Ella met her paternal Great-Grandmother and Great-Boppy (Great-Grandfather) on Monday, and then met her maternal Great-Grandmother yesterday (my other Grandfather passed in 2002). My dad wasn't with us for the visit with his parents, but we'll see them again on the day after Christmas. I was able to get a picture of the four generations with Ella, my mom, and her mom, but I haven't been able to download the picture yet.
It was really special for me to be able to share Ella with my grandparents. When me mom's father passed away in 2002, I remember thinking that 1/4 of me comes from him. I have his genes--I am who I am because of my parents and my grandparents and so many other family members who shaped me, both through nature and nurture. They care about me so much, and I'm so thankful that they got to meet Ella, and she got to meet them.
Today's blessing was the chance to do some stocking-stuffer shopping with my dad. Although I was definitely a "Daddy's Girl" when I was little (and butted heads with my mom), my relationship with both of my parents has changed over the years. My mom and I have gotten much closer, and while I still totally love and respect my dad so much, he was replaced as the #1 man in my life when I met my husband. I know that this is totally normal and appropriate, but it's still nice to have that sort of quality time with him.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Safe and Sound...and Spiders!
Well, we made it home to my parents' house, safe and sound, at 5:30 am. Believe it or not, it only took us one hour more than what the GPS had predicted. Not bad for traveling with an 11-week old infant! Ella--though not pleased to be locked in her carseat for so long--was a great trooper...for the most part.
My child is definitely NOT the type to fall fast asleep the moment the engine turns over. From the very first trip home from the hospital, she has never seemed to like the car (in fact, perhaps I should have had some sort of indication that this was going to be the case because she always kicked like crazy during my drives to and from work when I was pregnant with her). On our trip last night, she would cry for the first 3-5 minutes or so after getting her strapped into the carseat (actually, the crying usually started as we were strapping her in...as if she knew that we were about to start driving again). We aren't fans of the "cry it out" method at home (I admit that we tried it a handful of times and it broke our heart each time), but there's not too much that we can do while on a 14-hour road trip when we know that she is fed, clean, and warm. So whoever wasn't driving would sit in the back with her or reach over her carseat to stroke her cheek and offer her a pacifier (which she's not a huge fan of either...but sometimes works) and "shhh" or try whatever way possible to calm her. I don't know if it actually did her any good, but at least we were trying to comfort her in some way. Anyway, after about 3-5 minutes of "why the heck do I have to be strapped in here again?!?!" crying, she would tucker herself out and fall asleep until our next stop...where we would go through the whole routine again. I did feed her (from the boob) twice--once when we stopped for dinner, and once when we stopped for gas. Other than that, I pumped and she took a bottle beautifully despite being strapped in. (I do admit that while I refuse to jeopardize her safety to nurse her in my arms while driving--as convenient as it would be--the thought crossed my mind that perhaps I could find some way to lean over her carseat to offer her the boob...but I figured that wouldn't be safe either...especially since it rained pretty much the whole trip).
So like I said, we got home around 5:30 am this morning and Ella was so happy to be out of the carseat! It's like she somehow knew that we were home. The car stopped, she woke up without crying, and she gave us the biggest smiles and coos when we plopped her on the floor to stretch and play. And that's when my brother emerged out of the guest room...where I thought we would be staying. Turns out that he had planned on sleeping on the hide-a-bed in the family room at the back of the house, but when they opened it up, they found a happy little family of black widow spiders! (And my brother was kind enough to sleep on top of the blankets so that my husband I would still have clean sheets when we finally made it to bed). So my poor mom has been spraying and cleaning and laundering and vacuuming the back family room all day long to get rid of the spiders, and Ella is limited to the front of the house...not that it really makes any difference to her. I don't freak out about creepy crawly things that much...but the thought of them getting near Ella definitely gives me the goosebumps.
Aside from the spiders, it's really nice to be home. Ella and I went to church this morning while my husband caught up on some sleep (I drove for about five hours and he drove the rest), then came home and had a glorious nap. She's now playing happily with her grandparents, and I'm hoping that she'll be able to get a "normal" night of sleep tonight (which has been to wake up for a 3:30 am feeding these days...still not quite ready to sleep all the way through the night, though she got close a couple of times).
Today's blessing was sharing Ella with everyone at my parents' church. We moved here when I was seven, so these people have truly watched me and my brothers grow up. Knowing our history of loss, so many of them prayed fervently for me through my pregnancy, so it was such a blessing to share her with them.
My child is definitely NOT the type to fall fast asleep the moment the engine turns over. From the very first trip home from the hospital, she has never seemed to like the car (in fact, perhaps I should have had some sort of indication that this was going to be the case because she always kicked like crazy during my drives to and from work when I was pregnant with her). On our trip last night, she would cry for the first 3-5 minutes or so after getting her strapped into the carseat (actually, the crying usually started as we were strapping her in...as if she knew that we were about to start driving again). We aren't fans of the "cry it out" method at home (I admit that we tried it a handful of times and it broke our heart each time), but there's not too much that we can do while on a 14-hour road trip when we know that she is fed, clean, and warm. So whoever wasn't driving would sit in the back with her or reach over her carseat to stroke her cheek and offer her a pacifier (which she's not a huge fan of either...but sometimes works) and "shhh" or try whatever way possible to calm her. I don't know if it actually did her any good, but at least we were trying to comfort her in some way. Anyway, after about 3-5 minutes of "why the heck do I have to be strapped in here again?!?!" crying, she would tucker herself out and fall asleep until our next stop...where we would go through the whole routine again. I did feed her (from the boob) twice--once when we stopped for dinner, and once when we stopped for gas. Other than that, I pumped and she took a bottle beautifully despite being strapped in. (I do admit that while I refuse to jeopardize her safety to nurse her in my arms while driving--as convenient as it would be--the thought crossed my mind that perhaps I could find some way to lean over her carseat to offer her the boob...but I figured that wouldn't be safe either...especially since it rained pretty much the whole trip).
So like I said, we got home around 5:30 am this morning and Ella was so happy to be out of the carseat! It's like she somehow knew that we were home. The car stopped, she woke up without crying, and she gave us the biggest smiles and coos when we plopped her on the floor to stretch and play. And that's when my brother emerged out of the guest room...where I thought we would be staying. Turns out that he had planned on sleeping on the hide-a-bed in the family room at the back of the house, but when they opened it up, they found a happy little family of black widow spiders! (And my brother was kind enough to sleep on top of the blankets so that my husband I would still have clean sheets when we finally made it to bed). So my poor mom has been spraying and cleaning and laundering and vacuuming the back family room all day long to get rid of the spiders, and Ella is limited to the front of the house...not that it really makes any difference to her. I don't freak out about creepy crawly things that much...but the thought of them getting near Ella definitely gives me the goosebumps.
Aside from the spiders, it's really nice to be home. Ella and I went to church this morning while my husband caught up on some sleep (I drove for about five hours and he drove the rest), then came home and had a glorious nap. She's now playing happily with her grandparents, and I'm hoping that she'll be able to get a "normal" night of sleep tonight (which has been to wake up for a 3:30 am feeding these days...still not quite ready to sleep all the way through the night, though she got close a couple of times).
Today's blessing was sharing Ella with everyone at my parents' church. We moved here when I was seven, so these people have truly watched me and my brothers grow up. Knowing our history of loss, so many of them prayed fervently for me through my pregnancy, so it was such a blessing to share her with them.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Packing and Traveling Suggestions?
We will be leaving on Saturday to drive up to Northern California to spend Christmas with my family. We opted to drive this year for a couple of reasons. First, she's still rather small so I don't know how she'll do on a flight (though I am now flying back in early January for my Sister-in-Law's shower, but more on that later). Second, I feel like she has so much "stuff"--and while we don't need all the stuff, it will probably make our lives easier to have it (ie, her bouncer seat that she does so well in). Third, we left the pack-and-play at home in NorCal after my shower with the intent to use it on our trip (and I don't think it would have fit in my SUV with all the other amazing gifts).
So aside from clothes, diapers (still disposable for now, but I did order one GroVia AI2 and sent it home so I can try it out), and the aforementioned bouncer, what else do I really need for a 14 hour drive and the 1-2 weeks at my parents' home? My husband and I discussed leaving the stroller here (at around 12 lbs, she's easy enough to carry in the Baby Bjorn and seems to prefer to be close to us anyway). Like I said, the pack-and-play is already there, and has the changing table and bassinet built in. What are the other "essentials" that I'll need?
Secondly, any trips on driving such a long distance with a newborn? We'll leave her early Saturday morning, but we'll need to spend some time on the way to visit my husband's grandmother and attend a friend's baby shower. These little stops are about two hours into the trip, so we're looking at about a 12 hour drive starting at about 4:00 pm. I'm leaning towards driving through the night and praying that Ella will sleep most of the time. My husband crinkles his nose at this thought and complains that I don't drive my share and that I complain that my back hurts after an hour of driving (to which I had to point out that I was seven months pregnant on our last road trip...so yes, it did in fact hurt...and no, I probably didn't drive my fair share...but I was seven months pregnant!). What do you think? Do we drive through the night? Or plan on staying in a strange hotel somewhere along the way? Or drive as long as we (and Ella) can handle and stop if we need to? And what do you suggest for feedings? If we were to stop every three hours to feed her for an hour or so, it would take us forever! I'm not opposed to pumping in the back seat as my husband drives and feeding her that milk. What do you think? (Oh how easy life would be if I could just nurse her as we drove...but I'm not able to put her in that sort of potential danger). Any other suggestions for a long drive with a newborn?
I am really excited to go home and see my family and finally introduce Ella to her Aunt and Uncle and Great-Grandparents, but I am a little bit anxious about the drive and remembering all of her items. It's one thing to pack for myself, and I can usually get all of my husband's stuff as well (I think I forgot his belt one year, but that's it)...but it's so new and different (and wonderful!) with a newborn. So I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Today's blessing is knowing that two women who have struggled with infertility and loss are due to have their babies today. Kate is scheduled for a c-section today, and Christa was induced last night and will most likely give birth today. Both of these women were so special to me along my journey, and I am so excited for each of them. Please keep them in your prayers today and in the weeks to come.
So aside from clothes, diapers (still disposable for now, but I did order one GroVia AI2 and sent it home so I can try it out), and the aforementioned bouncer, what else do I really need for a 14 hour drive and the 1-2 weeks at my parents' home? My husband and I discussed leaving the stroller here (at around 12 lbs, she's easy enough to carry in the Baby Bjorn and seems to prefer to be close to us anyway). Like I said, the pack-and-play is already there, and has the changing table and bassinet built in. What are the other "essentials" that I'll need?
Secondly, any trips on driving such a long distance with a newborn? We'll leave her early Saturday morning, but we'll need to spend some time on the way to visit my husband's grandmother and attend a friend's baby shower. These little stops are about two hours into the trip, so we're looking at about a 12 hour drive starting at about 4:00 pm. I'm leaning towards driving through the night and praying that Ella will sleep most of the time. My husband crinkles his nose at this thought and complains that I don't drive my share and that I complain that my back hurts after an hour of driving (to which I had to point out that I was seven months pregnant on our last road trip...so yes, it did in fact hurt...and no, I probably didn't drive my fair share...but I was seven months pregnant!). What do you think? Do we drive through the night? Or plan on staying in a strange hotel somewhere along the way? Or drive as long as we (and Ella) can handle and stop if we need to? And what do you suggest for feedings? If we were to stop every three hours to feed her for an hour or so, it would take us forever! I'm not opposed to pumping in the back seat as my husband drives and feeding her that milk. What do you think? (Oh how easy life would be if I could just nurse her as we drove...but I'm not able to put her in that sort of potential danger). Any other suggestions for a long drive with a newborn?
I am really excited to go home and see my family and finally introduce Ella to her Aunt and Uncle and Great-Grandparents, but I am a little bit anxious about the drive and remembering all of her items. It's one thing to pack for myself, and I can usually get all of my husband's stuff as well (I think I forgot his belt one year, but that's it)...but it's so new and different (and wonderful!) with a newborn. So I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Today's blessing is knowing that two women who have struggled with infertility and loss are due to have their babies today. Kate is scheduled for a c-section today, and Christa was induced last night and will most likely give birth today. Both of these women were so special to me along my journey, and I am so excited for each of them. Please keep them in your prayers today and in the weeks to come.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Told You So!
I told you I was--and apparently always have been--a "blue girl"...and now I have my proof.
Earlier this week I received a baby gift from my aunt (my dad's brother's wife). In addition to some of her kids'--my cousins'--favorite childhood books, she also sent along four little dresses and a note. The note indicated that after I wore these dresses as a little girl, my mom then sent them along to my little cousin (now in high school) to wear. As you can see, every dress was--you guessed it--blue.
(Notice that Ella is wearing one of my much-thought-about cloth diapers...I might as well use the ones I have for now until I decide whether or not I'm going to take the full leap!)
I admit that I only recognized one of the dresses--my uncle had picked it up for me when he was in Switzerland, and there is a Polaroid picture hanging in the hallway of my grandparents' house of me wearing it and smiling proudly. (I'm hoping I can locate a scanner while I'm home for Christmas and get copies of some of these pictures from my childhood to compare to Ella). It's so darling, and the tag clearly says "Made in Switzerland".
Lastly, this little blue corduroy romper is absolutely timeless! My Grandma made this one as well, and I am totally looking forward to when Ella can wear it.
No wonder I still gravitate towards blues--they were apparently engrained into my subconscious since childhood! As is customary with little girls, Ella has a ton of pink clothes now, so I'm thrilled to have some blues for her to wear in the future.
I am so blessed to have a family who appreciates these sorts of traditions and recognizes the value of family keepsakes. And all of my Grandma's dresses, nightgowns, and quilts are such a wonderful blessing as well.
Earlier this week I received a baby gift from my aunt (my dad's brother's wife). In addition to some of her kids'--my cousins'--favorite childhood books, she also sent along four little dresses and a note. The note indicated that after I wore these dresses as a little girl, my mom then sent them along to my little cousin (now in high school) to wear. As you can see, every dress was--you guessed it--blue.
(Notice that Ella is wearing one of my much-thought-about cloth diapers...I might as well use the ones I have for now until I decide whether or not I'm going to take the full leap!)
I admit that I only recognized one of the dresses--my uncle had picked it up for me when he was in Switzerland, and there is a Polaroid picture hanging in the hallway of my grandparents' house of me wearing it and smiling proudly. (I'm hoping I can locate a scanner while I'm home for Christmas and get copies of some of these pictures from my childhood to compare to Ella). It's so darling, and the tag clearly says "Made in Switzerland".
The next two were made out of the same material by my Grandma, but as you can see, the short-sleeved dress got a lot more wear out of it over the years. I've mentioned before that this amazing Grandma made me two quilts with the leftover pieces from the various dresses that she made me over the years. If you look closely, you might be able to see those pieces in the quilts behind the dresses.
Lastly, this little blue corduroy romper is absolutely timeless! My Grandma made this one as well, and I am totally looking forward to when Ella can wear it.
No wonder I still gravitate towards blues--they were apparently engrained into my subconscious since childhood! As is customary with little girls, Ella has a ton of pink clothes now, so I'm thrilled to have some blues for her to wear in the future.
I am so blessed to have a family who appreciates these sorts of traditions and recognizes the value of family keepsakes. And all of my Grandma's dresses, nightgowns, and quilts are such a wonderful blessing as well.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Mary's Song
First of all, thank you so much for so many wonderful responses to my questions about cloth diapers. I really appreciate all of the feedback immensely. Since we'll be travelling a lot for Christmas (not just to visit my parents in Northern California--but while we're there, we'll be headed all over the place to visit friends and family), I'm going to hold off on purchasing any additional cloth diapers quite yet. And then I'll go back to work and see how things go that first week in January, and then decide from there. (Have I mentioned how anxious I am about going back to work? That's a whole new post for another day...)
Okay--to preface this post--I am NOT in any sort of way comparing myself to Mary, the mother of Jesus. So please don't cry "blasphemy" on me. But our pastor preached on the "Mary's Song" passage today, and something in the verses really resonated with me. Before I go any further, let me share some of those verses:
Okay--to preface this post--I am NOT in any sort of way comparing myself to Mary, the mother of Jesus. So please don't cry "blasphemy" on me. But our pastor preached on the "Mary's Song" passage today, and something in the verses really resonated with me. Before I go any further, let me share some of those verses:
"My soul glorifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for He has been mindful
for the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
For the Mighty One has done great things for me--
Holy is His name."
Luke 1:46-49
I've shared before that I really feel like God did some amazing things in my life as He brought me through the the despair of loss and into a new hope with my successful pregnancy. I was knocked down with each loss, and somewhere through the process I was humbled. I was humbled in the sense that I felt defeated by the losses; but then I was also humbled when I began to sense God's goodness in my life in the midst of the losses. So the first part of the verse that touched me was Mary's "humble state". I wasn't like this before. I was proud and competitive and boastful. And while I do still struggle with these flaws, I think that God has also brought a new humility into my life as well. I also like how she says "all generations will call me blessed". From the name of my blog and my attempts to recognize my daily blessings, I do realize that I really am blessed--even through the losses. But now with Ella, we have the chance for "all generations [to] call me blessed". She is the beginning of a new lineage in our family, and truly embodies a new generation. I pray that she will come to recognize that I really am blessed...and so is she. Lastly, I love the verse "for the Mighty One has done great things for me". Ain't that the truth! He gave me Ella, which is truly great; but He has grown me and changed me in the process as well.
Perhaps it feels different to read and relate to "Mary's Song" because I can now hold my child in my arms. I know that after experiencing this pregnancy and childbirth, I'm looking at Mary's role in the Christmas story with a whole new appreciation. Again, please don't think that I'm somehow trying to compare myself to Mary. Rather, I guess I'm just rejoicing along with her--not just for Ella, but for all the great things that God has done--starting with giving us his son.
Today's blessing was the chance to hang out with my very-dear friend and share my husband's new camera with her so that she could take some amazing pictures of her son. Her camera broke, so the last time that she took pictures was when he was 10 days old (and he's now approaching 9 weeks). Her birthday was yesterday, so I'm going to get some printed for her as a gift.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Cloth Diaper Dilemma
I'm having a dilemma. I'm really torn about cloth diapers, and I'd totally appreciate any feedback.
I grew up in cloth diapers, and I remember helping to change my brothers' cloth diapers (and since my youngest brother just turned 26, you know I'm not talking about the new fancy cloth diapers--oh no! These are the old school rectangular pieces that you have to fold and pin...and I vividly can remember learning how to rinse them out in the toilet...oh what fond memories). I think I want to use cloth diapers, and I did some research on them while I was pregnant (wow--they sure have evolved since my childhood!). At the time, I had a discussion with my husband about how I wanted to invest in cloth diapers. He didn't like my use of the word "invest"--arguing that he wouldn't be getting a return on something that his precious Baby Girl would be pooping in. Have I mentioned lately how much he freaks out about her poop? He gets really grossed out at any sort of mention about bodily functions, so the best that I could get from his was an agreement that I could register for a couple and try them out once she arrived.
Well, she's been here with us for 10 weeks now...but I admit that we haven't made the leap into cloth diapering quite yet. Although she is tall, Ella is pretty lean--and she just seemed so tiny when she was born (she was 7 lbs, 6 oz...so she wasn't that tiny...she just seemed so tiny to us!). We received two pairs of cloth diapers--two one-size-fits-all Bum Genius, and two medium-sized FuzziBunz. It's definitely not anywhere near the stash that we would need to make the move to exclusively using cloth diapers--it wouldn't even get us through one day! But it's a start to seeing what we think of them. A couple of weeks ago, I tried out one of the one-size-fits-all...but apparently Ella doesn't fit into the "all" population. We had a major blow-out, so I chalked it up to her little butt and hips being too small and put the diaper back up on the shelf in her closet (washed, of course) until she grew a little bit more. Since we're home all day today, I figured that I'd try it out again, so she's in it now...and so far, so good. (Update: By the time I finished this post, she had dirtied a diaper...but it was all contained, so perhaps she does finally fit them!).
I realize that the fitted might fit better...but that would mean multiple "investments" (to use the word against my husband's wishes) in multiple sizes. I admit that while I do want to be good to the environment, that's not my main motivation behind cloth diapers. I'm cheap, and I want to save money. A standard estimate is that parents would spend $2,000 on disposable diapers, but only $500 on cloth diapers (the new fancy ones, that is--not the old school rectangular pieces like my brothers and I wore). So I'm really only considering the one-size-fits-all styles (assuming that Ella can indeed finally fit into them now that she has a little more fat on her bones). So Question #1: What brands and styles do you like? And do you use the disposable liners as well?
Now let me add some more kinks to my dilemma. For starters, the day care center that I think I finally like won't accommodate cloth diapers--and I don't blame them! They are no where near as convenient as disposables; and when it comes down to it, I'd rather them be playing with Ella than cleaning up her dirty diapers. But that argument also could be made at home as well. I'd also rather be playing with Ella than cleaning up her dirty diapers (and it goes without saying that my husband is out of the equation when it comes to poopy diapers--it's enough of a challenge to get him to consider changing a dirty disposable one!). If it's true that "time is money", then I need to consider if it's really worth it--cost wise--to spend even those few extra minutes cleaning up the mess. Granted, I first started grappling with this question after that first attempt at the cloth diaper when she had a blow-out and was still rather "needy". In those weeks since she has physically grown into the one-size-fits-all, she has also developmentally grown and is now a pretty happy baby who can easily entertain herself...at least long enough for me to clean up after her. Perhaps I just need a "system". So Question #2: What is your "system" for cleaning cloth diapers? Do you do them one-by-one after each changing, or throw them in a pail and clean them all at once?
But the whole cleaning question brings up yet another issue. I live in the desert, where water usage is a big deal. To be environmentally conscious means not just considering the landfills, but considering the amount of water we use as well. When I brought this up to my husband previously (partly as my own internal excuse when I was trying to balance the "time is money" argument to myself), he tried to assure me that we're really good about recycling and composting almost everything else that we possibly can, as if to say we're being "good enough" to the environment while still using disposables (but then again, this is the man who is squeamish at just the mention of poop). Ultimately, I don't want to be wasteful by doing multiple laundry loads with just a handful of cloth diapers. I don't want to trade one environmental concern for another. So Question #3: How do I balance these conflicting concerns about the environment?
Given that she will be in disposables while at day care (let's say that's 10 hours--including the commute), do you think it's still worth it for me to use cloth diapers in the evenings and weekends when she is home with us? And like I just said, I want to be careful about water usage--I'd rather do one full load per week of dirty diapers, rather than multiple little loads. And like I said earlier, I want to maximize the amount of time that I have to spend with her. So, Question #4: Is it possible to efficiently wash cloth diapers once a week? If so, how many diapers would we need to get through a week of evenings and weekends (with using disposables during the work week hours)?
When I see friends posting on their blogs or facebook about using cloth diapers, I am oddly jealous and proud of them...and ashamed and disappointed in myself--all at the same time. I want to get there...I just don't know if it's going to be the right thing for us. So please--I would welcome any thoughts, reactions, or suggestions.
Yesterday's blessing was the chance to go for a nice walk with my husband and Ella and have a good chat. He had Army Reserve Drill last weekend, and will have it again this weekend to make up for the weekend that he missed when Ella was born. So it was really nice to have that quality time with him and Ella.
I grew up in cloth diapers, and I remember helping to change my brothers' cloth diapers (and since my youngest brother just turned 26, you know I'm not talking about the new fancy cloth diapers--oh no! These are the old school rectangular pieces that you have to fold and pin...and I vividly can remember learning how to rinse them out in the toilet...oh what fond memories). I think I want to use cloth diapers, and I did some research on them while I was pregnant (wow--they sure have evolved since my childhood!). At the time, I had a discussion with my husband about how I wanted to invest in cloth diapers. He didn't like my use of the word "invest"--arguing that he wouldn't be getting a return on something that his precious Baby Girl would be pooping in. Have I mentioned lately how much he freaks out about her poop? He gets really grossed out at any sort of mention about bodily functions, so the best that I could get from his was an agreement that I could register for a couple and try them out once she arrived.
Well, she's been here with us for 10 weeks now...but I admit that we haven't made the leap into cloth diapering quite yet. Although she is tall, Ella is pretty lean--and she just seemed so tiny when she was born (she was 7 lbs, 6 oz...so she wasn't that tiny...she just seemed so tiny to us!). We received two pairs of cloth diapers--two one-size-fits-all Bum Genius, and two medium-sized FuzziBunz. It's definitely not anywhere near the stash that we would need to make the move to exclusively using cloth diapers--it wouldn't even get us through one day! But it's a start to seeing what we think of them. A couple of weeks ago, I tried out one of the one-size-fits-all...but apparently Ella doesn't fit into the "all" population. We had a major blow-out, so I chalked it up to her little butt and hips being too small and put the diaper back up on the shelf in her closet (washed, of course) until she grew a little bit more. Since we're home all day today, I figured that I'd try it out again, so she's in it now...and so far, so good. (Update: By the time I finished this post, she had dirtied a diaper...but it was all contained, so perhaps she does finally fit them!).
I realize that the fitted might fit better...but that would mean multiple "investments" (to use the word against my husband's wishes) in multiple sizes. I admit that while I do want to be good to the environment, that's not my main motivation behind cloth diapers. I'm cheap, and I want to save money. A standard estimate is that parents would spend $2,000 on disposable diapers, but only $500 on cloth diapers (the new fancy ones, that is--not the old school rectangular pieces like my brothers and I wore). So I'm really only considering the one-size-fits-all styles (assuming that Ella can indeed finally fit into them now that she has a little more fat on her bones). So Question #1: What brands and styles do you like? And do you use the disposable liners as well?
Now let me add some more kinks to my dilemma. For starters, the day care center that I think I finally like won't accommodate cloth diapers--and I don't blame them! They are no where near as convenient as disposables; and when it comes down to it, I'd rather them be playing with Ella than cleaning up her dirty diapers. But that argument also could be made at home as well. I'd also rather be playing with Ella than cleaning up her dirty diapers (and it goes without saying that my husband is out of the equation when it comes to poopy diapers--it's enough of a challenge to get him to consider changing a dirty disposable one!). If it's true that "time is money", then I need to consider if it's really worth it--cost wise--to spend even those few extra minutes cleaning up the mess. Granted, I first started grappling with this question after that first attempt at the cloth diaper when she had a blow-out and was still rather "needy". In those weeks since she has physically grown into the one-size-fits-all, she has also developmentally grown and is now a pretty happy baby who can easily entertain herself...at least long enough for me to clean up after her. Perhaps I just need a "system". So Question #2: What is your "system" for cleaning cloth diapers? Do you do them one-by-one after each changing, or throw them in a pail and clean them all at once?
But the whole cleaning question brings up yet another issue. I live in the desert, where water usage is a big deal. To be environmentally conscious means not just considering the landfills, but considering the amount of water we use as well. When I brought this up to my husband previously (partly as my own internal excuse when I was trying to balance the "time is money" argument to myself), he tried to assure me that we're really good about recycling and composting almost everything else that we possibly can, as if to say we're being "good enough" to the environment while still using disposables (but then again, this is the man who is squeamish at just the mention of poop). Ultimately, I don't want to be wasteful by doing multiple laundry loads with just a handful of cloth diapers. I don't want to trade one environmental concern for another. So Question #3: How do I balance these conflicting concerns about the environment?
Given that she will be in disposables while at day care (let's say that's 10 hours--including the commute), do you think it's still worth it for me to use cloth diapers in the evenings and weekends when she is home with us? And like I just said, I want to be careful about water usage--I'd rather do one full load per week of dirty diapers, rather than multiple little loads. And like I said earlier, I want to maximize the amount of time that I have to spend with her. So, Question #4: Is it possible to efficiently wash cloth diapers once a week? If so, how many diapers would we need to get through a week of evenings and weekends (with using disposables during the work week hours)?
When I see friends posting on their blogs or facebook about using cloth diapers, I am oddly jealous and proud of them...and ashamed and disappointed in myself--all at the same time. I want to get there...I just don't know if it's going to be the right thing for us. So please--I would welcome any thoughts, reactions, or suggestions.
Yesterday's blessing was the chance to go for a nice walk with my husband and Ella and have a good chat. He had Army Reserve Drill last weekend, and will have it again this weekend to make up for the weekend that he missed when Ella was born. So it was really nice to have that quality time with him and Ella.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Finding "The One"
After my first date with my husband (the first time he took me out to dinner--not when I met him in a drunken haze at the bar), I was pretty darn sure that he was "the one". I had that certainty--I just felt right.
That just hasn't been my experience in looking for a day care center for Ella when I return to work in less than a month now. When I was pregnant with her, I read all the timelines about securing a place in a center before she arrives. So back in July, my husband and I spent an afternoon driving around town and thought that we found one that we liked. But we never filed the paperwork or paid the deposit--I guess I just wasn't 100% convinced that it was "the one". My major concern with that center--it was 10 minutes beyond my work, resulting in more time in the car and less quality time with Ella. So last week we checked out another facility that is part of a larger chain. This chain has a facility on campus near where I work, but they only have 5 spaces for infants, and are always full--but they suggested that we start at one of their other facilities and then Ella could transfer there when she was one. So we checked out the other facility that was accepting infants, and it was nice enough. But again, I just wasn't 100% convinced it was "the one" either. My major concern with that center--the price. It was $25 a week more expensive than the other facility; and again, it was a bit out of the way. We were still tempted to do it, if it meant sacrificing the time and the money for the next nine months so that Ella could be closer to me when she turns one. But it still just didn't feel right.
So I headed into town this week to check out a few more centers. There were two that I knew of that were just out of the way from my regular route to campus. The first was definitely cheaper than either of the two that we had thought we had settled on, but the place spelled like pork and beans. The director was very friendly, but it just didn't feel right--even though it was the cheapest and most convenient that we had yet to find. Even if it made my life easier, I wasn't willing to subject Ella to sub-par standards.
So on to the second location a further down the road. My husband and I had actually pulled into the parking lot and "judged the book by the cover"--but never actually went in. Looking back, I sure wish that we had. When I did go in this time, the first thing that I noticed was children's art projects all over the wall--something I don't remember seeing at the other locations. It looks like the facility was formerly a large office building that was renovated to become a day care center--which I think explains why my husband and I initially stuck up our noses at it. From the outside, it just didn't fit our idea of what a day care center should look like. But inside, as cheesy as it sound, I could really feel the love. The director was a bit older, but was very kind as she escorted me to the infant room, which is currently towards the back of the building but is soon moving to a new location when they finish some renovations. But it allowed me to see the whole center and get a feel for the whole operation. When we stopped momentarily in the two-year old room, they all wanted to see the baby, so I knelt down with Ella...and then they all wanted to kiss the baby, at which point I tried to stand back up, but a little boy was hugging me from behind! I told you there was a lot of love in the place! There are currently five babies in the infant room, and though state law dictates a 1:5 ratio of care givers to babies, I was impressed that they had two workers in the room, thus creating a 1:2.5 ratio. The director explained that they try to keep the ratio at 1:3, when possible (and my visit was just a drop-by, so they couldn't have possibly "staged" an extra worker, so I take her at her word). The kids seem happy and well adjusted. The current youngest one is five months, but she gave us a huge smile when we arrived. Another little girl--probably close to nine months--fell through the big foam blocks that she was leaning on, but just looked up in surprise and crawled over to the carpet area to play--no tears or fussiness. They support breastfeeding, and are even willing to prepare the bottles for me as long as I sanitize them every night. This means that I can even bring in frozen milk in the storage bags for the entire week and they'll handle defrosting them and everything. They won't, however, handle cloth diapers (but that's a whole different post). They give a 10% discount to university employees, which makes their prices very reasonable (only $9 a week more than the frank-and-beans location). It's a little bit out of my way, but it's still "en route to" instead of "beyond" my work--I'll just have to do a little investigating to find which is the quickest way through campus. I want my husband to check it out with me one more time before we decide for sure, but I think that, maybe...possibly...finally, we may have found "the one"!
One more thing today--please continue to pray for my friend Nina who is going in for surgery today to have her thyroid removed. I shared a couple of weeks ago that when she was pregnant, Nina found a lump on her thyroid that turned out to be cancerous. It did not harm the baby, so she carried him to full term, and then gave birth (via c-section) just before Thanksgiving. She has had the last couple of weeks to recover and prepare for today's surgery. Please keep her and her family in your prayers for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery.
Today's blessing is a day to stay home with Ella and bake cheesecakes. I love baking, and I love sharing my creations with friends and family. Some women from church are coming over on Saturday for some cheesecake, tea, fellowship, and girl-time, so I plan to have four cheesecakes: Brownie, Pumpkin, Peanut Butter (with mini chocolate-covered peanut butter cups), and Blueberry. I've never made a Brownie Cheesecake, but it was the request of my very-dear friend...and it's her birthday that day, so it should be interesting to try it out.
That just hasn't been my experience in looking for a day care center for Ella when I return to work in less than a month now. When I was pregnant with her, I read all the timelines about securing a place in a center before she arrives. So back in July, my husband and I spent an afternoon driving around town and thought that we found one that we liked. But we never filed the paperwork or paid the deposit--I guess I just wasn't 100% convinced that it was "the one". My major concern with that center--it was 10 minutes beyond my work, resulting in more time in the car and less quality time with Ella. So last week we checked out another facility that is part of a larger chain. This chain has a facility on campus near where I work, but they only have 5 spaces for infants, and are always full--but they suggested that we start at one of their other facilities and then Ella could transfer there when she was one. So we checked out the other facility that was accepting infants, and it was nice enough. But again, I just wasn't 100% convinced it was "the one" either. My major concern with that center--the price. It was $25 a week more expensive than the other facility; and again, it was a bit out of the way. We were still tempted to do it, if it meant sacrificing the time and the money for the next nine months so that Ella could be closer to me when she turns one. But it still just didn't feel right.
So I headed into town this week to check out a few more centers. There were two that I knew of that were just out of the way from my regular route to campus. The first was definitely cheaper than either of the two that we had thought we had settled on, but the place spelled like pork and beans. The director was very friendly, but it just didn't feel right--even though it was the cheapest and most convenient that we had yet to find. Even if it made my life easier, I wasn't willing to subject Ella to sub-par standards.
So on to the second location a further down the road. My husband and I had actually pulled into the parking lot and "judged the book by the cover"--but never actually went in. Looking back, I sure wish that we had. When I did go in this time, the first thing that I noticed was children's art projects all over the wall--something I don't remember seeing at the other locations. It looks like the facility was formerly a large office building that was renovated to become a day care center--which I think explains why my husband and I initially stuck up our noses at it. From the outside, it just didn't fit our idea of what a day care center should look like. But inside, as cheesy as it sound, I could really feel the love. The director was a bit older, but was very kind as she escorted me to the infant room, which is currently towards the back of the building but is soon moving to a new location when they finish some renovations. But it allowed me to see the whole center and get a feel for the whole operation. When we stopped momentarily in the two-year old room, they all wanted to see the baby, so I knelt down with Ella...and then they all wanted to kiss the baby, at which point I tried to stand back up, but a little boy was hugging me from behind! I told you there was a lot of love in the place! There are currently five babies in the infant room, and though state law dictates a 1:5 ratio of care givers to babies, I was impressed that they had two workers in the room, thus creating a 1:2.5 ratio. The director explained that they try to keep the ratio at 1:3, when possible (and my visit was just a drop-by, so they couldn't have possibly "staged" an extra worker, so I take her at her word). The kids seem happy and well adjusted. The current youngest one is five months, but she gave us a huge smile when we arrived. Another little girl--probably close to nine months--fell through the big foam blocks that she was leaning on, but just looked up in surprise and crawled over to the carpet area to play--no tears or fussiness. They support breastfeeding, and are even willing to prepare the bottles for me as long as I sanitize them every night. This means that I can even bring in frozen milk in the storage bags for the entire week and they'll handle defrosting them and everything. They won't, however, handle cloth diapers (but that's a whole different post). They give a 10% discount to university employees, which makes their prices very reasonable (only $9 a week more than the frank-and-beans location). It's a little bit out of my way, but it's still "en route to" instead of "beyond" my work--I'll just have to do a little investigating to find which is the quickest way through campus. I want my husband to check it out with me one more time before we decide for sure, but I think that, maybe...possibly...finally, we may have found "the one"!
One more thing today--please continue to pray for my friend Nina who is going in for surgery today to have her thyroid removed. I shared a couple of weeks ago that when she was pregnant, Nina found a lump on her thyroid that turned out to be cancerous. It did not harm the baby, so she carried him to full term, and then gave birth (via c-section) just before Thanksgiving. She has had the last couple of weeks to recover and prepare for today's surgery. Please keep her and her family in your prayers for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery.
Today's blessing is a day to stay home with Ella and bake cheesecakes. I love baking, and I love sharing my creations with friends and family. Some women from church are coming over on Saturday for some cheesecake, tea, fellowship, and girl-time, so I plan to have four cheesecakes: Brownie, Pumpkin, Peanut Butter (with mini chocolate-covered peanut butter cups), and Blueberry. I've never made a Brownie Cheesecake, but it was the request of my very-dear friend...and it's her birthday that day, so it should be interesting to try it out.
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