gDiaper Review and a COUPON!

Hello Sweet Friends!

I know. It's been too long, and I'm sure that it will be just a little bit longer until you hear from Emily and I about the Bean and the Bird. Know that they are well, beautiful, and growing so fast. It's that speed (and their mobility) that keeps us on our toes and away from here, but know that we think of our readers, and can't wait to finally update you on their lives.

BUT, in the meantime, our friend Amanda has been kind enough to write up this little review of gDiapers, and has a coupon code here for a HUGE discount off of a starter bundle. Read on, fair friends... Cute pictures of baby N are included!
~*~*~*~

Our favorite brand of cloth diapers is gDiapers.

gDiapers are a hybrid system that uses a cloth gPant, a waterproof pouch created with gBreathe technology, and either cloth or disposable/flushable inserts.

The pants are just made out of cotton and spandex, and are all aplix.  

They come in 5 different sizes:

Newborn 6-10lbs

Small 8-14 lbs

Medium 13-28 lbs

Large 26-36 lbs

X-Large 34lbs +

The newborn ones have a waterproof liner, and do not use the pouches.  The cute designs are only available in small, medium, and large.  The pouches are waterproof, but feature gBreathe technology, which means they let moisture breathe from the pant to keep baby rash-free. 

gCloth inserts are made of two layers of hemp/cotton to absorb liquid, and two layers of microfleece to wick the moisture away from baby’s skin.  The disposable inserts can be torn open, swished in the toilet, and flushed, thrown away, or composted (wet inserts only).  They are SUPER absorbent and great for night time and travel.  Both types of inserts have two sizes.  The first size fits newborn and small gDiapers, and the second size fits medium, large and X-large.  The pouches are sized in the same way; Newborn-small and Medium-XL.

My daughter in one of her first gDiapers

My husband and I agree that our favorite feature of gdiapers is being able to re-use them and not having to change the entire diaper at every change.  If the diaper is just wet, you just change the insert  and throw it in your pail; if you want to, since the breathable pouch will be damp, you can let it out to dry until the next change and snap in a new one, or else you can just leave that pouch in the diaper.  Stick in a new insert and you’re good to go!  In the case of a soiled diaper, it’s likely that some poop will make its way onto the pouch, in which case you’ll need to wash it.  If you are short on pouches, you can hand wash it and let it dry and by the next change it should be dry.  However, diapers.com often has gdiapers supplies on sale, so I bought two extra boxes of pouches, plus each pant comes with one, so we have plenty to wait until laundry day. 

My daughter is 7 months old and is a super heavy wetter.  In her 7 months, the only diaper we have used that is capable of keeping her dry during the night is a gDiaper with disposable insert.  We used kawaii goodnight heavy wetters and even added hemp doublers with both microfiber inserts, but about 6 hours in she leaks and her clothes and bed get wet.  The other night, she wore a disposable gDiaper  and slept straight through the night for almost 12 hours and didn’t leak a bit!  No signs of rash either.  Speaking of rash—the only rash/skin problem we have had with Gs is that she sometimes gets some redness or dry skin where the edge of the pouch meets her skin; this is easily remedied with some CJ’s BUTTer or coconut oil. 

gSweet. One of my favorite g's!

Last, I will give you a rundown of our laundry setup.  We have a step-on trash can with a large PlanetWise pail liner in it.  In the front, we hang a zip-up lingerie bag.  When pouches are ready for the laundry, we stick them in the lingerie bag.  Inserts and our other cloth diapers (we use a few pockets and AIOs, mostly because mama is addicted to cute patterns!) go into the pail liner.  When it’s laundry day, I just zip up the lingerie bag and throw it into the pail liner, then turn the whole liner inside out into the washer.  Since the pouches shouldn’t be washed in hot water, I do a full cold cycle with Rockin Green detergent, then take out my pail liner, pouches, and any wet bags.  I air dry them while I complete a hot cycle without detergent on all of the cloth (and any PUL pockets), and then dry all of that. 

Note the genius use of lingerie bag! Such a smart, girl!
- jackie

gDiapers is currently doing a 12 days of Christmas promotion!  They are having a different sale every day, which began Decemnber 4^th. 

More important is the New Friend Bundle!!!  Until December 31^st, you can use my coupon code to get three gPants (pouches included) and two packs of disposable inserts for 40% off!  With my coupon code, it will cost you $49.99, and this bundle has a value of $86.45! 

To order, follow this link:

http://www.gdiapers.com/shop/sales-and-deals/new-friend-bundle

Then select your colors, sizes, and add to your cart!  Then at checkout, enter this code:

new6207Hart

to receive the 40% discount!!

gDiapers is also currently running a 12 days of G sale, and every day a different item is on sale.  To check that out, go to

http://www.gdiapers.com/shop/sales-and-deals

One day, they had $4 off all legwarmers, and another day, $7 off this beauty, the gJingle:

Sorry, I just can't with this topless girl.
SUCH A CUTIE!!!!!
- jackie

Happy Shopping!!

Amanda

~*~*~*~

And a very Merry Holiday to all of you, from all of us!

Fluff Fairy or Why I'm glad I have friends with baby girls.

Hi all! I am sorry for our lengthy silence. It's a whirlwind life with these beautiful little messes!

Emily and I aren't the only ones that had some beautiful baby girls in the last 6 months. Not by far! And we're definitely not the only ones obsessed with our cloth diapers. It's no secret that I'm obsessed with another subscription box (review to come tomorrow!), but this time, we've brought in a pinch hitter.

Enter ASH, the little sister of one of my dearest friends, who I have known since she was knee high - like 6 years old! - now she's a mama too, to the beautiful N! And she's got a fluff addiction to rival ours. And she's signed up for another surprise box for cloth - this time from Kelly's Closet.

The Fluff Fairy is here, babes, and it's pretty darn good. Note that the caption comments are mine... I couldn't resist!!

Take it away ASH!
~*~

The Fluff Fairy is a monthly cloth diaper package available from kellyscloset.com.  It is not a subscription box; each month you have to visit their site and purchase it.  You can choose girl, boy, or unisex, and you can also note what type of closure you prefer, though depending on the diaper included in that month’s box, your preference may not be an option.  The box will include a name brand diaper and 1-3 cloth diapering accessories.  It cost $26.99 in July (shipping included), but the price will vary monthly.  In July, the packages sold out with 2 or 3 days; they were available for order around the 9th, and I received my package on the 25th.  

The package came in a grey plastic mailer, and inside was a pretty turquoise tissue package 

with a little fluff fairy sticker on it.

So cute!

The diaper I received was a Softbums Omni, which is made in the USA!!  The Omni is a one size pocket diaper that has a “Slide2size system” to give your baby’s bum a custom fit.  There is an elastic drawstring on either side, and a small pocket in the front of the diaper allows access to them; you simply pull the strings and use the plastic toggle to set your size.  This allows the diaper to fit babies from 6-35 lbs with legs from 4-14” in diameter without snapdown.  It is a Velcro closure, and their website states it is an “industrial strength” Velcro that won’t wear out like other velcros.  It included a large “dry touch pad”, which is an insert with four layers of microfiber topped with microfleece to wick away moisture, and the pad snaps into place to 

prevent it from shifting.

While velcro isn't my bag, I've been wanting to check out SoftBums...
Cue jealousy.

I was a little disappointed that despite choosing a package for a girl, I received a dark brown diaper.  The color is growing on me though, perhaps because I really like the diaper (or maybe because I found out the name of the color is chocolate…).  It is lined with super soft microfleece, and I have used it 2 nights so far without any leaks.  It is also very trim, and other than our gDiapers, gives my little girl the tiniest tush of any other cloth diaper we own.  The value of the diaper and insert is $26.90.  

Here's where we check out the inner.
Looks nice and cushy!
Nice use of laundry tabs. Not something I'm good at.

Here's a close on that adjustable back elastic.

And that super cushy, snap in insert!
very nice!!

Also included in the package was a very cute and very soft cloth wipe!  This is made by Softbums as well, but is not yet available for purchase.  We got this cute tea party pattern; the unisex and male packages got a rocket ship and star pattern.  I can’t wait until these are 

available for purchase because I will definitely buy a few more!

Turquoise teapots!?
Sorry, have we met? I want this!
My jealousy muscle is really hurting.

Why can't I turn this?!
Ugh. Sorry ASH.
Everyone, please just tilt to the right, observe, and carry on.

Inside the package was a plastic pouch that included some glitter, a coupon code for double points on your next purchase, and two more items….

A packet of RLR laundry treatment (value $2.25) which is good for stripping diapers and getting rid of ammonia smell or dingy colors.  If you have an HE washer, you can get two loads out of one packet; with a top loader, you use a full packet per load.

I can't turn this one either.
But I'm feeling jealous again.
Those mom jeans on the package are super hawt.

The last item was a sample size jar of CJ’s BUTTer (think jar of lip balm size).  The value is $1.50.  Mine was love spell scent (smells just like Victoria’s Secret’s Love Spell).  CJ’s butter can be used for diaper rash, eczema, abrasions, and dry skin.  The sample size is perfect to keep in your purse or diaper bag, and they have tons of amazing scents, including some made just from essential oils that lack artificial fragrances, and an unscented version.

I'm not jealous!! I already have this!
HA!

All in all, I was happy with the Fluff Fairy package.  Again, I wasn’t pleased with the color of our diaper at first, but the rest of the package and the quality of the diaper made up for it.  It’s also nice that the package is not a monthly subscription, so you can purchase just a few per year if you like!  Based on Kelly’s Closet prices, the package was worth $30.65, which is $3.66 more than I paid, plus you get free shipping.  

Every month, they will release hints about what may be in that month’s package.  You can’t use any coupons or promotions on the package, but you do received Diaper Dollar points for the 

purchase.  You also cannot exchange or return the package.

~*~

Thank you, ASH! And thank you for successfully making me jealous of the newest diaper in your stash. I hope that you get August's box so you can share it with us!!!

OH! Before I forget... we can't get through a post like this without an adorable baby picture.

Everyone... Meet N! N, this is everyone! Don't be nervous, they're really very nice.

Hello Everyone! Who wants a hug?

I do, I do!

Stay tuned for more fluffy goodness, my dears. It's coming soon!

Don't worry, I'm never going away again.

I just spent 4 entire days away from the Little Bird.

While I expected some level of discomfort physically and a complete emptiness of missing her, there were a few other side effects that I didn't expect... but I'll get to that in due time.

Saying goodbye to her was so difficult!!! Unfortunately (or maybe luckily for my tear ducts!), I had a major stress right before I was about to leave. My first flight out of New York (to DC) was cancelled due to weather exactly 2 hours before the flight. UGH. So I called the airline, and they offered me a few options that were leaving earlier. This wouldn't have been a problem if I was flying out of JFK, but I wasn't. LGA in Queens is an entire borough, several highways, and A LOT of traffic away. So when my only options were a flight that left in less than an hour, and another that left in 70 minutes, I was as panicked as you would expect. We threw the Little Bird in the car, and took off. We pulled into the airport with only a few minutes for me to spare, and I, of course, started crying. I knew I didn't have time to take her out of her car seat for hugs and crying, so I basically laid on top of her and kissed her face until she started scratching at my cheeks. She seemed done. I went in the airport, got my boarding pass, got through security, and promptly had a sensible nervous breakdown as soon as I got to the gate.

Coincidentally, I made the earlier flight. But it didn't take off until almost an hour after my original flight was scheduled to leave. Which made me miss my connector in DC. Which made me want to throw up. After a lot of juggling, begging, and literally pouting at a ticket agent, I got to Indianapolis after midnight. Neat.

I had a blast with my friends once I was there, but there was a constant emptiness in my chest. I missed The Bird so much. She was in my every thought. The first night, I woke up several times and panicked because I couldn't hear her breathing. I've had her [in her bassinet and then her pack and play] next to me for so long that listening to her sleep has become essential to actually resting. I don't know why this surprised me, but it did. I'm as tough as I thought.

It took a little bit to get into the swing of being at a convention that had me scheduled minute to minute, and finding time to pump! I admit, I was also a little bit shy to pump in front of my roommates, but all but one of them were mamas themselves and they knew it was something I had to do. I am so thankful that they made me feel safe and comfortable doing such an uncomfortable thing. They all heard the pump "speaking" to them too! Like I do when I'm pumping late at night with no other sounds except for the "zzwoooobaahhh zzwooooobaaaahhhhh" of the motor. Hilarious.

I definitely had a dip in production, but I expected that. Despite my best efforts, I only came back with about 10 ounces of milk, but that was 10 ounces that I worked HARD for, pumping on meal breaks and for 30 minutes at night before I went to sleep. I'm proud of every single drop. I'm coming back with a vengeance this week and trying some other measures to get some kind of supply back. I'll let you know what happens.

The one, extremely unexpected, thing that happened surprised me on the second day. After more than a year of it's absence, I was really unhappy to welcome my period back. :( LAME!!!!! I think that it has something to do with not physically nursing and being away from the baby that kicked my ovaries back into action, or I just have the worst luck of all time. Either way, I lose!!

So imagine me, SHOCKED by the most unpleasant of surprises, in a football stadium bathroom, completely unprepared. You rise to the occasion, become extremely resourceful, and do what you have to do to get through, but then the universe throws you another curveball... There is only one grocery, drugstore, corner store in walking distance (or rather, that you can walk to in the amount of time you need to get back in time for your next session) and it closes at 7pm. While you're in the middle of your  current session. NEAT. Thanks for that fail, CVS. You're on my list now.

This leaves me to scramble like a preteen at summer camp. I buy emergency supplies at the hotel, but the price gouging is absolutely ridiculous - $4 for TWO tampons. ARE YOU JOKING ME?!?! Unless they're make of solid gold, there is really no reason for that, and even then, they won't be absorbent and I'm not interested! I then find a magical machine that sells 'em for 25 cents, and buy it out. This lasts me until I get to the airport, and I feel like the smartest woman alive. I've beat the system!!

I can't tell you how much I missed her. It felt like the end of the world that I didn't get to kiss her goodnight, tuck her in, tickle her belly, and nibble her tiny toes. We did facetime, and that definitely made me teary, but helped the yearning. I even got to kiss her goodnight... *sort of*

A sleepy bird looks very confused at the large
and strange thing on Daddy's phone screen.
Where'd mommy's face go?
There are just weird lips there now, and I can't even grab 'em!

I had an amazing time at the reunion, but I could barely sleep on the last night... I was so excited that I was going home to my girl (and her Daddy!) Two flights later, one layover, and a lot of turbulence (seriously, people screamed. No joke.) later, I was home snuggling her as tight as I could. I was too happy to cry. There were no tears left. I could only stare at her, completely in awe of how she was so different, yet still so much the same. She definitely matured over the last week. She just fell asleep while she was playing in her playgym - something that she's never done before. I can see her maturing in front of my eyes, and I never want to miss another moment.

Reunited and it feels so so so so good.

It had to go...

There are two things I have received the most flack for since Bean’s birth. The first is not sending out birth announcements (I’m currently working on that one) and the other is her hair. My baby has a mullet. She was born with a full head of beautiful brown hair.

Proof!

Those beautiful locks quickly fell out, EXCEPT the hair above her neck in the back, leaving her with a classy mullet. If this were 1986, Bean would be at the height of fashion, but alas it is not.

Now, I’ve long been a fan of the mullet - business in the front, party in the back. My friends and I often frequented mulletsgalore.com in high school, which sadly no longer exists, I just found out. But a mullet on my beautiful baby girl? Not so cute.

Party in the back!

So tonight, after weeks of my mother threatening to cut it off in my absence while at work, I cut my baby’s hair.

I got her all situated in her Bumbo seat so I would have easy access to the back of her head.  Hattie, who is afraid of thunder, climbed into my lap because of the storm outside, which I have to say made for an excellent photo.

While my handiwork certainly isn’t perfect, its much better than a mullet. Hopefully Bean will forgive me for this post by the time she leaves for college. 

Ta Da!

Have you ever succumbed to pressure from family or friends and changed something about your baby?

Was your baby born with funny hair... or is there something about your baby that you find hilarious?

And really... how long does this baby pattern baldness really last?!

And because I just can't leave you with a picture of the back of Bean's head, here's something a little more adorable... her learning to stick her tongue out!

Tweet!! It's Cotton Bootylicious - June Edition!

Let's everyone hold in our excitement... the June Cotton Booty box has arrived! This time in an envelope because they went over the weight limit for the box. Oh shucks. That's a shame.

Here's this months shakedown!
Looks promising....

This month brings us two things that I'm really excited about, and a wet bag... but I think you can never have enough wet bags, so I'm pretty excited all around.

First things first, let's talk dipes.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE DIAPER PATTERN WE HAVE EVER HAD!

This is the Bumkins Stuff-it pocket diaper with one minky insert and one PUL backed waterproof insert in the WORLDS BEST PRINT - Tweet! Seriously, this is IT for the Little Bird. I haven't used a Bumkins pocket before so this is definitely something new for me, which is the biggest perk of this service, and really the reason that I've signed up for this subscription box. I have a few Bumkins covers that I use with prefolds, so I am aware of the quality that the company turns out, but I have to say, I find the covers heavy (as compared to flip covers that we use most often), and I don't find this pocket diaper heavy at all. A big plus!

The fit on Little Bird is actually really great. She's pretty skinny, and I like a lot of options for a snug fit (velcro/aplix is not for me - somehow I always miss the laundry tabs and things get stuck together/ruined/disasterfied), so the Bumkins snaps really get her a snug fit around the legs. We started with just the minky insert, which is just fine for day and play, and I have her on the smallest rise and snapped to the center. There's still a little gap in the front, but any further and there would be red marks on her belly. 

I tried stuffing with both inserts, which I would for a long nap or overnight, but that was a little too bulky between her legs for playtime. 

Here's a gratuitous cute picture before we continue...

ahhhh, that's better.

This diaper retails for $15.95 and is a one size, fitting 7-32 pounds! yowza.

Next we have a Bumkins wet bag in Yellow Fish.
I love me some Dr. Seuss (who happens to share a birthday with my husband), but I'm not super crazy about this print. I have two other Bumkins wet bags in this same size that I got from Zulily before Little Bird was even born, and a Cat in the Hat bag with two pockets that I use more often. I do love how many diapers fit into this size bag - while I was out of town with Little Bird, I could fit 2 entire days worth of diapers in a bag this size, which was at least 8 stay dry Flip inserts, 2-3 Flip covers, 4 pocket diapers, 4 microfiber inserts, and at least 4 charcoal bamboo inserts. I think that's pretty impressive, no? I roll them pretty tight, but it's definitely a bag that can hold a hefty load!

This guy retails for $10.95.
(So, we've already exceeded our retail price for the box! I repeat... Great Deal!)

onto the sample of the month...

This is the part of the box that I'm pretty intrigued about.
It's no secret that I have had some major breastfeeding struggles and supply problems. In fact, there are days when I pump that I only get a quarter of an ounce per session. I know. It's pathetic. And disheartening. And makes me feel like a failure. So, of course, I do everything I can to boost supply. Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, pumping like a lunatic, oatmeal, so much water I feel like I might drown.

I am always willing to try something to help my supply. This product from Need (which is owned by the cute Tia and Tamara Mowry! Check it out here!) seems to contain all of the hot button herbs that everyone recommends without having to choke down tea that tastes like feet. (No offense to Mothers Milk tea, but I can't even handle the smell. It tastes like I steeped B's socks in hot water and then added honey).

I just tried this, and it has its good and bad points. I like that it's just a little shot (and one Weight Watchers point, if anyone is counting), goes down pretty quickly and doesn't taste like the lactation teas. However, it does taste a little reminiscent of the glucose drink that they give you for the sugar test while you're pregnant, or like a 5-hour energy drink. I needed a water chaser and a little finger-full of peanut butter after I was done. I don't think I'm going to see a result from one sample, since they advise two bottles per day to see a result, but if I do see an increase, I'll be sure to let you know.

Pssstttt, Tia and Tamara! If you want to send me a weeks supply, I'd be more than happy to report my results for the studio audience. If it works, I'll sing your praises from every rooftop!

And, just because we all like it so much, here's a few snaps of the Little Bird, looking so so so cute in this "tweet" pattern!

Who says Birds and Kitties don't get along?
Behold the Little Bird and Sookie, snuggling on the blanket.
[no babies or kitties were harmed in the making of this photo... in fact, there were copious kisses]

Until next month, my dears.

Unsolicited Advice

Alright, folks... It's about to get a little sassy up in here.

I, Jackie, have never been one to pull any punches. I rarely hold my tongue. I, essentially, do not have a filter between my brain and my mouth, and I am about to make it rain with the realness.

There are very few things in the world that offend me. You can say just about anything about anything, and I will not be upset. I may ask a few questions, make a weird face, and tell you why I think you're wrong, but I almost never take it personally or worry about it more than 5 minutes after it happens. But, sweet readers, something has happened to me a few times over the passed few weeks that's really bothering me, and if I can't talk with you about it, I don't know who I should talk to.

It's been hot in New York. This kind of hot...

I have basically wanted to peel my skin off and lay in front of our window unit air conditioner. I want to set the a/c at 60 degrees, but I also don't want to have to sell all of our possessions to afford the electric bill. You're picking up with I'm putting down, I'm sure.

Anyway, I was taking the Bird out to the pediatrician on Wednesday. It was pretty hot, but definitely not over 90 degrees, and the humidity was pretty thick, but definitely not as bad as it has been. There was a pollen alert for Kings county, but not an air quality action alert. I know all of this because I checked the weather on my phone before I got Bird ready to leave the house. I dressed her in this...

a sleeveless, one shoulder, paper thin romper. I dropped her into the ergo, with her cute little legs sticking out, slapped a light pink polka dot sunhat on her noggin, and headed out the door. We were both a little sweaty - mostly from being so snuggly up against each other - but no more than on a normal day. There was a breeze as we walked the 3 blocks to the subway station, and headed underground. The train came quickly, it was a chilly air conditioned car, and our sweat all but disappeared. We played a quick game of peek-a-boo, went through a rousing chorus of bunny foo foo, which is Bird's favorite song, switched trains... everything going smoothly. 

We exited the air conditioned train into a muggy station, and Bird was still all smiles despite the ick factor. She was smiling at people walking by us and generally being lovely - like she does. We got up the subway stairs, and that left me panting and sweating, but only because I'm still grossly out of shape from being too broken post-delivery to exercise. 

I digress.

I get about four steps away from the station when I felt someone staring at us. I turned my head and peeked out of the side of my large sunglasses, and there was, in fact, an older woman staring at us. I sort of nodded toward her and smiled, mostly because Little Bird was grinning like an idiot at her. I figured she was charmed by her, as everyone usually is, but nooooooooo. Oh how naive I was, my dear readers. Oh how simple I was being...

This woman, whoever she was, came up to me, touched my arm (which is not something I'm okay with) and said, "You know, it really is far too hot for that baby out here today. It's really irresponsible to have her out of doors. I don't understand what could possibly be going through your head. What kind of mother are you?"

I was gobsmacked. Struck entirely dumb. This almost never happens to me... A witty retort is usually flying out of my mouth before I can control it, and it almost always includes a four letter word. In fact, other times that I've been told that baby shouldn't be outside (for example, twice when I was walking my dogs for approximately 7 minutes outside, on my street, on a hot day, and once when I was taking Bird to a breastfeeding support group shortly after she was born (it happened to be snowing)... because I needed help learning to FEED HER!) I have thanked the woman (it's always a woman) for her unsolicited advice, turned on my heel and walked away, one time shouting back and forth with a particularly aggressive advice giver. 

This time, however, I was struck stupid. Everything was exacerbated by Little Bird pushing out her lower lip, pouting, and then starting a screamfest. (Sensing the change in my energy, perhaps?) The woman looked at me like I was burning her with a branding iron, like she wanted to pull out her cell phone and call CPS to have her taken from me on the spot. I stood there, mouth agape, until my brain caught up with the situation. It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and I said, "Well, we are on the way to the pediatrician, and they didn't call me to cancel our appointment because it's just too hot to be outside with a baby for a five minute walk from the train. And if they didn't call to cancel all of their appointments for today, because it's just far too unsafe for babies, then it must be just fine. Unless you are a doctor, which I assume you're not. Thank you for your unsolicited advice."

I may have called her a bitch. The world may never know.

I was steamed, ya'll. Totally angry. I forgot about it for awhile while we were in the office, and then we did some fun stuff at school with B afterward, but as I was laying in bed that night, I just kept replaying it over and over in my head. 

Why do people, almost exclusively women who are not toting children around, feel the need to give mothers advice that we really don't need? What goes on in their minds that says, "Hey, I'm going to bother that girl, who has a 12 pound sack of humanity strapped to her front, and tell her what she's doing wrong! Maybe I'll even make her doubt her ability to be a good mother! I think this is a great idea!!!"

It's really not.

I am super sensitive to the heat, I am practically translucent and I burn in about 6 seconds without sunscreen on. I am always conscious of Little Bird's skin, because it's just as light and sensitive as mine. She also gets cranky when she's really hot, so I know that we need to be out and back in fast. We can't stop our lives completely, hide in our apartments, and never go outside with the baby just because it might be hot, or too cold, or raining, or windy. The entire exchange with that woman took longer than the walk to the doctor's office from the subway. She effectively doubled our sun exposure by stopping us. And I, tough gal that I am, wanted to crawl into a hole and die. 

How is it that strangers can make us feel like subpar parents? I don't even know this woman. For all I know she's never even a held a baby in her life. I know what I was doing was totally right - I had the appropriate sun gear on, we were both hydrated, I stuck to the shady sides of the street... everything was going great, until someone who has never met us makes a choice to say a hurtful thing to a vulnerable stranger.

I am still trying to figure out why her words affected me so much. I'm sensitive, I always have been, despite my tough exterior, so I might take things harder than the average overworked, underslept mom. Who knows? 

Has anyone ever given you unsolicited advice? Has anyone ever really hurt you with their opinion? How did you handle it, what would you have said, and did it change anything about your choices? Do people expect us to hide inside and never get "normal" things done - like head to the post office/bank/doctor - just because we happen to have baby with us? I'm of the mind that lives don't stop when babies join us. We have to have balance! We have to feel free to just go outside - even for a walk! We can't be chained to our couches... it's not good for our mental health, and it's certainly not good for baby.

And for the record, Bird's doctors appointment was excellent. She's healthy and perfect as ever!

Cotton Bootylicious

For the last 10 days, the Little Bird and I have been vacationing in the central air conditioned world of Nan's house in Pennsylvania. It was wonderful, but I knew that there was something waiting for me at home. Something fantastical and magical...

Yes, my first Cotton Booty box arrived!!!!

And I had to wait an entire week to open it. Life isn't fair.

But here it is, friends, in all it's beauty and glory!!

Just inside the box!
The anticipation!!

Here they give you a little shakedown of what's in your box.
I saw BumGenius and about died.
And Babylegs?!
Is this a dream?

Okay, I can't relegate this comment to a caption. The first thing when you open the box is an absolutely adorable BumGenius Freetime all in one in Albert - which retails on Amazon anywhere between $28.95 and $32.95 (Cotton Booty's mothership, Milk and Honey Kids, doesn't have diapers on their website that I can find, so I couldn't tell you what they retail for in their store, but it's likely in that price range). The cost of the Cotton Booty box for one month is $24.99. 

You picking up what I'm putting down here? AMAZING DEAL!

I got the "leftovers" of the May box, which was their first (and very impressive) offering, so I was able to request the 'boy' box diaper (The 'girl' box had a Lovelace freetime, which I already have, and was sold out, and the gender neutral offering was a freetime in Clementine, which is gorgeous, just not my favorite - we don't look great in orange in this house) and...

The 'girl' print BabyLegs! Which are so so so cute! 97% of the clothes that Little Bird has been given are pink - which will be hilarious if we ever have a boy, because you bet your right arm that I'll put him in her hand-me-downs - so pink legwarmers are perfect for us. Also, I may have a little obsession with BabyLegs. Ask Emily. She'll confirm.

There is also a small sample of CJ's Butt Butter, which I'm really looking forward to trying. Every lotion we've tried, except for coconut oil, gives Bird a rash on her back... this is supposed to be very gentle and wonderful, so I'm excited. 

And just because I'm a huge fan of the Little Bird, here she is, modeling Albert!

and here's a bonus of the booty, with a little cameo from our blanket magnet Conrad...

Yes, that is a tuft of cat hair by Conrad's ear.
Please don't judge me.
I do my best, but my cat just MOLTS.

That's all for now, dear ones. Visit Cotton Booty on facebook and let them know the Bean and the Bird sent you! I can't wait for the June box! Don't worry... we will share!