The Pull Ups

Here is a picture of the cloth pull ups I made:

We actually call them pull up shorts :)  Aren't they fun?!  I tried many different patterns and this is the best one.  I have to admit that I was just about ready to give up on sewing him some when I found this pattern.  I watched a video tutorial and then found another tutorial without video.  Between the two this is what I came up with.  Not all that much fun to sew - but worth it!  Ben can wear these and not feel like he is wearing a diaper.  I can do up the snaps and he can pull them on himself.  Then in the morning or if he needs to use the bathroom he can either pull them down or unsnap them.  They are a pocket diaper - here is a picture of the inside:

The outside fabric is cotton and just scraps that I had in my sewing box.  The inside is flannel scraps.  I put elastic in the back and the by the legs and in the tabs.  The elastic was the worst part.  I would have loved to not use elastic, but that is what helps to hold in the pee :) 

I have found that they are not 100% leak proof.  But he tends to pee. A. Lot.  So on the nights when he doesn't pee as much then his jammies are still dry but on the nights that he doesn't . . . his jammies get wet - but usually not enough to wet his bed. 

Here is one of the tutorials I used. 
Here is a video tutorial.  It is a 4 part series - once you click on the first video you should be able to find the rest. 

Busy Summer Days

A good friend (who is also pregnant) was over the other day and we were discussing pregnancy and what it's like when you're so close the end.  She still has a few months to go and was saying how nice it was to get to the nesting stage.  That little surge of energy right at the end that helps you get all sorts of things done. 

And I was sad to admit that I don't know that I've ever felt that.  Right now I am only 2-4 weeks away from meeting this little one and there is no nesting in sight.  I also can't recall nesting with any of my other babies.  *sigh* 

But even still I am getting lots done - and most days my energy levels are not too bad.  A few days in the last month I've laid down for a nap, but most days I can function without them.  Since our house has sold I've been trying really hard to get things organized and sorted and whatever is possible to pack up.  Thankfully I've had some wonderful people come over to help!

I've also been trying to get some sewing done.  Some of my cloth diapers are 3 years old and they have been used for 3 years (not on the same child :) straight.  And washed every 2-3 days.  And they are falling apart! 

With another baby on the way I decided that I needed to have a few more diapers on hand!  I bought some newborn sized covers and sewed some fitted diapers to use with snappi's (I wanted these especially for the beginning so I can adjust them to accommodate the umbilical cord), and some prefolds.  But I remembered that when Kara was little it didn't take long and her and Ben were using the same prefolds inside their wraps - so I also made some bigger prefolds too.  Also Benjamin still needs something for bedtime and he was getting very upset at needing to wear diapers (and I just couldn't justify the price of pullups (plus they don't come in the "greener" version of disposable diapers) so I decided to sew him some nighttime shorts. (another thing about the cloth pull ups is that he can really tell once he's peed in them.)  It took me quite a few tries to find a pattern that I liked.  But I've finally sewn him some nighttime shorts that work well and that he likes to wear.  I will try to take a picture of them soon.  I also decided that my cloth wipes were looking pretty sorry and so I sewed up a batch of some new ones. 

When I've not been sewing or packing I've been trying to do some gardening and harvesting.  I've made some rhubarb concentrate and canned it.  I canned 7 chickens and then boiled the bones and canned the broth.  I've been picking and freezing peas.  I've been trying to weed a little and water the garden.  Thankfully my Mom has taken on the task of my garden that is at her place.  What a relief that is to not have to go out there and tend it!  The rabbit hutch was in serious need of clean straw so I emptied that and laid out clean bedding.  I don't even want to tell you how wiped I was when that was done!

TR has been away for work which has been quite difficult in some ways and easier than I thought it would be in others.  I think it really helps that it's summer time and we've been so busy during the days.  Benjamin is saying goodnight to him in the above picture :)

Cookies for breakfast is something that my kids (especially Kara and Ben) really enjoy!  They think they're getting something special but what they don't know is that these almond flour cookies are actually pretty healthy :)

With so much busyness going on Chloe actually fell asleep during quiet time!  Pretty much never happens unless she's sick.  I found her like this with the stereo right up to her ear :)

 

Chloe asked me if we could have a picnic outside and I just really wanted to say "no".  I was busy trying to box up some things and just didn't want to take the time for it.  But I said "yes" anyway and was so thankful that I did.  She set up the picnic area (not quite sure why she wanted it roped off) and we had a lovely lunch outside.  

 

I was feeling really stressed for a while that the baby would come and I would be unprepared.  So a couple weeks ago I took out all the newborn things and washed them and put them in the dresser.  Still not sure that I'm ready for the baby to come just yet (I still have so much to do!!!) but at least now I can relax that when the baby does come it will be clothed and swaddled in clean clothes and blankets :)

Taking a Break and Having Some Fun in the Park

This summer is becoming one of busyness and craziness and is fast becoming overwhelming.  We have sold our house and hope to buy an acreage.  If everything works out we will be gaining possession of it as early as next week.  It needs a lot of work before we can move in.  It hasn't been lived in for years and does not even have insulation or walls where the bedrooms are supposed to be.  It has no water supply and the sewer system looks questionable.  Thankfully TR is planning on taking some time off to work on it and get it liveable before we have to move out of this place.  We're also looking forward to the help of his Dad and brother who will be coming up.  In the midst of all this there is my garden.  There is packing this house.  There is having a baby. 

There is also my 3 children who love to go to the park.

And so, despite my growing list of to-do, we headed out early one morning and walked/biked to the library and visited the park.  

 We made some great memories.  Kara learned how to independently "do it myself!" both up and down the slide :)

Chloe had a blast showing me all the tricks she could do :)

Ben learned lots of neat tricks too :)

We ate mango with our fingers 'cause Mom forgot the forks.  (I just have to say that I could not stomach the thought - remember they were just playing with sand!  But to them it was just exciting!) 

And we enjoyed a leisurely walk/bike back home.  

What you don't see is the messy house and my list completely unchecked when we got back home.  But it was worth it.  I am hoping that in between all the chaos and busyness of this summer we will have still made lots of great memories and enjoyed spending time together in the great outdoors.  Because like anyone who lives here knows - summer goes by so quickly.

Tomatoes and a Picture

About a month and a half ago I splurged and bought a flowering tomato plant from the greenhouse. I'd started all the rest of my tomato plants from seed myself, but they were nowhere near as big. And I was craving tomatoes. Big time. And now I am finally reaping the rewards!

Don't they look amazing?!?!  They taste amazing too :) 

I have to admit that I ate more than my fair share and was not feeling sorry in the least that my kids didn't want to eat any.  Maybe once there are so many that I can't keep up I will consider forcing them to try some - but for now I am very okay with it.  This sandwich has mayo, fresh basil that I started from seed and the tomatoes, and is all sitting on a homemade spelt bun.  Yum!!

35 Weeks

Kara wanted to be in the picture too :)

Feels so Close!!

It feels like the days are just melting away.  It has been very hot here lately - but that's not what I mean.  The day we get to meet our baby is coming so quickly!

Life has become very busy and while I knew this summer would be busy, I had no idea that it would be like this.  We have sold our house in town and are in the process of buying an acreage in the nearby country.  Thankfully we have 2 months before we need to move out of our house.  The busy part is that the place we're in the process of buying needs a lot of work.  We're really hoping to have the acreage house ready so we can just move from here to there.  By the time we move our baby will be 2-3 weeks old!  Yikes!  I'm really hoping to have as much packed up as possible before he/she arrives.  So on top of gardening and keeping up with regular housework/chores I am packing. 

I've started by going through all the clothes in my storage room.  I've also been getting Baby's clothes out and setting them aside.  *sigh*  I can hardly wait to meet him/her!!