Baby Ball

First baby project... done! What do you think? I used the colors I want to use in his room. The plan is to take this adorable ball with me to pick out fabric for the bedding.

The yarn is Lion Brand Vanna's Choice. I just love it because it's soft and durable. Most acrylic yarn is durable... but not very soft over time. If you need a good all purpose yarn, I highly recommend Vanna.

We found the pattern in a book I brought home from the library. I was trying to be adventurous and make a sweater like my friend... so cute! But gave up. Steven was looking through the book, saw the ball pattern and insisted I make some. It was very easy and quick... and I'm not an expert knitter. I made it in a couple of hours.

Here is what I did. You don't need 5 different colors, really you could make it from one... the ball has 10 sections. The original patterned called for wool and felting (throwing it in the washing machine until the wool fibers stuck together). I imagine it would make for a stiffer ball if you desired that.

here is the book I got it from

Baby's First Ball

one pair #7 straight knitting needles

Vanna's Choice - Dusty Blue, Dusty Green, Cranberry, Beige & Chocolate.

Cast on 23 stitches

Row1: K23.

Row2: K15. turn.

Row3: sl1k. K6. turn.

Row4: sl1k. K8. turn.

Row5: sl1k. k10. turn.

Row6: sl1k. k12. turn.

Row7: sl1k. k14. turn.

Row8: sl1k. k16. turn.

Row9: sl1k. k18. turn.

Row10: sl1k. k20. turn.

Row11: sl1k. k22. turn. (you will finish a the row this time)

Row12: k23.

This completes one section. Change colors and repeat rows 1-12 until you have 10 sections then bind off, sew together and stuff.

Have fun!

From Backpack to Diaper Bag...

When I was two semesters away from graduating I replaced the backpack I had been using since high school. It was a very hard purchase for me because I only had two semesters left... I just didn't think it would be worth it. I finally decided we could use it as a camping pack or something and bought one.

Well today while speaking with my chiropractor we were discussing my upper back tension... I'm crazy tight in my shoulders. In the past he has suggested baby carriers (like a moby wrap or baby bjorn) that place the load equally on both shoulders... I know he secretly glares at my purse when I turn my back. He suggested that instead of getting a cute diaper bag that carries on the side, that I use a back pack that encourages me to hold my shoulders back.

I was very happy... and now I have a use for my old school pack! It's blue so I don't have to worry about sending John to the nursery at church with a hot pink pack. And even though Steven has no problem holding my purse for me if I need him to, I won't feel bad about bumming off the ol' diaper bag to him.

What we've been up to...

Tuesday of this week was the first day of a new semester for many of my friends... but not me!!! wahooo!!! Steven was off work and we had a good time hanging out.

He actually had a four day weekend and it was very relaxing. We first helped friends move out of their apartment. It was fun, but I will really miss the couple. To cheer up afterwards we went to Brenham (with a different couple) and sampled some Blue Bell at the creamery... so yummy. My new favorite is Banana Pudding!

The rest of the weekend was spent playing Catan and hunting down lumber for our crib. Due to some information collected we will have to re-design our crib a bit... it shouldn't take long, though. We plan on getting started on construction in a two/three weeks, depending on what comes up. Once we start it should only take about four weekends to complete... so baby crib will hopefully be here around month 7... I hope that isn't too late.

I've turned in some paperwork to begin working part time until the baby comes... but as of right now I'm mainly cleaning and crafting. I couldn't ask for a better life! We have rearranged the entire house (minus the bathroom... things are kinda fixed in that room... lol). Steven loves making the arrangement just perfect and I like de-cluttering!

My biggest project is our wedding scrapbook. I've got all the pages planned out and organized. I got a great deal on prints through shutterfly and am currently waiting on their delivery. I'm also waiting on paper to go on sale so that I can save some money on scrapping supplies! So in the mean time I've been crafting gifts for friends. It's too bad I can't post pictures... they are turning out really great.

As soon as the crib gets started I will begin making the bedding. By bedding I mean bed skirt, bumper pad and possibly crib sheets. I was hoping to register/purchase sheets, but I can't find any colors that I like. The nursery colors are going to be cinnamon red, sage green, beige & dark brown (funny enough... it's the colors in my blog background... I laugh to myself when I realized that). Crib sheets I've seen so far don't have those color combinations or are too pale. We know this room is for a baby, but I really want colors that I like. I seriously doubt John will remember his nursery colors. I will focus more on colors for him when I do his quilt... which does not have to match the room.

The theme of our nursery is this really vague concept of reminding Steven and I that this child is a gift from God who we plan to raise to be a God honoring young man. More than colors or matching crib sheets I want this room to scream that. I hope to frame some good verses (on pretty paper of coarse) that I can pray over him while I'm doing nursery type things... changing diapers, folding clothes, nursing, etc.

Well... that is basically what we've been up to. It's pretty simple right now and I like that. The quiet before the storm coming in May! Lol!!!

Diaper Report... the sequell!

****re-post*** I accidentally put 1/4/09 instead of 1/4/10 when I originally posted this... sorry... you get to read it again.

Steven and I will be using cloth diapers while at home and I did a summary on why and the cost of both cloth and disposable diapers. I've needed to post a sequel but have been so busy with graduation that I have put it off for quite a while. My sequel is mostly because one of my friends helped me refine my numbers for the cost of disposables (she has four kids and definitely know the ropes of diapering) and because we have kinda changed on minds on which cloth diapering system we want to go with.

The truth is, Steven and I will use the least expensive route no matter which option actually happens... be it cloth or disposables. As far as disposables go, if and when we use them we plan on cutting coupons or investing in a Sam's Club membership... like our friends.

Below is the updated spreadsheet.



I'm still learning a lot about cloth diapers and the more I learn, the more excited I get. I would have never believed how excited I am to change dirty diapers!

Steven really likes the diaper with a cover system and I'm a fan of it too! Mainly because you get a lot of use out of the covers and because the pocket diapers or all-in-ones require stuffing... boo for stuffing diapers! CottonBabies, a company we really like, just came out with a new system called "Econobums." They are made with less expensive material and half the cost of other diaper/cover systems available. I'm keeping my eye on the reviews because they are so new and I'm a little worried about how the diapers will do with multiple children... but even if we have to purchase a new set for each child, Econobums are still cheaper than using disposables exclusively.

A full set of Econobums is $150 dollars. That is 9 covers and with 36 diapers. That should give us at least a day in between washes at the beginning and possibly three days when little John gets to potty training age. The great thing is that Ecocobums are one size... which means that they can expand as the baby grows. See this picture to get a better understanding of how the diaper grows.

CottonBabies also has a new line called "Flip" again its a diaper/cover system. They seem very durable but a little less than twice the cost of the Econobums. They are priced similarly to other diaper/cover systems available. I'm also watching the reviews for Flip because they are new, but I really think I'm going to like Flip diapers. You can get a full set (8 covers, 36 diapers) for about $270 dollars. I hope that we receive Flips as gifts so that this option is more economical. We will probably use both Flips and Econobums.... possible a Thirties cover if John get really big (Thirties has a large cover that fit bigger kiddos well... so says most diaper review websites).

So if you round up for other things like increase water/electricity usage, purchasing a pail and liner to store dirty diapers, the re-usable wipes and other cloth diapering expenses it come to about $250-$300 dollars for cloth. Disposables are about $600 per child.

So... based off of those numbers alone we plan on using cloth diapers. Even though it is more expensive to use disposables we will probably dapple in them a bit... for trips to visit family, when we take the baby to church, when he goes to a sitter or if he gets that dreaded diaper rash.

Anyway... I'm excited and will probably post picture of little John in a cute cloth diaper when I post about how cloth diapers works out for us! More to come!!!

Month 5!

Here we are... month 5. It's only been a few weeks since the last post so not a ton has changed... except my picture! My goodness! I'm scared to see what next month will bring. A few Sundays ago at church it seemed like everyone noticed my belly... and now I understand why.

Changes for Me

-I feel a little like a pot belly pig. It's funny that I can grow so much and not move a ton on the scale. I actually think I've lost a pound or two since New Years. I've been trying to eat better because New Years weekend was filled with too much good food.

-I'm struggling a little with heartburn. I've often wondered if you can become immune to Tums.

-My back is crazy. Here is picture of the uterosacral ligament. It holds things up... and it's what has really been bothering me. Steven often gives me a 10-15 minute massage once I get into bed... otherwise, I'm not sure I could fall asleep... what a great man!

-TONS of kicking... the little guy even keep me up one night.

Change for Steven

-I'm more excited about feeling John move and have been trying to feel him when Fallon tells me he is moving... no luck yet.

-Fallon's belly has gotten bigger times a lot... (Thanks Dear - Fallon)

Changes for John

-if born this month (we praying against it) he would have a better chance at living outside the womb

-he is practicing breathing using the amniotic fluid

-he will doubling his weight in one month... I hope he borrows some from me!

-he can hear us this month... even though Steven has been singing to him since Thanksgiving.

-his blood vessels are forming... giving him an adorable pink glow.