Diapers

I've been cloth diapering for about a year now, so I thought I might pop in with a little report.

We started cloth diapering pretty soon after M. arrived. We had two types, Kawaii pocket diapers, recommended to me by my cousin (who was also kind enough to send me a few to check out before M. arrived and bought any) and gDiapers, which a friend gave me after she had used them with her little guy. The Kawaii diapers were definitely too large when M. was first born, even thought he tipped the scales at 9 lbs. 3 oz. I don't know what it is about newborns, because even when they're quite chunky, they're just so squooshy that nothing quite fits on them the way they're supposed to, or at least that's been my experience. And even though M. was big, it was mostly in his length, not his width, so all those little diapers, which don't fit quite as tightly as disposables, would fall right off his skinny butt.

But within about a month we were able to start using the gDiapers in conjunction with our very LARGE supply of 7th Generation diapers (my mom went a bit wild in that department, already suspecting that the cloth diapers would be just a bit too big at the start). For the most part, we enjoyed the gDiapers. They did the job pretty handily, were easy to care for, cute, and economical (we never did buy any of the disposable inserts, so these were entirely free to me). I had two complaints, one being I felt they leaked fairly easily. Some people swear by them, which leads me to believe that perhaps there was something wrong with how I was using them or maybe those folks don't mind a leaky diaper or their kids weren't heavy wetters. I also didn't like that they weren't one-size fits all. Had I really, really liked them, I would have had to buy medium and large versions of the diapers as well, and these babies ain't cheap. Most of the other brands of cloth diapers we explored were supposed to be good to go from the newborn stage (or around there, as we already explored) to potty training. I really liked the idea of only buying a batch of diapers once and being all set for a few years.

After a bit (maybe a month and a half), the little man was ready for the Kawaii diapers. I have really enjoyed these. They fit nicely, rarely ever leak, if at all (my older ones that have seen a bit of wear are the ones that leak, the ones I got new do not - I think it's because of the newer, more absorbent inserts). I have a hodge-podge of both snaps and velcro and I like both. I will say, the velcro are the ones that tend to leak a bit, and as I mentioned, that likely has something to do with the fact that the inserts I use with those are older and don't absorb as much as they once had. They're also a bit smaller. BUT, now that we're at the extra wiggly stage of diaper changes, those velcro tabs are a life saver. They make changes very quick and efficient. But I do love my snaps, even if they take a bit more time. They 're big and fluffy and come in lots of nice colors. From a purely asthetic standpoint, I do wish there were more color/print choices offered by Kawaii, but for the price point (a bit more than half compared to a few other, more well known brands that offer the similar designs and quality), I'll take what I can get.

I had really worried when I was pregnant with M. about whether or not cloth diapering would work for us. Every time I looked anything up I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. Different types of diapers, different kinds of cleaners, different ways to clean them (A special attachment for my toilet? What?!), different types of materials, different combinations of materials... It was all so much and it amazed me that any mother would take on this seemingly impossible endeavor. But I was determined to at least give it a try.

I know a lot of people recommend taking a few kinds of diapers and trying them out and then making a big purchase of the kind that works best for you. I guess I'm not that kind of person. I had one kind recommended to me and I just sort of went with it. Pocket diapers made the most sense to me, both in terms of use and in the amount of money they cost. I figured I would make whatever I had work. If you're the type of person who will power through what you've got, then I honestly make the suggesting of researching as much as you possibly can, talking to other moms, thinking about your lifestyle and laundry habits, and then just go ahead and order the type of diapers you think will work best rather than fussing with all these different types and overwhelming yourself with choices and then having to remember to order more diapers while in the midst of having a newborn.

Another thing about cloth diapering that I found at first overwhelming and now rather interesting is the care of cloth diapers. They seemed like such trouble with everything I've read and now that I've been dealing with them for about a year it seems silly. Yes, you can take great pains to wash and maintain your diapers - special detergents, stripping them on a regular basis, line dry vs. in the dryer, and so on. But I've found that I can wash my diapers, strip them very occasionally, and they're not any worse for wear. I already use natural laundry detergents or make my own, so that wasn't an issue any way, but I don't wash them separately (usually, sometimes I have a pile up and I do just a wash of diapers) or do anything very special to them and both the Kawaii and gDiapers have held up nicely and still do their jobs.

And that's what I've got to say on the diapering front. I am very proud of the fact that we have not bought a single package of diapers and very few wipes (I tend to use cloth wipes as well, but the husband is less keen on that, so sometimes he splurges on disposable wipes if he knows he'll be solo with the baby a lot one week). It feels good to know that we're using diapers that are better for our little guy and much better for the environment. I remember feeling immensely guilty throwing away SO MUCH with E., who was mostly diapered with disposables, but we used really old school cloth for a while, too (pins and everything). If you're reading this and have any questions you think I might be able to answer, leave a comment or give me a shout on Facebook.

Back with a Baby

While two blog posts hardly legitimizes a hiatus, I have in fact taken one, if only because I had a few other, slightly more important things to do...Like make this:

My lovely little boy has arrived to join the rest of our family, making everything pretty much perfect (although, this being the second "good" baby in a row, I wouldn't mind going for a third). Now that he's been home for a bit, I'm ready to hit the blogging scene once again, which makes this blog a new priority, though, admittedly, it's pretty low on the totem pole at the moment (i.e. don't expect too much from me for a while). 

Since my boy's arrival, I've been striving to figure how this whole two-kid parenting gig works. They aren't lying when they (whoever that is - possibly my mum) it isn't easy. We're very blessed in that our daughter is a bright, sweet kid, but even the brightest and sweetest have a limit when it comes to a new baby brother. At times, she's gotten pretty sick of him and the amount of time and attention he takes up. And, admittedly, I've gotten pretty sick of being in constant demand, either from the baby or the girl. It can make for a pretty grumpy household! 

But now, a little over five weeks in (and naturally with only three weeks left of my maternity leave, of course), I'm starting to figure out a system. It will change, as things with a young infant and four-almost-five-year-old are pretty fluid, but to have something in place helps a lot, especially in terms of attitude, mine, the kids, and even my husband's. 

Here are some things that have helped us adjust to this new season of life: 

• Having a routine, or at least specific things that are guaranteed to happen, like school or other activities (visiting the library, a play group, spending scheduled time with friends or family). It's helpful to have something in place to structure the rest of your day around, if not for you, for the big kid. 
• Setting aside quiet time. We have "quiet time" (a.k.a. nap time) in the afternoon, after school and before supper. My daughter sits in her room and can play quietly, listen to music, or look at books. The babe and I go in my room, nurse, and he takes a nap, I may join him, or I read or get some quiet chore done, like fold laundry (or write a blog post!). 
• Get out! The biggest thing I realized that will help improve my mood and the kids', especially in the stretches of time during the week when my husband is gone at work, is getting out of the house. Even if it's just to the grocery store, I know that leaving and being with other people helps immensely. 
• Baby wearing. When trying to get anything done, but particularly when doing something with my daughter and the baby just won't sit in his swing or bouncy seat, a sling, wrap, or carrier is a life saver (I use a Moby wrap and love it). 
• Taking one day at a time and trying my hardest to enjoy each one. My maternity leave is going to be over all too soon, and the last thing I want is to feel like I spend the whole leave feeling rattled and unhappy. But if one day doesn't go well, you can't let it keep you down. 

I'm sure as time goes on I'll be able to add to this list and it will change, too, as I go back to work, and then change again over the summer. In this constant adventure I'm sure I'll pick up lots of other little tips and tricks. 

Kids in the Kitchen: Tips and Recipes

I love to cook and bake. I love thumbing through cookbooks and perusing homemaking magazines and blogs, gazing at photographs of yummy or interesting meals and treats, day dreaming about the perfect supper or homey breakfast (for some reason, I rarely day dream about the ideal lunch - possibly because it's scarfed down in fifteen minutes in a chlorine/bleach scented teachers' lunch room). For a long time, and still, sometimes, I have had a hard time dealing with having anyone else in the kitchen with me, which is tough when you're "kitchen" is at the other end of a smallish room that also houses the living "room" and our dining table. Others are bound to be in your space, particularly curious four year olds.

This is where I've had to let go and make compromises. Not only is every meal not going to be this fabulous affair every evening (if only because I don't have the time or energy after working a seven hour day), but it also has to be kid friendly. Let's face it, I haven't been with my kiddo all day, she needs some Mom Time and attention and I want to be with her, too. I've learned that if I want to both spend time with my daughter and get a meal on the table, then I need to include her.

And, if you're a bit of fussy cook (which I am), that can be a tough thing to do, but I do have a few tips (these are geared for kiddos ages 3+, I have some ideas for the younger guys below):

1. Prep. Get out everything you'll need; equipment, ingredients (pre-measured, if you're able), preheat the oven, all that. I try to get out an activity for my daughter to do or even let her watch a short episode of a T.V. show while I throw stuff together. For a treat, I might pull out the old laptop and let her go to town on PBS Kids. If you can't distract them long enough, see if they can pull equipment or ingredients out of the fridge or cupboards.
2. Make it kid friendly. Overly complicated recipes just aren't going to work with kids. If there is a lot of careful sort of cooking/prepping involved, you probably don't want to bring in the kids. If there is a new recipe I want to try that's more involved than I'm used to, I save it for a weekend night or an evening when I know my husband will be home and can keep our daughter occupied. Meals that work for me that are easy and kid-friendly - breakfast for supper (pancakes, eggs, etc.), stir-fries, casseroles, pizza, spaghetti. 
3. Don't worry about how it looks. In my case, whatever is going on the plate is going to look sloppy, so when I have my daughter cook with me, at least I have a good excuse why. It doesn't matter if it looks kind of funky - it's for you, for your kiddo(s), and for the rest of your family. The benefits outweigh the risks here. Also, if it's a meal or goodie where presentation, for whatever reason, really does matter, then it's probably not a time to have your kids cook with you.
4. If you're grumpy, don't do it! Some days suck. You've been at work all day, things just didn't go great, the kids are in an awful mood, so are you. That may not be the night to make cooking dinner a family affair. That's the kind of night at our house where I've got Curious George blaring in the background while I quickly throw something together (or possibly beg my husband to bring me Chinese while I make my daughter PB&J). All the benefits of including your kids in the cooking of dinner go right out the window if all it's going to result in is frazzled mom and kids.
5. Remember all the good you're doing. When sharing my kitchen with my four year old gets tough, I remember this: She loves to cook (and I think a lot of kids do), we're creating memories together, she's learning new skills and how to be safe in the kitchen, and she's starting to appreciate where her food comes from and what kind of effort it takes to get it from the grocery store, to the kitchen, to her plate. Plus, I've found she's far more likely to at least try something she's made and then eat it all up than if I've booted her out of the kitchen and it's all sort of a surprise when she sits down at the dinner table. 

Tips for parents cooking with younger kids:

• Drag out extra cooking equipment. Pots, pans, cookie sheets, and spoons. Kids bang away while you cook. 
• Talk to you kids while you cook. Show them the ingredients, offer samples of veggies while you chop them.
• Let them play with food. Your little guy really wants to cook? Give him some dry cereal in a bowl and a mixing spoon. He can snack and "cook" and leave you free to get stuff done! 
• If you have a really little one (0-12 months or so), wearing your kiddo, if safe (like, you don't have hot liquid splashing everywhere), is really great. Dinner time is, as we call it, "Children's Hour." This is probably the time of day when your little one wants to be held, but you have stuff to do. Wearing your baby and cooking is an awesome way to reconnect with you child and give them their first view of the culinary world.

And here are two recipes I just recently tried with my daughter:

Banana-Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie (recipe from here):
Two frozen bananas, cut into chunks
2 Tbsp. honey
1/4 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of milk
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (you actually could probably get away with two for a more chocolatey taste)

I had everything (except for a couple of measuring cups) laid out before we started.

Here's my kiddo pouring in the milk, she's my official pourer :-)

We threw the ingredients in pretty haphazardly into the blender and blended until smooth.

Giving it a try....

She gives it a thumbs in the middle (might have been too peanut buttery for her), but I give it a thumbs up! There was something Reeses-esque about the drink.

How well did this work? Really well and super easy. Smoothies are really super easy to make with kids and they usually enjoy them. Even though my kiddo was sort of "eh" about the drink, she still drank it and was really excited to tell her daddy that she made a smoothie all by herself (what, am I chopped liver?). And, to top it off, smoothies are a super easy and yummy way to get a great nutritional punch into your kids snack or breakfast.

Yogurt Covered Blueberries (based on a picture on Pinterest that links to this recipe):
Pint of blueberries
2 8oz of Greek honey yogurt
Toothpicks or skewers

We put the two containers of yogurt into a bowl and mixed them really well, making it smooth. Then we stabbed the blueberries with a skewer and dipped them in the yogurt.

We put the blueberries inside baking pans (I chose the cake pans because of the rims so the berries wouldn't go sliding off in my freezer), then popped the pans in the freezer for about an hour. Once thoroughly frozen, I stored the blueberries in a Tupperware container in my freezer.

 

 

 

 

How did it work? Well...mixed results. My daughter and I loved the blueberries. Super yummy and a great combination of healthy dairy and protein along with a fruit. That said...It's hard work stabbing blueberries with toothpicks and dipping them in thick Greek yogurt for me, never mind for a four year old. We both got pretty frustrated and my daughter eventually moved on to another activity on her own while I finished up. I'm sure there must an easier way to cover those dang blueberries, but that's how we did it. I will say, from an early education standpoint, the stabbing and dipping of the blueberries is a great way to work those fine motor skills!

For me, learning to cook with my daughter has been tough, but well worth it. Admittedly, it's not something we do every night, but when we do, it's well worth it. Food is the glue that binds families, I believe, whether you're cooking it together or simply just sitting down around the table with another, pizza boxes wide open.