Gentle arms embrace
Reassuring presence
Banishes nightmares back into
The dream world, untouchable
Haven of safety
This lap, these arms
Bathed in warm light pushing
Back the darkness and fear
The old couch
Worn, but oh so
Comfortable, that is how
I remember it,
Legs curled up inside
Flannel nightie
A soft lullaby
Sends me back
To sleep.
Mine the arms now
Grown larger to embrace
These smaller ones
My lips now give
Healing kisses
And sing lullabies.
I hold my sleeping child
Soft breathing in
My ear, my heart
Overflowing
Still cold fear wraps
Its cord around
My heart, I know
My lips are not
Magic, my presence alone
Cannot banish all pain
The world is so much
Bigger, and scarier
Than I thought.
And so I crawl
Into the lap
That is bigger than mine
Held by arms that
Truly banish fear and pain
Never letting go
My fear is stilled
I sleep.
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Friday, 15 September 2017
Saturday, 22 July 2017
We Teach Them So Young
We teach them so young
To be happy
Smiles and giggles
Rewarded with love and attention
Declared cute and precious
Tickles and cuddles
Laughter
Not tears
We don't want those
Don't want to see them sad
Because we love them
Find out what's wrong
Try to fix it
Offer comfort
But when that's not enough
To restore happiness
We lose our patience
Get upset
Tell them to stop crying
Tell them to be happy
Forget to teach them
That sometimes there are tears
That must be cried
Until they are all gone
That there is pain
That can't be fixed
By a bandaid
Or even a mother's kiss
That sadness is not wrong
And tears are not a sin
Or a flaw
To be apologized for
We teach them so young
Not to feel
To be happy
Smiles and giggles
Rewarded with love and attention
Declared cute and precious
Tickles and cuddles
Laughter
Not tears
We don't want those
Don't want to see them sad
Because we love them
Find out what's wrong
Try to fix it
Offer comfort
But when that's not enough
To restore happiness
We lose our patience
Get upset
Tell them to stop crying
Tell them to be happy
Forget to teach them
That sometimes there are tears
That must be cried
Until they are all gone
That there is pain
That can't be fixed
By a bandaid
Or even a mother's kiss
That sadness is not wrong
And tears are not a sin
Or a flaw
To be apologized for
We teach them so young
Not to feel
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Mother's Day
When I think about Mother's Day I think about lilacs. Here in the "pacific northwest" the lilacs are almost always blooming on Mother's Day. Lilacs were my grandma's favourite flower. Her birthday and anniversary were always on or near Mother's Day, so I associate Mother's Day with celebrating those occasions too. I've been thinking about her a lot lately. This year my parents were out visiting, so I was able to host a nice family dinner. Then my parents stayed to babysit and Jesse and I got to go away for the night! It was our first night away from the kids in two years! It was wonderful to have some quality, uninterrupted time with each other - and some uninterrupted sleep!
Being a mom has challenged me and stretched me in ways that I never imagined. Every day I struggle against the desire to complain and compare my day to my childless friends' who get to "do whatever they want". But I wouldn't change being the mother of these two rambunctious, adventurous, thoughtful, smart, caring little boys for the world. I am their mother, and I will never be the same again.
It blows my mind to think of the number of mothers in the world, giving so much of themselves every day to nurture and build up the children that God has given them (whether biologically their own or not). Mothers, you make a world of difference. You are heroes!
Thursday, 6 April 2017
One Hour Projects: Bandana Bib
I usually tutor on Thursday afternoons. Occasionally, the student cancels, which means I get to have some extra free time! (Since I already have someone taking care of the kids, I may as well take advantage of it!) It was that kind of day today, so I thought I would try doing a project that I could start AND finish, all within that one hour.
I already had a project in mind: making a bandana bib. Very cute and very practical - Kenneth is drooling up a storm these days! I found a great tutorial that you can check out here.
I used odds and ends from my box of fabric - an old tank top that I was saving for some sort of project like this, and a fifty cent receiving blanket I had picked up at a thrift store for a different project.
I printed out the pattern from the tutorial and cut one from each kind of fabric.
I pinned them right sides in, and sewed them together - making sure to leave a gap so I could turn it right side out!
Then I pressed it, folding in the gap so it looked like the rest of the seam.
And I finished it off with a top stitch.
I had some snaps left over from an old project, so I used one of those as the fastener.
One bandana bib, finished in exactly one hour!
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
Mommy Moments: Glass Half Full?
When I have to wake up in the night because the baby is hungry, I'm never quite sure what to hope for when I reach for my phone to see what time it is. Part of me is hoping that the night is nearly over, because that means that I've been able to sleep a decent length of time. But at the same time I'm also hoping that it is still early in the night, because that means there is more time left for me to sleep. But I guess as long as I think about the positive side of whatever time it is, I'll be fine!
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Mommy Moments: Toddler + Baby
"Having a baby and a toddler is a very interesting experience...."
*Stops the toddler from stepping on the baby.
*Stops the toddler from throwing a wooden block at the baby's head.
*Stops the toddler from poking the baby's eye.
*Stops the toddler from using the bouncy chair to launch the baby into orbit.
*Witnesses the toddler throwing a stone that bounces off the baby's tummy.
"...I've gained a new appreciation for the survival of younger siblings."
*Stops the toddler from stepping on the baby.
*Stops the toddler from throwing a wooden block at the baby's head.
*Stops the toddler from poking the baby's eye.
*Stops the toddler from using the bouncy chair to launch the baby into orbit.
*Witnesses the toddler throwing a stone that bounces off the baby's tummy.
"...I've gained a new appreciation for the survival of younger siblings."
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Mommy Moments: Little Pleasures
Motherhood is full of little pleasures.
For example, there is something incredibly amusing and satisfying about making a baby do the actions to the Y.M.C.A.
It makes me happy.
For example, there is something incredibly amusing and satisfying about making a baby do the actions to the Y.M.C.A.
It makes me happy.
Thursday, 12 January 2017
Baby Gear: Mountain Buggy Duet
Apparently having children means you need a lot of gear. That may be true, but for the sake of our pocketbook and house space we have always tried to limit the amount of child equipment we have, only getting things that are absolutely necessary or particularly helpful. For those who are interested, I am occasionally going to write about some of the different baby gear that we have and especially enjoy.
Mountain Buggy Duet Stroller
Along with cribs and high chairs, strollers are right up there as an essential piece of equipment when you have a little one. When Steven was born we made do, first with a garage sale find from my parents, then with another umbrella stroller that we found for free. But when we were getting ready for kid #2 we knew that we wanted a double stroller.
Beyond being able to seat two kids, the most important factor for us was a stroller that could handle uneven terrain well. After some research we decided on the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's a pretty expensive stroller, but we were able to find a used one for a good price, and my family bought it for us as a gift when Kenneth was born.
We've been using this stroller for 4 months now, and I am very happy with it. It's good quality and easy to maneuver. One of my favourite things about it is that the handle height is adjustable. I also appreciate that the seats can fully recline, so we could take Kenneth out in it right away without having to buy one of the bassinet or car seat attachments. The only downside I've found is that it is quite large and heavy for lifting in and out of the car, but that would be true of pretty much any double stroller, and I don't have to do it very often. Because we are a one car family and Jesse usually has the car for work, the stroller kind of is my car! We got a rain cover with it, and that has let me take the kids out in all kinds of weather.
Of course, the ultimate test of a stroller for us is how it does off the road. The Duet handles grass, dirt, and other uneven terrain quite well. We even took it hiking up an old service road. Usually when we go hiking we use baby carrier packs, but it is nice to have the option of using the stroller when it is an easier trail.
We are glad that we found a stroller that suits the needs of our family, and we're looking forward to lots more family adventures.
Mountain Buggy Duet Stroller
Along with cribs and high chairs, strollers are right up there as an essential piece of equipment when you have a little one. When Steven was born we made do, first with a garage sale find from my parents, then with another umbrella stroller that we found for free. But when we were getting ready for kid #2 we knew that we wanted a double stroller.
Beyond being able to seat two kids, the most important factor for us was a stroller that could handle uneven terrain well. After some research we decided on the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's a pretty expensive stroller, but we were able to find a used one for a good price, and my family bought it for us as a gift when Kenneth was born.
We've been using this stroller for 4 months now, and I am very happy with it. It's good quality and easy to maneuver. One of my favourite things about it is that the handle height is adjustable. I also appreciate that the seats can fully recline, so we could take Kenneth out in it right away without having to buy one of the bassinet or car seat attachments. The only downside I've found is that it is quite large and heavy for lifting in and out of the car, but that would be true of pretty much any double stroller, and I don't have to do it very often. Because we are a one car family and Jesse usually has the car for work, the stroller kind of is my car! We got a rain cover with it, and that has let me take the kids out in all kinds of weather.
Of course, the ultimate test of a stroller for us is how it does off the road. The Duet handles grass, dirt, and other uneven terrain quite well. We even took it hiking up an old service road. Usually when we go hiking we use baby carrier packs, but it is nice to have the option of using the stroller when it is an easier trail.
We are glad that we found a stroller that suits the needs of our family, and we're looking forward to lots more family adventures.
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Bedtime Battles
When people talk about the "terrible twos", I used to be kind of skeptical. My general opinion was that it couldn't really be that bad, and that people were probally overreacting.
Steven is two now.
It's challenging.
Actually he began to insist on his autonomy a couple of months ago, but now he officially has the number of birthdays to match it. And boy is he trying our patience.
The primary source of frustration currently is bedtime. He just won't stay in bed, and now that he can open doors he won't stay in his room either. Trying to get him to stay in his room has become a struggle of epic proportions.
Up until recently our tactics in dealing with this have been rather haphazard. At first we generally tried being stern. "Go back to bed," we would tell him in a firm voice. That worked... the first couple times. Then he realized that even though we told him to go back to bed, nothing was forcing him to. We had to get continually more firm (and sometimes even angry), and after a while even that wouldn't work. Once when I told him to go back to bed and he smiled and continued walking right past me, I knew I had to try something different.
Next I tried sitting beside his bed. Then I could stop him from getting out in the first place. It did stop him from getting out of bed, but only if I stayed until he fell asleep. That would sometimes take hours. And I don't have hours of extra time in my day. If I was alone with the kids it was especially challenging. Sometimes the baby would start crying right as Steven was about to fall asleep or I'd have to leave to room for some other reason and then we would have to start all over again.
My next idea: Get him a new nightlight. I began to wonder if the old light we'd been leaving on for him was too bright and was encouraging him to stay awake. Also, we had gift card money from Christmas presents. So I got him a night light that shines stars on the ceiling. He absolutely loves it. The problem? He keeps coming out to get us so we can see the stars.
I think our main problem so far has been consistency - we kept trying different things. I'd do something, Jesse would do something else, I'd start one approach, then have to change mid-evening because Kenneth needed my attention. So this week we finally sat down and devised a plan. It is something that we can follow no matter who is home or whatever else is going on, so we should be able to be consistent with it. I have no idea if it will work, but we're going to stick with it for at least a week and see if any progress has been made.
Here's the plan: We go through his bedtime routine, which ends with us leaving him tucked into his bed with his star nightlight. The first time he comes out we take him back to bed, make sure he doesn't need anything, remind him that it's bedtime, and warn him that if he leaves his room again we will have to take the star nightlight away. The second time he comes out we take the star nightlight away, tuck him back in, and tell him it is time to go to sleep. Then every time he comes out after that we silently take his hand, walk him back to bed, and put a blanket over him, without giving him any attention or interaction. This happens again and again until he falls asleep. The theory is that eventually he will get the message that getting up really isn't exciting and won't get him more attention and he'll learn to just stay in bed and go to sleep.
The first night we tried this, he was in and out of bed for almost three hours. The second night it was two hours. That's where we are right now. It's tiring, but currently it's taking just as long as any of the other ways we were trying to get him to sleep, and it does let me do other things in my evening, even if what I'm doing is interrupted every minute or so to put him back to bed.
So we'll see what happens! He is pretty stubborn, so it may take a while, but Jesse and I are pretty stubborn too, and we're ready to give this a solid try. I'll let you know how it goes!
Steven is two now.
It's challenging.
Actually he began to insist on his autonomy a couple of months ago, but now he officially has the number of birthdays to match it. And boy is he trying our patience.
The primary source of frustration currently is bedtime. He just won't stay in bed, and now that he can open doors he won't stay in his room either. Trying to get him to stay in his room has become a struggle of epic proportions.
Up until recently our tactics in dealing with this have been rather haphazard. At first we generally tried being stern. "Go back to bed," we would tell him in a firm voice. That worked... the first couple times. Then he realized that even though we told him to go back to bed, nothing was forcing him to. We had to get continually more firm (and sometimes even angry), and after a while even that wouldn't work. Once when I told him to go back to bed and he smiled and continued walking right past me, I knew I had to try something different.
Next I tried sitting beside his bed. Then I could stop him from getting out in the first place. It did stop him from getting out of bed, but only if I stayed until he fell asleep. That would sometimes take hours. And I don't have hours of extra time in my day. If I was alone with the kids it was especially challenging. Sometimes the baby would start crying right as Steven was about to fall asleep or I'd have to leave to room for some other reason and then we would have to start all over again.
My next idea: Get him a new nightlight. I began to wonder if the old light we'd been leaving on for him was too bright and was encouraging him to stay awake. Also, we had gift card money from Christmas presents. So I got him a night light that shines stars on the ceiling. He absolutely loves it. The problem? He keeps coming out to get us so we can see the stars.
I think our main problem so far has been consistency - we kept trying different things. I'd do something, Jesse would do something else, I'd start one approach, then have to change mid-evening because Kenneth needed my attention. So this week we finally sat down and devised a plan. It is something that we can follow no matter who is home or whatever else is going on, so we should be able to be consistent with it. I have no idea if it will work, but we're going to stick with it for at least a week and see if any progress has been made.
Here's the plan: We go through his bedtime routine, which ends with us leaving him tucked into his bed with his star nightlight. The first time he comes out we take him back to bed, make sure he doesn't need anything, remind him that it's bedtime, and warn him that if he leaves his room again we will have to take the star nightlight away. The second time he comes out we take the star nightlight away, tuck him back in, and tell him it is time to go to sleep. Then every time he comes out after that we silently take his hand, walk him back to bed, and put a blanket over him, without giving him any attention or interaction. This happens again and again until he falls asleep. The theory is that eventually he will get the message that getting up really isn't exciting and won't get him more attention and he'll learn to just stay in bed and go to sleep.
The first night we tried this, he was in and out of bed for almost three hours. The second night it was two hours. That's where we are right now. It's tiring, but currently it's taking just as long as any of the other ways we were trying to get him to sleep, and it does let me do other things in my evening, even if what I'm doing is interrupted every minute or so to put him back to bed.
So we'll see what happens! He is pretty stubborn, so it may take a while, but Jesse and I are pretty stubborn too, and we're ready to give this a solid try. I'll let you know how it goes!
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Maxed Out
Having kids has pushed me to my limits more than anything I have ever done. I really didn't expect that.
Direct multiple plays with casts of over 50 kids aged 6-18? Sure!
Travel to the other side of the world by myself to go to Bible school for a year? Why not?
Get a B.A. with the highest GPA in my graduating class? It may have cost me some stress and a couple all-nighters, but I did that too.
But try to put a teething toddler who is coming down with a cold to bed when he is determined to not be in his room, while the baby (who is also teething) starts crying whenever I leave to try to put the toddler back to bed? Within minutes I become an emotional wreck who is ready to curl up in the fetal position and never move again.
I'm used to feeling much more competent than this.
Direct multiple plays with casts of over 50 kids aged 6-18? Sure!
Travel to the other side of the world by myself to go to Bible school for a year? Why not?
Get a B.A. with the highest GPA in my graduating class? It may have cost me some stress and a couple all-nighters, but I did that too.
But try to put a teething toddler who is coming down with a cold to bed when he is determined to not be in his room, while the baby (who is also teething) starts crying whenever I leave to try to put the toddler back to bed? Within minutes I become an emotional wreck who is ready to curl up in the fetal position and never move again.
I'm used to feeling much more competent than this.
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Currently: November 22
Currently, I am...
Listening to: Christmas music! Specifically, Christmas music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, because who wouldn't want to listen to carol of the bells played by electric guitars?
Trying to: Get the baby to fall asleep. He has a bit of a cold, so he's being harder to settle than normal.
Thinking about: My audition that I am leaving for very soon. Yes, I'm auditioning to be part of a theatrical production! If I get a role you will probably hear lots more about it. If I don't, then probably not so much.
Eating: At the moment, nothing, but lately my go-to snack has been a spoon of peanut butter with chocolate chips on it.
What are you currently listening to, trying to do, thinking about, and eating?
Listening to: Christmas music! Specifically, Christmas music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, because who wouldn't want to listen to carol of the bells played by electric guitars?
Trying to: Get the baby to fall asleep. He has a bit of a cold, so he's being harder to settle than normal.
Thinking about: My audition that I am leaving for very soon. Yes, I'm auditioning to be part of a theatrical production! If I get a role you will probably hear lots more about it. If I don't, then probably not so much.
Eating: At the moment, nothing, but lately my go-to snack has been a spoon of peanut butter with chocolate chips on it.
What are you currently listening to, trying to do, thinking about, and eating?
Friday, 4 November 2016
Baby Giggles
Baby giggles
Net my heart
Stall my swirling despair.
Shining eyes
Reach out to me
Pushing back the blackness.
Crooked smiles
In the darkest fog
Bring a ray of light.
Net my heart
Stall my swirling despair.
Shining eyes
Reach out to me
Pushing back the blackness.
Crooked smiles
In the darkest fog
Bring a ray of light.
Thursday, 27 October 2016
Thankful Thursday
With all the sleep deprivation of a young mom, it's easy to feel depressed and discouraged. But instead of complaining or mulling over everything that's wrong, today I thought I'd share 5 things that I'm thankful for!
God's Presence:
Too often I try to get through the day on my own strength, but when I slow down and turn my thoughts toward Jesus and rely on him, I'm reminded of what is really important, and I start having a better attitude.
My Husband:
For better or worse, we're in this together, and I'm so thankful to be part of a team. He challenges me to be better and to keep pursuing my goals and dreams. He's my primary connection to the illusive world of "adult conversations", and he's a fantastic dad. I couldn't ask for anyone better!
This Blog:
Somehow, through all of the busy days and sleepless nights, I have still been able to continue writing on this blog. It's really the only thing I consistently do for myself, just because I want to do it. I don't even manage to shower consistently, so that tells you how big of a feat that is! Having a place to express myself and develop more of my skills has helped keep me sane.
Hot Chocolate:
I may not be a coffee drinker, but I sure have been drinking lots of hot cocoa lately.... Also, having pretty mugs to drink it out of makes me happy too!
These Faces:
No matter how exhausting and challenging it is, being mom to these two incredible boys has been completely life changing. I love them to the moon and back, and wouldn't change my job for anything!
God's Presence:
Too often I try to get through the day on my own strength, but when I slow down and turn my thoughts toward Jesus and rely on him, I'm reminded of what is really important, and I start having a better attitude.
My Husband:
For better or worse, we're in this together, and I'm so thankful to be part of a team. He challenges me to be better and to keep pursuing my goals and dreams. He's my primary connection to the illusive world of "adult conversations", and he's a fantastic dad. I couldn't ask for anyone better!
This Blog:
Somehow, through all of the busy days and sleepless nights, I have still been able to continue writing on this blog. It's really the only thing I consistently do for myself, just because I want to do it. I don't even manage to shower consistently, so that tells you how big of a feat that is! Having a place to express myself and develop more of my skills has helped keep me sane.
Hot Chocolate:
I may not be a coffee drinker, but I sure have been drinking lots of hot cocoa lately.... Also, having pretty mugs to drink it out of makes me happy too!
These Faces:
No matter how exhausting and challenging it is, being mom to these two incredible boys has been completely life changing. I love them to the moon and back, and wouldn't change my job for anything!
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Faces
When you have a baby you soon learn that there are many people who love babies and will take every opportunity they have to hold one. Sometimes I'll be at an event and never hold my baby myself except for when he's hungry or needing a diaper change. On one occasion not too long ago a lady from church was holding Kenneth, and I overheard her talking with someone standing nearby about how babies' faces are so fascinating. They both agreed that they could just stare at a baby's face all day. Then one of of them added jokingly that you can't do that with older people, because staring at people like that is kind of weird.
That conversation I overheard has stayed with me. I agree, there is something very special about a baby's face. They are so young, so new, taking everything in for the first time with big eyes, or sleeping with a peace that most of us have forgotten. But babies aren't the only ones with fascinating faces.
Think about children. Bundles of endless energy, they run through life with an infectious enthusiasm. Every emotion is given their all and expressed with abandon - whether shrieks of laughter, cries of frustration, or affectionate bedtime kisses and cuddles.
Young adults' faces have a different kind of beauty; a fascinating tension and conflict as the idealism of youth meets the challenges of the world and they fight to keep their dreams alive.
Seniors have beautiful faces too, filled with years of memories, both joyful and sorrowful. Their eyes carry a wisdom that only age can bring, and every wrinkle tells a story.
Every age and stage of life has its own beauty. Indeed, every person's face is beautiful, formed by the artist hand of God and shaped through every experience and moment on this crazy adventure we call life. We may joke about how it's awkward, but really it is a shame that we don't look at others' faces more often.
The more we look at peoples' faces, the more we see their worth and beauty. Just think of how the faces of your loved ones appear to you, though they may not be counted as "beautiful" in the eyes of the world. Perhaps we should take more time to look at the faces of those who are different than us - who are from different cultures, different classes, or different ages, as a way of seeing beyond those differences to who they are as a person, and the great worth that they have. Perhaps we will see them in a way that we haven't before, and learn to love them better.
Let's be the kind of people who see the value in every face and in every person that we meet.
Thursday, 18 August 2016
Cloth Diapers: Part 2
If you've ever done any research into cloth diapers, it doesn't take long to realize that there are a lot of options out there, and it can get pretty overwhelming. Different diapering systems work better for different people, but I thought I would show you the diapers that I use, and tell you a bit about what my cloth diaper routine looks like.
The diapers I use are called "Flip" diapers, which is a hybrid diapering system. Basically, what that means is that I use waterproof shells, a couple of which are in the picture above. The diaper shell has a system of snaps that can make it smaller or larger, which means that they fit right from infancy to potty training. You can use the Flip diapers just the way they are as a swim diaper, but generally you lay an absorbent insert into the waterproof shell to make it work properly as a diaper. There are lots of insert options that work with the Flip shells, but the ones I use are called prefolds.
A prefold diaper is basically a whole bunch of layers of cotton that have been sewn together so that it becomes very absorbent. I use Bummies prefolds, and I have them in a small size from when Steven was little, and a larger size that we use now.
Prefolds are folded in thirds in order to fit into the diaper shell. As you can see from the picture, the prefold is still too long to fit, so you make one more additional fold, which allows you to add additional absorbancy to a part of the diaper.
Since I have a little boy, I fold in the front of the diaper, making it an appropriate length to fit in the diaper shell, and adding absorbancy to the front of the diaper, where it is most needed.
Then the insert is placed in the Flip diaper shell. Generally I'm lazy with it and don't bother tucking the insert under the flaps, but that's never been a problem. The shell still keeps the prefold in place really well. The diaper then goes on the baby a lot like a disposable does, except that it uses snaps rather than velcro. I appreciate that, since Steven already knows how to use velcro, but he hasn't figured snaps out yet!
When it's diaper change time, if the diaper is only wet, you can remove the insert and replace it with a clean one, reusing the shell multiple times. I find that poops generally manage to get on the shell, so the whole thing has to go in the diaper bin (after the poop has been dumped in the toilet).
Speaking of diaper bins, here's mine! It's an ordinary trash can that came with a removable plastic inner bin. So when it's laundry time I carry the plastic inner bin that's full of dirty diapers into the laundry room and dump them right into the washing machine, without having to touch anything nasty!
A recent addition to my diaper stash, thanks to a friend, are some hemp doublers. Doublers are basically a strip of absorbent fabric that you can add to your insert to make the diaper even more absorbent. They are particularly nice to use overnight, since it's longer between diaper changes.
I also have a large collection of wipes. Washable wipes are absolutely necessary if you're using cloth diapers, since you can just dump them into the diaper bin with the soiled diapers, without having to remember to put the wipes in the trash and the diapers in the bin. I just made my own out of some cheap receiving blankets from the thrift store. I cut the fabric into squares and used a sewing machine to do a zigzag stitch around the outside of each wipe. It was that easy! I keep a little squirt bottle of water on the change table and dampen each wipe when I want to use it.
It's important to avoid using regular diaper creams and lotions when you use cloth diapers, since they get on the diapers and are very hard to wash out. I just use coconut oil when Steven has a bit of a rash, and it works really well.
Probably the most challenging part of using cloth diapers is figuring out a washing routine that works for your diapers. There are general guidelines and lots of ideas around the internet, but ultimately it's a matter of trial and error. There are a lot of factors involved, like the temperature and volume of the water, how hard or soft the water is (which refers to the amount of minerals naturally occurring in the water), the kind and amount of laundry detergent, the kind of washing machine you have, and the kind and number of wash cycles you put the diapers through.
It's possible to buy special laundry detergent that is designed for washing cloth diapers, but that can be very expensive. Thankfully, regular detergents can work just as well. The main thing you have to watch out for is that it doesn't have any brighteners in it. Brighteners work by coating the fabric, and have the added effect of making the fabric water-resistant - not what you're going for with cloth diapers! It can also be good to avoid dyes and fragrances, since they can be irritating to your baby's skin. Currently, I use original powdered Tide detergent. For some reason it works better than anything else I've tried!
My current washing routine involves filling the washing machine with cold water and soaking the diapers for about 20 minutes or so, then washing them with hot water and detergent, and rinsing them 4 times with warm water. I think that's probably overdoing it a bit, but in our new house I have to go outside and down a flight of stairs to the basement suite to get to the laundry room. In our old place I would keep an eye on the wash and when the water of a rinse was clear I knew that the diapers were clean enough, but now I try to minimize the number of times I have to make the trip to the laundry room. But our landlady is planning to install a washing machine on our main floor, so soon I won't have to make the trek to the basement anymore. Yay!
I hang the diapers to dry outside if it's nice out and inside if it's raining. Using the dryer would be faster, but we try to use as little electricity as we can. Jesse is planning to put up a clothes line for me soon, which will be really nice!
My diaper stash has changed a bit over time, but I am really pleased with the way it's working right now. I currently have 10 shells and 30 prefolds, which is enough that I only have to wash diapers twice a week.
I had Steven in disposable diapers for the first month or so after he was born, which I do recommend, especially for a first child. That let me get used to having a baby without also having to get used to cloth diapers at the same time. When I switched over to cloth, it took me about a week to get used to it, but since then it's felt completely normal. There's been the odd occasion when I've put Steven in disposable diapers for a couple days, like when he had a rash that got infected and we had to use a prescription cream, so he's maybe had a total of 6 weeks in disposable diapers in his life. But, interestingly, I had to deal with more leaks and poop explosions in those times than in all of the months he's been in cloth diapers!
When baby #2 comes, I am planning to have him or her in disposable diapers for the first week or two, mainly until we're finished with the black tar newborn poop. It's nasty. (I believe the technical name for it is "meconium". Now you know.) I still have all of the smaller prefolds from when Steven was little, but I will have to divide the diaper shells between the two kids, so I will have to do laundry a little more frequently until Steven is finished with diapers. But really, I can only fit so many diapers into my dirty diaper pail anyways, so I think it will work out just fine.
If you're a mom that uses cloth diapers, I'd love to hear about your diaper routine and the kind of diapers you use. If cloth diapering is something that you're not familiar with, let me know if you have any questions. Leave a comment below - I'd love to hear from you!
And if you're interested in reading more, check out: Why We Use Cloth Diapers
The diapers I use are called "Flip" diapers, which is a hybrid diapering system. Basically, what that means is that I use waterproof shells, a couple of which are in the picture above. The diaper shell has a system of snaps that can make it smaller or larger, which means that they fit right from infancy to potty training. You can use the Flip diapers just the way they are as a swim diaper, but generally you lay an absorbent insert into the waterproof shell to make it work properly as a diaper. There are lots of insert options that work with the Flip shells, but the ones I use are called prefolds.
A prefold diaper is basically a whole bunch of layers of cotton that have been sewn together so that it becomes very absorbent. I use Bummies prefolds, and I have them in a small size from when Steven was little, and a larger size that we use now.
Prefolds are folded in thirds in order to fit into the diaper shell. As you can see from the picture, the prefold is still too long to fit, so you make one more additional fold, which allows you to add additional absorbancy to a part of the diaper.
Since I have a little boy, I fold in the front of the diaper, making it an appropriate length to fit in the diaper shell, and adding absorbancy to the front of the diaper, where it is most needed.
Then the insert is placed in the Flip diaper shell. Generally I'm lazy with it and don't bother tucking the insert under the flaps, but that's never been a problem. The shell still keeps the prefold in place really well. The diaper then goes on the baby a lot like a disposable does, except that it uses snaps rather than velcro. I appreciate that, since Steven already knows how to use velcro, but he hasn't figured snaps out yet!
When it's diaper change time, if the diaper is only wet, you can remove the insert and replace it with a clean one, reusing the shell multiple times. I find that poops generally manage to get on the shell, so the whole thing has to go in the diaper bin (after the poop has been dumped in the toilet).
Speaking of diaper bins, here's mine! It's an ordinary trash can that came with a removable plastic inner bin. So when it's laundry time I carry the plastic inner bin that's full of dirty diapers into the laundry room and dump them right into the washing machine, without having to touch anything nasty!
A recent addition to my diaper stash, thanks to a friend, are some hemp doublers. Doublers are basically a strip of absorbent fabric that you can add to your insert to make the diaper even more absorbent. They are particularly nice to use overnight, since it's longer between diaper changes.
I also have a large collection of wipes. Washable wipes are absolutely necessary if you're using cloth diapers, since you can just dump them into the diaper bin with the soiled diapers, without having to remember to put the wipes in the trash and the diapers in the bin. I just made my own out of some cheap receiving blankets from the thrift store. I cut the fabric into squares and used a sewing machine to do a zigzag stitch around the outside of each wipe. It was that easy! I keep a little squirt bottle of water on the change table and dampen each wipe when I want to use it.
It's important to avoid using regular diaper creams and lotions when you use cloth diapers, since they get on the diapers and are very hard to wash out. I just use coconut oil when Steven has a bit of a rash, and it works really well.
Probably the most challenging part of using cloth diapers is figuring out a washing routine that works for your diapers. There are general guidelines and lots of ideas around the internet, but ultimately it's a matter of trial and error. There are a lot of factors involved, like the temperature and volume of the water, how hard or soft the water is (which refers to the amount of minerals naturally occurring in the water), the kind and amount of laundry detergent, the kind of washing machine you have, and the kind and number of wash cycles you put the diapers through.
It's possible to buy special laundry detergent that is designed for washing cloth diapers, but that can be very expensive. Thankfully, regular detergents can work just as well. The main thing you have to watch out for is that it doesn't have any brighteners in it. Brighteners work by coating the fabric, and have the added effect of making the fabric water-resistant - not what you're going for with cloth diapers! It can also be good to avoid dyes and fragrances, since they can be irritating to your baby's skin. Currently, I use original powdered Tide detergent. For some reason it works better than anything else I've tried!
My current washing routine involves filling the washing machine with cold water and soaking the diapers for about 20 minutes or so, then washing them with hot water and detergent, and rinsing them 4 times with warm water. I think that's probably overdoing it a bit, but in our new house I have to go outside and down a flight of stairs to the basement suite to get to the laundry room. In our old place I would keep an eye on the wash and when the water of a rinse was clear I knew that the diapers were clean enough, but now I try to minimize the number of times I have to make the trip to the laundry room. But our landlady is planning to install a washing machine on our main floor, so soon I won't have to make the trek to the basement anymore. Yay!
I hang the diapers to dry outside if it's nice out and inside if it's raining. Using the dryer would be faster, but we try to use as little electricity as we can. Jesse is planning to put up a clothes line for me soon, which will be really nice!
My diaper stash has changed a bit over time, but I am really pleased with the way it's working right now. I currently have 10 shells and 30 prefolds, which is enough that I only have to wash diapers twice a week.
I had Steven in disposable diapers for the first month or so after he was born, which I do recommend, especially for a first child. That let me get used to having a baby without also having to get used to cloth diapers at the same time. When I switched over to cloth, it took me about a week to get used to it, but since then it's felt completely normal. There's been the odd occasion when I've put Steven in disposable diapers for a couple days, like when he had a rash that got infected and we had to use a prescription cream, so he's maybe had a total of 6 weeks in disposable diapers in his life. But, interestingly, I had to deal with more leaks and poop explosions in those times than in all of the months he's been in cloth diapers!
When baby #2 comes, I am planning to have him or her in disposable diapers for the first week or two, mainly until we're finished with the black tar newborn poop. It's nasty. (I believe the technical name for it is "meconium". Now you know.) I still have all of the smaller prefolds from when Steven was little, but I will have to divide the diaper shells between the two kids, so I will have to do laundry a little more frequently until Steven is finished with diapers. But really, I can only fit so many diapers into my dirty diaper pail anyways, so I think it will work out just fine.
If you're a mom that uses cloth diapers, I'd love to hear about your diaper routine and the kind of diapers you use. If cloth diapering is something that you're not familiar with, let me know if you have any questions. Leave a comment below - I'd love to hear from you!
And if you're interested in reading more, check out: Why We Use Cloth Diapers
Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Why We Use Cloth Diapers
Every parent is faced with the task of deciding how they will spend their time and resources in the task of parenting. For example, will they make their own baby food (which takes time) or buy premade baby food (which costs more money)? These kinds of decisions seem to be endless, and everyone has different priorities, resulting in different choices.
Something that has been a priority for me is using cloth diapers. For those who are interested, I thought I would share a couple of the reasons why.
One reason I use cloth diapers is that in the long run they are cheaper. I paid about $400 for my current stash of cloth diapers, which is a lot of money up front, but I've been using them for over a year and a half now, and they're still going strong. I'll be able to use them again for baby #2 and any other possible future babies. There is the continuing cost of laundry detergent and the water and electricity to wash the diapers, but since we line dry them that additional cost is pretty minimal.
The other primary reason is environmental impact. I believe that using cloth diapers is significantly better for the environment than disposable diapers. I've heard the protests before - that cloth diapers use lots of water and electricity, so they're bad too. It's true that cloth diapers aren't guiltless, but I do think they are the better option. Something I've learned is that when you want to examine the environmental impact of something, you need to look at the impact of the resources and process used to make the item, the impact of its transport, the impact of its use, and the impact of its disposal.
Cloth diapers come in a range of materials, from synthetic to natural materials like cotton and wool. Some manufacturing companies are more concerned with sustainability than others, so the materials and process used to make cloth diapers have a range of impact on the environment. Disposable diapers are made from synthetic materials and chemicals, and a child will go through hundreds of disposable diapers before learning to use a toilet, consuming significantly more resources than a child who uses cloth.
Regarding transport, both cloth and disposable diapers have to be transported over long distances, but overall fewer cloth diapers need to be transported, since they are reused by the buyers.
It's in the "use" category that cloth diapers don't look as good, since they require detergent, water, and electricity in order to be continually used. Disposable diapers don't require any resources to be used.
However, cloth diapers aren't disposed of. Instead, they are reused. Even after a child no longer needs diapers, they can be used again for younger siblings. There is even a market for used cloth diapers and many parents choose to sell their cloth diapers after they are done having babies (which means they can get back some of the money they invested in the first place). I've also heard that old cloth diapers make great rags for around the house, since they are so absorbent. Eventually, once they are completely worn out, cloth diapers are discarded, but only after many years of use. In contrast, every disposable diaper that is used ends up in a landfill.
So overall, I see that cloth diapers do have a smaller environmental impact than disposable diapers.
There are other benefits to using cloth diapers too. It lets you avoid exposing your baby to the chemicals that can be found in disposable diapers. I've heard that children who wear cloth diapers are potty trained faster, since they can feel when their diaper is wet (I guess I'll find out soon - Steven is getting close to that age!). And with their bright colours and interesting prints, cloth diapers can actually be really cute!
The primary disadvantage of using cloth diapers is the investment of time that it takes. And it's true, the time that I use doing that extra laundry every week is time that I would rather use doing other things. But like I said at the beginning, parenthood is filled with choices about how we are going to use our time. Different parents make different choices, but for myself I believe that using cloth diapers is worth the time that it takes me, because of the benefits to my family and the world we live in.
Interested in seeing the kind of cloth diapers I use and what my diaper routine looks like? Check out Cloth Diapers: Part 2
Thursday, 11 August 2016
Bunny for Baby
I actually finished a sewing project!
These days I don't have much time for projects, so actually finishing something is pretty exciting for me.
Before Steven was born, one of the things I did was hand make a teddy bear for him. So I wanted to make a stuffed animal for our next baby as well. I still had the pattern I used for making Steven's bear, which included the pattern for a few different kinds of animals, so I decided to make a bunny this time.
I started in June when we were visiting my in-laws in Ontario. I always find my time in Ontario to be very restful, since I don't have a lot of the daily responsibilities that I normally would at home, and I'm surrounded by eager babysitters. So it's always a great time to work on some personal projects.
The first challenge was finding material for the bunny. It's surprisingly hard to find furry material for stuffed animals. We ended up finding a fluffy blanket wrap thing at a thrift store that had enough material in it that I was able to take apart. I always like it when I can repurpose things rather than buying new supplies.
I made the decision to hand sew this stuffed animal, like the last one, for a couple of reasons. I didn't have a sewing machine to use in Ontario, but even if I did, when you use such thick material you need to adjust the tension, have a stronger needle, etc. and that seemed like too much work. And I also like the extra time and love that goes into hand making something.
The front and back of the bunny. My favourite place to work on it was sitting in the swinging chair on my in-laws' porch, watching Steven run and play in their huge yard.
I made it about 75% of the way through the project while we were in Ontario. Once we were back home it was it very hard to find time. I went a long time without working on it at all. But I really wanted the bunny to be finished before the baby comes, so over the past couple of weeks I've been able to plug away at it bit by bit, and it slowly came together.
The first milestone was finishing the outer seam and the face, so I could turn it right-side out.
The most arduous part of the process was going around all of the seams and unpicking the "fur" that had been caught. A very time-consuming task! But finally it was finished, and I was able to stuff the bunny with the stuffing from an old pillow (the same old pillow that I used to stuff Steven's teddy bear and a crocheted pony that I made - there's a lot of stuffing in a pillow, apparently!). Then I sewed up the small gap I had left, tied on a ribbon bow, and it was finished!
Baby's bunny with Steven's bear, ready to be best buds!
To see more pictures of other stuffed animals I've made, check out Steven's Cow Bear and the Perfect Pony.
Monday, 27 June 2016
Mommy Moments: Animal Noises
I never understood the apparent fascination that grown-ups have with teaching little kids how to make animal noises... but now that I have my own little genious that has learned what cows, horses, sheep, ducks, monkeys, kitties, and puppies say, I am such a proud Mama! ...And I periodically encourage Steven to recite them all. It's funny how things change.
Thursday, 29 October 2015
That Kind of Parent
Some parents buy their children dolls or toy cars. Apparently I'm the kind of parent who buys her child a sonic screwdriver. And I am perfectly ok with that! Allons-y!
(P.S. Any guesses who we're dressing him up as for Halloween? Don't worry, there will be pictures!)
(P.S. Any guesses who we're dressing him up as for Halloween? Don't worry, there will be pictures!)
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Wooden Spool Toy
With the arrival of cooler weather, I have started wearing one of my favourite winter sweaters again. Steven quickly discovered that my sweater has drawstrings with wooden beads on them. He proceeded to hold onto the bead, and wouldn't let go, even though it meant that he couldn't move more than a foot away from me.
That reminded me that I had a bag of wooden thread spools from Jesse's grandma, that I could use to make Steven a toy! Since he loved my wooden beads so much, I was sure he would like it.
I decided that I wanted to paint the spools and thread them on a cord to make a chain. I used food colouring, since Steven will probably end up chewing on it a lot.
One way I coloured some of the spools was by soaking them in a mixture of food colouring and water. I found that it took a long time to dye the wood that way, so I tried a different approach.
I tried using the food colouring like paint and applying it directly with a paint brush. That worked more quickly, but did have a greater risk of messiness.
I also put the food colouring directly on the spools in a bag, which worked quite well. After the spools had all dried I used a damp paper towel to take off the excess dye.
I painted designs on a few of the spools too. (With acrylic paint.)
I found a short cord in my box of craft supplies, knotted one end, and strung the spools on like beads.
And that's it! Steven enjoys chewing on it, making noise by banging it on the ground, and dragging it around as if he has a pet on a leash. When he is a little older it will be great for recognizing colours and learning to count. I love how the simplest toys are often the best toys!
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