Updated Baby Guessing Game

I probably won't keep updating, but here is the latest on the guessing game.

Month Bigger!

One more month to go... so that makes Month 9... but last post was Month 7? All I know (and what I cling onto) is that in 4-6 weeks this child will be out of me and I will be able to eat something without getting heartburn or lay on my stomach or roll over at night with round ligaments tightening up. Steven keeps saying he wants to hold him... I totally want him to hold him too... because that means we will be in two pieces! I just can't wait.

I'm changing thing up a little bit because I'm tired of my old format. I will just let you know what's up and post pictures... going to cut the baby development stuff... there are plenty of websites out there if you are curious. Besides I know my mother only looks at our blog for the pictures ;) Love you, Mom!

Last night we had a really encouraging Bradley class. Honestly, I had prayed for it because I HATE the classes when people start doctor bashing. I have a great doctor and I have heard several people (majority did Bradley successfully in the hospital) say that the nurses at our hospital were wonderful. Nurses are there 95% of the time and I'm confident in our hospital and "birth team."

Anyway. We had two couples talk about there experiences birthing at our hospital (one had our doctor). Both were successful (one had been successful twice). They had "normal" pregnancies and they both labored at home until they got into hard labor... exactly what Steven and I are planning on doing... it really helps me feel like we aren't crazy or making this up. The only complication was that one couple, who had a different doctor than planned because she delivered at 6am, had to really fight not to have an eipsiotomy. If that is our only complication then this thing will be considered a success. Our goal is a drug free birth... and episotomies can be done without drugs.

The thing that helped me a ton was TOOLS! I love hearing the couples say, "we did this at home and it worked great to relax me" or "it was really helpful when the nurses brought this." Steven and I were taking notes and gathering tools. The problem is that in the class it's all inexperienced mothers except for the teacher... who gave birth a while ago... so she doesn't always remember... or she is trying to fit in all the Bradley information and doesn't have a ton of time to lay out our opitions for relaxation.

Anyway... we are feeling more and more prepared from just talking with people who have gone before us. The majority of them say that the relaxation practice is what helped them the most. I'm ready and I can't believe I'm saying this but I can't wait to experience this.

Now for some fun... here is my next month picture. I feel like my belly is really point-y.

And our silly photo....



And for some fun... what I'm calling "The Belly Train!" You can really see the point-y-ness of my belly in the last photo.

Baby Guessing Game

Next week I will be considered "full term"... WHOOP!

While we wait we are playing a little game. If you haven't already guessed you are more than welcome to guess the day, time, weight and length of our little one. You can win the pride and joy of guessing correctly! ;)

Here is the line up so far... it's organized by day. First guess is up in TWO weeks!

Refurbished Changing Table

So I have had a changing table "dilemma" for quite a while now... but we finally got it figured out!

Here's the dilemma:
Most Moms I know change their babies on the floor. It's very practical because there is always one where you are and there are no worries about a baby rolling off the table. I've even changed a few diapers on the floor.

Our problem is this... 1) Steven will not get on the floor to save his life... well... maybe to save his life... but he just doesn't like to do it... he will bend over and hurt his back before he gets on the floor... 2) both of us already struggle with bad backs... having the baby at counter height might help reduce visits to the chiropractor... 3) storage!... we need it big time in our baby room.

So we decided we wanted a changing table... kinda. We didn't want to spend much money on one (or have someone buy one for us) because we weren't sure if we would use it or if it would work for us. We looked at Target, but the changing tables in the baby section looked like changing tables and what do you do with those things after your babies grow up? Then we looked at chest of drawers. Great idea, but we wanted to wait to buy John a chest of drawers after we get him a "big-boy" bed.... just so that things match.

While all this was rolling around in my brain (over the coarse of a couple of days), I noticed an old dresser sitting out on the curb across the street. I walked over to investigate and the drawers were shot, but the main part was in decent condition. I drug it home and noticed some plywood sitting out on the other side of the street. A neighbor helped me get some of that to our backyard. Here is the "before" picture...



I used the plywood (and screws pulled from it) to make the drawers into shelves. Then I checked our paint stash in our shed. I kinda wanted to paint the table green or brown, but I thought the only colors we had were beige and white. Turns out we had green. The green we used to paint our kitchen. It also happens to match the baby room stuff perfectly! I sanded down the table, used the last of some primer we had in the shed and painted it up in one afternoon!

For storage we are going to use six baskets on the two shelves. That way we can pull one with diaper supplies into the living room if we want to do changes on the floor... and we can use the baskets for baby toy storage... or extra outfits. I went ahead and purchased one to make sure it matched, but the rest are on our Target registry... along with the changing table pad... so the table looks a little unfinished. As you can see we are already in need of storage and we haven't even had our shower yet! We have been very blessed to receive much from friends and family already.

The best part about this table is that I didn't spend a single cent refurbishing it! Actually I found a penny in the process of cleaning it up! So, if it works out we don't like the idea of a changing table or when our baby days are done we can keep the baskets for some other storage need in our house and toss the table with out feeling guilty.

*** the "John Class Of 2032" was made for us by Steven's little sister's boyfriend... fun, huh?

Star Mobile

Even though this baby isn't our Madeline Star, I still wanted to incorporate some stars into the room decor. After all, stars are gender neutral and they are classic. I had the idea of making a mobile but I needed a star pattern. I looked online to find a good pattern for crochet stars, but didn't like most I came across. I decided to make my own... it is roughly based off of this, but it's simpler.

To make the stars I used a size H hook and Vanna's choice - mustard yarn. I made two of the following, sewed them together and stuffed them.

Round 1: Ch 2. Sc 5 in second chain from hook. Join round and chain one
Round 2: Sc 2 in each st around. Join. (10 sts)
Round 3: *skip one st. Sc 5 in next st.* repeat 4x. Join.
Round 4: *skip one st. Sc in next st. Sc 2, dc, sc 2 in next st. Sc in next st. Sl st in next st* repeat 4x.
Round 5: *skip one st. Sc 2. Sc 5 in next st. Sc 2. skip one st. Sl st in next st* repeat 4x.
Round 6: *skip one st. Sc 3. Sc 2, dc, sc 2 in next st. Sc 3. Sl st in next st* repeat 4x.
Round 7: *skip one st. Sc 4. Sc 5 in next st. Sc 4. skip one st. Sl st in next st* repeat 4x.

The rest of the mobile I made by crocheting up some simply triangles and little buttons for the stars. I hot glued the triangle pieces to cardboard and hung it from the ceiling with fishing line & push pins. Incredibly simple! Hopefully John enjoys it as much as I do!