Okay, so in response to inquiries here's a few more details on what's replacing "rubber pants" these days. (Sorry if I offended anyone from that generation... I'm not trying to be a snob; I just think rubber pants are pretty funny ).

Okay, so cloth diapering these days is like a different language. I researched for, like, two months before I bought anything, because it was SO overwhelming! There are so many different ways to cloth diaper, I guess. Anyway, you can only really get this stuff online, so I searched, and looked around on message boards for advice, and finally bought a variety pack of 4 pocket diapers. Pocket diapers are shaped like a 'sposie, with velcro tabs, a cotton fleece inner and a PUL (polyurethane laminate?) outer. They have a pocket inside where you place an insert made of hemp, cotton, or fleece (not the kind of fleece that we where for winter). The diaper is made so that when the baby pees, everything goes into the insert, and what's next to the bottom stays dry. I guess some cloth diaperers don't love the PUL, cause they say it's not as breathable as just cotton, but it still breaths more than a disposable.

I love those pocket diapers. They're easy to wash and use, and totally fun and cute. They fit well under clothing as well. The more inexpensive version, which a lot of you may be familiar with, is the prefold. I'm ordering some of these as well, just because they are cotton and you can buy more for less. Instead of pins, though, you can use Snappi's, and new kind of diaper-fastening device. Also, the "rubber pants" were replaced by covers that are made of cotton fleece, wool, or PUL. The covers are cute, too. They look a lot like my pocket diapers, but they require a prefold underneath or a "fitted diaper," which is just an expensive version for people that don't want to fold and Snappi a prefold. There are also a lot of organic cotton choices these days.

So there's just a little more about my adventures in cloth diapering! By the way, there are many different brands of all these types of diapers, too! I think right now my favorite is the Bum Genius 3.0 one-size pocket diaper. They're on the middle end of pricey, but we're buying gradually, and we'll end up saving a lot every month we don't buy diapers!

Finally got over that cold I had all week! Whew! I was sick as a dog on my birthday, which was kinda poopy. Other than that, things are good! Bella is on the verge of taking her first steps, I think. She's "cruising" a lot more these days. If she can get there by holding onto stuff and walking, she will. She definitely hasn't lost her knack for super-fast crawling, though. I've found her playing in the bathroom too many times after leaving her for, seriously, one second.

Anyway, I try to get her to walk to me, but so far I've only seen her shuffle one foot to the side. Otherwise, she throws her body forward and I have to catch her to keep her from nose-diving into the hardwood.

We have our ultrasound appointment set for May 30! Hopefully we will have a healthy baby and we'll find out what we're having! (boy or girl.... I know it's a baby already )

I'm actually pretty excited about having a newborn again. It's tough, but so amazing.

I actually got up before Bella this morning! I've been so tired the last couple of months, and (though I was still tired...) this morning I was able to get up and eat and have a tiny cup of coffee, AND shower, all before I heard cooing from Bella's room. Well, I could hear her when I got out of the shower, but it was pretty close. I just have such a full day ahead, and it was so nice to have some "quiet time" before the hectic begins...

So, still having some nausea and gagging in the mornings, but as long as I take my vitamins and eat, I'm pretty good. I think the coffee wasn't sitting well, but it was good. I think I'm feeling better these days, though. Slowly but surely. I'm 12 1/2 weeks now (three months), so hopefully it won't be too much longer before I feel more like myself.

I really need to grocery shop. I know I do when I don't have any fruit to eat, no yogurt, and my cereal is down to two boxes, only one of which I eat. Also, dinner is always a mystery. Last night I made Whatever Soup, which included whatever I had on hand. It really wasn't bad! I had some italian chicken sausage, yellow squash, tomatoes, white beans, artichoke hearts, in like a tomato base broth (made with leftover pizza sauce I had in the fridge). I kind of like being creative!

So, off to my day. I need to straighten my hair now.