packing your cloth diaper bag

here's a great video on how to pack your cloth diaper bag that i saw today.

personally, i also include the following for my TWIN GIRLS:
- i only do two diapers, maybe prefolds/covers, AIOs or pockets already stuffed (usually, i don't stay out for very long)
- girly things, such as an extra outfit, matching headbands, and socks
- rattles/toys
- the girls' sunglasses
- some snacks for me (lol) like luna bars, already shelled sunflower seeds, bananas, apples, etc... and a water bottle and/or honest kids organic juices
- clean empty bottles
- a baggy of extra pacis, nipples, lids/caps
- a spray water bottle (small)
- a diaper spray water bottle (small)
- extra bibs
- extra burp cloths
- samples of formula
- samples of butt paste
- small water bottle for formula
- my checkbook, wallet, keys, chapstick, iPod, a pen, small pad of paper, my phone

it's VERY full because i have to grab double of everything... i'm looking for something bigger, but this does well for me for now. :)  i do keep another bag in the car with outfits ziplocked, extra diapers, burp cloths, and my wrap.  in there, i also have samples of formula, too.

alternative drinks

1.  for a couple of weeks, i've been drinking seltzer/sparkling water for an alternative taste.  i was at the point where all i drank was W-A-T-E-R.  so plain.  so, i tried carbonated water.  i have to say that, not only does it taste refreshing, it's also different with enough of a kick (the carbonation) to make my mind/body feel as if i'm drinking something else.  now, i've heard that some people think sparkling water is bad for your kidneys, but that's IF you replace your water intake with it.  you still HAVE to drink water, obviously.

2.  before i got pregnant, i wasn't a big caffeinated drinker; more like an occasional drinker!  but, with water, it just gets to the point of being... repetitive.  yes, you can do the Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea single packs (which i did), but prepared that you might tire from the same watery taste.  don't get me wrong- i love the peach flavor, but after awhile, there's only SO MUCH you can drink of it when we're required to drink THOUSANDS of gallons of water a day, especially for multiples!

3.  when i was nauseated during the fifth-11th week, i needed something to calm my stomach.  i was used to my mom giving us a clear carbonated drink and crackers when our tummy ached.  so, one fateful night when my stomach had other ideas, i had my husband rescue crackers... ahem, graham crackers (all we had-LOL) and sent him to the store to buy sprite (no caffeine).  somehow, in the midst of that, i heard root beer didn't have caffeine either, so i found the BEST tasting, healthiest version of root beer, which is Trader Joe's Vintage Root Beer (not the Virgil's one; very different taste!).

4.  Trader Joe's Blood Orange Italian Soda is phenomenal.  apparently, blood oranges are healthy for you.  this drink is so refreshing, and yes, it has carbonation, but it's great tasting enough to satisfy your urges for something sweet to drink with a meal.

enjoy!

update: honest kids' organic juices/prenatal vitamins

i think that i've mentioned these juices more than once.  if i haven't, then i've meant to do that. :)

i ran out of my insurance-prescribed prenatals, so i thought, okay, let's try the natural prenatals that i stopped trying EVEN with these juices!

so, i try them, and my stomach... well, it didn't react well.  i'll put it that way. :)  the only time my stomach is queasy is when i try to take my stupid horse pills!

we're at the next night.  i think- let's play mind games.  they really are good and not nasty.   LOL!!!  i put some juice in my mouth, didn't swallow, popped in the glorious prenatal, some more juice, and voila!!!  

SO, if you're struggling taking your mr. ed pills, then put some juice in your mouth, settle the pill there, suck some more juice, and then swallow.  sounds simple, but through trial and error, i finally got it!!!

the pills are now fine for me to take.  THANK GOD!  i feel so much better about taking these natural nasty ones than not knowing the full ingredients of what's in my insurance's brand.  :)

DOUBLE WHAMMY!!! :)

so, i FULLY support these juices... such a nice snack before bedtime.  sweet enough for your sweet tooth, but not feeling like you got whacked with a bag of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup!  :)

"morning sickness"/organic honest kids' juices

so, i didn't really develop the typical "morning sickness."  i actually would feel nauseous starting at the sixth week or so and it lasted for about five, six weeks.  the symptoms would usually develop late evening (six or 7), and from the rest of the night on, i would just be very careful to eat/drink anything. 

well, i take my medicine at night, along with my shot.  originally, i got these healthy organic prenatals at sprouts that the lady recommended after i looked at my various options (because i wanted the best for these babies).

that.did.not.work.out.according.to.plan.  these things tasted... like RANCID YEAST x1,000.  WHY- oh why would someone create/manufacture nasty smelling pills for PG women to take?  who was that stupid to make them?  i don't know, but after one attempt at those, i had my first symptom of "evening sickness."  it was "smells" that got to me... usually taking my pills at night.

so, off to sprouts to return.  got a different healthy kind.  (meanwhile, my insurance, cigna had filled a prescription when i first got PG for prenantals, and i was taking those, but i had wanted to switch to healthier ones.)  tried these out.  not as bad, but still TERRIBLE.  couldn't even stomach them.  anyone who would smell these would know... you just CANNOT give these to anybody PERIOD!

went back to my cigna prenatals.  LOL.  now, i take those, but these big 'ol horse pills aren't fun either!  so, i was at target one day, and got these Honest Kids' juices.  it was a carton of eight for less than $5.  it said 1/2 the sugar, so i wanted to give them a try.  i thought that i remembered a friend on FB mentioning these at costco....

tried the juices... so yummy- very light, not too sweet, but enough to do the job to take all of my pills, and still have a sweet snack right before bedtime. :)

went to costco... didn't have them.  "deleted" them.  WHAT!  i called HK, and they sent me out all these coupons, free vouchers for the inconvenience, but didn't understand why costco deleted them.  they were going to investigate.

three costcos later, found the juices... a 32 pack (four different 8 pk of flavors) for less than $10!

now, i am stocked up for six months. ;)  i especially like the "punch" ones!

we all grew up on capri suns, but really... you can taste the difference!!!  try these today!