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| "A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013" |
Dear Olivia,
Your mama and daddy think you are the most adorable little walker. What a joy it was to witness you excitedly take your first steps last Friday.
Love,
Mama
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Friday, 24 May 2013
For the love of cloth nappies
I started preparing for Olivia as soon as I found out I was pregnant. One very smart decision that I made (and am so proud of myself for making!) was to begin accumulating a stash of cloth nappies. Without ever reading any articles, blog posts, etc about this I felt very strongly about minimizing use of disposable nappies. Initially my motivation was primarily to save money, but I've since learned a lot about the benefits of using cloth nappies.
Without a doubt this decision is saving us money. The initial investment can be a bit steep if you purchase all the nappies at once, but the longterm financial benefit is worth it. In terms of maintenance expenses, I honestly have not seen a significant increase in our electricity, water or laundry soap costs. Whenever I can, I wash them by hand with rain water from the garden tank, using a good old green Sunlight bar. When I do use the washing machine I make sure to rinse them with tank water first and not use too much soap. Once in while I also soak them in vinegar water to "strip" off any stubborn bacteria. I'm definitely not a die-hard "cloth or nothing" person, as I use disposables for night time, going out and occasionally when I just don't feel like dealing with a cloth nappy!
I'm not too informed on what research has been done regarding whether or not it actually benefits the environment. Personally I think it's no debate, that cloth nappies probably cause less harm to the environment than disposables, but I have not dedicated much time looking into it so let me stop here.
I had no idea how much these once simple white square cloth nappies have evolved over the years. As a lover of all things pretty and detailed I was so attracted by the beautiful styles and prints on the modern cloth nappies! We have a stash of the old white ones too, but the new ones are undeniably more convenient and much, much more attractive (where's my hubby to tell me, "It's just a nappy for holding poop!") Honestly though, I absolutely love pretty, printed "poop holders"!
One drawback is that sometimes they leak, but it's usually because it wasn't on properly or was on for too long. This latter reason is good in that it prevents irritation and nappy rash, although sometimes it is just not possible to change a nappy immediately - and so the extra absorbing powers of disposables come in handy.
Other than the occasional leak, we love cloth nappies. "We" of course refers to Olivia and me. While my hubby is 100% on board, I suspect he is still not 100% convinced, perhaps due to the not so pleasant smell before they are washed!
For more information check out MOON.me nappies. They have THE most beautiful range of nappies which are in my opinion amongst the best performing brands. They are also having a nappies give-away competition!
What do you think about cloth nappies? Do you have any experience or advice about them? Any fears or concerns about using them?
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Lately
1. Oats with blueberries. Best eaten by licking it off the hands!
2. "Have you seen her dummy?" This is THE most frequently asked question in this house, followed by a long investigation and search! We started this year with eight new dummies and we have managed to get all the way down to one.
3. She owns a bookshelf full of soft toys, but has zero interest in them right now. I caught a very short moment where she was being so cute feeding Mr Teddy with her bottle.
4. Can't walk yet, but she goes up and down the stairs like a pro!
5. & 6. Who's the smartest girl in the whole world? :-)
7. Another rare moment...actually paging through the book instead of banging it against the table.
8. & 9. She is the happiest and most eager little eater I've ever seen. Eating is probably number on on her list of favorite activities. (hmmm? she has a list?!)
10. Screams and tantrums are the latest thing. This girl is seriously strong-willed. She sure is teaching us a LOT about patience and perseverance. What a joy it is to watch and nurture this little human being as she grows into her own self. What a beautiful gift.
'Hope you had an awesome weekend! xoxo
20/52
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| "A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013" |
Dear Olivia,
What do you have to share with us after intensely examining that leaf? Your "seriously in deep concentration" face cracks me up every time!
Love,
Mama
One of my favourite photos from week 19 was of beautiful Daniela. The pool of water behind her almost looks magical!
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