Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Wowza

As I clicked "publish" on that last post, I gave myself a little pep talk about how blogging probably wouldn't be like it used to be after all this time -- it might take a while for people to notice me again, etc. And when I checked back the next day and saw "0 comments," I was OK with that. And then a few hours later (thinking, "Really? Not even one?"), I remembered that I have to approve comments before they appear. And lo and behold, more than 40 lovely notes were waiting for me in comment-modification limbo, making me feel very happy and humbled. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. Welcome back to you, too.

And thanks for the burp cloth comments! I'd like to make more that involve simply adding a fabric trim to cloth diapers, or with flannel over one whole side. (Where does one even buy cloth diapers these days? Zellers? Do I have to go to Walmart?) I'm spending most of my time this week polishing off a couple of draft chapters, but I have a second flannel receiving blanket on the go, too, so I can take a break from writing and just roll my chair a few feet over to my sewing table. So far, I've cut the fabric and pressed/pinned the hem around it. At some point this afternoon, I'll do that sewing. From my googling, I see that lots of people sew double-layered receiving blankets, but I'm just using a single layer. A 40-inch-square piece of flannel is big, and I think getting two pieces to match exactly in size -- and to sew them together perfectly so that the blanket lies flat -- would just be needlessly frustrating. I'd rather make a pile of single-layer blankets and just use two if the extra warmth is needed. I'm all about layers. It's because I started dressing myself in the '80s.

So life is all about flannel and writing these days. As for other baby stuff, we're slowly amassing the things we'll need. I've bought plenty of baby clothes secondhand (PLENTY); I scored a Boppy pillow (with a dinosaur-patterned slipcover) on eBay; and my best friend found a really good carseat at a yard sale last weekend. I've signed up for prenatal classes, which don't start until October, and I've put the baby's name (i.e., "Baby") on the city's central daycare waiting list. (Quebec is good to babies, offering things like subsidized daycare, because they need more of them -- but the waiting list is long.) I'm 26 weeks pregnant today. It feels to me like I'm right in the middle of "we've still got lots of time" and "not too much longer now." It's a nice place to be.

In the meantime, here's a gratuitous shot of Mooky, keeping it real on the back porch.


ETA: Funny -- I just noticed that the last photo I posted of Mooky was almost exactly one year ago. That's a long time without Mooky! I apologize! (It obviously wasn't so hot at this time last year, or he never would have been sleeping in the house.)

18 comments:

shannon said...

MOOOOOOKYYYYYYY! :)an

Aditi said...

:)

I don't know where one buys those kind of flat cloth diapers, but if you're at all interested in cloth diapering, Motherease is a great starting point. Canadian company, wonderful diapers, and FANTASTIC forum - very useful even if you don't go the cloth route, they have answers to everything.

I personally really like soft terry cloth burp cloths, they soaked up stuff very well. Even plain flannel. But the key is to not get the super plush stuff - it will pretty much not absorb anything. Like those really fluffy towels that just kind of push the water around on your skin! The slightly thin, "cheap" stuff works better. I made my burp cloths with thin terry on one side and flannel on the other.

Steph VW said...

I'm not sure where you can buy cheap cloth diapers to use as burp cloths - check Sears maybe? (Your supercool mom friends in NS buy their fitted cloth diapers at Nurtured.ca - Ha! Supercool.) I really like the flannel because it catches the ick quite well.

And as for your readers, I think we've all been waiting and lurking in Bloglines, hoping for your return.

Dr. Steph said...

Brainy! First congratulations! You look great. And wow!

As for diapers...I used both the fancy fitted types that look a bit like paper diapers and the good old, regular flat ones held on by very nifty rubberized pants and the flat diapers were 1000 times better and half the price (I used them for 2 kids and my cousin used them for 2 more). I bought mine at a local specialty shop and all in I think I spent less than $500 on the whole thing which took the kids right to potty training.

You can also use a service (we washed our own) and they can sell you the diapers.

Diapers like this: http://www.theclothdiapershop.com/catalog.php?item=23 and pants like this:
http://www.theclothdiapershop.com/catalog.php?category=28

Nice to see techology hasn't changed much since 1999 when Emma was born.

jodi said...

I must say, I have missed Mooky. And you, too, of course ;)

PICAdrienne said...

You can buy cloth diapers at Toys R Us. I don't know if one is convenient to you, but they really do carry all things baby related. Often times the basics are at a reasonable price there. You might try children's thrift shops as well.

Carol said...

My teddy bear is named Mookie (but obvy he spells it differently).
Welcome back to blogging and here's to plenty more Mooky in the days ahead.

Unknown said...

Yay! Glad you're back and congratulations on the baby! I'm also due in early Dec. so it will be especially fun to read about the baby stuff you make and your experiences!

Danica said...

Hey Allison! You can buy cloth diapers at that co-op on Sherbrooke that is west of Decarie. Co-op La Maison Verte or something like that. I've moved away from Montreal and forgotten the names of things already! You can also get them from the Bummis store on the plateau, but I seem to recall that you live in NDG, so the co-op would be closer. Just don't forget to wash and dry the diapers several times to prep them before you sew on them. Congrats and good luck with the tyke! -danica

Nicola said...

Your blog was always a favourite of mine - glad to see you back! Many congratulations on the big news!

Seanna Lea said...

One of my friends does cloth diapers down here in Massachusetts, and I can check with her if there is a tutorial she used (I know she has done some rehab work on bad elastic and the like) or a place online that she bought them. They love them.

kleewong said...

Cloth diapers are fantastic, but where does one purchase them???? Since my youngest daughter is 25, I have no clue, but admire the fact that you are using them. There is one advantage (in addition to the obvious advantage to the environment, etc.) that you might not have considered, babies is cloth diapers potty train a little earlier since they can actually feel "wet", which is not always the case with those ueber absorbant disposables. Congrats and you were, indeed, missed!

Moorweed said...

Congratulations, and welcome back!

I bought new prefold diapers at Jamtots.com (in Victoria), and scored used ones at consignment stores. Bummi Super Whisper Wraps are my favourite covers.

If you want to sew some, check out wazoodle.com for kits for diapers, doublers, wipes and more.

And if you are feeling brave you can check out diaperswappers.com. I found it totally overwhelming, but there's lots of stuff there.

claudia said...

The return of Alison and Mooky too! Its just too much.

Congrats on the bump.

Tish said...

For all things cloth diapering try VeryBaby.com. It's a family owned company based in Idaho and they sell just about everything for making cloth diapers and covers (fabric, patterns..). It would be a good source for ideas, links and patterns even if you find the fabrics locally. I liked the multilayered gauze or flannel diapers (without the polyfil insert- those wore out really fast) rather than the huge flat ones and found that the wool soaker covers or coated nylon pants resulted in fewer diaper rashes than the rubberized pants which don't "breathe" as well. Soft terry hand towels and "bar mops" make great (absorbant!) burpers (and are big enough to cover your shoulder and a bit down your back if you end up with a projectile puker like my oldest- oops, TMI?) and can be jazzed up with the addition of cute trims or bindings. Congrats! Mook will make a good big brother.

millie said...

So happy you're back. All my receiving blankets were single layer cause they wash and dry quicker (save energy). I just folded them in thirds to use for burp clothes over my shoulder - used lots.

love your blog.

Auntie Donna said...

Thinking alot about you lately and wondering what you have been up to. So delighted to see you here today and read about what you have been doing and seeing the beautiful bump. You have been missed.

Skräddardotter said...

Looks like my cat!!