Cloth from birth!

Well everyone, my EXTREME delay in posting can only mean one thing. Baby K is here!  He was welcomed into the world by Polish Prince, B, and myself one month ago today and it's been crazy ever since! I'm happy to say I was able to achieve my completely un-medicated VBAC when it came to his delivery. (It didn't help that by the time we got to the hospital I was already at a 9.5! No time for meds now!).  Anyway, I thankfully had packed our hospital bags a couple days before and had plenty of fluff for our new little man! 

Very first diaper! Rumparooz Lil Joey!

Polish Prince getting in on the action

Welcome Baby K! 9lbs 13oz!

 I'll be doing a post on my experience with the various diapers we've tried. But just to give you an idea, we have: 

Lil Joey's AIO

GroVia newborn AIO

One Sweet Pea Newborn AIO

Thirsties AIO size 1

BumGenius XS AIO

Bumkins Snap In One OS

Oh Katy pocket OS

Geffen Baby prefold size Small

Rumparooz and One Sweet Pea covers

Such a good big brother!

We were only in the hospital for about 26 hours, so there weren't many shift changes in the staff, but all of the nurses and the on-call pediatrician loved little man's fluffy bum! One was shocked at how easy they were to change on top of how cute they were! Plus, he looked so awesome rocking the colorful diapers with the little half shirt the hospital provides. I had no issues with the mecomium coming out of the diapers when I washed them and all of the diapers we brought fit into a medium wet bag so there was no need to worry about the laundry until a couple days after we were home. Overall, it was such a great success and I'm so happy we did it (and are continuing)!

Mama's got a Brand New Babe Review and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Mama's Got a Brand New Babe giveaway event, hosted by Going Green with the Grizls and Sew Fatty! This event will run from April 24th - May 8th and we will finish off with a Twitter party on May 9th from 9-10 PM EST!

Each blogger located on the linky below has put together an awesome prize suitable for either a new parent or baby worth a minimum of $25. =) Be sure to enter to win of TWO fabulous grand prizes!! Each prize is worth over $ and are made up of the perfect new baby and parent gift including prizes from an amazing list of sponsors including Boba, Gen-Y, Bamboobies, Kissed By the Moon, and Bummis!

Be sure to attend the Twitter party on May 9th from 9-10 EST to participate in the live drawing for the grand prizes. There will also be special prizes specifically for the Twitter party. You must tweet at least once during the party to be eligible to win.


Hashtag: #MamasBabe

Hosts: @GreenGrizls & @SewFatty

Now for my giveaway!! 

I'm so excited to write this post, for two reasons. 1) I get to introduce Bumkins' new and improved One-Size (OS) cloth diaper and 2) It includes a giveaway of not one but TWO brand new cloth diapers!

So let's get started. Local retailer, Zoolikins has generously agreed to sponsor the items for review and giveaway. Last year Bumkins revealed their new line-up of diapers which included changes to their sizing. The new cut fits a smaller baby while still fitting most toddlers. I have seen this diaper on a 7lb newborn (I will be able to personally test this theory come August!) and it fits my 23lb 19month old like a glove! I never cloth diapered B when he was a newborn, so I don't have a newborn "stash". As I start to grow a stash for baby #2, I'm noticing that most newborn AIO diapers have a limited shelf life--about 12-15lbs max and then they're ruled out. At $13-$15 a piece, that seems like a lot of money to invest in for such a short time period.  I like the idea that this diaper can fit a newborn and continue to be used as the baby grows, truly the definition of a OS diaper in my opinion.

A side by side of the new Bumkins sized as small as it can go, next to a Lil Joey newborn diaper

This brand new release of diapers reveals a bunch of "upgrades" to its predecessor. It keeps the same sizing for newborns on up, but they've also improved the PUL. This diaper not only has a waterproof PUL but also a TPU layer. (Without getting off-topic too much, here's a great article by my friend Julie about the difference between PUL and TPU). Anyway, this new waterproofing creates amazing leak protection while still being easily maintained. When you run your finger along the inside and outside of this diaper you can actually feel the difference in the material, it almost feels thicker, more secure than other brands, or other releases of Bumkins. Sticking with the outside appearance, Bumkins finally has SOLID colors! You know I'm a print junkie (to satisfy that, they have released Turtles in the new PUL/TPU) as much as the next person, but solids are great for multiple children-keeping it gender neutral.

So soft and thick!

In addition to improvements to the outside of this diaper, the inside had some "work done" too. The inner fabric for their Snap-In One diaper is a super soft cotton/bamboo blend. I love this because it's soft natural fibers against B's sensitive skin. The insert that this diaper comes with is a nice, soft, super-absorbent minky one, so you get the benefits of synthetics with the softness and absorbency of natural fibers right next to baby's skin. If you prefer all natural fibers, Bumkins also makes a snap in bamboo/cotton insert. This can easily be swapped out for the minky and makes this already trim diaper EVEN trimmer.

The snap in minky next to the snap in bamboo/cotton insert

The natural fiber inner makes the leg gussets roll in to create a seal

The fit of this diaper is smaller than most OS diapers, but not "too small" in my opinion to work for my toddler. Because it is made with a natural fiber inner, the legs roll in to create an awesome seal. Naptime, car seats, and a nasty stomach virus have proven to be no match for this diaper. There also is an extra bit of elastic along the top of the front of the diaper. It's kind of hard to see when it's on, but what it does is help the diaper to create a "seal" of sorts around the waist as well to prevent any leaking up the front. A definite necessity for boys and tummy sleepers.

A close-up of the elastic around the tummy

Everything stays nice and tucked! From the belly to the legs

B was lucky enough to be a tester for these diapers (one of the benefits of living in the same town as Bumkins ;)) and I could not wait for these to be released. The natural fibers, the soft inserts, the trim fit and the snug sizing make this my new favorite diaper.

So, now that your excited and ready to go, here's what's in it for you. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win 2 of the new Bumkins Snap-In One OS diapers. If you can't wait for the giveaway to end, you can always order yours through Zoolikins online! Oh, and one more thing, the new PUL/TPU also comes in their AIO and Stuff-It pocket diaper if you'd like to try other options as well!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclaimer: I was provided the product for review purposes. The opinions expressed are solely my own and may differ from your own. No other compensation was received**

Kinderstuff Review and Giveaway!

I've been taking a break on product reviews/giveaways lately to be able to focus a bit on my new business, plan for the Great Cloth Diaper Change, and spend time with my family. But, when I was approached by this company about reviewing their product, I couldn't resist. It was such a great concept that I had to spread the word. 

The company is KinderStuff. It's a kids clothing line with products made of only organic cotton and non-toxic materials. According to their website they:

 "decided to produce KinderStuff to the highest standard in German and American factories and use only the best organic cotton and non-toxic materials. This is how we make sure that everything we produce is 100% sustainable." 

Photo Courtesy of Facebook

Wow, sounds expensive right? Wrong! They deal direct to consumer only and have limited designs and quantities to prevent overproduction and excessive inventories. By eliminating the middleman and bringing the product right to you. You end up saving the money! Nothing on their website is over $23.00.  They only carry sizes up to 24 months at this time, but are planning on expanding their sizes and designs over the next six months. I can't wait to see what else this company comes up with!

So what do you do with these awesome clothes once your child outgrows them? Take them to a consignment shop, sell them at a rummage sale for $1? Nope! You contact KinderStuff, they provide free return shipping of your worn items, and in turn give you a discount towards your next purchase of sustainable clothing! Yes, your used, worn clothes are completely returnable for a future discount. Those clothes are either donated to charity, re-sold as "hand-me downs" or recycled. Now, not only are you saving time and gas by not  having to drive from store to store to try and get "top-dollar" for your used clothes, you're also helping get quality clothing into the hands of others! 

Have I gotten you excited yet? Kinderstuff wanted me to truly test their product rather than just write about it, so I did. They graciously sent me an item of my choosing for B. I picked out this cute sneaker t-shirt called "Tippy Toe" in size 18-24 months. Now, knowing B is a bit small for his age of 18 months, but I figured this shirt would shrink a bit in the wash, so I went with the larger size rather than the 12-18 months. 

Here's what I received in the mail: 

I was immediately blown away by the softness of the fabric and the vibrancy of the colors. I, oddly, couldn't wait to wash it convinced it would fade a bit or get roughed up since we don't use fabric softener. 

We're working on smiling :)

When I took it out of the wash, it looked identical to when it went in! The colors didn't change, the shirt didn't shrink, and the fabric was still super soft! I was impressed! Because B is thinner for his age I have no doubt this shirt will last through the summer and then some! I'm tempted to send it back at the end of B's use to try out their other clothes, but part of me wants to hold on to it for the next baby too! I can't wait to try out their bodysuits for the little one on the way. How cute would they be with a fluffy bum underneath and some baby legwarmers? Something this soft definitely needs to be next to a baby's skin!

 
Now, who's ready for some clothes for their little ones? KinderStuff has generously agreed to sponsor a giveaway where the winner gets to pick a product of their choice! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below and cross those fingers!If you want to increase your chances of getting your hands on one of these beauties, you can purchase them here. AND because KinderStuff is awesome, they're giving you two ways to save! Take 15% off your first purchase by using the promo code "GO-TEDDY324" AND take $5 by using code "GO-TEDDY328"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclosure: Thank you to KinderStuff for providing the review item. The opinions stated are my own and may differ from yours. No other compensation was received**

Cake! Everybody loves cake!

As many of you know I've started my own business recently. I've created a maternity conceirge service for naturally-minded parents. Those that question the "must-haves" that big-box baby stores tell you "need" for having a baby,  parents that want to be a little more green and eco-friendly but don't really know where to start. Sure, you've heard of a doula, but what do they do? What's a midwife? What's a birthing center? How can I successfully breastfeed? The internet can be an intimidating place for first time parents; not to mention first-time CLOTH parents. There's almost too much information out there, that it's hard to know where to start. That's where I come in.:) I'll tailor (primarily local) resources for your based on your concerns/needs and then help guide you through the unknown.

Anyway, enough about that, here's the fun part. As part of my services, I want to offer diaper cakes for baby showers. Showers inevitably bring an abundance of diapers, wipes, and cute little outfits. Why not make those reusable, and into a fun cake! Buying an entire diaper stash can be expensive, but if you register for one, and have it presented in a fun way, it becomes a great way to introduce others to modern cloth and help steer them away from bringing boxes of disposable products!

This is my quest. I'm still learning and needing to play around a little bit with different shapes and sizes, but I think I'm off to a great start! Here's my first attempt at a cloth diaper cake!

This little beaut is a great first-time cloth option for a parent planning to start cloth in the newborn stage. It contains 23 diapers total! Primarly indian cotton prefolds, but also has 4  Bumkins AIO diapers, 3 Fuzzibunz pocket diapers, a receiving blanket, a t-shirt and a onesie! Oh, and one lonley Thirsties Fab Wipe, but hey, it's just a start! I plan to tailor the cake to what is on the new parent's registry, but thought this could be a good "generic" start!

Any tips from those of you that have made your own? What would you look for in giving/receiving a cloth/green diaper cake?

Making it Official

When I found out I was pregnant with B, Polish Prince and I had been going through fertility treatments so we knew in the back of our minds it was always a possibility. We were surprised with how quickly it happened, but overall, not super surprised that we were going to have a baby. With this one however, there was all sorts of surprises. With surprises, come fun announcements. So here are a couple ideas for announcing a second pregnancy.

1) Telling Polish Prince:
After my initial freakout started to subside, I started to think of fun ways to tell my hubby. I went to my good friends at Zoolikins for help. In addition to cloth diapers and other natural parenting products, they also sell a variety of Dr. Seuss items. I thought it may be fun to do a Thing 1 and Thing 2 theme. So I picked up a Thing 1 t-shirt for B and a Thing 2 onesie for the baby. When hubby got home from work that day, B was wearing his Thing 1 shirt. He immediately noticed and said "Whoa, cool shirt buddy! Where'd you get that?" So I told him I took a trip to Zoolikins and saw it and thought it was cute. Little did I know Thing 1 and Thing 2 were Polish Prince's favorite characters. So anyway, I told him that I picked him up something as well, but it was in his stocking (since it was close to Christmas time). So he went to open it and pulled out the onesie. He looked confused for a second, and then looked at me and it clicked.

2)Telling my family:
We were planning to visit the midwest for the holidays to tell the majority of our family the good news, but my father lives in AZ nearby, so we wanted to tell him before we went home. We put a recent picture of the 3 of us in a Christmas card and brought it to his house. We were giong to watch a football game, so we grabbed some beer on the way over. On the inside of the card we wrote:
Gas $3.22
6-pack of beer $8.00 (or whatever it was, I don't remember now :))
Christmas Card $1.00
Watching your face when you realize there are 4 of us in this picture: Priceless

It took him all of 30 seconds to figure it out. My step-mom was next to him and read the card over his shoulder and figured it out just as quick.

3) Telling the in-laws
This was supposed to be a fun Christmas present, we were going to try and figure out a way to have B help tell them our news. Well, since I was so sick right away, there was now way to hide it. My in-laws weren't buying the "flu" theory, so we ended up telling them at dinner the night we got into town.

4) Telling extended family:
My extended family has a Christmas Eve tradition of getting together at my Grandma's house for Santa and snacks. Each person receives a gift from Santa that they are allowed to open that night. For B's gift we wrapped a toy and a copy of the book "I'm going to be a Big Brother". When it was his turn to open, he opened the present and my cousin's daughter was sitting near him. Everyone was asking what the book was, and she read the title outloud. Everyone's face was pretty shocked as they started to "get it" and it was quite fun to get to see it in person.

We had some fun with the announcements this time around. Have any of you done anything fun/creative? I'd love to hear it! 

Getting ready for two

As I adjust to this pregnancy, I can't help but feel some sadness mixed with my excitement. Sad because it happened so soon, sad because I'm worried about the adjustment, sad because it will no longer just be my little man and me and the undivided attention I am able to devote to him now, will have to be shared. I know parents say they love their children the same, but I wonder how/when that happens.

Someone shared this poem with me, and thought I'd share for those of you with more than one child, planning more than one child, or expecting more than one child. 

Loving Two

As I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me" And I hear myself telling you in mine,"I can't," knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her -- as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two.

There are new times -- only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how she adores you -- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments.

And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong.

And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you -- only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you -- you each have your own supply.

I love you -- both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

-Author Unknown-