For a Pregnant Chick, I Sure Have an Interesting “Night Life”

Sep 14,2011 / By Maria / 12 Comments

In fact, just Friday night I was hobnobbing with Prince William & Princess whats-her-face. I don’t recall what was said, but apparently they found me quite fascinating.

OK, so this happened in my dream world, in between tossing & turning, sweating, scratching my itchy pregnant skin, and numerous bathroom trips. I tend to have wacky dreams, but hello pregnancy hormones. I have some of the most vivid, realistic (and strange) dreams ever.

So realistic in fact that one night I woke up and nearly clobbered my hubby. I was awake for several minutes and it still seemed real, and I gave him the hairy eyeball the rest of the day!

One of the weirdest dreams I had was a recurring dream I had when I was pregnant with my son. I would suddenly go from being pregnant to having a baby, but I didn’t have anything I needed. I had to try to get to the store without a car seat to get the things I needed. I’d walk to the store carrying the baby, and when I got there, I’d realize I wasn’t wearing any shoes. Just as I found the things I needed, the baby would turn into a shoe, and I’d try to slink out of store unnoticed, carrying the shoe. That dream stopped once we got the car seat installed and got a few other things ready. So, the significance of that one is fairly clear…except for the shoe part. I guess I need to Google the meaning of shoe dreams!

I also had a lot of dreams where I’d had the baby and a lot of people were visiting. I’d go hours without seeing the baby & find out someone gave it a bottle and I’d get all furious George about it. I also couldn’t seem to remember the baby’s name or whether it was a boy or a girl. My friend thinks that we’re our own best dream interpreters, and she’s right. I’m pretty sure that was me expressing my concerns over unwanted visitors and meddling family.

I’ve had a “surprise, it’s twins!” dream this pregnancy, and when I tweeted about it, @Momofthreeunder replied that she’d had the same dream…then had them about 2 years later. *gulp*

So am I alone here? Do you have weird dreams (pregnancy induced or not?) Care to share any particularly interesting ones?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

$50 ReNew Life GC Winner

Sep 13,2011 / By Maria / No Comment

56 people entered this giveaway, with 92 entries in all. The winning entry is #46, which is Amy Hammonds.

Congrats Amy, I’m emailing you now!

Giveaway

UPrinting 16″ x 20″ Rolled Canvas Giveaway (CLOSED 9/20)

Sep 13,2011 / By Maria / 2 Comments

UPrinting is an online printing company that offers everything from greeting cards and letterhead, to canvas printing. Earlier this year, I purchased my business cards from them, and I was so pleased with the ease of the customization process, the shipping turnaround, and the quality of the finished product.

Rolled canvas prints start at just $13.89 and are available in standard sizes from 8″ x 10″ to 40″ x 60″ as well as custom sizes. They are produced on premium fabric using high-end large format printers and UV-resistant ink, and you can also get stretched canvas with museum or gallery wrapping.

Create your own design and add images and text, or upload your photo. Start with a free proof, no credit card required! Rolled canvases have a 1 business day turnaround, with free shipping.

Use a family picture, or photo of your kids, and this would make a fantastic Christmas gift for the Grandparents!

Giveaway: UPrinting is offering one of my readers a 16″ x 20″ rolled canvas print with a 2″ border, or no border. (ARV $25.56.) If you have won a giveaway from UPrinting within the past 6 months, you are ineligible to win this giveaway. Prize will be fulfilled by UPrinting via email, therefore the winner’s email address will be shared with the company.

~~Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below!~~

Cloth Diapers Mailbox Mondays

Cloth Diaper Advice – Mailbox Mondays 9/12/11 – Vaccines & Cloth Diapers

Sep 12,2011 / By Maria / 1 Comment

On Monday, I answer reader questions!

Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject, or fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.

Rachel says:

Here is my question for mailbox monday… I wasn’t able to find much info on the web… My little guy just got a round of immunizations and one of the vaccines, measels mumps rubella, was a live vaccine. Is there anything different i need to do with his cloth diapers? Will the virus transfer to his diapers?

Thanks, Rachel

This is a great question, and one I hadn’t really thought about! Luckily, my B.F.F. is a scientist who holds an M.S. in Molecular Biology, does technical writing, and has worked in a lab with cancer cells, specimens (and other stuff I don’t understand!) In fact, she wrote a great post on Cafemom about How to Kill a Virus, so she was definitely the right person to ask! I’ve actually been trying to get her to guest post forever, but she’s been too busy. I have essentially tricked her into guest posting by grilling her for info, tee-hee!!

So first off, most viruses live less than 2 days outside an animal body. She says: “Understand what happens in the immune system. When germs get in your body, a series of events happens, which ends (more or less) with cellular recognition of the germ (or partial germ, viral particle, peptide, etc) and production of antibodies against the germ. The antibodies bind to the germs, sending signals to other cells to kill the germs. This all happens within a few days when you get sick – and at the same time the germs are multiplying in you, making you sicker.”

“Most vaccines are weakened or partial virus that can’t multiply no matter what, so there is no virus being produced in the vaccinated person, nor is there any virus being shed, anywhere, including the diaper.” Remembering what was said earlier about how the immune system works; “Well, when the germs come from vaccines, they cannot make more germs, so you don’t really get sick. Your cells still recognize the germs and make antibodies you keep forever – so whenever that germ gets in you in your lifetime, the antibodies already have a head start to find & destroy.”

“If the vaccine is a live virus and the mom [or caregiver changing the diaper] hasn’t been vaccinated – I would say 2 days max on the diaper (or any body fluid)… but these ‘live’ viruses are extremely weakened and also should not be able to reproduce, so they should not be able to pass illness to an unvaccinated person.”

2 ways to “kill” a virus are:

Soapy water (including in the dishwasher and washing machine). A good foamy solution works best at 98-130 degrees F. Use this to wash fabrics, hands/skin, carpets and solid surfaces.
Heat between 165 – 212 degrees F for more than 15 minutes. You can sterilize solid items in boiling water or in your oven, including food if you think it is contaminated. Your dishwasher and washing machine may also reach this temperature, depending on the setting of your hot water tank.

It sounds to me like cloth diapers should be a non-issue, even if the person handling the diapers hasn’t been vaccinated. If you want to be on the safe side, your usual hot wash followed by a 15 minute tumble in the dryer (since your water heater is probably only around 120) should be more than enough!

Note from Maria: I’m not a scientist and I don’t play one on the internet. My posts shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. I also trust that we, as moms, have all done our research & made the right choices for our families, so I really don’t want this to turn into a vaccine debate…please and thank you!

Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Cloth Diaper Giveaways – Roundup for 9/9/11 (Plus Linky for All Giveaways)

Sep 9,2011 / By Maria / 6 Comments

Time to enter cloth diaper giveaways! Each week, I gather up cloth diaper, accessory and baby wearing giveaways I’ve found, and list them in one place.

Note: I find the Rafflecopter 12:01 A.M. thing to be rather confusing, especially since a lot of bloggers don’t put an end date at all. So, I’m left counting on my fingers trying to figure out what “9 days left” means as far as the end date! If a giveaway states that it ends at 12:01 A.M. on September 17th, I’ve listed it in the roundup as ending 9/16, since that’s the last day you have to enter. I believe that the # of days left includes the current day (no matter what time of day it is) but not the 1 minute of the day it “ends.” So, I’ve done my best to accurately list end dates when the blogger didn’t state one, but I may have made mistakes! Thanks to Jen, I should be getting them all right from now on…I will list the end date as the day before when they end at 12:01 A.M.!

If you’d like me to list your cloth diaper, accessory, baby wearing (etc.) giveaway next week, send a link and description to maria at change-diapers.com, or Fill out my contact form for readers.

My $50 ReNew Life Gift Card Giveaway ends 9/13 RC

This week’s giveaway is for two Knickernappies Diapers (ends 9/15) RC

*Prizes from Fuzzibunz (no set end date, ends at 25k fans) Entry is through Facebook app, must “like” them on Facebook to enter

*Applecheeks Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/9) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*GroVia AIO Cloth Diaper from A Mom’s Take (ends 9/9)

*Thirsties Duo Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/9) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*Bumgenius Elemental from Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique and Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/9) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*Cloth By Tel Diaper from Diapers, Dogs and Deployments Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 9/9) RC

*GoGreen Champ Pocket Diaper from Your World Healthy and Natural Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/9)

*Tinkle Traps Diapers from Happily Domestic (ends 9/9)

Softbums Diaper & HABA Toy from I Love Cloth Diapers-3 winners (ends 9/9) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Softbums Diaper & CJ’s BUTTer (ends 9/9) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*Oh Katy Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/9)

Planet Wise Sports Bag from Diaper Safari & Mommy of 1 and Counting (ends 9/10)

*Beco Mini (Doll Carrier) from Mommy of 1 and Counting (ends 9/10)

*One Size Diaper from Eco Baby Mama Drama (ends 9/10) RC

*Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted from Mod n Natural (ends 9/10) Two mandatory Facebook “likes” and GFC follow Open to the U.S. and Canada GD

Kim’s Cloth Diaper from Cuties with Cloth Booties (ends 9/10)

Ergo Baby Carrier from The Crunchy Wife (ends 9/11)

Thirsties Duo Diaper from ELF (ends 9/11) Open to the U.S. and Canada

$15 Tiny Tush GC (ends 9/11) RC

*Fuzzibunz Diaper from Healthy Heinys and The Cloth Diaper Convert (ends 9/12)

*Green Line Diaper from Dibs (ends 9/12) Open to the U.S. and Canada GD

Smartipants Diaper from So Easy Being Green (ends 9/12) RC

Moms in the House Diaper from Little Love Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 9/12) RC

Knickernappies Diaper from I Love Cloth Diapers (ends 9/12) RC

*WAHMies Diaper from The Mommy Goods (ends 9/13) GD

*Cheeky Fluff Diaper from Crazy 4 Fluff Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/13)

*Itti Bitti Tutto from Happily Domestic (ends 9/13)

*Sleepy Wrap from Lil Roos and Nicki the Eval Gal (ends 9/13) RC

Beco Gemini from Monkey Tales Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/13) RC

*Happy Green Wool Dryer Balls from One Smiley Monkey Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/14) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*AMP Diaper from Newly Crunchy Mama of 3 Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/14) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Fuzzibunz or Rumparooz Diaper from Changing Diapers and Under the Apple Tree Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/14) RC

*Pico Boo Diaper from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends 9/14) RC

Grasshopper Diaper from 17 Sirens (ends 9/14) RC

Angel Bean Diaper & Cover from Knocked Up and Nursing (ends 9/14) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

GroVia AI2 from Cloth Diaper Blog (ends 9/14) RC

*10 Itti Bitti Tutto Diapers & Wetbag from Diapershops (ends 9/15) Entry is on Facebook

*Babee Greens Wool Shorties from Eco Babyz Mandatory vote (ends 9/15)

*Smartipants Diaper from The Nurse Mommy Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 9/15)

*Posh Pumpkins Diaper & Wet Bag from The Mommy Goods (ends 9/15) GD

*Tiny Tush Diaper from Baby Dickey’s Giveaways (ends 9/15) RC

*$20 Wee Little Changes GC from Real Moms Real Reviews (ends 9/15)

*Zookies Diaper Cover from Sisters N Cloth Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 9/15) RC

Softbums Omni from Padded Tush Stats (ends 9/15) GD

Bumgenius 4.0 Diapers from Kelly Wels (ends 9/15) RC

*Beco Gemini Carrier from Monkey Tales Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/16) RC

*Best Bottom Diaper from Diaper Safari and Newly Crunchy Mama of 3 Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/16) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Smartipants Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/16) Open to the U.S and Canada

*GoGreen Pocket Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/16)

*$25 Sweet Cheeks Diaper Co GC-3 Winners-From Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/16)

*Charlie Banana Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/16)

Grasshopper Diaper from Grinning Cheek to Cheek (ends 9/16) Open to the U.S. and Canada

$25 Enviro Baby GC-2 winners-from Mommy and Me Giveaways Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/16) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Organic Hideaway Diaper from Diapers Dogs & Deployments Mandatory Facebook “like and GFC follow (ends 9/16) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

$30 Petite Bottoms GC from Life with my Littles Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/16) RC

*Softbums Diaper & Ergo Baby Carrier from I Love Cloth Diapers-The Softbums Blog (ends 9/17) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Planet Wise Mini Wet Bag from Nicki’s Diapers and Mommy is Green (ends 9/17)

Cutesy Tushies Soaker from Thrifty Nifty Mommy (ends 9/17) Open to the U.S. and Canada GD

$15 Eco Mom GC from The Little Hedgehog Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/17) RC

Snugg Baby Diaper from Mommy of 1 and Counting (ends 9/17)

*$100 Ultimate Green Store GC from Mommy and Me Giveaways Mandatory newsletter subscription and GC follow (ends 9/18)

Cat Bird Baby Mei Tai from Mommy and Me Giveaways Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 9/18) RC

BebeMellons Fitted Diaper from Cloth Diaper Geek (ends 9/18) RC

$25 Ultimate Green Store GC from Newly Crunchy Mama of 3 Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/19) RC

Softbums Diaper, Planet Wise Wet Bag, Baby Legs & Diaper Bag (ends 9/19) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Grasshopper Diaper from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends 9/19) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted, Wrap & Doublers from Simple (ends 9/19) RC

Happy Green Wool Dryer Balls from Manager to Mom (ends 9/20) RC

BambinoBums Diaper from Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot and Sugar Pop Ribbons Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 9/20) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Planet Wise Swim/Diaper Bag from Diaper Safari and One Smiley Monkey Mandatory GFC follow Open to the U.S. and Canada (ends 9/21) RC

GroVia Hybrid Trial Pack from Wishing Penny Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/21)

Tiny Tush Diaper from Better Cloth Diapers and Simply Stacie (ends 9/21) RC

RearZ Fitted Diaper from Baby Giveaways Galore Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 9/21) Open Worldwide RC

Tiny Tush Diaper from Mama to 4 Blessings Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/22) RC

Softbums Diaper from Marni’s Organized Mess Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/22)

Bumgenius 4.0 from Wee Little Changes and Formula Mom (ends 9/22) RC

Rumparooz Diaper from One Smiley Monkey Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/24) RC

$25 Ultimate Green Store GC from New Age Mama (ends 9/27) RC

Thirsties Duo Diaper from Going Green with Noah (ends 9/28) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

The Little Bee Co Diaper from Eco Babyz Mandatory GFC follow (ends 9/29)

Baba Sling from Eco Babyz Mandatory GFC follow Open Worldwide (ends 9/29)

GoGreen Diapers from Prengnacy and Newborn (ends 9/30) Daily form entry

Alva Baby Pocket Diaper from Midnight Mommy Mandatory GFC follow(ends 10/1) RC

*$10 Everything Birth GC from Fluffy Bums (ends 10/12) RC

*giveaways that have been listed in a prior week’s roundup
RC Entries collected via Rafflecopter
GD Entries collected via Google Docs Form

You may enter any “family friendly” giveaway in the linky below. The form Blog name – Giveaway Item – Ending date works well. Please at least include the item and end date, and link directly to the giveaway.

View my where I list my giveaways post, to find more places to link up your giveaways!

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Monthly Archives: Sep 2011

For a Pregnant Chick, I Sure Have an Interesting “Night Life”

$50 ReNew Life GC Winner

UPrinting 16″ x 20″ Rolled Canvas Giveaway (CLOSED 9/20)

Cloth Diaper Advice – Mailbox Mondays 9/12/11 – Vaccines & Cloth Diapers

Cloth Diaper Giveaways – Roundup for 9/9/11 (Plus Linky for All Giveaways)

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