I had my first "Oh shit we're having a baby" moment yesterday. I was taking a midmorning nap, and had just woken up and gave myself a few more minutes to lounge in bed. I was thinking of that xbox 360, the glider, and the dirt we need for regrading the house, a carseat...and then I realized "After Mid November I will no longer be bringing in an extra $600 a month! What is our budget?"
You see, we lived VERY frugally on Tim's wee salary when we moved to Madison. I think back on it and am amazed we did it and yet didn't feel like we were suffering too terribly. We are doing much better now that DH is making almost twice that amount -- so it was time to assess the situation. I got out of bed and drew up a budget that keeps the same amount of money that we funnel into savings. I felt better after that and thought "We can do that...we just have to go back to accounting for money spent on a weekly basis."
However, today my coworker brought up one expense that WILL be a fixture in the budget that I hadn't thought of -- diapers. ( She also said formula, but I am hoping that I will be able to breastfeed without any issues so I am not going to worry about that). Anyway, diapers.
I looked at Mothers Nature Diapers online today, and am sort of confused. How do we know how many diapers to get? What is this about a velcro cover? What does one need for diapers again -- what is this prefold business about??? and are the prices listed here really comparable to buying disposable diapers that we can use to destroy the enviroment? I mean, we were planning on using a combo -- like diapers for the first few weeks and then switch over to cloth, and use disposable for traveling and the like.
It's just diapering seems to have changed so much from when I was a kid and diapered my stupid brothers. :P
I guess in particular I am referring to these two things:
--Offer a Velcro® diaper cover rental program* so that you do not need to use
pins and plastic pants! A $15 one-time fee will get you a package of 4. Then a
$3 per month rental fee will allow you to trade them at any time--for instance,
when you child grows to the next larger size.
--Provide you with a hamper, scented bags and scented disks while you are on
the service for a one time fee of $15!--Deliver an all-natural, hypoallergenic, alcohol-free refill of wipes at a cost of $2.75 for each 80 count tub. Free tub of 80 wipes to start if you choose to have a standing order each month.
Would four covers be enough? Is that what you were talking about Carla? I would have to make or buy those from someplace or is renting them just as easy? Is this enough wipes? Is that price comparable?
Do I need to worry about this now? Or should I wait until there is a baby around before really getting into this? Hm.
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In other news. We went to see a 3:10 to Yuma on Wednesday and it was fun. I like going to the movies during the week. The last movie we saw was Stardust in Portland, ME. Tim got popcorn and soda -- and no extra salt...though you know the popcorn has enough it it. Man, but the end of the movie my hands were hurting. It took a good 36 hours for it go away and back down to the normal level. I can't believe even that little boost of sodium had that much of an immediate effect on carpal tunnel. That's just crazy!
Sil Sarah called us the other day and said that Bekah and Greg (and their three french friends) were flying into town today and that they were going organizing a last minute BBQ at Mark's new house on Saturday. BIL Mark is the youngest Hoff getting married next weekend. Anyway, I said I already promised my Dad a weekend visit but would see if we could squeeze it in if it was switched to Sunday (which she offered as an alternative). The DH and I talked about it and decided "You know what? We are tired of dropping everything for these last minute plans, and it's really not fair to my Dad, or ourselves." So I said we couldn't make it.
Well when it rains it pours, right? Because I got a depressing letter from Mom. I had just sent her a big letter on Monday complete with belly photos, montage, etc....and so I called her to see if she had gotten the letter. Shane answered the phone before she did, and told me that he went James (my third youngest brother) up north camping for his bachelor's party. He is getting married today.
Okay I knew that. I knew it because I called him before we left on vacation to ask him if was getting married, if he was having a ceremony and whether or not there would be a reception. He said no to everything. He was just going to have a little JOP ceremony at the courthouse afterwork one Friday in September and that was it. Of course I was disappointed. I was looking forward to attending my little brothers wedding all freaking year. We chatted some more and that was that.
So what does Shane tell me? "So you are visiting Dad this weekend?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Did James call you?" He asked.
"No," I said.
So I guess you aren't going to James reception on Saturday," he stated.
"What reception?" I asked. "I called him last month to ask if he was having one and he said NO he wasn't."
"He said that never said he wasn't," Shane replied.
"He didn't invite me either!" my Mom interupted, having picked up the other phone line.
"Mom," Shane said. "Yes he did."
"No he didn't," she insisted, and got that petulant, whiny tone in her voice that implies she has been personally insulted. "I never got an invitation."
"Mom you don't need an invitation!" replied Shane, getting annoyed.
"I don't know what time it is, or where it is. He didn't invite me. I don't know why he didn't invite me," Mom continued, warming up to the subject.
"That's because you aren't invited!" Shane shouted and hung up.
Well damn. Then Mom spent the next few minutes telling me how she is never invited to anything, is always the last to know, and blah blah blah. I told her I wasn't invited either and I had practically ASKED to be invited last month.
Whatever. I am disappointed that I'll miss his reception but I waited for a freaking long time, and did my best to go ... but you know what? Fuck it. If he can't call me (never has) then I am not going to go through heroics to go to this.
For the record, James didn't come to our wedding, and in the process of staying home made Frank (my step Dad) stay home because he couldn't be trusted. James was in the habit of stealing stuff and hawking it at the pawn shop back then.
Whatever. I'm just gonna focus on having a nice, relaxing weekend at my Dad's and getting some stuff done around the house.
EDITED TO ADD: Guess who just called at 12.20? James just called me to invite me to his reception on Saturday at 2:00 -- you know, since I am gonna be at Dad's. My Dad lives about an hour to an hour half away ..... so if I try to make this....fucking a!
I asked if he invited Mom, and he said yes he did but they aren't going. Why? Because Mom doesn't want to be around big groups of people.
Uh. What? Damnit Mom, you infuriate me!
Now, you know, if I go, Mom only lives like 20 minutes away and will probably have her feelings hurt if I don't go make a fucking special trip to see her while I am there....and ...
Laura.....getting...............................angry.........................
You don't like it when Laura get's angry.
posted by hadjare @ 10:43 AM
4 Comments:
Laura, I made do with four covers when we first started with Mother Nature's and didn't have a washer/dryer (I would hand wash covers in the bathroom sink and let them dry on the shower rod) But you may want to have more. If I were you, I'd just buy them. Sometimes their rentals have been used and you never know for sure if they're waterpoof enough.
I'm not sure if they still use Diaperap brand, and the're not bad, but I much prefer ProRap brand. They are nearly indestructible and they're cheap to buy (about 4.00 per cover if you find a deal)
Also keep in mind, you do not need to wash the cover after every diaper change UNLESS its soiled with baby poop. So you just lay them over the side of the changing table or install hooks (I used one of those folding wall mounting mug racks) over the changing table to hang wraps in between changes.
Never throw covers in the dryer. Machine wash them, but lay them out to air dry (they dry VERY fast)
You really should check out Lea's store on Atwood. She carries cloth and covers and someone there could help you learn how to use them. Even Rick at the diaper service is very good about teaching you how to fold and lay the diaper in the cover.
Here is one link about folding prefolds to lay in a cover: http://www.thediaperhyena.com/prefoldwrapfold.htm
I just sold all of my newborn and infant cloth diapering covers and other general "stuff" last year to buy my spinning wheel, or I'd have been able to send you everything you need. I'm still up for sewing you fitted diapers however if you decide to continue using cloth and washing yourself!
Also, Madison has great breastfeeding resources if you find yourself in trouble. The hospitals have great lactation services.. and the LaLecheLeague in Madison is fabulous! Again, Lea's shop has all kinds of great information (and products) so consider dropping by there.
Sigh, you know I can never keep my 2 cents to myself. Like I told you before, your going to get a mountain of advice from all sides, but ultimately your the mom and your going to be the boss. That being said...here's mine: Let me start with formula first of all. IF it doesn't work out and you need to buy formula, go to Sam's club. They have a store brand of formula with the exact same ingredient as Infamil and comes in a way bigger can for half the price. I have a secret. My dad used to work in the factory that made simulac and infamil. When the order was filled, they would simply continue packaging the product and change labels to the store brand. The stuff remained exactly the same. Also, the doctor will tell you not to feed cereal until the 6th month. You can do what you want, but let me tell you, when month 4 hits you will wonder why that baby never gets full. Adding 1:1 cereal to a bottle and cutting a little bigger hole will cut down on the hungries, help promote sleeping through the night AND cut down on formula and boob juice use. I fed cereal right away the second month. It wont hurt them at all, the doctors just worry about overeating and fatness.
I did have trouble keeping up with the babes when breastfeeding, but it was also really nice not to have to drop everything for a feeding as well.
I used disposable diapers. IMO, Pampers is the most bang for your buck. They are biodegradable. We are not dealing with this plastic diapers of old here, unless they are REALLY cheap, they are all cloth-like now and quite break downable. Pampers hold a TON of pee. Knowing what I think I know about cloth diapers, they are only good for 1 pee and the wetness sits in contact with the baby's skin until you change it. Pampers has this fabulous baby-dry stuff that works like a menstrual pad pulling that pee away from the skin and keeping the kid dryer for longer. You can wet one and touch it and see how it works...AWESOME cool. Anyway, you can keep the diaper on longer, thereby using less of them. (unless, of course, they poop) Your using water to wash those cloth ones right? and have you seen how much those things are to buy? EEsh. A pack of pampers is about $8.00 and lasts for a couple of weeks. I have no idea what I diaper service is or how it works, but you have to just take a day trip out to the store and compare what disposables cost as opposed to the complete cloth experience. Then factor in the work and the smell...you can see why I made the choice I did there. Another cost cutter is the valuable naked time. Dude. My kids LIVED for it. You lay down a towel on the floor/crib/swing whatever--they will pee eventually-- and just let them be free for an hour or 2 or 3 per day As long as the house is warm enough to be naked, let er rip. It's awesome for their skin, there will be no diaper rash and no wasting money on rash cream or powders, no worries about yeast infections or heat rashes...nice.
lastly, Home made wipes. Buy 2 of those nice hard plastic wipe boxes at first (they can be cheap dollar store, just get plastic because you will reuse them) and do this:
1 plastic container
1 roll of paper towels
2 Cups Boiling Water
1 TBSP. Baby Bath
1 ½ TBSP. Baby Oil
Cut the roll of paper towels in half (cross wise) with a knife, serrated works best. Remove the card board from the middle. Place your paper towels in the container (cut side down). Mix the baby bath and baby oil with the boiling water. Stir well. Pour the mixture over the paper towels in the container.
Just in case your worried, the baby oil acts as a preserver and keeps the wipes from going sour while you use them.
Dollar store paper towels are fine. You can also get baby wash and oil at the dollar store if you want. If not, it really doesn't matter because 1 bottle will last you a year. If your going to splurge on anything though, make your wipes with that Aveeno baby stuff. (I did) It's all hypoallergenic and really nice. Like I said, if you use that brand exclusively for making wipes, they last a year. What's 20$ a year? For the price of boughten wipes your still coming out WAY ahead. There. I have spoken. Hehe :)
I have 6 infant plastic diaper covers and 6 toddler plastic diaper covers that I don't plan to use, like, ever - not after trying cloth diapering for a day. THey say you don't have to wash the covers between uses, but let me tell you, the cloth diaper *will* soak through to the cover with each urination, and the typical runny breastfeeding BMs *will* stain the legholes of the cover just about each time. Too much hassle for me. But you are welcome to try the covers I have (and the pre-fold diapers, for that matter)! Let me know if you want me to send a box, or wait until your shower.
More to say on the topic, but Ruthie is fussing, awake from her nap.
-SECP
Continuing where I left off...I have had good luck with the *big* packs of Huggies from Woodman's, and the *big* packs of Pampers Extra-Sensitive wipes. (I didn't like the feel or powder scent of Pampers diapers.) Look to the lower shelves at Woodman's for those *big* packs and you'll save money, space, and time.
An aunt gave us a warming wipes dispenser, which sounds silly, but it has been so handy...nice to have warm wipes, but also essential to have the reusable pop-up dispenser. Then we can just buy those packs of 6 refills at Woodman's.
We started out changing Ruth 10-12 times per day...those early breastfeeding BMs at all hours can be hilariously frequent and explosive. (Well, not hilarious when you haven't slept in recent memory.) Now we're down to 6-7 changes per day, which includes letting her sleep peacefully all night in her diaper. (This is recommended. We're not just being slovenly.) Our packs of diapers are definitely lasting longer. We haven't had a problem yet with diaper rash, even with the all-night sleeps. I do try to put a thin layer of A&D diaper ointment on her lower cheeks during her pre-bed change as preventative rather than cure. Again, you can get a *big* tube of this and it should last a couple of months unless baby is rash-prone.
A trick to dry baby's bum quickly before putting on ointment: blow on it to evaporate any fluid left from the wipes!
Your hospital will probably send you home with enough diapers to get you through a few days. You may get additional samples if you're taking a birthing class.
-SECP
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