Cloth Diapers are Luxurious

Well, the expensive kind are anyway! :)

I am enjoying using the BumGenius variety on my 19-month old. I have wanted to switch from disposables for a l-o-n-g time, mostly because I hate adding to land-fills. The long-term savings should be helpful, too. So this switch has made me feel very satisfied.

I will likely continue to rely on paper diapers for outings and maybe nighttime, naps, babysitters.... But it's not very hard to deal with cloth, at least these easy pocket types. I especially love that I can use a special tool, which DH attached to the toilet, which sprays off nearly all the pooh! Makes wash time a cinch, and leaves no stains. :)

Here's a few photos that make me happy!

First Day of the Dipe!


Just going about my business. See my cute bum?


Classic Tushy Shot :)


I love my diapers!


Summery SAHM-kind-of sight (I don't use my clothesline all that much, actually ;-)

Great Neighbors are a Great Blessing!

I am continually reminded how good I have it here in my neighborhood. We moved here almost 8 years ago to live close to other families in our church. There have been some moves in and out among our church friends, but since we moved here there have been 7-9 families living within a mile of each other, usually much less than that. What's more, these families have a strong commitment to living out their Christian faith in practical, supportive ways. DH and I are probably the youngest couple, and we are the only ones still having children, so we feel like we give the least and benefit the most. I hope someday we can give back better.

Tonight I was home with just my 1yo while DH took the older children to the pool (well, our 9yo DD had gone to one of these friends' homes for a sleep-over already). The doorbell rang and I pulled my heavy, pregnant self to the door. What a pleasant surprise to find my neighbor-from-about-a-mile-away, MK, on my doorstep. She is a mother to five older children, the youngest is 12, and she has such a generous, kind nature, which is never more evident than when around an expectant woman. She visited for about an hour, during which time my family returned and enjoyed her company as well. We talked about birth experiences (of course), raising children in the internet age, her aging mother-in-law, her volunteer tutoring, and shifting our priorities through the stages of mothering.... It was such a mood-lifter. I was feeling a bit lonely this weekend, and actually cried this morning as my husband and children left for church without me. Her visit helped to put my end-of-pregnancy emotions into better perspective.

She is a back-up to my other neighbor for when I go into labor. I wish all Americans had the level of support among their neighbors that I enjoy. Of course, it is a challenge for many of us just to BE available as a good neighbor ourselves. I'm afraid we've all but lost the art of it--in the suburbs, anyway.

Today is Baby's Due Date

I am officially, exactly, unmistakably 40 weeks pregnant today....

I have never reached this milestone before. All my babies came early, except for my first, who was born ten minutes after midnight on his due date. I labored with him 24 hours, so it was a real question as to whether he'd be born the day before his due date. With this baby, there's little question--I am going overdue for the first time.

I have mixed feelings about that. My curious self is happy for this new "experience." I like to know I've experienced, even savored, much from the things I care about most. Now I'll have some idea of what it's like to pass that due date and be staring into the unknown. I do have one goal in sight, though. As much as I'd like to give birth sooner rather than later, it would be pretty cool to have the baby born in five days, on 8/8/08. :)

I am just now realizing that this pregnancy journey is coming to a close. I love being pregnant. I am fortunate that the morning sickness is never too bad, and that my health seems to bloom during these nine months. I feel more alive, more necessary, more feminine. I take frequent pleasure in baby's movements.

Despite the irritability that comes at this late stage, when it is difficult just to move across the room, and every night at bedtime brings uncertainty as to whether I'll be home the next day or in the birthing center, and everywhere you go people must question and comment on your pregnancy, usually while staring at your landmark of a belly... despite those things and other little annoyances, I do want to embrace these last moments with the mystery of pregnancy. We don't yet know the baby's gender, and are very eager to meet him or her, but as I wait, I can hopefully just enjoy this, not knowing if I will EVER be pregnant again.