Reading... finally!

I'm a huge reader. Well, okay, I used to be a huge reader. In college I kinda lost the habit (and missed it!) because I was so busy with classes, work and dating my wonderful Tim. After we were married, I was very sick (story for another day) and began a rather time-consuming job as a nanny. While I loved my life, I did miss the feeling of curling up on the couch with a good book. Now that Tim and I have a baby boy, I'm home again. This is such a blessing to our lives! And I have discovered tiny bits of time to read again.

Recently I finished "A Mom after God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. I'll be honest, this is my absolute favorite of her books (not that I've read all of them...)! It was a huge encouragement to me, and has helped me to begin implementing things into my routine that I knew "in theory" but just hadn't started doing yet. The book really made me realize that habits such as praying with your children (and especially praying FOR them), can never be started too soon.

I thank the Lord for the ability (and those tiny bits of time!) to read again. I'm praying that as I choose my books, His Spirit will guide me to topics and authors that will help me in my walk with Him, and teach this young woman how to love my husband and my child better each day.

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The lady at Walmart

Today I went to Walmart. Kyle was supposed to be sleeping through this shopping trip, and sure enough he fell asleep in the car on the way to the store, just as planned. However, he woke up by the time I had gotten through the produce section and proceeded to scream off and on through the rest of my very long list. I held him on my hip, and that seemed to help for a time... but overall it was a miserable trip.

As would happen on any such trip, I discovered that I HAD to use the bathroom about halfway through our shopping. I hate it when this happens, because it means carting myself, diaperbag, Kyle and today that carseat (which he had been napping in), into the restroom with me. Well there was no helping it, so cart them all in with me I did.

There was one other person in the bathroom. She was washing her hands as I came in, and I smiled and said hello, knowing how ridiculous I must look with arms full, makeup gone, hair a mess and absolutely frazzled. She smiled back and continued to wash her hands. I checked for a diaper changing station (which I also needed to use), and saw it closed up, on the wall by the sink.

So I got Ky into the stall, hung the diaper bag on the door, put the carseat on the ground, and put Ky into the carseat so that I could use the restroom. He SCREAMED bloody murder when I put him down. And he continued to scream, even though I talked to him saying "Ky-guy it's okay. Mommy just has to use the bathroom, then she'll pick you right back up and we'll go change your diaper together okay?"

Well when I left the stall (baggage in tow!) I found the diaper changing station pulled out and ready for me. I can't tell you how much that simple action, done by a total stranger, meant to me at that moment! Truly, it was a blessing... and a rebuke to me. How often do I, who have the love of Christ, walk through my day with eyes and ears open to the simple blessing I can be to others. What opportunities to bless have I been walking by, unseeing? Lord give me the eyes to be like that Walmart lady! And spread your love and joy to a dying world.

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Cloth Diapers

I just want to say, using cloth diapers is one of the best decisions I remember from 2010. I really love it! Saving money, while keeping my baby comfy and cute? It's great.

I actually used to be one of those people who "would NEVER use cloth diapers." I mean seriously, that's gross! But that was before I saw them demonstrated in our Bradley Birth Class. When I saw the Flips from Cottonbabies, I looked over at my husband (who had asked me to look into this concept) and said "THAT I can do."

The Flips are amazing! I love the fact that you don't have to push the insert into a pocket, it just tucks into the corners of the waterproof liner, and you're done. Somehow that seemed less gross to me. For Ky, the coverage is amazing, and blowouts rarely happen.

They expand to fit 8-35 pounds, and are really affordable... especially considering how long they can be used. Kyle is almost 20 pounds, and the diapers have way more expanding to go! No buying S, M and L sizes with these cloth diapers! Lord willing, I can have two kids in them at once!

We started with three "day packs," and that was a pretty good number. If I were superwoman and always on top of the laundry... we probably would have been fine with three day packs. We did two months on that number, and once we knew for sure we loved the system, we bought a fourth day pack. Now I have to be REALLY behind on laundry to run out of covers, and I never run out of inserts. The covers don't have to be washed every time. When the insert is just wet (and not totally soaked), I just set the cover aside and use it later that day. I love that about the system!

The colors are fun too. I can't wait to have a girl so I can buy the beautiful raspberry pink diaper covers! I also really like the snap closure. I think it's more durable than any other type, and once you get the hang of it... it doesn't take any time at all. It actually takes me longer to get Ky in a disposable diaper than the cloth ones. :-)

I LOVE my Flip Diapers!

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