DIY – Page 3 – Poole Party of 5

So did I mention that my baby spits up? There are many words for this: burp, spit, spit up, puke… you get the idea. Whichever name you like, it is a total mess. As a mother of three, with two kids who didn’t spit, I didn’t understand this element of parenting. It is part preparedness and part spontaneity at all times. You learn the signs and you learn the best way to hold the baby, as well as where every type of towel resides all over the house.

In addition, you learn the value of a burp cloth. I had been given burp cloths with the other children and found other uses for them… rag for wiping down counter, lovey, face wiper after spaghetti, but never spit up. Now I get it. Now I am a pro. Now I know burp cloths and understand the merits of what makes one good and what makes one great. There are many burp cloths out there. From plain old dish rags to embellished treasures, I believe the magic lies somewhere in between. Having a background in clothing production, I am a self-proclaimed stickler for details. I notice the small things and there is a part of me that is always ready to give my feedback:

Absorbency is paramount: I believe that cloth diapers reign supreme in this category. Most other cloths allow the spit to just slide right off.
Style details: The importance of this has to do with the fact that it will be your primary accessory for quite a long time (the doctor tells me 12 months is totally possible – yikes). This is your chance to add that splash of color that you might not feel bold enough to wear on your own! Go for it.
Attractive from both sides: Sometimes its important to be able to flip the thing over or find another corner. You get my drift. Life moves fast, you’ve gotta be ready for anything.

Through months of daily product testing and market research, I’ve found that there might be some room for improvement in the category of burp cloth. I’ve come up with a solution that incorporates my love of style and cool fabrics with the function of a truly absorbent (read: boring) diaper. I have been having fun experimenting with this and have been so inspired by the incredibly fun fabrics from a local business, Drygoods Design in Ballard, WA. (Check out this site if you have a hankering for some great fabric: http://www.drygoodsdesignonline.com/.) I’ve come up with some winners and we are getting plenty of use out of each and every one I crank out. If you come over for dinner sometime, feel free to hold the baby ~ we’ll arm you appropriately…

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Today is Father’s Day and I am so thankful for my husband.

Each year on Father’s Day we typically plan to treat him royally, but inevitably today (and Mother’s Day for that matter) has been filled with an extra bout of tantrums, sick kids, and unexpected hiccups that make me feel that he is not quite getting his due. Yes, we made him coffee and brought it to him in an awesome new mug, and yes, we gave him loads of cards that were made at preschool and squirreled away until today and yes, we love him very, very much. Alas a house with three kids under five a relaxing house does not make, even on Father’s Day.

So since he isn’t getting props from the kids today, he will get some from his wife. I am so, so thankful to have you as a partner. We do things that I wouldn’t even imagine tackling without you by my side (walk around Green Lake with two children under five years on bikes, another one in the stroller and a dog just to kick things up a bit… anyone, anyone?) Your confidence to try anything and everything amazes me and gives me the feeling that I want to be brave too. I hope that we have the rest of our lives to be brave together! And yes, in 2029 I will go anywhere in the world with you…

I mentioned in my first post that my husband worked very hard helping me to envision and then create a space just for me within this busy and chaotic house we are running. It was something that was difficult for me to wrap my brain around and I wouldn’t have done it, if it hadn’t been for his relentless prodding and encouragement. Now I have the mental and physical space to let my imagination run. To take the line from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” Similarly, it appears that he built it and the ideas are coming! What an amazing concept. So, on this day, I would like to share some pictures with you of My Space. It is not perfect – whatever that means. It is still being fine-tuned – and probably will be forever. It is teeny tiny, but it is mine. This is what it looks like today and I am so happy to have it.

Thank you, Gus.