A New Adventure Begins.......Cloth Diapers

     Even while pregnant I wanted to cloth diaper. There were several reasons I was interested in it. The first reason was the convenience of it. Imagine never running out of diapers (unless of course you forgot to do laundry, which is HIGHLY unlikely). The next reason was to create less trash to take to the dumpster on a weekly basis, which living in a 3rd floor apartment is definitely a plus. Another reason was the smell factor. Rather than letting stinky diapers fester in a diaper pail, poo and all until time to take out the trash, you just flush down the toilet the stinky stuff. Poof! Bye bye smell! I know what you are thinking, what about wet diapers? They don't smell nearly as bad as poopy diapers left for days. The last reason was the cost. Even the cheapest generic disposables are $.13-$.15 a diaper, not on sale and without using coupons. Let's face it, sales and coupons are nice, but not always realistic or convenient. Depending on how you choose to cloth diaper, it can cost as little as $.05- $.-06 WITH laundering per use.
     I chose to go with the Flip covers with inserts and prefolds. As I am typing this I have just begun using cloth diapers sporadically and plan to go full-time as soon as I get my stash built up. So far I have tried the Flip covers with just the inserts. Mason currently fits in the Flip cover on the medium setting. The first night we used them, I left them set on the medium setting with 1 insert. They leaked :(, but let me back up a bit. Mason must be a heavy wetter at night, because we have tried using generic and brand disposables at night. THEY ALL FREAKING LEAKED (even the so called 'nighttime' diapers :-/). I did some research and got tips and tricks for using Flip covers and inserts at night. I learned from my research that I should try 2 inserts and / or change the rise (increase the size) of the cover. The next time I tried cloth diapers at night I decided to try 2 inserts and change the cover to the large setting. SUCCESS! The wetness was contained by the diaper (imagine that ;). The next night came and I tried the 2 inserts/ increased rise again....success AGAIN! I now plan to use the cloth diapers every night! I can't wait until I finish building my stash (I also plan to add some AIOs too)! I think I will keep disposables for the diaper bag and possibly when grandma babysits, but other than that, we will be cloth diapering!

Mason's Milestones

    When Mason turned 6 months and showed no interest/ signs of sitting up I grew concerned. I didn't worry too much because he was still in the 'normal' range of 4.5-7 months for sitting up. Then Mason turned 7 months and still no sign/ interest in sitting up. Ok, now I can officially worry. Truth is I had already been worrying because I KNEW something was wrong, it wasn't my mother's intuition, it was because of my background in Special Education (SPED).
    When Mason turned 8 months, he had been congested for about a week, but wasn't acting sick and had no fever. So I decided to take him in just in case he was like me and wouldn't let anyone know when he was sick. I thought it was just teething and it was ;).
    I secretly planned to ask the doctor about the sitting up because it was REALLY concerning me. Dr. Clark was concerned too and referred him for assessment in the local early intervention program.
    I went through the process of getting him evaluated, during this time my biggest concern was that he would be considered a 'bubble kid' (lagging behind but not enough to get the help he needed....on the borderline of needing/ not needing help). The day of the evaluation came, I was praying the whole time. Please find him eligible! Please find him eligible! Thank God! Prayers answered! The OTs (occupational therapists...for those of you w/o a SPED background ;) found him eligible. We found out that developmentally he was on target or advanced cognitively, socially, etc. His right hand side fine motor skills are at an age appropriate level BUT his left hand side is 4-5 months behind. So now we are waiting for his OT to set up his first therapy appointment ;)!

Update, 6-8 months

   Mason continues to roll over like crazy! He really seems to enjoy rolling over and getting into things we don't want him to (like cat toys and electrical cords). He continues to eat just about anything we offer him (baby food and finger food). Mason has gotten his first 2 teeth during this time and is working on 3&4 (they seem to be coming in REALLY slowly). He has been very tolerant of teething and its side effects.
    He was taken to the doctor at 8 months for congestion (just teething) BUT the doctor was concerned that he wasn't sitting up yet. He was referred to a pediatric early intervention program for a gross motor evaluation. His appointment is Sept 17th (I'll post more on that after the appt). In the meantime, I'm trying NOT to go completely crazy over the wait and what MIGHT be wrong. I have gotten him some new toys and a Bumbo to help him hopefully learn to sit up. In addition to not sitting up he seems to rarely use his left hand so that will also get evaluated.
     During this time Mason has been 'talking' up a blue streak! He began at 6 months saying 'mama' and 'mum mum' while crying. Now he says it without crying (and I just beam ;). He also says a few other sounds like 'whoa', 'ba ba', etc.

First Time in the Ocean (2nd Beach Trip)

     About 2 weeks ago we went to Kill Devil Hills, NC with Mason's Nana and Papa. This was Mason's second time going to the beach BUT his first time going in the ocean (first trip was VA beach in May....BRR!).
      The afternoon we went we started planning the trip by getting Mason ready (fresh diaper, swim trunks & shirt, sunscreen, sunglasses and hat). I took care of the other necessities (prepared a pedialite bottle/ juice bottle, grabbed a diaper and wipes). Doug and me put on our swimsuits. All set!
      When we got to the beach, we put down our stuff and practically ran to the ocean. Doug and me could not wait to put Mason in the ocean. Finally the moment came! It was decided that I would be the one to hold Mason  while Doug recorded the event and Nana/ Papa looked on. I sat down on the sand near the water with Mason in my lap. I gradually moved closer so that the water was hitting us more and more. When Mason felt the water he looked at it as if "what's the big deal"  (much like the first trip to the pool). All the anticipation, and he was so unimpressed. I wonder what will impress him as he gets older???

First 4th of July and Uncle Jack's visit

     We started the day with trying to sleep in....too bad Mason didn't get the memo :(. He was up at 6:10, ate and went back to sleep for an hour. Once everyone was up for the day, we went out for a late, leisurely, breakfast at Bob Evans (yum!). We enjoyed our breakfast while Mason enjoyed taking in all the people and things going on in the restaurant. When we came back home we began busily getting ready for Uncle Jack's visit.      
     Time for Uncle Jack's visit :). Uncle Jack came for a brief visit. At first Mason seemed upset to be meeting a new person, but by the end of the visit we were able to get pictures of Uncle Jack holding Mason (yeah!). I'm so glad Mason got to meet his great Uncle Jack :). Doug was happy about that too. Plus Doug and Uncle Jack got to talk about a future visit.     
     After Uncle Jack's visit we went to my parents' house and visited with them for a while before all of us headed to see the fireworks.      
     The fireworks were great! Mason could have cared less, he looked at them like big deal, like he sees them everyday. Between this and his reaction to the pool, I think he might be hard to impress later on, lol. The best part of the night was these 2 little girls (5-7 years old) trying to sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' and they couldn't get the words right to safe their lives BUT they kept trying with all the hearts ;). All in all a happy first 4th!

First Trip to the Pool

     Today Doug and me took Mason to the pool in our apartment complex. We thought we would get some sort of reaction, whether it be crying or laughing. But nope! I got into the pool and Doug carefully handed me Mason from the edge of the pool. I slowly got him wet starting with his feet and working my way up to his shoulders. The whole time Mason was like "whatever!" like he did this everyday and he wasn't impressed a bit. He seemed completely underwhelmed by the whole process. He fell asleep on the way back so maybe it was just bad timing on our part. Can't wait to take him again...maybe next time right after a bottle and a nap :).

My First Mother's Day

     My first Mother's Day was great! We spent the weekend with my parents at Virginia Beach. The four of us  (plus Mason too....I can't imagine anyone not wanting to spend Mother's Day without their children, maybe my opinion will change, but I don't think so for now) rode down together on Friday afternoon and left late Sunday morning.
     I really enjoyed being able to watch the sunrises on Saturday and Sunday morning. Doug recorded the sunrise that Saturday. I got an excellent picture of Mason and Doug watching the sunrise for the first time together (I will post pic later). Even though I was finishing my homework for my class, I was able to relax and enjoy the trip 99.99999% (you get the idea :) of the time.
     The one thing I missed out on was a trip to the aquarium, but Doug took pictures. I was stuck in the hotel room working on homework (yuck!). That was what they ended up doing so I could have the quiet I needed. Oh well! We plan to go the Baltimore Aquarium in the near future and I hear that one is a MUCH better than the one in VA Beach. Even though I missed out on the trip I still got something from it (besides getting some of my homework finished). My boys brought me a cute stuffed turtle and a turtle pin.
     I'm just hoping that Doug's first Father's Day will be equally as special as my first Mother's Day.