New Blog-Will Soon Delete This Address!

I will be deleting this blog address within the next few days. I've moved the content of this blog to another blog address:
oliverandkatiethompson.blogspot.com.
If you would like to continue to follow our blog (please do!), that's where we'll be!

Blog Address Switcheroo

In an effort to completely purge my 7th grade email address from my life, I have been changing all account email addresses from the aforementioned "rain86bow@aol.com" to the more fitting "oliverandkatiethompson@gmail.com." We, in fact, do not even have AOL as a family, rather my parents still own that email address. Now, I don't know if any of you have ever tried to change the email you use to sign into Blogger...but I certainly have...again and again. For some reason, there is always an error with a message saying I'm not able to switch to a Gmail address on this account. Puzzling. So, I've created an entirely new blog address, exported my current blog (this one), and imported it to the new address.

MAIN POINT OF THIS POST: I will be deleting this blog address and moving the content of this blog to another blog address, oliverandkatiethompson.blogspot.com. If you would like to continue to follow our blog (please do!), that's where we'll be!

Thanks!

Top Teeth?

As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, it appears Griffin is about to cut his first teeth...on the TOP! I guess it's quite rare for a baby to cut teeth on the top prior to teeth on the bottom, but it is becoming more and more clear that those little buggers are making their way through his sore little gums. I have been trying to get a good shot of what it looks like for the past few days, but to no avail...until today! I've been using little bits of time here and there to take Griffin's 6 month pictures to send out to family, and I accidentally got a great shot of his little toofers!
Here it is:

Clearly, Griffin was not enjoying his photoshoot... HhmmjustlikehisdadHhmm

The Nightly Bath

Green Bean Grimacing

Peek-A-Boo with Grandaddy

6 Months

It's hard to believe, but our boy is 6 months old today! Although I can't seem to remember what life was like before he was born, the time really has flown by. He hasn't had his 6 month visit with the pediatrician yet, but I weighed him using our scale at home. It's difficult to get an accurate reading with our cheap-o dial scale, but he's over 20 pounds and over 29 inches! 6 short months ago, he came into the world at 8 pounds 14 ounces and 22 inches. More than double his birthweight and off the charts for height, we've got one big boy on our hands.

(Click on the picture below to enlarge it.)

Ready to hit the hay:

Cutest 6 month old ever:
Yesterday, I noticed that he has two bumps that look like teeth getting ready to come in on the top. My pediatrician said that every single baby she's ever had as a patient but one had their two bottom teeth come in first. It appears Griffin may be her 2nd baby to get top teeth first! I tried and tried to get a decent picture of these impending little "toofers" (as I call them), but this is all I could come up with. Turns out, a 6 month old doesn't stay still for a picture while you push up their upper lip...

It's hard to imagine what my life would be like without my sweet Griffin in it. Being his mother is so fulfilling and rewarding; I know that I know that I've stepped into the role that God prepared for me before I was even a twinkle in my mother's eye. It hasn't been all roses and bubble, warm, happy feelings, but the joys, rewards, and goods far, far outweigh the sleepless nights, the stressful, fussy days, the postpartum hormone rollercoaster, the stretch marks, the 20 lbs. that seems to just want to hang on just in case there's a famine or another ice age and I must still produce milk for Griffin, the sad, melted candle looking belly that was once my much doted on baby bump, the pain of labor, the days where I'm overwhelmed by how far I fall short as a mother. His great, big smile makes all those things worth it all.

There's a song by Rita Springer that I listened to non-stop in the weeks and months before Griffin was born; it is called "Worth It." It about the pain and joy found in following Jesus in this life is going to be worth it all at the sight of His face in heaven; however, the lyrics can be perfectly transposed into all the pain and struggle of becoming a mother in labor and of being a mother is worth it all at the sight of your child's face. 6 months ago today, as I labored and prayed and suffered through all the pains of childbirth, I thought of this song over and over. It reminded me that it really was going to be worth it all. It reminded me that the pain of labor was the intended and natural test of perseverance I needed to overcome in order to become a mother...the very same gauntlet that the first of all women had to endure to bear her children, I had to endure to bear mine. And, sure enough, at the sight of Griffin's face, it was all worth it. Just like anything that is valuable and rewarding and especially like being a follower of Christ here on Earth, there is something about the pain and suffering that makes the end result more rewarding. Sure, labor hurt...bad. Sure, going on very little sleep for a very extended period of time is rough. Absolutely, my body has spent 6 months trying to recover from pregnancy and delivery...trying being the key word. Yes, I question my maternal instinct, judgment and competence as a mom, and spiritual "fitness" as a mother almost every day. But, like being a follower of Christ, motherhood is a journey of many, many highs that are made even higher by all the many, many lows. Praise God for contrasts in life like these; for if everything were neither too low, nor too high, we would live very dull, bland lives indeed. The past 6 months of being a mother has been the second greatest struggle of my life (second only to being a follower of Christ), but the past 6 months of being a mother has also been the second greatest joy of my life.

Tomorrow, I plan to post what new things Griffin has been up to this past month, along with some new videos. I remember my dad saying to me, "Can I just give you a pill so you don't have to grow up, and you can stay the same as you are now?" Thinking he was just trying to be sweet, I would give him a hug and go on my merry little way, but now I understand. Almost daily, I look at Griffin and get all teary-eyed realizing how quickly it all goes by. I don't miss the past stages too much, and I don't yearn for the future stages too much... I just want him to stay just like he is every single day! I'm sure you mothers (and fathers!) will understand this. So, as I said to Griffin today, on his 6 month birthday, "Can I just give you a pill so you don't have to grow up, and you can stay the same as you are now?"

New Nephew & Cousin

This week, we made the trip down to Auburn, Alabama to meet our new (and first!) nephew, Henry! He is such a sweetie pie, complete with a full head of thick, dark hair. Born at 10 lbs 10 oz, Griffin's new (and first) cousin is bound to be a big boy just like Griffin. They should make a great pair as they grow up together, and we're looking forward to them playing and getting into trouble together...but not too much trouble :)

Griffin meeting his cousin for the first time:

Griffin with his Uncle Bubba:

Griffin and Henry:

Meet Henry:

Griffin, after his first bath in the sink at his Uncle Hank and Aunt Anna's house:

Our little family:

3 Generations of men:

Griffin loves his Grandaddy and his Uncle Hank:

Proud grandparents with their grandchildren:

Hibachi Style Chicken, Zucchini, Squash, & Onions

Since summer weather began here in the Palmetto state, I really cannot get enough of zucchini and squash. So, I've been coming up with all kinds of ways to use them in meals. Day-to-day life is a bit crazy here in the Thompson household ever since Griffin was born, and I really don't get a chance to fix dinner until after he is in bed by 7pm. Needless to say, I'm STARVING by the time 7 rolls around, and I don't have a lot of patience to make meals that take a long time to prepare. Here is a meal I put together last night using zucchini and squash that is a super quick fix to get that meal into your belly as quickly as possible.

1/2 bag (=1 lb) frozen chicken tenderloins (defrost in microwave 10 min)
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash(es?)
1 onion (I like to use vidalia)
1-2 T cooking oil (vegetable, canola, safflower, whatever)
1-2 T soy sauce (We get the low sodium version)
Black Pepper
(Optional and DELICIOUS: a drizzle of Panda Express sauce or teriyaki sauce)
2 bags 90 second Uncle Ben's brown rice***
1 egg

Defrost chicken 10 min. & cut into bit-sized pieces while warming oil in wok or big frying pan. Put chicken in wok. Wash & cut up zucchini (cut into long strips), squash (cut into circles or half circles), and onions (long strips) while chicken is cooking. Add veggies to wok when chicken is cooked. Drizzle soy sauce and let cook while you cook bags of rice. Take cooked rice and pour into a skillet with a smidge of oil and an egg. Cook until egg is mixed in with rice and fully cooked. I'm not sure exactly how long it takes for the veggies to soften. I guess it sort of depends on how crunchy you like them! I think I cooked them about 10 minutes or so...The key is to let them cook until the water that comes out of them while cooking is mostly cooked off. Soggy, wet veggies are no way to go; so, let that water cook off. Near the end, add the Panda Express sauce (if you're using it...and I HIGHLY recommend it. It adds so much flavor), teriyaki sauce, or more soy sauce and black pepper to taste. Put a pile on your "fried rice," and there you have it!

Mr. Pouty Face

Our son has officially figured out how to manipulate us. He regularly practices and utilizes this pouty face to get a reaction out of us:
Here is a video of him pulling out all the stops:

Could this be any cuter?

5 Months

On the 27th of May, Griffin turned 5 months old. Each month birthday is bittersweet for me... My little newborn baby isn't quite so new anymore, yet he is becoming more and more fun each day, with his developing personality, physical abilities, and...well...i must say he keeps getting cuter and cuter! This past month, Griffin has:
1. conquered rolling over from back to front to the right (he's still working on the left & front to back rolling)
2. begun clinging a bit more to me when I hold him, which makes it a bit easier to lug around all 18+ lbs. of him!
3. started eating solid foods (rice cereal+breastmilk, bananas, avocados, and sweet potatoes)
4. started including more consonant sounds in his baby talk (some b's, d's, g's, and raspberry sounds...lots of "ah-gookkss")
5. grown into his exersaucer a bit more and has figured out how to play with most of the toys (especially the buttons that make animal noises and music, the spinning wheels, and the chewy starfish). He can turn himself around and stand with much more balance control and stability (=no more blankets stuffed down in the seat to hold him up)
6. started recognizing and responding enthusiastically to certain signs (We started using sign language with him about 3 weeks ago). Signs he CLEARLY recognizes: milk, up, diaper change, up, eat, more, all done. Signs we currently use with him regularly: eat, drink, milk, more, cereal, banana, all done, up, diaper change, change clothes, bath, sleep, bed, yes, mama, papa.
7. begun to pull himself into a balancing sitting position in the high chair...mainly in attempt to lean forward with an open mouth to dive at the spoon hahah, but nevertheless...
8. continued to love standing while you hold his hands or waist
9. started splashing in the tub
10. started screeching and screaming when he gets excited. Also, when excited, he tends to make an "o" with his lips, open his eyes wide, and start kicking and flailing his arms around! So cute!
11. started passing an item from one hand to the other. He did this for the first time TODAY, actually!
12. begun to get scared by certain people, loud noises, and scary sounds. These things induce severe pouting and, sometimes, all-out crying.
13. started to pout when he is tired or upset. That bottom lip just melts your heart! Pictures to follow... :)
14. started to sleep 10-13 hours at a time through the night (PRAISE THE LORD!) This has not been the case for the past 4-5 days or so, as he has been waking at 4-5 for a feeding; however, since the introduction of solid foods, those nights have been the exception and not the rule.
15. started sleep training using Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child as my guide. It has been very, very challenging, but extremely worth it. I've learned that it is much better to protect your child's sleep times and have a family that is getting adequate rest than going and doing whenever and having a family that is tired, cranky, and short-fused. Griffin is learning how to fall asleep, self-soothe, and take regular naps that last longer than an hour. It's a process and definitely not one that is easy or quick. You have to be dedicated and consistent, and the Lord is really teaching me and using this for my sanctification because I am anything but consistent in my own life. I suppose the extra motivation of Griffin's well-being is helping me to stay the course on this one...but I have a feeling it has more to do with the grace of God and the support of my wonderful, attentive, helpful husband.
16. started sleeping UNSWADDLED! It was definitely time as he had outgrown every swaddler known to man, and he could break out of the most intense swaddle I could come up with. Not only that, but he was starting to try to roll over in his swaddle. Well, we couldn't have that! So, it's been two difficult weeks of Griffin having to learn how to sleep and stay asleep with his arms free. He tends to disturb himself quite frequently by pulling out or messing with his nuk, clawing his face, and trying to roll over constantly (which, if he succeeds will cause him to scream until he flipped back over since he will not allow himself to fall asleep on his belly).
17. started really, truly examining people and the environment. He's been very observant since he was born, but it seems as though his vision has matured and he is seeing everything for the very first time all over again! Things he has spent hours of his life staring at are intriguing anew!
18. started stroking my face, hair, hands, and chest as I rock him before naps and bedtime. This is one of the mama times I treasure the most in my day with him.
19. started belly laughing more frequently with tickling, funny noises/words/phrases/voices/faces. The most common time for these giggly spells is during his massage before bedtime.

Baby Food NINJA!

Since Griffin has embarked on his solid food venture, he has successfully and eagerly added rice cereal, bananas, avocado, and, most recently, sweet potato to his repertoire. Rice cereal, bananas and avocado are easily mashed up with a fork, one serving at a time; however, sweet potatoes involve a bit more preparation. In an attempt to 1) save money and, more importantly, 2) provide the healthiest, purest food for Griffin that I am able to, I've decided to venture into the world of making his baby food at home from fresh fruits, veggies, etc.

Being completely unfamiliar with the world of preparing and storing baby food, Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron has been an invaluable resource. Thank you, thank you Aunt Mary for recommending it! Another invaluable tool has been the Ninja Master Prep food processor and blender. This thing is A-MAZING. Veggies you would typically be forced to press through a metal strainer to remove strands and chunks after processing are perfectly smooth, strandless, and chunkless after being pureed in the Ninja. I must say, my Ninja is my friend. A great big thank you to my friend and fellow baby-food-makin-mama, Shari McWilliams for recommending the Ninja to me!

These are photos of my first attempt at sweet potatoes. I must say, I was only successful because of the recommendations of my Aunt Mary and my friend Shari! I can see how making baby food would be a total headache without the right tools.

First Solid Food!

Our little baby isn't so little anymore. Weighing in at a whopping 18 lbs (or more by now!), Griffin has been extremely interested in watching us eat and drink. When we've given him small tastes of things on our fingers, he has been very eager to have more, more, more! So, after doing a ridiculous amount of research and agonizing over whether it was too early or not, I decided my boy is ready to enter the big boy world of solid foods. Here are a couple videos of his first meal!

Parlez Vous Francais?

Oliver is taking two French courses this summer. Since I took 3 years of French in high school and was able to spend 3 month using it in West Africa, Oliver and I can practice our French skills together as he goes through his courses. How fun is that?! Today was his first day, and we had a blast talking about what he had learned and working on pronunciation. Of course, Griffin gets his little French lesson too!

Baby Massage Giggles

Bedtime Routine and Liberation

The ever-so-important bedtime routine has been established for a good, long while now, and I'm finding that Griffin is beginning to anticipate what comes next in the routine! For posterity's sake, I thought I would document our nightly routine.
We begin with a walk around the neighborhood at 5:30, taking in the sights and sounds of the "wild" outdoors. Actually, things are quite peaceful at this hour of the day. It seems most families are inside having dinner around this time, so we have the sun and sky to ourselves. Griffin is becoming more and more interested in checking out his surroundings. I get the feeling he sees quite a few things for the very first time each time we go out. Sometimes, he chews on a teething ring or toy, but he's mainly in the business of observing on these walks.

After our walk, it's bath time. This boy loves his baths. I lay him on a towel on the bathroom floor and let him play and roll around naked until the water is ready. Lately, he's been catching on to the fun of splashing, which has been so fun! I'm sure I'll spend the next 5 years trying to get him to STOP splashing, but I might as well enjoy the fun now while he can't cause too much damage! His favorite things to do in the tub are chewing/sucking on the washcloth, reaching for and chewing on the cup, playing with his rubber ducky, and splashing around. We usually sing "Old McDonald" while he's in the bath, and he cracks up at the pig and dog noises.

Immediately following the bath is the baby massage. When I put the lotion or oil in my hands and rub my hands together, Griffin squeals in anticipation! He absolutely loves his massage. When we get to each set of toes, we do "This Little Piggy." After the front, I flip Griffin and let him spend some time on his tummy while I rub his back and play peek-a-boo with him. He thinks naked tummy time is the best thing in the world. This is the time of day when he's usually the most vocal, squealing, screaming, laughing, etc. He's discovered how to initiate the game of peek-a-boo. What he'll do is turn his head away from me. Then, slowly, he'll turn his head towards me until I come into his line of vision. Of course, I make a great big deal out of this, and he squeals with delight as he buries his face in the towel. Then, he'll lift his head and look away from me and start it all over again. How smart is he?! Very advanced, I think :)

After the massage, I dress Griffin and settle down in the rocking chair to read a couple books. First, we read some stories out of his children's Bible. Then, we'll pick another book to peruse through like Goodnight Moon or Harold and the Purple Crayon. Sometimes, we only make it through one story before it becomes clear that Griffin is getting sleepy. Then, it's time to swaddle and nurse my sweet boy. Since we've been putting him in bed by 7:00pm, he hasn't drifted off to sleep during nursing like he used to. Now, we give him his nuk, rock him a bit and then lay him down.
As much as I'm truly not a structured, habitual kind of person, I'm learning to find the beauty and stability in routine. There is something so familiar and dependable about routine that makes everything easier and more pleasurable to do. I remember on my first day of college, one of my professors was discussing the burden and expense of energy of the NEW. He said that it would be very overwhelming and difficult for the first couple weeks, but that after that, routine and habituation would begin to form, making college life much more do-able and even enjoyable. I think this holds true for the new routines in my life of being a mom. At first, every little task requires so much effort, thought, planning, strain. Just giving Griffin a bath used to be a pretty overwhelming thing. Now, multiply that by the hundreds and hundreds of new little tasks you have when you are caring for your first baby. However, there does come a point several months down the road where you are able to create some structure in napping, feedings, bedtimes, and daily routines. This structure is far from onerous. It is LIBERATING! It liberates you from the burden and stress of the ever changing NEW. There is something so beautiful about not questioning when you should wake up, feed the baby, put the baby down for a nap/bed and not wondering what to do next with your child. Of course, a growing little one demands that new routines must be formed to be age appropriate, but at least I can always look forward to the eventual stability of the new routine.

Griffin Meets Miles

Certain songs/artist seem to cause Griffin to get all emotional. As with many things in raising a child, we're not sure why this is...but it's true nevertheless. On Griffin's bad list are:
1. "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
2. "You Are So Beautiful"
3. "You Are My Sunshine"
4. "Heartbroken" and "Drifted Apart" by Meaghan Smith (great songs & a great singer, if you've never heard of her - I highly recommend her)
Finally, our most recent (and possibly most tragic) addition to the bad list:
5. Miles Davis

Talkin' with Teddy

Griffin gets very animated and talkative around this particular teddy bear. We're not quite sure why, but it's cute!

Griffin Meets Oatmeal Squares

Griffin isn't eating solid foods yet, but he sure is interested!

Favorite Time of Day

Griffin gets absolutely giddy during his nighttime bath and baby massage time. Here is a little peek:

Like Father Like Son

The apple really hasn't fallen far from the tree...
Father

Son

First Time Rolling Over Caught on Video!

Firsts and Friends

Today was a great day of firsts and friends.  For the first time in 4 months, Shari McWilliams and her son Owen, Anna Paulling and her son Sullivan, and Griffin and I were able to get together when all our sons were AWAKE!  Yay!  It was a total blast.  Of course, at this point, the play date consisted of us trying to keep our kids from injuring one another.  (They don't quite have the "gentle" thing down yet!)  It is fun to compare the first shot of these three together about 4 months ago with the picture of them from today:

It appears that Griffin felt some peer pressure from his buds to catch up to them growth-wise in the past 4 months.  As you can see, he is just as big as his 8 month bffs!  As for the "firsts" portion of this post's title, Griffin may have been feeling that peer pressure while they were over, because he rolled over for the first time this afternoon!  I was changing his diaper (hence his bare bottom), and he started trying to roll over.  So, I grabbed the camera and was actually able to capture this milestone on video!  Shari and Anna, I'm so glad you were both there to share in the excitement!  For some reason, I can't figure out how to upload a video on this tonight...So, look forward to Griffin's first rolling over video soon!

Playtime

Griffin has been quite content for the past month or so to play on his own for 30 minutes or so at a time.  Since he's now able to hold his head up and stand up when held, I started looking around for a good deal on an exersaucer.  I found one, and he loves to play in it for short stretches.  He's still a bit wobbly and uncoordinated to get the most out of it, but I can tell it will be a favorite in no time.

He has also started loving the flying game, as you can see...

By far, though, Griffin's favorite playtime activity (or should I say all-the-time activity) is looking at and chewing on his hands.  He absolutely loves bringing them together, watching them move, reaching for people and objects, grabbing things, and pulling EVERYTHING into his mouth.  Consequently, there has been a LOT more drool sloshing around in the Thompson household.  This mixed with Griffin's tendency to overeat and spit the excess up later has made for quite a bit more laundry for mama!  I find this quite frustrating at times, and Griffin simply thinks my exclamations are hilarious!

Diaper Ratings

So, quite a few weeks of cloth diapering have gone by, and I'm ready to post my preliminary reviews on the performance of each of the different diapering systems I have tried.  Hopefully, this will be helpful to those of you who are considering cloth diapering or have already started and are wondering how other systems work.  I will go through each of the systems we are using and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Fuzzibunz - We have 6 Fuzzibunz one-size diapers, and they are a pocket diaper system.  This means that there is a cloth diaper/cover combo that you insert a microfiber insert into (between the built-in fleece interior and the waterproof exterior.
Pros:
The pocket system allows for a faster drying time than all-in-ones (where the insert is stitched into the diaper).
Highly absorbent
VERY adjustable in both the thigh and waist by tightening and loosening the elastic settings
As easy as disposable diapers to put on/take off...which makes these our "out and about" diapers.
The snaps are very secure and make them easy to wash and dry
Both the liners and the diapers can go in the dryer, which makes these an easy wash/dry diaper
These keep moisture off the skin
Cons:
We have had a few leaks with poo diapers, but I think this was mainly due to having the diaper elastic and snaps done too loosely
There is quite a learning curve with these diapers...figuring out which elastic and snap settings work for your baby...and you need to readjust them as the baby grows.  This means either leaks or red marks around the waist and thighs if too tight or too loose.
There is a big jump between snap settings.  The snaps seem to make the diaper either too tight or too loose because there is about a 1" difference on each side between each snap...making each setting 2" different.
I've noticed some red marks on Griffin's back and thighs with these
They are one-use only (no matter if it's pee or poo)

Bum Genius - We have 3 Bum Genius one-size pocket diapers and 1 Bum Genius medium all-in-one diaper.
Pros:
The velcro makes this diaper super adjustable and super easy to put on and take off
This is by far the best overnight diaper.  We put it on a tad looser than usual (b/c Griffin doesn't poo during the night) and use a Fuzzibunz newborn microterry insert in addition to the regular Bum Genius insert for extra absorbency.
It keeps moisture off the skin
The snap system on the front is easier to adjust than the Fuzzibunz diapers, making them easier to figure out than the Fuzzibunz
No leaks yet!
Cons:
The velcro is already fraying a bit, and I have never put them in the dryer.  I can see how these wear more than the snap diapers.
They are supposed to only be line dried
I've noticed some red marks on Griffin's back and legs with these
They are one-use only (no matter if it's pee or poo)

Flip - We have 3 one-size snap Flip diaper covers and 6 Flip inserts.
Pros:
The snap system is super durable and easy
The leg elastic and fabric is really soft and doesn't leave red marks
You can reuse the cover for pee diapers and even some poo diapers (depending on if the poo gets on the liner or not)
The inserts are super duper absorbent and keep moisture off the skin
They are the least maintenance and easiest of all the systems we have
The inserts are one-size, and you fold them over for small and medium and leave them full-length for large
The snap system is very durable
No leaks yet!
Cons:
Sometimes, the insert gets bunched up a bit in the middle, but this has not yet affected the performance of the diaper or liner
The cover is supposed to be line-dried

Thirsties - We have 2 Thirsties snap diaper covers.
Pros:
You can use these with prefold diapers and other diaper liners wrapped in flannel
They can be dried in the dryer
The snap system is very durable
No leaks yet!
Cons:
The snap system seems to be either too tight or too large (being 2" total difference between each snap setting).  Right now, I snap one side in all the way and the other side one setting looser, making the diaper a bit lopsided.
These are a bit more inconvenient for those who don't want to mess with the inserts wrapped in flannel or the prefold diapers (These take a minute or so more to put on, but they aren't difficult at all to use.  In fact, I've had less leaks using the prefold diapers than I have with the inserts!)

Bummis - We have 2 Bummis Super Brite diaper covers.
Pros:
The velcro system is super adjustable and easy
You can use these with prefold diapers and other diaper liners wrapped in flannel
No leaks yet!
Cons:
A bit big and bulky compared to the other systems
These are a bit more inconvenient for those who don't want to mess with the inserts wrapped in flannel or the prefold diapers (These take a minute or so more to put on, but they aren't difficult at all to use.  In fact, I've had less leaks using the prefold diapers than I have with the inserts!)

Bummis Prefold Diapers - We have 6 Bummis unbleached prefold diapers.
Pros:
Really, really absorbant and soft
Great at containing explosive poos if they are put on right
Cons:
More bulky than other insert or pocket diapers
There is a learning curve involved in learning how to put on a prefold diaper correctly.  Using a Snappi is much easier than the old fashioned pin method.
Doesn't wick the moisture away from the skin as well as the other systems

As you can see, there are pros and cons to each system.  If I had to select my favorites, I would do so in the following categories:
Low-maintenance:  Flip diapers (because of the ability to reuse the cover over and over and because of the snap system, great fit, and quick drying time of both the covers and inserts)
Out-and-about:  Fuzzibunz and Bum Genius
Overnight:  Bum Genius (with extra insert)
Explosive Poo Containment:  Bum Genius and Bummis Prefold with Thirsties or Bummis diaper cover
No leak:  Bum Genius, Flip, Thirsties, or Bummis (Thirsties and Bummis have GREAT leg gussets, which really help in containing)

If I had to choose just one system to use, I would say the Flip system at this point.  This has to do with the reusability of the cover, the ease of use and washing, and the affordability.  If we were made of money, I imagine I might choose the Bum Genius one-size pocket diapers because I could afford plenty of them and wouldn't mind buying more when the velcro wore out.

Griffin's Birth Story - Part 4

As I mentioned in Griffin's Birth Story - Part 3, Oliver was able to deliver Griffin, and he placed our little son on my chest, amidst tears and loads of emotions.  I reached down and held my vernix-covered boy and laughed with joy.  I simply could not believe he had just come out of me!  It's hard to describe the emotions that wash over you when you deliver your first child...I remember thinking that it felt surreal, like a dream in slow-motion.  He was born at 1:56am on December 27th, 2009...just a little under two hours after my dad's 50th birthday!

Since I was on my back and the umbilical cord was still pulsing, I could only see the top of Griffin's head and his little arms.  I rubbed the vernix into his skin (it's supposed to be an amazing moisturizer for them) and attempted to soak it all in.  Soaking it all in is, in fact, impossible, as I found.  It is one of those moments in life where you wish you could grasp it all fully...  C.S. Lewis describes this overwhelming state as "joy," and he says that these moments are like little tastes of heaven that we won't fully be able to grasp or consummate until we are there with the Lord.  Isn't it amazing to know that the birth of your first child is only a teeny, tiny glimmer of the fullness and consummation of joy we will have in heaven?!  Soon, I was able to see my little son's face for the first time, and I had/have never laid eyes on anything so beautiful...so perfect.  All my life, I've dreamed and wondered about what my child would look like, and finally, I knew.  The bond was absolutely instantaneous...Well, I suppose it was just an increase of the already established bond I had developed with him in my womb.  I kept thinking of what a gift, a precious blessing, we had been given, and I was so thankful to finally have him in my arms.  I was also quite thankful that I didn't die during labor like I felt I would :)

Oliver cut the cord, and I delivered the placenta quickly and easily.  I must say, that sucker was HUGE!  The midwives showed it and all its parts to me, and it was fascinating.  It's just the craziest thing to think that my body was capable of growing a baby and a whole new organ on top of it!  Apparently, the umbilical cord was the longest many of the ladies had ever seen, and they said we were blessed that it didn't cause any complications during the delivery.  It was wrapped around his neck, but there were no issues with that because it was so long.

Immediately after the delivery of the placenta, the ladies got to work checking me for tears.  I had a 2 degree internal tear from Griffin's fists being under his neck during the delivery, and I had the choice whether to be stitched or not.  I chose not to because the skin was laying together nicely and would heal well on its own.  The only stipulation was that I needed to be extra conscientious about keeping my knees together and not sitting straight up for 2 weeks.

After that was determined, Lisa and the ladies got the bed changed, an ice back between my legs, and helped me get set up for nursing Griffin for the first time.  This was more difficult than I imagined.  He had a hard time latching on, and it was quite a fiasco.  Later, we hired a lactation consultant to come out to our house and help me with nursing, and she was a great help.

It wasn't long (around 3 or 3:30), and all the relatives arrived to meet the baby.  My dad, step-mom, and brother and Oliver's mom and brother came into the room to meet our little one.
My dad with his first grandchild:

My step-mom with her first grandchild:

Oliver's mom with her first grandchild:

It was just pure giddiness in the air, and they were all able to watch as Lisa did the newborn exam, including the big weigh in.  Griffin weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz, 22 inches long, and got a 10 on the Apgar score.  He was just absolutely perfect.  I could not believe how beautiful he was!!!  Three months later, I still am not sick of staring at him all day.  Maybe that'll never end!

After a while, the family headed home to get to bed, and we were thinking that way as well.  I have never, EVER been so completely and thoroughly exhausted spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  We attempted to nurse some more, and I did the necessary trip to the toilet.  Whoa is that the weirdest feeling in the universe!  After 9 months of having all my internal organs completely displaced and my diaphram being pushed way, way up into my ribcage, standing up with a sudden, enormous void made me feel like my organs were going to fall out onto the floor!  I felt like I had been punched repeatedly in the stomach, and I could hardly breathe.  Shuffling to the toilet was tough between that and the light-headedness!

At about 5 or 5:30am, Reilynn took our first family photo and headed home herself.

We got settled into our king-sized bed, all together, and feel into a much, much needed sleep.  The next morning, Oliver went out and got us Atlanta Bread Company breakfast, and we were ready to head home by about 1pm that day!