Diapers on a line

The first diapers on the line of the year. I love Spring!

I love clean, natural diapers drying on the line. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm el nutso, but hey I don't care.  The other week when the boys and I were taking a bike ride around the neighborhood, I actually saw another family with their BG's hanging out on the line. Guess I'm not the only nutso in the neighborhood. :)

Fluffy mail day!

I love it when I get fluffy mail, it just makes my day. (I know, sad right?) But it's true, cloth makes me happy. Bennett has recently outgrown a lot of his diapers, so I have been selling the old ones off and purchasing new ones in bigger sizes. Cottonbabies had their seconds up on their site in BumGenius the other night and I was able to score 4 Large AIO's (all in ones) and 2 BG OS (one size) diapers for about $64. That's a steal and I can't find anything wrong with them. I also ordered 6 Imagine prefolds in size Large, a Thirsties Duo Size 2 snap cover, and 2 Motherease Bamboo Toddler Sandies for Peytonn.  I am attempting to night train Peytonn and the Sandies are side snapping and  you can pull them on and off like underwear, but they are still absorbent. Tonight will be our first night of this adventure. :)

I've had a lot of people ask me about cloth diapers lately, so I thought I would add a little info this time about prefolds. I love prefolds because they are so natural and you can always get a good, custom fit with them.  What people don't know is that prefolds come to you in the mail and are very flat and rough, not fluffy and soft at all.

You have to prep a prefold several times before it becomes absorbent and fluffy soft.  A good way to start this process off is to boil your prefolds on the stove for about 30 minutes.  Then I wash them again on hot in the washing machine and dry them on high heat.

After you dry them, they are slightly more fluffy, but still a little rough. They also have not shrunken to their final size. You will have to wash them on hot and dry them on high heat about 6 more times. Then each time after that they will become more absorbent. I usually wash mine about 4-6 times and then let Bennett start wearing them. Then I wash them with each load of diaper that I do.

I also love Thirsties covers over prefolds. They are generously cut and have leg gussets which keep it all in. I hardly ever have leaks with a Thirsties cover unless I have left a diaper on too long.  Thirsties has now come out with its new Duo line. It's kind of like a onesize diaper cover. They have two sizes, Duo 1 and Duo 2. Each one you can adjust the rise simply by snapping it down. Bennett wear the size 2 and is on the medium snap setting, so he has plenty of room to grow in it.  Peytonn can also wear the same cover on the largest rise setting. I just got this new print Thirsties cover and I love it!!!

I am hoping that the Bamboo Sandies work for Peytonn. Usually at night I put him in a cloth diaper, but he has outgrown all of the ones I had for Bennett. I tried sposies on him at night but he leaks out of them. So we are trying a new approach.  A cloth fitted for night time for some absorbency and mom waking him up every couple of hours to use the potty. We'll see how it goes.

As you can see, he has plenty of growing room in these. I will keep these for when Bennett potty learns at night time. These are so squishy soft, I just love them!

Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

I found this recipe on Diaperswappers and I have made it twice so far. It is really yummy, especially if you are looking for a quick chocolate fix. It is enough for two to share or one hungry person.  I add chocolate chips to mine and I think maybe next time I will add some peanut butter to it. You could add all sorts of variations.

MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla 

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well .
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Swimming

Peytonn has really been enjoying his swimming class, so here is a post of pics of P at swimming.

*Goggles!

 *is it my turn yet??

 *kick my legs and move my arms

 *hi mom!

 *Jumping off the side of the pool

 *Did you see me jump mom?!

Update on detergent

I have been using the detergent for a few days now, which translates into about 10 loads of laundry at least, and I have to say that I am absolutely in love!!! It gets the clothes nice and clean and the softner smells really great and doesn't irritate sensitive skin.

A few of the boys' shirts had some stains on the them, so I put some detergent directly on the stains and I let it sit overnight and washed them today. All of the stains came out!! Every single one of them!

Peytonn is having some severe allergies right now so I have had to wash everything of his over and over again. I have already washed his bed sheets 5 times this week and I washed his comforter as well for his bed. This detergent works so well and his whole room smelled lightly of strawberries tonight. And it doesn't break him out, which is amazing! I have to really watch what kind of detergent I use for his clothes and stuff because he breaks out so easily. I remember about 6 months ago I tried a new detergent and I accidentally washed his sheets in it without thinking.  He woke up the next morning and his whole face was broken out in a rash just from sleeping on his pillow case. (I'll never make that mistake again!)

I'm just really impressed with the power of this detergent and yet how gentle it is and how cheap it is to make. I think I am definitely hooked!!!!

Homemade laundry soap and softner

I decided to try my hand again at homemade laundry detergent. Last time, I just made the powder version and used the Fels soap.  I just wasnt a fan of it, the smell of the Fels alone was enough to do me in.  But a fellow blogger, Carrie over at Farming on Faith, posted her new updated recipe for homemade liquid soap. She had a tip in there for those that enjoy using Tide, you just add 6 cups of powder Tide to Step 2 of her instructions.  I love Tide, its what we use for our clothes and what I use on the diapers. We use the HE powder original scent Tide. (usually Tide makes Peytonn break out, but for some reason the original powder doesn't)  This recipe also allows me to still use my Tide, but to stretch it out so we are really getting our money's worth out of it. 

*I will not use the homemade laundry soap on my diapers b/c it has a bar of Dove soap in it.  The Dove soap will cause build up on my diapers and make them repel. I will just use the regular Tide like I always do for my diapers.

*I should also note that I used a bar of the Dove sensitive skin/fragrance free for the sake of Peytonn's skin. And it was all that I had at the house. 

I also tried the homemade fabric softner again. This time, I made it up like liquid softner instead of diluting it and using the sponges for dryer sheets.  I used the Suave Natural Strawberry condition for it. I'm pretty sure there is nothing "Natural" about the Suave Naturals (considering I couldn't comprehend any ingredient in the list except water) but I really liked the strawberry scent and it was on sale at Target. I got the 30oz bottle and I only needed 16oz, so I have enough left for another batch of softner.

(Hey, those extra empty milk jars are coming in handy!) 

So, I did the ultimate test.....children's clothes!!! GASP! I just did the first load of the boys' clothes with the homemade detergent and the softner. The results....clean, lightly scented clothes!! And just how did I test that, you ask? Well, I did the unthinkable. I actually got the guts up to stick my nose in and inhale deeply in toddler socks and underwear! Trust me, that is love! The clothes smelled lightly like strawberries. Wonderful I tell you!! I think this stuff may actually work and I may actually like it.

A Quick Dinner

I got this recipe for homemade sloppy joes from an old co-worker/friend and I absolutely love it.  Its so, so simple and yet really tasty. The kids like it too, which is an added bonus. 

Sloppy Joes
1lb ground beef
1 bottle Heinz Chili sauce (by the ketchup)
a squirt of yellow mustard
hamburger buns


Yup, thats it. I was never a huge fan of Mamwich anyways, but this stuff blows Mamwich out of the water. Its very easy to make for a weeknight meal or if you need a quick meal to feed the family throughout the night as they trickle home.  Its easy to reheat the next day for lunch or take to work.  We love it!

My soap box

Alright, I'll make this quick, but I feel like I need to at least address it.  I'm not a carseat expert by any means, but it is some what of an obsession of mine. I am obsessed with carseat safety and spreading the word about safety that sometimes people don't know.  I work with kids and parents everyday and 9 times out of 10 the kids and seats are not installed and fastened in properly.  It really bothers me, I mean REALLY bothers me! It bothers me for one simple, yet very important reason.....its THE only thing that protects your child if you are in a crash!!!!!! What on earth could be more important than that?!

The law states (at least in Indiana) that your child has to remain rearfacing in a carseat until they are 20lbs AND 1 year old. And that is just the minimum requirement by law. It is actually much safer for them for remain rearfacing until they outgrow the height and/or weight limit of the seat rearfacing.  Peytonn rearfaced until about 18 months/25lbs and Bennett is 23lbs/17months and still rearfacing in his carseat.  I transports a 4 year old twice a week and so I have to turn Bennett's carseat forward facing for her.  One day I picked him up from the babysitter and put him in it.  He looked so incredibily tiny in it!!! It just made me realize that for his own safety, he is so much better off rearfacing still.  I know as parents we try to do what is best for our children and I know not every parent will choose to rearface their child for an extended period of time.  And frankly, I am ok with that.  However, I do think you should have them rearfacing until at least the minimum of 1 year/20lbs.  Surprisingly, I can't even tell you how many babies less than 1 year I see in forward facing seats.

*Forward facing

He still has plenty of leg room rearfacing and he just looks better in the seat rearfacing still.

My next order of business, the straps and clips.  Please make sure that the shoulder straps are COMPLETELY over their shoulders.  They should sit directly on top of their shoulders, not on the sides.  The chest clip is called a chest clip for a reason, it should be level with their armpits.  The straps should also be tight enough that you cannot pinch it.  If you can pinch it, it is too loose and it needs to be tightened.  Why is this such a big deal you ask?  Well, if the "chest" clip is down by their crotch and the straps are too loose, then it is a big possibility that if you are in a crash, your child will be expelled through the top of their carseat.  The straps on top of the shoulders, the straps being snug, and the chest clip at the chest holds your child in place during a crash.  If you are hit from behind (the most common type of crash), the force of your child's body is going to be forced upward (if they are rearfacing).  If the straps are not on their shoulders there is nothing to hold them in place.

The last order of business, the installation.  I have seen so many carseat installed incorrectly, even by foster parents and daycare providers.  Please, I urge you to read your carseat manuals. Make sure you are installing the seat correctly and if you are unsure, please take it to a carseat check point and have them double check it.  I always make sure my carseats are rock solid.  I will get into the seat and use my weight to tighten the seat completely.  If the seat moves more than an inch at the belt path, it is too loose and it needs to be tightened more.  I can't even stand the 1 inch, I will fiddle with it until it doesn't move at all.  Again, why is this important? It the seat is not installed properly and you are in a crash, its like your child being tossed around twice during a crash.  Once in their seat and then from the crash as well.

I know that there are some of you out there that already are aware of this information, but I see it everyday where parents just have no idea.  It's just about being educated about the safety of our kids. It's something I'm not willing to compromise on. I had no idea when I first had Peytonn about extended rearfacing and I am so glad that some of my mom friends shared that with me. I did my own research and found the benefits of it.  I urge you all to do the same, do your own research and make your decision, but please use the safety measures the law has laid out for the time being.

Ok, stepping down from my soap box now. Thank you for reading if you have made it thus far. :)

The weeks and days

The weeks and days just seem to be flying by. Thankfully! Life has been a little chaotic the past few weeks. Peytonn turned 3, the Reunion Meeting, Easter, etc.  This week Peytonn started swim lessons twice a week and he also starts soccer on Saturday.  We also got a membership to the YMCA and I have been trying to work out a couple of times a week there.  Also, since the weather has been so nice, we have been playing outside and taking bike rides almost every night. 

Peytonn was very excited about swimming in the pool, that is until it actually came time to get in the pool....without mom.  I had to stand next to the side of the pool for the first half of the class on Monday and then I slowly made my way over to the benches.  The kids are also supposed to stay in the pool next to the wall, with both hands on the wall while the instructor swims with the other kids.  Peytonn would not stay in the pool at all.  He would climb out and sit on the wall and only put his feet in.  But by the end of class Monday, he was blowing bubbles in the water and even jumped in at the end.  Today, he was still timid at the beginning of the class, but quickly warmed up.  He stayed in the pool the entire time and even got his head underwater twice when he jumped in.  He did much better today I am excited to see he progresses from week to week.  I got him some goggles today so that he doesn't get so irritated when water gets in his eyes.  This also gives us the opportunity for some one on one time together.  I drop Bennett at the babysitter before I take Peytonn to his lesson.

Bennett is doing well, growing and changing so much each day.  His language is developing so much faster than Peytonn's did.  Even just his motor skills amaze me every day.  He is able to transfer a toy from one hand to the other while he puts his arms through the arm holes of a shirt.  He can stand in front of me and put his own legs, one by one, into his pants.  I can give him a choice between string cheese or a Nutrigrain bar and he will choose one and call it by name (cheese or bar).  He can feed himself with a spoon or a fork and gets quite upset if you forget to give him one.  He is obsessed with going up and down the step on our front porch.  He will do it over and over again.  He is just changing so much right before my eyes! Pretty soon my little boy is going to be a big boy and not a cuddly toddler. :(

Soon, Daddy will be home and life will change again.  Things will get back to the old "normal" and I can go back to being a wife and a Mommy, instead of the "be all" for everything to everyone.  :)

Grocery shopping

I headed to the store today to pick up some stuff. Not necessarily just for this week, some things (like the 3lbs of rice) I'm obviously going to use more than once.  I shopped at Aldi's and I spent a total of $41.70!!  A while ago (meaning a couple of years) I was not a fan of Aldi's . One time in college, hubby bought some ham lunch meat and it pretty much tasted like gasoline, hence why I now call it "gasoline ham."  I just couldn't bring myself to shop there after that.  However, they redid our Aldi's and it is much nicer now, so I thought I would give it a shot.  Here is what I got today:

--McIntosh Apples $1.99
--Zucchini $1.89 for 3
--Yellow cake mix $0.89
--Flat Leaf Spinach (for salads) $1.49
--Thin Spaghetti (3lbs) $1.59
--Brie Cheese (yes, Aldi's has Brie!) $2.99
--Cherry Pie filling (much cheaper than at the grocery store) $1.79
--Long Grain Rice (3lbs) $1.49
--Chunk Pineapple $0.89
--Tortilla Chips $0.99
--Mandarin Oranges (3 cans) $0.49 a can
--German Potato Salad $0.99
--Crushed Pineapple $0.89
--Lemon Juice $1.89
--Mayo $1.99
--Sugar (5lbs) $2.59
--Jar Sweet pickles $1.39
--Graham crackers $1.39
--Corn Muffin Mix (3 boxes) $0.35 a box
--Sour Cream $0.89
--Natural Peanut Butter $1.79
--Fresh Mozzarella (another shocking item at Aldi's!) $2.49
--Semi-sweet Choc chips $1.69
--Cream cheese (3 blocks) $0.89 a block
--12 grain bread $1.69
--bananas $0.35 a lb and we paid $0.83

TOTAL SPENT: $41.70

This weeks menu is:
--Chicken Azteca (carried over from last week)
--Shrimp Scampi w/ pasta
--Chicken crescent roll packets

Sides:
--zucchini with tomatoes, onions, and mozzarella
--spinach salad
--rice

Dessert:
--dump cake (only the MOST delicious, easy to make thing EVER!)
--Brie wrapped in puff pastry with brown sugar or raspberry jelly

Just a few random things

The boys and I have been enjoying the nice weather outside by taking daily bike rides.  The boys have been loving the new bike trailer and I have even caught them holding hands a few times during a ride.  Last night we rode our bikes down to my friend Carrie's house who lives in our neighborhood.  The kids played outside for about an hour and a half and loved it! We rode home about 5:30pm to start dinner.

I had some chicken marinating in some olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and some seasoning for dinner.  I wedged some potatoes and tossed them in olive oil, lemon juice, and some salt and pepper and roasted them in the oven.  I grilled the chicken out on the grill and made some green beans to round out the meal.  Both boys ate the entire bowl of green beans by themselves before the meal was even done!! Then they each ate all of the chicken and potatoes that I had given them.  They had obviously played hard and were hungry boys.  Then the boys got baths and ready for bed. I put them both to bed around 7:30ish and didn't hear a peep out of them after that. :)

I think the boys have really enjoyed being so active lately. It's been nice to not have to be couped up in the house all day, every day.  So, I've decided to only work a half day tomorrow and take the boys to the Zoo.  Peytonn has been talking about seeing the elephants for a few days now.  It will be nice to spend the majority of the day with them and I know they will have a blast.  Bennett is now old enough that I think he will really enjoy it as well.  I hope to get some good pictures of them as well.