I've ruined something

Yesterday I received my very first wool item:

a gray and black upcycled sweater soaker.

It was stinkin cute. I love argyle. I love gray. Perfect mix.

Well Big D has recently decided that instead of making a small poo in pretty much every single diaper, he is going to make a massive, earth shattering poo about once every three days.

He wore his new soaker all day today, and at 5:40pm we found ourselves at our cloth-diapering friends house. And he decided that would be a perfect time to load his pants. And the soaker. And maybe try to get some elsewhere, too. I got him changed up and put the diaper and soaker in a baggie.

When I got home, I spent an hour and a half wreaking havoc on my adorable soaker. A cold rinse, then a hot wash with cold rinse, then a warm rinse.

When I removed the load from the washing machine, I had a felted, newborn sized soaker. I cried. I looked up un-shrinking instructions. Apparently nothing really works. I cried some more. And then I found a replacement on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68254433/upcycled-wool-soaker-cover-diaper-cover

Perhaps I was a bit hasty in replacing it, but thats how I do.

I also found a new home for the shrunken soaker. Someone who will have a newbie in just a few weeks.

So....lesson learned. I am NOT invincible to the rules of wool washing. Do not "temperature shock" your wool. Probably shouldn't put it in the washing machine.

Although I have been reluctant to use wool because of the special care required, I am thinking that the benefits outweigh the necessary effort.

This is my first post

Just over three years ago I gave birth to my first child, Sophia. I stocked up on disposable diapers. Huggies, preferably. I mean, diapers with cute little Mickeys and Minnies on them that you put in the fancy Diaper Genie when you're done. Close the lid, turn the knob, and voila, back to what I was doing before! More time for putting my makeup on so I could pack up my stroller and head over to the mall to peruse the latest shipment my favorite store just got in...

Then I made a new friend with a child just a few months younger than Sophia. When we laid our kids down for a diaper change she pulled out a plain red cloth diaper, and I was totally intrigued.

What was that? How did it work? How much did it cost?

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE POOP?!

I continued to use disposables with Sophia but we downgraded to the pastel blue and green polka dots offered by Target brand, because after month upon month of paying for a poo-catcher, you don't really care what it looks like as long as it does its job. Meanwhile, my friend was now making her own diapers. And they were so cute. And she was saving tons of money. I was totally missing out.

I got pregnant again, with my son, Darwin, and saw an opportunity to start over. With cloth. At approximately 15 weeks along, I placed my first diaper order through my friend.

These days I spend hours browsing diapers, even if I'm not going to buy. New diapers, used diapers, different brands. My favorites aren't the plain, solid-colored, commercial made items. I love the creativity and personal investment put into diapers made by moms. And what a way to support a different kind of mom than I am myself, the Work at Home Mom. I totally respect what they do.

I am in my mid-twenties, I am a working mom to two kids, and I use cloth diapers, cloth wipes, and un-paper towels. In addition, on most occasions I forgo the stroller for my wrap-style carrier. I know I'm not super crunchy, but I used to be a lot softer.

This blog is aimed to share my real-life perspective of cloth diapers. I hope to offer reviews of different cloth diaper brands and styles, as well as sharing my experience with day-to-day application of my favorite cloth items.