Bates Nut Farm

So life has been crazy recently, but we're still doing the fun stuff! My favorite part of this time if year is our annual trip to Bates Nut Farms pumpkin patch! Soooooooooooo much fun! And this was the first year that Jessica really got it, and she loved it! Besides also being a fabulous place for photo shoots, it also has hay rides, pony rides, games, shopping, and food. Jessica was super excited for the pony ride, we only spent an entire hour in line for her to go =/

Anywho, pictures are put in all out of order, and there are a bazillion. I literally take like 200 (or more!) pictures whenever I go. A few of these I edited as well- having fun with all that, too. Enjoy!

Yummy carrots from daddy's garden

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Life

Life has been a bit overwhelming recently

Crazy

Some good

Lots of Bad

It puts things in perspective, thats for sure

And I've been BUSY

busybusybusybusybusy

Just in time for the holiday season =p

So, thats where I've been

Trying to keep up

with 2 girls

husband

work

school

family

friends

life

Hopefully it will all slow down soon.

yeah right

Our Cloth Diapering Story

Why? Why did we decide to cloth diaper Izzy? Because don't I already have enough on my plate before adding 3 to 4 extra loads of laundry per week to it? After Jessica was born I got really into all things enviornmentally friendly. The whole my daughter will one day have children who will have children who will live on this planet so we better start taking better care of it. Anyway I started thinking about cloth diapers when Jessica was around a year old, but decided to wait until the next baby since she was going to be potty training soon. When I got pregnant with Izzy, I started the research. (I have to point out that some people don't think that cloth diapers are all that enviornmentally friendly, since you have to use so much water to wash them. There may be other arguments, but frankly I think they're stupid. )

I decided to register for BumGenius all-in-one organic diapers, because those seemed like the obvious best diaper. No stuffing diapers, no worrying about what size, etc. I got a few of them as gifts, but decided to buy everything else on Craigslist. The whole point of doing cloth diapers, for me, was to be "green" so I might as well re-use! I had also read to try out a bunch of different kinds of diapers because you never know what is going to work for you child and for you. So I bought a few different kinds from some different ladies- Bum Genius Pocket diapers, Fuzzi buns, and some random ones, all for much cheaper than first bought (another perk, and reason for using cloth- saving money!). Since we started cloth diapers I actually have bought more at Babies in Bloom "garage sale;" a bunch of mommy's came and sold their old diapers. So even more fun diapers to my stash :)

We started Izzy in cloth diapers at 2 weeks- and I loved them, but they got her umbilical cord wet (it was hard for me to fold them under her cord), so I had to go back to disposable until her cord fell off. Which was at 4 weeks. I know- it took FOREVER!!!!! Anyways, I got back into the cloth diaper swing and i LOVED it. Not only did I feel like I was doing something better for the enviornment, there is also something about doing cloth diapers that made me feel very motherly. Some other perks- Izzy hasn't had a single diaper rash since we started cloth, no big blow outs (not sure if its just her, or if its the cloth diapers), rarely any leaking- Jessica and her disposables leaked all the time. And not spending $80 a month or more on diapers, plus never having to run off to the store because we ran out (did you know that you'll spend about $2,000 on diapers before your child is potty trained?? Crazy!).

I quickly found out that the all-in-ones were actually NOT my favorites, because they took FOREVER to dry. I hang dry the diapers- the sun does some amazing things for stains, plus, better for the enviornment ;) Even in the dryer though, the all-in-ones still took too long. My favorites are the bum genius pocket diapers. Though as Izzy is getting more mobile, I'm thinking I may like Fuzzi Buns more since they have snaps and not velcro.......

To answer a few questions I know you're wanting to ask:

I wash diapers every 2 to 3 days. In the begining it was every 2, but now that I have a bigger stash, I can go 3. Though you don't want to go longer than that, because they'll start to get smelly........

When I wash I first do a cold, regular cycle. I use a natural, locally made soap Rockin Green Soap. An important tip: DON'T USE TOO MUCH SOAP!!!!!!! The natural thought process is more soap=cleaner diapers, but it acutally causes soap build up on the dipes, which then start to repeal liquids, which means leaks on the diapers.

After the cold cycle, I do a long HOT cycle.

Then I hang dry- the sun takes out any stains (its seriously amazing) and usually takes a day if its a warm day. Otherwise it may take over night, and a few times I've thrown the all-in-ones in the dryer to finish them.

I make sure to rotate all the diapers so they're all gettin used about the same amount.

For night time diapers I just add an extra soaker and I've never had her leak. Again, I dont' know if its Izzy or if its the cloth diapers.

Since Izzy is just breastfed, I don't have to do anything with poop diapers. Just throw them in. Once she starts solids, I will have to dump the poop in the toliet first. Which is actually what you're supposed to do with disposable diapers, and what you end up doing when you're potty training anyway. I'm not too worried. And I may purchase one of these to help make the rinsing easier.

When I bring the diapers in from drying, I stuff them, then I keep all the diapers down stairs in a big wicker basket. Each day I put a pile of diaper in a smaller basket that I keep with my cloth wipes (yes, I use cloth wipes. Its easier to do that. We'll see if I still need to do that when Izzy starts solids)

I put the dirty diapers in a wet bag. I usually wash it once a week. I have a small one for when I go out.

We've only traveled once since Izzy has been born, roadtrip to a girlfriends wedding and since we were so new to cloth, we just did dispoable. I'm flying to Arizona in a few weeks and again to the Bay Area for my high school reunion in a little over a month, and I plan on doing cloth for that. We'll see how it turns out!

I have one wool cover. Don't think I like it that much, just because you have to hand wash it. And that is not fun. I have done the old school diapers, the way people imagine when you say cloth diapers. Called pre-folds, its the cheapest way. Not really for me.

So, thats my story. I am in no way an expert. AT ALL. But I do love my cloth diapers.

A few of my favorite cloth diaper resources:

Kellys Closet

Diaperswappers

The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

I really think cloth is awesome. And not as hard as you would think! Even if you only use them occasionally, its still great for your baby and the enviornment :)

I wrote this blog for myself (yay scrapbooking!) but also I have a few friends who had some questions :) So ladies, you know who you are, if you have questions just post them and I can do a follow up blog later.

Hang drying my dipes. This picture was inspired by my blogger friend Em

Izzy @ 2 months wearing one of my favorite of all her diapers. Its a cover, got it here

5 Months

I can't believe Izzy is already 5 months old!!!!

At 5 months Izzy

is lovving sitting. Sometimes for a few minutes! Other times a few seconds ;) Depends on her diaper

she sucks both thumbs. shes not picky. half way through she'll switch sides. its pretty amusing to watch

she cuddles- mostly when sucking her thumb

she's starting to scoot- pulling herself around

loves to growl. at people. its hilarious

she is still a mamas girl! i'm cherishing it though- i know before i know it she'll be a daddy's girl

finally sleeping at night!!!! goes to bed usually around 5, wakes up around 3 to eat, then stays asleep until 7!!! now THATS what i'm talking about!

she's thinning out, and it makes me sad :(

she loves to grabs faces

she dives to me when someone else is holding her and i come to grab her

she does the HUGE muppet smile that i love love love

she does not nap. usually 3 1/2 hour naps a day. sometimes they'll be longer, but very very very rarely

her little personality is starting to come through

we're all loving her so so much!

I love to read

Found this website on a friends blog.
Old People Writing for Teens
And it connected me to this website, which posted a list of the most banned books list
And as I read the list, I saw the names of tons of my favorite books growing up, and some of my favorite books of all time. Of Mice and Men, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, all the Judy Blume books. Roald Dahl. Dude, even Mark Twain? Really? How are the banned? That seems so midevil times, or whenever it was that they burned books. Seriously?
Not that there is anything I can do. Not even sure why I'm writing this blog. But as it says on OPWFT's, look at this list. Read these books. Have your children read these books. Books, really good books, are the best.
That is all :)

100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999
Scary Stories (Series), by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy’s Roommate, by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Forever, by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Alice (Series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Goosebumps (Series), by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Sex, by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series), by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
The Witches, by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
The Goats, by Brock Cole
The Stupids (Series), by Harry Allard
Anastasia Krupnik (Series), by Lois Lowry
Final Exit, by Derek Humphry
Blubber, by Judy Blume
Halloween ABC, by Eve Merriam
Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman, by Paul Zindel
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
Deenie, by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind, by Nancy Garden
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, by Alvin Schwartz
Harry Potter (Series), by J.K. Rowling
Cujo, by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
Ordinary People, by Judith Guest
American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
Asking About Sex and Growing Up, by Joanna Cole
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons, by Lynda Madaras
The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
Boys and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
Crazy Lady, by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
Fade, by Robert Cormier
Guess What?, by Mem Fox
Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies, by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells, by Daniel Cohen
On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer
The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
Jack, by A.M. Homes
Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets, by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg, by Babette Cole
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle
The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
Carrie, by Stephen King
The Dead Zone, by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts, by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education, by Jenny Davis
Jumper, by Steven Gould
Christine, by Stephen King
The Drowning of Stephen Jones, by Bette Greene
That Was Then, This is Now, by S.E. Hinton
Girls and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain
Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier