This was a good night. A really good night.

Johanna LOVES to eat. With her fingers. Exactly what we are eating. While yanking off her bib.

My three year old still desperately needs a bib at mealtimes, though he fights it. My 5 1/2 year old ought to wear one permanently. Just for walking, talking and breathing. Here's her shirt from today:

Again, this was a good day. Only a few small paint stains? Bravo! Hip hip hooray!

For the longest time, I was just losing it over the daily clothing massacre that was occurring in our household. It felt so needless, so wasteful, yet I seemed to be powerless to put an end to it.

I've been using natural stain removers for a long time, and I was coming to grips with the fact that they just didn't seem to cut it. Oh yes, I carefully sorted through the dirty clothes, pre-treated everything while I got my piles of laundry ready to go and my washer filled up. It didn't matter, though. Inevitably there was at least one permanent stain left behind for all of the others that came out each time I did laundry.

I wasn't willing to switch to something stronger and more chemical-filled. I also couldn't afford to keep replacing my children's clothing.

This little spray bottle became the answer to my dilemma.

There's nothing particularly fancy about it. It is filled up with:

• half Biokleen Bac-Out
• half water

I've also made this work using my homemade stain remover, but I've decided that ultimately the Bac-Out works just a little better and is just as cost-effective because I buy it when it goes on sale and I water it down by half.

Here's my trick:

I got my husband to buy three of these little bottles at the dollar store one day. I decided that I needed to put them in 3 important places:

1. The kid's bedroom
2. Our bedroom
3. The laundry room

My line of thinking is this: When you use chemical stain removers (like Shout or similar) you can usually just apply them 5 minutes before you wash, giving them a good spray or scrub, etc. These powerful removers can work quickly like that.

Natural stain removers don't work like that. They need time to work and they need to be applied right away.

I was initially concerned about using an enzyme-cleaner like Bac-Out and leaving it sitting on our clothes for possibly days before I got around to washing them. It hasn't been a problem. I have not noticed any marks or wearing out of clothes in places where I have sprayed them and let them sit.

Here's me spraying Abbie's paint-adorned shirt tonight, up in our family closet, where we keep everyone's clothes together (look for an upcoming video of how we've organized our family closet!).

(Note that I am too busy taking a picture to actually spray the stain.)

Nothing dirty is allowed to go into the hamper without being looked over and sprayed first. That's my new rule. Then they sit as long as they sit. Half a day, 5 days, it doesn't seem to really make a difference.

The end result?

When I do actually focus my aim and pre-treat all stains immediately when clothes come off (or even immediately after the stain occurs, if I catch it that fast), something miraculous happens in the wash. Even in the cold water, natural detergent wash.

Stains come out! Hallelujah, jubilee!

It works for me, it will work for you, too. Get thee to a dollar store, get as many bottles as you have bedrooms, fill them with Bac-Out (or your favorite natural stain remover) and spray away. Soon you will be singing "oh happy day" along with me.

How do YOU ensure that stains come out of your children's clothes, without using strong chemicals, and without taking a lot of time and effort to get them out?

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Do you ever feel that some of the duties of motherhood are not quite what you expected? Or that many of the mundane and trivial tasks are not what you thought you were signing up for?

This weekend I was reading "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson and one chapter in particular just hit me over the head. I am perpetually in awe of the way that the Holy Spirit can guide us to read the very thing that we need to hear, at just the right moment, that will meet us right where we're at and challenge us to grow more like Christ.

Sally was sharing about a day that began busily-- a birthday party, a special outing with friends, grocery shopping and errands, etc. By late afternoon she began to make plans to sit and refresh herself with a cup of tea for 15 minutes, before she carried on with putting away the food and making dinner for her family.

Yet every time she went to take her few minutes of relaxation with her coveted cup of tea, an interruption arose… a child wanted to show her something, a phone call from her young adult with car troubles, a teenager that needed her help, her husband's reminder of a child in need of a ride, a specific missing tee shirt that needed to be found amidst the piles of laundry for an event that evening.

As you may have already guessed, she never got around to that cup of tea, nor the moments of peace and quiet that she hoped would accompany it.

Glancing up at her fridge in the midst of these busy moments, full of interruptions and distractions, she saw these words, "If you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all!" and she wondered whether to pitch the paper in the recycling bin or to simply laugh at the Lord's sense of humor!

I, too, laughed at the Lord's sense of humor as I read this chapter because I could have easily written about a day like Sally's this weekend. Subtract the teenage children, but then add in three hungry homestay students needing early breakfasts and bagged lunches, sprinkle in some toddler potty accidents, baby diaper changes, 5 year old boo-boos, umpteen glasses of spilled water, a husband who was gone nearly all weekend, and a very worn and weary mama, and I also found myself longing for moments of rest and restoration.

Here's what Sally had to say about the moments that make up our days as mothers:

"When it comes to motherhood, I like the idea of being a mom who inspires my children to great accomplishments in medicine (developing the cure for cancer) or statesmanship (a future president of the United States) or the arts (a Christian movie producer). The everyday realities of running a household just don't have the same appeal.

But such humdrum activities, of course, comprise the majority of a mother's experience. Before I had children, I never realized this. I really had no clue that admiring a Beanie Baby's pen, taking a picture, finding a T-shirt, and helping to unlock a gas cap would be the kinds of sacrificial acts required of me most often while I attempted to fulfill the mission of motherhood.

As I have grown through the past eighteen years of motherhood, however, I've come to appreciate the importance of the many thousands of routine moments in a mother's life, for it is in these moments that real greatness tends to be taught and caught. It is certainly important to grasp the great calling of motherhood and respond to a vision for what a family can be.

But it's the way I respond to my children in everyday moments that gives me the best chance of winning their hearts… and if I approach them with a servant's heart, then I have a far better chance of influencing them in the larger and more critical issues of life."  The Mission of Motherhood, pg. 62-63

What a beautiful reminder that these everyday, mundane moments and actions with our children are opportunities for us to serve them with the love of Christ, in ways that will ultimately shape and mold them into children who will also have a heart to serve and who will make a difference for Christ's Kingdom.

How I long to be a more faithful servant and mother, doing all that the Lord has for me (with joy!) no matter how trivial it may seem!

What do you think it means to practice servanthood as a mother? How do you keep the tasks of motherhood in perspective when you become weary and overwhelmed?

Image by E.Yoshio

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Guest Post by Leah Hoffmaster

There are few things in life more precious than a sleeping baby. One of my favorite things to do during my children’s infancy was to lay them on my chest and allow my beating heart and warm embrace to soothe them into a peaceful slumber. Oh, how often I would wish that for just one moment, time could stand still.

Yet, surely enough, to quote the old adage, “time marches on” and our babies continue to blossom and grow and turn into their own beautiful little people with strong, individual identities. This often happens more quickly than we are ready to accept or admit! The past few years have flown by so quickly and have transformed into memories before my very eyes, and still, I long to share those quiet moments of joy with my children.

I have found one of my most fulfilling duties as a mother to be when I lovingly tuck a babe (or 4) snugly into their beds after an eventful day. This has also become one of my most challenging duties to tackle! It seems as if the kids aren’t always “feeling” the need to unwind quite like I am, and somehow they no longer find sleep as desirable or as easy to attain. Who would have thought?!

As I’ve come to realize how important a good night’s sleep is for my sanity my children, I have set out to find ways to help make their transition to bedtime as easy as possible.

Here are some of the things that work for our clan:

Establish a bedtime routine that is functional, yet fun.

Most kids find it easier to relax when they have an idea of what’s coming next. Slow-paced activities that they enjoy also help to settle them down a bit from a busy day. Our kids love baths, so we start off our evening routine with that. (If your kids hate getting in the tub, maybe the morning would be a better time for them, instead!)

Keep a few special books, games, or stuffed animals set aside ‘for bedtime use only’ and allow several minutes of quiet time play on the bed. This will encourage them to think of their bed as “a special place” and not the “enemy”.

Start early.

Our youngest three have a bedtime of 7pm. Really! In order to have adequate time to bathe, read, sing, etc., this means we need to start at approximately 6pm.

Kids are more likely to enjoy bedtime if they are not exhausted or cranky. Plus, I know I am much better suited for the task if I don’t have to rush. I tend to be more patient in the earlier hours of evening as well.

Consider using room darkening blinds.

No one wants to go to sleep with the sun shining in their eyes! Not only that, but studies have shown that our bodies actually are best rested when we get at least 8 hours of “dark time” sleep a night..and that time increases for children. We were able to buy our blinds for just $10 a piece.

Evaluate naptimes.

If you would like to get your children to bed earlier at night, it might be necessary to keep them awake for a longer stretch of time during the day.

Our girls need at least 6 hours between naptime and bedtime to be able to get to sleep easily. Now that they take just one nap per day, fitting it into mid-morning works best to keep their bedtime routine running smoothly. If they seem to be getting a bit restless later in the afternoon, a short quiet time activity or video can do wonders.

Be creative.

Some of the best childhood memories I have are from my own bedtime. My mother would gather us all together to sing some tunes, sometimes making up different words just for fun.

My dad was a creative genius. He would tell us the most fabulous stories that he would create with his own imagination, and we could not wait to go to bed each night to listen to these wonderful concoctions. Occasionally he would let each of us pick a word or two and then would incorporate those words into the plot to encourage our own creativity and to keep our attention. He also would give us “question tests”, to assess our knowledge in both important and trivial subjects alike.

Even though I have nowhere near the talent he did for those stories, I have started a similar tradition with our oldest son. He is now 10 years old, yet he’d gladly go to bed for me at 7pm as well if he knew he’d get a good story out of the deal. (Do I sense a date night brewing in anyone’s mind?!)

Group ‘em together.

If I’m giving one baby a bath, why not add in two more?! The same goes for story time, prayer, and bedtime around our house. Especially since all 3 little ones currently share a room! It’s much easier on me not to have to repeat the same steps throughout the evening, and then there is the additional blessing of having them all fall asleep around the same time. The children enjoy getting to spend their last moments of the day with one another. It’s a win-win situation.

Stay close by till they’re asleep.

I like to spend some quality time with my older son and husband after the children go to bed at night. Often they’d be waiting for me downstairs in the living room, and I would no sooner go down to meet them before I’d hear the pitter-patter of little feet running across the floor upstairs. After having gone up and down those steps enough times to make a full length work out video, it finally occurred to me that just a few extra minutes upstairs would make all the difference.

If you’re a mama who trains her kids to stay put once they’re tucked in, just knowing you are nearby may be enough to keep them in line, and in bed! I like to peek in and make eye contact every few minutes until they are asleep. This saves me loads of time and frustration!

Start the day with praise!

Every morning we like to greet the new day with singing, dancing, and praising God together as a family. We use a variety of dvd’s, cd’s, musical instruments and dancing scarves to keep things interesting. At night, we almost always end up talking about how fun it’s going to be to worship God together again in the morning, as this is just a bit of enticement for them to get to sleep more quickly. Hey, it works, and I say if it doesn’t hurt anything, then go for it!

If you’d like the chance to win one of our favorite family time praise dvd’s, stop over and check out my giveaway, sponsored by the legendary Donut Man! I know you’ll love him as much as we do!

Enjoy the moment.

Before we know it, our children will be old enough to get to sleep all by themselves, and will grow out of wanting bedtime stories each night. Keeping this in mind helps me to continue on in joy, even on nights where things aren’t working out according to plan.

Let’s join together to give thanks to God for the opportunity to care for the children he’s entrusted to us, remembering to “put on” the grace he offers us to make an impact in their lives, one day (or night) at a time.

How do you make bedtimes better for your little ones?

Leah enjoys a simple life as wife and home schooling mama to 4- ages 9,3,2, and (almost) 1! Through the Lord’s strength and amazing grace she has overcome a past of drug addiction, approval addiction, and atheism, and now knows her true identity as a child of the King! Recently challenged by personal hardship, Leah started her blog, Dance And Be Glad, to share her heart and testimony of the power of God to bring joy, health, and healing back into our homes.

Image credit peasap

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Written by Beth Corcoran, Contributing Writer

If you reside in a cooler climate, you probably can enjoy being outdoors all day long.

But I live in the middle of Oklahoma, where temperatures frequently are miserable, and it can even be dangerous to play outside in the middle of the day.  For that reason, my kids primarily play outdoors in the early morning and then again after dinner.  And because their outdoor playtime is limited to just a few hours a day, I want to make the most of that time.

My kids are all little, and I know it is really important for little ones to be developing their motor skills in preparation for school.  I also believe it is so important for kids to learn simplicity in their play.  Toys have become so high tech and over stimulating, and I really try to help my kids to play the “old fashioned” way using only their imaginations and nature.

I don’t regularly schedule a ton of outdoor activities because my children seem content on just playing make believe games or chase with each other.  I think that needs to be encouraged.  But when the kids are getting bored or we all just need a change of pace, that’s when I pull out my list of fun outdoor activities. While I doubt any of these games or activities will be earth-shattering revelations to you, I want to share just a few of our family favorites with you.

Gross Motor Skills

Play that involves large body movement will help your child develop their gross motor skills.  Riding bikes, hopping, skipping, playing hop scotch—these are all great for your kids’ bodies. Most outdoor play is in some way involving the gross motor skills.

A favorite game with my kids is “Letter Hide and Seek.” I played a game very similar to this growing up, but I have changed it just a bit.  I’m currently working on teaching my little ones the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make.

I have 6 children, so I assign a letter to 6 different trees or objects, and then we also assign a home base. (For example, the oak tree is the letter A, and the wheelbarrow is letter B, etc.)  One child is “it” and the others hide behind the lettered objects.  The child that is “it” calls out a letter and the sound it makes, and if there is a child behind that object, that child becomes the next “it” person unless they can make it to home base without first being tagged.

This is a great activity because they are getting a lot of energy out with the running, and they are also learning. You could easily adapt this activity for reviewing older children by assigning the trees names of planets in the solar system, elements in the periodic table, etc.

Image by karihun

Fine Motor Skills

Actions that require more delicate control of smaller muscle groups will help with fine motor skills.  Playing in the sandbox, digging in the dirt, picking up bugs (perhaps to your dismay, but we collect them around here!), and stacking rocks are all fun ways to develop these skills.

Outside, one way I try to help with fine motor skills is to have the kids help me pick berries.  It takes just the right combination of firmness yet gentleness to get a berry off the tree without squeezing all the juice out.  My kids really enjoy helping me with that, although my two and three year olds still get covered in juice.  Even if you don’t have berries in your yard, kids love to help with picking flowers or veggies from the garden, or digging for worms in the soil.

One of the favorites at our home—especially with my girls—is making flower necklaces.  The kids like to pick wildflowers (I really mean weeds) and then sew them together.  Sometimes they use string for their creations, but often I will find that they have used sticks to poke holes through the flowers and then used long grass blades as the thread.  They are pretty neat!

Ocular Motor Skills

Helping your children develop their ocular motor skills will help them to focus on objects better, and will ultimately lead to a better ability to read. There are so many things to see and focus on outdoors!  Think of all that could be seen with a magnifying glass in your backyard!

One evening, I was with my kids in the backyard when my oldest daughter started to yell, “Look Momma, there’s an elephant!”  I was very confused because she seemed to be looking in our backyard.  Then my son chimed in that he, too, saw the elephant.  Turns out that the elephant they were seeing was really a cloud shaped like an elephant.

But this got me thinking about how little time we take to actually lay back and watch the shapes in the clouds.  So, I’ve tried to be more intentional about that.  The evening or early morning is a great time for this because the sun will not be dangerously blinding during those times.  Since that day, we have seen ships, whales, bugs, and cars—all floating over our house!

Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear about outdoor activities that work well for your family.  What do you do to develop important motor skills?

I am the mother of four children (wait- make that six as of recently!)—two girls and two boys, ages 7, 6, 5, and 2 ½. While not homeschooling or chauffeuring the kids to their activities, I enjoy all kinds of craft projects and learning how to be a better steward of all that the Lord has given me. My blog is stewardshipnotconvenience.blogspot.com.

Photo credit: Brit.

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By Emily McClements, Contributing Writer

If you’re anything like me, you may have read in books, watched on a Nanny show, or read posts on blogs about creating a routine for your children.  It all sounds so wonderful to have perfectly planned out days where you are super productive, spend lots of quality time with your children and spouse, and even end up being able to pursue hobbies or interests for yourself.

And then, if you’re anything like me, you tried to create a perfect plan and then got super discouraged and frustrated when your first few days on the new plan didn’t create the results you were expecting.  So, you may have given up on having any kind of a routine at all.  This is basically how I operated up until a few months ago.

I have 2 young kiddos and from the beginning I wanted desperately to get them on a “schedule”.  After each of my babies was born, I would write down when they slept and when they ate to try to figure out what their “natural” schedule was.  Neither of my kids fell into a routine on their own.  In fact, I tried and tried for several months and had such a hard time getting my youngest onto a schedule, and then when I finally implemented a routine for his older sister, his routine fell right into place.  Funny how that works, isn’t it?

If you’re a new mama, or new to having a routine for your days, you may feel a little bit overwhelmed with how to get started with a schedule or routine – I know I did. And this can be especially true when you have young children and no two days are ever the same.

Photo by juhansonin

Here are a few ideas that I used in creating a routine for my days:

1. List Ideas. Write down some ideas for what you want to do with your kids on a regular basis.  When I was first trying to come up with a plan, I had a hard time deciding what it was I actually wanted to do.  Over the course of about a week, if we would do something fun or productive, I would write it down.  I kept of list of things I wanted to try to incorporate into our days.

Some of my ideas included things like doing “yoga” with my daughter in the morning, time for me to clean up after meals, doing a kitchen task with my daughter, cleaning up toys and then reading books before naps, and time outside when it’s nice out.

2. Take Notes. When you have a day that goes really well and things run smoothly (not like those happen all that often!) write it down.  Take note of the schedule or routine that you followed for that day, and why you think it worked well for you and your kiddos.

3. Start with Less. When you are finally ready to make your first schedule or routine, less is more.  Try not to fill every minute or even every 15 minutes of time.  Use 1 or even 2 hour chunks of time for what you want to do, that way you won’t feel pressured or stressed when your routine is off a little – which it definitely will be, but that okay!  If you need an example, here’s our routine that we try to follow most days.

4. Tweak It. I’m still tweaking my routine on a regular basis.  There are some things that after trying them for a while, I decided weren’t really a necessary part of our routine.  And I have added things along the way too.  The key to adding things to your routine is to do it slowly and only add one new thing at a time.

5. Give Yourself Grace. You will have days that look nothing like the routine that you have down on paper.  You will have days were it takes you all day to accomplish what you usually have done by lunchtime. It’s okay.  Be flexible. What’s important to remember is that routines give you a guideline for your days and help your little ones to know what to expect, but that doesn’t mean if you get off that the routine isn’t working for you.  As you work at implementing your routine, eventually most of your days will look a lot like your plan on paper, and most is better than none at all.

Routines are a great way for us as mamas to give consistency to our days and to our families.  They are great for helping us to be productive and get the things done that we need to around our homes. If you don’t have a routine in place, I would encourage you to try it out and see what works best for you.  Having a good routine can help us be the wives and mothers that God has called us to be.

Do you have a routine in place for your days?  How does it help you in your role as wife, mother and home manager?

Emily is a blessed wife and mama to two little ones. She is passionate about caring for God’s creation and people by being a good steward of the resources He has provided. As part of her journey towards living more “frugally green” she blogs about the things she is learning and the changes she is making at Live Renewed.

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Why pocket diapers?

For over 4 years, I used fitted diapers with covers, and I was happy with them. Yes, they could be a bit bulky but I didn't have any major issues. They were simple to use and cost effective to buy.

Then I discovered pocket diapers. I have been a bit like a kid in a candy store. I'm in love. Here's why:

• Pocket diapers are more trim and fitted.
• They come in so many adorable colors and designs.
• In my experience, they have kept my babies drier and more free of diaper rash
• They can be stuffed with various sizes and styles of inserts and doublers, making them very versatile for different situations (day or night, nap or car ride, light or heavy wetter).
• They're super simple for Dads and sitters to use.
• There are many adjustable one-size options available, good for use from newborn up to potty training.
• They have considerably cut down on the space that I need to store my diapering supplies, as I use mostly one-sized diapers now, rather than having so many different sizes from my fitted and covers days.

Yes, they're a bit pricier than some options. But the ease, simplicity and flexibility they offer, and the comfort for my babies (all with sensitive skin), makes them so worthwhile for me. I have transitioned over and will probably never go back. My only exception to this is the very early newborn weeks, when prefolds and covers just make sense.

Cost comparisons:

I am not comparing based on price, because within the realm of pocket diapers, I have found the prices to be very similar. The pocket diapers that I am reviewing all go for about $17-19 on average (US prices), depending which store you buy them from. Occasionally I will find something on sale for around $14-16. It is best to buy them in bulk, in package deals of 3, 6 or 12 at a time for the greatest discounts.

It's really about searching for the right deal, for the particular diaper that you're interested in. I have found great deals on almost every diaper at one time or another.

How I reviewed the diapers:

I thought it best to create a simple chart that would compare each diaper on the same elements. Here's an explanation of what I was considering as I reviewed each diaper:

Diapers are rated on a scaled of 1 to 5, with 1 being terrible and 5 being amazing. And honestly, none of them were terrible. I would stop using them if they were. Some were simply better than others, and the fact is, there are lots of other great diapers out there that I haven't yet had an opportunity to try.

I've chosen some of the most popular and well known pocket diapers on the market, including mostly one-sized and a few perfect size (S,M,L) diapers. These are all diapers that I personally use, week in and week out, on my sweet girlie pictured above and some have also been tried out on my 2 1/2 year old son.

BumGenius 3.0 One-Size

BumGenius was the first pocket diaper that I fell in love with. It started to fit my newborn within about a month of her birth, and right from the start gave a great fit due to it's velcro closures. They fit very well around the legs, with no leaking. And the colors are bold and adorable.

After much wear, the inner and outer fabric on my BumGenius diapers looks and feels great. Very little pilling. The elastic is still going strong.

I wish I could say the same for the velcro. It may give a great fit, but it is this diapers worst feature. The front velcro strip is getting quite pilly. The side velcro fasteners are showing a lot of wear and I have to clean them off frequently. They will need to be replaced before the next baby, but thankfully BumGenius supplies replacement velcro tabs for free if you call and ask for them.

My one major complaint is that they don't get big enough to necessarily fit all the way through potty training. For some smaller kids, they'd be fine. For a real chunky monkey, probably not so much. At 7 months and probably 18-20 lbs, Johanna is almost in the largest setting (although that setting will fit her for a long time- my little guy did wear them briefly after he turned 2).

Fuzzi Bunz One-Size

I wasn't sure that I could love another diaper as much as I initially loved my BumGenius, but I was wrong. The new Fuzzi Bunz one-size is hands down my current favorite diaper.

It uses a unique cinching system with the leg elastics that allows you to change the size from the inside, rather than using a snap system on the front of the diaper (like most pockets). This ultimately means a less bulky, funny shaped one-size- hooray! It also keeps the legs fitting snugly, no matter what size your baby is.

I haven't had my Fuzzi Bunz One-Size for as long as some of my others, but so far they are holding up pretty well. I do notice that Fuzzi Bunz inner fabrics tend to pill in general, but this doesn't really affect their use. They take slightly longer to dry than some of my other pockets (I air-dry mine).

Best of all, they are quite large and should definitely last well into toddlerhood for most children. Truly a one-size fits all. I'm a happy mama.

Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size

These are the predecessor of the Fuzzi Bunz One-Size. They come in x-small, small, medium, and large. They fit VERY generously. The small is supposed to fit a 7 lb baby, but it took my daughter several months to be able to fit it well enough to prevent leaks, and in fact, my petite 2 year old could actually fit into it. At 7 months (and somewhat chubby) my daughter is still easily in the small, and is just beginning to fit the medium on it's smaller settings.

That said, with the correct sized diaper, they still give a great and leakproof fit. Due to their "perfect size", they are slightly less bulky than the one-size option, though I don't feel the difference is very significant.

I find these ones a little easier to stuff than a lot of the one-sized pockets, and easier to dump the inserts into the diaper pail without having to reach in and grab them (usually a good shake will do the job). They are also one of my fastest drying. But, they have seemed to stain/wear the most on the inside, and I am even seeing a bit of strain on the PUL (outer layer) of 2 of mine (this is after about 6 months of continuous use).

*Thanks to Just Bumming Around for all the Fuzzi Bunz diapers to review!

Happy Heiny's  One-Size Snap

These also come in a velcro version, but I got these when I was really curious to try some snap-only diapers and see if I liked them better, as I was getting frustrated with the velcro while washing.

This is another one with lots of room to grow. These shouldn't have any problem accommodating most toddlers. Only problem is that they don't offer a great fit on newborns or young babies. They have plenty of snaps (more than any other), so in theory you should be able to achieve a good fit.

I just found that there was too bulk around the waist and though they technically "fit", it wasn't until she got to be about 12-13 lbs that I felt they started to fit more comfortably (and now that she's bigger, they fit really well and are becoming one of my favorites- who knew?).

Also easy to stuff and wash, and fairly quick drying. High quality, these wear well and are a good pick.

Wahmies One Size with Snaps

One of my favorite aspects of this diaper is it's velour lining. It is so soft and usually feels quite dry to the touch when I change Johanna out of it. I'm not sure if it's just a fortunate diaper that has never seen a lot of #2, but it is as clean and snow white as the day I got it still!

These have great fitting leg elastics, though I do worry that they might get slightly tight as she gets really big. There isn't a ton of room to grow, which is my major complaint with this one (and the reason for the low Value rating). I really like it, but I can't see her fitting into it past 2 years old (but I could be wrong).

Unlike many other diapers, this one only has one row of snaps along the front. This isn't a really big deal, but I find that two rows offers a more snug fit and less bunching in the front. The snap version of Wahmies (which is what I have- I haven't tried their hook closure style) has some elastic near the belly button and by the top of the bum as well, I presume to improve fit and comfort. To me, it doesn't make much of a difference, but maybe it would have if I got it when Johanna was a newborn?

These do wash and dry very well, and they offer a nice, trim fit and seem to be quite well-made.

Rocky Mountain One-Size

I remember being so surprised when I pulled this one out of it's package and saw that the inside was blue! Every other pocket diaper I own is white on the inside. Although the color choices are limited, I like that there are different color options for the inner layer, and this will help to keep it nice looking over time while white inner layers get somewhat stained.

Another neat feature is that the inner layer is a type of suedecloth. It is very soft, keeps baby quite dry, and seems to wear better than others. It also dries quite quickly and washes well.

Similar to the Fuzzi Bunz One-Size, these diapers have inner elastic systems that tighten the legs. Rather than a button system like FB, Rocky Mountain uses a snap system that works quite well. These diapers definitely get a good fit around the legs and avoid leaks. But, like the Wahmies, they have only one set of snaps across the front, so they can also bunch a bit from time to time, which is why I couldn't give a 5 for fit.

Lastly, although these are nice and roomy for a growing baby, they sure do have a narrow opening for stuffing inserts! Definitely a little bit harder to stuff and sometimes (yuck), I have to manually pull the wet insert out rather than simply shake it out.

DryBees Sized Pockets

I used the size small when Johanna was a newborn. It was great to have a pocket diaper that really, truly fit her when she was so small.

Unfortunately, there were a few things about these diapers that just weren't too great. I had issues with the velcro top curling down a bit, and sometimes the velcro would rub on her tummy (not so nice). I had to really pay attention to how I put them on to try to minimize the chances of this happening.

My other issue was in washing them. The velcro tabs are supposed to stay in place while washing, but without fail, they would come open and attach themselves onto other diapers in the load.

I did speak to a company representative about the issues, and though they couldn't replace my diapers (because I knowingly bought them from a clearance site without a warranty), she did say that these issues don't usually happen, so perhaps these seconds (as in, not perfect diapers, hence the deep discount) that I got just had particular issues with their velcro.

Otherwise, they were great to use, as far as easy stuffing and cleaning, quick drying, and nice fit around the legs on a little baby.

DryBees Fleece Night Times

After speaking with the DryBees rep, I decided to take a chance on reviewing their fleece night diaper, to see if I was any fonder of it. The answer is definitely, it's been much better!

I haven't had  any velcro issues as far as rubbing on the belly or curling down (though the sides still sometimes open in the wash). They seem much more comfortable for her.

This diaper is unique in that it is fleece, and does not have a waterproof PUL outer layer. I didn't know what to think of this, but surprisingly have found that it really does make a great nighttime diaper! It's nice and soft, with really sturdy and well-reinforced leg elastics, to prevent nighttime leaks. The only leaking I have had is if she's been up nursing many times during the night, and she probably would have leaked in any pocket diaper on those occasions.

This diaper can be a bit bulky, so I choose to use it only for nighttime. These are also fitted, not one-sized. As with the other Dry Bees diapers, they fit just as their fitting chart says that they will.

*Thanks to Cloth Diaper Company for the Dry Bees Fleece Night Time, Wahmies, and Rocky Mountain Diapers to review!

Haute Pockets One-Size

I felt that out of all the diapers with velcro, these ones had the highest quality velcro. It seemed to withstand washing well, and have the strongest grip. The front strip has stayed in great condition, while my BumGenius has gotten more frayed and pilled.

One feature that I liked in these diapers was the shape of the front of the diaper. Others have a more rectangular shape in the front, and the Haute Pocket has a nice curve to it. It also has inserts that are not just long, but also have a wider curve on one end to sit exactly into these front curves. I'm not exactly sure why, but I like it and feel that it gives a bit better front coverage.

These really do fit nicely. Very trim elastic around the legs, and the velcro gives such a perfect, snug fit in the front. Although the ones I have are hot pink, I did use them on my son (shhh, he never needs to know these details of his infancy) when he was over two, and they still worked really nicely on him.

I did have a problem with the PUL on mine, that neither I nor the customer service reps could understand. It unfortunately made them not as waterproof, relegating my once beloved Haute Pockets to being used as mere backup diapers. Customer service would have happily replaced them for me, but they were a gift and I had no receipt. Alas. I will most likely get more in the future (with a receipt, this time!), to give them another go. And maybe not in hot pink. :)

I'm sure many of you have your own opinions and thoughts about many of these pocket diapers, and perhaps other brands. Feel free to chime in and let us know what you think!

Our Sponsors:

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1. May I Review Your Lovely Products?

*The Tiny Tooshies instruction link is now fixed!*

Today is the debut of the first of my new contributing writers here at Keeper of the Home. Over the next 6 weeks or so, you will get a chance to "meet" each contributor, and shortly I will have a contributor's page up with their photos and bios.

___________________________________

Our first writer, Angela Beery, has created her own pattern for making a homemade, one-size cloth diaper and it looks excellent! Making your own diapers is a wonderful way to use up extra material, and to make diapers that are extremely frugal as well.

Here's a look at the diaper:

Diaper front (size small)

Diaper front (size large)

Diaper side (size small)

Diaper back

Want to try making this diaper yourself? Here's what you'll need:

Diaper Pattern - This is the printable pattern, with tracers for your fabric pieces.

Tiny Tooshie - These are the written instructions for putting together your own "Tiny Tooshie" diaper. One thing to note is that there is an option of either keeping these as simple cloth diapers, which you would put a cover over OR the other option is to use a waterproof fabric on the outside to make them all-in-one diapers.

Note- to download these files, click on the link once. On the page that it brings you to, click on the 2nd link.

Angela's Cloth Wipes "Recipe"

• 3 cups warm water
• 2 T olive oil
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil (or scent of your choice)
• 2 drops Tea Tree Oil
• 2 T baby wash

1.) Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

2.) Soak baby washcloths or other soft cloth in mixture and place in wipes holder. Do not wring out completely. The wipes holder will keep wipes moist until ready for use.

Angela Beery, former So-Cal city girl and world traveler fully embraces her simple, yet abundant, life in a small town at the foothills of the Colorado Rockies. She and her husband love serving the Lord with The Salvation Army - Angela, as a volunteer and her husband as a youth and music pastor. When not chasing around her 18 month old daughter, Angela enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking low-fat meals and crafting of every kind. You can read more about her journey as a homemaker at her blog, Domestic Godliness.

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup
2. Real Food Recipe Roundup: January
3. May I Review Your Lovely Products?
4. Healthy Holiday Recipes: Incredibly Yummy Homemade Egg Nog

Knowing how to prepare real, whole foods is an absolutely necessary life skill that every child should learn. Children who are not taught the basics of food preparation will end up defaulting to processed, packaged foods, simply because they haven't learned to make anything better.

If we don't take the time to teach them, how will they ever learn?

I know that having little (dirty, mischievous) hands in the kitchen isn't always the easiest or most convenient thing. Kids make messes. The put in the wrong ingredients. Things get spilled. Eggs get dropped. You can sweep up more flour when you're finished than what was actually put into the recipe. It takes longer than if you just did it yourself.

It can also be incredibly rewarding. I've been letting both of my oldest children help mama in the kitchen since they were about 1 1/2 years old. Naturally, the "helping" looks different depending on their age and skill, but they love it nonetheless and I know that no matter how small, they are still learning valuable life skills alongside me.

I recently noticed that my 5 year old daughter has grown significantly in her ability to knead bread. She didn't really get the concept very well up until now and sort of played around with the dough, but today her motions were much smoother and more consistent. I praised her for this, and informed her that pretty soon I was going to be able to just ask her to make the bread for our family, instead of mama having to do it every time. She beamed proudly, and went back to kneading her own little portion of bread dough.

We all have frazzled moments where it's easier to do it ourselves than to invite our children into the process. I can often be guilty of this, whether it's because I'm frantically trying to get dinner on the table at 5:57 with a crying baby, or when I'm scrambling to make the house presentable before guests arrive.

My own stress and impatience cause me to undervalue what could be an opportunity to take my child under my wing and let them learn to help me. The results might not be perfect, but I have never regretted the moments when I have slowed down enough to invite them into the things that I am doing.

In what ways are you successfully training your children in cooking and homemaking skills? What are your weak areas?

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: Notes from a Small Kitchen
2. Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: Ferments Everywhere
3. Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: My Recipe Binder
4. A Simple Plan for Healthy Food: The GNOWFGLINS Fundamentals eCourse

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Two questions for you, ladies!
2. Going with the flow of learning
3. Cooking With Littles
4. Toys that could actually be worth buying

**Don't forget that the Healthy Holidays Eats and Sweet Carnival is this upcoming Tuesday, Dec.8th! Start getting your whole/real foods holiday recipes ready to contribute!**

Wooden car made by Bajo

Why We Care About the Toys We Choose

It all started a little over two years ago. Recalls on toys (particularly from China) were coming out left, right and center. Our little guy was about 5-6 months old and just starting to put absolutely everything in his mouth. I found a recalled toy among our bunch- a very non-threatening looking set of cloth baby blocks made by Baby Einstein. There was too much lead in the paint designs on it's side. It sort of pushed me over the edge, and thus my search for something better began. No way, no how was I going to let my baby and toddler suck, bite, gnaw, lick (come on, admit it, your kids do the same things!) on highly toxic, junky plastic, phthalate-enriched, heavy-metal laced toys of unknown origins.

Add to that our growing desire as parents to stay away from all of the blinking-light, loud-noise-making, battery-requiring toys, and instead fill our home up with items that truly fostered imagination, rather than encouraging passivity. We decided that we really wanted to avoid toys that simply entertain. Instead, we wanted things that spurred them on to creative play. We also wanted to steer clear of all the tv and movie character toys out there (Dora, Disney princesses, Sponge Bob, and the likes).

Nope, this isn't my son, but he received this gorgeous Haba toy last Christmas

I love the motto at one of my favorite toy stores, Oompa: "No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period."

Now, I'm the first to admit that we're not purists and we do own a lot of toys (more than I'd like, actually), but we still keep a really close eye on what comes in, and we've been working hard to get rid of toys we're not so keen on. As we get rid of them (donating them to charity or thrift stores), we slowly add in higher-quality toys. We will probably have a few less in the end (which actually sounds great to me), but they will be toys that go the distance through many different children (we're going for 12, remember?) and our children will appreciate what they have more if they aren't inundated with an entire roomful of toys.

What We Look For:

Not battery operated. Toys that don't "perform" for you. Preferably from Canada, USA or Europe (though I know that some toys are responsibly made in other parts of the world, including China, and so this isn't a strict rule). Something that I think will enhance and support my children's natural creativity. Toys that are fun, interesting or appealing somehow (something bright made with non-toxic paints, or a soft and adorable plush doll, or a really unique game or puzzle). Toys that appear to be well-made and that will go the distance and handle lots of childish abuse.

A push-cart from Haba (just might be my favorite toy maker), our son's 1 year birthday present

A few important things to look for:

1. If it's a painted item, you want to specifically see that they've used a non-toxic paint or finish, because even cute wooden toys can be painted with lead-based paints (or other paints that still have a lot of chemicals in them). Water based paints are best. Another option is to purchase unfinished wooden toys and paint or finish them yourself.
2. Check to see if it's certified according to European specifications. They are much stricter than any North American standards for manufacturers. Some excellent European brands to look for: Haba, Kathy Kruse, Vulli, Keptin Jr., Sigikid, Bajo. Plan Toys is another that meets their specifications.

So what kind of toys do we own?

• Building sets- lego, wooden blocks, Wedgits, peg boards.
• Dress up clothes, costumes, hats, purses.
• Kitchen play- We have a wooden play kitchen, plus plenty of dishes, pretend foods, a tea set, etc.
• Dolls- plus carriages, beds, blankets, clothing, and even a little baby doll sling I made for my daughter when I was pregnant with my son.
• Puzzles and games.
• Vehicles- We especially love all things wooden! Trains, cars, planes, emergency vehicles, even wooden animals with wheels.
• Animals- We have both a farm and a zoo and plenty of animals to fill them with. We've just recently fallen in love with the brand Schleich, which makes incredibly detailed, very solidly made animal figurines (and other accessories). German brand, made in China, but they're still high quality, and we're starting to collect them this year.
• For baby- a few simple teething toys suffice. Our little one (though she's not quite there yet at 3 1/2 mths) has a couple of colorful wooden ones, one round wooden teether with a soft bear on it, and an organic cotton soft baby doll.
• Musical instruments- For Christmas, we bought the older kids a wooden drum set made by Plan Toys. Last year Abbie received a child-sized guitar (you know you've got a musician for a father when...). Lots of tambourines, shakers, bells, etc.
• For outdoors- We have a few balls and bikes. That seems to suffice, because there are so many things in nature that are infinitely more interesting than toys!

A wooden teether from Plan Toys, one of the first "natural" baby toys we bought

Where to Get Great Toys:

Oompa- Probably my favorite online toy store, simply because they have such an incredibly large selection of toys, games and puzzles, furniture, decor, dress up, baby stuff, etc. and it's basically all non-toxic, made with natural materials, eco-friendly and adheres to our creativity-enhancing criteria. Prices are reasonable, customer service is good, and I promise you'll have fun looking through what they sell!

Baby Naturopathics- I love this "kid and earth friendly boutique". They carry many of the same types of toys as Oompa, and also have things like organic children's clothing, glass bottles, etc. This store happens to be Canadian! Yay!

Amazon- Yes, surprisingly (or maybe not with how Amazon is expanding these days) they carry a great supply of safe and adorable toys! Furniture, baby teething toys, organic dolls and stuffies, wooden puzzles and blocks. Lots of the big names out there (Haba, Plan Toys, Under the Nile, etc.). We got Johanna's Christmas presents through Amazon (a wooden teether and an organic cloth clutching doll) using our Swagbucks.

Baby Because- I first discovered this store when buying some cloth diapering supplies, but they also have a nice selection of playthings, plus baby feeding supplies, infant carriers, etc.

Tons of small, independent toy makers- Truly, there are just so many of them out there! I realized this year that Etsy is a fabulous place to look, with shops like Small Town Toys and The Wood Garden (both carry handcrafted wooden toys) or BeckyM's shop (with the most adorable play food I may have ever seen!). You can also often find independent toy makers at craft fairs or festivals. Last year our kids received beautiful, hand-crafted and very unique wooden puzzles from a lady my Nana discovered at a craft fair. My parents found someone a few hours north of where we live who makes sturdy wooden vehicles. (So yes, my kids were spoiled last year!)

Waldorf Toys- To learn more about the Waldorf methods and philosophy, read this excellent guest post on my blog. There are many online shops selling absolutely beautiful Waldorf-style toys, such as Waldorf Treasures or Bella Luna Toys.

The doll we bought Johanna for Christmas, in organic cotton by Under the Nile. Similar in style to some Waldorf dolls.

More places to find safe and amazing toys:

The Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide

Safe Mama's 2008 Safe Toy Guide (sorry, but there doesn't appear to be a 2009)

The Daily Green: Safe Toy Watch

And another wonderful option: Making your own toys!

You can make your own Waldorf dolls, or your own teething toys (with organic cloth even). Some friends of ours once made a simple and small set of wooden blocks with our daughter's name carved into them, and they finished the wood by rubbing them with Crisco (ok, so it's not a fat that I would choose to eat-- lard or tallow or butter are much better choices!-- but it's a far cry from varnish or lacquer!). Michele at Frugal Granola has also made play food for her daughter out of felt- so cute!

I'm not the handiest person around, so I don't pretend to know how to make my own toys, but there are so many resources out there (books, websites, etc.) if you just take a look!

One of our daughter's favorite games, Tottering Towers by Haba.

How do you feel about toys and what are the guidelines for the toys that you allow in your home? Any other resources to share with us for purchasing safe and natural toys, or even for making some of our own?

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Toys that could actually be worth buying
2. Natural Living- A Beginner’s Approach
3. Living Simply Saturdays: Keeping the toy mess in check
4. How to Have Natural Childbirth in the Hospital