Why I Love Cloth Diapering

We've been using cloth diapers on my son since he was about three weeks old, and so far we've had a great experience with them. We have about half of our diapers from Diapers by Deb. Her diapers are so cute and you can get them personalized in so many ways! Our other diapers are Bum Genius, which are great for overnight. We also use cloth wipes and a natural wipe solution. We love it! My son hasn't had any diaper rash since we started him on cloth. I like that his skin isn't coming into contact with harmful chemicals that do who knows what to him. I love that we throw away so little as a result of diapering. Finally, we will save so much money by using reusable diapers instead of disposables. This weekend I found this great article, entitled "3 Great Reasons to Choose Cloth Diapers," through Simple Mom's blog. This is just a great summary of the three main reasons to choose cloth diapers over disposables. I find it to be very convincing.

Of all the other families we know personally, only one other uses cloth diapers. I definitely feel like I'm in the minority in my circle of family and friends. I've had so many people ask me questions about cloth diapering...how it works, whether I have to dunk poopy diapers in the toilet, how expensive they are and so on. While I don't have a lot of fellow cloth diapering mom's to talk to in person, I do get to communicate with several other women who cloth diaper their children online though on the Diaper Jungle forum. Just the other morning, my husband pointed out that they were doing a big feature on cloth diapering in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, our local paper. To check out the article, click here. What a surprise to see this! Apparently cloth diapering is really getting popular.

Do you cloth diaper your children? Do you think that cloth diapering will continue to grow in popularity?

Training Walks

Grandma Jayne, Kristen, Chayton, Grandpa Ken and Nolan

This year I got the idea to participate in the Breast Cancer 3 Day, which is 3 day, 60 mile fundraising walk for breast cancer research, treatment and education. Kirstin, Jayne and Kristen are all walking with me (there are ten of us in total), and we've gotten a good start on our training already. The reason I mention this in my blog is that Ryan and Nolan have gone on just about every walk with us! For a couple of the walks, Ryan met us halfway with Nolan in the stroller. Last week we walked about 5 miles (no GPS, so we can't be sure of the actual distance) with Grandpa Ken, Grandma Jayne, Jake, Kristen, Reggie, Ryan, Chayton, Nolan and a pack of dogs. What a fun time! I wonder what the other bikers on the trail thought of such a big group of people and animals.

Nolan sat in the stroller for the first hour, just looking around and chewing on his pacifier attacher. Then he got a little antsy and we all took turns carrying him back. He looked so cute in his little sun hat :)

Grandpa Ken and Nolan

Another funny incident was when Pika, Kristen's pug, started to get tired. She was a little trooper and kept up for quite a while, but eventually she just started to lay down in every patch of shade along the pavement. Someone got the idea to put her in the carrying basket below the Chayton's stroller, but Pika just wouldn't have it. She'd jump out every time we put her in there. Finally, because she was so tired and really just needed a rest, Grandpa Ken took Pika's leash and tied it so that she couldn't get out of the basket. She looked so funny just sitting there and panting. It got the job done though because soon her breathing returned to normal and she found a way to hop out and jog along with us again.

Pika Hitching A Ride

Visiting with Grandpa Garth

Wow, that was almost a week ago already! We had a fabulous time with Grandpa Garth (I know, it still sounds weird to say that) last week. His plane was a little delayed on Monday, so we had to get going right away to the Progressive building to pick up my car. By the way, I think my car looks even better now than it did before the accident! After that we headed back home and had just a little time before Kirstin and Ryan got home. Ryan, Nolan and I left for the Twins game with G-papi and Grandma Teri (if you get me pics of this I'll post them) while Kirstin, Irene and Grandpa Garth took Frank to the dog park. Irene was the brave one who picked up the poo...but Grandpa Garth had to do it later in the week! After the game, we spent another few hours chatting at our place. It's so great having family all in one spot and catching up!

Tuesday and Wednesday I worked and Grandpa found things to keep him busy (tennis with Wilk and lunch with Diedrich). Wednesday night Grandpa went to salsa, which has become a regular activity for him when he visits us. Thursday Grandpa, Nolan, Frank and I went to the dog park again. Later that night we all went over to G'ma Sara's and G'pa Mario's for chili and Nintendo Wii. It was fun seeing everyone get up there and trying out the Wii...Kirstin is a natural snowboarder and stepper. Diedrich and Grandpa Garth picked up tennis pretty quickly too! All in all this was a great visit because it gave me a chance to really talk to my dad and he got to see how much Nolan has changed these last few months. Here two pictures from his time here:

Proud Grandpa

Future Guitar Player?

Nolan is a Rollin'

That's right! Even though Nolan has rolled over from his tummy to back a few times before, today he really figured out how to do it. I've put him on his tummy over 8 times and each time he rolls over. I think the key for him is to use his baby back arch to propel himself. What a thrilling thing to watch. Enjoy the video!

Great Article

This article was posted by someone at the Diaper Jungle, a forum that focuses on cloth diapering and parenting. I think it is a great piece. As a new mom, I am definitely trying to do my best to raise a healthy and happy son. At times though, things can get overwhelming...clothes to fold, diapers to wash, dishes to wash, baby to wash, spit up to wipe, and so on. However, as this article reminds us, without the extra work that children require, we would also not have the blessings that they bring us. Enjoy!

FROM THE NEWSLETTER @ TEACH MAGAZINE http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001jYqn93s1IRBpEjsX5YFIOw%3D%3D I'm a mom like you; I get behind in my housework, wonder what is for dinner tonight when I am the one who is supposed to know, don't want to do what I am supposed to do, and sometimes wonder if public school might be a better option than me. In Proverbs 14:4, you will find a pivotal verse on attitudes, and this verse always makes me smile.

This verse is one I am sure God included for moms who get worn out and wonder how they are going to keep going: "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."

Or, as the poetic King James Version puts it:

"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean."

So, when we are frustrated and think, "I have taught them a million times to put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher," or "What in the world is he doing with every piece of my silverware in the bedroom? I shouldn't even have to tell him ..." So, when we think like this God is saying, "Chin up, Honey. If you didn't have any children you wouldn't have any mess."

He is reminding us that without oxen there is no manure and I guess you could say the same about children and dirty diapers. We don't want to complain about our blessings. The messes are a result and a part of the blessing!

Have you been thinking negative thoughts, complaining about things that aren't working, things that are hurting, things that need fixing, problems that need solving, or jobs that need doing? Maybe you've forgotten that the reason you've got a problem is because you've got a gift from God!

You've been given blessings, opportunities, years, people who love you, people who look to you, people who need you, and you've been given work to do.

On days when my list of problems and pressures is multiplying, I need to read Psalm 16:5-6 to help me restore my "big picture" perspective.

"Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

You decide where you want to focus and what you're going to let determine your attitude. You can complain about the manure or you can be glad you've got an ox. You can gripe about the glitches or you can give thanks for the gifts. You can be negative because there's a mess or you can be positive because that mess is the result of progress. And, as any highway construction people know, you can't have progress without having a mess.

Where's your attitude coming from right now? Is it coming from your load or your Lord? Your burdens or your blessings? The mess from the wrapping paper or the gift from God that was wrapped in it? Take a step back. Look past the garbage that's right in front of you and look at the goodness of God that's all around you!

5 Months Old!

5 Months

My little boy is 5 months old today! I can't believe he's been with us for that long already. At thje dog park with Frank and Nolan this evening, I was talking and singing songs to Nolan. Then, remembering his 5 month milestone, I thought of similar walks that I took just before Nolan was born. Like today, I used to talk to Nolan on my walks when I was pregnant with him. I would tell him how much I loved him and how excited I was to meet him. I would rub my belly as I walked and I'd think about how heavy this little thing inside of me was!! Nolan was feeling heavy today too, I had to adjust my carrier a few times to relieve my back. The difference today was that I had a little boy with me who would make noises along the way. He was looking around and watching all the other dogs playing and running around him. He's still my little baby though...with about 20 minutes left of our walk, he fell asleep and his head started drooping forward. I put my arm around him and held him tight for the rest of our time at the park.

Ryan was feeding Nolan his avacadoes tonight, and he was very impressed with how well he was eating. I guess the last time Ryan tried feeding him avacadoes, Nolan was making faces and hardly opening his mouth at all. See, veggies are growing on him already!!

One of my favorite parts about nursing Nolan at the moment, is when he reaches his hand up and grabs my face. Usually he doesn't grab too hard, but it's so nice to feel his soft little hand on my face. A coworker of mine who has a son in college told me today that one of the things she misses most about her son being little is the physical contact. Yes, she does get to hug him still, but she doesn't get to cuddle like she did when he was a baby. I'm definitely enjoying all of the time I get to cuddle with Nolan. I know Ryan is too, because he's always telling me how much he loves to hold Nolan and kiss his cheeks. He says he's even a little glad when Nolan cries in his crib at night, because then he gets to pick him up and hold him for a little while. Isn't that sweet?!

Sitting in his Bumbo, waiting for smashed bananas

Still so small!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Twins Fan!

Ryan and Nolan

Today Ryan, Nolan and I went to a Twins game. This was a day of many firsts for Nolan. His first game, his first time hearing the National Anthem, first 7th inning stretch...the list could go on. We met Diedrich, Ellen, Thomas, Thomas' friend, my coworker Mary and her son Brennen there at the game. Nolan seemed pretty interested in all the people and things going on around him at first. Well, maybe I should say he was a little overwhelmed because the minute I tried to give him to Mary to hold, he started crying and wanted to go back to me. It must have just been too much for the little guy to take in. After that he kept himself amused for the first 4 innings by chewing on anything and everything...his hands, his Nuk, his rattle, our fingers and my shirt. Finally, when we were about out of things for him to chew on, he fell asleep in my arms! How a person can sleep through all that noise is beyond me, but Nolan slept for over an hour! By the time he woke up, there was just a little bit left of the game! All in all it was a great day at the ball park for us. As always, it's great seeing family and friends too :)




My Little Napper



Diedrich and Ellen



Diedrich, Nolan and me