Nesting Project #10: Cloth Diapers

Okay, this deserved it's own post, if only because it has consumed my thoughts for months now.  I'm going out on a limb here, because I think I've already revealed myself as an obsessed mommy.  But I'm going to share anyway, partly so I can have a record of it, and partly so I can let out some of my excitement. 

When Isaiah was a baby, I had online friends who cloth diapered, and I thought it was sooo cool (so great for the environment, and those diapers are super cute!) and a great way to save money, long term.  But way more work than I could ever handle.  I read a whole bunch about it, and then pushed it to the back of my mind because I knew I would be laughed at by Adam and probably everyone else I knew "in real life" if I ever showed serious interest in it.  Fast forward a couple of children and a handful of years, and here I was, pregnant again, and reading online (again) about other women cloth diapering their babies.  And I was so jealous.  I did a bunch of research (a lot can change in a few years, and I was pretty sure I could handle the extra work now), and I mentioned it to Adam, in an "isn't this cool" kind of way.  He humored me, which was sweet because I know he thinks my green-ness is a little . . . weird, maybe.  Or maybe just unnecessary. 

And then a couple of things happened.  One, my sweet sister-in-law, Molly posted on her blog about cloth diapering.  And two, while I was perusing Craigslist I came across a listing for cloth diapers that was a total steal--the deal of the century!  And after crunching the numbers and presenting them to Adam, I bought them.  And I started a new hobby, as Molly called it.  Because that's really what it feels like: something fun to think about and buy and do, never mind the fact that it has to do with poop. 

With the excellent advice that I start with Max to see if I really liked it (and could stand it), I ordered some cheap one-size pocket diapers in July, and started out with him.  Since then I've tried a few different types and brands of diapers, and am learning what I like best.  And just in the last week, Lily has gotten big enough for her smallest all-in-ones and is wearing some homemade fitted diapers with covers. 

She's an excellent diaper model don't you think?  This is one of the fitted diapers I made. 

My thoughts so far?  Cloth diapering newborns is way easier and less gross than toddlers.  But even toddlers can be fun.  There is something so cute about Max picking out what color diaper he wants, and then toddling around with his fluffy bum.  Now if I can refine my wash routine to eliminate detergent build up, I'll be all set . . .

Nesting Projects #6, #7, #8, & #9: High Chair Cover, Crocheted Beanie, and Headbands and Flower Clips

Today was Lily's due date, and in honor of passing this day with a 2-week-old in my arms, I thought I'd post the some of the nesting projects I never got to post before she was born.  Believe me there were more, but I'll spare you and just show you my favorites. 

High chair cover before:

High chair cover after:

I got the inspiration to make a new cover for our old high chair after seeing this on Make It and Love It.  I actually did this back in July, thinking Max could benefit from a cleaner, comfier chair much sooner than the baby would.  But it was for her, too. 

This beanie was born from another nesting project altogether, which I was working on for Lily's newborn portrait session.  I made this beanie practicing the technique (and because I didn't have the right yarn for the other), and liked it so much I decided to keep it.  I had an unfortunate unravelling accident just as we took the above picture at the hospital, and ended up making another one (a little bigger this time), so maybe you'll get to see a better picture of her in it in the future.

I found a tutorial for this headband on A Load Of Craft while searching for instructions on how to make a cover for a boppy (another project that has yet to be completed--if I decide to do it at all).  I had all the components just sitting in my hairbow-making supplies, so I made one while I was working on the next project:

Flower clips (and hair bows)!  Not the best picture of the bows, but Lily in the background makes up for that, right?  I'm not even going to try to post a link to a tutorial on these since most people already do this.  If you don't know how to make them, come to my house, and we'll sit and chat while we hot glue our fingers together.   Why did I make these?  My sweet friend Kelie gave us the most adorable headbands and flower clips (you can see one here).  Most people would have received that gift and just been so excited to dress up their little girl in them.  But I have a sickness.  I saw it and was excited to put them on my baby, and then thought how great it would be to have one for every outfit.  So, I had to make some fresh flower clips (despite the fact that I think we have almost 100 of them already), and I made another headband like it in black.  Seriously, someone needs to stop me. 

A note about Lily's birth story . . .

When I posted Lily's birth story I did it mostly for me, so that I would have it for later.  As I went back and read it, as well as some of your comments, I felt I didn't express something well and I wanted to clarify.  I talked about getting an epidural with my other babies as if it were chickening out, giving in to something bad.  Which really isn't necessarily the case: it was a valid choice and a blessing to have pain relief when I was having intense pain.  I think my feeling was this: I have always had fairly short labor, and I think I've been going through transition each time I decided to have an epidural.  Had I known this then, and that it wouldn't have been much longer, I would have held out longer and tried harder to have my babies naturally, something I valued.  That's what I was aiming for this time, knowing that my labor has been short in the past and that I was almost done before I needed an epidural. 

Okay, so that's me.  But what about you?  What about all the women who labor in intense pain for a day or more, pushing for hours?  I certainly would never say that anyone other than myself was "giving in" or "chickening out" for choosing to have an epidural.  There is a reason modern medicine has evolved as it has--it's a miracle and a blessing!!  And for those of you who have had Cesarean sections, I am so grateful that this life-saving procedure is available, making it possible for you and your beautiful children to be here today! 

That's all I wanted to say; I just wanted you to know what I meant as I wrote out our story, so you would understand why I said what I said the way I did. 

Sibling Love

We're kind of excited to have Baby Lily in our family!!

Birth Day

**Disclaimer: This is an actual, full-details birth story.  Don't read it if you're offended by stuff like pain, blood, and afterbirth.**

Anyone who has had any contact with me in the last week knows how ready I was to have a baby.  While I would never say it was a bad thing to go a little early, having every one of the kids early did condition me to think this last one would be early, too, no matter how much I kept telling myself otherwise.  So when I had contractions all Wednesday (Sept. 22nd) evening, and then woke up at 2:00 am Thursday morning to painful contractions 2 and 3 minutes apart, it was pretty disappointing when they stopped completely by 4:00 am--after I had showered and gotten ready to go to the hospital.  I was battling a bad attitude the rest of the week, but by Sunday I had stopped pulling out my iPhone to time every contraction I had, and I made plans for the coming week (made a hair appointment, volunteered to take dinner to someone else who'd had a baby, bought supplies for a new crafty project, etc.) to keep me busy. 

It's no surprise, to me at least, that after all my pleadings for the baby to come quickly, it is when I gave it up to Heavenly Father and let His timing be enough for me that He answered my prayers.  (Of course, that's not to say I wasn't still trying everything to get things going myself.  I have always loved to walk, and do you know how yummy raspberry tea is?) 

Monday morning, I woke up to go to the bathroom at about 3:15, and had a painful contraction.  I tried to get settled back to sleep when another one hit.  And then another.  Knowing I wasn't going back to sleep any time soon, I sighed and grabbed my iPhone off the nightstand and started timing them.  After a few that were less than 2 minutes apart, I realized how hard I was concentrating to breathe through them without waking Adam (and Katie, who was asleep on our bedroom floor).  At about 4:00 am I got up and put the last items into my hospital bag.  When the contractions still didn't stop by 4:15 am, the magical one hour mark from when they had started, I woke up Adam and asked him to put Katie back to bed so we wouldn't wake her, and we finished getting things together.  He called Shelli to come sit with the kids until they got up, and we left to go to the hospital. 

The whole way there, I was praying that they wouldn't send us back home.  Somewhere around 4:30 the contractions had slowed to 3-4 minutes apart, with the occasional longer interval, but they were hurting more, so I was hoping they were still doing something.  We went into labor and delivery and they hooked me up to the monitors to watch me for an hour and make sure I was progressing.  At that point I was dilated to 4 centimeters and 90% effaced, at a zero station.  The contractions slowed to about 4 minutes apart, and Adam and I sat quietly, each with our iPhone and iPod Touch (thank heaven for wifi at the hospital!), hoping something would change as I breathed through each contraction.  At 6:00 am, just before a shift change, the nurse came to check if I'd progressed.  At that point, she said I was maybe at 4+ centimeters, and it was decided they would give me another hour to progress.  If I didn't, they would send me home.  Again, we sat, mostly quietly, for another hour, as the intervals between the contractions didn't change much.  When the nurse came to check again, she said she could maybe say I was at 5 centimeters, but she didn't think that was enough progress alone to admit me, unless Dr. Winward felt otherwise.  So off she went to consult the doctor, and again I prayed they wouldn't send me home. 

When she came back about 20 minutes later, it was with the on-call doctor, Dr. Astle, saying she couldn't get Dr. Winward on the phone, so she was consulting him instead.  Dr. Astle checked me, and immediately declared I was dilated to a 6, and at a +1 station--we were going to have a baby that day!  He asked if I wanted him to break my water when we got to the delivery room, and I agreed to try that to get my contractions closer together. 

While I waited for them to move me to delivery, we called my mom so she could come over, and I sent Adam off to eat breakfast.  I was settled in delivery around 8, and around the same time my mom arrived.  Then the nurses tortured me by digging around in my veins three times before finally getting an IV started (that was easily my most unhappy memory of the day).  Adam came back from breakfast.  My contractions stopped, almost completely.  The nurse went off to find Dr. Astle to break my water to try to get things started again.  While we waited for him, my contractions started again slowly, about 4 and 5 minutes apart.  At about 9:00 am, the nurse came in with a bag of pitocin saying Dr. Astle was occupied and would be a little while. I asked for a small dose of pit so that they wouldn't start too hard and fast.  If I could still avoid an epidural, I was going to do it, and I knew too many contractions all at once after this rest would break my confidence. 

Finally, Dr. Astle arrived and broke my water at about 9:30 am.  At that point I was dilated to 7 centimeters.  Again, Adam, my mom and I sat talking and playing on our electronic devices quietly while I labored with contractions about 3 and 4 minutes apart.  I was having to breathe and concentrate with each one, but with so much time to rest between, I was still talking and laughing and feeling pretty good.  My mom went to eat, and Adam and I talked about names a little more.  It was around 10:30 am that I had a really painful contraction.  The pain was pretty distracting and I told Adam I needed to squeeze his hand.  I felt burning in my lower abdomen, and thought maybe if I used the restroom again it would take the discomfort down a notch.  We called the nurse in to help me and as I stood to wash my hands I had to really grip the sink to get through another really awful contraction.  I just kept whispering, "I can do this.  I can totally do this."  But I was shaking and I wasn't sure I could do it much longer.  The nurse was gone when I came out, so I got back into bed and Adam hooked up my monitors again before I had another contraction that freaked me out.  I told Adam I wanted to be checked.  Right then.  He called the nurse, this is where things got really fuzzy. 

I know my mom came back right around then.  And my nurse wasn't the one to come in.  It was a different nurse, and she kept asking me stupid questions like "what is your name?" and "what number is this for you?" and telling me annoying things like not to bend my wrist that way so the pitocin could get into my IV and that I needed to breathe.  I'm pretty sure I was involuntarily yelling and/or screaming a lot as the contractions rolled through me, flattening me like a freight train.  I asked her/told her to check me, and she said she would, after the contraction, but I told her that I was having another one, they were on top of each other, so she needed to check me.  She was assuring me that this is how it gets, that they just get closer together and longer, and that yes, she was going to check me when it stopped. 

Finally, the pain went down a tiny notch and I tried to catch my breath.  She checked me and said, "Oh, were going to have a baby right now, we need to call your doctor to get here!"  The panic in her voice mirrored my own panic, and I knew the doctor wasn't going to be there.  I had to push right then.  There was a lot of hustle and bustle and lots of people coming in, but all I remember then was screaming and pain for the longest moment, then pushing once, and then twice, like an explosion, and feeling her slide right out of me.  It was the most intense sense of relief I could ever describe.  Luckily, they hadn't taken the bed all the way apart, so she landed on the bed, and I remember hearing her cry and looking down as the nurse scooped her up and checking to make sure she was, indeed, a girl.  Not that she was okay, mind you, because it hadn't registered in my brain that no one had caught her. 

Dr. Astle came in from the next room over and told a nurse to call Dr. Winward back, that she could turn around and go back home.  I told Adam to get the camera, and he and my mom moved away.  Someone asked if Dad was cutting the cord, and I said no, but that Grandma could if she still wanted to (Adam is really not fond of the blood-and-guts stuff, he stays well out of view of it all).  I heard nurses discussing what time she was born, and they decided on 10:56 am.  Around this time I jokingly, but shakily, told the nurses I was ready for the pain meds.  I held the baby, so white from the vernix because she was so early, as Dr. Astle declared not that I had ripped to pieces as I thought, but that there would be no stitches at all.  The baby and Adam (with the camera) went with the baby nurses, and Dr. Astle delivered the afterbirth.  He took the time to show the placenta to me and my mom, which was really cool since even though this was my fourth baby I had never seen it before.  It was the most amazing thing to be able to move as they put the bed back together, and not have to rely on everyone to lift and move my legs.  Even though I was in pain, it was so much better than being completely numb and helpless.  I was shaky and tired, but it was over, and I felt pretty much okay. 

Slowly things calmed down, they weighed and measured the baby--6 lbs 10 oz and 19 inches long--and brought her back to me to nurse.  She was perfect, healthy, and beautiful.  I marveled at her pretty dark hair, like Katie's when she was born, and how when she cried, her mouth looked just like Max's. 

After the room cleared and it was just our family, Adam told me about the SUU student who had been shadowing my nurse.  She had come in with her when I had asked to be checked, and had witnessed the whole thing.  She stood across the room, her mouth agape in shock and horror when the baby came, and stayed that way for a couple of minutes after, he said.  Poor girl.  She will probably never want to have children after that!  I wished later, after I knew the shift was long over and she was gone, that I could talk to her.  I wanted to tell her that as scary and painful as it looked from across the room, for me it was the most wonderful, surreal, amazing, and fleeting experience.  One I am so very grateful for and will try to hold on to the memory of forever, despite the realization that my memory of it already feels like it's fading.  This was the experience I had hoped for with every baby, and never quite got to because I panicked and had an epidural when it got scary.  I finally got to have my perfect birth experience, as painful and unpredictable as it was.  And that I would do it again because of the result: the most beautiful, perfect, tiny child laying in my arms. 

Nesting Project #5: Blankets

You would think that after having a girl, I would have a million baby blankets, but when I went through them I realized they were almost all the little teeny receiving blankets that can swaddle a newborn for a week or two and then are too small.  I had a couple of great ones my mom made, but two is just not enough.  And, I didn't have any warm blankets.  So I supplemented what I had a little (I may end up needing another warm blanket for the car seat, but this is a good start). 

Here's a double-sided flannel blanket I made out of my stash.  I buy up flannel from the $1 table at Walmart when I see it and stash it for when someone has a baby.  But no one has had a girl in a while, so this has been hanging around for almost two years! 

Just an easy-peasy blanket: face right sides together, and stitch around, leaving a small opening to turn.  Clip the corners, turn right side out and press, then top stitch. 

These ones were even easier.  I happened to be at JoAnn when they had flannel at 50% off, which was dangerous.  I bought up a bunch of this because it was so pretty, and made two receiving blankets. 

This one just has to be cut to size (I like mine 44 in by 44 in, great for swaddling for months), and then the corners rounded (I use a small bowl), and then serged.  If you have access to a serger (thanks, Mom!), this takes about 5-10 minutes including cutting, tops. 

Now I have some soft, pretty blankets to wrap Baby Girl in when she decides to make an appearance!

Nesting Project #4: BabyLegs

I saw that Babysteals.com had BabyLegs up today, but of course they sold out fairly early.  At 58% off retail, you could buy 4 pairs for $20--$5 each, plus shipping, which if you have ever bought or coveted BabyLegs, you know is an awesome deal.  But, what if you could get them even cheaper?  For less than $5 and 45 minutes of my time, I made three pair:

Now, I couldn't be as choosy with the cute patterns, but that was only because I was shopping for little girls' knee socks in the off-season.  I did find some cute ones in women's sizes at Target on clearance for $1 or less a pair, and made Katie some leg warmers for dance as well.  This tutorial describes exactly how I did it, although I also clipped my seam close to make the seam less bulky. 

If you're wondering why anyone would want these (I have had two people ask me), here's a link to all the great reasons listed on the BabyLegs website. 

Nesting Project #3: Bibs

These maybe should have been posted with the last two projects because they are so small and just use the leftover fabric from those projects.  But with any extra fabric I have I intend to pop out some bibs because they are my favorite type of bib and you can never have too many of them.  I am somewhat impared with sewing around curves, though, so I don't make as many of them as I could if it were easier for me.  So silly, I know, but it's really a problem. 

I totally ripped the design of these bibs off some that my friend LeAnn made for me.  The only reason I feel the least bit okay with it is that hers are so much cuter, better-made, and I would buy them from her to avoid having to make them.  This are a couple that she made for Max: 

See what I mean?  Super cute!  And just the right size to handle the big messes, including Max's uber drool while he was teething.  And, they have button closures so Baby can't rip them off and they don't stick to everything in the laundry like with velcro. 

Nesting Project #2: Car Seat Canopy

It seems like with every baby I have there is the cool new baby product that everybody wants to have--mostly because it's such a good idea and so useful, but partly because it's trendy and a fashion statement.  The hooter hider was it with Max, and it seems like this time around it's the car seat canopy.  I see them everywhere, and there are so many cute variations.  Here's mine:

And, of course, the matching burp cloths:

I used this tutorial at Make-It-Do.com as a basis for mine, although I looked at the one at our local Ace Hardware's craft section for ideas (hence the rickrack).  Here's the tutorial for the flowers on the straps, and I just made covered buttons for the centers.  I have admit that I could have probably bought one off Etsy for cheaper, since I bought the fancy fabric at Quilted Works (at full price, gasp!), but I really love it, and it always means more when you make it yourself, right? 

Nesting Project #1: Hooter Hider

Okay, I'm 36 weeks today, meaning I'm on the final countdown.  (And baby is finally head-down, hooray!!)  I have been nesting like crazy for the last few weeks, and I've still got more to go.  When I nest I do a little of the cleaning-things-out, organizing insanity that is so common.  But for me, nesting means sewing and crafting--making things to wrap and dress and cover baby with.  I thought I'd share my maternal insanity with all of you!  I'm not posting these projects in order of importance or even in order based on when I completed them, just at my picture-taking and posting convenience.  If you're interested in how I made something and I don't describe it in enough detail, let me know and I'll try to point you in the direction of a tutorial or explain it myself.  No guarantees, though, I do a lot of just figuring stuff out as I go along. 

So, for today's nesting project, a hooter hider:

and no nursing cover is complete without matching burp cloths (actually, I was having a hard time not making matching burp cloths with every project, but when you have enough burp cloths to last a month without washing, it's time to stop):

This is my favorite hooter hider tutorial.  I have made a bunch of these for everyone but myself, so I've had a lot of practice.  I obviously embellished a little with the ruffle on this one.  It's also double-sided.  The burp cloths are just Gerber cloth dipes from Walmart, prewashed and with a strip of fabric top stitched down the center.  Easy peasy! 

34 week update

Okay, it's been a while since I've complained about being pregnant here, so this is the obligitory update to keep you all informed: yes, I'm huge, and uncomfortable, diabetic (and hungry!), and cranky.  But, we have been so blessed that Little Girl is healthy, growing and kicking (hard!), and that there have been no serious complications.  For all my whining about gestational diabetes, things have been better this time around.  My sugars are low, usually, even when I'm not exactly following my diet.  So low that I'm only having to test twice a day instead of four times, and there is not even a mention of medication (yes!). 

For those of you who don't believe I ever look pregnant, here is (very, very embarrassing) proof that my body is capable of looking huge (please be kind, Adam's suggestion was to cut off my head--it is not exactly flattering):

Some things I am loving right now:

• 
  
  Tums Smoothies, Berry Fusion flavor.  I need a hip holster, seriously. 
• 
  
  The pink shirt I am wearing in the picture above, and it's teal twin.  I also am loving a certain maxi dress from Old Navy (sorry, no link, they don't sell it anymore, I guess) . . . sooooo comfy.  And since I've outgrown about half of my maternity pants and capris, it's good to have a pantsless option. 
• 
  
  My body pillow.  And the Unisom my OB okayed for occasional use.  Because insomnia sucks, but it goes to a whole new level when you are pregnant and up several times in the night anyway.  Getting a good night's sleep around once every week or so really helps me not resent being a mom. 
• 
  
  Jimmy John's Beach Club (#11).  Yeah, still craving it.  I have to be a little smarter about eating it now, but dang it, it's so good! 
• 
  
  Adam's t shirts.  There are very few things that still stretch over my belly that I wear to bed, I'm so glad he has quite a lot of old shirts. 
• 
  
  Katie's excitement for her new little sister.  While Adam will not sit and squeal with me over pretty beaded binky clips and teeny tiny diapers, but I do have one person readily available who will as long as I am willing to count days and weeks for her every time we talk about it. 
• 
  
  My bra extender.  Because although my cup size doesn't go up too much, my band size definitely does. 
• 
  
  Up dos.  Yeah, I've been trying out some fancy (and some less-fancy) stuff with my hair to keep it off my neck in the 105 degree weather.  I think I've worn my hair up this summer more than I have in my whole life.  It's actually kind of fun, until I look at a picture of myself like the one above and remember why I usually keep my hair down. 
• 
  
  Nesting.  I am finally allowing myself to organize and prepare stuff for the baby.  I was going to wait another couple of weeks, but I've been going crazy trying to force myself to do other things, so I'm just indulging the urge.  Hopefully with helping Isaiah with homework, preschool, toddler time, karate, Katie's birthday, Adam's real estate courses, and preparing for Max's birthday and Halloween I should be able to fill any extra time before the baby's born.  Right?

So there you have it.  Six weeks to go, and still breathing! 

Thinkin' Pink!

Yesterday was our anatomy ultrasound, and first I'll get the important news out of the way: baby girl is completely healthy. Everything is measuring perfectly and in the right place.  So, 81% of those of you who voted were right!  We are very excited to be adding another little girl to the family.  Here are some pictures of our Little Miss:

Here front-face shot (check out that pointy chin!)

Profile

Here is her hand, literally waving at us

Tiny little baby feet

The money shot

Friday Favorites: Pregnancy Podcasts

When I was pregnant with Max, who was my third baby, I felt like I knew it all.  From car seats to front packs, putting them to sleep on their backs and when to start solids, breastfeeding to swaddling, I knew it all because I'd done it twice before.  Then, we decided to wait a while before having more kids, and Adam requested I clean out my baby stash in the garage.  I got into the mindset of just moving forward in milestones, not going back to revisit them all over again within the next year.  Suddenly, I was pregnant again and baby #4 is feeling like #1 again.  This pregnancy feels different, has been harder, and with starting over on several pieces of baby gear, I'm having to do research again.  It's also been 8 years since I started amassing my knowledge of baby care, and although I've continued to learn more along the way, the majority of my information comes from when I read the books the first time around.  Did you know I have an "unsafe" crib?  I am that old of a mom . . . .  (I'm also that old of a mom that I'm going to use it anyway!) 

Anyway, spending a lot of time laying on the couch not feeling great has had some upsides.  I passed all the levels on Angry Birds.  Anytime any of the children wanted a story read to them I was already in position and not going anywhere.  I have had plenty of time to research the best double stroller on using the iPad (which Adam actually bought for the business, so I guess I just borrow it!).  And I started to find ways to feel connected to other pregnant moms via my iPhone.  What to Expect.com has an iPhone app that I've been enjoying since week 7 of the pregnancy, and it's even better now that I can post to forums on it. 

In the last couple of weeks one of the moms on the WTE forum mentioned Pregtastic podcasts, and I had to find out what they were.  A bunch of pregnant moms basically come together with an expert and chat about a pregnancy-related topic in each podcast.  I really enjoy the portion of the show where they talk about their ups and downs of the week because I can really relate to how they are feeling, what they are thinking about, and how they are coping.  Another fun pregnancy show is Pea in the Podcast, where a journalist and mom interviews an expert about pregnancy-related topics and shares bits of her own experience on that topic.  Pea in the Podcast is more succinct and to-the-point, where Pregtastic is longer and more like sitting down to chat with the playgroup moms.  Pregtastic also started another podcast called New Moms New Babies, which I'm also really enjoying listening to.  That is even more like sitting down at playgroup, because everyone has a baby, and you can often hear them coo in the background. 

Slowly, I'm figuring out that what I know isn't all outdated, and that while new research is important, a lot of the conclusions new moms on these shows come to I came to long ago (you don't need to buy everything they sell at Babies R Us, but no one can tell you which things will work best for you).  But there is something special about listening to other moms who are doing what you're doing and feeling what you're feeling, and feeling normal and okay because of it.

Dough Girl

Just over a week ago, our friends, Pete and Colleen, came to visit for the weekend.  Colleen is a triathlete, and was racing in the St. George Tri (which, it turns out, she did pregnant!!  Congratulations, both on the awesome time on the race, and the fabulous news!).  It's always fun to see them, but it seemed especially fun this weekend for some reason.  Maybe it was the cookies.  They brought cookie dough from My Dough Girl, and oh my, it's good I don't live near Salt Lake, or I would hang out there, chowing on cookies all the time.  We had Margot, only she had white chocolate mint filling . . . mmmmm, so good.  I know some of you who read my blog are closer than I am, so if you have a chance stop in and try it you should, I hear they give samples so you can try out the different "girls." 

Speaking of dough girls, I am getting quite round these days, and it's not all cookie dough (or ice cream sandwiches--that's a new craving this time around).  Tomorrow I hit 20 weeks officially (the ticker to the right is off by a little bit, but I'll forgive it since it thinks I'm farther along than I really am), which means I'm halfway through this pregnancy.  If you are paying attention and know all about these things, that means I should know the baby's sex, right?  Well, I will find out next Tuesday when I have my ultrasound, so I'll be 21 weeks, but really it only pushes the milestone and makes the pregnancy go a bit faster, so it's a good thing.  I didn't find out with Max until 23 weeks, so I'm not being picky. 

Anyway, here is the first actual belly picture of this pregnancy, so you can see me with a tummy.  It does happen (and it happened faster this time, for sure)! 

Side note: I realize this picture is blurry; it is difficult to take a self portrait, even with a tripod.  I couldn't get the camera to focus, and I didn't trust myself to focus manually, so I kept shooting and running back and forth.  Titus sat there, watching me, perplexed.  It took 16 shots to get myself in the shot, not cut off, without blinking.  It gives me a whole new level of respect for my friend, Cynthia, who is taking a self portrait every day this year, and every one is gorgeous. 

It's hard to blog after not blogging for so long (it's been almost a month!).  I generally tend to skip a blogger's apologies for not posting often enough, etc, because I know that most people have a life and there is no deadline to follow, no one making you do it, so when things get out of control it's an easy and nonessential thing to drop.  So I'll spare you the apology and just say: this pregnancy sucks.  And I do have stuff to blog, so I'll be around, but if it's quiet around here, it might be because I have nothing positive to blog about or I just plain don't feel like it.  Now I'm going to go get myself another ice cream sandwich (those yummy cookies only lasted a matter of hours).

Friday Favorites - Altoids

Do you remember when I was pregnant with Max and posted a list of my favorite things in pregnancy?  Well, when I was pregnant with Max Katie was potty trained already and I didn't have to change diapers while I had morning sickness, so I didn't remember something I used frequently when I was pregnant with Katie. 
In fact I had forgotten all about it, gagging through every dirty diaper, until someone complained about that very same problem, and I recommended popping a mint just before changing the diaper.  Eventually a lightbulb went on, and after that I eventually remembered to pick some up at the store (gotta love pregnancy brain!). 

I prefer peppermint Altoids, because they are so strong I really can't smell the poopy diaper at all as I change it--it's amazing!

P.S. Be sure to vote in the gender poll to the right!

Porter at two months

This took me so long because no matter what I tried, I could not get the hang of the editing techniques I was trying to teach myself.  So, here they are with what little color correction I already knew how to do.  (But you have to admit, he's pretty darn cute on his own!)

Porter is so fun, such a joy!  His little laugh makes you stop dead in your tracks and laugh along.  I hope you enjoy his pictures half as much as I enjoyed snuggling him again this weekend. 

Growing

Sometime in the last couple of months half a pound of ground beef in our favorite recipes stopped being enough to feed our whole family. We are outgrowing our barbeque grill. With Max's arrival a year and a half ago, we outgrew our sedan and moved into minivan. A year ago we bought a new house, and we seem determined to grow into it, as well, at the rate we have bought furniture and miscellaneous stuff we've wanted and talked about for months or years and now have room for and indulge in. I think I'm almost ready to graduate to a free-standing grill for cooking pancakes instead of my little on-the-stove version. Our family is growing, and it's not stopping with how much we eat, how much space we occupy, or what we drive. Oh, no, it is only fitting that God send us someone else to occupy the empty seat in the van . . .

That's right, we are HAVING A BABY!! 
 
If you've wondered why I'm grouchy (I'm so sorry if you've been on the receiving end), or slow about getting back with you (again, so sorry!), or not posting as much about food, it's because someone played a trick on me, making me so sick in the middle of my dinner challenge I thought I was going to have to give up.  After a week of struggling to cook and eat everything, I finally got an idea of what could be causing it and took a pregnancy test.  And then took another because despite how I felt and what I was looking at I couldn't believe it.  And then I showed Adam, and he went and bought me a fancy digital test and I took another one, because we both were still in shock.  It wasn't until I saw a little fetus-shaped blob on the ultrasound and heard that whoosh-whoosh of a baby heartbeat that I realized it was no flu and I would have to starting thinking baby.  Four weeks later, I'm coming around.  (But the morning sickness is still only mildly tolerable, officially making this the worst first trimester of the four.) 
 
Here are the stats: I am 12 weeks and 5 days, due October 12, 2010.  The big kids are excited, both hoping for a girl (Max is still oblivious).  I am also hoping for a girl, and while Adam would love another boy, he realizes the logistics would be better with a girl (for the sharing of rooms down the road--Katie doesn't have a room buddy yet).  We announced to most of the family Friday at our annual Easter party.  For the rest of you, please don't be angry that I'm not calling everyone individually, I really do love you.  I'm just so tired . . .

These are a few of my favorite things (baby edition)

I did this for my favorite things during pregnancy, now it's time to share my favorite baby products that make life easier with a little one.

• I am a swaddling mom; every one of my children was (is) swaddled as a baby, and I believe it's the best way to help infants sleep. My friend, Kelie, gave me Dwell Studio receiving blankets from Target, and I have decided they are the very best swaddling blankets because they are extra large. And they are super cute!


• Some babies take pacifiers, others don't, and some mothers believe in pacifiers while others don't. I'm a believer in pacifiers to help babies soothe to sleep and to temporarily stretch time between feedings (like when a 2.5 hour feeding schedule needs to become a 3 hour feeding schedule as Baby gets older). And I am a believer in the pacifier that soothes when nothing else will; we all know the desperation we feel when nothing else works. Isaiah loved his Nuk, Katie didn't take a pacifier (I tried every one I could find--she was a fussy baby!), and Max will only take a Soothie. I really like Soothie pacifiers. Unfortunately, sometimes a pacifier needs a clip, and Soothies don't have a hole. Never fear, Shelli to the rescue! All you have to do is use a regular hole punch to punch a hole in the little tabby thingy. Works great!


• Speaking of Soothies, I really like Soothie bottles, which my friend, Teresa, introduced me to. I like the nipple on both the binkies and the bottles, it just seems more realistic, if you know what I mean, which is nice for breastfeeding moms like me who only occasionally bottle-feed. But the bottles are also cool because the lids snap onto the bottom of the bottle so you don't lose them!


• And while I'm mentioning breastfeeding, I just have to thank Haley again for my Hooter Hider (yeah, that beautiful one was for me!). Real Hooter Hiders are pricey, so despite how useful and beautiful they are, they're just not practical for normal girls like me. I was lucky to be the recipient of a beautiful handmade one.


• Okay, I don't own this, but if I did I would wear it under my clothes to make quick changes into SuperMom. This slogan is probably my favorite mantra when I get odd looks from people who ask if I'm still breastfeeding. (Okay, no one's said that this baby--yet. But it's only a matter of time!)


• We haven't used Hyland's teething tablets with Max because he hasn't teethed yet, but Hyland's also has colic tablets which we have used when he's had a stomach ache. We love Hyland's!


• I'm a thrifty girl, so I feel like a hypocrite saying how much I love Huggies cucumber and green tea wipes. Normally I use regular old Kirkland wipes, but when there's a coupon at Costco, I will buy the thick, lovely-smelling Huggies wipes. The coordinating baby wash and lotion are some of my favorite things, too. Shhh, don't tell: I use the lotion myself sometimes.


• The most expensive thing I bought this time around, and by far my most researched and loved baby purchase probably ever, was the Graco carseat. Yeah, Graco isn't exactly top-of-the-line, but it had all the features I wanted and was rated one of the top in safety. Plus, it doesn't weigh 20 lbs, which is important for a wussy girl like me. And I love, love, love the Darius pattern. Every time someone compliments it, I feel like I'm glowing because I spent months looking for the perfect carseat, and I got it!

Well, I'm sure to remember more after I post this . . . I've already waited a week from when I started writing it until posting (and I keep coming up with more!), but I'll stop here.

It's a boy!!

This is Adam filling in for Rachel....

Well, the time has *finally* come! Max was born at 9:22PM, weighed 7 lbs 9 ozs, and was 19.5" long. He also has 10 fingers, 10 toes, one flat forehead, a red face, and very bent ears. :)

Here are a couple pictures of him when he was just a few seconds old... better pictures are sure to come later (we hope).

The Nursery

Okay, it's finally done! There are some blank spaces on the walls, and that is because we're planning to take pictures after the baby's born, and then we'll hang them. Until then, I didn't have placeholder pictures to hang.