There Are THINGS All Around Me!

This picture was my first clue that Ramie was noticing things around her. After putting her down for a nap, I found her staring at the teddy bears hanging from her Pack 'n Play. It was at that moment I said goodbye to her naps...
It's pretty entertaining to see her in her crib watching her mobile spin around. She gets most excited watching the turtle come around. Unfortunately, she's so excited she forgets to sleep.
During changing time, I sign 'butterfly' and pull its' string. She kicks her feet and starts breathing heavily--she's a big fan of the butterfly. Now, I can make the 'butterfly' sign and she looks right at it, knowing I'm going to turn it on. SO cool!

We've implemented tummy time during which Ramie mostly stares and drools--she's entertained by her little gym for a good 3 minutes.
Let the good times roll!

Fuzzy Buns

Diapers are expensive--REALLY expensive. Once I realized we'd been spending $60/month on throw-away poo catchers and wipes, I decided there had to be another way.
One American Inventor-ish solution was the G-Diaper, found at Whole Foods. They consisted of a plastic cover and a biodegradable liner. In order for it to properly flush down the toilet, we'd have to stir it...with a stick. For that reason alone, it was a no-go. Turned out they were even more expensive than disposables anyway. (Phew!)
Our only other option was cloth diapers. Unlike what poor Grandmom B. went through with cloth diapering me so many years ago, there is no longer a need to become an origami master in order to fold a rectangle of fabric into a diaper, then pin it to your precious little one while trying not to stab her. Gone are the days when one must stick their hand into the toilet to swish a poopy diaper clean. (Amen to that!)
Today's diapers look like disposables, with either snaps or velcro...only prettier! They're available in colors, prints, embroidered, appliqued--the possibilities are endless.
After exhausting research online, I made our first diaper purchase--6 small Fuzzi Bunz. Here's Ramie in her first ever cloth diaper:
Turns out they're easy to use and, as long as we change Ramie regularly they don't leak. In fact, they hold in her poo explosions even better than the sposie! However, 6 diapers doesn't even last a full day SO I was back online getting some more diapers.
Now we've got mermaid prints, pastels, starfish batiks...and the oh-so-soft plush one you see at the top of this post. It feels just like the chamois collection from Pottery Barn Kids...mmm...
We've got lots more to buy--especially once I go back to work and can't do laundry everyday, but we're really happy with the switch. And of course, I've kicked into Martha Stewart gear--to save even more money, I'm learning to sew diapers out of those old-fashioned cloth rectangles from Grandmom B's days and adding fun prints to them:







SO, we're saving money and we're saving the environment, but most importantly, Ramie's got the cutest little padded bum around!

Welcome!

Well, I thought I'd set up a blog so everyone could see the latest on our newly-expanded family. I'll try to add to this weekly (maybe more, maybe less, depending on how busy I am) with all things Ramie (and a little about Daddy and I.) Come back often--Ramie's doing new and wonderful things everyday!

(P.S. For our family's safety, people will be referred to by their title--thus calling Ramie's Daddy "Daddy". Other characters: Grandmom B. (my Mom), G-Pop (my Dad), Jama (Daddy's Mom), Grandpa (Daddy's Dad). Hope this makes sense.