Laundry Detergent

So Dane and I have decided to use cloth diapers for our baby. Financially, they are way cheaper than disposables and they are much better for the environment. I started reading some forums about washing your cloth diapers because lets face it laundry detergent is expensive, especially the ones that are safe to use on your diapers. And we will be doing a load every other day just for diapers- probably another 3 a week for clothes- that is 7 loads a week!

And what did I find, apparently people make their own laundry detergent! So I started researching that and it too is much cheaper. I decided that I was going to try, off to Target and Publix I go.

items needed: fels-naptha soap/ivory soap (you choose), arm and hammer washing soda, 20 mule borax, oxyclean free

Every "recipee" I found was some arrangement of these in different ratios, either using the oxyclean or the soap, some used both. Most were around 1:1:1 for everything. With cloth diapers people said not to use ivory because it will build up and starts to repel water so I am using the fels-neptha. I decided to use the whole box of each and only one bar of the soap even though the recipee called for more, don't want build up.

Cost Break down:
Fels-naptha soap @ publix - $1.09
Arm and Hammer WASHING (not baking) soda@ Publix- $2.19


20 mule Borax @ Target- $2.99 @publix- $3.89


Oxyclean free @ both- $7.99


total -$15.12 with tax

take all of these- ratio not exactly 1:1:1 but I think it will be fine- and pour into bucket, grate up bar of soap on cheese grater and add, stir all together. Use 1-2 table spoons for a toploader and 1/2 a table spoon for a front load. Makes about 275 loads worth of detergent for a top-loader! that comes out to $.05 a load, compared to about $.30 for store bought (price breakdown for differnt types) detergent! Here is a link for a liquid detergent recipee.

At $.05 a load and 7 loads a week rounding up comes to $20.00 a year.
At $.30 a load and 7 loads a week rounding up comes to $115.00 a year.

32 weeks and growing!

So here are my 32 week pictures! I am growing really quickly right now, it seem like every morning I am bigger than the last. Sorry about the hair, I didn't feel like doing it so it is just pulled back. I will put up some pictures of if eventually, but it will be grown back by then probably. Oh well.

32 Week front view.
You can actually tell from the front now.

32 week side view! wow it is a lot
bigger than the 30 week pictures.

Progress So Far

Well, I had my 31 week appointment this afternoon. Everything is going great. I measured right where I am supposed to, and the heartbeat was right where it needs to be.

My ribs are starting to get sore, since she is getting bigger and beginning to fill them out, but it is worth it. She kick and wiggles all day long it is wonderful. I just wish she would keep her feet out of my ribs. I love when i push on her and she reacts, it make everything so real.

Dane is getting excited and can't wait to meet our girl. We are officially in the "safe zone" to deliver at home in 5 weeks and 2 days! It is crazy, the time has flown by. Dane is so great he is really excited about the birth, he has even read a couple of books that I asked him to. I thank God everyday for such an awesome husband that I know is going to be a great dad.

We are taking a parenting class at church. It is called Effective Parenting in a Defective World, by Chip Ingram. It is great. We are the only people that don't have a kids yet, but I think it is better to start early before we make all the mistakes! Our teacher also bring some sort of chocolate dessert with her each weeks, which make the class even better.

Our birth classes have also started. We are half way through and so far so good. The class is being taught by a local doula and there are 4 other couples. All of us are doing home births with my midwife Christine, except one who is going to a birthing center. It is great to learn how natural child birth can be if you let it. Our bodies know just what they are doing. Having a baby isn't a medical procedure or illness as it is so often treated today.

I have just started having Braxton Hicks contractions, so far I havn't been able to feel them at all. All I notice is my stomach tightening up into a little ball and then relaxing about 30 seconds later. Hopefully they are a reflection of how my contractions during labor will be.

I hope you enjoyed my pregnancy update. 32 week belly pictures will be coming on either Sunday or Monday!

Hair and Belly 30 weeks

So it has been a while oops. Well I missed doing the 28 week pictures, so 30 is the next set, sorry for the delay. I am getting bigger every day now, and sleeping is becoming more difficult. Everyone tells me I am tiny, but I feel huge. I might have to break down and buy a pair of maternity jeans, blah.

I also decided to cut my hair. All I ever do is wear it in a pony tail so I figured "I'll cut is short so it can't get in a pony tail". Well the first morning I woke up I remembered why i like having my hair longer. Because I can wake up tie it back and be on my way. Now I have to either straighten the bed head or take a shower and curl it.

I love the cut and it looks great, I just need to get used to it. Im sure I will have some curly hair photos soon, maybe next post so keep checking it out.

30 week Belly- 3/4 of the way done!!!!

30 week belly front- yay!