But I am annoyed.  

Ok, let me backtrack a bit.  I have a blog for my daughter {kinda like a baby book for her} documenting all of her growth, stories, and photos.  TONS of photos.  I plan to make it into a book for her to have as an adult.  It is a PRIVATE blog, for only friends and family.  I have set it so it wont come up on google, and it has a password.  

Well me being the freethinker I am, allow my ONE year old daughter to romp on the beach and in the house nakey.  As a matter of fact she is naked 99% of the time.  It’s so HOT here and well, it’s probably the only time in life we can run around naked without being judged. {I wish I could join her!} 

Well apparently NOT.

My sister-in-law seems to think different. {yes she looks at Malu’s blog and NO I don’t post photos with her VAG showing, if you were wondering.  But yes, some naked photos.}  

She makes a point to tell my husband EVERY time they talk on the phone that we shouldn’t let Malu run around naked.  That we should at least put undies on her. Her theory is, that it is dangerous.  That she heard a story in school of a girl that had a caterpillar crawl up her bum.  

WTF?!?!  

Ok, I know it can happen. But seriously how often do you think a doctor sees a patient with a caterpillar in their bum?!?  {Danielle, your boyfriend is a going to med school, ask him for us!!}  I mean if it’s about that, a caterpillar could just as well crawl in your ear or nose.  

So then in turn, my husband comes to me and says we should put undies on Malu more often. {and this came after telling me I should spray our whole room down with Raid bug spray, clothes and all, because of some bugs in the room.  Arrrgghh!}

I told him that I think his sister has some serious issues with nakedness and it’s not really about a caterpillar crawling up her bum.  I just think it may be that us in the US are a little more laid back about nakedness in general.  

Which may seem strange coming from a country like Brazil, when you go to the beach and see every woman wearing practically nothing but a string in her bum. But god forbid you should flash a boob, or let your 1 year old run naked, you may get the evil eye.  Or better yet, a scolding from your sister-in-law.  

Arrghhh!!  

What do you think on nakedness?  How were you raised with it in your household?

**{{Yes, I know that in this world lurks perverted people as well, that like to look at children.  That is why my eye never leaves Malu on the beach and in a years time she will be in a bikini.}}**

Beijos, Tanya 

Pssttt .. stay posted for Writer’s Block Wednesday tomorrow.  I have some great photos to show you.  And no, they are NOT naked ones!

This post is for all my natural mamas out there, living in Brazil or here on vacation.  Since before giving birth I always knew I wanted to do cloth diapers.  One, and most important, they are the BEST thing for our planet.  Two, disposable diapers are sooo darn expensive, and I just can’t swallow the cost of them in Brazil to boot.  Three, cloth-diaper-butt is sooo friggin’ cute!!  

When I was 7 months pregnant, my sister came for a visit from the States and brought a bunch of gifts from my family.  I was lucky enough to be given 6  one-size Bum Genius dipes, along with a dozen extra inserts.  Thanks, mom!  I do love them. I love the quality, the colors, and the fact that they are so easy to put on, even my non-diaper-friendly-husband can use them with ease.  But on the down side of things there are a few things I don’t like about them.  Here, I must line dry everything.  Easy enough, love it.  But one, these all-in-one dipes take a bit long to dry and after one use you have to wash everything, cover, insert, etc.  Two, with my daughter now 11 months, she doesn’t enjoy diapers anymore {who would?} and has learned with ease how to take them off, due to the easy velcro on the front.  SO now I spend my days chasing naked baby around the house trying to get shorts on her, or picking up “accidents” !  Not pleasant.

With that said, I have done a ton of trail and error with cloth diapers here.  And I would love to share what worked for us.  Of course no two babes are alike so the best thing to do is buy a few different ones, try them out, see what one works best, and then stockpile.  First I must say cloth diapering here is *SUPER* cheap.  I’m talking the covers {basic pul covers with a thin net lining, happen to be my favorite}  start at R$2,50 and go upwards to R$ 8-9,00.  {that’s about 1.25-4.50 in dollars a dipe cover}  Can we say cheap, again!  In the US cloth diapers, especially the *cute* ones can be very pricey, and I really hate to spend a ton of money on dipes.   With that said, the diaper covers here aren’t super durable and tend to get a little grungy after a few months wear, but still saves a bunch of money.  I try to hand wash the covers as much as possible in order to preserve them longer.  And when the inner layer of net does get grungy on the inside of the cover, I still use them with the insert on top .. still does the trick with no leakage.

**COVERS**

Below are a few pics of the covers I have found here.  While they range in prices from R$2,50 to R$9,00 {the most expensive ones being cloth fabric on the outside and with velcro closures instead of buttons}  I tend to like the cheaper ones for R$2,50 because the material on the outside {very cute as well}  is a thin, almost nylon but not really, material.  They dry in seconds outside {so if baby just does pee and a little gets on the dipe you can easily rinse out with water, stick it on the line and dry in 10 mins for use again in the same day.  That is, if you put the pre-fold on top instead of inside the netting on the inside {which is what I ALWAYS do, and never have leakage problems} 

While the velcro diaper cover above is ohh sooo cute, and a bit more expensive, I don’t care for them as much.  I hardly ever use them.  One, they are easier to put on, but my daughter has now discovered how to take them off.   Two, for some reason they pucker out on the top, by the stomach, which always created leakage.  EVERY-TIME-SHE-WORE -THEM!!   I feel like the ones with buttons {pictured above} get a snugger fit around the tummy, not too tight, and hold all the pee in.  

**INSERTS**

There are various pre-folds here.  Ok, they aren’t as good as the chinese pre-folds or as thick, but they work wonderful and dry sooo quick.  The brand that is best, also tends to be the most expensive {I think R$10,00 for 5}  is Cremer.  It’s my favorite, I wouldn’t buy any other brand.  I usually get the Cremer luxo {thicker ones} in plain white, although I do have the print ones as well.  When you first take them out of the package they tend to be a bit crisp, but after a few washes they get very soft.  

Here is how I fold my prefolds and it works like a charm every time.  I never have leakage.  Although, you want to be sure none of the pre-fold is sticking out of the side of the cover {especially in the inside of the legs} otherwise you will have leakage. 

As far as inserting the pre-folds inside, that is a personal choice.  There is a netting that you can do that with {it’s the proper way}  But I always place it on top of the netting to get more uses out of the cover in a day.  I am also a bit lazy to put it inside, easier just to lay it on top and put on baby.  

 I have bought all my covers and pre-folds at various stores.  But for the most part you can find these at any Atacadão do Bebê, baby store, this is where they are the cheapest.  You can also buy them online through this website, but beware they are a little more pricey {more than I like to spend} and I have never tried them.  So I can’t tell you the quality, although they look very nice.  This site is also only in Portuguese, and is based here in Brasil.  So if you don’t read Portuguese, you may need some help.   Covers are called tangas or calça. Or you can also ask for fraldas de pano, cloth diapers.

I hope this helps all the cloth diapering mamas out there!  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  

Good Luck and Happy Diapering !! 

My email went like this ……

Since I have been a mother, I have felt feelings I have never felt before and taken notice of things that in my previous life probably would’ve missed.  Yesterday we went to Recife (about 4 hours by car from us) to register Malu at the US embassy and get her US passport.  Which I can now report as of yesterday she is a dual-national, with 2 passports, lucky girl!!  During our long gruesome day trip, there were a few things I took notice of and I thought I would share them with all of you !  One of them is depressing and the other, just a simple observation. 

Yesterday, while driving through the city of Recife, I was juggling two tasks at once.  Trying to keep Malu entertained in her car seat, so she wont get bored and cry, and soaking in all of the action, smells and sights of the city.  First let me give you a few stats on Recife. It sits right on the coast, in the Northeast of Brazil. It has one of the most beautiful historic areas in the Northeast, Olinda, which is very famous for their Carnaval.   It has one of the highest murder rates in the world, making it an incredibly dangerous city.  It once had beautiful beaches and now has turned into a commercial port city, and is horribly polluted. Although there are some wonderful beaches just south of the city, such as Porto de Galinhas, that are worth taking a trip to.  It has very few “good bairros” (neighborhoods).  Being the majority of the city is one big “favela” (slum,ghetto).  
Now, I know what you are thinking, “my gosh, how could you go to a city like that ?” One being, its the closest US embassy to us.   And two, well surprisingly it has some nice things to offer too, but more on that later.
  
Now, as we are driving through the streets, my eyes are overstimulated from all the sights.  In Brazil at every intersection there is some guy juggling, someone doing some sort of street performance, a guy trying to wash your windows, someone selling water, coconut water, chips, you name it, they have it.  All of this comes along with the ones who have “nothing”  and just flat out ask you for money. 

Now living in LA, NYC and traveling quite a bit, I have seen my share of desperation and homelessness.  But this was the breaker for me. 

As we approached the light, in the sweltering sun,  I saw what appeared to be a man. Almost shirtless, with a very large tummy and a can of “cachaca“ (brazilian rum) in his hands, barely able to stand.  He was begging from the cars at the front of the line.  I thought to myself, how sad, but not much more than that.  I have to admit I am a little “de-sensitized” from seeing it so much in my life. 

The light turned green and on we go.  As we passed the drunken man only then did I realize it wasn’t a man after all.  And in fact was a very pregnant, 8 months or so, woman, so drunk she was barely able to stand, with rum in one hand and a cigarette in the other.  My heart broke into a million pieces for that child inside.  All I could think about is how much I love my daughter, and how precious she is to me.  How my purpose of living life has completely changed and I now live for HER.  How I want to provide all the nourishment and love I can for her.  How I want to be the best role model I know how.  Then my mind instantly switched back to the child inside that womb.  That child, being exposed to chemicals and malnourished, and hasn’t even been given a choice.  That child, who will most likely be shown only one kind of life to live. As we drove away, I wiped the tear from my face and bent over to kiss my daughter. As I thought of what a precious gift I have been given.  A gift I must guard and protect, from this mean world that we live in.  

Ok, Recife isn’t all bad, like I mentioned above.  There are a few things there that can be appreciated.  

After leaving the Embassy, with no problems, we decided we deserved a nice lunch.  So we went to the mall to indulge in some sushi.  Now the malls here are not what we are used to in the US.  They actually have very nice places to eat and just about everyone that is in the working class, goes to the mall for lunch.  As we sit down to order  (yes they have waiters there too) Malu decides its a great time to be fussy.  She wants boob and she wants it now, along with a nice dirty diaper to be changed !!  So off to the “babyservice” area.  Yes, the malls in Brazil have a very nice “babyservice” area just for families.  And that’s exactly what they call it too, babyservice.  Another one of our good ol’ imported English words into the Portuguese vocabulary, very funny.    I had noticed them before but never took the opportunity to use one, as I have never had a problem with whipping the boob out in public.  Though this time was different, she had a dirty diaper to go along with the need to eat. I thought ok, this was my chance to get to know the “babyservice” room.  Off we go. Upon arrival I walk into a mothers dream in the mall.  First, there are separate changing table “booths”.  A TV.  Bathroom stalls, each complete with an adult toilet and a mini-toilet. A toy room.  A basket that provided all the extras you need including diaper rash cream, wipes, diapers, a microwave to heat bottles, etc.  And the topper for me was a room complete with thick, comfy, reclining, rocking chairs for nursing.  WOW !!  Now if you’re a mom who has nursed in public, I’m sure you know how it can be. Nursing in an uncomfortable place, chair etc…,it sucks !!  This was a dream come true, in Recife !!  I was so impressed and amazed, I almost had Max go get my sushi so I could eat in this extra plush chair! 
But I didn’t want to go pissing people off, after all, we are in Recife, one of the murder capitals of the world.  

Ok, I am officially done blabbing.  Hope you enjoyed a day in the life through my eyes.  More to come later..  

And that completes my email.  I wanted to add pictures of the babyservice area, but at the time I was in Recife, I did not take pictures.  But virtually all malls in Brazil have them.  SO yesterday when I went to Natal (the city closest to me, where we do all shopping)  I went to the mall and took pictures of the babyservice area there, to show you all.  But I must add, it’s not nearly as nice as the one in Recife.  They had chairs for nursing, but not big plush, cushy ones.  And their changing station just wasn’t as nice.  But it sure beats a bench in a smelly bathroom.   I mean really  who wants to eat lunch in a smelly bathroom?!   And all the strollers you see, those are free to use, (I know what you are thinking .. germs, but I saw these ladies scrubbing them and they don’t mess around)  all you have to do is leave your info with the attendant, and off you go!   What a nice touch.  

Changing Station

Nursing Chairs -The Local-

strollers, microwave, etc..

the free products provided

Stay tuned for more photos on Writer’s Block Wednesday, tomorrow !