The Picky Eater.

We have been blessed with two very good eaters.  I attribute this to the Baby-Led Weaning we have practiced amongst many things.  I also have had Kannon in the kitchen since he was born.  Seriously.  He helped me make a pumpkin pie when he was 6-weeks old.  Granted he was sleeping most of the time but his presence was known.  He loves to help with dinner and takes pride in washing carrots, selecting potatoes and greasing a pan.

However, even Kannon has picky moments.  When he was teething, he only wanted purees and cookies.  When he was sick, white rice was all he ate, snubbing his nose to all his usual favorites. During these days, I racked my brain trying to come up with options and felt like I failed when Kannon threw my freshly handmade pasta onto the ground.

Toddlerhood comes with many challenges and eating is probably the biggest.  I worked at a preschool that was full of picky eaters.  One kid only ate white things.  Another preferred PB&Js.  Others were voracious eaters and some simply needed a fork.  While toddlers are escape-artists, couch climbers, and adventurous, they are also creatures of habit.

Regardless of your toddler's tastes or habits, here are some ideas that helped me with Kannon and all those pesky preschoolers.

1.) Dipping.  Kids love to dip.  Heck, adults love to dip! Offer some cut strawberries with yogurt or roasted veggies with hummus.  Its new and exciting and encourages them to taste things (whether they like it or not).

2.) Shapes.  When Kannon was 8 months old he preferred finger shaped food.  Now that he is older he likes zuchinni ribbons, triangle and circle shapes.  I have found that the way I slice and dice influences his apetite.

3.) Dig in! Offer forks and spoons if you dont already do so.  Some kids I worked with refused to eat without a spoon--even if they didn't use it.  It took my third day to realize this---when a very pleasant toddler politely took my fork.

4.) Help! Toddlers love to mimic mommy and daddy.  They are learning side by side with you.  It only makes sense to include them in your kitchen activities.  Let them pick the veggies.  Let them stir, mix, and mash.  Usually in the process, he ends up tasting some uncooked carrots or warm potatoes.

5.) Ala Carte! Kannon won't eat mac & cheese.  He will, however, eat mac with a side of cheese sauce.  He carefully dips each pasta noodle into the cheese sauce.  Again, toddler love to dip!

6.) Try.  Try. Try again.  Just keep trying.  The more you offer new foods the more interested your child will grow---especially if they see you eating the same.

Don't let mealtime get you down.  Don't pressure your child, bribe them with sweets, or withhold their favorites.  Eventually, they get it.  And when they do take that first bite of brussel sprout, do a mental "YEEHAW!" you don't want to ruin the moment with your excitement. 

Lastly, some recipes!!!

Check out wholesomebabyfood.com for AWESOME finger food recipes.
The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook is also a great resource.

Some of my personal faves:

Fritters
2 cups of shredded fruit (apple and pears are great!)
1 cup of shredded veggie (zucchini, carrots, turnips etc)
1/2 cup of flour
1 egg
dash of milk
dash of cinnamon

Combine everything until it is all incorporated.  You can add more flour and milk if you want a more pancake like consistency.

Add a few glugs of olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.  Add a few spoonfuls of batter and cook until golden brown on each side. 

Let cool and serve with honey-cream cheese or yogurt.

Broccoli & Cheddar Cheese Nuggets (Makes a big batch, but they freeze well!)

Ingredients:

1 16-oz  Package frozen broccoli, cooked, drained, and chopped
1 cup Seasoned bread crumbs (you could try using baby cereal if you want, we know it works well with "baby meatballs")
1 ½ cups Shredded cheddar cheese (please use real cheese and not a "processed cheese food" product.  Try tomato & basil cheddar.)
3  Large eggs or 5 egg yolks -

Most pediatricians say it's ok to use whole egg in a baked good when baby is over 8-9 months old without allergies. We would recommend that you substitute 5 egg yolks for the whole eggs if serving this to those under 1 yr.  Ask YOUR pediatrician.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375
1. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.
*Add seasonings if you  like - garlic powder, pepper, extra basil & oregano for example. Add a fruit or veggie puree to substitute for the eggs if desired.
3. Shape mixture into nuggets or fun shapes such as squares or squigglies etc..and place on baking tray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turn nuggets over after 15 minutes. Serve warm. Be sure to crumble these if your baby needs.
Suitable for those who have had the ingredients and for those who can handle texture and mash foods with their gums.  Great for Moms & Dad too.

Apple Turkey Loaf/Sticks 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1 whole egg or 2 egg yolks, beaten
1/2 cup pureed carrots
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup unprocessed natural wheat or oat bran
1/4 cup bread crumbs
pinch of basil
pinch of garlic powder

Directions:

Place ground turkey in a large mixing bowl.
Add the egg/yolk, carrots, applesauce, spices, bread crumbs and bran.
Mix well - If this mixture appears too dry, add more carrots or applesauce. If this mixture appears too wet, add more bran and/or bread crumbs

Place mix into a lightly oiled (olive oil) loaf pan and bake at 350F for approx. 45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. **You may wish to cover with foil to prevent the top from burning

When finished baking and cooled, remove loaf from pan and slice as you would for bread. Break into small bits for finger feeding or mash or chop gently

This recipe may also be made into "Turkey Sticks" for Toddlers and older babies who are able to handle more textured/chunky finger foods. 

Baby's Curried Lentils

First, sauté up some veggies like celery, carrots, onion and 2 cloves of garlic - and cubes of tofu too.
Prepare Lentils according to package directions, set the timer for 15 minutes.  Be sure to clean and sort the Lentils to ensure that "garden bits" such as small pebbles are not present.
Add the above veggies and tofu to the lentils that have been cooking and continue to cook.
Add curry powder (more or less to suit your baby's tastes - you can always set aside a portion for baby and then add more spices for the rest of the family.) Add a pinch of cardamom and coriander if you like as well.
You can also add diced tomatoes for babies who are not sensitive to acid and/or are 10 months old or over.

Zucchini & Carrot Fritters

Best for those 8 months of age and over. Exchange the cayenne with a bit of garlic powder if desired. Make a cucumber yogurt dip.
Ingredients:
1 medium carrot (peeled)
1 medium zucchini
1 small onion
1/3 cup ricotta cheese - *Skip ricotta and sub in 1/3 cup of milk if you prefer
1 egg
1/2 cup fllour (whole wheat or all purpose)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
olive or canola oil spray
1. Wash vegetables.
2. Grate carrot and zucchini and chop the onion.
3. Mix vegetables, ricotta cheese (or milk), egg, flour and pepper.
4. Lightly spray non-stick fry pan with oil spray and warm pan on medium heat
5. Place large spoonfuls in fry pan, flatten and cook for 7 minutes or until golden.
6. Turn to other side and cook a further 7 minutes or until golden. Serve with cucumber yogurt dip
Cut the fritters into pieces that your baby will be able to handle. You could also bake these at 375F, on a lightly olive oiled baking sheet for approx 20-25 minutes. Turn half way through cooking and be sure to check on the progress often to avoid burning.

Apple & Turnip Salad (adapted from Organics A-Z)

1 cup grated apple (2 or 3 apples)
1 cup grated turnip (we'd use rutabaga as it is more sweet)
2 to 4 tbs chopped parsley
1 tbs of olive oil
pepper, basil, nutmeg

Grate up your apple and turnip and steam gently for 10 minutes or until just tender. When cooled, empty into a large bowl and toss with olive oil and spices of your choice.

Pumpkin Risotto (DELICIOUS FOR EVERYONE!!!)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 cups arborio rice
1 cup apple juice)
About 6 cups of hot chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 sugar pumpkin, one half baked and then pureed; the other half, peeled, cut into small dice, and sauteed in a little oil and butter until tender
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute, until translucent and soft. Add the arborio rice and stir so that the rice is coated in the oil. Cook until translucent, stirring all the while.
Add the apple juice and continue stirring and cooking until the juice has been absorbed. Slowly pour in enough chicken stock to cover the rice completely, about 3 cups, and continue to cook, stirring often, until all the liquid is absorbed.
Pour in 1 cup more of the remaining stock and stir and cook until it has been absorbed. Repeat with last cup of stock. Add the remaining cup and cook until the rice is soft but but not mushy. Most of the stock will be absorbed at this point.
Stir in the pumpkin puree and the diced pumpkin and reduce heat so that risotto and pumpkin mix in and infuse. Do not simmer - stir in the Parmesan and butter then serve.
I think I found this from the food network - it's printed on now tattered paper and "network" is in the upper left-corner. It's tattered because of over-use but my notes/tweaks are still legible - I have it down without the need to read.

Creamy Quinoa & Bananas

1 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt1/2 banana, mashed

In medium saucepan, combine ingredients and simmer on low for approximately 10 minutes. You are simply warming the ingredients and not cooking them. Please watch this closely so that the quinoa is not reduced to a pastey thickness.

Giveaway Winner!

Well, I delayed picking a winner as long as possible to ensure all my mamas had a chance to enter.  As long as I waited, we only ended up with 4 entries.  So, I went ahead and used Random.org and......

Katie...You and Ms. Kylie are winners!!!! Here is what she said

Yay for recipes!! I use Wholesome Baby Food too, LOVE IT! And what a fun giveaway! Those look amazing for on the go...
Okay so for favorite recipes, I don't have a favorite really, but anything that involves pears is a go for Kylie. She LOVES them. So I mix them with everything, chicken, veggies, or cereal. She is still eating pretty simply and we haven't really started with too many recipes, but I think she is ready! Can't wait to try out Pear Mango sauce and the Pear-Blueberry!!!
The best time saver I have found is making big batches and freezing them. It is soooo much easier to pop a cube out and unthaw it rather than making a fresh batch of food every feeding (which I never did anyway, but I think it would be very time consuming). There's my input! :) 

Just send me your address Katie and I will get these in the mail tomorrow!  Nom-nom!

For those who didn't win, I will do another giveaway soon and this time, I expect a better turn-out!  

mama cooks:: baby food! (GIVEAWAY!!!!)

Okay, I haven't been around much these days.  Aside from the Project 365, I rarely post.  Lots of stuff has been going on in our house and our kitchen!  With Clark and Kannon both like horses, I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen, brainstorming new recipes, cooking, and looking for the next way to disguise spinach and broccoli.  I have a few recipes to share!

First, I get most of my recipes from Wholesome Baby Food which you should check out if haven't done so already.  This website was my go-to resource when we started solids for Kannon.  Now that Clark is eating solids I find myself referencing the website again, excited to see new combinations and new ideas for even toddler food.

When I am at home the boys eat homemade food.  When we are on the go I revert to squeeze pouches of organic baby food made by Plum, Ella's Kitchen, or HappyBaby and my Boon spoon attachment.  Kannon loves these pouches.  They saved our life when we traveled to California.  They are 100% pureed fruits and vegetables.  They do a great job of sneaking in a veggie with a fruit, and they are mess free.  I was hesitant to order a Boon spoon attachment for Clark but I am so glad I did.  It makes feeding him easier and the handy case is indispensable.   These products are definitely not cheap, but they are a great alternative to bruised bananas, sticky messes, and avoiding sugary snacks like animal crackers.  Trader Joe's makes Apple-Carrot Crushers which at $2.99 for a 4-pack isn't too bad--but you are limited to one flavor.  I dont have to worry about them opening in my bag, I can give one to Kannon when we are stuck in traffic, and he has fun trying to feed Clark! The combinations also give me inspiration for my at-home creations.

In honor of my "pouch love" I am doing a giveway.  On Sunday, March 20, I will randomly select one lucky winner to receive 3 pouches of food and a Boon spoon attachment.  To win you must reside in the US, you must be a "follower", include your email, and you must LEAVE A COMMENT answering the following questions:

1.) What your favorite babyfood recipe is (one of mine or yours)
2.) What is the best time-saving trick you have discovered

Now for some recipes:

Pear-Mango-Sauce
In a large pan, add 3 pears (peeled and cored) and 1 mango (peeled and cored) and cover with a small amount of water.  Bring to a boil, cover, and let steam for 8-10 minutes.  Puree, adding water until it is the desired consistency.

***I reserved a cup of "chunks" for Kannon.  I sprinkled them into yogurt and he loved them!

Apple-Carrot Sauce
Same as above, bring 3 apples (peeled and cored), 2 carrots, and a small amount of water to a boil. Cover and let steam until carrots are soft. Puree, until smooth, and strain through a mesh strainer for a finer puree.

Mango-Banana Puree
Steam a cut up mango and then puree with banana. 

***You dont actually have to steam mango but I do for a finer consistency for our little guy.

Pumpkin-Banana (FAVORITE!)
One can of pumpkin, 3 bananas, puree.  It is that simply.  Plus, they freeze beautifully together!

Pear-Barley
In a pan, bring 1 cup of barley, 3 shredded pears, and 3 cups of water to a boil.  Cover and simmer until barley is cooked.  Puree until smooth and press through a fine mesh strainer.

***I also reserved a cup of this for Kannon.  He LOVED this!  I added some almond syrup and milk and he ate the whole bowl in minutes!

Peas & Pears (I know, weird)
Steam 1/2 cup of peas with 2 pears (peeled and cored) until soft.  Puree adding, water until smooth.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer until smooth.

***I know it sounds weird but both my kids loved this.  I sometimes added cardamom to boost the flavor.

Pear-Berry Puree
Steam 2 pears (peeled and cored) and 1 cup of blueberries.  Puree and strain.  Yummo!

Ginger-Carrot-Apple
Boil a one inch cube of ginger, 2 apples (cored and peeled) and 2 carrots until soft.  Puree, adding water if neccessary and strain.  So delicious!!!!

***I know you dont think of ginger in baby food, but it is delicious and both my kids LOVE it!

Ginger-Apple-Parsnip
Same as above, except roast ginger, apple and parsnip.

Sweet Potato-Apple-Blueberry
Boil 1 peeled, diced sweet potato, with 2 apples (peeled and cored) until soft.  Add 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen) in the last few minutes of cooking.  Strain, reserve water, puree (adding reserved water if necessary).

Final Notes:
My food processor broke, so I have been using my immersion blender and strainer and am happy to say it does a better job pureeing than my food processor! 

Interesting enough, my pediatrician told us to skip the "4-day wait" rule.  She felt that since we have no history of family allergies that it would be fine to try whatever we want.  With a few exceptions, no strawberries, dairy, honey, eggs, until Clark is old enough.  This was music to my ears!  I know Kannon got sick of eating 4 days worth of peas, so it was refreshing to be able to introduce whatever we want.  Also, now that Kannon can handle a spoon, he enjoys the same purees that Clark does.

Full Circle Farm!

Do you live in the Seattle-area?  Want fresh organic and local produce delivered to your front door?  Become a member of Full Circle Farm's organic produce delivery program!  

 I have nothing but good things to say about Full Circle Farm.  We have wonderful produce delivered to our door once a week.  It has changed the way we cook, eat, shop, and think about food.  Even though buying produce from FCF is marginally more expensive we have saved money.  We shop less at the grocery store.  We plan meals around our produce box.  We make use of what we have at home.  In short, our grocery bill has gone from $600 /month to $300 /month for a family of 4.   Wow!

FCF has many different options according to your family size, needs, and budget.  We started with a $35 standard box every other week and quickly realized we needed more!  Now, we get the $44 family box every week and we have more than enough fruits and vegetables for a week's meals.  Our diets have changed and I am so confident in the meals I prepare for my family.   Plus, we are doing a good thing in supporting our local economy and community farmers.  Hello, think global, buy local!

Again, fresh produce at your door!!! Could it get anymore convenient?????

From now until March 1st, 2011 you can save $15 off your first box. 


1.) You can get $15 off your first box by signing up for Full Circle Farm.

2.). Have them use promo code EATWELL and enter Kat Pittman in the 'how you heard about us' field when you sign-up.

Project 365:: Day 29

Day 29 Well, my birthday came and went but I am still celebrating.  Despite some changes in plans (Tammy, I am so sorry it didn't work out!!!) I had a special weekend! 

We got to Cotton Babies this morning just in time to join the first 100 people through the door and snag some swag.  I spoiled myself with a new Ergo Performance. We spent the day attending storytime, "classes" and getting coffee across the street.  Kannon loved all the attention he got---and loved this balloon!!!

We were just heading to Fred Meyer when the Cotton Babies owner/staff asked me to grab coffee with them!  They may not know it, but these people are kind of like celebrities in my world. We chatted a while but mostly I just watched as they tickled and went ga-ga for Kannon.

At the end of the day, we were rewarded with some beautiful Aden + Anais swaddling blankets and another BumGenius 4.0.  I packed up the car and headed back to Seattle on a somewhat quiet drive--Clark was a little grumpy and expressed it (loudly) every 3 miles or so. 

Both boys are now sleeping and I am savoring my new goods.  Thank you Cotton Babies, Jenn, Libby and Melissa for a wonderful day!!!!  I feel like a Cotton Babies princess!

mama confesses:: crunchy resolutions

Call me a hippie, a granola, an earth-mama, whatever, it won't hurt my feelings.  Dale and I are very environmentally conscious.  We always have been and always will be.  We recycle, conserve energy, cloth diaper, compost and more. 

Why?

Why not?  It makes us feel good.  It is a responsible decision.  We value the decision we make for ourselves, our family, and our earth.  But there is always more we can do.

This year, I decided to get a little crunchier.  Now that we are back in Seattle there are so many ways we can continue to change our lifestyle in favor of Mother Earth.  Fortunately, a lot of these changes are easy, more convenient, and cheaper!

1.) Walk more, drive less.  It is a pain to get the kids loaded up, unloaded, loaded again, and unloaded just to go to the grocery store.  Seriously, it is 2 blocks away.  We have been making walks to Trader Joe's.  I get my exercise, my car gets a break, and both boys get some fresh air.

2.) Dryer Racks.  Not only have dryer racks been a part of my photography set-up, they hold my diapers too.  I have always line dried my diapers but now I am starting to do the same with towels and clothes.  It is cheaper and no one cares if clothes go unfolded for a couple days :)

3.) Borax, Washing Soda, Oxyclean, Vinegar.  4 ingredients for universal cleanliness.  I have been making my own deodorant for months now but decided it was time to kiss our store bought detergents good bye.  I spent $10 on these supplies and made my own laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and all purpose cleaner.  When I run out, I make more, no more unnecessary trips to the store.

Laundry Detergent
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Oxyclean  

Shake in a container and add 1-3 tbls per load.

Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1/2 cup of Kosher Salt


Shake in a container, add 1 tbls per load.  Also add vinegar to rinse aid dispenser for added boost.

All-Purpose Cleaner
Spray bottle
1 cup plain 'ole vinegar
3 cups water

Shake and spray!


Coconut Oil Deodorant
1/4 Baking Soda
1/4 Constarch
6 tbls of Coconut oil 

Mix together until paste forms.  This lasts about 3 months for 2 people using it.  For added ease, store in an old deodorant tube and keep in your fridge.  Otherwise, any plain bowl or Tupperware will work. 

4.) Local. Buy local, eat local, live local.  Where does stuff come from?  How did your shoes end up on your feet, your water bottle in the fridge, or your car in the garage?  Think about it.  The further stuff travels to get to you the more resources are used in the process.  Support your local economy, your neighborhood businesses, and community farmers.  Buy stuff secondhand.  Make your own bread, coffee, and muffins.  Give up the chain stores and restaurants once in a while. Give a hand.  Just be local.  Learn about your community, get involved, go to Farmer's markets, and volunteer! 

5.) Love. Really?  Love yourself, your children, your neigbor, friends, and earth.  It is simple. 


What are your resolutions?

The Real World

After 6 days of ignoring emails, phone calls, and the internet it is back to the real world and that means back to work.  Whew.  I checked my emails to find more dryer ball orders to fill, blogs to read, emails to send and a cranky baby who refuses to leave my side after spending 7 hours in the car. 

We are back.  It feels good.  Despite the chaos we have returned to it feels good to have our bed, our kitchen, and our bath.  6 days away from home was clearly too long.  But we did have fun.  I cant wait to post pictures and share all about our adventures. For now that will have to wait but I will leave you with some clues to our fun:  zoo, Sophie, swimming, eating, shopping, and soooo much more. 

Before I return to more pressing issues, like announcing the winner of my first giveaway.  Now, there were only 3 entries, so it wasn't completely what I was hoping for.  But for those of you who did enter, thanks!  I used random.org true random number generator and was given the number 2.....which was:


Jessica Salonga, aka Mrs. Salonga 

Yay!  Another lovely set of dryer balls find their home!

Giveaway!

We have been scrambling trying to get our stuff to together to head over the mountains and through the woods to Seattle and I completely forgot that today marks my first product review. 

Okay, really, it was just a blurb but needless to say I am really excited!  A sweet Missoula mommy blogger was so excited to start using my dryer balls she blogged about me...and she has TONS of followers.  So I am hoping this means good news for my dryer ball business. 

In honor of this blurb, I am doing my first GIVEAWAY!  That's right, you too can have a set of dryer balls in your home!  To enter to win:

1.) Become a subscriber to this blog.
2.) Leave your email address and comment telling me about a travel adventure. 

I will pick a winner at random on Saturday and let you know by email that you have won.

Until then, happy St. Patrick's Day!  Wish us luck as we journey to Seattle on a 7 hour drive with a 4.5 month old, a dog, and a loaded car!

Finally...working from home!

Okay, not really. I am still working at my office most days but seeing as my contract ends in June I am constantly thinking of the future--trying to find a source of income that will allow me to stay at home full-time with my little man.

I feel guilty admitting that I would rather be at home than using my degree (which cost me $20,000) in a fulfilling career. However, I have my entire life to pursue all the careers I dream and Kannon will only be young once!

So this is the path I walk....I now make and sell dryer balls, produce bags, and other clever creations. It is not easy. There is a cost--my fingers are sore from winding balls and balls of yarn and my eyes are tired from working late into the night counting stitches and rows. But it is worth is to sleep in every morning, waking up to precious blue eyes knowing I have no agenda, no commitments, and no where to go.


Produce Bag

I am jumping ahead of myself as I am still working part-time but come summer I am trading in my work slacks and heels for full-time pajamas and unwashed hair....all in pursuit of happiness--and dryer balls.


My dryer balls

So what may you ask are these silly little balls I keep referencing? In a nutshell, they are balls of recycled wool yarn that I wind into balls, felt twice and package neatly in a handmade storage bag. Why use them? They help cut down the time it takes to dry your clothes by breaking up your laundry so hot air can penetrate the core of your laundry. We have found using 5 balls that our drying time is decreased by 40%...good for us, good for the environment, and good for our energy bill! In addition, dryer balls help pick up lint, pet hair, and remove static eliminating your need for harmful fabric softeners and dryer sheets which contain chemical additives not only known to be cancerous but on the EPA "Hazardous Waste List".

In a nutshell, never buy dryer sheets again, reduce your drying time, energy costs, and go green with dryer balls.

It gets really exciting!


The Good Food Store order $200 worth of products!

I sold six sets of dryer balls and 12 produce bags to the Good Food Store on Thursday. My husband just informed me that 3 days later, there are only 2 sets left. Woooooaaah!

There are other alternatives. Several companies make plastic, rubber, or pvc free balls. However, these tend to be noisy and have been rumored to damage clothes. There is also line-drying....but in Montana, in the middle of winter, this is not an option unless you feel like putting frozen underwear on your as$. You can also add vinegar to soften clothes, but you still have drying time to worry about. But wool dryer balls can be expensive and some folks have wool allergies. All in all, all products have their costs and advantages, just be open minded and aware of the products you are using.

Anyhow, I really hope that these nifty little balls and produce bags take off. Being a VISTA I have learned to live on a really tight budget and Dale and I have figured that I only need to make $600 a month to keep up the same lifestyle we have now. Between the Good Food Store and Farmer's Market this summer, some potential writing opportunities, blogging, and babysitting I should be able to come close.


Some produce bags

Check out my etsy site for new updates and products! http://www.etsy.com/shop/theyarnbox

Presenting....TheYarnBox

After weeks of creating, crafting, and crocheting I finally set up my etsy.com site!!! It is still in its beginning but has a few cute offerings for both our little ones and ourselves.

After getting so many compliments on the hats I have made Kannon and receiving so much support and encouragment from Dale, I finally took the plunge! So please check my site out and check back often for new items!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/theyarnbox

Cloth Diapering Journeys

We are in love. In love with our son, our life, the snow, the very decorated Christmas tree, and finally, our cloth diapers. We are VERY in love with cloth diapers. Despite the doubt and resistance we received from friends and family we always knew we would cloth diaper. For those of you who had doubts--we sure showed you!

For the first few weeks we used disposables and every day was a nightmare. I had poop on my legs, shirt, hands etc from EVERY single diaper explosion. I don't know if it was the breastfed poop or what but it managed to find its way everywhere EXCEPT Kannon's diaper. So when that disgusting umbilical cord finally popped off, we slapped on a prefold without ever turning back.

Kannon is almost 7 weeks now and we are still cloth diapering (cd'ing in my world) and looking forward to spending our Christmas cash on a new stash now that Kannon is growing out of the newborn prefolds. For those of you who are looking into Christmas presents, please send diapers! That being said, we have family in friends in town who will be introduced to the cloth diapering world, so I thought I would sort of do a diapering 101 so it wont be so confusing. Enjoy! If you have questions, feel free to ask!


Part of our stash

The Stash:
Our stash is pretty simple. We weren't sure what we were going to like so we started off with 24 prefolds, 2 Snappis, and 3 Thirsties covers which we got used for $48. Then we added 2 BumGenius 3.0s and 4 gDiapers. We also got 36 washcloths for $8 from WalMart which we use for wipes with a spray bottle. We can go 2-3 days between laundering. For our whole stash we spent $98 and our laundry costs are free since the cost of water and electric is already thrown into the cost of rent. Lets do the math: a 36 pack of diapers at $9 last us 3 days. Kannon is 7 weeks old, so had we been using disposables we would have already spent $130 on diapers...can you imagine how much we would have spent if using disposables for a year? Two? On other future children? So, our cloth diapers have already paid for themselves!


Our organization system

Washing:
Laundering is the best part. Instead of bundling up and heading to WalMart for disposables (which can sometimes take an hour or more) we just toss a load in. We run a cold rinse, hot wash, cold rinse with 1/4 of the recommended amount of detergent and a little lavender water. Then we toss everything but the BumGenius and covers in the dryer with a dryer ball. All in all, this process takes an 1 hour and 20 minutes---plus, I get to stay in my pj's the whole time. For a complete list on washing diapers


Kannon in a Little Lions prefold and Thirsties Cover

Prefolds:
These are the most simple and straight forward. They are pretty absorbant and very forgiving, which with the millions of different ways you can wash cloth diapers, we like that simple fact. You can fold them in a variety of ways using the newspaper, jelly roll, angelwing, bikini twist or can fold in threes and stuff in a cover. We use snappis instead of pins and throw on one of our Thirsties covers. We love to use the bikini twist fold, as it seems to do the best job containing all the messy poop and fits the trimmest between our little one's thighs. For more information on folding.


Kannon in his gDiaper

gDiapers:
We were initially really excited about using gDiapers. For the first couple weeks, we used prefolds as inserts and it worked great. Then, Kannon got bigger and getting his gDiapers to fit was more of a problem, in fact, he peed everywhere but the diaper (including onto my 20 year old brother who was not so thrilled about this). So, we started using terry cloth inserts that I found onsale and now we are in love with our gDipes again. Dale likes these because we can keep them preloaded for nighttime changes. You simply place the insert into the plastic liner and snap the liner into the cloth cover and voila. You put it on just like a disposable and when the diaper is soiled, you just toss the insert in the laundry and place a new insert in. These are more expensive than prefolds but have a little more to offer in terms of convenience. For more info on gDiapers.


Kannon in his BumGenius 3.0


BumGenius 3.0:
This is your standard pocket diaper and we have a love-hate relationship with it. The diaper is made of two pieces, an outer cover made of PUL waterproof fabric and lined with microsuede and a microfiber insert that you place inside the pocket. These are easy to keep preloaded and you slap them on just like a disposable. The great thing we love about these is the ease, trimmness, absorbancy (great nighttime dipe!) and they are one-size so they can be used for years to come. However, we still have our issues. We are not crazy about pulling a wet, heavy, stinky insert out of the pocket, especially in the middle of the night. My husband often forgets this step, which leaves me searching through a pile of dirty dipes in the morning to pull out a COLD, stinky, wet insert. Dale hates the price of BG's which are $17 a pop (remember though, you will use these for years!). These are a little trickier to wash and every time I wash them, I feel like I am playing with fire. I am sure it will get easier as we go along. We are still in search of other options, I have heard SmartiPants are a good alternative but we shall see. Really, our complaints are small as these are probably the BEST cloth diapers. If I could afford a whole stash of these, I would probably go for it, but for now, these are our luxury dipe. For more info on BG's.

Dale and I fight every day over what our favorite diaper is. I love the BumGenius 3.0s but Dale likes the simplicity and forgiveness of your standard prefold and cover. We love our gDiapers but we ADORE our BG's. We havent tried your all in one's nor have we ventured onto fitteds. There are so many options from BSRB's, to GoodMamas, FuzziBunz, and more. The makers of BumGenius now offer Flip! and EconoBum. There is so much uncharted diaper territory! Yet, as Kannon gets bigger and in need of something a little more absorbent I am sure we will start exploring more of our options....I wish we could just ask him what he preferred....although, I am guessing he could care less as he has been spending more time pooping the bath than in his diaper!

The $38 "Green" Nursery

After two baby showers and very generous family Dale and I had baby stuff coming out of our ears. Our living room was a mine field trying to navigate the way from the bedroom to the bathroom during the night. Originally we weren't going to set up the baby's room until later but after too many stubbed toes, cursing, and more stuff we decided enough was enough and turned our spare room into an awesome little nursery for $38. Crazy, I know!

I had the perfect nursery pictured in my mind but Dale and I are limited in funds and really against buying new stuff only to fill our garbage with more packaging and waste. We aren't super "green" people but we are eco-conscious remembering to recycle, use reusable bags, and live a close to waste-free lifestyle. So imagine my excitement when I found two gallons of low-voc paint downstairs that had been left behind by a former tenant. The creamy latte and olive green paint inspired my nesting instinct and by the end of the day, our formerly wood-paneled spare bedroom was colored and ready for set-up!



Dale spent 4 hours one morning cursing from the bedroom as he set up the crib, but in a matter of time and patience the crib was settled into its final spot. We had a dresser that fits a changing pad perfectly, a rocking chair and ottoman that we bought for $10 at Goodwill, and a rug that came from my office. All that was needed was some wall art and a few shelves.



Dale suggested putting maps up and after all those years of collecting travel maps and post-cards I found a use for them! Maps of Italy, Germany, France, and Amsterdam fulfill our travel-bugs and post-cards that line the crown-molding will hopefully someday inspire our little one!



I found a shelf in the garage and added a coat of paint and with one trip to Target we found our nursery complete. We found a garbage can, mesh laundry bags (perfect for cloth diapers!) and organizational baskets (in addition to a few other items) for $28.



With a little creativity and some extra paint, we were able to turn our formally drab spare-room into a comfortable room that truly feels like a vacation within our home...and all for the low price of $38. The best part, it was all recycled, gifted, and (almost) waste-free. And of course, when I realize that I am changing a diaper full of shi* all I have to do is look up at the map of Paris and reminisce my days of parading the Champs d'Elysee.

.

Did I mention that we also scored a free bassinet from our neighbors to keep at our bedside for those early weeks??? Amazing.

The Business of Being Born

After weeks of searching the library I finally found a copy of the 'Business of Being Born'. I was so excited to watch it while Dale was at work. I set up shop on the couch and even put on the projector for a wide-screen movie effect.

The movie was very interesting and offered lots of historical evidence about the myth of midwives. However, I felt that the movie was very one-sided and in the end, I felt guilty, like I made the wrong choice choosing to use a doctor/ob-gyn instead of a midwife.

Midwifery is an important practice and there is a lot of truth about the facts that were presented in the movie. Europeans do use more midwives and have a lower birth rate. It is true that some doctors rush women during childbirth and use more interventions. Overall, it is a personal choice. Women must be presented both sides and be allowed to choose. I don't think bashing the medical field is really a way of persuading women to use midwives.

Personally, I would love to use a midwife. However, this is my first child and I am in constant fear about the process of labor. If something goes wrong, I would like it to be handled as quickly as possible. Living in a rural area that fear is doubled because I don't want to drive 25 minutes to a hospital during a life/death situation. My health insurance also only covers using an ob/gyn. I do plan on making a very clear birth plan and will understand that if after 20 hours of labor and the baby is breech that plan is followed, that is okay. Ultimately, the choice comes down to women and whatever choice that is should be respected and understood.

One thing that came to my attention during the movie was the practice of epidurals and pitocin. I did a little research to investigate the consequences of using pain medication and pitocin. Lake and producer Epstein were correct on this point. Using pain medication during labor slows the process of labor down. When that process is slowed, doctors issue pitocin to increase contractions and speed labor up. Of course, the epidural wears off and more pain medication is given and then pitocin is given and the baby can go into distress. Women in labor should be made aware of that rolling effect. If we practice using natural childbirth the need for interventions may be less likely, but who really wants to deal with the pain?

I was already toying with the idea of natural childbirth and after researching the effects of epidurals and pitocin I have decided that I would like to go natural. Women have been having babies for hundreds of years. Some tolerate the pain some don't, its a personal choice. I have a very high tolerance for pain and I am also very confident about my body to go natural. Of course, when I am in labor and feeling those contractions my opinion may change. Regardless, I am just glad to be informed about the options.

People ask me "what kind of birth are having" and I was so perplexed. Everyone around me has had elected c-sections and I just assumed that was the practice these days. I have come 180 and and am glad to have researched the various options, opinions, and perspectives concerning childbirth. 'Business of Being Born' may have been one-sided but it did inspire me to look further into childbirth practices in order to make a personal choice about my childbirth experience. Ultimately, that is whats most important.

After watching the movie I also watched 'Pregnancy for Dummies' which portrayed a more medical perspective of pregnancy and childbirth. This movie provided very valuable information and made me less nervous about childbirth. For all you moms-to-be wanting a clear answer to those pregnancy concerns, check this movie out!