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Sunday, August 15, 2010

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Meet August’s Spotlight MOM: Audrey

In the photo: Adorable Kalista in her pink Knickerknappies signing the word “mommy” in American Sign Language.

Name: Audrey

Hometown: Greeley, CO

Mom to: Kalista, 15 months

Occupation: Labor and Delivery Nurse

Fav Cloth Diapers: GroVia & Knickernappies

What’s one cloth diapering tip you wish you would have gotten at the very start?
Try different brands/types of diapers before purchasing a bunch of one brand. Review the diaper review and talk to other CD parents to find out their experience. And get a diaper sprayer!!! I wasted one year of using liners and finally got a sprayer - wished I had gotten it in the first place!!

What is the one cloth diapering tip you would tell a new mom?
Sun-dry them instead of throwing them into the dryer - the sun does wonder with stains and saves electricity! If you do use the dryer, do not stuff the pockets when they're still warm (it shortens the elastic lifetime very quick!)

How involved is dad in cloth diapering?
He's very supportive. We made a compromise as he preferred Velcro and I prefer snaps. Now he realizes that Velcro doesn't last more than a year so he is fine with snaps!!

Describe your baby’s last meltdown.
She screams her head off whenever we try to put her on the grass - lifts her legs up, refuses to touch the grass. Then 2 months later, she's finally walking on the grass but gets upset when she falls and has to touch the grass with her hands.

What is the cutest thing your baby does?
Communicating with us in ASL [American Sign Language]. She knows 60 words and is only 14 months old!

What is your parenting style?
We believe in peaceful household so we do not yell at each other nor at her. We do use firm voices.

What are your favorite websites?
Facebook, Kelly's Closet, Cloth Diaper Whisperer, Brill Family Adventure, Baby Center

What baby product could you not live without?
Video monitors - we're Deaf and cannot hear what she's doing so now we can SEE what she is doing!! And also we have a baby cry signaler which we set the sensitivity - when Kalista cries or calls out loud enough, it make the strobe lights in the house go off, including the bed signaler (which vibrates). She likes to talk to herself and play upon arising so we set it that we're not awakened unnecessarily by her talking.

If you had a free day to yourself, what would you spend it doing?
Hit the water park!! I'm waiting for the day I can have a Girl's Night Out with my close friend!!

What’s in your CD player right now?
AC/DC Lullabies for our daughter's nap

What is your favorite thing about being a mom?
Watching my daughter grow amazedly!!

What’s for dinner tonight?
Salisbury steaks!!

8 comments:

Julia said...

I dont know if Audrey reads this, but I have a question. I never thought of this until now. How do you know if your baby is crying in the middle of the night. Or do you co sleep?

Audrey said...

That's a very common question. We have a cry alert in her room - we set its sensitivity (from quiet babbling to screaming cries). When she cries, the light flashes in our bedroom, bathroom, living room, and the halls. The system also has a vibrator under my pillow so it vibrates. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions!! Audrey

Audrey said...

And yes we did co-sleep the first 6 weeks - I wake up easily when she stirs, perfect timing as she nurses before she has to cry.

Sarahjenne said...

Hi, Audrey! That is so cool about the cry alert thing. Thanks for the tip about waiting for the diapers to cool before stuffing.

Anonymous said...

You sound like an awesome mom! I plan on teaching ASL to my baby (I am moderately fluent in ASL myself) and I think it is such great to communicate in any family!
Best wishes to your family!

Crystal said...

Great advice to a new cloth diaperer! And how cool that your daughter can sign so well! We've used sign language with our dd just so she can communicate with us before she can talk (she's 14 mo old). We've only worked on a few signs, but she uses them well and it's soooo helpful!

Audrey said...

SarahJenne - I wish I had known that before ruining my Rumparooz stash!!! All the elastics are shot!

WholsCece & Crystal - keep up teaching your babies ASL!!! Kalista is now 15 months old and knows 70 words...and counting!! She LOVES Signing Times DVDs - you can get them at your local library. Ours has a bunch of series!!

Laura said...

I never thought of that on the stuffing pockets while cloths still warm from the dryer. I try to sun or line dry my cloth diapers and just fluff up on non-heat in the dryer.

Very lovely spotlight.