Saving Money Never Looked So Good!

So we have been cloth diapering for about three weeks now and loving every minute of it! The diapers are so cute that I can hardly wait to change little one's diaper :) seriously. AND I am VERY happy to report that after three massive poops... NO blowout! Nothing! He only poops about every 4 or 5 days right now so they're pretty impressive. So far no poop trauma to scar me forever and not overwhelmed by the extra laundry (and currently I have to wash them every night, when we get more I will be even less not overwhelmed).  I decided to write my own little review because starting cloth can be overwhelming! I thought just maybe I could help... at least share my experience. I was going to get a full stash all at once, but that can be expensive and what if you don't like what you got? So the hubs and I decided to start small and try three different brands and go from there. So far we have tried bumgenius freetimes, rump-a-rooz pockets, and thirsties duo all-in-ones.

The bumgenius freetimes are my current favorites. They fit great, not very bulky, so far no leaks (hasn't pooped in one yet), love that it's all-in-one (although, not a huge fan of the opposing flaps), and they are cute. Also, I'm not a big fan of the aplix velcro stuff, it just doesn't seem as durable as the snaps and remember all those tremendous abouts of children? Yeah, we need these to last.

The rump-a-rooz are the hub's fave. I love their bright vibrant colors and they fit well. Also love the double gussets on these, really holds the poop in there. They have leaked a little wetness around the legs a few times (not that big of a deal and I was probably just leaving him in them too long or not having the liner in right.) but they hold up GREAT to poop (these are the only diapers he has pooped in so far), and the pockets? well, I just stuff them in the mornings while we are lying around in bed so they are ready to go when I need them. Pulling out the dirty liners can seem gross the first few times, but seriously, wash your hands, it isn't that big of a deal.

The Thirsties... such a cute print! They fit well and look really cute on. I really LOVE the all-in-one design of these, it's so simple! However, I feel like every time he wears them they leak. I change his diaper right before a nap and when he wakes up an hour and a half later, the sheets are wet and the outside front of the diaper is wet. I don't feel like he is a heavy wetter for naps and none of the others do this. I tried drying them on high for a half hour to seal any pinholes, but it didn't seem to do anything. So unfortunately, I won't be adding more of these to our stash :(

We have not tried any at night yet... we only have 6 dipes and wash them at night. So not sure how they will hold up to his extreme wetness at nighttime yet :\ but we have ordered 6 more... I'm super excited! We will be trying the bumgenius 4.0, blueberry delux, and tots bots easy fit next and trying some out for the nighttime trek. Should be interesting.

Saving money never looked so good :) and, word has it, babies who wear cloth diapers potty train earlier! It's a win-win-win!

Valentine's Day

“Love is more than a paper heart. Love is of the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”—Gordon B. Hinckley 

Why is it that for holidays such as Valentine's Day and Anniversaries it's all about what the man does for his woman? Because men only show affection on special days, right? Not true, at least not for my sweetheart. He is constantly telling me he loves me, what a good wife and mother I am, how beautiful I am, and how, given the chance, he would do it all over again. Not to mention the greatest show of love of all, going out everyday and working hard to provide for his family. If that doesn't show affection, I don't know what does. I love my man. How did I seriously get so lucky?

I married a good man, so I wanted to show him a little extra love. And trust me, it was little. I put Mav to bed and spent a mere 30 minutes making a couple Valentine's while Kyle was at Young Mens teaching his Missionary Prep. class. I made him this...
 

I did not get a picture of the one I made, but this is where I got the idea (thank you Pinterest) and I tied mine off with a blue ribbon and stuck it in his work boot to find in the morning when he left for work. I also made this...

and put it in his cereal bag to find when he poured his cereal. Cute, I know.

Then I went to bed. I am sooo tired lately! No. In case you think you are funny or are actually wondering, I am not pregnant.

Then Kyle, my sexy, affectionate, hard working man, got called in to work. He left at about midnight. He found the "dynamite sticks" but neglected to eat his cereal. Shame on him. ;)

He deserves so much more and I know that, but it's the little things, right?

Also in the spirit of the holidays, I dyed an entire load of laundry this pukey pink color from my maroon Moby that Mav vomited all over on Sunday. Pink. Ugh. Just in time for the holiday I guess. I can't help but laugh at the irony.

I tried rewashing it with white distilled vinegar, no luck.

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

Lucky

I feel so full of love and so blessed to have Maverick, the miracle that he is. For I know now that he truly is a miracle.

Lately I have read about people whose babies have died in the night or those who can't conceive for unknown reasons. I feel a little guilty for being so blessed and heartbroken for those who aren't blessed in the same way. Even though Mav woke up at 5:40 a.m. with a blow out diaper. Poop everywhere. I had to change crib sheets and my bed sheets and have a bath before 6 a.m., make and eat breakfast with one hand, do dishes while he plays on the kitchen floor, and lay with him while he cries for 45 minutes because he doesn't want to fall asleep. Peace. Now on to more dishes and laundry and if I'm lucky a shower and an easier afternoon nap time.

UGH! right?

Then he smiles.

Everyone should have that and I am ashamed that I don't number these among my many blessings because life isn't kind or fair and I am so lucky.

I will be better. I am sorry I have taken my blessings for granted.

Everyone has their trials, big and small. We have ours. Today though, for a moment, our life is pretty perfect. 

Win win win

I have been trying to find easy ways to save money and lose weight and get outside more with Mav... good joke right? Especially with how lazy I am. Hey a girl can dream. One thing that I found was to hang the laundry out to dry. It's a win win win. (I love win win wins :)) By physically moving and bending to hang the laundry I burn more calories, the cloths line is outside so I sit Mav on a blanket with a couple toys and he is happy for hours, and of course not using the dryer for every load of laundry saves money! Look at me go! Plus, I have found that it's relaxing and I like the back to basic look of cloths hanging out to dry :)

Kyle has been working hard. I feel like I see him a lot less and a lot more at the same time. Sometimes, like today, he left at 3 a.m. to go on a job and who knows when I'll see him again :( He also gets two days off every week in addition to being on call on the weekend, which he probably gets called in half the time, so that's 4 days out of the week of potential Kyle at home time :) He usually comes home looking like this. Absolutely filthy from working hard and so happy to see his family. Everything about that combination is sexy, plus... just look at him ;)