Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Hey folks!

Well ... its certainly been a LONG time ... a lot has happened in the last almost 5 months ... can you believe it ... not a peep ... a few of you have contacted me over the last few months asking, "what happened?" Well, baby, movin' to a new city with baby, new to "stay at home mom," and much ... much ... much ... much ... much more! Over the next few weeks ... I'm gonna be workin' hard to fill you in ... fortunately, I've been keepin' a diary of sorts ... mostly focused on any and everything Zaila :D Keep checkin' back!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Induction?!!! NOW?!!! But I'm not ready!!!!!!!

Uh ... so, today I had my usual weekly doctor's appointment ... last week, apparently there was some increased protein in my urine. I had also complained about "seeing stars." Well, they had me do a 24 hour urine analysis (my second ... the first was in October). Today during my routine visit, my blood pressure was elevated ... also, the results of my 24 hour urine analysis were not great at all ... so, before I knew it, my doctors promptly informed me that it was time for me "head over" ... uh ... what the heck does that mean? It was time for me to head over to the hospital for an induction ...

I couldn't help but laugh ... that was genuine reaction ... I was in complete and utter shock ... "I'm going to be induced today ... today?!!!" Fortunately, I had time to go home to get my bags (all packed and ready), do a little last minute panicky running around the house, and to call my husband to let him know that "its time." So, in his very serious voice, he asked me a million questions (anxiety) all of which I didn't know the answer to ... but he was able to get a 6:30 p.m. flight this evening ... which for me was still nerve racking because for some reason I had it in my head that I would be admitted to the hospital, they would start the petocin, and I would have the baby ... all of which would take place without my husband getting here in time for the birth of our first child. Fortunately, I was wrong.

Mom and I took a cab to the hospital (too nervous to drive) and I should have known but when we got to triage ... seemed a little crowded ... it appears that I will not be the only momma having a baby tonight or tomorrow ... anywho ... I checked in (quick because I was already pre registered) and they sent me up to labor and delivery. We sat in the waiting room waiting for "someone to come to get us" and the manager came in to let us know that we didn't yet have a room ... that there ARE in fact a bunch of momas who are having thier babies TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. So, they sent us back down to triage to get some blood drawn and to have the monitors hooked up to begin monitoring the baby's heartrate as well as my blood pressure.

So, here we are ... still in triage ... waiting for a room ... the good thing is that I think my husband will definitely have time to get here ... looks like the induction won't begin for a while ... I was all setup at about 4 p.m. in triage and here it is 7:20 ... the husband's flight left at 6:30 ... pretty confident he'll be able to make it ... keep your fingers crossed ...

Friday, February 19, 2010

Petit Paquet

Ahh yes ... love it when small packages come in ... today? 3 used bububebes! Where are they from? Canada of course! I purchased these gently loved diapers (really feelin' the snoopy b4) from a Canadian mom on diaperswappers.com ... they're adorable ... check them out!


What else ... well, some random items ... toys, a backseat car mirror, and a bathtub toy holder ...

Random ... fut fun to receive all the same!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

New Books for Baby ...

So, I've been on a book buying frenzy ... want to make sure that the little one's library is well stocked ... I added two more to her library yesterday!



Baby Girl's New Hat!


Ahhhh ... I finally got it! Came in yesterday ... its perfect ... my lil lady's "winter hat!" It's a little "frilly" but I couldn't help myself ... its adorable and warm ...

Monday, February 15, 2010

Nursing bras ... :D

Well, besides a few other necessities, I needed to get a few nursing bras ... I just ordered 3. We'll see how it works out ... I've never ordered a bra online and to be honest, I really have no idea of how they're going to fit ... I just have a rough guestimate ... I probably should have gone in somewhere and been fitted but I liked the idea of saving myself 20% with an online coupon (http://www.retailmenot.com/view/bravadodesigns.com) ... if they don't work out, I'll just return them of course ...

Anyway, I went with bravado (http://bravadodesigns.com/home.asp?area=US) ... definitely a little more expensive than what I thought I would have to pay for some wireless bras (NOTE: by the way, I'm terrified about how comfortable they'll be ... I haven't worn a wireless bra since I was a freshman in high school) but then again, I typically purchase my bras from intimates ... which aren't cheap ... but seriously, nursing bras look like something you'd get at the dollar store ... nothing fancy. But on the other hand, that's not what I'm looking for anyway ... I just want something with good support and that won't cause my "ducts" to clog ... again, we'll see ...

Hope they get here in time ... remember, I AM FULL TERM :D

WooHoo! Full-term!

That's right baby! Two words ... FULL TERM ... my lil lady is almost here!

Here's what's been going on!

How far along?: Full term ... nuff said!
Total weight gain: At my 36 week checkup, a total of 28 pounds! Huhm ... I'm thinking that my total weight gain MAY be a little more than originally anticipated ... I was hoping for 26 pounds so I guess I've passed that at this point ... whatever ...
Maternity clothes?: Yep ... doin it up maternity style
How big is baby?: Glad you asked! Almost 6 1/3 pounds and likely longer than 19 inches in length ... she's such a big girl!
Stretch marks?: still nothing ... keep your fingers crossed ... although I have heard that they can show up once "lightening (the baby drops)" occurs or even AFTER the birth ... nice ...
Sleep?: Same old, same old ... No ... on and off throughout the night ... it sucks! I can't get comfortable in bed or on the couch ... last night, I started off on the couch, got in bed around 2 am and around 4:30 am, moved back to the couch ... no fun at all
Best moment this week?: Getting that much closer to finishing the nursery ... and as usual, watching my "demanding" little one play in my belly
Movement?: Yeah .... she's all over the place ... sort of ... well, not so much all over the place as she is strong ... strong hard movements are her thing these days ... she stops me in my tracks at this point from time to time and it definitely HURTS sometimes
Food cravings?: I've actually graduated to this weird "full" sensation ... if it wasn't bad for her, I'd feel totally satisfied with eating maybe once a day ... I hear that once "lightening" starts to happen (when the baby drops), I'll have more room to breath and my stomach won't be as "crunched" any longer
Labor signs?: I am experiencing braxton hicks contractions
Belly button in or out?: still in ... again, lets keep our fingers crossed ...
What I miss: alcohol ... not that I regularly indulge but 9 months and not even a drop ... I could use a mojito
What I'm looking forward to: The arrival of our little lady!
Milestone: During my research ... I came up with the following:

How your baby's growing:

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) labor is probably a few days away — or less. Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.

It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.

While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.


A lil nesting ...

So, I've been organizing the house as much as I can ... and I've finally "sort of" finished with the baby's dresser drawers ... I've organized her cloth diapers (though waiting on a shipment to arrive - used sbish and bububebes), her toiletries, a few of her blankets (including receiving blankets) ... annnnnddd ... still working on the closet and her chest of drawers ... and I'm definitely still working on my folding skills ... it seems that folding those teeny tiny clothes are a little more challenging than I thought they'd be ... here's a sneak peak ... at some of my organizing

Image I: This is her little tin box on top of her dresser located to the right of her changing pad ... not finished here but so far, you can see her cloth wipes, her Northern Essence Diaper Rash Salve, some liners, snappis, q-tips, and a spray bottle that will hold her diaper wipe solution - a few other things missing ... need to do some rearranging too ... maybe I should take out some of her wipes until I need them ... they're taking up a lot of room ...

Image II: This is a lil better view of her dresser with her diaper drawers open ...

Image III: This is the left diaper drawer, which holds some dyed flats and prefolds, green mountain red and yellow edge prefolds (2nds), some prefolds that I purchased from a local cloth diaper store, Chinese prefolds, and a couple of goodmama fitteds (used) ... the space there is where I'll place her used spish and bububebes once they arrive

Image IV: This is her right dresser drawer, complete with 24 kissaluvs (size 0), a few Olive Jane covers (love those), a few swaddlebees fleece covers, some proraps (used), bummis super brites (used), flip and econobums, several thirsties duo wraps, some bumGenius organic one size cloth diapers, a few FuzziBunz one size diapers, blueberry diapers, and 2 thirsties all in one diapers

Image V: Here's what I've done so far ... I purchased some drawer dividers ... a few hats, some bows, some of her bibs, wash cloths, a few of her cloth diaper inserts (the ones that have been prepped), some of her toiletries (another Northern Essence Diaper Rash Salve, thermometer, extra cloth wipes, etc.)

Image VI: Here are some of her blankets ... I think I could do a much better job of folding them ... they don't really look so neat ... huhm ... 2 more drawers in her dresser to go ...

Anyway, there's much more to be done ... but I have a good start ... thanks for peaking!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The WORST Time of the Day ...

Bedtime ... I hate to see it coming ... I can't get comfortable ... my back hurts ... strange popping in my lower back ... I end up tossing and turning the entire night ... my sleep is broken ... here it is 5:09 am and I'm anxious for the sun to rise ... tonight I may have had a total of 3 hours of sleep ... that's a generous estimate ... huh ... busy searching the internet ... I've watched our wedding video about 3 times ... I've taken a look at the nursery a few times [annoyingly waking Jua (the cat) from his sleep] ... and of course, I've watched tv ... I don't even like Law and Order: Criminal Intent but there's nothing else on ...I long for an SVU marathon at this time of the morning ... but no ... Criminal Intent ... its either that or "paid programming." Thinking about taking a drive to Starbucks ... I think they open at 5:30 ...

Friday, February 12, 2010

::jumping up and down!!!!!!::

Image I: soft pink, green, lavender, cream, and a baby blue
one that was passed down to me from another mama

Oh my goodness (jumping up and down) ... I received the ULTIMATE delivery today! Artsyfartsyfoofoo!!!! My milk maids came!!!! I've got both the regular milk maids as well as the "luxury" milk maids in my stash! I couldn't be more excited ... I've been squeezing them, holding them close to my heart, rubbing them on my face ... heck, I've even tried them on ... they're so SOFT ... they're the most amazing reusable nursing pads that I've ever seen. All of the hype? Completely well deserved. I'm so excited and thankful ... yes thankful for my milk maids ... I can't wait to use them ... Jennifer ... if you're out there ... girl you've done a wonderful thing for breastfeeding mamas! http://hyenacart.com/onestore.php?vid=3046&category=18

Image 2: tried to capture the super soft underbelly
of a luxury set

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The "look" of exhaustion ...


Yeah ... sleeping in 2 - 3 hour blocks every night is definitely getting to me ... and it shows around the house ... throughout the night I go back and forth every couple of hours between the couch in the living room and the bed ... whether its my inability to get comfortable ... with or without a pillow between my knees (to stabilize my hips) or the constant need to empty my bladder ... all of the above = no restful sleep.

So, there are a few things that go undone around the house ... case in point ... the bedroom ... the bed has been consistently unmade for a few days ... no duvet ... just the sheets and blankets ... which in my house, you make the bed when you leave it. Also, you'll also see the steamer sitting right next to the bed ... hasn't been put away ... just kinda sits there ... oh well ... I have an excuse ... I'm 9 months pregnant for goodness sakes and I'm exhausted!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Well, well, well ...

Had a doctor's appointment today ... 36 weeks ... everything looks great (weight, blood pressure, baby's heart rate, urine is normal, measurements are great - 38'', etc.). But most impressive ... some dilation! WooHoo! Only 1 centimeter but its a safe lil start! Also, I had to get a copy of my medical records which I'm now supposed to carry with me at all times! Wow! Is "it" really that close! SOOOOO EXCITED FOR MY BABY GIRL TO GET HERE!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Oooh! Almost Baked ...

Ha! I'm almost a "veteran" ... been pregnant for 36 weeks now and closing in on my due date fast ... it's insane how fast the weeks are flying by at this point! Next week ... FULL TERM!!!!!! Now THAT will be a milestone to celebrate!

Here's what's been going on!

How far along?: That's 36 weeks along! WooHoo! Times-a-flyin'!
Total weight gain: At my 35 week checkup, a total of 26 pounds! Huhm ... I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks ... huhm ...
Maternity clothes?: Yep ... doin it up maternity style
How big is baby?: Glad you asked! Almost 6 pounds and likely longer than 18 1/2 inches in length ... she's such a big girl!
Stretch marks?: still nothing ... keep your fingers crossed ... although I have heard that they can show up AFTER the birth ... nice ...
Sleep?: No ... on and off throughout the night ... it sucks! I can't get comfortable in bed or on the couch ... last night, I started off on the couch, got in bed around 2 am and around 4:30 am, moved back to the couch ... no fun at all
Best moment this week?: Seeing my husband and attending our birthing class!
Movement?: Yeah .... she's all over the place ... sort of ... well, not so much all over the place as she is strong ... strong hard movements are her thing these days ... she stops me in my tracks at this point from time to time and it definitely HURTS sometimes
Food cravings?: I've actually graduated to this weird "full" sensation ... if it wasn't bad for her, I'd feel totally satisfied with eating maybe once a day ... I hear that once "lightening" starts to happen (when the baby drops), I'll have more room to breath and my stomach won't be as "crunched" any longer
Labor signs?: I am experiencing braxton hicks contractions
Belly button in or out?: still in ... again, lets keep our fingers crossed ...
What I miss: alcohol ... not that I regularly indulge but 9 months and not even a drop ... I could use a mojito
What I'm looking forward to: The arrival of our little lady & of course, maternity leave!
Milestone: During my research ... I came up with the following:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.


Boobs ...

So, my newest breast feeding related purchase? Lansinoh Lanolin and Soothies!

The Lansinoh HPA Lanolin, is supposed to soothe, heal and protect sore "cracked" nipples ... uh ... "cracked?" ... huhm. It's also the only topical nipple cream endorsed in the US by La Leche League International (which I'll be attending my first La Leche meeting this week!), who happen to be considered the foremost experts on breastfeeding. I hear that the stuff is a life saver and because it's lanolin, you can use any extra that you might have to lanolize your wool! Gotta love that!


Apparently, Soothies Gel Pads provide instant, cooling relief to breastfeeding mothers with sore nipples. They're reusable and absorbent and from what I hear, really soothe and protect the delicate nipple area to enhance breastfeeding success. Sounds like a good thing to me ...

A couple of more items off of my list of "things to purchase!" Its beginning to look "a lot more like baby!"

Sunday, February 7, 2010

WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't have happened to a more awesome city!

Cloth Diaper and Other Acronyms ...

Obviously, I'm very new to cloth diapering ... well, not "so" new to purchasing them but I haven't actually tried them out ... my model is still snug as a bug in my belly ... by the way, did I tell you that tomorrow I'll be 36 weeks along :D Anyway, here are a few that I've come across on various boards ... whenever I'm trying to make a purchase, I frequently have to research what the heck the seller is talking about. Enjoy:

AIO: all in one
OBV: organic bamboo velour
PPD: postage paid
FSOT: for sale or trade
EUC: excellent used condition
GUC: good used condition
PP: paypal
CD: cloth diaper
PUL: polyurethane laminate (waterproof fabric)
SS: side Snapping
FS: front Snapping
HTF: hard to find
WAHM: work at home mom
PF: pre-fold
FB: FuzziBunz
BG: Bum Genius
HH: Happy Heiny
GM: Goodmama
PP: PiddlePoddle
CPF: Chinese Prefolds
DSQ: Diaper Service Quality
FOE: Fold Over Elastic
IPF: Indian Prefold
OC: Organic Cotton
OS: One Size
TTO: Tea Tree Oil
UBCPF: Unbleached Chinese Prefolds

Here's a list of "General Abbreviations" that I found on diaperswappers.com

AP: Attachment Parenting
BF: Breastfed or Breastfeed
BIL: Brother In Law
BM: Breastmilk (also could mean bowl movement :D)
BTDT: Been There, Done That
BTW: By The Way
DD: Dear Daughter
DH: Dear Husband
DP: Dear Partner
DS: Dear Son
DW: Dear Wife
EBF: Extended Breastfeeding or Exclusive Breastfeeding
EC: Excellent Condition, sometimes EUC (Excellent Used Condition)
ETA: Edited to Add
FIL: Father In Law
FWIW: For What It’s Worth
FYI: For Your Information
HTH: Hope This Helps
IHA: I Have Available
IMO: In My Opinion
IMHO: In My Humble Opinion, In My Honest Opinion
IRL: In Real Life
ISO: In Search Of
ITA: I Totally Agree
KWIM: Know What I Mean ?
LLL: La Leche League
LOL: Laughing Out Loud
LMBO: Laughing My Butt Off
LMAO: Laughing My Arse Off
MIL: Mother In Law
NAK: Nursing At Keyboard
NIP: Nurse In Public
OTOH: On The Other Hand
PM: Private Message (PMd/pmd/pm'd - sent a private message already)
PPD: Postage Paid, shipping is included in the listed price
ROTFLMBO: Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Butt Off
ROTFLMAO: Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Arse Off
SAHD: Stay At Home Dad
SAHM: Stay At Home Mom
SIL: Sister In Law
TTC: Trying To Concieve
TTYL: Talk To You Later
WAHD: Work At Home Dad
WAHM: Work At Home Mom
WOHM: Work Out Of The Home Mom
WWYD: What Would You Do











Saturday, February 6, 2010

3 New Books for Baby ...

In general, I love childrens books and have always collected them ... which at this point in my life is a wonderful thing ... I have a great collection of books that I can't wait to pass on to my daughter ... recently, I came across three books to add to my growing collection ...


Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat

Hip Hop Speaks to Children provides readers with 51 selections from 42 poets and performers, and 30 performances on the audio CD, many recorded especially for this collection. Some tracks on the CD are performed by the artists who created them, others are unique interpretations by admiring poets and artists.

This anthology highlights the use of rhythm and vernacular in hip-hop, rap, and African-American poetry. The 51 pieces—which also include a passage from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech—use gospel rhythms, "hambone" rhythms (which Giovanni explains in her informative introduction), jazz and blues rhythms, and language from the fields and the city streets. Artists range from Langston Hughes to Kanye West, from Eloise Greenfield to Queen Latifah. Much of the subject matter focuses on hope, self-esteem, respect for the past, and determination to make a better future. A few selections are more playful.

The accompanying CD enables readers to hear many of the pieces spoken or performed by the artists. Meanwhile, a team of five illustrators provides colorful, lively pictures that add atmosphere and personality. The fact that an important historical writer like James Weldon Johnson appears in the same book as contemporary musician Lauryn Hill may help some kids see the older writers with a fresh eye.

Might I add that the book is a New York Times bestseller! I love it and can't wait to read and listen along with my daughter.

Peekaboo Morning

This adorable picture book features a cheerful African-American toddler playing peekaboo with parents, grandparents, amiable animals, a friend, and even readers. Each sentence begins with "Peekaboo! I see-," and will have young listeners chiming along in no time. Clues in the pictures encourage children to guess just who is being peeked at on each following page. Endpapers show a house on a big green lawn, while inside the book mommy hugs, daddy plays, grandma is busy in the garden, and grandpa relaxes in a deck chair. Whether children live in the city or the country, they'll be able to relate to this simple game. Great for baby lap-sits and toddler storytimes.

Homemade Love

"My mama calls me girlpie," begins this tender riff on the ties that bind. "Daddy's honey bun chocolate dew drop." When the winsome girl at the story's center breaks a dish ("Everything I do cannot be right. 'Cause there is no all the time right"), her parents are quick to forgive her. Here, the tale makes an abrupt transition, and girlpie is in bed. The book ends with her drifting off to sleep, embraced by the warmth of her family's love ("No need to fear the dark place. 'Cause everywhere is home"). Definitely a book about comfort and safety with feel-good phrases and images.

Fluffy Mail ... Decisions, Decisions ...

Boy, this cloth diapering thing can really take a lot out of you ... for one, recently I had an "epiphany of sorts." I purchased 24 used size 0 kissaluvs (newborn fitted cloth diapers) from a momma in Houston, Texas on craigslist ... I know ... a little taboo (some have had less than positive experiences with purchasing on craigslist) but honestly, it worked out great for me. Not a stain to speak of (they were "beautiful") ... and the price ... lets just put it this way ... these diapers ended up setting me back less than $5 a piece (usually retail for $12.95 a piece) ... including shipping! SCORE! Again, thanks momma!

Anyway, I digress ... one of the reasons that I chose kissaluvs was because of their nice slender fit and just overall ability to keep "everything" inside (pretty absorbent), etc. PLUS, they have a "cut out (or a snap down)" in the middle so that the diaper won't rub umbilical cords! EXCELLENT! Well, this was definitely one of the reasons that I was completely sold on the kissaluvs ... the allowance for the cord.

Well, that was months ago that I selected and ultimately purchased these diapers. Recently, though ... I came to realize that the covers that I had purchased (thirsties duos) don't have a "cut out" per say to accommodate healing umbilical cords! AHHHHH! I kinda freaked out ... like the diaper won't rub and irritate my baby's cord but the cover might. Anyway, from then on, I was on the hunt for a "umbilical cord safe" diaper cover ... asked a few mommas and I was given a few recommendations ... the prorap and bummis super brite!

I figured that I don't need too many ... maybe 4 - 5 at the most and so, I was on the hunt for some used ones ... they're actually not that expensive (e.g., proraps purchased new are about $8.95 a piece). However, why not save myself some money. So, I found some used ones for $5 (both bummis and proraps) on http://www.diaperswappers.com/ ... excellent! After corresponding with the momma seller a few times on the site, I purchased and received them in the mail a couple days later! They're perfect! Couldn't be happier! Thanks Momma! WooHoo! "Catastrophe" averted. The only thing that I'm not happy about ... excited about is the fact that with the proraps, there is no laundry tab, which when I prepped them was a little bit of an annoyance but all and all, no biggy.

THEN, another issue ... what are the best "night time" cloth diapers ... to this question, I've consistently received three recommendations including:

bububebes (http://hyenacart.com/BubuBebe/)

goodmamas (http://shop.thegoodmama.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y)








Sustainablebabyish (AKA sbish) http://www.sloomb.com/cart/

So, in usual fashion, I started checking out any online adds for a few used bububebes and goodmamas ... I chose these two instead of sbish just because I seemed to have more success with finding them used (EUC). Again, I found a few on diaperswappers.com ... waiting to receive them in the mail. Oh, the excitement!