Farewell Eco Kid!

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog.  I'm now pregnant with #2 (coming June 2013) and realized that if I don't have time to blog with only one child, there's just no way to convince myself that I'll do it with two.  This will be the final Eco-Kid post.  I'll leave this up as a reference and I hope that you've enjoyed it along the way!

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There are a couple things I'll mention before I close: 

I was able to continue using cloth diapers until Alison was around 20 months.  We'd switched to mostly BumGenius and all of a sudden, they started leaking regularly.  It might have been her size at the time or possibly something I screwed up with a wash, but I decided to abandon the cloth diapers since they were creating more clothes to wash and I didn't think their benefits were outweighing the drawbacks at that point.

We switched to the generic Target brand of disposables, but I continued to keep an eye out for greener alternatives that worked.  Luckily, a couple months later, Alison started to hate diaper change time and showed signs of being ready for potty-training.  Over Labor Day weekend last year, I decided to try the Three-Day Potty Training Method.  All I did was read this article, try it, and it worked like a charm.  I plan to use cloth diapers again when my second arrives.

I also want to thank everyone who sent me their excess children's and maternity clothing!  That was just about the best deal ever - for my wallet and the planet.  I can't wait to return the favor when we're officially done having babies.  If you're still looking for cheap consignment, it might be fun to try Thred Up, which is like a giant mommy exchange, but all online.

Finally, our favorite family activity as of late has been hiking.  Every weekend we go to a local park, pack a lunch, and enjoy a couple hours in the sun.  Notice that I'm writing this in the winter; we still go every weekend and Alison loves it.  I really think that we'll have a true uphill battle in protecting the environment if kids don't understand nature's value and the best way to do so is to spend a TON of time outside.  Many outdoor activities are free or cheap.  So, get out there and enjoy our wonderful planet!

I'll be posting more adventures on my personal blog: amberswaves.blogspot.com.  Hope you'll join me there!

Lake Accotink Park - January 2013