All About Calvin

1-17-16
It's not a secret that Calvin was not part of our original plan. (He was however a planned pregnancy. I'm not sure why I always feel the need to state that haha. Maybe something to do with not wanting to appear irresponsible or something.)

When Andrew was about 3 months old, I had the distinct impression: “Aimee, you need to have another baby.” So I replied, “I know. And I will. In 3 years.” and the spirit told me again, “No, you need to have another baby now.”

So I told Dave. Andrew was a really hard baby. He didn’t sleep well and screamed at night. He had really bad reflux and our health provider wasn’t helpful with his reflux problems. We’d just moved to a new state with no family around and we hardly saw Dave because of school. I’d just been called to be Relief Society president after going to church literally two times. There was a lot...too much… going on in my life. I could barely even handle my current baby, let alone think about having another.

So Dave and I decided that “now” was relative and probably meant after he graduated, like we’d always planned. Plus I’d even gotten an IUD because I was so certain we wouldn’t be adding #3 until later. We decided to get pregnant with Andrew earlier than we originally planned because I really didn’t want to have a baby in Pullman.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to have another baby. Now. As in NOT in 3 years. So after a few months of fighting the spirit, justifying my reasons for waiting, and even challenging God (remember He is over all so that's not a smart thing to do) Dave and I finally found peace in knowing it was time to add Payne baby #3 to the craziness.

One day I started getting forgetful and clumsy and then really sick while making Dave’s lunch in the morning. We knew I was pregnant but still needed a test. 

Do you know that it’s impossible to find a $1 pregnancy test in a college town 2 weeks after Valentine’s Day? I’m not even kidding I went to 4 stores and they were all sold out. I ended up driving all the way to Idaho* to find one under $20.

I had a healthy pregnancy. Baby measured a few days big at 20 week ultrasound. I was totally right about him being a boy. I’m 3/3 now :). I was huge. In July we went to Seattle for a rotation and so many people asked about when I was due and were surprised to hear that I had almost 3 more months to go! By the end I was so uncomfortable. Sleeping was the WORST. In the mornings I had to crawl to the bathroom. It was pathetic. I was huge and miserable. I finally understand what other women go through. I will forever be much more sympathetic!

Well we scheduled the C-section for Monday Oct 19. I had to go in at 5AM to get prepped for the surgery. I barely slept. I got maybe 3 hours of sleep and wasn’t allowed to eat 8 hours before surgery so I was hungry, tired, and nervous.

They got me set up with an IV and asked if I would let a nursing student do it. I said yes and requested it go in my right arm. She didn’t hit a vein and I ended up with a nasty bruise for a while. The actual nurse then insisted that she had to put it in herself on my left side and said that she prefers placing it in people’s hands. So it was in my left hand, the absolutely last place I would want it (I’m left handed). They gave me fluids and antibiotics and I started getting shaky. I’m not sure if it’s because fluids are cold or because I was having anxiety. Maybe both. But then I started to get nauseous. With my last two c-sections I blamed the nausea on the meds but I'm fairly certain that throwing up is not a side effect of saline. 

Pullman doesn’t have an actual anesthesiologist, they have nurse anesthetists. I had already told my doctor I wasn’t comfortable with that but he assured me they were well trained and I would be fine. My nurse anesthetist brought a student along and asked my permission to have him check out my throat and take a history. Of course I let him because I’d want someone to give my husband, also a medical student, a chance to practice, especially with something as minor as that.

Well then the nausea was really kicking in because I was watching the clock and it was getting closer and closer to go time. My doctor came in and was talking to the anesthesia people and mid conversation with them he suddenly asked if I was feeling nauseous. I wanted to say I was fine but I really was about to throw up so I told him the truth and he had the student give me something nasty to drink. It helped a little. I’m really impressed that Dr. Adkins saw me do some non-verbal cue that I was feeling nauseous out of the corner of his eye and took care of it. He’s a fabulous doctor.

They walked Dave and me to the operating room and I was seriously panicking. Dave and a nurse were completely supporting me because I could barely walk and was shaking so badly (I’m gonna stick with it was because of the cold fluids haha). I kept apologizing for being such a wuss but everyone kept telling me I was doing great. Everyone said that with Andrew’s c-section too. It kinda annoys me because I’m not doing anything. I’m being essentially carried everywhere because I’m too worked up to walk or I'm laying on a table sobbing while a doctor cuts me open, retrieves my baby, then sews me up… but I’m the one doing a good job? Nope, I’m the pathetic mess who is terrified of labor but really wants lots of babies. The doctor again assured me that how I was feeling and acting was completely normal. In fact, he’s had a patient have a panic attack on the table so don’t worry, you’re doing great. (How embarrasing, right?! At least I'm not THAT bad...) (read on friends, read on.)

They made Dave wait outside the operating room while I got my spinal block. I have no idea why he couldn’t be with me, no one would tell me. He was with me when I had my spinal with the other 2 so I didn't expect this. I was sitting there on the table waiting for several minutes awkwardly making conversation with the nurse trying so hard not to cry. They finally gave me my shot but I hated that I was clinging to a random nurse (she was fantastic though BTW) instead of my husband. The shot hurt really bad. But it was the student doing it. I didn’t realize that allowing him to check my throat meant he was running my anesthesia! I wasn’t happy about that at all.

They put on my blood pressure cuff (maybe this happened before the block?) but I was shaking so hard it couldn’t get a good reading so it just kept getting tighter and tighter and not releasing. If there wasn’t an IV in my other hand I would have ripped off the cuff. I insisted that it was going to end with my arm being amputated but they made me take deep breaths (didn’t do anything) and eventually it released.

Finally Dave was brought into the room and I was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably and nothing had even happened. I was so embarrassed.

They finally started going and I was a wreck, I got really nauseous again, certain I was going to throw up so I’m crying more because I don’t want to and I’m begging for them to give me something to make it go away. They told me they did. I told them it’s not working it’s not working it’s not working oh there it is… relief. Then that stupid blood pressure cuff is trying to squeeze my arm off again. Deep breaths they say, deep breaths. Well I was numb higher than I remember being with my last c-section. My arms felt really heavy, I couldn’t lift them which was good because I seriously wanted to rip out my IV and the blood pressure cuff. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t see (the curtain and everyone around me blocked my view, my vision was fine). I kept complaining about everything, I’m itchy, I’m cold, I’m going to throw up, etc. And with every comment my doctor calmly told the anesthetist student to change something with my meds and then it went away. He’s amazing, people, amazing!

Then I lost it. Like completely. Full on anxiety/panic attack. I envisioned myself ripping everything off my arms, and running out of the room. That image kept going through my head over and over. I was sobbing and shaking and telling them how much I didn’t want to do this, I needed to get out, RIGHT NOW. Dr. Adkins calmly told me that it was ok to feel this way. My brain knew that something traumatic was happening and was responding in the appropriate manner- fight or flight. Apparently my body was choosing flight. My panic continued to escalate and I remember everyone asking if he would give me benedryl. For some reason he hadn’t and didn’t want to but eventually I was able to calm myself down and relax to a point of blocking everything out except voices. Then when one of the nurses peered over at me and reported I was asleep, (I basically was, but I was aware of people around me and could hear them) I realized that he’d probably given me some help in calming down :).

Then I heard it, the doctor invited Dave to watch him pull out the baby and announce, “Wow! This is a big baby!” Surely he was joking. Or hasn’t seen a baby in a really long time. But then I heard the nurse shout out “8 lbs 10 ounces.” If I could have talked I would have asked if their scale was broken. My other babies were 6 lbs 9 oz and 6 lbs 7 oz. He was making some weird coughing sound and they had to check him out because it could mean something was wrong with his lungs but he was fine, there was just a lot of fluid in his lungs. The doctor told me I had a LOT of fluid. I felt totally justified in all my complaining the last few weeks.

The doctor stitched me up and of course Dave asked about what suture pattern he was using. Then later Dr. Adkins taught him how to do it with their shoelaces :) Seriously best doctor ever.

Calvin was a large and swollen (from all the amniotic fluid) newborn. He looked totally different from my other two and I kept asking to make sure he hadn’t been switched or anything (lingering anxiety I guess). But we eventually bonded. I’m not sure if it’s all the drugs or what but it takes me a day to really feel connected to my babies. It’s just so surreal at first.

My pain was managed excellently. I talked to my doctor beforehand about my previous births (a c-section is still a birth even though a lot of people treat it like it’s not) and we (HE) adjusted my meds accordingly. For example, I scratched my face raw after having Andrew so he cut my morphine in half. I had a nausea patch for 3 days so he changed something else to make me less nauseated from the drugs. He also gave me a side tap which numbed my abs for 24 hours, which helped me get onto oral meds faster since the IV meds make me sick and they won’t switch you if you’re puking. After the surgery he mentioned how sensitive I was to the IV meds. I guess at one point my heart rate dropped to the 30s.

But my recovery was AMAZING! I got my catheter out that night (I thought he was joking when he made that goal for me) and was up walking really soon. My energy and walking ability leaving the hospital was where I was at 2 weeks post Andrew and 2 weeks post Calvin I was doing things that I was doing 2 months post Andrew. My doctor explained that he uses a different technique that causes less blood loss and less trauma to the mother. I think every doctor should use this technique :)

I still prefer Alta View hospital over Pullman Regional but it was still a good experience (you know, other than the major panic attack during the actual surgery). Some nurses were fantastic, some weren’t (whereas all my nurses at Alta View were fantastic). I really REALLY wish there was an actual anesthesiologist there. But overall I was happy with my experience. Dr. Adkins and Dr. Guida did a wonderful job with the surgery and my and Calvin’s care. In a perfect world I would have Adkins come to Alta View for my next baby :)

*Idaho is like 5 miles away.

Is it too much to ask

(Jan 15 2016)

I love motherhood and I love my kids. There is nothing more fulfilling for me to do right now. But every day I find myself asking myself, is it too much to ask...

• To sleep past 5:30 AM?
• To do my makeup without having to do my daughters too 
• To eat a meal without a child touching me
• To sit and eat for longer than 5 minutes without being asked to do something
• To not help Eliza do absolutely everything 
• To have the kids do the dishes...and vacuum... (OK at 1 and 3 it probably is)
• Have more than one room clean at a time
• Have time to finish a project. Just one.
• To get a nap
• Have my husband give me an hour massage every night? (probably it is)
• To not hear "MOOOOOMMM!!! MOOOOMMM!!!! MOOOMM! litererally every 5 seconds?

What is home?

In August 2014 my parents drove me, squished in the back seat between Eliza (barely 2) and Andrew (2 months) of our Hyundai Sonata, to Pullman for the final two years of Dave’s vet school. It had been a stressful summer (see my previous post “The Truth About Having Two Kids”) and I was ready to move on to this next phase but still sad to leave the only place I’d called home.

I walked into our apartment, seeing it for the very first time and I was crushed. It was not what I expected. I walked through each room clenching my jaw tightly trying to hold back the tears. I repeated over and over to myself “I hate this place. I hate this place. This isn’t my home. This will never be home.” I knew that eventually I’d break down and start to like it here (because I’m a big softy) so in my anger I promised myself that I would be sure to hate this place every day. No making friends. No pictures on the wall. I could not let this become home because I hated it.

Well Dave convinced me to put the pictures on the wall. I protested to him, out loud, that despite the family collage above the couch, this would never be my home.

I still didn’t leave the apartment. I let grandparents and Dave take Eliza out to the playground for as long as possible. I couldn’t leave the apartment.

Well eventually Dave had to start school and I couldn’t keep letting Eliza watch 5 episodes of Curious George a day so we starting going outside and we both started making friends.

Oh and I was called as Relief Society president after only attending church twice. So then I really couldn’t keep my promise of not making friends.

My heart was slowly changed. I love it here. This is my home and I cry harder at the thought of leaving than I ever did at the thought of staying.

I have the best friends here. These last two years have been the absolute hardest and most trying years so far, but they have also been the best. I required a lot of help in that time because my husband was gone 90% of the time and my kids are ridiculously and exhaustingly emotionally needy. I’ve had many meals, treats, and cards brought by on bad days and someone noticed. I’ve had friends come over at bedtime and help me rock my babies to sleep. I’ve had friends talk me through dark moments of my life when I was so depressed I cried just thinking about having to put all three kids in the car. I’ve had friends help me grow and change and teach me how to be a better mother, wife, housekeeper, cook, seamstress, and person in general. I’ve had friends here who I can trust with my children. I’ve had real friends, best friends.

So Pullman, WA as I drive away 2 years later (with three children this time!) much more comfortably in our red Minivan, the Hot Tamale, I must thank you. Thank you for being a random small town in the middle of a giant wheat field filled with the best times and people I could possibly have hoped for.

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

The other day I ran into a friend while I was taking the kids to the park and she was going to go pick up her husband from school to take him somewhere else he needed to go. She joked that her life revolved around his schedule. Which then got me thinking how much my life seriously revolves around my own husband and kids. Since kids and vet school, my life has not been my own. I don’t get to determine basically anything for myself. I guess I pick what we eat...but even then I can’t take more than 2 bites without having to get up and help someone. That’s been weighing on my mind a lot lately and I’ve been feeling rather taken for granted and unappreciated. It’s been frustrating as I notice more and more and more how much everyone else controls my life and how little I get return. My friend Candice summed it up nicely: “[Motherhood] requires so much more inner strength, personal sacrifice and unsung effort than anything.”

The other night, after a few long weeks of Dave coming home after 9, whiny, cranky kids with eye/nose/ear infections and teething, and doing everything for all three of them because they are either unable or unwilling to do anything themselves, all these feelings came to a head and I broke down.

As I was sitting there, mourning the loss of my own life, the spirit whispered to me, “Guess who else didn’t live a life for himself?” And I suddenly realized that all this sacrifice I’m doing is actually making me more Christlike. Remember when John the Baptist died and Christ went to mourn his loss and people still followed him? 

Matt 14:13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

Sound familiar, moms?? It might as well read: "When mom heard the fighting, she departed thence by sweat pants into a desert place: and when the children had heard thereof, they followed her on foot into the closet/pantry/bathroom." 

Matt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them

Wow. I don't know about you, but when I'm at my low points as I'm sure Christ was upon hearing about the death of his dear friend and cousin, my reaction is sometimes loud and always selfish. "Why can't I have any privacy?!" But what did Christ do? He was moved with compassion and healed their sick. 

This was the whole reason Christ came to earth. He came for us, not for himself. My children need me like I need Christ. They are as dependent on me as I should be on Christ. 

We are supposed to become like he is. So if any of you feel the way I've been feeling these last few weeks, don't feel lost anymore. Being a woman, a mom, or a wife, requires us to give every part of us to those around us. But it is not all for naught. We have our reward as we become Christlike through these trials.  

John 15:13- Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Carl Heinrich Bloch - The complete works

Outfit of the Day

Today I'm excited to share with you my outfit of the day!! You guys I have been waiting so long to be able to share this with you. Unfortunately what I'm wearing is so exclusive (or old...whichever) you probably won't be able to find them anywhere but I will link you to what I can!).

#Jeggings: my mom gave them to me when I was awkwardly pregnant...too big for normal clothes too small for maternity. She probably got them on #clearance at #Walmart

#Top:  $5 Utah State University athletic department. Leftover t-shirt from when they hosted a high school track meet.

#Hair: left-over slept in pony. Love my #SecondDay hair!!

(Also featured because I know you'll ask!! Equate body lotion with #exclusive pump handle, soft soap hand soap $1, multiple use spray bottle (got it at Lee's grocery store...sorry to my readers outside of Northern Utah)

(If I was a real blogger and got paid $400+ per instagram post featuring a brand I'd probably spend a few minutes getting ready too.)

!!Stay tuned for my big nursery reveal!!

My anti-blog blog post

I used to click on every parenting related article my friends shared. I’m sure you’ve been there too. They captivate you with titles like “Why I don’t teach my child to share” and “5 reasons we don’t home school.” Then usually they provide a very valid, very convincing (at least for me. but I’m easy to convince), very one sided opinion. Then I would always read the comments and I always regretted it. People are flat out mean! They would call the author and anyone else who agreed stupid, or a wide range or other insults. Or those in support would be overwhelming in their defense of the author and there would be full on comment wars between people who probably don’t even know each other in real life.

I finally got sick of it and now I scroll past links in my Facebook feed. Every now and then I’ll read one here or there but I can’t stomach it anymore. I just can’t. I get it Moms, I do. We’d love to be more social if we could but we have kids, laundry, dishes, husbands, church, crafts, and a whole slew of things that take up our time. Our one year old couldn’t care less about listening to our opinion on baby wearing or co sleeping. So when we have a free minute to click on a link and feel a connection with another human being, even if it is virtual, we take it. Finally we can share our opinions with the world and feel like we are being heard.

But we’re also getting hurt. Before clicking on a few interesting looking links I had no idea that I was a weak self-absorbed person for even considering a repeat c-section. And the fact I had an epidural with my first delivery? I have zero mental toughness.

I had two experiences that made me realize how damaging mommy blogging (and commenting) can be. My best friend from high school was visiting me when our babies were over a year old, maybe 14 months give or take. She was sitting on the ground and her daughter started pulling at her shirt so I asked if she was still nursing. She looked embarrassed and stuttered over an answer so I quickly jumped in to tell her that I was still nursing my baby too. She looked so relieved. Because we were in person, I could see that my question made her feel uncomfortable so I was able to react and make the situation better instantly. That is impossible to do online. This experience actually made our friendship stronger because we had yet another thing in common. And then we had someone to turn to when we had questions later. This was even better than reading an article that discussed the benefits of nursing past a year. It was more than knowing a group of random women are still nursing, it was my best friend who is going through the same thing I am, feeling the same things I am and now I can talk to her whenever I need to! It was a much more positive experience than other “conversations” I’ve seen online about nursing past a year. Women have been called everything from selfish to helicopter based solely on the age they stopped nursing. Because that’s clearly a fair basis for harsh judgments.

Another day I was at the park with a different friend and we were talking about our babies (as always). She told me her son was on formula because she didn’t like breastfeeding. She did it for a few months but it wasn’t the magical special bonding experience breastfeeding proponents make it out to be. It wasn’t painful or hard, her son didn’t have reflux or allergies, she simply chose not to do it. I replied that I understood and for me, nursing was less hassle than formula and Eliza never liked formula anyway. Then we moved on. No vicious comments about what a terrible mom she was for not breastfeeding when she could. Or that she was putting her child at a disadvantage. Think of all the moms who want to breastfeed but can’t and she was throwing that amazing gift out the window.  I wasn’t criticized for being weird and nursing past 6 months.

These two experiences made me realize the power of actual human interaction. Maybe we should all put down our phones and our computers and have an actual conversation with an actual person sometimes. We just might come out feeling validated and enlightened even when someone has a different opinion.

Pregnancy and Baby tips on a budget!

So many people are afraid of having kids because of how expensive they are. Yes another family member means more money spent but I assure you that a child doesn't need to bankrupt you. I know it's hard when we see gorgeous nurseries on Pinterest but your baby can come home from the hospital and sleep in a $20 pack n play you got off Craigslist wrapped in a blanket from a friend and she will survive just fine. Yes, a $600 stroller is probably a lot easier to fold up one handed and use in general, but if you can't afford it, your child will live through it. There's nothing wrong with buying nice or high end things, but don't get stuck in the trap of "needing" top of the line items.

Here are a few ways I've made having babies a little easier on our bank accounts as well as some tips for getting through it all.

Pregnancy

Sleep

• If you are having a hard time sleeping at night, get a pregnancy pillow! They are pretty pricey so I tried out this boomerang pillow from Shopko and have loved it! It supports my hips and back and doesn’t take up the entire bed, I love it! And you can usually find it on sale for $15! My first pregnancy I was trying to save money and so I’d sleep with 3 different pillows propped around me. It was a little ridiculous and I’d wake up a lot to shift the pillows. With my 2nd I bought one of these and wondered why I didn’t get one the first time around! I actually still slept with it well after baby was here.

• Sleep as much as you can. You might feel lazy but I promise that when the baby comes you will curse yourself for not sleeping more when you had the chance.

• Maternity clothes can be pretty pricey. Check out your nearest Ross for shirts under $10 and pants/shorts less than $20. (and if you don't mind used clothes the D.I, Goodwill, or consignment stores are a great option too!)

• If you have muscle cramps, soreness, or charlie horses, increase your Tums intake. Those are often signs of not having enough calcium. Helps with heartburn as well (obviously). Your body takes care of your baby first and since the baby is growing his entire skeleton, it tends to take a lot of your calcium. I remember in my Nutrition class my professor telling us that undernourished women will lose their teeth during pregnancy due to a lack of calcium (and other nutrients) so increase your calcium! And take a multivitamin every day!

• You do not have to suffer when you’re pregnant. A lot of people think that there aren’t safe medications to take while pregnant, especially for a cold but there is! Call your doctor to find out what is safe.  I promise. Don’t suffer when it’s not necessary. There are enough pains you can’t do anything about so take care of what you can. (When you’re nursing cold medicines get trickier because sinus relievers will dry up your milk).  If you have such bad heartburn that Tums aren’t touching it, talk to your doctor about something stronger. I used Prilosec and it was amazing to not have heartburn.

• And at the same time, new studies are always coming out about what's safe or not. I took Zofran with baby #2 and by baby #3 (which wasn't that long after) there was some evidence that it might cause birth defects so my doctor prescribed me something else. So basically, use your best judgement. Don't suffer, but make sure you talk with your health provider about what is safe (many medications have been proven safe so you shouldn't have to worry) and what possible side effects there might be.

• If you are suffering from morning sickness, try keeping crackers by your bed and eat a few before even sitting up. I would feel fine until I stood up then the nausea would come on and there was nothing I could do about it. Preventative care is always worth it. I also ate a lot of candy canes (luckily I was pregnant around Christmas) because peppermint helps with nausea. Protein in the morning also helps with morning sickness. I drank chocolate milk and a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter every morning my first trimester and it helped SO much. But if these don’t work, don’t be scared to ask for an anti-nausea medication. When I finally “broke down” and got some I felt to dumb for trying to just “get through” the nausea. I was a new person when I didn’t feel like I needed to run to the bathroom every 30 minutes

• If you are a C-section mama, I recommend getting a belly band for support after. I really liked this one. It's NOT shapeware, it's a bit bulky but not too bad. I LOVED having it in the hospital and for the weeks after, especially at night when I'm getting out of bed to get the baby. I feel like I was more stable and not as easily fatigued when I used this after baby #2 vs baby #1 when I didn't use anything (both c-sections)

Nursing

• Nursing Bras: It's nice to have a good stash of these, especially if you are prone to leaking. $20 for a bra doesn't sound too bad, but if you are changing it at least once a day, having plenty can get pricey. I used these Bandinis from Walmart (about 2/$10). I like them because they have great coverage and you can wear them with straps or with out. Without straps makes night feeding really easy. I even found some on the clearance rack for $1 so I bought all they had in my size. By the way, if you're using them for right after baby, but a size or 2 bigger than you normally would.
• 

• On the topic of nursing...reusable nursing pads. This is one of the few times my pregnancy fatigue laziness worked out. My friend showed me how to make some reusable nursing pads by sewing or serging together 5 circles of flannel. Well I don't have a serger and I have a bad relationship with my mom's sewing machine so all I did was get the circles cut out. When it came time to use them I stacked as many as I needed and stuck them in my bra. I'd use 6 at night and 3 during the day, sometimes only 1 if I wasn't worried but wanted a little bit of protection, just in case. Make them about 6 inches in diameter using any flannel (no one sees them, so it doesn't have to be cute. Wash them with whatever laundry you want. I can't remember how many I made but if you're using 12 a day and doing laundry once a week you'd need 84. They are also nice to soak in water and freeze then apply to sore breasts.

• You can make a nursing tanktop for under $2 and no sewing required. Simply cut the straps off a cami. I know there are tutorials out there about sewing a loop so it hooks on your bra, but camis are tight enough they stay up all by themselves. I like using them so my back doesn't show when I nurse. Forever 21 has really inexpensive camis in a lot of colors and styles.
• 

• Baby

• If you've got a particularly spitty baby and burp cloths just aren't cutting it, try using microfiber cloths for burp rags. My brother-in-law held bought us a big Costco pack after holding my little one for 15 minutes. I assure you, they were well used!

• Lets talk pajamas: There's nothing cuter than footie pajamas. But if you buy the footless ones like these from Children's Place then they last a lot longer. Just put socks on your kiddo to keep their toes warm if their room gets cold at night. I also love the sleep dresses, once they don't cover my babies legs any more I use them as their pajama top and an inexpensive pack of pants or footed pants on bottom, making their value last much longer.

• Amazon mom: If your baby needs brand name diapers and wipes this is the way to go. They often have coupons to clip as well so I check back every few days and will order diapers in advanced so I can get name brand diapers for cheaper than Walmart brand. I also have been really liking their Amazon essentials wipes. But I've found it's hard to recommend brands for diapers and wipes because every baby's bottom is different.