The Cloth Diaper Experience

I've had a lot of people recently asking me how it's going with the cloth diapers, so I thought I'd update everyone on that. We started using them about three days or so after Isabella was born and even though we have some Pampers and Tushies on stand-by we rarely use them unless we run out of the other ones. So now that we've got two month's use under the belt, I think it's safe to say we're hooked. Pedro and I both share in diaper duty and he's said more than once that he prefers the cloth to the disposable.

We've got three types of Tots Bots brand nappies - organic cotton, bamboo, and fleece (mostly made in the UK). They're all really easy to use and fasten either with velcro or a Snappi. Now that Isabella is a bit bigger, the diapers fit her really perfectly - and her little butt looks so cute in those fluffy things! I have about 25 diapers so we only need to run a full load every other day, and they dry quickly on the line (she goes through 7-10 a day at this stage). She hasn't had any nappy rash (touch wood) and we don't have to change her any more often than with a disposable due to the fabric types and their weaves. I got all kinds of cute waterproof covers for them too, so I'm excited for summer to finally get here so that we can show them off under her little dresses.

And lastly, we've now broken even on what I spent on the cloth diapers versus what I would have spent on Pampers up until this point (fancy cloth diapers have an expensive up-front cost). By the time Isabella is potty trained, we'll have saved well over a thousand bucks on diapers. What's more - they'll last for more than one baby :).

Latest Isabella Pictures

Hello to all. Due to some weird comments we've noticed in the last coupe of postings, we've decided to moderate the comments, so you can still post comments, we just have to approve them first before they get posted. So please, continue posting your comments. Enjoy the new pictures of Isabella.

Hola a todos. Ya que hemos notado algunos comentarios raros, hemos decidido comenzar a moderar los comentarios. Pueden seguir poniendo sus comentarios, la unica diferencia es que April y Yo los tenemos que aprovar antes de que sean puestos en el blog. Fuera de eso, disfruten las ultimas fotos de Isabella.

Cuddle time

Almost 6 weeks old!

With her little Easter bunny toy from Great-Grandma Lu and Auntie Lisa & snuggly outfit from Grandma Susie

Isabella loves to stretch out on Abuela Aida's mat

This little one loves her baths now

Funky new toys from Grandma Susie!

Chillaxin' on Auntie Jenni's changing mat - our most favorite pastime

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Isabella is growing so much! It's hard to believe that a month and a half ago I was going out of my mind to see her. We're still not getting much sleep at night but Isabella compensates me with her flashy new smiles and regular cooing sounds (Papa is wild for these sounds too). She now weighs more than 10lbs 7oz!

Happy Easter from the Sotomayors!!!

Here are some pictures of Isabella in her Easter dress (a gift from her auntie Lisa) with April, who had her birthday this Saturday. Happy birthday April!!. It was a snowy weekend here as you can see from the last picture.

Isabella's little feet

Isabella: Space Baby

Isabella's First Month

Isabella is past her first month doing great and being as cute as ever. April spends her time trying to make Isabella smile. Thanks for all your posts and enjoy the new pictures.

Our Little Girl

playing dress-up in Puerto Rican family heirlooms

pasando un buen tiempo con Abuelo

first coffee shop outing - St. Ives

Two Weeks Baby!

Isabella turns two weeks old tomorrow! At this time two Saturdays ago I was about to start the gory labor that would bring a beautiful, wonderful little person into this world. I cannot believe how the days have flown as one. Nights are getting better (knock on wood) and we seem to be learning what her cries mean, which gets us much more sleep! It's like a miracle if one of us gets more than four hours at a time. We tend to stay up really late with Isabella (a night owl like her papa), and because of this, we were awake during Britain's strongest earthquake in 25 years (~5.3). Pedro said that when the whole house started shaking I actually screamed out "my baby!" - like in some cliché Hollywood disaster flick. Isabella didn't mind the tremor and continued to breastfeed and sleep even as I leaped from the couch and ran for cover with her in my arms. I'm feeling a lot better and will soon be my old self again, thanks to all of the amazing help from Pedro's mom and dad - to whom I will be forever grateful!!!!

A Week and A Day

Here are some of the photos we've taken during the week. It's been tough and sleepless these last eight days, but incredibly wonderful at the same time.

daddy's little girl - Pedro has been incredible

we toasted Isabella birth and homecoming with champagne

MORE PICTURES

Birth and Recovery in Pictures

Family and Friends,

April is doing good in her recovery, and was already walking today. She will likely be released from the hospital tomorrow. It feels like she was just giving birth this morning, and I have had barely any time to spend in front of the computer, but I wanted to download some pictures and let you know a little bit about the birth of Isabella.

April started contractions shortly after writing her last blog entry on Friday evening, sometime around 6:30 p.m.. We thought that they were Braxton Hicks because there was no pain and they were barely noticeable. By 8:30 April went to bed and when I went to bed at 1140 April was already having painful contractions. We called the hospital and at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning we were driving through fog to the hospital. Shortly after arrival the midwife that examined April determined that she was already 5 to 6 cm dilated. April actually toughed out being that dilated without complaining or freaking out! She was very calmed the whole time on the way to the hospital and showed herself very brave. It was a long 6 hours before the midwives allowed April to give in to the urge to push and an hour later Isabella came out into this world. Isabella was a little to rough coming out and caused a type III tear on April (the worst tear a pregnant woman can suffer). It was at this time that I heard April scream for the first time since she had gone into labor; before or after, April just stayed focused and carried on with what I, to this moment, consider uncanny superhuman strength. Because of the tear, the doctor decided to have April taken into the operating room for reconstructive surgery and stitching. After a 1 and a half hour procedure, April came out in high spirits and happy to be reunited with our daughter.

So, Isabella is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Every time I see her she is somehow changed, the color of her hair seems to change from strawberry blond, to light brown, to red. I spent the day today (18 Feb) visiting with April and Isabella. The visiting times were arranged in such a way that I was able to spend every other two hours with them from 10 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. April wanted me to convey her thanks to all of you and to let you all know that she appreciates all of your gifts, get well wishes and comments.

BIRTH DAY!!!!!

We are very Proud to Announce that our baby daughter, Isabella Aida, was born on February 17, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. weighting 8.2 lbs. April suffered some tearing and is recovering well at the hospital. April, Isabella and I send our love to all of you and I will be posting some pictures as soon as I get some time to mess with the computer. April and Isabella should be getting back from the hospital by Tuesday.

+1

We're still waiting, still walking, still impatient - I've had three people looking expectantly at me all day. Don't mind that little baby countdown ticker to the left - for some reason it's beginning to count UP, obviously freaked out by the fact that I've gone past my due date. I have been having some Braxton-Hicks contractions this evening though, so I hope to take that as a good sign since I hadn't had ANY before. Now I'm off to try some acupressure.

40 Weeks...

...and not even a Braxton-Hicks contraction. After accidentally sleeping through my midwife appointment yesterday, I got to see her today - much to my disappointment - I had been hoping that I'd have given birth by now. BUT today is, after all, my official due date. I now have exactly seven days to produce a baby before more invasive measures are taken to coerce her out. I'm extremely puffy and increasingly uncomfortable. I'm denying our public the last belly picture because my face looks like a marshmallow with humanoid features. The photo you see above was taken this morning after my appointment. Keep sending out your birthing vibes!

Not a Valentine's Baby...

No baby...yet. So far, most people have seem to think this baby is coming out by tomorrow - I hope you're right! Technically, this could still go on for a while!

Belly Laughs

39 Weeks

This week's belly shot was taken at the end of the day, just as I was about to go to bed! I had a bit of a scare earlier when I realized in late afternoon that I hadn't really noticed the baby moving all day. She almost always responds if I rub or push my belly or if Pedro talks directly to her, but she didn't budge after numerous (and increasingly frantic) attempts. So we rushed over to the community clinic to get someone to check out the baby's heartbeat and my vitals just to make sure everything was fine. Of course, as soon as a doctor put the cold jelly to my navel, the baby started moving. That sense of terror and helplessness that proceeded the visit was terrible, though. I cannot say enough how thankful I am that I can just walk into the clinic and get seen right away without having to mess around with insurance paperwork or other bureaucratic concerns. It's hard to believe that almost ten months of pregnancy have passed and we're about to have a baby. I'm including a photo of the positive pregnancy test that I took all the way back on June 26th, 2007 - the very first of many exciting surprises for us!

38 Weeks

After Pedro's company "holiday" party