One magnificent little potty

They got it just right.

This little potty chair made by Baby Bjorn is perfectly designed. There isn't a single thing I would change about it.

"But it doesn't play songs, or cheer for my child when she tinkles, or dispense toilet paper, or provide a convenient snack surface, or hold the iPad in front of her face!"

Exactly.

Reflecting on cloth diapering

I used disposable diapers with my first two kids, and never gave it much thought. As my babies got older and I got plugged in with moms' groups, I started to hear about cloth diapering ("Oh, is that still a thing? Really?") and I met several moms who loved it and who were gold mines of information. So I bought a "lot" of gently used cloth diapers from a friend who had gone back to school and didn't have time for the laundry anymore, and I was on my way. Buying a big pile of assorted used diapers was really ideal, because my initial investment was small ($90), and I had a nice sample of styles and brands. Here is some stuff I've learned, organized into 2 lists.

10 things I hate about cloth diapering: 

1. Dogs eat baby poop. Did you know that? It's a delicacy. This guy, in particular, will move mountains to get it.

Since cloth diapers have to be stored somewhere until they can be laundered, that sometimes leaves open a window of opportunity. If I was not very careful about where I stored the diaper pail, he would get into it, drag the diapers out, and lick them clean. I'm sorry, but if you're researching cloth diapering, I think you deserve full disclosure.

 2. The hook-and-loop (aka Velcro) closures would stop sticking over time. Then it was easy for big baby to get her diaper off if there wasn't a snug-fitting onesie over it. If I just put pjs over it, she would still open the tabs, and the diaper would droop down into her pant leg. There is something about the sound and feel of velcro that babies love.

 3. The diapers don't always smell fresh out of the wash. There are "stripping" techniques one can try, but sometimes the odor persists.

 4. Not all dads like it. Some smell-sensitive dads get a little freaked out with the whole thing, which brings me to my next item:

 5. The smell of a diaper pail can be prohibitive of storing it indoors between washings. I used to store ours outside which was problematic for a few reasons: the dog might be able to get it; and, in hot weather, it was a terrible scenario. Imagine a overheated, bug-infested miasma.

 6. It's a little bit of a pain to travel with cloth diapers because you'll likely have to wash them when you're away from home, which may or may not trouble you, but I just packed disposables for trips.

 7. Any child-care situation outside of home was not ideal for cloth diapering. I would just take disposables in the diaper bag for the church nursery, never knowing whether the workers would be comfortable dealing with cloth.

 8. There are so. many. varieties. It's truly mind-boggling. The upside to this is obvious, but the downside is that it makes it a little stressful to choose where you're going to sink your investment, and it also makes diaper-buying a little addicting, because there are so many new brands/styles/patterns to try. Some cloth diapers are really irresistibly cute:

I mean, have you ever? This is a Romparooz cover. Who can resist?




9. Huge diaper booty: Baby clothes are not made for the proportions cloth diapers create. Jeans over cloth diapers are nearly impossible unless you go up a size, at least. In general, my babies wore a size larger in cloth diapers than they did in disposables.  Not a problem as long as you inform clothes-buying relatives of the size differential.

10. Laundry. The endless chore becomes even more endless (I know that makes no sense).

10 things I love about cloth diapering: 

1. Cloth diapers are cute. See #8 above.

2. There are tons of varieties, which is overwhelming, but nice in many ways, too. If something doesn't work or fit right, there are other options. The price range is quite wide, which is also nice. There's something for every budget! And, it is fairly easy to find buyers for gently-used diapers if they don't work out for you.

3. Actually, that last part of #2 gets its own spot on the list. You can resell cloth diapers, recuperating costs which you can add to the dollars you save by not buying disposables!

4. I always felt a sense of accomplishment when I had a basket full of freshly washed diapers.

5. Some of the accessories are great. I loved the flushable diaper liners, which, when I remembered to use them, made clean-up so much less icky.

6. Cloth diapers provide excellent padding for falls, assuming baby falls on his bottom and not his face. 

7. Then there's the cloth diapering community. To be sure, there are true believers out there, folks that seem to posses a real sense of superiority for  their planet-saving choices. These moms and dads come across as especially overzealous online, I think, but in real life I enjoy the camaraderie I feel when I meet a mom who is cloth diapering like me, especially when she has a realistic and humorous and not-too-serious attitude about it.

8. Not putting piles and piles of disposable diapers in the trash just feels good. It feels like the right thing to do.

9. Having to wash diapers is a great motivator for getting my kids potty trained, the earlier the better.

10. What have I left out? Oh of course, the "Target factor." I no longer go to Target just because I need diapers and then come out having spent $100. That alone has probably save me hundreds' worth of things I didn't really need.

Here's a list of cloth diapering products I have used and would recommend.
Smartipants (a little cheaper than some similar pocket diapers)
BumGenius (my only issue is the failing hook-and-loop closures mentioned above, but they are available with snaps)
Fuzzi Bunz (I once read a blog where someone referred to these as the "Cadillac" of cloth diapers, and I have to agree. They are very nice, but not cheap. They are very durable, and would last through two or more babies.)
Real Nappies (basic, inexpensive, white diaper covers; I used them with OsoCozy unbleached cotton diapers. I loved this combination, but the leg openings are somewhat low-cut. Some people might have issues with the covers squeezing baby's chubby thighs.)
I have been all over the place with detergents, but I think my favorite is Nellie's.
I have also used liners; both Bumkins and Kushies are good. I think I prefer Kushies because they are stiffer, but some people prefer the softer ones.

Claressa who?

It was back in February when I happened to catch a story on NPR about a boxer from Flint, Michigan named Claressa Shields. Other than boxing movies, which I love, I had zero interest in boxing at the time. Something about this interview moved me, and I started following Claressa's progress. Her dream was to make the 2012 Olympics team, and to bring home a gold medal. Fast forward to yesterday, August 9th. She did it! The 17 year-old won the gold medal. Now I'll skip the part where I complain about the fact the the fight wasn't on tv and I had to follow it on someone's Twitter feed. It was still so exciting! She made history as the first woman to win a gold medal in boxing (this is the first year women's boxing was an Olympic event). So this brings me to the question I've been mulling over since then: What is it about her that converts one who is normally indifferent about sports into a bona fide "fan"? The answer, in a word, is STORY. She has a great one. She started from humble beginnings, which you can hear more about in the NPR piece. That alone is enough to make me root for her. It's always refreshing to find a teenager who succeeds through talent and hard work, without having every advantage that gives them that all too common sense of entitlement. She has an endearing sort of self-confidence that is stereotypical of a boxer; some might call her "cocky" and she might agree. Her sense of confidence comes from within, apparently, because it certainly doesn't come from the media shouting about how she's the next big thing. In fact the only mention of her I could find online until this week was the NPR story and an article in the Detroit Free Press. Now if you Google her name, she is everywhere! Claressa is not a typical "elite" athlete. She has not been groomed; in fact, she is a little rough around the edges. She is not accustomed to boxing on an international stage, or having cameras in her face. You have to imagine the whole Olympics experience is beyond larger-than-life to her, as opposed to athletes who have competed in World Championships or other huge events. It must feel like a dream. Instant stardom! I'll bet she was relatively unknown in her own hometown, and now everyone from her neighborhood is going to talk like they've been her #1 fan for years! I would too! Congratulations Claressa!

Method products

I am currently using two Method products, one I've been using for a few years, and one that is brand new. Method's Tub and Tile flushable bathroom wipes are one of my favorite cleaning products on the market. I keep a pack on the back of both toilets. I use these wipes on neither tub nor tile, as the name suggests, but I love them for quick clean-up of sink and toilet. It's great for daily touch-ups, especially in the kids' bathroom where it gets yucky every day. The wipes have a lovely eucalyptus mint fragrance, and the scent lingers in the bathroom for a while after I flush the wipe away. It's the 30 second freshen-up!


Secondly, I just could not resist the temptation to try Method's laundry detergent. My curiosity got the best of me when I saw the tiny bottle. I've used Gain Original Fresh powder detergent for several years, I love how it cleans and smells, and I had no intention of switching. BUT factor in a coupon for $2 off the Method detergent, and the fact that Gain is criminally expensive at my local grocery store, and I picked up a bottle. I got Fresh Air scent, and it really does smell quite nice. It's amazing the real estate I got back in my laundry cupboard when I used up my last unwieldy box of powder detergent and replaced it with this slim 20 oz bottle. I had room to add a gallon jug of white vinegar, which I like to use in the cloth diaper rinse cycle. And I've been very happy with the cleanliness of our clothes. So, the verdict is, if I can keep finding coupons, I'm going to stick with Method.


Method products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and some other good things.

Fiesta conundrum

I've been considering Fiestaware for a few years now. My plain white dishes are plain, white, and chronically chipping. By contrast, Fiestaware appeals to me with its boldness and durability. Unlike safe white dishes, it makes a statement. Did you know it's made in West Virginia, and that this year is its 75th birthday?

My problem was always deciding which colors to put together. Macy's, for example, currently offers 15 different colors. Not to mention, there are 4-piece and 5-piece place settings, round and square dishes, and tons of serving pieces. It's positively overwhelming.

Do I choose 3 or 4 or more?

Do I go with cool jewel tones, fresh fruit colors, earth tones, or a modern combination of neutrals and trendy colors?

The answer came in the form of display window in a kitchen boutique at the Greenbrier hotel (also in West Virginia, incidentally.)

Here is the combination of Fiestaware colors they had on display:



And the fact that I discovered this two weeks before Christmas? Pure serendipity!

I think the key is to choose one neutral to anchor the group, then choose colors that go with the neutral individually...



...but can also be paired up nicely without the neutral.



My colors are called Shamrock, Peacock, Chocolate, and Sunflower.



Fiesta!

Bumkins SuperBib

It took me 6 years and three kids to discover this bib, but now that I have one, I'm getting rid of all others. Everything about this bib is perfect: the hook and loop closure is adjustable; it is just wide and long enough; it has a pocket; and it comes in cute prints. But the best thing about it is the fabric. The way I would describe it is "taffeta" with a little bit of waterproof coating on the back. It dries very quickly, so I can rinse it off, hang it to dry from a cabinet knob, and it's dry for the next meal. One bib is all you need!

Clean Day

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day is the brand. Countertop Spray is the product. BASIL is the scent. That's the important part. It smells so good, it makes me want to clean.





Could there be a better endorsement than that?