Feb 20, 2014

DIY Drums

Have your little one march to their own beat! A fun way to develop music and motor skills. This little DIY project you could customizing each drum with different fabrics, leather lace or even paint.
Material:
  • Tin cams ( I emptied 3 coffee can't)
  • Leather
  • Decorative fabric
  • Leather lacing
  • Wooden dowel and ball
  • Crop-a-dile
  • Cotton ball
  • Hot glue and hot glue gun
  • Scissors 
1. Cut the fabric to fit around the tin can. Glue into place.
2. Lay out the leather and trace around the can. * Measure 1 inch out around.
3. Hammer in holes or Crop-a-dile around the leather. * Make sure the holes are close to the edge.
4. Run the leather lace or string through the holes (pictured). Pull tight over the top of the can. Repeat the same steps for the bottom.
5. Run another lace through the holes top and bottom laces (pictured).
6. Cut the wooden dowel in a lengthy measure.
7. Insert the wooden dowel into the wooden ball.
8. Glue cotton all over the ball to create the drum stick.
Drum AWAY!!!
I know it will be a while before he starts marching away to his own beat, but I couldn't resist in making this for him. He is already loving music dancing around at 25 weeks, now we could make our own! ENJOY & CREATE!!

Feb 15, 2014

Highlights of 1st & 2nd Trimester Bump to Baby Boy


We made it we are in the home stretch!! The third and final trimester starts at week 28! Before I start on what to expect going into the third trimester I wanted to look back and reflect on our weekly topics.


How far along? 
We are at the start of the 3rd and final trimester!!!

Total weight gain ?
32 lbs.

Maternity clothes?
In the 1st trimester I didn't buy any maternity clothes. The 2nd trimester is where I found that leggings were no longer comfortable and I wanted something more form fitting to fit my baby bump. It was a trial and error, going between brands and comfort. Here are a few of my favorite brands that I found were cost-effective and great quality while being comfortable.
  • Motherhood Maternity- As my belly grew I bought most of my t-shirts from here, I eventually grew out of most of them in length. I still wear my leggings which have a built in belly band and wearing them every other day still have kept their quality.  here & here are what I have pictured.
  • Old Navy Maternity- At the end of my 2nd trimester I found that they had more of a looser fit with an affordable price. I bought tops, low-rise leggings, and 2 dresses. here and here I have more information on the brand. 
  • Asos Maternity- If you would like to venture out of your traditional t-shirt and pants in maternity style and dress it up a little more they have what you are looking for. Free shipping, great quality,  and they always have some sort of discount going on. *sizes run bigger so order a size smaller to your pre-pregnancy size. here is what I bought and you can see it will grow with me until the end of my pregnancy. 
    • Here are a couple more maternity clothes that I have on my list to-buy, because finding clothes to fit your belly and yet look sexy and feel great it a challenge for us mommas.
  • Hatch 
  • Topshop Maternity 

Stretch marks?
From what I have read and heard and just experience through my 1st and 2nd trimester stretch marks are something that you can not prevent. I have not had any yet, but I know it is always a good idea to keep your skin hydrated with rich lotions and oils.  With what I have learned and experienced up until now. My weight has not jumped allowing my shin to keep up with my growing body, this and my mom never had any and these are two determining factors of why stretch marks could occur.
Products that I use:

Sleep?
Here is a list of symptoms that effected my sleep, I decided to make a list rather then carry on in a detailed description.
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
  • Heartburn
  • Frequent urination
  • Discomfort 
  • Cramps
  • Pains
  • Ligament pains

Best moment this week?
Here are a few of my best moments thus far…
  • Being able to see our baby on the ultrasound here and here
  • Hearing his heartbeat. 
  • Shopping for maternity clothes here here and here.
  • Feeling the kicks for the first time.
  • Our first baby classes.
  • Finding out the sex of our BABY BOY here!
  • Working on DIY projects for him and the nursery here here here here and here
  • Planning for the nursery here and here 
  • Buying the first pair of shoes for our little man they were a blue pair of moccasins here

Miss anything?
You would think no I shouldn't really miss anything this should be such a proud glorious moment to embrace… Then comes the uncontrollable symptoms, sleepless nights and just over all not feeling like your body and mind are no longer yours. Then on top of most of your social life changes, because you can't do much of what you did when it was just you. Here are a few of what I missed through begin pregnant. Most of it now I have come to terms with.
  • Sleep
  • Mind and body
  • Going out and having drinks with friends, just being silly and carefree. 
  • Wearing pre-pregnancy clothes and my high platform shoes.
  • Being my old self.
  • Sleeping on my stomach not just on my left side. 
  • Not having cravings and being able to maintain my eating. 
  • Not feeling so tired, out of breath and having some sort of pain in any part of my body. 
  • Everything takes 2x as long by the this point; walking, showering, bending over…

Movement?
Feeling him move is the best feeling in the world. As I write this he is just moving all around in there. As he grows I can feel him kick simultaneously kitty corner in my belly getting bigger and bigger. He used to just rumble around above my lower hip.
  • I felt some rumbling around at 17 or 18 weeks. It felt like little bubbles at first so I wasn't sure here
  • My first real movement was felt at 19 weeks. It felt like a wave passing through here.
He is not much of a kicker. He is pretty calm most of the time. Most of my movements are in the mornings and later at night. Now that he is getting bigger he just started waking me up just tossing and turning around in my belly, I just love it. Now I can feel how strong he is and I can't wait for more.

Food cravings?
I have never been much of a foodie. I could have a small snack or meal and be good. Cravings were noting I have ever experienced before. Well, let me just say I have no limits when it comes to food now.
  • I used to be a chips and salty kinda person and things like chocolate and sweets I would never indulge in. 
  • Ice-cream is the best taste in the world its like the first time discovering sweets.
  • Due to my heightened sense in taste I have been cooking a lot more meals. 
  • Sweets
  • Everything taste good… everything. 

Gender?
I don't know how some people could wait on finding out the sex. We just could not hold off not knowing for another second.
We found out at week 21 here.
BOY!!

Labour signs?
Nope

Symptoms?
Here is a list of what symptoms I have had to deal with.
  • Fatigue, more like exhaustion. 
  • Frequent urination
  • Mood swings. I still can not tell you the definition of mood swing rather I feel like I am right in feeling this way at the moment. ;) The first trimester will get you, I was unbelievably sad, just be strong and it will level out for the most part.
  • Heightened senses. My sense of smell rally played a role. 
  • Acne during the first few months.
  • Migraines
  • Round Ligament Pain
  • Leg Muscle Cramps
  • Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
  • Heartburn
  • Breathlessness
  • Body aches and pains.

Belly button in or out?
This is kinda crazy but I have been expecting my belly button to pop out until one day I just noticed I no longer had one. By now it is completely flat. I found out at week 23.

Happy or moody most of the time?
If you have been following my blog or even this post you will have your answer. :)

Looking forward to?
Most deffinatly looking forward to the baby shower. I have the most amazing friends and I can't wait for all of my family on both sides to beth together. It is themed around deserts, my favorite!!
More of my DIY projects!
Creating more art for the room and decorating the Nursery.
And of corse meeting, holding, kissing, feeling, our little baby BOY!! To see if he has a full curly head of hair like his father, a nose like me and just to see how big he actually is.

Thank you for allowing me in sharing this amazing experience with you. Feel free to ask any questions, leave a comment or just share a story. I love how unique each pregnancy is but so much the same all in one. 


Keep in-touch for upcoming post....

Feb 7, 2014

26 Weeks 6 Days

Here you are 26weeks 6days young.
Here you are 26weeks 6days young.
How far along? 
26week 6days

Total weight gain?
Total weight gain so far is 30lbs and weighing in at 152lbs… I am happy to say due to watching what I eat I did not gain any weight this week.

Maternity clothes?
Above I am wearing Old Navy Maternity. They fit your baby bump so well with the shirred sides for a fitted look. here I mentioned more on their lightweight fit and what I bought.

Stretch marks?
I am in the clear as of now. I am guessing that by everything slowly growing is helping not too many jumps in weigh and growth.

Sleep?
I have some great news on my sleeping situation… SO he is not much of a kicker he sleeps a lot and randomly kicks to say hi, well he kept me up for about a half hour the other night. just doing flips and kicking over it was so exciting. These little moments are priceless and what gets me through the sleepless nights.

Best moment this week?
I would have to say seeing my friends. Not one night but 2 nights I got to see them. I had a girlfriend that was in town and we all got together so it was nice to fell a little like myself again even if it took a lot out of me.

Miss anything?
No, Im getting more and more accepting of pregnancy "lifestyle". I couldn't ask for better timing on being prego it has need a dreadful winter with the below zero windshield and storms.

Movement?
Above, I mentioned him kicking me all night the other night… he was so active. I feel like he is getting so big now. Its crazy because when he moves I can feel him from the top side of my ribcage along my right side to above my left hipbone in a "c" shape.

Food cravings?
Everything just taste so good.

Gender?
Baby Boy… I think we are narrowing down on a name!!!

Labour signs?
Nope!

Symptoms?
I am in the clear for preeclampsia. I think by watching what I eat and how I eat is helping with heartburn. Its not as intense or I'm just tolerating the pain a little more. I haven't had any new symptoms this week, besides what I have been dealing with.

Belly button in or out?
I no longer have a belly button, it is totally flat :)

Happy or moody most of the time?
It has been a good week. Not too many ups and downs. Being pregnant and having to "deal" with my emotions and everything that comes with it is really helping me in the long run.

Looking forward to?
We have our first baby class Monday the 10th. One of 5 weeks of Childbirth.


Keep in-touch for upcoming post....
More DIY projects for out little man…
What to expect and what I have learned on my first Childbirth class.
A sum up of the first 3 trimesters recap...

Feb 6, 2014

DIY Arrows for Our little One

This Baby DIY project could not have came at a perfect time. Valentines Day is coming up and so what comes to mind… hearts… love… bows and arrows. Although I didn't plan on using my arrows in a romantic gesture, my little mans nursery will symbolize all the love I need to show. 
Material:
  • 12-inch wood dowels
  • Colored paper
  • Feathers
  • Painters pen (optional)
  • Hot glue and hot glue gun (optional)
  • Wire
  • Scissors
1. Stencil out some of your favorite feathers. I chose not to freehand them you could freehand some to get the right size and shape. 
2. To add more texture and patterns to the end of the arrow I painted a colored pattern to the feathers.
3. Hot glue the feathers in place as you go along. ( I learned this on my 3rd arrow it helps with stabilizing the feathers and holds the paper feathers from tearing at the ends). 
4. below shown wrap wire around the base of the feathers around the dowel.
4. Shave the ends of the dowel so the triangle tip will fit on smoothly. 
5. Cut two identical triangles to place on both sides of the dowel, then glue.
TA DA!!!

I can not wait to hang these up in our little guys room. Look ahead to see what the outcome looks like. If you choose to make a few you could apply these to gifts, as a decor, an event… I would love to make some for my self in some other bright more feminine colors.
They just add a personal special touch!!! ENJOY & CREATE!!

Feb 1, 2014

25 Weeks 3 Days 1st Birthday with MOM!

Here you are 25weeks 3days old with mom on her birthday! 
Here you are 25weeks 3days old with mom on her birthday! 
Here you are 25weeks 3days old with mom on her birthday! 
Here you are 25weeks 3days old with mom on her birthday! 
Your Dad and I spent my birthday at The Chop House it was perfect. Nice and relaxing he got me a gift with a little name tag on it with one of the names that we though of for you. This name is growing on us I feel. We will have to see if its the one that suites you… Its the first thing that people are starting to ask me now, if we have though of any name yet. I love knowing every day you are here with me and my favorite is hearing your little heartbeat when we see the Dr. She said you are a big guy, measuring long and big in growth!! :) :)


How far along? 
25week 3days

Total weight gain?
Total weight gain so far is 30lbs and weighing in at 152lbs.

Maternity clothes?
Above I ordered ASOS Maternity Swing Dress in Bright Floral. It was light weight and so comfortable I could wear this throughout my pregnancy. It really made it feel as if it weren't below 0 outside with the bright floral print. ASOS really has a great line of Maternity wear with reasonable prices.

Stretch marks?
None so far!

Sleep?
Sleep is the same. I am trying Zantac, I think it helps with the heartburn I take it 2x a day before meals as directed. Although I saw my Dr and I am running some tests to be safe with the pain.

Best moment this week?
My Birthday of corse. How many time can you say you shared your birthday with your special baby in being pregnant.

Miss anything?
Not having everything take 2x the effort. But besides that not too much. Going out with my friends on a regular bases, I deffinatly miss seeing them.

Movement?
He is a sleeper. I feel kick late at night and random points during the day but besides that nothing too crazy.

Food cravings?
I am changing my eating habits. If I eat a full dinner I eat a big salad first. Throughout the day I am  filling up on fruits whole grain cereals and bars. I do have a little snack at night sometimes :) Baby steps.

Gender?
Our lovely little BOY!!

Labour signs?
Not at all.

Symptoms?
Seeing the Dr this week helped out. Describing my pain. I have a sharp pain, not so much of a burn below my left breast above my rib and it is constant. She thinks it could be an artery that is being stretched. Just to be safe we are doing test to see if its not preeclampsia. I still have heartburn I have been trying to control it, but I feel like every kind of food is a trigger. Stuffy nose and body pains.

Belly button in or out?
Still in.

Happy or moody most of the time?
Being in uncontrollable pain on and off makes me kinda moody. So I'm trying to adjust my eating habits to help with the pain as well as being more active throughout the day.

Looking forward to?
Staying busy with little DIY projects. I even found one for myself. I am also helping with decorating the spare bedroom at my moms house for the baby and other grand kids, so that will keep my mind and body busy.


Keep in-touch for upcoming post....
I don't have any one DIY baby project in mind this week, but Im sure in the next few days Ill have a few though up….
A sum up of the first 3 trimesters on maternity clothes, symptoms, baby news, etc… here comes the 3rd and final trimester….


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