A Boyd Blogs ?

Q and A

2011-07-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

Q- My sister-in-law is planning on doing cloth diapers and wipes. She is planning on using a wipes warmer like you and has asked for advice. For me, I just spray solution on the wipe when I need to use it. What do you do with the warmer? Are the wipes always soaked in solution? How much solution do you put in? What do you do for the diaper bag?

A- Depends on the day ;)
Sometimes I simply run the washcloths under water and put them in the wipes warmer. If I feel that I need to wash out my girl's crevasses, I use the peri wash bottle, from the hospital, with a mixture of water and tea tree oil. My baby is prone to yeast infections and tea tree oil kills and prevents it.

The other way I do it is to soak the washcloths in the tea tree oil and water mixture then put them in the wipes warmer.

I mainly use commercial wipes for the diaper bag. Planetwise makes a small wipes bag for on the go. You could also put them in a ziplock bag (not sure if this would leak). Another option would be to carry dry wipes and a spray bottle in the diaper bag.

Hope that helps :)

Q and A

2011-07-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've gotten several questions from Facebook. So, I'll post the questions and answers here on the blog.

Q- Sarah! I have a quick question.... I need to buy more dipes. So far I have a stash of bum genius, Flips, and Charlie Banana. They are all sold at the stores I have gift cards to, so I want to buy more of one of those brands. I think I want more Flips because I like the idea that you're washing the inserts more than the shell. A little less laundry, getting to re-use the diaper covers. Do you have or do you know of anyone with experience with Flips? I hate to stock up on one brand with out being able to try them first!

A- I used a stash, I got the for the diaper bag. I just wasn't using them often enough, so I sold them. I did like them. I like them b/c they are one size. They would be easier than the fitted diapers and a cover. When I reuse covers I rotate between two during the day. ( if no poop on cover) I wipe one down with a wash rag and let it dry until the next change, and keep rotating. I think you'll be safe with the Flip. Only down size you can't stuff extra liners like you can pockets for night time.

Reselling

2011-07-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Personally I wouldn't buy a used diaper from a stranger. I might borrow from a trusted friend, but diapers are kinda like underwear to me, they should have one owner. Now with that said, there are plenty of people who do buy secondhand diapers. I have no problems making money off them! I've had great success selling diapers on ebay.

Some diapers I sold were never worn. In this case, I ordered and tried a particular brand in medium, didn't like it and had a bunch of larges on my hands. Lucky for me I got them deeply discounted and actually made money.

Barely used diapers hold their value as well. Much the same scenario, tried a diaper and didn't like it.

I've sold well used diapers, to trim my stash. (I also sold with the intention of using the money to buy different diapers ;) ) Those don't make you as much money but still sell.

I'm honest in explaining the condition of my diapers, how I've used/not used them, and am specific in how I wash them. I've had good results this way.

Anyways, if you want to try several brands, never fear, you can make some money back on the ones you don't like.

Poop and Washing it

2011-05-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

The last one for tonight. This full time working mom is super tired and I'm sure my grammar and spelling are suffering. Oh and the pic is to show that sporting a cute birthday shirt and a pink diaper, is completely adorable for cake time on your first birthday party.

My baby was exclusively breastfed until 6/7 months old. Those poopy diapers go right into the diaper pail. I use PlanetWise liner bags. (Always making sure that all Velcro tabs are put in place BEFORE you throw them in the pail.) Every other day( can go a day longer, but this routine helps keep me on a schedule), I empty the diaper bag into the wash and then throw the bag into the wash. I don't touch them :) The liners have always come out of the pockets during the cycle (I have a top loading machine).

When she had formula and solids a diaper sprayer is handy. Mine wasn't that great. Spray the poop and then put in the pail. Most of the time I can "plop" it into the toilet.

I use the Bumgenius detergent. I bought a case on sale and still have 4 boxes left and baby is a year! I wash one cycle cold and then a hot wash with an extra rinse. I usually do a scoop of detergent in each cycle. You may not need to do that for the first wash, but you need it for the second. I skipped the detergent on the second wash and my diaper smelled bad!

I have a few wet bags with zippers from PlanetWise for the diaper bag/church and Weekday School. It's good to have two, one to wash one to "wear" (I use this theory for everything not just diapering).

Hang to dry in the sun when at all possible! It helps get rid of stains, bacteria, smells and yeast.

Types of Diapers and Brands

2011-05-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

For the first 2 months or so we used a combination of Newborn kissaluvs and disposables. These are fitted diapers, and are great for tiny babies and have a fold down for the belly button. The covers we used were the fitted Thirsties diaper covers. Around 3 months we used one size Bumgenius diapers and the newborn fitted diapers.

Now that our baby is bigger we mainly use one size Bumgenius diapers and fitted Kissaluvs with Thirsties diaper covers.

At night time we add a Hemp Babies liner to the pocket of the Bumgenius. In the Kissaluvs I put the hemp and a Kissaluv doubler on top. I just think the hemp is scratchy.

I order everything I can from CottonBabies. They have free shipping, and they have been good for when I needed refunds and questions in customer service.

First in a Series

2011-05-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

This will be first in a series of posts about cloth diapers. In the past year I've told many friends our story of cloth diapering our baby girl this past year. We've even converted people, which makes me happy too. My husband keeps referring to this blog I'm going to start on these things, so here it is. I'm only going to post about what our family does. There are tons of blogs and websites who are dedicated to the subject, and I'll let them go into all the crazy amount choices and advice.
So this post is a quick list of things you'll need to start.

12 newborn diapers, 4ish covers (Really we could have used more, and I might get more for our next baby, but this cut down on disposables for the first 3 months)
24 one size diapers
6 fitted diapers, 2 covers
2 swim diapers
diaper sprayer
diaper pail
2 diaper bags for pail
2 wet bags for diaper bag/church/day school
wipes warmer
cloth wipes (Get as many as you can get your hands on, they seem to disappear like socks. We use flannel and cheap baby wash clothes from box stores)
cloth diaper friendly detergent

Long time

2010-04-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

I realized the blog has been totally neglected, yesterday. One of the girls at church asked if I was going to have a family blog. I said I did, but was unsure what or how that would be different from posting on facebook, and then the whole privacy thing. One of my friends does a blog/website through shutterfly.com, I'm thinking about that so family can order prints of pictures. Just some of the things I pondering as I wait for our little one to arrive... hopefully the luck of my husband, that his dad swears about, will come into play soon and she'll be born sometime this week :)

More Pictures

2010-01-30T08:01:00.000-08:00

Here are more pictures of our sonogram on Wed. We'll go over the results with the Midwife on Thurs.

We are continuing our journey with natural childbirth this week, we start our Bradley Method childbirth classes. I'm excited to be around someone one who will believe in my strength, even more than I do right now. Our teacher is also a certified Doula. There are few people who have traveled the same path that I am(here in the US atleast), so support can be hard to come by.

In other news, one of my best friends and I are having a joint baby shower with work friends on Monday. I'm excited, it will be so much fun, especially since we'll be having one together. I'm sure I'll have some cute pictures from that.

Update

2010-01-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

Without going into details (upon request only ;) ) the saga of glucose tolerance testing is over. I was glad to hear from the nurse on the phone that "everything looks good."

Now we've bought, gathered, or made most the furniture and accersories for the nursery. I'm pleased with how it will come together. This weekend we're going to try to get the furniture put together, and start getting the room decorated.

We have a sonogram next Wed, because apparently I have a big baby (yeah who knew?) and they want to check up on her. They are mainly talking about changing the due date. So we'll have some new sonogram pictures to post. I'm glad we get to see her again. And I will be double checking that she's still a girl :) .

Everybody loves some good belly pics! 24 weeks...16 more to go :)

2010-01-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

Update: Yes, some of the Christmas decorations are still up, but in my defence, they are"winter houses" so I might keep them up until Jan 30th . The morning sickness is finally dwindling away. After almost 20 weeks of going steady with the toilet, we're breaking things off ;) Tomorrow I have my glucose screen for diabetes, and they will go over my sonogram. I'm really nervous, so I'll probably dump my kids on another deaf ed teacher and go early. My baby girl is as much as a wiggle worm as her dad. She also likes to head butt me so that you can feel her head from outside my belly, which really weirds Russ out, me too, but mostly I just laugh because it feels weird and I just push her so she'll move. We starting getting the room together and with my new sewing machine I got with Christmas money, hopefully that will start picking up speed.

It's a Girl!

2009-12-20T10:46:00.001-08:00

This post is a little late but here is the best sono picture.

Tiny kicks

2009-11-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I started feeling something that I was thinking was the baby moving. This week I'm certain. I definitely can feel the movements getting stronger , more frequent and higher. Fun facts this week are that your uterus moves up and the baby's cartilage is turning into bones.

Nursery

2009-11-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

I've been tossing around nursery ideas for awhile now. I wanted to do a Dick and Jane themed room, then I found there is a Dick and Jane line of fabrics. They are super cute, but I had no idea until I got my quilt squares in the mail. Pictures don't due them justice. Since I'm not a quilter one of my friends from school and I are going to make one together. I've been searching google images for ideas and have a few good ones. Here is a peek at the squares. Hopefully once I borrow my grandmother's sewing machine we can get busy at making the quilt. I also want to do a bumper and coordinating skirt. Boyds- I'll bring one of each of the squares to Thanksgiving so ya'll can see them live :)

16 Weeks

2009-11-17T16:44:00.001-08:00

Here's a pic of 4 months!!

Are you a bumgenius?

2009-11-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

So after hours of research on the internet and talking to friends, we've made a decision on the cloth vs disposable debate. We're going with the cloth and as needed disposables. You would not believe everything that's out there now for cloth diapering. And actually it's only a decision until our baby is 12 pounds when the X small diapers will be too small. From talking to friends this seems like an achievable goal especially while I'm still at home and during the summer. And honestly these things are so cute, during the summer Baby Boyd may only be wearing a diaper. I only ordered 6, I'm ordering in waves so that the sticker shock isnt that bad. I'm going to wait to know the sex to order the next set, since they have some cute colors other than white. Well I'm excited I got these in the mail today, so I'd thought I'd post. :)

Cute Quotes

2009-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Since I can't really report on any cute things my baby does yet, I can keep you updated with all the cute things my kids at school say about the baby or my belly. Mostly my belly.
Now that they know there's a baby in my belly, they say some funny things.

While reading Mouse Mess, at the end of the story when the mouse is in bed with an over sized stomach from eating too much food, they insisted that there was a baby in his tummy when I told them his stomach grew and grew because he was full.

Yesterday J signed "stomach fat". And I said, "Yes there's a baby inside". P signed "Baby" then signed "3??", I laughed so hard and said "no just one, one baby!"

14 week update

2009-11-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my monthly checkup with the midwife group. We listened to the heartbeat and it sounded good. Turns out my sore rib is from pregnancy and just have deal with it. It really hurts, so that's easier in theory than in practice. My sonogram is scheduled for Dec 9th, not only will I be 1/2 way through the pregnancy we also get to find out the gender. So place your vote in our poll. :) I'm excited to start pregnant lady yoga. The woman who teaches it also is a doula and has childbirth classes. Plus it might help my rib. That's all for now. :) Pics by the end of the week.

12 weeks 4 days

2009-10-21T18:24:00.001-07:00

Baby Belly

2009-10-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

The kiddos at school are starting to figure out I'm pregnant. Two of my kids from last year finally figured out another Deaf Ed. teacher is pregnant, then were pointing to my belly. I poked it out a little more and said "what??" They both said baby. One of my first graders talked about the baby in my tummy today. Truly my bump is really tiny. But you can't hide anything about your appearance from a Deaf kid. So I'll make Russ take a baby belly pic and will post the ittty bitty bump.

A Mommy Blog???

2009-10-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

As of now this blog has turned into a mommy blog!! We're expecting our first child, due May 1st 2010!!!! After reaching the end of the first trimester, we're announcing to the world our news. I hope this blog will mainly be used by friends and family who live far away to not miss a beat with this little one.
Only a few updates to post so far...
We found out we were pregnant on August 18th.
We heard the heartbeat on October 5th and it was a loud and clear 170 beats per minute. And everything looked great on my end.
My next appointment is on Nov. 2. I'm hoping they'll schedule a sonogram :)

What is style?

2009-05-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

I have been feeding my addiction for vintage/flea market/shabby chic decorating with decorating books. I've gotten several off e-bay and picked up a few at the book store. I've always just looked at the pictures to get ideas, but this time I read them cover to cover. I was surprised at the nuggets of insight I came across. Some quotes worth sharing:

"Worn grandeur, the incomplete, the neglected,the crumbling, the cracked, the mismatched, the wrinkled. ..scuffed, chipped, imperfect, scratched moldings, discarded beauty, peeling paint." ~Rachel Ashwell

"A piece of china we use for dinner breaks. We are sorry to loose it , but because we eat off plates in a harmony of colors rather than a pattern that matches exactly, the piece will be replaced. The set of china will continue,slightly different , perhaps slightly richer. This reusing of the old , the worn, and the shabby allows objects to meet their natural fate" ~Rachel Ashwell

How can I have finacial peace?

2009-01-23T19:57:00.000-08:00

A new adventure(?) awaits me. I'm starting the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class at University Christian Church in FW. (Shameless promo I know.) Here's a few things I'm scared of...(insert Liz Lemmon exclamatory here.)
The cost effectiveness of paying for the only car I've ever bought with my own money.Yes, I love my brand new Honda Fit, but do I hate debt more?????
Again, do I love netflix, cable, internet more than I hate debt?
Can we as a couple hate debt as much as we should?
Communication skills that I have or don't have.
Starting a new small group.
Blerg. It makes me tired just thinking about it. This should be an interesting 13 weeks... Why 13, that's not a good sign of things to come.

Is she in denial?

2009-01-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

The answer is yes. In denial that I do have a job, a hard one at that, and I do have to go back to work on Monday. In denial that at some point it is not socially acceptable to keep up Christmas decorations. In denial that I can't pack up and leave. In denial that I've had certain "Tabs" on my computer for much longer than Firefox ever intended you to save "tabs". In denial that my BFF really does want to move way too far away. In denial I may not always have my way.

"So this is the new year.
And i don't feel any different.
The clanking of crystal
Explosions off in the distance (in the distance).

So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions

So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogs bleed into one

I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then i could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There'd be no distance that could hold us back." -Death Cab for Cutie

She fills out surveys?

2008-11-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

1. Were you named after anyone? I believe that my middle name comes from one of my great grand mothers. But Sarah and Elizabeth are two truly awesome women from the bible, so I usually connect to that.
2. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes
3. Would you bungee jump? First instinct is no, maybe could be convinced of it.
4. What is your favorite cereal? I like Captain Crunch for a snack, but not with milk. I'm not a breakfast person.
5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No. I can't get them off fast enough when I get home.
6. What is your favorite ice cream? Banana Pudding. Blue Bell of course.
7. What is the first thing you notice about other people? I'm thinking...
8. Least favorite thing about yourself? I have a bad short term memory.
9. What is the last thing you ate? Bueno. No bueno I know.
10. What are you listening to right now? TLC what not to wear, the heat turning on, and Cooper chewing on his bone. What I hear all day at school? Sarah Boyd! Sarah Boyd! Sarah Boyd!
11. What is the last movie you watched? Titanic on TV. Shame on me.
12. What did you dream about last night? I really don't remember. I usually do. I seem to dream about things I think about a lot in the day....
13. Summer or winter? I've always replied summer on this one, but as I think on it... I heart electric blankets, fires, cider, TCU tree lighting and Advent (I love the anticipation and preparation).
14. Do you have any special talents? Arts and Crafts, signing, singing the CSI theme song, teaching deaf kids, vintage decorating.
15. Coke or Pepsi? Dr. Pepper please.
16. Word you would hate to describe you? do we really want to go there on a blog?
17. Do you live in a different state from where you grew up? No, not anymore!!!!

Who motivates me on a Monday morning?

2008-11-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

I did not want to get out of bed this morning. Who does? Russ pointed this out: "If you don't go to school I know someone who'll be very disappointed. Who will G. hug if you're not there?" I guess this is why we become teachers. We go to school because one boy needs a hug(or several). And that's enough.

What were they wearing?

2008-10-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

Russ came up with a great idea of writing down all the costumes the kids who came to our house were wearing. So here's our list:

Group of 80's Punk Rockers
Cave Girl
Darth Vader
Wolverine
Werefolf
Hulk (my personal fav, one I want to adopt a black boy and two I think the costumes with fake muscles are SUPER cute)
Child
Jason with Vampire Teeth
No Costume (I think it was the big brother who was forced to take Jason with vampire teeth trick or treating)
Cowboy
Asian Girl
Princess
Darth Vader
Punk
Spiderman
2 More...

A big deal?

2008-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I lost my wallet and this is what I learned:

If this is the worst thing that's happened to me in awhile, I'm doing good.
I care about two things a lot, my husband (his picture from kindergarten was in there) and voting (my ID).
There's a lot you can't do when you don't have a wallet.

Blogs?

2008-10-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

I just really wanted a blog. Russ and I both don't know what I'll blog about. We'll see...