For The Love of Pink

I purchased this on line at "Sew Mama Sew" and when it came it was packaged with this pretty little fabric bow. I love little touches like this.

Bestill my ever lovin’ pink heart.

I couldn't help but fall in love with the rosebud pattern, and the stripes won my heart too.

I love pink (good thing I have 5 daughters) and I love shabby chic.
So when I saw this pink shabby chic cotton print fabric on sale I had to purchase.
It is destine to become a baby quilt, with a soft pink minky back.

"My colors are blush and bashful"...."Her colors are pink, and pink!" (Can you name the movie?)

I think it will look lovely in the white on white nursery….

Math Homework

 I am not the best homework Mom out there.  I had a terrible time when I was a kid doing my homework and studying in general and it hasn’t gotten that much easier now that I am a Mom.  I do make sure my children do what they need to do and we do all the reading and such, but I really just want them to get in, get it done and get out!  So when a child is struggling with my sit down, hush up and get it done quickly attitude, I am not always the most patient person.

A full page of simple addition can last a whole afternoon when the student isn't willing.

 

 My second grader is a little math wiz, she really gets the concepts quickly and easily, but she sure hates to sit down and do a full page of math.  I can’t blame her, honestly there are other things that are much more fun to do after school than sit down and do more work!  She spends so much time fussing at me about doing her work that she wastes all her play time.

 

Counting all the dots in the sugar to find the answer to her math problem.

 So the other day, in a rare blast of brilliance I came up with a solution.  We have practiced spelling before using a plate of sugar to write the words in, but I had never thought of using it for simple addition.  I got out the sugar and plate and she loved it!  The best part for her, was that after she got her work done I let her make little pictures in the sugar, and of coarse, lick her fingers clean.

Bad blurry picture, but I promised that I would post it. 🙂

 

Cloth Diapers, How To

Like I had said before , cloth diapering is very simple and very different from what our grandmothers use to do.  While I am no where near an expert when it comes to cloth diapering, having only done it for the last 6 weeks (and loving it) I thought I would share how I cloth diaper and the type of diaper I use. 

I use what is called a contour diaper.  It is a cotton flannel diaper with a separate diaper cover that is used for several diaperings.  The picture above is the diaper cover, it is lined with plastic to keep the wet in and everything else dry.  I have found  that these covers hold in the wet just as well, if not better than disposable diapers.  The only big blow outs I have had, so far, with the baby where when I had her in disposable diapers while out and about.

The cloth diaper is laying inside the diaper cover, ready for baby.

The big wings just wrap around the baby,

and the diaper cover snaps over the cloth diaper, no need for diaper pins.

 

This is my wet bag, it is lined with plastic, the diapers are stored in there (the top zips shut) until they are washed.

Baby, all nice and clean in her soft cloth diapers.
Love these thing!

 

This is where I purchased my diapers:
http://www.thanksmama.com/
They have just about every style and system of diaper out there.

I also got my Moby Wrap there,
more on that wonderful piece of baby gear later!

Squishy Baby Pictures

 

I just wanted to share some pictures we had taken of Lydia.

I am so smitten with this little girl.

I promise I will get back to home-making type posts soon, but I have to indulge in a few squishy little pictures of my squishy little baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia in her blessing dress

Cloth Diapering

 

 

We are six weeks into our first experience with cloth diapering. In all honesty, I would have to say: I wish I had been doing it all along.  Cloth diapering has been so easy and simple, I hardly notice that we are doing it, and I LOVE not buying paper diapers and spending all that money only to throw it away.  Cloth diapering is a completely different animal than it was 20 years ago, there are many different styles and systems and, best of al,l gadgets that keep your hands out of the toilet!  Washing machines are more efficient and heavy duty and can handle, with no problem, loads of diapers.

Diapers, cloth wipes, inserts and covers all folded and ready to put away.

 

diaper cover

I chose to use a contour type diaper with a separate diaper cover that can be used for several diaperings. 

Diaper inserts, I add these at night to help with the extra absorbency. My mother-in-law made these for me.

 

When it is time for a diaper change the soiled diapers go into a wet bag, and later that evening the whole bag goes into the washing machine.  Right now while I am nursing, I don’t have to rinse out any of the diapers.  When she gets older and solid food is introduced any soiled diapers will be quickly rinsed out, using a sprayer attachment, in the toilet, no scrubbing needed, the washing machine can get it all clean.

Wet bag, hanging on the side of the changing table. I have two I use, one to wash and one to use.

 When the diapers are all washed, right before bed, I hang everything on a small drying rack to air dry over night.  I do this for two reasons, the first is that it makes the diapers and inserts more absorbent, it also saves energy, not using the dryer, which saves a little money.

Diapers and other accessories drying in the morning sun.

 Had anyone else tried cloth diapering, what was your experience?