(This is one of those really long update posts that probably only close friends and relatives will appreciate, so please feel free to skip through stuff, I won’t know or mind.)
Yesterday was an adventure. I babysat our friends’ three-year-old daughter during the day. I would like to say that three-year-olds are a lot more work than one-year-olds! She really kept me on my toes. If I lost twenty pounds trying to keep up with a toddler, I can only imagine what a preschooler will do for my figure. Haha! I really enjoyed the way they kept each other entertained. They were chasing each other around and laughing for most of the day. I love that Micah enjoys playing with other kids so much. I want to schedule more play dates for him so he can do that more often.
This morning I took Micah to the allergist to have him tested. They had to do a blood draw which was extremely painful for both baby and mama. I admit: I cried. I don’t know if the nurse saw me, because I turned my head away, but I was really fighting back tears while I struggled to hold Micah still. I HATE it! I don’t even like having my own blood taken. He is so little and he is so scared of strangers to begin with; when they are holding big scary needles, he is just terrified! I know it is a part of life, but I never got used to it until I was pregnant and getting stuck every couple of weeks. I hope to hear the results of the test within the week. There was a lot to test for; it’s possible we will have to go back for an additional blood draw. Ugh!
Tonight was the first time I’ve ever been able to lift Micah out of his car seat and place him in bed without waking him up. He must have been really tired. We just got home from Eric’s softball game. All four teams from our church played each other (only happens once in a season), so we had a church picnic. The hot dogs were so delicious, I ate two! I changed Micah’s diaper right before we left the park, so when we got home I put him to bed in his clothes. I didn’t have the heart to wake him up by changing him into pajamas. The only thing I’m worried about is that he is wearing just a single cloth diaper. I’m not sure how it will hold up. I might have to sneak in there and change him before I go to bed, otherwise he’ll probably spring a leak! On the otherhand, I didn’t nurse him before bed, so he might be okay!
The cloth diapering is going well. It is definitely a learning process. We are using the Econobum system, and so far I have mixed feelings. Part of me likes it and part of me doesn’t. I think I am going to exchange it and buy a few Thirsties/Thirsties Duo Wraps with snaps instead. We did have a small leak when we got to the park tonight. One of the covers is already a little stained. It looks orange on the inside. The PUL fabric does seem extremely thin and I’m worried about ripping the snaps off when I take off the diaper. The biggest challenge thus far has been figuring out a process that works for me. I have changed the way I fold three times and have tried a number of different ideas for wipes, including soaked wash clothes, which I do like. I have gone back and forth between using snappis and doing the trifold. I have played around with the fit; I think I was putting them on too tight at first. I made some fleece liners out of an old blanket and that really helped keep his skin dry. He developed a diaper rash, which started to clear up as soon as I started adding the fleece liners to each diaper. The fleece wicks the moisture away from the skin, just like a disposable does. Plus, I’m thinking the fleece probably feels like heaven on his skin because it’s so soft.
I’m actually going to drive to Nicki’s Diapers this weekend so I can pick out a replacement system (for covers, anyway) in person. I want to make sure I am happy with the CD system I’m using without spending too much. I don’t need anything super deluxe, but I do want it to work. I also want something that is durable enough to last through a few more kids. I’m not sure the Econobum covers will hold up. They are also not really cut out for covering a traditional prefold. I may need to get a few different things to customize the absorbancy for day/night. I feel like there is so much I still need to learn about cloth diapering. Who knew it could be so complicated and simple at the same time? There is a definitely science behind the modern cloth diaper!
Not only are we going to Nicki’s on Saturday, but we’re planning a zoo trip as well. The zoo in Madison is free and a lot smaller than Milwaukee, which is actually a good thing when you have small children. My sisters are coming, too, so that should be a lot of fun! We took Micah to the zoo last year, but he didn’t really know what was going on. I think he will enjoy it a lot more this time around. I am going to bring my Nikon and I hope to get some really cool pictures of the animals. And the family, too!
