Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 1-Why I’m Taking the Challenge?

Can I be honest? I'm so scared that I can't even pad fold my kids diapers right now. I even posted my declaration of  what some might call insanity on my Facebook page. I've had a few friends ask me "Why are you doing that?" Well, here's why. I want to show that cloth diapering  is not what everyone thinks it is. Excuse me if my grammar may not be up to par but you get my drift.

Right now, as I type this entry there are women and men across the globe that are forsaking their modern technology for the basic of the basic. We are taking the Dirty Diaper Laundry 2nd Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2012 to bring awareness that you can cloth diaper your children for less than it would be for  disposable diapers.

We started using cloth diapers once we found out that we were expecting our third child! My husband and I  realized that we would have 3 in diapers! So we did our research and we started with the hybrids, then we switched to pockets and now we are using mostly flats and fitted diapers.

Gotta love the smell of spring!

I believe that this challenge will make alot impact because everyone is or has gone through that moment of "do we have enough diapers til payday?" Well, by using flat diapers and waterproof covers that thought goes out the window! Stay tuned as I will post a link to my YouTube vlog about our first day!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 2-What Supplies I am Using?

Today is day two of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and it's time to talk about the supplies. Right now I have few dozen flats, receiving blankets, 3 flour sack towels, covers, wipes, a bucket and lid from home depot, a plunger, and a drying rack. Today has been, well "crappy". Yesterday was a cake walk and I was able to wash the diapers and snap a cute picture to post on my blog. Today is a different story. But I'm not here to rant about my day, I'm here to talk about my "ammo". :) 

Flats: A flat diaper is basis of cloth diapers. It is a thin fabric, whether birdseye cotton or terry it is very absorbent and versatile. I am using a Diaper Rite Flat diaper purchased from a local diaper store. Another alternative is to use a receiving blanket. These are easy to come by as we all receive a TON of them at baby showers. If you are in a bind and you run out of diapers you can always find flour sack towels at Target.

Covers: This is what keeps your little ones cute outfit from becoming a disaster. I have a variety of covers to use for the challenge. Each meets the 

needs of my three children. 

Wipes: I am using Thirsties fab wipes and so far they are staying soft after line drying them. ;) 

Bucket/Plunger/Lid=Campstyle Washer: For under $10 I was able to make my own washer! Here is how I made it. :)

Drying Rack: Depending on how many diapers and covers you have in your load, you may be able to get by with one. Now me...I might have to get one (or two) more.... Let's see how tomorrow goes. 

Naptime....why do I even bother!

  So, I have not been able to post anything do to lack of time. It seems like that is something that I have an abundance of that.... Lately I have noticed that my little ones have decided that naps are so last year and that they want to stay awake, even when they are acting a straight fool!! I love them with all my heart but why is it that naps seem like they are from the devil?!
  Having twins and a 5 month old is different since they are on different schedules. The only thing is they never stick to a consistent one. Or is it they are consistent at being inconsistent? You get the point. Mommy is not in the loop when it comes to how naps should go.
  I usually have this scenario happen... Baby is asleep and twins are fighting sleep, or one twin is asleep and baby is asleep, or All of them are asleep!!Now this is a miracle from GOD!

Tonight I finally did it......

Tonight I finally, truly, embraced babywearing. At first I did it to make it easier to get around with twin toddlers and a newborn. Now I understand how it strengthens the bond between mother and child. I'm still learning. As I type this post, my dear daughter sleeps quietly close to me and I cherish this moment. That is all.♥

Took a break....now I'm back!

Ok, so the past couple of weeks have been a little hectic and let's just say I'm diving head first into this instead of pinky toe first.... I've been working on a schedule on when I will post and so on. So far I have been working on potty training (EPIC FAIL), organizing the house (SUCCESS), exercising, and catching up on a few things. I have been uploading a few videos to my YouTube channel!! I figured out how to quickly upload them with Windows Movie Maker. Anyway, stay tuned.....

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King....

 Today marks a holiday that most students look forward to for an extra day off but do we really take the time to what it cost to get this holiday. So many people have died for us to have the freedom that we take for granted each day. Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the few pioneers in the civil rights movement to break through the strongholds of what was thought to be modern day thinking in the south years ago. I am very thankful for those who have gone before us so that we can sit in a restaurant with our spouse of another color and not have our children harassed because they don't "match". You see this also marks another milestone in my life because last year to the day my son took his first steps. Now as I type he is running through out the house and terrorizing his siblings :). I look at my family and I thank God so much for what he has done. You see, my husband is white and I am black. We have a set of twins that well....one is white and one is black. Ever since they were born I was afraid that they would be treated differently because of the "color of their skin". Yet their character speaks louder than the pigmentation that is their mirror reflection. I love them! I love the way they look at each other as brother and sister and nothing else. As adults can we do the same?

 So my journey begins.... I started a YouTube channel at first to document my natural hair journey, then I started to branch out to different areas. From natural hair to cloth diapering to twins to you name it. This is just a way for me to be creative and share my experiences with others. There will be ups and downs but I know that this is something that will be rewarding. So there you have it. My first blog post! Vlogging and blogging and randomness!! Gotta love it. More videos to come!

 BTW....The thumbnail that I ended up with for the video looks like my daughter is taller than me...lol