Trying to make it a no brainer

Since I got into the idea of cloth diapering this second child, I have REALLY gotten into it and she's not even here yet. Let me explain. There are a gazillion options out there for cloth diapers now days. Its not like it used to be. There are the old fashioned kind like our parents used (called prefolds) to use with fancy covers that look much like a disposable, there are AIO (All in ones) that are bascially a cloth diaper that looks and uses exactly like a disposable, there are also what's called fitteds that work with covers and pockets that work with or without covers depending on what you buy. There are perks and disadvantages to all in my opinion. I've read the pros and cons of all before I chose which route was going to take. My route had to be affordable so I opted for the prefolds with a few covers.

Besides being more affordable they are supposed to be easier to wash and dry. Because the layers are separate there's less dry time and detergent or bodily waste doesn't get stuck in the diaper like they may do in the other types. I am still happy with my decision and I suppose when I get to use them I'll learn real quick whether I made the right decision. But lately I've been so fond of the idea of saving money that I want to make it an absolute no brainer for Jeff so he can participate in diaper changes too thus eliminating our need to buy disposables entirely unless we go on vacation or when we put Brennan in the nursery at church. He swears he doesn't want to deal with the cloth for he thinks they will be more difficult to use. Thus, I am making some pocket diapers out of some fabric scraps around the house just for Jeff.
The basically look like a real diaper that have a pocket for you to stuff your prefold in for extra absorbancy. There is no confusing folding and trying to figure out how it goes on the baby. If you can put on a disposable, you can put on a pocket. I'm sure there will be some resistance at first, but I think once he tries it he will realize it isn't as bad as he thought. I know he would never swish a diaper in a toilet, but my friend swears you don't have to do that because washing machines today are good at getting it all out now. That remains to be seen.

So anyways, I need to post some pics of my latest creations. They are kind of fun to make and so far I've spent maybe 10 dollars to make these pockets and covers. Money saved, not lost. This feels good.

It's always amusing around here.

Today Kadyn has been in a very sing songy mood. So far she has stood on a stool and proceeded to make up her own rap song. It started out with a rap beat followed by a full chorus of "Holy Moly, Holy Moly!" She declared it was her favorite song. Then later she decided to sing about the peas on her plate by singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with a few words replaced with the word "peas." And to end our wonderful lunch she said, "Liam? Oh laa laa!" Where in the world does she come up with this stuff. Needless to say, it's been an amusing day. She is babbling and singing away in bed as we speak when she should be napping.

8 month mark

Here are my official pregnancy photos. We didn't have them done professionally so there are some lighting issues but overall I thought they turned out pretty decent. I am so lucky not to have any stretch marks on my belly although I did get them in other areas):

I had my 36 week appt. yesterday. One more week and I will be considered full term even though my due date isn't until Dec. 11th. I asked the doc how big the baby was and for him to guess how big she would be when born. Now she is around 5.5 lbs and he thinks she will get to about 8.8 lbs by birth. Of course they can be off a pound or two but I have a feeling I will be having another whopper of a baby. Kadyn was 9 lb 7 oz. This baby feels just as big to me if not bigger. I'm guessing if I go late she'll be around that and if I go on time she be in the 8 pound range.

Next week they will begin to start checking me for signs of labor. I'm anxious to see if my body is doing anything, but hate those visits because they can be quite painful. Although I really would love to have this baby early because I am soooo uncomfy, it really would be better to have her on time because my doc will be out of town thanksgiving weekend. It would stink to have gone to this doctor my whole pregnancy only to have someone else deliver my baby.

My small group threw me a surprise shower on Wednesday. I felt so blessed and so unworthy. I didn't think people got showers for second babies. I got some cute outfits, some diapers (those will be for Jeff to use when he changes her since he refuses to change a cloth diaper) and a rattle. Kadyn was enamored with Brennan's new clothing. She loves everything about this baby. It's not hard to get her excited about anything baby. My parents informed me that she will be getting a doll that wiggles, giggles, and more this Christmas. I have a feeling that will be a big hit considering mommy will have her own wiggly newborn to take care of at the same time. Kadyn loves to imitate me so this should be interesting. I'm anticipating that it won't be long before I see Kadyn with the baby's head up her shirt pretending to nurse it.

The other night I washed some barbie clothes that are supposed to go with Kadyn's barbies she will be getting for Christmas. She happened to see them on my bed and asked, "Are these mine momma." "Um.....nope. They belong to baby Brennan." "Oh, neato, awesome!" She fondled those clothes for a good 20 minutes saying over and over again how awesome they were. Jeff had to be a smart alec and say, "Aren't those a little small for Brennan?" Then she found a baby toy that I had bought for Brennan for Christmas and figured out it made music. Next thing you know her and her daddy are dancing in front of the mirror for 20 minutes to the same baby toy song while she wildly exclaims, "This is fun!" It really was cute.

So things are going as smoothly as expected. I am extremely uncomfy, I am starting to swell, and my back is still giving me issues on occasion, but overall I am just happy to have a healthy baby still growing inside of me. It will all be worth it in the end!

Owww!

When I was prego with Kadyn around my 7th month my sciatic nerve started acting up. Two weeks later it finally quit. It is just this shooting pain that starts in my lower back and shoots down my right leg. It literally takes my breath away it hurts so bad. It usually strikes when I am in the process of sitting down or sometimes when I move just right when walking. Anyways, here I am, 8 months prego, only one more month to go and wammo! The sciatic nerve strikes again. Bummer! Please God don't let this last more than two weeks. I feel like such a nutcase when I gasp for air and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy. These last four weeks are going to be trying I can tell. Just doing my everday tasks is getting very very difficult. Thankfully my sweet husband has been very helpful with Kadyn. I still feel guilty leaning on him to help with her every need, so I am still trying to give a valiant effort to keep things like they always have been, but by the end of the day I am so spent. Now with my back acting up, I don't know how much cleaning I can do anymore. A house can get pretty dirty in four weeks without being cleaned. I know I'll make myself run the vacuum but I keep looking at our shower thinking, I just can't do this anymore. And even though I know everyone will understand, the thought of all these guests coming over after the birth and seeing a dirty house, scares me. I'll probably just do it, regret it because I'll be hurting and then move on. Please Lord, let these next four weeks go quickly. I need my body back and I need to hold and cuddle this little stinker that is causing me so much body issues right now:)

Halloween festivities

Halloween was good this year. We started off at the zoo spooktaculer. Kadyn got to trick or treat all around the zoo with a former daycare child of mine and her friend, Will. The zoo had all kinds of displays and booths for the kids to get candy at. Then we trick or treated at Kadyn's Grammie and Grandad's house (also known as Elaine Chase/Atkinson and Eric Atkinson they are our adoptive grandparents here in town). Later we went to our church's "Trunk or Treat" festivites. Kadyn got to trick or treat to various decorated trunks and jump on some inflatables. She also had a professional photo taken which she refused to smile for and unfortunately ran of time to paint a mini pumpkin. The following day we carved pumpkins and it seemed the only one getting into it was me. Kadyn thought it was too gross to help out and Jeff agreed with her although he did make himself carve at least one of the pumpkins. After hearing my husband agree that carving pumpkins was gross, I had to think to myself, no wonder God is giving us all girls. I roasted some pumpkins seeds for the first time by myself and they turned out a bit salty but not bad. It was good enough that I think I'll make it a tradition every year. Next year I hope to get ambitious enough to actually make homemade pumpkin pie. All in all, it was a good holiday and we are looking forward to another with baby Brennan next year.