it goes something like this...

mommy or daddy: "owen, where is your belly button?"

owen: "RIGHT HERE!" (insert little pointer finger into belly button.)

mommy or daddy: "good job, owen. you found your belly button."



and check out that 'ooga booga' monster diaper. its my fave.

goodmama contest | take 2

so which one is your favorite? take the poll to the right. ------>

eta: thanks to everyone who voted. #1 was the favorite, so we entered it into the contest...and won. yay!  check it out.
heres a couple screenshots...




photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

random tidbits.

just an fyi... i have added a label list to the sidebar, and am working on adding labels to all of the previous blog posts. if you are looking for something specific, this should make it easier on you. for example, if you would like to see all of owen's monthly updates, just go to the labels list on the sidebar, click on 'monthly updates,' and they will be displayed in a new window. similarly, if you would like to see all of the info i've posted on cloth diapers, go to the sidebar and click on 'cloth diapers.' i plan to add more labels as time allows. hope that helps...enjoy.

.  .  .  .  .

i recently came across a couple of great cloth diapering articles in mothering magazine. if your interested, check 'em out here...
a tale of two diapers + crazy for cloth.

.  .  .  .

and since summer is finally here, i thought i'd share these very cool *bpa free* popsicle molds that i found on the safe mama site. scroll down and you'll see a great little recipe for toddlers and kids. i can't wait to make up a batch.

.  .  .  .

and this weekend, i am planning on making some of my own green cleaners. if you would like to give it a try, heres a great recipe that i found on another blog. (be sure to let me know how it goes.)

All-Surface Cleaner:

This will require a spray bottle (easily found at most stores - check your dollar store for a great deal!), vinegar (I prefer white), water, essential oils of your choice (my favorites are lavender or tea tree oil) and grapefruit seed extract. All of these ingredients can be found at a local health store, online or, surprisingly, at most drug stores.
Fill your spray bottle halfway with vinegar. Fill almost the rest of the way with water, leaving some room to add your oil/s and extract. I add my essential oil/s based on scent - generally around 10-15 drops. As for the grapefruit seed extract, I find that it’s very thick/stick and I just pour it from the bottle rather than messing with the dropper. I would guess it’s approximately 2 droppers full. Give the bottle a gentle shake and you’re done! Ready to clean - and it will clean! Did you know that grapefruit seed extract is more effective than bleach at killing off the bad things in your kitchen?

*happy thursday*

the goodmama diaper.

just sharing our entry for the goodmama photo contest.

16 months.

here are a few fun facts about owen at 16 months:
-hes saying lots of new things...book, ball, outside, good, up, yucky.
-hes learning how to jump. but can't quite get his feet off the ground.
-hes figured out how to walk backwards. and thinks it the funniest thing in the world.
-hes starting to climb up on the couch. but still needs a little help.
-he can drive his little tot rod all by himself. but doesn't quite have the steering under control.
-hes scared of the new bubbles we've been putting in his bath. and really doesn't like it when they get on his hands.
-he likes to brush his hands off when they get dirty. and insists on brushing your hands off, as well.
-he loves to sit on the ground and slowly fall backwards. hes becoming quite the little thrill seeker.
-he really likes to play with his big lego blocks. and has learned how to snap them together.
-and he has become quite the little cookie thief.

wool shorts.

we just received owen's first custom order of wool shorts. and they are soooo cute. they'll be the perfect summer cover for his cloth diapers. heres a few pics...

old school cloth | part 2

heres a few more pics of owen in a prefold style diaper. this ones made of a combination of bamboo velour + bamboo terry (so soft + suishy) and is secured with a turquoise snappi.

old school cloth.

just thought i'd share a few photos of owen in a prefold style diaper. this ones a favorite of mine...its made of hemp and secured with a snappi. (and oh, how i love those chunky little thighs.)

cloth rocks :: links added

so i thought it was about time that i give a little update on the cloth diapering front, since we have been trying something a little different than what we had originally planned. instead of exclusively using the bumgenius pockets or gdiaper covers that i had previously mentioned, we have branched out and decided to use a number of different styles.

for our primary diaper, we have decided to go old school with a prefold and cover. basically our prefolds are a lot like the square pieces of cloth that our mothers or grandmothers may have used, only the newer versions are much thicker, fluffier, and more absorbent. we have chosen to go with three different materials, including unbleached indian cotton, bamboo velour/terry, and a hemp/cotton combo. basically, we just wrap the prefold around owen (there are several different methods/folds that you can use) and secure. instead of pins, we use a thing called a snappi. and instead of rubber pants, we use a cover made of wool or pul. surprisingly, wool is a fantastic choice for a year round cover, as it allows for maximum air circulation, and when lanolized, is waterproof and self cleaning. on the other hand, pul covers are great for use under clothes, as they can be very trim and easy to use.

our second choice are called fitted diapers. basically, these are a one piece diaper that is usually made of all natural materials, like bamboo, hemp, or organic cotton. they are shaped just like a disposable, and are just as easy to use. like a prefold, they are not completely waterproof, so a cover is usually needed. (wool or pul works.) we have found that when owen is running around at home, he can go coverless. but when he takes a nap, he needs a cover. 

and our third choice are called pockets. (like the bumgenius ones that i previously mentioned.) basically these look like a fitted, but they have a pocket in the back that you can stuff with inserts. the purpose of a pocket is that it allows you to customize the level of absorbency. owen only uses one insert during the day, but two for at night. these are waterproof, so a cover is not required. we really like to use the pockets when we're going out (cause they fit the best under clothes and require no cover) and for overnight (cause we can stuff them and make them really absorbent, and they have a stay dry inner layer.)

so there you have it...lots of confusing options. we haven't completely given up on the disposables yet. but hopefully we will be 100% cloth here pretty soon. admittedly, it is taking a little time to get used to owen's new fluffy bum. we definitely have to be more selective about the type of pants that we buy for him in the future, and we always have to size up. but overall, i think cloth diapering is definitely a better choice for us.

and now for a couple pics of owen sporting a very cute fitted diaper... (more pics to come.)



and if your interested, here is a link to a short cloth diapering article in time magazine.

little g baby

seriously...how cute are these?

so we're still trying out the cloth diapers, and still trying to find a style and combination thats going to work best for us. i love the bumgenius pockets, but am not yet sold on the gdiaper covers. i have to admit, though...they are pretty darn cute...especially when paired with those baby leg warmers.

cloth diapers ordered.

heres a look at what we're getting...

the starter kit from gdiapers.

a bumgenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper.

and a whole bunch of other accessories to try...

a standard infant chinese prefold diaper

a hemp babies little weeds diaper

a babykicks joey bunz hemparoo

a cotton babies newborn + one size microfiber insert

and a cotton babies stay dry doubler

hopefully we'll find something that works for us.