sooooooo ... I got that bumGenius order

I am so hooked. Addicted. Obsessed. I'm even trying to get others sucked in. (How is that working out for you, j?)

Cloth diapering is a disease, ladies! RUN AWAY!

The bumGenius order arrived. Oliver's already-too-cute-for-words bum is now sheathed in the softest, coziest fabric out there. But how does it look, you ask? Let me quote Jo for you here:

"That is the cutest thing ever! It's like ... like ... the Hanna Andersson of diapers!"

Note to readers: Hanna Andersson underwear is the gold standard in my household. We discovered it when Atticus was 3 and undergoing SID therapy. The genius behind Hanna unders is that there are no tags, and the stitching is absolutely flat. This is a big bonus for SID kids. Now, all three big kids swear by the stuff. I like it, too: the cuts are perfect, the fabric is like butter, the things hardly show any wear, and they fit my kids for years, not just seasons. Not to mention the fact, of course, that they are cute. That's a definite plus.

Anyhow, back to the smaller bottoms in my house ....

The bumGenius is well worth the money. I bought six of the One-Size pockets (the 3.0s). The inserts are plush but not bulky, and the covers are such a nice, touchable fabric. The lining, which sits next to the baby's skin, is positively heavenly. BumGenius are pricier than the pre-folds and bummis, no doubt. Cost alone is enough to ensure that I will not be making these little wonders the mainstay of Oliver's cloth diapering wardrobe. No--I think that the pre-folds are clearly the workhorse of cd'ing. Since I have a "work horse" kind of budget, that's where the bulk of my investment will be. But, if money were no option ... or I knew for certain that another baby or two were in my future ... yeah ... I'd buy more bumGenius.

UPDATE on hearing

Oliver's hearing was postponed (continued) yesterday due to a full calendar. Dh was present for the better part of the day and was able to meet and greet with the new social worker. He also observed Bio Mom in action. He was not, unfortunately, impressed.

The new permanency hearing is June 25. Please continue to pray!

Permanency Hearing

Oliver has a permanency hearing scheduled for today at 1 p.m., PST. Prayers for the judge's wisdom greatly appreciated.

Permanency hearing means:
 (1) The hearing required by section 475(5)(C) of the Act to
determine the permanency plan for a child in foster care. Within this
context, the court (including a Tribal court) or administrative body
determines whether and, if applicable, when the child will be:

 (i) Returned to the parent;

 (ii) Placed for adoption, with the State filing a petition for
 termination of parental rights;

  (iii) Referred for legal guardianship;

 (iv) Placed permanently with a fit and willing relative; or

 (v) Placed in another planned permanent living arrangement, but only
in cases where the State agency has documented to the State court a
compelling reason for determining that it would not be in the best
interests of the child to follow one of the four specified options
above.

Cloth, day #1

Thus far, no leaks. No blowouts. Oliver napped in a single Chinese pre-fold with a Bummi cover and didn't require any change of clothing other than the diaper itself.

So far, I'm satisfied.

You never know what you'll try

It only took four children to get me to try cloth diapers. I realize that a few great minds jump on the cloth train with their first wee one, but alas, I am not quite as intelligent as some folks seem to think I am. I am, after all, the very same person who sent approximately $6,000 directly to the landfill in the process of diapering babies #1, 2 and 3. This is only an estimate, of course. I'll never know how many diapers I used in each child's pre-potty career. My children were all early trainers (22 mos., 23 mos. and 19 mos., respectively), thankfully. Otherwise, that number would have been much, much higher.

I'm not sure exactly how committed to this whole cloth diapering thing I am. I like the idea behind it; we'll see if it holds its romance when I'm swishing one of Oliver's squishy diapers in the toilet. That, I'm sure, will be the true test. After all, better for the baby, saving money and helping out the planet are one thing. Overcoming laziness and my gag reflex are another thing altogether.
To get us started on the journey to a greener bum for Oliver, I ordered the Try It Kit from Cotton Babies. For a little more than the price of a case of disposables, I got enough supplies to get me through a day. That seems sound enough to me, financially speaking. But here's the rub--the secret thing that no one tells you:

Cloth diapering is one of the cutest things ever. Yes, it's true. I have been smitten by the adorable options that I can now wrap around Oliver's already adorable little bottom. So what's the financial problem behind this? Cloth diapering can be one expensive little habit.

I've figured this out already, and I am only in possession of a day's worth of diapers. Granted, two of those diapering items are too cute for words:



See? I told you they were cute!

I'm waiting on my bumGenius order, which I am absolutely not going to tell you about until it arrives. Why? Because I am far too excited over a delivery of diapers, for goodness sakes. I can only embarrass myself so much in one post.

Off to dry and fold ...

Yes, I AM trying to destroy the world, thankyouverymuch

A word to the wise:

Do not pull up in front of this:


Driving this:


With four of these:



Unless you want to be looked at like this:



Why, oh why, do I keep falling into the delightfully-lit trap that is Whole Foods? Why have I not learned my lesson? I am not the type of crunchy that they prefer. This is obvious. My car is too big. My family is too big. My butt is too big. And I am not even a member of the local Free Tibet group! How dare I peruse their supply of Robeez? How presumptuous, to oogle their house brands on snack items! I should just shuffle myself to Fred Meyer and grab a bag of the nastiest sugar-laden cereal I can find and gorge myself. Or better yet, I should get myself to a re-education camp post-haste. Because surely, no one that looks like me and dresses like me and lives like me can possibly be interested in organic foods. That's the exclusive domain of the rich and childless.

Priceless

Dinner cost a little over $100. Yup--that's $50 less than our grocery budget for two entire weeks. The dessert and wine tasting flight on the cozy patio of the lounge was another $40. Add in the babysitter and the gas, and you're looking at a darn pricey evening.

I wore my most fab-u-lous, floaty skirt and a black stretch t that makes me look almost skinny. Hubby got way gussied up in his pin stripe button-down and nicest work pants. We looked dashing and felt like royalty.

The food was beyond tasty. Not only did someone else cook it ... they included mushrooms! Real mushrooms--Enokitake, Nameko, Chanterelle .. not a white button among them! There were mushrooms in the appetizer, mushrooms in the salad, mushrooms in my entree. It was glorious. A true sign of grown-up food is, in my book, the inclusion of mushrooms.

Did I mention chocolate creme bruleé? German chocolate cake? Yummmmm...

A truly memorable evening!