So yesterday was Easter with Den’s family. I got them caught up on our IVF progress – or rather the fact that we’re going to start. They all basically knew that’s what we were going to do, so it wasn’t a long conversation or anything this time. They’re very excited to hear how it goes. (Yes, I’m still one of those “very Out” people!)

We talked about house improvements and kitchens and wallpaper and washers and dryers. I mentioned the frontloaders I want, and added that I want to do cloth diapers, so a new washer is a must. So we talked a little bit about the cloth diapers.

I get the feeling that in general people (at least relatives) don’t really take me serious with these things. (The cloth, the natural birth, etc – the crunchy things.) They think I’ll get to actual parenting and give it up for the “easy” way. And that’s frustrating. I know Den sometimes has doubts about me doing all that I want to do, but he knows I’m stubborn enough to pull it off if I set my mind to it.

The most interesting thing to me is that people don’t really understand what the crunchy things are. I’m far crunchier than anyone else in either of our families, so I’m kind of looked at like a little bit crazy – like someone who hasn’t come down to reality. I say “medication-free childbirth” and they picture me laying in the bed on my back screaming and crying and begging for medication. That’s not what I picture at all. And with cloth, well, I mention cloth diapers and of course their mind goes straight to flat cotton diapers with no cover that leak all over and are a pain in the butt to pin on. And of course that’s not how it is anymore. So I really do get excited at the prospect of showing up at family gatherings with my baby diapered in cloth to show it off. I really think people will be amazed and interested. It’ll be great to show off a different way of doing things.

The coolest thing that happened was that during the diaper debate Den waded in – to talk up cloth! He was telling his brother that the new designs are just like disposables, they snap or velcro on really easy, it’s all-in-one. And he mentioned how much cheaper it is in the long run. Of course he phrased it like this, “Supposedly, from what Nat’s read, it’s a lot cheaper in the long run…” but hey, I’m pretty impressed. Den’s pretty cool in that way… sometimes he’ll be reticent and appear like he’s not listening when I talk about stuff, but then he’ll go and tell other people what I said and honestly seem like he’s behind it. I think he will be a cloth convert once we get started. When he sees how easy they are, how well they work… I’m pretty sure he’ll be sold on the idea. He’d never take the initiative himself – like if something happened to be, light forbid, there’s not much chance that he’d continue cloth diapering and washing poopy diapers. He likes to vote for convenience. But with me doing the washing? Yeah, he’ll be fine. :)

Speaking of wraps, Kel just got a new sling that looks totally fabulous. She said it works really well. I mentioned it to Den and his first thing is, it’s too foofy for me. I rolled my eyes and told him he can use the backpack carrier, I’ll be using wraps and slings. He doesn’t seem to understand why people use them. His comment this morning, verbatim, was, “That’s what strollers are for.” I tried explaining that strollers are good to a point, but there are a lot of places strollers just aren’t ideal or practical. I don’t know if he’ll ever understand it honestly – though HE was the one who suggested getting a carrier in the first place (the structured, manly type, of course). So he must understand the use for it in some part of his brain. Either way I don’t expect him to be tying a wrap on – no way he’ll do that. Too much work, and too girly in his opinion. But I am certainly going to enjoy carrying my baby around all tucked in and happy!