So this week has been "naked baby week". It started Monday afternoon after her 18-month pediatrician appointment. Her pedi gave us the go-ahead, so we went for it. She had one accident Monday afternoon, one Tuesday afternoon, zero Wednesday, and one this morning already, but really i think that's pretty good considering she pees every 45 minutes and poops 2-3 times a day.
Tuesday we even drove 20-30 minutes away, went shopping at Target and then JC Penney, and grabbed lunch at NYNY Pizza. In Target she started saying "potty". She got urgent in JC Penney so i took her to the "family restroom", where i stayed for a solid 45 minutes. Poor thing WANTED to go but couldn't quite get comfortable enough. Thankfully i had tucked the donut toilet ring into the diaper bag. Weird or not, it was necessary! We ended up leaving and getting lunch, and we each made 2-3 trips to the bathroom before she finally peed. Yay!
Similarly, Char and i drove 45 minutes to visit my dad yesterday. She started saying "potty" about 10 minutes from his house. i brought her little toilet as well as the donut ring and she used each there. To say my dad was impressed would be a major undestatement!
Right now our tactic is to let her be naked at home (dress and legwarmers but no diaper or underwear) and wear training underwear when we go out in public or outside to play. This week so far that strategy has worked great! She still wears a diaper at night and for naptime but i think naptime may be unnecessary, but bedtime is necessary.
My hope is she'll stop having accidents or only rare ones by the weekend so that next week the nanny can continue this path until she's 100% bulletproof in a few weeks hopefully. She's not rebelling or upset at all, so far anywa, so that's awesome. If things continue, well, i'm thrilled!
Oh, and yesterday aftrnoon i did diaper laundry. i had done laundry Sunday so this was right about 3 full days' worth of diapers. There were 3 bedtime/nap diapers and 5 daytime diapers (which were probably all Sunday/Monday before we started the naked baby thing.
And a cute-ism... It's so adorable when she takes a doll or stuffed animal over to the potty chair and says "Ssssssss". OK, so it's the kind of cute a mom would recognize, but it's still cute!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Cloth Diaper Snap Conversion Tutorial
As you may know, we've been using cloth for about 3-4 months now, and i adore it. i really prefer the natural fiber all-in-ones, as they allow Char to feel wet, which should facilitate potty learning (more on that soon). She's not a real heavy wetter, thank goodness, so AIO's are fine for us.
My favorite diaper for ease of use and how they feel (after a quick spin in the dryer on low for fluffy factor) are Bamboo Babies. However, they're also my very least favorite diaper because they have the worst worst worst velcro/aplix ever. i got one new and one used and within 2 months i couldn't tell the difference (and the used one was WELL used). Maybe this picture will show what i mean:
See how "fuzzy" it is? And see how the lime green PUL is also somewhat "fuzzy"? That's because the laundry tabs are terrible and it just picks at the PUL. And since the PUL is what makes the diaper waterproof, this is not good. Plus it's a PITA to pick apart a laundry chain every time i do laundry.
Most aplix diapers have a laundry tab so that you can fold down the wings and attach the velcro and *in theory* not have to worry about the velcro picking the fabric or creating laundry chains. some laundry tabs are better than others and the Bamboo Babies SUCK. But, they're not hurting anyone so my choice is to leave them there, but you can just as easily remove them. Removing the velcro actually takes longer than putting the snaps in!
To get started, mark the center of your diaper (i tried a quilter's white pencil but it didn't mark so i marked VERY lightly with a regular pencil, which will wash off). Then mark the horizontal line on the front of the diaper where the snaps will line up. We're going to have 2 rows of snaps and they'll be about 3/8" inside the outer edges of the former velcro. Then measure out and mark in 1" increments the width of the front of the diaper (the white snaps were already part of the diaper; used to increase or decrease the rise to make it a one-size diaper. Our snaps will be orange).
Also mark the wings where the snaps will go.
To put the first snap in, poke the awl tool through all layers at one of the marks.
Please note that i said "poke the AWL", not "poke the owl". Poking an owl could be very dangerous and really just isn't very nice. Please be kind to the owls and poke with the awl instead. i started on the wings.
My favorite diaper for ease of use and how they feel (after a quick spin in the dryer on low for fluffy factor) are Bamboo Babies. However, they're also my very least favorite diaper because they have the worst worst worst velcro/aplix ever. i got one new and one used and within 2 months i couldn't tell the difference (and the used one was WELL used). Maybe this picture will show what i mean:
See how "fuzzy" it is? And see how the lime green PUL is also somewhat "fuzzy"? That's because the laundry tabs are terrible and it just picks at the PUL. And since the PUL is what makes the diaper waterproof, this is not good. Plus it's a PITA to pick apart a laundry chain every time i do laundry.
So, i asked for a KAM snap pliers kit for Christmas, and Santa delivered! i already "snappified" one of my Bamboo Babies diapers and decided to do a tutorial if anyone is interested. We'll start with the snaps:
The top and third rows are the caps. They are actually kind of sharp so watch out! The second row is the male part and the bottom is the female part. When finished, the male will snap into the female and each will have a cap. i'm using orange to provide a good contrast with the green diapers and the white rise snaps, and because white is more in demand ;). i don't plan to sell this diaper so no problem for me.
Here's the rest of what you need:
The pliers, the snaps of course (though you'll need many more), and the pointy awl tool that came with the pliers. Here's a close-up of the pliers. Can you see how one of the sides has a hole in the middle? This is for the pointy part of the snap cap, so make sure either the male or female is nestled in this side so the point of the cap will poke through into this hole. Otherwise, it's virtually fool-proof.
The VERY first step will be to remove all of the velcro or aplix from your diaper. Use a seam-ripper, but be sure to remove the threads individually to prevent pulling or tearing the PUL. You'll need to remove the tacky aplix from the wings and the soft aplix from the front of the diaper.
The top and third rows are the caps. They are actually kind of sharp so watch out! The second row is the male part and the bottom is the female part. When finished, the male will snap into the female and each will have a cap. i'm using orange to provide a good contrast with the green diapers and the white rise snaps, and because white is more in demand ;). i don't plan to sell this diaper so no problem for me.
Here's the rest of what you need:
The pliers, the snaps of course (though you'll need many more), and the pointy awl tool that came with the pliers. Here's a close-up of the pliers. Can you see how one of the sides has a hole in the middle? This is for the pointy part of the snap cap, so make sure either the male or female is nestled in this side so the point of the cap will poke through into this hole. Otherwise, it's virtually fool-proof.
The VERY first step will be to remove all of the velcro or aplix from your diaper. Use a seam-ripper, but be sure to remove the threads individually to prevent pulling or tearing the PUL. You'll need to remove the tacky aplix from the wings and the soft aplix from the front of the diaper.
Most aplix diapers have a laundry tab so that you can fold down the wings and attach the velcro and *in theory* not have to worry about the velcro picking the fabric or creating laundry chains. some laundry tabs are better than others and the Bamboo Babies SUCK. But, they're not hurting anyone so my choice is to leave them there, but you can just as easily remove them. Removing the velcro actually takes longer than putting the snaps in!
To get started, mark the center of your diaper (i tried a quilter's white pencil but it didn't mark so i marked VERY lightly with a regular pencil, which will wash off). Then mark the horizontal line on the front of the diaper where the snaps will line up. We're going to have 2 rows of snaps and they'll be about 3/8" inside the outer edges of the former velcro. Then measure out and mark in 1" increments the width of the front of the diaper (the white snaps were already part of the diaper; used to increase or decrease the rise to make it a one-size diaper. Our snaps will be orange).
Also mark the wings where the snaps will go.
To put the first snap in, poke the awl tool through all layers at one of the marks.
Please note that i said "poke the AWL", not "poke the owl". Poking an owl could be very dangerous and really just isn't very nice. Please be kind to the owls and poke with the awl instead. i started on the wings.
Now place a cap through. Since this is the wing, the flat side will be on the outside of the diaper and it will poke out toward the inside of the diaper.
Now place a male piece over the point and place the pliers over both sides (remember the flat side of the cap should be against the shallow piece on the pliers so the poky part goes into the hole).
Now, some might say just squeeze the pliers, but really there's no satisfying noise that goes along with the squeeze. So i say squeeze the pliers and say "Ka-chunk" while doing so. It's a little like saying "Abra Cadabra" and supplies some of the magic to the process.
Repeat for both snaps on both wings. The front of the diaper will be exactly the same, except you'll use female pieces instead of males.
(This shot also shows the light pencil marks and the 2 snaps on the wing in the side). Now, to make it truly a one-size diaper, you should add 2 more female snaps pointing OUTWARD on the wings about an inch outside of the male snaps one ONE of wings. This way, when that wing is closed first, the other wing can be closed on top of it, making a very small waist (and when the rise is snapped closed, it should fit a babe starting around 9 or 10 pounds).
(This shot also shows the light pencil marks and the 2 snaps on the wing in the side). Now, to make it truly a one-size diaper, you should add 2 more female snaps pointing OUTWARD on the wings about an inch outside of the male snaps one ONE of wings. This way, when that wing is closed first, the other wing can be closed on top of it, making a very small waist (and when the rise is snapped closed, it should fit a babe starting around 9 or 10 pounds).
And there you have it! And just so you know, it took about twice as long to upload this to a blog post as it did to convert the diaper.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
What a wonderful Christmas!
i think back to 2 or 3 years ago and how i was happy but underneath it all i was sad because i didn't know what the future would hold. 2 years ago yet one more holiday had arrived without a child in our home, without even being approved as we should have been long ago. In fact, Dec 26, 2008 is when we had decided to start domestic adoption, not knowing whether we would ever be approved for foster/adopt, and shortly after is when i started this blog!
Anyway, this Christmas was probably the best ever. i got to spend it at home with my 2 favorite people, Charlotte was in an excellent mood despite all the gifts and excitement being overstimulating. She had an early nap and it lasted 3 whole hours (crazy!) and woke happy and regenerized.
Santa was generous to her and the rest of us. In truth, Charlotte got enough toys for a set of triplets lol, but at least she's too young to be TOO spoiled. We may put some of them up until her birthday and put some extra money in her education fund instead of buying gifts.
So, here we have proof that Santa really did come! We only had one tree in our bedroom, but when we woke up yesterday we had one in the living room, too, with lots of toys and Santa left footprints and everything!
Note the doll in the middle stocking (Char's), the lovely 2 wood toys in front of the tree, and in the far right corner you can see part of the wooden play kitchen that MIL bought that Santa must have set up for us. How sweet of him! She got SO MANY toys from us, MIL, and my sister also. Plus Santa's footprints led us to a toddler playground outside! Wowee!!! My favorites are the doll and a doll sling i made her. Here she is opening gifts:
As for me, i got spoiled, too! Alan gave me a Kinderpack toddler carrier, a snap thingie for crafts(or changing velcro diapers to snaps), pajamas, cutting boards, and Photoshop Elements! Woo hoo! Santa gave me a corkscrew, bottle opener, S'Mores making kit, and a Rubiks game.
And my favorite photo of the day for oh so obvious reasons:
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
It's been a while
Sorry, i suck as a blogger. But you knew that.
A lot and not a lot has happened in the last month. Our adoption decree was actually signed by the judge this time, and paperwork has started trickling in about new insurance plans and whatnot. Hopefully soon there will be birth certificates, social security cards, etc.
i've been going a little (a lot) insane with Christmas shopping. i keep telling myself "This is the last year you can spoil her like this!" But i know i will anyway lol.
i think we're getting really close to potty learning. We sort of are, just somewhat slowly. It started with another diaper rash about a week or two ago (she gets rashes anytime poop sits on the skin, and in this case she must have pooped in the car and then taken a long nap that started in the car), and we had her go pants-less for most of a week. We bought a froggy potty chair but she kept taking the bowl out and then peeing/pooping in it. i think the handles on the side of the bowl stick out in an uncomfortable way. Anyway, we now have the biggest Bjorn potty which she uses pretty well but she still likes the regular potty with the insert. Most of the time when i get home from work she wants to be pants-less again, and honestly she's doing really really well. Some days she has 1 accident (out of 3 or 4 "incidents") but less and less, and asks for potty with Alan and our nanny frequently. i've been looking for some training pants and such and plan to have her spend a lot of naked time the week after Christmas when i'm off and Alan is off all but one day.
A lot and not a lot has happened in the last month. Our adoption decree was actually signed by the judge this time, and paperwork has started trickling in about new insurance plans and whatnot. Hopefully soon there will be birth certificates, social security cards, etc.
i've been going a little (a lot) insane with Christmas shopping. i keep telling myself "This is the last year you can spoil her like this!" But i know i will anyway lol.
i think we're getting really close to potty learning. We sort of are, just somewhat slowly. It started with another diaper rash about a week or two ago (she gets rashes anytime poop sits on the skin, and in this case she must have pooped in the car and then taken a long nap that started in the car), and we had her go pants-less for most of a week. We bought a froggy potty chair but she kept taking the bowl out and then peeing/pooping in it. i think the handles on the side of the bowl stick out in an uncomfortable way. Anyway, we now have the biggest Bjorn potty which she uses pretty well but she still likes the regular potty with the insert. Most of the time when i get home from work she wants to be pants-less again, and honestly she's doing really really well. Some days she has 1 accident (out of 3 or 4 "incidents") but less and less, and asks for potty with Alan and our nanny frequently. i've been looking for some training pants and such and plan to have her spend a lot of naked time the week after Christmas when i'm off and Alan is off all but one day.
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