Overwhelmed

I do not normally complain about the goings on in my life.  I figure that there are other people out there that have it worse than I do, so why complain about my trivial things.  But, I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now and would really love to share it with all of you.  We have had an intense six months!

Raconteur Daddy lost his job on Thanksgiving....yep that's right, nice boss huh?  So, it has been a very stressful time for us.  We have been doing OK by utilizing all the resources we could from assistance to unemployment, help from family and using what little savings we had.  Plus my mad budgeting skills came into play.  During this time, we also found out that we were unexpectedly expecting our third child!  It seems no matter how hard we try to be careful, we never get to decide when our children will come.  I guess God likes to keep me on my toes!  We are so very excited to be able to have another baby though.  Through this time, RacDad and I have really relied on each other.  We have turned to our faith to help us through, especially when it seems like too much.  I just keep remembering that God will never give us more than we can handle.  This time has been precious too.  It's been a blessing to have RacDad home to watch Little Man grow and change as he becomes a toddler.  He's also been able to appreciate our Sweet Pea and the wonderful young lady she's becoming.  We've had the time to be more active in our community and our church.  Even though our pocket book has been tight, we've been able to help and contribute with our time and work to help others.  We've been able to sit back and view our path and really take a deep appreciation for each other and our wonderful kids.  I don't know if I've ever been more in love with him!

Now, we are leaving our house to head back home to South Dakota.  This is bittersweet for everyone because we finally feel like we belong here, but we are excited to be closer to family too.  We will miss our closest neighbor and her family, and our friends from church and school.  We will miss our house, church, school, doctors and dentist.  On the other hand, we are looking forward to reconnecting with our friends and family in South Dakota.  We are looking forward to the new job that RacDad has and the exciting opportunities there.  We are overwhelmed by the thought of finding a new house, but we know that it's just another hurdle to jump to get back to being settled in.  I look forward to day trips to the zoo, hanging out at the Falls, going hiking in the Palisades, and allowing my kids to experience a childhood like I did.  Being around family and close friends is what is priceless in this transition.

So, Sweet Pea is on her way to Nashville to visit my brother and his family.  This is her birthday present this year from her Grandparents.  I still can't believe that she's going to be a Tween!!  Nine years old is quite the milestone....her last year as a single digit.  RacDad is starting his job.  Little Man and I are putting finishing touches on the house and it will be listed on the market within the week.  Well, I'm trying to get finished and Little Man is getting into the boxes.

We are blessed to have a family that supports us through this transition.  They have been wonderful to remind us that everything is going to be OK.  The most important thing is the emotional support that they give, not what they can provide.  That hope and optimism is what gets us through the day.

Thank you so much for also helping me through this too.  Being able to write and have something to focus on has been a great outlet for me and I appreciate each and every one of you that follow my journey.  I have made some wonderful connections and learned a lot of new things.  I'm looking forward to the exciting things that are going to happen this summer and in the future on OTTW.

Traveling with Cloth

Well....it's the last full week before Christmas and many are getting ready to travel for the holiday season.  I know that for cloth diapering parents, this is probably the biggest hassle to using cloth.  The hurdles that we face include packing the stash, finding a way to wash, and dealing with family or friends who give you the 'why don't you just use disposables' talk.  If you think about it though....that's the biggest hassle of using cloth?!  Doesn't seem so bad.

I am a firm believer that my children will never be in disposables again.  I just can't see a good reason for them.  So, this is how we travel with cloth.  I am lucky enough to have very supportive families who think that going cloth is just awesome.  Especially since they've seen new Modern Cloth Diapers.  So, when we pack to go, I start with my favorite schlep bag that my mom made me.  I put in a pail liner and then we pack our whole stash (I try to wash a load right before we leave so none are left behind).  This consists of 24 fuzzbunz and 1 lonely Katydid that I won (thanks One Little Mister!).  I also pack along our hemp inserts and cloth wipes that are dry, along with an empty and clean huggies box to put the wipes in to wet down when we get to our destination.  If we are planning on being away for more than 3 days, I also put in a plastic baby food jar filled with my Rockin' Green....that gives me enough for at least 2 loads; 4 or more loads in my mom's HE machine with softened water.  Then, I make sure that everyone is aware that I will be doing a load every other day....which they have been great with so far.

Now, I know that sometimes when you travel, having a place to wash can be harder than it should be.  Most hotels these days have washing facilities in them for visitors to use, and you could always find a laundromat....but having to take that time away from your travels can be difficult to do.  Plus, I know that not all families or friends are supportive of the choice to go cloth.  So, here are some suggestions on how to travel lightly without resorting to disposables.

One way is using hybrid diapers.  There are plenty of types of hybrids, but the basics are a waterproof shell that you can put biodegradable/flushable liners into.  This is great because you have the illusion of disposables.  The shells are easy to wipe out to clean and you can just take along the inserts; no need for a washer.  These are also great for being around people who give you grief for using cloth because it is similar to what they are used to with disposables.  But you can rest easy knowing that you are not putting the chemicals on your baby and everything is green and biodegradable.

Another great way is similar to the first.  You can use AI2's (all-in-twos).  They also use a waterproof shell (just like hybrids).  The difference is that you can use cloth for the inserts.  You can lay prefolds, microterry, or your favorite inserts on the inside.  This is great if you want to do 100% cloth, but don't have the room for all the bulk of your whole stash.  This way you plan out how many inserts you need and a few covers to go with them.  Then if the cover gets dirty, you can wipe it out or wash it in the sink and let it air dry.  Plus, you only have to worry about washing the inserts. 

I also suggest these two options for people who are just starting on their journey with cloth diapering.  I think it eases the transition into full blown addiction, like the rest of us.  Especially for people who work full time and think that the extra load of laundry every few days would be too daunting.

I always love to hear about other people's stories of cloth diapering.  I know that there are as many ways to cloth diaper as there are families....so feel free to share your travel experiences with me!  Have safe and happy travels.  Enjoy your holiday season!