Splish splash splunk
Listening to Den talking to Katherine is absolutely hysterical. “This little piggy was at home. This little piggy was… well, we don’t know where that piggy was. This little piggy has a personality disorder. And I’m not making aaannnyyyy sense, but I’m talking to a baby here, so who cares.”
He’s trying to occupy her in that horrible half an hour before she finally falls asleep for bed. She’s tired, but not falling asleep, she’s whining. “Waaahhh. Waaahhhhh. Ah! Ah!” Which is made even funnier by the fact that in between her little whines she’s smiling at him, then makes a sad face, then dissolves again. Poor little punkin is tired!
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I took Kate in the bath for some tubby time today, I needed to get her washed up. I try to do her bath in the afternoon when she’s awake and not too fussy. So we hopped in, I swooshed her around and cooed at her a little. I soap her up and rinse her off quickly, and I try to make it sound and feel fun, like a massage. I get that done first so that if she starts getting fed up during playtime I can make a quick exit – I’ve learned with her not to push her once she’s reached her limit. Once she’s clean I just hold her in the water and let her experience it. Previously she just floated (with my help, of course), smiled at me and looked around. Today she wanted to “sit” between my legs, with one of my hands supporting her under her bum, my other hand around her chest so she couldn’t flop forward. She leaned back against my chest and let her legs float up to the surface. I watched her as she moved her feet around, feeling the water. She seemed mesmerized. Then she gave a big heave and kicked out hard. SPLASH! went her legs. Oh did she get excited! She kept doing it over and over, freezing and staring after each one. She stayed in the water longer than ever before – which was probably only about 10 minutes or so, but that’s at the edge of her attention span for one single activity. I really need to get some pictures and video of her in the tub, but I guess that would mean I’d have to wear a bathing suit!
Speaking of bathing suits, I wanted to buy one for Kate but I’m not sure it’s worth it for August. And I don’t even know what size to buy – she has a small bum! But I’m itching to take her in a pool and see how she does. (We know someone with a heated salt water pool. It’s lovely!!) I plan to start swim lessons with her at the Y, they start at 6 months old so that would mean Dec/Jan would be when she’d start, and I’m not sure she’ll be the same size then as she is now.
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Also on the topic of shopping, I am having a diaper bag crisis. I had purchased the JuJuBe BeTween. When I got it I had some doubts about the size but tried using it anyways. I loved so much about it, especially the bungee keychain. I love the fabric inside, I love the pockets, I love the mommy pocket. But it was quickly clear that I am an overpacker and it is just too small for anything but quick trips – and with a newborn there’s no such thing as a quick trip. The cloth diapers take up a lot more room than disposables do, plus I like to carry my nursing cover and mai tei carrier with me. I was carrying those items separately, then realized what an idiotic idea it was for me to carry two bags with me everywhere.
I decided I’d try to sell that lovely bag, seeing how it’s barely been used. Then that same day I found a big stain on the front. WTF, how the hell did that happen? Selling or keeping, I am pissed! And it won’t come off! I have absolutely no idea what it’s from. So now I can’t sell it, which means I can’t buy a replacement. So I have a $100 bag sitting in the corner of the room, unused, and I’m using an ugly black backpack. I do not like the backpack. It’s just this big black cavern inside, I’m always fishing around in it. I also can’t use the zippers one-handed, which is a huge problem. I’ve decided what I need size-wise is a big tote, like the BeSpicy. Pockets inside, bright pretty colors, zippered top (but you don’t have to zipper it to keep everything in), and plenty big. But of course I can’t afford another expensive diaper bag. Pissy. If anyone has any ideas for a less-expensive alternative, I’m all ears.
I too have faced the diaper bag dilemma. Too big. Too small. Too expensive. I say figure out what you REALLY want and find a new or like new one on eBay. I’ve had fabulous luck on eBay. I won’t suggest a brand because, well, that’s just not an easy decision!!
Kate is way ahead of mine. He just discovered splashing the other day at nearly 6 months. But it was still hilarious!
I’m on the hunt for a new bag right now to. My fleurville sling tote just isn’t big enough to hold cloth. I checked out a fleurville mothership the other day and it is HUGE for regular outings, definitely suitable for overpackers. If you are on DiaperSwappers, check out PajammaGramma on the WAHM Wares forum. She makes really affordable, and beautiful custom diaper bags.
So cute about her bath. Lilah is a water baby too, loves it! As far as the diaper bag…I got a JJ Cole 180…and its too small too. I wanted the Ju Ju Between, but it looked smaller than I wanted as well. I think I am going to have to get a twin bag to be truly happy with the size. We have ours stuffed to the max now, and that`s without toys and snacks we will need in a few months.
Have you thought about browsing Etsy? All the handmade stuff… so many diaper bag options.
Love the bath time story, so cute!
I tried swim classes with Willow when she was 6 months…somehow she just didn’t get it…did not like being in the water or floating or anything. I found it was too much of a hassle (it was during winter too). Now I have started her up in swim classes again–at 2 years and change–what a difference! I love the Y swim classes with her!
Thank goodness I am almost out of the diaper bag phase–it is such a pain, and finding one that is the right size, etc. Gah!
Of the diaper bags that I liked the most it was the hiking backpack It had two side pockets that I could drop bottles in so they were easy to access, had two zipper pockets, one larger than the other. I used ones for diaper things (and bottle fixings) and the other for change of clothes.
The reason I liked the backpack was I could throw the backpack on like a real backpack instead of just over one shoulder where it would always fall off. I started using it when there was two kids for the convenience of it. It was hard to juggle a toddler and a baby carrier at the same time with a diaper bag.
About the swimsuit – check out Imse Vimse swim diapers! They have matching tank-top type deals for girls. And the suits are very stretchy! I bet you could find one used somewhere, just check out their website for the sizing.
Sounds like you and Kate are doing great! =)
We have a Skip Hop Duo Deluxe – to hold 2 in cloth and lots of extras. LOVE IT, although it’s on the expensives side too (~$85). And I often switch out bags anyway, depending on where we are going and who will need what for the day. My old standby is an old ugly backpack. Figures, huh?
I would try to sell the stained bag anyway and see if you can recoup at least some of the cost (half?). Diaperswappers is a good place to check out, along with Craigslist.
And for swimming? Could you get a reusable cloth swim diaper (you can also purchase used on diaperswappers! I’m a big fan…can you tell?!) and go w/o anything on top? I’ve also used pocket diapers w/o the stuffing part for swimming/splash parks with my guys. Simplicity is certainly priceless for us!
You can just take her in the pool in a onesie over a thirsties diaper cover (no prefold..or you can include the prefold, whatever your preference).
I use http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3144095 as my diaper bag. It holds an extra outfit and 3-4 big girl prefolds easily. Plus nursing bib. Lots of pockets..so many you forget where you’ve put creams and medicines and such. I do think it’s hard to find stuff in it. I used to carry my hipmelon sling in it also.
Keep your diaper bag, because it will probably be perfect when Kate is a little older and you won’t need to bring so much stuff. :)
I’ve found that for me, some of the inexpensive big bright summer totes they have at Walmart, Target etc. work well for diaper bags. A lot of them even have pockets inside. The main thing they lack as far as diaper bags go, would be the little slots that hold bottles, but you prob don’t need that since you’re breastfeeding. At $15-25 you can get more than one :-)