Author Archives: Jess

cloth diaper links

My sister inlaw called yesterday with potty training and cloth diapering questions. Her little girl isn’t quite two, but she’s really aware of when she’s wet and likes to go potty. They’ve come out with new pull-ups that let kids feel when they’re wet. What? How silly is that. CLOTH DIAPERS FEEL WET and you don’t have to throw them away! I think that cloth diapering really helps with potty training because babies are able to connect the sensation of peeing with being wet. With Brenna, as soon as I switched to cloth diapers (she was almost 2 1/2, Jonah was 4 months old) she was potty trained. Jonah figured it all out right after he was 2– which was great for me because shortly after that Logan was born and I only had one baby in diapers. I love cloth diapering. They seem so much softer and more comfortable that plastic and paper (I mean, I HATE wearing sticky, bunchy, plastic and paper maxi pads just a few days a month), they don’t have the gross chemical mixed with pee smell– or the fake perfume smell, I can customize the absorbency, and I don’t have to spend $50 a month on diapers or step foot in a Wal-mart!

The best place to find cloth diapering supplies is online. I haven’t found any stores with anything worth trying, though Babies R Us may have a few things. So here are some links to help anyone interested in researching and trying cloth diapers:

What I use and love:
Mother Ease Onesize diapers and Air flow covers— I use these almost exclusively now with Logan, and have since he was about 4 months old. And– they fit Jonah if we have an accident and he needs to wear a diaper for a little while. The Airflow covers are the best leak proof cover I have found, and they have cute prints. They are also very reasonably priced. I have one Sandy’s diaper, which is side snapping, and it is easy for Jonah to pull up and down like underwear. I will probably buy more when Logan gets closer to potty training. I like to keep an All in one diaper in the diaper bag for quick changes– no separate cover. They also have training pants that have a waterproof exterior, but aren’t quite as absorbent as a diaper. I haven’t tried them though.

I have a few Wonderoos. They work for Logan now, and I liked them when Jonah was 2, but even though they are a one-sized diaper, I just didn’t have luck with them when Logan was a little baby.

Other good online stores:
Jardine diapers is my favorite online store. I placed my first diaper order there (for flat “prefold” diapers and Pro-Wrap covers. My covers wore out, but I still use the diapers.). She has really good product descriptions and acurate size measurements to help you decide what to buy.

I also like Green Mountain Diapers. They have great customer service and a good variety of products, and send you a nice paper catalog with your order.

Resources:
The Diaper Pin is an online review and forum page and has a log of great, helpful information about cloth diapering and potty learning. What ever you need to know, it’s there.

The Diaper Hyena is similar and fun.

The One Stop Diaper Shop is run by Jessica Wiseman (Very Mom) and her FAQs were the clincher in my conversion to cloth.

There are a lot of Work at Home Moms (WAHMs) who sew and sell coth diapers, and buying from them is a great thing to do– supporting someone so they can stay home with their kids. They are really high quality and lovingly made, not to mention much cuter than anything else you’ll find. Find links and reviews at the Diaper Pin, the Diaper Hyena, or on the advertising links at the Diaper Shop.

Well, I hope this helps someone out there in cyber space! I’ve cloth diapered 2 babies now, and the thought of disposables just grosses me out now. It is definitely worth a try– and if you aren’t in love with it like I am, there is always E-bay!

dreams

I don’t always like to admit that I watch Oprah, but I do while I’m making dinner as long as it won’t scar my children for life with man-bashing or descriptions of heinous crimes. Anyway, yesterday she had a young stay at home mom who writes songs named Lori McKenna. Her song Fireflies was recently recorded by Faith Hill. I was just so struck by the song, by the story of this young mom who just quietly did her thing and chased her dreams, the magic time of youth of dreams and idealism and limitless possibility. It made me think of this poem I wrote in high school:

There were times when the sun fell upon my world just right and it transformed into a warm and golden fairyland: I called it Nova Scotia because it sounded neat.

There used to be time to catch butterflies, play on the swing set, and ride my bike all day long without anything weighing on my mind.

There were times that one could tell what I was thinking by looking at my face.

There was a time that I thought heaven was a big green, freshly mowed field that was so thinck and soft that it felt like feathers beceath my bare feet as I ran through it without mosquitoes to bite me or bees to step on.

There were times that I could understand the songs of the birds. They were glad that they never had to wear glasses.

There was a time that I knew how the smell of dandelions tasted.

There were times that the sound of crickets in the night did not allow loneliness, even among the numberless stars.

There were times when brand new tennis shoes made me run faster.

I remember running and running and running so fast; if I caught up with the wind I would fly.

There were times that I was the most famous ballerina in the world. Then I was an archeologist, a Jedi Knight-Princess, the Easter Bunny, an artist, an opera singer…

There wer times that the smile was the most beautiful word in the Human language.

There were times that my dad was stronger than He-Man and smarter than the guy that invented cars or airplanes, or even legos.

There was a time that my mother was the most beautiful person in the entire universe.

There was a time that I created masterpieces daily, with crayons.

There were times that I was careful who I touched on Monday-Marriage-Day and never wore dresses on Friday-Flip-Up-Day.

There were times when boys were just the ones with short hair that could make really good gun noises.

There were times that my bedroom was so big that I could crawl into a drawer and hide from my brother.

There were times I thought my brother was magic because he could do flips on the ground, walk with his hands, and ride a unicycle.

There was a time that Elmer’s glue smelled good so I told the boy sitting next to me to taste it, and he did.

There were times that if you could spell write right you were the smarted kid in class.

There was a time I thought I would die from the hiccups.

There was a time that I was certain man had found life on Mars because I saw a UFO on the Fourth of July.

There were times when I was lonely that I confided in my dolls and they listened. They never thought I was odd.

There was a time that I didn’t know any bad words.

And as I watch my own children it makes me realize why we are to “become as little children.”

And I also have this quote running through my mind: “How well am I doing in helping others reach their potential?” ( from Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Virtue of Kindness,” Ensign, May 2005, 26)

tie some on!

dish-towel-aprons.jpg

Dish towel aprons–I just couldn’t resist. My kids needed some art aprons, I needed something to keep dinner off my pants (even though my shirt is usually covered in baby snot), and Martha dish towels were on super clearance at K-mart, so the price was right. Aprons for all! (Well, 3 aprons and a bib.)

Amy has a monthly party at her blog dedicated to aprons

tieoneonbt1.jpg

and this month’s assignment was so easy I had to join.

It has been a busy week. Well, it has seemed busy, I guess, but come to think of it, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to do. I just felt busy. I think because I was sick. I had a fever on Wednesday, felt yucky all day yesterday and had to go grocery shopping anyway, didn’t sleep a wink until about 4:00 this morning, and I’m trying to wean Logan–once a day would be good. That’s why I didn’t sleep last night. My teeth hurt, my nose was stuffy (so I had to breath with my mouth open which made the metal/ rubberband contraptions in my mouth that much more uncomfortable), my throat hurt, my ears ached, I had horrible menstrual cramps, AND I hadn’t nursed a baby since nap time early that afternoon and consequently couldn’t lay on either side or move my arms. Blissful? 800 mg of ibuprofen helped once I reached the point of desperation.

Funny things:

We had a “Girl’s Night Out” craft night at church last night–just bring something to do and sit and gab. I got home a little after ten and as I was heaping my load onto the counter I looked in Ellie’s food bowl right there under the counter. It was FULL of rabbit food. Was there a reason for this? I went and nudge Barry to ask about it and he just grunted. I was grinning so hard that I just broke out laughing. Silly, silly.

Barry did the obstacle course with his group yesterday for PT–you know, climbing walls, jumping logs, balance beams and ropes. Well, he was very proud of his monkey bar performance. I guess he was the only one to make it all the way across–and he even did a “skin the cat” to get off at the end. Now, you know who’s been practicing at the playground!