Article: Making the Switch to Reusable Menstrual Products

Guys, you may want to skip this one!

Ladies, here is a very thorough article on reusable menstrual products.

http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/reusable-menstrual-products/

I haven't tried many of the options she lists. Definitely not doing the free bleeding thing, thanks! I may or may not try cloth pads. I keep going back and forth about it. Basically, I've felt funny about it and have wondered how messy the process is. But I did cloth diapers for years, so what is the big deal?! I guess it comes down to this: I'm ok with tiny amounts of baby poop being in my washer but not ok with my own blood being in there. See how ridiculous that sounds?! But I'm certain I'm not the only one who feels this way!

I have some experience with the Diva Cup. It works very well for me in that it really does catch everything if you insert it properly. I have a hard time inserting it and removing it occasionally. There have been times when it just doesn't feel comfortable. Sometimes it hurts while I am pulling it out. My guess is that I need more practice. If I could see the diagrams/pictures it would probably be easier.

Overall, I like many aspects of it. But I grow impatient when I have cramps from hell and it takes a couple tries before I feel comfortable. That being said, I'll keep trying because I like the idea of using something reusable.

On Being Aware of Being an Only Child

Just earlier today I emailed a friend one of our typical updates. In the email I mentioned that we've hit the one year mark. We've now been trying to get pregnant for a year, that is. Now, if you've been reading my blog, you know there has been serious ambivalence from time to time. We've had many conversations and we've decided to keep trying. The great thing is that I am feeling ok about it. I tend to get anxious about things. So I welcome this very positive change.

All that being said, I just had a moment, one of those moments where, just for a minute, you feel sad and you wish you could get away from your kid and have a little cry.

"Mommy, their house is funner than ours. There are three kids. There are kids I can play with. Here there is only one kid."

I don't think Ari is thinking about having a sibling all the time. As a matter of fact, this is the first time ever she has made a comment about being an only child. Maybe it was just her way of trying to talk me into letting her go next door for some playtime with the three kids over there. Or, perhaps, she is finally aware of it and she has an opinion. My guess is that it was a random comment.

Part of me believes in being honest and talking about things, that, perhaps, we should talk about being a family of three and how that may or may not change. Part of me rathers not mention it because, frankly, what is the point? What am I going to tell her? Mommy would like to have another baby. How about you? Oh, by the way, we're trying and it's just not happening. You came to us easily and, this time, I just don't know what is going on.

Thus far, I've decided that if she brings it up, I am more than happy to talk about it, but I'm not going to bring it up myself. I just don't see the point right now.

Since I brought up the topic, I'll share a quick update. Right now, we have no idea what is going on. I have wondered if it has anything to do with me being overweight. The GYN doesn't think so. We can do some blood work and go from there. Daddy just got a new job. I'm thinking we'll wait for our new health insurance to kick in and then I'll do the blood work. If we did it now we'd be paying out of pocket for all the tests. No, thank you. I'll keep working on getting me at a healthier weight. We'll test in a month or two. And, we'll go from there.

I still think about adoption, but we don't have the resources to do a private domestic or international adoption. I have some reservations about adopting through DCF.

There you have it. That is where we are. Now, off to snuggle with my sweet baby, or not baby, girl!

Questions for Potential Babysitter

We have been lucky thus far. Grandma has always been our babysitter. But it's time. I have posted on the local college job website. I got the first email from a potential sitter this morning.

So, what the heck do I ask someone who I don't know but who may be spending a few hours with my child a few times a month?

And, how do I put my mommy anxiety on the side and keep moving forward with this? We've done this before, in a sense. Ari spends six hours a day with three teachers who were once strangers. But, somehow, that feels different. This one person will be in our home, alone with my child. Call it ridiculous, but it makes me feel a bit nervous.

Moving on… What would you ask this person? Help me out, please!