Tea Parties and Diaper Demos

Last weekend, my Aunt and Sister held a tea party baby shower for me at the Hilltop Inn. They have full tea service, where we got to try a couple different teas, enjoyed home made scones with jam and cream and little finger sandwiches and sweets. It was so delicious. I had NEVER had scones like that, especially with the jam and cream. My friend Adrienne was in town visiting from Portland, ME and she pointed out this cream at a specialty cheese store here in town. I think it was called Devonshire cream. I have to get some for Christmas day morning. I have this yummy pastry I'm going to bake and I think it will go perfect with it.

Anywho, back to the party. We all dressed up like proper english ladies. Here are a few fotos.


The table was all set. I would love to get a tea set, there is one in northern Germany called "Rot Dresmer". It is a very popular tea set that many families use there. You wouldn't think it, but northern Germany is pretty well known for their teas and service too.

Check out that hat! Hil hand sewed tiny pacifiers and pink clothes pins all over it. There was even a big button that said 'Mom to Be'. It was sooooo sweet. Hil has this nack for putting together parties, she even remembered a trash bag for the wrapping paper and scissors.

We got some very awesome gifts. Much needed since we pretty much had close to nothing, I hate to say it, but thank god for baby showers. I'm feeling a bit more prepared and better now. The cute little outfits and socks are just adorable, plus the stroller and breast feeding gift sets are so essential. It's awesome everyone is so loving and supportive. Thanks to all! :)

Then last Wednesday Dan and I attended a diaper demo. If anyone is thinking of doing cloth diapers, I would strongly recommend a diaper class. A local woman who owns Living Earth Babies holds this class once a month. Seriously check out her website if you have any questions about cloth diapers. She was awesome, she went through all types of cloth.

From the chinese three fold. This is just a sized piece of quilted cloth, folded and held together with a snappy. Then a plastic type of diaper cover would go over it. Here's a foto of the cloth and the snappy:



To the fitted or pocket diapers. They are a diaper cover, which has an opening that you can slip in a cloth pad. These are good for when baby is more mobile.

Then there's the all-in-ones, which is the diaper cover with the cloth already inside of it. There is a pocket for an extra insert for naps and evenings. Some are also size adjustable, which is nice because then we could use them for a longer time.

Dan and I are still deciding what will be best for us. We were thinking of doing the chinese three fold for the newborn to about 20 lbs and then maybe go onto something like this:


It's by Gro Baby, it is a one size diaper with a pocket for an insert. They are adjustable and easy to use. There is also a nice kit you can get that includes almost everything you will need to get started.

Cloth diapers are so different from my Mom's era of babies in the seventies and early eighties. They are now easier to use and there is a TON to choose from. Accessories are going to make it easier and more convenient for us to use too, such as the toilet sprayer and the wet bags to carry the diapers in. I'll need to be carrying them from the daycare because our child care center does allow and encourages cloth diapers.


Well, that was just a sampling of what we learned. We're still going through all of the information. For one thing, using cloth diapers saves money and no, it is not that expensive to wash. We have an energy saving washer and we will line dry once the weather is nice and warmer. It is estimated that for one child, you will do cloth diaper laundry every three days, that is definitely doable. We are thinking of doing cloth wipes too, but we'll see about that.

To all a lovely holiday week,
La Sirena and her little tadpole