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Guess whose back, back again, Astro's back, tell a friend.... I win

That has been breakfast before. Chicken and Fries this morning when I get home.

And my #1 reason for giving up on Betterdry?  A case of Betterdry delivered in Australia is AUD241 which translates to £128: nearly twice the price. It's cheaper (and better) to use Rearz. My current monthly nappy-spend is around AUD139 / £74.  There are two reasons it's significantly lower than yours. 1.  I wear cloth nappies usually 3 nights/days per week. 2. I'm mostly "wet only" so I can get by on 2 nappies (high capacity) nappies per day If I were to wear disposables 7 days per week my monthly nappy bill would rise to AUD220 / £116 If I were to have all of these delivered (instead of pick-up), my monthly nappy bill would rise to AUD260 / £138 If I were to allow for an extra nappy per day to deal with messes, it would rise again to AUD373 / £197 It's not cheap, even compared to the UK.

Hi and welcome from the UK. Happy to chat if you ever want to, pm is always open.

Chapter 11: Morning came softly, light filtering through the curtains and धीरे filling the nursery with a warm glow. Jack stirred first. A small stretch, a quiet sound, then his eyes blinked open. For a moment, he just lay there, taking in the familiar shapes around him—his room, his crib, Flopsy tucked at one side, Trike at the other. Then came the feeling. A shift. A need. “Mama…” he called, voice still thick with sleep.   Down the hall, Jill heard it immediately. She stirred, glancing toward Marcus before slipping out of bed. “I’ve got him,” she whispered. Marcus gave a sleepy nod, rolling slightly as she left. Jill padded quietly into the nursery, her expression softening the moment she saw him. “Well, good morning,” she said gently. Jack stood up in his crib, small hands gripping the rail, his face still a little puffy from sleep. The moment he saw her, he reached out. Jill lifted him into her arms, holding him close. “Did you sleep good?” she murmured. Jack nodded faintly, resting his head against her shoulder. Jill could already tell—he wasn’t fully awake yet. Just in that in-between space. “Let’s get you your bottle,” she said softly.   In the kitchen, the house was still quiet. Jill moved carefully, balancing Jack on her hip while she prepared his morning bottle. She tested it before settling into the couch with him. “There we go,” she said, guiding it gently to him. Jack latched on quickly, his body relaxing almost instantly. His fingers curled lightly into Jill’s shirt as he drank, eyes drifting half-closed again. Jill watched him, one hand supporting him, the other resting softly along his back. These moments… she thought. They’re my favorite. Everything felt slower in the morning. Softer. By the time the bottle was finished, Jack was more awake—but still quiet, still calm.   “Alright,” Jill said gently, lifting him up onto her shoulder. “Let’s get you changed.” Upstairs, she laid him down on the changing table. The familiar routine started again—careful, steady, unhurried. Jack squirmed slightly, more awake now, his attention shifting between Jill and the little mobile above him. Jill smiled faintly. “Good morning wiggles,” she teased softly. He let out a small sound in response, somewhere between a protest and a laugh. She cleaned him up, fastening a fresh diaper securely before smoothing her hands over it. “All set.”   Next came getting dressed. Jill walked over to the dresser, opening the drawer and pausing for a moment as she looked through the options. “Hmm…” she murmured. “What are we feeling today?” Her fingers settled on a soft yellow outfit—a short-sleeved romper with little embroidered suns scattered across it. Light, cheerful, perfect for a day out at the park. “This one,” she decided. Back at the changing table, she dressed him carefully, adjusting each piece so it sat just right. She brushed his hair lightly with her fingers, stepping back for a second to take him in. “There we go,” she said softly. “Ready for the day.” Jack looked up at her, more alert now, his earlier sleepiness fading into quiet curiosity. Jill leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Big day today,” she added with a small smile. “We’ve got the park… and Mrs. Turner.” Jack blinked, processing. Then gave a small nod. Jill smiled. “Yeah,” she said. “It’s going to be a good day.”   Jill buckled Jack into his stroller, making sure the straps sat comfortably against his little romper. She tucked Flopsy and Trike in beside him, adjusting them so they wouldn’t fall. “Ready to go see Mrs. Turner?” she asked gently. Jack gave a small nod, his fingers already curling around Trike’s soft fabric. Jill smiled and grabbed the diaper bag before heading out the door.   The morning air felt fresh, a little warmer than the day before. Sunlight stretched across the sidewalks, and the neighborhood was already awake—people walking dogs, chatting, going about their routines. Jill pushed the stroller at an easy pace, one hand resting lightly on the handle. Jack looked around, wide-eyed but calm. The sounds, the movement, the openness of being outside—it all settled differently today. He didn’t feel as tense as he had before. Maybe it was the slower start, or just that he felt more rested. This is nice, he thought quietly, hugging Trike a little closer. They passed a few people along the way, Jill offering polite smiles and the occasional “good morning.” Most returned the gesture and moved on. Then, as they reached a crosswalk, a woman standing nearby glanced down at Jack. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing,” she said warmly. Jill smiled. “Thank you.” The woman lingered for a second, clearly charmed. “And so well behaved too,” she added. “You don’t see that very often anymore.” Jack blinked, looking up at her. For a split second, that familiar feeling crept in—she’s looking at me…—but it didn’t hit as strongly this time. Her tone wasn’t overwhelming. It was kind. Simple. He shifted slightly, then gave a small, shy wave. The woman’s smile widened. “Oh my goodness,” she said softly. “Adorable.” Jill glanced down at him, her expression soft with a hint of pride. “He’s doing really good today.” Jack looked back at her, then down at Trike, squeezing it gently. I am doing good, he thought, the idea settling in a way that felt… nice. The light changed, and Jill continued on, the stroller wheels rolling smoothly over the pavement. “See?” she said quietly as they walked. “You’re doing great.” Jack didn’t say anything, but he leaned back a little more comfortably, the earlier tension replaced with something steadier. Ahead, the park came into view—green space opening up, trees swaying lightly, the distant sound of children playing carrying through the air. Jill smiled to herself. “Almost there,” she said. And for once, Jack didn’t feel the need to hide.   The park stretched out ahead, bright and welcoming, the soft hum of voices and laughter drifting through the air. Jill slowed the stroller as she spotted a familiar figure near a shaded bench.   “There she is,” Jill said gently.   Mrs. Turner turned at the sound of her voice, her face lighting up instantly. “Well, look who made it!” she called, stepping forward with open warmth.   “Hi, Mrs. Turner,” Jill replied, smiling as she guided the stroller closer.   “And hello to you, sweetheart,” Mrs. Turner added, her attention settling on Jack. “My, don’t you look bright this morning.”   Jack looked up at her, clutching Trike close while Flopsy rested beside him. For a second, he hesitated—then gave a small, shy wave.   “Hi…” he said softly.   Jill began unbuckling him, lifting him gently from the stroller. “We made it,” she said, settling him against her hip.   Mrs. Turner stepped closer, her expression soft and genuine. “I’ve missed seeing you,” she said to Jack, her tone calm and reassuring rather than overwhelming.   Jack studied her for a moment, then leaned slightly into Jill, still holding onto his plush. There was a quiet comfort in how familiar Mrs. Turner felt—like someone safe, someone who already understood.   Jill shifted him in her arms before setting him down carefully beside the bench, keeping a steady hand near him. “You want to sit for a bit?” she asked.   Jack nodded faintly, staying close.   For a moment, the three of them simply settled into the space—the breeze moving gently through the trees, the sunlight warm but not harsh.   Mrs. Turner glanced between them, her smile thoughtful. “It’s good to see you both out here,” she said. “Feels like a perfect day for it.”   Jill nodded. “We needed something a little slower today.”   Mrs. Turner’s eyes softened with understanding. “Those days matter the most.”   Jack listened quietly, his fingers tracing along Trike’s soft fabric. He wasn’t saying much, but he didn’t feel the same urge to hide either. Being here—between Jill and Mrs. Turner—felt steady.   Safe.   Jill glanced down at him, noticing how calm he seemed now compared to the day before. A small, proud smile crossed her face.   “You’re doing really well,” she said softly.   Jack looked up at her, then back at Mrs. Turner, giving the tiniest nod.   Mrs. Turner smiled. “I can see that.”   The moment wasn’t big or dramatic—it didn’t need to be.   It was simple.   And it was good.