My first diaper cake!

My sister is helping host a shower next weekend and asked me for some help.  I suggested a diaper cake and of course that meant I actually had to be the one to make it!  This post is really for my reference and to show you that it's not that hard if you wanted to make one. There are 2 ways that I've seen them done.  I liked this one where each diaper wasn't individually rolled.  I got some pictures, though they're kind of crappy because I had to make it at night while Alex was sleeping.

1. Gather your supplies!
   
   
   • Diapers (I used 2 - 36 packs)
   • Rubberbands
   • Tall/Center Items (I used some bath wash and bath towels) (and used the wash cloths to make it sturdy in some locations)
   • Items to decorate the outside (ribbon, bows)
   • Cake Topper (i.e. stuffed animal)
   • Baby things to attach (i.e. pacifier, bibs, bibs, carseat toy, wrist rattles, socks, rattle, etc)
   • Base for cake (I used a piece of a cardboard box wrapped up)
     
2. Place your 'tall/center' items in the middle and put a rubber band around them. (unfortunately I didn't start taking pictures until after this point, oh well)
3. Put another rubber band around the center and put 4-6 diapers staggered slightly under the rubber band.  Work your way around in a circle leaving even spacing and overlapping the top and bottom of the last ones when you close the circle.  For the base row I did ~10 diapers.
4. Repeat for a 2nd and 3rd time on the bottom layer of the cake.  The 2nd row has ~12 diapers and the 3rd row ~14.  I used a different rubber band around each row to make it a little easier.
   

5. Start with the second layer of the case, repeat step 3.  I used ~11 diapers.  Add a 2nd row to the second layer ~13 diapers.

6. Repeat for the top layer of the cake ~12 diapers.  When you get to the top your tall items may not reach all the way, so I stuffed some tissue paper in to make it solid before I could stuff in the cake topper.
   

7. Decorate as desired!  I had to use a hot glue gun to get the ends of the ribbon to stay together.  I used some white ribbon to tie other items on.

After I took all my pictures and was done, I wasn't a fan of the base I had (a piece of cardboard covered with wrapping paper), so I took it off and put some white paper underneath and then stamped on it, unfortunately no picture.  I think my sister came with 2 more decorations afterwards too.

I looked up on etsy and they charge anywhere from $50 - $450 for these!  Yikes! (Maybe I should look into selling them!)  This cost about ~$75 I think and many of the things were off the registry of the recipient so I was happy that it served multiple functions.  There are so many different kinds and different ways to do them.  I hope I have a chance to try again sometime!

I had a lot of fun making it and decorating.  I would say that overall it took me about 2hrs to complete.  I was feeling like I hadn't gotten to do any crafting since Alex's arrival, but now I feel a little bit better after doing this.

Baby Must-Haves - 3 Weeks

So Alex is only 3 weeks old but there are already a few must-haves in our house.

1. Sleep Sheep (Toys R Us)

We love this! It might be more for us then for Alex. Ha ha, we turn this in to the heartbeat setting at night and it seems to help Alex. Sometimes if we go to bed after it has turned off we restart it to help us go to sleep!

2. Baby Log App (Apple Store)

There are lots of baby apps out there and this is just the one that we found. It is great, especially in the first few weeks. It helped me keep track of which side he nursed on last, when he nursed, diapers, etc. It was great when we went to the Dr's office because we didn't have pieces of paper to remember. We just started using the sleep option and only at night for right now but going to start using the sleep part during the day too. It also has places to logs weight, etc. Only thing I wish is that it had accounts so you could sync across devices (iPad and iPhone, etc).

3. My Brest Friend Deluxe Wearable Nursing Pillow (Toys R Us)

I tried the Boppy Pillow when we were in the hospital but I still had too much of a belly to make it work. My co-worker recommended this and the some people from work got it for me as a gift. It was a life-saver. It adjusts size to fit depending on how big you are, plus it stays in place and has great support for the baby to lay for feeding. Sometimes, if he falls asleep I let him sleep there for a bit if I'm entertained.

4. Changing Pad Covers (Toys R Us)

We have the changing pad covers that match our bedding set but we use these on top of that and it's great! They're much cheaper so we have a lot of them and they're easy to change out when they get pooped on (which happens several times a week unfortunately)

What does anyone else have as their essentials? We'll see what tops our list again in a few weeks as Alex grows!

Nursery Reveal

After much taping and painting and washing and moving and nailing, baby c's room is 99% completed!  If you remember, I posted my inspiration photos for the nursery here and here, we ended up going with the squares thanks to your awesome comments.  The last 1% to finish is the letters for his name that we ordered that have not arrived yet and probably won't be here until the middle of June (which is why you see a nice blank green wall in the first picture).

Looking in from the doorway:

 

My favorite wall:

Close-up of the decals:

 Dresser and Changing station:

Crib and Book shelf:

Lots and lots of clothes washed and ready for baby c to wear!

• The bedding is part of the Carter's Laguna collection.  
• The crib and dresser are from JCPenny, but are no longer available (bought them on clearance).  
• The glider is the Storkcraft Tuscany Glider and is rather comfortable!

I'm quite happy with the way that it all turned out!  It is definitely much, much, much brighter than I would normally do.  The letters will go over the back wall where the crib is.  I'm pretty sure the squares on the wall are my favorite.  I am glad we got the decals to put on that wall they really do look great!  I'm also glad I won the book shelf debate!  :-)

So glad that it's done!  Now we just need a baby to put in there!

Bags are Packed!

Finally, they're packed!

(Yes, they're hanging out on the dog crate until they go to the car!)

Here's what I've got:

Baby's Bag:

• 2 blankets
• A few diapers and travel package of wipes (just in case)
• An outfit, hat and socks to wear home (maybe)
• 2 sleepers with hats and booties to wear in the hospital
• A few plain white onsies
• Bibs (3) and burp-cloths (3)
• Nursing Cover
• Hand-sanitizer :-)

My Bags:

• Paperwork
• Book from class on childbirth and breastfeeding
• Pediatrician Information
• My pre-registration form
• Consent forms
• Birth Certificate Form
• Identification/Insurance forms
• Snacks for KC
• $1 bills for the vending machines!
• Boppy Pillow
• Things to keep my occupied/document and help with labor (our hospital has the birthing ball, bar and popsicles already there for patients)
• iPad (with Movies) with Charger (so I can blog too!)
• Breastfeeding Book
• Kindle (just in case)
• Camera (with extra battery)
• Toiletries
• Shampoo, Soap, Razor
• Make-Up
• Hair care (pony tail holder, headband, etc)
• Contact Solution & Glasses
• Sanitary pads and nursing pads
• Clothes
• 1 nursing night-gown
• 1 nursing pajama set with robe
• Slipper sock with grips on bottom
• Socks! (I don't like cold feet)
• Flip Flops
• Skirt and sweats to wear home, depending on how I feel
• Big nursing top and maternity shirt to wear home, depending on what feels comfortable
• Undergarments - (incl a nursing bra)

KC still needs to pack his change of clothes and toiletries but that's not too big of a deal.

So I ask all you momma's who just delivered, what am I missing? What did I bring that you didn't find necessary?

Other question, so far I have nothing in newborn size for baby c yet. I know, I know, I just didn't want to get stuff if he was going to be bigger, which he has been measuring all along so far. Depending on the size of your baby, what size clothes did your baby wear home?

Tips for Bringing Home Baby

I came across this post by Alexandra (aka Shortcake on Weddingbee), that I wanted to share and ask if anyone has any other great suggestions.

(I parsed it out a little, but give 100% credit to her)

• prepare everything, in advance.  Sure, you can run out and grab things as you need them, but those first couple of weeks can be mighty hard.  Give yourself a break and plan ahead!
• Wash, dry, and put sheets on your crib or bassinet.
• Set up your changing table or area with supplies.  Make sure you have at least one large box of newborn diapers, and a couple boxes of size one diapers.  If you are cloth diapering, make sure you have prepped (washed 4-5 times) your absorbent pieces (flats, prefolds, inserts, etc) in advance.  Even if you are using cloth, it's a good idea to have some disposables on hand for meconium poops, which can be difficult to wash out.
• Stock your fridge and freezer with easy-to-prepare meals.  Make sure you have essentials (milk, butter, eggs, cereal, pet food) on hand before you're due.  Freezer cooking is a great way to fill up and stock up!
• Arrange for someone to come and help you everyday, or stay with you, if possible.  Don't be afraid to ask for help!
• Sleep when the baby does.  I didn't do this - the temptation was too great to stay up and get things done. BUT, everyone will be happier and healthier with more sleep.  Sleep - just do it.
• Install the baby's car seat and have it inspected.
• If you have a dog, let the dog meet the baby outside of your home. 
• Be flexible - let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about mothering. Be willing to learn from those who have been there. At the same time, trust your instincts - motherhood is scarily instinctual, and you'll know your baby best!
• Write down every pee, poo, and feeding (and side if you're breastfeeding) for the first two months.  This will help you see patterns, as well as if your baby is getting enough to eat.  This information is invaluable if you need medical assistance or breastfeeding advice!

Did you receive any other advice that you think is share worthy or anything that you found was important when you came home?

Maternity/Pregnancy Must-Haves

So far, I've had a super easy pregnancy.  I had a few go-to items, websites and clothing stores, etc that I thought I'd share.  Feel free to chime in if you have any other suggestions!

Amazon Mom.  Any moms or dad's or caregivers out there can sign up for it.  The great part, free 2-day shipping for the first 3 months and then you can extend it for up to a year based on your purchases. 

Maternity Wardrobe  My maternity wardrobe came from 4 stores, Gap, Old Navy, Motherhood Maternity and a few things from Target.  Luckily a lot of what I have was gifted to my by my awesome mom and dad for Christmas and randomly because they're awesome.  A few essentials throughout:  maternity tanks from Gap, jeans from Gap and Old Navy.  Some great tees from motherhood and Gap.  I would say that I lucked out, I don't have to dress up for work really, so jeans and whatever shirt I find is ok.

Vitamins and Heartburn/Indigestion  I hate having to swallow big pills, I just can't do it.  So I found these great vitamins at Target and I've taken them throughout.  I wouldn't say that they're the best tasting but it's better than the alternative.  I only had a small encounter with nausea but there has definitely been heartburn and indigestion along the way.  I'm pretty sure for more than half of my pregnancy I've taken at least 2 of these Tums per day.  Thank goodness for chewables and the orange cream isn't half bad!

Books/Magazines/Online Sites/iPhone Apps  So far I haven't really been all that into reading the books.  I have WTEWE of course and use it as a reference when I have any questions, etc.  I usually go to babycenter for most of my information/weekly updates.  I do have 2 books that I plan to start reading (umm, like should have started yesterday) about breastfeeding and sleep, etc.  I'll let you know if I'd recommend them, obviously after he arrives.

BabyCenter has an iPhone App, but I also have an App called 'BabyBump.  It allows you to keep track of your weekly pictures, read weekly updates, there's a kick-counter, a place to journal your 'stats', naming section and soon to be useful a section for tracking contractions.

 Excuse my 33week picture which I dislike

 As a Christmas gift, hubs got a book from his cousin and her husband that I think he has found rather helpful. Pregnancy Suck for Men, What to do when your Miracle makes you Miserable. I've skimmed some of it and not only is it funny but some of it is definitely true.  You might want to buy this for your future baby daddy or any future dads that you know!

Food  I'm pretty much hungry all the time right now, but there are some particulars that I can't get enough of.
SoBE Lifewater Yumberry Pomegranate, Freezie Pops/Popsicles, Ice Cream/Frozen Custard and small ice cubes!

Any other pregnant momma's out there have different must-haves that they'd recommend?

(Baby) Etsy Finds!

There are so many things to register for baby boy it's ridiculous.  Meanwhile, I've found some super cute things on Etsy that are not necessary but on my list of things that I want for sure!

Bumbo Cover - I posted this last week, but I love them!

image via boutiquesweetcheeks.etsy.com

Milestone Onsie Decals - I would love to make some onsies for baby boys' monthly updates!  There are so many options out there!

Holiday Decals - I've never seen the holiday decals before - how adorable!

images via babyfables.etsy.com  So many cute options!

Hooded Towels - This frog and duck adorable.  So many cute options!

image via rubadubbuddies.etsy.com

Seat Belt Strap Covers - They're reversible too!

images via apricotsandlollipops.etsy.com

Birth Announcement - I would love to get one of these after he is born!

image via sweetpeakidprints.etsy.com

Are you a big Etsy shopper?  Do you have any shops that you'd recommend?  (not necessarily baby!)

My friends took bets,

on when we would have a baby.  I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but it came up in conversation with my friends the other day and I wanted to blog about it.

To recap, there's KC and I, plus 2 other couples getting married in the next year and 4 (very) single guys in my group of friends we frequently hang out with. Turns out that after they wedding (while we were on our honeymoon) they all bet $5 and gave a number of months after the wedding to when they thought we would be pregnant.   A few of them have lost already, a few of them are close to their bets and some are 6 months or so away.  Mind you I have not discussed any of this with them, only here and with 1 girlfriend.

We don't get together with them more than once a week lately because we're so busy, but regardless it comes up in conversation almost every time.  Why do my friends find it so interesting to discuss our time in the bedroom.  As a matter of fact, when we were at the beach for my birthday, one of the guys and I were standing at the water's edge and he says, "So Lauren, what are my chances of winning this bet?  I've only got 10 more days."  I just looked at him and said, "I'm sorry to say you will not be winning this bet."

Umm, hello, if we had a kid, I think we might lose half the single guys as friends and they'd never hang out with us or come over again, only talk to KC at work.  I can't even imagine their reaction, partially because I can no longer be the 'group mom' and make sure stuff gets done, but that's a story for a different post.

Yeah so, my friends took bets the week after we were married about when we would be pregnant.  My parents aren't even bugging me about grandkids but my friends bring it up in conversation almost once a week.  If they weren't so fun sometimes, I'd start looking for new ones!

On my mind

Maybe I should have titled this "Helllllllooooo baby fever"!  Now that we've celebrated our first wedding anniversary, we've had some discussions as to where we stand on starting our family.  We're at a crossroads and treading lightly.  


First off, I feel like every other woman I see on the street is pregnant.  The other half, they've got the little ones/newborns with them.  Umm, hello I'm surrounded.  Yes, I know it's probably an exaggeration but I've realized whenever something is on my mind, I tend to notice it more frequently than normal  (like when we weren't engaged yet, I swore practically everyone else was engaged). 


Some people say wait before you have a baby, enjoy one another, you just got married, do some traveling.  There's also the 'ready' argument, you'll never be 100% ready, so I hope you're not waiting for that.  There are plenty more statements that I've heard.  I have an argument for and against each one that I could present, believe me.

There isn't really too much pressure from family, which is a plus.  Some members have asked if we're pregnant or when we'll be having a baby, but that's about it.  No subtle hints to deal with, no constant pressure.


I would love (love) to have a baby right now, but I keep asking myself is it the right time?  Are we making a mistake by waiting too long or starting too early?  Are we ready?  I'd like to have my children before I'm 30 (I'll be 27 in a matter of weeks).  So the numbers aren't working in my favor for more than one child (preferably spaced apart by some # of years) before 30.  Am I going to work afterwards?  Can we afford for one of us to stay home?  Can we afford to have a baby?  What will happen to our friendships (we're the only married couple)?  Will we be able to conceive?  Will we have trouble?  Will we be good parents?

Then there's the little things, like I'm in a wedding later this year and would prefer not to be showing.  (Sidenote:  Randomly the bride says, it's ok, we can use the fabric from shortening your dress to help fit your baby bump, I looked at her like she had 2 heads because I had definitely not mentioned it to her and she was like what?, it's fine, I wouldn't mind - I wasn't sure how to reply).  We have friends getting married at a destination wedding in March and we'd really like to go, but I don't think we would be able to if we were pregnant.  We'd like to go out to Tahoe skiing/snowboarding (we learned this year) next winter and to visit M (her and I will be hitting up the spa!).  Should we put having a family on hold for all of these things or just go for it and figure it out when it happens?

I only have a few people I would talk to this about, one's getting married (I'm in the wedding) and one's 'starting over' after a relationship and I'm so happy that she's doing wonderful, meeting new ppl and doing brand new things, I don't want to burden her (more than I have) with this.  KC and I have definitely talked about it, but I think he's at the same place as I am, maybe leaning a little in one direction as well.

While we've not actively practiced our faith lately (it's something I'd like to become more active in), I know that whatever the plan is for us we'll accept it and make it work.

Sooooo many questions, where to begin.  I'm too much of a planner not to worry about these kinds of things.  It's just something that's always on my mind lately, thanks for reading my ramblings.