Cloth Diapers

For the past 3 months or so, we've been using cloth diapers on Emmy. These are only being used during the evenings, overnight and on weekends when we're at home. One of these days, I'm going to start taking them to Miss Beth's house too.

There have been so many changes/improvements made over the years in cloth diapers. "These aren't your Mama's cloth diapers!" While there are still people who use prefolds and plastic pants, diapers these days are as close to disposables (or 'sposies) as you can get...without actually throwing them away.

I can say, Emmy hasn't had a "real" diaper rash in her 6 months of life...and I think a lot of that has to do with spending a decent amount of time in a cloth diaper instead of paper coated in chemicals.

There are a few reasons for my/our decision (Daddy's kind of along for the ride here) to use cloth on Emmy. I'm not really sure what real order these should be in...

1. Money. Even though initially the cost of cloth diapers is more, in the long run it saves money. Emmy would use at least a 40 count package of diapers plus half of a 2nd package a week, which costs roughly $15, if she wore them full time. By using cloth part time, that's about 30 cloth diapers she doesn't use every week. Basically, saves us $7.50 a week to use cloth part time. Another 6 to 8 weeks of using cloth part time and we break even against the cost of the diapers. Everything beyond that is just savings.

2. Being Green. You can ask the folks in my house how bad I am when it comes to recycling. I will easily go digging in the top of the kitchen trash can to pull out the recyclable items that have been thrown away. We regularly fill up our full size trash can (household thing with wheels) with recyclable things every week. This doesn't include aluminum cans...those we actually take to a facility and sell for money. This is just filled with plastics and paper. By using cloth we are keeping non-biodegradable diapers from sitting in a landfill. I fully believe that we are just borrowing the Earth from our children, grandchildren, grandchildren's grandchildren...you get my point. Whatever we can do to preserve it for the future generations the better. Just doing my little part...recycling the newspaper, putting cloth on my baby's bum...it's the least I can do.

3. Baby's health. I read a post somewhere that listed some of the chemicals that are in disposable diapers these days. It's surprising...and scary. I can't imagine sitting around with that on my bum all day. Rebecca and Sarah both had fairly regular diaper rashes as babies...it's normal for that to happen, right? Wrong! There's no reason that a baby that's changed regularly should ever get a rash from their diaper...but it happens all the time. Look at the industry that is the "cures for diaper rash". There are more creams on the market for baby butts than I can even count. I can't guarantee that it's related...but Emmy has never had a "real" case of diaper rash in her 6 months. She's had a couple occasions that she was a bit red and needed some ointment...but then again, she's been teething since she was 8 weeks old. Wonder what caused the rash?

One of the sites I've found as a source of diapers as well as information is The Changing Table. Lots of information and great products!

Emmy's cackle!

I wish there was a way to post audio here.  Maybe there is...but I don't have any real audio to post.  Just a recorded memo on my cell phone.

This evening, Kenny was playing his little game with Emmy...same thing he did with both Sarah and Rebecca when they were babies.  I was sitting at the dining table with Sarah and Rebecca eating dinner when we heard Emmy start giggling.  It was such a glorious sound.  She has the sweetest little laugh.  Who am I kidding...it's not little at all.  She was laughing her butt off!  It was so cute...reminded me of the laugh that both Sarah and Rebecca had when they were babies.  They still laugh like that sometimes...when you tickle them just the right way!

I grabbed my cell phone because I knew it had the ability to make a recording of her laughing.  It's such a sweet sound.  It will be great to have along with me next week while I am in California.  I'm only going to be gone for a couple days...but I'm sure it will feel like forever.

So back to the laughter.  It started out with Emmy laughing at Kenny's game.  Then, Sarah and Rebecca started to get in on the fun.  They were able to get her laughing too.  I loved watching them make her laugh...and listening to all three of my girls all laughing, giggling and playing.  I hope they stay that way when they get older. 

I'm sure there will be times that Emmy irritates her sisters.  They will be "tweens" when she is their age.  Oh lord....they're actually going to be that age!  Yuck.  I don't even want to think about the fact that Sarah and Rebecca will eventually be 11 and 12 years old.  They're going to want to do whatever it is that girls that age will be doing in 5 years and Emmy's going to want someone to play Barbies with.  The big question will be whether or not Sarah and Rebecca play Barbies with Emmy....I hope so for Emmy's sake.

Dance Recital

Well, last night was the big dance recital.  Sarah and Rebecca were awesome.  I am happy to report that they walked out on the stage under the spotlights and did a great job.  Part of me wondered whether there would be a bit of stage fright once they got there and saw all the people.  They did their dress rehearsal with a bit of an audience so I am sure that helped some…but definitely not the same as a dark theatre with bright lights shining down on the stage.

They looked so cute with their black leotards and white skirts.  We did their hair up in braided buns (perfect ballerinas) and then put some makeup on them so they weren’t washed out by the lights.  I was so worried that I would make them look older than they should by putting the makeup on them.  I swore I wouldn’t turn them into pageant princesses!  They looked great…they did have on a “full face” though.  Bought them their own mascara, eyeliner and lip gloss and added my powder, blush and eye shadow.  Maybe that’s why they weren’t over done…because all my eye shadows are neutrals.

I think for their recital next spring I might get them some better mascara and eyeliner.  The stuff I got was from Family Dollar…not high quality I would say because it was $4 for 2 sets.  Getting that stuff off last night was a bit of a chore.  I will definitely be watching my Avon sales early next year to see if I can’t get them some quality makeup for a decent price.  Besides, the twist up style of eyeliner goes on much more smoothly than a regular pencil…and we definitely had issues with that.

Glad to say that the night went well though.  It was a little rushed…needed every bit of the 3 hours I took off work.  Picked them up from school at 3, went to BK to grab them some dinner.  Home for dinner and a bit of homework, then dressing, hair and makeup.  Had to be at the theatre for a 5:30 dress rehearsal…got there a little before 5:15.  Rather early than late…one of the 5 girls in the group missed the dress rehearsal all together.

Of course…as it always happens…there was a bit of excitement while we were at the theatre.  Kenny and I went out to the parking lot to put some of our crap in the car…most of the diaper bag, the car seat…stuff we didn’t need taking up space in the theatre.  So anyway, he noticed that one of his tires was FLAT!  Definitely not what we needed to deal with.  Lucky for us…he had the air pump thingy in the trunk…have no clue why…but it was there.  So…he put air in the tire while there.  I don’t remember whether he had to fill it up again before we left…but did again once we got home.  If it isn’t one thing…it’s something else!