I recently realized that I’ve yet to review any of the cloth diapering products I use – and I have a pretty wide array! Personally, when originally trying to decide which cloth diapers I should use, I really appreciated the opinions of other well-seasoned mothers. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to try several different kinds of diapers and covers, I’d love to share my experiences with you, too!
The Clover wool wrap caught my eye almost immediately when I was searching for cloth diaper supplies before Forrest was born. I read a review about it on Tiny Birds Organics and I just knew it would be amazing. Thankfully, my intuition was correct – it is, hands down, my very favorite wool wrap. I have loved using it on a newborn, and now that Forrest is so much chunkier, it’s still my go-to diaper cover.
When the wrap arrived in the mail, my first thought was that it was so scrumptiously soft. Its double-knit felted wool is extremely stretchy, which is a huge plus when dealing with a sized diaper cover. Even better, the cover 
is equipped with an “access slot” which allows you to adjust the inner buttonhole elastic in the leg openings and waist! This causes the wrap to effectively function as two sizes – not just one. Considering it costs a pretty $30.95, I was happy to realize that I’d get a long life out of this cover. Not only was I excited about the range of size, but I could tell it was well made, meaning I’d be able to use it for subsequent children.
When Forrest was born, the Clover wool wrap is the first cover he ever wore. I was very impressed with how well it hugged his newborn self, and was even more pleased with the fact that it was easy to fold down as to avoid irritating his cord stump. Now that Forrest has chunked up quite a bit, I still love the way this cover fits him. Since I only have one, I try to keep it set aside for nighttime use because it has kept Forrest, me, and our bed dry even when we’ve slept for 12 consecutive hours!
I am especially amazed by The Parent Shoppe (the manufacturer, who makes all their products in Columbus, Ohio) and its willingness to repair any Clover for free for the life of the cover! They don’t require proof of purchase and you don’t even have to be the original purchaser!
I highly recommend the U.S.-made Clover wool wrap – its functionality, dependability, and ease of use make it worth every penny of its price!
In case you’re not familiar with wool or why someone would use it for a cloth diaper cover, check out this article – and don’t be afraid to try it out! You won’t be disappointed!
Okay – everyone put on your serious face. Seriously.
I’ve been thinking. And, by the way, I always preface REALLY important topics (in conversation) with “I’ve been thinking…” so pay attention, folks.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about my marriage. I have the privilege of being married to a really wonderful guy who has an insane amount of patience for the silly things I do. I love him and have committed myself to a lifetime of preferring him. I would do anything I could to show Ryan that I’m dedicated to loving him. I want to take care of him, feed him, stock his closet with clean underwear, make him coffee, have his (many) babies, appreciate his hard work, encourage him, bless him, and persistently adore him despite any shortcomings. That’s only a glimpse of my heart for him.
It would make sense, then, to invest in my relationship with HIM more so than any other (person) – after all, I AM going to spend the rest of my life with him. It would also make sense to invest in my children – but NOT at the expense of my relationship with my husband.
Anyone?
You see – I came to a conclusion the other day. It is so easy to get sucked into parental consumerism (that’s what I’m calling it). It’s easy for me to say that I live simply because I homebirth, breastfeed, wear my babies, cloth diaper, cook/bake from scratch and with healthy, organic ingredients, and intend to homeschool. That all sounds pretty simplistic, doesn’t it? The truth, however, is that Consumerism is always calling our names, and he just wears a different disguise in this situation.
I love cloth diapering. It’s healthier than wrapping my baby in plastic and toxic chemicals, it’s economical, it’s environmentally responsible, and cloth diapered bums are CUTE. It’s EASY to convince myself, unfortunately, that I need the cutest, hippest, most up-to-date diapers. I have found myself spending hours upon hours thinking/researching/planning my cloth diapering journey. It’s easy to think that I need to extend my stash and try one of everything. It’s also easy to pity myself if I can’t afford to cloth diaper with anything other than prefolds, flats, and wool covers (although I do love me some wool covers).
But this begs the question: does Jack care what kind of cloth I diaper him in? Does Forrest care if he has 12 BumGenius all-in-one one-size organic diapers WITH SNAPS alongvwith his Indian prefolds?? No. They don’t care. They probably wouldn’t even notice if I diapered them in an old t-shirt.
The point is NOT that I shouldn’t want nice, high-quality things for my kids – the POINT is that my relationship with my kids will not suffer if I diaper them in prefolds as opposed to Fuzzibunz.
However, my relationship with my husband WILL suffer if I am so extremely obsessed with adding to my cloth diaper stash, owning all the different types of gorgeous slings, and dressing my kids in Lucky Brand clothing that I never invest (time, energy, AND our money) into him (and us).
My children’s emotional and physical well-being rest in my husband’s and my hands. We are responsible for loving them, disciplining them, educating them, and guiding them through their early years until the reach adulthood. But after that? It’s just me and hubby, honey. I cannot forget that the MOST important relationship I have here on earth is that which I share with my husband. My children need my love, but they won’t be under my roof forever. They were born to become independent adults.
I’m assuming that there will at least be someone out there who feels a bit skeptical because this topic is often misunderstood. Far be it from me to suggest that my children are unimportant, I can assure you. Simply put, I do not believe their well-being depends in the brand of cloth diapers they wear, the sling they’re cradled in, the diaper bag their things are stored in, the stroller they’re pushed in, or the clothing brands they’re dressed in.
They will find far more value in parents whose marriage is intact and even FULL of deep intimacy than they will in their parents’ insistence that they “only buy the BEST” for their kids.
That’s why I have made it my personal goal to invest in Ryan. Instead of taking any spare money and applying it toward a new sling, new cloth diapers, yet another diaper bag, or an expensive designer double stroller, I will consider our true needs as a couple. If those need are met and satisfied, then I will consider the items I can use for parenting my children in an efficient, natural and cost-effective way.
I’m laying in bed typing this on my iPhone’s WordPress app, and honestly, I’m tired now. Surely there is more to say. But I’ll leave you with that.
Discuss.
The day started with a trip to the Pancake House, followed by a trip to the bookstore where we bought three books for Jack’s gift.
After a (very short) nap that afternoon, I got started on making peanut butter-filled chocolate cupcakes (yes, I allowed him to have a real cupcake for his birthday – but to make myself feel better, I only used organic ingredients! And they were made completely from scratch! 
). And, of course, because it was his birthday, I let Jack lick the batter off the spatula.
He was really happy about that.
And by really happy, I mean very happy.
“Show Mama what you’re eating, Jack!”
“Enjoy the sugar while you can, kid…” 
Later on, family began to arrive for dinner…
Aunt Amie helped with Forrest…
And so did his great-great grandmommy Rubie!
We all ate a delicious dinner of chicken sausages, carmelized onions, corn-on-the-cob, fresh fruit salad, and rolls, and then broke out the cupcakes!
Gramps chose the most scrumptious-looking cupcake and stuck a candle in it.
We sang “Happy Birthday” to Jack, and he almost burst into tears – it was sad and hilarious all at the same time!
And then the big ol’ 2-year-old blew his candle out all by himself!
The cupcake was a huge hit…
He truly couldn’t stop smiling!
Then Daddy offered him ice cream…
He thought it looked pretty cool, but he did not want to eat it! Good boy! 
He was being such a goof!
Then came present time! Jack was given his very own little table with two chairs (which he sat at the entire time), three books, and some wonderful (greatly needed) Pediped sandals!
He ripped the paper like a pro…
…And he gave Ryan all the pieces he tore off!
I loved how appropriately excited he was about his gifts…his expressions were priceless.
After he finished opening his presents, Jack went to recline on the floor just like his Aunt Amie – needless to say, we thought it was cute!
Oh, what a joy it was to celebrate the second year of this boy’s life! It was so peaceful and relaxed, and I’m so glad we’ve chosen to celebrate most birthdays without big parties and the inevitable stress that accompanies them. I think Jack’s birthday turned out just right!
And of course…
…our happy boy ate this morning’s breakfast at his very own table – just because he can!
I’m not quite sure how it happened, but just seconds ago, I was holding this baby:
Then, I blinked, and you know what happened? This boy was sitting right in front of me:
How did that happen? I mean…seriously?
On July 7, 2007 – two years ago – Jack Dempsey entered the world and turned me into a mama. He also turned our lives upside-down and changed the way we did everything. I had no idea what I was in for: he has shown me how to think outside myself, purely and simply because I have had no choice but to take care of him, and I know that I have become a better woman because of it. What a wonderful surprise.
There are still times I have no clue what I’m doing, but I know that God made me his mama for a reason – and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I am grateful beyond words and my heart for Jack is incredibly swollen with love, affection, and the desire to mother him well.
So, thank you, Jack Dempsey. Thank you for teaching me how to love, how to sacrifice, and how to find joy in the little things. You are a gift and I am blessed.
Quinoa is one of my absolute favorite foods. I love that it’s not only tasty, but incredibly healthy to boot! It cooks just like rice, which makes it really simple to prepare. This seed (which acts quite like a grain), pronounced “keen-wah,” is full of nutritional benefits. Amazingly, quinoa contains all 9 amino acids, making it a complete protein! It is also very high in magnesium, fiber, manganese and copper. It’s easy to digest, very filling, and can be used in a very wide variety of recipes. So far, I’ve eaten it mostly in “salad” form, but I’ve also sauteed it with mushrooms and toasted sesame seed oil to go along with chicken breast. Mmm-mm, delicious!
I’ve already posted my most favorite quinoa recipe, so be sure to check that out as well!
This recipe, by the way, is extremely inexpensive. We make sure we always have one or two shallots on hand, and of course our cupboard is always stocked with different kinds of vinegars and oils. We usually grow our own parsley (which I accidentally let go to seed just recently – darn it!) and we like to buy quinoa in bulk so that we always have some in the kitchen. And of course, we have salt and red pepper flakes! Ultimately, this recipe really only requires us to make sure we have a cucumber, as well as parsley (until I grow some more), because otherwise, the ingredients are always available. I love that!
Quinoa Salad with Cucumber (from Martha Stewart Living, July 2009 Edition)
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
Coarse salt
1 small shallot, finely chopped
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar (white balsamic or white white vinegars work as well)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small English cucumber (hothouse is nice, too), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (1 cup)
3/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions:
1. Bring water, quinoa, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat; cover, and simmer until tender and water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet, and let cool on a wire rack.
2. Combine shallot, vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil until emulsified.
Transfer quinoa to a large bowl, and stir in cucumber, parsley, and vinaigrette. Season with salt (and enjoy!).
The other night, after Jack was settled into bed, I went about my nightly tidying and came across his baby doll wrapped up in one of Jack’s own (clean!) flat diapers. I had noticed him playing with it earlier, but I hadnt realized that he was actually trying to diaper his “baby.” The doll was even pantless under there! It gave me such a giggle.
In the days that have followed, I’ve enjoyed watching Jack show a new kind of concern for his doll and other stuffed animals. He tries to diaper his “baby” any time he sees a load of fresh diapers sitting around, and he frequently lays his animals down to change them (which he makes obvious by whispering “poopoo” as he gently lifts their legs). What a little daddy-in-training! It makes me so proud to witness the tenderness and obvious concern he has for this simple task. More than anything, really, I realize that Jack watches us very closely and it’s so important to be setting an honorable example – even in something as seemingly insignificant as diapering.
It’s a good thing to remember.
There’s another fabulous giveaway going on over at Kristin’s blog! This one is especially for you, nursing moms, but even if you aren’t nursing, there are other options, too! Check it out!
The little swing was occupied, so Jack had to go in the big boy swing.
Forrest’s first friend (little Addy)!
Last week, Ryan and I finally decided to get rid of our microwave.
I’d been thinking about it for a while, and honestly, I knew the benefit would be two-fold – we’d be improving our health and gaining space in our modest kitchen (who can argue with that?).
Although we’ve experienced a few “…Umm, how should I warm this up?” moments, I’m so glad we did it. It’s not actually that hard to learn to live without this uber-convenient appliance. I mean, there are other ways to reheat coffee (wait, did I just admit to reheating my coffee?), or defrost chili, or make oatmeal.
After we broke up with our microwave, it got me thinking about all the things we live without because of our desire to live simply and healthfully – and more importantly, it got me thinking about how beneficial these decisions have been for our family.
Making food from scratch isn’t hard. It takes a little time to get the hang of it, but I’ve learned so much from it. Those 5 unsuccessful attempts at making bread? They taught me a lot more than how to bake bread properly (like adultsdon’tthrowtantrums and it’snottheendoftheworld). It may take longer to prepare meals, and sometimes, we may wish we could just pull something out of the freezer and eat it 15 minutes later, but the point is that we’re putting our time and effort into what nourishes our bodies. We’re making food a part of our home’s “culture” – it’s not just about filling up, it’s about nourishing body and soul (with real food, I might add).
We don’t have a TV, either. Instead, we spend our time with each other, doing something creative, or doing something productive (or all three at the same time!). Sometimes, I really wish we had a TV – but that feeling is usually only momentary and it’s almost always in response to boredom. Instead, I have found very meaningful ways to spend my time, and I doubt I would have done so if I’d been otherwise distracted.
Living without these things, among others, has made a big impact on our family. Our goal is to experience life – to squeeze all the juices out and actually live! No, our microwave didn’t keep us from living life to its fullest. But now, we have yet another reason to put heart and effort into the seemingly unimportant daily task of heating up our food. Oh, and we aren’t zapping the nutrients out of our broccoli.
