Monday, June 6, 2011
Little Miss Stubborn
"Little Miss Stubborn was, as you might imagine, extraordinarily stubborn. Once she had her mind made up there was no unmaking it. If she decided to go out, she went out. Even when it was pouring rain." - Roger Hargreaves
Saturday, June 4, 2011
An Inconvenient Poop
I'm sure, in my blogging absence, you've been thinking, "I wish Dawn would write about poo again. It's really been far too long since the last entry about poop." Well, faithful reader, this one's for you.
Amelia has the worst timing when it comes to poop. Some of her favorites include, but are not limited to: the beginning of long car rides, whenever we happen to be running late for something, anytime we are no where near running water, when mommy forgets to pack extra diapers (you remember the QFC incident), on airplanes (I'm pretty sure she pooped on all four legs of our flight to and from Florida) and other forms of public transportation, and right after I've started a load of diaper laundry.
Even so, we continue to use cloth diapers almost exclusively. What's more, I'm convinced the reason that most people don't use cloth diapers is fear of poop. But, I'm here to tell you that there's nothing to be afraid of. Poop really isn't that scary. Really.
The Newborn Stage (0-6 months)
Believe it or not, newborn poop is the easiest to deal with. It smells the best too: just like buttered popcorn (I'm not kidding)! True, it happens frequently, and often explosively, but it's also the simplest to launder. Remove diaper from baby, place diaper in pail, throw diaper in wash on laundry day. Yup, it's that simple. The best part is that when there's a blowout, you can throw in all those poopy clothes, too!
Transition to Solids (7-11 months)
I won't lie, this is not a fun time in your child's poop development. Once she starts eating solid food, you can no longer just toss the poopy diapers in the pail. Trust me, I tried it.* Poops are not as explosive during this stage, but they're still pretty frequent, especially if your daughter decides to get a severe case of diarrhea for a month. The worst part, though, is that the poop is no where near actually being solid yet, so getting it off the diaper can be kind of tricky. Some people like to buy things like flushable liners or diaper sprayers to help with this. But, I prefer the good old-fashioned method of dunk, swish, and rinse. Dunk and swish most of the poop into the toilet, then rinse the rest out in the utility sink. A particularly bad one can be left to soak in a bucket until wash day. It may seem like a lot of work, but really the whole process takes only a few minutes.
Plopable Poo (12 months up)
Things get a bit easier around the time your child is turning one. For one thing, her poop becomes more regular and predictable (usually). And, depending on her diet, it gets a little more solid, too. This makes things immensely easier. No more dunking and swishing. Simply dump turd off of diaper and into toilet. Toss diaper in pail, and wash on laundry day!
So, you see, there's no need to fear. Even if you do happen to have an inconvenient pooper. And now that I think about it, maybe Amelia doesn't have the worst timing, maybe she actually has the best timing, and this is just her idea of a practical joke. Obviously she has inherited her father's sense of humor.
*For those who really want to know: You get to pick out sparkling clean pieces of green beans, peas, carrots, and anything else your baby may have eaten from your "clean" load of diapers.
Amelia has the worst timing when it comes to poop. Some of her favorites include, but are not limited to: the beginning of long car rides, whenever we happen to be running late for something, anytime we are no where near running water, when mommy forgets to pack extra diapers (you remember the QFC incident), on airplanes (I'm pretty sure she pooped on all four legs of our flight to and from Florida) and other forms of public transportation, and right after I've started a load of diaper laundry.
Even so, we continue to use cloth diapers almost exclusively. What's more, I'm convinced the reason that most people don't use cloth diapers is fear of poop. But, I'm here to tell you that there's nothing to be afraid of. Poop really isn't that scary. Really.
The Newborn Stage (0-6 months)
Believe it or not, newborn poop is the easiest to deal with. It smells the best too: just like buttered popcorn (I'm not kidding)! True, it happens frequently, and often explosively, but it's also the simplest to launder. Remove diaper from baby, place diaper in pail, throw diaper in wash on laundry day. Yup, it's that simple. The best part is that when there's a blowout, you can throw in all those poopy clothes, too!
Transition to Solids (7-11 months)
I won't lie, this is not a fun time in your child's poop development. Once she starts eating solid food, you can no longer just toss the poopy diapers in the pail. Trust me, I tried it.* Poops are not as explosive during this stage, but they're still pretty frequent, especially if your daughter decides to get a severe case of diarrhea for a month. The worst part, though, is that the poop is no where near actually being solid yet, so getting it off the diaper can be kind of tricky. Some people like to buy things like flushable liners or diaper sprayers to help with this. But, I prefer the good old-fashioned method of dunk, swish, and rinse. Dunk and swish most of the poop into the toilet, then rinse the rest out in the utility sink. A particularly bad one can be left to soak in a bucket until wash day. It may seem like a lot of work, but really the whole process takes only a few minutes.
Plopable Poo (12 months up)
Things get a bit easier around the time your child is turning one. For one thing, her poop becomes more regular and predictable (usually). And, depending on her diet, it gets a little more solid, too. This makes things immensely easier. No more dunking and swishing. Simply dump turd off of diaper and into toilet. Toss diaper in pail, and wash on laundry day!
So, you see, there's no need to fear. Even if you do happen to have an inconvenient pooper. And now that I think about it, maybe Amelia doesn't have the worst timing, maybe she actually has the best timing, and this is just her idea of a practical joke. Obviously she has inherited her father's sense of humor.
*For those who really want to know: You get to pick out sparkling clean pieces of green beans, peas, carrots, and anything else your baby may have eaten from your "clean" load of diapers.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
It's fun being one!
Many thanks to everyone for helping make Amelia's first birthday special! She officially has her own baby doll collection, and she is in LOVE. Walking is now her preferred method of transportation. Particularly, walking while holding a baby doll with both hands, one on each of its arms:) Woe is the person (usually Marley) who comes between her and her "Dady"!
At her one year check up she was 30" tall (80th percentile) and 21.5 lbs (58th percentile), and right on track with doing everything she should be (and more) for her age!
For comparison's sake, here's one-year-old Marley. Any guesses as to how big he was at one year?
That's right! He was 30" tall (only 50th percentile for boys) and 21.5 lbs (27th percentile)! How crazy is that?
At her one year check up she was 30" tall (80th percentile) and 21.5 lbs (58th percentile), and right on track with doing everything she should be (and more) for her age!
For comparison's sake, here's one-year-old Marley. Any guesses as to how big he was at one year?
That's right! He was 30" tall (only 50th percentile for boys) and 21.5 lbs (27th percentile)! How crazy is that?
Monday, May 16, 2011
Dear Baby Girl
If there were any doubt that our hearts would have the capacity to love a second child, it vanished the moment we laid eyes on you for the first time. Watching you grow and learn has been no less wonderful, either. Each time we feel like we know what to expect, you surprise us.
There is so much to love about you. The way you bury your face in our necks when you are scared. The way you smile at your big brother. The way you focus on a difficult task with such serious intent. The way you throw one arm over your face when you're sleeping. The way you point and exclaim with wonder when you see something that interests you.
You are an amazing little person. We are humbled and honored to be your parents. Happy birthday, little girl.
There is so much to love about you. The way you bury your face in our necks when you are scared. The way you smile at your big brother. The way you focus on a difficult task with such serious intent. The way you throw one arm over your face when you're sleeping. The way you point and exclaim with wonder when you see something that interests you.
You are an amazing little person. We are humbled and honored to be your parents. Happy birthday, little girl.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Cudjoe Key
After Sarah moved to Virginia a few years ago, we made an effort to coordinate our trips back home to Michigan. But, with two of us already traveling, we started to think: why not have all of us travel, and we can go somewhere else for a change? Enter the destination family vacation! Our first trip was to Boulder, Colorado two years ago. We had a blast and decided to continue the tradition, this time with a trip to the Florida Keys. Like Boulder, none of us had ever been there. Also, like Boulder, we had a great time! The one downside to our trip was that my brother, Patrick, and sister-in-law, Cyndi, couldn't make it. I was especially missing them the night we went out for Cinco de Mayo. Cyndi is really fun to go dancing with:)
As I looked back on our photos to decide which ones to post, I realized that most of them were of Marley and Amelia. Hmm...kinda like all of our pictures anymore. Ah well, at least some of them feature other people, too.
As I looked back on our photos to decide which ones to post, I realized that most of them were of Marley and Amelia. Hmm...kinda like all of our pictures anymore. Ah well, at least some of them feature other people, too.
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| Marley and Lilyana share a pretzel |
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| Amelia and Grandpa sitting on the porch. |
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| Grandpa helps Marley capture a cool bug in his 'bug watch' |
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| It was hard getting these two to sit still for a picture together |
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| Checking out the touch tank at the aquarium |
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| Sarah helps Amelia touch a big shell |
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| Alicia and Sarah head out in the kayaks that came with our rental house |
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| We spent lots of time in the swimming pool |
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| How is it that Matt looks so cool in his kayak? |
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| Jeff even took Marley out a couple of times |
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| Grandma and Lilyana |
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| The dock outside our house |
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| Great White Heron |
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| The view from our beach |
Monday, May 9, 2011
I am cold.
Luckily I didn't have work to return to today, otherwise I might have had some serious post-vacation blues. Also luckily, our first day back was Mother's Day. I slept in, followed by breakfast in bed, followed by a late lunch at Prost! with the Franklin's.
Seattle is cold. And rainy. There's no ocean out my front window. No sound of breeze blowing through the palm trees. No swimming pool. No lazy days hanging with the Collins's. No giant iguanas walking across our front yard. No kayaking on the shimmering bay whenever the mood strikes you.
But at least there's German beer and sausage. Hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day as much as I did.
Stay tuned for more about our trip to the Keys. Just let me put on my sweatshirt. And my hat. And maybe some wool socks.
But at least there's German beer and sausage. Hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day as much as I did.
Stay tuned for more about our trip to the Keys. Just let me put on my sweatshirt. And my hat. And maybe some wool socks.
Monday, May 2, 2011
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