Fleece Diaper Covers

Recently I sewed up 8 fleece diaper covers. Fleece is known for being a good night time cover because it is very water proof, but also breathable.  After three nights use I have found this to be true. It even lasted out Elias with no leaking or wicking.  I was able to make about 3 covers from 1/2 yard fleece. I got the fleece for 40% off at Joann's, so each cover cost about $3. Very affordable for something that works so well! Plus, the cute fleece prints look absolutely adorable!

I got the pattern from this site: Free Fleece Soaker Pattern

The sewing was very easy to do and because it is fleece the raw edges don't matter and there is no need to serge the edges.

Here is a cover I made for Cora.

Age Appropriate Tasks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Awhile ago a friend was kind enough to pass on a book that contained a list of "practical living skills" that were arranged by age of mastery that the author wanted her children to know how to do before leaving the home. This got me to thinking about what I need to intentionally teach my children to do in order for them to well rounded responsible adults and so that they could take ownership of their place in our home. I would love to take credit for teaching our children certain household tasks but was so impressed to see Tim teaching them many tasks when I was getting healed and rested from having the new baby. I guess he was getting tired of doing it all and he put our 3 1/2 year old and 18 month old to work as his helpers. One thing I have learned is that prior to expecting my child to do these things I need to give a thorough tutorial on how the task should be done, even something as simple as how to wash your hands. Model it and then let them do it with some assistance. I have also learned not to do anything for my child that he/she can do themselves, it may seem simpler to just do it myself or it may be done the "right" way, but it doesn't do them any favors and in the long run it won't help me either. Here are just a few areas we are currently working on.

Tasks appropriate for a 2 year old (18 mon old in our case):
-Throw away trash and diapers.
- Put cups (sippy) in the sink or on the counter.
- Hang coat on a peg.
- Put shoes in designated spot.
- Retrieve objects (like shoes, coat).
- Pick up toys.
- Learn to get out only one toy at a time.
- Put dirty clothes in hamper.
- Take plate to kitchen.
- Clean up spills.
- Use a fork or spoon instead of hand.
- Use a big cup at table.
- Undress.
- Wash hands and face.


Tasks appropriate for a 3 or 4 year old:
- Brush teeth with assistance.
- Dress self in the morning (we pick out clothes before bed and leave them out).
- Clean room.
- Dust furniture (we use one of those fluffy swiffer things).
- Put clean clothes in dresser.
- Fold clean diapers.
- Fold clean wash cloths and underwear.
- Transfer wet clothes out of washer into dryer and dry clothes out of dryer into basket.
- Use a napkin.
- Use table manners.
- Set table.
- Unload dishwasher silverware.
- Put away can goods.
- Crack an egg in a bowl.
- Pour liquids.
- Make cereal.
- Use a dust pan.
- Use a dustbuster.
- Wipe off door knobs with spray.
- Water plants indoors and out.
- Pick up yard.
- Pull weeds.
- Empty smaller trash cans into a bigger one.
- Feed a pet.

A Few Book Reviews

Here are some of my more recent readings and a quick thought about them:

"Superimmunity for Kids: What to Feed Your Children to Keep Them Healthy Now, and Prevent Diseases in Their Future" By Leo Galland

- His main point is that we don't get enough essential fatty acids (omega 3s) and that getting on them will help your immune system. He also talks about the evils of sugar and un-whole foods. Pretty much knew it all, but it was a really good reminder and refresher. 

"As In a Mirror" By Emrys Tyler

- A Christian Durangoin wrote this fantasy novel as an allegory. It reminds me of Lord of the Rings in many ways. I enjoyed his novel and his resolution. You can tell that he is a new writer, the characters and description were a bit shallow, but the theme was very interesting. It is a good read. It can only be found at www.lulu.com

"The Idiot" By Fyodor Dostoevsky

- Author of "Crime and Punishment" this later work was written with the purpose of showing the Christ-like picture of a beautiful and faultless man. I am still working on this one, but will update when my mind is made up. 

My Grandma, Cloth and Ponderings

Marci Ann, Cora Anne, and Jean Anne

Cora in a Thirsties Cover

Recently while visiting my parents I took along a small stash of cloth diapers because Cora has a tendency to wet through disposables at night time.  One night I was getting Cora diapered and dressed for bed when my 86 year old grandma took an interest in what I was doing. In fact, I am not sure she knew I was using cloth diapers until I explained what I was doing. I got to thinking that surely the trim, colorful and clothy covers must look very different from the rubber pants she told me they had to use, but caused horribly irritated rashes on the legs. She marveled at the genius of the snappy that replaced the dangerous pins that she told me she poked my dad with on more than one occasion. She was dumb struck when I told her about the wonders of one-sized diapers that could fit both Cora and Elias. She told how she had the nicest diapers of any one she knew because her grandmother made them out of several layers of flannel and they were so soft on her babies skin. 

All of this got me to thinking that my generation wasn't only the first to wear paper diapers, but so far, the only one. It am kind of proud that my children can wear cloth, and I take joy that using cloth has gotten only easier. I wonder what is next...we can only hope, diapers that wash and fold themselves?

A Month of Sundays

The last month I have had the privilege of attending church at three different churches. It amazes me to think that the body of Christ, even limited to evangelical circles, can be so diverse and different.  The environments, worship styles, attitudes and actions were so drastically different in each place.  But, to think of it the people were very different too.  

This last week we attended our own church and our pastor spoke about how and what we have done as a church in 2008.  He talked about many things but ended with a challenged. He pointed out that our congregation is a Pastor/Staff Centered Church.  We tend to leave all the serving, teaching, discipleship, and work up to the "trained professionals."  We come and expect to be taught, not seeking to teach. We come expecting others to reach out to us, pursue us and love us, never seeking to do that to others.  We come selfishly.  

The prior week we visited a church plant in 5 Points Denver. I was really apprehensive about visiting, not sure what I would find.  We parked on the street and shuffled up the side walk and were greeted with a hearty hand shake. We walked in and were greeted by an older white woman who asked about our children. Then we came to the name tag table where a young African man first shook my hand then, to my surprise, pulled me into a side hug.  I wasn't too sure about things by this point, but went with it.  He asked me my name and wrote "Mercy" on my name tag, I guess there was a bit of a language barrier. Then we went into the sanctuary and saw Galatians 3:28 in 2 foot letters across the front of the room, "For you are all one in Christ Jesus." It was then that I got to thinking that I wasn't hugging an african american man, but my brother in Christ. When he wrote my name as "Mercy" it was as if God was telling me what attitude I should be made up of.  It was amazing to see this fledging church interact and come to serve, pray and be in each others lives and the community around them.  The Word was taught with out reserve and with out gimic.  It was refreshing in every way.  

On our drive home (an 8 hour trip) a few days later I got to thinking about what I had seen and experienced and was comparing it to our church at home.  I was thinking how I wished the attenders at our church were more friendly, willing to hug, willing to pray with conviction, willing to serve others, willing to worship with abandon.  Then it hit me, I am my church. I am not willing to be more friendly, to hug, to pray, to serve to worship openly, so why I am expecting others to do that for me?  Jeff, our pastor was right, we center our church on him, not God, not what we can do to worship God more deeply and serve others more fully. 

So...I think I need to start a "hugging commitee" at First B of Durango. That, is, if people don't mind being hugged by I white girl.