Cloth Diapering 101

Cloth Diapering 101
Pockets: Usual fav, you stuff them with an insert, examples are BumGenius (BG), Blueberry(BB), Happy Heiny(HH)
Covers: go over a prefold either snappi'd or trifolded into the cover, PUL (polyurathane lined) usually, examples are Thirsties and Bummies(BSSW)
Prefolds/Flats: Prefolds come in many sizes and types, generally stick with DSQ (diaper service quality), there are chinese bleached (not as soft but last long) or indian unbleached (softer but unknown if they last as long) examples are Green Mountain Diapers (GMD)you can use diaper pins or snappi's/ Flats you have to fold yourself
Fitteds: like a prefold with elastic basically, it can have snaps/aplix/none to keep it on, usually requires a cover although there are a couple coveted brands that Mama's swear they dont need covers...
AIO (All in Ones) have the insert already sewn in, all you do is wash and wear, no stuffing involved. downside can be that you can adjust absorbancy like you can with pockets, although they make AIO2 (all in 2's)that have the insert sewn in and an optional insert pocket snap on
OS (one size) many pocket come with this option, you adjust the snaps to fit through the diaper wearing ages.
Aplix (velcro) tends to curl, lose its stickyness, can fray over time (although for most its over alot of time that any of those happen) but has max adjustability and easy to use on wiggly babies
Snaps options, there are FS(front snaps) SS (side snaps). Snaps can be more difficult for little fingers to get off, but also doesnt have the adjustability like the Aplix does.
Materials:
Bamboo: renewable source, Super Green, which equals more expensive, SUPER soft and absorbant
Cotton: not as green but absorbant and widely used
Microfiber: Do not put directly against babys skin, but Super absorbant and fairly inexpensive
Hemp: also Green and very absorbant, many mama's love this because it's so trim

Cuteness

Cloth Diaper 101

Cloth diapers are super easy in my opinion, and I'm Lazy . The only thing it's taken for me is an extra rinse cycle. There alot of extra steps some mamas take, like vinagar and soaks and tea tree oil and other stuff I havent figured out yet, but I havent found those necessary. I take her diaper off, poopy or wet, toss it in the bucket (a 15$ trash can with lid and foot pedal, but really anything would do) when the bucket fills up I toss em all in the washer and do a hot wash with no soap and then a hot or cold (depending on what I'm feelin at the moment I guess) wash with soap and then into the dryer they go (can't use fabric softener though, makes it unabsorbant). I do a load about every other day, I have 23 diapers but could definitly get by with half that. There are alot of different kinds of diapers, which for me was the hardest part I think. Pockets, they're a diaper where you need an insert (I like microfiber, but I've heard hemp is great too) they are my fav because you can adjust absorbancy, like 2 inserts for night time and 1 during the day, or 1 and a doubler (its like a half an insert so its less bulky) for heavy wetters. AIO or All in Ones, you don't have to stuff with an insert which is nice, you just pull it out of the dryer and use it, but I haven't found a OS (one size) AIO yet, which is a bummer. OS diapers can be adjusted so they'll fit your kid all the way through diaperhood then theres fitteds, which are like absorbing underwear, but they need a cover or PUL (poly urathane laminate, I think is what its called) and then theres prefolds which are the burp rags we all know and love, those arn't too bad but they need snappis and a cover too. I think that's about everything, sorry I totally wrote a book. I ended up getting pocket OS, which are great because they'll last her until she's done and then I can resell them for at LEAST half the value, so overall I'm only spending 150$ to diaper her her whole life. plus I think it's 3 cents per load of laundry, but if you pay for trash then i think trash is more...at least it was when i was back home.
Ohh also, just wanted to note, I have not had 1 single blowout or leak since i've switched to cloth diapering. totally cool.

My brother went home yesterday, it was totally tragic. And Joey has been a complete pill lately, especially with Joe now in my life, Joey keeps telling me he wants me back and how much he screwed up and wants us to be a family and all sorts stuff like that, then when I tell him to stop manipulating me he gets all depressed and talks about how he's got nothing going for him and everything he trys to do goes wrong and how I hate him and the only reason I have him around is for his daughter (true). I don't know, I'm just over it! I'm tired of his drama, I have moved on. Joe is freaking amazing, he treats me and Zoe so good, I'm just waiting to find some major flaw, he seems impossible ya know?

Ok here are some pics--

Easter

Hey Ladies,

I've been totally MIA lately, Joey (Zoes dad) came up last friday and my brother came up Monday, so I've been fairly preoccupied this past week. It went ok, the first couple days Zoe would start crying whenever Joey tried to hold her or basically even look at her lol. But they got along after that and now they're pals It was so cute, he'd read to her and sing to her and use different voices and stuff, he totally choked up and was crying when he left yesterday, he likely wont see her again until she's 1 year old. It was hard seeing him like that, he's really come a long way since she's been born. But we fought the WHOLE TIME he was up, it was really frustrating. I'm seeing that new guy, Joe 2, now, and hes so good to me, but Joey kept wanting to sleep in my bed with me (not do anything but sleep, but I still felt that wasn't right) and hug me for a long time and I had to block a couple kisses, Joe2 knows Joey was at my apartment and all this stuff and I think it was a good test cuz he didn't get all crazy on me, he just said he misses me but he wants Joey to be able to bond with Zoe.

Ok so Easter comes and Joe2 takes me out to dinner (I left joey at the apartment, he left me on christmas) and then he gives me and Zoe an Easter basket, mine has got sprite and nerds and a ton of stuff that I've mentioned in passing that I liked, and here's the best part, a bunch of plastic easter eggs, and inside each one was a coupon for say, a back massage or he'll cook dinner or he'll watch Zoe for an hour so I can nap or shower and all sorts of cute stuff like that! I was totally won over LOL. And Zoe's had a little stuffed monkey, and a set of regular binkys and a set of those goofy *Bling* binkys

Me and my brother and Zoe went up to Washington DC this weekend it was awesome. totally exhausted though...

bu

So, I've been hanging out with the latest guy in my life, I think I might keep him around he's such a sweetheart, totally takes care of me and Zoe, understands that Zoe comes first and doesn't mind me giving her all my attention when she's awake He's funny cuz he's the much loved spoiled only child, and he helps me around my apartment but he doesn't know how to do stuff like start the dishwasher and laundry settings...he's 25!! LOL. So I tease him about that. I went to the bathroom yesterday and had him watch her, when I came out he was talkin to her and she was cooing at him and smiling, totally melted my heart. And we went to the mall and got Zo's picture with the easter bunny, and they all called him dad and he just smiled and when I apolgized he was like nah its ok, and I gotta say that was awesome because most guys would be like um excuse me?

This is him last night when we went out to eat at Happy Buffet (chinese food).



the only bad thing is he's my 3rd joe LOL. I dated one for 2 1/2 years when I was 18, and Zoe's dad's name is Joey. Oye. Joey's been real sweet lately though, been texting alot and stuff, he's back in NC now (he was in Cali doing training) and he's coming up this weekend for 10 days before he goes back to base to leave for Iraq soon, so that will be interesting. Hopefully he can keep his head out of his bum for that long. My brother's flying in from cali to see me for 2 weeks too, I'm so excited!

Vaccine Case: An Exception Or A Precedent?

(CBS) It's a very controversial question that's been debated for some time: Is there a link between childhood vaccines and autism? For the first time, federal officials conceded that vaccines contributed to autism-like symptoms in one child. The case involved a 9-year-old girl whose family filed a legal claim against the government. And some believe that what happened to her could have major implications for other families, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.
Terry and Jon Poling spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about a case being watched by thousands of families with autistic children. "My daughter, who had been completely normal until getting nine vaccinations in one day, was suddenly no longer there," said Terry Poling, mother of 9-year-old Hannah. Hannah Poling appeared to be like many children. At 19 months, her pediatrician noted she was "alert and active" and "spoke well." At that same visit, she got five shots - nine doses of vaccines. She almost immediately developed fever, seizures and severe health problems. Eight years later, the government has quietly conceded that vaccines aggravated a cell disorder nobody knew Hannah had, leaving her with permanent brain damage and autistic-like symptoms. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is also a doctor. Weldon has long been pushing the government to aggressively work to develop ways to screen for children who might be the most susceptible to ill effects from vaccines. The government has been telling the public for more than a decade that there's absolutely no reason to be concerned about any link. "I wouldn't recommend they say something like that in light of the Poling case and the admission on the part of the government," Weldon said. But Thursday, the head of the Centers for Disease Control responded. "This is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of a very simple situation of one child with an unusual disorder, and it would be completely wrong to say that this has bearing to the vast majority of children with autism," Julie Gerberding said.
FYI: More information and resources on autism and vaccines. Couric & Co. Blog: Autism, Why The Debate Rages.
While the Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, a CBS News investigation uncovered at least nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government compensated families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms in children including toddlers who had been called "very smart" and "impressed" doctors with their "intelligence and curiosity" … until their vaccinations. They were children just like Hannah Poling. What's still being debated is whether the Poling case is an exception ... or a precedent.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/06/eveningnews/main3915703.shtml

Have I mentioned how much I HATE Navy Medical?

So I was at the doctors yesterday for Zoe, her appointment was at 4pm and after driving around for 30 minutes trying to find the place and calling and them not answering their phone (I mean, it rang for 8 minutes!) I get there about 5 minutes late, 20 minutes after that they call for Zoe and we get her weight and length (a whopping 12lbs 8oz!!!) and then send us back into the lobby for another 20 minutes, when they put us in a room and we waited for an HOUR until the doctor finally came in. A WHOLE FREAKIN HOUR! So that puts us seeing the doctor at 6pm ish, him deciding he doesn't know why she's wheezing but giving me a script for eye drops for her goopyness, and then me going and waiting for another 30 minutes in the pharmacy. Fortunately, Zoe is a complete angel(as always) and doesn't get upset until I strap her in her car seat, at which point she decides she's hungry and screams for the entire ride home ( a normally 6 minute drive turned into a 20 minute drive because, surprise surprise, I hit EVERY RED LIGHT possible. I think we we're both so stressed out I got home at around 7, and she ate while I dozed, and then we both passed out at about 9. The worst part is, that's my PCM, my primary care manager, I can't go anywhere else, and they are just terrible. :(

The Boy Issue

So my ex husband is a total prick. I wanted to file my taxes and I needed his social security number because technically we're still married, and he refused to give it to me because we're "legally separated" but there's no such thing as a legal separation in the state of VA so we still have to file married/separate and he's being a dumb ass and filing single so one of us is gonna get audited and get in trouble and it's not going to be me. grrrr. Whats even dumber is that he has a security clearance that he'll lose if he gets in trouble so whatever. I hope he does lose it. There's no reason for him to be such a *&^% and completely ignore me and not talk to me about something like this. So I searched through some old paperwork and found his social and filed married.
Joey's being an angel lately, Zoe's dad. He's perfectly OK with me dating, he said he's still going to help me out money wise and take care of us. I swear when I was talking to him I would've given him the biggest hug ever if I could. He's been alot more supportive lately, he calls every couple of days, we end our conversations with an I love you and miss you. I send him pics of Zoe as often as I can, it's difficult though now since its just me and the Zo.

Does Til Death Do Us Part Exist?

So come on now I know we've all done it. Searching through myspace friends and oops, "stumbling" upon an ex boyfriend. Then you get that gut wrenching wanna vomit feeling when you look at his comments and see the new girlfriend posts of "I love you" and "Last night was great!". Even if it's a few months after the fact I still don't like to share.
I came across my ex husbands myspace, this time truly by accident he was a friend of a friend and of course his pic was next to mine in her friends list. And his pic was of him and some girl. It did feel weird, but it wasn't the "I'm gonna puke" feeling I've gotten with others... I guess that means its truly a good thing we're divorcing, I know he's not right for me and I'm not right for him, the sad thing is I knew that before I even started dating him, he's the only guy I've ever dated that when he told me he loved me I couldn't say it back. I did, of course, I didn't say anything for a few minutes and then told him, played it off as I was speechless, and then a short month later when he asked me to marry him I said yes. I was so afraid to be alone forever ya know? But still, even though I know it's not there, I hate the fact we're getting a divorce. Rather, I hate the fact that we didn't TRY. I wanted to go to counseling, he wanted out. And I can't say I blame him, but what happened to our vows? through sickness and in health, til death do us part? He won't even talk to me now, although he says he's over it. Maybe if he'd talk to me about it and I felt like he was really over it I would be ok with this. But then again, he's just not right for me. He was handsome, I'll give him that much. But that's where it ended. He expected me to change who I was and got really possessive after we got married. I'm either too young for that or I need a man who can give me some room knowing I'll always come back if he does. And Jono simply isn't that man...

Almost Time

Well, I've been at my parents for about 6 weeks now, and I have to fly back to Virginia on monday. It totally sucks. I know Zoe is totally going to miss her papa, and definitly her grandma, she's been there since Zo was born... It's scary to think I'm taking her home by myself. Not to mention leave her with a stranger for 6 hours while I have to go to work. Well, not a complete stranger, I know her but Zoe sure doesn't. My sister and brother are up to see her, it's so great. I missed them.
With my sister it's kinda different now. It was ironic because in the car today she was saying something about how her sister in law was being dumb and getting in the middle of 2 other peoples relationship (her husband and his estranged daughter) and pretty much not minding her own buisness. Well the irony is that the reason we arn't close anymore is because she shoved her way into my husband (now ex) and my relationship, listened to him prattle and lie and then turned on me without asking if any of it was true. Not to mention alot of negitivity towards me being pregnant, I think she's slightly jealous of that. She says she doesn't want kids but I think as she's getting older maybe she does. Dan won't give him to her though even if she decided she did want them. But he's an ass like that, a whole other story.
Now that Zoe's in my world and I'm moving on from Joey, I want to start dating. I don't like being single, I miss having someone to argue with and cuddle with. I've already met 3 amazing guys, it's going to be hard to choose I think.