cloth versus disposable diapers

I love nature. I love Mother Earth. And for most part, I leave as little carbon footprint as possible. I ride public utility vehicles instead of driving my own car, I walk instead of riding if the place is near, I recycle almost everything (pack rat!), I conserve water and our home uses solar panels. And now that Labsie and I are going to have a child, I decided to remain being green in raising him/her. And thus we begin with the diaper issue -- cloth or disposable?

Cloth diapers is reusable for years on end, making it cheaper. Also, there's no trash to contribute to landfills and zero percent additives to harm your baby's bottom. Its major downside is washing the cloth and thus wasting precious water. Also a downside for me is handling poop and pee directly, yuck! -_- Disposable diapers on the other hand is very convenient -- use and throw. And the "throw" part is the bad part as disposables are plastic with lots of additive that will take at least 500 years to decay. Really bad for the environment! =(

So what's a trying-hard green mommy to do? I don't wanna launder diapers with yucky stinky poo (one of the millions of reasons I didn't wanna have a baby) but I don't wanna pollute the earth unnecessarily either. After much research, I stumbled upon a third alternative -- organic disposable diapers!! ^_^ These are just like the mainstream plastic disposables BUT they are made of earth-friendly stuff plus there are no unnecessary additives to harm baby's skin. Perfect!

And the best part is? I found sellers here in my town! Woohoo! The price is just the same as disposables (it's imported) but I'm willing to sacrifice money for the sake of our Earth. If this is your first time to hear of organic disposable diapers, read on below. Got descriptions of the 2 brands of eco-friendly diapers that I'm planning to buy =) For more brands, you can click the sellers links (pink) as they have more info in their sites. Good luck!

Organic and Chlorine-Free Disposable Diapers
Davao City seller: Angel's Butt
Manila sellers: Earth Friendly Organic Diapers - Handy Dandy Diapers - Pick A Diaper

Earth's Best TenderCare Disposable Diapers are made from only chlorine free absorbent materials that are NEVER treated with chlorine bleaching agents which may contribute to dioxin pollution. Their breathable sides, moisture barrier cuff and refastenable tabs ensure premium comfort fit and ease of use. Our diapers are made with renewable resources and fewer petro-chemicals to reduce your baby's environmental footprint.

• Non-chorine bleached materials
• Contains natural absorbent material such as corn and wheat
• Super Absorbency
• Comfy stretchy refastenable tabs
• Latex-free, dye-free, perfume-free
• Moisture barrier cuff
• Breathable sides
• Imported from Canada

The Moltex Oko Disposable Diaper is marketed as an eco friendly disposable diaper that is also better for your baby. There are no added chemicals as found in the mainstream brands. These chemicals, such as lotions and deodorants are used to keep odors away. Unfortunately these can cause rashes and other problems such as fungi and viruses. The Oko diapers use a green tea leaf extract to help with odors.

Twenty percent of the absorbent gel has also been replaced with a totally biodegradable absorbent gel made from maize (corn) starch. Being a natural product this also tends to prevent formation of ammonia which can also cause skin rashes. The breathable backsheet is made from 100% biodegradable materials as is the packaging. All this means a fully compostable diaper without the need to add to landfill or be burnt.

* Refastenable/velcro frontal tape
* Multiple channel leakproof
* Cloth-like backsheet for 100% airflow
* Improved absorbency
* Imported from Germany
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our 20-week old baby is a cantaloupe!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed! (SOURCE: The Bump)

our baby / my pregnancy wishlists

Please click the pink links below.. ^_^
Our "Babies R Us" Wish List
Our Amazon Baby Registry
[ please enter "Melissa Solito" or "Norbert Elbanbuena" to access the Amazon list, thanks! ]

Sleeper Keeper Total Body Comfort Pregnancy Pillow

Smart idea, sensational results: Take the concept of a pillow, stretch it to an elongated curve, contour it to provide the right kind of support where it is needed, and make it flexible so the user can shape it as necessary. Voila! This pillow does the work of 5 and is great for back and stomach support during pregnancy.

Gabriel Feeding Pad Break-Away

The Gabriel Feeding Pad Break-Away is a 3-in-1 product for nursing, burping or bottle-feeding! The Nursing Veil has finger loopholes to hold veil in place while minimizing infant distractions in public feeding situations, and end flaps that lift for mom-to-baby eye contact. The pad flips over to burp baby on soft fabric or to allow baby to rest comfortably on lap or shoulder. The bottle-feeding feature holds a 2-9 oz. bottle of milk and frees one hand while feeding baby upright.

The Name Game

Stole this meme from Mommy Words, hehe! Hope she won't mind! =) I actually already wrote a post how we chose our baby's name back during my first trimester. You can read all about it once you get to the last question below ;-)

About the Name Game: Names are important. Your kids' names were chosen for a particular reason and they mean a lot to you so this would be a great story to share! Copy the image above to use on your blog then go ahead and answer the questions and then pass this Name Game and the simple instructions on to other parents who you think might want to share their story!

1. Do you have any cultural or religious naming traditions?

- No traditions.. My parents just want our baby to have a short first name coz hubby's last name is quite long (10 letters long).

2. Did you or your partner come to the marriage with pre-selected names?

- Yes, we already selected one boy (Tristan) and one girl (Tatiana Dhyana) name. Hubby added another boy name and changed 'Dhyana' to another girl name.

3. Did you consider the sound of the first and middle and last names together? Did this make any sad eliminations?

- Yes, we considered it. No sad eliminations though =)

4. Do you have veto powers?

- YES! Hehe! I vetoed the other girl names hubby proposed and really insisted on 'Tatiana'.

5. Did the baby naming cause arguments?

- No full-blown arguments though it kinda got heated for awhile when I fought for 'Tatiana', hehe!

6. Do you think it is easier to name boys or girls?

- Uhmm, it was both hard for us.

7. Did you eliminate names because of people from your past or present who you don't like or because a certain image comes to mind.

- No. The names from where we selected the final name choice were all good =)

8. Did you / would you survey your children to get their thoughts on the name?

- If we'll have a second child, probably yes. Kids often have awesome imaginations so they might just come up with a very unique name for their sibling!

9. Did you tell people the name or possible names before the baby was born or were they in the vault??

- Our blog readers know but our immediate family doesn't, LOL!

10. Did you use baby name books?

- Nope.. I searched for the meanings of our selected names in the internet though. Have to be sure the names don't have negative connotations, hehe!

11. Drumroll Please! What did you name your kid(s) and why?
- Check our first baby naming post HERE! ;-p
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lullabies for our sweet baby =)

Ever since I've been feeling flutters down in my pelvic area I started talking to our sweet baby. Now, are the flutters our sweet baby's movement or just gas? According to TheBump.com, at 15 weeks, baby's four limbs now have functional joints, and is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb. So maybe the flutters are really baby's movements! =) Anyway, I also told hubby to talk to him/her. And though I'm no good in singing, I also started to sing lullabies to soothe our sweet baby =) Here are the lyrics of common lullabies:

Incey wincey spider

The incey wincey spider
Climbed up the spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the incey wincey spider
Climbed up again


Rock-a-bye baby

Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all


One, two, three

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.


Twinkle, twinkle, little star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
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choosing our baby's name =)

Labsie and I agreed not to have children for quite awhile (only after 3-4 years of marriage) or maybe even never have children ever. But that didn't stop us from making names for our future babies. Kinda funny when I think about it now.. Maybe we're really destined to have kids! *shudder* :p Anyway, around 2006 or 2007, Labsie and I agreed to have our baby girl named Tatiana Dhyana. The former is a Russian name (which I loved since time immemorial!) while we stole the latter from a certain movie's credits. Hehe! As for a baby boy's name, I wanted Tristan, it sounds so chivalrous and manly! Yep, I got it from King Arthur's time =)

Now that we're having our first child, the baby naming frenzy is up again! My parents want us to give our baby a short name since Labsie's surname is quite long. But as you previously read above, we're big on having two names for our kids. Woe to them! Hehe! Labsie and I decided on Tristan Gabriel for a boy and Laurana Tatiana for a girl. Laurana is a character in Dragonlance, a fantasy book series that we adore. She is a beautiful elf princess, a brave warrior (yes, she fights!), and a noble person. Tatiana, meanwhile, means fairy princess. Just perfect! =) Here are the names we considered and their meanings:

Anastasia = resurrection

Laurana = the bay or laurel plant (leaves used to weave the Greek champion wreath)
Karina = pure

Katerina = pure, torture

Olga = holy

Sasha = feminine of alexander, defender of mankind
Svetlana = star
Tatiana = fairy princess!!! =)

Gabriel = archangel, God's able-bodied one, hero of God
Tristan = tumult

Baby Naming Resource:

The Bump

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me and my baby's compatibility =)

My due date is on March 26 (Aries) but babies sometimes arrive early or late. If ever our baby will be born BEFORE March 21, s/he'll be a Pisces, a water sign. I'm a Cancer while hubby is a Scorpio, both water signs. Pisces will be a perfect addition to our family! =) If ever our baby will be born on March 21 or after, s/he'll be an Aries, a fire sign. Water + fire = boiling water OR the fire being put out. So what does this all mean? A helluva exciting family life!! I just hope Labsie and I are up to it! LOL!

Mom - Cancer, The Crab
June 22 - July 22

Relax -- you were born to be a mama. Cancer moms are intuitive protectors of children and the most fertile sign in the Zodiac. Mothering likely comes easily to you -- sweet, sensitive, and caring, you have no problem providing the ample love and affection your child needs to thrive. You may find others marvel at your affinity for this new undertaking, and it's unlikely that others will feel inclined to offer up unsolicited parenting advice (thankfully!).

One important thing to remember, though, is that your baby bird will need to fly out of the nest on her own someday -- Cancer moms run the risk of being overprotective and preventing their little ones from learning the valuable life lessons available to them by making mistakes every once in a while. Remember to give your child room to explore the world independently. Don't be afraid to let her run on her own a little at the playground or park -- you can stay a few safe steps behind. And trust that she'll be just fine on that playdate or first day of nursery school. Take comfort in the fact that you've created a reassuring, safe haven for baby at home -- and knowing you and your ability to nurture, it's likely that there's delicious food cooking on the stove and that the rooms are beautifully decorated to boot.

Baby - Aries, The Ram
March 21 - April 19

Your child is a nonstop mover. She's a fan of energy-expending activities, so let her play in a baby gym and bouncy jumper, take frequent trips to the park, and navigate homemade obstacle courses. Use bright colors to decorate her nursery. Your fiercely independent child has to do things without Mom's help, whether it's holding a bottle, feeding herself, or cruising around the coffee table. Encourage these behaviors (and always stay close by to supervise), since they'll help foster your child's growth.

Baby - Pisces, The Fish
February 19 - March 20

Sensitive and emotional, Pisces babies feel the nuances of their environment very deeply. To blossom, your little one needs a secure, warm, nurturing home. Keep him close to your heart by carrying him in a sling as you run errands or tidy up around the house. Comfort him with classical music, soft lullabies, and soothing massages. Avoid loud, disturbing noises. He loves games like pat-a-cake and peekaboo. Your little Fish will adore baths too, so make sure you've got plenty of water toys on hand.

[ SOURCE ]

our 10-week old baby is a prune!

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.) SOURCE: TheBump.com

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first look of our sweet baby! =)

Theoretically we knew we were pregnant for about 8 weeks or so: the pregnancy test was positive, I have no menstrual period for 2 months already, plus I am gaining weight and experiencing other pregnancy symptoms. But it still blew our minds when we heard our baby's heartbeat yesterday! We are, 100% without a doubt, pregnant beyond belief! LOL! ^_^ Labsie (my hubby) was so exhilarated by the whole experience that he was smiling ear to ear the whole day. I was happy too, knowing our baby is safe and sound, looking healthy and normal as my OB can gather from the ultrasound. Keep growing sweet baby of ours.. See you in 7 months!

Baby Stats as of Aug 20

Crown-Rump Length (CRL) : 22.1mm

Yolk Sac: 3.2mm

Fetal Heartbeat: 183bpm

Age of Gestation: 8 6/7 weeks

Impression: Single, Live, Intrauterine Pregnancy with good cardiac and somatic activities =)

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we're having a girl??

If I believe in the following baby gender tests that is! :p Our baby is still 8 weeks old so it will be a long while before we'll know it's gender by ultrasound. Our parents and friends don't even know we're pregnant yet! But soon, we will tell them -- after the first ultrasound =)

Chinese Lunar Calendar - Boy

Childbirth.org Predictor - 43% Boy and 56% Girl

Amazing Pregnancy - 40% Boy and 60% Girl

Select Baby Gender - Girl

Baby Man - Girl

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