Saturday, June 28, 2008

*EDITED* Gdiapers-revisited and baby food...

**EDITED**
Remember back in the day when I did this post about how we are going to use G diapers? Well, I have had lots and lots o' people asking how it is going and if it all worked out or not, so I am going to take a little break from the Ethiopia trip posts to update you on it all.
We love them!
The pics below are with Malak wearing them and I am pretty sure he loves them as well. He actualy told me that one day.


"Hey babe, You like what you see?"

Most people use G Diapers with their flushable inserts- that is the way they sell them and I have heard from many people that they are awsome and they love them. Infact, my great blogging buddy Jessi is using them on her sweet little twinies and they seem to be working well. (go to her blog and check out her adorable babes) Ok. So that is how most people use the G's...I am not. I made my own cloth inserts (made of 2 layers of microfiber, and 2 layers of organic hemp). It is just a strip that instead of flushing, I toss in the washer and it has been amazingly easy! (that is a pic of the insert below)

I place the insert into the G cover and then put it on Malak and velcro it shut like a regular disposable diaper. The only difference is that they fasten in the back- which I like because they are away from babies reach...I love nothing better than when babies open up their own diaper and find treasures inside! Eeks.

Since I decided that you guys didn't think I am weird enough, I also decided to also use cloth wipes. Are you barfing right now? In the end it ended up being way easier because I just cut 8X8 squares of flannel and sewed them so that they are double layered. I just toss them in the diaper pail with the diapers so it is no extra work. It would actualy have been more work if I would have done disposable wipes because I would have had to buy another diaper pail or garbage can just for the little wipes and that didn't seem to make much sense. I also find that the wipes are so thick, I never need to use more than one, so it really doesn't add more to the wash. Once a week I make a wipe solution that consists of water, aloe vera and tea tree oil. It only takes me about 11 seconds to make that and dump it on a tuperware full of wipes. (below is a pic of the wipes)

And to top off my granola dorkiness...I started making Malak's baby food. I am just doing it durring one of his naps, maybe once a week or so and so far I am loving that as well. It makes me feel great to know that I am only putting whole, natural foods in my sweet baby. This week we made a batch of peas, green beans, sweet potatos, carrots, squash and pumpkin. I just do it all in one day and throw them in the freezer. Mal seems to like it just as well as the jared baby food, so I am going to go with it. Don't they look bright and lovely?? Yes, I think they do. :)

"Do I have something on my face?"

As a disclaimer: I realize that I am the minority here. I realize that most of you probably think I am crazy, but I hope we can still be friends. Do you still like me?? I hope I can still be cool and hang out with the cool kids...

**This may be a down side to using cloth diapers- A few days ago I was changing a very dirty diaper and to get it out of the way I set it on the floor for a minute. In that brief minute, my sweet and every hungry dog Violet came and ate the entire poop log out of the diaper. She not only ate the log she licked the whole thing clean. Clean as a whistle. I almost threw up and now I am scared of her and her poop breath. What do you do with a dog that has the taste for human poop??!



62 comments:

Holli said...

I THINK IT IS GREAT AMAZING AND SO GREEN!!!! but the only reason I don't like it is that I am now blaming the wipes, diapers and food for your lack of post:)!

A Team said...

I STILL LIKE YOU :-)

haha... just kidding.. .I mean, not kidding about liking you... but i think it's great to do what you are doing!
I think I could do it ... I just never have made the plunge on diapers.. trying to be green in other areas of my life.

can't wait to meet you at the UNION

amy-o said...

Yeah - thanks for the specifics...I am interested in the G's for baby #2 (sorry to say I didn't go that route with Katie!) so I will have to find out more when we get a closer to having a little one come our way. I did, however, make all of Katie's baby food and loved doing it...It was very easy and I am here to tell you that she could definitely tell the difference...She refused any Gerber food (like if we were travelling) but would tolerate the organic stuff if she had to. Anyway, great seeing you and Malak this morning!

rebecca marie said...

good for you!!! i NEVER used store bought wipes on my kids, unless it was an emergency. i just used washables! LOVED them. and no diaper rash!

now... have you considered washable pads for you?

i've been using mine for almost seven years now and they are still in FANTASTIC condition. since you are crafty, you could just google up a pattern and save money by making your own! and then, just think of how much bleach you won't be putting next to your lady bits.

chemical free baby butts and chemical free mammas!!!

Shala said...

Tara,

Thanks for all these tips. I wanted to look into something like this, but didn't know where to start. Thanks a bunch for your post.

Shala

amy-o said...

Ok, I looked at my comment and realized it sounded like I was saying Katie only tolerated the homemade food...I meant she tolerated organic jarred food...She loved all the homemade stuff...Anyway, just wanted to clarify!

Jesi Q said...

I love it! I'd still love to go ALL the way cloth rather than doing flushables... but am afraid of the poopy messes. Would LOVE to hear how that is with the cloth... unless he's rock solid, do you rinse the guck off in the toilet or somewhere BEFORE washing them... I'd LOVE to know... and get more instructions on the liners if it wasn't too bad... the twinies would LOVE to be even greener! :-) I make their baby food (mostly - not making the cereals), but with two wee-bots I know anything we can do is a big help to Mama Earth! :-D

Blog Shmog said...

yay! a kindred spirit i think! we made most of the girls' baby food when they were little too.
we also were using g-diapers for a while (with cloth and disposible inserts) but didn't have the greatest luck. I may have to sew my own inserts. thanks for the tips.
joy

obligato said...

okay i am totally not able to do the diaper thing but the other day and this is sooooooo not like me i decided to make my own baby food. as a matter of fact i just threw it out b/c it didnt work! how do u do it? i bought frozen carrots and put them in a chopper with water, they had no taste and were gross. then i tasted the gerber and the carrots were delicious! help! tell me what you do! I am very interested....

Amanda said...

Girl, you have just inspired me!! So much, that I am glad that Flor is already 3 1/2 years old, so I don't have to worry about this right now!! HAHA!! I think you're just awesome!!

mama becca said...

Darn it! I wish you lived next door to me! I need help in this area. I have your spirit but my "already overwhelmed with lots of kids and no time to breath" mentality. I do buy organic baby food though from target :). I just wish you were hear to help me with my going green desires. Maybe with the next baby my oldest will be old enough to help me?
I should be asking YOU if you'll still be friends with ME!
Great job Tara!!!
love
becca

Renee said...

I think you are totally awesome and we haven't even met yet! I totally need to talk to you more about the diaper inserts. I'm planning on using G diapers for Brady and need to get the scoop on the inserts you created. Can't wait to see you in a few short weeks!
Renee

Lauren said...

I think that's awesome. Thank you for sharing your granola lady techniques. God Bless!

Erica said...

ROFLMBO!!!!!!!!!!

Okay so I love you. I just wasn't blogging when everyone was making fun of me for using cloth diapers, making cloth wipes, and mashin my own baby food. I think its SUPER! Way better food for Malak and WAY GREEN on the dipes and wipes!

They diapers they make now though are SOOOOOOOOO much cuter then the ones I used back in the day. (and I thought they were cute then!)

Unknown said...

Go Tara! You're awesome.

And can I nominate the second picture for Cutest Baby Picture Ever? The look on his face is priceless!

Sarah and Tim said...

We were going to do a cloth diaper service, but now I need to look into these G's.... had never heard of them. VERY cool. How often do you wash the covers?

I love that you're making baby food. That's a goal of mine, too, but we'll see how that goes.

Lastly, your dog. That's my biggest fear, as we have two. Within minutes of getting home from my baby shower a few weeks ago my little dog chewed up two disposable diapers!!!!

Anonymous said...

Never posted here...but have followed along with your journey. Congratulations on your beautiful son.

About the doggie story, yours isn't the only one. We actually had one of our dogs pull a standard disposable diaper out of the trash, rip it open (thus making a mess with diaper pieces) and eating that which is best left unsaid. Gross. You'd think with a nose like that there would be no appeal.
Julie

Amy said...

dear granola friend...
I don't think you are as much in the minority as you might think! There are a lot of baby food making, cloth diaper using, wipe making others out there! I am personally not one of them, but love that you are!

Malak is changing! I have only been away from his sweet face for 2 weeks and I can tell he has changed already. Love the pics of him in his cute g diapers!

Cloverland Farm said...

hi! i've been reading your blog for a while. congrats on your new baby! we are also adopting from ET...have about 7 more mos to go in the wait...anyway, I am so excited to read about the g-diaper inserts you've made...i think i'll do the same...any special tricks i need to know as far as fabric choice or sewing? and i just bought a book called mommy made and daddy too...all about making your own baby food. rockin!

coffeemom said...

Tara, you are the coolest. Funny and smart too! I had a bunch of the G diapers and thought they would be grand, but now I am thinking they are ok...and am using them w/ cloth liners too! It's better,easier and I like them better. I will like the whole cloth system EVEN better once Gabe is eating much more solids...and thus will help the mess factor in the cloth diaper, if you get my drift. But oh man, making your own....and the wipes too...very inspiring, I might have to try that once i get home! Am also using bum genius and fuzzi bunz too and plain old chinese prefolds w/ bummies covers. All good, easy cute and a little green!

Jen said...

Early process of adopting from Ethiopia. I have a 16, 13, and 9 year old. I love the diapers. I will def look into using them. You are great. I use to make my own food and then put them into an ice cube tray-freeze it and then pop them out and store them in baggies. That way I could tell how much my kids were eating. As they started getting older, I would keep making the veggies and throw them into whatever I was making for added nutrition. I can hardly wait to be back in that stage :)
Jennifer
http://morganleapoffaith.blogspot.com/

Julie said...

I don't think you're crazy at all - I think it's great! I just ordered a bunch of cloth diapers/wipes myself for our son and am excited to begin using them.

Amber said...

Thanks for sharing. I was so curious. How do you find the time to do all that? Very impressive!

LISA said...

I think you are very likeable Tara!
It's your DOG I want to stay away from!!!!!LOL!

rebecca marie said...

it's just a dog thing! they eat ANY poop. it has to do with keeping their dens clean. cat poop, people poop, other dog poop. if it didn't come out of their butt originally, they'll make sure it cycles through there eventually!

arwen said...

i know that when they eat their OWN poo, if you put pineapple chunks in with their food, they'll stop. I guess pineapple mixed with dog food tastes like poo and they like that.
I don't know if it works for people dook though.

gross.
I just threw up in my mouth and... ewe.

Jess said...

A. Fabulous pictures...I think they are just what you dreamed they should be.
B. To bad we forgot to take them of Mal and Indi together!
C.I was there when Violet got the taste for poop and I have to say...She has been on the prowl ever since! Seriously...every time we turned around there was violet stalking one of the babies just waiting for them to get changed...waiting for her change to eat a log.

Gross violet...gross.

Jesi Q said...

Ewww... bummer about the poop log eating. Lucky for US our dogs have only eaten each other's poop so far... so what does one do about THAT?! ;-) WHY must dogs eat POOP at all?!

Anonymous said...

This is Ben's sister Michelle. I think it's great what your doing. I made homemade baby food with our 3rd and it was wonderful. We saved about $60 a month. I would freeze my in ice cube trays and get out a few cubes when he was ready to eat.

mama becca said...

Looooove the edit!
Pete dropped his pants in the backyard and pooped, and zoe (our dog) ran to it before I could get there and ate it. I, too, almost barfed. Don't be ashamed. It's one of the grossest things you'll ever see.

Nicholas said...

Great pics., great post! Not my thing, but we're getting a three year old anyway! :)

Good for you! If it makes you feel good, DO IT and don't stop!

You're giving Malak the purest food possible - that's commendable at the very least! Yay mom! Love that effort! Mommyhood!

Misty said...

Ok, I got your blog from a friend of mine, because we are thinking about adopting from Ethiopia. I just wanted to tell you that your blog is great. It had me laughing out loud tonight! Thanks for your blog and all the updates. I have really enjoyed hearing about adopting from your end of things!

Chelan said...

Well you're totally weird, and we can't be friends anymore... but not because of your green-ness--it's because you think your dog is the ultimate grosser-outer. She's not...

Have you ever had your dog eat poop, then throw it up, and then return to the vomited poop to consume it AGAIN!?!?

My dog wins. And if you can acknowledge this, we'll remain friends. ;)

los cazadores said...

Holy extreme fantasticness! Can we swap tidbits? You teach me how to do that insert and baby food making stuff (just pureé?) and Craig can give you tidbits on the water catcher nozzle? That would be most decent. (See I'm not asking for freebies!)

:)

Cindy

C said...

I myself plan on using G diappers they carry them here in a store. But only a saml variety, like 1 style more to advertise than anything! But we love them, we(I) am going to be making our baby food also, so your not that weard or I am just as weard how ever you want to look at it and I can beat you we don't eat any meat or dairy....We found out last summer that my husband was allergic to dairy... and we gave up meat a while back (we eat fish)... I tried to do dairy and not have my husband eat it but it didn't work...everything has dairy so it seemed but I have found many alternatives!!! I have a blog about it http://newveganlife.blogspot.com/
but I was wondering I have looked into about 3 different ways to make your own baby food could you email me and tell me how you did it.
gummie629@hotmail.com
thanks,
Christin

Christie said...

Okay, I commented on this post and now it's gone. Hmm...

Anyhow, I just said yay granola! I love being in the minority and having a friend there with me. I'm excited for Malak to be a little granola babe too.

Unknown said...

And they are SO stink'n cute (pun intended). We use prefolds and I just can't wait to snap away when Noah comes home! THere is nothing better (when it comes to diapers) than a little cloth covered bum.

Susie said...

I think it's awesome! I wish I were crunchier--maybe I'll work on that! We're near OKC and just brought home our baby girl last month from GT. Enjoy your adorable baby boy--he's gonna be a ladies man for sure!

Jennifer said...

Yay!!! I am afraid I can't keep up with the wipes and the washable inserts. I hate poop, so that makes me nervous, but I so want to. Did you use the flushables at all?
I plan to make our own food as well.
As for your dog- diaper contents eating is a common past time for doggies. Sad, sick...but true!

Holli said...

***our dog loved the diaper as well as the poop.... and I think my husbands breath stinks:)!

Jocelyn said...

HEE HEE...about the dog...there is nothing you can do about it, it is their way (Peanut is my litter box scooper...I know, yuck...but hey, at least I don't have to do it)!!

Oh...and I have to mention that Malak gets cuter each day (like you didn't know that)!!

Stacie said...

I still like you a lot. And I am in awe of you. You are very cool in my book and I want to be just like you. (Except I can not sew)

Your dog story made me laugh so hard.

~Laura~ said...

I totally don't think you're crazy. I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes. I also make my own baby food! you're my kinda girl!

~Laura~ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
~Laura~ said...

BTW~ Tell me how you're making your baby food. You're is alot better looking than mine. :) I haven't made any in years but should be back in business soon. :)

Sparkz said...

Hey! I was checking out the OC alumni page and found your info on there. I have read your blog several times so when I saw your post on the OC site I was shocked. Small world! My husband and I both went there!

Anyway I love the ideas. I saw when you first posted about the diapers and thought you WERE crazy but this is sounding better w/each post! I am not exactly sure how to make the stips to put in the diapers but would love tips on where to buy the hemp, and whats the best way to do it (just sew the himp in the middle and its good to go?). I was just going to get throw away diapers but this looks like a great idea. I would also appreciate ideas on if you just put the cloths in the wash or if you do something else w/them before you wash them (ie: flush them in the toilet first)! I know your busy with Malak but if you get a chance let me know! chelseandavid@hotmail.com

emily said...

Oh sister, I just don't know if I can do it. I think it is amazing that you are and I think they look awfully cute---keep telling me how great it is and just maybe I will be swayed. :)

Hannah said...

I am not overly "green" but I think what you are doing is cool. It sounds so healthy for your baby. I am glad it is working out for you. I may even look at them myself.

Don't worry about the dog, it was a step up from licking his own butt. :)

Hannah

Sam said...

DARN IT VIOLET! that is so nasty....

MajesticSix said...

Eric & Tara, I'm so glad I got to finally meet you in person. Ever since we met you at the airport waiting on Shiloh, I knew I liked both of you. Now that we are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia, I'm sure I'll probably be asking a lot of questions. I love reading your blog and watching lil Malak grow. He's SO adorable. Thanks for letting me hold him at church last Sunday. And Eric, tell your dad for me, I have the effect on children - just means I'm special :)

Happy 4th!

Shala said...

Tara,

What size G-Diaper did you start Malak with?

Shala

Sara said...

Thanks for your input on cloth diapers and wipes! Can you believe that I'm seriously considering going green for baby #4? I guess better late than never!

Marcia said...

I love your blog! We use fuzzi bunz at our house and I LOVE them. If I'd have known how easy they were, I'd have used them for my first two!

Heather W. said...

Okay your post just made me laugh SO HARD!!!!!! i am amazed and perplexed at the same time by people who are able to be so good and green. I would love to change my evil ways but I am part of american gluttony and need a good teacher. I will keep reading and learning :))))

mama becca said...

Okay. It's time. I need more Malak stories!!!
Hope you all are well!!!
love
becca

Jennifer said...

The hubby and I are just at the beginning stages of adopting from Ethiopia! We are interested in the gDiapers, but this is the first time I have heard about making your own inserts with Cloth--I would love more specifics on it so I could try to come up with my own!
OH, and you mentioned your own wipe solution that you've come up with--I would love the recipe for that as well!!!

-Samantha- said...

I'm glad you make the diaper inserts. Did you see the gel stuff inside the g-diapers? It is to make them more absorbent, but it is very scary. Anyway, you must have to rinse the poo diapers before you wash them, how is that? We are using a diaper service as we did with Marina, and we are very happy. I have to look into your wipes and wipe solution. Thanks for going so green. By the way, Celeste is now eating all that we eat, we just cut it very, very small because she's not one for chewing much. Gotta go, I smell poo!

Unknown said...

I don't think I have EVER seen so many comments on one post before!! SO FUN!!! I just posted about gdiapers today, and asked if peeps had used them, or liked them... Fun to read all the comments here! I'm a granola wanna be... I use flannel wipes for my 3 and 5 year olds as needed... and I'm thinking of going cloth for our 2 and 3 year olds that we are adopting from ET this MONTH!!! Our court date is 2 weeks from today, baby!! Woohoo!!!!
Anyway...thanks for the inspiration! Mal is SO stinkin' adorable... I can't stand it! Congrats!! :)

Corrie said...

Can I ask? You don't know me, but my brother and sister-in-law are adopting from Ethiopia. We are interested as well, so I've been surfing around blogs. Love it!

Anyway, we used G Diapers with pre-folds inside, but now that my boy is in a large, the pre-folds don't fit. Can I ask where you bought the microfiber and hemp to make your own inserts? If I made them myself, I could make it fit!

Tara said...

Yes, Corrie, I got the fabric at verybaby.com- please feel free to email me if you have any questions! daisytara@hotmail.com
Also, I just used microfiber towels from Target, for the microfiber part of the diapers. feel free to choose something organic or whatever, but it was cheap and easy for me to use that. :)

aubreyannie said...

you are so funny with your disclaimer!

we use cloth diapers..bum genius ones and i love them so much. i love that i'm not adding to the landfills and love that it's so much cheaper! plus, i just use washcloths instead of wipes. you are fancy and make yours from cute cloth, i just use plain old washcloths from the linen closet. haha. i do have disposable baby wipes for when i'm out and about but when i'm at home, no way.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tara! I've been following your blog for a while now, my husband and I are 10 months into our wait for our son from Ethiopia! We have some gdiapers, but I was wondering if you could give me the measurements you used for your cloth inserts, I'm going to be making some over Christmas break. Thanks in advance for the helpful tips!
Elisabeth
trueblond_athotmaildotcom