We are now a 'sposie family

I've admitted defeat against diapers and against toddler butts andn against moisture and against diaper rash.  They have won and I give up.  We are now a disposable diaper family.  I still absolutely love my cloth diapers and would absolutely recommend to anyone looking to try them.

We have been battling diaper rash since about the day he was born.  We have tried every single combination of diapers, wipes, creams and powders known to the world.  We have tried changing his diaper immediately after becoming wet or dirty.  We have tried baths and "no diaper" time.  I"ve stripped the cloth diapers every which way.  Offer up any suggestion, we have probably tried it. 

I'm not just talking a little diaper rash.  I'm talking broken skin and bleeding diaper rush.  I'm talking screaming from the pain when he sits or even held.  I'm talking horrible bouts of diaper rash.  And nearly constant, at least mild, diaper rash for the past fifteen months. 

We finally found a bit of a combination that seems to be working and we are going to stick with it for now and it includes disposibles.  Huggies diapers, Huggies sensitive wipes and California Baby Cream - basically slathering it on at every diaper change. 

I absolutely see where CDs would be great for babies with sensitive skin - without the added chemicals.  But with William's case, he just can't have a drop of moisture before all baby butt hell breaks loose. 

I don't know who is more frustrated, him or me.  I'm just looking forward to potty training.....for real....

Little hands

I am sitting on the couch with my laptop while William is playing with his toys on the floor.  Watching him play is almost more fun than getting on the floor with him to play.  I always wonder what is going on in his mind. I can see him figure things out and I can see him get frustrated.  It's adorable. 

Although it doesn't seem related, I vacuumed yesterday.

So now you have a mini picture.  I'm on the couch.  He's on floor.  Floor should be relatively clean.

He walks over to me and holds out his hand as if to give me something.  I hold out mine.  He hands me a piece of a leaf about the size of lady bug.  He seems so proud.  He makes eye contact as if to say "Aren't you so proud, Mom?  I helped clean up since you are just sitting on the couch doing nothing and I'm left to play in this mess." 

I'm just wondering how the heck he finds this stuff!

My new favorite time of the day

About a year ago I wrote about my favorite time of day.  It was first thing in the morning while I nursed him.  A year later I almost don't remember what that was like.  Things have completely changed and William has grown and developed and those cuddles seem so far away. 

I have a different favorite time of a day.

I watch him play.  I tickle him to get him to laugh.  He rubs his eyes and yawns.  I ask him if he's ready for bed and he walks and waits for me to open the gate so he can climb upstairs.  Diaper change and soft pajamas.  We brush his teeth and then he brushes mine.

Then we sit.  We sit in the rocking chair my mom gave my dad when they got married.  We rock and I ask what song we should sing tonight.  He doesn't respond because he has no idea what I'm saying, but I know one day he'll be able to answer.  I pick a song and I sing in his ear.  He puts his head down on my chest.  He's always so tired.  He starts to hum to the song.  My heart just melts with this.  I kiss his cheek and tell him good night and that I love him.

I lay him down and cover him with his favorite blanket and he pulls it up to his shoulders.  I push his glow worm.  I step outside.  I hear him from in the hall push the glow worm again and again and again.  Then nothing.  He's asleep. 

Updates

So I'm getting some complaints from friends and family that I'm such a slacker and I haven't blogged in over a month. We are all still alive and well just busier than ever before.  I"m sure I could write about a hundred different things so instead I will just make a list (I'm good with lists) of what's new....

• William is officially walking - like finally officially walking.  It was about three weeks ago he one decided he liked walking more than crawling and he was off.
• I'm continuing to train for my first triathlon sprint.  To keep me motivated, I signed up and the race is in two months!  I've set the bar pretty low - finish and just don't die.....
• I am loving on American Idol this season and I have like five favorites and no idea who might win.
• Last weekend, I spent my first few nights in a row away from William.  It was definitely different and I missed him like crazy!  I loved walking in the house after three days away and seeing his face light up when he saw me!
• Diaper changes are kinda like torture because William doesn't want to lay down, then he doesn't want to sit still, then he wants to grab his privates (that are probably completely covered in poop), then he has had horrible diaper rash and he screams because he's in pain.  All around pretty sucky.
• Last night I took William to the indoor kiddie pool at our gym.  He absolutely loved it.  He squealed with delight at all the kids running around.  He splashed like mad (and for once our bathroom wasn't the wet disaster afterwards).  I bent over and tried to show him how to blow bubbles.  He bent over and stuck his face in the water and took a drink.  Hmm...we'll have to work on that.
• He's starting to "talk" more.  He babbles all the time.  He seems to be starting to repeat sounds we make - like words.  It's so much fun!
• He is definitely understanding things we say - I say, "Let's go to bed," and he'll walk to the steps and wait for me to open the gate.  Adam will say, "Do you want some food?"  He'll walk over to the highchair for lunch.  Beware...he's smarter than he appears! 
• We have an awesome bedtime routine.  One of my favorite parts is when I brush his teeth and then hand him the toothbrush and his face just lights up.  He takes to brushing his own teeth (or basically chewing on the toothbrush) and then he smiles and attempts to brush mine too.  It's adorable!
• Speaking of adorable, he kissed me on the lips the other day.  I asked for a kiss and puckered my lips and he leaned in to put his lips on mine.  Melt.my.heart....
• I'm like half the rest of the world - I'm obsessed with Pinterest.
• I'm ready for spring and for the time change and for summer and for leaves to come back and for the ability to enjoy outside without being frozen.  Someone remind me to appreciate the summer when it becomes 95 degrees outside....

I think that's enough for now.  Will do my best to keep up on things - if not for myself and a journal type thing for William, then to get Stefanie and my mom off my back.  hehe love you both