Shopping for Baby!

Ok, so when I was still trying to get pregnant, I was reading all these great crafty mommy blogs, and I was dreaming of a time when I could write up some great tutorials, and take great photos, and post maternity pics, and chronicle my adventure into mommy-hood....then I got pregnant, and between school and work, and the fatigue and morning sickness in the early stages, crafting and blogging about it was the last thing on my mind. Oh sure, I posted a couple pictures and crochet patterns, but nothing really intriguing!

Here I am with roughly a month left until my little man decides to grace us with his cries, and I am finally getting in gear!

Perhaps not so much crafty, but worthy of posting!

Realizing I am less than 4 weeks from my expected due date (okay, so guess date) I hit the stores when hubby got paid (don't worry, I paid bills too).

I'f only I had looked that glamorous when I was shopping yesterday... waddling about in my non-supportive flats, flowy yoga pants, and too warm maternity shirt.

I picked up the last of the essentials, nursing bra and shirts (buy 3 get 1 free at Motherhood Maternity), bottles and storage bags, pump, diapers, a hamper for the nursery, etc... I got to the door 3 times and remembered more that I needed! Went back in for this and that, and when I finally got home with all of the stuff, I realized I forgot more... baby gates, baby proofing stuff, and a gas can for hubby's truck. At that point I was dead on my feet and really didn't care.

After all was said and done, and I had gotten all the goodies stowed away inside the house (I think the heat almost melted my new bottles) I looked at how much it totaled up to... who knew it could get that spendy that quickly!

I might have to start my own savings account, just to accommodate how much that cost us to get started! "Sorry kid, you cost too much when you were a baby, you gotta dish out your 18 years of allowance for your college tuition..."

But I did get some smoking good deals! Found the perfect swing at a thrift store, this model sells for about $120.00 in fancy boutique shops, I got it in brand new condition for $49.99! Along with some great hand-made blankets.

At another shop, I found a super cute bouncy seat for $27.99, and another great blanket, and a swaddle sack, total I paid $31.00!

But now we get to the fun stuff! I am finally checking things off my list of stuff to do! I finally washed through all of Connor's clothes, bedding, blankets, and toys (yep, that's the name we chose, a little boy! Exciting!). Getting the hospital bag put together (getting hubby to do his share is like pulling teeth! "I need you to pick out a shirt and pants for the hospital bag", "Yeah, Ok, when I'm done looking at reddit/ facebook/ webcomics/ sending out this email for work...." At this point, I'm about to pick out clothes for him! I put together the diaper bags, one for me, one for hubby, and one for a sitter/family drop off. I tediously organized the clothes into bins by size, and got them ready to stack out of the way until he grows into them (I know it's wishful thinking to think I can stay organized...but I'm trying!) I am getting my craft stuff back under control (since it's taking over half the nursery right now) and setting up a pseudo office in the dining room for now (we are hoping to move into a bigger place soon).

 Then I realized...I have nothing handmade that I've done for Connor! Lots of lists of things to do, lots of supplies purchased for projects, just none finished! I also realized that I have 2 close friends who are due with their own little ones within a month or so of my own... better get busy!

Plans:
Mobile for Connor

Instead of a string garland, I'll take this great idea from Crafty Endeavor and hang each ball (I'm doing yarn for a bolder effect) from a embroidery ring, then I'll cover the ring in ribbon, and dangle it on a swivel mount from my tackle box so it can spin freely.

If it's easy/fast enough, I'll do one up for my cousin's little boy, and my friend twin girls!

Hats for shower gifts: (Bri, Tabi, if you are reading this, scroll past here!)

I have knitted a super cute hat, can't show pics yet...using this color:

And I'll be crocheting 2 hats for the girls using this color:

I will also be doing some super cute carseat sized blankets for each little one! And of couse, how can I not make a hedgehog for each baby! Will post pics when I finish these projects.

I also want to finish some art work I was going to hang in the nursery, but I think between this heat, and the lack of energy, I'd rather just go sit by the river, soak my feet, and knit away the day!

And then I remember there is laundry... Oh the joys of being a new housewife...

 

Warm Sentiments - Baby Blankets

The baby blanket, the warmth and security, almost every baby or child has their favorite. I'm almost 23 and I have a favorite blanket...

About two years ago, my mom dug out one of my baby blankets and gave it to me. I slept with it every night, and often during the day, my husband thought it was odd, and a little adorable. I can live with that. Unfortunately, about 3 months after I brought it home, one of my dogs chewed through one layer of it, so it has a 3 inch hole in one side. I am looking for a cute patch to put over it, I am thinking I might take a scrap from my own baby's blankie (once I decide on what I am making) and use that to cover it.

About a year ago, my mother-in-law gave me a box of things. One of the items in the box was a cot blanket that my husbands grandma gave him. It's plush, and silky, and has a vaguely Asian feel to it, it is comfy, and gorgeous. I need to sew op a few seams, and clean it again (our black dog decided it was part of her space on the bed...)

Both of these blankets will be passed down to our baby in the late summer.

I have also made our little one a couple crocheted blankets, I am working on a granny square one now in some very pretty green tones, I discovered that they would also make a nice turtle stuffy, so I will be making that as well.

The picture doesn't quite do these colors justice. It was taken with my cell phone, inside my car, when it was pouring rain. The solid color is an almost Easter-y mint green, and the multi is just a tad darker than the pic. I will be posting a tutorial on the blanket, and possibly the turtle, and matching hat. (next week sometime)

Do you still have your favorite childhood blanket? Whether you use it or it's packed away for safe keeping? Does your child have a security blanket?
 

Several finishes this week

So I have been working my way through some great projects. Nearly finished my whole list.

Got all of the 9 square blanket finished, photos will be added tonight. Worked on it between classes and waiting for the doc at my chiropractors. Just need to finish up the hat to match.

Finished the purple sand dollar today waiting for hubby to get out of his chiropractic adjustment appointment.

Now I am finishing up the cotton sand dollar, I have about 5 small balls of cotton left before I'm done with that.

Now, I am heading out to work on homework. Skipping class to deal with a panic attack, and I can't wait to get home and hide in my room.