Cloth Diapers

Mommy

Mommy used disposable diapers on Hannah but we moved to cloth diapers with Daniel.  We started out with some prefolds and then moved to some fancy fitted diapers with snaps.  The fitted diapers were expensive but we thought it would be worth it as there were no pins involved and they were very easy to use.

When Mommy was pregnant with Joshua, we pulled out all our cloth diapers in preparation for getting ready for the baby.  Mommy's heart sank when I realized that every last one of the expensive fitted diapers were unusable.  The elastic had deteriorated and the diapers had to be thrown away.  We spent at least as much on those fancy diapers as we would have on disposables.

We purchased more diaper pins and prefolds.  We have used those on Joshua, Ezra, and Jonathan.  Now that's some savings!!  :)  On trips or when the baby has a bad diaper rash I will still use disposables but we have save so much money by using cloth diapers.

At some point we did realize that Ezra was not doing well with the cloth diapers as he continued to get a rash that we couldn't get rid of.  We moved him to disposables and he was fine.  I was never able to pinpoint what was causing the issue.  If that happened now, I think I would investigate further to see if I could find out what the problem was.  I was strip the diapers and maybe try a different detergent.

Anyway you can save money will be a huge blessing for you family.  Sometimes there will be a little extra work involved but work never hurt anyone!  :)
Love Always,
Mommy

Baby Food Hints

Mommy

Commercial baby food is incredibly expensive and frequently includes additives that are not healthy for a baby.

Babies at least 6 months old can start with mashed ripe banana, avocado, egg yolk (not the whites), or applesauce.  When babies are 10 months old you can start them on raw cow's milk and yogurt.

You can prepare the baby food in bigger batches and then freeze it in ice cubes trays.  Pop the cubes out and store them in labeled ziplock bags in the freezer.  Put them into the refrigerator to defrost.

Babies are such a blessing and a joy!  It is our prayer that the Lord will bless you with many babies in your family!  Take a good hard look at what the "norm" is for raising babies and ask yourself if what is typically done really makes sense.  The Lord will give you wisdom as seek Him for how to raise your babies and children for His glory!
Love Always,
Mommy

Chia Seed Gel

Cooking God's Way

Mix 1 part seed to 9 parts water. Allow to stand 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk again, and allow to stand about 10 minutes more. A gel should have formed. Store in the fridge where it will keep for 2 weeks.

The gel will add nutrients to your food, without changing/diluting the taste of your food. Add a couple teaspoons of the gel to your yogurt in the morning, which makes it tapioca pudding-like. Or make a Power Smoothie by adding a Tablespoon to your favorite Shake/Smoothie recipe.

Mommy will make this and add it to our smoothies.  It is a great way to boost the nutritional value without effecting the taste.  Chia is very high in iron and Mommy consumes a lot of chia seed gel when she is pregnant.  

Love Always,

Mommy 

Blue Ribbon Baby Diet

Dr. Tom Brewer

Every day of the week, you and your baby must have:

1. One quart (4 cups) of milk. Any kind will do: whole milk, low fat, skim, powdered, or buttermilk. If you do not like milk, you can substitute one cup of yogurt for each cup of milk.
2. Two eggs.
3. One or two servings of fish, shellfish, chicken or turkey, lean beef, veal, lamb, pork, liver or kidney. Alternative combinations include:
   • Rice with beans, cheese, sesame, milk
   • Cornmeal with beans, cheese, tofu, milk.
   • Beans with rice, bulgur, cornmeal, wheat noodles sesame seeds, milk.
   • Peanuts with: sunflower seeds, milk.
   • Whole wheat bread or noodles with: beans, cheese, peanut butter, milk, tofu.
   For each serving of meat, you can substitute these quantities of cheese:

   Brick	4 oz.		Longhorn	3 oz.
   Camembert	6 oz.		Muenster	4 oz.
   Cheddar	3 oz.		Monterey Jack	4 oz.
   Cottage	6 oz.		Swiss	3 oz.

4. One or two servings of fresh, green, leafy vegetables: mustard, beet, collard, dandelion or turnip greens, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, kale, Swiss chard.
5. Five servings of whole grain breads, rolls, cereals or pancakes: wheatena, 100% bran flakes, granola, shredded wheat, wheat germ, oatmeal, buckwheat or whole wheat pancakes, corn bread, corn tortillas, corn or bran or whole wheat muffins, waffles, brown rice.
6. Two choices from: a whole potato (any style), large green pepper, grapefruit, lemon, lime, papaya, tomato (one piece of fruit, or one large glass of juice).
7. Three pats of butter.

Also include in your diet, in addition to the above (i.e., don’t count one food in two categories):

1. A yellow- or orange-colored vegetable or fruit five times a week.
2. Liver once a week, if you like it.
3. Table salt: SALT YOUR FOOD TO TASTE
4. Water: Drink to thirst.

It is not healthy for you and your unborn baby to go even 24 hours without good food!

This diet came across the MOMYS board when I was early in my pregnancy with Joshua.  I have loosely followed this with each pregnancy since then.  I find the recommendations very freeing!  I don't think I ever ate the diet perfectly as it seemed like a lot of food but I used it as a guideline for making choices of what to eat.  I do try to eat milk, cheese, and at least one egg on most days when I am pregnant.  The protein really helped Mommy not feel sick.

Love Always,

Mommy

Baby Bottom Butter (Diaper Rash Soother)

3 oz. palm shortening
1 oz. coconut oil
1 oz. zinc oxide, sifted

Melt the oils over med. low heat.  Cool until solid.  Use a stick blender and beat until fluffy.  Beat in sifted zinc oxide powder.

This makes a baby butter that is 20% zinc oxide by weight.

It never occurred to me that I could make a diaper rash cream until I ordered some from Renee at MadeOn Hard Lotion.  I found a recipe and changed it up to use ingredients I am familiar with using.  I LOVE this diaper cream.  It has worked so well on Jonathan.  This is great stuff!  I have so much fun finding new things to make for our family that don't contain a bunch of ingredients that are bad for us.  I encourage you children to do the same for your families.
Love Always,
Mommy