Cloth Diapering!

So I thought I'd get on here and just blab about things no one cares to read...except maybe 2 of you. Why you ask? Because sweet BabyGirl is laying on me sleeping and I don't want to wake her and I've done everything else on the computer I can think of...so now I am blogging about nothing.

Let's see...BabyGirl's 2 month birthday is coming up fast but that is for another post. Boy do I love her.

Oh, here is something to blog about! We started using cloth diapers! Finally! Here is a pic to refresh your memory of what is making my baby so adorable these days:

Before BabyGirl was born I had everything I needed except something to put used diapers in until ready to be washed. The last two months has been the biggest whirlwind of my life...I just didn't take the time...wait a second, what am I saying? I didn't HAVE the time to research what I wanted to use for used diapers. So last week I got myself together and found all sorts of different ideas. I settled on the Monkey Foot Designs wetbag that you can hang on the changing table. And since I am so tech savvy...here is a pic I found online:

 Funny that you can like something as much as a wetbag...I always knew I was crazy. Anyway, I LOVE the fabric I chose...I decided I don't care if we have a boy next...gender neutral is no fun when this is really a gift for me, right?!

My mom and sister gave me a travel size wetbag to put in BabyGirl's diaper bag...for use on the go! Seen below...

 It never occurred to me that I could get a bigger one to use at home...well actually I didn't even know it was possible until I researched. I liked the wetbag option because according to my research...that phrase just made me think of Magic School Bus...I think I might have shown too many of those in the classroom apparently!...anyway...focus...where was I? Oh yeah, I liked the wetbag option because supposedly they keep odors down much better than using a pail. So...we shall see!

I ordered the bag last week and decided that same day to just start using the smaller wetbag I have until the big one came in the mail...that way I could go ahead and start using the diapers. Funny how I was going to my mom's for a week that same day as well. I figured I could wash diapers there just as easily as here! I did find that taking care of her hm...messy...diapers wasn't as handy at my moms as it will be here. We have a diaper sprayer to attach to the toilet for that not so glorious part of cloth diapering.

So yeah...SO EASY. I could have started using them her first week home if I'd only known how easy it would be. Basically the only difference is that I am washing the diapers instead of throwing them away. We were given practically all our diapers from family members as gifts which was a MASSIVE blessing. I couldn't be more grateful because seriously...I am in love with cloth diapering. You are crazy to use disposables. :) CRAZY! They are so much better for BabyGirl's skin (HUGE fan of that) and in the long run it is so much CHEAPER than disposables and they are adorable!

...and now BabyGirl is waking up so with that I will end this post! If you ever want to know more about cloth diapering, just ask!

-Megan

First Month

Baby Girl here are some things I want to remember about your 1st month of life. (Actually you are currently almost 2 months old so I am back-tracking.) I am basically doing this type of post so friends and family out of town can keep up with the most beautiful baby on the planet, but also for my sake...to remember. I have done a terrible job of keeping track of all the changes. The first 6 weeks of bringing BabyGirl home were something else. ...and that's all I'll say about that!

-At her two week appt. BabyGirl weighed 8lbs 9 oz.
 -She wears size newborn clothes; however, I bought very little of this size because I really didn't think she would wear them long, if at all...so she is forced to wear clothes that are a little too big most of the time!
 -She wears size newborn diapers.
 -Her hair is still the same beautiful brown color as it was when she was born; however, we feel that maybe it has gotten a little lighter...could be our imagination, though. We really haven't noticed any of it falling out or getting thinner as we have heard it will do.
-She is a very alert baby. She loves to stare at anything and everything...usually something really random. If you're holding her on your shoulder it is not uncommon to find her boring a hole into the couch with her stare.


-We had some projectile spit-up issues but gratefully a friend who is a lactation consultant suggested that she was eating too fast and to try burping her every few minutes. This worked like a charm and the spit-up issues completely stopped.

-She is starting to settle into a routine. At 3 weeks I attempted putting her on a schedule...thanks (or no thanks as you will read) to BabyWise. The only word I can think of for this experience is HATE. On both our parts. After struggling for a few days I realized that when I let Baby Girl sleep as long as she wants (to a degree), wake on her own, and decide when she is hungry, life is so much better! She eats more and sleeps way better than when I was trying to wake her and force her to eat or stay awake. I was determined to stick to BabyWise rules but this just did not work for me or for Baby Girl. I absolutely will not let my newborn scream at the top of her lungs for the sake of letting her "cry it out" in learning how to self soothe. I just won't do it. For several reasons...which I don't feel like getting into on here! I realize this method works for some people and I certainly am not criticizing you...it just didn't work for us! I also realize as she gets older and understands more of what is going on I might be more willing to try again.
-She eats every three-and-a-half to four hours. Sometimes shorter. I try not to let her go longer than 4 during the day. 
-It takes her about an hour to take in a full feeding. One awesome thing I will say about BabyWise that was critical for me is to ensure baby takes in a full feeding. This way she learns what it's like to feel full. Otherwise she will just want to snack all day. This was VERY difficult in the beginning because all she wanted to do was sleep. She would eat for about 2 minutes and then fall asleep. We had to do everything from tickling her feet, swiping a cold cloth across her head, changing her diaper, etc. Feedings took up to an hour and a half but this paid off amazingly as she now eats a full feed every time. (And a feeding now (at 7 weeks old) takes less than 30 minutes but that is for her 2 month post!)

-She takes her last feeding between 10 and midnight. We swaddle her up tight, sing to her, pray for her, lay her down and watch the magic happen. She falls asleep almost instantly (usually :) ) and sleeps until 3 or 4am. After eating and getting changed she goes right back down and sleeps until about 8am. GLORIOUS. She is a great sleeper. We are WAY blessed.
-BabyGirl L.O.V.E.S. her bink (for you southern folk this is translated "paci"). We realized this in the hospital. I wasn't going to even take any but I did and was so glad! When we got home she decided she didn't like the ones she'd been sucking and instead chose a butt ugly Braves one. ...not that I don't like the Braves..I do...but not when it is the decoration on my baby GIRL'S pacifier. THANKFULLY, Daniel and I found a type that matched the nipple and now we have cute, girly binks again. All is right in the world.

-BabyGirl smiles ALL the time...when she is awake, that is. Which is for about 30 minutes or so after each feeding...then she conks right back out again until her next feeding.

-She LOVES to be swaddled, especially when being put to sleep. During the day we swaddle her in a blanket but at night we put her in a swaddle...we got these as gifts and they are LIFESAVERS when it comes to my child. She adores them. As do I.
-Rather than holding her 24/7, we are working on laying her down to nap. This is not her favorite new thing.
-BabyGirl took her 1st trip to the beach. It didn't feel like much of a vacation for mommy and BabyGirl sure didn't have a clue but it was a fun week!
-Moving into her 2nd month of life we will settle into a new normal (i.e. no visitors to help cook and clean!)...we will see how it goes!

-Megan