More Cuteness from Confinement

I finished some toys for the cutie and am quite proud of my work. The owl bib pattern is MUCH cuter as a toy. Check out the front.



I made a different type of wing than the pattern so that it could flap. L was having fun playing with it. Here is the back.



Then I moved on to this pattern I found in Amigurumi Two! which features patterns for children (toys, rattles, etc.). The author also has Amigurumi World which also has adorable patterns. I really liked the fruit "houses" in Amigurumi Two! and made the pear. The photos came out very artistic and it almost looks like a little story.

The pear.


What is inside.


Pear and Snail. (The snail's eyes are embroidered)


The snail is a bit top-heavy.


I have a few more projects up my sleeve. I want to try to make some matrushka toys. I don't know what the gender of the cutie is, but kids like to chew on plush things and they aren't too picky. Since I like matrushkas, the cutie will have some matrushka toys!

I also was fortunate to run across a copy of The Floral Alphabet Coloring Book (found here).

It is a really neat idea - each letter of the alphabet corresponds to the plants within the letter. It is a wide variety of plants too - not just flowers, but also trees and fruit. I made copies and plan to use water color pencil to color each letter. Next, I want to cut out and back each letter, laminate the pages, and bind it. I think it would make a charming book.

But right now it is time for a nap!

Confinement

Sadly I have been unable to find a job - even temporary work. The whole summer has felt as if I have been under confinement - with nothing to do or prepare for except the birth of my child. Honestly, the preparations are not a huge, time-consuming endeavor. I have cleaned the house, re-organized, and purged till it became obvious that I had to stop because I can no longer lift heavy things.

I had grand plans to learn how to sew, but I am currently stuck as I am really scared of needles. I have read the manuals and understand the basics, however a machine with a needle is still quite scary to me.

Therefore, much of my time has been spent crocheting items for the little one. I have gathered various patterns for bibs, sweaters, toys, etc. I started some in Houston and have finished a few.

The bibs were the first things I have completed because they seemed less complicated and pretty straightforward. The only difficulty was that the pattern I selected had ties on the bib which I am not fond of - ties seem dangerous to me. I wanted to put straps on the bib instead which resulted in some problem solving. The end result looks quite charming in my opinion.

(REMEMBER: you can click on the picture to get a bigger image!)


The frog bib front followed a pattern I got from Lion Brand Yarns and the other bib follows a pattern I found in one of my crochet calendars I get every year at Christmas.



Here you can see the straps I added onto the frog bib. I can see how the ties would look better with the frog, but I think the straps are safer. Plus one gets to choose cute buttons! I just hope they are not too much of a chocking hazard.

The next bib pattern I attempted also came from Lion Brand Yarns and was an owl.


Here is my attempt using a variety of yarn I had left over from previous projects.



Here it is with the straps, which I fear I attached to close together - it might be better as a bib for a toy or doll later.


An unexpected result of the owl bib is I was able to have my own Rorschach test! Here are the results so far:

Lance - "oh, a dog! Nice!"
Renee - "A monkey!"
Megan - "A little fish!"

I have not developed a rubric for what these responses tell us about each individual, but I was confident that the bib did not look like an owl at all. I started to make another owl following the color scheme in the original pattern.

When I went back to look at the pattern, someone commented that it really was too cute a design for a bib and I quite agree. So I am making what hopefully resembles an owl, but I will make it a stuffed toy. I am also working on a pear-container with a snail toy inside. I will post those pictures when I finish.

I was also able to complete a cute sweater - I am stuck on what buttons to put on it. I could also choose one button at the top for a more swing-coat like design.



Here is the sweater up close.



I also finished a blanket. It was supposed to have a hood, but after looking at the picture long enough, the hood would make the baby look like a tiny, colorful Ku Klux Klan member. Not wishing to encourage idiotic behavior, the hood was out of the design and I made a tiny hat instead.



The hat looks like a little jelly fish. Lance was quite fond of it and wore it on his head as a fascinator.


He is starting to get a little sentimental about the cutie - all the little clothes are making him realize there will be a little person in our lives soon. I will take sentiment over what he said in the first months of my pregnancy which consisted mostly of scatological references and diapers.

More of what I have been making just as soon as I finish it!

What I Found in My Searching

I have been quite bored lately. I have not had any luck finding work and with the recent bout of contractions, I have been advised to "take it easy".

Taking it "easy" merely brings about ennui. Though I have many tasks around the house, I chose to procrastinate because I have (seemingly) all the time in the world. Why get all these things done at once when I can wait - or when I need my hubby's help to move things?

Alas, one thing I have been working on is a birth announcement. I ran across my hubby's birth announcement from the late 70's and it was rather cute. It was a little card with a stork on the cover, and when one opens it up, the stats are on the left and a picture of the baby is on the right in a pre-made frame (one slips the hospital picture).

I recall having one of these as well, but I don't know where it went. I assume my mother still has it. I don't know if hospitals still take pictures and give parents these cards, but I would like to do something similar and simple for our baby's birth announcement.

Thus began my Internet searching for vintage stork images for the cover. I found some rather cute ones and some truly heinous ones.

I never wondered where the idea of the stork bringing the baby came from, but nevertheless found images that explained the mythology (somewhat). Some pictures had babies emerging from the water with a stork waiting to wrap it up on shore. Other pictures had the babies blossoming from waterlilies with a stork attendant nearby. Further research did not really illuminate the myth - it just seems that popular European culture believed that the souls of unborn children lived in marshes. Why? That idea is not fully illuminated, but it does seem that storks mate for life and have been symbols of good luck from Roman times.

Regardless, there are some hilarious Victorian images that I found related to the stork myth.

I found this image of a stork chasing down an "old maid" quite hilarious considering that one of my cousins told me last Christmas that I "can't wait forever". Don't get me started on how he started his own parenthood at age 16.

Here the stork is the villain - and he looks so friendly. Yet, I completely understand this woman's urge to hit the stork with her ensemble-coordinated umbrella.

From these images, I gather that women have constantly been in battle with the "stork" - either wanting his presence desperately or avoiding the bundle he carries.

Yet, I did not find images of women chasing storks. Make of that what you will!

I don't think either will do for a birth announcement, but they are rather funny.

Maternity Clothes

I have wanted to write this post for a very long time now - from the very moment my "big pants" (the pants you wear during a certain time of the month) no longer fit.

Maternity clothes suck. There is just no way around it. Well, actually, there are and I have some tips.

First of all, maternity clothes are designed for women that are 5'5'' and taller. In some cases, women who are 6'0'' and taller. So, if you are a hobbit, like me, it will require you to do some hemming.

Also, at the beginning of pregnancy, you need just a little stretch to your pants and the horrid over-the-belly-band seems somewhat outrageous (and sometimes does not fit). However, your belly will grow and the tiny bit of elastic that once was comfy will now cut off all circulation.

So Tip #1 - Get the horrid over-the-belly-band type pants, skirts, or shorts. It will make the piece more versatile.

If you cannot stand the types of pants out there OR (like me) need pants to be a certain size due to height, you can take off the top band and sew in a belly band or similar fabric. My mom did this for a pair of shorts I bought a size larger than my normal size and they are super comfy. We got the idea from this blog post.

Now, I have the good fortune of having a baby in the fall, which means I had to purchase clothes for spring, summer, AND fall. Plus, I was still working so I had to wear a somewhat professional wardrobe. This was easy enough as what I mostly wore to work was pants, shirt, and cardigan or occasionally a dress. Of course, I had to prepare for a trip to Houston in the summer when the temperatures are WAY too hot for anyone, which meant purchasing more summer clothes.

While it may be fashionable to wear shorts and a cute top, unless you are in an air-conditioned environment, I would not recommended it. The shorts usually have a belly band which covers one of the warmest parts of your body and acts as insulation rather than a cooling device. The cute top, no matter how comfortable and breezy, will not provide relief.

Tip #2 - If you are pregnant in the summertime, BUY A LOT OF DRESSES! They are cool, comfy, and just one piece, so no need to fuss with other articles of clothing. If it gets a bit cool, it is easy to toss on a cardigan.

I did a bit of thinking and research before purchasing maternity clothes. My friend Emily said I could borrow some of her stuff (she's about the same height and build as I am) and I figured I would just purchase a few things from the consignment store.

Hahahaha - yeh right. I just made ANOTHER maternity wardrobe purchase yesterday! While The Lucky Shopping Manual is my guide for any purchase, maternity clothes present a whole new wardrobe problem. The Baby Bargains book does offer advice, but I find their list a little lacking. As you know I am always one for alternating fashion lists, so I examined both Lucky and Bargains for ideas.

Lucky Manual breaks down a wardrobe into:

T-Shirts

Tops

Dresses

Skirts

Jeans

Pants

Shoes

Under Garments

Outerwear

Baby Bargains breaks down a maternity wardrobe into:

Career Wear - pants (2), sweater (2), shirts (2), skirts (2), and dresses (2)

Casual Clothes - t-shirts (5) and shorts/pants (5)

Under Garments - maternity bras (2) and underwear if you don't wear bikini style (8)

Their tip: RENT formal wear and shop in the plus size section to save money

Hmmm...well, I tried shopping in plus size section and everything was WAY to wide in the shoulder, so that bit of advice didn't really work. Also, I found the Lucky Manual had way TOO many clothes for such a short period of one's life (9 months to a year, depending on how quick your body bounces back. We can't all be Heidi Klum).

Tip #3 - Here is my maternity wardrobe list (I do try to remember that one will have to wear these clothes for awhile AFTER the baby is born):

T-shirts: 7 - You need at least 2 white shirts; I wouldn't bother with black - not easy to clean after a baby throws up on it. You can at least bleach a white shirt.

Tank Tops: 5 - Especially if you are pregnant in the summer; these are also great under a cardigan. I was able to wear my regular tank tops in the first trimester, but by the second trimester it was no longer an option!

Tops: 3 - These are nice shirts that are not cotton jersey material. I had one that fit well the first trimester and then my breast grew way too large!

Cardigan: 2 - I bought two cotton cardigans a size larger than my normal size and it was really helpful when I wanted to button them up because they could accommodate my growth upstairs (during first trimester that was all that had really changed). I have just used my regular cardigans and they fit just fine!

Skirts: 2 - You need a jean skirt and another skirt. I am a big fan of the jean skirt because it can be dressed up or dressed down. Just like with pants, be sure to buy one with the over-the-belly-band - I initially bought one with just the elastic in the back and it hurt like a mofo by second trimester.

Dresses (dressy): 2 - I like to dress a little for church, so this was important to me. But, I also was able to use many of my old dresses second trimester because they had an empire waist (some required rubber-bands and safety pins, but I made it work!).

Dresses (casual): 5 - I was fortunate to have a few cotton dresses that had a high waist or elastic and I have been using those in addition to a few I purchased. I probably have seven dresses rotate through!

Pants: 3 - I bought a pair of khakis and a pair of capris; then I purchased some grey pin-stripe pants. So far this has worked out alright, but I like wearing pants to work, so if I had not borrowed some, I probably would have bought more!

Jeans: 1 - I was lucky enough to have a little Christmas money left over to purchase a pair from Old Navy. I bought the "short" cut and I still have to roll them up :| Oh well!

Comfy Clothes: 2 sets - I was astonished to find that it was necessary to have maternity lounge wear! But, honestly, there are days where you just feel like running around in your underwear (especially when it is 95 and there is no air-conditioning). I found a REALLY comfy pair of cotton jersey pants at H & M. I also owned two pairs of yoga/cheer shorts before I got pregnant. Those three items are pretty much what I wear all the time when I am at home. I also snagged my hubby's large yellow Elvis shirt (a present from my grandmother :|) and that is my go-to top.

Swimsuit: 1 - I was able to get away with my old suit for the first trimester, but I invested in a top (I had a large bikini bottom around for some reason...I think I got it in Vegas or something).

I have spent about $600 total. Now, I wish I had known what I was doing because I could have spent about $200 less than I did! So my final tip is a bunch of little tips rolled into one.

Tip #4 - If you are short (and I had to do it all over again), I would...

- Borrow as many clothes as you can from someone who is about the same size you are! This really helped in the second trimester and then I was able to return some when that friend got pregnant too!

- Don't invest in a belly band - they roll up and don't really do anything. I got lucky and was able to use it to make a pair of maternity shorts. Otherwise, I would not recommend this product.

- Wait on buying a maternity bra until it is ABSOLUTELY impossible to fit into your old bras (and that includes using bra extenders). And even then, consider purchasing a nursing bra because otherwise you will be investing in a similar product soon!

- Buy about two sizes up from your normal size! This is only if you are short - if you are taller, the plus sizes might work for you. However, when you are short, you tend to be more compact. For example, I am normally a size four or six (depending on the brand) so I bought items that were a size 8 or 10. I have a few things that are a size 12 and are a bit too big, but I did that because I don't know how much bigger I will get! Still, buying a few sizes up has helped and I was able to modify a dress so that it fit me correctly (I just shortened the shoulder straps). I can wear a medium or large and be as comfortable as when I was wearing an extra small or small size before I was pregnant. Also, look for pleating under the empire waist - that will be your best friend as your belly gets bigger (and it is how most maternity clothes are designed).

Whew! My final words of wisdom are WHERE TO SHOP! In order of greatness:

1. Consignment shops - I found LOTS of cute clothes for VERY reasonable prices. A few items looked like they had seen better days, but for the most part, all of the clothes were really nice. I paid $3 for a pair of shorts and $20 for a very nice dress.

2. Target - This is my go-to store for EVERYTHING. I purchased a majority of my maternity clothes here for a reasonable price - $25 for a comfy dress, $7 for a tank top. I also love the clearance section - I found a size 8 empire-waist dress (with pleating) for $5 which I was able to make a maternity dress.

3. Ross - One disturbing thing about the Ross maternity section is it seems geared towards teenagers. The sizes therefore run a bit small. I bought a t-shirt there that fit great first and second trimester, but is now TOO SMALL in the third trimester. Also, it is difficult to find over-the-belly-band pants there.

4. H & M - One of my favorite moments in Bridget Jones' Diary (I believe it is in the Edge of Reason) is when she goes to H&M to look for maternity clothes and finds they do not have a maternity line. But now they do! The maternity line is merely ok - like most stores, the maternity section is small and does not have a lot of size selection. However, most of my purchases there have been for regular clothes in sizes larger than my normal size! Plus the clothes are so pretty, it is worth the investment. If I get a job, I have my eye on a jacket I want to get from there that would be awesome.

5. Old Navy - I have bought my jeans, tanks, and tops here. The online store has more selection and it would be worth it to shop there for sales. Most maternity sections in the stores are small and depressing - the dresses are WAY too long for a hobbit such as myself. I also found it disturbing that they had a maternity shirt with a whale on it.

6. GAP - I have bought one item there with which I was pleased. I did try on a maternity dress there and found it was a glorified mumu. They are kind of expensive, so it might be worth it to check it out online for sales. They had one cute shirt that said "obviously no longer a secret".

7. Destination Maternity - DO NOT SHOP HERE unless it is for a maternity bra. I made the mistake of purchasing a number of items here and they don't hold up well - they shrink or fall apart. They are also WAY too expensive - unless you find items on sale. The Baby Bargains book also did not have nice things to say about them. Finding their clothes in consignment shops is alright though because the quality must have been good enough for it to make it to consignment! Plus they have t-shirts that read "good things come to those who mate." Uh - TMI!

I am done - for now :D

An Overall Review: Baby Books

I am a typical female consumer. If something is broken (and is of little significance), I would much rather replace it that try to repair it. However, with the anticipation of having a little one comes the stress of finances. My husband is determined not to go into debt and has calculated how much money we would go into debt should I not get some sort of job after the baby is born.

This means I have to be thriftier than usual and rely quite a bit more on advice since I do not trust what the Internet says about what to get for my child.

Instead of purchasing baby books, we checked them out of the library first.

I liked "You: Having a Baby" - it is very straight forward and explains the medical terminology in very easy language. It also has practical information such as what to eat, what you might want to purchase for the baby, and what to do AFTER the baby has arrived (how to change a diaper, etc.). I particularly like the information about immunization the book offers - it gives both sides of the the debate.

I did not like "What to Expect When You are Expecting" very much at the start, but now I wish I had not checked it back into the circulation desk. It at least tells you what is normal for each trimester. I did not appreciate the cheesy opening lines to each question. As best as I can remember, here is an example: "I really want to eat play-doh, is that normal?" Answer: "It is normal for women to have odd cravings, but play-doh is a play-don't!".

:|

The one book I would NOT recommend to anyone who does not want to be thoroughly grossed out is "The Pregnancy Bible".

I did not put this on the request list, the hubby did - I did not feel comfortable with a book that put words "Pregnancy" and "Bible" in the same phrase. After I showed my husband some of the GRAPHIC IMAGES (pregnancy sex complete with fake expressions of "ecstasy", stages of labor complete with crowning, etc.), he quite agreed that it was a horrible book.

One book that we have enjoyed was recommend by our friends Steve and Emily - "Baby Bargains". Like "You - Pregnant", it has VERY practical advice for parents. It has lists of brands on the market along with reviews from the authors and from parents. I particularly like the advice other parents give because they have gone through the process and can tell you what works and what does not.

Of course, each child is different. Given the little one's behavior so far, I am going to guess it will have its own agenda. Part of getting prepared for a baby is being prepared for all those plans to be chucked out the window!

An Expectant Mother's Day

My husband and I had hoped that in the ultrasounds that we had this week and the last that we would find out the gender of our child. For some reason my husband seemed blase about the whole thing - or wanted it to be a surprise. I was quite vocal that I wanted to know and I would not let it be a surprise for him because I dislike surprises so very much.

Well, our little one really didn't care what we thought - it really does have a mind of its own. During the first ultrasound, the only thing we could really see was its hands, feet, and limbs moving about. Its whole self was mostly turned toward me and the 32 ounces of water I had to drink before the exam continually filled my bladder such that I had empty it several times.

I *thought* I saw the characteristic three lines between the legs that would signal a girl, but I was old that was a bone. :| Good thing I did not enter the medical profession! I was told there was nothing visible between the legs - which could mean a girl or it could mean that nothing between the legs is visible at that moment. It didn't help that the little one kept wiggling around like a squirmy worm!

We were given a few pictures - I find the frame amusing.

Who looks like this after they have a baby? Maybe people with servants.

Here is the squirmy worm:

It is amazing how skeletal the baby looks - but since those are the most dense parts of the child right now, it would be what is most visible.

The technician thought she got all of the pictures and I was sent back to work. Then I got a phone call that afternoon in the team office saying I had to do ANOTHER ultrasound because they did not get all the pictures of the heart that they needed. But every thing looked NORMAL - which helped soothe my frazzled nerves.

I had a OB appointment on Tuesday and this resident was in the room (with my permission) - I swear he was twelve. He had trouble locating the baby's heartbeat. When the OB came in the room, she felt my belly, put a dab of goo (as opposed to the half bottle the resident did) on the monitor, and instantly found the heartbeat. It was pretty amusing to me :D

So, we went back this past Friday for more pictures of the heart and hopefully to find the gender. It appeared that the baby was kicking back or taking a nap - its body was mostly turned towards me, its head toward my left and feet to my right. Its legs were tucked it and it was very calm - but not too calm with a 140 bpm heart rate! The tech was able to get a few pictures, but I still had to empty my bladder again and get tilted down in an attempt to get a better angle on the baby. The tech jostled the ultrasound wand against my belly and, though my husband says he didn't notice it, the baby moved its hand in a type of swatting motion - as if to say "knock it off". I would not have thought much of this movement except that after it opened its mouth repeatedly - the way I do when I first wake up.

I cannot believe how much personality this little one has already.

And it is hiding its gender REALLY well - I didn't see three lines or any lines between the legs. The tech said it she thought it might be a girl (she thought she saw some indication) but nothing was readable.

On the way back to his office, my husband wondered what he would do with a little girl (if, indeed, it is a girl). I said "What you would do with a boy".

His response: "But she can't play baseball"

Me: "Yes she can. (pause) She better play soccer, too. If it's a she."

This Mother's Day I am no wiser as to what the gender of the child will be as well as what it will be like to be a mother. Oh well, I guess I have some time still :D

A New Creation

Some of you may know and others may not, but my hubby and I are expecting a little one around October 4th.

And to clarify - this pregnancy was accidently-on-purpose. It was a new year and we thought we would give it a try (we had nervously thought about it in 2009, but somehow 2010 ushered in new resolve). We stopped using birth control and paid a tiny bit of attention to the calendar of my cycle I have been keeping since I was 12 (I LIKE to plan, what can I say).

After I proctored an SAT one Saturday morning, I came home and found that I had started my period. I cried. I thought it was hopeless - I was not going to ever have a baby and was certain God was telling me something. My hubby tried to calm down my perfectionist state and cheered me as best he could.

But then the rest of the "stuff" that comes with a period never came. And it never came for a week.

The next Saturday morning I went to Target at precisely 8 a.m. (when they open) and the hubby thought I was nuts.

But I wasn't!




What - I had to take a picture! As soon as I took the test and saw the second window turn blue, I yelled for him to come to the bathroom. We laughed, we hugged, we jumped around and praised God.

And then we were totally blindsided by the thought that we would have a little one and there was no turning back. As my mother-in-law would later perfectly say "You say you're going to do something, and then you do it, and it happens and you think 'oh crap, it happened!'".


The first person I told was the priest, because who else are you going to tell who will keep it quiet. He told me I would no longer fast (woo-hoo! I mean, DARN!) and I would have to commune more often (DARN! I mean - yay!).

Those communion prayers are long - that's all I'm saying.

And then the news slowly trickled. I made doctor's appointments, we told our parents on Valentine's Day (or around that time), and I told my boss.

But here the two of us were, guarding this little secret, trying hard not to burst.
Or at least the hubby was - I was still kind of in denial. I refused the first ultrasound (which apparent they use to confirm something is in there) .

By my second appointment, I could no longer refuse the scan. It was a vaginal ultrasound, which EW. I always felt like the machine and I should at LEAST have dinner first. All I can say is at least it had a condom!

Here is our little one at 9 weeks (March 2nd):



It was really cool - when the first image came up, it moved its little arm! Like it was waving or giving me confirmation that it was indeed there. Waving at me - its little heart beating so fast.

I couldn't help it - I started to cry. I think I fell in love - I fell in love with this tiny soul inside me growing and becoming a person.

It is all really scary to me and seems to be growing WAY to fast. I feel like Winne the Pooh with a tummy to round to keep a shirt and pants over it.

In the months to come I am SURE I will have more posts about maternity gear, tendinitis, and other such lovely things about pregnancy. For now I and the hubby are elated that we will have a little one to share our lives.

And hopefully I won't screw up too much.