I have decided that I want to use cloth diapers.
(Das Piper was weary to agree at first, until I assured him that I would do all of the diaper loads of laundry if he did the other laundry.)
Every time I tell this to anyone, especially mothers, the look at me with horror and bewilderment before pointing out that I live in an apartment building with coin op laundry and therefore can't use cloth diapers.
Well, for the record, yes I can, and I plan to give it a real try, because:
A) I have been occasionally accused of being a bit granola, and liking the earth kind of comes with that territory.
And B) Even with the coin op laundry, it is cheaper.
Now, math has never been my strong suit, but basic addition and multiplication, with the help of my calculator, isn't too much for my little brain to handle, so here we go.
Cost of a 40 pack of pampers diapers: 13.95$ Canadian.
That's about 0.35$/diaper.
Average baby uses about 7-10 diapers a day, according to "What To Expect in The First Year". I would assume a practical parent would budget for 10 a day just to be sure. I know I would.
So let's put the number of diapers needed in a week at 70.
giving us the approximate cost of 24.50$ per week for the next two years at least.
Assuming that I turn out to be a potty training goddess and my kid is out of diapers right at the 24 month mark, that puts the overall cost, not including wet wipes, at 2,352$
Cloth diapers, run a little high on start up cost, and assuming that I only want to do diaper laundry twice a week, which I do, I'll need about 40 - 50 diapers. which cost around 10$ a piece, maybe a little more if you want the fancy all in one diapers with all the fancy buttons so that they're one size fits most. which I do. . . those ones run around 15$ a diaper.
50 cloth diapers at 15$ a diaper is 750$
Cost of laundry detergent is 7.99$ for the liquid form of my brand, and does about 20-40 loads.
I never use the actual recommended amount because it's way too much, and for diapers you are supposed to use half of the recommended amount anyways, so lets say 40 washes, if not more.
40 washes would cover 20 weeks (not including other laundry) which would mean I would need to replace the detergent about 5 times in a 24 month span. A total cost of 39.95$
A load of laundry in my coin-op costs 2.25$. twice a week is about 18$/month.
So 432$ over 24 months.
Total cost of cloth diapers over a 24 month span: about 1,222$
what was that cost for disposables over the same 24 months again?. . . 2,352$
I wonder what I will do with my 1,130$?
Maybe I will take all of those people who tell me it can't be done out for lunch.
4.07.2009
GIST #7 of 365
1) Vegetable pot stickers.
2) The baby can officially hear things this week, so Das Piper doesn't talk to me anymore, just my stomach.
Here is what baby has to say back to him:
3) Although yesterday was filled to the brim of crying and vomit and crying and vomit induced headaches, I feel great today!
4) I found the headphones for my ipod so I can have music when I go out!
5) My new CD finally arrived and I love it!
On another note, I can totally see why this working from home thing rarely works out for people. . . I would be done things twice as quickly if I weren't being interrupted every once in a while with fresh baked cookies and strawberries and das piper talking to my stomach.
on another other note, I would like to point out that none of the feelings from the previous post were directed at anyone who actually reads this blog. . . I am much too cowardly to be that obvious. . . actually that's a lie. one of the nice ones is for a friend who reads occasionally.
2) The baby can officially hear things this week, so Das Piper doesn't talk to me anymore, just my stomach.
Here is what baby has to say back to him:
3) Although yesterday was filled to the brim of crying and vomit and crying and vomit induced headaches, I feel great today!
4) I found the headphones for my ipod so I can have music when I go out!
5) My new CD finally arrived and I love it!
On another note, I can totally see why this working from home thing rarely works out for people. . . I would be done things twice as quickly if I weren't being interrupted every once in a while with fresh baked cookies and strawberries and das piper talking to my stomach.
on another other note, I would like to point out that none of the feelings from the previous post were directed at anyone who actually reads this blog. . . I am much too cowardly to be that obvious. . . actually that's a lie. one of the nice ones is for a friend who reads occasionally.
4.05.2009
The Feelings I Have Been Botteling About 5 Anonymous People
1) I am sorry that the recent changes in my life have made me less capable of giving you what you want from me. I am even more sorry that because of this you have chosen to simply discard me. It would have been nice to have the support and help I have given you over the last 4 years reciprocated.
2) I am angry with you, and I probably will be for a long time. I am so angry with you that I cannot even bring myself to miss our friendship. I am, however, glad to see that you have decided to start talking to some of our old friends again, even after you told me that you thought they were pathetic drunks.
3) Thank you for all of your recent support. I know that I have done some pretty shitty things to you in the past, and that there is absolutely no reason for you to show me any forgiveness, let alone extend the hand of friendship. You are, by far, the most suprising friend of this year.
4)If you weren't such a modest person I would probably hate you for being so good at everything. I must confess that the only reason I really liked basketball in elementry school was because it was the only thing that I could do better. But, since you are so modest, and are so willing to help anyone you meet with anything they ask that I am proud to have called you friend for the last 10 years.
5) I would like to congradulate you on having convinced everyone around you, including yourself, that you don't have a problem. I know that this will result in a few more years of you coasting drunkenly through your life in much the same way you have been.
2) I am angry with you, and I probably will be for a long time. I am so angry with you that I cannot even bring myself to miss our friendship. I am, however, glad to see that you have decided to start talking to some of our old friends again, even after you told me that you thought they were pathetic drunks.
3) Thank you for all of your recent support. I know that I have done some pretty shitty things to you in the past, and that there is absolutely no reason for you to show me any forgiveness, let alone extend the hand of friendship. You are, by far, the most suprising friend of this year.
4)If you weren't such a modest person I would probably hate you for being so good at everything. I must confess that the only reason I really liked basketball in elementry school was because it was the only thing that I could do better. But, since you are so modest, and are so willing to help anyone you meet with anything they ask that I am proud to have called you friend for the last 10 years.
5) I would like to congradulate you on having convinced everyone around you, including yourself, that you don't have a problem. I know that this will result in a few more years of you coasting drunkenly through your life in much the same way you have been.
4.03.2009
New Pants!
Thanks to the generosity of a very good friend of mine and her mother. I have new clothes! clothes that fit!
Hint: If you show up at people's houses and refuse to sit down because your pants are too tight and you look really uncomfortable, they take pity on you and buy you maternity pants.
Unfortunately the maternity pants were WAY to big because apparently my friend thought I was a first string linebacker for the Saskatchewan rough riders.
And by a lucky happenstance, my dear sweet Das Piper took pity on me as well and had purchased me maternity pants, in the right size, around the same time.
SoOo, when I went to exchange the gigantor pants my friend told me to go ahead and get myself whatever my little heart desired with the store credit.
On the sale rack, I found that for the price of one pair of pants, one can purchase a blouse, two sweaters, and a fancy scarf!
Now I get to go out in public wearing clothes that actually suit my age instead of my collection of over sized bunny hugs that have somehow made it from my high school days.
While shopping I couldn't help but send a little prayer of thanks up to the fashion gods that maternity fashion has taken so many leaps and bounds since my mom was pregnant with my little sister.
I remember having nightmares about my mother, swollen and balloon-like, being eaten by giant hideous pastel coloured flowers.
On a completely different note: Das Piper just made the best stove-stop stuffing EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EXISTENCE!
Hint: If you show up at people's houses and refuse to sit down because your pants are too tight and you look really uncomfortable, they take pity on you and buy you maternity pants.
Unfortunately the maternity pants were WAY to big because apparently my friend thought I was a first string linebacker for the Saskatchewan rough riders.
And by a lucky happenstance, my dear sweet Das Piper took pity on me as well and had purchased me maternity pants, in the right size, around the same time.
SoOo, when I went to exchange the gigantor pants my friend told me to go ahead and get myself whatever my little heart desired with the store credit.
On the sale rack, I found that for the price of one pair of pants, one can purchase a blouse, two sweaters, and a fancy scarf!
Now I get to go out in public wearing clothes that actually suit my age instead of my collection of over sized bunny hugs that have somehow made it from my high school days.
While shopping I couldn't help but send a little prayer of thanks up to the fashion gods that maternity fashion has taken so many leaps and bounds since my mom was pregnant with my little sister.
I remember having nightmares about my mother, swollen and balloon-like, being eaten by giant hideous pastel coloured flowers.
On a completely different note: Das Piper just made the best stove-stop stuffing EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EXISTENCE!
4.01.2009
A Tiny Heart
"It's alive!"
That is what my doctor proclaimed with a laugh as a water-like 'whooshing' came through the static and surrounded me.
"whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh"
I immediately forgot my carefully drawn up list of questions, and the indignity I always feel talking to someone who had just shown me the business end of a speculum.
"Whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh"
I made a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sob that came from somewhere deep in my stomach causing the doctor's hand to slip.
"whoosh-whoosh whoosh-woo. . . "
I vaguely remember him rattling off some numbers immediately followed by the word 'normal' as he wiped the gel from his equipment and put it away.
I barely remember leaving the office, or going for dinner, or telling friends and family about what we'd heard by trying to recreate the whooshing with my vocal cords.
It's real now.
I have, at the very least, if not a baby, then a tiny heart growing in my abdomen.
That is what my doctor proclaimed with a laugh as a water-like 'whooshing' came through the static and surrounded me.
"whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh"
I immediately forgot my carefully drawn up list of questions, and the indignity I always feel talking to someone who had just shown me the business end of a speculum.
"Whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh whoosh-whoosh"
I made a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sob that came from somewhere deep in my stomach causing the doctor's hand to slip.
"whoosh-whoosh whoosh-woo. . . "
I vaguely remember him rattling off some numbers immediately followed by the word 'normal' as he wiped the gel from his equipment and put it away.
I barely remember leaving the office, or going for dinner, or telling friends and family about what we'd heard by trying to recreate the whooshing with my vocal cords.
It's real now.
I have, at the very least, if not a baby, then a tiny heart growing in my abdomen.
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