Part 2 of Cloth Diapers/Nappies/CD/MCD/MCN/You Get The Drift...

Okay, so, last time, I talked about what diapers we picked and why, along with a few negative things I've been told about using cloth.  What I really didn't do was go into much detail about what to do once your nappies have arrived.  So, here we go...

We decided to use disposables during the newborn stage, and we also needed Little Stevie to be big enough to fit in her cloth.  Babies need to be around 4 to 4.5Kg (9-10lb) to really fit BG.  Let me just say, I couldn't WAIT to get her in cloth.  We had more blowouts in those blasted disposables than I care to count!  It's 2 am, I'm trying to feed her in the dark, and I'm like "what's that wet spot?!?"  Yep, leaky diaper, and more often than not, it was poo.  It would come out the back, out the sides, and it didn't matter what size she had on...they leaked!!  We tried a couple of different brands, and still, they leaked.  See why I'm not afraid of rinsing used nappies?  Rinsing cloth isn't nearly as bad as snuggling your baby against you only to realize you're drenching yourself in baby poop.

Thankfully, the day arrived that we felt comfortable with the fit of her cloth. We knew how to put them on, but what happens once they come off?  Well, that's easy, and it depends on who you ask.  Again, everyone (you know who everyone is...the internet Cloth Diaper Guru Moms) has something different to say, but I go by the general consensus.  I do the following:  take them off, take out the insert, unsnap them, give them a good rinse, squeeze out the excess water, and pop the nappy into a dry pail.  A dry pail, well, my dry pail, is a plastic storage container that sits in my bathroom.  It has a lid that I put on, but I don't seal it.  I have nothing in the container....no water, no detergent, nothing.  On wash day, I tip the pail over my washer, pour everything in, turn on my washer, and clean my bucket.  Often, I'll set the container outside to air out and get some sunshine.  No smells!

You can also get a wet bag, which is what I use when we're out and about.  Some people find them to be a great option because you can hang the bag wherever you need it to be.  I find my dry pail more convenient because I have the perfect space for it to sit, and I don't have to unzip and bag.  I kinda just kick my lid off with my foot.  Here's the lowdown on wet bags.  Wet bags work like dry pails.  They're lined zipper/snap bags.  You store diapers the same way as a dry pail.  On wash day, pour the nappies in the wash, pop the bag inside out, toss the bag in washer, and turn on your machine!

Speaking of washing, there's a big hooplah over "the right way to wash".  Basically, here's what I think, if it works for you and doesn't ruin your nappies, go for it.  Again, be careful and go by your diaper manufacturers' guidelines.  You don't want to ruin them or void your warranty.  Other than that, it's variable based on your diaper, washer, detergent, and water.  I do the following: cold wash on the longest cycle with the most amount of water possible, extra rinse, hang outside to dry.  I use an eco friendly wash that's not harmful to nappies.  I use 3/4 of the recommended amount because nappies will get a detergent build up if you use too much, and they won't get clean if you use too little.  Build up prevention is why I do an extra rinse after the wash cycle.  Sometimes I pre-rinse in the washer, if for some reason she's been really rough on the diaper, but we do a good job of rinsing them when we take them off, and we've had no issues with my routine.

Some hot wash because it gets them cleaner, or they think it's more sanitary to wash in hot.  I'm fine with cold washing.  We have no smell or diaper rash issues, so I know my method is fine.  I can bleach them per BG with 1/4 cup once per month, but I haven't needed to.  I line dry in the sun, and if it's raining, I use the clothes horse.  Sometimes, the inserts get dried in the drier, but only if there's no chance of sun, or if they're just not drying inside and we're soon going to run out of nappies.  I never ever ever dry my shells in the drier.  It's not good for them, and again, if it is harmful to your nappies, just don't do it.  I really don't like drying my inserts in the drier either because I'm convinced it will wear them out if done long enough.  I don't think it really will, but I don't want to risk it.  Just to be safe, and because the sun is awesome, if possible we do all drying outside.

Clothes Horse Drying

Sun is nature's bleach, and each time they come in after being outside, they look brand spanking new!  Also, the sun works to kill the fungus that causes nappy rash.  Here's another little handy dandy sun fact.  If you have a little one that has a bit of a rash, or a stubborn rash you can't seem to get rid of, stick that little bum outside in the sun.  Use common sense here, don't let the little tush burn!!  If you lack common sense, just don't do this, continue to use your over-the-counter products and consult your doctor.

You can tell, washing and sunning are kind of a big deal.  I'm a bit anal over these two things because I want to continue to not have issues.  Yes, I will admit, I've been known to get so hung up on my washing routine that I have gotten a bit grumpy at Ben over not washing the way I want them washed.  He chunks them in, sets it on a quicker cycle, uses the amount of water that you would usually use wash a similar sized load of clothes, and then sets the washer for another rinse cycle.  I walk in, see this, and go Mommy Dearest on him.  You know Mommy Dearest?  The movie where Joan Crawford spazzes out over wire hangers?  Well, that's me except I'm all "No short cycle with low water!!!!"

In case you don't know about Mommy Dearest...here's the clip

Mommy Dearest No Wire Hangers Ever!!!!

Me Being Spaztastic Over The Washing Routine

He now uses the longer wash cycle, since I asked, but I'm still not sure rather or not he uses the water setting I prefer.  I make a point to not walk by the washer if he's thrown them in because I don't want to go psycho over it, and mainly, I'm just thankful he'll take the time to wash nappies for me.  I could be one of those women grumbling about how her husband never helps around the house.  Nope, I'm going to keep my mouth shut and be grateful for the chance to snuggle under the cover and sleep in a bit longer while he goes on nappy washing duty.

So, what are these horrible things I'm trying to prevent?  Detergent build up, ammonia build up, stink, and repelling.  You read a variety of causes and a variety of solutions.  Some people get worked up over the right way and wrong way to remedy each problem.  Again, I think the remedy is whatever works for you based on your nappies, washer, and water type.  I have no personal experience for dealing with any of these things, so I'm going to refrain from saying what does and doesn't work for each issue.  If we do have any of these issues, I'm sure you'll get to read aaaaaallll about it in a blog post.

There you have it.  My thoughts on washing and cloth problems.  We've been in cloth full time for two months now, and I really am pleased with our decision to use them.  I can't complain about BumGenius, and I would recommend them to anyone.  They're user friendly, and it's nice to not feel like you're asking for your family to put forth a lot of effort when they babysit.  We've had no blowouts due to diaper error, and only 2 or maybe 3 due to Mommy error.  I didn't stuff the inserts correctly a time or two, and another time I didn't put the diaper on her straight.  You know what happened!  The cloth still did a better job containing the blow outs than the disposables EVER did!!

I like cloth so much that I'm anxious to try the different types.  I really want to get my hands on a few prefolds and covers with varying blends of material.  Any other children we have will be in cloth from the moment a nappy is first put on their behind, so I think it would be wise to get accustomed to prefolds now, since they seem to be the best fit for newbie babies.  No, there's no newbie on the way, but it never hurts to be prepared!  I am also a bit curious about the absorbency of different nappy fabrics.  We don't have any complaints now, but again, for future reference it would be nice.

Any materials or brands you would recommend I try? 

Cloth Diapers/Nappies/CD/MCD/MCN/You Get The Drift...

What's all that cd/mcd/mcn mumbo jumbo?  That's cloth diaper world abbreviations for cloth diapers, modern cloth diapers, and modern cloth nappies (nappies = diapers in NZ, OZ, UK, etc).  The world of cloth diapers has its own language.  You get into things like ai1, ai2 (all-in-1's and 2's), os (one size), pockets, fitted, flats, prefolds, workhorses, pretties...  You also have brands: BG (Bumgenius), FB (Fuzzibums), RR (Rumparoo), GV (Grovia), and then you have MWAH nappies (mom working from home). The list goes on and on, and THEN you get into the fabrics they're made with: cotten, bamboo, microfleece, microfiber, minky, hemp, organic Himalayan silk (not really that last one, but it did sound good).  Once all of this is mixing around in your head, you're probably thinking exactly what I was...WTH!!!!  That's what the heck in case you didn't know, well, I said what the heck, but I'm sure there are other meanings.

What happened to the Gerber Birdseye diapers?  I just wanted to stick a piece of cloth on my baby's butt and be done with it.  In case you're wondering, the Gerbers are on the store shelf next to burp cloths, which is where they should stay unless you intend to use them for spit up rags.  Back on point, selecting cloth diapers...  Okay, so how did I decide which diapers to use?  The same way I make every other decision...I read and researched, albeit with a few tears and eye bleeds since I was trying to figure out what all that crazy lingo is about.  After countless hours, I finally decided upon a brand, much to Ben's pleasure.  I'm pretty sure he was sick and tired of hearing about all of it, and he probably would have used a plastic bag with leg holes cut out if it meant I would shut-up about all of it.

So, what did I choose?  Ta-da!!!!

BumGenius 4.0

I chose Bumgenius 4.0 with snaps, which are one sized pockets that have a suedecloth top layer and micorfiber inserts. Why did I choose these?  Simple...they're user friendly.  If I'm starting something new, I need it to be as painless as possible.  If it's too complicated, I'm not as likely to stick with it.  To use these, I make sure the cover and insert are snapped to the appropriate size, stuff the insert into the pocket, make sure the insert is correctly, and put it on Little Stevie.  It goes on like a disposable, but it snaps instead of velcro-ing (is that even a word?).

Largest Size Setting

Smallest Size Setting

Diaper Unstuffed With Insert On Top

Both Inserts

If you find snaps too difficult, there is a velcro option, but I didn't want to risk it wearing out before I was finished using them.

Velcro Option

See?  Cloth diapering made easy!  Everyone, and by everyone I mean all the cloth diaper guru momma's on the internet, said to start out with a couple of different brands to try.  You're able to more accurately determine what will or will not work for your baby and life style.  There are trial packs you can buy, or you can demo used diapers.  There are a couple of different options to help you decide what you like.  I decided to take a risk and go with BG.  I had read both good and bad reviews, so I knew what I was getting into.  For me, the pros outweighed the cons, especially when I checked out the New Zealand price.

Here, you're looking at over $30 per diaper.  Back in the U.S. I could get them buy 5 get 1 free, which came out to $14.35 per nappy.  As an added bonus, I got FREE shipping!!!  Remember I'm a tightwad!  Yes, money factors into my decisions.  So, armed with my knowledge, I bit the bullet and ordered the diapers in the U.S. before I moved.  I figured if I didn't like them, I could sell them and try different brands once Stevie was born.  I packed them into a suitcase, and they came over on the flight with me. 

Here's what a suitcase of nappies looks like.

Suitcase Full of Nappies

 You may be wondering why I didn't just wait until I was in New Zealand, order from the U.S., and have them shipped here.  Well, for one, shipping costs ALOT, and for second, BG won't allow international shipping in order to be fair to your local stockists.  I'm okay with that.  I could have had them shipped over by some of my family, but I don't exactly trust the postal system.  A box of my belongings took a tour of New Zealand before it arrived at my door.  It somehow made its way from Auckland (northern part of the the North Island) to Dunedin (southern part of the South Island) and finally, back to Hamilton (northern-ish North Island).  It arrived a little over a month after I shipped it, but I'm not complaining.  It arrived...could have been worse!!!  That's why I brought a suitcase of nappies with me.

So why did I decide to go through this "hassle"?  New Zealand is really pretty, so I want to do my part to keep it that way.  The bigger reason, I'm a tightwad!!    For less than $350 Little Stevie will be diapered from birth to potty training.  That's including her wipes and liners (diaper topper to make clean up easier).  Yes, there are a couple of added expenses such as laundry detergent and a slight bump in power consumption, but that cost is minimal in the grand scheme of things.  Here is a pretty good cost breakdown.

We decided that since we were going to be doing laundry, we might as well use reusable wipes and liners.  They're much easier than worrying about throwing away wipes or flushing liners before doing a diaper rinse.  We rinse it all at once and we're done.  In case you're wondering, we bought the baby wash cloths to use as wipes.  Fold them in half, and they fit perfectly into a regular disposable wipes container.  We simply put water in there with a couple of drops of tea tree oil, and Voila!  Baby wipes!!!  As a bonus, the tea tree oil is a natural anti-fungal that helps keep rash away.  The liners are made from microfleece that I bought and it's cut down to size.

Some think it's gross rinsing diapers.  Who wants poo all over them?  Well, nobody enjoys poo being all over them, but don't think you're immune if you choose disposables.  I've had more disposable blow outs than I care to think about.  Besides, you don't have to play in the diaper to rinse it.  Oh, and did you know, you're actually suppose to dump the nasties out of disposables?!


Proof!!

"If nappy is soiled, empty contents into toilet"

 I've been bombarded by people claiming I'm making the wrong choice by cloth diapering.  "It's expensive!" No, it is an investment up front, but it's much cheaper long term.  It's gross rinsing diapers.  Again, I don't play in it.  I've also heard all kinds of other reasons for not using cloth.  My favorite..."Who has time to sit around and wash diapers all the time?!"  Ummm...yeah, cuz that's what you do when you cloth diaper.  You sit around and wash diapers day in and day out.  Actually, we have a whopping 2 to 3 extra loads of laundry a week.  We wash them every 3 days, and it literally consists of dumping and starting the machine.  We're not using a washboard or anything.  Yeah, we take a bit of time stuffing them, but no more than it takes to go purchase diapers.  "It's too much work!" I'll admit, to begin with, it takes a bit of work to figure out what works for you, but by the first or two, you'll get a routine, and it's gravy from there!!

Yes, I like my cloth diapers, if you can't tell.  I'll get into some of the ins and outs such as washing, some problems that may arise, and a few other tid bits in part two.  For now, I'll leave you with this, and another reason you should consider cloth if you haven't.  There are no disposables that can compare to PRETTIES!!!!!!

Mini Muffets Click here for more info.

Scrumptious Nappies Click here for more info

Scrumptious Nappies Click here for more info

Those are reason enough to choose cloth over disposables!!  That's a few pics from some of our local MWAH nappies.  There are tons more out there.  Do you have any favorite nappy brands? 

My Birth Story

Well, after much thinking, I decided that yes, I would share my birth story.  I originally wrote this for my midwife, and I've tweaked it just a little for everyone reading this.  I'm going to forewarn you, this isn't my usual topic, and it's a tad graphic.  It's not uber graphic, but it's a bit descriptive.  I'm sharing my war story here...of course there's gonna be details (and yes a picture or two for proof)!! :D  Never fear, it does contain bits of my quirky sense of humor.  Also, what you're reading is MY experience.  It's not intended to diss anyone's choices or what-not, so don't get your thong twisted if you don't like something I have to say.  Now...all technicalities aside...on with the post.

Motherhood brings about one of the biggest adventures in your life.  It all begins with pregnancy.  Your belly expands, a little person is rapidly growing inside of you, and your mind drifts to thoughts of what the future holds.  I was no exception, except that my pregnancy brought about a bigger adventure than I could have possibly foreseen.

In June of 2012, I visited my husband in New Zealand.  Little did I know, I had more than pictures and t-shirts for souvenirs.  In July, we found out I was pregnant!!  Ben and I were excited, and then the worry set in.  Ben was in New Zealand, and I was in the U.S.  What were we going to do?  Where were we going to live?  After talking and looking at our options, we decided that I would move to NZ.

The decision to move brought with it a separate list of hurdles which included immigration and finding a midwife, from the other side of the world.  I was a labor and delivery nurse.  I had a set way of thinking when it come to maternity care.  I worked with and trusted my OB doctor.  I had no idea what kind of care New Zealand offered, and I only had a short amount of time to find out because I really didn't need to make the flight to NZ during my 3rd trimester.  Ben reassured me everything would be fine, I started researching, and together, we poured through the lists of midwives looking for the perfect one.  I'm happy to say we found her!

Christina was immediately short listed after we read through her website, saw her credentials and experience, and heard recommendations.  I emailed her, and after Christina's response, I knew she was the one.  Christina was familiar with what I was accustomed to, gave me more information about NZ maternity care, and as a bonus, she had traveled through my small town in Alabama.  Christina agreed to take me on, and over the next few months, I was her 'internet patient'.

I would email Christina updates after my OB appointments and fill her in on how I was progressing.  She always responded quickly and offered advice, if I needed it.  She went above and beyond what I expected, and I was so thankful.  Because of her, I had one less thing to stress over.  I had confidence in her, and she put me at ease.  I knew I did not have to worry about the level of care I would receive, and instead, I could turn my thoughts to the nearly 14,000 kilometer flight back to New Zealand.

In December, at 26 weeks pregnant, I boarded the plane for the 20 hour journey back.  Things didn't slow down once landed, and for a while, our life was extremely hectic. On top of having a baby to prepare for, Ben and I married, I had a new country to adjust to, and I was finally able to meet my midwife!  Christina booked me in shortly after I arrived, and after meeting her, I was even more pleased that she had agreed to be my LMC provider.  Christina was not just my midwife, but she also helped me adjust to life in NZ. 

She recommended groups and activities to get me out of the house and to help me meet people.  She always made sure I was feeling well both physically and emotionally, and I knew that I could talk to her if I needed to.  We discussed the differences in care between NZ and the U.S., she explained the evidence behind some of the practices in NZ, and she made sure I was comfortable with the decisions we made regarding my care.  I looked forward to my appointments with Christina, and I think she looked forward to them as well (Ben and I provided a good laugh for her rather it be telling the story of how I ended up in New Zealand, or hearing about our random weekend trips...including one to Australia at nearly 35 weeks pregnant).   

As my due date grew closer, I began to have little worries again.  I planned on having an unmedicated water birth at Waterford Birth Centre,  I had no desire to birth in the hospital because for me it was a source of anxiety.  I was not afraid of the care I would receive in the hospital.  I was nervous that I would scare myself into wanting a c-section if I saw something on the monitor I didn't like...remember, I actually know how to read those things.  Luckily, Miss Priss decided to come on her own.

March 17, 2013 was a typical day.  Ben and I had watched movies, I sat on my yoga ball trying to get our little one to straighten up, and as usual, I had no contractions.  We had dinner, watched more movies, and finally decided to go to bed around 10:30.  I woke up hurting around midnight.  I got up because I couldn't get comfortable, and I didn't want to wake Ben since he had to work that morning.  I went into the living room and sat back on my ball.  I was definitely having contractions, but I wanted to make sure they were real and not Braxton Hicks.  By 12:30, I knew I was in labor.  My contractions were every 2 to 3 minutes.

I woke Ben, and told him to get his things ready.  I stood in the shower letting the water run over my back while Ben gathered what he needed and checked to make sure all of my things were packed.  I finally got out of the shower and knelt at the side of my bed.  My contractions were getting stronger, and I was not really able to talk through them.  I had started to think I might be more comfortable at the birth centre, but I didn't want to go too soon.  I called my mom back in the U.S., but I couldn't talk to her very long.  Our conversation lasted 6 minutes, and I had 3 contractions during that time.  I told Ben I was calling Christina.

At 130 I placed the call, and after talking to me through a contraction, Christina told me to head to Waterford, and she would notify them I was coming in.  Ben loaded up the car, I huffed and puffed through my contractions, and finally we were on our way.  Thankfully, the drive was less than 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes were not comfortable.  My back hurt, and I wanted to be back on all fours.  At 2:00, I got my wish.  I was on the bean bag, Ben was rubbing my back, and I felt better being at the birth centre.  Christina arrived shortly thereafter, and she checked me to see how far I had progressed.  At 02:15 I was 7cm dilated with a bulging amniotic sac.

When she told me, I had a moment of panic inside my head.  There was no turning back, I had to do this naturally because at this point a hospital transfer and epidural were completely out of the picture.  Up until then, I had always told myself to relax and not worry about the pain being too much because I had a great support system, I was educated on child birth, and yes, I could always change my mind should I need to.  My moment of fear disappeared with the next contraction, and all I could think about then was getting off the bed and back to the bean bag.  Ben and Christina helped me up, and then Christina went to fill the tub for me.

At 2:30, I climbed into the tub.  The lighting in the room was low, the water was warm, and I was able to change positions more easily.  My contractions seemed to pick up and become more intense.  I felt like they were one right on top of the other, and I felt an enormous amount of pressure.  My water broke at 2:45, and at that point, I no longer wanted to change positions.  I relaxed against the tub.  Ben and Christina reassured me that I was doing a wonderful job, offered me water to keep me hydrated, and they reminded me to breath slow and deep through each contraction. 

I started to get a bit nauseated, and I knew what that meant, it wouldn't be long before my little girl was born.  Around 3:00 I began to feel a burning pressure, I told Christina and she encouraged me to push when I felt the urge.  I pushed a little, and when I did, I felt her move down; it scared me.  I had a mental image of where she was positioned, and I thought to myself that I didn't want to push because it was going to hurt.  I breathed through a few more contractions, and then I no longer cared if it hurt because the pressure and contractions were too much.  I knew pushing was the only way to make it all stop.

I started really pushing at 3:10.  Ben kept me grounded and reminded me to control my breathing between contractions.  Christina encouraged me to push through the pain, and when I was close to crowning, she started directing my pushing to prevent tearing as much as possible.  I focused on Christina.  I listened and did exactly as she instructed...push gently, pant, let the head slowly ease out.  Once her head was out, I pushed once more.  Less than 3 and a half hours from my first contraction, I was holding my baby girl.

Our little girl entered the world and was placed on my chest at 3:21 am on March 18th.  Her cord was cut once it stopped pulsing, and Ben held her while I delivered the placenta.  I was moved back to the bed, and Christina examined me.  I was completely intact.  Little Stevie was given back to me, and she immediately started breastfeeding.

There we are!!

Look...even smiling!

I went into this wondering what all the hoop-la was about.  I didn't think the medical community was out to "ruin" my birth experience or "force" me birth a certain way for liability issues.  I was just honestly curious why women chose to go this route.  I didn't have a lengthy birth plan, and the only reason I had one was because my medical record has a place for it to be filled in.  I was open to whatever worked.  I didn't take classes and read lots of books, and I didn't hound Ben to read certain books or make out "affirmation cards".  Nope, I was your laid back whatever goes patient. All of that other stuff would stress me out, I mean really, I don't think I wanted him shuffling through a deck of flash cards to tell me what position would be more comfortable to me (I'm in no way knocking those that do.  I just know it would stress me if my plan was being ruined by baby's time line).

So what did I learn?  During those moments, and looking back, I finally saw why women choose to have natural child births.  The experience was more than I could have ever imagined.  Did it hurt?  Oh yeah it did, but I didn't think I was dying, and thankfully we have these wonderful hormones that kinda dull your memory of what it was actually like...lol  I think probably the best way to describe it is to say it was intense.  That's a more accurate picture than just calling it painful.  Yes, there were a couple of times I asked Ben to make it stop, and I said "I'm having an epidural with the next one".  Mainly I just told Ben and Christina "It hurts" a few times.  I didn't scream like a banshee, I didn't curse and carry on like you see on tv, and really I just went with it.

I had gas and air available, and had I not been close to delivery, I had pethidine (demerol) as an option.  I didn't ask for either, nor did I think about asking for anything.   I knew fighting it would make it harder, so I focused on breathing and getting through one contraction at a time.  I'm saying my methods were successful because I can say I did it!!  I was able to see just what my body was capable of, and it was amazing!  My husband and Christina were everything I could have hoped for in a support system, and without them, I could not have done it.  The way I chose to deliver may not be for everyone, but having had an epidural with my first, I can say the choice I made with this birth was the best choice for me.

So you may be wondering, would I do it this way again?  You bet I would!!! ;)

Going Crunchy

I feel like I should be at some sort of 'Anonymous Addiction Meeting' as I admit this.  "Hello, I'm Callie, and I'm turning crunchy..." For those of you that know me, I'm sure there are a few gasps and slack jawed expressions going on as you read this.  I know, I found it hard to believe myself...well, initially.  After the shock wore off, I embraced my new found love of all things some things crunchy.  Hey, I'm a newbie to the granola world, I can't love all things.  There are places I draw the line...ie "no poo".  For those of you not into the lingo, no poo means no shampoo.  Yes, there are some people that don't use shampoo (no judement intended).  I've not researched it, so I don't know how it works.  Regardless, rest assured, I do still wash my hair...although at the end of the day, it really doesn't look like it (or smell like it) after Little Stevie's spit up in it a few times.

What has gotten into me, you are probably wondering.  Well, I like to blame it on New Zealand.  "WHAT?!" Yes, I'm blaming it on my new home.  Some of these changes were brought on by it being the norm (recycling/reusing) and some by force.  I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical to begin with.  I grew up with air conditioning.  When I realized that most people over here didn't have (or use) the a/c, I was a bit wary.  When I saw how many clothes lines were strung up, again, I was slightly O.o (that is googley eyed, in case you are wondering). I pouted a bit when I realized there are things from the States I can't get here, or what I can get is expensive/tastes different.  Since I was in a new country, there were two things I could have done.  I could have whined and resisted, and ultimately made adapting harder, or I could enthusiastically jump in with both feet and have a go of it.  Yes, I dove in, and giggled like a school girl as I hung out my first load of laundry.

Were there a few groans along the way, you betcha!  The weather here is very unpredictable, and I nor the weather man can determine if it's going to be a good drying day or not.  There have been many rain soaked clothes, and I have wanted to be like the lady that lives behind me and leave them out rain or shine because they will eventually dry....even if it is a week later. ;)  There were a couple of times that I wished for air con.  I went through summer pregnant, and not just pregnant, but my final trimester of pregnancy...you know, the most uncomfortable part.  Also, it wasn't just any summer, it was the hottest summer in history (click that link for proof). By the end of my pregnancy, I was waddling around scoffing at those complaining about the heat and humidity.  Pfft...amateurs!!  This Bama girl knows all about heat and humidity.  That being said, it's probably the only thing that saved me from whining, crying, and begging for a/c to be installed.

I started to learn to make things in order to replicate the taste of products I missed from the U.S.  It began with taco seasoning and Sloppy Joe's.  Yes, they have taco seasoning here, but I didn't have any on hand and refused to go to the market.  Hmmm...maybe laziness should be added to my list of reasons for becoming more crunchy.  A Facebook status made me have a craving for Sloppy Joe's, and I knew to not even bother with trying to find Manwich mix at the grocery store.  A base recipe, followed with a dash of this and sprinkle of that, and Voila!!!  I made my own!!!  They tasted just as good, if not better than the can mix.  The same goes for the taco seasoning, it tasted just like the packets of Old El Paso, but without all of the preservatives!!!!

That did me in, I was on a mission to make as many convenience products as I could.  I saw they tasted the same or better and they didn't have additives.  That's right; I said additives...I've also started calling them "nasty fillers" and ugh..."chemicals".  No, I nor anyone I know has died from the before mentioned, but if I have the option to buy versus make, I now choose to make it.  Since my initial kitchen diy experiments, I've also taken on the task of making cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, steak sauce, and chili mix, just to name a few.  All of my attempts have been successful.  It's started to become sort of like a game of Make It If You Can.  I don't bother looking for the pre-made ingredients for recipes any longer.  I make what-ever it is I need, toss the extras in the freezer or pantry, and it's very cost effective.  Win!!!

Cost is another factor that lead to me "going to the green side".  Have you seen the cost of diapers?!?!?!  They're not cheap, but I am.  After seeing what they cost when Root Toot was a baby, I decided I wanted to forgo that added expense.  Hello cloth diapers!!  After researching and reading and more researching and reading, I decided to go with BumGenius 4.0 diaper...or nappies as they're called here.  They seemed the most user friendly, had great reviews, and the best part...I got them when they were buy 5 get 1 free with free shipping!!!!  Woohoo!!  We did use disposable for about 3 weeks, so including that cost of around $100 and the cost of her BG nappies, she has been diapered from birth to potty for less than $450.

BumGenius 4.0 on smallest setting

I also decided to save money by forgoing disposable wipes.  I make a wipe solution of water and a few drops of  tea tree oil.  Tea tree oil is great, and when she did get nappy rash while wearing disposables, it helped clear her bum right up!!  Also effective at clearing up a red bum and diaper rash...COCONUT OIL!!!

Coconut Oil...versatile natural product

Coconut oil is anti-fungal and safe for cloth nappies.  It's also inexpensive and easily found.  Go check out the cooking oil or international food aisle at your local market, cheaper than all the other creams and just as good.  It's also great for use as a moisturizer and hair treatment...that's why I have a big jar of it. ;)

To be on the safe side, and to make nappy clean up easier, I did buy fleece to use as a liner.  It's really easy to make your own, which is what I did.  Since I was at the craft store, I also bought felt to make Stevie a mobile and hangy things for her car seat.  Cheap, and I can make more so she doesn't have to see the same one over and over.

Sewing, laundry detergent making, and soap making are next on my diy/crunchy living list.  Ben's going to get me a sewing machine, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm picking up the dedicated soap making pots and pans this weekend when we head to market.  I would say my poor family, but Ben is a good sport, and actually encourages me...lol  We'll see how encouraging he is if I mess up the pH in the soap and he gets a chemical peel.  Muahahahahaha!!  Yes, that was my evil villian laugh.

Perhaps the biggest change for me came with my maternity care and Stevie's birth.  I'm not going to get into the maternity services of New Zealand right now, but I will say that as long as you're having a normal pregnancy, it is less medicalized than the States.  I had an amazing midwife for my maternity care.  I also chose to not give birth in the hospital.  I had Little Stevie at Waterford Birth Centre.  I had an unmedicated waterbirth.  Yep, I opted to go all natural...no epidural, no iv pain meds (or iv for that matter), and no air & gas.  I had her in the birthing tub, delayed cord cutting, delayed her bath, and brought home her placenta (not to eat or encapsulate..I'm not that crunchy, but kudos to those who are).

On that note, I'm going to leave you to mull over that last paragraph.  The little monster is awake, and I have laundry to do, which I accomplish by wearing my baby in a wrap.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!  I'm going to think about rather or not to post up my birth story and get busy with a few diy things...Cheers!