Operation Cloth Diaper

Our cloth diaper stash.

When I first told my mom that Matt and I were using cloth diapers, she couldn't believe it.  "Mom, cloth diapers have come a long way since you used them."  No more folding giant cloth squares, risking poking kiddo with massive diaper pins, and no more plastic pants or wool soakers.  I explained that modern cloth diapers have a waterproof shell similar to disposable diapers.  Inside, you place one or two liners similar to a feminine napkin.  I showed my mom one of our cloth diapers and she  melted in the adorableness of it.  That's right, mom.  Cloth diapers are adorable, stylish, readily available in stores, and easy to use since Matt and I know people who are using them with great success.

Why cloth diapers?  I am incredibly frugal.  It seems like a waste to use disposable diapers on a regular basis, for two plus years.  I have better things to spend my money on, like starting a college fund or delicious food.  Another reason, my husband and I both love the environment.  While cloth diapers are a big upfront expense, they pay for themselves quickly. Don't you have to buy constantly?  No!  What you cannot see in the above picture are all the white snaps.  Those allow for the diapers to be used throughout much of the baby's diaper wearing days.  Win!

Just the Two of Us

Three weeks and change until August 6.  I work next Saturday and somebody could come early, so this weekend my husband and I decided to dedicate a day to just the two of us. 

I woke up around 8:20, which was later than I had hoped.  Before I could sit down on the couch this morning, I was told it was raining on the Illinois/Indiana border and it was going to hit Indy around 10:00 a.m.  We decided to hit the shower and eat breakfast at the Zionsville Farmer's Market.  I had never been and was incredibly excited when my husband said we could buy two loaves of bread (I love bread) and challah rolls.

After Zionsville, we drove on the rainy back roads to the Danville Farmer's Market, two markets I had never visited were hit in a single day.  This market was quite small and less impressive than Zionsville, but I did find some delicious biscotti, I'm a sucker for twice baked Italian cookies, and a much coveted cinnamon roll.  It was not Cinnabon, but it was quite tasty.

Our next adventure was the movie theater. We were later than what we hoped and we decided to use a 15% off coupon at Burlington Coat Factory.  Our newly purchased, big ticket item is a booster seat that straps to a chair, which we will use in lieu of a traditional high chair... in six months.  With lots of time until the 1:30 showing, we went to Kohl's.  It sounds silly, but Kohl's touts a baby registry.  Online we found all kinds of fascinating items, including a cloth diaper wipe warmer, but sadly, the store yielded over-priced clothing.

Remains of bag #2

Off to the movie, where we loaded up on popcorn, a household favorite, and watched Tammy.  With the rain subsided and a sense of calm blanketing both myself and my husband, we ventured over to Barnes and Noble.  My husband was looking for a book to read and picked up two titles by Brandon Sanderson, while I searched and over searched for a journal.  This is courtesy of Matt's 98 year old grandmother. 

Back in May, she told me I should keep a journal and I told her I wouldn't always have something to write about, "Write about the weather," she said.  I found it hard to argue with, especially when grandma gave me money to fund the project.  Grandma is fascinating.  She has no idea how much a journal costs.  I could have used that money to purchase a beautiful and stunning leather bound journal with incredible detail and unique clasps, I could not talk my frugal self into making the purchase.  I purchased this beauty and can purchase several more thanks to grandma's generosity, and potential lack of cash counting.  This way, I can still purchase another four or so journals and thank grandma for her generosity everyday I write about the weather.

Off to Meijer to grab some acid reflux meds my doctor prescribed and time to put the pills to the test at Claddagh Irish Pub.  I was looking for cheese and found on the menu in the form of bacon mac and cheese.  Matt was concerned that I would be disappointed with this dish.  I told our server that I was expecting and was searching for a creamy mac and cheese.  He assured me that the dish would be creamy and if it did not meet my standards they could make it creamier or I could order something else.  The mac and cheese was tasty, but it was a portion larger than what I was willing to consume thanks to the acid reflux, but trust me when I say it will be a tasty treat at 3:00 a.m. 

There was one thing that we hoped to fit in our day that just did not make it, a nap.  As a reward to reading all the way to the end, here is a photo for you.  In case you are wondering, yes, someone has dropped.

Rant: Babies R Us: Two Strikes

My husband is 39 years old, I am 32, and we are expecting our first baby.  My husband has been planning on fatherhood years before we met in 2010.  My husband is incredibly active when it comes to doing research on baby products.  In January, we took a weekend field trip to Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby.  We wanted an opportunity to price a few higher end baby items and check out our preferences as well the brand quality.  We shook cribs to test stability, pulled strollers from the shelves to test how easy it is to set up and fold down, and even examined pack and plays to find one that would best suit our needs.  Babies R Us had more reasonable prices and more of the items we thought we would need to help us better serve our newest family member and navigate what may be considered as our greatest challenge.  We first registered online.  No, let me clarify, Matt registered with Amazon, giving me permission to be the secondary person and to add to the registry.  I took the easy way out and had a friend with a 15 month old add stuff for me.  This list was later altered when Matt went online and registered at Babies R Us, moving nearly all the items from one list to another.  Matt is the primary person on this account and as a secondary person, I am not even searchable.

Strike 1: In June, Babies R Us calls Matt's phone and leaves a message.  His name is clearly pronounced on the voicemail, not mine.  The store employee left a message for Patricia VanArsdale about expecting a coupon for 15% off all the unpurchased items on our baby registry.  Let's recap, Matt is the primary account person on the registry, his phone number was listed on the registry, and in case we are not sure, his voicemail clearly gives his name and not mine.  Matt was and is still furious and a phone call I made to corporate seems to have done very little good.

Strike 2: We went in the store to add a few additional items to the registry and purchase a few things with an awesome coupon.  Matt sat down at a table just inside the door while I stood behind him and off to the side.  I gazed in the distance at diaper bags (our latest mind-boggling buy) while Matt asked the employee for the gun, saying the baby registry was under his name.  "It's under your name?"  she asked him looking at me.  I confirmed for the employee that my husband is in charge and is the primary person on the account.  She looked confused as she looked between the two of us.  Has she never met a man so eager to be a father that he took over the baby registry?  Matt was once again frustrated and unhappy with the actions of a store employee.  How difficult is it to smile, apologize, and actually listen to what a person is saying?  Heaven forbid we toss in the fact that the employee could have made small talk and say that few expecting fathers are as proactive as he is in getting a baby registry ready.  I feel as though I am justified to say this because I work with the public and when I make mistakes, I apologize profusely and do whatever I can to encourage the person to come back and see us.  Did I mention I work at a library?  A place that exchanges no money for services?  Oh course, I will also toss in that I have excellent customer service and letters from parents and teens to prove it.  We are not done with our registry or Babies R Us and hope (for the sake of my husband who is eager to finally meet his offspring), I hope the store has more polite employees on our future visits, because my husband is fighting the urge not to yell and scream at the employees.  And you know what, I think they would deserve it, maybe not as much as he wants to yell, but they would deserve it.

Let the Countdown Begin!

My husband and I have been keeping track of the number of days until baby for quite some time.  The folks at work hear me freak out about the amount of work I have to do before Egg arrives.  However, I keep reminding coworkers and myself that my doctor could tell me any day now that I am not permitted to go back to work.  This is the new sign that is on my door at work.  To remind everyone how many days are left until baby and how many days I hope to have left at work before heading home and taking on my latest and newest job (but still returning to the library in mid to late September depending on when you know who arrives).  Lucky for me I have had a smooth pregnancy and have only recently experienced discomfort, which mostly comes from someone discovering that my ribs are a great play toy.  Keep reading this week, blogs are scheduled to go up every other day through Sunday and an additional blog on the burner when our last piece of the baby's room arrives, so keep checking back often.

The Most Unhelpful Instructions Ever

With an awesome coupon my husband and I purchased a pack and play.  We ended up getting one by Graco.  It has been awhile, but 17 years ago I helped my mom set up a pack and play so my niece had a place to sleep, so I was not entirely new to this game.  I had lots of confidence in myself until we went to set it up.  It was not going well and something made it worse... directions and photos.  We followed step 5, but only realized upon struggling on step 10 that we did step 5 wrong.  The yelling and frustration were immediately targeted at the poor directions.  I can call them poor because I write step-by-step instructions for teenagers on a regular basis without any issue.

With the pack and play together, where do we put it?  With a newborn napper and changer, the first place for it is the end of the bed.  This will help with those first few weeks and my fear of being such a solid sleeper (I've slept through tornado sirens) that I will fall asleep while feeding the baby in the middle of the night.  My wonderful husband is aware of my fear and is aware that helping however he can may include waking up and talking to me if I need him to do so.  The bedroom is a great nighttime solution for the pack and play, but what about when baby is sleeping and we are across the house in the living room?  It is not easy to wheel the pack and play from one room to another.  Possible, but not easy and I definitely cannot do it holding a baby in one hand.  My handy husband had the answer.  Remove the bedroom door.  I am still holding out for an additional sleeper-type item for the living area so we can keep the pack and play in the bedroom. In the meantime, I am greatly amused that our bedroom has no door, which is important because we have a vocal cat that works like an alarm clock, which I sleep through.