I want to be a MILF

That’s right--I said it. I want to be a MILF. When I’m pushing the stroller down the street, I want to turn heads. I want to crack walnuts with my butt cheeks. But let’s be real here, Mamas. After a baby, some things never quite return to their former glory, so I’ll settle for adjectives like “fit” and “in shape.” I don’t have to do more chin ups than a Marine, but I do want to be able to lift my baby and run up and down stairs without getting winded, and I'd like to avoid splitting my jeans when I bend over.

So, how does a new Mama stay in shape? For me, the key has been exercise videos and my stationary bike. It’s also important for me to remember that I may not be able to finish a workout because the baby wakes up, and that’s okay. If I get hung up on the possibility of not being able to finish, I might not put on my sneakers at all.  I figure it doesn’t matter whether I complete my workout in one attempt or if it takes several attempts, as long as I do it, I'll receive the benefits. 

What to do with all that poo: Part two!

First, I have to share how excited I am to have found cottonbabies.com. If you click on their clearance section, you can find a delightful selection of seconds--items that may have a tiny aesthetic flaw so they can’t be sold at full price but they are still perfectly usable. I bought four all-in-one diapers for $40 total when they’d normally be more than $25 each. 

I’m also excited to try the wool soaker that I recently purchased.  My sister introduced me to the idea of wool soakers when I was pregnant, and I thought "I'm having a baby in July--don't you think wool is a little much?" However, I have since learned that wool is breathable, so it allows baby's bottom to stay at a consistent temperature. It also holds 30% of its weight in liquid before it starts to feel wet, so it's great for diapering baby overnight. The kicker is that unless there is poo on it, a soaker only needs to be washed every few weeks with Eucalan wool wash and lanolin. I learned how to lanolize this weekend via greenmountaindiapers.com (which also offers seconds!), and it is probably the simplest thing ever. I’ll put the soaker to the test during the overnight hours and let you know.

One thing I did not write about last time was storage. You have a wet, stinky diaper--what do you do with it? You’ll need a wet bag and a plastic trash container or diaper pail with a lid on it. First, let’s talk about the wet bag. I bought two Kissa’s Antibacterial Pail Liners so that I could have one in the diaper pail and one in the wash. When it’s time to do laundry, I don’t even have to touch the diapers--I simply pick up the wet bag, tote it to the washing machine, and dump in the contents. I also wash the bag to reduce odors in the living room, which is where I change the baby. As for the diaper pail, we bought Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail. The Kissa’s pail liner fits nicely into the Safety 1st pail, and I can fit one and a half to two days of diapers in it. The pail has a button-activated flip top and a built in deodorizer. I’ve never walked into my living room and thought “Hmm, I smell poo,” so it must work!