New Fluff: Just in time for Baby A

Just less than three days until my c-section. This amazing four pound package of fluff arrived in the mail today. I am just so delighted by cloth diapers. It is pretty funny. I ordered 11 newborn/medium diapers and 4 medium/large pocket diapers from Sassy Pants Diapers. The gal who makes them is just so nice and the quality is unsurpassed by any of the major brands that I have tried. The stitching is near perfect on every diaper. I was able to get some different color combos this time around. I love the browns and pinks together. These are all pocket diapers. They are not one size, but come in adjustable sizes newborn through medium and medium to large. Most of the diapers that I purchased have an inner velour layer that is so soft to the touch, some of a micro fabric which is also soft, but not as luxurious as the velour.

I think we are done purchasing diapers for a while. This will make my stash pretty complete especially if I can use all of them when this baby girl is in size medium. I would use the first size with nothing snapped and the second size with them snapped as small as they go. I am hoping that works out.

What is your favorite cloth diaper? These are mine. I am so excited to try them with this little baby in a week or two. For my older kids the medium/large seems to fit better than some of the other brands that are one size, especially with the snaps. I have found that I prefer snaps, which is a surprise. I still ordered a few hook and loop closure diapers for baby A because I think they will work out better in the beginning when she is so little. We will see. I am thinking we will save these beauties for a little while until her yucky poops are gone. I don't want to stain them and honestly we bought some hybrid diapers for the beginning or Gdiapers with biodegradable disposable inserts and then a package or two of newborn Huggies with Organic Cotton. I know they are not the best, but I think it will work out the best for our family situation in the beginning. We will see.

My laundry room sink is in. I will try to post pictures in the next few days. I am very excited to have a sink in the laundry room, especially with cloth diapering. This will be so much easier than using the bathroom sink (of course I will still use the toilet to dump the dump first), but to soak or scrub the diapers I am going to experiment with the laundry room sink and a tub. We will see. :) At least now I will be able to strip the diapers when needed.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful summer day!

Jen D.

All the new fluff


The inside and outside of a bright coral PUL cover and yellow velor inside. I love it and I thought I was taking a huge risk in ordering the color combo.



Light Blue Small/Med PUL with brown velor... inside view and outside view.



Brown Hook and Loop Closure Diapers (it is hard to tell, but the inner fabric colors are pink, blue, brown velor and then one white micro-fabric). These are all in the smaller size.

I am still here...still pregnant...

Yes, I am still pregnant. I am sorry for not updating my blog in almost a month. I was so good for a while. I have been struggling with the last weeks of pregnancy and it is difficult to think of something blog worthy to write.
Here are some of the things that I have been working on or thinking about:(sorry the pictures are not the greatest...it was the lighting.)

Nursing/Handmade Nursing Cover Up
I made a nursing cover up out some fabulous new fabric and was actually able to make a few burp clothes to go with it. I am a little nervous about this because with my other two pregnancies I was not able to make enough milk to sustain my kids, I have always had to supplement. I am hoping and praying this time I will make enough milk and even have a tea to try that my friend swears by. We will see. I want to be realistically optimistic. I was devastated the with Big A when I couldn’t solely nurse and spend seven months with a crazy rigorous feeding schedule of nursing, feeding bottle of pumped milk from previous pumping session, feeding a few ounces of formula (yes three bottles) and then pumping again after the feeding. It was too much to do with my second so I would just nurse and supplement little a with formula. I know breast milk is best, but when you have tried everything to make it work and it is not, thank God there is such thing as formula. I would prefer for my body to work as it is supposed to, but it has failed me so many times…I must be realistic. The positives: at least there is formula, the baby can thrive off of it and it is readily available. The negatives: formula is not as good as breast milk for the baby, formula doesn’t help shed the unwanted pregnancy pounds, the cost of formula is very high compared to free breast milk, it is not as convenient when you have to wash bottles, prep formula, make sure you have it with you everywhere, formula stains, formula smells, formula diapers stink more and have to be rinsed before washing (if you are using cloth). Anyways, there is the list. I am hopeful, but at the same time know that I have struggled with this in the past…I am not sure what would change with the third pregnancy, but maybe…do you think?


Two Weeks and Counting Down
Although, I have been trying to stay distracted and busy so I don’t think about how much I want this little girl out of me, I am still counting down. There are things that I want to finish before she gets here, but I would be so happy if she came right now. My c-section is scheduled for two weeks from today. I hope I don’t make it that long, but I am not the one in charge.
I decided to sew my own maternity gown, but I am a little stuck on it now. I have not followed a pattern in two decades so it is a little difficult to know what to do with things like interfacing and what not. It is all cut out, but I don’t have the interfacing and I am not sure if it’s a must or not. We will see. I’ll post pictures when I am done, that is assuming I finish it.

Balance
I have been trying to balance things in my life. I don’t have a lot of balance right now. I struggle with it and that is one reason I am excited to be going back to work sixty percent, it helps create some sort of balance and order in my crazy life. Right now balance is particularly difficult to achieve because of the crazy hormones, waiting for this baby to decide if she is coming early or not, it is summer and things are a little out of routine due to that, both the hubby and I are home (we both teach) for the summer (this is good in many ways and also creates some problems in other ways), my three year old is still toilet training resistant (honestly, I am tempted to just put her back in disposable diapers and forget it…I have never met a more stubborn child in my life or a more difficult task and I am a teacher), my son will be two in a few weeks (need I remind you about the terrible twos), and my life and body are out of my control. I don’t know if you can achieve balance without some measure of control. It is an interesting thought to ponder.

Well I have a few ideas for posts in the next few days. I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend.

Jen D.

Baby Update and Hospital Delivery Gown

(This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I have been having a few technical issues, all hardware/software related with NetGear.

I went to the doctor yesterday and everything is fine with the little girl growing inside. I have a little less than six weeks to go. I am hoping shorter, but we will see. If she comes a little early I will be very excited. Although, my c-section is already scheduled and I am thankful that the date is the closest to my due date that they will allow one to be performed. These last six weeks are usually the most difficult for me to do lack of sleep, being uncomfortable, feeling awkward and just gross. This pregnancy seems to be even harder. I am not sure if that is because it was a surprise or I have two toddlers this time or if my body is just tired of being pregnant or a little of all three.
I have continued my nesting streak and have been working on my To Do List before the little one is born. As I have mentioned before I love to cross things off my To Do List. It is so satisfying.



One thing I am considering is a bringing my own hospital gown with me to the hospital. I can’t stand the scratchy, icky gowns that they give you in the hospital to wear. They also seem to be the most unflattering thing to wear to have your picture taken with the new baby. Case in point, see the picture below of me with little a.



I have found several gowns that I could purchase, but the frugal side of me is apprehensive to spend so much money on a gown like that. I would love to try to make one or have my MIL make me one. I think that would be the most frugal thing to do, but lately when I have brought up any sort of sewing project she hasn’t objected, but she hasn’t really volunteered or made time to do them. I can’t imagine spending $35 up to a $100 on one gown, but at the same time I really want one. I would love something like either one of my top choices listed below, which I could wear later to nurse in at night. I could really use something to feel a little more attractive in when I am at the hospital, not to mention a little more modest since the hospital gowns open up in back. I would love something to hide my horrible arms (my legs and arms seems to swell up when I am pregnant…no I am not kidding…although they could probably use A LOT of toning once I am done with this pregnancy.) I would try to make my own gown, but I am not that great at sewing and I would be afraid to waste my money on the fabric and have it not work. I also don’t have a serger, which seems like it would be necessary for durability.



So here is my dilemma do I just do it, purchase one? Do I ask my MIL to make me one? Do I try to make my own? Do I buy some nursing pajamas instead (could I wear these for the first picture w/my c-section)? Or do I just not bother with bring my own gown? I don’t know.

Here are my top two choices, although I have been considering this third one mainly due to the price.

This Weekend…

Well not a lot was accomplished for this ambitious, nesting mama of soon to be three kids under three, but at least some progress was made. I don’t know about you, but I am a list person and just love to cross things off of my list. Looking back is the best when so much is crossed out.

I was able to get a few things completed and a few other things started throughout the weekend. The main project that I completed was covering these stools.



I should have taken a picture of them before (but I may not have wanted to post it even if I had taken one). We have had these stools for four years almost and the cream fabric that was on them had definitely seen better days. I had used our carpet cleaner (SpotBot) to clean them, but they still had stains from the kids and who knows what that were stubborn and not coming off.

On Saturday, I went to the fabric store and scored this great fabric for 50 percent off the normal price. All of their upholstery fabric/home decorating fabrics were on sale. (I also picked up some fawn colored silk for my ribbon board, but that is a separate post and all I have is the ribbon and fabric right now for it). I purchased 1.5 yards of fabric, knowing that I would have some left over and I could make pillows for the adjacent family room. Although, I really want to use the fabric to cover our kitchen table chairs, but the hubby wants to wait since our kids eat on those daily and they still have some wear and tear that we get out of them.

So getting to the point…it was really a simple project. I cut three large squares of fabric out, making sure it would fit around the diameter of the stool pad. While I pulled the fabric tight and so there were no creases my husband stapled the fabric to the back of the stool. It was much easier with two people, but I am sure one person could do it. The total time not including the fabric purchase was twenty minutes. I am very pleased with the results. I would love to hear about your do it yourself projects if you care to share leave a comment with your project or your blog post.

Menu Plan Monday: Second week of June

I am not that attached to anything on this menu, but it is getting more and more difficult to plan our families meals because nothing sounds good to me in these last weeks of pregnancy. I am trying to just not consider myself, but then I am the one who cooks so I want meals that are quick, easy and don’t cost a lot of money…not to mention healthy.

Sunday: Cheeseburgers, orzo salad and baked beans (strawberries, whip cream and angel food cake for dessert (MIL came over to celebrate her belated birthday)
Monday: Leftovers that need to be eaten
Tuesday: A stir fry of some kind, fish and rice
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Chicken enchilada soup, served with chips and a small dinner salad
Friday: MIL is coming over with dinner…yea!
Saturday: Leftovers from Friday’s meal or grilled fish, rice and artichokes

Enjoy your week.
Jen D.

Trouble Sleeping

Well among all the other horrible symptoms I have of being pregnant I now am having a lot of trouble sleeping. I am sure having to use the bathroom every hour or so is not helping with that, but tonight I just can't seem to fall asleep. I am sure tomorrow I will be paying for not falling asleep when my two children are up rearing to go, but between the heartburn, all the frustrations of this week, the hubby doing his thing (snoring or moving), the dog (who the hubby allows on the bed) and my to do list that is a mile wide I am unable to fall asleep and get good sleep these days...especially tonight for some reason. It has been a pretty horrible day, but that is nothing new as far my life goes. Oh well! Maybe if I try again it will happen. Goodnight!

Food For the First Week of June (With a graphic of my motto)

Oops! I intended to post this earlier in the week, but forgot. It has been one of those weeks.

Food for the first week in June:
Monday: black bean burritos, with rice and a side salad
Tuesday: Turkey, avocado and cream cheese pita pockets with sprouts
Wednesday: grilled chicken, polenta and a side salad
Thursday: Orzo spinach salad with grilled chicken (recipe to follow soon)
Friday: Chicken Enchiladas (This was the original plan, now with the week I have had I am thinking take out or something that does not involve me cooking.)
Saturday: Grilled salmon, wild rice, strawberry with gorgonzola and tasty pecan salad