Alrighty folks. It's time to do something about this extra weight. It's getting ridiculous. I can't handle it anymore. I don't want Chloe to have a fat mama. Starting tomorrow it's time to get healthy. Time to eat better and move more. No more being lazy all day long and then baking a tray of cookie bars.
I've been debating for a while what the best possible way to do this is. Because of my history with eating disorders I do not want to be on the scale everyday crunching numbers. I still need to breastfeed my baby girl and I don't want a major drop in supply. I also don't want to scare the crap out of my husband by going on some crazy crash diet. So I decided I'd make a goal to fit into something. So my first goal is that by the end of the summer I can wear Chloe in our Ergo carrier (they are seriously the best invention ever!) without the extra waist attachment. Time to get my butt in gear as I've got a lot of inches to say goodbye to. I will weight myself once a week and no more than that. Let's hope this works!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
PSA
This is a quick rant. Sometimes I want to put a shirt on Chloe that says the following:
I'm _ months old.
Yes, I'm little.
No, I was not a premie.
Yes, my mommy feeds me.
No, I would not like to eat (insert non-age appropriate food here).
I'm so sick of people asking me these questions. I'm not starving my baby. I realize that she's small, but that's just how she is. I was a small baby as well. She's hitting her milestones, maybe not as fast as some other babies her age, but she's not delayed either. I'm just so frustrated. People make me feel like I'm a bad mom, but she's happy and healthy and I know I'm doing things right for her.
End Rant.
I'm so sick of people asking me these questions. I'm not starving my baby. I realize that she's small, but that's just how she is. I was a small baby as well. She's hitting her milestones, maybe not as fast as some other babies her age, but she's not delayed either. I'm just so frustrated. People make me feel like I'm a bad mom, but she's happy and healthy and I know I'm doing things right for her.
End Rant.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
gDiaper Review!
I've been wanting to do this review for a while, but I also wanted to wait until I had used gDiapers for a few months before reviewing them. So it's been almost three months since we started using our gDiapers. They are the first cloth diaper I've ever used, and they have started an addiction I never would have expected. The journey into cloth has been a great one. I had been curious about it for a long time, but never knew where to start or how to do it. Thankfully I met a mama at playgroup (who is now becoming a good friend - double bonus!) back in February who used cloth diapers and she gave me lots of information. From there I researched about lots of different diapers, consulted with the hubby, and we decided we thought gDiapers were just the diaper for us. So lets get started!
Getting Started!
Getting started with any cloth diaper is overwhelming when you really have no idea what you're getting into. gDiapers can be a little more confusing at first in comparison to other cloth diapers because they have several different components.
The Little gPant
The first thing you'll need is a little gPant. These come in the most adorable colors. Pictured in this review is the new color 'Glacier Blue' from the Spring 2011 line. Little gPants are sized so you will need new pants as your child grows. Chloe was just over 13lbs when we started to cloth diaper so I went with the medium size of little gPant, which fits 13-28lbs. Of course this can vary depending on the size and shape of your baby. I sort of wish I had purchased some diapers for her in the small size which fits 8-14lbs as I think they may have helped the fit at first. Starting with the mediums was fine, the only problem I had was purely cosmetic. When I would put the diaper on the elastic would overlap and cause some pilling on the waistband. At first I was mad at myself because they didn't look as "new" as I wanted after a few weeks, but then another gMum suggested that I try using a razor and shaving off the pilling, and voila, brand new looking dipes again!
The little gPant is unique from other diapers because it is reusable many times over as long as it does not get wet or dirty. It has a waterproof liner that snaps in and holds the insert. If the liner gets dirty and the little gPant does not, you can just remove the liner, put a new one in, and continue using your little gPant. I would recommend having 6-8 little gPants if you plan on gDiapering full time. I started with six, and thanks to a wonderful gift from my in-laws, we then had 8. Soon after I was hooked and now I have over 20 little gPants! There are so many cute colors and patterns. They are really easy to match to outfits as well!
The cotton on the little gPant is not organic cotton, but it is still very soft. I wash the little gPants and liners with Chloe's regular clothes in a cold or warm delicate cycle. I hang both the little gPants and liners to dry. I've read of other moms having issues with velcro pulling off, g's falling off, and fading. I have not had any of those issues with the regular little gPants. I did have some light fading with my gFlutter and gCamper (Spring 2011 gStyle line) but it was hardly noticeable.
Each gPant comes with one waterproof breathable snap-in liner. The liners are said to last about 100 washes before they need to be replaced. I recommend purchasing enough to have two liners per gPant you have. You can purchase extra 6-packs of liners for $20. The liners do tend to stretch out with use. You can pop them in the dryer on low for a few minutes to tighten the elastic and it does help a little. Also the cloth does sometimes bunch up in the liner, but that's why the liner is there, it still catches the pee and poop. We've never had a blowout with our gDiapers. On a daily basis I wonder what a solution to the liners might be, but I haven't thought of it yet. gDiapers has a wonderful team over at gHQ and I'm sure there working on something!
Inserts
There are two options provided by gDiapers to use as inserts for your little gPant. They have a flushable, compost-able, biodegradable insert called gRefills, and a cloth insert called gCloth. We really only use the gCloth, although we did use the gRefills for a weekend when we went out of town. The gRefills were very absorbent and great for use on vacation. I did not try flushing them because I wasn't sure of the plumbing where I was. But they only take 45-180 days to decompose (as opposed to 500 years with regular disposable diapers!), so I felt better using them. They aren't as soft as disposables, but Chloe never seemed uncomfortable in them. They look huge, but they fit into the liners just fine once you get the hang of it.
gCloth
We primarily use the gCloth with our gDiapers. They are so soft! The gCloth features two layers of stay dry microfleece and two layers of hemp. I have a love/hate relationship with my gCloth. They work great for daytime for us, but unfortunately it's just not enough absorbency for us during naps or nighttime. Chloe is now a tummy or side sleeper, and the cloth just doesn't stay where it needs to in order to absorb the pee before it leaks onto the liner and then sometimes out the side of the pant. They are just fine during playitme when she's moving around and learning to crawl, it's extended periods when we have a problem. I have worked with gHQ on achieving a good fit for naps, but unfortunately it hasn't worked out. I tried doubling up, and it worked to prevent leaks, but Chloe was uncomfortable. Bulky diapers make her mad! If I could redesign gCloth I would take away one of the stay-dry layers and add another 2 or 3 layers of hemp. I think that might help the cloth absorb faster and hold more.
I recommend purchasing 24 gCloth if you plan on using gDiapers full time and wash every other day. You may not go through all of them in the two days, but it's nice to have a few extra for doubling, and so that they don't wear out as fast.
Other Insert Options
I have also tried some other inserts in my gDiapers. Bummis organic cotton prefolds in the infant (7-20lb) size fit great in gDiapers. They are very absorbent and soft. They do add quite a bit of bulk on the butt, but they do not add any width between the legs, so Chloe does fine in them. I've also used my AppleCheeks bamboo inserts in my little gPants. They are a little too small for the liners, so they bunch and move around a bit, but they still absorb great. Bummis are my favorite because of the cost. I purchased a 6-pack from Amazon.com for $16 with free shipping. So about $2.60 per insert. gCloth retails at Diapers.com for $29.99 (free shipping after $49), so about $6.66 per insert. If you are on a tight budget, I would give prefolds a try!
Pros & Cons
I'll wrap this up with my pros and cons for using gDiapers. If anyone has any questions about using g's or getting started leave a comment and I'll be happy to help (or find someone else who can!).
Pros
Adorable colors and styling
Great for the environment
EXCELLENT customer service (seriously, they are amazing)
Soft gCloth inserts
Easy to reuse over and over without having to do tons of laundry
Lots of insert options
Cons
Initial expense is higher than some other big name cloth diaper brands
Learning curve with getting proper liner seal and fit
Leaking at naps & nighttime (obviously not everybody has this problem)
Liner lifetime is only 100 washes, then you need to purchase more at $20 for 6 liners.
Liners stretch easily
Purchasing new little gPants as your baby grows (this is also a pro for me though, because I like the custom fit you get from a sized diaper)
*Just a quick note- I was not given product, or paid by anyway by gDiapers to do this review. I simply love their product & company and decided to write this to help other moms!*
Getting Started!
Getting started with any cloth diaper is overwhelming when you really have no idea what you're getting into. gDiapers can be a little more confusing at first in comparison to other cloth diapers because they have several different components.
The Little gPant
The first thing you'll need is a little gPant. These come in the most adorable colors. Pictured in this review is the new color 'Glacier Blue' from the Spring 2011 line. Little gPants are sized so you will need new pants as your child grows. Chloe was just over 13lbs when we started to cloth diaper so I went with the medium size of little gPant, which fits 13-28lbs. Of course this can vary depending on the size and shape of your baby. I sort of wish I had purchased some diapers for her in the small size which fits 8-14lbs as I think they may have helped the fit at first. Starting with the mediums was fine, the only problem I had was purely cosmetic. When I would put the diaper on the elastic would overlap and cause some pilling on the waistband. At first I was mad at myself because they didn't look as "new" as I wanted after a few weeks, but then another gMum suggested that I try using a razor and shaving off the pilling, and voila, brand new looking dipes again!
The little gPant is unique from other diapers because it is reusable many times over as long as it does not get wet or dirty. It has a waterproof liner that snaps in and holds the insert. If the liner gets dirty and the little gPant does not, you can just remove the liner, put a new one in, and continue using your little gPant. I would recommend having 6-8 little gPants if you plan on gDiapering full time. I started with six, and thanks to a wonderful gift from my in-laws, we then had 8. Soon after I was hooked and now I have over 20 little gPants! There are so many cute colors and patterns. They are really easy to match to outfits as well!
The cotton on the little gPant is not organic cotton, but it is still very soft. I wash the little gPants and liners with Chloe's regular clothes in a cold or warm delicate cycle. I hang both the little gPants and liners to dry. I've read of other moms having issues with velcro pulling off, g's falling off, and fading. I have not had any of those issues with the regular little gPants. I did have some light fading with my gFlutter and gCamper (Spring 2011 gStyle line) but it was hardly noticeable.
Each gPant comes with one waterproof breathable snap-in liner. The liners are said to last about 100 washes before they need to be replaced. I recommend purchasing enough to have two liners per gPant you have. You can purchase extra 6-packs of liners for $20. The liners do tend to stretch out with use. You can pop them in the dryer on low for a few minutes to tighten the elastic and it does help a little. Also the cloth does sometimes bunch up in the liner, but that's why the liner is there, it still catches the pee and poop. We've never had a blowout with our gDiapers. On a daily basis I wonder what a solution to the liners might be, but I haven't thought of it yet. gDiapers has a wonderful team over at gHQ and I'm sure there working on something!
Inserts
There are two options provided by gDiapers to use as inserts for your little gPant. They have a flushable, compost-able, biodegradable insert called gRefills, and a cloth insert called gCloth. We really only use the gCloth, although we did use the gRefills for a weekend when we went out of town. The gRefills were very absorbent and great for use on vacation. I did not try flushing them because I wasn't sure of the plumbing where I was. But they only take 45-180 days to decompose (as opposed to 500 years with regular disposable diapers!), so I felt better using them. They aren't as soft as disposables, but Chloe never seemed uncomfortable in them. They look huge, but they fit into the liners just fine once you get the hang of it.
gCloth
We primarily use the gCloth with our gDiapers. They are so soft! The gCloth features two layers of stay dry microfleece and two layers of hemp. I have a love/hate relationship with my gCloth. They work great for daytime for us, but unfortunately it's just not enough absorbency for us during naps or nighttime. Chloe is now a tummy or side sleeper, and the cloth just doesn't stay where it needs to in order to absorb the pee before it leaks onto the liner and then sometimes out the side of the pant. They are just fine during playitme when she's moving around and learning to crawl, it's extended periods when we have a problem. I have worked with gHQ on achieving a good fit for naps, but unfortunately it hasn't worked out. I tried doubling up, and it worked to prevent leaks, but Chloe was uncomfortable. Bulky diapers make her mad! If I could redesign gCloth I would take away one of the stay-dry layers and add another 2 or 3 layers of hemp. I think that might help the cloth absorb faster and hold more.
I recommend purchasing 24 gCloth if you plan on using gDiapers full time and wash every other day. You may not go through all of them in the two days, but it's nice to have a few extra for doubling, and so that they don't wear out as fast.
Other Insert Options
I have also tried some other inserts in my gDiapers. Bummis organic cotton prefolds in the infant (7-20lb) size fit great in gDiapers. They are very absorbent and soft. They do add quite a bit of bulk on the butt, but they do not add any width between the legs, so Chloe does fine in them. I've also used my AppleCheeks bamboo inserts in my little gPants. They are a little too small for the liners, so they bunch and move around a bit, but they still absorb great. Bummis are my favorite because of the cost. I purchased a 6-pack from Amazon.com for $16 with free shipping. So about $2.60 per insert. gCloth retails at Diapers.com for $29.99 (free shipping after $49), so about $6.66 per insert. If you are on a tight budget, I would give prefolds a try!
Pros & Cons
I'll wrap this up with my pros and cons for using gDiapers. If anyone has any questions about using g's or getting started leave a comment and I'll be happy to help (or find someone else who can!).
Pros
Cons
*Just a quick note- I was not given product, or paid by anyway by gDiapers to do this review. I simply love their product & company and decided to write this to help other moms!*
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Time Flies!
Is it seriously the end of April already?!? I feel like I had so much more to get done. But that's how I feel all the time.
A year ago today I married my best friend. I can't believe how different things are in just one year. Last year at this time Chloe was 23 weeks and we were getting ready to find out that she was indeed a she. We had our quiet wedding just like we wanted, but honestly we talked more about our baby plans.
Chloe is eight months old now. She's thinking about crawling (the back end works, front end not so much), she's finally sitting well, and she's still sleeping terribly. I have no idea what to do there. I've become somewhat of a zombie. I keep hoping there's an end in sight.
Today we went to the Great Cloth Diaper Change event. It was an interesting experience (my organized control freak side was having a slight panic attack) but was fun. John took some pictures of Chloe and I and when I looked at them I wanted to cry. My weight is getting way out of control.
I'm so lost as to where to start. I've always been either thin or fat. Never really in-between. When I was thin it was not because I was healthy. I was starving myself and purging what I did eat. I do not want to restrict my diet much now because I don't want it to kill my milk supply. But I do need to make better choices. Breastfeeding makes me so hungry! And it makes me want sweets, which I never wanted before. I need to eat more veggies and less processed food. I need to make it my new obsession, but I'm almost scared to because of where I've been before. I could drop 50 pounds in two months if I wanted to, but that wouldn't be good for me or Chloe.
The weight thing is getting me down though. I weigh more now than I did before I got pregnant. Nothing fits. I'll be honest, sometimes I still wear maternity jeans (insert yucky face here). I don't want Chloe to grow up with me being so overweight. I want her to see me as healthy and active.
Time to devise a plan!
And here's a recent pic of my love. She's growing up way too fast.
A year ago today I married my best friend. I can't believe how different things are in just one year. Last year at this time Chloe was 23 weeks and we were getting ready to find out that she was indeed a she. We had our quiet wedding just like we wanted, but honestly we talked more about our baby plans.
Chloe is eight months old now. She's thinking about crawling (the back end works, front end not so much), she's finally sitting well, and she's still sleeping terribly. I have no idea what to do there. I've become somewhat of a zombie. I keep hoping there's an end in sight.
Today we went to the Great Cloth Diaper Change event. It was an interesting experience (my organized control freak side was having a slight panic attack) but was fun. John took some pictures of Chloe and I and when I looked at them I wanted to cry. My weight is getting way out of control.
I'm so lost as to where to start. I've always been either thin or fat. Never really in-between. When I was thin it was not because I was healthy. I was starving myself and purging what I did eat. I do not want to restrict my diet much now because I don't want it to kill my milk supply. But I do need to make better choices. Breastfeeding makes me so hungry! And it makes me want sweets, which I never wanted before. I need to eat more veggies and less processed food. I need to make it my new obsession, but I'm almost scared to because of where I've been before. I could drop 50 pounds in two months if I wanted to, but that wouldn't be good for me or Chloe.
The weight thing is getting me down though. I weigh more now than I did before I got pregnant. Nothing fits. I'll be honest, sometimes I still wear maternity jeans (insert yucky face here). I don't want Chloe to grow up with me being so overweight. I want her to see me as healthy and active.
Time to devise a plan!
And here's a recent pic of my love. She's growing up way too fast.
Monday, April 4, 2011
C-Section
I gave birth via c-section when I had Chloe. Prior to finding out that it would be what we had to have, I was planning an unmedicated natural birth. But Miss Chloe had other plans. She was frank breech with her little hips stuck in the birth canal. While I am aware that vaginal breech births are possible, it was not a risk I was willing to take.
When I found out about my c-section I was disappointed but didn't really think about it too much. I've had plenty of surgeries and am thankful for modern medical practices. The surgery went off without any major issues. I didn't feel a thing, my doctor was very sweet, and most importantly my baby was born healthy.
Throughout the last seven and a half months I've reflected on my birth experience from time to time. When Chloe was about a month old I remember being upset because I didn't know what to call my experience. I didn't feel like I had given birth. I didn't know if it was fair to those who had vaginal births for me to say that I gave birth. In reality my baby was cut out of me. I still have not come to terms with what to call it. I still feel weird saying that I gave birth.
I never felt really sad about my c-section a week ago. One of my sorority sisters gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl. I'm so happy for her and her fiancé. They are going to be great parents. Her birth got me thinking of my own and I began to think more and more about my c-section. I guess I haven't really put my feelings about it behind me, I sort of just buried them. I'm not really sure what to do. It's quite frustrating. I'm so thankful for my baby, but I still wonder everyday what it would have been like if I had really had the birth I wanted. I'm a bit lost there.
On a lighter note, here's a new picture I took last week of my girl. She's so beautiful :)
When I found out about my c-section I was disappointed but didn't really think about it too much. I've had plenty of surgeries and am thankful for modern medical practices. The surgery went off without any major issues. I didn't feel a thing, my doctor was very sweet, and most importantly my baby was born healthy.
Throughout the last seven and a half months I've reflected on my birth experience from time to time. When Chloe was about a month old I remember being upset because I didn't know what to call my experience. I didn't feel like I had given birth. I didn't know if it was fair to those who had vaginal births for me to say that I gave birth. In reality my baby was cut out of me. I still have not come to terms with what to call it. I still feel weird saying that I gave birth.
I never felt really sad about my c-section a week ago. One of my sorority sisters gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl. I'm so happy for her and her fiancé. They are going to be great parents. Her birth got me thinking of my own and I began to think more and more about my c-section. I guess I haven't really put my feelings about it behind me, I sort of just buried them. I'm not really sure what to do. It's quite frustrating. I'm so thankful for my baby, but I still wonder everyday what it would have been like if I had really had the birth I wanted. I'm a bit lost there.
On a lighter note, here's a new picture I took last week of my girl. She's so beautiful :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Crunchy?
Sorry to my few followers that it's been so long since I've blogged! Chloe is still only sleeping in 1.5 hour spurts at night and I'm exhausted. Blogging has been the last thing on my mind lately.
But we've been a busy bunch. Chloe turned 7 months old yesterday! She's still tiny, just a little over 13lbs but she's tall! She rolls everywhere and is very good at it. She likes to try and get to the cat and dog. They have no interest in her and run away. She's still not sitting up on her own. Not because she can't necessarily, but because when she does she sees something that she wants and dives for it. Silly girl. If she would just hold still for a few minutes I'm sure we would have sitting up perfected.
I guess I'm becoming somewhat of a "crunchy" mom as some people label it. I've been making her baby food myself from organic vegetables. So far she loves butternut squash the most. She also eats carrots and green beans. She still hates any kind of baby cereal but will sometimes tolerate some oatmeal with apple purée mixed in.
I also started cloth diapering a month ago. I am loving it! I really wish I had started when she was born. It's so much easier than I ever would have imagined. I primarily use gDiapers with gCloth inserts, but I also have some bumGenius pockets and AIO's as well as a Fuzzibunz pocket diaper. The gDiapers are by far my favorite. They fit Chloe so well and I love the gCloth. I plan on doing some reviews here and on YouTube of my experience with the different diapers.
More posts to come soon, I promise! And pictures too!
But we've been a busy bunch. Chloe turned 7 months old yesterday! She's still tiny, just a little over 13lbs but she's tall! She rolls everywhere and is very good at it. She likes to try and get to the cat and dog. They have no interest in her and run away. She's still not sitting up on her own. Not because she can't necessarily, but because when she does she sees something that she wants and dives for it. Silly girl. If she would just hold still for a few minutes I'm sure we would have sitting up perfected.
I guess I'm becoming somewhat of a "crunchy" mom as some people label it. I've been making her baby food myself from organic vegetables. So far she loves butternut squash the most. She also eats carrots and green beans. She still hates any kind of baby cereal but will sometimes tolerate some oatmeal with apple purée mixed in.
I also started cloth diapering a month ago. I am loving it! I really wish I had started when she was born. It's so much easier than I ever would have imagined. I primarily use gDiapers with gCloth inserts, but I also have some bumGenius pockets and AIO's as well as a Fuzzibunz pocket diaper. The gDiapers are by far my favorite. They fit Chloe so well and I love the gCloth. I plan on doing some reviews here and on YouTube of my experience with the different diapers.
More posts to come soon, I promise! And pictures too!
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