So I'm not sure how many people out there know this, but I am currently working on my masters! I have a B.S. in Biology and once I entered the job market it became very apparent that I needed a masters to really get anywhere. After hunting around I found a great online biotechnology masters program at Johns Hopkins University! Part of the reason I started working on my masters was to take my mind off of trying to get pregnant. I was focusing all my energy on that and was getting more and more frustrated and I realized I needed to do something other then focus on getting pregnant! I am finally taking some really interesting classes. This semester I am taking stem cell biology.
Each student is required to do a project on a type of stem cell. This weeks projects were on ovarian and testicular stem cells. Reading about these kinds of stem cells and the potential they have to treat infertility is just amazing. The science to help has come so far already and just reading about this groundbreaking work makes me see just how much it is going to be changing over the next decade. I know that I got off easy in the land of infertility compared to many. I look at Eirik every day and think how amazing it is he is sitting there in front of me. I think of all those who I know who went through so much or are still going through it and I wish that these advances were available now not in 10 or 20 years. But still, it makes me hope that someday so many of the infertility issues that are out there will have new amazing treatments. Just look at how far treatments like IVF have come in the past 10 years!
Someday all these "what ifs" will be reality. I'm interested to see what they come up with!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mr. Chatterbox
Eirik has become a little talker... but only sometimes. Its actually quite amusing because he'll go on for quite a while talking and cooing and grinning but the second I try and record it no such luck! Part of the reason is he is really talkative after eating... so I can't exactly hold the camera and aim it at him while he's eating just to wait for that moment when he's done. Well, I could, but i'm not sure i'd want that video on the internet! However tonight he graced me with a conversation which I actually caught on video!
In other news Eirik had his follow up doctors appointment today. My chunky monkey is now 16.5lbs! Geeze! He also got 2 shots, which he was not so happy about. He's been a little extra fussy this evening, but nothing too bad thankfully! We'll see how he sleeps tonight!
In other news Eirik had his follow up doctors appointment today. My chunky monkey is now 16.5lbs! Geeze! He also got 2 shots, which he was not so happy about. He's been a little extra fussy this evening, but nothing too bad thankfully! We'll see how he sleeps tonight!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Eirik Discovers The Cat!
I jinex myself yesterday by saying how wonderful sleeping was going! Yep, I knew it was going to happen. Last night was okay, but he awoke at 4:30 refusing to go back to sleep and today has pretty much refused to nap! So, since I have accomplished nothing in the way of school stuff today, I'm just doing a quick blog post tonight!
This is a video I took a few days ago of Eirik discovering Caligula. As you can see Caliugla could care less!
This is a video I took a few days ago of Eirik discovering Caligula. As you can see Caliugla could care less!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Updates on Sleep and Breastfeeding!
So today I suddenly realized that Eirik and I now have this breastfeeding thing down! He latches super well and is a pretty efficient eater! Gone are the long 40 minute nursing sessions and now when he eats its typically only a total of 10, maybe 15 minutes. Hes still a grazer much to my frustration, enjoying more frequent short nursing then long ones. But, I can't complain too much. He now tells me when he is done by pulling off and talking to me. Its actually quite adorable because he looks up at me and starts cooing and grinning! Last night we also successfully did a nursing session while I was laying down in bed! The past times when i've tried he's fallen off or gotten frustrated but last night he just popped himself on and I went back to sleep!
Sleep is another thing that has gotten better. We're not sleeping through the night, but his first stretch tends to be 3 - 4 hours! After that its typically about another 2 -3. This means that right now he goes down about 9, wakes up about 12:30, goes back down about 1, wakes up again about 3:30, and then sometimes if i'm really lucky he's not up again until 5:30 or 6... and if i'm SUPER lucky he'll just want a little snack before going back to sleep till 7! This means that theoretically i'll only be up twice a night for feedings once I go back to work. More then I wanted, but much more doable then the 3, 4, or even 5 times I was getting up before! And the difference between 2 - 3 hours of sleep and 3 - 4 hours is AMAZING.
He's also becoming much more consistent with napping. I wouldn't say he has a set schedule down, but its becoming more predictable! Of course this will all probably change with me returning to work next week (insert BIG sad face here) but we'll have to see what happens.
Sleep is another thing that has gotten better. We're not sleeping through the night, but his first stretch tends to be 3 - 4 hours! After that its typically about another 2 -3. This means that right now he goes down about 9, wakes up about 12:30, goes back down about 1, wakes up again about 3:30, and then sometimes if i'm really lucky he's not up again until 5:30 or 6... and if i'm SUPER lucky he'll just want a little snack before going back to sleep till 7! This means that theoretically i'll only be up twice a night for feedings once I go back to work. More then I wanted, but much more doable then the 3, 4, or even 5 times I was getting up before! And the difference between 2 - 3 hours of sleep and 3 - 4 hours is AMAZING.
He's also becoming much more consistent with napping. I wouldn't say he has a set schedule down, but its becoming more predictable! Of course this will all probably change with me returning to work next week (insert BIG sad face here) but we'll have to see what happens.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Pool Time!
So if there is one thing I miss about living with my parents is the pool. When I was a kid I LIVED at the pool in the summer. I grew up in an area with tons of really high quality outdoor pools and at any given point in my childhood I was within walking distance of one. I have such fond memories of spending my days swimming. When I was older both my brother and I were on swim team and our Saturday mornings were filled with swim meets. I was not a great swimmer, but it was something I truly enjoyed. Sadly since I now live in a city the public pools are just so so and I can't really afford a privet pool membership. The gym I go to does have a pool, however its taken over by swim practice the times I go... and there is nothing like the outdoor pool. Indoors are nice, but to me the best thing to do in the summer is go swimming!
So when my friend Kelli (some of you know her from TTCYF6+) send me an e-mail this morning saying she was going to be in the area and asking if I wanted to go swimming I jumped at the chance! Sure I haven't worn a bathing suite in years and yea I still have about 10lbs of baby weight to go... but a chance to swim in a pool! So today Eirik and I went to the pool! We met up with Kelli and her son Collin, who is 9 months old. I was a little worried Eirik wouldn't like the water because it was cool, but he loved it! I think he was a little confused and thought of it like a big bath, but he was quite happy to move around in the water. He only started getting fussy because he was tired and then he zonked out and took a short nap while I did a little relaxing in the water. Since he loved the water so much I'm really going to have to find somewhere to take him swimming! I want him to enjoy the water as much as I do!
In other big news Eirik ALMOST rolled over last night! He made it on his side and the only reason he didn't get all the way over is because his hand was in the way. He's so close to doing it though! We'll have to put him down on the ground again tonight and see if he'll make it all the way over. =)
And now, Eirik in the water!
Napping in the shade
So when my friend Kelli (some of you know her from TTCYF6+) send me an e-mail this morning saying she was going to be in the area and asking if I wanted to go swimming I jumped at the chance! Sure I haven't worn a bathing suite in years and yea I still have about 10lbs of baby weight to go... but a chance to swim in a pool! So today Eirik and I went to the pool! We met up with Kelli and her son Collin, who is 9 months old. I was a little worried Eirik wouldn't like the water because it was cool, but he loved it! I think he was a little confused and thought of it like a big bath, but he was quite happy to move around in the water. He only started getting fussy because he was tired and then he zonked out and took a short nap while I did a little relaxing in the water. Since he loved the water so much I'm really going to have to find somewhere to take him swimming! I want him to enjoy the water as much as I do!
In other big news Eirik ALMOST rolled over last night! He made it on his side and the only reason he didn't get all the way over is because his hand was in the way. He's so close to doing it though! We'll have to put him down on the ground again tonight and see if he'll make it all the way over. =)
And now, Eirik in the water!
Napping in the shade
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Good, The bad, and the meh
So now Eirik is almost 11 weeks old (how the heck did that happen!?) I've had some time to reflect on baby products. Some things I have found to be amazing while other things I have hardly used at all! I thought today I'd do a really quick list of things I love, things I hate, and things that are okay but I could live without. I know a few of you who read this will be having your little beans soon, so I thought maybe it would be helpful.
The Good:
Cradle swing! Eirik LOVES this. He snoozes in it all the time! I will add here some babies hate swings... just as a heads up
Bouncy Chair - again, he LOVES this. He'll sit in it quite happily while we eat dinner or do something
Piggy Sack - A mei tai soft carrier purchased from Mandy. I LOVE this item! It is easy to take out because it rolls up, you can put it on in minutes, and you can use it from newborn to toddler! Eirik slept in it a lot at first but now he just loves looking at things when I go out! If you're interested you can buy one here: http://www.piggysack.com/
Cosleeper - lifesaver! I can't imagine getting up every 3 hours to go get Eirik out of his crib to feed him. I don't even get out of bed! I roll over, pick him up, feed him, put him back to sleep.
Medela Freestyle Breastpump - since i'm going back to work I shelled out the big bucks on a breast pump... and i LOVE it. Its easy to use and light and portable! And a rechargeable battery!
Bravado Nursing bras - EXCELLENT nursing bras. They are supportive, which I need. Apparently under wires are bad for breastfeeding, so I knew I would have to shell out big bucks on a nursing bra.
Old Navy Nursing Shirts - inexpensive, easy to use, and have a nice little flair so you can hide that post pregnancy jelly belly!
Cloth Diapers - As you can tell from my review, i'm addicted. =)
The Bad
The Boppy - Yes, some people love their boppy. I hated mine... it never worked right and Eirik was never fond of it either!
Papmpers with Drymax diapers - They leaked EVERYWHERE. Also they are currently being investigated because of bad diaper rashes!
Huggies - Eirik was in these for less then 6 hours and had the worst diaper rash ever!
The Meh
Activity Mat - Yes, this is nice to have. Its got the toys hanging over the top and yes, Eirik enjoys it for a while. But what he enjoys more is me putting a blanket on the ground, laying down with him, and pulling out a few soft toys. Its nice to have, but not essential in my mind.
Toys - Yes, toys are needed. Its nice to give babies things to play with and stare at... however I have discovered they are extremely fickle about what they like and dislike. I have a bunch of books for Eirik and the one he likes the best I picked up for 1.99 on clearance! My thought on toys is buy them used and sparingly. I find Eirik is much more amused by simple things around the house or by funny faces and noises at this point! And people sell toys at yard sales that have hardly been used!
I'll update with more good, bad, and meh as I find things out. For now those, thats what I can think of!
And now a picture of my little man listening to his daddy play the piano. =)
The Good:
Cradle swing! Eirik LOVES this. He snoozes in it all the time! I will add here some babies hate swings... just as a heads up
Bouncy Chair - again, he LOVES this. He'll sit in it quite happily while we eat dinner or do something
Piggy Sack - A mei tai soft carrier purchased from Mandy. I LOVE this item! It is easy to take out because it rolls up, you can put it on in minutes, and you can use it from newborn to toddler! Eirik slept in it a lot at first but now he just loves looking at things when I go out! If you're interested you can buy one here: http://www.piggysack.com/
Cosleeper - lifesaver! I can't imagine getting up every 3 hours to go get Eirik out of his crib to feed him. I don't even get out of bed! I roll over, pick him up, feed him, put him back to sleep.
Medela Freestyle Breastpump - since i'm going back to work I shelled out the big bucks on a breast pump... and i LOVE it. Its easy to use and light and portable! And a rechargeable battery!
Bravado Nursing bras - EXCELLENT nursing bras. They are supportive, which I need. Apparently under wires are bad for breastfeeding, so I knew I would have to shell out big bucks on a nursing bra.
Old Navy Nursing Shirts - inexpensive, easy to use, and have a nice little flair so you can hide that post pregnancy jelly belly!
Cloth Diapers - As you can tell from my review, i'm addicted. =)
The Bad
The Boppy - Yes, some people love their boppy. I hated mine... it never worked right and Eirik was never fond of it either!
Papmpers with Drymax diapers - They leaked EVERYWHERE. Also they are currently being investigated because of bad diaper rashes!
Huggies - Eirik was in these for less then 6 hours and had the worst diaper rash ever!
The Meh
Activity Mat - Yes, this is nice to have. Its got the toys hanging over the top and yes, Eirik enjoys it for a while. But what he enjoys more is me putting a blanket on the ground, laying down with him, and pulling out a few soft toys. Its nice to have, but not essential in my mind.
Toys - Yes, toys are needed. Its nice to give babies things to play with and stare at... however I have discovered they are extremely fickle about what they like and dislike. I have a bunch of books for Eirik and the one he likes the best I picked up for 1.99 on clearance! My thought on toys is buy them used and sparingly. I find Eirik is much more amused by simple things around the house or by funny faces and noises at this point! And people sell toys at yard sales that have hardly been used!
I'll update with more good, bad, and meh as I find things out. For now those, thats what I can think of!
And now a picture of my little man listening to his daddy play the piano. =)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rocking and Rolling!
Tonight my little man went from his tummy to his back all by himself! Honestly I wasn't even trying to coax him to do it at the time he did it so I didn't realize what he'd done until afterward! We were having tummy time and I was encouraging him to hold his head up by talking to him and shaking one of his toys that rattles. His other new thing is he can move his arms in front of the other and attempt to pull his body forward (hardwood floors and a blanket so there's almost no friction!) in a sort of army crawl. He was getting angry and kind of trying to move but not moving and then all of a sudden there he was... on his back again! He looked very surprised and of course didn't repeat the trick for daddy when he got home. Go figure! I kind of thought it was only a matter of time before he rolled over, but I thought he would go front to back. Nope, other way around! He also was full of giggles this morning for me. I can't remember exactly what I was doing, but he thought it was hysterical!
It never ceases to amaze me how much he seems to change almost daily. He's so different then he was just a short 10 1/2 weeks ago when he was born. He's gone from spending his days sleeping and eating to playing and interacting with us. Those smiles and grins just melt your heart! I know, I'm sounding very sappy tonight. I think a large part is the fact that I am trying to come to terms with going back to work so soon. While I am in a way looking forward to seeing my coworkers and getting out of the house I also hate being away from him for so long. Alright, I'm going to stop being a downer now. He's asleep and I'm going to take advantage of that fact by going to bed myself!
It never ceases to amaze me how much he seems to change almost daily. He's so different then he was just a short 10 1/2 weeks ago when he was born. He's gone from spending his days sleeping and eating to playing and interacting with us. Those smiles and grins just melt your heart! I know, I'm sounding very sappy tonight. I think a large part is the fact that I am trying to come to terms with going back to work so soon. While I am in a way looking forward to seeing my coworkers and getting out of the house I also hate being away from him for so long. Alright, I'm going to stop being a downer now. He's asleep and I'm going to take advantage of that fact by going to bed myself!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Just when you think you have it figured out...
They go and change things on you! Suddenly this evening Eirik has decided to not want to eat. A breastfeeding strike? No, not really, because eventually he will eat again... but he acts hungry and then the second I position him to eat its hysterics! He's happy in every other position but not in the eating one. The only thing I can think of is that he really was NOT hungry at all! Maybe what I thought were eating signs were actually just him having teething issues? I have no idea! Maybe its just been one of those days and he's just decided to make things confusing for me!
One thing he has made clear is that wake up time is 6am! Yep, 6... sometimes 6:30. At that point he's wide awake and has no intent of going back to sleep for anything. I have another week and a half until I have to worry about work but he's decided I need to start getting up early again. At least he wakes me up with a smile. I have to say its a very nice way to start your morning because no matter how frustrated I am about the lack of sleep seeing that huge grin reminds me its all worth while.
And lastly, a picture! At night we give Eirik a bath in the kitchen and then we get him all dressed on the counter. I purchased a pineapple on Tuesday and hadn't cut it up yet and it was in his reach so before I realized it he was trying to grab the pineapple! Its texture was most interesting to him. =)
One thing he has made clear is that wake up time is 6am! Yep, 6... sometimes 6:30. At that point he's wide awake and has no intent of going back to sleep for anything. I have another week and a half until I have to worry about work but he's decided I need to start getting up early again. At least he wakes me up with a smile. I have to say its a very nice way to start your morning because no matter how frustrated I am about the lack of sleep seeing that huge grin reminds me its all worth while.
And lastly, a picture! At night we give Eirik a bath in the kitchen and then we get him all dressed on the counter. I purchased a pineapple on Tuesday and hadn't cut it up yet and it was in his reach so before I realized it he was trying to grab the pineapple! Its texture was most interesting to him. =)
Monday, June 7, 2010
10 weeks!
10 weeks today! Where does the time go?! 2 more weeks till I must return to work... but enough about those negative thoughts. Lets focus on the positive! One thing I wished someone had told me about babies is they start teething MONTHS before they pop a tooth. Yes, that's right, teething has begun. It started Friday and I put it down to general fussing after getting his shots but by Saturday I was pretty darn sure it was teething. He would yell at me, yes yell, and fuss and gnaw on EVERYTHING. Oh, and the drool! Everywhere! Its not quite enough he needs a bib, but sometimes its close! I did some reading online to find out this is perfectly normal... go figure! He seems a lot calmer today... so maybe he's just going to get little spurts of this. One can only hope... In more amusing developments he is trying to blow raspberries! Its my fault... I've been doing it at him for weeks. I discovered he found weird mouth movements and noises funny so I blow raspberries and make all sorts of other funny noises. Well, I noticed the past few days hes trying to do it back! I say trying because I don't think he can really figure out how to do it... but its amusing to watch!
The weather in Maryland has turned beautiful, at least for a few days. Today it was in the low 80s and tomorrow is supposed to be the same. This is the kind of weather I love! mid 70s to low 80s in the day, low 60s at night. Perfect!
And now, pictures of my little man today!
While it may not look like it in the photo, this is his FAVORITE toy. He loves it! Whenever we pull it out he gets a huge grin on his face and so far its the one thing he actively grabs for!
Reading during tummy time! He loves this book!
The weather in Maryland has turned beautiful, at least for a few days. Today it was in the low 80s and tomorrow is supposed to be the same. This is the kind of weather I love! mid 70s to low 80s in the day, low 60s at night. Perfect!
And now, pictures of my little man today!
While it may not look like it in the photo, this is his FAVORITE toy. He loves it! Whenever we pull it out he gets a huge grin on his face and so far its the one thing he actively grabs for!
Reading during tummy time! He loves this book!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Get Rid Of Baby Weight - Week 3!
So we just finished up week 3 of operation get rid of baby weight. I am proud to report that I lost, so I am now down 3.5lbs in 3 weeks! I also went to the gym once last week and did a slightly more intense workout. I tried to push myself up another notch but quickly felt uncomfortable so I went back down to a lower but comfortable intensity. My goal this week is to use the Wii at least once to exercise as well as get to the gym. We'll see how I do. =) I also noticed that my stomach is looking less and less like a deflated balloon! Thanks to how huge Eirik was and how much weight I gained i've still got that saggy stomach appearance, but slowly the skin is tightening back up. I know, its only been 9 weeks, I need to be patient!
I am feeling a lot better today... no more flu like symptoms and my breast isn't anywhere near as red! Its still a little tender when he latches, but not as bad as it was. I read that you should vary nursing positions when you have an infection, so we're going to start experimenting with side laying nursing tonight. I sit up when i nurse Eirik because whenever we tried side laying he never really liked it, but he's getting much better at staying latched on so we're going to try again. If not i'll go back to the football hold... haven't done that one in a while!
We're still in the midst of a heatwave... all I can say is that going out to the mall today is looking rather tempting simply so I can go somewhere with A/C! We're not even getting a break at night anymore... its still supposed to be in the mid 70s at night! They are saying that Monday will be a lot cooler... but sadly it looks like the temperatures will just shoot right back up again! I'm really hoping we get a break from this heat before the real summer heat kicks in. It was so hot yesterday I let Eirik hang out in a tee shirt and his diaper. A bonus for cloth diapering... i can coordinate colors to match what he wears. =)
The tee shirt says Junior Jedi... a gift from my mom. =)
I am feeling a lot better today... no more flu like symptoms and my breast isn't anywhere near as red! Its still a little tender when he latches, but not as bad as it was. I read that you should vary nursing positions when you have an infection, so we're going to start experimenting with side laying nursing tonight. I sit up when i nurse Eirik because whenever we tried side laying he never really liked it, but he's getting much better at staying latched on so we're going to try again. If not i'll go back to the football hold... haven't done that one in a while!
We're still in the midst of a heatwave... all I can say is that going out to the mall today is looking rather tempting simply so I can go somewhere with A/C! We're not even getting a break at night anymore... its still supposed to be in the mid 70s at night! They are saying that Monday will be a lot cooler... but sadly it looks like the temperatures will just shoot right back up again! I'm really hoping we get a break from this heat before the real summer heat kicks in. It was so hot yesterday I let Eirik hang out in a tee shirt and his diaper. A bonus for cloth diapering... i can coordinate colors to match what he wears. =)
The tee shirt says Junior Jedi... a gift from my mom. =)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
2 Month Appointment!
Eirik had his 2 month appointment today and I had to miss it. Why? This morning I had a fever of 101.5! I can't remember the last time I had a fever, let alone one that high. It started with a headache and quickly progressed to chills, nausea, the works. Thankfully the drugs helped bring it down, but I felt pretty nasty most of the day. Then this afternoon when I had a shower I noticed that my left breast was bright pink! Now I am a pale and pasty person, but I never turn pink. A quick tour of Dr. Google left me thinking I had mastitis. A trip to the local walk in clinic this evening gave me the same diagnosis. Mastitis. Thankfully its not too painful. The milk must taste a little weird too because Eirik isn't quite as thrilled with that side. He takes it, but you can tell he's not happy. So, I am now on antibiotics for that.
Now onto Eirik's appointment. He now weighs 15.8lbs and his length was 25.5 inches! I don't know what his head was, but my husband told me it was in the 75%... so at least he's normal for one thing! He had 2 shots and one oral vaccination. My husband said he handled the oral vaccination like a pro but was not happy about the needles. Poor little guy... =( He also was prescribed some eye drops for his eyes. His eyes have always been gunky thanks to clogged tear ducts but they are getting worse... so now we are putting drops in his eyes 4 times a day. But, other then that he's doing great. He was perfectly happy this evening and didn't seem any worse for wear from his needle pricks.
So, no pictures today... I was too exhausted and blah feeling to do much. Eirik spent most of the day chilling with daddy while I spend most of the day chilling on the couch watching a movie. I felt so guilty this evening because I didn't even have the strength to play with him really. Hopefully tomorrow i'll feel better!
Now onto Eirik's appointment. He now weighs 15.8lbs and his length was 25.5 inches! I don't know what his head was, but my husband told me it was in the 75%... so at least he's normal for one thing! He had 2 shots and one oral vaccination. My husband said he handled the oral vaccination like a pro but was not happy about the needles. Poor little guy... =( He also was prescribed some eye drops for his eyes. His eyes have always been gunky thanks to clogged tear ducts but they are getting worse... so now we are putting drops in his eyes 4 times a day. But, other then that he's doing great. He was perfectly happy this evening and didn't seem any worse for wear from his needle pricks.
So, no pictures today... I was too exhausted and blah feeling to do much. Eirik spent most of the day chilling with daddy while I spend most of the day chilling on the couch watching a movie. I felt so guilty this evening because I didn't even have the strength to play with him really. Hopefully tomorrow i'll feel better!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Cloth Diapers Part 2
When I was pregnant I went to a cloth diapering seminar and was told that cloth diapering was addicting. I laughed... how was something like this addicting?? Now I am sadly addicted. The addicting part is that there are so many brands and kinds out there you want to try EVERYTHING! And the major companies are always coming up with the next best diaper... or a new pattern or color. Yep, its addicting!
So, today I have 4 different pocket diapers to review! We switched primarily to pockets for a few reasons. First off Eirik is growing like a weed and I wanted something that was adjustable for a large weight range. I know you can get covers and fitted that are adjustable, however I also wanted something easy for my husband. While he does pretty good with the cloth diapering easier is always better. I have to say currently I am in LOVE with pocket diapers. They are as easy to put on as a regular disposable and wash up great. The only slightly time consuming part is the stuffing of the diapers.
So, for each diaper i'll talk about a few things. Ease of getting on (very important!), ease of stuffing (also important), fit, and leaks.
First up we have the BumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper!
These were my first foray into pocket diapers. Overall I am a large fan! The diapers go up to 35lbs i believe. We started Eirik on the second size. These diapers are nice and easy to put on and honestly we have very few leak issues. The leak issues we have are overnight and are more due to us not getting them on quite right. They are pretty easy to stuff once you get the hang of it... it can be a little tricky at first. While I am a large fan of the Velcro I am already concerned it is not going to last. Admittedly they have been getting a LOT of use since we didn't have a huge supply... but I can already see that the velcro is getting a little worn. My biggest complaint about this diaper is the way the pocket is. We have had the most leakage issues with these simply because something wasn't tucked in all the way. In my book they get an 8 out of 10!
Next up, Thirsties Duo Diapers!
I purchased the Thirsties because of the awesome patterns. Yes, I wanted a diaper with a pattern and not a plain color! Thirsties is actually a 2 size diaper system. The first size is from newborn up to about 18lbs and then the second size goes from 18lbs up to 40lbs. Since my son was already so close to the upper limit of the size 1 we started with a size 2 diaper. As you can see from the picture its on the smallest setting so he has TONS of room to grow, which is really nice. Also the pattern is awesome! Around the legs there is a nice leg gusset to help prevent leaks from the sides, which I really really like! This diaper isn't QUITE as easy to get on as the other one size diapers because of the way that the insert gets stuffed in. Most pocket diapers only have one opening while this diaper has two. Personally I find the double opening a pain. Its supposed to make stuffing easier, which I do not find. It also means that you have to make sure that the insert is not poking out in the front and the back when you put the diaper on. We have had a few dampness issues from the insert hanging out a bit. Again, this is velcro so I am sure it will wear. I'll have to wait and see how quickly. I do like the insert on this diaper though. Its a double insert with a microfiber on top and then hemp underneath. The microfiber pulls the wetness away and the hemp stores it. We haven't had a real "leak" yet with this diaper, just the dampness from not getting the diaper on correctly. Overall i'd say an 8 out of 10! Defiantly a great diaper!
Lastly we have FuzziBunz.
The blue diaper is the fuzzibunz medium pocket diaper while the brown diaper is the one sized pocket diaper. These diapers are VERY similar so i'll review them together. The biggest difference between them is the one size goes from 7 to 35lbs and the medium diaper goes from 15 to 30lbs. In all honesty the medium diaper will probably last Eirik as long as the one size diaper, the only reason I got both was due to a sale and pricing at various sites. They are both diapers with snappies. The one size diaper has extra snappies so you can adjust the fit longer. As you can see Eirik is on the smallest setting for both diapers, plenty of room to grow. VERY important for me. Also the one size diaper has adjustable leg elastic which the medium diaper doesn't have. I honestly thought I would hate snappies and would be a velcro girl, but after using them I have to say I don't mind them at all! Fuzzibunz are also in my opinion the easiest to stuff. The other two diapers I have to fidgit with the insert once it's in the diaper to get it settled right, but I don't really have this issue with the FuzziBunz. I am also in love with the material that the FuzziBunz diaper is lined with. Its SO soft. The diaper is easy to put on, easy to stuff, and so far leak free. I have to say that they are quickly becoming my favorite diaper! Overall i'd have to say a 9 out of 10! The only reason for the 9 out of 10 is that sometimes I feel like i can't get a good snug fit around the legs.
There is one more diaper I have here but I did not review it. I purchased some medium swaddlebee diapers on craigslist but did not do my research first. These diapers run VERY small and unfortunately once I got them home and on Eirik I realized they would not work for us. I was very dissapointed because I loved the way they looked! They were so trim fitting but the rise was so low that he really needed the large size. So, if anyone out there is interested in swaddlebess just keep that in mind!
So, today I have 4 different pocket diapers to review! We switched primarily to pockets for a few reasons. First off Eirik is growing like a weed and I wanted something that was adjustable for a large weight range. I know you can get covers and fitted that are adjustable, however I also wanted something easy for my husband. While he does pretty good with the cloth diapering easier is always better. I have to say currently I am in LOVE with pocket diapers. They are as easy to put on as a regular disposable and wash up great. The only slightly time consuming part is the stuffing of the diapers.
So, for each diaper i'll talk about a few things. Ease of getting on (very important!), ease of stuffing (also important), fit, and leaks.
First up we have the BumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper!
These were my first foray into pocket diapers. Overall I am a large fan! The diapers go up to 35lbs i believe. We started Eirik on the second size. These diapers are nice and easy to put on and honestly we have very few leak issues. The leak issues we have are overnight and are more due to us not getting them on quite right. They are pretty easy to stuff once you get the hang of it... it can be a little tricky at first. While I am a large fan of the Velcro I am already concerned it is not going to last. Admittedly they have been getting a LOT of use since we didn't have a huge supply... but I can already see that the velcro is getting a little worn. My biggest complaint about this diaper is the way the pocket is. We have had the most leakage issues with these simply because something wasn't tucked in all the way. In my book they get an 8 out of 10!
Next up, Thirsties Duo Diapers!
I purchased the Thirsties because of the awesome patterns. Yes, I wanted a diaper with a pattern and not a plain color! Thirsties is actually a 2 size diaper system. The first size is from newborn up to about 18lbs and then the second size goes from 18lbs up to 40lbs. Since my son was already so close to the upper limit of the size 1 we started with a size 2 diaper. As you can see from the picture its on the smallest setting so he has TONS of room to grow, which is really nice. Also the pattern is awesome! Around the legs there is a nice leg gusset to help prevent leaks from the sides, which I really really like! This diaper isn't QUITE as easy to get on as the other one size diapers because of the way that the insert gets stuffed in. Most pocket diapers only have one opening while this diaper has two. Personally I find the double opening a pain. Its supposed to make stuffing easier, which I do not find. It also means that you have to make sure that the insert is not poking out in the front and the back when you put the diaper on. We have had a few dampness issues from the insert hanging out a bit. Again, this is velcro so I am sure it will wear. I'll have to wait and see how quickly. I do like the insert on this diaper though. Its a double insert with a microfiber on top and then hemp underneath. The microfiber pulls the wetness away and the hemp stores it. We haven't had a real "leak" yet with this diaper, just the dampness from not getting the diaper on correctly. Overall i'd say an 8 out of 10! Defiantly a great diaper!
Lastly we have FuzziBunz.
The blue diaper is the fuzzibunz medium pocket diaper while the brown diaper is the one sized pocket diaper. These diapers are VERY similar so i'll review them together. The biggest difference between them is the one size goes from 7 to 35lbs and the medium diaper goes from 15 to 30lbs. In all honesty the medium diaper will probably last Eirik as long as the one size diaper, the only reason I got both was due to a sale and pricing at various sites. They are both diapers with snappies. The one size diaper has extra snappies so you can adjust the fit longer. As you can see Eirik is on the smallest setting for both diapers, plenty of room to grow. VERY important for me. Also the one size diaper has adjustable leg elastic which the medium diaper doesn't have. I honestly thought I would hate snappies and would be a velcro girl, but after using them I have to say I don't mind them at all! Fuzzibunz are also in my opinion the easiest to stuff. The other two diapers I have to fidgit with the insert once it's in the diaper to get it settled right, but I don't really have this issue with the FuzziBunz. I am also in love with the material that the FuzziBunz diaper is lined with. Its SO soft. The diaper is easy to put on, easy to stuff, and so far leak free. I have to say that they are quickly becoming my favorite diaper! Overall i'd have to say a 9 out of 10! The only reason for the 9 out of 10 is that sometimes I feel like i can't get a good snug fit around the legs.
There is one more diaper I have here but I did not review it. I purchased some medium swaddlebee diapers on craigslist but did not do my research first. These diapers run VERY small and unfortunately once I got them home and on Eirik I realized they would not work for us. I was very dissapointed because I loved the way they looked! They were so trim fitting but the rise was so low that he really needed the large size. So, if anyone out there is interested in swaddlebess just keep that in mind!
Laughter!
Last night I officially got a real laugh out of Eirik! He's been grinning and making almost laughing noises for a while now, but nothing that I would say was a real laugh. Last night I was playing with his little dog blanket and doing a sort of peek a boo and there it was... a laugh! Only one of course, he didn't want to repeat the trick. Now I am on a mission to get more laughter out of him! He also discovered his feet yesterday. He kept staring at them, and then I put his little feet rattles on and he kept staring at those too!
And now, pictures!
And now, pictures!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Hot Hot Hot!
So Maryland weather is strange... some years this time of year is cold and chilly and other years its scorching hot. Guess what kind of year this one is? Yep, hot. The past month temperatures have been about 10 degrees above average. Needless to say I am spending my days downstairs running the window A/C! The worst part is there doesn't seem to be an end in sight! The weather forecast for the next week says its going to be about 90 with scatter thunderstorms. This is the kind of weather we usually have in July! Even at night we aren't getting much of a break. Its not quite hot enough to need to sleep downstairs, but its not cool by any stretch of the imagination!
Eirik has really discovered his voice the past few days. He makes all sorts of vocalizations... including yelling. Yep, now when he gets frustrated he yells at me instead of just crying. Even his crying has lost that newborn wail to it! He also has discovered squealing, which he has done a few times followed by a large grin. He just thinks its the funniest thing in the world! Currently when he gets up about 6:30 or 7 to eat instead of going back to sleep he has an hour of being very chatty... he coos and grins and talks and talks! At first I thought it was a fluke, but its becoming a morning ritual!
Coming up this week, more cloth diaper reviews! I've been holding off because I've got a ton of new diapers that I've been trying out. Also, based on an earlier suggestion, I'll be taking pictures of Eirik modeling the diapers! Stay tuned!
Eirik has really discovered his voice the past few days. He makes all sorts of vocalizations... including yelling. Yep, now when he gets frustrated he yells at me instead of just crying. Even his crying has lost that newborn wail to it! He also has discovered squealing, which he has done a few times followed by a large grin. He just thinks its the funniest thing in the world! Currently when he gets up about 6:30 or 7 to eat instead of going back to sleep he has an hour of being very chatty... he coos and grins and talks and talks! At first I thought it was a fluke, but its becoming a morning ritual!
Coming up this week, more cloth diaper reviews! I've been holding off because I've got a ton of new diapers that I've been trying out. Also, based on an earlier suggestion, I'll be taking pictures of Eirik modeling the diapers! Stay tuned!
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