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The Baby-related highlight of our week was the Cloth Diapering 101 class we took on Sunday, hosted at The Baby Grocery Store, a new all-natural baby essentials shop in Charlotte.

When Haley was a nanny in college, the family she worked for used cloth diapers. She encouraged us to research it — and we’re sold. Not only is cloth better for the environment, it’s also hugely beneficial for babies…PLUS it can save thousands!

The industry has really evolved over the years. Long gone are the days of terrible diaper pins and clothes-line drying. The latest cloth diapers are easy, clean, and pretty darn cute!

Here was our successfully diapered doll (over the pjs to protect his modesty!)…

And check out the new ouch-free substitute for pins: Snappies, invented by a cloth-diapering daddy…

I’m sure we’ll have plenty to say once we get started — but in the meantime, we’re looking forward to this new Earth-friendly, baby-friendly, and wallet-friendly adventure!

Here’s a rundown of how we’re doing at Week 22:

Baby’s size: During month five, Baby is weighing about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces…and measuring 10.5 to 11.8 inches!

What’s keeping Baby busy: The fingernails are almost fully grown, Baby has a distinct pair of lips, and the first canines and molars are developing below Baby’s gum line. At this point, blood is traveling through the umbilical cord at four miles an hour!

What’s keeping Mom and Dad busy: Now that Ashley has created our nursery mood board, we’re heading full-swing into nursery mode. Consumer Reports and other mommies have been mighty helpful at guiding us through the many, many options out there. We’re also starting to think about our baby registry! I reached out to a few of my best girlfriends seeking advice: What are the must-haves? What gadgets can you skip? Their answers were priceless (and quite funny, too)! As I’m learning, every baby is different — and what one little one loved (the pacifier or swaddle), another completely hated. I guess we’ll find out for sure in four short months!

Cravings: Y’all, Harris Teeter was out of strawberries Sunday. (I wonder if my weekly two-pint addiction affected their supply?!) They were well-stocked in other citrus goodness, so we still loaded up on fresh pineapple, grapefruit, and oranges. Then, wouldn’t you know, Mom E. (Nana Kay!) AMAZINGLY came to the rescue just a few days later, delivering a beautiful box of chocolate-covered strawberries Wednesday evening. YUM! Felt like Publisher’s Clearing House 😉 Thank you, thank you, sweetie!

Struggles: No complaints this week. Second trimester has treated me very well…energy is sky high and I can still see my feet!

Joys: The lovely Julie McQueeney generously gifted us with some baby gear that Big Girl Audrey has outgrown. What a blessing it is to have such kind people in our lives!