Both have pros and cons.  This is a nice diaper, unless you create skinny humans!

Total Stars:  21/30

Mommy Time

We all give of ourselves 24/7 as mothers, whether we work outside the home or are stay at home moms.  It's what being a mother is.  Once that baby is born, it's like you are constantly giving of yourself.  It's one of the most special and rewarding jobs we can have to be a mother.  That said, we need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves as well.  Sometimes it's just so easy to get into a rut and not do anything that is just for us.  I have been feeling that rut lately.  I have been feeling very overwhelmed.  Being pregnant with two children is no small task.  C started half day PreK this year, and it's been a big adjustment for us all.  Mama doesn't have as much energy or patience while she's pregnant either, which isn't helping much.  So I've been trying to find times where I can get away and just be me for a bit.

 My local town had a consignment sale a couple weeks ago.  Two of my closest friends and I went there for only a couple hours.  It was so nice being away with adult friends and having no kids to wrangle.  We all felt so refreshed heading back to our lives.  We vowed we needed to do this again, and much more often. Today we'll be taking a trip to a bigger town that has lots of shopping and yummy restaurants.  Since my sciatic is bothering me so much, we'll probably only hit a few stores instead of the whole town like we used to.  That will be just fine, and we'll stop for lunch somewhere tasty and get to sit and relax!  We won't have to cut up anyone's food or entertain someone while we wait for our meal to be served. Ahh, sounds wonderful!  We get together a good bit, but it's always with our children.  There is just no way to really talk like we'd like, when wrangling kids the whole time. 

I have been thinking lately a lot about taking more time for myself, and trying to come up with some ideas.  Baths are something I very rarely do, but recently bought some fancy handmade bath salts.  It's not running off, but it's a time to get away and leave my cares behind while I shut and lock the door behind me.  A has preschool once a week for two hours, and on the days I'm not volunteering there I've done things for myself as well.  I like to splurge on a yummy cappuccino or hot chocolate.  Shopping kid free for two hours, can be just as much of a treat!  My husband and I had to have my mom watch the kids a few times recently so we could do something, one day was an ultra sound, the other a public school auction.  While she had them we took the time to grab a bite to eat somewhere we never take the kids.  It was at a bar, so to avoid the smoke we sat out on the porch.  It was so nice to feel completely like an adult, not just a mom.  The first day A had preschool I went to the mall and got a pedicure.  It was so strange to be free, but it really makes such a difference in my ability to mother my children.  When I am refreshed and renewed I'm ready to take on the kids and not lose my cool constantly. 

What are some ways you take a break from being mom and just treat yourself?  My challenge to you all is to try to do at least one thing a week that's only for you and no one else!  Let's vow to start taking better care of US!

Tots Bots Tiny Fit Review

A new kid on the block, and one with a HUGE following, is the Tots Bots line.  These All in One diapers made in Scotland (ah, my ancestry!) have really become a go-to diaper for many moms and babes!  I had bought a few of the Easy Fits to use with Miss A and while I liked them, I was not in love with them.  But because they are such a huge hit with so many, I decided that I just had to try them with Baby J.  If you would like to read more about my initial findings with cloth diapering a skinny baby and our rocky start to cloth diapering Baby J, please see the Intro post here.

Fits:  5-12 pounds

Price Per Diaper:  (3/5 Stars)  Since these diapers are not made in the USA (or China either) they do come with a slightly higher price tag.  This diaper retails for $18.95 per diaper.  The average price for an AIO newborn diaper is $13-16, so this diaper is not a huge amount over the average, but it does add up!  However, for the extra money, you are getting a well made, AIO, and easy to use diaper made from an environmentally friendly company.

Leaks:  (3/5 stars)  I must just have bad luck with these diapers.  So many people swear by these diapers and that they are leak proof.  Both my OS and these Tiny Fits leak for us.  For short periods, of course there were no problems.  But for nap/night time use they just did not hold enough pee!  My son would leak out the front and out the legs.  We just did not have good luck with these.  This diaper is an AIO diaper but designed with an attached insert.  This is great for washing since it agitates out, dries easily, and is right there to tuck back in but it is also great for absorbency since you can fold/tuck the length of the insert to whatever position you need the added absorbency.  We tried everything and still could not get the excellent bullet proof diaper that I have heard so much about! :(

Fit:  (4/5 Stars)  I love the aplix on this diaper.  It is made for newborns, so the diaper is nice and small and the aplix just gives you that perfect waist fit!  Plus the aplix is super sticky and the laundry tabs do not release in the wash.  However, on my skinny little guy, there was quite the gap in the leg openings which led to frequent leaks and not being able to use this diaper until about 8 1/2-9 pounds.  Once we got to that weight, the diaper fit nicely everywhere but we had the leaking issue. :(  Baby J was also rather long, and these had trouble going under his cord stump until it fell off.  I would not recommend using this diaper until your baby's cord stump falls off.

Ease of Use:  (5/5 Stars)  This diaper is extremely easy to use!!!  It honestly cannot get easier!!!  If you are looking for a simple easy to use newborn diaper, this one gets my endorsement for that!  Since it is an AIO, there are no parts to find/lose.  You just toss it in the wash, the insert agitates out, it is a breeze to dry, and then you just fold and stuff the insert back in, and VOILA you are ready to go!  No fuss!

Washing:  (4/5 Stars)  Like I said above, this diaper is quite simple to wash!  And it is very easy on dry time!  This is one AIO that can definitely hang to dry with no problem!  My only complaint was that the inside was quite prone to staining.  A little sun took care of this, but if stains bug you this is not the diaper for you!

Overall:  (3/5 Stars)  I wanted to love this diaper.  I don't know why the Tots Bots don't work for us!!  I have read a ton of reviews on this diaper and it seems to have a Love/Hate following.  I would say that it is a 70/30 split of people who absolutely love these diapers and people who don't.  It isn't like most diapers that have a middle ground.  I did not find the diaper to be particularly absorbent and it did not fit Baby J well until almost 9 pounds, but I did think that it had a really nice fit after he hit 9 pounds.  If you are a Tots Bots fan and you don't have skinny babies, this might be the one for you!

Total Stars:  22/30

Dinner and No Time!

 I had zero chance to work on Cub and Aubers' Halloween books this weekend, so that will be a sneaky post slid in between some of these other lovely lady bloggers!  If I can manage to get the sewing machine out while D goes to sleep, that is ; ) 

I did manage to crock pot some dinner.  I made "Chicken Pizza" and oh my gosh it was incredible!!  I brought the extra for lunch...so I made dinner for 3 and lunch for me---and the pot did all the hard work!

Crock Pot Dinner Day 1:
Chicken Pizza!!  A big huge shout out to Stephanie O'Dea at Crockpot 365 for this recipe!  It was super yummy and took 15 minutes of prep while D was watching some Cars 2.  Next time, I'll probably add some more veggies (I left out the pepperoni.)

Tonight is "Beer Can Chicken" in the pot...Daddyguy's job.  We'll see : D  (He's actually a pretty amazing cook believe it or not!)

<3 Jen

Pregnancy Update

Well, I will be at 28 weeks tomorrow! Where has the time gone!  I had a hard time enjoying my early pregnancy, but now that I'm far enough along it's flying by. We got a peak at baby a couple weeks back on u/s and all seems to be well. What a sigh of relief.  Many people ask me, "How are you feeling?".  I hate to complain so usually I just say I'm doing well.  The truth is pregnancy is HARD.  And if it's not hard for you, you are one lucky mama!!  I have been having issues lately with my sciatic nerve.  It has been getting worse and worse, too.  Anytime I'm standing or walking it starts to hurt and go numb.  A painful numbness, and it's so aggravating.  I have two children and an active family, so it's really hard to be feeling like that when everyone else is go go go!  I've been going to the chiropractor, just like I had with A's pregnancy.  Though it doesn't seem to be curing anything it does take the edge off.  I'm hoping to have another wonderful natural birth with this baby and I truly think going to the chiro helped to get A lined up and ready to make her entrance smoothly. 

Also my right hand/arm is KILLING me.  Dang carpal tunnel.  I had it very bad with my first pregnancy and also with my second but not as bad.  This time it's horrible again.  At first it was just really bothering me when I did things with my hands, but now it hurts constantly with no relief.  That is until last night.  I have been having such a hard time sleeping and getting comfortable.  Well I was reminded by my doctor and my mom (who suffered from carpal tunnel) to use a brace at night.  Let me just tell you I have never been so pleased!  It was like a miracle.  I actually might have to start using it even throughout the day at times, it worked so well. 

The first trimester I felt like I could barely function, I was just SO tired.  Then about half way through the second trimester I felt a bit more like myself again.  I am now in my third trimester and the tiredness is back.  I wake up wishing I could stay in bed forever.  After supper I am exhausted and wish bedtime was directly following our meal.  It's really hard taking care of two children and being so tired and run down all the time.  I pray that when baby comes we can find a way to juggle it all, because right now it feels like we are barely juggling it as it is.

Morning sickness.  I had it early on about 5/6 weeks it started and I threw up faithfully every morning for months.  For about 1 1/2 to 2 months I have been feeling a lot better.  That doesn't mean it doesn't sneak up on me though.  At any time, day or night, a food, smell or just feeling will creep up on me and boom! :(  Some days I go all day feeling fine and others it's a constant struggle to eat and keep things down. 
 
Yet in the end I know this is all worth the cause.  After trying for so long and losing two early pregnancies, I am so happy to be here.  For all the terrible symptoms I am dealt, I have a beautiful healthy baby growing strong inside of me.  Every bump and nudge I feel from the inside, makes it all worth it.  In 3 short months I'll be holding my babe and nothing will be more perfect that completing our family.