my cloth diapering journey (repost from july somehow deleted it)

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  I'm a cloth diaper mama to the most amazing spirited little girl named Eloise, who is now 16 months. I started using cloth diapers on Eloise when she was 3 months old, I would of started from birth if it had been my choice.But didn't have enough cloth covers or inserts. When I first decided to use cloth diapers I was 6 months pregnant, my mom went out and got me the Everything Green Baby book. after reading it I mentioned it to a few people that I wanted them to try cloth diapers. Many of them were against it saying I was crazy or that it would cost a lot more just by the laundry.(so not true)

  

  
  

  Even my in-laws said they wouldn't change a cloth diaper and that I would change my mind after a month of using them. They even threw me and my spouse a disposable diaper party when I asked for gift cards or anything cloth diaper related, but as time went on I bought more cloth and made a routine to buy a new cover or insert after our weekly swim on Thursdays and even called it diaper Thursday. By the time Eloise way 3 months I was ready to use cloth diapers till that time I used up the disposables and gave some away, ever sense then I haven't bought any disposables. Everyone now loves my cloth diapers, and I have convinced 6 of my friends and now some of my family to use cloth.

   

  

  
  I am so addicted to Applecheeks Brand of cloth diapers. I love the fit and look and also like that they have discontinued colors as it makes it fun to collect, also they don't have an over load of colors or prints. I find what works best for use as we use our Applecheeks as a A12 never stuff pockets we get more use out of the covers, which helps us with less laundry and saves us money. I have never had a blow out in a Applecheek diaper to this day. They are a Canadian brand which is one of our reasons for choosing them. The fact that they only have two sizes makes it easy to size your child.

   

  

  
  

  There is a huge Applecheeks community that makes it even that much better as there is lots of support for help when learning how to get your routine or the perfect fit. I have met some amazing mommy friends through using Applecheeks and have won a few giveaways. that's another thing Applecheeks has so much love for their customers. They get Appecheeks fans to participate in reveals for new diapers but are also always doing giveaways and contest that makes it so much fun to collect all their colours. I started to collect discontinued colours which are called HTFs (hard to find ) its very addicting and so hard to not get caught up in collecting all the colours to collect your rainbow.

   

   

  

  
  We also use apple cheeks swim diapers i have collected every colour they have in them they are so cute to mix and match with my daughters swim suits. they are very reasonably priced if you were to buy a bag of disposables you would pay more and have to buy more then one bag . they are breathable  and light. they don't hold in water we love them and highly recommend one if you love to take your child swimming.
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  we also use cloth wipes I love our Applcheeks wipes and spray solution.we have used cloth wipes from the start at home. I made my own solution till I found out about the Applecheeks solution. when Eloise was about a year old. The scent is so fresh smelling and its natural so great for your baby's bottom. we leave the wipes when used in the diaper and wash all together on wash day. 

   

  
  

  

   

  honestly we don't do a lot more laundry only 1 or 2 loads a week for diapers and we wash with the laundry tarts detergent. with high water level on hot and we hang our cover to dry using a octopus hanger.i also rinse as soon as we change her butt and hang to dry till laundry day so they don't sit dirty forever. It's really not as bad as everyone thought and many friends and family that said they would never use cloth are in love with my diapers and some have asked about them for their next child.
  

  
  

  My most difficult challenge using cloth diapers has been trying to get everyone on board with my decision to use cloth diapers. I've helped resolved this by printing out instructions how to use them and giving demonstrations on how to use them properly and how to care for them. I have also bought gloves for people to change her diaper and to rinse them off.

  
  

  Teething is a very difficult time for Eloise, we use Camilla and alternate with tempra. I also find that giving her frozen fruit in a newbie to bite on helps, we also have used a piece of leather that we wet and freeze to help numb her gums. As per teething rashes we use a little baking soda in her tub, and also use a little coconut oil and breast milk on her rash when changing her cloth diapers and it works amazingly and is cloth safe.

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  hich whi ii ost di.. thficult challenge using cloth diapers has been trying to get everyone on board with my decision to use cloth diapers. I've helped resolved this by printing out instructions how to use them and giving demonstrations on how to use them properly and how to care for them. I have also bought gloves for people to change her diaper and to rinse them off.
  

  I am so addicted to Applecheeks Brand of cloth diapers. I love the fit and look and also like that they have discontinued colors as it makes it fun to collect, also they don't have an over load of colors or prints. I find what works best for use as we use our Applecheeks as a A12 never stuff pockets we get more use out of the covers, witch helps us with less laundry and saves us money. I have never had a blow out in a Applecheek diaper to this day!

  Teething is a very difficult time for Eloise, we use Camilla and alternate with tempra. I also find that giving her frozen fruit in a newby to bite on helps, we also have used a piece of leather that we wet and freeze to help numb he gums. As per teething rashes we use a little baking soda in her tub, and also use a little coconut oil and breast milk on her rash when changing her cloth diapers and it works amazingly and is cloth safe.

Eloise's first birthday (Minnie mouse theme)

   With Eloise's second birthday coming up i thought that i should show you  her first birthday party . she was very into Minnie mouse back in November of 2012 so we thought that would be the perfect theme. as a child i always had big party and a lot of it was DIY. My mom was very crafty and so am I, so i decided that her party was going to be at home and ill make most of it myself.  I'm  very proud of all my hard work so here  it is!  

                                     Here is the balloon arch way I did we used black balloons to make a Minnie mouse head and two pink heart balloons as her bow, I am so happy it turned out .

                                       
                                Next was her birthday banner I used a circuit  to cut out mickey mouse heads and some letters. After that  I chose a ribbon and made bows then glued them on. I also cut out the Minnie mouse characters to hold the banner.

                               Next is the food table, Here it is without everything on it 
                               
                                     

                    Straws and cups I made, I had made smaller Minnie mouse heads to                                                    glue onto the straws and cups for my DIY cups and straws.

Next is the the pink forks, spoons and knives i wrapped in pink and white

 polka dot napkins and taped together with some Minnie mouse heads .

My Nana also bought some table cloths and cups and plates that were Minnie mouse  

as back up. I am so thankful she did we had more then we expected show up for her party but we do have a very large family on both sides .

                      These are my favorite cookie cutter cookies i make. I used my mickey                                              mouse cookie cutter to cut them.Then used a vanilla frosting.
I                                          I  coloured them half black and half pink .

                   I had to make the Minnie mouse Oreo cookies. It's such  a cute idea.
                              Eloise loves Oreo s so it was perfect thing to make.
                    we stuck one original Oreo with black frosting and  two snack pack size Oreo s
                                as ears and then used pink icing to make a bow.
                                        They were a huge hit at the party.

High chair

 This is her high chair  I decorated i made a skirt out of tool to go on the table part.

Then I made a banner the read "I am 1" .

I got a zebra print fleece blanket and pinned it to the chair part as a cover.

 her Minnie mouse stuff toy her great Grammy got her sat in the high chair.

                 her cake smash cake was made by my friend it was shaped as a bow.

I bought (her father)Travis a white t shirt and me a pink one.

I cut out the shape of mickeys mouses head and the letters to spell mommy and daddy.

I used  iron on fabric and made us matching t shirts

     

         We bought some Minnie mouse fabric to use as the background at her high chair.

                                      

                      Eloise wasn't into the smashing of the cake so mommy and daddy had some fun!

                           
                               after math of the cake smash Eloise and daddy.

last is the present table i used a Minnie mouse table cloth and it had two stuffed Minnie mouse toys on it but they are hidden in gifts.

  I sure hope that this inspire's you to plan your own party and try DO It Yourself decorations or things to make your party  more original and custom to what you imagine . thanks for taking your time to read my post on Eloise first birthday its sure a awesome memory that i treasure and love to look back on.