Renovations and Air Conditioning

We live in a fibro shack - be bought it 7 years ago and we have a done a bunch in regards to fixing up (it was a total dump) but it is still a fibro shack that needs heaps of improvement. We call it home and hopefully will be here for a very long time - but there are things we want done.

There are plenty of little things that need doing but he main thing is an extension - a new rumpus area, kitchen/dining area this will enable us to turn the existing kitchen into a bedroom (making it a 3 bedroom 1 study house). To do this first we had to remove the garage and maybe build a new one on the back of the block (that makes it sound like a big block but its not).

So the first step......

DH demolished the garage - YAY!! It really opens the back yard up a bunch. It was pretty useless, when we had a downpour it flooded and the fibro was breaking on the outside, and of course it was in the way of the extension. I am very happy it is gone.

It will be a while before we can do much else but its a step in the right direction :)

He also put a new window in the kids room - no more rattling glass (has done so for the 7 years we have been here..so annoying) - it also looks heaps better from the street.

I really wanted to have the floor boards sanded and polished before this bub came but I just don't think its going to happen *sigh* they just look so messy no matter how much I wash, scrub, sweep, mop them. I also wanted to get all the patches of bare giprock sanded and painted but its not happening.

I bought a reverse cycle air conditioner on Monday - it is sitting in the lounge room waiting to be installed (hopefully before December) and I am so happy.

When pregnant with Nate through the summer I suffered..lol...pity party for me, so this time with all these record temperatures we seem to be having I really wanted the option of being able to put he AirCon on if it is going to be a 40 degree day. We have a flat roof so it gets hot in here.

I hope that makes sense - rambling a little.

B4B Fluff

I bought a Bumgenius XS nappy on B4B - it also came with a 0000 bonds suit that might fit bub for the first week and 2 Eenee snibs. I think I paid about $18 with post.

The nappy is quiet small and will be coming to hospital with us as I imagine it will be a great fit on a little newbie :) the snibs look a little fiddly, I will bring them to hospital too but for the first 24 hours I wonder if bubs will need a cover? I was thinking just laying him on a terry flat.....so much to think about....I guess the black tar poo could be dangerous, lol.

I am so excited about bubs arrival and its still 20 weeks away, lol. I really can't wait to see what he looks like and to hold him in my arms for the first time.

Anyway...rambling on ...:)

Baby is a BOY!!!!

The ultrasound went wonderfully today!!!! Bub co-operated and the pictures are amazing - I didn't get any still pics but did get a DVD of the scan *WOW* so I just captured images from that.

I am on cloud nine and so thankful that all appears well. I have what is still classed as a low lying placenta but the sonographer said that she is very confident that it will move and that although she has to document it as low lying it is not covering the cervix in any way and being anterior it should get pulled up as we grow. I had the same thing with Beth and it moved no dramas so I am not stressing this time.

The plan was to get the sex written down and placed in a sealed envelope so Scott and I could find out together but it was SO clear that it is a BOY, lol, see pic.

Pictures: Top 2 are profiles, the second with hand to mouth
Next 2 are 3D images (4D real time they call it) of the face
Next are the boy bits on the left and thumbs up on the right
Bottom pic is 3D again this time you can see a hand, arm, face and the cord across the face.





So happy and thankful right now :)

Newborn Fitted - HoneyBoy -ish

My other sewing project from today - a fitted based on the HoneyBoy pattern.

I had an OK time making this one but I think I stuffed the leg elastic a little - I use 10mm elastic but think its a little too tight at the legs. Also the tabs are too long - I think I was supposed to sew more within the nappy yk? so I made it a cross over. And last but not least I only had 1.5 inch Velcro 800 and cut that down for the tabs but then forgot to do it for the front loop and laundry tabs.

Outer and Inner - Flannelet
Hidden Layer - Hemp Fleece
Hidden Booster - 2 layers Hemp Fleece
Lay In Booster - 2 layers Hemp Fleece, 2 layers flannelet

Should be plenty of absorbency for a little one right - 4 layers flannelet - 5 hemp fleece.

This one is, in stark contrast to the cover, quiet boyish.

Only a couple more days and we find out........what do you think, boy or girl?

Newborn Cover with gussets

Another go as gussets - this time throwing my 2 other arch enemies, FOE and PUL, lol.

Much swearing was done *blush* but I got there in the end. I stuffed up - I didn't stretch the elastic when doing thew second leg *DOH* but you cant really notice and it really doesn't make much difference. Now I wonder if you are actually supposed to stretch that anyway???

I got the pattern from HERE - It is the one marked "Wee Weka Pocket with Gussets/FOE (small)". Obviously I made it as a cover because the thought of stuffing such a small pocket is not appealing to me. I really don't understand how to gather the gusset within the leg elastic space without having to ruffle it up by hand as you sew, iykwim.

Oh and yes its Pink but I don't know what sex we are having yet.

Outer - Magenta PUL
Gussets - Purple PUL
Inner - Lavender Suedecloth
FOE - White
Snaps - Lavender

Oooops...fluffy purchases, lol

I couldnt resist the Gossamer Dreams stocking and having just received Nate's immunisation allowance I wanted to get him something special for Christmas.

I really wanted the "Beam me up Scotty" set with the black shirt and AIO but alas it went before I could grab it *sob*. I did manage to get the fitted that I wanted though with the same Michael Miller print *yay* and I also got the shorties and the pirate fitted set that I was eying off - only problem is that the fitted is large (so are the woolies but they have a draw string so no dramas) and I wonder if there is any chance of it fitting Nate *fingers crossed* he is so skinny and I may just have to frame it - his sister was small too and for a little while was able to wear a large IB before TT so maybe there is hope.

Wees on the toilet

So proud of my little man (19 months) - last night he initiated 2 wees on the toilet. He had wet a little first - felt it and then insisted on getting on the toilet and finishing up there.

He is so proud and I tell him to go tell daddy and off he goes so happy smiling from ear to ear - pointing to his groin and then the bathroom as he doesn't say wee yet only poo, lol.

He is becoming a monster wee'er again - he has almost completely weaned himself of the breast, just the occasional suck and instead drinks heaps of water and some milk.

He wet through his Magic All in 1.5 hours yesterday, it had wicked through the front touch tape and at the legs - now I will have to boost them all the time and it takes away form the easy factor of an all in one.

So anyway....I am a very proud mumma....:)

Shorts

I made these today - just one pair with the 2 kids modeling for me. I was going to give them to somebody but am unsure I should share my crappy sewing skills, lol.

I like how they look - I just think I could of done a better job if I took more time.

I made them using some denim type material I was given and an old pillow case for the pocket - the only things that cost money was the thread and elastic. I love being able to create functional (well kinda ;)) clothing with my own imagination.

Rollicking Rascals

I got this nappy second hand when I got the new prefolds from Bubs in Cloth. I paid $12.50 for it and for the cute factor I am very happy with it.

I have been using it as a cover as when I tried it with the boosters that it came with it gaped at the legs and with no poop protection I just can't relax, lol, I will have to try a simple trifold. When I use it as a cover you can slightly see the fitted (Itti Bittis) at the legs if you look hard but because of the ruffles covering we have had NO LEAKS even when the nappy is saturated.

It is an adjustable nappy and can be used from "birth" I think - I cant find any pictures of one of these on a small bub though - I assume you just use the bottom row of snaps and fold down the front. I think that I will be able to use it as a cover on a smaller baby for sure. I find it very frustrating that I can not (despite a few shops now making these) find any "how to" photos.

Unbleached Prefolds

10 prefolds from Bubs in Cloth arrived yesterday - they have been washed once on hot and dried on warm once and have shrunk down and fluffed up. Apparently you have to wash the unbleached ones about 5 times to remove the natural oils - I will just do this when I (on the very odd occasion) wash on hot to get them ready for bubs bottom.

Beths Dress

A very simple dress but a dress none the less.

I bought the fabric ages ago and it has just been sitting here cut out and waiting.

Beth loves it which is great for my ego, lol.

I used a blue/aqua thread and bright blue snaps to contrast with the brown which turned out really well - but I mainly did so because MIL borrowed my brown thread ages ago and I keep forgetting to get it back.

Gussets

Grrrr to gussets, lol, Nah it was fiddly but not that bad....I will try again next week when I get some peace on Preschool Day.

This nappy was made from the Poochies Side Snap Pattern - adjusted in the leg area and with a gusset added. Its not perfect but I think it will be usable on bub. I was planning on making some nappies for our friends that are considering cloth for their second bub - and figured gussets would be great as they would minimize leaks for a newbie.

It is made with some flanelet that I was given and an old terry toweling flat. Obviously the snaps elastic and thread were new but a pretty cheap nappy really.

It felt really good to get my sewing machine out and I also made Beth a dress which I will have to take some photos of in a second - a very productive sewing day for a novice like me.

Belly pic 16w6days

I took a photo of myself when taking photos of nappies today so here is my almost 17 week belly. It's a bit grainy as I had to zoom and crop the nappies out..hehe.

DH looked at me yesterday and went oh my god HOW BIG IS YOUR BELLY!!!!! Yep, popping out now :). Oh and he meant it in a nice way.

I haven't really felt many more movements..but I figure the anterior placenta has a lot to do with that. I cant wait for my Morphology scan, only 16 more sleeps...YAY!! People keep asking if I think PINK or BLUE but I really don't know.

Nappy Stash and Setup

So this is our set up at the moment - I say "our" but DH doesn't change nappies so lets say my setup - it is in Nate's room but baby will be in with us (room next door) so not sure what I will do with night changes when bubs comes, probably just change on the bed.

Set Up

Newborn nappies and extra boosters - I did the swap with Fiona to get a bunch of nappies and have made 1 side snap fitted and a few of suedecloth toped 2 layer hemp boosters to put in the Whizz Kidz which are flannelet lined. I have also made some 2 and 3 layer small hemp fleece boosters. I have another 10 cotton prefolds coming and will be making some more fitteds. I am also planning on buying some Thirsties covers from Nurture Nappies - 4 packs get 10% off, unsure if I will get 4 NB or 3NB 1Sm.

L-R - prefolds and snappies, fitteds and hemp/suedecloth boosters, Totsbots, covers NB and Small.
In draw: L-R hemp trifolds, bamboo booster, IB AIO inserts, microfibre inserts, IB boosters and home made boosters

Medium/OSFM/Large Nappies - Nates nappies, there are 5 missing from this picture (3 medium MagicAlls and 2 Swaddlebee AIOs).

top L-R - covers fleece/PUL, wet bags in front, Fitteds.
bottom L-R - IB AIOs (back), PeaPod old style mediums (front), Magic All, Various Pockets, Berry Plush

The Old Style Pea Pods, IB AIOs Large and BBH are not used as they are not the right fit or are too big. Even the medium IB AIO is not fitting Nate's skinny legs at the moment.

Actually heaps of these nappies are quiet hopeless if Nate does a poo as he has such skinny legs none of the front closure pockets are giving good containment - bar the MagicAlls (not quiet absobant enough though) and the tester pocket.

I have a Rollicking Rascals AIO on the way as well - 2nd hand.

Newborn SWAP Nappies arrived

YAY, the nappies came today from Fiona WOOHOOO...must email her to let her know.