What do you all use to wash cloth diapers? I'm thinking of ordering either Charlie's Soap or soap nuts, as my Costco eco-detergent is all gone. It's worked fine for over two years, but both my kids get periodic rashes, so I'd like to see if a different soap will take care of that. Plus, either of these would be cheaper than the Costco stuff.

OK, knitters, I cannot, I repeat, CAN NOT increase by knitting into the front and back of a stitch. I have watched the knittinghelp.com video a million times. I still cannot do it. I end up with a tight mess of a knot and I am obviously Doing It Wrong. If I screw it up one more time I am going to have to frog this sleeve and that will make me grumpy.

Can I substitute another type of increase? It's for gradually making baby sweater sleeves wider.

I just got a Ravelry account. I'm still not sure how it works. I know several of you are on there - what do I do with it? I mainly got it because people are always linking to patterns there that I can't see. But maybe it will inspire me to knit more than one hour a week. I really want to make some soakers for new baby so I don't have to use the Prowraps as much as last time. Let me know if you have a favorite soaker pattern! I especially like the shape where there are decent cuffs on the legs (like shorties, but shorter).

ETA: I'm thinking of doing the Vanilla soaker since it's got those leg cuffs - anyone have experience with that one?

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I have not yet experienced such a loss, but often pray for my friends and loved ones that have. I will light a candle at seven tonight and pray for all those babies I know who have been lost early in life and the families that grieve them. Additionally, I will remember those who wish to become parents, either for the first time or again, and are so far unable to do so.

If you are comfortable, please leave the name (if they were given one) or any other information about babies you would like me to remember. Comments are screened and will remain so.

When considering my online time, LiveJournal has become the place that I most feel needs to go or at least be trimmed back extensively. I both spend too much time here and have come to believe that I tend to substitute online society for face-to-face society. For that reason, I'm cutting down my friends list to a very few, and I really hope no one is offended, as no offense is intended. I think you all are friends of mine on facebook, and if not you are welcome to keep track of me there, and once I get my computer back and functional, I will be back to blogging at www.jungwirths.com. I'm not sure how long I will use LJ in any capacity, but for now I'm just cutting down gradually.

Now, I've done this before and then gotten bored and added everyone back since I missed keeping up with everyone. I can't promise that won't happen again :) But my intent for now is to disengage from the blogosphere a little at a time and reengage with the people around me.

I wish you all well!

I know that you're not supposed to use zinc oxide diaper rash ointment with cloth diapers because it can alter their obsorbancy. I've used Burt's Bees ointment on occasion anyway, and so far it hasn't seemed to make any difference, but I know it could over time. What about a oil/salve type ointment, like the Angel Baby Bottom Balm or a homemade equivelant? If the oil built up, couldn't you just strip your diapers and get out the oil like you do when you first get new Chinese prefolds and they aren't absorbant yet?

Any ideas of what to do with canned salmon? The only thing I do with it so far is salmon melts (make salmon salad up, top with onion, tomato, and cheese and put under the broiler). I'm about to go pick up 30 oz worth.

I am totally in love with our little boy. He just gets better and better :) Since we've been home from our month in Washington and California, he seems to be growing and changing so fast. He is much more interactive and communicative, and is even more interested in what is going on around him. He sits up with a little assistance from one of us or the Boppy and plays with toys. He babbles and "talks" constantly, mostly in what we call the "baby pterodactyl voice." He is VERY affectionate and now he hangs on to me tight when I pick up up. He loves to tangle up his hands with two handfuls of hair at the back of my neck and nuzzle his little face into my neck, especially when he's tired. He has a great sense of humor and laughs all day long. Even when he's tired, he goes back and forth from fussing to this funny delirious laugh that we think is hysterical. When he was really tiny, Paul taught him to stick his tongue back out at us. He forgot about that for a few months, but now he thinks it's unbelievably funny when we stick our tongues out at him and he does it back. Paul and I talk all the time about how lucky we are to have such a sweet-natured, loving, happy little boy. We're convinced we got the very best one :)

He's my little buddy. He goes everywhere with me and he's SUCH a good baby. We flew from PA to WA to CA and back to PA and he was an angel for each flight. We spent all day yesterday in government offices and he didn't give me any trouble. He's very friendly with strangers and will happily let anyone hold him. I carried him in a wrap for his first four months, and we got an Ergo baby carrier for a belated baby shower that we LOVE. The only thing I don't like about it is that he can't face forward, which I especially like him to do in church so he can see what's going on. But I figured out how to rig it up on my hip, which isn't too comfortable for long walks, but works fine at church or when I'm cooking. I like having him on my back, but can't do it without Paul quite yet. He usually falls fast asleep back there.

He's been sleeping from 7 pm to 7 am with just one waking since he was 8-10 weeks old. He started waking more often while we were gone, and while it could have been all the time changes, strange people, strange places, etc, I also knew that babies often start waking more at 4-5 months. This seems to be the case, since he's continued to wake a bit more now that we're home. It's certainly not anything to complain about, though. Now he wakes up 2-3 times a night, but that's pretty normal for a five month old. Sometimes he will go back to just one waking. I think he just needs to eat more now that he's more active and getting bigger. He's still a little guy, just 14 pounds, so I'm happy to give him a few extra feedings. He's still exclusively breastfed, and has never had a bottle of any kind. I'm not sure he'd have any idea what to do with it. I'm hoping to hold off on solids until nine months or so, but we'll see what he thinks about that.

There are lots of pictures on my facebook, and I'll do a post about our Christmas travels soon on our (woefully neglected) blog.

Did I forget anything?

I am wanting to get rid of my peeling non-stick pans for pans that last longer. Any recommendations? I want to buy something that will last a LONG time. I am opposed to using disposable things (toilet paper is a definite exception, but cookware is not). I like hard anodized aluminum and enameled cast iron and will probably get at least one regular cast iron pan. I am willing to spend decent money on good pans, but will not be buying, say, copper pans or All-Clad. So far I do not like stainless steal for frying/sauteeing, but maybe I just need practice. Everything sticks and it immediately discolors. As long as I do it properly (don't use high heat, only use pre-heated pan, etc) the hard-anodized aluminum works pretty well.

Tina, do you like your Le Creuset set? I don't want to spend the money on real Le Creuset, but I have a knockoff dutch oven that I love. Do you use your non-Dutch oven Le Creuset? Does stuff stick badly?

I make granola all the time and never use a recipe, but I'm writing this batch down because it's a new favorite.

8 cups oats
2 cups sunflower seeds
2 cups sesame seeds
2 cups oat bran
2 cups chopped almonds (more would be even better)
1 1/2 cups oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 T. vanilla
1 tsp. salt

Mix all together and bake in batches at 325, stirring every 10-15 minutes until golder. Stir in dried cranberries at the end.

I'm not pretending this is particularly good for you, but it sure is tasty! I may have overdone the sweeteners a tad, since it's awfully sweet, especialy when eaten wih almond milk. If it were up to me, it would also have large flake coconut in it like my mom's granola, but my weird husband hates coconut (Me: "How can you possibly not like coconut? Everyone likes coconut!" Paul: Number one, it is cloying. Number two, it is hairy.")