I experience guilt on many levels in my motherhood. I feel guilty when my house isn’t clean, organized, or I don’t have the energy to design all these glorious organizing tools (thanks Pinterest! . I feel like a failure when I don’t spend enough quality time with my children or waste too much time on my phone or computer browsing this and that. I feel guilty when we don’t do family devotions as if my children’s salvation was all dependent upon me. I feel like a terrible homemaker when I don’t get anything done on my to-do list. So in response to my guilt, I get frustrated and the cycle continues. It’s a dangerous pit of self focus that destroys my joy.

The only means through which we can find deliverance out of this battlefield of guilt, condemnation, and anger is through the power of the gospel. The only lasting freedom can come through acknowledging what Christ has done on my behalf.

We have to steep ourselves in the power of the gospel. We have to soak it in.

I have to remind myself that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Yes, you and I will surely fail. But we have a glorious Savior who bore our condemnation. He bore our guilt. It was nailed to the cross. So in our failure, we can have hope. Christ Jesus has replaced our sinful record with His perfect righteous record.

As Elyse Fitzpatrick says, “When you are tempted to slide down into a miry pit of self-condemnation, you can remember Jesus’ sinless life and the perfect record that is now yours. Yes, it’s true that you sin heinously and consistently, but you have a perfect record before God, the only one who opinion really matters.”

“Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (Romans 3:24)”

You have a perfect record.

Colossians 1:16-17 says, “The Father…has qualified you [past tense; it's finished] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us [past tense again; the deliverance is completed] from the domain of darkness and transferred us [past tense once more: the transferal is already concluded] to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have [present tense; this very moment we possess it] redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

My outbursts of anger were nailed to the cross before I even walked this earth. My fear of failure is a waste of my energy. He paid the greatest price for them. In order to experience true freedom from guilt, I must stop focusing on all that I need to do in order to become a better mother. I must first turn my gaze upon what He has already done for me.

The only way to become a better mom is to preach the gospel to myself every day. It’s not by behaving that makes me a better mom, it’s by believing- believing more deeply in what He has accomplished.

God doesn’t call me to be perfect. He calls me to embrace my standing before him, and to run in that freedom he has already granted to me! I am adored by Christ! I am redeemed! I am accepted!

Ultimately, when I enslave myself by guilt I am mocking what He did on the cross, I am disbelieving the grace and mercy purchased for me through his sinless life. This guilt is witness to the fact that I am depending upon my own strength. I am believing that my children will only grow, flourish, and follow Christ if I do this certain set of practices.

So when you are tempted to put another brick of guilt on yourself, may I encourage you to stop, and declare with me:

“Because Jesus was strong for me, I am free to be weak;
because Jesus won for me, I am free to lose;
because Jesus was someone, I am free to be no one;
because Jesus was extraordinary, I am free to be ordinary;
because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail.” -Tullian Tchividjian

Praise God for the full and abundant life I have in Christ!

Jesus loves me just as much today as He did yesterday!

Many of these insights have been gleaned through Tullian’s powerful book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything.

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The Lord has been gently working on my heart as I am currently mediating through Ephesians 5:15-17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

What does God have for you? I’ve found that what God desires me to embrace is often right in front of me. It’s not way out there. It’s these little hands and feet He has called me to nurture. It’s this strong man that He has called me to support, cheer on, and follow. The will of the Lord is for me is to delight in, to embrace where He has me right now. When I doubt that, I am walking foolishly. I’m mocking his plan. He has called me to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. It may not have come in my own timing, but it certainly has been His timing (Proverbs 16:9).

THIS, right HERE…is what God has assigned for me. The fullness of my womanhood is experienced in embracing these tasks with intentionality. We truly only have one life to live, it will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last. To walk any other way is to walk blindly, foolishly.

I’ve experienced such fear, doubt, and lack of value because I’ve focused on what this culture exalts, rather than what God truly values. What did Jesus embrace? Jesus welcome the little children (Luke 18:16). He chose the humble, the weak, and gave them beauty and value (even when his culture looked down upon them and tried to send them away).

THIS WORK…this is heavenly work. He said they were what the Kingdom was made up of. He embraced the weak…not the intelligent, educated, and religious people. Jesus said to love the little children is valuable. It is beautiful. It is His work. Even with all it’s messes and challenges. He never promised it would be easy, but He did promise that this is the work of the Kingdom, and what we do to the least of these, we do for Him (Matthew 25:40). If this is the season He has called you to, then being faithful where you are is the best use of your time.

What you do sisters in your homes has beauty and value. It was what Jesus exalted. Don’t waste another moment thinking about the past, or what you’ve given up. It’s a waste of the precious moment you have in front of you.

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Written by monthly contributing writer, Daniele Evans.

Something wasn’t right.

I knew it deep down, and it shook me up.  This boy of ours struggled, unable to translate words in his mind to ones we could hear from his mouth.

He tried, yes he did.  His toddler lips shaping silently, that innocent voice straining to move beyond babbling to actual speech.

Each attempt met disappointment, and Mama’s heart trembled as I watched my son. Often I’d look into those eyes, sometimes teary with frustration…and the core of me ached.

He knew.

Neither one of us understood why, but he knew words escaped him.  Unlike the possible fits or tantrums from a strong-hearted two-year-old, the battle within him displayed as silence.

He laughed, he played, he engaged with our family.  But when it came time for words, and toddler attempts at repetition didn’t quite sound like Mama’s or big brother’s or anyone else’s…

…He sat in silence, alone with his pain.  Oh, how my heart would ache for him.

Since those months, we’ve been introduced to the world of Early Intervention, speech therapy, and a host of other special needs considerations for this concern.  At times overwhelming, I am mostly grateful for assistance in guiding our son.

These days, when my heart’s still shaky on the subject, I think of Mary.

I admire Jesus’ mother for many reasons.  She was so calm and collected when a host of strange men excitedly arrived into her birthing space, a stall no less.  I’d like to think I would simply ‘ponder all these things in my heart’, but realize words would probably escape my lips.  Sigh.  Most of all, I remember Mary’s initial visit from the angel (Luke 1:26-38) — an interruption to everything she was planning. Motherhood for Mary didn’t begin all cozy and sweet.  She was shaken from the start with news of all her son be responsible for, all he would face.

And her heart trembled.

I am repeatedly humbled by the response.  Even with heart and mind likely scattered as she processed the impact of her calling, Mary responded:

“I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Here’s my interpretation — “Alright.  I’m God’s and I’m available to Him.  Go ahead, birth Jesus in me.”

Lord, grace me with such a heart.  In this unexpected path of speech delays and unknown worlds of therapists and education plans…remind me that I am Yours; and you’re up to something in my life.

The path of motherhood for any of us is both exhilarating and terrifying.  It may not always be pretty, we’ll most definitely face challenges and we’ll sometimes wonder if any good is being done.

Our children will test us, onlookers will misunderstand us, and the impact of our callings will bring us to our knees. I won’t pretend to understand each personal story in this raising of children.  But, I am convinced of one thing for us all:

If we allow, if we like Mary lend ourselves to being His servant, willingly walking hand-in-hand with Him in this up-over-the-top journey of motherhood…

He’ll birth Jesus in us.  

And the Prince of Peace will settle our trembling hearts.

Grace in the journey sisters…

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“How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about the rule of three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No. A woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness.”

G.K Chesterton

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My husband and I were planning a bike tour across Europe when we found out about our first pregnancy.  We planned to quit our jobs in a year’s time and head off on an adventure for three months of cycling and seeing the world. I was 22 years old. With places to see and adventures to enjoy, a baby just wasn’t on our itinerary.

Although we welcomed the news, it also came at an unexpected time. I believe that children are a blessing from the Lord, so why did I feel such a mixture of joy and grief throughout my pregnancy? All around me, women struggled to conceive, adopt, or carry to term the babies they so desperately wanted. It seemed so shameful and ungrateful to hold even a hint of sadness regarding such a gift of life.

Every Woman Experiences Different Emotions Regarding Pregnancy
Many women enter motherhood with the utmost joy and abandon. Many women enter motherhood with grief from less than ideal circumstances. Many women desperately desire to enter motherhood but face grief due to infertility, miscarriages, and adoption delays. I am not qualified or equipped to speak about the emotions in each of these circumstances. I can only relate my experience and hope it encourages other women facing a pregnancy with mixed emotions.

New Life Born from Sacrifice
A seed cannot bear fruit unless it first falls to the ground and dies. In marriage, spouses must die to their independent life and choices to promote a united life together. Jesus Christ Himself couldn’t bring us true life without first giving up His own. Each of these “new lives” were born out of sacrifice and death. It is right and true that grief accompanies the greatest of joys.

Grief comes through the realization of what must “die” to bring about new life.  I grieved for the loss of personal freedom.  I grieved for the loss of alone time with my husband.  I grieved the unknown changes that were ahead of me.  I grieved for the delay in travel plans.  And while I knew the joy set before me would be worth these sacrifices, I still felt grief in the midst of that joy.

Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.

-Theodore Roosevelt

A Harvest of Joy
With the arrival of our daughter, grief remained. I felt it in the new and daily sacrifices mothering required, but as my daughter grew so did my joy and delight in mothering. My husband and I haven’t cycled across Europe yet, and I haven’t actually ridden my bike in two years, but as my daughter and I walk hand in hand on a crisp fall day, somehow those things don’t seem so important anymore.  Joy is replacing grief.  The new life that started so small in me, now produces joy a hundred-fold daily.  Yes, motherhood is hard work.  Yes, there are times of grief and sacrifice, but I now know from experience that great sacrifices produce the greatest harvests of joy.

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

-Psalms 126:5-6

What emotions have you experienced regarding transitions into pregnancy/motherhood? 

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Powder for Baby – Made from three simple ingredients including arrowroot powder, green clay, and chamomile flowers to help avoid irritations to your baby’s skin. Free of cornstarch and talc. While I personally do not really use baby powder, I find it serves the purpose of keeping baby’s skin dry but not so effective at healing rashes on its own. Thus they offer…

Tailfeathers Zinc Cream – This is a wonderful alternative to the standard diaper creams on the market without the added chemicals. It is made of zinc oxide, lanolin, castor oil, calendula, comfrey, and plaintain herbs. It is a very thick creamy texture and rather difficult to get cleaned off your fingers after application, but it definitely will clear up the diaper rashes in less than two days in my experience. Just keep a wash cloth handy for cleaning your own hands! It is recommended that if you use with cloth diapers, as we have, that you use a liner of some sort (wash cloth, doubler, etc), so as to avoid contact with the diaper. It may affect absorbancy and cause staining if placed right against your cloth diapers. I think this 5 0z container could surely last you through your entire diaper season!

Body Oil for Baby – This body oil was my favorite in the set! It has served us so nicely in being able to moisturize baby’s skin without being oily. It is absorbed quickly into the skin and gives off a sweet scent and glitter to the skin. Karis and I have had so much fun giving Eden little massages with this natural massage oil made from grapeseed, apricot, avacado and pumpkin seed oils. I loved how it has a plastic insert on the top which dispenses just a few drops at a time, making it easy for Karis and I to apply together without a mess and extending the life of this body oil for a long time! Although not an essential need item by any means, if you like massaging your baby, this is a special treat!

Butter Bar for Baby – this is simply a softer version of my favorite Graham Gardens butter bar for use on dry, chapped skin. It is made from mango butter, beeswax, and oils of grapeseed, apricot, avacado and pumpkin seed oils. I found this especially nice when baby’s skin starts peeling within a few weeks of birth, although we haven’t had need to use it much on her since, as I’m the main user with dry skin issues. Not just for babies here! This is a lovely moisturizer for all, easy to handle in the hand and apply to the skin without the oily nature of other liquid lotions!

All four of these items come in a sweet gift basket as displayed below. I love the thought and effort they take to make it so cute and special! This makes such a beautiful gift to give to a new mother!

Today, Graham Gardens would like to offer a BabyBird scented gift basket to two special winners (a retail value of $59.95 each) along with two runner-up prizes of a bottle of the BabyBird body oil ($18.50 value).

To Enter:

1. Visit Graham Gardens and pick out your favorite BabyBird product and share about it below.

2. For a second optional entry, become a fan of Graham Gardenson facebook. Stay informed of further sales and discounts!

Giveaway Closed.

And the winners of the BabyBird gift basket are:

Ruthann (rujizmejian@…) & Rebecca (rebekah dot mcclure@…)

And the runners up, who will each receive a bottle of baby oil:

Barbara (Holbrook dot b@…) & Melissa (melissa@gluten…)!

Graham Gardens would like to offer a special discount code to all Passionate Homemaking Readers giving you 35% your order until 10/31/11. Enter: “Passionate35″ at checkout.

Email subscribers: As in all our giveaways, please make sure you click through to the original post to leave a comment in order to be entered into this giveaway. Replying to this email does not give you an entry. Thank you!

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After experiencing difficult postpartum blues after the births of my first two children, I knew it was time to do a little more research into helping prevent this for baby number 3. After discussion with my midwives, I asked myself, “could it really hurt to try it?” Low and behold, God had provided for my hormonal needs in the very process of preparing a baby in my womb. As I began researching it further, I have been fascinated again and again at the way God has beautifully designed this organ not only for the nourishing of our baby but for the health and healing of a mother’s body.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have upheld the value of the placenta for the postpartum recovery process. After birth, the majority of new mothers experience blood loss, fatigue, and a crazy influx of pregnancy hormones. 80% of women experience some level of postpartum blues or depression. Full of life energy, the placenta aids in postpartum wellness by replenishing your system with natural iron & protein and helps reintroduce these essential hormones back into your system.

Benefits of Placenta Capsules

The known ingredients that give the placenta its healing properties are:

Gonadotrophin: the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone,
Prolactin: promotes lactation,
Oxytocin: for pain and bonding; produced during breastfeeding to facilitate bonding of mother and infant. In pharmaceutical form this is a very addictive drug because it promotes a feeling of connectedness with others,
Thyroid stimulating hormone: boosts energy and helps recovery from stressful events,
Cortisone: combats stress and unlocks energy stores,
Interferon: stimulates the immune system to protect against infections,
Prostaglandins: anti-inflammatory,
Hemoglobin: replenishes iron deficiency and anemia, a common postpartum condition,
Urokinase inhibiting factor and factor XIII: stops bleeding and enhances wound healing,
Gammaglobulin: immune booster that helps protect against postpartum infections.
(Source)

I have had a completely different recovery experience with my third child then previously. I have always struggled with poor milk supply and have been forced to supplement by six months of age. This time I have experienced a significant increase in my milk supply than ever before. My baby has certainly increased in weight at a more rapid rate and is sleeping more peacefully. I also had a much faster recovery time, less bleeding and stress, and increased energy. Bonding with my baby has been such a beautiful process. I feel a real special unique bond with this little one, which I find difficult to describe. It’s deeper and more precious than I have experienced.

I have certainly had a few boughts of emotional challenges, but it has been nothing like the weepy nature of my prior recoveries. I cannot express how much I have appreciated the benefits of taking my placenta tablets. Whenever I was having a rough emotional day, my husband would ask, “did you take your placenta pills today?” The answer was always “no”. We knew firsthand that it was having a significant impact on keeping me balanced emotionally.

My midwives even shared with me that the placenta can be very effective in helping balance your body during menopause. They recommended saving a portion of the tablets in the freezer for later use.

“Giving…placenta to a new mother following birth has become standard protocol among a growing number of midwives in the United States. By nourishing the blood and fluids, endocrine glands and organs, Placenta will …reduce or stop postpartum bleeding, speed up recovery, boost energy and relieve postpartum blues.” Homes, Peter. 1993. Jade Remedies, Snow Lotus Press, 352.

How can I get my placenta encapsulated?

Encapsulation is a simple process of cooking, dehydrating, and blending the placenta prior to putting it into capsules. In a similar manner as you would consume any other vitamin or capsule, you swallow these pills with your choice of liquid. You can encapsulate your own placenta through an easy step by step tutorial. This of course is a more frugal option. I personally recommend hiring a certified specialist to do it for you. Encapsulation costs anywhere between $150-250 dollars. In my case, I didn’t even have to see or touch the placenta at all. My midwife took it immediately after the birth and returned it the next day in capsule form. What could be easier? Since I was in recovery, the last thing I wanted to think about was encapsulating it myself.

To find a certified placenta specialist in your area, or to find out more information on this process, visit:

Placenta Bakery
placentanetwork.com
Google Maps Placenta Directory
Placenta Benefits Specialists
International Directory

If you are having a hospital birth, learn how to get your placenta released here.

How do I take them and for how long?

It is recommended to take two tablets each day with meals for as long as you feel it necessary. I took mine daily for six weeks postpartum and continue to take a tablet or two on emotionally trying days. Store the rest in the freezer and use as needed for dealing with PMS or menopause.

Now this may have been just one of several factors that played into my superior recovery process, but taking these pills has not hurt anything, and what a blessing to see it reused for such a useful purpose. I have had the most peaceful and enjoyable babymoon with this baby then ever before. My husband and I would agree that it certainly was worth every penny to give it a try!

For further tips on postpartum recovery, check out Practical Tips for Postpartum.

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Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique

When I stumbled upon Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique several months ago, I knew I had found the company for all my cloth diaper and natural mommy/baby needs. Why? The first thing that caught my eye was FREE SHIPPING on every order (all USA and select Canada orders)! That is a huge incentive for a mom on a budget who might just want to sample a product or two without placing a huge order to meet the minimum or have an additional charge for shipping. When my first order (and every subsequent order) arrived within two days of ordering, I knew they had a great business model. Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique has been a faithful sponsor of Passionate Homemaking for several months now and it has been such a delight to work with this company. They have awesome customer service, fast shipping, and a wide variety of ever expanding products. Since my third baby arrived, I have sampled pacifiers, cloth diapers, nursing pads, and changing pads and every purchase has been an awesome experience.

Each order arrives so sweetly packaged with a free sampling of detergent or natural soaps, following their passion to make each order feel like a gift. They also have a wonderful rewards program that rewards you with a $10 gift certificate for every $200 you spend. They firmly stands behind their products even offering the Fix & Fasten Guarantee which will fix any defective snaps or most hook and loops on your diaper purchases free of charge.

Starting today, all of their baby carriers, Aden & Anais products, and Thirsties products are on sale! You will also find the Bum Genius 4.0 stay dry cloth diaper (my favorite diaper) available in a buy 5, get 1 free offer!

Today, Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique is offering a 5 pack of newborn cloth diapers for one special reader! This package includes 1 each of the following: Bum Genius Newborn AIO, Grovia Organic Newborn AIO, Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size XS, Kawaii Baby Pure & Natural, and Rumparooz Lil’ Joey All-in-One. This set is valued at $66.77!

To Enter:

1. Visit Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique and find your favorite product and share with us below in a comment.

2. For a second optional entry, become a fan of Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique on facebook. Let us know in a second comment below.

Giveaway Closed.

And the winner is…Linnea Barton! Congrats!

Note to email subscribers: You need to click through to the original post on Passionate Homemaking and leave a comment to be entered in this giveaway. You cannot just reply to your email subscription. Thank you!

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We decided it would be best to use disposables for the first week while I was in recovery so I wouldn’t have to think about washing them, but I was so eager to start trying out our sampling of newborn diapers that I only lasted 4 days! We are huge fans of one size pocket diapers at our home, and have always used Bum Genius pocket diapers, which fit well starting around 10 pounds and continue through potty training. Since most babies cannot fit into that size right away, it is nice to have a collection of newborn diapers to use for the first 1-3 months. Here is my review of the newborn cloth diapers we tried.

Grovia Organic Newborn All-in-One

The Grovia Organic ($14.95 per diaper – pictured above on Eden) is a very nice comfortable diaper with an excellent fit and easy to use. I did not find the lower row of snaps to be useful at all, but my baby was also nearly 8 pounds, so she immediately went into the top row of snaps. I love the durability of snaps, so that is my preference. But I did find that AIO’s in general take an excruciatingly long time to dry in the dryer and this was no exception and the absorbency was certainly lacking. The side gussets tend to leak unless changed frequently. Doubler was required. My baby grew out of this diaper at 10 pounds.

Bum Genius Newborn All-in-Ones

Since I love the style and fit of Bum Genius pocket diapers, I was eager to try their newborn all-in-one style ($12.95 per diaper). I found it was very wide on the crotch making it difficult to get a really good fit and more bulky. While the velcro tabs are easier to put on a baby, these diapers starting piling very quickly, especially as the tabs share a center laundry tab in the center back of the diaper, and easily came undone in the wash. For an AIO, they surprisingly did not take that long to dry in the dryer, but the absorbancy was lacking. I found I had to use a doubler (the Bum Genius newborn inserts, which come with the purchase of a one size diaper, worked very well as doublers by simply folding them in half lengthwise inside the diaper) inside every diaper otherwise I would have a leaking accident nearly every time. From my experience, AIO diapers just don’t have the absorbancy like pocket diapers. With the required use of a doubler for us, baby grew out of these at 10 pounds as well.

Prefolds & extra small covers

For my first two babies, we always used simple infant size prefold diapers with an assortment of newborn covers. We would fold the infant prefold in thirds horizontally instead of vertically for a more comfortable fit. While it is a more complicated multiple step procedure to put these style diapers on, they had good absorbancy and the fit was always great without leaking. You will find prefolds do add a lot of bulk. A great option for those on a tight budget. I don’t recommend newborn size prefold diapers as they have little absorbancy compared to the infant size.

Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pockets -Extra Small

The Fuzzi Bunz extra small diaper ($15.95 per diaper) were certainly my favorite choice among all the diapers we tried! The pocket style made them fast drying and easy to add an extra doubler for absorbancy if needed without being bulky. I absolutely loved the selection of colors available for these diapers. The snaps make them extra durable and long lasting. One row of snaps on this size also made them very quick to put on. She did grow out of them at 11 pounds but they certainly were well used in the interim and have plenty more life left for the next baby.

Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece Size 0 Fitted Diapers

We tried the Kissaluvs fitted size 0 diapers ($13.95 per diaper) when Titus was a newborn and I found them just has complicated as prefold diapering with the two step process of putting on the fitted diaper and then putting on the cover. It was certainly less bulky than prefolds. The fabric originally was very soft but within a few washes they were very rough in texture and caused irritation to the skin. They also were soaked through very quickly. In the end, I honestly preferred the prefolds and covers.

Kawaii Baby Pure & Natural Diaper

The Kawaii Baby Pure & Natural is a remarkably great diaper for the price ($7.95 per diaper). With its multiple snap levels, this diaper will fit roughly from 6-22 lbs. The crotch is nice and narrow giving a nice fit without excess bulk. The pocket style makes them fast drying and easy to use. The only problem I found was the velcro laundry tabs did not hold in the laundry, causing diaper chains. And the stretchy tabs are incredibly wide, making it difficult to use for a very petite baby as the tabs fold over each other. I found that while I did have the tabs folded over each other they did not come undone most of the time. My baby’s are pretty skinny, so I don’t think this would be a problem for the average user. They have held up very well as we continue to use them. They also don’t have a good selection of colors – which is disappointing for me as a cloth diapering momma whole loves bold cute colors!

Rumparooz Lil’ Joeys All-in-One

Eden in a gumball print Lil' Joey

The Rumparooz Lil’ Joeys All-in-One ($29.95 for a two pack) come in an assortment of adorable prints. While these diapers are supper cute and have a wonderful fit and have the bonus feature of the fold down snap for the umbilical cord, I found these were really designed for preemie’s. They are very small in size and will not last the average child to 12 pounds as they say. We never used the snap down feature (Eden’s cord fell off at 4 days) or the bottom row of snaps because of her size. They were the first for my baby to grow out of around 9 pounds or so. It did also take the longest of all the diapers to dry, but then again it had the best absorbency because of its extra thickness compared to the Bum Genius and Grovia.

So overall, was it worth it to invest in a stash of newborn cloth diapers? Yes and no. First off, the newborn AIO and pocket diapers that we tried were certainly far easier to use than our previous prefold experiences. They were far less prone to rashes. Secondly, I was able to buy most of our newborn stash used which certainly saved us money. We could then either sell them again for the same or slightly less than what we paid for them, or we could keep them for the next baby. But I was certainly disappointed that my baby grew out of most of them by the time she was 1 month old. Buying disposables would be comparable in price for that short of time. So the value does depend upon the growth rate of your child. My first child wasn’t 10 pounds until she was 2 months old – so they would have extended longer in that case. If I were to do it again, I would certainly consider just using the Kawaii Pure & Natural diapers, because they were the best priced for the longest use because of the two size adjustment.

Obviously these reviews are my own personal preference and any other might have a different opinion. Please take this as simply a reference from my experience.

Stay tuned for a fun newborn giveaway soon!

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Eden Joy Edmonds
“Joyful Delight”
August 7, 2011
9:05 pm
7 pounds 14 ounces, 20 3/4 inches

We have been blessed with another girl to raise to be a godly young woman for the Lord! I really wanted to have a daughter and companion for my Karis girl, but had fully convinced myself that it had to be a boy, considering it was extremely active in the womb, everyone predicted it was a boy, and I felt the Lord had confirmed the name of a boy in my heart. I had become really excited for a boy too. Well the Lord must have been laughing! Especially when we were confused over the gender for an hour after the birth! Wait till you hear that part…

Waiting for the arrival of my little Eden was a very challenging time for me. Having delivered my first two at least a week early, I struggled with patience over the delay, intense heat of summer, and very difficult physical pain and nausea in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Labor began late Saturday night, August 6th. I was already physically tired from lack of sleep the night before, but I was also eager to have my baby. Contractions were consistent at 5 minutes apart and pretty painful from the start. After two hours they stopped altogether and my husband and I attempted to get some rest. I experienced contractions off and on through the night along with a lingering nauseated feeling.

Sunday morning arrived and I remained sick and tired but nothing was really happening, so we all decided to go to church and conclude that baby was not coming. Surprisingly though, contractions started again as soon as I arrived. They were consistent but mild. I gently swayed back and forth with each contraction as we worshipped. It was a great distraction but difficult to keep my composure. I really didn’t want people to know I was in labor just in case this was not the real thing.

After the service, I quickly called the midwife and headed home. By 1:00pm, my midwife and birth team arrived. I began my normal labor routine of placing my arms around my husband’s neck, hanging limp, and swaying my hips side to side (my favorite labor position), and walking all around the house and yard, and up and down the stairs, letting gravity do its thing. At 3:00 pm, my midwife checked me and discovered that I was 6 cm dilated. We were all excited to see such good progress and were assured that it would be coming soon. In my mind I estimated that baby would arrive around dinner time. Hmm…that was not a good idea.

Contractions increased in intensity but continued at roughly 5 minutes apart. I went into the hot tub, and while it was relaxing it really slowed down my labor. It was a pleasant experience though being outside with midwives and mothers relaxing on our patio furniture while my little ones played in the yard. What more could you ask for? After nearly two hours in the tub without any real progress, trying to relax and rest unsuccessfully, I got out and started aggressively walking up and down the steps (two at a time) and around the house. I loved having the freedom and space to move around as needed. I was determined. But as it lagged on, I began getting pretty discouraged. The pain was extremely intense…more painful than I had ever experienced before with my previous two births. I felt like I went through transition three times with lots of tears and desperation. My midwife tried to check me on two separate occasions but couldn’t reach my cervix. What did this mean? The dinner hour came and went. The mystery of consistent contractions that were still 5 minutes apart but very difficult continued.

I returned to the hot tub around 7pm and experienced the most intense emotions. I was desperate. I came to a place of complete brokenness. I had always been strong and prideful in myself. I was an empowered homebirth mama. I could handle pain. Haha! The Lord really used this birth to humble me in more ways than one.  I came to a place of complete desperation and dependence upon the Lord because only He could truly sustain and uphold me. I clung to my husband as I labored on my hands and knees in the hot tub. It was nice being in water but not really helpful in managing the pain as I had hoped. I would look into my husband’s eyes and cry…”I can’t do this!” My sweet husband patiently and graciously held on to me and encouraged me to the best of his ability.

At long last things kicked into gear. It was nearly 9:00 pm. I was so thankful for a quick finale. With two major contractions and several pushes, baby arrived. The pushing stage in water was a refreshing experience.

Baby arrived at 9:05 pm and was placed right into my arms. It turns out baby was delivered with her hand right by her face, which may have caused the extra pain in my labor. I was so incredibly weak at this point that I could barely hold my child. It was dark outside with just one overhead light on and for the first time I was the one appointed to identify the gender. Previously, my husband had always identified.

I looked at the baby…it looked like a boy. I looked down and saw the cord between the legs and swollen parts and mistook it for a boy. Hilariously enough, I had convinced myself it had to be a boy. I didn’t put much thought into it…nor was I really all there mentally after such an exhausting experience. So we all were crying once again thinking we were welcoming a boy. Because it was getting chilly outside they quickly moved us inside to shower off. Baby was wrapped up quickly without a second glance. I actually fainted on the bathroom floor from the quick transition and they carried me to the couch. The afterbirth contractions were very hard. I could hardly feel any part of my body from the loss of blood. Baby’s cord was cut and delivered again into my arms for our first nursing experience. Baby lached on immediately and I felt I had such a sweet bonding experience with my supposed son.

After over an hour from delivery, my mother-in-law offered to get baby dressed. She carried baby upstairs to clean her up a bit more. By this time my husband had announced to the world (via facebook , that it was a boy. As my mother in law cleaned up the baby getting ready to put a diaper on, she discovered that it was really a girl. She called my husband in to show him the reality. Aaron came back downstairs and said, “It’s not Eli, it’s Piper (because those were the names we liked at that point).” I was so frustrated at him since I was in such pain. “That is not funny.” I said in response. “I am in no mood for joking.” “No really…it’s a girl.” He insisted. I was in complete shock. How could I incorrectly identify my child? I felt like I had bonded with my son. For nearly two hours I was in a state of shock. Everyone was laughing. Aaron returned to facebook and announced, “Scratch that…it’s a girl!” All in all, it was an hilarious experience and I can look back now and retell the story with laughter. I had completely convinced myself. I am determined not to be the one to identify again…or maybe we will just get an ultrasound next time to avoid such confusion.

So we had a girl! I’m blessed beyond words. After two days, we finally decided on her name. Eden means “delight, paradise, luxury” and I felt it was such a good reminder of the beauty of God’s creation and His original design for mankind in the garden of Eden. We were fashioned in His image to display His glory. My vision is that my little Eden would passionately adopt God’s design for her and find her “delight” in the Lord and that He would give her the desires of her heart (Psalms 37:4). We chose “Joy” because we want her life to be characterized by a spirit of joy and thankfulness. She has brought such delight and joy to our hearts, but even more so, we pray that she would be a gift of joy and delight to others and pass on the gift. I pray that she would find her complete delight and satisfaction in our great God and Savior and live her life to make His glory known to the ends of the earth.

As I look back, I am thankful for such an intense labor. While it was the most difficult thing I have endured, God was so faithful to me. He broke me. He humbled me. I have been changed. I feel such a greater sympathy and compassion now for others. I rejoice in the fact that it was such a smooth and safe delivery and it was all accomplished in the comfort of my own home and hot tub with wonderful mothers, midwives, and my husband around me. What a huge blessing! The grace has been given to cling ever more to my Savior and Lord. And now my arms are full…three precious gifts. Each given to me to be prepared to send forth as an arrow for the Lord. God is good!

Thank you all again for your thoughts, prayers, and support! It is such a blessing having such a wonderful community of women here to love and care for one another despite the distance. 

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Current Sponsors:

• Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique - Where green comes naturally - free shipping on cloth diapers and more!
• The Willow Store - Reusable diapers, dryer balls, and natural resources for your home
• Jenuinely Pure -Organic products for the body, face, home and baby
• Paula's Bread -Kitchen appliances and safe tools for all your homemade health adventures
• Tell Your Time - How to Schedule Your Time to Live Your Life Fulfilled eBook