Baby is now about 1 pound and almost 11 inches long. We’re getting there!
This week I had a lunch meeting to attend and I tried on just about every shift dress in my closet to see if anything would work. This is what you call being in total denial…hah. You should have seen me trying to get the zipper up on those things. Not even close! Anyway, the Old Navy Maternity dress saved the day. Plus, no waistband = happy camper.
I picked up this summery empire waist dress from Winners this weekend for a friend’s BBQ. I’m usually not a big fan of Winners, but I was desperate and it was a steal at $24 bucks. Now that the temperatures are rising I need some comfy hot weather clothes!
Let’s see what else? Well, I did my first official nursery crafting project this week. Watch out Martha! hah.
Check it out:
{Yes, my friends, that is My Little Pony scrapbooking paper on the bottom row…I die}
and the finished product:
Pretty cute, eh?! I’m really happy with how it turned out.
I used this tutorial for the butterfly collage art in case you want to make one yourself. I bought all the materials (scrapbooking paper, tacky glue, white art board, butterfly punch) from Michael’s (including the frame which was 40% off).
Other nursery things going on this week: Eric is painting the walls. We’re also going to do wallpaper as an accent wall, but I’m waiting for the wallpaper to arrive.
In other non-crafting things, I watched a 2-disc childbirth class called “Laugh and Learn about Childbirth”. I’ve had this DVD for months and I’ve been putting off watching it because I was scared. Even though it has 4.5 star rating on Amazon with over 450 reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect. In the end, I enjoyed it quite a bit and thought it was a great overview.
In case you are wondering, the 2-discs are divided into the following classes. I personally think the cost of the DVD was a steal considering how much info was presented.
- Class 1: Anatomy and Preliminary Signs of Labor (34 mins.)
- Class 2: Three actual signs of labour and one breathing technique (37 mins.)
- Class 3: Labor and comfort measures (39 mins.)
- Class 4: Delivery, pushing, and cord blood banking (39 mins)
- Class 5: Medications used in labor, induction, forceps, vacuum, and monitoring (42 mins)
- Class 6: Cesarean delivery, post-op C/S, and postpartum vaginal delivery (43 mins)
- Class 7: Update with the couples & their babies (very cute!) 4 mins.
- Class 8: Everything about cord blood banking (10 mins)
The tape was filmed in a small class setting with real couples and they had a short Q&A after each class. I’m very much a visual learner so I feel like I learned so much more from this video than by reading it in a book. I already have plans to watch it 1-2 more times before the delivery and Eric is going to watch it too. Some people don’t care for how opinionated the instructor is about various topics like interventions and medications (she advocates a natural birth for the most part), but it didn’t bother me too much because I know I can decide for myself. Anyway, the video left me feeling empowered to keep learning and more confident that I can discuss these topics with my doula in the coming weeks…always a good thing if you ask me!
So to sum up week 22: A lot of learning, flowy dresses, and crafting!
PS – Cravings this week: Grapes and watermelon. I think I went through 3 bags this week and half a big watermelon. Anything fruity and hydrating is in my belly these days!
PPS – Also finding it more and more difficult to bend over and put my shoes on these days. I think slip on sandals are going to be key later in the summer…
You look amazing Ange and I love the collage project!
I’m not a mom but I love seeing these baby check ins. So incredibly sweet.
Keep them coming! :-)
Angela – your wall art craft is super cute! I read on an earlier post that you’d like to make a mobile for your babe’s nursery. I told my sister-friend neighbor about my original idea to make a mobile for our newborn son from those wire and plastic butterfly type flower arrangement accessories. I’d seen them hanging from the ceiling in a massage therapist’s room and called their office to inquire what they were. My neighbor hosted a beautiful baby shower she’d planned for me, roughly a week later, and surprised me with a darling homemade mobile. She was hoping I hadn’t made it myself yet, and had gone out and found the supplies: 3 dragonflies (wire and plastic flower arrangement accessories), 3 little balsa wooden bird cut outs she’d found at Michael’s and 3 small balsa wooden dragon fly cut outs. She’d painted the wooden birds and dragonflies. Then, she glued each of them to clear fishing line of various lengths and then glued them to 2 sticks, at 3 different points (ends and middle), that she’d glued together in their center (to form a cross). I was really delighted with her craftiness and sentiment and our son loves it as much as we do. My neighbor said it was so easy and fun she looks forward to the chance to make a similar mobile sometime. Just thought I’d pass along the idea in case you’re looking. :)
Love your work!
Grapes, watermelon and sandals – yay, that’ll keep you happy. And Eric too (not needing to assist in lacing or clasping on and off shoes)! I’m on a soup mission this week, and decided to make each of your soup recipes in your cookbook. I’m on the fourth one and in the process I put the leftovers into large mason jars. I am freezing one jar each as a gift for another neighbor friend who had her second daughter 2 weeks ago. I made sure to leave a little extra space in the jar for expansion and left the lid unsealed until it froze, and so far so good. I’ll be excited to give the soups to her next week! They’ve sure made for healthy and delicious homemade lunches with your spiced pita chips and since there is only 2 adults and one small toddler in our home there are even leftovers. :)
I adore your updates on the pregnancy. Please update as much as you can! I love that flowy dress. :)
The dress is adorable on you! I only hope I am so cute when I’m pregnant (which will be soon….hopefully!!! Trying, trying.).
Super crafty and cute project, too. I may steal that idea. :-)
Very cute project! Good job!
Just curious–I’m guessing that as a vegan, you are at least somewhat environmentally conscious and maybe also “crunchy” about chemicals you use in your house and on your body. Are you thinking about doing cloth diapers?
Thanks ladies :)
Cara – I was looking into cloth diapers today actually! Not sure what kind/brand to try out though…any tips?
We use the all in one BumGenius. It makes it easier on Daddy! Ha! When we travel, we use Seventh Generation. My son has allergies to diapers, so 7th Gen is the only diapers we can use while traveling (unless we go to my mom’s or my sisters, they don’t care if diapers get washed in their machines!) I’ve heard good things about the Flip System too! Was shooting to get #2 potty trained before #3 arrives in 3 weeks…not. happening (but he also isn’t 2 yet..) :-( Good thing we have plenty of cloth diapers!
great to know, thanks Elizabeth!
Love the Bum Genius All-in-One!
That seems to be quite popular! Thanks for your input.
We use the Flip system. The thing about cloth that can feel overwhelming is how incredibly many options you have, and there’s not one “right” one. Many people like the all-in-ones (like the first posters here!) because they’re easy to put on at the change–they act basically like disposables. I prefer the shell and insert system because they pack smaller for outings and generate less laundry–and you don’t have to stuff and unstuff them. And there’s no need for pins anymore, either. Some people like using totally traditional flat diapers, folded fancy and pinned with pins, but we just lay our Flip insert or fold our cotton prefolds (we have plenty of those and they work just fine, but in retrospect, prefer the Flip) in the cover and you’re done. Totally idiot-proof. Our favorite shells are the Thirsties Duo Wrap (snap) because they have extra gussets around the leg which mean they leak less than others, and our favorite inserts are the Flips because they actually feel dry on the microfiber side next to the baby, they hold a respectable amount of pee, and they don’t stain easily. One thing to be aware of is that you will probably want preemie-sized ones for the first month or so unless you just give in and use disposables then. My daughter was 6 lbs and should have fit the normal sized diapers, according to their sizing–and they were WAY too big, actually unusable. I can go on and on so I’ll stop here. Happy to answer any more questions–we have been super happy with cloth so I like to help demystify the experience when I can!
Thanks this is very helpful Cara! I’ll probably try out a few different kinds before committing – and good point about the sizes.
Agreed – I used Bum Genius as well and loved them. They held up really well until Tyson was almost 2. Although my husband thought they were bulky and preferred ones that were more of a “terrycloth” material (I think we had a few Bummis? I can’t remember the name). He felt like they were more absorbent.
Something I wish I had watched before the birth of my baby was “The Business of Being Born”. Honestly amazing documentary! Very empowering and eye opening.
This movie is worth to be seen. Thanks Ashley!
Angela – you look great – so healthy and beautiful – so happy for you.
Ha, I gave birth in November, so in the fall my husband became my official shoelace tie-er. It was mission impossible for me.
We tried about 6 different brands of washables and we, too, went with the Flip system. It takes up the least space and dries the fastest (we don’t have a dryer). Also, they had the least leaks of all the ones I tried, all the while allowing my daughter to not look too much like a Teletubby (the “classic” washables give your baby an enormous tush!). I agree with Cara though, many washables won’t work for the first month or so, as baby’s legs are tiny. We just did disposables for the first month. Honestly, I was too tired to deal with washables at that point anyway!
I love your blog! All of your recipes are simply amazing, I can even get my husband to agree (he is very picky & a big meat eater). You look amazing and love to see all your pregnancy updates!
Angela,
you look amazing! Glowing and healthy! I applaud you for taking such a good care of your little one, and yourself of course.
I am not a mom not pregnant at the moment, but I love reading these baby updates and what you eat, what vitamins you are taking and everything. Thank you for sharing. Keep them coming :)
Good luck and all the best!
Mima
Love the nursery decoration!!! It’s adorable. We started our birthing classes last week and I really enjoyed the first class. Three more to go! It definitely made me feel a bit more relaxed about the whole birth process, so I hope to learn a lot more over the next few weeks. I know what you mean about trying to find clothes that fit! I think it was probably around 22 weeks that I tried to put on a normal work dress and it looked ridiculous. Maternity dresses all the way – that summer dress of yours is so cute! :) Made your cumin lime quinoa salad last night. It’s just so delicious on a hot night.
LOVE your craft project!
Sounds like a good DVD. We took The Bradley Method classes and I really felt like I learned so much and had a very clear understanding of what was going on in the body during labor and delivery, which I think made me that much more confident when the time came,and helped me to not panic and stay in control (for the most part!). That’s half the battle, I think – not panicing. I think really understanding the 3 stages of labor helped me get through it.
You look beautiful! I hope you’re enjoying your pregnancy body as much as I enjoy mine! I’m on my second and it’s the only time I really have a positive body image. I love not worrying about my waist! My belly is SUPPOSED to stick out – hallelujah! hahaha
I’ve been out of the loop since I’ve been travelling in Asia for 6 months, but today I decided to catch up with my favourite blogs… Great news! Congrats! :)
Amélie
Thanks so much! Hope you had a great trip :)
Beautiful dress! Love the craft project too :-) Are you planning to go natural? I highly recommend Bradley Method classes (as I think another commenter did too), we LOVED our instructor and learned so much about pregnancy in general, not just labor and delivery. And even if you decide on cloth diapers, Honest Company has safe non-toxic items like wipes, sunscreen, body wash, etc. for baby (and you!).
Stay well and please keep the updates coming!
Hi Jillian, Thanks for your kind words! Right now my plan is to go as long as possible without an epidural, hah. But to be honest, I think I’ll probably end up getting one. Maybe I will surprise myself though, who knows! I try not to focus on it too much because I know that labour is so unpredictable as it is.
Love that attitude! I’m currently reading Hypnobirthing and will probably look into a couple of more things, but heck, armed with some knowledge, I trust myself to determine whether an epidural is needed.
Hang on to the slipon shoes,,,,they are all I wore when my dd was small. When holding a baby, the last thing i wanted to do was put her down just so i could fasten a shoe. Best of luck and thank you for the wonderful recipes!
Love the craft! Would love to do this, could you tell me how big your butterfly punch is? I’m trying to find one on ebay but not sure whether a 1 inch or 2 inch one would be best? Hard to tell from the pics, doctor told us he thinks it’s a girl, need to wait a couple more weeks to be sure :) Can’t wait!
I think its a 2-inch :) I used a bigger size than the one in the tutorial.
Congrats, you look adorable and I love the baby bump! Your crafting project turned out awesome :)