7 and 8 months old!

Well the 7 month update just slipped right by me..ha!  The twins were 7 months old on November 27 and I completely forgot to take their picture.  It has been a whirlwind the last couple of months so I am just going to combine these two updates and go with it!  I don't have much time to blog but I do want to document some things here so here goes!  

8 months old on December 27!

FEEDING:  The babies eat great.  They nurse 7 times a day but some days just 6 as we are trying to head in that direction.  

We started giving them solids at the beginning of November.  The first thing they had was acorn squash.  Benton LOVES food and Emery is not the biggest fan.  He will eat anything I try to feed him but Emery has to be in the mood.  Besides squash they have had carrots, green beans, peas, apples, bananas, and sweet potatoes.  I can usually get Emery to eat a couple of bites and then Benton just eats the rest of it.  

We got highchairs for Christmas and I LOVE THEM

This was when we were out for breakfast at our favorite place.  We gave them gravy since it was the first thing Blakely had.  Sappy, I know.  Benton wasn't sure...Emery loved it.  Since then totally opposite.  (no gravy though!)

I am making the baby food just like I did with Blakely.  I spent one afternoon boiling, steaming and baking all the food.  Then I puree it and freeze it in ice cubes trays.  Once frozen, I pop them out and put them in ziplocs in the freezer.  So easy and makes a bunch so I have only had to do it once in 2 months.

SLEEPING:  Oh these babies are so different in this category.  Whew.  Benton sleeps great for naps during the day.  Emery fights naps but eventually gives it up.  They take 3 naps per day with the last one being a cat nap in the evening (Emery fights this one the most but she just can't make it to bedtime without it).  

The night sleeping.  Oh the night sleeping.  Emery has always been great at this.  Put her down at 830 and she sleeps until 7-730.  Benton wakes up at least once to eat.  Then they got sick in December.  Both had ear infections.  Emery would not sleep laying down...I guess the pressure on her ear or something?  Anyway, so she's been waking up multiple times a night.  Benton got an ear infection about a week after her and started waking up multiple times at night.  I couldn't just let them cry because I knew they didn't feel good.  So it has been a REALLY rough 6-8 weeks of no sleep for me.  

Benton is finally better and off his antibiotics.  Emery got another ear infection and is on a second round of antibiotics BUT no one is sleeping.  I am pretty much at the end of my rope on the no sleep.  I feel like a zombie every single day and it is really wearing on me.  I am determined to make them sleep at night...New Year's Resolution!  Ha!  

When I feed them early in the morning between 6 and 7 I just put them in bed with me and lay down to nurse.  Sometimes they both fall back asleep and those are the best snuggles in the entire world.  I will miss it so much when they stop doing this.  

CLOTHING:  They both wear 9 month clothes but if they don't have a cloth diaper on then those are too big.  Emery can really fit in 6 month stuff if it weren't for the big booty diapers.  

DIAPERS:  Cloth diapers during the day and a (size 2) disposable at night.  

WEIGHT: I am guessing Emery is about 14 pounds and a few ounces and Benton is getting close to 16 pounds.  We've been to the doctor for sickies a couple of times and they weighed close to that with their clothes and diaper.  

HEIGHT: Another guess but probably an inch or so long her than at their 6 month check up. SO Emery 26 1/2 and Benton 27 1/2.

HAIR:  Benton's hair appears to be darker that Emery's.  Hers is growing super fast and hangs down over her ears now.  

EYES:  both have blue eyes with Benton's being a darker blue.  I think Emmmers is going to have the bluest eyes of any of us.  

These babies think I am hilarious!  

A few things about Benton:

• he is the sweetest boy.  I mean seriously.  He just smiles at me and it kills me every time.  

• he is so content.  I can set him down with a toy and he is happy to play with that toy for a long time.  
• he has 2 teeth.  He got the first one (bottom left) on 12-15 and the second one (bottom right) on 12-20.  
• he started sitting up unassisted just a few days after Thanksgiving (right at 7 months old)...a few days after his sister!  

• he is close to crawling but doesn't really care about it much.  Like I said, he is content where you put him.  But if there is something he REALLY wants, like my phone or if he sees a pacifier, then he does army crawl over to get it.  He gets up on all fours sometime and rocks back and forth.  He scooches backwards when he is on all fours and that kinda makes him mad because he ends up backed up against something.  
• we call him Benny mostly but he does have a few other nicknames.  Benners, Benny-boo, and Ben-man are the most common.  
• this boy is finally not snotty.  he had an ear infection but antibiotics cleared that up.  he now has fluid behind both ears but it is not infected.  if we can keep him from getting a cold, etc then that should go away.  PLEASE!
• he kicks his little legs when he gets excited.  Blakely did the same thing and I had forgotten it until he started doing it.  

A few things about Emery:

• she is never still.  this was the best I could get of her laying on the blanket!  

• she is going to make me go gray.  before she could sit up she would get so mad that she couldn't.  Now that she can sit up she is mad that she can't crawl.  She just wants to go places.  Until she can run around as fast as her sister she will not be satisfied! 
• she wants to be in on the action.  if we are in the kitchen then she wants to be there.  Basically she wants all the attention!  

not laying on this blanket, mom

• she has one tooth (bottom right 12-22) but she is working on a few more.  she chews and slobbers on everything
• she started sitting up by herself right at Thanksgiving (7 months old).  

• my poor girl has been snotty for a month.  bless her.  her very first ear infection was so bad.  it came on so quick.  she woke up snotty one morning with no other symptoms.  by the next morning she was lethargic, inconsolable and a fever that wouldn't quit.  i took her in a rush to the doctor when she refused to eat and was so limp I couldn't really rouse her.  it was pretty scary for this mama.  severe ear infection it was and they thought it would rupture but we avoided that.  shot of antibiotics in the office and a bunch of motrin for fever and pain and she was a little better.  we also had ear drops for pain and those helped her a lot.  now we are on our second ear infection but this one wasn't as bad and we are almost done with abx so hopefully the sickies will go away and stay away.  Blakely never had an ear infection so this is all new to me and I don't like it!
• Oh sweet little Emery has a lot of nicknames.  The most common ones we use are Em-doodle, Sue (no idea), Sue-doodle, Rem, Rem-turkey, Rem-a-lem, Emmers and Emmy.  
• she is oh so close to legit crawling.  I give it days.  she gets where she wants by getting on all fours and then pushing forward, landing on her tummy and then doing it all over again.  Sometimes she does a real crawl on hands and knees but she hasn't mastered staying that way yet.  Soon.  oh so soon. 

she has been getting on all fours and even doing a little plank since she was 6 months old.  

The both love their big sister so much even though she sometimes throws them around like rag dolls.  Haha!  Just kidding.  Although she thinks they are big enough now for her to pick up.  I keep telling her no but I have to watch her like a hawk.  They are getting to the age where she likes playing with them and especially making them laugh.  I love seeing them all three together.  I am the luckiest.  

Cloth Diapering- the day to day details

In this post, I want to talk about how I actually use, store, and clean my cloth diapers.  Also, what accessories I have and how I have my house set up for cloth.  *There is quite a bit of poop talk ahead!*

I bought a metal trash can from Walm.art that has a pedal you push to pop the lid up.  I had 2  Planetw.ise diaper pail liners to go in the trash can.  I keep this right beside the changing table in her room.  When she was only on breast milk (so up until about 6 months of age) this was all I had for my diapers.  I always changed her in her room and I threw the dirty diaper in the pail.  Breast milk poop doesn't have to be rinsed because it is water soluble.  So the diaper went straight from the baby into the pail.  I did buy some Bumgenius odor remover spray.  I would spray a few squirts onto a poopy diaper and then it went straight into the pail.  I don't really know if the spray helped or not.  I only used it for a few months and then I stopped.  I've never had any issues.  This stage was very easy.  

When Blakely was 6 months to about 8 months, I had to start spraying her poop diapers off because she was eating solid foods and her poop was changing.  I bought a Bumgenius diaper sprayer and had the husband attach it to the toilet in the bathroom closest to her room.    I would still change her diaper in her room.  If it was poopy then I would set it to the side and finish getting her dressed.  Then I would carry B and the dirty into the bathroom.  I put her on the floor and let her play...I actually kept a few small toys in the bathroom just for this reason. The girl loves to play in a bathroom, always has.  Anyway, then I would spray the diaper off.  I realized quickly that carrying the water soaked diaper back into her room where the pail was just wasn't working out.  I bought 2 more diaper pail liners and started keeping one on the floor in the bathroom.  That way I could just toss the diaper into it without a mess.  I didn't get a trash can for this one because I didn't feel like it was needed.  Keeping the bag on the floor worked just fine.  

At about 8 months, B's poop changed again.  It was no longer mushy.  We had little turds.  YES!  This makes life super easy because you can just plop them into the toilet.  No mess at all.  I still keep the trash can with the diaper pail liner in her room as this is the main place for changes.   I also still keep a pail liner on the floor in the bathroom downstairs just in case I need to spray a diaper.  It is pretty rare that I have to do that...I'd say once every two weeks or so?  Now that she is older I can just do quick changes upstairs (without the risk of her peeing on the couch).  I realized I didn't want to walk downstairs just to put the dirty diaper up so I bought a tiny metal trash can from Walm.art to keep in the laundry room upstairs.  I don't put a pail liner in it because the diapers are dirty but they aren't messy.  When it is time to do laundry I just dump the dipes into the washer and wipe the trash can down with a clorox wipe.  

**I do always take the inserts out of my pocket diapers when I take them off of B.  That way I don't have to do that on day old diapers.  I can just dump the bag into the machine.**

I have always washed my diapers every other day.  I do go to a third day sometimes now that B is older and not going through as many diapers.  I have a regular old top loader...nothing fancy at all.  I use Roc.kin' Green detergent.  I dump all of the diapers and the pail liners in the washing machine.  I run a cold rinse.  If there were a lot of poop diapers or if I am washing on the third day (so more diapers than usual) I run a warm rinse after my cold rinse. Then I do a hot wash with 2 heaping tablespoons of detergent followed by a cold rinse.  Once that is finished I run one more cold rinse.  I am sure on a fancier machine I could program this all in and not have to go back in and turn the washer on but, like I said, OLD top loader :)  

When the washing is finished I toss all of the inserts into the dryer (NO fabric softener) on hot for about 30-40 minutes.  

During the winter, or if it isn't sunny out, I put the AIO's and the pocket shells on my drying rack in the laundry room.  I do occasionally put everything in the dryer.  Most people say that is a big no no but I have had no problems.  Sometimes I just want to get it all done and put away...the dryer speeds things up a little bit.  If I have the pocket shells and the AIO's in the dryer then I put it on low for 40-50 minutes.  

If it is sunny out then I put everything (inserts, pocket shells, and AIO's) on the drying rack and take that outside.  The sun is a great bleaching agent and the diapers also dry much faster outside.  The only time I have ever seen a stain on a diaper was back when B was exclusively breastfed.  A couple of times I noticed a small stain when taking a diaper out of the washer.  I had read that the sun would bleach it right out.  I did not believe this.  Well what do ya know?  It totally works.  I was shocked.  After sunning the diapers and inserts they are so bright white!  The inserts can feel a little "crunchy" after drying in the sun so I usually throw only those in the dryer for a few minutes just to soften them up.  

So how do I store all of these diapers?  I keep them all in the bottom drawer of B's dresser.  Now that she is older and I change her upstairs during the day, I keep a few in the laundry room just for ease.  Here is a pic of the "changing station" in her room. 

I still use the diaper ge.nie for our disposable wipes.  I have yet to convince my husband to use cloth wipes.  I keep saying I am just going to do it and he will adjust.  

Wipes, coconut oil (I slather it on her booty a couple of times a day), hand sanitizer, and clo.rox wipes!

A look into the drawer.  Diapers all across the front.  On the back row, from the left, I have wipes (as soon as I convince the husband), extra inserts, and the extra pail liners and wetbags.  

I hope that helps anyone wanting to know what the day to day use of cloth looks like.  It really is easy once you get into a routine.  Isn't everything about routine?  Next time I'll talk about cloth diapering on the go! 

Cloth Diapering: My favorite diapers and why

I haven't done a post about cloth diapers in a while.  I thought I would do a little update since we are a year in to it.  I posted some tips for those looking into cloth diapers back in the summer so if you are looking for information like that, here is the post.  

First of all, we absolutely love them.  All of us.  Even my mom and mother in law who were tough to convince.  Lonnie thinks they are great and even tells random people that we use cloth.  They give him a weird look and then he tells them "these aren't your grandma's cloth diapers!".  It is cute.  

In my other post I didn't really mention what diapers I used, accessories I had or my routine.  I thought I would do that here just to let you all know what works for me.  

My stash is a mix of pocket diapers and all-in-ones.  I'd say it is about half and half.  I certainly have too many diapers...no doubt about that.  I could make do with about 16-20 diapers now and wash every other day.  However, in the beginning I was a bit obsessed with buying diapers.  While I was writing this post, I was estimating that I had about 35 diapers.  Then I remembered I took a picture of all of my diapers a few months ago.  I hunted that picture down and counted.  45 diapers.  Holy crap.  I am kicking myself because that is WAY TOO MANY.  The good news is that cloth diapers have a great resale value.  I should do that because there are a few in this picture that I never use!  I didn't buy all of these either.  I'd say about 8 of these were free.  Anyway!

These are my main diapers.  I have a few other random brands that I got for free or for a huge bargain but I'm not going to list them here in this post.    

Bumgenius 4.0 (one-size pocket)
Bumgenius Freetime (one-size AIO)
Fuzzibunz (one-size pocket)
Thirsties AIO

Now, a little bit about each diaper and what I like about it and what I don't like about it.  Keep in mind...I love all of these diapers (which is why I have many of each of these).  Maybe I will do a post later about the other random diapers I use but didn't like them enough to order more of for my stash.  

Bumgenius Freetime
This is my favorite diaper at the moment.  It has been for many months.  I had other favorites when B was only on breast milk or when I had to spray poop off of every diaper.  But right now I almost wish my entire stash was this diaper.  IT is so easy to use and wash.  

It is an all in one BUT it doesn't take forever to dry like most other AIO's.  It has 2 absorbent flaps sewn to each end so when you dry it you can just unfold the whole thing.  I put mine on a drying rack before I go to bed and they are completely dry in the morning.  In the summer I hang them outside and they are dry in a few hours.  And, yes, I do put them in the dryer occasionally.  No problems.  

The only con I can think of for this diaper is that when I had to spray B's poop (which was just a short period of time) it could be a bit difficult.  Sometimes one of the flaps would flop down in the toilet and it just made the whole diaper soaked.  I kept a wetbag by the toilet so this was not a huge deal.  If I had to take the sprayed diaper back into her room...well, that just wouldn't have happened.  

Bumgenius 4.0
This diaper is very dependable, easy to stuff, and easy to size.  I really have no complaints about this one.  It fits B really well and always has.  The only reason I say the Freetime is my favorite is that I don't have to stuff the inserts into those.  I don't mind stuffing pockets at all.  B actually helps me but sometimes I am lazy, ya know?  

One of the best things about the BG brand is the tabs are elastic.  I feel like I can get a better fit around her belly with this since most of my diapers are snaps and not velcro.  

Fuzzibunz
This was my go-to diaper for a long time.  My favorite aspect of this one is that it is so trim.  The BG's aren't huge or anything but they are bulkier than these and I had to size up in pants and shorts for those.  If B is wearing pants or leggings then I am usually reaching for a Fuzzibunz.  Here is a comparison.  

The purple is a Fuzzibunz and the other is a BG 4.0.  See how much more narrow the crotch is in the FB?  That makes for a much trimmer fit when actually on a baby.  

The main downfall of this diaper, and this is not a deal breaker as this is the diaper I have the most of, is they are somewhat tough to figure out how to size at first.  The BG's have a snap down rise and that is how you adjust to fit smaller babies up to toddlers...easy.  The Fuzzibunz have adjustable elastic in the legs and across the back.  When I didn't know what I was doing this intimidated me and I thought I was doing it wrong.  Once I got more comfortable with it, it was no big deal.  You get it sized right and then you don't have to size it up until your baby grows quite a bit.  I do think this type of sizing helps to get a better fit for a variety of different shaped babes!  

I don't reach for it "as much" these days only because I have to change it more frequently.  B can soak both of the inserts in about an hour and a half.  Usually this isn't a big deal but if I know we are going to be out longer of something I put something else on her.  I probably should just get different inserts for them and I wouldn't even have this problem!  

Thirsties AIO
I bought these diapers when they were on sale and I needed some velcro for my MIL and for my mom.  They are not technically "one-size".  Thirsties actually has a size 1 and a size 2.  Both of these diapers have a snap down rise with three settings...just like the BG.  I never had a size 1 and, like I said, I started when B was 3 1/2 months old.  So if you were to get a size 1 you wouldn't be using it for long but I would assume you could use it on a newborn.  The size 2 will last until potty training as I don't even have the rise unsnapped all of the way yet.  

The absorbent material is sewn directly into this diaper but is left open on both ends.  This is a great perk because you can stuff another insert in if needed.  I haven't ever needed to do this because B isn't a heavy wetter but it would come in handy.  

This diaper does take a while to dry.  I find that it dries faster if you turn it inside out (another perk of it being open on both ends) before putting on the drying rack/hanging to dry.  I have plenty of diapers (obviously!) so it isn't a big deal for me to let these dry a bit longer.  

Most of the Thristies that I have are velcro.  The velcro is not the best quality and has started to wear out.  It still sticks and probably will until B is potty trained.  I will more than likely need to get the velcro replaced in order to use these on a second child.  She can undo it if she doesn't have pants on though...but that is any velcro really.  One of the reasons I prefer snaps.  

I don't usually reach for this diaper, not because I don't like it, but I just leave it in the drawer for my MIL, my mom or to be taken to the gym daycare.  They all prefer to use the velcro and these are the easiest velcro diapers I have.  It is more like a disposable than any of the above diapers.  I wish I had a few more in snaps.  

Here is a pic of all 4 diapers together just so you can see the differences in them.  They are all sized for how B wears them now.  

Top left: BG Freetime

Top right: BG 4.0

Bottom left: FB

Bottom right: Thirsties AIO

Ok!  So there is a run down of my fave diapers.  Next time I'll talk about my routine and the accessories I used.  When I was researching I found that I wanted to know more about the day to day cloth use...where you put the dirty diapers, how you store the clean diapers, how do you use them when out and about.  I wanted to know how I was going to fit this in with taking care of a baby!  It turns out it was much easier than I thought it was.  

TVT

I feel like I haven't done a Thought Vomit Thursday in a while so HERE YOU ARE :)

• I miss my good sleeper.  Like in a serious way.  This month has been harder than any other month.  At least when she was a newborn I KNEW I would be getting up every 2-3 hours.  Not to mention I was still high from just having had a baby.  Now?  I am desperate for some sleep.  I am a zombie during the day and feel totally worthless...

• Lonnie's brother, his wife, and their two kids are coming to stay for the weekend.  I am super excited to see them but I can't quite get the motivation to clean my house.  Normally when they come I have everything all perfect for them and this time there is dog pee in their closet.  I don't care.  Also, I have no food whatsoever.  But mother in law to the rescue.  She is going to the store tomorrow for me.  Love her like whoa.  We will probably spend the whole weekend in the lake or on the boat.  That sounds amazing.  The last time they were here was when Blakely had salmonella...yuck.  So hopefully this time I will actually get to enjoy their company.  

• My sister in law thinks cloth diapers are completely disgusting and can't believe I am doing it.  She also made comments last time about me still breastfeeding and making Blakely's baby food.  I was totally caught off guard and couldn't believe it.  I am hoping this time to stand up for myself more and explain our choices a little better.  Oh, and I'll totally be doing diaper laundry while she is here :)

• I am so excited for the Olympi.cs.  Like a 12 year old at a Jus.tin Beib.er concert excited.  Four years ago Lonnie and I bought our awesome flat screen tv just because the Olymp.ics were coming on.  He loves them just as much as me.  I got a text just the other day from him that said this.   I AM OFF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE OLYMPI.CS!!!!!!!!!!  Now, if you knew my husband you would understand the excitement.  First of all he never uses all caps and wants to punch people who do.  Secondly, he never duplicates an exclamation mark.  Total excitement up in here.

• Do you watch Big Br.other?  Well, if you do, it starts tonight.  I highly recommend this as the very best in mindless tv entertainment.  Four previous house guests are returning.  PUMPED.  My vote is for Janelle...please oh please be Janelle.  She was awesome.  Or Dr. Wil.l.  I loved him too.  Lonnie always says he won't watch this show with me but he always ends up watching.  He will for sure watch if Dr. Wil.l is on it, he is a little gay for him.    

• I swear I am working on a post about the shaved ice stand that we bought.  I know you're on pins a needles.

• Ok, I gotta go clean up dog pee out of the closet.  Totally unacceptable to leave it there right?  Have I mentioned that I despise my dogs?  Free to a good home....

A few tips on cloth diapers...

I want to start this post off by saying that I am not even close to an expert when it comes to cloth diapers.  I am still learning!  But since so many people asked me to do a post about cloth I decided that I would just take this opportunity to document my cloth experience from the beginning.  I have now been doing it about 2 months.  


To start with I thought I would do a post that is just full of tips....sort of like a "things I'm glad I knew" and "things I wish I'd known" post.  Next up I will tell you all the things I like and don't like about each diaper I've tried.  I hope that someone who is thinking of doing cloth will find this informative but not overwhelming.  


1.  First of all, I highly recommend buying from a site that will send you free diapers.  I have ordered pretty much everything I have (except 3 diapers) from Kelly.scloset.com.  They usually have a coupon for a free diaper with purchase of a certain amount ($39 or $49).  I have gotten 4 free diapers this way!  How awesome is that???  It tells you that the free diaper will be a $17 or $19 value...so you aren't getting any cheap little thing.  I am sure there are other sites that do this, this is just the one I know about and have used.  This site also gives you one point per dollar you spend.  Then you get a gift card for a certain number of points you have.  Such a great incentive! 


2.  Do your research before buying.  Looking into cloth can be super overwhelming due to the multiple different types and brands of diapers.  Most of the sites that sell cloth diapers have a page with a bunch of information for people looking in to cloth.  Here are a couple of those...
kelly.scloset  lots of general information
jilli.ansdrawers (has a pull down menu at the top)


If you just go.ogle cloth diapers or how to wash cloth diapers, etc then you can find a ton of info! 


I also learned a lot from blogs that I read.  A few of them use cloth and I really enjoyed reading their posts about it.  I especially think Ashley at Stealing Baby Kisses has some great and informative posts


3.  If you are a beginner (and not diapering a newborn, because I don't know a thing about that since I started at four months old), I recommend starting out with pocket diapers and/or all-in-one diapers.  This is all I have right now.  All the others just seemed too complicated for me.  I am sure that I will try them out eventually but I wanted to keep it simple to start with.  All-in-ones are the easiest and the most like a disposable.  You just put it on (snap or velcro) and then take it off when soiled and put it in a diaper pail.  A pocket diaper is easy as well.  This type of diaper has a pocket that you stuff with an absorbent insert.  When you change the diaper you take the insert out and throw everything in the pail.  These are great because you can adjust the absorbency for over night use or for a heavy wetter.  After I wash all my diapers I stuff the pockets and then put them away.  That way they are ready to go.  All of the pockets come with inserts, by the way.  


4.  DO NOT order a bunch of one thing to start with.  Everyone likes a different diaper for a different reason.  Also, diapers fit all babies differently.  When I first started I ordered 4 different diapers. Once I got used to those I ordered four more to try.  Now I have a whole stash of things that I know I like.  Just because a diaper is popular doesn't mean you will like it.  You just have to find what works for you, your baby, and your family.  It would totally suck to order 25 of one type of diaper and then it doesn't fit your little one well!


5.  Quite a few sites have a diaper trial that you can order.  I didn't do this but it really sounds like a great way to try different types/brands of diapers.  You get to try them out for a while and then send them back if you don't like them.  Part of me wishes I would have done that because then I would have tried something other than all in ones and pockets.


6.  If there is a cloth diaper store near you, GO THERE!  We only have one in the entire state and it is 3 hours away so, needless to say, I wasn't able to make it there.  I would have loved to actually see a cloth diaper before I ordered.  I mean I had never seen one in my entire life until I bought my first four.  It would have been so helpful to see all the different types of diapers.  Also, a lot of those stores can  be very helpful if you have questions about how to get started.  I think some of them even have classes for newbies.  Definitely check those out!  


7.  Don't get overwhelmed.  When I got my first diapers I about freaked and sent them back before even washing them.  I was scared and I didn't think that I could do it.  I didn't feel like I knew how to put them on or how to wash them AT ALL.  I was afraid I was going to ruin them.    I told myself that I was going to try for at least 6 weeks and then if I felt like I couldn't do it then I would give up.  Well after only a few weeks I got the hang of it and fell in love.  I started out on a very part time basis but now we are in cloth all the time except for over night.  I am still working on that one :)


8.  Please know that everyone washes their diapers differently.  I worried more about the washing than anything else.  It seemed like there were different instructions on every website and every diaper.  You just have to pick a detergent (cloth friendly, of course) and give it a whirl.  The general guidelines for washing are a cold rinse, then a hot wash with cold rinse, then an extra rinse.  If you start with this you will be fine.  I tweaked it a little bit and my routine is this.  Cold rinse, cold pre wash with a teaspoon of detergent (I use Rockin.Gr.een), hot wash with a tablespoon and a half of detergent (sometimes 2 if I have a lot of diapers), cold rinse, and then an extra cold rinse.  I added the cold pre wash to just be sure to get the poop out before washing.  It's working for me so far.   


9.  If your baby is exclusively breastfed then you can just throw the poopy diapers strait into the washing machine.  I realize how crazy that sounds but the poop is water soluble so it is rinsed away in the first rinse cycle.  The first time I did diaper laundry I checked after the rinse and sure enough it was gone!  It seems Blakely poops 4534 times a day which is why I added the cold prewash to make sure to get all the poop out since most of the diapers were poopy.  If your baby is on formula or has started solids then you need to spray the poop off.  We haven't gotten to that point just yet so I'll have to let you know how that goes when we do!  I can't get the child to eat cereal!!  


10.  The resale value on cloth diapers is amazing.  I have yet to sell any on E.bay but I think I am going to try to sell a couple that just don't work for me.


11.  Visit the bab.ycenter cloth diaper forum.  I actually didn't do this until after I was in love with cloth.  I have learned a lot just reading the posts from there.  Just a warning though, it can overwhelm you big time.  Remember, people go there and write posts usually when something is WRONG with their diapers so they can get help to fix it.  So there are a lot of posts that can be very discouraging.  There is also a lot of cloth lingo that I totally didn't understand at first.  Sort of like all the infertility lingo :)  But, I feel like the more you read and research (anything really) the more you know!  


12.  Snaps vs. Velcro.  That is a big debate in cloth diapering.  Everything I read said that snaps were way better and lasted much longer than velcro, also called hook and loop or aplix.  So I ordered everything in snaps!  The first free diaper I was sent was velcro.  I loved it and my husband really loved it.  The velcro is easier for babysitters and grandparents to put on.  It is also great for those middle of the night, in the dark, changes or for when you are out and about.  Now my stash is about 70% snaps and 30% velcro.  I can tell that the velcro probably won't last until potty training like the snaps will but I feel like having a few velcro diapers is a good idea.  I think you can also get some people to replace your velcro, for a price of course ;) 


I think that is all I have for now!  If anyone has any questions you can always email me at southernprincesskelly at gmail dot com...I will be happy to answer any if I can!  Hope everyone has a great Monday!  

Four Months Old!!!!

Crazy long post ahead with boatloads of adorable baby pics!  You've been warned ;)

Blakely turned four months old on February 13.  The time needs to start slowing down because I can't believe she is this grown up.  Sometimes I look at her and just think back to when she was a little newborn...I guess I will do that her whole life!

Firsts:  She rolled from tummy to back for the first time on 1-21-12.  She has done this quite a few times since but she doesn't really do it on purpose.  It still sort of surprises her.  I think she is close to rolling from back to tummy because she sleeps on her side most of the time so she just needs that last little push to get over.  

She had her first hard core growth spurt.  She wanted to eat pretty much all the time for about 4 days.  I fed her about every 1.5 to 2 hours for two whole days and my nipples weren't even that sore the first week of breastfeeding!  She was super fussy during this time and only wanted to be on the boob or asleep.  We just hung out in bed for days....it was nice to snuggle :)

She found her feet and plays with them all the time now.  

She took her first ride in the big girl stroller.

She attended her first baby shower.  It was for my friend Anna who is due with baby boy Hudson on my birthday, March 17!  She did so great.  

She started reaching out and grabbing her toys this month.  I noticed her doing it on purpose over and over again on 1-31-12.  

Her first time wearing a hoodie!

Her first jean skirt!

First time sitting up in her Bumbo seat

Her first snow day!  Although by the time I got her all dressed up to go out in it, the snow had melted....

Her first Super Bowl

Her first time in the Jumparoo!

Feeding:  We are still exclusively breastfeeding.  I dont' have any intentions to stop any time soon....boobies are magic!  She has started taking a bottle SO.MUCH.BETTER.  She still only likes to take it from me or Lonnie but we are working on that.  I usually give her a bottle once or twice a day and it is always the last feeding or two of the day.  I wanted to start giving her a bottle to go down for the night so Lonnie and I wouldn't always have to be home at 9 every night.  We tried to go out the other night and have my aunt put her down but she didn't really want to take the bottle from her.  We will keep trying though!  

This is what she has started doing when I feed her.  It's like she thinks my boob is hilarious!

At the doctor today he talked to us about starting solids.  He said it was up to us as to when we wanted to do it.  He said that from 4-6 months anything that we give her is just practice to get her used to eating with a spoon.  All of her nutrition will still come from breast milk.  When she gets to six months he wants her to have cereal every day to get more iron since she is breastfed.  So I bought a box of rice cereal.  I don't know when we will try it out...Lonnie wanted to do it like yesterday so we will see.  Maybe this weekend.  I just don't quite think she is ready but maybe I'm just sad she is growing up so fast? 

Sleeping:  She is still such an awesome sleeper at night!  I feel like we are so very lucky when it comes to this.  She sleeps about 10-11 hours each night.  Her naps during the day have gotten so much better as well.  She will usually take 2-3 naps a days and then a small cat nap in the evening.  

Diapers:  She is still in size 2 disposable diapers but we have switched to cloth!  Right now I am still figuring out which one is my favorite before I order a whole stash.  I have 10 different diapers (I know, I am obsessed) so we are cloth throughout the day.  Still disposable at night.  I just got some hemp inserts today so as soon as I get those washed I will try one at night.  I will do an entire cloth post soon to let y'all know what I like and what I don't...although I am so not an expert!  

Look at that cuteness!!!

The diaper is cute but the only thing I see in this pic is her bald spot!!!  

Clothing:  We are in a weird spot with clothes.  0-3 month stuff is getting pretty small and she can't wear any of it with the cloth diapers now.  So we are pretty much in 3-6 month or just 6 month since switching to cloth.  The 0-3 dresses will still fit with the cloth diapers.  I got so many clothes from my showers but not really any 6 month stuff.  I have a ton of all other sizes!  So I have had to order some 6 month things for her.  I hate to order anything for the cold weather because spring is right around the corner so I feel like she is wearing the same things over and over again...which is totally fine, I know :)  I can tell that she will be up a size in pants with the cloth diapers.  But I figure with spring and summer coming I can just keep her in dresses and rompers to show off her super cute diapers!  I should probably stop ordering all girly print diapers....I can't help it....the cuteness is unbearable....

Weight:  She weighed 14 lbs 2 oz at the doctor this morning.  That is right at the 50th percentile.

Height:  She is 24 inches long and that is just under the 50th percentile.  

He was happy with her growth and said that she was doing great!  She got her four shots and she screamed for a few minutes.  Lonnie had to get some blood work done so I carried her out to the car while we waited for him.  She was really upset in the car from the shots and being so sleepy so I fed her and she conked out for a while.  We came home and all took a three hour nap...it.was.awesome!

Eyes: They are still blue.  They are a darker blue like Lonnie's but they do seem to be getting a little bit brighter blue.  

Hair:  Her hair is still light brown and sometimes it looks a little red!  She has a bald rim around the back of her head now from rubbing her head and turning it back and forth when she is playing.  It is more bald on the right side because that is the side that she always wants to sleep on.  The front is getting pretty long.  

Daily Routine:  I stick to this routine pretty much every day.  Sometimes it gets a little off but I just adjust throughout the day to get back on.  

730 to 8am-wake up for the day.  First feeding.  She usually only eats off of one side (bc it is so dang engorged!) so I pump after.  
8 to 930am-play in the bouncer and watch mommy clean up the house and get Grand Di dressed and ready for the day. 
930 to 1100-morning nap.  This is still her best nap.
11am-next feeding.
1130am to 2pm-we usually play on the floor or with Grand Di since she is staying with us for a while.  Sometimes she will take a small nap from 1-2
2pm-next feeding.  If she napped before this feeding then we will play til about 415 before the next nap.  If this is only her 2nd nap then she starts to get real fussy around 3.  I usually have to rock her or put her in the swing to get her to go to sleep.  Sometimes it even takes the boob.  
5pm-next feeding and daddy comes home to play. 
7pm-next feeding and sometimes this is from the bottle if mommy has had a cocktail ;)
9pm-last feeding and she goes down for the night.  
I usually pump again when I go to bed which is like 1130...way too late!

Favorite Toy:  By far her favorite toy is this ball.

It is quite possibly the best baby toy ever invented.  Except, of course, for Sophie...

A few other things I want to remember...

She is starting to actually like tummy time.  But only if we are playing with her.  

This dolly is one of her favorites as well.  And this picture is one of MY favorites...

She LOVES LOVES LOVES taking a bath now.  She just stares at herself in the mirror the whole time.

Or she watches the water fall onto her belly...

When she went through her growth spurt and was so fussy Lonnie would carry her around all evening long like this.  She absolutely loves it and she will stop crying immediately if you hold her like this.  

She has started drooling like crazy...

She is such a daddy's girl.  It is the cutest thing ever.  She just lights up when she sees him or hears him talking.  If I am feeding her then she stops eating and starts looking around if she hears him.  When he gets home in the afternoons and she sees him for the first time she starts smiling and wiggling all over the place.  He is so good with her...she is so lucky to have such a great daddy!

my loves

She has started trying so hard to sit up.  She doesn't really want to be laying on her back anymore.  When she is laying she starts doing crunches to try and sit up...so cute!

Sometimes I put her on the floor with a couple of toys.  I'll come back a little bit later and the toys are scattered all over the place and she is totally passed out.  She played so much she wore herself out!

She smiles all the time.  It makes my heart smile...

She has started to get a little bit of stranger anxiety the past few weeks.  When someone takes her from us or picks her up she is ok for about 30 seconds.  Then she starts wailing!  I hate it for the person holding her but she will usually stop after a minute or so.  Especially if Lonnie or I get in her face.  

We don't go anywhere without Jaffy the pink giraffe.  She is always in the car seat, swing, or bouncer with B.  

Mommy:  I am doing good.  This month has been a little overwhelming for me.  Since my mom is staying here because she broke her ankle and is non weight bearing for at least 3 more weeks I have been SUPER busy.  I enjoy having her here though.  I'm actually getting used to it and I'm not sure I want her to go!  She is able to do a little more for herself now so that helps me out a lot.  She and Blakely have totally bonded and that makes me very happy :)

Daddy:  Daddy is doing ok this month.  He has had a few health issues that are making him very tired.  He wants to go to bed early but once her sees her smiling face he has a hard time doing that!  

I love this little girl with my whole heart.  It is impossible to even put in to words.  I love being her mommy and I am so excited to watch her grow up.  

She is just so beautiful....