One word....

GNATS!

They are already so bad this year!

Cloth Diapers

A fellow blogger, Jill from Jill on the Journey inquired about cloth diapering on my "Bo is 9 months old!" post, so I thought I'd do a little post about cloth diapering!

I do the easiest form of cloth diapering, I think. I have all one size, pocket diapers. They have snaps on the front to adjust  to the size of the baby. They claim to fit babies from 7-35 lbs! I did try one on Arabelle when I pulled them out for Bo and they still fit her. She was just over 2 at the time. I have mostly BumGenius diapers. They have updated their diaper since I bought them when Arabelle was a baby and now have velcro and snap options. Mine are all velcro. They are easier to put on than the snap, but Bo already knows how to take his diaper off, so he has to keep a onesie or shorts on at all times. :P I do have one Fuzzibunz that has snaps and I like it for older babies. They each come with a newborn sized insert and a regular sized insert. For overnight use, it's good to stuff the diaper with both inserts.

I started when Arabelle was about 4 months old. I did make a big investment, but they have more than paid for themselves. I use disposable diapers away from home, but lots of people take a wet bag and use them 100% of the time! I usually can stretch a big box of diapers ($20) 1.5-2 months.

Arabelle in her first cloth diaper (a BumGenius).

This cow print one has always been a favorite. It's a Happy Heinys one-size diaper.

They are pretty easy to wash! When you remove the diaper, you shake out the insert, so you have covers and inserts. Then you do a cold rinse, hot wash, and an extra rinse. You have to be sure to use cloth diaper approved detergent so you don't get a build up of detergent, with repels the urine and causes leaks. I like Rockin' Green cloth diaper detergent. Dry, stuff, and you're ready to go!

Yep, Bo wears pink diapers too. ;)

I bought all my diapers at Kelly's Closet. There is all the info you'll ever need about cloth diapers on their site. I have really enjoyed cloth diapering because it's SO easy and saves a bundle!

Pool time!

It has been HOT here, so we've been enjoying some pool time this week! I got Bo his own little pool yesterday because Arabelle is so wild in the pool and he loves it!

Here are a few pictures from earlier in the week.

Before all the splashing!

And, a cute video of Bo playing ball.

Grandma-pa

That's what Arabelle calls my Grandma and Grandpa...."Grandma-pa". I don't know when or why she started that, but I think it's pretty cute. :)

Grandma-pa came for a visit yesterday afternoon. They showed up with the usual....Grandma brought us a treat (derby pie!) and Arabelle a treat bag of animal crackers, raisins, fruit cup, & an apron! Grandpa brought each kid a roll of quarters. Arabelle loves putting her quarters in her piggy bank and was glad to put Bo's in his.  Arabelle had just gotten up from her "rest" and Bo had just gone down for a nap when they got here, so Arabelle got some undivided attention from them before Bo joined in.

Grandma made Arabelle a play-doh necklace!

I think Grandma had as much fun as Arabelle

Bo was showing off some new tricks.

They took us out to D.J.s for a good meal too! We love our visits from Grandma-pa!

Bo is 9 months old!

I can't believe it's the 20th again, which makes Bo 9 months old! This first year is flying by.

• I have no idea how much you weigh, Bo. Your 9 mo. check up is on Tuesday. You are in all 18 mo. clothes, except for some Carter's onesies that are 12 mo. They sure are stretchy because they still fit over cloth diapers!
• You are napping SO much better! You take 2 naps a day and are between 40 and 80 minutes. They are usually 80 minutes now! You have slept through the night (STTN) twice this week already. You go to bed around 8 and wake between 7 and 8. This makes me HAPPY!
• You nurse 4-5 times during the day and 0-1 time at night. I think you'd be fine with 4 times during the day, but your Mama still wants you to get as much milk as you'll drink. :)
• You have turned into an eater! At 8 mo, you weren't eating much, but now you will try anything! You really like shredded cheese, any bread/crackers, and bananas.
• You are all over the place and into everything! You pull up on anything and will let go and stand for several seconds if you are holding/playing with something. You cruise all over the furniture.
• You are babbling a bit more now....you do "dadada" and "mamama" and some other squeals.
• You still just have the bottom 2 teeth, but I bet the top ones will be in soon!

Trying to get a shot of both of them. haha!

What? me?

Bo--2 mo through 9 mo. 

The chair picture wasn't happening today. 

Look at my new trick!

P is for....

I'll start with something funny Arabelle said. I had her and Bo in the bathtub last night and we have those foam bath letters for them to play with. Arabelle picked up the P and said "here's a P!". I asked her if she could think of a word that started with "P". I made the P sound several times and asked again. She thought for a second, then said excitedly "P is for poop!!!". Yes Arabelle, P is for poop. haha!

Tuesday evening, Arabelle's 2 year old class at her pre-school sang at the graduation program. Well, the other kids sang, Arabelle stood there as still as I've ever seen her stand. :)

She is on the left in a pink dress and white bow, beside the girl in blue. You can see Gigi in the blue dress on the right.

Gigi and Arabelle--Arabelle looks huge here! 

A few lipstick pictures from this morning. She was pouting about who knows what, but I had to take the pic.

And, Bo is looking so big these days! He'll be 9 mo. old tomorrow, so I'll get some pictures up tomorrow evening, I hope.

Family time!

We had a fun day on Saturday! Rhianna and Gigi had their spring dance recital Saturday morning, then we headed to their house for hamburgers, hot dogs, chips & dip, and desserts. It was good!

Getting ready for lunch

Cupcakes!

Gigi

The boys playing

Comparison

People say that Arabelle and Bo look so much alike. I do think they favor, but didn't realize how similar their facial expressions were until just recently. I was taking some bath pictures earlier this week and took this one below of Bo. When I saw it, I knew I had a picture of Arabelle about the same age, with the same facial expression! Arabelle was just over 8 mo. and Bo is just under 9 mo. now. I love these silly faced kids!

A girl

I love having a daughter! When we found out Arabelle was a girl, I will admit, I was nervous. I am NOT into a lot of pink, girly things. Arabelle loves having her fingernails and toe nails painted, playing with make-up, and playing with her babies, but she also loves playing outside and getting dirty. We were outside yesterday evening and she said "I want to get dirty, Mama.". Go for it, Arabelle!

Getting her fingernails painted Monday night

Blue is her favorite color. She was SO excited when I bought this blue polish.

Ready for Water Day at school today.

Clapping, waving, & peek-a-boo

Bo is learning so much these days! He is getting to that really fun stage (not that the younger days weren't fun, but you know.....). He has been waving by throwing his arm up for a week or so. Just today he has started looking at his hand and moving his fingers a little. I love seeing him learn new things!

After lunch, we usually go on the front porch for a few minutes to swing and look at the mail. Bo started clapping a little, so I ran in to get the camera.

He also has learned how to play peek-a-boo (or peek-a-BO!).

I mentioned a week or so ago that Bo was finally starting to eat some. Well, he is REALLY eating now! I have been giving him a piece of banana nearly every morning since he started solids at 6 mo. old. He always would lick it, then usually drop it on the floor. Well, yesterday he surprised me and ate it up! Tonight he ate lasagna with us and loved it! I usually end our supper meal with his new favorite....a graham cracker with yogurt smeared on it. I figure he's getting a bath anyway, might as well let him enjoy a messy treat!

I can't believe he will be 9 mo. old in ten days!

Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day! I got to sleep in until 8:00 AND take a nap Sunday afternoon. We also celebrated Bo's baby dedication at church. It was a great day to make a public statement to our family and friends to promise to raise Bo in a Christian home and to teach him about God. It's our prayer that he will come to know Jesus Christ at a young age. After church, we had a great lunch at Sambo & Leigh Leigh's house, followed by naps & pool time!

Family pic after church. Bo missed his morning nap and passed out in the nursery. :)

She was 'driving'.