Owing My Own Business

I have always wanted to own my own business.  I contemplated accounting, but that seems too boring and not at all easy to do with little ones running around.  I tried daycare, but that wasn't ideal either...long hours with little pay.  Currently, I am very interested in cloth diapers.  I have thought about starting my own retail store, but the start-up costs are way too high.  My latest thought is a cloth diaper service...delivering fresh clean fluffy diapers to clients each week.

There are not any services in the Lafayette area.  I have heard that there is one in Indianapolis that will service this area.  I just wonder if the population is large enough in Lafayette/ West Lafayette, Indiana for a cloth diaper service.  There would still be some start up costs, but not nearly as much as a retail business.  I could expand into a retail with a store front later. 

Any thoughts??  

Needing a Good Routine Soon

It has been five and a half weeks since Tia was born and still I have not been able to get into a good routine.  Most days Traves is not getting into the office until after lunch.  Thankfully he is able to get some work done at home, but he still has to put in some extra time in after dinner.  I, on the other hand, don't feel like I get anything done.  I have to have a plan/checklist or I don't get much accomplished.

I have been focused on eating better and getting back into shape.  It is hard to find time to exercise.  Most days it is after 9 or some times 10 pm before I get to workout.  However, I have discovered that I can save time by using prefolds and diaper covers instead of pocket diapers on Toby and Teagan.  This means less laundry since I can reuse the same cover multiple times before it needs washed.  It also saves time since I don't have to stuff pockets; I just lay in the trifolded prefold.  I purchased a couple more covers for Tia since she dirties more covers. 

I may have to get a babysitter so that I can get caught up around here.  Then maybe...just maybe, I will be able to maintain!!

New Normal

We are adjusting to our new lifestyle with three under three.  Traves hasn't been going into work until after lunch most days.  Because of this he has been working more in the evenings after dinner.  However, we are all getting more sleep this week than we did last week.  I hope this trend continues.

I am starting to get a few things done around the apartment as well, but I am still really behind.  I have just accepted the fact that it is going to take some time to figure out how to accomplish tasks and keep the babies happy and out of trouble.  I am always open to suggestions.  I just placed an order with Cotton Babies for more Flip stay-dry inserts for Tia.  Hopefully, this will cut down on diaper laundry.  Her prefolds take up so much more room in the washer than her Flip inserts.

The weather has been great this week.  It always helps when we can all get out and get some fresh air.  Traves and I are looking forward to getting out for a little break tomorrow evening.  Thanks Aunt Mandy.  We are going to get our taxes done and grocery shopping, but it will be some well needed time together.

Traves is Back to Work...well kind of.

Traves and I have heard on several occasions that the transition from two kids to three is the hardest.  Now we understand why even those who are trying for a girl or boy, whichever they don't have yet, give up after the third child. 

Traves's first day back went really well for me at home with all three kids.  Our schedule has been crazy.  Toby slept in until noon and Teagan slept most of the afternoon.  Today was another story.  Tia was up all night.  I get didn't get to bed until 6 am this morning.  Poor Traves, stayed and worked from home all morning while watching the kids so that I could get some sleep.

I was hoping to get a nap this afternoon while Toby was at preschool, but Tia and Teagan's naps only overlapped by 30 minutes.  I did sleep during that time, but was really hoping for more.

I am feeling energizing by my workouts.  Traves has been watching the kids in the evening long enough for me to get in 30 minutes on the elipical.  Some well needed destress time.  How did you cope with this transition???

Finally Home From Hospital With New Baby

The long awaited arrival is finally here.  She was born very quickly after the doctor broke my water...less than one and half hours.  I am very grateful for short labors.  She was my largest baby so far at 8 pounds 5 ounces.  She and I are both doing very well.

I had forgotten how hard the first night at home is.  Everything goes so well when there is always a nurse around to help.  Taking care of a newborn is hard enough; breastfeeding a newborn is even more challenging.  It does get easier with each child since I am more experienced, but there is always a learning curve with each new baby.

One more week with my wonderful husband at home.  He learns more and gains more at home responsibilities with each baby.  He is a great help.  I wonder how long it will take for the kids and I to get into a good routine after Traves goes back to work.  Once that is figured out, it will ne time to figure out how to git some regular exercise onto my daily routine to get in shape.

Waiting For Labor to Begin

I hate waiting for labor to begin.  With all three pregnancies I have been dilated at least 3 cm at least a week before labor.  With my first the doctor broke my water to help get labor started all most a week past my due date.  I was dilated to 5 cm for several weeks before.  Labor contractions began about four hours later and my son was born about five hours after the contractions started.  I did not have any drug to induce the contractions or an epidural.
My second labor started on its own at 38 and 1/2 weeks.  I was already dilated to 3 cm for several days before it started and it lasted less than four hours.  I delivered in triage after only being at the hospital for 15 minutes.  I changed into the hospital gown and got on the bed for the nurse to check me.  She was asking if I wanted medication as she was checking and before I could answer she said, "never mind, you are already at 9 cm."  I could not wait any longer.  I had to push.  Two or three pushes later the nurser was holding the baby.  I am glad that there were no rooms available at my doctor's office at the time or I would have delivered in the doctor's office.
Now I am 39 weeks along with my third pregnancy and waiting and wondering if today is the day.  I have had some cramping and contractions with little or no pain, but no real signs of labor.  I was dilated between 3 and 4 cm at my last doctor's appointment.  I can't sleep well and the only thing I can think about is when is this baby coming.  My stomach feels so big it could explode.  The doctors are estimating that she will be between 7 and 8 lbs, but she feels huge to me.  My first was 8 pounds 2 ounces and my second was tiny  only 5 pounds 13 ounces.  I think that this baby is going to be really long.  She has already dropped and her bottom is still in my ribs.
Here are my questions:  How did you cope with the last few weeks of pregnancy?? and What was your first sign that labor was beginning?

Cloth Diapers are Easy and Inexpensive

This is my first blog.  I have never thought of myself as a writer, but I have found something I love to talk about.  The creator of Cotton Babies, Jennifer Labit, has issued a challenge to spread the word on cloth diapers with the incentive of winning a dozen cloth diapers.  I will not receive any compensation for this blog.  However, if I win I get to choose one of my friends who commented on this post to also receive a dozen cloth diapers…so make some great comments.  I have only been cloth diapering for a few months and have only a handful of this style of diapers.  Therefore, I would love to win these diapers.  I also have several friends expecting babies who could use a stash of diapers.

When I was expecting my first baby, I was interested in using cloth.  I only knew one person using cloth at the time and I didn’t know her very well.  I quickly became overwhelmed with the arrival my first precious baby and never attempted cloth.  Baby number two came along only 13 months later.  Now 15 months after my second baby was born, I am expecting baby number three any day.  Yes, that will be three in diapers.  My husband and I already sold our home and he took a live-in position at a major university so that we could afford for me to stay at home with the babies and still get out of debt.  Being on a tight budget already, I just couldn’t imagine spending more money every month on disposable diapers once baby number three arrives.  We were already spending over $100 a month on diapers, wipes, and rash creams.  This is why I decided to give cloth another look.

My main reason for cloth diapering was obviously financial, but there are other great reasons to cloth diaper as well including environmental, health of baby, and in my opinion easy (it is much easier to put in a load of laundry, than to make a trip to the store with three babies in tow).  My second baby is a heavy-wetter and I had to change her diaper during the night with disposables to prevent leaks.  With cloth diapers this is no longer a problem.  She can go all night without a diaper change.  She is also rash prone.  She still gets a little red sometimes but does not have the painful rashes she had with disposables.  Regardless for your reasons for researching cloth diapers, my challenge is “Just Try It.”  Buy enough diapers changes for one day and commit to using cloth exclusively for one month.  This won’t cost much if any more that you are already spending on disposable diapers in one month.  After one month, it should be obvious if cloth is something that will fit into your family’s lifestyle. 

I have done a ton of research and have found some really great online resources.  My favorite one-stop shop is Cotton Babies.  They have a great Cloth 101 FAQs page (which you will need for laundry instructions and to troubleshoot any issues that arise).  They always offer free shipping which makes them a great place to just try out a few diapers or add to your stash since they have no minimum purchase for free shipping.  I do highly recommend trying a few different styles of diapers before investing in a whole stash.  I also recommend trying both snap and Velcro (hook and loop) closures. For longevity I recommend snaps, but for easy Velcro may be preferred.  This will save money in the long run.  I also have different recommendations depending on the age of your baby.  I like one-size diapers, but these do not fit well on newborns especially if the baby is less than eight pounds.  

Here is what I recommend getting to start with for a baby ten pounds or more ($86.25 for 11 diaper changes):

• 2 – Econobum TrialPacks – each pack includes one waterproof one-size cover and three one-size prefold diapers  $11.95 each
• 1 – Flip one-size waterproof diaper cover $13.95
• 1 – Three pack Flip Stay-dry inserts $11.95
• 1 – bumGenius 4.0 one-size stay-dry cloth diapers $17.95 each (right now Cotton Babies buy two get one free clearance on discounted your colors)
• 1 – Thirsties Duo Diaper size 2 $18.50 each

Here is what I recommend for newborns under ten pounds ($87.35 for twelve diaper changes):

• 1 – Proraps Classic sized waterproof diaper cover $8.95 each
• 1 – Thirsties Duo Wrap hook and loop size 1 $12.25 each
• 1 – Thirsties Duo Wrap snap size 1 $12.75
• 9 – Preemie Prefolds $1.00 each
• 2 – bumGenius Newborn Cloth Diaper $12.95 each
• 1 – Thirsties Duo Diaper size 1 $18.50 each

Recommended Accessories ($50.88 for all accessories):

• 1 – Medium Bummis waterproof tote for storing dirty diapers until washed $11.00 each
• 1 – bumGenius flannel wipes 12 pack $11.95 each
• 1 – Package of cloth diaper detergent of choice (Cotton Babies has several options to choose from…I am currently using Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soap) $10.99 each
• 1 – Package of flushable diaper liners $12.99 for 200 sheets (I recommended these for formula feed newborns and babies eating solids.  Breastfeed babies’ poo is water soluble and will completely wash out in laundry.  If the decision is made to continue with cloth diapers, I recommend a diaper sprayer for at home and flushable liners for use while away from home.  These can be omitted altogether, but I imagine that anyone who tries them will find they are worth the price.)
• 1 – Snappi Cloth Diaper Fastener $3.95 (I recommend these for a younger babies who still have runny poo.  It will help to keep the poo off over the diaper cover when using prefolds so that the cover can be used again before washing.)

With these recommendations cloth diapers can be tried for under $140.  All recommended brands are of high quality with good resell values.  What do you have to lose??  Give cloth a try!!