Seriously Considering Cloth Diapers

 

As you all know, this is my 3^rd baby. I have never in my life considered cloth diapers until now. I can honestly say I'm not sure if the appeal if the money saving factor, the “natural” part, or the lowering of waste coming from my home. Could be all three.

I have good girlfriend I refer as “Mother Earth”. She has cloth diapered both of her children. Currently, she too is pregnant with her 3^rd and will cloth diaper again. I remember sitting with her and her 2^nd child one day at their home. I was so bewildered by cloth diapers. So she showed me how easy it was. And a small, teeny tiny, light was lit. I wasn't sure why at the time. Mr. and I were no where near having another baby. But it stuck in my mind. For a long time.

Not to mention my sister-in-law. She discovered cloth with her 2^nd child and plans to do it again with her baby due next week! She had a few challenges, but was determined to make it work. She's even brave enough to try to sew her own!!!

Photo Credit

So here I am now, 29 weeks pregnant, wanting to cloth diaper my baby. Though there are many, many challenges ahead of me. I have never cloth diapered in my life. Nor, have I truly witnessed the process of cloth diapering A Day In The Life. So really, short of my snapshots, if you will, I am blind.

I have rediscovered YouTube within the last month or so. It has become my quiet obsession. I watch videos from moms who CD, but non are in my current situation. All them have a washer and dryer at home. And here is where my true challenge lies. How do I cloth diaper using a laundry mat???!

I have yet to truly find an answer to this question. It's almost as though people don't take on the challenge. I know there are some why hand wash and hang to dry. I know this would probably be too much for me to handle.

So my true question is:

HOW DO I SUCCESSFULLY CLOTH DIAPER AT THE LAUNDRY MAT?

Currently, I have a once a week routine in place to go to the laundry mat. If it doesn't work out that week, I have to suffer through 2 weeks for folding. I hate that. So I do my very best to maintain my once a week schedule.

Is is possible to not wash CDs more than once a week? I'm not sure. My thoughts are that if they are at least rinsed daily and allowed to dry before putting them into the diaper pail, they should be fine. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

So to all the CLOTH DIAPER GURUS out there... IS IT POSSIBLE OR AM I FOOLING MYSELF?

If you have any advise, comments, vlogs, blog posts to help my cause please, PLEASE, leave them in the comments section.

Miracles & Blessings,

 

29 Weeks

29 Weeks! 11 To Go!

 

So here we are at 29 weeks. Man, time is flying by! I still have so much to get done. Registries to complete, things to purchase, making room for baby in this apartment, routines to get to be routine, mental preparation, etc. My list seems never-ending. I know it will all work out, but I am definitely feeling the pressure. Sometimes, literally. LOL!

Due Date: May 15, 2013

Gender:  It's a surprise! I have NO idea. I thought originally it was a boy. But, now I'm not so sure. Leaning more towards a girl. The only one who knows the gender is my husband. Yes, this increases the level of difficulty for me. LOL!

 

How far along?  29Weeks.

 

Current measurements: 163.4 lbs (weight by my scale just moments ago fully dressed. Can you see I'm begging for mercy?), 41 in. around. OH MY GOODNESS!!!

  

Total weight gain: 31-33 lbs. I'm beginning to wonder how I can reverse this, if at all.

Movement: I think baby is beginning to run out of space. I no longer feel jabs and kicks. I feel more rolling, stretching, and just all around movement. Sometimes I feel what feels like tap dancing for lack of a better visual. It's a little weird. 

 

Maternity clothes: Still no. I definitely need them though. I tortured myself last weekend and rearranged my closet. I moved what I can no longer fit to the lower bar and what still fits to the upper bar. Needless to say the lower bar is quite full. Pickins are slim! I may not make it to May on what I've got.

 

Stretch marks:  Yes. Around my belly button. Maybe a few on my sides. But I've had 2 kids so I'm not sure what's new. 

 

Sleep: Sleep is evading me! This week was not good. I feel like I've pulled a stomach muscle. It's wakes me up in the middle of the night and is quite painful. Last night I actually had to get out of bed and attempt to walk it off. It didn't really help.

 

Best moment this week: Last night I stood next to Mr. while he sat at the table. He put his face to my belly and talked to the baby. Then he put his ear on it to see what he could hear. Later he and Little Miss sat with me on the couch and had their hands on my belly feeling the baby move. It was a precious moment. 

Miss anything? Still miss not feeling fat. I had a few moments this week of sadness. I just feel big, undesireable, and unattractive. This is a new feeling for me. On Sunday, it almost had me in tears.

 

Food cravings: Nothing in particular at the moment. I just want to eat. Constantly. It seems as if I can not get the feeling to go away. I just want to eat! All the time. This is SO not good for my waistline. LOL!

 

Anything making you queasy or sick? I completely forgot about this last week and it happened again twice this week. I get this painful “contraction” feeling that resonates from my back around to the front of my belly. It makes me nauseous. It's very weird and unpleasant.

 

Labor signs: Not yet. It's too soon. Really tough Braxton Hicks, but not labor.

 

Symptoms: Shortness of breath after doing certain activities. 

Pain in my ligaments. Feels like I pulled a muscle.

My hands and feet swell. Still only in the evening. As long as it stays that way, I'm good. I can deal with that no problem.

Nesting. But I know it comes and goes.

Starting to feel exhausted by day's end. This could be because I've started waking up at 5 a.m. again. Not to mention the middle of the night bathroom visit and the tossing and turning.

Belly button in or out? Out. Been out since beginning of 2nd trimester. Maybe the end of my 1st. I showed by the time I was 4 weeks. No joke!

 

Wedding rings on or off? On. But my wedding band is getting tight. :-(

 

Happy or moody most of the time: I've been more happy than not. But I have had some sad moments. For various reasons. My patience is getting a tad better. I noticed that I'm not yelling as much this week too. I'll credit that to my routines being in place. Thanks FLYLady.

 

Looking forward to: I'm beginning to look forward to my baby shower. I'm not sure why just yet. But I suppose because it's just a month from the baby's due date. I'll have just 4 weeks to go from there. 

 

 Miracles & Blessings,

 

P.S. I found these questions on www.annasaccone.com. I tweaked a few, but I thought they were perfect. I enjoyed reading hers as she journaled her pregnancy. I hope she doesn't mind me using them. If you have a moment, go check out her site. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 

28 Weeks

28 Weeks! 12 To Go!

I have been terrible at journaling this pregnancy. I feel bad about that. This could very well be my last baby. So with 12 weeks to go, the entirety of my 3rd and final trimester, I thought I would give it a go at journaling the remainder of my pregnancy. What have I got to lose? A bunch of memories. Precious memories. So, here we go.

Due Date:  May 15, 2013

Gender:  It's a surprise! I have NO idea. I thought originally it was a boy. But, now I'm not so sure. Leaning more towards a girl. The only one who knows the gender is my husband. Yes, this increases the level of difficulty for me. LOL!

How far along?  28 Weeks.

Current measurements: 156 lbs (by my scale), 42.25 in. around. :-| Yikes!

Total weight gain: 24-26 lbs.

Movement: For the last 2 days- All day with minimal breaks.

Maternity clothes: Not really. Not because I don't need them, I just didn't buy any. I have a pair of khaki maternity Gap jeans. They were a part of a birthday gift from my husband when I was pregnant with our daughter. That was in 2005! I have about 4 tops, thanks to my sister-in-law. I may need to buy a few things soon cause my tops are getting shorter and shorter. LOL.

Stretch marks:  Yes. Around my belly button. Maybe a few on my sides. But I've had 2 kids so I'm not sure what's new. 

Sleep: It was much improved during my 2nd trimester from the 1st. But for about the last week I can not sleep. I literally wake up to turn to the other side about every hour. It's not fun. My dreams are pretty interesting/crazy too.

Best moment this week: Playing Lego Star Wars with my son. I got him to a new level. He was so excited and happy!!! He hugged me so tight, kissed my face, and said, "Mommy, I'm calling you 'My Sweet Baboo' from now on! I'm not gonna call you Mommy any more!" I busted out with laughter almost to tears. He got "Sweet Baboo" from Charlie Brown.

Miss anything? Not feeling fat. I felt out of shape before pregnancy and had begun small efforts to change it. Now, I feel fat. Not because of my growing belly, but because of the chubbiness in my face. 

Food cravings: Bacon. I LOVE BACON! I honestly don't think I would be craving it if we hadn't decided to go vegetarian for the year. I will, however, indulge in my craving for my baby shower!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope. Thank God. The Lord has been merciful on my on this topic. I do not get morning sickness or anything during pregnancy. Not one of them. I am eternally grateful. 

Labor signs: Not yet. It's too soon. Really tough Braxton Hicks, but not labor.

Symptoms: Shortness of breath after doing certain activities. 

Pain in my ligaments. Feels like I pulled a muscle.

My hands and feet have begun to swell. Oh, joy! So far only in the evening. Hoping to keep swelling at bay as long as possible. Any advise how?

I think I may have begun nesting. But I know it comes and goes.

Starting to feel exhausted by day's end. 

Belly button in or out? Out. Been out since beginning of 2nd trimester. Maybe the end of my 1st. I showed by the time I was 4 weeks. No joke!

Wedding rings on or off? On. But my wedding band is getting tight. :-(

Happy or moody most of the time:  According to my family, I'm a happy preggo. But I think my patience level is minimizing. I'm working on that.

Looking forward to: Immediately, beginning to discuss baby names. I'm afraid we may not have one by the time the baby's born. Long term, meeting this baby. I can't wait to find out what I've been growing for the last 28 weeks. 

I found these questions on www.annasaccone.com. I tweaked a few, but I thought they were perfect. I enjoyed reading hers as she journaled her pregnancy. I hope she doesn't mind me using them. If you have a moment, go check out her site. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 

Miracles & Blessings,