because cloth diapers cheer me up

head over to http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/ and sign up for their fluff friday giveaway. They are giving away two kiwi pie onesize fitteds and a thirsties cover! Good luck!

Also EJ has not had anymore blood in his stool today! Praise God for small miracles! Thank you for your prayers and keep them coming!

EJ is REALLY sick and I am the only one who cares...

Okay so today I am more than a little upset.
Last night we were at the hospital with little EJ again....

As his breathing continues to become more difficult, and his cough more severe, and my baby more irritable, we are repetitively told "it's nothing". However yesterday my poor baby developed a new symptom. Everytime I changed his diaper he had quite a bit of blood in his stools. Everytime! I checked him carefully to make he didn't have any tears or cuts externally...nope. So after all that the pediatrician said to go to the ER. After many, many hours and some testing, I was told it was most likely his intestines that were bleeding and it is due to either an infection or a food allergy. If it is an infection, it is really serious. However, we won't know till his culture comes back in three days. So they sent us home and we were told there was nothing more that they could do. GREAT.

Austin is still sick, I am sick, Adam is now sick. I think EJ is sick and does have an infection despite lacking a high fever. So I have to just sit here and wait for my child to get worse?

I am calling the pediatrician to talk more about this today and I will keep everyone updated. My poor baby...it is just one thing after another.....

Also please keep Stellan in your prayers. He had a very rough day and could use all the prayers you can muster.

sickies are still here...

Well we are all still sick. It appears this bug (whatever it is) really likes us...
Austin has had a fever of 102-103 for three days. Tylenol and Motrin have been good to us.
Easton has not had a fever, and trust me I know because I check it every couple of hours. We were told IF he does run a fever it will be an emergency and we will have to go to the ER for a spinal tap. If that isn't enough to scare the "you know what" out of you, I don't know what is! So hand sanitization and washing have been key!
However, he is still sick...with...something. His breathing has gotten much worse. He is wheezing a bit and has a very nasty cough. You can hear some rattling when he breathes and coughs. Apparently it is not an infection according to the Dr., so I do not know what it is. Because of his pnuemonia at birth, I am such a worry wart. We see the specialist next monday to go over things. Hopefully we will have answers then...

Okay so even though I have been hit by a bug as well, I still have pictures! Here you go!

Look at my little cutie! His poor face, his dermatitis is still so bad.


Sleeping peacefully on my lap


I actually get him to sleep in his crib (it didn't last long), and look at the position my little wiggle worm got into! Good thing I removed the bumper (for sufocation reasons)...


His favorite place! With Mommy!


My two babies :)

personal prayer request...

Both of my little ones are pretty sick. So if you could spare a prayer on their behalf I would be ever so grateful.

Also, I am struggling with some faith issues right now and could use some prayers on that front. I guess some clarity is what I need. More on that later...

Have to run and take care of my little sickies....

God Bless!

The power of prayer...

Stellan is still having some pretty serious heart problems as I type. Although I am still praying for a complete healing, I am also praying for peace.
On the blog I mentioned earlier, My Charming Kids, there was a post that really impacted me because it was exactly what I believe.

God loves us and loves when we pray. I truly believe He longs to hear our petitions, praises, and heartache. He wants that relationship with all His children. To walk with us and talk with us daily. He is, after all, our Father...

However, prayer can and will only do so much. Can it move mountains? Maybe. Can it heal the sick? Maybe. Can it perform miracles? Well yes AND no.
You see, prayer, per say, can't do any of those things, but God can. Does He listen and answer our prayers. Absolutely! However, not always in the way we think they should be. God has a mighty and glorious plan. He sees all and knows everything that was, is, and that is still to be.

When we bring our prayers before Him, we can only feel and know what is in this moment. We are only human and our capabilities are limited. Therefore we often can not perceive Gods plan. Sometimes, Gods plan includes tragedy. Why? I have my thoughts on that. You see when we are struck with tragedy, it changes us. It brings us to our breaking point. The point where God is there with open arms, whispering gently that He is there to catch us. Then He begins to mold us. To make us to be what He desires of us. For it is in moments of weakness, that I have seen and felt God like never before. I have watched miracles happen right in front of me. Miracles of all shapes and sizes. And sometimes, often, miracles can't be seen right away.
Even during tragedy, the miracle is still there....

God always wants the best for us. He nevers wants us to be in pain and to hurt. However, when that is to be, trust in the truth that the Lord will never leave you or abandon you. He is ALWAYS there to catch you...

I know this is babble and yes, it is as confusing to me as it seems. However, I cling to the truth. My God will always be there in ALL things. Happiness, Joy, Pain, Sorrow, Tragedy. He is always there.

Prayer is a very important thing. Prayer is powerful! They just might not come to be answered in the way and time we think...

I am still on my knees for Stellan. Lord have MERCY......

On my knees

Pray for Stellan over at My charming kids as he is still in the hospital with heart problems.
Lord I pray You place Your mighty hands on this little one....

Six weeks old!

Big Brother....

Look at his poor face...

Playing outside with Papa!

Well my little bean is 6 weeks! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!

6 week likes and dislikes.
likes:
being held (constantly), eating,baths, sleeping with mommy and undivied attention!
dislikes:
dirty diapers, being put down, sleeping in my crib and pacifiers

He is getting so big already. Everyone who sees him says what a chunky baby he is! I love my little chunky boy!
As far as milestones we haven't really hit any new ones so to speak. He still rolls over when he wants and he is working really hard on holding his head up. He has started acknowledging me by growling and some cooing. It is so sweet when he "talks" to us! Oh and he definitely knows Mommy! He can be upset but calm down immediately when I hold him. Not so much with other people!
I am still on a very strict diet due to his digestive issues. It is so hard but I try my best. If I stray, even a little, I pay the price with a scream-a-thon later. It is so sad to watch your baby suffer. His sucking hasn't gotten any better either. He will not take a paci at all now and giving a bottle is very hard. His latch is very poor with the bottle and you have to stop every three sucks to give him a breathe. Hard work....
At least he is a champion nurser now. Thank God for that. I guess he is stuck with me seeing I am his only source of food!


Sleep is an issue with us and something I could use some advice on. He is still in my bed with me. I do not like this! Now that we have the angelcare monitor set up (which I LOVE btw) I want him to sleep in his crib. This babe has other plans though. He literally will be up every 30 minutes! We tried for hours last night to get him to sleep in there. Guess where he ended up???
What can I do to get him to sleep there? I try swaddling and that helps a little but not much. I am at a loss. During the day it is the same. He has to nap on me or in the sling. He is in my lap as I type! So moms please share your wisdom!!

In other news, poor EJ's dermatitis is worse. It really looks so bad. I have been using the California baby Calendula cream and it helps a little but nothing I have tried clears it up. I just hope it is not painful!

We are also still dealing with his reflux and he still throws up quite a bit. It seems like he hasn't been eating as much OR I am making too much milk now. I am pumping for comfort but don't know what to do with the milk seeing that he can't take the bottle.

Last but not least, he still naps a long time during the day. From the time we wake up till about 4 pm he naps off and on. You would think since I have another child I would know what is normal or not. But apparently I have some sort of amnesia that prohibits that! LOL!

spring has sprung

Here are the pictures we took today while playing in the back yard! It was so nice to go outside! enjoy....

Lord have mercy

Well I wanted this to have its own post, hence the two posts in one day.

This day last year I was on a cold table, at my fertility Drs office, staring at my babies flickering heart beat on the ultrasound screen. With eyes filled with tears, I prayed for God's mercy. That day I needed a miracle. I needed to be carried out of that office, and I was. By Jesus.

You see that day I learned the fate of our baby. Our baby that we were never meant to hold....

Our sweet sweet baby. Too many babies lost, too many waiting for us in heaven. Maybe not though. I know God has a perfect plan. Somehow those precious babies are a part of it. A big, big part. Although they were never in my arms, they will forever be in my heart. I miss them all so much. So terribly much. My heart breaks for them but I know they are in a far better place than on this earth.

I look at my two angels that did make it, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Against all odds, I was blessed with them. We fought hard to make it, but with God's hand, we did. Praise God for the babies I have on this earth, and Praise him for the 6 waiting for me in heaven. Oh God how I praise You even during the hard times.

Lord, thank You for my precious sons. My wonderful husband and this life I so joyously get to call my own. Thank you for the beautiful souls called home too soon. Thank you my Savior.............Amen.....


here is a link to my post last year in case you want to read. A little caution though. I was in a different place then and I was struggling with facing another loss....

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

Well I hope everyone is wearing something green :)

Okay, so today EJ is 5 weeks old. I am costantly amazed by this little boy! He is growing so fast! Yesterday at the pediatricians office he weighed in at 10lbs 9oz! That means he gained a whole pound in just four days! I have offically stopped worrying about my milk supply now. I am so glad he is gaining so well! He does have dermatitis on his face and it looks miserable. My poor baby! We started using the california baby calendula lotion, and it does seem to be helping. We also have been referred to a gastro Dr. because of his reflux and his episodes where he stops breathing due to choking. At this point he should be eating and breathing easily and he is not. 90% of the time he is fine but then he will have an episode of choking and thus the lack of breathing. Not fun! After going to ER last week we were told what we already knew....reflux. Hopefully he will outgrow it quickly and not have to suffer much longer. I am still waiting for my angel care monitor and it should be here any day. Then I can rest knowing my babe is okay and breathing just fine in his crib. We also got a lift so he will be elevated while in his crib.

Oh and speaking of deliveries, I am now waiting for some new cloth dipes!!! I could not be more excited! I ordered a bumgenius 3.0, a fuzzi bunz one size, a happy heiney one size, some premium prefolds, and a medium and large thirsties cover. I am just so excited. I tell you when all this gets here it will be like Christmas! I will be sure to take pictures of everything and tell you what I think about them!
(Oh and while we are on a CDing note, I wanted to let anyone know who is having diaper rashes while CDing, that if you put fleece liners in the prefold every change, the rash goes away! I made my own liners by cutting up fleece fabric and within 24 hours we had no rash! It really does keep the moisture away...YAY)

Okay on to better and cuter things. Here are some pictures of my little cuties. Enjoy!

rock and roll...update

Enjoying tummy time!



What are you looking at?

See or speak no evil

Can you see the red in my hair?

Austin loves his little bro!

sleeping peacefully!

Okay well what a week it has been. I think I say that all too often!

Well for starters I had the horrible pleasure of taking little EJ back to the hospital today. He is having episodes where he stops breathing. It is usually either during a feed or shortly after. He will choke, then stop breathing, then have labored breathing for about 10 minutes after the episode. It is very very scary. He also has problems eating and breathing at the same time. This is usually the cause of these episodes. SO..after a long day at the hospital, we were sent home and told "reflux".............
I know he has reflux but no one is doing anything for it. SO now I worry that in the middle of the night he will stop breathing and no one will be there to get him started again. We are now buying the angel care monitor so we will be alarmed of any such event. As I type this Adam is holding him and trying to coax him to breathe....not what we need. We were recommended to see a speech/suck therapist to work on the breathing/feeding thing. We will see if anything comes from that. So keep us in your prayers. My poor little boy is just having a rough start in life....

Okay now on to the positive.
The big brother party was fun and Austin really loved it. He does occasionally struggle now with certain issues of being a big brother. He sees that Mommy can't do everything right when asked. He has to be more patient. He does a great job but he is still only 3 and I have to remember that. He just loves EJ so very much that it melts my heart to watch him with him. I love that he has this bond already and I look forward to watching it grow.

So now Easton is one month old! I can not believe it! I really can not believe my little baby is one month old! Just to show us how strong he is he started rolling over on Sunday. He was on his belly and rolled right over. So I put him back and he did it again. Anytime he gets tired of being on his tummy now he just flips right over. I can not believe it! My little overachiever! I will try to get it on video soon ;)

Oh and as of today my butter ball baby is 9lbs 6 oz!! Almost a pound in a week! YAY! So weight gain is definitely not an issue anymore!!

So all in all we are doing well. Just as long as this breathing issue resolves we should be smooth sailing. I am hoping to not see an ER/hospital in a long long time.....

Big Brother's day!!

Well I have decided that today is big brother's day! I wanted to do something really special for Austin since he has been such a good big brother. He really has been so helpful and so loving. I know this must be a huge adjustment for him and he is exceeding my expectations. I am so proud of the way he has gladly stepped into this new role. He has grown so much....

So, we are having a party! I made decorations and a cake from scratch just for my little man on his special day. Even Grandma is coming!

On another note, after EJ's horrible day yesterday, he is having a good day today! He took two great naps and has not had one screaming session yet! Praise God! Lets keep fingers crossed this continues!

Cloth diaper reviews-covers

Diaper covers! I love them.
There are so many choices to choose from!

The most common diaper covers are made of PUL and have an aplix closure. Thirsties and Proraps are examples of these.
Proraps are by far the most economical diaper cover. At about $7.00 a cover you can afford to stock up. These diaper covers work well, have a double gusset, but tend to run a full size smaller. I have never had a leak with these and during the itty bitty new born stage, they fit the best. They come in preemie, newborn, small, medium, large and extra large. They do not have overlapping sides so sizing up doesn't work very well.


Thirsties are amazing! These covers fit well, are durable, and with all the color choices, are very cute! They have the double gusset but they also have cross over tabs! You can easily size up a little sooner than needed and just cross over. Because of this, you can get a lot of use out of each size. They run a lot bigger though, so use caution when sizing up. During EJ's first days the extra small thirsties was a tad to big for him, and would completely cover his umbilical cord stump. Now they have the best fit out of all of our covers. Thirsties is also a great company! I bought a cover that had a spot that had been mis sewn (rare to happen) and they paid for shipping, they fixed it and returned it all in a few days! They really stand behind their products! Thirsties comes in extra small, small, medium and large.

In addition to these covers, there are also covers made out of different materials. Imse Vimse makes an organic wrap and there are also wool covers.

The wool cover I have is an aristocrat wool soaker. The small size fits newborn up to 20 pounds. The thing about wool, is that you have to think of it as an extension to the diaper, NOT as a water proof barrier.
Wool is ultra absorbent and will absorb any excess moisture. If it absorbs too much, you can get compression leakage. The wool cover will not spill out like a PUL cover can, it will instead create a damp spot where the child is laying. For this reason, I prefer wool matched with a fitted. Just to make sure I know there is enough absorbency there to prevent a leak. Some other great qualities are that wool covers are breathable and all natural. The only thing to keep in mind is that they can only be hand washed and they must be lanolized. Washing wool is very different than washing other covers. You only wash every two weeks or so, or when it is visibly soiled. To wash, you fill the sink with luke warm water (take care to make sure it is not too cold or too hot as you can shock the wool and cause shrinkage), add some baby wash and gently swish and pat the cover. Do not rub! Then rinse with the same temp water. After this, I always lanolize. Take a pea size amount of lanolin and melt it in a little water in the microwave. Pour this into the sink with the same temp luke warm water as used to wash. Let the cover soak (inside out) in the mixture. To dry, lay a towl flat on the floor. Lay the wet cover on the towl. Roll the towel up like a burrito with the cover inside. Press to remove the water then lay flat on the counter to finish drying.
Wool does take a bit of extra effort, but the benefits can be worth it!

The last diaper cover I wanted to review is the Blueberry onesize cover all. This cover is a PUL cover and has the aplix or snap closure. The one size aspect is the same as their pocket diapers, with rows of snaps on the front. This diaper cover is great and works wonderfully. The thing to keep in mind, is that this cover runs very large (fits up t0 40 pounds) and is not for newborns. I would say from 15 pounds up.
I do love the one size feature though as it can make the cover buying process a lot easier!

Cloth diaper reviews-prefolds

Flats and prefolds are as basic as it gets when you choose cloth. They are also the cheapest way to go. Flats can cost you about 1.00 a diaper, and prefolds between 1.00-3.00+ depending on size and material. The difference between the two is that prefolds are already folded and sewn in place. You still have to fold prefolds on the baby, but not nearly as much.
Both flats and prefolds require covers. Now I have not personally used flats so the rest of my review will be on prefolds.

There are different types of prefolds out there. The main two are chinese and indian. You can also choose bleached or unbleached.
Chinese prefolds are a bit stronger than indian prefolds. They will last a bit longer. Indians will still last years, but they do show some more wear and tear. Indians, however, are softer than chinese prefolds. I find them to be equally absorbent. I also prefer unbleached prefolds. I like the natural aspect of them. You do have to wash the unbleached prefolds more times prior to use to achieve the ultimate absorbency.
You can also get prefolds that are organic or that are made out of other materials. They have hemp prefolds, and I have been tempted to try them! They come with a steep price tag though!

As far as folding goes, my favorite fold it the angel wing fold. It is easy and works well.
Here is a great picture tutorial.
http://diaperpages.com/angel_fold.php

I have also used the jelly roll, and although you lose some absorbency in the middle, it really does hold in the poo!
Here is that tutorial.
http://www.littleturtleknits.com/sidewallpf.htm

Sizing for prefolds is pretty easy. They offer preemie, infant (newborn to 15 pounds), premium (15-30), and toddler. Usually you will only need infant and premium. My children tend to grow very large and EJ grew out of the infant prefolds very quickly. We were using premiums by two months.

Snappis are wonderful! It is because of this little gadget that we don't have to use pins! Some still choose to use pins but I much prefer the snappi!


All in all, prefolds can be great. I love the fact that they are completely customizable. I fold them to meet whatever my needs are at that time. You can even trifold them and lay in a cover. They are perfect for when I am craving something very simple and natural. The down side for me is the absorbency. They just don't cut it for my heavy wetter. There is no way he could make it through a nap, let alone night time. He can soak a prefold in an hour. I still use them as my back up diapers and often use them in my pockets because of their quick drying times. They definitely have a place in any diaper stash!

When choosing prefolds keep in mind you MUST use a cover! I will go over those soon!

Cloth diaper reviews-fitteds (kiwi pie)

Alright! I LOVE fitted diapers! There is only one that I have and it is the kiwi pie fitted.
This diaper is amazing. When you get it in the mail, it is so deliciously soft you want to snuggle it. Seriously. They also have (imo) the most adorable prints available. They are made out of bamboo, and being a natural mommy, I LOVE bamboo. They are bacterial resistant due to this as well.
As far as absorbency goes, they rock! They come with a doubler of sorts, and it can contain anything. Because it is a fitted, the entire diaper is absorbent and therefore requires a cover. However, this is a bullet proof system. Since the kiwi pie is a diaper in and of itself, breastfeed poo doesn't stand a chance at leaking. Nothing gets past this diaper, and if it did, it would then have to get past the cover. Not going to happen!
I love to put a wool soaker over these!
As far as the one size aspect in concerned,they have snaps to allow for adjusting. These diapers fit my four year old. They have stretch like you would not believe! I do not see any issue whatsoever with these not lasting to potty training!
They are breathable, soft, adorable, and fantastic!
On thing, is that if you use this overnight, I recommend putting a fleece liner in between the baby and the diaper. Only so they don't feel the wetness.
Over all I love this diaper!

cloth diaper reviews-contours

There is only one contour diaper I have and it is the Imse Vimse terry contour.
This diaper is organic, and that was probably why I chose it. I am so glad I did!
This diaper is a thick, absorbent terry diaper. It is one size, however you do not adjust it with snaps. You simply fold it over to fit a smaller baby!
Since this diaper has no aplix, no buttons, nothing extra, I see this out lasting any other diaper. I have been using this diaper for 10 months, and no wear of any kind. It is strong and durable.
For me, I use my snappi with this diaper. I simply fold the tabs over like you would a diaper with aplix, hold it and then snappi it. Just like a prefold! Then I use my cover. Since the whole diaper is absorbent you must use a cover!
This diaper is extremely absorbent and I have used this for overnight use. I add a fleece liner and a doubler though.
For smaller babies (that require you to fold it over) it will be bulky but it fits my four year old well. Very nice sized diaper!

It is easy to wash (always comes out clean) and fast drying.
This diaper also has gussets, so it will contain anything, even breast feed poo!
Imse Vimse is an amazing company and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE these!

Cloth diaper reviews- gro baby

I was so excited to get a Gro baby diaper! It had fab reviews and the new hook and look closure seemed to good to be true! No more fuzzy aplix? No more rough tabs that could rub the babies skin? Yes please!

Similar to the softbums, with the fact that there is a snap in liner, this diaper is also very different. It does not have a fleece interior, instead it has an easy to clean mesh. Also, this diaper is organic! The snap in liner is super thick and plush. It is incredible and very absorbent. It also comes with a doubler. Between these two, I have never had a leak! I love the fact that it is organic and no chemicals are against my baby's bottom!
For sizing, it has the traditional snap settings on the front of the diaper. It fits a newborn and also, it does fit my four year old. Not quite as generous, but this will definitely last through potty training!
The hook and loop is as good as it gets! I do believe they now have snaps available, but there is no need really. It is soft to the touch but has an incredible grip. I LOVE this!!

I usually will not use this diaper over night, simply because the little ones can feel the wetness. This could be remedied by using a liner (maybe fleece?). Also, I would have to put in a couple of doublers, just to make sure!!

Since it has a snap in liner, if the cover is not dirty, you can unsnap the liner and place a new one on! Less wash!

Over all I love this diaper and look forward to trying the snap version!

cloth diaper reviews-all in two (softbums)

All in twos are very similar to the pocket diaper. They have the outer PUL so they do not need a diaper cover. The Softbums are very unique though!
Instead of having a slit to place an insert into, they have a snap in liner that you can adjust. The insert is very long and so you fold it to double over the are where the most absorbency is needed. For us (a boy) that area is in the front. It has a fleece interior and the insert I have is also fleece, although they do make a bamboo one as well. They have also recently started making them in snap, although I have the aplix.
This diaper is very soft and squishy! Also , out of ALL my diapers, this is by far the most trim diaper. It is very narrow through the legs.
There are two great things about this diaper!
Since it has a snap in liner, if only the liner is dirty, you can simply snap in another liner. You can reuse the shell! This saves time, and you have less to wash. Because of this the covers are washed less and therefore, have less wear. For us, I usually will not put the same cover right back on. The fleece interior of the cover will usually be damp, and I let mine dry a bit before reusing it.
This diaper is so easy! The aplix is sturdy with large tabs. It has a crossover tab and is very high quality. It doesn't come undone when washing and stays clean and nice looking.
The best, is how you size this diaper. It has internal "toggles" similar to what would be on a laundry bag. Where you compress them and it allows the string to slide through. They are very tiny but easy to use. You simply pull them out through a small slit, toggle up or down to achieve the PERFECT size. I love this and wish more diapers were like this. There is literally an unlimited amount of adjustment!
As far as absorbency goes, I could never use this diaper for overnight. It is great for day time and can even handle naps, but not night time use for my heavy wetter.
Sometimes I will add in a doubler if I need it to last longer. The only other issue I have, is that it is just a bit too narrow for my chunky boy. This is not a problem usually, but if his pants ride up in between the diaper and groin area, it will cause wicking. This doesn't happen very often though and I do not consider it a significant problem. It is worth it for how trim it is!
Also, something to keep in mind, is that this is the smallest of all my one size diapers. This definitely does not fit my four year old. However, it is hands down, the best newborn diaper I have ever seen. This diaper can size down to fit into the palm of your hand. It is amazing!!! Plus after months of washing, this diaper has shown no wear whatsoever!
Over all I love the ease of use and trimness. Great day time diaper!

cloth diaper reviews-pockets

Okay so pockets are probably the most "known" cloth diaper out there. With names like Bum Genius, Happy Heiny's, and Fuzzi Bunz, it is no wonder!
With pockets, they do not require a cover. They have a PUL outside, with a fleece or microfiber interior. Between the two layers there is a space to slide in an insert. The fantastic thing about this, is that you can add as much or as little as you need. For over night I "double up" and have no worries! Also since I pre load mine right out of the dryer, they are ready to go and at diaper change time, they as easy as a disposable. Even dads love pocket diapers! Most pockets come in set sizes (s,m,l) or one size. Most offer both snaps and aplix. I have the three diapers listed above, and all one size.

The bum genius was the first one I bought and tried. I knew that I wanted a "night time" diaper and had heard such great things from this diaper. So I bought one with the fleece interior and tried it out. First impression? Love at first sight! It was so incredibly easy to size and to put on. It fit wonderfully and that night, it lasted 12 hours!! Not one leak. This diaper is very trim and very absorbent. Even on my tiny newborn, it wasn't too overwhelming. Another feature to consider is that this diaper has a flap in the back that covers where the insert goes in. I love this and this is my favorite thing about this diaper. It does more than contain the insert. It protects the baby's skin! Since the fleece flap is what is against the babies skin, there are no red marks! I love this!Also the aplix is super easy!
Over all this was a fantastic diaper. However, with these, there is considerable wear on the splix tabs with repeat washings. They will curl and stick to everything. You usually end up with "diaper chains" when taking it out of the dryer. Over time the tabs get fuzzy and down right ugly. Now I love this diaper, but I think the tabs need to be redesigned. Also, bum genius, run a bit smaller. Great for a trim fit and for smaller kiddos, but this diaper does not fit my four year old. Out of all of the pockets I have, this is the smallest but trimmest diaper.

Happy Heinys were the second diaper I tried. (I have both snap and aplix)
The first thing I noticed is how much larger they were compared to the bum genius. They still size down well, but they fit my four year old with room to spare. They are very generous with their sizing. The interior is fleece and it also comes with its own inserts. I loved that Happy Heinys came in prints! I have the cow and monkey print! Adorable!
The first night I actually used this, it was perfect! Easy to put on and did not leak! The thing I quickly discovered though, is that I MUCH preferred the aplix over the snaps. Since this diaper is sized generously, the amount of change with each size adjustment is quite large. So if your baby is in an in between size, the diaper does not fit well. There is a lot of wing droop, and I found this very problematic. I normally prefer snaps, but not with this diaper! The aplix, however is great! The tabs are completely different than bum genius, and work a lot better. They are larger and easier to use. They also have an overlap tab that is helpful! The aplix allowed me to "fine tune" the size better and this works for us!
At first the diaper was easy to wash and always came clean. After months of use though, the diapers interior fleece has began to break down. I have six of these diapers, and all of them are doing it. The aplix is still perfect, but the interiors are failing. We will have to see if this continues or not. Over all, I do recommend this diaper, especially for larger kiddos. Even those who are potty training and still need a night time diaper. This will be a great choice!

Alright, last but not least, is the Fuzzi Bunz one size. This was the last of the pockets I bought. I will tell you right off the bat, this is my favorite pocket diaper!
When I received this diaper, I was so thrilled. The exterior is much thicker and nicer than other PUL outers I have seen. The interior is by far the softest fleece! This diaper looks amazing! Also, they only come in snaps, which I love.
The thing about this diaper is the unique way you adjust the size. Instead of snaps, you have access to the elastic itself within the diaper, and you pull it or release it, then secure it with a button. This allows for the most minute size adjustment of both the rise and waist. I love it and it is our best fitting pocket. Also the inserts are amazing to say the least. We now use this diaper as our exclusive night time diaper! I can also tell you that after 10 months of washing, the diaper is still perfect. No wear and tear! I can not tell you enough how much I love this diaper! Do not be intimidated by the different sizing method. Trust me you will LOVE this!


Pockets are great and even more, they are easy! No stash is complete with out a few. These are my go to diapers for trips and traveling!!

Cloth diaper reviews-basics

Alright, I am finally starting up my cloth reviews!

We will start with Why?

Cloth diapers are GREAT! But in addition to this fact they are economical(save around $2000 total!), eco friendly, safe for baby, and super cute! I love being able to choose what fabrics and chemicals are against my babes bum! They have every fabric! Cotton, hemp, bamboo, fleece, wool ect. You can even choose organic. In addition to this we also make our own wipe solution (for our flannel wipes) so I have a lot of say in what EJ is exposed to. We use a perry bottle filled with water, about 1-2 tablespoons vinegar, and a dime sized amount of California baby body wash. This has been the best solution for us!
I just love cloth!

How?

Cloth diapering has never been easier than today! We have such a vast array of choices. There are flats and prefolds, fitteds, pockets, AIO (all in ones), and AI2 (all in twos). There is literally something for everyone. With pockets and AIO's they are just as easy to use as a disposable. Instead of throwing away you simply wash!
Washing diapers does not have to be difficult. I try to make it as easy as possible. First thing to do is to get your detergent. I use Arm and Hammer for sensitive skin because it is easy to find at the store and EJ has never had a reaction to this. I did try Crunchy Clean due to the rave reviews, but poor EJ is just so sensitive and would break out in a horrible rash everytime. I have also heard great things about Charlies and Allens.
After you get your detergent, you need to set up a routine. I wash every 2-3 days. I do a cold prewash with no detergent, then a hot wash (the longest available) with detergent and then a second rinse. Remember to only use 1/4-1/2 the recommended amount of detergent to avoid build up!
To dry I usually dry on the lowest setting available. However, I do love hanging them out to dry when I can. Nothing, and I mean nothing, gets stains out better than the sun!
It really is not hard at all. Once you get your routine down it just become habit!

How to get started? What to get and how many?

For newborns I recommend about two dozen diapers. You can change around 12 diapers a day and that really adds up! So it depends on how often you want to wash.
As far as what type of diaper to get, everyone has a personal favorite.
When I started out I was willing to try prefolds due to their low cost. I did end up getting quite a few different types of diapers and I think they all have their purpose. I strongly recommend getting a little bit of everything to decide what you really love. Every type of diaper works so differently, has different absorbancy levels, fits very differently (even one size) and will just suite your needs diferently. So try different ones before you commit your entire stash to one diaper!

In addition to diapers, you will need wipes, wipe solution, a wet bag, and any extras you might need like snappis and liners. *As far as wipes go, you can actually make your own very easily! Just cut up some flannel and there ya go!

Where?

I have shopped at many different online stores. Kelly's Closet is one of my favorites! I also like Nikkis diapers, Cotton babies, Abbeys lane, and Mothers milk boutique. Some of them even have free shipping!

All in all, cloth diapering can be a very enjoyable, rewarding, and even addictive thing! Don't be afraid to give it a try!

video!

As if pictures were not enough, now you get to see our videos!
Heres a video of EJ's first bath yesterday and a video of the first time Austin got to see EJ in the NICU.

Austin meets EJ from E Nault on Vimeo.


first bath from E Nault on Vimeo.

3 weeks!

Well I can not believe it has been three weeks already. March is here and that is amazing to me. This year is already going way too fast. I have truly loved every minute though so far. There have been hard times of course, but I love my family and I love my little cuties. Being home is a dream come true and I get to finally witness every minute and all the little miracles that happen every day. What a blessing....
Okay so on the pictures because, after all, it is picture tuesday!
EJ had his first real bath now that he has a "normal" belly button! Here is the proof and he loved it!





These pictures are from this morning when we were having quiet time. As you can see Austin LOVES his little brother so much. He told me he wants seven more brothers and wants to name one trooper and another one darth vader....hmmm too much star wars???







On another note EJ's reflux is worse and I really think he has some colic BUT it is not too too bad yet. I am hoping this is as bad as it gets. I love him so much and I hate to see him in pain! We haven't given him any formula in over a week now and he is still gaining tons! Yay milk supply! He was 8lbs 9oz yesterday at the drs. He has a suspicious birth mark on his belly that we have to watch but other than that we finally got the all clear! What a great day!