After cloth diapering for two years as a nanny, I knew it was for me. I loved it. It was just as easy as disposables, but so much better for the environment. Even if the environment wasn’t a factor, my charge never got diaper rashes in his cloth diapers, but would frequently get rashes in his disposables. Cloth diapers just looked more comfortable, and it had the added perk of being chemical free!

1. Prep 2. Lift 3. WOAH 4. Did you see mama? I almost rolled over!

When I exclaimed to my husband that we should definitely cloth diaper, I was bracing for negativity, but was met with equal excitement. He was on board! We put a few cloth diapers on our registry and ended up with 3 total. 

When Emerson was born, at just a mere 6lbs, I knew it’d be a while until she fit into her big cloth diapers. I ended up ordering some newborn cloth diapers from a site in China. A week or so later my gal was decked out in her cute newborn cloth diapers. The newborns were a little tricky since my little lady had super skinny legs and a big ol’ belly… we did have some leaking issues until we discovered a little trick of twisting the Velcro to tighten the leg.

They worked just fine, so I went back to the site a couple days later and stocked up. For the price of two boxes of disposables, I order enough diapers to do diaper laundry once every 4 or 5 days, and these should last until she’s potty trained. I believe I told Kyle “There’s good news and bad news. The good news is, the diapers came in! The bad news is, I totally went overboard and we now have a TON of diapers, but more good news, I don’t have to do laundry everyday now!”

about 2/3rds of the “stash”

Right now some of the little things you do, Emmie, are the cutest. You are really quite wiggly! If you’re having awake time, and you’ve napped well so you’re happy, you just won’t stop moving. You move your arms, and you move your legs, you move your head from side to side to look all around. One of my favorite movements is where you’re arms are flailing around and you end up smacking your own belly with, usually, a flat palm. That certainly cracks me up everytime. I’m not sure if it’s the look of sheer surprise on your face, or the little hallow “thump” sound your belly makes, but either way I’m loving it.

You want me to sit still for a picture?

You’re making more sounds now and I love that as well. You are starting to grab things and pull them to your mouth. Another favorite of mine is when you grab my hand and pull it to your mouth to try to eat it.

Let’s not forget about those expressions that you’ve been mastering. You love using your eyebrows to communicate. Your little brows get quite the daily workout. It wouldn’t be complete without your little forehead wrinkles that you’ve inherited from your daddy.

How’s this? And this? Is this good? What about now?

Recently, since you’ve been so wiggly, burping you has become quite the challenge. I’ve developed the whole-arm hold where I place my whole forearm down your belly and let you sit on my hand, while my other hand tries to coax that air out. You wrap your little arms around my arm in a full body hug, and it makes me melt every. single. time.

Oh man Mom, you don’t have to hold me, I swear I was going to stay still for the next one!

You seem so big to me now. So independent, alert and interested in the world around you… and yet, I know, I’m going to miss you this small in just a matter of weeks! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the upcoming weeks and months. Keep on growing and learning, and I’ll keep on appreciating all the little things you do.

Emerson is a lucky little lady. She has Grandparents (and Aunties) who like to spoil her by decking her out in the latest fashions. Her wardrobe is more stylish and more coordinated than my own. Sadly, I’m okay with that. What is it about clothes in a miniature scale that make them so undeniably cute? Alright, it may have something to do with the cutie who’s wearing them, but still, is there anything this little girl can’t make look good?

Dear Emerson,

You like to babble up a storm, and you love to drool. You make spit bubbles too. Daddy is much better about carrying around a little cloth wipe to wipe your mouth, but I just tend to let you drool on yourself until I think you’re uncomfortable, and then we have an outfit change. At least this way you’ll get to wear all those cute clothes Grandparents and Aunties have bought for you. 

I think what I have loved most about this past month is the fact that your little personality is beginning to bloom. You have so many facial expressions and you use a ridiculous amount of eyebrow movement to communicate; I love that about you. I have a feeling we’re just getting a small glimpse into the animated girl you’ll become.

Dear Emerson Claire,

You have rapidly entered the second month of your life. I still cannot believe how quickly you’ve grown, and continue to grow each and every day. Your second month of life started off a bit rough, as we had to take you to get your 2 month shots. It’s safe to say week 8 was a tough week. You were cranky, tired and hard to soothe.

Thankfully week 9 has turned things around. We’re seeing more and more of your happy, calm, alert self. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still having some evening where the Mamaroo has proven its worth over and over again, but for the most part you’re back to being an easy baby.

One of your favorite things is to sit up and watch the world. You particularly enjoy being outdoors. You’ll hold your head up nice and high, taking in the surrounding as long as your neck muscles allow. I must say, you’re head control is getting better and better every day. It sometimes surprises me how long you can hold your head up by yourself. During tummy time you’re starting to push up more on your hands to lift your head even higher– just so you can look around even more.  You still like to scoot around with this semi-army crawl; something the pediatrician says is both exciting to see so early on, but also terrifying (since it most likely means you’ll be a quick learner of crawling/walking).

I’ve started giving you a bath towards the end of the day since you’ve acquired a new skill of drooling. You’re exploring new movements of your mouth, one of which involves repeatedly sticking your tongue in and out of your mouth. You’ll suck on your hands and you’ve figured out how to produce spit bubbles. Needless to say you get quite slobbery towards the evening. I’m also hoping the nice calm bath with help make bedtime easier over time.

You enjoy being in the water now. Before it was just a big cry fest! I’m also figuring out what keeps you calmer in the tub. That’s one of the things- you’re in the big tub already! You love lounging on your tub cushion since it holds lots of warm water in it so it keeps you pretty toasty. In fact, the last two times I put you in the tub you proceeded to give me a wild grin! I’ve noticed that if the water is too cool you are not a happy camper. Sometimes you’ll even kick the water with your feet.

You and I have been busy during the week while Daddy is at work. We go walking on Fridays with our Summer 2014 babies group, we go to our breastfeeding club on Thursdays, and we’ve been getting together with our birthing classmates during the week as well. Don’t forget that we also run errands! I couldn’t think of a better sidekick to have while running errands and doing chores.

Well my little Claire-bear, everyday you look less and less like a generic newborn and more like Emerson… Every day a little more of your personality shines through as well. We’ve been having so much fun watching you grow and learn. Being your Momma rocks.