Week 23 Survey....

The Weekly 20 (Week 23-June 2nd, 2010)
1. The Bump: Is a solid basketball.
2. Total Weight Gain/Loss: I must admit I have not been keeping track, but we are definitely up since January. My gain has not been tremendous and is only concentrated on my belly and so things are going well. Both the nurses (LC, MW and PA) and the OB say things look good.
3. Maternity Clothes: Definitely. Mainly skirts, shorts, and dress pants. I am able to wear all my PINK yoga pants and most of my dresses and skirts still. Some tops are getting a bit tight around the belly.
4. Stretch Marks: None on the belly and no new ones on my boobs or hips/thighs since my teenage years (those are my battle scars to growing up)
5. Sleep: Since Hubby is away it will be in fits the next 2 nights, but lately it has been ok. It takes me a bit to fall asleep and get comfortable, but am still able to sleep through the night.
6. Movement: Movement has been sporadic and more fluttering, with the occasional kick. Given my anterior placenta, Hubby is still unable to feel the baby kicks.
7. Food Cravings/Aversions: Still craving peanut butter like mad, but I have always loved PB, so not really a craving. Due to the heartburn, I want milk and milkshakes always!
8. Gender: It's a boy!
9. Belly button in or out: It's still in, but getting flatter lately.
10. What I miss: Fitting into my jeans, eating food without thinking about the consequences (HB or having to avoid something due to it not being healthy for LO).
11. What I am looking forward to: Taking our baby classes in July and August, working on and completing all the nursery projects and other crafts we have planned in our spare time.
12. Weekly Wisdom: "Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you will still be among the stars"13. Best moment this week: Finding a bunch of the fabric for the rocking chair pads and the organizer and all the other patterns on sale at Joann's.
14. Number of days you wore the same piece of clothing in a row? Just 2 days due to having to return to the tourney.
15. Energy Level: Moderate

16. Labor Signs: May have felt a BH contraction this weekend, but not really sure.

17. Daddy to be Status: He is beginning to get antsy to work on projects for the nursery. He decided he wants his own diaper bag (I completely agree!) and so we found a pattern and he will make himself a UF Gators one and I will work on all the accessories to match (plus a lot of other cool things for LO and the nursery).

18. Milestones: Depending on which counter we are following...the calendar says I am starting Week 24, the tickers all say "23 weeks and 5 days"....so we are reaching V Day.

19. Symptoms: Bad heartburn almost always it seems and the occasional burning sensation/numbness in the left leg.

20. Next OB appointment: June 7th (Monday!)--we are in the 3-week period now. :)

Nursery Projects...continued

We found 5 patterns of projects we want to do for the nursery.


13. Rocker Cushions (Back & Bottom) 
14. Hanging Organizer
Using this pattern and fabric we will make cooridnating cushions for my grandparents' rocking chair and a hanging organizer for the nursery.

15. Clownfish Blanket
Using this pattern and orange, black & white fleece fabric, we are making a large throw blanket for either use on the floor or cool days in the stroller.

16. "His" diaper bag
Using this pattern and fabric, Hubby is making himself a Gators diaper bag.

 17. Baby Wrap
18. Terry Cloth Bib
Using this pattern and some terry fabric (not sure exactly on what color or pattern we will ultimately go with), I want to make the baby blanket wrap and a matching bib.

 

19. Pillow Cover

Probably Terrycloth material

20. Shopping Cart Cover

Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag

21. Pacifier Case 

Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag 

Using this pattern:

 

22. Changing Pad
Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag 
23. Burp Cloth
Probably in Gator material (and soft, terrycloth material) to match Hubby's bag 
24. Tummy Pillow
Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag 
25. Bib
Probably in Gator material (and vinyl material) to match Hubby's bag 
26. Diaper Wipes Case
Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag 
27. Pacifier Clip
Probably in Gator material to match Hubby's bag 

Using this pattern:

28. Yo-yo Dolls
*Depending on my time availability, I think I will try making some of these animals in different colors and adapt the pattern to make other animals than just the three pictured in the pattern. I would also like to try making a blanket with the yo-yo's, but do not think that will be happening anytime before LO arrives since the rest of the projects are definitely more a priority.

Using this pattern:

Nursery Projects...

So the list of projects has grown for the nursery recently. Due to my extra time at home, and Hubby's willingness to do a lot of DIY projects for the nursery and new baby, we have found some great patterns and fabric to go along. This weekend, Joann's, is having huge sales on Simplicity patterns 5/ $5) and 50% off fabric so we are getting our sewing machine and craft list lengthened. Below is an explanation and some pictures of the supplies and before/after pictures required for the projects.

The Project List:

1. Crib Mobile
So we plan to use the Fisher Price Precious Plant musical and light projection mobile we found at a garage sale a few weeks back as our Crib mobile. Since I was not particularly fond of the animals on it, we are redoing the mobile animals with SeaPals stuffed sealife....

*The FP PP main piece with remote*

 *Two of the fish for the mobile*

*The Ebay find (Black and White Striped fish) and the Seahorse are planned for the mobile*

2. Shell Mobile
Since it is recommended to have something in the rocking chair corner above the chair for the baby to look at, I found a bunch of white sea shells and starfish and will use the remaining SeaPals from above (Turtle, Starfish) for this mobile over the Rocker. The tentative plan is to run two dowels in an "X" and suspend a small sewing hoop in the center. Attached to the dowels would be the SeaPals and attached and dangling downward would be the sea shells and starfish.

*The shells, hoop and starfish*

*The other SeaPals: Manta Ray & Lobster*

3. Closet Organization System

We are planning to install a closet system like the picture below, but some moderations. Possibly with a tall dark wood bookshelf with a mixture of shelves and drawers for storage. Off the sides we will have closet rods for hanging LO's clothes, 2 heights on each side.

 4. Winnie the Pooh Pillow & Plush Book

 I found an adorable kit that makes a plush cloth book and a small pillow to store it in that is old-school pooh, so I will need to get sewing on that soon.
COMPLETED: 6/5/10

5. White Frame Remodel

For our wedding, we recieved a beautiful white ciruclar frame from one of our guests and have yet to find a use for it. Now I think I will find some transfer letters or stickers to change the frame into a month-by-month frame of LO's growth through pictures.

*Here is a Before shot of the Frame*

6. Baby Book & Scrapbook

Since I am not a fan of the traditional baby books, I am planning to make my own unique one for LO. We are still on the hunt for a book and as soon as I knock out some of the other projects I will start organizing some of the pages together with our mass quantity of scrapbook supplies.

7. Name Letters

Although I will not be sharing Baby G's name on here until after he arrives, we are doing letters for his name to match the nursery, so of course those will need to be completed (but first the name has to be chosen!)

8. Window Curtain

Hubby is designing a Roman Shade for the window with a blackout panel installed on 1 side and a blue crinkle fabric on the other side.

*Although the picture does little justice for the fabric color, the white is the balckout fabric, and the blue is the crinkle color fabric with brown and turquoise undertones in it*

 *Hubby hard at work*

9. Closet "Door" Curtain

A simple set of curtains in this fabric will adorn the side of the closet. If we wish to hide the closet, we can pull them back, and if we want to use the closet, we can tie them back and show the closet.

10. ABC Baby Book

 With an old Martha Stweart scrapbook I got from Michael's, I am going to make an ABC book for the baby. It is a simple black cloth book, unique size and the theme of the book will be about LO but through the ABC's.

11. Wall Decals installed

 Name alone says it all...this will be a last project once the rest of the nursery furniture and decor is installed

12. Growth Chart

Hubby found a cute surfboard growth chart for the nursery, so we will purchase that one instead of making one.

21 weeks- Bump Update

Here is the basketball....Baby G is doing well. At our last appt..everything was measuring well and his heartbeart was 150 on the doppler.

Nursery Update

Here are some nursery pictures to show the progress we are slowly making. Hopefully in the coming weeks things will begin to fall in place.

Room painting is Ocean Sigh (a bright blue color) with 2 lighter blue colors sponged over the top half of the wall in a gradation pattern from the ceiling down to mid-point on the wall. We are going to use some Finding Nemo decals on the walls as accessory decorating. All the trim in the room is done in crisp white as contrast to the blue wall color.

Looking into the nursery from the hall...

We plan to use the white circular frame for LO's first year in pictures and hang it above the nursery...

Changing Table will go in the chalked out lines on this wall...living room is on the other side of this wall. halked out region where the Changing Table will go. The black book shelf will be moved to the opposite corner next to the floor lamp and house the electronics (modem, router, etc.) on the second shelf so LO cannot reach them and extra supplies on the first shelf for "within arms reach" of the changing table.

Closet Area....recessed into the wall...eventually we want to build a closet system with shelves, cabinets and racks for storage and hanging baby clothes.

Reading Area next to the Window....

Eventually we will reupholster the cushions on the Rocking Chair since the current material is old and faded. Finding Nemo decals over the reading area. Once we get the Size Chart, it will go behind the door on the wall and more decals will be applied to the wall. As the shelves, frames and other wall art get created, we will work on adding the decals to the open walls.

Hand-me Down Furniture...

Short dresser was my grandfather V's and the Rocking Chair was my grandmother V's. The dresser is in great condition. Hubby even fixed the top piece so it no longer falls off the base. It is a dark brown wood. Even though we are not keen on gold, we will leave the rocker alone and just reupholster a new cushion. The lamp bookcase was a wedding present from family friends and is a great addition to the room, especially since there is room to store some things on it and provides a nice dim light. Next project is Roman curtains with a blackout panel for the window and then curtains for the closet.

Flooring and Seagrass Rug for in front of the crib...

Hubby installed wood flooring and then we decided to find a small throw rug for infront of the crib. The rug is a bit rough, but hopefully we will be able to break in before LO comes home. Lucky has already set up shop in the nursery, so we moved one of the bigger dog pillows in here so he can lay on it. If he decides to become a permanent fixture in here, we will make room for his pillow somewhere. The green tape outlines where the crib and changing table/dresser will be going. In the boxed out corner of the room near the black floor lamp is where we will move the small bookshelf.

Crib Wall...

The hallway is on the other side of this wall. The second picture shows the chalked outline of where the crib will be. Currently, Lucky's bed is within the green tape on the floor. Above the crib is where the white circlwe frame will go. We are still working out the layout, but I think we will put 2 smaller 5x7 frames on either side of the circle for the Newborn Pic and the First Year Pic and Lo's first name above the circle and middle name below the circle.

DIY/Handmade List

With the baby on the way, Hubby and I figured out what things we want to do or make for the baby and/or the nursery....the list is continually growing but here it is...

•  Hanging Art over Rocker
• Winnie Pillow/Book
• Closet Organizers
• Closet System
• Nursery Door Hanger- update: completed 5/14/10
• Window Curtain
• Closet Door
• Rocking Chair Cushion
• Wall Decals
• Growth Chart (update: we are ordering one off Ebay since Hubby does not think he can make one as cool as the one he saw)
• Name Letters
• White Frame Update
• Other Felt Projects
• 2 8x10 Frames
• 1 for "The First Year"
• 1 for "Just Born"

Although the list is long, I think once we get a free weekend, we can knock a lot of this list out, but wow are we ambitious and creative!

The Never-Ending List

With the baby on the way, Hubby and I figured out what things we want to do or make for the baby and/or the nursery....the list is continually growing but here it is...

Completed

•  Hanging Art
• Winnie Pillow/Book
• Closet Organizers
• Closet System
• Nursery Door Hanger
• Window Curtain
• Closet Door
• Wall Decals
• Growth Chart (update: we are ordering one off Ebay since Hubby does not think he can make one as cool as the one he saw)
• Name Letters
• White Frame Update
• Other Felt Projects
• 2 8x10 Frames
• 1 for "The First Year"
• 1 for "Just Born"
• Baby Book/Scrapbook
• Rocker Cushions
• Caddy Organizer
• Gator Diaper Bag
• Diaper Bag Matching Accessories:
• Changing Pad
• Burp Cloth
• Tummy Pillow
• Bib
• Diaper Wipes Case
• Pacifier Clip

Although the list is long, I think once we get a free weekend, we can knock a lot of this list out, but wow are we ambitious and creative!