Potty Training Success

Just wanted to send you all a quick update on our overall potty training successes. This is has been a LONG tretcherous war, but one we are finally winning.

First MAJOR Victory: AJ has finally decided that he does not need to pee pee in his carseat any more. So, we are able to go out without a half his wardrobe in the car. He has gone more than a week without any accidents! YEAH!!!

Second MAJOR Victory: Not only is AJ starting to go #2 in the potty...on his own, BUT he has decided he NO LONGER needs to poo poo on the floor! Yes, I said the floor! AJ now has a small potty that we keep in his room and he routinely uses it at nap time..or in the morning before he comes to get us! He actually poo pooed in it on his own during nap time! We were so impressed and super excited that we didn't have to clean a poopy floor! As you can imagine, I am SO OVER poopy floors! Looks like we can finally get new flooring soon!

You might be asking, why does he poop on the floor...your guess is as good as mine. He started taking his diaper off (even when in a onesie) when he was 14 mo old...hence the early start to potty training. Even now, he outright refuses to wear a diaper (at night or during naps). Luckily, he overall is waking up dry from naps and even overnight!

So, finally we have made some MAJOR progress over the last few weeks! Looks like he finally turned the corner! Keeping my fingers crossed! I am so ready to be DONE potty training...I was praying we would be done before the new baby...looks like my dreams may come true!

Diaper, Diapers Everywhere!

At least that is what my husband is saying! You see, in our small little house there is no room for a craft room or nook. So, instead, I have small card table that I house my sewing machines on when I am working and a few crates for all my fabric and remnants. Yet, the bar top is still covered currently with pattern pieced, stacks of finished diapers, cut pieces waiting to be sew, supplies, ect... I could go on, but I think you get the point!

AJ has learned rather quickly he is not allowed to touch mommies sewing table or any scissors. He is very respectful of that...although I know all those knobs on my machines must be rather tempting!

So, in regards to all those new diapers...here are a few I have crafted recently. I would love to sew and sell at some point, but I am not there yet!
(Sorry for the side shots...I hate that the program automatically rotates to what IT thinks!)

This is a Darling Diaper Unlimited AIO.


These are a mix of covers and pockets! Most of these are Darling Diapers, a few Chloes Toes Side snapping covers and the blue one is a diaper kits pattern.


A close up of the Darling Diaper cover with FOE (Fold over Elastic)!

I will say my favorite new pattern is a the Darling Diaper unlimited. It is very close to the Cloth Revolution pattern, but offers so many more options.
Some options include:
Method of sewing (serging, turned, turning and top stitching),
Choice of closures (snappi, Hook/loop, snap),
Placement of closure (front or side)
Sizing (NB-XL or OS),
Style (AIO or pocket)
Choice of rounded or square tabs.

I prefer square tabs because I find there are not only easier to sew, but also look nicer on the finished product. I also prefer snaps to hook and loop (Velcro). Although snaps do not give you quite as custom a fit, they do hold up better and to not damage any of the other cloth diapers during washing. I have ventured out to making a few one sized diapers...I love this concept, but I am not totally sold on them yet!

I find that the hardest part is figuring out what fabric to use where...especially when you are sewing on a budget. You will see that there are many diapers sew from flannel...many are re purposed flannel receiving blankets. Most of the cotton knit fabric is from Walmart and is $1-$2 per yard. I did splurge on some cute minky fabric while on sale last weekend at Joannes. I have yet to use it though. Figured I would save it until I was feeling 100% with the patterns and sizes. (Definitely not a trial fabric). I am all about keeping the costs down...I want to produce a quality diaper using the most cost effective products...esp. right now while I am at the beginning stages. I am going to start working on some up cycled fitted diapers from t-shirts. I can't wait to get started on those!

Another adorable Dress

Thank you again Jamie at Prudent Baby for coming up with another adorable dress I couldn't resist sewing. I mean what little girl's wardrobe wouldn't be complete without this little getup. Now, all I need is the little girl...or someones little girl is going end up with an amazing dress and diaper collection!

It should be sized for a 6 mo dress or a 9 mo shirt. The adorable thing about this dress is, it can easily be extended by adding another finshed snap extender piece to ensure the armholes are big enough for the larger size. I love this polyester/cotten blend because it will be light in airy just in time for another hot Florida summer.

I am planning to make a matching clothdiaper tomorrow. It is already cut out and ready for sewing...now to decide the hard part. Should it be a pocket or an AIO...hmmm...

Diapers diaper everywhere!

I am still cranking out the diapers. I am in the process of making a stash of small diapers that should fit until about 14 lbs. Considering AJ was only 6lbs at birth, these should last for a few months. Once I have a few more done, I want to make a few diaper covers. Then, on to the medium diapers. I figured it would be best to finish all the smalls first!

My new favorite pattern is from Cloth Revolution. They look more like Bum Genious in shape, but they are pockets. I think I am going to try my hand at a few fuzzi bunz style diapes and then use Chloes Toes pattern for the covers. I'll make a few and then post how it went.

The Cloth Revolution pattern and instructions I adore. They are SUPER easy to sew and I love the square tabs. Plus they turn out very profession looking. I purchased some minky at Joann Fabrics this weekend because they were having a super sale. I can't wait to make a few...it feels glorious!

Here are a few flannel and PUL dipes I whipped up over the past 2 nights! So far so good if I do say so myself!

Will be ever be done?

We started potty training Ante at a very young age because he refused to keep a diaper on. We have progressed nicely, but are really struggling to to get over the last hurdle. He is finally using the big potty for big business which was a major success...let's see how consistent it is. He can go all day at home and out n about with out accidents EXCEPT for one place...the car. He ALWAYS seems to wet himself in the car! It is SO FRUSTRATING! He doesn't full out pee pee just enough to wet his shorts and required a changing! I can't seem to get him past it.

We have put towels down and loosened the belt that goes in between his legs...I have even tried bribery, but nothing seems to have any lasting effect. I REALLY want him fully potty trained before the new baby arrives. I just do now know if it is going to happen. Ugg! Any advice?

Will we ever be done potty training?

Hi Baby!

Time is flying by! I realize now why people have so many picks of their first and so few of their second. When you are trying to keep up with a really active toddler, it leaves little time and even less energy for picture taking. But, I do have new pics of the baby...so I thought I would share.





BTW, no we did not cave. We still have no idea if it is a girl or a boy. In the midle pic, the think that looks like boy parts...well, sorry, but this is a knee that dropped down as the tech took the picture. Neither of us look when the tech was taking pics of the "crotch".

Isn't he/she so cute! I can't wait...well maybe I can! :)

Daddies are the bomb!

Isn't it amazing what daddies will do for their little one.

I bet you never thought you would see a 6'1"+ man crawling around in a McDonalds play area and even sliding down the slide. Well, here ya go...



It was so cute to watch them play together! We were there as a special treat for a perfect day of behavior...actually a few days of amazing behavior. So, AJ got a cheeseburger happy meal (Eeek!) of which he ate the entire thing! Then, he played for about an hour...the majority of the time with daddy and a few other little darlings! It was so much fun! I will say though...those places are not made for a pregnant, claustrophobic mama! I couldn't get out of there fast enough!