Parenting

- admin 1 Comment

DIY Crib Mobile {Grey and Yellow}

Yes, It’s been over 3 months since Charlotte was born and way more than that from the time we first started on her nursery. No, her nursery is not finished yet {still waiting on a few shelves to be hung by someone other than me}.

There are quite a few DIY projects in her nursery and I will share them all soon, but today I’ll just share how I made her mobile.

I started with one of the hanging paper lanterns we used in our wedding {you can see them in the background here}

Technically, the lantern I used for Charlotte’s nursery was in the ‘wedding bunch’ but not actually hung that day because it was yellow and it was the only one {I didn’t want one lone yellow lantern}. Anyway, I followed this tutorial {which I found on Pinterest, where else?!} to make the mini bunting using some fabric scraps that match her nursery. It turned out alright, but certainly wasn’t as cute as the tutorial girl’s turned out. And I was also thinking that the purpose of a mobile is to be eye catching for a bambino laying on his/her back in the crib. Well, the bottom of the lantern is just a hole that lets you see all the way through to the ceiling. Not very ‘eye catching’ if you ask me! So I decided to add some pizzaz. I covered a cardboard circle with some scrap yellow fabric.

Then I sorted through some sequins to find the ones that would fit with my white/grey/yellow color combo {I don’t believe in being perfectly matchy-matchy so I used orange, yellow, white, opaque, gold, and silver}. I also added a sparkly yellow butterfly to dangle from the bottom of the lantern.

Once it was dry I affixed the bedazzled cardboard circle to the bottom of the lantern and hung the whole shebang from the ceiling with a little white eye hook. It’s not quite as gaudy as the picture below makes it out to be, but it is fun and sparkly!

I really like how it turned out and, after testing it out during her afternoon nap, Charlotte gave a squeal of approval. I also like that it probably doesn’t even weigh a 1/2 pound so if by and chance it falls on her it definitely won’t leave a mark.

Stay tuned for a complete look at her nursery {with or without those shelves, because that could take another year}.

- admin 4 Comments

Charlotte’s 3 month update!

I am trying to be diligent in writing Charlotte’s accomplishments down in blog post form so that eventually I can transfer them into a baby book of sorts. It’s much easier for me to jot something down on the computer than to write it in her baby book because a) I don’t have a baby book for her yet, and b) if I put it on paper then it would be lost in a pile of 2 billion other papers in my house and then eventually thrown away during a ‘purge’.

At 3 months, Charlotte…

– weighs… who knows?! We don’t have another pediatrician appointment until her 4 month check-up and we don’t own a scale so all I can tell you is it’s 10+ lbs {because she weighed 10 lbs at her 2 month check-up and since then has gained lots of yummy leg rolls}.

– can push herself up with her arms while laying on her belly (and has rolled over twice in the past week)!

– has great neck control and is able to hold her head up for a while {unless she has just woken up from a nap or is about to take a nap…then all muscles are apparently powering down and have forgotten what their job is}

– loves to chat it up with mommy or daddy but is otherwise very selective with who she will converse with {so if you’ve experienced it you should feel honored}!

– self soothes by rubbing her own head and playing with her hair {so cute to see} – this is something I know she got from me – the second someone touches my head or plays with my hair… instant calm and I’m out like a light!

– Can sit up {but with a lot of assistance from mommy, daddy, or chair}. I don’t typically leave her up so long that she falls over but I wanted to see how long she would last. Kaboom. She remained happy throughout the ordeal though, so I didn’t feel like such a bad mommy for letting her fall over.

– Is pretty much always full of smiles and snorts and will let out some infectious giggles every now and then.

– Is really starting to find her hands a lot {and frequently gives them a good gnawing while jamming them in her mouth simultaneously, causing a continuous drool flow}.

– Rocked her first cloth diaper experience {love them} – I’ll blog more about the details later but I love not having icky chemicals next to her skin 24/7 {I’m not totally cloth yet because I don’t have a big enough stash of diapers}!

– Has been such a trooper with mommy going back to work {and she LOVES staying with Aunt Melissa during the day}.

I just had to include these because I love all of the faces she makes. So much personality in that little nugget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t believe it has been 3 months since I first saw her sweet face and awesome head of hair.

Love her to pieces.

 

 

 

- admin 3 Comments

roll, baby roll!

I knew it would happen sooner or later {but I was secretly hoping for later. much, much later}.

Charlotte rolled over from her tummy to her back today. She will be 3 months old on Sunday. yikes. I had it on good authority that I could expect my baby to begin developing this skill at ‘as early as 4 months’, but probably later. Lies, Baby Center.com. Lies, I tell you! Charlotte is not even 3 months old – I am so not ready for this. I thought I had more time!

She has been getting really strong and pushing up onto her arms for about a week now. Then today while enjoying some tummy time the perfect combination of her pushing up on her arms, kicking her legs, her big ‘ol heavy head, and gravity resulted in her flipping right over onto her back. I didn’t think to take a picture because she started crying – I guess it startled her. It startled me too because I wasn’t even looking. {tear}. I had just snapped a few pictures of her {surprised?} and reached up to put my phone back on the table. It all happened so fast. I am very sad that I missed it but am also very happy for her and I know that there are many firsts to come {and I won’t be able to experience all of them… but at least someone will – either her daddy or her Aunt who watches her while I am at work, or maybe even Grandma and Grandpa or Papa and Honey}.

Here she is, plotting to roll over as soon as mommy reaches up to put her camera away. What a stinker!

She is napping now but I am so excited for Chris to get home tonight so we can see if she will do it again {and if I can get it on camera this time} – stay tuned!

On a sort-of-related/sort-of-not-related note: here’s a cute pic from last night’s daddy-daughter time.

- admin 2 Comments

Happy Heinie

Charlotte is rocking her first cloth diaper today at almost 3 months old!

Yup, she loves it. She told me.

I only have 2 of the Rumparooz Lil’ Joey‘s {second hand} but I think they are great! I only wish I had gotten them sooner, as Charlotte is over 10 lbs now and nearing the limit for them. They are made to fit preemie to 12 lbs, so they are wonderful for that odd period of time between birth and when your kiddo has grown big enough to fit nicely into other cloth diapers {around 3 or 4 months for most diapers, depending on the heftiness of your child}. I will definitely hang on to these for our next little one {no rushing that here, though… don’t read between the lines}!

Here’s the run-down:

  • All in one {AIO} with 4 layers of microfiber
  • Inner gussets {the stretchy bands that run the inner length of the diaper that help it contour to baby’s bum and lock in liquid}
  • Snaps down in front to leave space for the umbilical cord
  • 2 rows for snap closures for a variety of fit options
  • Fits preemie – 12 lbs

So cute, and super soft for her little tushie.

I am really loving the All In Ones. So easy. For serious – and I am excited to try some more, just not sure which brand. Any suggestions?