missing my girl

I'm interrupting my Wordless Wednesday to momentarily say/vent:
The monotony of the week got to me this morning, and I realized it's because all I really want to do is spend more time with my girl. Being a full-time working mom is tough, and non-stop. Thankfully we get some downtime together on the weekends. That is a blessing. I stayed and played with her for a few minutes when we got to daycare this morning because even though I saw her this morning and she rode in the car with me (on our lengthy commute) it really wasn't what I consider "spending time together." I'm big on being engaged when being together or it not really counting somehow.

I think I'm going to start taking at least one day a month off from work.

The upcoming months have holidays so that is great, but the other months might require mommy and baby to spend some one-on-one time together on a random Friday now and again.

I know it's only been a month,
and millions of people have a much more daunting weekly routine than we do
 (with more stressful jobs than me/no spouse or help at all/fussy baby, etc)
but I still haven't gotten completely used to it. I would alter it, but it is all necessary at the moment. It requires a lot of prep, a lot of household chores (blah!), and not a lot of time with my sweet girl

(because our only real downtime is at night and she is already asleep).

My mom says to wait because soon enough we will be begging her to go to sleep. I guess that is true and I am very thankful she is easy to put to sleep at night, but I still miss her.

I also need to force myself into bed earlier, because I really should wake up earlier to get everything done in the morning without rushing around and/or being late.
I struggle to get up any earlier, to be honest,
unless my sweet girl is awake.

Bottom line:

The week, and work, is very busy and I miss my Makayla!
Wish I could spend each day with her...

Cloth Diaper Review: Bummis Pre-folds & Thirsties Duo Wrap Covers

"I'm takin' it back to the old school

'cause I'm an old fool

who's so cool..."

-Tag Team

circa Ware Co. Middle cheerleaders

(still remember Laura teaching me

the beginning of their dance...shout out)

Ha...NEVER thought a little

"Whoomp There It Is" would pop into

my head when starting a blog post.

Especially one about cloth diapers...

Enough about that...
and

we're not

going completely old school

with diaper pins,

but as close as I get.

Bummis Pre-folds

Bummis Organic Cotton Unbleached Pre-fold Diapers

photo courtesy of Kellyscloset

used with or without a

Snappi

Snappi Diaper Fastener

photo courtesy of Kellyscloset

and always with a

Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover

Thirsties Duo Wrap Diaper Cover

photo courtesy of Kellyscloset

These are what I used to think of when I'd hear "cloth diapers". A cloth diaper that is like a burp cloth (side note: they do make great burp cloths) and a waterproof wrap to go on the outside of it. This is what we started with and a very affordable option. They are similar to what most diaper services use, if you are interested in going that route.

Lots of people love these, since they are affordable and wash/dry well and super fast.

I like the convenience of the pocket and all-in-one diapers so these aren't my first choice. However, later I'm going to review them on their quality and use, which is great.

There are two main ways to wear this diaper sytem:
1. tri-fold the diaper
lay it in the cover
put on baby

youtube tutorial courtesy of streamBOOSTER

2. put pre-fold on baby in
a number of different ways,
secure with Snappi, then put diaper cover over this.

youtube tutorial courtesy of myfatherslily

another folding technique

youtube tutorial courtesy of smlovig

I use both approaches and they both work just fine. Honestly, it just depends on the moment.
There are many cloth diaper folding techniques. I suggest doing an internet or youtube search
and you will find a ton of info. That is all I did and learned a lot! I was surprised how many
moms have taken the time to video how they put a cloth diaper on their baby, but I appreciate the fact that they did! Yay for video-making cloth-diapering mommies :)

Onto the ratings...

On a 5-star scale here are my ratings

and reasons why:

Bummis Pre-folds

Price: 5-stars: Great quality and not pricey

Fasteners: not applicable

Bulk: 3-stars: Work well, but quite thick

Wasit Fit: not applicable

Leg Fit: not applicable

Leaking: 5-stars: No leaks to date

Ease of washing: 5-stars: Cold rinse, Hot wash, Good to go

Smell Issues: 5-stars: Doesn't seem to hold any smells

Stain Issues: 5-stars: Washes freshly clean without stains

Drying Time: 5-stars: Very quick drying

Ease of use: 4-stars: Takes a bit of trial and error at first, then easy

Easy on Dad: not applicable (he hasn't worked with these)
Overall Rating:

4.625

Snappi

Price: 4-stars: Ok, have seen different prices around
Fasteners: 5-stars: Works like a charm
Bulk: 5-stars: Doesn't add any bulk to the diaper
Wasit Fit: not applicable
Leg Fit: not applicable
Leaking: 5-stars: No leaks to date
Ease of washing: 5-stars: just rinse and reuse
Smell Issues: 5-stars: Doesn't hold any smells
Stain Issues: 5-stars: No contact for staning
Drying Time: not applicable
Ease of use: 4-stars: Takes a bit of trial and error at first, then easy
Easy on Dad: not applicable (he hasn't worked with these)
Overall Rating:
4.75

Thirsties Duo Wrap Covers

Price: 5-stars: Great quality and not too pricey
Fasteners: 5-stars: Velcro works just fine
Bulk: 5-stars: Doesn't add much bulk
Wasit Fit: 5-stars: Very adjustable and great
Leg Fit: 5-stars: Leg gussets are great
Leaking: 5-stars: No leaks to date
Ease of washing: 5-stars: Cold rinse, Hot wash, Good to go
Smell Issues: 5-stars: Doesn't seem to hold any smells
Stain Issues: 4-stars: Bit of staining on the white piping
Drying Time: 4-stars: Must air dry, but dries fairly quickly
Ease of use: 4-stars: Takes a bit of trial and error at first, then easy
Easy on Dad: not applicable (he hasn't worked with these)
Overall Rating:
4.727

If you want super speedy wash and dry time,
and don't mind a little learn-to-use time
this would be a great pick!

I give this diaper combo a

recommend.

Unbleached is the only color

choice for these prefolds,
but you can get cute

colors for the snappi
and great colors and prints for the covers.

(these are just a few of the colors/patterns)

Price Point:

6 pack of Bummis Organic Pre-Folds

Size 1 (infant): $15.00

Size 2 (toddler): $20.00

Snappi

$3.95 each

Duo Wrap Diaper Cover

Size 1 (6-18lbs): $12 to $15

Size 2 (18-40 lbs): $12 to $15

(seen varying prices on the diaper covers)

Basically you could get 3-4 packs

of pre-folds, with 2-3 Snappis

and 4-5 duo wrap covers

to start and be set for a while.

The rise of the diaper cover adjusts,

but eventually you will need to purchase the larger sized

pre-folds and covers. If you have a little baby

the infant size will last you quite a while, but if

you have a chunky monkey right off the bat

you may have to switch over

soon than later.

Either way, the cost

wouldn't be that great.

Here is my girl showing off her
pre-fold with Snappi (sans cover):

and her Blackbirds

Duo Wrap with a Bummis Pre-fold inside

(as you can tell she was engrossed in the game

and didn't want to smile at mommy's camera)

Try cloth, it's the best!!!

charms for my girl

This is currently one of my

favorite 

necklaces:

After Makayla was born

I visited

http://www.thevintagepearl.com/

and purchaed

this cute charm and pearl.

I also had this

hand stamped charm made:

Maybe my sweet girl

will want to wear them

when she's older...

Photo Friday

tiny little tootsies

Wordless Wednesday

a good book

Anyone love a good book?
I do, I do!!!

I found this blog:

http://readingforsanity.blogspot.com/

and think it will

be my new place to

find future

reading material.

Here are some of the books 

I've checked off my
 2010 reading list

(in no particular order...
mostly baby books and

some of which were originally
read in 2009 and then re-read in 2010)

Roses
by: Leila Meacham

The Vaccine Book
by: Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP

The 19th Wife
by: David Ebershoff

The Happiest Baby on the Block
by: Harvey Karp, M.D.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
by: Marc Weissbluth, M.D.

On Becoming Babywise
by: Gary Ezzo, M.D. & Robert Bucknam, M.D.

So That's What They're For
by: Janet Tamaro

The Baby Sleeps Tonight
by: Shari Mezrah

The Baby Sleep Solution
by: Suzy Giordano & Lisa Abidin

The Last Song
by: Nicholas Sparks

Dear John
by: Nicholas Sparks

The Blind Side
by: Michael Lewis

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
by: Tracy Hogg & Melinda Blau

The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems:
Sleeping, Feeding and Behavior--
Beyond the Basics from Infancy through Toddlerhood
by: Tracy Hogg & Melinda Blau

Fireproof
by: Eric Wilson, Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick

The Year of Pleasures
by: Elizabeth Berg

We Are All Welcome Here
by: Elizabeth Berg

Next up:
The Help
by: Kathryn Stockett

This book was highly
recommended by the
blog above and my
sister-in-law,
who loves to read
(and puts my recently read list to shame).

Any good reads
you'd like to share with me?
I'd love to hear your
 recommendations!!!

color code above, depending on the type of book:
green = enjoyed book, recommend it or agree with it/found it helpful
yellow = so-so book, not the best, or don't necessarily agree/like something about it
red = don't recommend or don't agree with it/didn't find it helpful

(almost) Wordless Wednesday

apple for teacher

Debbie and Aylya

have been so wonderful

to MMC at daycare...

Aylya calls her

Princess

in the mornings,

and Debbie is

always so happy

and reassuring

that Makayla will

be okay and happy

during the day.

dydee change at school

We say prayers for

Ms. Debbie,

Ms. Aylya

and her friends

at school each

night.

name above her crib

We are very

thankful for

these ladies!

Ms. Debbie and my sweetie

Cloth Diaper Review: bumGenius Organic One-Size All-in-One

http://www.bumgenius.com/organic.php

photo courtesy of bumGenius

 

bumGenius Organic One-Size All-in-One

Phew! What a name...

but also

What a diaper!

Love them!

I'll just start off by saying

I highly recommend them!

They are exactly what the name

says:

A cloth diaper made by bumGenius

with 100% organic cotton inside.

It is a one-size diaper, which

fits most babies from 7-35 lbs,

so there is no need to purchase

new or additional diapers as the child grows.

Best of all these diapers are All-in-One,

meaning everything you need is sewn into the diaper.

No stuffing with separate inserts or

adding a diaper cover. It is all

one piece with snaps and goes on like

a disposable.

photo courtesy of bumGenius

Their website says, "put the diaper

on your baby, wash, dry and re-use."

I agree, it really is this simple!

They function very well

(no blowouts or leaks for us)

and have only two slight

drawbacks, in my opinion...

the individual price is around $24.95 each

and they take a bit longer to dry.

On a 5-star scale here are my ratings

and reasons why:

Price: 4.5-stars: Great quality for price, but still pricey

Fasteners: 5-stars: Love the stretch-to-fit tabs with snaps!!!

Bulk: 5-stars: Cute fluffy bum, but not too thick

Wasit Fit: 5-stars: Adjustable waist snaps to size, great

Leg Fit: 4.5-stars: A bit loose at leg, but works fine

Leaking: 5-stars: No leaks to date

Ease of washing: 5-stars: Cold rinse, Hot wash, Good to go

Smell Issues: 5-stars: Doesn't seem to hold any smells

Stain Issues: 5-stars: Washes freshly clean without stains

Drying Time: 3-stars: Slower drying because of all layers

Ease of use: 5-stars: Goes on like a 'sposie, but with snaps

Easy on Dad: 5-stars: No prob, Bob!

Overall Rating:

4.75

If you want almost no hassle these are pretty great!

I give this diaper a big

recommend.

They come in several cute colors

that all have super fun names.
(we have one Zinnia,
one Blossom,
and one Grasshopper...
all the colors are precious though
and I'd love to have a whole rainbow)

photo courtesy of bumGenius

Here is my girl showing off her

Grasshopper bumGenius Organic AIO diaper
during playtime:

 

P.S. I am curious to try and wash/dry them at

someone else's house. Our dryer isn't the best

and I'm thinking another dryer might give me a

better result with drying time. So this diaper

might dry more quickly than I think it does...
if so it would score almost perfectly!

Makayla: 3 months

Miss Prissy turned 3 months

old on September 2nd.

She weighs around 11 lbs now

and has gained some cute-as-can-be

chunk on her thighs. Love it!

She is continuing to sleep better

at nights and has even slept

through a few times.

She is enjoying her

playtime at Shining Stars

and is close to

being able to sit up in

a Bumbo seat

and maybe even an

exersaucer soon.

She is happy and smiley

in the mornings and

likes to play a little

in her crib and wake

up before she starts the day.

Cutie pie!

She told me she is

looking forward to

watching some Georgia Tech

Yellow Jacket victories

with her Daddy this season!

the start of daycare

Makayla started daycare

at Shining Stars Academy

on Tuesday.

I was dreading it

and terrified of how

it would go...

but...

She is doing so well!

I LOVE her teachers

Debbie and Aylya.

They are so sweet

and I honestly don't

think I could ask for more.

She is napping better

than she does at home

and even slept through the night

Tuesday and Wednesday night.

When I pick her up she has a smile

on her face and is happier

in the evenings because

she is napping better.

Yay!

They know us by name!

I was so scared she would

just be another baby in Nursery 1...

but she isn't at all!!!

Aylya greets her with hugs

and love in the mornings.

When I tell MMC "Bye sweetie,

Mommy loves you,"

Aylya says, for her, "I love

you too Mommy."

They swaddle her for naps

pat her belly and rub her face

like we do at home.

They hold her tighter when

she cries...

go on walks outside

when it is nice.

They have a video system

in her room so I can watch online.

This has been an awesome feature

and helped ease my mind.

I know it has only been two days,

but she seems happy

and that makes me happy

(even though I miss her)

:o)

Wordless Wednesday

back to the grind

This week has been a busy one!

My maternity leave ended and I

officially started back to work on Wednesday.

I was out 12 weeks and a few extra days,

so I guess it was about that time...

I was dreading leaving Makayla all day.

But, I have to admit it wasn't a terrible start back.

My bosses are great (one is in the office with me

and two others I work remotely for) and

gave me a warm welcome back,

complete with balloons and jumbo boxes of

diapers and wipes for MMC. Ha!

Mom has been in town and helped so much.

She helped me with laundry, cleaning, dishes,

cooking, shopping, bottle washing, etc etc

and most importantly watched my "lil miss"

all day Wed, Thurs and Fri while I was at work.

It was great and a very helpful transition.

Three days with

Nana this week, then a long weekend,

then back to work and the start of daycare for the girl

on Tuesday.

As well as the transition was this week, I am still

dreading the start to daycare, and praying it will go well.

The mornings, getting ready, are going to

be a bit more hectic and rushed...

she is always so happy in the morning

and smiley and that is usually our time to

sit and smile and talk/babble together.

I hate to miss this time...

Worried about germs, sickness, too many kids,

not enough attention, Makayla's fussiness when

she wants to eat immediately not being understood.

(sigh)

We will get through...

and hopefully I will be pleasantly

surprised and she will

do great and love her teacher(s).

I'll do my best to remember my

camera and takes photos of her first day

to share.

(If I can snap through the tears)

On an unrelated note,

MMC is still drawn to the

television and computers.

She likes to try and watch

baseball with her Daddy

and wanted to watch Cake Boss

with Nana yesterday.

This is a photo of her

intently watching the card game

her Daddy was playing on the computer...

really??? It is crazy, but a little funny!

I guess we need to get her

some Baby Einstein videos or something.

my presh