Piano Man

JC, Jackson, Naughty.  Mostly Naughty.  He’s the piano man around here.  We got the piano a few years ago from a friend for free.  It needs a little work, which we still haven’t done, but even spending a little money on it will be worth it.  JC seems to be the most interested in the piano.  Every time he passes by he hits a few keys.  The thing we both like about JC’s interest in the piano it that he doesn’t just pound on it like any toddler would.  He uses only his index fingers and pokes keys….and sings. Loudly.  I’m not saying by any means we have a prodigy on our hands, I’m fairly certain we don’t.  But at least we have a little guy that will appreciate music.

I Heart Faces–Anything but a face!

This week’s photo challenge at I Heart Faces is “Anything but a face”.  It was once again a hard choice to make, but I love this shot so much I thought I’d give it a try.  This photo was from this summer, the day I turned my back for a second and discovered JC had found the only mud puddle around as was wading in!

THIS one was my first runner up for today’s post.

Want to see other entries?  Please visit I Heart Faces!!

Naughty

 I refer to him as JC, but I never call him that.  He goes by Jackson sometimes.  Mostly he answers to the name “Naughty”.  He’s earned that name being the little boy he is.  Naughty is SO much more boy than his big brother.  This kid can’t sit still (unless SpongeBob is involved).  He’s always getting into things, taking things apart, coloring on things with crayons that weren’t properly rounded up.  He also man handles his big sister, which isn’t hard since he is months away from outweighing her even with a 2 year difference in age.  But after the tornado, after he has ripped up your magazine, he crawls up into your lap and snuggles in.  How can you not love that??

My own Samson

So I’ve struggled with this for quite some time.
To cut or not to cut….his hair.
I am so in love with this boy’s crazy long curly blonde hair that I can’t bring myself to do it.

We started calling him our Samson.
His strength must be in his hair.
I keep thinking that if we cut it off he’ll not be him anymore.

I think he looks like a little surfer.
When he’s not being called a girl.
Honestly, that’s the only time I feel like cutting it.
I took these pictures in preparation for the big day.
I was all set, clippers in hand….but I couldn’t do it.
What if, when it grows back, it’s not the same.
I’m sure his hair will eventually be darker, maybe the curl will be gone.
I will miss that hair.  I’m trying to save it in pictures.
Daddy has already said he’s given up, he no longer cares if we don’t cut it.
And he’s the military man!

 

Of course, we’ve never let our son’s hair go that long.
Well, almost never.
And I took care of that sooner.

(How much do you love those freckles?!)

A Thousand Words Thursday

Spring 2009: Max, ever protective and on the look out.  He’s probably just making sure I don’t do to little brother what I did to his hair.

Visit TheMomJen for more ATWT!

When the cat’s away…

the baby will play….in the mud.  I turned my back for just seconds to watch the girls practice at softball.  When I looked back, JC had found the only mud puddle left in the park.  I of course, grabbed my camera.  Why would I let him play in the mud?  At this point, it was too late anyway.  Besides, he’s washable, and was having as much fun as I was taking pictures. 

Cloth Diaper Updates – Babyland, Coolababy, Sweet Doll Baby, Rainbow BB

I have written several reviews now on various non-name brand one size pocket cloth diapers.  A few readers have asked for updates on how they’re holding up.  Armed with pictures I’m now ready!!!

The reviews I have done before are on Babyland, Coolababy, Sweet Doll Baby, Rainbow BB and Fuzzi Bunz.  You can click on any of these to see the original reviews.   I have had the Coolababy and Rainbow BB for almost a year now, and the Fuzzi Bunz just under that.  The newest in my stash (still several months old) are the Babyland and Sweet Doll Baby.  To be truly honest, I think the Rainbow BB diapers are the only ones I wouldn’t purchase again.  Almost all of my 12 diapers have needed replacement elastic in the back or legs (click here for tutorial).  Although the rest of the diaper has held up well, and they are all still in my rotation, I didn’t like having to pull them out of rotation to repair them!  All the other diapers have held up very well and I really don’t have any complaints. 

Outer Fabric PUL (polyurethane laminate)

These are shots of the diapers new (left) November 2009 shortly after I purchased the Babyland and Sweet Doll Baby diapers.  The second shot is the same diapers April 2010.  As you can see, the only real wear is on some of the faded tags.  I have not experienced any de-lamination (when the plastic waterproof laminate separates from the fabric).  One or two of the diapers have stains on the front where baby dropped food on them.  My bad!  That is totally avoidable!  Except for the elastic issues with Rainbow BB I have been quite happy with all of these.

I bought a set of Babyland diapers that had prints on the PUL.  The fabric, rather than being standard polyester material, is more of a flannel.  I love the feel and look of these.  Unfortunately, the fabric has pills all over it now and I dare not do anything about that for fear of damaging the PUL.  They also wick (pull moisture out to the surrounding fabrics) easier, so I don’t use these for nap time or overnight because baby will wind up soaked.  I still love the look, and I use them often during the day.  They are just not as versatile as the rest of the stash!!

Inside Fleece

These are the fall pictures (left) and spring pictures (right) of  Rainbow BB, Sweet Doll Baby, and Babyland.  As you can see, no matter the brand, the fleece pills just a bit.  I find they are still soft and work effectively.  This is just the natural wear of the fleece lining.  The bonus to fleece?  It is extremely difficult to stain.  I still have NO diapers with stains.  Two hints on keeping them stain free:  rinse as soon as you can (I’ve let them go a day before with no problems), and I use a flushable (I don’t flush them!) liner to catch the solids.  The liner doesn’t always catch everything, but it sure does help clean up.  I feel a lot better about throwing away a small liner than a whole disposable diaper.

 

Yes, even the name brand Fuzzi Bunz diaper’s fleece shows some wear, so I think the look of the other diapers is very acceptable. 

Fit and Adjustability

The first shot is my guy at 11 months in a Rainbow BB.  Aside from occasional wing droop (the part below the tabs hanging out) They fit very well.  Even when he was younger they fit well.  I don’t however feel that the Rainbow BB will fit a newborn, even though they advertise the adjustable rise in their Ebay listing.  The next two shots are of my now-18-month-old guy in a Babyland.  As you can see, there is still plenty of room for growth, and he is average to stocky build.  I do believe the Babyland would fit a large newborn with the adjustable rise and the overlap tabs that the Rainbow BB doesn’t offer.  The Sweet Doll Baby has these as well.

Those stinky inserts….

Okay.  Yes, the microfiber inserts, because of their extreme ability to absorb, can get stinky!!  I have found a good working solution to this problem.  Typically I wash the outer diaper and all the inserts together with my Crunchy Clean diaper soap on Warm/Cold (and often a cup of white vinegar).  I usually throw in a bath towel or something to help keep the load balanced and turn on the “second rinse” feature.  Every third or fourth load I separate the outers from inserts.  I wash the inserts all alone in HOT and include bleach and vinegar, with a cold double rinse.  If you can, stop the wash while the bleach is in the water and let them soak for a while before continuing the cycle.  I line dry as often as I can, but since the baby doesn’t seem to appreciate frozen diapers, I can’t line dry in the winter.  I tumble dry at the lowest heat setting.  Hanging your diapers out side in the sun as often as possible is a much better alternative and a natural stain and stink remover!

All in all I’m happy with my stash.  I am still using the diapers I purchased and I feel they have a lot of life left in them.  If we have any more babies, I feel confident they will still be useful again!  Actually I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to my cloth diapers.  I take a lot of pictures!

I hope this update has helped.  Feel free to link to this or any of my other reviews, or to ask questions!!

Tackle it Tuesday – JC’s room

 

My house is still a disaster, I figured the only way to stay on task was to blog about it, and 5 Minutes for Mom happens to have the remedy: “Tackle It Tuesday”.  Now, I have to admit that this week’s room of choice has been a long standing sore spot around the house.  We just had major water damage and work to do on the main floor, but this room is on the third floor.  (Yes, we have three full floors – no wonder I get behind!)  The shape of this room is embarrassing, but at least we’re not on “Hoarders” quite yet.  JC’s room, formerly the “toy room” or as we used it, the dump-it-in-there-if-you-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-it room began it’s life as an extra room where we stored boxes we hadn’t gone through after we moved.  That was now 5 years ago.  I am standing firm on the new pledge:  If we haven’t needed it in 5 year, we probably never will.  Time to purge!!!  With that in mind, here’s the room:

         

Anyone who’s been to our house recognizes this garbage dump as the “toy room”.  The black hole of toys.  I decided to just start at the door and tie a rope around my waist and make my way to the back.  On one side of me a garbage bag, the other side a tote for actual “keeper” toys.  When the kids would come to see what was going on, I swear they thought it was Christmas.  Long lost toys reappeared.  Some we parted with and donated, others we decided were trash.  This was much more than a one-day project.  I am proud to say we made it out alive!!

We bagged up two large bags of broken toys and empty boxes.  I found two disgusting sippy cups that also got trashed.  JC has a cute crib bedding set that I was finally able to use, complete with a matching valance.  Now all this room needs is a good color to be painted…. any suggestions?

 

I Heart Faces – “Hands On” Fun

 

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to participate in I Heart Faces’ challenges (so long they’ve even changed the logo!).  This week is all about hands and I’m thrilled because I have one of my favorite pictures to enter!!

Certainly Not Me

It’s been so long since I’ve participated in an MckMama’s “Not Me” Monday, I thought I’d give it a go today. 

Needing some peace and quiet while I tried to clean up the house I did not barricade the 1 year old in his room (full of toys, mind you) so I could work without a clinging baby underfoot.  I also did not leave him in there until he fell asleep on the floor with his favorite blankey.  I don’t ignore my children, ever.

I did not hide dirty pans in the stove when my in-laws came over to have their pictures taken for Christmas. 

I did not pre-heat said oven full of dirty pans before realizing they were still in there.

I did not run the egg cooker on the toaster dry and stink up the house.  I did not blame the stink on the wet dog.

I did not skip fixing my hair for a photo shoot because I knew I’d be outside in a winter hat.

I did not miss church for the third time because my husband is driving the only vehicle that accommodates four children in actual seats.

I did not let the kids watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for movie night.  It would be way too scary for them!

I did not take a bazillion pictures rather than clean up the baby when he practiced using utensils.

I did not get someone to work for me just so I can go with a friend to Minneapolis and have dinner with MckMama!!!

Just keep your socks on…

“all gone” 

This kid literally cannot keep his socks on.  Can not. Will not.  I believe its an exercise in patience for me.  Its chilly in this house and that little guy’s toes are always cold and dusky looking.  Every time I turn around he’s pulling off his socks again.  I tried putting on legwarmers just so he’d have trouble getting the socks off and give up.  Nope.  I guess at least I can say he’s determined.

Wordful Wednesday is hosted by Angie at Seven Clown Circus.  Please drop by her place to get your Wednesday on!