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Pregnant During The Coronavirus Pandemic

I’m 29 weeks pregnant and the time is flying by much faster than I’d like it to.

Spoiler Alert: FREE hypnosis track to relieve stress and anxiety at the end of this post PLUS some exciting news! 

We’ve been pretty quiet lately, just trying to get through one day at a time as this Coronavirus Pandemic continues to change the way the entire world functions.

When I was pregnant with Brig, the Zika virus was running rampant across the world. Now, pregnant with Waverly, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is wreaking havoc everywhere with a completely different set of concerns. We currently have 30 confirmed cases in the US Virgin Islands and it’s only a matter of time before cases and deaths in the territory mimic those of other regions all over the world. There’s no evidence yet of increased risk to pregnant women or babies, but of course there’s many unknowns.

The only thing keeping me grounded right now is the Hypnobabies Childbirth Education course I took when I was pregnant with Brig. I’m 29 weeks now and I’m so excited that I get to start week 1 (of 6) of my Hypnobabies Home Study course again for this pregnancy! The ideal time to start is 28-30w to leave enough practice time after the course is done but it can even be done on an expedited schedule for those that need to. With all the unknowns of this COVID-19 stuff and evolving options for prenatal care and deciding where to birth my baby, I’m SO grateful for this program, now more than ever. I’m easily able to enjoy this pregnancy, devote time and attention to my almost-3-year-old, and help him look for hermit crabs (that’s what he’s holding in the picture!) and lizards without being consumed by stress and worries. I’m confident that whatever happens, I’ll be prepared to have the best birth experience I possibly can, regardless of the things I can’t control.

For anyone that doesn’t know what it is, Hypnobabies a complete childbirth education and self-hypnosis course for easier, more comfortable and totally empowered childbirth (often pain free). Hypnobabies is NOT the same as Hypnobirthing yet contains some of the same basic concepts. During my first pregnancy I was introduced to the Mongan Method Hypnobirthing book, read it 4-5 times and marked up the whole book with notes and a highlighter, felt really excited, but ultimately decided it just wasn’t enough to prepare me for my birth. The tools in that book alone just weren’t enough for me. Many women love hypnobirthing; I just needed something more. I’ve heard an in-person Hypnobirthing course is much more helpful than just the book but that wasn’t an option for me at the time. Not long after I finished the Hypnobirthing book, I was introduced to Hypnobabies – which was created by someone who taught the Bradley Method for 10 years and also Hypnobirthing but recognized a need for more tools and a slightly different approach to childbirth as a whole. There are in person classes for Hypnobabies too (and now many instructors are offering remote/live video classes to keep social distancing) but I was SO glad to learn about the Home Study version during my first pregnancy which I was able to do at home in my own spare time whenever it was convenient for me.
They normally offer a hardcopy version of this Home Study which I still have from my pregnancy with Brig, but due to the current virus issues and mandatory business shut-downs, the only way to purchase the Home Study right now is actually their cheapest option – the new ONLINE version. It’s all the same materials just completely online instead of on paper. SO perfect for social distancing and still getting to take an awesome childbirth education course!! 😍
Hypnobabies is amazing for learning about all possible outcomes and choices during childbirth regardless of how your birth unfolds or where you birth your baby. It can be used for homebirths, birth center births or hospital births. While geared toward natural minded mamas to help eliminate and prevent unnecessary interventions (and of course provide the most comfortable, peaceful experience possible) it can also be incredibly helpful even if receiving an epidural or cesarean. It literally rewrites the way we think about childbirth, removing any negativity we may be exposed to now or in our past. There’s also an amazing support network facebook group and many instructors and admins are always available to help answer questions along the way.
If you are (or anyone you know is) interested in the online course or any other hypnosis tracks or training courses they have available, please consider using my affiliate links 💕 (I do receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my links. A little bit goes a long way and allows me to spend more time doing what I love! See announcement below 😉). Also, message me to get help finding the biggest coupon code currently available for the specific item you are wanting to purchase.

WHO LIKES FREE STUFF?

Even if you aren’t ready to do the course, or even if you’re not pregnant at all, Hypnobabies is currently offering a 💕FREE💕 hypnosis track for ANYONE to listen to for Eliminating Stress and Anxiety – such a powerful tool with everything going on in our world right now. No payment info required at all, totally free and only available for free download from now until the end of April. It’s a fabulous way to get a first hand feel of how the Hypnobabies audio tracks work:  https://www.hypnobabies-store.com/product/eliminate-stress-and-anxiety/?ref-hyp=WhyseBirth

Also Announcing…

Since doing the Hypnobabies course myself, I fell in love with it so much that I completed the training to become a trained Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula! I simply want to be able to help anyone that is looking for Doula support with their Hypnobabies birth because I wasn’t able to find it when I wanted it, here in the islands where I live. Regardless of how many people ever actually contact me, my heart is full knowing I’m able to – at the very least – offer Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula support (as someone familiar with and trained with the specific terminology and tools of the Hypnobabies program) IF anyone is looking for it, as I once did. Birth is such an amazing and beautiful experience and everyone deserves the support they are looking for 💕
I’ve chosen the name WHYSE BIRTH for my new business because I’m always asking WHY. Why do we do things this way, or why is it recommended to do things that way. I ask why almost to a frustrating level, but I can’t help it. I’ve always needed to fully understand things before feeling good about a decision I need to make. I put great value in staying open minded, learning, researching, using critical thinking, and making informed choices instead of blindly following the advice or recommendations of others, and I always recommend everyone else does the same. I’m always looking for a better choice, always asking WHY!
This name was actually chosen as a spin-off to the original (and very exciting) WHYSE project i’m currently working on and I hope to be able to announce that too in the coming months… stay tuned!!
I’ve created a Facebook and Instagram page specifically for my new business to share Doula and birth related topics. Check them out and Like/Follow/Share if you’d like to show your support!
I’d be SO happy to answer any questions I can 💕 Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you!

Our Newest Adventure

I admit I’ve been AWFUL at posting on our website, or updating any part of it at all. We’ve just had so much happening in the last couple years and it gets pretty overwhelming. I try to keep current snippets of our lives on our Facebook and Instagram pages but the website definitely has taken a back seat. I apologize.

Despite all the ups and downs, we’ve got some really exciting news that is quickly shaping the way all of our future adventures will unfold!

We have another little coconut on the way!

This time, a baby girl, and she will arrive sometime in June 💕 Her guess date is actually on Brig’s 3rd birthday – June 13 – so whenever she does decide to arrive, they will be almost exactly 3 years apart in age! She appears to be perfectly healthy and I can already feel her kicking away. We’re over the moon!

Just yesterday marked 21 weeks. More than half way! It’s taken a long time to shed some of the fear and allow myself to truly be excited. To let this feel real.

A good friend once posted of their similar experience and that post helped me when I needed it most, more than I ever thought it could. So I decided that I wanted to share our experience too, just in case it helps even one person, someday.

Our journey

A year and a half after Brig was born we still were not able to get pregnant again. I was losing hope and began wondering if it would ever happen. I learned a lot about infertility during that time and I couldn’t help but hear that faint, terrifying sound of my biological clock ticking away even though I knew there was still plenty of time. I was 35. Eventually, that positive test did come along and I was even more elated than I was the first time!

I got to see baby during a dating ultrasound in the States and I immediately recognized that perfect little flicker of a heartbeat on the screen. I was diagnosed with a subchoronic hemorrhage (SCH), though the midwife reassured me it would most likely resolve itself eventually. It didn’t, and I’ll never know if it made any difference or not.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for what happened next. At 12 weeks, at the very end of the first trimester and just 3 days before my 36th birthday, we had a miscarriage. It was the middle of the night. I’ll spare the details here but I’m happy to talk about it privately if it might help anyone reading this. Talking to other women that had been though this before is what helped me when I needed it most.

I got to hold that tiny baby in my hand while my heart was simultaneously shattered into a million pieces and I had to figure out how to process the idea that I wasn’t pregnant anymore. I think deep down I knew something wasn’t right all along. I had felt amazing during the whole pregnancy. No morning sickness or loss of energy at all though I was definitely already showing a decent size baby bump as many second pregnancies do.

By that point we had shared the news of our pregnancy with family and close friends and it actually helped to talk about our loss when we then had to tell all those people we weren’t pregnant anymore. Somehow, life went on. We had endured so many losses and major life changes over the course of two years that everything was just a blur for me. A big hazy cloud. The only thing that kept me looking forward was our beautiful and amazing baby boy who was turning 2.

It took 6 months and a lot of prayers and hope but we finally got pregnant for the third time. Even though this time everything has felt different, it’s been hard to let my guard down and feel the joy I so want to feel. I absolutely loved being pregnant with Brig and I feel like that joy has been stolen from me this time. It’s taken almost half the pregnancy but I think it’s finally coming back. We are 21 weeks and although there’s always a chance of something going wrong, I finally feel like this is real. Our rainbow baby is on her way! 🌈 (For those of you that have never heard that term before, a rainbow baby is a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, reminding us of the rainbow after the storm and bringing hope of what’s to come.)

I have been terribly nauseous all day everyday from 3-17 weeks and Brig has been such a good kid through it all. I’m still pretty low on energy but the nausea has passed and I finally able to function during the day and not feel miserable. My mom was just here for two weeks to visit Brig and that helped a lot. I’m just now getting some projects knocked off the list as my nesting kicks into high gear. Let the fun begin!!

Choosing a name

We’ve had a girl name picked out since before we knew Brig was a boy. His name didn’t get decided on until he was two days old 🙈. There’s always a chance I could change my mind, but for now we have decided to name her Waverly 💕 

your story

Do you have a similar story about pregnancy/infant/child loss or infertility? Willing to share? Please help me make it known just how common it is. I wish it wasn’t such a taboo topic. It really is unbelievable just how common it is.

I respect that everyone grieves and heals in their own way and it’s perfectly okay to keep it private too. But when we do decide to speak out and share our own story, I’ve personally witnessed how much it can help and how much peace it can bring to those of us going through something similar. We all have a story. We all go through the hard stuff, in different forms. That’s life. But sometimes it feels just a little easier when we are reminded that we’re not alone and there really is someone else that understands.

Why I’m In Love With Branch Basics

You guys!!! I am ABSOLUTELY LOVING this plant and mineral based cleaner concentrate from Branch Basics!! I’ve been wanting to find natural ingredient replacements for all the nasty chemicals we have in our boat/home and I finally found one that is totally safe and still totally effective!

What Is It?

The Branch Basics Concentrate is eco-friendly, biodegradable, plant and mineral based, fragrance-free, non-gmo, gluten free, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, nut free, tree nut free, essential oil free, alcohol free, free of synthetic preservatives, not tested on animals, not harmful to people or pets, made in the USA, gentle enough for sensitive skin and babies, non-MLM, affordable, and totally effective!

I bought the travel kit and starter kit from Branch Basics which both have endless uses. Hand washing, dish washing, all-purpose surface cleaner, glass and windows, bathrooms, laundry, (cloth diaper laundry too!), stains, face wash, body wash, baby wash, pet wash, and on and on. The website also has a complete user guide with recommended uses and an awesome FAQ. I’m thoroughly impressed with how well it actually cleans, and how little concentrate you actually need. There’s a mild natural smell but hardly noticeable and definitely not lingering. I actually clean more now and didn’t realize how much I was subconsciously avoiding cleaning because I didn’t like breathing in the other stuff, coating it where my kid eats, or getting all kinds of chemicals on my skin. And let’s be honest, it sucks wearing big rubber gloves.

Why Does This Matter To Me?

I have recently fallen down a giant rabbit hole on the hunt for cleaning and personal care stuff that is biodegradable and safe around anyone – pregnant, breastfeeding, infants, kids, pets, etc and I’ve done a TON of research. If you know me personally, you know I leave no stone unturned and I don’t stop researching until I’m totally confident in what I’ve found. (Remember the Insurance post, cloth diaper post and dog food post I wrote?) It all started with trying to find a totally safe baby wash for Brig. Of course, this just created more and more questions that I wanted answers to along the way.

I’ve read more labels than anyone should ever have to in one lifetime and I’ve found that the most commonly used ingredients are either harmful or possibly harmful to us in one way or another. The hardest part was finding natural plant based products that do NOT have essential oils or a ton of herbal extracts in them. EOs and herbal extracts are totally fine (and often very helpful) for some people but there are SO many of them that should not be used around kids, pets, or during breastfeeding or pregnancy, or those with sensitive skin – even stuff that is labeled as unscented or fragrance-free sometimes still has EOs in it. If I’m going to switch to using natural plant based products I want to feel confident in the total safety of every single ingredient and I just don’t feel good about blindly jumping on the bandwagon of using essential oils and herbal extracts without knowing the potential (albeit, rare) side effects too. Branch Basics does have less than 1% of German Chamomile flower extract (not an essential oil) in the diluted products but i’m totally okay with that specific herbal extract and at that dilution.

“The Concentrate is human safe, not irritating to the eyes, skin, or lungs. All ingredients are rated 1 on EWG, and there are no harmful preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, or any type of alcohol. Even the extremely chemically sensitive and immune compromised are able to use Branch Basics with complete confidence.” -That’s just a snippet from their website. I also discovered they are certified on the MadeSafe.org website which is incredibly reassuring, as well as rated in the Best categories on several Mamavation product investigations.

So What Are THe Ingredients?  

Purified Water

Coco Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser)

Chamomilla Recutita (German Chamomile) Flower Extract

Decyl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser),

Sodium Citrate (Food-Grade Emulsifier),

Lauryl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser),

Sodium Bicarbonate (Food-Grade Baking Soda),

Sodium Phytate (Plant-Based Antioxidant)

I always recommend doing your own homework and research. I’ve done mine and feel totally confident that these ingredients are safe to use around pretty much anyone. There is of course a very small chance of someone being allergic to something in this product but the chances are SO small, and the benefits outweigh the risks (IMHO) when you are looking at all the known hazards of conventional cleaning products that most of us have lived our entire lives using. The chances of any of these ingredients being an irritant for anyone is so much smaller than it is for most of the ingredients in commercial products available at your local stores.

The surfactants in this concentrate are “Alkyl-Polyglucosides”. There are some studies which show these ingredients may be emergent allergens with a rare chance of producing contact dermatitis (skin irritation or rash). However, they are plant derived and are pretty much the most gentle option for most people. Another example of a possible allergen is Chamomile. While incredibly gentle and typically soothing, you may be more likely to experience an allergic reaction to chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, asters, marigolds or chrysanthemums. But again, the ingredient here is only a flower extract (less potent than an essential oil) and is used in dilutions of less than 1%.

Why isn’t there a preservative? I asked the same question which is answered in the Branch Basics FAQ. There are tons of other helpful answers there that also helped me understand why this stuff is so safe and so versatile.

Why Not Use Castile Soaps?

Another reason I like Branch Basics so much is because it’s not a castile based soap. Real soap is a wonderful natural toxin-free product that many people love (especially for its zero-waste packaging aspects) but it tends to leave a residue (especially in hard water) and needs an acidic rinse like vinegar to come clean. Who has time for that? Vinegar can also be harsh on your lungs if you use it all the time, for all your cleaning needs. It can help as a tough degreaser but it really doesn’t “clean” very well at all if you look into the actual chemistry of it versus a surfactant. Yep, I jumped down that rabbit hole too. I still keep a bottle of plain white distilled vinegar in my cabinet though. Castile based soap can also be very drying on skin if it’s made without retained glycerin (a natural humectant), and most soaps won’t specify this either. In climates with low humidity, glycerin can ironically draw natural moisture out of our skin, causing the opposite desired effect. The Branch Basics Concentrate doesn’t contain saponified oils or glycerin.

How Much Does It Cost?

There are several packages available where you can buy a full starter kit that includes all the spray bottles – with or without the laundry booster, travel size bottles, extra empty full size bottles, or just the concentrate. Any way you slice it, the price for all of it is shockingly cheap compared to store bought products. Even though the concentrate sounds expensive at $49, the 33 oz. of Concentrate makes:

  • 3 All-Purpose bottles (24 oz.) at $2.90 each
  • 3 Bathroom bottles (24 oz.) at $5.80 each
  • 3 Streak-Free bottles (24 oz.) at $0.20 each
  • 3 Foaming Wash bottles (10 oz.) at $2.90 each
  • 64 laundry loads at $0.24 per load
What’s The Catch?

The only thing I don’t love about Branch Basics is that it comes in plastic bottles. Half way down the rabbit hole I also decided I wanted to try to support a more eco-friendly lifestyle all together and look for Zero Waste options whenever possible. I know i’m just one person but the impact of non-biodegradable waste all over the world has long since spiraled out of control. It’s something that will be an even bigger problem for my kids and their kids in years to come. It doesn’t harm anyone by trying to live a Zero Waste lifestyle by minimizing our waste when we can, and it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal either. Every little but helps, so why not try.

Anyway, at least Branch Basics is on the train of reusable and refillable containers, which helps tremendously. You can buy their bottles that have conveniently marked fill lines or you can follow the recommended ratios and use your own bottles you already have at home, just buying their concentrate alone. Glass is great because it doesn’t leach chemicals into the contents like plastic potentially can, but the reality is that if glass isn’t recycled it actually lasts longer (maybe forever) than the 500-1000 years that plastic particles do. But that’s another story too. Branch Basics is currently working on making glass bottles available so I’m super excited for that. For now, I am just happy to have found something that is totally safe to use around my whole family. I will say that their current spray bottles and foaming wash bottle are extremely effective at giving you just the right amount with each spray or pump. I tried using a glass bottle with a pour spout that I already had in my home but it caused me to waste way more liquid than I actually needed. It’s always great to try to reuse things we already have but I’m super happy with the functionality of the bottles that BB provides. I’ve even purchased several more foaming wash bottles so I can have hand wash at each sink, just out of convenience.

Is There A Trial Size?

If you want to give Branch Basics a try I’ve got a $10 off coupon code you can use at checkout. It’s applied automatically if you use my referral link: http://branchbasics.refr.cc/wherethecoconutsgrow

It also gives me $10 off too, and I definitely plan on buying more, although it will be a long time before I run out of concentrate! I think you can use it for subsequent purchases too, not just one time – but i’m not positive about this. Let me know if you try it a second time!

(They currently don’t list US Virgin Islands as an option for shipping on their website at checkout but their customer service team rocks!! They quickly answered all the questions I had and manually placed my order over the phone so that I could get my order shipped to me in in St Thomas USVI. It arrived super fast and without any hiccups.)

For the cheapest way to try this stuff out, I recommend getting the $5 Trial kit which comes with a travel size 2 fl.oz. concentrate and a large All Purpose spray bottle. My coupon won’t work for the Trial Kit but it’s a great way to try it out if you don’t want to spend much, and you would just pay a couple bucks for shipping. What I did instead was I bought the $20 Travel Kit (-$10 from the referral code I used, equals a total of $10 plus shipping) and that way I was able to test out the Foaming Wash bottle too. It comes with the mini concentrate and a prefilled All Purpose and a prefilled Foaming Wash. Now I have a mini All Purpose and a mini Foaming Wash – both under TSA limits for carryon liquids and I can take them with me on my next plane ride!

I will point out that the prefilled All Purpose and Foaming Wash that I received had a slightly different formulation that also had soapberry in it. The company informed me that it was hard to source and expensive so they recently eliminated it with no significant effect on the product at all. I actually like the concentrate better without it. It was slightly drying feeling in my opinion. They might still have a few of these left but these prefilled bottles and older labels are almost phased out – they are still fulfilling orders with them because there’s nothing bad about the ingredient and it’s better than wasting product and plastic bottles and preprinted labels. Just something to be aware of (and not worry about) if you do order this kit.

If you do give it a try, I’d love to know what you think!

***

PS if you’re curious what other awesome things I found on my way down the rabbit hole, stay tuned!!!

Cloth Diapers On A Boat (and a review of 8 brands!)

Just before Brig was born is when I first heard about modern cloth diapers in a post on BabyCenter. I had no idea cloth diapering was so much more advanced than it used to be. I thought disposable diapers are just what you are supposed to do now, just because that’s all I really saw people doing. Little did I know there is a MUCH better option!

My only experience with cloth diapering before Brig was many moons ago. I vaguely remember (nearly 20 years ago) some of my little brothers and sisters having white cotton rags wrapped around them and fastened with giant safety pins, then covered with a plastic cover that my mom called “rubber pants”.  She had a diaper service that would collect the dirties and drop off a fresh batch of clean ones.  I don’t remember knowing anyone that actually washed their own diapers.

That one little post I read during my pregnancy sent me down a ginormous rabbit hole. I was totally overwhelmed with Google searches for modern cloth diapers but I also got really excited to try them out! Its seriously unreal how many different types and parts and materials there are.

Something to keep in mind before I go any further… We live on a boat. Every purchase we make gets a little more thought and research put into it before we buy anything. Our storage is limited. Our water is limited. Our power is limited. Our ability to do laundry is limited. Our access to buying supplies is limited. Knowing all that I was even more intrigued in this whole cloth diapering thing.

At the time we were living in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (pre-Hurricane Irma) where you felt like you won the lottery if a store actually had any product you wanted to buy. I literally felt like a hoarder and we learned to stock up on certain brands of supplies that we liked because you never knew if the store would carry it again anytime soon, or ever again for that matter. I was kind of nervous about what we were going to do about diapers. I had been watching the shelves and it was rare that you ever saw all sizes of diapers in stock at any given time. Plus everything is super expensive there and I had even heard of mamas getting all their diapers in the US Virgin Islands instead.

Something I had learned in my research was that disposable diapers can take FIVE HUNDRED YEARS PER DIAPER to break down!! I also knew that BVI burns their trash at the local incinerator. That isn’t something I wanted to contribute to either – burning all the bad materials that are used to make a disposable diaper. But people do it all the time. I’ve read that one child can go through a whopping average of 5,000-7,000 diapers before they are potty trained which can potentially cost between $2,500 and $5,000 – yikes!

All that said, I decided cloth diapering was going to be way cheaper, way better for the environment, and no more chemicals on baby’s skin. Plus, they are SUPER cute!! Now I just had to find the best solution for conserving water since I knew I’d be hand washing Brig’s diapers with a bucket and plunger on our boat, then hanging them to dry in the sun. There are a million articles out there describing all the different parts, lingo and options so I won’t go into ClothDiapering101 here. Basically I came to the conclusion that Covers with wipeable insides plus a trim natural fiber insert would be the best way to go. These can also sometimes be described as an AI2 (All In 2) system since there are two parts, but basically its just a Cover. (BTW this is a long overdue post – one I planned to write a when Brig was still tiny – but sooooo many things have happened in the last year. The good news is that it’s also allowed me to really see how well our cloth diapers hold up over time.) Now for a look at all the different kinds I’ve tried so far and what I like and what I don’t like about them.


Buttons Diapers
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Ahh Buttons. They are by far the best all-around Cover that I’ve tried.  There’s parts I like and parts I wish were a little different. Lets take a look at the OS (One-Size)…

PROS:
Available in OS – I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Wipeable Inside – A true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Durability – Buttons are made with a very durable double-layer PUL that is WAY less likely to soak through to the outside touch than other brands, even if totally soaked, The quality of materials used by Buttons is unmatched in all the brands I’ve tried.
Rise Snaps – The rise snaps are spaced well to grow with my baby and not leave leg gaps.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Insert Snaps – A really awesome AI2 feature allowing you to snap inserts into place and they don’t ever get bunched up!
Colors – Most of the diaper companies have some good prints and colors but Buttons has the most gorgeous solids! Sea Breeze is my very favorite solid color out of my whole stash!!
Frequent New Releases – Buttons is great about putting out new solid colors and new prints frequently. It makes it fun to check back and see if there’s a new must-have diaper!
Range of Products – Buttons also carries a full line of diapering supplies. They have newborn sizes, SUPER sizes, trainers, snap-in inserts, cloth wipes, wet bags, liners, dryer balls, cloth safe diaper cream, feminine pads and more.
Small Business – As a small family-owned company, I love supporting what they do. Their passion and dedication show through in their products.
Price – Not bad considering the high quality and durability! Totally worth the price in my opinion.

CONS:
Fit – The One-Size 9-35lbs style cover runs slightly tight for my guy around his legs but now they have a SUPER style available which fits a bigger weight range 12-40lb and also now has two rows of waist snaps instead of just one.  It took me awhile to get use to the way the OS fits him but eventually I decided I really really like our Buttons OS Covers. I’ve since tried the SUPER on our toddler but I’m still not crazy about the fit of the SUPER. Its HUGE even on the smallest rise. The SUPER has a lot more room to allow more absorbency for nighttime though so I put a Geffen Prefold in for nighttime and it works perfectly. The regular OS doesn’t have quite enough room for nighttime.
No Flat Front – These have a lower front with elastic and one row of waist snaps. I really prefer a flat front panel with no tummy elastic and two rows of waist snaps like Flip and Lalabye Baby. Its not a deal breaker at all, its just personal preference.
Double Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. Its so off set that it doesn’t catch anything. The inside gusset is the only one that actually makes a seal around his legs. The double gussets are sewn tighter in that area and usually just make it harder to get messy poops off anyway. Personally I like a single gusset.
Sized Inserts – I’m not a fan of sized inserts for the same reason I prefer OS diapers.  I can’t afford to get a whole new stash each time my baby gets to the next size up. Small inserts just aren’t big enough for older babies so you definitely need more absorbency later.
No Insert Flaps – I really wish these OS Covers had front and back flaps to help hold the inserts in place! I find they do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference. The SUPER has them now which is nice.
Prints – None of the prints are a must-have for me personally (except for Swell which is out of stock) but many parents absolutely do love their designs.

OVERALL:
I reach for my Buttons OS Covers first since they are the most leak resistant brand I currently have. I wish I had more. I did try their hemp inserts, which I really liked but we quickly outgrew the Size One inserts we had. Instead of stocking up on the bigger size I tried a different brand next that was a little more trim. The Buttons cloth wipes look amazing though and I’d love to try them too – now that I discovered that I love cloth wipes just as much as the diapers themselves! Overall, I highly recommend Buttons OS Covers!


Lalabye Baby
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Lalabye Baby is my very favorite fit, but it’s a love-hate thing.

PROS:
Fit – Amazing!!!!!!!!!! I seriously can’t find another diaper that fits as well as this one. Everything about it fits perfectly. I think the fact that it has two rows of waist snaps, a high fitting front panel and no tummy elastic (flat front) are the biggest reasons but also just the cut of their fabric fits my little guy perfect. It appears to be the most comfortable on him all around. Great for daytime use.  I can’t seem to fit enough absorbency in for nighttime because they are more trim fitting but thats okay. 
Available in OS
 – I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Wipeable Inside – A true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast. This brand also seems to retain the least amount of soap during washes making it the easiest to rinse off using the least amount of water. 
Single Gussets –
While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. A single gusset is easier to rinse poop out of. Personally I like a single gusset best.
Insert Flaps – I find they do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference. Lalabye has a perfect size and cut of front and back flaps. Love them!
Rise Snaps – The rise snaps are spaced well to grow with my baby and as long as I tuck the rise up it will not leave leg gaps.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Insert Snaps – A great AI2 feature allowing you to snap inserts into place and they don’t ever get bunched up!
Frequent New Releases – Lalabye Baby is great about putting out new solid colors and new prints frequently. It makes it fun to check back and see if there’s a new must-have diaper.
Range of Products – Lalabye Baby also carries newborn sizes, wetbags and inserts. I have quite a few of the bamboo inserts which I still use as my backups if all my Geffen inserts are dirty or drying. Good absorbency!
Prints – Lalabye Baby has my all-time favorite prints: ‘Tortuga Bay’ and ‘I Love You A Latte’!!! If I could fill my whole stash with just these two prints I would :)

CONS:
Durability – Here’s the frustration I have with this brand. My Lalabye Covers lasted only 6 months to a year before they all started leaking through the single-layer TPU. Now as soon as the insert is wet, so is the outside of the diaper. This makes wet pee spots wherever Brig sits, as soon as he pees in it. If I’m going to run errands or be away from home I have to reach for one of my other brands that are a little more reliable for keeping his shorts (and me) dry. I’m practically in tears over it! I love the way our Lalabye’s look on him and fit him but they just haven’t held up as long as I had hoped. I’ve read in several cloth diaper groups that this is a common issue with this brand and I had hopes it wouldn’t happen to us too, but it did  The majority of my stash is Lalabye Baby so if we ever have another little one then I’ll have to make a decision about what brand to get more of. (Note: I have only used their Covers but I’ve heard it happens with all of their products).
Price – On the expensive end, especially for not being very durable and not being produced in the US.
Colors – Covers were a new addition to the Lalabye Baby products so there are less solid colors available in Covers.  Not every new release had a cover either, but most do.

OVERALL:
I SO wish these Covers lasted longer. I would use them exclusively if I could trust that this wouldn’t happen again.  My Lalabyes have been mostly handwashed and always line dried so the utmost care has been taken. I’ve followed their published care recommendations to the T. I recently spoke with the company about this issue and they are convinced I am a “unique case” and that anyone else that has also experienced this must have not followed proper care instructions. They claim that because these are made with an eco-friendly heat bonded TPU instead of the more common chemically bonded PUL that these diapers are just “not a good fit for the environment I live in” and that they’re sorry this brand didn’t work out for me. I’m devastated but there’s nothing I can do.  As for the bamboo inserts, they work great and wash great, I just prefer our Geffen hemp inserts as my first pick because they are much thinner, less material to wash, and easier to rinse the soap out of.


Best Bottom Diapers
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Best Bottom Diapers are a very similar fit to Buttons and also a family-owned company – from the same creator that brought us Nicki’s Diapers! They’ve got tons of styles, prints and colors available. I’ve tried the Heavy Wetter, Bigger, and Cotton Cover styles, all of which I can personally recommend.

PROS:
Available in OS – I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Fit – The One-Size style Cover runs tight for my guy around his legs just like Buttons, but now Best Bottom has a BIGGER one-size-fits-most style available which fits a bigger weight range 10-45lb. More room to grow and a much more comfortable fit. I’ve heard the Cotton ones run even smaller. The Bigger Cotton is totally perfect for us though!
Wipeable Inside
 – A true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Durability – Best Bottom Diapers are holding up very well for us. No issues with leaks or any breakdown in the material after a year of use!
Rise Snaps – The rise snaps are spaced well enough to grow with my baby and not leave leg gaps.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Insert Snaps – A really awesome AI2 feature allowing you to snap inserts into place and they don’t ever get bunched up!
Colors & Prints – Tons of colors and prints to choose from!
Range of Products – Best Bottom comes in snap or hook and loop, OS, Bigger, Heavy Wetter, swim diapers, training pants, extender tabs, hook and loop replacement kits and they also have various sizes and materials of snap-in inserts making them a true AI2.
Small Business – As a small family-owned company, I love supporting what they do. Their passion and dedication show through in their products.
Made in the USA – All products locally manufactured. Thank you Best Bottom!
Price – Totally reasonable for the quality.

CONS:
Double Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. Its so off set that it doesn’t catch anything. The inside gusset is the only one that actually makes a seal around his legs. The double gussets are sewn tighter in that area and usually just make it harder to get messy poops off anyway. Personally I like a single gusset.
Sized Inserts – I’m not a fan of sized inserts for the same reason I prefer OS diapers.  I can’t afford to get a whole new stash each time my baby gets to the next size up. Small inserts just aren’t big enough for older babies. Best Bottom prefers sized inserts though so if that’s your thing, I actually do really like the width and effectiveness of their snap-in (AI2) inserts.
No Insert Flaps – I really wish these Covers had front and back flaps to help hold the inserts in place! I find that flaps do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference.
No Flat Front – These have a lower front with elastic and one row of waist snaps. I really prefer a flat front panel with no tummy elastic and two rows of waist snaps like Flip and Lalabye Baby. Its not a deal breaker at all, its just personal preference.

OVERALL:
Best Bottom makes a great diaper. Its not my favorite fitting diaper but I still reach for my Bigger Cotton Cover all the time. Definitely a safe bet if I were to stock up on any one brand!!


Charlie Banana
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I had heard so many good things about Charlie Banana diapers that it was the very first brand I wanted to try. Most people raved about them. A few people I talked to were put off by the special elastic system they use but I decided to try them out anyway. Please note: Charlie Banana is the only brand I tried that is NOT a Cover.  Its still an AI2 system (technically a “pocket” diaper where you stuff or lay in your insert for absorbency) but it does not have a wipeable interior – instead it has a very soft microfleece interior material.

PROS:
Available in OS – I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Fit – Incredibly soft and comfortable fit. They never pinch or leave marks or restrict his movement at all. The cut is perfect and looks adorable on him. My favorite part about the fit is that there is no elastic on his tummy! A flat front with two rows of waist snaps seems to work best for us. This is definitely a tie for our favorite fit between Lalabye Baby and Charlie Banana.
Durability – Top quality. No issues with leaks or any breakdown in the material after a year of use.
Adjustable Elastic System – Charlie Banana has it’s own special bra-strap-like adjustable leg elastic making for a perfect and customizable fit ALL the time. There are never any leg gaps, even if one little chunky sausage leg is a little bigger than the other! Its kind of tedious to adjust them if you have a whole stash of Charlie Banana diapers but they really don’t need to be adjusted very often. While it may seem like a pain in the butt to some, it’s a trade off I’m more than willing to take for peace of mind that we will always have a perfect fit.
Colors & Prints – Tons of colors and prints to choose from! I prefer their solids but there are lots of choices.
Single Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. A single gusset is easier to rinse poop out of. Personally I like a single gusset best.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Range of Products – There are WAY too many different products for me to even list here! Check out their website for all the products they offer. Its truly a complete one-stop shop. I’ve tried out their awesome swim diapers, disposable liners, and their super soft organic cotton wipes. The wipes are a double layer with one side cotton and one side fleece. They seemed like overkill at first but I REALLY love them for just a nice gentle wipe or wash cloth, and for the extra messy poops. I wasn’t really a fan of the disposable liners – they seemed to bunch up too easily for us.
Small Business – As a small family-owned company, I love supporting what they do. Their passion and dedication show through in their products. Their customer service is amazing too :)
Price – Totally reasonable for the quality.

CONS:
No Covers Available – My only real complaint is that they don’t come in Covers ;( I prefer covers to save space  – a major thing to consider if you are like me and handwash in a 5-gallon bucket. Covers use less water to wash too so while I absolutely love our Charlie Banana diapers, I save them as my backups for when it’s super rainy for days on end and I run out of our regular Covers and inserts. If I had a real washing machine and didn’t need to be so careful with my water consumption then I would totally choose these more often.
Sized Inserts – I’m not a fan of sized inserts for the same reason I prefer OS diapers.  I can’t afford to get a whole new stash each time my baby gets to the next size up. I’ve tried the small inserts and they work as a backup but they really aren’t enough absorbency for older babies. Charlie Banana has both hemp and microfiber inserts. I tried the microfiber but I have since switched to exclusively using hemp because its so much easier to rinse the soap out of natural fibers than it is microfiber. Less water usage on a boat…

OVERALL:
I love love love our Charlie Banana diapers. I love how they fit and I would love them even more if we were in a house instead of living on a boat. If they ever came in Covers I think this would be my ultimate favorite brand for sure!


Thirsties
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Thirsties is a well known brand that everyone loves.  There are tons of different types of diapers that they offer so there is sure to be something for everyone. The type I tried was the Duo-Wrap – their most popular Cover. Lets take a look:

PROS:
Wipeable Inside
 – The Duo-Wrap is a true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Durability – Thirsties diapers are high quality and I’ve never had an issue with leaks or breakdown of material.
Rise Snaps – The rise snaps are spaced well enough to grow with my baby and not leave leg gaps.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Colors & Prints – Tons of colors and prints to choose from.
Frequent New Releases – Thirsties is always putting out new solid colors and new prints. It makes it fun to check back and see if there’s a new must-have diaper!
Range of Products – Thirsties really has it all. They come in both hook and loop as well as snap closures. They have OS, newborn, fitteds, AIO, pocket, swim diapers, trainers, basic covers, a deluxe cover called the Duo Wrap, AI2 inserts and a really nice hemp prefold. They also have all the good accessories like wetbags, pail liners, cloth wipes and cloth safe diaper cream.
Made in the USA – All products locally manufactured in Colorado!
Price – Totally reasonable for the quality.

CONS:
Double Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. Its so off set that it doesn’t catch anything. The inside gusset is the only one that actually makes a seal around his legs. The double gussets are sewn tighter in that area and usually just make it harder to get messy poops off anyway. Personally I like a single gusset.
Not Available in OS – I can’t afford to get a whole new stash each time my baby gets to the next size up. While Thirsties does offer OS diapers, they are only OS in the AIO, not in the Duo-Wraps or plain Covers.
Fit – I’m not a fan of sized diapers to begin with but there is a pretty significant difference between the size one and the size two.  We outgrew the size one quickly and the size two is still huge even at 18 months old.  I don’t have any issues with leaks but its just not my favorite fit.
Insert Flaps – I really wish these Covers had front and back flaps to help hold the inserts in place! I find that flaps do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference.
No Flat Front – These have a lower front with elastic and one row of waist snaps. I really prefer a flat front panel with no tummy elastic and two rows of waist snaps like Flip and Lalabye Baby. Its not a deal breaker at all, its just personal preference.

OVERALL:
Thirsties has a great reputation and has lots of great products. I reach for our Thirsties cover as often as our Best Bottom cover. Their hemp products are fantastic and I Iike them almost as much as our Geffen hemp inserts and prefolds. I only have size one stuff from Thirsties though so I’ll have to wait until we have another baby to get to use any of it again.


Cotton Babies – Flip
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Flip Diaper Covers are part of the Cotton Babies family. Flips are a for sure staple for us when it comes to nighttime diapering.

PROS:
Fit – Flip covers have a very generous and wide fit allowing you to use more absorbency. This reason alone is why we exclusively use prefolds with Flip Covers for our nighttime solution. Since we use the ultra trim Geffen inserts during the day, Flip covers aren’t the best option to hold them in place but they still work just fine if all my other covers are dirty. I just shorten up the rise to account for the missing prefold and they fit great! My very favorite part about Flip is that they have a flat front panel with two rows of waist snaps and no tummy elastic!! This design works the best for us :) 
Available in OS –
I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Wipeable Inside
 – The Flip cover is a true waterproof Cover with a wipeable PUL inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Rise Snaps – The rise snaps are spaced well enough to grow with my baby and not leave leg gaps.
Hip Snaps – These do have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly.
Single Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. A single gusset is easier to rinse poop out of. Personally I like a single gusset best.
Colors & Prints – Tons of colors and prints to choose from.
Insert Flaps – Front and back flaps help hold the inserts in place. I find that flaps do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference.
Price – Very affordable! This is my favorite brand for the budget minded.

CONS:
Durability – I’m kinda bummed the leg elastic seems less robust and doesn’t hold up very well but it’s not the end of the world for the price you can get them for. At 18 months old we moved up to the tightest rise to take up some of the leg elastic slack. Some people replace their elastics easily but others may not want to hassle with that and just replace the whole cover instead. We’ve ad no issues with leaks at all though so I’m totally impressed with the single layer PUL material.

OVERALL:
I think Flip diapers are really really awesome.  Despite the crappy leg elastic, I still love our Flip diapers better than our other Covers for nighttime. If I had to start over from scratch with a whole new stash on a budget of only one brand, Flip diapers would be the way to go. Even for daytime. They are simple, reliable and really really easy to wash.


Bambino Mio
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Mostly a UK brand, Bambino Mio also has a USA/Canada site which is awesome because so many people love their products! They basically come in two types – the Miosolo All In One and the Miosoft All in Two. Of course I chose to try the Miosoft AI2 which is a cover with choice of insert.

PROS:
Fit – We only tried the Size One Miosoft Cover but it fit perfectly. I couldn’t afford to get any more once Brig grew out of them but I so wish he could still wear them. If we could afford to buy more diapers we would definitely like some bigger Bambino Mio Covers in our stash. We never had any leaks, blowouts or issues.  Plus they were a generous enough fit to allow for a bulky stuff like a prefold. Awesome fit. 
Wipeable Inside
 – Miosoft AI2 is a true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Insert Flaps – Front flaps help hold the inserts in place. I find that flaps do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference.
Price – Very affordable! Great for the budget minded.
Durability – Excellent quality. There is no breakdown in the material which means it’s totally reliable for leaks, and the elastic is holding up perfectly.

CONS:
Not Available in OS – I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us. Currently, Bambino Mio only offers sized Covers (Miosoft) although their All In One (Miosolo) does come in One-Size.  
Only Available in Hook and Loop:
The Miosoft Cover only comes in hook and loop (velcro) but I prefer snaps. However… the placement of the hook and loop is WAY better than all the other hook and loop brands I tried because the scratchy side NEVER touched Brig’s skin! That was my main reason for preferring snaps in the first place was that most other hook and loop covers would always fold into his skin causing nasty red scratches. Ouch. If you’re in the hook and loop camp, I absolutely recommend Bambino Mio 100%. Really great design.
Double Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. Its so off set that it doesn’t catch anything. The inside gusset is the only one that actually makes a seal around his legs. The double gussets are sewn tighter in that area and usually just make it harder to get messy poops off anyway. Personally I like a single gusset.

OVERALL:
I SO love our Bambino Mio Covers! I just wish we also had some in the Size Two so we could still use them right now. My Size Ones will just have to wait for if we ever have another baby. Even though they aren’t snaps, I still love love love the fit. I even tried their OS prefold which is a traditional cotton prefold. It’s a lot thicker than my Geffen jersey hemp prefolds but it’s an affordable simple diapering solution that fits nicely into their Covers.


Nicki’s Diapers
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Nicki’s is a actually a one-stop-shop reseller that hosts a ton of different cloth diapering brands on their website but they also have their own line of diapers too. I tried a Cover from Nicki’s and it’s pretty awesome for a budget friendly Cover.

PROS:
Fit – The rise snaps are in a weird location and the fabric on the sides of my baby’s thighs is a little too tall for us which kind of restricts his movement sometimes. Other than that it’s got a flat front with two rows of waist snaps which I like, and holds our inserts in well. It’s not my favorite fit but it’s not bad either. We are on the smallest rise right now though so this might be a good nighttime option for younger babies. 
Available in OS –
 I can’t afford to buy a whole new stash every time my baby grows into the next size up so One-Size is essential for us.
Wipeable Inside
 – Nicki’s Cover is a true waterproof Cover with a wipeable inside that allows me to reuse the Cover if its not totally soaked or contaminated with poop. Essential for conserving water with less washes needed. Dries fast.
Single Gussets – While most people like double gussets, I don’t think the outer gusset ever does anything for us. A single gusset is easier to rinse poop out of. Personally I like a single gusset best.
Insert Flaps – Front and back flaps help hold the inserts in place. I find that flaps do help prevent leaks from flooded diapers or really messy poops. Personal preference.
Price – Very affordable! Great for the budget minded.
Durability – Seems to be holding up surprisingly well! There is no breakdown in the material which means it’s totally reliable for leaks, and the elastic is holding up better than my other budget brand.
Range of Products – An amazing range of different products here. If you cant find what you want in Nicki’s Brand products, they have anything else you could ever want on their website from a ton of other brands :)

CONS:
Rise Snaps – The rise is really strange!! The rise snaps are way too close to the waist snaps and it makes it a little tricky to snap sometimes. Not a deal breaker but strange. Maybe the one I got is just different than how they are supposed to be.
No Hip Snaps – These do not have hip snaps – a second inside snap on the same row as the primary waist snaps, which I find really helpful to keep the edges tucked in properly. My busy boy often gets this cover all bunched up when playing and the edges poke out the top because they aren’t secured inside with a hip snap.

OVERALL:
A solid inexpensive option and a completely different fit than their sister brand, Best Bottom Diapers. They have an AWESOME 15-day try-wash-love or return policy and their own non-profit buy-one-give-one program where they give one Nicki’s Brand diaper to a child in need for ever Nicki’s Brand diaper purchased. Pretty cool. Overall, I definitely recommend giving Nicki’s a try. They’ve got a ton of different products for whatever your preferences are.

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Stay tuned for more details on why I switched exclusively to Geffen Hemp inserts as well as a breakdown on How We Wash Diapers On A Boat ;)

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IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING… We are PROUD to share these awesome products and services with our readers. There are so many different solutions out there for everything we could possibly need, but these are the solutions that work for us.

This post may contain information about a product sponsorship. We gladly accept discounts or samples when a company feels generous enough to support our cause. In return we support the manufacturer or local service by sharing their links and writing about our experience with them. We only seek out sponsorship and affiliate programs from products and services we actually WANT to use and likewise only accept offers for products or services that we WILL use. We are not paid for any reviews we write or feedback we provide. We simply like to spread the word and share great experiences we have had that could also bring joy to others.

 

The Best of Intentions

As much as I want to write a new blog post every day, it just never happens. I have such high hopes for my time management. I dream about the times when I used to be able to sit down with my laptop and get lost in my thoughts.  The truth is that Brig gets busier with each passing day and there’s always something more pressing that needs to get done. To be fair, we have literally been on the move for more than a year.  Ever since Hurricane Irma hit, we’ve been traveling and bouncing around from house to house by plane, by car, and by boat almost nonstop.  Unexpected events pop up at every turn. As if a 17 month old baby wasn’t enough to keep me from blogging!

We finally got back to our boat about a month ago after spending some more time in the states for my grandmother’s memorial and to allow us to be out of the Caribbean during Hurricane Season. We began sailing North to get back to St Thomas but weather has kept us longer than planned. We’re still currently stuck in St Kitts for just a couple more days. On Monday we hope we can make the final 24 hour push to get back home and FINALLY get settled. It feels like its been SUCH a long time coming.  We can finally find a routine and nave a little normalcy in our lives.  I think I need it more than anyone.  Brig has been such a trooper through it all and I’m so proud of him.

Peter will go back to work full time for Paradise Yacht Management in St Thomas managing the maintenance on their fleet of charter catamarans.  It’s a great company and Peter really enjoys working with those guys so he’s excited to get back too.  I will be staying home with Brig and I HOPE to get some projects of my own finally taken care of.  There are SO many sewing projects on my list and I have tons of blog content I want to finally get posted. Brig is in the process of transitioning from two naps down to one so I hope I can finally get a solid chunk of time to myself during the day.  Am I just dreaming again? Maybe. We shall see.

I know there are many of you that only visit the website and blog but don’t “do” social media. Please remember to check out our Instagram and Facebook pages even if you don’t have accounts there.  You can still see our public photos. I post updates about our adventures on those sites WAY more often than I post here right now so head on over to get your dose of coconuts :)

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