So far...

We've been cloth diapering for two months now, and I just wanted to reflect on my thoughts thus far. It seems like we've been doing it much longer than nine weeks, probably just because it's a little more time consuming than using disposables. That being said, I pretty much love cloth diapering overall. People really get grossed out about poop, but I just don't see what the big deal is. Everybody poops and you have to deal with it somehow!

I like getting clean diapers out of the dryer and they're not a huge pain to wash, like people seem to think. It does get frustrating because a lot nursery workers at church have acted really freaked out about them, but I always try to make it clear that I do my best to change them both right before church and I don't think the diapers I send are that terribly confusing. Most of them are just like disposables, except they secure with velcro instead of whatever the sticky stuff is on disposables. The others snap, and I don't see how that is so confusing! I can understand that dealing with the used diaper can be more of a difficulty, but 99% of the time the kids only poop at home/when we're around, and I also try to make it very clear that all you have to do with the used diaper is put it in our wet bag, whether it's dirty or just wet.

Anyway, I do feel like it was very much worth it to switch, and I wish we would've done it sooner. I was hoping that the cloth would help with getting Samuel to use the potty, but he still is very resistant to the idea. I'm glad we're not wasting any more money on disposables in the meantime, though!

The list grows...

After making that quick post a few days ago, I've already come upon a few more things I cannot seem to prepare properly!

I attempt quiches every now and then and can almost never seem to get the eggs and milk/cream mixture to all fit in the crust! I think I may usually be a little too liberal with the rest of the filling. When I made one Saturday evening I was able to fit everything without much problem probably because I scaled the filling back. It also always takes longer for my quiches to bake, by at least 15, if not 30, minutes! I figured out, thanks to my birthday gift from Brad last year, that my oven does run a little cold, but I have since adjusted it accordingly, and it still takes so much longer than it should for "a knife inserted in the center to come out clean."

I also seem to have issues getting hash browns to actually brown. It always takes longer for them to do it than the recipe states and they're never as yummy and crispy as when my mom makes them!

Somehow I still enjoy cooking. :)

Things I should be able to fix but can't

1. Rice
2. Toasted bread under the broiler
3. Hard boiled eggs

The hard boiled eggs issue has been remedied for the most part thanks to the electric kettle, but no matter how many times or ways I try to make my rice perfect, it's always wet and/or sticky! The bread is merely a function of watching it, and unfortunately I have plenty of distractions to help with that! Maybe I should try that ready rice that might be more difficult to mess up!

I'm a Terrible Hostess

Audrey's birthday is Monday and we're having a party on Sunday because my grandparents will be in town. The sad part is that I'm mainly doing the party out of obligation/guilt because I want it to be "fair" for her to have one, since I did one for Samuel. His first birthday party is the reason that I hate hosting birthday parties, which is the one thing that keeps me from wanting more kids, although it's not a good enough one.

Brad is such a social person, which I am not. I get so stressed about the details of the party that I obviously cannot enjoy one second of it, but he spends the whole time chatting with his buddies and having a good time. I also worry intensely about getting all of the memories of the party captured on film/video. At Samuel's first birthday party, I was so nervous about getting everything set up in just the right spot that I dropped our video camera and broke the battery. I'm so thankful that my Dad dug up his old camcorder and was able to get video anyway (plus he later fixed my battery!). Last year I was only able to get anything documented because Audrey slept literally the entire party. I will admit that I pretty much forgot that she even existed for about an hour due to my stress level. I realize this may take me out of the running for Mother of the Year.

Anyway, I am not at all looking forward to the actual party on Sunday, although I have been spending ample time reading about hosting parties and decorating cakes. I am making the cake myself this afternoon after I get a few z's when I get home from work. Praying it works out.

I found this humorous list that I wish I would've read before having kids:

Please, if you are the type of mother that I am, learn from my mistakes. In the interest of promoting family sanity, I offer my humble list of suggestions for surviving birthday parties:
1. Never ever have children born in the winter. Indoor parties are to be avoided at all costs.
2. Do not let any siblings within a 500 mile radius of the house. They are major party saboteurs. They have been known to blow out the birthday boy's candles.
3. Don't expect any activity to go as planned. My friend made 360 water balloons for her child's fifth birthday, invited six kids, and expected the kids to play with the balloons for an hour. The balloons were all popped ten minutes later.
4. Do as my friend Tamar does. Birthday parties make her so anxious that she tries to postpone them until the next year.
5. Buy your kid ten small presents. She'll never miss the party.