Singing to Baby

I don't know the words to very many children's songs.  This results in:
a)singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet song over and over
b)humming
c)singing bits of grown up songs and
d)making up my own words

I usually do narration style or pick a song and make up new words/ verses.

I was doing "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a ______, and if that ______ doesn't do whatever ______'s do, mama's gonna buy you a __________(new item)", inserting different things in the song.  Then I thought about whether I should be singing about buying all kinds of stuff and cheap breaking stuff at that.

Then I  made up new verses for Mary had a little Lamb.  I'll share them with you.  I would sing the first two verses and then continue with my own.

Mary had a little lamb (little lamb, little lamb)

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.

Everywhere that Mary went (Mary went, Mary went)

Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.

Mary had the lamb sheared (lamb sheared, lamb sheared)

Mary had the lamb sheared and washed the lovely fleece.

Then she picked and carded the wool (carded the wool, carded the wool)

Then she picked and carded the wool to get it ready to spin.

Mary used her spinning wheel (spinning wheel, spinning wheel)

Mary used her spinning wheel to make her favorite yarn.

I know lots of people do this sort of thing.  Anyone want to share their own songs or verses?

World Breastfeeding Week 2011

World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 -7) has just wrapped up, but I hope we can keep up the good work of encouraging and helping new moms and getting the world to see breastfeeding as a normal everyday thing.
http://www.lllusa.org/wbw/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_breastfeeding_week/en/index.html

I was disappointed that I couldn't be counted for the Big Latch On, but I was with you, nursing my baby on an airplane.

I wish that the culture I live in had a much more positive attitude about breastfeeding.  I sometimes feel like a pioneer doing something as old as mammals have been around, which is a really odd feeling.  I try to be discreet.  In fact I have breastfed my baby without people knowing what I was doing on several occasions, which is impressive in itself considering how things started out!  The point is that I shouldn't feel obligated to be discreet.  I should be able to just feed my baby and not worry about who might see a little nipple, because no one should care about seeing a little nipple.

Editing Baby Clothes

We just got these cute big kid pajamas and I noticed that the elastic on the sleeves was too tight!  That seems to be a common problem for baby clothes.  So, I cut it off and hemmed the sleeves.

 A shirt of mine had the same problem, so I fixed it the same way, good thing the sleeves were longish to start with.

Adventures in EC

Elimination Communication, aka Infant Potty Training, aka Natural Infant Hygiene is basically what it sounds like, communicating with baby about when they need to pee or poop and helping them to go. This idea really appeals to me, and I find it interesting that in the past EC was a common practice although it wasn't called that, but now many people find the idea strange as if it would be a disservice to the child.

Here are a few EC resources:
Diaper Free Baby
Free to EC
Tribal Baby

Many of the parents writing about EC made it sound so easy, having success from day one.  I have not been so lucky. I first heard of EC shortly after our baby was born and decided to start trying around 12 weeks.  I've had a few catches here and there, not every day.  Many of my catches are onto a prefold on the changing pad.  A few days ago I was encouraged by catching a poop this way.  It was way less messy than usual.  I can usually get at least a good cue in during the day and baby will often pee while laying on the prefold.  I think she understands that that is a good place to go and is confused when I cue her other places like the bathroom or on the brand new little potty.

Cloth Diaper Review: BumGenius Organic AIO

Another Diaper that I got early on is the BumGenius Organic One Size All In One.  I like the super easy factor of this diaper.  There is nothing to stuff.  The layers of organic cotton are attached to the cover.  You just put it on the Kiddo.  I like this for when someone else is watching baby, not that I save them for that.

 Here's the inside.  I like that it is nice soft and clean, organic cotton next to baby's skin.  Baby can feel the wetness with this diaper which helps the association of peeing and feeling wet.

 It has the same snap pattern as other BumGenius diapers.  The fit is the same as their pockets too.  They fit my chunky thigh babe well and I don't have to do any tricks with the snaps.

Pros:
No unstuffing or stuffing!!!

Cons:
Takes a long time to dry, seriously

The Rundown
Size: 7-35
Style:  AIO
Closure: Snaps on front
Rise Adjustment: Snaps on the front
Where is it made?  USA or Egypt
Price for 1:  $24.95

The End of the Cloth Wipe Challenge

My cloth wipe challenge officially ended on the 24th.  I didn't think much of it ending, as I like using cloth wipes.  I like not creating more trash.  I like saving even more money than with cloth diapers alone.  I like not having to separate the sposie wipes out of my wet bag when we get home (or find them in with the clean diapers from the wash).  I like knowing exactly what is going on my baby's skin.

I will admit to using a sposie wipe that my husband handed me while we were out, but whenever I reached for the wipes, I reached for cloth.  Yes, I finally did buy more cloth wipes.  I haven't finished my second spray bottle of homemade solution so I haven't tried any other recipes but I still plan to try more as we run out of solution.

The challenge is a success as I will happily continue using cloth wipes and our giant box o sposie wipes should last way longer than the first.

Cloth Diaper Review: FuzziBunz One Size

FuzziBunz One Size are a stay dry pocket style diaper.  They have a unique size adjustment that uses elastic with buttons for both the legs and the back.  The adjustable back is something that I haven't seen on other diapers and would like to see more often.

 Here is a close up of the leg elastic.  It takes some trying on the baby, but once you have it adjusted you can leave it there until you need a bigger size.  I like how customizable the sizing is on this diaper.  It makes it easy to fit my baby with cubby legs, but not a cubby tummy.

Here is the pocket and insert.  The tag says to shake the insert out, but I find it usually requires pulling out due to it being a tight fit for the insert in the pocket, but the open pocket makes it easier to remove the insert than an envelope style pocket.
The diaper comes with extra elastic and 2 inserts.


Pros:
Detailed size adjustment


Cons:
Harder to stuff because the insert is large for the pocket size


The Rundown
Size: 7-35
Style:  Pocket
Closure: Snaps on front
Rise Adjustment: Elastic in the sides has buttons to adjust the size
Where is it made?  Turkey
Price for 1:  $19.95