My Own Hospital Gown

I don't know why I feel like I need a cute hospital gown to deliver this baby in, but here's my thinking:
-The one the gave me to wear with Clara was so thin, it wouldn't stay buttoned up at the sleeve, it was huge and it was just overall icky feeling.
-I know that no one really cares to see you naked in the hospital... They've seen it all before... But I'd like to retain some kind of dignity!
-As miserable and traumatic as birth is, I'm also a fan of happy, bright colors. Who knows if pretty prints will actually make me feel any better, but it couldn't hurt right?
-I know that it's going to get messy... Hence why I spent less than $10 on the entire project (a big improvement from the ones I've seen online for $90. Yikes!) If I can salvage it for the next hospital visit, great. If not, no big loss... Don't they reuse the hospital ones over and over though?
-And... Last but certainly not least... I'm always thinking about pictures. Won't a cute gown make for a million times better pictures? Haha

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this idea, but this is the post that originally got me thinking about making my own hospital gown. I searched for other designs and patterns, but I really liked how hers looked (and how little ink and paper her pattern used! Haha) I did change quite a few things after going shopping for my fabric... I had a hard time finding 3 yards of the cheap cotton (I didn't want to spend too much on something that was just going to get icky anyway!) I brought up like four bolts to the table and each were just about 2 1/2 yards. Curses! Anyway, then I finally found this fabric and it ended up being $8 something (still more than I'd like to spend but not too bad) I looked for snaps or snap tape and about died when I saw how much the snap tape was. I also didn't want to spend $4 on hammer on snaps when I had velcro already at home so I skipped the snaps. That also means I didn't make the nursing access in the front like the pattern calls for and I opted to make the more traditional entire sleeve opening at the top using 3 pieces of velcro. I also overlapped the back for more coverage and to close up the neck opening (which I already shortened the pattern pieces for, but it still just felt too big for my comfort). I think I'll add a tie at the waist rather than velcro so that it can be adjusted a little bit tighter or looser depending on how I feel.

The front:

The sleeve opening: (It can be completely undone if needed)

The back:

In retrospect I should've "splurged" and used the snaps. The velcro stays together just fine, and I was sure to use the soft side for the front pieces, but I'm noticing that the corners of the velcro squares are a little scratchy. Oh well... I plan on wearing this one for labor (if they'll even let me) and maybe make a more nursing friendly one for post-partum. Most likely I'll just wear the hospital issue gown (since that's when I remember things really getting messy) and throw on this shrug if I get cold or if visitors come. Plus, by then the pictures are all of the baby and visitors, not with me. ;-)

Better belly angle. ;-) Geesh I carry high!

Oh, and look! I had some fabric left over for a camera strap. It even matches my orange camera bag. Won't Dennis be so excited to borrow my camera now? Hehe... I didn't think about that.

Third Trimester... And "Organize" Projects Update

Today officially marks the start of this baby's third trimester (28 weeks)... It's kinda funny because I feel like I've already been in the third trimester for at least a month with all this heartburn, backache, and hourly trips to the bathroom! Alas, there are at least two and a half more months to go!!! Dennis says I've been nesting like crazy. I think that's probably a good thing as bad as our house has been.

(Here ya go Donielle... belly pic 28 weeks. ;-)

I've been rather busy with organizing projects, but still have yet to really finish them completely. I've also been doing a lot of fun things for this baby (I think we might finally be close to deciding on a name! I will be happy when I can refer to her as something other than "baby #2") I've made a few more hats, moved furniture around, gone through baby clothes & washed baby stuff, sewed a hospital gown, crocheted a blessing dress, and even started packing a hospital bag (yes, it takes me three months to pack a bag! Funny, unless you're my husband. Haha) Oh, and I think I've designed her birth announcement. Nothing fancy, I usually just send out a picture postcard, but something crossed off the list nonetheless. :)

As far as the house goes, my least favorite place to clean is the kitchen. It has been absolutely disgusting and I had to ask Dennis to help me. Here are a few before and afters... Still not perfect but OOOOH so much better!

 

 

Yes, I do have multiple candy jars (on the window sill), a candy bowl (on the counter), a candy box (above the fridge), a snack cupboard, and a candy drawer. My kids should all think that I'm the best mom in the world. ;-)

Once again I have issues leaving an empty surface an empty surface. I also organized the cabinets in order for everything to have a home to belong to (and to get off of the counter!!!) Dennis also helped install a few more cabinet locks now that Clara is taller and can get into all of the cupboards. I also cleaned the fridge and microwave... Something that hasn't been done in far too long. YUCK!

It's lovely to actually have counter space to cook on and somewhat clean-looking places to store and cook food. It's much more appetizing that way! I'm also not sure if I ever shared this little project, but it has made such a HUGE difference in our little "one-butt-kitchen." I saw this on pinterest and HAD to have Dennis make it for me!

Source: learning-to-b-me.blogspot.com via Alea on Pinterest

I think it deserves its own post though... Especially since I can't find my pictures of it at the moment. 

Anyway, I didn't finish everything by our anniversary, but I deep cleaned Dennis' bathroom the day before and our bedroom was clean and the laundry was all put away and we could actually see the floor in most of the rooms of the house (minus the office... Still really working on that. It could be a while...) and our home just feels sooo much more pleasant than it used to. I've even been cooking a bit more than usual. Crazy, I know. I've only totally messed up one dish (They're called baking powder biscuits... Not baking soda... I really need to read more carefully!) And wow this has been a really long, really boring post. I should stop now before it gets even longer and more boring!

A typical photo shoot

I haven't done a formal shoot for Clara since her first birthday really... Okay, we did our family pictures in the summer... and there was that one halloween shoot... and then that mini-shoot for the Christmas Card... But other than that I don't have enough pictures of her. (Ha!) Anyway, I did my indoor "studio" set up a little different for a cake smash yesterday (turned out super cute!) and I wanted to have Clara help me get the lighting right before the clients came over. I gave her a few props and let her at it...

I would be lying if I said that every picture turned out as perfectly as this one: (what a diva!)

Or this one: (I love a good hazy edit sometimes)      

 But the truth is that 97% of my shots end up like this:

 

Or this: (all I can say is thank goodness for digital!)

Or like these: (Yes, she still needs to plug her belly button while she drinks milk)

Usually I'll just let her do whatever and follow her around snapping pictures, but sometimes I'll give her some direction. For this one I asked her to show me where her cheeks were.

And then... She pulls out the pose of all poses. I was ecstatic to say the least! 

 

She must've known that I was satisfied because she declared that we were "finished," brought me the "mote" and suggested I turn on "Kipper." 

 I love her sooooo much!

21 months and counting...

-Speaking of counting... Clara counts "one, six, eleven..."
-Every crayon is "geen!"
-You ask Clara for a high five and she'll give you one. Ask Clara to "pound it" and she'll give herself one "Cara!... Bam!"
-When changing her diaper she will ask help from ever person/object in the room "Daddy... Save me!" "Chair... Save me!" "Dubble-yew (speaking to the magnets on the fridge)... Help!"
-Speaking of "Dubble-yew," every letter is either B, X, or W.
-She now prefers to watch Kipper over Dora. I'm okay with that (especially since we've seen every Dora episode on Netflix 3+ times...)
-Before bedtime she puts as many stuffed animals in her crib as she can. She likes to sleep with a zoo.
-I used to ask her to give me a kiss on the cheek, but she'd just press her cheek against mine... So now that's how we ask her to give Dennis & I a group hug. It actually works sometimes!
-She loves to watch the garbage truck, and she can often be found at her window waiting for it to come.

Last week we finally got some substantial snow. I took Clara out right before nap time and she LOVED it! This kiddo would spend all her time outside if she could.

Sometimes I'll do my scrapbook journaling right on the picture. I don't mind my handwriting, but I can't center it or get my lines to go straight... Type it is!

4 Years.

 Yesterday marks 4 years since Dennis and I were married.

In four years...

-We have traveled to Yellowstone (for our honeymoon the summer after we were married), San Francisco, and many times all over Utah.
-We have attended the Spanish Branch since the Sunday we got home from our wedding.
-Dennis has been patient with me through many many college classes, college internships, college rantings, college commuting, college bills... And I'm still not finished.
-We became parents.
-I have spent every second I can with him. I'm a little selfish that way.
-We became debt free but the house. Live like no one else...
-Dennis crossed off my bucket list: drive through movie, Yellowstone, marriage & mommyhood. Hopefully the grand canyon and some foreign country (Canada doesn't count) will be next. (wink wink!)
-He's never given me any legitimate reason to be mad at him... Except for this one canoe ride (which was definitely not my fault!)...
-Dennis has done 95% of the dishes, and %75 of the cooking. I'm working on that...
-When I do cook, he never says bad things about it... Even when it's disgusting.
-Dennis has listened to more 80's pop music than he would ever care to in an entire lifetime.
-I have listened to more old honky tonk music than I would ever care to in an entire lifetime. ;)
-I don't mind it so long as I get to be in the same car with him.
-We've held hands. A lot.
-We've kissed. A lot.
-We've been to the Mt. Timpanogos, Twin Falls, Boise, Idaho Falls, & Rexburg Temples.
-Dennis has cheered on his cheerleader at many volleyball, basketball & football games. He's also cheered on my cheerleaders at more junior high and high school athletic events than I can count. That takes love. And patience.
-He has never raised his voice at me.We disagree sometimes, but I really don't think we've ever fought. Sometimes I think love is expressed best in the things that are not said, rather than the things that are.
-However, I think we've said I love you in some way every day.
-I have never been so purely happy.

Four years have gone by fast. Dennis sure has put up with a lot from me! Daily he amazes me with his extreme patience, selfless service, and just pure amazing-ness.

Thank you for these past 4 years. I could never ask for such happiness and love to fill my life, but it just gets better every day! 

"Gasses"

Clara likes to steal my glasses. I don't like it. She looks waaaaaay too grown up!

Gone a thriftin' - Baby style!

So I've been working on lots of organizing projects lately, but they're all just *almost* finished, so I'll have to wait for after pics to do posts on them. :)

Today was a fun day... Dennis had the day off and spent it on the farm. G-pop was missing hanging out with Clara so he volunteered to kidnap her for the afternoon so I could do some organizing this morning and later mom and I could run some errands. We went to the craft stores (and I picked up some 90% off Christmas clearance- Yes!) and ate lunch at Tse (my favorite Chinese restaurant) and lastly headed to Once Upon a Child (a children's clothing & accessories consignment shop.) Every once and a while they have a sale where anything with a red slash on the price tag is a dollar and we found lots of cute outfits. SCORE!

Clara was a small newborn. Even the newborn size outfits just drowned her the first few weeks, and I didn't have very many of them for her so I decided this little girl could use some "new" things. I love those little all-in-one sleep n' play outfits for infants, so that's what I stocked up on... and all but one of them were a dollar!

 

A few other little outfits... A cute jacket for the fall, a zippered sleep sack (Clara slept in those a lot too- I think we only had one or two of them though!) and the cutest little soft nb cords. All a dollar. :)

 

I saw this set and just about died from cuteness. $2.50 for three of the cutest little cowgirl onesies I've ever seen? SOLD! I really don't think they were ever worn or washed.

 

 All of the clothes combined cost lest than one "new" outfit would have (and mom paid for them- thanks mom!) 

And lastly a few things that I never splurged on for Clara, but thought I would this time around... A practically new co-sleeper for $12, a car mirror (that needs a little cleaning) for $3.50 and a changing pad for $12. I need to sew a cover for it (or just splurge and spend $15 bucks on one at Wally's).

I really really hate shopping. It gives me anxiety. But for some reason, thrifting just makes me giddy! If this baby were a boy, it would be a totally different story, but as far as stuff goes I am feeling ready for baby #2 to come!

Heat Wave!

"This is my island in the sun. Hoi! Hoi!" Sometimes I just feel like singing that song.

Last week we got temps in the 50's for a couple days! Wahoo!! We even got to go outside for a few minutes and enjoy the sunshine. It's been a weird winter with almost no snow. I can't say that that's a bad thing... But I guess that's because I'm not a farmer or a skier. I'm sure winter will hit us soon, but for now I will just sing happy songs and take Clara outside to play ball (and of course snap a few pictures- even if she is less than thrilled to hold still for me!)