Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers, Ferd and I are in definite need of them.

I found this great product called gDiapers. They are a soft cotton diaper with a snap in waterproof liner. You have two options: you can use their disposable/flushable biodegradable inserts, or reusable cloth inserts to absorb the mess. The disposable option is super functionable if you are on the go travelling or have a babysitter who is unfamiliar with cloth diapers. And the cloth option is of course the most economic.

My main reasons for wanting to do cloth is to save money. But it’s also a much greener way to do things and they say, babies who are in cloth have fewer diaper rashes, blowouts and leaks.

Here’s the lowdown:
There are three sizes of gDiapers. They say you need at least six of each size. They go for $30 for a pack of two. The flushable inserts are $15 for a pack of fourty. That’s .37 cents per disposable insert, more expensive than disposable diapers, which is why I would use them sparingly. The cloth inserts are $30 for 6 and they say you need about 12, and there are two sizes of those. So the total cost of diapering in cloth only will cost you $390. And the kids afterwards are already paid for.

To address the poop question. They now use flushable liners (dry wipes), as a barrier to catch the poop so it’s easier to keep the cloth liner clean.

So here’s what happened:

I found gDiapers at my local grocery store and bought a pack. A few days later, I noticed they were on clearance for $7 for a pack of two diapers and $4 for a pack of disposable liners. So I grabbed a bunch and checked out. They also had a $5 manufacturers coupon on each pack, so I only paid $2 for each pack of diapers! I returned the next day to finish my collection and get some more for eBaying. But I had to pay $7 each because the lame clerk wouldn’t honor the manufacturers coupon. Still a great deal.

If you want to give cloth a try, head over to HEB in the soda isle or clearance section. They lowered the clearance price to $2 and they have just a handfull left.

Yep. We did it. Coming this summer. A surprise it will be.

Since the Olympics have started, we have been going to the gym to catch them on TV. My normal routine is to plunk myself down on a stationary bike or treadmill and get so captivated in what I’m watching, that I forget that I’m exercising. Unfortunately this morning while on the bike, the only thing to watch was either CNN, some lame cartoons, or an infomercial, all of which I couldn’t hear since I didn’t have headphones. The infomercial, advertising the Shark portable steamer caught my attention.

Similar to the Shark steamer mop, this steamer comes with magic wands that attach to it allowing you to clean a variety of surfaces including counters, cabinets, stainless steel, furniture, sinks, windows, toilets, showers, etc, thus killing bacteria and removing scum all without using harsh chemicals or paper towels.  After 15 minutes of watching the ad, I was sold, and three hours later, thanks to my trusty source for all things As Seen on TV: BB&B, and their 20% off coupon, I was steam cleaning my whole house for 50% less than the infomercial was advertising, only I didn’t receive the cool tote that the first 500 callers would receive.

The results:

I successfully cleaned the inside of my microwave and fridge, removed soap scum from my shower tile, removed a stain from my microfiber couch, dusted and sanitized my furniture, including my artificial tree, shutters, and steamed a few articles of clothing among other things.  The only thing that was falsely advertised was that it could clean the inside of an oven. I was able to remove most of the build up after considerable effort, but a residue still remains, therefore I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. Therefore it will be recognized as one of our better As Seen on TV purchases (unlike the Magic Bullet, and veggie chopper).

And I know what Fernando is thinking: “If it gets Diane to help clean the house, it’s worth every penny.”

One of the great things about living in the city is that I have a short commute. Add to it the fact that I get off work around 4:30pm and it means that I’m rarely home after 5pm (I can probably count the number of days on two hands that I have had to stay later for work). Even though today was a bit chilly (45F), it was sunny. With the days getting a little longer, Diane and I decided to get some tennis in before dinner. It’s been a while since we’ve played tennis, so I am happy to report that it was one of my better days.

As we made walked farther along towards the small lake, we were met by a very pleasant duck that had dog-like characteristics. It sat in front of us (probably 2-3 feet away), “wagging” its behind. It anxiously looked up at us, waiting for a treat. We tossed piece after piece of bread, which is excitedly ate. I’ve never seen such a duck. Anyway, it made my day.

We spent most of the week hanging out with family, playing lots of games, and wrapping lots of presents. It was fun to see the nieces and nephews and their reactions to Christmas. I haven’t been around little kids on Christmas in a very long time. Other than that, I headed home early because of a business trip up to Alaska while Diane stayed with her family for an extra week.

Ryan and Suzette recently added an outdoor kitchen to their backyard and that’s where the turkey magic happened. They have a smoker, which we used to smoke a turkey as well as rotisserie some turkey breast. In addition to that, the girls spent a lot of time cooking in the kitchen. I was charged with playing with the boys, which I happily accepted. Here are some pics taken from their blog.

Diane making Lion House rolls

Playing with the nephews

Smoked turkey