This past weekend I had my first diaper stripping. Build-up in the diapers (detergent, hard water, stains, etc) gets built up in the diapers and in the inserts. When this happens the diapers do not absorb as well and repel any liquid (pee and poo) that comes into contact with them. Stripping them takes time because you have to rinse many times in the wash to be sure all detergent comes out. After stripping them, a friend told me about an easier way to be sure that you never have to strip the diapers again. Just add a few drops of tea tree oil to the washer each time and it will keep all the funk out of them! Sounds much easier and less time consuming, so thank you, Sarah!!
Work has been going great! Brooklyn is such a great baby for me to work at home with. She is a big time sleeper (like me!) and spends the morning either sleeping or eating which allows me to work. She usually sleeps in her playpen in the basement where I work or in her swing upstairs while I listen on the monitor to the same music playing - getting kind of sick of it now . . . . . .
Mike comes home for lunch everyday. He loves to spend as much time with us as possible and would rather have left overs or whatever he can find than the cafeteria food (except on days when they serve CRISPITO. Apparently, they are just so delicious that he could never miss out on that. Mike has school this week until Thursday with an early release at 2:20.
We are preparing for our big holiday vacation and we leave Friday morning. We will spend a week in Montgomery over Christmas with the McCrady's. Grandma and Grandpa Meuret will join us there from Brunswick, Nebraska. We are excited to introduce them to Brooklyn. Last time we saw them was at Allistair's graduation in June and Brooklyn was just barely a bump in my belly!
I am hoping while in Montgomery that I can finish up some fantastic sewing projects that have been in my box (which is now 2 tubs!) for years and years. Really hoping some of my projects don't turn into decade-long projects!!
Santa will visit Brooklyn in Montgomery. She even got a stocking this year. Wondering what Santa will bring her since she has been such a good girl this year! She is definitely on the nice list (if you watched the video below). We will post pictures of her 1st Christmas next week.
On Friday the 30th, we will head to Bemidji to spend New Years with the Hougens! Mike has to head back to Iowa on Monday, January 2nd because school starts Tuesday. I have decided to spend a few more days in Bemidji visiting my Brother and Sister's families. I am excited to see Ryan and Kristy's new house and Jake and Ashley's new addition to their family, Patrick, who is only a month younger than Brooklyn.
I will head back to Iowa on Friday, January 6th. 2 weeks on the road with a baby, cloth diapers and in the dead of winter! Luckily there is no snow in Iowa or Minnesota. Looks to be a brown winter. I cannot remember the last time that this happened.
