Adventures in sewing

For those of you who don't know, I have decided to use cloth diapers with our next little monkey. After long grueling hours of bidding on ebay and looking at dozens of different styles and types of diapers I have decided to sew my own. (I had no idea how many styles and how pricey they could be!!!) So this was my first attempt at a fitted pocket diaper Also known as an AIO (all in one). It has a fleece inner, a waterproof middle and a soft flannel outer. You stuff the pocket with an absorbent insert and you have no need for a cover because its waterproof! I also plan on using snap fasteners to secure the diaper, just haven't gotten around to ordering them or the tool yet ;) Most people cringe and run in fear at the mention of cloth diapers but I can assure you these are not your mamas diapers!! They are almost as easy as disposables just a little more laundry! for those interested I'll put links at the bottom ; )

Here is a shot of the diaper folded. This is how it will look on the baby

See that flap in the back? That is where the absorbent insert is placed Not bad huh???!!!!??? I just got this amazing sewing machine and am pretty impressed that my first project turned out so good! I have sewn a bit in the past but am still definitely a beginner!

Here is another project. Its a pouch sling!! I made it using a video tutorial on Youtube! It goes around the body like a pageant banner. The baby rests in the soft fleece layers and is snug and secure against mommys body. I'm super proud at how cute it turned out ; )

This one I crocheted so we'll see how it works

I'll keep you updated on my crafty adventures!


One size Diaper pattern
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/03/homemade-one-size-cloth-diaper-pattern-and-wipes-recipe.html

Pouch sling tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW9m_8w_btc

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP)

What is this you ask? Its a rash that a small amount of women (and myself) get while pregnant. I had no idea what this was when I had it with my first pregnancy. I thought it was due to receiving my lovely stretch marks but when it didn't clear up for a few months after the pregnancy was over I thought it was something else. My doctor tried giving me a steroid cream but since I was nursing I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten foot pole! My dad finally gave me a natural (but smelly) salve and it cleared up quickly.

For some reason this dreaded rash skipped my last pregnancy. I have been doing some reading and according to research a biopsy of the rash has shown that male fetel DNA can be found. And that 70% of women with PUPP's give birth to boys. They believe that the male fetel DNA acts as a skin irritant (Which is just another reason I'm still convinced were having a boy!) I also read that usually you don't get this lovely rash with subsequent pregnancy's.... Guess I'm just lucky. Perhaps the surrogacy was skipped because I was having a girl??

So Yesterday my belly was itching like mad! I though I had just gotten a little too much sun and put some aloe vera on it. When I looked in the mirror my belly didn't look sun burnt so I just tried to ignore it. That night I turned on the bathroom light and really tried to get a good look at the underside of my belly ( something I cannot see on my own any longer) and sure enough, there was the rash! NOOOOO! I called Joe in and asked if he could see it (He had to put up with my itching and whining all day I just wanted to show him I wasn't faking lol)

I guess I'll venture to the health food store and see if they have any smelly salve that may help. There are some drugs you can take but since this rash can't hurt me or the baby (its just really annoying) I'll live with it if it cannot be treated naturally. Pregnancy is hard enough without having a super itchy belly to accompany it! Pray for me that I don't loose my mind before this baby is born

Just had to share

Nolan has been having a really hard time saying the word "shut up" Anytime we try to scold him he'll say it or he'll just randomly blurt it out. He has even said "shut up momma!" AAAHHGGG! (In all fairness he learned the word from me, I like saying it when I can't believe what I'm hearing but have nipped that bad habbit over the last month) No matter what I do he won't stop. I tried putting him in time out every time I would hear it and that made it worse. Then I tried ignoring it for about a week and that didn't help. So lately when he says it we sternly say "that is NOT a nice word" and sometimes we put him in time out if he won't stop or acknowledge its not a nice word. So here's to the funny part. I'm in here in the den writing some emails and I hear him singing the "once there was a snow man" song in his room. We have been singing it a lot since it snowed. Suddenly in the middle of the song he sings "shut up is not a nice word". It was so funny. Then a few minutes later while playing with his buzz light year he sternly said "Shut up is not a nice word buzz.... Go to time out" I had to giggle.

Our move to Utah

Who likes to move? No one I know!!! We ended up selling a TON of our junk that has accumulated over the past years which felt very nice. Whats funny is people actually bought most of it!!! Stuff that I didn't think we would ever sell. So by the end of all of our craigslisting and yardsailing we only had a few boxes of stuff for D.I. I was procrastinating us moving but Joe cracked the whip and finally set a date. I'm glad we waited though because I was able to spend a whole week with my Grandparents from Washington. Although now were only a twelve hour drive away so I think a visit is in order. Maybe for my cousins wedding in August!

Two of Joe's friends came to help us move and we are so so grateful to them because there was no way we could have done it alone! We ended up using a 22 foot Penske diesel and it was completely full by the time we finished!! We had to really shove our mattress in at the end so I am so thankful we didn't end up using the 16 footer we had originally booked. That would have been a nightmare getting it half way loaded then realizing we didn't have nearly enough room!

So our journey began. We were loaded up in the cab of the truck (which Nolan loved) with snacks and drinks at our feet. About two hours down the road Joe noticed in his mirror that the front tire on the trailer was flat! So we stopped at the nearest gas station and filled her up. Within twenty minutes of driving it was flat again so we called Penske and they send a service guy to come fix it. I was really impressed that they were there so fast and got it all taken care of so quickly. We were only pulled over for a total of about an hour! We got some cute pictures to document our journey....

The sky was so stunning!

That night we decided to stop in Laughlaun because their Hotels were so cheep. We stayed at Harrah's for only 25 bucks! They even gave us a free buffet pass so we had an awesome dinner. After a good nights sleep we were on the road again. Joe did all the driving (I think he was scared of me driving) which is totally fine because I was actually really scared of driving too! We got to Mom and Dads around five on Friday night. We unloaded our suitcases and mattress and slept. The next morning some awesome men (including the bishop who lives a few doors down from us) came and helped us move into the house. It didn't take very long but we were so grateful for the help. I didn't have to move a single box! Then Christie and Sean (Joe's sister and her hubby) helped us unpack a bunch of stuff. They even hung all of my clothes!

We have been here in Utah for a week and are really loving it. We left our rundown old townhouse in a not so good area and now were here in a great neighborhood with snowy mountain peeks behind us. Nolan has an awesome park down the street and a big backyard to play in. We are so thankful to be here during this time. Mom and Dad Hartzell are taking very good care of us and have given us three whole bedrooms to occupy while were here! We feel so blessed right now!

There was a big snow last week! It was so beautiful! Being an AZ native it will defintely take some time getting used to seeing it snow! I'm not a big fan of the cold but it was just so beautiful I couldn't be grumpy about it! And I couldn't believe how fast it melted!!! Just two good days of sun and it was gone!

This is the view from the back porch!! So stunning
(Omit power lines :)

Baby Bump ; )

I believe I was born to be pregnant! I love it. This has been my easiest pregnancy yet! I am so excited about being a mom to a new little life. I feel as though I already know this little person growing inside of me. I have spent countless hours researching all things baby, cloth diapers, slings, co-sleeping, PBA, proper swaddling! This time around I feel much more informed and plan to be well prepared!! I cannot wait to give birth with just me and my sweetheart and other loved ones around. I want my amazing husbands hands to be the first thing that touches our sweet baby. I know it will be a life changing experience for the both of us!

23 Weeks
Nolan loves giving the baby (or my belly) smooches! Its so special that he understands. He often tells the baby that its time to come out so I explained to him that our baby must get bigger than he/she will be ready to come.

23 weeks

24 weeks

26 weeks

Tucson visit

I was able to see my sweet Grandma and Grandpa Smith this last weekend in Tucson. Even with our move looming I just couldn't pass up the chance to spend some time with them. Tucson is always so much fun. They have skate boards, a chicken coop, a tractor!!! and a big trampoline! Every three year olds dream! The weather was rainy some of the time but we did get some fun in before then

Here is an older pic of me and Grandma



Skate boarding was a hoot!!! Nolan looked so cute when he would kick off then put his little feet up on the board and coast down the hill.





What can I say?! Little boys and tractors! Its like love at first sight. Nolan had a blast playing on his Grandpa Smiths tractor. It was so fun and I got some awesome shots. We'll probably hang some on his wall!






The Chickens are so fun. Someday I would LOVE to have some chickens and other various farm animals! But for now I live vicariously through my parents chickens : ) One morning I went to make eggs (my faveorite breakfast food during pregnancy) and there were only two left!! So I ventured out to the chicken coop and to my great surprise there was a whole plethora of eggs waiting for me. A chicken was on them so they were still warm too!


Maybe I'm bias but I think that Nolans little jump on the trampoline is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! And in case your wondering whats on his face.... He got into a fight with some white out he found on the counter. I was just to lazy to try and scrub it off. Here is a cute video of his jumping.