Vinnie's Summer Romper

Sweet Vinnie is sensitive to most fabrics, excluding silk and wool.  I did a trade with a sweet Canadian mama for this knit romper.  It is adorable! 

Here are some snaps from when we got it on March 14.

And here are a few more from the first day it was warm enough (and we had an occasion) to wear it out of the house. On May 22, 2013.  

Being a Mom! Cool Summer Fun!

After reading this blog post, from Cotton Babies owner, Jennifer Labit, I decided to make myself an organized little post with all of our summer fun plans too!

I will plan to take at least one telephone/internet/work free day & spend it with my kids. :) Obviously I'll still have to cook and clean, but hopefully I can do a lot of that the day before & we can have at least one SPECIAL fun experience each week.  This will be in addition to & on top of our typical play-dates and activities.


So far, I have just signed the boys up for "Kids Skate Free" at the Peninsula Family Skating Center in Newport News.  We will probably only do this on the weekend, since the week-day hours are late.

We have Busch Gardens season passes & do try to go at least once a week.

We can go to the beach.

There are lots of local parks we can check out:

Bennet's Creek
Windsor Castle (in Smithfield)
Oak Grove Lake
Portsmouth City Park

Portsmouth also opened a Splash Park which costs $2 per person, per day.

We can go out to Mom & Dad's house for fun in the country.  (Planning June 8-9th already...need to pick dates for July & August.)

We'll do something fun for the Fourth of July.

We'll also have Vinnie's 2nd Birthday in August, with a Geo-Trax train theme...complete with a rented cotton candy machine!

We can do a backyard camp-out.

Memorial Day Kick-Off--Family trip to Busch Gardens!

Healing Hazel Review

I have been using baltic amber on my children since my 3 1/2 year old, Lucas was about 5 months old.  He has always worn his baltic amber necklace.  I've had several, (from different sellers), because as they are designed to do, they have broken with wear.  But, I had never tried the beaked hazelwood and baltic amber combination until I was given this opportunity by Healing Hazel.

The owner of Healing Hazel discovered the benefits of hazel on necklaces back in 1982 (I wasn't even born yet!) and has been working with hazel wood ever since.  In 2004, they established their company Bienfaits Noisetier.  

I learned about hazel wood through Diaperswappers.com and other Attachment Parenting/Natural Parenting friendly websites I browse.  Until Vincent started showing signs of excema, around 6 weeks old, I didn't really have a NEED to try it out.

I bought my first 2 Healing Hazel necklaces during a Greenbaby Bargains sale in April 2012.  I noticed an immediate difference in Vinnie's excema and determined that we would keep buying the necklaces.

Within 4 months and 5 days I was ordering new necklaces, this time from EcoBaby Buys, they were still Healing Hazel brand, just being offered a discount.  I bought another two necklaces.

Another 4 months and 9 days past and those two necklaces were worn out, it was time for more.  Needing a necklace promptly, I ordered from a local work-at-home-mom run store, For Mom and Keiki.  She had Healing Hazel brand necklaces in stock and was able to quickly ship one to me.

As you can see, I BELIEVE in healing hazel.  I have seen first hand the effects it has for my son's SEVERE excema.

Vincent was in the throws of a serious outbreak, thanks to the cold and flu our family was struggling with and the necklace from For Mom & Keiki was wearing out much quicker than our previous necklaces.  The opportunity to test a hazelamber necklace from Healing Hazel came at the perfect time and our new necklaces arrived just one month after the last necklace had been purchased.

Vinnie tested out the 12" Baby/Child sized HazelAmber necklace with orange beads.

Vinnie's BEFORE  Pictures

You can see the red patches all over his hands, arms, and belly.  His entire body was covered like this the day we put the new hazelamber necklace on.

Vinnie's AFTER Pictures

Vinnie's necklace wore out after about 70 days.  We obviously noticed an almost immediate benefit and his skin cleared up dramatically.

Beaked hazelwood DEFINITELY helps to clear his excema--which is related to food allergies, fevers, and environmental allergies.

I tested out the 18" Adult HazelAmber necklace with dark blue/gunmetal beads.

I have to be honest & say I only wore the necklace for about a week.  I didn't notice it helping any with period/hormone related headaches or my excema.  But, my excema is very mild and typically only on my legs.  I tried wearing the necklace around my ankle, doubled up, but it was just a smidge too tight.

I wish it came in a longer length, because I would wear it just as beautiful jewelry if it weren't so short. I like my necklaces to be about 23-24 inches long and the 18" length was too much like a choker on me.


Here are some pictures of our hazelwood necklaces that have worn out:

So, head over to Healing Hazel and check them out!

Luke's Behavior Chart

Tim and I try to be "gentle parents" and strive for the attachment parenting lifestyle.  (Its more important to me, but Tim is better at it!)

Luke's behavior lately had gotten really out of control, he wasn't listening, was hitting Vinnie as well as Tim & I, he was having multiple potty "accidents" on purpose a day and more.

After chatting and browsing on the web, I decided to try a "simple" sticker chart.  Tim and I talked about it, worked on it & eventually came up with this system.

It was entirely made at home and didn't cost a thing, since I have oodles of "teacher stickers"  left-over.

Each week I print a new copy of the chart with the correct dates.  As you can see from this first week it took some adjusting and learning for Luke's behaviors to change.

The chart has some "concrete" items that happen everyday and are basically a did it or didn't do it item.

I ate my breakfast.

I brushed my teeth. (morning)

I got dressed quickly.

I ate my lunch.

I ate my dinner.

I brushed my teeth. (evening)

I put on my PJs nicely.

I went pee and poop in the potty.

Then, mixed in he has four things he has to earn.

I was nice to Vinnie and my friends.

I listened to Mommy.

I listened to Daddy.

I went pee and poop in the potty.

We decided what to put on the chart by figuring out what was important to us.  It basically comes down to simple rules.

Listen to your parents and do what you are told.

Be nice to your friends and family.

Take care of yourself and your needs. (teeth, getting dressed, potty)

We used the daily chart for the 4 he had to earn for the first few days & now he doesn't even need that.  It was basically to get him used to the idea of an X is bad and a sticker is good.  

Don't listen, you get an X.  Have an accident, you get an X.  Be nice, listen, go on the potty, you get a sticker.  

Now that we're into our third week using the chart, (ALREADY?) he is doing so much better.  

We give him a count to five to follow directions or that's an X.  

For listening to Mommy & Daddy he almost NEVER gets an X and if he does he can "earn it back to a sticker" by being a GREAT listener for the rest of the day.

He is still having potty accidents, but for the most part they are TRUE accidents and not intentionally going on the floor or in his pants.  

Here's his chart from the 2nd week.

If you'd like me to email you the file so you can adapt it for your family, I will. :)  Just let me know!

January 16...

January is just trickling by....before we know it, it'll be birthdays & Christmas again!

Today, Jan. 16 we had a playdate at our house.  Our friends Hilary & her two kids, A & D, and Liz with her three kids, G, L, and KR all came over around 9:45 to play.  We played until just after noon and then all the kids temperaments started to change as it was lunch & nap time.  After all the company left, Luke and I cleaned up the house (in 20 minutes) and then made lunch.

Vinnie is eating his hot dogs again & actually putting away a little over 1/2 of one before he gets full/bored/tired of that.  He also had some of Trader Joe's veggie chips too.

After lunch, it was naptime first for Vinnie, then for Lucas.  Neither boy slept soundly or for long, so I barely managed to go pee during their nap time.  After nap, they just kind of played around the house while I followed behind keeping things tidy & playing along.

At one point, I used the bathroom & Lucas closed the door with Vinnie in the bathroom and Lucas on the outside.  When I came out we COULD NOT find Luke, anywhere.  I was just starting to worry (but I know he can't undo the deadbolt & open the front door silently & the gate was closed to the back) when I spotted a wiggle under our Christmas tree (yes it is still up).  Phewie!

Tim's at a finance meeting for church so the boys and I all just ate quick stuff for dinner & we're going to hang out & snuggle and play until bedtime.

Switching to Cloth on a Sposie Budget

 Switching From Disposable Diapers to Cloth in Six Months--On Your Disposable Diaper Budget

If I had to start from scratch, with mainstream, easily available diapers, on a disposable diaper budget, here's how I would do it!

The cheapest I can find Huggies Snug & Dry diapers is $0.20 each on Walmart.com. 

For us, that means we are spending about $1.64 a day on 8 diapers, making our month diaper budget $49.20.  Some months the budget may go over by a couple of dollars, I assume that MOST people can find an extra dollar or two in their budget, even if it means cutting back in another area.

(I determined how many diapers I would need, based on the fact that, recently we took a cloth diaper "break" so I could catch up on housework and laundry after the flu did a number on our family.

During that time we used 24 disposable diapers, Huggies Snug and Drys in size 3.  I have two kids in diapers.  My 3 year old is potty learning, so really only wears a diaper to bed, but did use a couple for car rides or naps.  My 18 month old is in diapers consistently.)

First purchase/ Month One:

Thirsties Diaper Cover, Size Medium $11.50 Shipped
Bumpkins Prefolds Premium Sized (6 pack)  $15.54 Shipped
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers Sz. 3 (112 Count) From Wal-Mart.com with free store pick-up $22.94

Total: Month 1-$49.98 (112 sposies, 6 prefolds & 1 cover in stash)

For the first month, it will require daily washing, but have faith! It will get easier after ONE MONTH!

Daily Routine:

Toddler-6 prefolds with cover for day-time use, 1 disposable at nap, 1 disposable at bedtime
3 year old- Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash prefolds & cover overnight to reuse the next day.

After one month you will have used 3 disposable diapers a day & 6 re-usable diapers! Already you will have made a huge impact on the amount of waste you have created! At the end of the month, you will have 22 disposable diapers remaining as well as your six prefolds.

Second purchase/ Month Two:

Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers (112 Count) From Wal-Mart.com with free store pick-up $22.94
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets (1) $12.67 Shipped
Bumpkins Prefolds Premium Sized (6 pack)  $15.54 Shipped

Total Month 2: $51.15 (134 sposies, 12 prefolds, 1 cover, and 1 pocket in stash)

Daily Routine:

First day:
Toddler- 6 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Second day:
Toddler-6 Prefolds for daytime, 1 disposable at nap, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
 Wash all diapers & cover overnight to start over the next day.

This month you'll only have to wash every other day & you'll end the month with 59 extra disposable diapers, allowing you to purchase a smaller pack of diapers for month three.

Third purchase/ Month Three: 

Wal-Greens Huggies Snug & Dry 36 count- $11.99
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (3) $35.45 Shipped

Total Month 3: 47.44 (saving money!) (95 sposies, 12 prefolds, 1 cover, and 4 pockets in stash)

Daily Routine:

First day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Second Day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Third Day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 2 disposables for day-time & nap, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash all diapers & covers overnight.

This will get you to the optimum 3 day wash routine!  Yay for only washing every 3rd day!  At the end of the month you will have 15 disposable diapers left.

Fourth Purchase/ Month Four:

Wal-Greens Huggies Snug & Dry 36 count- $11.99
Thirsties Diaper Cover, Size Medium $11.50 Shipped
 Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (2) $23.42 Shipped




Total Month 4: $46.91 (still saving money!)  (51 sposies, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 6 pockets in stash)

Up until this point, you might have been using disposables randomly throughout the day if there was a blow-out in the ONE cover.  Now you have 2 covers, so you shouldn't need those random disposable diapers! Unfortunately, we will have to go back to every other day washing, just for one month.

Daily Routine:

Day 1:

Toddler- 5 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 pocket at night
Rinse covers & hang to dry overnight

Day 2:

Toddler- 5 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pockets for nap & 1  disposable at night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash all diapers/covers overnight. You should have 2 clean prefolds, be sure to rotate which prefolds are not getting used each wash cycle.

At the end of this month you will have used 30 disposables, leaving you with  21 left-overs.

Fifth Purchase/ Month 5:
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (4) $45.60 Shipped
(21 sposies, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 10 pockets in stash)

Daily Routine:

Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pockets for nap & 1 sposie for night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & 1 sposie  for night-time

Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

This three day cycle will use up the last of your disposable stash.  You'll have a disposable to put both kids in  overnight (on wash day),  so you can wash ALL the diapers in one night.

Sixth Purcahse/ Month 6:


Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (4) $45.60 Shipped
(1 sposie, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 14 pockets in stash)


Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-


Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time


Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

Now, you will be using cloth full-time!!  Congratulations on making it through the first six months and fully converting to cloth diapers!  Each three day cycle you should have 2 pocket diapers still that will be dirty while you wash overnight, so that's where the extra 2 pockets go.

7th Purchase/ Month 7:

6 Thirsties Duo Prefolds Size 2 --$53.10 shipped
 (12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 14 pockets & 6 extra inserts in stash)

These will replace the stuffing in your night-time diapers, making them more absorbent & eliminating any possible leaks you may have been experiencing.


Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-


Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time


Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

After this, you should be established enough in the cloth-diapering world to spend your $50 a month on fun extras that will make cloth diapering easier or more convenient to you.  If you don't love prefolds, quickly replace your 12 prefolds with 12 more diaper rites, it'll only take 3 months.

If you're okay using the prefolds as needed, spend a little extra & buy some nicer diapers or extra items like wet-bags or pail liners.

Cloth diaper detergents are not needed.  The keys to keeping your diapers clean are prerinse (dunk & swish) any solids, rinse diapers on cold, hot wash with a normal amount of detergent, and then rinse on cold until the suds are gone.  Vinegar helps remove stinkies & yeast.  Bleach is okay (especially on the prefolds) in moderation.

Plastic grocery bags & zipper bags work fine as a wet-bag until you can afford to buy one.  Pail liners are not needed.  I've been using cloth for 5 years and have never owned one.

Cloth diapering CAN be affordable and even fun.  It might not be fun right from the start, and making the switch does require a certain level of committment, but the amount of money you can save over time is definitely worth it.

Knowing what I know this is how I would spend the next 5 months worth of budget:

Month 8- ($60.22 starting budget with savings from previous months)
3 BG 4.0s -$58.90 shipped

(12 prefolds, 2 covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 2 BG 4.0 Pockets, & 6 extra inserts in stash)

This will allow you to replace 3 of your prefolds with pocket diapers! One less prefold each day!

Month 9- 
GroVia Wetbag
2 BG 4.0s
Total: 48.45

(12 prefolds, 2 covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag & 6 extra inserts in stash)

Month 10- (starting with $2.87 roll over)
Wool Soaker or Shorties from Recycled Wool $18 shipped
3 Pack of Snappis $9.75 (up until now you've been tri-folding)
2  GMD Workhorse Diapers in Med. Snaps $26.85 Shipped
Total: $54.60

(12 prefolds, 2 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)


Slightly over budget--but now you've got 2 fitteds & a wool cover as well as a snappi--to make using those prefolds more fun!  The cover can supplement the 2 PUL covers that you've been using daily for 7 months.

Month 11: 
Eucalan Wool Wash 16.9 oz- $13.95
2 GMD Workhorse Diapers
Total: $40.80 shipped

(12 prefolds, 4 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

Month 12: (starting with $9.20)
2  GMD Workhorse Diapers in Med. Snaps $26.85 Shipped

Total: $26.85

(12 prefolds, 6 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

Month 13: (starting with $32.35)
3 BG 4.0s -$58.90 shipped
Wool Longies- $23.45 (might splurge a bit here!)

(12 prefolds, 6 prefitteds, 2 wool covers, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 7 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

After a year in cloth, you'll know what you like/love/hate.  You should have found your way onto www.diaperswappers.com/forum and can buy, sell and trade to make your stash exactly what you want it to be!

Sunday Update 2012 into 2013

So, I think between the last couple posts I've pretty much updated for December.

We spent the 26th and 27th out at Mom & Dad's house.  The 26th was a pretty laid back day.  We did run into town for some groceries but mostly we just rested and relaxed.

On the 27th we all started to feel sick and by dinner we all had low temperatures.  We decided to quickly pack up and head home.  By the time we got on the road I was in full-blown flu mode.

We stopped at the Patient First to find out I had the flu, bronchitis, and an ear infection.

On Friday the 28th we took both boys to see Dr. T and find out that they both had the flu as well.  They actually tested positive for it.  We opted not to use any medicine to help them get over it, since the tamiflu has some negative side effects in babies.

Then we went to Patient First for Tim to get his medicines.  Bronchitis and the flu for him.  The boys and I rested in the van and got some groceries at the nearby Farm Fresh.

Saturday the 29th I went downhill and got very dehydrated.  By 3:30 I had made the decision to go to the ER and so Peggy came and took me in.  I was severely dehydrated but they fixed me right up with a heavy sedating pain medicine, a regular pain medicine, zofran in the IV, and a bag of IV fluids.

After leaving the ER, Peggy and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few groceries and then to Lawrence to get my prescriptions.

Sunday (the 30th) we all skipped church and laid around the house.  Tom and Peggy came over around nap time to help out with the boys so we could all get a nap.

 Monday (the 31st) I took Vinnie back to the doctor, I thought he was dehydrated, but Dr. T said he was okay.  So we toughed it out at home.  We had home-made pizza and then donuts.  We also had ice cream cones!  Our entire little family was asleep by 11.

On Tuesday January 1, we all relaxed at home and played together.

On Wednesday Jan. 2, Tim worked from home & I went grocery shopping by myself in the afternoon.  Then we went to MacArthur to get one of Tim's text books and have dinner from the food court.

Thursday the 3rd brought another feeling really sick day to the house and Tim decided to work from home for the rest of the week.

Friday the 4th was Tom's fifty-first birthday and we spent it at home.

Today was the 5th.  Luke and Tim are pretty much over the flu, Vinnie's temperature finally went away today but he still has a pretty miserable cough.  I've still got the cough and the tired-ness that comes from being Mommy to a sick family.

Tim and Luke went to Wal-Mart and the MacArthur mall today to get another text book. While they were gone, I nursed Vinnie a bunch, played with him, and worked on the blog.  I feel good that I am caught up!

PS. My October/November "Sunday" Update post is a continued work-in-progress and will eventually just randomly publish as being posted Nov. 30. :) More for my own documenting than anything. :)