Theme From The Bottom

Ivy's been wearing cloth diapers for about 7 months now. I thought I'd give you a little update since our maiden voyage post.

This is our current stash... If you click on over to flickr you can see more detailed photos describing each diaper.

At last count, we regularly use 11 Bum Genius 3.0, 1 organic Bum Genius w/snaps, and 2 GroBaby diapers with four inserts. I purchased all of these on my own, by the way. But if someone wants to send me some for free I might not say no. : )


Also on hand are several unbleached Indian prefolds and 1 Bumkins contour diaper that Bumkins did send for me to try. I do like it vs. a regular prefold and it works great with our Whisper Wrap or Thirsties cover.

My very favorite of all are the GroBaby. In our experience, they are the most absorbent and I don't even use the booster pad with it. She has never leaked in them at night (or day). They also make great swim diapers! (We used them at the beach.) When washing, I do wash them with all the other diapers, but I hang dry the outer shell (it dries super fast). The soaker inserts do take longer to dry, so I usually dry them with the other diapers and then hang dry for the rest of the time. Something I like a lot about the GroBaby diaper is that usually you can re-use the outer shell a couple different changes just by un-snapping the insert and snapping in a new one.

My second favorite is the organic Bum Genius with snaps. This is an all-in one diaper. There are no inserts or pockets. I have found it to be more absorbent than the non-organic Bum Genius diapers. And I do prefer the snaps vs. Velcro closures.

My third favorite is the regular Bum Genius 3.0. They have been great diapers and are so easy to use. I do use the extra newborn insert for nighttime as I am more likely to have leaks if I don't. I have noticed the Velcro to be less adhesive over time.

My fourth favorite (and probably most economical) is to use the Bumkins Contour with the Bummis Whisper Wrap, which you can re-use a few times. The Contour diaper does need a little extra drying time, too.

For storing dirty diapers, I have a large wetbag and smaller one for out and about. I don't always use them. Sometimes since I know I will be washing them right away, I put them in a basket and take them down to my laundry area where I have a basket or pile for them. If I know I won't be able to tend to the stinkies right away, putting them in the wet bag is best.

I wash with a cold rinse first, then wash hot (adding in Maggie's Soap Nuts) and then a cold rinse. I dry normally (except for the GroBaby diapers as mentioned above.)

I love Bummas cloth wipes as well as just regular baby wash cloths, and I throw in and rinse/wash with the diapers.

Even after seven months of washing diapers every few days I still enjoy it so much. They are fun. Diapers are fun! And pretty! And look at that cute bum!

What have I forgotten? I'll answer your questions and respond to your tips in the comments below.


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My Shiny Fridge Baby

So I haven't filled you in on how I am loving my new fridge. It's been living with us almost a month already now! The last time I blogged about it, I was most concerned with what we would find underneath our old one. Well, to my surprise, it was just lots and lots of dust. That's it! Oh, and a bunch of LeapFrog letter magnets.

The delivery men were so nice and accommodating. They allowed us to vacuum up the dust and clean the area before installing the new fridge (The Frigidaire Gallery.) They even let me take their picture in front of it. I'll return their kindness and not post it here.

I was able to immediately start stocking it with cold items and was encouraged to do so as it would help the fridge cool down faster. It's lovely. Really, it is. I'm still re-arranging the inside of the fridge part here and there to get just the right fit. I am SO thankful to have two refrigerators (we put our old one in the garage) especially with the party yesterday. I do think a larger family can benefit greatly from having an extra fridge and/or freezer.

Aside from a screechy top drawer and the fact that my other appliances pale in comparison to the Gallery's beauty, I see no flaws yet. Only fluffy fridgy goodness.

We do distill our water, but the special "best in class ice & water filtration" system is a nice back up when I just sat down and the kids ask for a glass of water. They can reach their cups and now they can easily get their own ice and water straight from the fridge door. Frigidaire's main focus with giving it to me in the first place was to showcase the time saving features and I will say just that alone has been a nice time (and sanity!) saver.

[Now, if only it had a built-in diswasher. And personal chef.]

And something I just realized, while admiring this now almost one-month old baby fridge... I hardly ever have to wipe away fingerprints. The outside has been incredibly easy to keep clean, which I am quite surprised about. There was also one time that Gray got a little too excited with the ice dispenser and then overflowed his glass of water straight down the door onto the floor. And even then it didn't streak.

And my floor needed the wash anyway.


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My Own Private Perfection

Yesterday I stood in a long line for one-dollar sub sandwiches and then ran into Kmart for the skateboard Carter had his eye on. I was waiting until payday. It was $13.

I got home and put out the sandwiches only to realize that I forgot to get one for Gray. Thankfully he doesn't eat the bread and I had the ingredients in my own sandwich and the rest in the fridge to make a pretty convincing mock-up. He never had a clue.

I spent the entire day washing veggies and preparing food for the birthday party. It was one of those rare moments in time where I found enjoyment in every single task, and everything turned out exactly as it should. Even hubby had finished with the grill just as the final dish was set out and our guests were ready to eat.

[Our plates and cloth napkins didn't match and I did have to wash the forks again before dessert. But I love the quirkiness. I wouldn't do it any other way.]

[The hot potato salad that everyone loved. I doubled this recipe and only had 1 packet of ranch so I added a packet of Tastefully Simple Savory Cheese dip as a substitute. Divine.]

[Carter read each card out loud. Really loud.]


[He asked for brownies instead of cake. I also served mini pound cakes with fresh strawberries & blueberries topped with whipped cream.]

Not everything was "perfect"...

I realized I forgot the candle when Carter said to me, "Now Mommy, you didn't forget my candle now, did you?" And so a quick call to Mimi had that taken care of (she was already picking up the frozen pink lemonade I'd also forgotten for the punch.)

I did buy balloons. And forgot to 1.) blow them up and 2.) put them out.

When searching for the allergy medicine for a guest our hall closet might have thrown up on me. I quickly shoved everything back in and managed to get it shut again, with a little shoulder/half body slam.

I totally cheated and copied our entire menu (aside from dessert) from Amy's birthday post earlier this week. Seriously, the punch and the potato salad I could probably live on. And maybe had for breakfast this morning.

I still have eleventymillion dishes to wash. I do not have a dishwasher.


I later found Carter outside practicing his skateboard. "I'm not really good at it yet, Mommy. I'm a little wobbly. But I'll keep trying."

Oh, kid... me too. Me too.


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Nekkid

[See. I don't always wear my baby.]

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seven on seven ten

When I was pregnant with you I ate green grapes and celery. Lots of celery.

We bought a new car right before you were born. And I remember that because right afterward we went to the mall so I could get a new pair of shoes. (Daddy got a new car = Mommy got new shoes. It was a fair trade to me!) And then I think we went to meet friends and saw one of the Star Wars movies. I don't remember which one- they were all the same and I'm sure I could look it up but I'm not kidding anyone here.

I think we were most surprised with you, out of all our babies, because you were a whopper at almost 10 lbs. Especially since the Dr. guessed you were about 7lbs less than 24 hours before.

You broke your collar bone coming out and I'm pretty sure this will be a story you'll tell often someday.
You've taught me recently that if I make peanut-butter sandwiches or mashed potatoes (or both if it's a banner day) then I am the Best Mommy In The Whole World.

(The secret is that it's not the making of those things, it's the knowing that those things mean so much to you.)


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I love loving.

I love puddles that don't go un-splashed and those first few drinks from a can of a Coca-Cola.


I love skirts that go past my knees, the Eiffel Tower, and when my hair touches my bare shoulders.

I love chubby baby haunches, player-pianos, and the look in an eye.



I love the tippy tappy tapping of the keyboard on a quiet morning, new shoes, and muffins and real butter.

I love Kids Eat Free night, folk songs, and forgiveness.

You know, the simple things.


Ivy's shoes are part of the new toddler collection by the eco-friendly Simple®, made with recycled and sustainable materials. They sent us this adorable pair (and we've already tested the eco-certified washable suede... the mud wiped right off and they look like new) and are offering 10% off your first purchase if you use code Simplemommy.


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Sometimes Being Late Is Right On Time

I am right on schedule to make us late for the park today, as usual. A rare moment of all my early bird children playing together nicely is a cause for me to sneak in some laptop time. In full view of a well-worn kitchen and laundry folded on my couch. Hey- it's folded.

Today I was supposed to be at a blogger event for Sears Holding Company/Kmart Designs but it interfered with me being a Mom. I did drive out to the cocktail dinner yesterday and it was so fun. It has me aching for BlogHer. I enjoy hanging out with other bloggers so much- especially the delightful and engaging people I was with last night. I was sad to say goodbye. I almost went to a late movie with Erica, Lori, Christine, & Gabrielle but I wasn't in the mood to be THAT Mom with her baby in a movie theatre ten o'clock at night.

I was already THAT Mom just by bringing a baby to the party where everyone was cherishing time away from their kids, and by letting her growl and fuss and throw pretzel sticks at the bus boy. Complete with me sitting in the middle of the room in my skirt and allowing her to crawl all over me and nurse and then trample on everyone's feet. (And try to take a bite of some feet.)

[Baby Jude's tasty feet.]

But her cuteness seemed to trump any annoyances.

[psst you might want to be following @kmartdesign for some goodies up ahead]

So, I would have loved to hang out late with the girls last night but I am so glad I got home in time to be a better Mom today. I seriously wish I was at the summit, and the Sears Holding Company was crazy wonderfully accommodating, but I just couldn't work it out with the four kids and my rule is that if Daddy can't stay with them, I don't go.

And we're already late for the park...


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Power Crawl And A Good Blow-Kiss

Ivy has this crawl that is like a freight train with no brakes. She was chugging along like crazy until I got the camera out. So I tried to bait her into doing it, and it worked. Until she tried to eat the bait.

Ivy's Power Crawl from Stephanie Precourt on Vimeo.

And she does tricks! Wait for it... wait for it... it's worth it. If you watch until the end she gives me a high-five and blows a kiss.

A Good Blow-Kiss from Stephanie Precourt on Vimeo.

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potato, potahto

I put Ivy in the church nursery yesterday!

Ok, the whole truth? I stayed in there, too.

It was the first Sunday I was scheduled to serve in there as a nursery worker and my main job turned out to be keeping Ivy away from the other babies. Even though she was the youngest and obviously the cutest (heheh just kidding) (oh no I did not just say that outloud) she was a terror. Thankfully everyone made it out alive and mostly unharmed.

I'm still kind of new-ish at our church, meeting people a little more as I go and when it was revealed that I don't even have a crib for Ivy at home, the other ladies looked at each other and were like, oh that explains a lot.

"That's not good." and "No wonder she's so attached to you." And they gave each other looks and muttered I could never do that.

Normally, despite how comfortable I am about our parenting choices, this would have stung at least a little. I might try to laugh it off or defend myself politely and informatively.

But this day? I didn't feel a thing and I didn't say a word.

And my reaction, or non-reaction as it so happened, felt kinda good.

I didn't need to explain myself or rattle off the benefits of attachment parenting. These people obviously think differently and that's ok. That's their thing. I do my thing. You do your thing.

How silly that I ever let myself feel anything about it otherwise.

It was awesome.


Ivy loved her first fourth of July, including the fireworks. Especially the fireworks.

We had such a splendid time that I didn't even think about interrupting the moment by digging my camera out from the bottom of my bag in the dark and trying to get the perfect picture.

Who am I kidding? Of course I dug out my camera and caught what I could of those moments of wonder.


It was awesome.


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