Happiness is...(Week 19, 2014)

It's been about a month since I've participated in #happinessis, finding the happy hasn't been easy lately.

 On April 26th my beautiful sister-in-law gave birth to a perfect but stillborn little girl, Simone.
I dreamed about this tattoo the morning after we said goodbye and on Mother's Day my sister & her boyfriend who is tattoo artist surprised me by bringing his gear over to dinner. I'm proud to be able to carry a little reminder of my precious niece with me forever.

 

On April 29th, my other lovely sister-in-law gave birth to a sweet little boy, Isaac.

Don't you love the onesie? I totally agree with it. ;) 

It is a hand-me-down from Weston & my other nephew Easton.

 Monday was my new friend's birthday and our kids picked her giant dandelion bouquets.

 I love making our own play dough & seeing the fun creations.

 May 11-17 is Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats & Handwashing Challenge.
This is the 3rd year we have participated.

Here is my 6 year old handwashing her doll's diapers with me last night. She said,"I'm just like mommy!"
Cue heart melt.

I'm linking up at CAiP!

Day 2 of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge

4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge- Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and Tell Us What Did It Cost?

 My stash consists of
5 FST,                                                 $10
7 Gerber birdseye flats,                        $13
2 tshirt flats,                                         $0
1 Sunbaby pocket,                               $5
1 homemade pocket,                            $10
1 Thirsties duo wrap size 2,                   $18
3 Econobum covers,                             $36
1 GroVia shell                                      $17
a homemade wool cover                       $20
2 snappis                                              $6
6 washcloth wipes                                 $8
8 homemade microfleece liners              $4
wet bag                                                 $10
2 five gallon buckets                              $6
plunger                                                  $9
sprayer                                                  $18
Charlies                                                 $15
                                  Total Value                                  $205

But I actually spent less because most of the covers were gifts and we already had the buckets & plunger laying around.

 

It's the final day of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry!

"This event aims to bring awareness and educate cloth diapering families and beyond about the benefits and feasibility of using flat cloth diapers, the most basic of all diapers, and handwashing. Why? Because there are families who struggle everyday with diaper need. There are no federal or state funded assistance programs to help families buy diapers. This can result in babies being left in diapers too long or families reusing disposable diapers; both options pose serious health risks for the baby. My goal has always been to prove that, when necessary, a small number of flat cloth diapers, covers, and a simple bucket washer or tub can be all a family needs to provide clean and sanitary diapers."

--Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry

We did it.
7 days, 10 diapers, 5 flat doublers, 4 covers, 10 washes and 1 lanolization. 
And I'd do over again without hesitation.
We had easy days. (Thursday was a no poop day!)
We had tough days. (Friday was a 4 poops day & the poopslosion all over the wool this morning.)
The rest of the days were pretty much average days.
I do have one more load to do tomorrow morning (our bedtime diaper) but I already counted in the total above.

Personally, this year taught me the slow down & enjoy the quiet times. I loved sitting outback with my camp washer watching my kids chases the chickens, climb the orange tree & run about like goof balls.
It also reenforced my belief that anyone could cloth diaper on a budget.

Thank you Kim Rosas for hosting this great event!
Linking up HERE!

Flats Challenge-Day 6

It's now day 6 of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry!

"This event aims to bring awareness and educate cloth diapering families and beyond about the benefits and feasibility of using flat cloth diapers, the most basic of all diapers, and handwashing. Why? Because there are families who struggle everyday with diaper need. There are no federal or state funded assistance programs to help families buy diapers. This can result in babies being left in diapers too long or families reusing disposable diapers; both options pose serious health risks for the baby. My goal has always been to prove that, when necessary, a small number of flat cloth diapers, covers, and a simple bucket washer or tub can be all a family needs to provide clean and sanitary diapers."

--Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry

Today is another open topic day so I guess I'll talk about cost of my flats stash vs. sposies. My first two children were in sposies because I lived in an apartment & didn't think I could cloth diaper since we had a community laundry room and it was difficult to get regular clothes in the wash. 6 washers for 40 units is not enough. If you happened to be a few minutes late to switch your loads you were apt to find them in a wet pile UNDER the folding table. That's right under. The dry clothes got toss on the table. It was crazy. I wish I had done more research and learned that handwashing was an option. I was spending $20 a week on diapers. I could have saved SOOOO much money. I estimate I spent  $5000 on sposies for my girls. Ridiculous! And I didn't know I had to scrape the poop!
I wish someone had told me back then & I've made it my goal to be that someone now.

My little rainbow tie-dye butt ham baby.

 

 First cloth diaper

My son & my nephew

My 3.5 year old on day 1 of this years Flats Challenge

 I love my fluff!

  I'm linking up over at Dirty Diaper Laundry.

Flats Challenge- Day 5

It's day 5 of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.

"This event aims to bring awareness and educate cloth diapering families and beyond about the benefits and feasibility of using flat cloth diapers, the most basic of all diapers, and handwashing. Why? Because there are families who struggle everyday with diaper need. There are no federal or state funded assistance programs to help families buy diapers. This can result in babies being left in diapers too long or families reusing disposable diapers; both options pose serious health risks for the baby. My goal has always been to prove that, when necessary, a small number of flat cloth diapers, covers, and a simple bucket washer or tub can be all a family needs to provide clean and sanitary diapers."

--Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry

So today's prompt is what's working. For me the answer is everything. I use flats fairly regularly and discovered a long time ago that the kite & origami are the best folds for us. When I need extra absorbency I add a pad folded flat in the kite. A kite + a pad fold under wool gets us through the night with no leaks. I'm enjoying hand washing since it gets me out of the house and into the sun for at least 20 minutes a day. I'm considering selling off some of my pockets & prefolds.

Prepping our nighttime diaper.

Flats Challenge- Day 4

It's day 4 of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.

"This event aims to bring awareness and educate cloth diapering families and beyond about the benefits and feasibility of using flat cloth diapers, the most basic of all diapers, and handwashing. Why? Because there are families who struggle everyday with diaper need. There are no federal or state funded assistance programs to help families buy diapers. This can result in babies being left in diapers too long or families reusing disposable diapers; both options pose serious health risks for the baby. My goal has always been to prove that, when necessary, a small number of flat cloth diapers, covers, and a simple bucket washer or tub can be all a family needs to provide clean and sanitary diapers."

--Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry

Today we're talking about hand washing. I honestly don't mind it. I have a really bad habit of waiting to wash (in the machine) until I'm almost out of clean diapers. Life is busy and laundry sucks. With handwashing I'm "forced" to go outside in the sunshine for at least 20 minutes and wash while my kiddos play in the backyard, chase chickens, water plants & "help" me. It's actually really good for all of us. Sitting on the porch with me camp washer is easy for me (it also makes me want freshly churned butter) and dealing with the poop is the same as when I machine wash but my machine takes 4 hours. I'm seriously considering switching to flats and handwashing permanently.


These are just a few of the moments I get to watch while washing.

Chick cuddling

 Dump truck riding

 

Chick catching

 Chicken napping

Wind blowing

 

I'm linking up over at Dirty Diaper Laundry.

Flats Challenge Day 3

It's day 3 of the Flats & Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.

"This event aims to bring awareness and educate cloth diapering families and beyond about the benefits and feasibility of using flat cloth diapers, the most basic of all diapers, and handwashing. Why? Because there are families who struggle everyday with diaper need. There are no federal or state funded assistance programs to help families buy diapers. This can result in babies being left in diapers too long or families reusing disposable diapers; both options pose serious health risks for the baby. My goal has always been to prove that, when necessary, a small number of flat cloth diapers, covers, and a simple bucket washer or tub can be all a family needs to provide clean and sanitary diapers."

--Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry

So for free topic I decided to write about the reasons I like using flats. First off they are fun & easy to personalize by tie-dyeing. I love tie-dye, it's proof that I'm a hippie I guess.

I also love how quickly they dry & how trim they are on the booty. I didn't know about flats before last years' challenge but they earned a regular spot in my rotation. These past 3 days have renew my love for flats & cloth diapering in general. I plan on thinning my stash and spreading the love to some of my mama friends.

Happiness is...(Week 20!)

I'm going to start with the happiest part of my week which I have no picture for.

Finding out that one of my besties is preggo! And then talking/listening to her for HOURS on the phone.

Super ♥!!!!

 This is the last pic of my Girasol Carson's Cove WCRS. 

I sold it to fund my new obsession, Kokadi Fire Scales!

Isn't she beautiful?! I'm halfway to owning one.

 This teeny tiny ponytail makes me giggle.

 Catching baby chicks is fun.

 Caeti decided that Poppy wanted to be upside-down.

 We are participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 3rd Annual Flats & Handwashing Challenge!

 Luckily I have help washing. ;)

 Flour sack towels work even better when they are tie-dyed. Okay maybe not but they are prettier!

I love this little butt!

I'm linking up over at Crazy Adventures in Parenting & you should too!