How to Start Cloth Diapering

Popular newborn cloth diaper brands

Isn't it... yucky?

I love little kids.  I love babies.  My only memory related to cloth diapers comes from way back when I was a child - on the verge of nightmarish really, it was so traumatizing.  I was holding a  chunky baby with an even bulkier 'diaper' or wad of cloth - not really sure, that was sticking out everywhere and was partially coming off, AND I realized to my horror, was disgustingly wet through all layers of clothes (so that's where the wetness was coming from!) and smelled like pee.  If that is your memory (or imagining) of cloth diapers, well that is NOT what we are talking about here!

I am working hard to put this less-than-pleasant preconceived impression of cloth diapers out of my mind as I am now planning to cloth diaper.  Modern cloth diaper, said with emphasis on the modern.  I like to make that distinction so when people's eyes fly wide at it's mention I can assure them it is different these days. 

I should mention a few conditions though.  I plan to cloth diaper AS LONG AS they are not bulky or leaking through with everything wet all the time.  (See above traumatic memory.)  And the sprayer.  I can do it with the sprayer.  (That nice invention that hooks up to the water going to the toilet for spraying off soiled parts so there's no scrubbing out by hand.)  Without it, I could forget the whole thing.  

So yes, baby on hip, sprayer in hand, it will not be that bad!

Reasons people cloth diaper

There seem to be three main reasons people use cloth.

1. Save money
2. Save baby's skin (disposables have chemicals that lead to more rashes, cloth is more "natural")
3. Save the environment

Saving $$ is great (that's our reason); saving all around is a win-win!  (How could you not be happy about that??!)  Yes it is more work, but since I will be a stay-at-home mom, doing something that saves our family money is like me having a part-time job that I can do from home!  Saved $$ = Earned $$   

Before we move on, I want to mention that there might be a fourth reason that's up and coming as well.  It seems that cloth diapering is coming back "in" in my generation as if it were a fad.  It is more lasting than a fad, and has good sound reasons, but it is a marketed product and companies are working hard to get you to spend hundreds on cute prints that you just can't pass up.  And those things your baby poops in?  They come in super expensive designer brands nowadays - all vying for your loyalty!  Why would you ever even think to spend so much on something for Junior to pee in?  Because it's cool.  It's what the cool/hippy/chic mamas do.  Goes right along with natural pregnancy, natural health, home-grown/gardening/whole foods, being green and recycling, pretty much natural anything.  I think of kefir, kombucha, home births, home schooling and homeopathy.  With so many rad modern styles out there, I can be a hip mom and cloth diaper!

Cloth diapering for beginners

Jaimee does a GREAT job explaining the different styles of diapers, how each works, and the accessories you'll need.  Simple, easy to understand, not overwhelming and yet all the information you need to feel equipped to begin researching and shopping for cloth diapers!  You can start with this video or head over to her channel to easily access all seven parts!

Now for a couple other helpful links that were given to me that I am passing on to you...

http://www.kellyscloset.com  (One stop shop for many different brands.  My advice would be, check Amazon or eBay for possible better prices first though!)

http://www.clothdiaperaddiction.com (Reviews on most all the common brands plus some!)

The basics you'll need

In figuring out how this looks and works practically and doing a cost analysis, don't forget these main items for successful cloth diapering:

• 2 dozen diapers for every other day washing (this is a rough estimate and will vary depending on what kind you are using and baby's age)
• Pail (like a large plastic trash can with a lid)
• Pail liner
• Wet bags (to take when going out in your diaper bag for the soiled ones)
• Spray bottle
• Small travel-sized spray bottle (for diaper bag)
• Cloth wipes
• Detergent (check out brands like Rockin' Green, BumGenius, Mountain Green and Thirsties Super Wash Combo)
• Toilet sprayer

One thing I hadn't thought of (before watching above videos) was cloth wipes.  What are you going to do with disposable ones (as in, where to put them in the middle of a diaper change) if you're not throwing the diaper away??!  I have heard baby washcloths work well or you can make your own.  I am currently keeping my eyes out for any material we might already have that could be up-cycled and cut up into nice cloth wipes (that won't fray).

Give yourself a head start with this advice

Random tidbits in no particular order.

"cd" is an abbreviation for cloth diaper(ing)

The most popular and best brand (seems to be the overwhelming majority) for pail liners and wet bags is PlanetWise.

Get a  variety of different styles and brands of diapers.  This goes against my natural desire to have everything uniform and matching, but I am so glad I took this advice and got different kinds to try!  They may fit different babies differently, or at different stages.  Some may have tendencies to leak and not work for your kid and others may be great.  Do I like snaps or velcro, pocket, AIO's or prefolds?  I don't know.  After I figure out what works best, I'll sell the kinds I don't like and replenish my stock (if needed) with the kinds I do.  

They hold their resale value quite well.  New ones of the common name brands go for $15-$20 per diaper!  If you're doing it to save money, I suggest you buy used (like I did) off eBay, Craigslist, diaperswapper.com or garage sales.  Used of the common name brands still sell for around $10-$15 per diaper.  Yikes!  That is still a lot if your goal is saving $$!  But if you are patient (and refuse to get caught up in the game of bidding), you CAN find a good deal on these same name brands in very good or excellent condition.  From lots of research, asking people, and watching the going prices, a "good deal" is $7 or less per diaper.  I have averaged from $4.50 to $6.44 per piece for the 38 diapers and covers I have gotten so far.  Most do not go for that low, so be willing to see a lot go by... plan ahead so that you have time to be patient and wait for the big one (the great deal)!  Hint:  MyiBidder.com is a great tool to use so you don't get sucked into the big black hole of eBay!

Use disposables for the first few days of meconium (it will stain diapers badly), and look up special instructions before using diaper rash cream (can ruin absorbency/stain).  Diaper rashes should not be as prevalent with cloth anyway as many are caused by sensitivity to all the chemicals in the disposable diapers.

Keep a few disposables - or make sure to have some easy AIO's or pocket diapers - on hand for the babysitter, grandparents, days when you're sick or even you or your hubby in the middle of the night!  And for trips longer than a couple days, forget the cloth diapering if it's not convenient for you!  (Are you really going to wash poopy diapers in grandma's washer?  And remember, she has no sprayer!) No one will think you're a bad mom.  

How much does it cost to cloth diaper? (What's the savings?)

This could almost be a post in itself.  For every family and situation it may look a little different, so here's a simple way to figure out the savings vs. cost.  Italics are my numbers.

1. How much do you spend monthly on disposable diapers?  How many diapers per day do you use (multiply by 30 for monthly expense) or how many boxes per month and what is the cost of each [box]?  If this is your first child (like me!), ask friends to get a realistic idea.  Cheapest generic diapers = $60 to $70 per month  Don't forget to add about $15 for disposable wipes!
2. How much will a cloth diaper stash cost?*  $200 - $400 for used, depending on the kind.  This varies a lot, so how much can you afford or want to spend?  Prefolds are cheapest and by the way are not necessarily cheaper to buy used.  *If your baby is preemie or smaller than 8-10#, they might not be able to wear one-size diapers just yet, requiring you to buy a newborn size stash or you can use disposables for the first few months.
3. Don't forget accessories!*  I'm thinking the items on the above list for maybe $150 or $200?  This is totally a guess, and hopefully it's a little high.  This will be an initial big cost, but then you'll be set.  *In case you're concerned, one of my friends did a very detailed tracking of cost for extra water/electricity usage and the difference was so minuscule it is not even worth mentioning. 

Now, do the math.  

Cloth diaper stash + Accessories = Total cost of cloth diapering

Total cost of cloth diapering / Monthly cost of disposable diapers = Number of months cloth diapering will take to "pay for itself"  

Example:  $300 + $200 = $500    $500/$70 = 7.14 or just over seven months  

Notice I went high on the diaper and accessories estimates and low on disposables/wipes, so worst case scenario it will take 7 months to start seeing the savings.  I would like it to be only 4-6 months.

After that it's all SAVINGS!!!!!  Since babies are in diapers past seven months, it WILL be a savings.  Add up how many months you think your kid will wear diapers multiplied by the monthly cost for disposables and there you have it!  And assuming you can use most things for the next child, it will be 100% savings from the get-go!

(20mo. - 7mo.) x $70 = $910  So my extremely conservative estimate of our first-child savings will be around $1,000!  If our second child wasn't potty trained until 2.5 yrs, and diapers were more like $80/month the savings would look like 30mo. x $80 = $2,400  ($1,900 if you take out the total cd cost for a first child) which is pretty huge for what you otherwise would be throwing away (and it harming some part of our earth to boot :P)!  

However, in order to START cloth diapering, you need an initial amount of money ($500 in our examples) to buy everything needed.  Which is more than $70/month.  Which means you must save for it.  Plan ahead for it.  The good news?  Most people know they are pregnant for at least seven months before baby comes!  Pretend you are buying diapers for those seven months (7mo. x $70 = $490) and you will have almost the exact amount needed for totally outfitting yourself... er, baby rather!  The best news?  Once baby is born, you will hardly need to spend anything on diapers!!!

Is cloth diapering for me?

Only you (and your husband) can answer that!  I hope this information has given you a realistic picture of what it would look like and helps you make an informed decision.  Can it be done?  I know a mom with four kids, Kindergarden age and down, who successfully uses cloth - with TWO kids in diapers! (And she makes it look easy.)  Just sayin'. 

Newborn Cloth Diaper Pre-Review

Newborn cloth diaper sizes compared

"Well, I think we're cloth diapering - for real."  I announced while still thinking I can't believe I'm doing this... 
"I should say so!" Ben responded as he dumped my recently ordered package of 33 - yes, thirty-three! - cloth diapers out on the table.  "...and a little late to just now be deciding!"

Except for a few prefolds, I think we are outfitted for the newborn/small collection of diapers, plus some!  I did the math and for the first three months (my estimate for before our baby could fit into one-size cloth diapers; will vary depending on baby's size) the cost would be the same for buying disposables or a set of cloth diapers.  Of course, with the second baby it will be a savings!  Since I think it would be hard to go from convenience to more work, we're choosing to cloth diaper from the start.

At least, this is my big plan.  I haven't actually successfully cloth diapered yet.  {So maybe you should go read some other mom's blog who has actually done it.}  That's why I'm calling this a PRE-review.  I organized them by size, so here's the line-up and what I think of them so far.

Newborn cloth diaper sizes

All of them are all-in-ones (AIO) unless otherwise noted and they are in this exact order (by size) in the picture above, with the smallest on the right, and listed here from smallest to largest.

Lil' Joey (newborn) - Super tiny and my favorite because they're just so cute!  Umbilical cord snap-down.  My guess is it will fit a 4-7lbs baby and not much bigger than that.  For a preemie or a small baby it is the smallest and least bulky you can get, and I like that. :)  Looks so simple and easy to use!
GroVia (one size) - Snaps up to very small, does have the snaps in the front so it can be made a little bigger.  This seems to be a very popular and well-liked AIO for the newborn stage and I am excited to try this brand out!
Swaddlebees (newborn Simplex) - Slightly larger, has umbilical cord snap-down.  Leg holes seem to be a bit bigger, maybe would fit 6-12lbs?  From looking at their website, their diapers are now all going to be "Blueberry" brand.
FuzziBunz (x-small) - This is a pocket diaper.  Inserts are pretty hard to stuff in; maybe it's because they've never been washed/prepped yet, because they are almost too small to fit your hand in, or it might just be my inexperience.  Waist does not go as small/tight as some of the others.
Thirsties (size one) - Tag says 0-9 months, 6-18lbs.  Has snaps in the front to adjust the size.  Great elastic with overlapping velcro so it can be made pretty small for the waist.
BumGenius (small) - Definitely a bit bigger/bulkier.  Probably only slightly smaller (maybe a bit less bulky though) than the BumGenius one size pocket diapers when they're snapped all the way small.  Has absorbency as an AIO, but it's made like a pocket diaper so you could add inserts for nighttime or heavy wetters.  Overlapping velcro so the waist can be adjusted to be nice and snug.

Newborn cloth diaper covers and others

Modern cloth diapers -  all-in-ones, pocket diapers and covers

Bummis Super Brite (newborn) - 4-9lbs.  Overlapping velcro, umbilical cord dip, leg gussets.  I have a feeling that prefolds + covers are going to be bulkier than tiny AIOs and it's probably especially noticeable for the newborn/small sizes.  This is my favorite choice of brand/style for NB size covers!  Not pictured above; go here to see what they look like.

Prorap (newborn) - 6-10lbs.  Wide, strong velcro, umbilical cord dip, leg gussets.  Just plain white, and that is boring (cheaper though!), so they have less appeal to me, though that has nothing to do with functionality.  They seem a little tall, but otherwise small; once again, bulkier than AIOs.

gDiaper (small) - 8-14lbs.  This is not really a cover, not totally a pocket diaper, but requires an insert (that lays in, in a plastic lining inside of the cloth outer).  They're known as "hybrid" diapers since you can get disposable inserts/liners.  This totally defeats the purpose in my opinion, so if we use it, it will be with a folded prefold or cloth insert.

Thirsties (size one) - 0-9 months, 6-18lbs.  This seems to be the popular name brand of choice for covers; I have both snaps and overlapping velcro.  Front snaps to adjust the size as baby grows.  Leg gussets.

Velcro, snaps and drying time

A lot of newborn size cloth diapers seem to come in snaps.  Not sure why or if that's changing, but for our main set of one-size pocket diapers I am leaning towards velcro.  Though it probably won't last quite as long, it IS easier to put on a wiggly baby and you can size the fit just right.  

One of the big drawbacks of AIOs - besides the price - is the drying time... or so I've heard and read and common sense will tell you if you think about it!  So my plan is to only have AIOs in these newborn/small sizes since the bigger ones would take just about forever to dry!  The reason TO have some of these (vs. only prefolds and since pocket diapers aren't as common for newborns), especially starting off, is for the simplicity and niceness especially for the middle of the night, going out and daddy, grandparents or babysitters to be able to use.  Also I hope the convenience and similar-ness to disposables will make cloth diapering seem more do-able.


So there you have it!  My big, crazy, cloth diapering dream!  Ask me in a year how it's going... then I can give you a real review. :)

Cloth Diapering - Epic Disaster?

Convinced by a friend to look into modern cloth diapering, I obliged since she very kindly sent a ton of links.  Word of CAUTION here:  It is very addicting!

Not able to do much but lay in bed, I had time to research!  Reading reviews, websites and stalking eBay - for up to 8 hours a day!  After a couple weeks, I finally won a bid at my price - two adorable newborn size red covers with colorful polka dots! (see above picture from the listing)

A few long days later they came in the mail!  I had done all this research, I had waited and been patient for only really good deals (and not even touched a cloth diaper for real!) and now I had my FIRST TWO cloth diapers!  I tore open the packaging to find they were

PINK!!!!

I couldn't believe it!  Though slightly disappointed, the laugh and good story was worth every penny.  As to if our little guy is going to wear these... his daddy says, "He's a tough guy!" and he could wear them at night with no one the wiser, but I just don't know if I could bring myself to put them on a boy.  Maybe I'll resell them with a better quality picture and this time have the color listed in the description! :)

Since then I have gotten a few more, 37 to be exact, of varying styles, sizes and brands.  Cloth diaper pre-review coming soon!

Pregnancy Update!

Good news makes the heart happy! :)

Made it to my appointment PREGNANT!!!  Feels a little silly, but that was a huge victory in my mind!

Cervix hasn't changed and even though I am having some more contractions it is normal as you get farther along in your pregnancy and they are comfortable that I am attuned to my body to notice any major changes.  Almost 28 weeks which is a safe point for baby, so we are free to go home then!  (They also understand if we are more comfortable staying close to the hospital until 34 weeks.)

Now, to make it to 37 so I can have a HOME birth and a WATER birth!  And I am DETERMINED to do kangaroo care at birth at any point from here on - watch out, this mama will fight for her rights!

Here's to being home so I can see my cloth diapers (package should have arrived!), my ship friends can come visit and I shall be there to eat the asparagus that will be coming up soon!  Thank you, Jesus!

Letting Go

Spring being a time of graduations, its probably something you think of then.  Not 18 years before.  But yes, I MUST face it, I must start thinking about it.  I must start preparing myself for the hardest thing a mother has to do. From birth to graduation, something she has to do little by little 365 days a year of her child's life.

Letting go.

Now is the time, the only time and for the last time, that I will hold our little one this tight and this close.  I will savor it while I can.  Birth starts the process of letting go.  We won't 'be one' anymore; he won't be in me.  He will come out and be his own individual, separate from me with his own thoughts, ideas and dreams.  Leaving the womb he starts his journey of leaving me.  Developmental milestones are steps towards independence; all working towards one day pushing him out of the nest.  School age comes and though you may think that with home school you get to hold them a little longer, that is really not true.  You must let them explore and discover and be free to make (small) mistakes and bad decisions.  They must learn that actions have consequences because you will not always be there to guide and protect, and that is how the real world works.  As they get older they will have ideas, and in a safe environment, you must let them follow their child-dreams, knowing that this sets the precedent for who you believe they can become later in life.  You must be their cheerleader, their biggest fan, though you know that each victory is a step away from you.  And then the teen years.  Some freedom and some rules, allowing them the responsibility (though painful sometimes) for many of their own decisions now.  If they do not find their wings gradually, it will be a hard fall when they shoot out of the nest.  It is paramount that they develop their own convictions and identity as an individual, preventing them from being as easily swayed by those around them later in life.  Pray that the worldview you have instilled in them since birth will give them their own solid foundation, even as the gap between them and the family widens.  And then the cap and the tassel and the tears.  The tears?  But you knew this day was coming.  Will they be tears of pride and joy or of guilt and regret?  You must prepare them well, mother.  Prepare them for leaving you.

That is why it is the present tense.  Letting go.  It is a conscious act, a choice of attitude, every single day.  From the first toddling baby step to walking down the aisle, every step is one more step to leaving you.  And the job is never done; the letting go never accomplished and filed in the past tense.  Because it is an act of the will, this releasing control, to see them as adults and respect that they are their own people.  Counsel, comfort and friendship yes, but you hold them no longer in your arms.

Dear mother, cherish each moment you have your child close for these few fleeting years!  Hold them with an open hand for God did not give them to you to keep.  Birth starts the process of letting go (sometimes God asks us to let go of them even before birth), but smile through your tears, new mama - once a mother, a mom forever - you will always hold your child in your heart!

“Relationships - of all kinds - are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is.The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto it, but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.”                  
― Kaleel Jamison

Pregnancy Update

A week later and I'm still bummed about missing that grilled BBQ chicken!  Going to the emergency room is probably a good enough reason, but now with that episode behind us, I'm sad about that chicken!

Monday (May 6) night I was having too many contractions in an hour and despite our best efforts to get them stopped, nothing was working.  Following our plan of action, we called the hospital and tried everything I could do at home that they recommended.  They said if the 5-minute apart contractions didn't stop - they didn't stop - we had better come in - so we drove in.  I am so thankful for many things, 1) it was not the ambulance/air care drama that it would have been had I been in active labor,  2) while we worked to get contractions stopped Ben had enough time to run around and put together a little suitcase for me - it's nice to have your own stuff and somehow helped me feel more "prepared"!

I was hospitalized for two days while they got the contractions under control with medication, gave me Betamethasone (a corticosteroid - steroids for baby's lung development) shots that will give him a lot better chance if born early, and kept an eye on my cervix (1cm dilated, 70% effaced).  3) SO thankful we got the lung steroid shots in time!  They have to be given at least 48 hours before delivery for them to be effective. :)

4) We got these ADORABLE pictures of our little man from the 3-D ultrasound!  I'm even more thankful that he weighs 2# 2oz; somehow that just sounds better than having a preemie that is 1# something!  He was measuring a few days ahead by their count, but he is right on for how far along I am by MY count!  #mamaknowsbest ;)

The perinatologist discharged us from our whirlwind hospital stay, but doesn't want us to go home because two hours is too far away at this stage (for baby, to see how my body responds to the meds, etc).  I will have a check-up on Wednesday and they'll re-evaluate my situation and there's a possibility we could go back home.  5) It IS comforting being close to the hospital that has a NICU...  The doctor says all things considered, he'd be very pleased if I could make it to 30-32 weeks along.  So now we know what would be considered a miracle in their eyes!

We are staying in Sioux Falls at the Ronald McDonald House for the week!  6) This relaxing home-like atmosphere only a block away from the hospital and NICU is such a blessing!  Save your pop tabs for this cool charity!  Despite everyone being here for their children in the hospital with cancer/surgeries/in NICU/high-risk pregnancy, it is a happy place, a place with sunshine and laughter!  7) We are so blessed our little guy is safe inside and not fighting for his life like some of the others here.

Here are some medical words that we are becoming very familiar with and if you want to learn LOTS more - more details than you ever wanted to know about pre-term labor and more, follow the links! :)

Perinatologist - an OB/GYN doctor who specializes in high risk pregnancies

NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ICU for preemies, newborns and babies with complications  (take a tour here!)

I am on 10mg of Procardia every 6 hours.  A more detailed explanation on it's use for pregnancy can be found here.

Parenting

The best, concise, biblical parenting advice/teaching I have ever heard!  Forget the scores of parenting books, listen to this ONE sermon.



What did you think?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Pregnancy Update

You know how when you're sitting in the doctor's consultation room and the doctor comes in and asks, "How are you doing?" both of you know it's only said as a polite greeting because the moment you saw their face you knew.  But you start talking anyway saying what a good week it was and that you're feeling great and you've been so optimistic and you feel almost healed focusing on all the positives not letting yourself think anything else is possible and surely it's been the best weeks by far and you're doing great really you are and if you can just keep talking maybe she won't have room to fit a word in so she can't tell you what you don't want to hear.  As if the facts unspoken make them somehow unreal.  A coping mechanism of denial, probably.  Eventually you've run out of things to say, as you can only repeat I'm feeling great so many times and you feebly end with, and the sunshine was lovely.

Ignorance is bliss but it is immature to purposely keep oneself uninformed so as to live a carefree life.

She tries to smile, a bit of a pained attempt, as if unsure of where to stick the needle for she knows anywhere she starts will still burst my happy bubble.  And it's just fact and nothing we did wrong and hardest of all, nothing more we can do about it.  Minimize stairs, is her gentle endeavor at letting us have at least something to "do better".  And she got out the little tape measure to help us all drive the point home and make it more real in our minds.  40mm is what is good... 8-9mm is a far cry from that.  The question in my mind; what happens when it shortens to... zero?!  But from here on out there is no need to measure anymore.  She will just check to see if I am in labor.  I must count contractions.  Be MORE aware.  No one else but me can tell if something is different, I alone am solely responsible to make that call.  Sometimes it seems the weight of this responsibility is too much.

We visited the NICU.  Our reality short of a miracle.  I realized just how good a job I have done at positive thinking and imagining my beautiful home birth at full-term (including me jumping on the trampoline on my due date if baby hasn't come yet!) that I have almost blocked out of my mind mentally preparing myself for the other possibility.  The nurse put it well when she said that one of the things NICU parents deal with is grieving the perfect birth story they were picturing.  I need to come back to my realist self at least enough to be ready so it won't be such a shock if it does happen.  (I still believe in the power of positive thinking and will continue, no worries, I just must also be prepared.)  And I can't help thinking What if God's will isn't my will?  Surely a pregnancy with complications and many sacrifices, early birth, and NICU stay wouldn't be His plan for us... or might it?  We saw a baby the exact (gestational) age as ours - except he was out and ours is in.  Strange to think of it that way, and amazing and beautiful.  I didn't think of it till later, but, if we have our baby in the next couple of months... they'll be buddies in the NICU! :)

I had a pity party for one day, bemoaning the things I was hoping to go to this weekend - the Tornado Spotter class, and the annual city wide garage sales shopping for baby stuff with a friend that we had been planning for so long, and church.  I feel like I am in an invisible prison, built of my own self-restraint, but somehow inescapable nonetheless.  It was an emotional day and not a good day to talk to me about moving a fridge and a little burner upstairs so I could effectively live my life on all of one story.  I need space.  I need air so I don't suffocate.  Spring is coming and I want to go outside.  Even though it is of my own choosing, for baby's good, it is still hard.  And then I kicked myself and got over my selfishness and started doing things for others.

And now I am back to doing well (sanity-wise)!  My dear dear friend went garage sailing FOR me and picked out a whole long list of baby clothes that I absolutely cannot wait to see, and a baby bouncer that I am equally excited about!!!!  And there is a baby shower for me tomorrow and about a gazillion people were invited and I am just so excited because I love socializing!!!  And then I feel little buddy-boy's kicks and know he's ok, and I'm ok, and we're telling him to stay in there (at least until after the baby shower - I MUST make it to my own baby shower!!! ;)) and 26 weeks is good and 28 is even better.  And I am blessed.