Frugal vs. Natural

Since I just posted about green cleaning, I figured now was as good a time as any to vent write about green eating. Ideally, everything we ate would be locally and organically grown or raised. Unfortunately, we just don't have the grocery budget for that. So then the issue becomes, what do we compromise on? As I think I confessed earlier, I've dropped many of the organics I insisted on for Ethan's first year. He still gets ($6/gallon) organic milk, but his yogurt, meat, and some of his produce are conventional. I try to buy organic for the dirty dozen, at the very least, but sometimes the budget gets in the way yet again (especially since our local organic farm is having hard times due to the weather and a family emergency so all organics have to be bought at the store). And organic meat/cheese/eggs? There are not enough coupons in the world for us to afford that on a regular basis. It's frustrating because I would like to eat more responsibly, but do we dip into savings (or stop putting money into savings each month) in order to buy $6+/lb. organic chicken breasts when I can stock up on the conventional variety on sale for just $1.65/lb?

And eating organically isn't the only way I want to raise Ethan. I want him to be a locavore, too, supporting our small farmers and enjoying the fruits (and veggies and meats) of the land he lives on. We go to the farmer's market in our little town every Saturday morning, and I'm excited to start going to their new Wednesday afternoon one as well. There I stock up on kale, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, etc. All the veggies we need to get us through a week's worth of dinners. I also buy our local honey there, which we have been going through lately at an alarming rate. A couple of weeks ago, I even decided to purchase a few pork chops and some bacon for a dinner I'd been wanting to make for a while (but the grocery store pork chops didn't look good enough). The price tag for 2 dinners' + 1 breakfast's worth of meat? Over $20. $20 for the meat alone!!! And while that was some of the best bacon I've ever had, that's just not possible on a regular basis (which may be a good thing, in this case...)

So what's the answer? In a dream world, we'd have enough money to shop exclusively at Whole Foods and buy all our meat and produce at the farmer's market. In a slightly-less dream world, I could grow all our produce organically in our backyard and put that savings towards buying other organic/local goods. I would love to do this, but I lack both the know-how and the green thumb to make this a reality, I'm afraid. Our neighbor has started to grow a lot in an effort to reduce grocery costs, so she and my horticulturalist mother-in-law would be great resources, but, honestly, I'm intimidated. And it's that intimidation that has stopped me from starting a garden for three years now. ((Thanks to said mother-in-law, I do now have an amazing herb garden, which has already helped tremendously with produce costs since I use a LOT of herbs in cooking. I also tried to grow some spinach this year, but the deer ate it last week)).

Since I've missed out on planting a garden this year, I'm going to keep muddling through like we've been doing. I buy locally and organically where I can, and I try not to fret over the rest. I'm getting to know our local small farmers (my favorite new farm is a certified natural farm that I visited last week on the way home from sailing. She gave me the full tour and is just as friendly and helpful as can be!), and those relationships are as important for Ethan's culinary education as organic, locally-milled flour would be.

Chemical Purge

I haven't shampooed my hair in over a week. It's been almost as long since soap has touched my face. And that Seventh Generation cleaner I always used on my kitchen counters? Well, it's been over a year.

While you're on hold with CPS to report the squalor I'm allowing Ethan to live in, let me assure you that my house (and body) is perfectly clean. I've just been gradually removing chemicals from my cabinets in favor of more natural remedies. It started around the time Ethan began crawling. Even though the Seventh Generation cleaner I'd always used is supposed to be natural, I was looking for something totally baby-proof. So I went old-school. Starting with the kitchen counters, I began using a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water. Then I began using it in the bathrooms, too. With the addition of my new steam mop, all of my cleaning agents are now homemade, and my home is even more sparkling than before!

Then I discovered coconut oil. I was looking for a lotion/diaper cream for Ethan, and it became a fixture in my bathroom cabinet as well. This stuff is an amazing moisturizer, it smells divine, and you can use it in the kitchen to boot! I slather it on my hands every night, and it's cloth-diaper safe, so I can use it on Ethan without fear.

My most recent switches have come in the past week only because I wanted to wait until after graduation since there is a bit of an in-between time where you can look a greasy mess. I first heard about going "no-poo" from a blog written by a local mommy friend of mine last November. I decided then that I wanted to try ditching the shampoo but decided to wait until the pony-tails of summer allowed me to hide my greasily-adjusting hair. Y'all, this method is amazing! My hair already feels healthier and silkier. It's definitely still adjusting as the oil levels regulate themselves (it takes a couple of weeks), but I don't foresee going back to shampoo.

While I was already greasy from the no-poo plunge, I decided to try out the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM). Using the science of "like dissolves like" this involves washing your face with a mixture of castor oil and olive oil. After the first night, my face felt silky and smooth, and it's such a relaxing process! I had heard there could be an adjustment period with this method as well, but I honestly haven't noticed any difference. The breakout that was starting when I began the OCM was stopped in its tracks. We'll see if it passes the test of hormonal breakouts or not, but I have high hopes for this method as it avoids any need for facial cleanser or moisturizer, and, at the very least, it seems to work just as well.

So what started as an attempt to keep chemicals out of Ethan's crawling environment has become a process of detoxing the house entirely. I have a feeling there will be more changes over the coming months as I discover new ways to ditch the chemicals in favor of more natural methods. But there are still some things I'll hang on to. Most notably: store-bought deodorant, more specifically antiperspirant. In just the past week, two different recipes for homemade deodorant have come up on blogs and forums I follow. My husband has been trying to get me to stop using antiperspirant since we met, but I've just told him it'll be his job to care for me when I'm struck by the aluminum-induced Alzheimer's. I may not know who I am, but at least I won't be sweaty.

My New Favorite (Non-Ethan) Video

Those of you who keep up with cyber trends have no doubt heard of the "Sh*t (fill-in-the-blank) Say" videos that have become popular of late. I was aware of them but hadn't watched any, including the original, until multiple friends posted the following one. And I laughed. A lot. I am guilty of saying probably half of these things, and those I haven't said personally have been said to me in conversations with friends. I know many of my readers won't understand all of these (or even notice things like the mason jars), but for those who do, enjoy!

Breastfeeding a Toddler

It's been a while since I talked about this, and extended breastfeeding has been on my mind due to the frequency with which it's come up lately, even while I'm in class of all places! In the near future, I will write about the practicalities of breastfeeding a toddler and how our nursing relationship has changed over the past few months. But for now, I just want to get up on my soap box and talk about public perceptions of extended breastfeeding.

In the US, most women who are still breastfeeding stop once their child turns one. This is in part due to the AAP recommendation, and its arbitrariness baffles me. As a result, women who choose to continue to nurse their children past the age of one are the target of additional scrutiny and questioning. "When are you going to wean?" becomes the default question when someone learns you are still breastfeeding. Nursing in public becomes more awkward because you can feel people staring and wondering how old your kid is. And heaven forbid you continue to nurse through toddlerhood and the preschool years. Then breastfeeding ceases to be a way to nourish and bond with your child and becomes something "gross." If you mention a child nursing at the age of five, as has come up in both of my classes this term (not brought up by me, even!), you are met with disbelief and disgust. Why does the US have such a screwed up opinion of breastfeeding? Is it because breasts have become so sexualized that we've forgotten their natural function?

When someone asks me about weaning or makes a derogatory remark about extended breastfeeding, I usually respond with three facts:
- The World Heath Organization recommends breastfeeding for a MINIMUM of two years.
- The average age at weaning worldwide is 4.7 years old.
- In most of the world, children wean between the ages of 3 and 7 years old.

We in the US are not the norm. It makes me wonder what the average age of weaning would be if we excluded the US from the statistics. Women who choose to breastfeed their children past the age of one, and even to the age of five, are in good company. They are not freaks. They are not "breastfeeding nuts." They just want to give their children the best they can and continue the incredible bond that is formed through nursing.

Now, it would be hypocritical of me to judge others for judging extended breastfeeding since I once did the exact same thing. But, with some education and experience, I changed my mind. And now I can only hope to change the minds of others.

The other day, we were out for dinner, and Ethan needed to nurse. As I fed him, I began to wonder when I should stop nursing him in public. I mean, I'd never seen anyone else nursing a toddler in public. And then it hit me. That's exactly why I should continue to nurse in public. Because as long as extended breastfeeding is kept behind closed doors, it will continue to be "gross" and "just wrong." Maybe I'll never change anyone's mind about extended breastfeeding. But maybe, just maybe, a woman will see me nursing my toddler son or overhear me quoting the above statistics and realize that it's normal and natural to nurse your child as long as he or she wants. And maybe she won't feel pressured to stop nursing after that first birthday. And maybe others will see her or hear her talk about nursing her toddler. And maybe someday extended breastfeeding will be seen for all of its positive, natural benefits instead of being an act of shame. And that possibility is worth all the dirty stares and derogatory comments.

Toddler-wearing?

As some of you may already know, it's International Babywearing Week (yay!!!) so I figured I should do an update on our babywearing practices now that Ethan is a toddler and is constantly on the move. When I think back to wearing him in those early days, I realize that so much has changed and yet not a lot has changed at all! Being worn still comforts him. He still likes cuddling into my chest. Babywearing still allows me to get things done around the house and with schoolwork. And it still puts him to sleep. I don't wear him quite as much, perhaps, but I still wear him any time we're running errands, for our daily walks around the neighborhood, and sometimes around the house if he needs to cuddle but I need to be hands-free.

I remember defending my choice to let Ethan nap in the wrap past the 2 month "recommended" cut-off by saying I would make him stop eventually. I mean, he wouldn't still be one and napping in the wrap, right? Heh. The main difference is now I don't feel the need to defend it. Ethan does take his afternoon nap in the crib for consistency since I have to leave during his nap two days a week, but he will continue to take his morning nap in the wrap until he drops it. It's our morning non-nursing cuddle time, and there's no way I'm giving it up as long as he wants it! It also forces me to be still for a while since he stirs more easily now, so it makes me take the time to relax and just enjoy him.


So what am I carrying him in nowadays? The Moby is long gone, of course. He takes his morning nap in the Amazonas woven wrap, but that's about all we use that wrap for now, unless I'm putting him on my back in a Double Hammock. The ring sling is still my go-to for quick errands and often for our walks. My (semi-)new Girasol woven wrap (aka Glace), which is featured in all these pictures, is my go-to for longer errands (like grocery shopping) and for our walks, though I've been known to use it for quick errands too since I love it oh so much! The Ergo lives in the car trunk just in case I forget to grab one of the others on my way out the door. And the mei tai is currently living in my closet since I'm just not reaching for it as much lately.

Isn't he getting heavy? Maybe, but I don't really notice it. The funny thing is that I DO notice how heavy he's gotten if I'm carrying him in my arms for any distance, but in a carrier, his weight is distributed evenly enough that it doesn't bother me at all.


Am I worried carrying him still will make him lazy or delay him developmentally? Well, he walked at 9 months, despite being carried a good portion of his life to that point. I'm not concerned. Sometimes even big kids need to ride. Would it phase you at all to see a one-year-old in a stroller? So why should it bother you to see one in a carrier?

While I know babywearing may not feature as prominently in our daily lives as the months go on, I will continue to wear Ethan as long as he wants because it's just one more way for us to bond. It makes my life easier, which makes me a happier mom, which makes him a happier toddler. And at the end of the day, that's all I can really ask for!

Homemade Baby Food

As I've mentioned previously, almost all of Ethan's baby food is homemade (the only exception is puffs), and the majority of it is organic, with much of it being local as well, coming from our CSA. While this has gotten me eyerolls from many people (including my husband), it is important to me that Ethan eats organic as much as possible for at least the first year because I just don't see the point in feeding my child stuff with pesticides, hormones, etc. in it. His daddy is fond of sneaking him Fla-Vor-Ice and Cool Whip, but there's not much I can do to stop him at this point so hopefully the good stuff Ethan eats will cancel that out!

So is making homemade baby food as easy as store-bought? No, but it's definitely more fun and tastes better! Plus, the cost savings are enough to make the time spent worth it. I'm a big believer in "don't feed your kid something you wouldn't eat yourself" so I taste every food and combination before giving it to Ethan. That includes the store-bought organic baby food he ate while in Atlanta, and let me tell you, after tasting it, I wasn't that thrilled to be feeding it to Ethan, nor was Ethan that thrilled to be eating it. How does the addition of ascorbic acid make apples and pears so very bitter? And the organics had less stuff added to them than conventional baby food! Anyway, suffice it to say that homemade baby food is better than store-bought in expense, peace-of-mind, and flavor, even if not in convenience.

So how do you get started? It's quite easy! For basic mashed foods (like bananas and avocados), just mash it up with a fork and you're good to go. For other purees though, you'll need a few things first (You can buy gadgets like the Beaba Babycook that do all the work in one machine, but they're fairly expensive, and since we already had all the tools we needed on hand, I don't mind the extra steps):

- Saucepan and steamer basket with lid
- Skillet with lid
- Oven
- Food Processor/Blender/Food Mill
- Ice cube trays (choose ones with a silicone bottom to make the less-hard-freezing varieties easier to get out)
- Saran wrap (to cover the ice cube trays)

Most fruits and vegetables can be steamed by boiling an inch of water in the saucepan, placing the fruit/veggies in the steamer basket on top with the lid on, and steaming until tender. For some vegetables (like green beans), boiling is better so you bring an inch of water to boil in the skillet, put in the veggies, put the lid on, and boil until tender. Likewise, ground meats will require the use of a skillet and some olive oil. Finally, the oven is useful for roasting vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other root vegetables.

I've always used our food processor to puree, but I believe you can also use a blender or food mill. Depending on the fruit or vegetable, you may need to add additional water to get a smooth puree (this is where the recipe resources below come in handy). This is another benefit to making baby food at home because you can puree it to a texture your baby can handle, allowing you to leave it chunkier as baby gets older (Ethan was not a fan of how watery the commercial baby foods were).

Cereals are made using many of the same tools. For rice cereal for example, you just place brown rice in a blender and pulse until it turns into powder. Then add the rice powder to boiling water, and it magically turns into cereal! (For the exact ratios, check out one of the recipe resources below.)

Once you have made your puree, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days or divide it into ice cube trays to be frozen for up to three months. Once the purees have frozen in the trays, you can put them into labelled freezer bags for easier storage.

Here is a step-by-step picture tutorial for making summer squash baby food:


You can find instructions with cooking times and recipe ideas in many places, but my favorite book is Cooking for Baby and my favorite website is http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com.

Did you know you can even make yogurt? After buying Stonyfield Farms YoBaby for several weeks, I decided to switch to Stonyfield Farms plain whole milk yogurt and mix my purees in. Then I discovered how easy it is to make my own yogurt, and I haven't bought any for Ethan in months. Here's a step-by-step:

1) Heat oven to 100 degrees. If your oven won't go that low, set it to the lowest setting and then open the door and fan the hot air out for a bit. Turn off oven.
2) In a large casserole container, mix 3 Tbsp. whole milk yogurt with 1/2 gallon whole milk. Make sure you stir them well because it won't work if you don't.

((Once my yogurt supply gets low, I transfer it to an empty Stonyfield container for easier storage than the casserole dish))

3) Place container in oven and close the door. Turn on the oven light and allow to sit overnight.


4) The following morning, pour off any liquid on the top and enjoy your homemade yogurt!

We've made four batches so far, and I don't foresee buying whole milk yogurt again.

So there you have it! Homemade baby food is well within anyone's reach, and your baby will thank you! And you can rest easy knowing exactly what is going into your child's food.

Babywearing 101: Choosing a carrier

Anyone who has perused this blog knows that babywearing is something that's very important to me. In fact, along with breastfeeding it's probably the most important parenting choice for me. I've already detailed the reasons why in this post, but I want to provide an informational post for those looking for more information or (dare I hope) who would like to begin babywearing themselves. And so, I'm writing this post as an introduction to babywearing, detailing some basic information on common carriers. Also in the works will be a post on babywearing resources for those who want to learn even more and possibly a post on different types of carries in each of the carriers.

Let's begin with a basic word on carriers. No matter what type you choose, it is CRUCIALLY important that your carrier places the baby in a seated position. Commonly available carriers like the Baby Bjorn and the Snuggli are what are known in the babywearing world as "crotch danglers." Carriers or poorly-done-wrap-jobs that do not place the baby in a seated position are not only uncomfortable for both mom and baby, but they can also do permanent damage to your baby's spine! For more information on this, check out this article. Thankfully, there are many carriers on the market now that provide the proper positioning for your baby. It's just up to you to do the research, and unfortunately many parents are completely unaware of the danger. Now, on to the most commonly available types:

Wraps:
Stretchy - These wraps are fantastic for newborns, being both snuggly for baby and forgiving for a novice wrapper. Stretchy wraps are essentially long pieces of knit material, usually jersey cotton, wrapped and tied around the wearer and baby in various carries. These wraps mimic the environment of the womb and are quite comfortable for the wearer. They are also conducive to breastfeeding and offer some variety in the types of carries you do. However, stretchy wraps cannot be used for back carries, and, even though some instruction guides provide directions, should not be used for hip or forward-facing carries. (The exception to this rule is the Wrapsody Bali Stretchy Wrap which supposedly can be used for back carries, though I haven't tried it personally). For more information on why forward carries should be avoided, see the note at the end of this post. They are supposed to last up to 35 lbs, but most wearers become uncomfortable using a stretchy wrap once their child reaches around 15 lbs. Some of the most popular brands are the Moby Wrap, the Wrapsody Bali Wrap, and the Sleepy Wrap.

Moby Wrap in Black (Pocket Wrap Cross Carry)

Woven - These are the workhorse of the carrier world, in my opinion, and if I could only have one carrier, I'd choose a woven wrap, hands down! The variety of carries is seemingly endless with plenty of variations to suit all wearer's preferences. These can be used safely for front carries, back carries, and hip carries. While they are still cuddly for a newborn, they will last well into the toddler stage, with most wraps supporting up to around 40 lbs. They come in various lengths, materials, and styles. Most wearers can use a size 6 as their basic wrap, though larger wearers may want a size 7. Then, once you've become addicted, most wearers drop down two sizes for a mid-length wrap for carries that require less fabric. The only downside to woven wraps is that it does require a bit of a learning curve, even if you're graduating from a stretchy wrap since wovens are less forgiving of a sub-par wrap job. However, you're unlikely to find a more supportive and versatile carrier! Some of the most popular brands include Storchenwiege, Didymos, Neobulle, Girasol, and Vatanai, though BBSlen, Amazonas, and Dolcino are also great options.

Amazonas Classic Carry Sling 5.1m in Laguna (Double Hammock carry)

Sling:
Ring sling - When I first thought about babywearing, well before we were even married, I always figured I'd just get a ring sling, or even just make one. Yet somehow this was my most recent purchase! And now that I have it, I definitely get the ring sling love. Ring slings are essentially a long piece of fabric threaded through metal rings that can be used to adjust the size of the sling. As a result, sizing is less important, and the ring sling will grow with your child. They are very portable, easily being thrown into a diaper bag. Ring slings are also great for breastfeeding, especially in the cradle hold. Since I began using a ring sling with an older baby instead of a newborn, I have only used the hip hold, and I have found it very supportive and great for short trips. I've heard they are also great for toddlers who want to get up and down frequently. However, since all of the weight is supported on one shoulder, they have the potential to not be as comfortable as a two-shouldered carrier for long-term wearing. I chose to get a "slingified wrap," which is essentially a woven wrap cut down and made into a sling, and it is extremely supportive and wonderful! Some of the most popular brands include Sleeping Baby Productions, Sakura Bloom, and Comfy Joey.

Sleeping Baby Productions BBSlen Slingified Wrap Ring Sling in Passionfruit (hip carry)

Pouch - I have not actually tried out a pouch, but they share many similarities with ring slings with one important difference: they are not adjustable so sizing is extremely important for a comfortable carry. However, since there is no excess fabric, these are the most compact carriers out there. Some popular brands include Comfy Joey and Hotslings.

Soft-Structured Carriers:
When many people think of baby carriers, these are what come to mind. Popularized by brands such as the Baby Bjorn and Snuggli, soft-structured carriers (aka buckle carriers) are easy to use and are great options for older babies and toddlers. While many of them can be used by a younger baby and even a newborn, you lose some of the snuggly quality of the other carrier types. The soft-structured carrier is my go-to for out-and-about because it's easy to just grab it out of the car, snap it on, put Ethan in, and go. In fact, I store mine in the trunk of my car because I rarely use it at home or around the neighborhood. Most of the good soft-structured carriers (see the note at the beginning about why brands like the Bjorn and Snuggli are to be avoided) can be used for both front, hip, and back carries, allowing for some variety. However, there is not much room for variation in these basic carries so it's important to find a SSC that works for you and your baby. Some popular brands include ERGObaby, Beco, Boba, and Kinderpack.

ERGObaby Baby Carrier in Camel (back carry)

Mei Tai:
These Asian-style carriers combine the best of wraps and soft-structured carriers. Made up of a square piece of fabric with a strap at each of the four corners, these carriers allow a more customizable fit than a SSC without the "hassle" of wrapping. They are almost as soft and cuddly for a newborn as a wrap and are much more comfortable for the wearer to sit down in than a SSC. They can be used through the toddler years and are very supportive. Because they require less of a learning curve than a wrap, many wearers choose mei tais for back carries. In fact, if I'm looking for a quick back carry, I've gotten to the point that I pick up my mei tai before my woven, at least until I purchase my mid-length wrap. Many brands allow you to choose the fabric and strap colors, allowing for customized options, and there is some variety in whether the straps and/or waist is padded or if the carrier has a headrest or hood. You can even add on pockets and toy rings! These carriers are also a good option for a DIY version. Some popular brands include Babyhawk, Mei Tai Baby, and Ocah.

BabyHawk Mei Tai with Espresso straps and Orchid Fantasy Cream fabric showing (high back carry tied in front)

A word on forward-facing:
Some wraps include instructions for a forward-facing carry and some carriers advertise forward carries as a possibility (like the Beco Gemini and the Lillebaby Everywear), but most reputable babywearing manufacturers and advocates will tell you to avoid forward-facing carries at all times. Forward carries are not recommended for several reasons. First of all, it does not put the baby in as supportive a position as when facing inward. There is nothing supporting their spines since the spine is placed in an arched rather than rounded position, and it also puts additional stress on the wearer's back. Plus, it is really hard to achieve correct leg positioning in a forward carry, particularly in a wrap. Secondly, it does not allow your child any respite from her/his surroundings. Many parents choose the forward-facing carry because it allows the child to see what's going on. However, the child has nowhere to hide if the surroundings become overwhelming, nor can the child look to his/her parent to gauge emotion. Back carries are far preferable to this end because a child can still see all around, but if s/he needs to feel safe, s/he can just snuggle into dad/mom's shoulder and shut out the sensory overload. Furthermore, many children become accustomed to facing out and will then refuse to be carried facing inward, even though it's really better for them. Those just getting started babywearing can avoid this unnecessary stress and do what's best for their baby by wearing them facing inward from the start!


Any questions? What else would you like to know about babywearing? Let me know in the comments!

The Five Ws of Cloth Diapering: Part III

And, finally, part III!

Where: So where does all the diaper storing/changing/washing action take place? And what exactly is involved in washing cloth diapers? Let's start with storage:

Here is my newborn stash (minus prefolds and covers):


Aren't they cute?


And here are my Bum Genius 4.0s as of yesterday morning:


Not quite as little, but still awfully cute:

Here is the swing-out drawer with our cloth wipes (actually, they are Babies 'R' Us Brand washcloths that I got for free with a coupon!):


After diaper removal, the diaper, insert, and cloth wipe go in the large metal step trash can lined with our Kissaluvs liner. The trash can is just from Target and was around $30. Any trash (like tissues, random threads, and the occasional disposable wipe) goes in the small metal step trash can, which my in-laws purchased for us.


As you can see, it's crucial for the trash cans to contain the smells since they're right next to my glider. And here's an admittedly crappy picture with the whole set-up (I would take another one, but Ethan is asleep so I don't think I'll wake him up just to get a picture!):


Now let's talk laundry!

I wash the diapers every other day. On the morning of a wash day, I grab the liner full of diapers, carry it downstairs to the laundry room, and just dump the whole thing (including the bag) in the washer. First, they get a cold rinse. Then, they get a hot and heavy wash with 2 Tbsp. of detergent (halfway to the "0" in the Planet cap). Finally, they get an additional cold rinse. This usually takes place over the course of Ethan's morning nap, and then after he wakes up and I feed him, I transfer the wipes, liners, and pail liner into the dryer for 90 minutes on medium heat. The outer shells of the diapers are hung up with clothespins on the wire shelving above the washer and dryer.


(I used to put diapers outside on a clothesline to dry and to get rid of any stains. However, then it got really cold, and the diapers would freeze. Then it got warmer, but it also became pollen-y, and the diapers turned yellow. Now I could probably put them outside again, but they dry fine in the laundry room, and I don't really care about stains anymore!) At some point after the dry cycle finishes, I snap the liners to the correct position and stack them on top of the dryer. The following morning, I bring all the diaper laundry back upstairs to stuff and put away, either before Ethan wakes up or, if it's an early-rising day, after his first nursing of the morning. All in all, it doesn't take much time, and the rewards are well worth any extra exertion!

But what about the poop? Well, until they start solids, breastfed and formula-fed poop is water-soluble so it rinses away in the wash. After you start solids, however, it does have to be flushed. There's an awful in-between stage known as the "peanut butter poop" period when the stools are too loose to just dump in the toilet but not able to be thrown in the wash. Some people buy diaper sprayers, but it just wasn't worth the money for us. If we happened to remember to put a liner in, the poop is just thrown in the toilet with the liner, but if not, you just stick the diaper (and your hand) in the toilet and swirl it around until it's clean. Definitely the worst part of cloth diapering, but it's a short period of time in the grand scheme of things! Once your baby is eating more solids, the poop will become ploppable so you just dump it into the toilet and throw the diaper in the pail. Remember, by law, users of disposable diapers are supposed to be doing the same thing! Most of them just don't do it.


So there you have it! A basic intro to the world of cloth diapering. Perhaps in the future I'll do a post or two on cloth diaper resources and troubleshooting, but at the very least, maybe this series has shed some light on why we felt it was important to cloth diaper and exactly what is required of cloth diapering families. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment!

The Five Ws of Cloth Diapering: Part II

And now part II of the three-part series on cloth diapering!

What: OK, so what's in my stash? I have two: newborn and OS (one-size). This is where hindsight comes in because if I could do it all over again, I would change my newborn stash. But here's my current stash:

Newborn -
- 10 Diaper Rite newborn prefolds
I absolutely love prefolds! I didn't think I would initially, but if I could do it all over again, I would have just gotten 30-36 prefolds. We used the angel wing fold, and it is amazing at EBF newborn poop containment! Plus, with the invention of Snappis, there's no need for pins! For the newborn stage, you cannot go wrong with prefolds.
- 2 Bummis XS Super Whisper Wrap covers
These were basic, cheap covers. Nothing fantastic about them, but they did the job. If I exclusively used prefolds, I would need 4-6 covers, but for the amount I had, 2 was fine.
- 8 Thirsties XS AIO (all-in-one) pocket diapers (no longer available)
These discontinued diapers were purchased off a deal-a-day site. They were a bit big in the beginning but worked great for several weeks before they began leaking a bit. We often used them at night when he wouldn't be changed as often since the synthetic material would keep him feeling dryer than a prefold. The aplix was pretty poor and came apart on several of them. Not the biggest disappointment, but not as good as prefolds.
- 12 Rump-a-rooz Lil Joey AIO diapers
These seemed like they would be perfect, and they were decent for the first week or so before they began leaking. They are TINY, so they would have gotten more use if he was a smaller baby. They are also completely AIO, so they took longer to dry than the other diapers. However, they are absolutely adorable! My biggest complaint with these was the cost, and I definitely wish I hadn't even bothered with these, despite the cuteness factor.

OS -
- 22 BumGenius 4.0 OS pocket diapers with snaps
We have 20 BGs in regular rotation and two that live in the diaper bag. These began fitting Ethan around 2 months and should fit him up until potty training. Since they have snaps, they will hold up longer than the aplix variety. We've had some issues with repelling (see below), which is common with synthetic pocket diapers, and occasionally we have issues with leaks due to fit, but overall, these are great diapers.
- 2 BabyKicks Bumboo OS pocket diapers
I purchased these on a deal-a-day site, and, in hindsight, I wish I hadn't bothered since I haven't actually even tried them out yet. I FINALLY got around to prepping the hemp inserts this week, but I'm actually using them as overnight doublers for my BGs since hemp is so much more absorbent than the synthetic inserts in the BGs.

Accessories -
- 3 Snappis
These are basically necessities for prefolds, replacing those huge diaper pins of yore. They are similar to the closures for ace bandages and work great!
- 2 Kissaluvs antibacterial pail liners
No complaints here! These go in the metal trash can I use as a diaper pail (more on that in part III). I wash them every other day with the diapers, so I have an extra one to put diapers in while the laundry is being done. They do their job and keep the smell contained.
- Set of 3 wet bags
You can purchase expensive cloth diaper wet bags for on-the-go diapering, but I picked up this three pack at Dick's Sporting Goods for $15. I keep the small one in the diaper bag at all times and have the other two for longer outings or wet clothes. They work just as well as the expensive ones, in my opinion!
- Bummis flushable liners
These are great for the in-between poop stage, after starting solids but before poop is ploppable. They also protect diapers from diaper rash cream if you don't use a cloth-diaper-safe brand.
- Grandma El's Diaper Rash Cream
Speaking of which, this is our diaper cream, though we have yet to use it on an actual rash. However, if he's at all irritated, one smear does the job! Since we don't need it very often, a small tube lasts a long time, which is nice.
- Planet 2x Ultra Laundry Detergent
After researching the different cloth-safe laundry detergent, I decided on Planet since it's not as expensive as some of the other brands and is available at a local grocery store. It does the job! In fact, I tried out Rockin' Green, the acclaimed cloth-diaper detergent, and that's the only time I had issues with repelling (yes, I'm positive it was the RnG because I stripped the diapers multiple times and every time I used RnG, the repelling returned; I went back to Planet and no more repelling!). As I mentioned before, our initial bottle of Planet lasted 9 months, so it's not that huge of an investment.

Stay tuned for Part III!

The Five Ws of Cloth Diapering: Part I

I've been asked about cloth diapering a lot, so I decided to just do a blog series so that I can point people to this instead of typing out the same response over and over again. Hopefully this will answer any questions you have and demonstrate why we feel cloth is best!

Who and When: Ethan has been cloth diapered since he was one day old, as soon as we got him home from the hospital. For #2, I think we'll just bring cloth to the hospital so that s/he won't ever have to be in a disposable.

Why: I cannot pinpoint the time when I decided to cloth diaper. As long as I've seriously thought about having babies, it's just always been something I wanted to do. Thankfully, I was met with no initial resistance since my in-laws cloth diapered all of their kids. However, my own family wasn't too sure about it. In fact, several of my family members just shook their heads when I mentioned it and said I would give it up within two weeks. Yeah, not so much. My parents still push disposables sometimes, especially whenever they might be changing diapers, but if I have anything to say about it (which I do), Ethan will never again feel a disposable on his butt! Sorry for that tangent, but all that's to say it's something very important to me, and something I did even though I didn't have 100% support.

First of all, it just makes sense for the comfort of the baby. Instead of having chemical-soaked paper and plastic on your sensitive areas, you have cloth. Cloth diapered babies almost never get diaper rash. Ethan has yet to get diaper rash and only gets irritated if he takes a surreptitious poop and sits in it.

Secondly, it's quite a money saver! Since our diapers are one-size, I will most likely never have to buy another diaper, even for future kids! My entire investment (including accessories, pail, and the laundry detergent that lasted the first 9 months) was $719.07. I definitely could have done it cheaper, and if I'd done originally what I now wish I'd done (more on this later), I would have only spent $519.07. Either way, since the average family pays roughly $1000/year just for disposable diapers (not counting diaper genie, wipes, etc.), that's a huge savings! Even if I added up whatever extra I might be paying in utility bills, I doubt it could match the $4000 it would cost to diaper just two kids for two years.

Finally, there's the environmental aspect. Disposable diapers take up a great deal of landfill space, not to mention the introduction of toxic solid waste. All diaper users are legally supposed to flush solid waste down the toilet, but when you're already throwing out the diaper, "What's the point?" Cloth diapers keep that waste out of the trash. Opponents often argue that cloth diapers waste water, but, in reality, the manufacture and use of disposable diapers wastes 2.3 times more water than cloth! So for Ethan's future, both health-wise, economic, and environmental, cloth diapers are the way to go!


Stay tuned for parts II and III!

A boy and his trucks

I definitely had one of those moments (OK, hours) today where I wondered who took my baby and replaced him with this fussing machine. As if two days in a row of play dates weren't enough, Ethan and I headed out this morning for the local babywearing group monthly meeting. We hadn't been since March since it meets 45 minutes away, and Ethan is not too keen on long trips in the car. However, I was trying to decide what length I'll need for the shorter wrap I want to get, and the only way to know would be to wrap with both sizes, and since I don't know anyone around here that wraps, off we went.

We left right after his first nap, planning on nursing as soon as we got there. He's gone 45 minutes after waking before when we're going to LLL or class, and he usually does just fine, but this time it pissed him off. So he whined off and on the entire way there, but after happily nursing, he was ready to play. He crawled around, looking at the other babies and playing with the toys. He seems to be especially drawn to construction vehicles, and the church nursery where they meet had a lot of them. He was having so much fun, in fact, that the last thing he wanted to do was be picked up by his mommy. As a result, when I picked him up to wrap him on my back (the entire reason we came), he SCREAMED in my ear. He wiggled and wouldn't cooperate and kept shrieking the entire time I was wrapping, which resulted in my inability to get a good carry. However, as soon as I put him back down, he happily went back to playing, without a care in the world! I let him play while I fetched the other size from the mom who brought them for me, and as soon as I picked Ethan up, the screaming began again. This time, he wiggled so much that he almost wiggled out of the wrap before I could secure it! Finally, I gave up and just let him play. I had also wanted to try out some ring slings, but I didn't dare disrupt his play time again, so that will have to wait for another time. ::sigh::

On the bright side, though, I was really worried about him screaming the entire ride home, but as long as I kept him supplied with toys, he happily chewed and babbled the whole way back. After a much needed nap, we headed back out to run some errands, and Ethan was back to his usual happy self.

In the end, I think I got the information I needed. It's hard to tell since I was never able to tighten enough. I guess the worst case scenario will be that I end up buying two wraps if the first size ends up too big. What a travesty! =) Lesson learned, I guess: Don't get between a boy and his trucks.

The Amber Teething Necklace

As you've probably noticed by now after watching some of the latest videos, Ethan has started wearing a necklace. This has elicited several comments. "Is he wearing a necklace?" "Why would you put jewelry on a little boy?" His daddy refers to them as his Kabbalah beads and usually quotes Ocean's Twelve's "It's almost like this Kabbalah crap doesn't even work!" whenever the necklace is mentioned. So what is it?

Well, it's an amber teething necklace. You see, amber contains succinic acid, which is known for it's analgesic properties. You are supposed to wear amber near whatever ails you. Get migraines? Wear a necklace. Have carpel tunnel? Wear a bracelet. Have shards of calcium breaking through your flesh? The amber teething necklace is your answer! The warmth from your skin heats up the stones, thus releasing the succinic acid. The lighter the color, the greater the concentration of succinic acid. We ended up with a rainbow composition since they were sold out of the solid light ones.

Ethan has been wearing his amber teething necklace for about two weeks, and I think it has made a difference. The weekend before I first put it on him, he got his third tooth and was not happy about it so I decided to give the necklace a try. Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but he hasn't been fussy, he hasn't seemed to have any issues with his teeth (during the day, at least), and at the very least, the necklace certainly doesn't bother him.

But is it safe? Obviously, he only wears it while supervised. Since he still naps in the wrap, I usually keep it on him for naps, but at night and for baths, we take it off. It's made specifically for babies, and it's designed to break apart if too much force is applied to it, so there's not a strangulation risk. You have to choose a length that allows enough space to keep from being tight but isn't long enough for him to get in his mouth since the beads are fragile and could break. We ended up with a 12-13" one (honestly just because that's the smallest size that wasn't sold out). It is long enough that it will still work as he grows, but he has to really strain to try to get it in his mouth (enter the point of parental supervision).

Yes, it's definitely up there with the rest of my crunchy parenting affects, but if it really does work, it's well worth answering the questions! I have several friends who swear by them, so it's definitely becoming more popular. Granted, those friends are from LLL and our CSA, and thus are more inclined towards granola remedies, but still!




And as an added bonus, I think it's absolutely adorable!

Mommy Must Haves: The Early Months

This post has been months in the making. Back when Ethan was a newborn, I'd planned a post about what baby gear was invaluable, what stuff we used occasionally, and what we could have done without, not including obvious necessities like a car seat, crib, diapers, clothes, etc. Yeah, it never got written, except for in my head. So instead, I'm going to do a 3-part series to see how my Mommy Must Haves changed over the course of Ethan's first year. The Early Months will cover the newborn stage to 4 months. The Middle Months will cover 4-8 months. The Later Months will cover 8-12 months. And perhaps there will be a final installment entitled Toddler Edition. So here goes!

Must Haves:

1) Moby Wrap


Hands down the best baby gift ever! I've already detailed my love of the Moby in previous posts, but not only did it save my sanity on many occasion, it also served as my introduction to the world of babywearing. Further exclamations of adoration will be saved for another babywearing post, though, so suffice it to say it's my #1 newborn must have.

2) Fisher-Price My Little Lamb Swing


This was also essential to our sanity because Ethan slept exclusively in his swing at night for the first 3 months. He also sporadically slept in it for naps, which was the only time we actually turned the swing on. It allowed us to cosleep safely (until he began rolling back-to-front at least), and its rocking enabled him to put himself to sleep on several occasions. However, it did become a bit of a crutch, so I'm not sure what our plan will be for future kids. At the very least, I may want to try out the bassinet of the Pack-n-Play with #2 and attempt a crib transition a bit earlier.

3) aden + anais SwaddlePlus Wraps


Talk about a baby-multitasker! These light-weight muslin blankets are perfect for swaddling, of course, and Ethan was swaddled in them every night for the first 3 months. They were also great blankets for the car seat and out and about. When rolled up, they made a great head-support for the car seat. They doubled as nursing covers for times I felt modest about nursing in public. They served as burp cloths when a cloth diaper wasn't at hand. They kept baby warm during sponge baths. We have 8 of them, and honestly, we needed that many, especially in the beginning. I cannot say enough about how much I love them!

4) Boppy Pillow


Another versatile item. The Boppy is of course great for supporting a baby during breastfeeding, but it also serves as an infant "chair" before they can roll. If he was content to just sit and smile, we could plop him in the Boppy on the couch and sit with him without needing to hold him. It also kept him stationary when I was getting ready to feed him or when I needed to pump afterwards. Definitely one of those baby items I didn't expect would get as much use as it did. We actually have two (one a shower gift; one a yard sale find) so that we can keep one in the nursery by the glider and the other downstairs.

5) Dutalier Comfort Plus 2 Post Glider


I spent many hours nursing and rocking in this chair. In the beginning, Ethan would often nurse for over an hour, so comfort was important, especially for those night feedings when I really didn't want to get up to begin with. Even now, I often read to Ethan in the glider, I rock Ethan before bedtime, and he has his first nursing of the day in the glider. It's also the stage for his monthly photos. Well worth the investment to have a custom glider!

We also liked:

1) Dr. Brown's BottlesWe hadn't expected to need these very much since I had hoped to exclusively breastfeed. However, my body had other plans, so starting a little after the first month, we began bottle-feeding supplements. We still only have the newborn starter kit, which means I wash bottles on the regular, and all of the parts of these bottles can get a little tedious. Nevertheless, Ethan took them immediately, which makes them winners in my book.

2) Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Lights and Music Activity Mat


Ethan loved staring up at the dangling toys and eventually batting at them, too. And I loved having a soft place I could put him while I folded laundry. The utility of a quilt with the engagement of a toy. I'm not sure I would have purchased one if we didn't receive it as a gift, but we definitely got a lot of use out of it!




I may add a bit more to second part of this list later, but for now, it's time for bed!

You Are What You Eat

I figured it's been a while since I talked about this, so this will be a general update on all that Ethan eats (except for cat fur because that's not supposed to go into his mouth). We're still nursing at least five times a day, and he's taking three bottles of formula supplement and two meals of solids. So let's start with nursing:

We made it over a hump a month or so ago. He'd gotten to the point where he was refusing the breast in favor of the bottle, which really upset me. He would only nurse a couple of minutes on each side, and I worried about my supply. Finally, I just stopped stressing out about it. And gradually, he stopped popping off and crying until I gave him the bottle. He still often nurses only a few minutes on each side, but I put him on each side 2-3 times in the course of a feeding so I feel like he's doing enough. As stressful as it's been, I love nursing. Obviously, I wish we could just nurse exclusively, but my body had other plans for the past almost 7 months. However, as he continues to add solids, his need for formula supplements is decreasing (just as the lactation consultant predicted). Already, we've dropped one bottle due to his changing nap and eating schedule. I was very nervous about this, but the numbers on the scale continue to rise! As a result, I have a new goal. I'm going to add back pumpings and such in order to boost my supply, and with increased solids, I hope to be off supplements around 10 months. I don't know if we'll reach that goal, and obviously we'll continue with the supplements if his weight starts to stall, but it would be so nice to not have to deal with bottles and formula anymore. (Don't worry, Mom. I talked about this with his doctor, and she thought it was a great idea provided we continue to monitor his weight, which we will. I know you're going to worry anyway, but you know I would never do anything that compromises Ethan's thriving.)

Now on to those supplements. Around the same time as the nursing hump, we dealt with Ethan getting easily distracted when taking his bottle. It became a major production and required multiple bottle breaks and changes in scenery to get him to finish. We seem to have overcome that, as well, much to my relief! He gets a bottle after his second, third, and final nursing of the day, so even with my tiny stash, I only have to wash bottles twice a day and mix formula once. It's still a pain, but not as bad as when he had five (smaller) bottles a day.

And now onto solids. My freezer contains the following (in order of introduction):
- Organic sweet potato puree: Likes it now!
- Organic brown rice cereal: Not a huge fan unless mixed with banana.
- Organic pear puree: Loves it!
- Organic apple puree: Loves it!
- Sweet pea puree: Loves it!
- Organic asparagus puree: Loves it!
- Turkey puree: Tolerates it if mixed with pear, but he has a hard time swallowing it without a sippy cup of water
- Organic spinach puree: Waiting until 8 months to try due to Nitrates and Oxalates

In addition, Ethan still loves banana, still hates avocado (we tried it again last week... not good), and is obsessed with yogurt. We were using Stoneyfield Farms YoBaby, but then I decided to just get Stoneyfield Farms Plain Whole Milk yogurt and mix his purees in. Now I'm thinking about just making my own yogurt because it's actually quite easy! I'll let you know how it goes. He eats 4 oz. of yogurt every afternoon, which helps to make up for the lack of a bottle then since yogurt actually has more calories.

So all in all, we're both doing great!

Why I Wear My Baby

People often wonder why I continue to wear Ethan. They assume he's too big, and it'll either hurt my back or be too hot or get him used to bad habits. Wouldn't a stroller be easier? Is he really secure in there? Isn't that a lot of trouble to go to? I love babywearing, and I plan on continuing for years to come (though I probably will stop wearing him for naps eventually). Here are some of the reasons why:

1) Convenience
When Ethan was a newborn, I could plop him into the Moby and go about my day while he napped. I could go outside (as in the picture above), I could cook and clean (most of Thanksgiving dinner was prepared with him in the Moby), I could do homework, or I could just relax on the couch (as in the picture below).

Now that he's bigger, he tends to stir more easily if I do too much, but I can still get my homework done and relax while he naps. Another benefit to him napping while being worn is I don't have to waste time trying to get him to sleep. Instead of rocking or nursing him in the nursery, away from everything else, I can sit on the couch and read or watch TV while he puts himself to sleep. Once he's able to get to sleep in his crib independently, this practice may change, but for now, I enjoy the extra time this allows me.


2) Soothing powers
From the early days on, when Ethan's fussy, I can put him in a wrap, and he calms down. Even when he's not quite ready to nap, he's content to sit quietly snuggled against his mommy (as in the picture above). When he does nap in the wrap, he sleeps longer and better while being worn than when I put him down in the crib. At the end of the day, if he's in a fussy mood and doesn't want to be put down, I can strap him on my back and still fix dinner. He gets the closeness he desires without my sacrificing what needs to be done.


3) Bonding Time
Skin-to-skin contact is crucial for babies. When Ethan naps on my chest, he hears my heartbeat, just like in the womb. I get to smell his hair and kiss his forehead, feeling his warmth against me. Plus, it's great for breastfeeding because it increases supply. I don't know that I'd still be able to nurse if it weren't for wearing him as much as I do. I absolutely love wearing him!



4) Travel
Babywearing is the most convenient way to carry a baby when you're traveling or just running errands. It was invaluable when we went to Atlanta for Christmas because it was an instant soother when he was getting fussy and provided some sense of stability when everything else was different. Plus, I don't need to worry about fitting a stroller in a packed car or taking one on a plane. Wraps fold up to fit in a diaper bag. Even when I'm sticking closer to home, it's so much easier to strap Ethan on in a carrier than to navigate a stroller through crowds or try to shop while holding him in my arms. In the first 4 months he was alive, I only used a stroller once, and that was for my 6-week postpartum since I didn't know if I would be able to hold him during the exam. Since then, I only use the stroller when someone else is going to be watching him at school so that they have another option to soothe him and since I need something to put all of his toys in when traveling from the car to the classroom. Babywearing allows Ethan just as much visibility as a stroller would, and he loves viewing the neighborhood from my back while on a walk.

5) It just looks cool!
I can't count the number of times people have commented on it, which still baffles me since I thought babywearing was becoming more prevalent. I don't get as many comments about the Ergo since people are used to soft-structured carriers due to those crappy Bjorn and Snugglis, but the wrap still perplexes people, especially when I have him on my back. The other day, I was in the student lounge putting Ethan onto my back to go to the car, and when I looked up while I was tightening, I noticed the curious stares. Finally, one of my friends said, "That is awesome!" And it is.


I strongly recommend babywearing to anyone and everyone, even if your child is no longer a newborn. He or she will still get the benefits of skin-to-skin contact, and you get all the perks and convenience! Just look at these smiling faces:

Eat, Sleep, Poop

Since Ethan is almost 8 weeks old (!!!), it's about time I had a real update. Since all newborns are supposed to do is eat, sleep, and poop, I thought I'd cover the past 8 weeks under those topic headlines.

EAT:
Ethan has been a great nurser from the start. Despite the lactation consultant in the hospital convincing me that we had a latch problem, my MIL and the LC at the pediatrician felt his latch was perfect and, sure enough, after a few days of nursing, the pain was gone, and he's been nursing like a pro ever since. Unfortunately, being a good nurser hasn't been enough to make breastfeeding a success. To begin with, my milk didn't come in for almost a week so Ethan not only lost weight, he also became borderline dehydrated. He was having about 2 wet diapers a day, including diapers with just "brick dust" so we had to supplement for the first time to get him hydrated and clear out the small amount of jaundice he had, just 1.5 oz/day via an at-breast tube supplement system. Over that weekend, my milk came in, and he gained 3 oz. in 3 days and never had an issue with too-few wet diapers again so we were able to stop supplementing. We thought that would be the end of it, but a week later, we returned for another weight check only to find that his weight had plateaued. The LC suggested several methods to ensure he received more of the fatty hindmilk, but unfortunately, a week later, he had lost an ounce. So back to formula supplements we went, this time giving 3 oz./day. We returned a few days later, and thankfully he'd gained .75 oz./day so the LC instructed us to keep up with the supplements and return for his 2 month well-child check. We decided to buy a baby scale to keep tabs on him in the meantime, and I'm sure glad we did! Daily weigh-ins revealed that Ethan's weight had stalled again, so, after much prodding, another call to the doctor was in order. His supplements were upped to 2 oz. after almost every feeding, and finally we began seeing results. He went from 6 lbs. 14 oz. to 8 lbs. 8.5 oz. as of today (granted, after a full feeding and right before a poopy diaper, but still, that's progress). He still has a ways to go, and I still hate that we have to supplement, but whatever it takes to make sure he's healthy. The pediatrician says we may be able to stop supplementing once he starts solids, so we'll see what happens.

SLEEP:
Because of his slow weight gain, we had to wake him every 4 hrs. at night for the first 4 weeks since he wasn't up to birth weight yet. The LC finally gave us the clear to let him sleep, even though he wasn't back up to birth weight, and that night he slept over 6 hours straight, thus "sleeping through the night." He continued to do so for over a week before cutting back to 5-hour stretches for another couple of weeks, and for the past two nights, he's back up to 6-hour stretches. He's always been a good sleeper. As a newborn, we would have to wake him to eat, and he'd usually fall asleep right after nursing. Now, he's up a good deal more, but he still takes a nap after most feedings, sometimes for only 30 minutes and sometimes for a couple of hours. Getting him to sleep can be a chore, though. Since we brought him home, he's been sleeping in the swing at night because it makes it easy to rock him when he stirs or if he needs help getting to sleep. (There were two nights right after he got his Hep. B shot where he actually spent the night in the Moby with me sitting up on the couch, attempting to sleep. Not good nights!) I know this is a habit we need to break soon, but I'm concerned he won't sleep as well once we transition him to the crib. We had planned on using the Pack 'n' Play in the bedroom instead of the swing, but I think the slight incline also helps him sleep better, so the PnP has remained unused in the corner. Most nights, Ethan either cries to sleep while being rocked or nurses to sleep. However, the past two nights, we've put him in the swing extremely drowsy (usually after he's been crying off-and-on since his last nursing session), and he's been able to go to sleep on his own with just brief rocking to start. Hopefully, this is the beginning of his being able to get to sleep by himself. After his middle-of-the-night feeding, I almost always nurse him to sleep, and I don't see this as being a problem, though it can take forever when he's being stubborn. For naps, Ethan usually sleeps in the Moby (that's what he's doing as I type this). A few times, I've gotten him to sleep in the swing for naps, but I have to turn the swing on and leave it on or else he wakes up. They say to do whatever you have to do to get a baby to sleep the first two months, but those first two months are rapidly coming to an end, so we're going to have to make some changes soon.

POOP:
Not too much to say here (I'm sure you're grateful). Ethan wets 10-15 times a day, which shows he's definitely getting enough fluid, even before supplementing. He's down to pooping about every other day, though he's gone 3 days before, which resulted in a massive blow-out and a thrown-away gown. I learned today that he's discovered the silent poop with the grunt and look of intense concentration, whereas previously his poops could be heard in another room and he seemed oblivious. This makes it harder to tell when it's happening, but, thanks to the formula supplements, it's generally discovered fairly quickly. Oh, here's a big one: We're cloth diapering. My family was extremely skeptical of this at first, with my brothers betting I'd give it up in a matter of weeks. Yet here we are, almost 8 weeks later (we started as soon as we got him home from the hospital, so 1 day old), and I love it! It's no problem to throw them in the wash every other day, and they're so cute and easy. Plus, once we have our initial stash, we don't need to worry about buying diapers again, AND they can be used for subsequent kids. I'm definitely a fan, and I can't wait for him to fit into his BG 4.0s.

So there you have it. The past almost 8 weeks summarized in the life of a newborn. Ethan is much more alert now. As seen in the previous video, he began smiling at exactly 1 month and does it more and more every day. He stares up at my face, grinning, while I read to him. He coos while he plays on his activity mat. He even smiles and talks to me when I'm changing him, something that used to bring nothing but screams! He's an absolute joy, rarely crying unless something's wrong or he's struggling to get to sleep. I'm completely in love.