Cloth Diapering

As if motherhood wasn't tiring enough, I've started using the cloth diapers I bought when I was pregnant (and a little more naive). For the first few months, they were too big for SoJo, so I held off. And the disposables, as much as I try to be eco-friendly, were easier, especially when dealing with a hyper-sensitive and cranky baby pretty much all day long. Actually, cloth diapering hasn't been that bad...so far the only issues I have with these are that you need to change your little pip more often (sometimes twice an hour) and that they seem a lot bulkier in the crotch, which makes me think SoJo will end up looking like a bow-legged cowboy. I am not like some people who are disgusted by the thought of messing with baby poop, so the cleaning part is not so bad. Plus he usually only has one poop a day now so it's mostly wet diapers I have to deal with. I am using Chinese prefolds and diaper covers, which are the most traditional and the cheapest, which is why I bought these. I didn't want to spend too much as I wasn't sure how I'd feel about using cloth diapers. I'd really like to try some of the all-in-one diapers or the ones with inserts, but we just don't have the money to spend on them right now, especially since the pre-folds are working fine. What gave me the confidence to use these is my mother-in-law who used them in the 70s and 80s with all three of her kids. For her it was a matter of economy, as my father-in-law was a trucker and she stayed at home. She showed me how to use them and how to clean them, and I figured if she could do it, I could too. At least I have the Snappi, an alternative to diaper pins, which I just couldn't get the hang of even after she showed me how to use them. My fingers just aren't so strong, and since I have a wiggle-worm instead of a baby, I'd be afraid I'd poke him.

These photos show him with the prefold and the Snappi and also with the Bummis diaper cover on top of the prefold. The cover works pretty well, but if there's a few pees in the diaper, like after a nap, it gets damp and I need to change it. Also I need to carefully attach the velcro tabs so that the edges of the hook side doesn't scratch his legs. But otherwise, the prints are cute and they were reasonably priced at Soft Cloth Bunz, where I bought all the diapering supplies. If you sign up for their emails, you get a coupon, I think it was for 10% off or something. And if I remember correctly, there was free shipping on items over $150, which is at least what you'll spend if you switch over to cloth. If anyone wants to know more details, please email me at katydidandkid@gmail.com. I'd be happy to chat with you about my experiences!

Baking Bread

There's nothing like a looming stretch of 90 degree heat to make an idiot want to make bread. Of course I'm kidding, poking fun at myself for deciding to do just that. Seriously though, I recently found a really good online deal on a Sunbeam bread machine at Circuit City and decided I've waited long enough for one. It was only $38 with free shipping, which to me was a bargain. With the cost of bread and flour continually rising, I decided I'd rather make my own bread which is cheaper in the long run, healthier, and much much tastier than sandwich loaves. So far I've made 3 loaves, 2 of which were Honey Flax and were delicious, and this one, a sunflower/oat, which I have yet to taste. It's so easy to make, just drop in the wet ingredients, add the dry, and turn on the machine to whatever setting you need. I figure that I probably need to make about 20 loaves for it to be worth the price I paid, and assuming the machine doesn't break, I will definitely get my money's worth. I fantasize about baking up loaves with the dozens of soups I make all Fall and Winter. Yummy!

Blueberry Muffins

I had a little extra time tonight to whip up some blueberry muffins with the yummy blueberries I bought at the farmer's market this weekend and the new giant muffin tins I won at My Wooden Spoon a few weeks ago. Shown in the photo (sorry one is so blurry...I forgot the macro function was turned on) are some of the other goodies that came with my prize--lovely dish towels (in some of my favorite colors), paper muffin cups, and of course a wooden spoon!

The recipe is from All Recipes and can be found here. Thanks again Lori @ My Wooden Spoon!

Wordless Wednesday

Weaning Baby from the Swaddle

Soren loves his swaddle. He loves it so much that he can't sleep without it. The problem is that he busts out of it every nap and during the night, and then wakes up crying (mostly during naps...he usually holds out until the early early morning). We haven't gotten out the duct tape yet, but have pinned the one side with a diaper pin which will hopefully keep him in it for the remainder of the night.

So husband and I are trying to wean him off of it with little success. I've looked online for answers, but as usual with internet research, you get lots of different opinions which often contradict each other. SoJo is 3 months now and I naively thought that when he reached this "magic" age he would not need swaddling, would be a perfect napper, and be able to fall asleep at the drop of a burp cloth, etc. However, he is still pretty sensitive, having trouble sleeping anywhere but his bed. We took him for a quick ride tonight so we could get some ice cream, thinking he'd be awake for 40 minutes until bedtime, since he usually fusses in the car, but of course this time he fell asleep. Then he was off track for the rest of the night and I've only just gotten him to bed. Anyway, this is more of a therapeutic rant for me rather than a post with any sort of information in it. But I do wonder if anyone out there has dealt with weaning a swaddler.

Look What I Made

So I finally got around to making something (hence this blog's subtitle, making and doing). I've seen these burp cloths all over, from baby showers to online baby stores and Etsy.

I decided to try making some with extra fabric leftover from some of the sewing projects I created for Soren's room (see earliest blog postings for photos). I also have a lot of extra cloth diapers from my shower, ones I haven't used on the little one's bottom of course, which by the way, has been working out pretty well. (Side note: I've started cloth-diapering more during the day, but he is still in disposables at night as he sleeps 9-11 hours a night and I'd like to keep it that way).

Anyway, these were really easy to whip up, and I made some for myself and for my friend's shower in August. I think this will be my baby shower staple from now on. I'd like to make them a little fancier with rick rack or ribbon trim, but I just didn't have anything in my sewing stash at the moment.

All I did was fold over a 1/2 inch seam on all sides and do a zig zag stitch around the edges. Some of the fabric panels are thinner than others depending on the size of scraps I had, but they still look good. I see endless possibilites in these, especially since I have a huge tote of scraps in the attic that I need to find something to do with.

There's a great tutorial at Chickpea Sewing Studio if you'd like to try them yourself.

Plum-Inspired Poetry

I bought some gorgeous plums at the "farmer's market" (I put that in quotes because our local outdoor market has produce year round and things that are definitely not in season, like these plums) and put them in a pretty blue dish.

The photo doesn't give the rich colors justice, but the image reminded me of one of my favorite poems. I did have the plums on the table, but we are inundated with fruit flies right now due to the composter being right next to the back door and bucket (with lid) under the sink, so they are safe (and wonderfully cold) in the fridge.

This is Just to Say
by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast.
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold.

Father's Day

My husband celebrated his first Father's Day yesterday without much fanfare (other than a lovely breakfast and dinner cooked by his baby's mama). Soren and I didn't get him a present, I'm sorry to say, but we just had a $300+ fridge repair bill to deal with (and our LG fridge is only 18 months old....grrrrr) so huz was happier that I didn't spend any more money.

We spent some time at PopPop's and Grandma's, having the necessary cook-out, which we were happy about since we don't have a grill. Because we are mainly vegetarian, grilling isn't as much a part of our summer lives....grilled veggie burgers are great, but there is something about the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs that is more appealing. And I haven't had one of those in almost 15 years. Chicken is another story....

So here is a photo of dad and son. Don't they look thrilled? SoSo's got his shirt that PopPop and Grandma bought for him when they were in Disney world last month. Maybe that's why he's so glum looking...either he is anti-Disney like his papa or he wishes he had gotten to go.

More Wordless Wednesday...because I'm too tired to write

Wordless Wednesday

[Go Phillies!!]

Nicknames

Here are some of Soren's current nicknames. I wanted to write them down before I forgot them (they change all the time), and am intending to write them in his baby book so he can laugh at them.

1. SoJo
2. SoSo
3. Sorey/Sosey (this is what my sister-in-law calls him)
4. Bundle (rapidly going out of style here)
5. Peanut
6. Darlin'
7. Boo
8. Little one
9. Bunny
10. Crab
11. Ducky (because he has so many duck outfits that people gave us)
12. Chubby cheeks
13. Ah-goo (sounds like APU from the Simpsons...this is one of his baby sounds)
14. Mr. L (his most used sound is ellllll, ellll, elll....I swear his first word might be h-ellllll-o)
15. Elroy (see #14)
16. Soren Joe
17. Baby Doll (mama only)


I'll keep adding, as it is late right now and I can't think of any more off the top of my head.

What are your kids' or pets' nicknames?

So Much for Making and Doing

Lately I've felt like such a lump, as I haven't been living up to the subheading of this blog. I admit I have a great and legitimate excuse (new mom) however, creativity has been such a huge part of my life since I was a kid, so it's been hard not having the time to knit or sew something.

My current creative outlet consists of picking out what SoJo will wear in the morning (which takes about 30 seconds) and preparing meals. I know it'll get better as he gets older and plays alone more and hopefully takes naps that are longer than 30 minutes, but right now I am feeling creatively constipated (yuk!).

I'd like to make some simple toys for SoJo, like some knitted blocks or little fabric people, as he is starting to get interested in grabbing things and holding rattles. Of course I am concerned about lead paint and toxins, so making my own toys sounds safe, fun, and super-cheap. My in-laws are coming for a visit tomorrow, so if the 90 degree temps don't get the best of me, I may get my wool out of the attic and make some felted balls for him. I'll post some photos too!

The photo shows some of my silk scarves that I made over the last year or so. I actually don't miss that too much, as those dyes are quite messy. But I will be doing an art workshop this summer at the local library for kids, so I'll be pulling my equipment out again.

Baby Clothes

This evening I packed up some of Soren's "old" clothes that he has already outgrown to send to my cousin in Georgia who is due in July (with baby Evan...I love that name!). I can't believe that I am already passing on clothes, and am already getting sentimental about it. I was wondering how I could hold onto these memories without actually holding onto the clothes, as I've seen too many design shows where mamas have basements/closets/guest bedrooms filled with boxes of outgrown kids clothes that they've been holding onto for sentimental reasons. So my plan is to take photos of the outfits that I really liked, either with SoJo in them or just lying out on the floor. My question for the public: How did you hang on to the memories of your child's baby clothes?

Sunday, 73 degrees and sunny with a mild breeze

I am planning to get out into the garden today to put in some much needed edging along my backyard flower bed, and what a beautiful day to do it!

I am also trying to come up with something cool to give my husband for Father's Day--his first. He's not a material-type of person, and when I write that I mean it not so much in the philosophical way, but in the way of "I hate shopping, I don't need anything, I'd rather save my money." I highly admire this point-of-view, but I know everyone loves a little present now and then.

So if anyone has any ideas for an IT geek who likes Darth Vader, tennis, and chocolate covered espresso beans let me know!

Photo courtesy of Amy Purple, 2008 (it's us!)