Day 163

Washed, dried, folded... ready to go! The cloth diapers that is. YUP...this afternoon around 12:20 I began to use the cloth diapers on Annie. No more disposables for today. (I hope) It was quite the ordeal to begin with:
I had NO idea how to fold the prefolds so here I was with a naked baby on my lap googling how to fold a prefold diaper. I guess I thought it was going to just come to me... as most mothering things have. BUT God did not give me the cloth diaper folding gene so I began to do research all the while praying that Annie didn't pee (or poop) on me. It was quite the deal. After minutes (which seemed like hours) I found a few websites with multiple ways to fold a prefold and use a snappi.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about you're probably saying "now why in the world does this lady need to learn how to fold a prefold and what the heck is a snappi." Let me explain a little cloth diaper lingo for you:
Prefold = a type of cloth diaper that is pre-folded in the center up to 8 layers and sewn to keep the center more absorbent. You've probably seen these as great dust cloths or burp cloths.
Snappi = in place of a diaper pin. I describe it similar to a metal fastener that one would use on an ACE bandage but in a T shape and larger. Make sense?

I decided to do the old fashioned fold first also called the newspaper fold. Needless to say that this whole process took me over a half an hour. The whole time I was thinking.. boy this may have been the dumbest thing I've been thrilled about trying. Of course I HAVE to follow through with it because we spent a good chunk of money upfront! So follow through I did.

Annie needed to use the bathroom during lunch and peed a little in her cloth diaper. SO.. I changed it now using the bikini roll or twist fold. I feel like this type of fold is easier but I'm still learning. And to answer your question it did not take me thirty minutes to change her diaper this time. YIKES!
Stay tuned because this is going to get VERY interesting!!!

Today I learned: This whole cloth thing is a LOT tougher than I thought it was goin to be
Diapers saved today =don't know how to do this anymore with the cloth... but about 12
Money saved today = $2.40
Money saved to date = $153.60

Day 160

THE CLOTH DIAPERS HAVE ARRIVED!!!! As soon as Annie wakes from her nap we are off to buy detergent to wash them a few times to gain maximum capacity! Hopefully by Wednesday evening we will have started cloth diapering!!! I am SOOO excited to being this new adventure in our lives!
Over the weekend Annie started signing to us when she needs to use the bathroom. Pretty impressive!! I couldn't believe it and I'm SO glad that I'm seeing progress.
Stay tuned because I will be writing a LOT more now that the cloth diapers are in our possession and we will be using them very SOON!

Today I learned: Who knew diapers could make me this excited!!!!
Diapers saved today =10 (since last post)
Money saved today = $2.00
Money saved to date = $151.20

Day 156

We are back to blogging. Sorry about taking the past week off but we have a mover on our hands!!! Annie has started crawling and I am exhausted by the days end.
EC update: Annie continues to poop in her potty daily. She has given up peeing at all times in her potty but we are working on it yet again. Constantly taking two steps forward and one step backward...but I guess that's life for ya!
As the school year draws to a close I can't help but think of all the summer fun Annie is going to have! Her cousins will be around and she will be able to TRY and keep up with them. Of course she'll enjoy watching them play and run and laugh! I can't wait!!!
Oh, I almost forgot the update that many of you have been waiting for....*drum roll* I have ordered most of our cloth diapering system! Yes, you read that right... I actually ordered (most) of it! I'm waiting for my covers to come in the mail then I can wash wash wash and learn how to use this great system. Joe is still skeptical and who wouldn't be with something you're going to reuse. BUT he's willing to learn. I'm excited for this next journey and will try to write daily once Annie is fully clothed (as in transitioning to cloth diapers).
Stay tuned... up until now it's been easy... now the fun stuff starts!

Today I learned: Babies grow up SO fast... missing my cuddle days with Annie but enjoying the crawling stage!!!
Diapers saved today =9 (this week)
Money saved today = $1.80
Money saved to date = $149.20