FAMILY OUTING l ECHO SUMMIT

>>Taking time out for ourselves can sometimes feel impossible with our long list of home projects or even simply keeping up with the cleaning, and stepping out of the whirlwind of "to-do's" sometimes is just necessary. So on Thursday evening it was decided then, we would take up to the mountains. In the present version of our lives this requires some sorting and folding and at least 10 bags for our 3 dogs and baby. I went grocery shopping with the poohbah and prepped a few meals. Ben packed up the Suby. And we were on our way to memories in the making.

We had a wonderful trip. We watched the sun sink down behind the ridge. We took a hike to echo lake and watched the water taxi taking tourists to the other side of the lake. We were going to meet aunty in South Lake for an ice cream cone but baby fell asleep and Aunty had to get home. So we scurried down to Lyra's after dinner and got our own ice cream! We fished and took in the fresh beautiful mountain air. And snuggled into the little cabin at night. Our hearts are full and ready for the next week!

ORDER AMIDST CHAOS I CLOTH DIAPERING

>>Some time ago I was forced to prioritize what I found more important when it came to my diapering system of choice: easy or fulfilling. Alas they do not always merge. But with many helpful advances over the years, cloth has grown more and more applicable to the busy on the go mum. And while cloth diapers are slightly larger in the bag, and washing a load of laundry every other day can seem daunting, the nearly $2,000.00 you save in the end (maybe more if you keep popping out puppies) is well worth the couple cons thrown in there.

After almost 7 months I finally feel like a system has been implicated and I can confidently share with you my cloth diapering world.

This is our station. Where we laugh and tickle and learn abc... and oh yeah, take one off and put one on.

It seems to be working. I have tweaked a few minor details, and come to a place where I can get in and out and on the road with an organized diaper change. 

These two drawers store all of our bamboo inserts or pads- which are used to soak up... you know, and covers- which are the cute yet waterproof covers that are either snap or Velcro. 

I tried to put them together with each load of laundry and it was exhausting. I find it a more simple procedure to get over with at the time of change. Slap the insert onto the cover, throw on a liner and onto bottom it goes. This may change when he wants to thrust himself off of the changing pad, who knows.

There are currently two laundry piles now that poo has approached its grown up stage (exclusively breastfed babes have a no-stink poo that is not thick or sticky. Once you add food into the equation things get real.) The blue bag houses soiled diapers, while the basket is for blankets toys and clothing.

Here are the necessities for a cloth diaper change:

Cloth wipe, wipe solution spray-bottle, biodegradable poo barrier, waterproof cover, and bamboo liner or insert.

Here it is all put together:

My diaper bag could be larger. But then I would probably spend too many minutes digging, like Mary Poppins for my keys. The organizational status is functional.

The mesh bag contains all of my "purse" items like lip stuff and pepper spray and all natural wipes, etc, so that I can just throw it into a purse or diaper bag without fishing for what I need. The little red number is what I currently use for Pine's travel food. Its nothing special, but I keep a jar of food, a spoon, bib, and wipe inside and toss the whole thing into the diaper bag before leaving home. 

Unfortunately, no you cannot take an abundant amount of cloth diapers with you. If you need more than 8, I would suggest packing a few or more natural disposables. Over night trips are included here. Sometimes you just do what you HAVE to do, and not everywhere has a washer/dryer and not everyone wants to smell you toting around a bunch of soiled smellies.

In the diaper bag itself I keep a container of cloth wipes, a spray bottle of wipe solution (baby castile, water, neroli essential oil), 4-6 cloth diapers (stuffed and ready to go), a wet bag (waterproof zip cloth bag for dirties), and other various items such as sanitizer, a change of clothing, sun hat... 

So there you have it. A walk in my shoes. I have never known anything but cloth, maybe this helps my optimism about what comes with them, but I really enjoy using them!

Slow Honey Summer

We lay scattered atop flowered sheets, comforted by the lulling whisper of the fan. Breathing is labored for summer has arrived. The down cover is pulled back. The glass slider is at the end of its track. Here we dream of day trips to the resevoires, cool dips and the scent of pine sap and misery. The summer is intense and leaves the green spring growth stretching for water and yellowed. Only the color from our special garden bursting with exquisite blossoms and bulging fruit, buzzing with life, misted at night, stands the overhead sun. My son lays still beside me, his pale plush skin gently lifting on inhalation. My soul fills quickly with a hot compelling rush of fullfillment- living my longtime dream of bringing to the world a small person. We share a renewed glory in these soft July nights. A sweet tender boy and his pure joy superseed the years past. July was once an airconditioned hunt for a first home, a warm house heavy with a coconut candle, the explosion of hollyhocks and spiraling tendrills of jasmine vine, soft guitar strings and white gauze curtains, late nights laughing around campfires, exploring the natural land seeking answers from the forests and rivers, dancing to sunsets, scouring the orchards for photoshoots, riding bikes along the railroad tracks, swinging a wicker basket through farmers markets, laying with our heads touching and our arms stretched under the sky as the stars go shooting by. There always seems to be a chance to be a child again in July. To run wild and find magic in simplicity.