Spoiler alert: The name

Fill in the blanks! The chalkboard is waiting for a name!

Haha! You didn't actually think after all this time I would actually divulge, now, did you? Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I hate surprises, and that I have trouble keeping secrets...this one has been easier because, well---we haven't actually settled on one yet. We do have a middle name, which is no secret, I want my first born son to have his dad's first name as his middle. If I am correct, this is tradition observed by both the older generations of the Zentil and Vendrame famiglias. I am one for sticking with tradition. So, surprise, surprise, the boy's middle name is Nicholas.

A little birdie told me that my grandmother is dying to know what the boy's name is, so that she can stop referring to him as "the boy". Sorry grandma, but this is all the information you're going to get till he makes his arrival.

I'd love to hear the names that you think the Zentils might name a son..We'll see if anyone is right!

THIRTY SIX weeks

How far along? 36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 34 lbs 

Maternity clothes? As mentioned in last week's post, my choices are pretty much between a navy blue or gray striped shirt. Today happens to be a navy blue day, but may end up with me in a dress since the forecast calls for high 70's... Heck, I might even brave a bikini in the backyard for a half hour or two..okay, probably not, but it's nice enough weather if I decided to!

Stretch marks? Can't tell. 

Sleep: It's a joke this week. The boy gets himself into some pretty interesting positions, and seems to do so mostly in the middle of the night--that's some raging party he is throwing in there before he moves out. I am able to catch naps during the day which helps. I'll sleep when I can get it.

Best moment this week: Apparently he turned head down after 8 weeks of being oblique breech! I had read that women who have uterine anomalies like I do, tend to have more breech babies, especially if the fetus doesn't assume the head down position by 32ish weeks. Granted, my information was internet based, but still..it had me thinking that a c-section was probable. The other "best" moment was having NZ at my non-stress test this week. He had a chance to hear the galloping heartbeat and thrashing child for a good 20 minutes, and even recorded it on his phone.

Miss Anything? Yes. I miss having my hair highlighted. I am trying to hold out until the baby is here to get a cut and color, but I may give in sooner and just have it cut to give me some semblance of a person who actually cares how they look, because I do! Right now I am rocking some serious ombre hair with zero style.

Movement: Holy swear word--yes! It's actually been pretty constant..More of a rolling or shifting, but there are times it looks like he's trying to break free by any means necessary. It actually takes my breath away sometimes.

Food cravings: Ice. Lemonade. Sour patch kids.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken.

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Uncomfortable contractions for a good hour late Tuesday night got me thinking--is he coming early? But they subsided before any waking up of the husband sleeping next to me was done.I'll spare the details, but the Ob says I am progressing towards labor, so it could be soon or it could still be a few weeks. Depends on if I take after my mom or not. ( She saw her OB a couple days before I was born and told that it might still be a few weeks--instead she woke up at 2 a.m. two days later and ended up having me in her bathroom!! I came that  fast, without contractions or warning!!!)

Symptoms: The carpal tunnel is getting pretty painful.

Belly Button in or out? sorta outtie

Wedding rings on or off? Off.

Happy or Moody?: Happy.

Looking forward to: Being able to have NZ make the calls to family to announce that he has arrived!

Homemade Holidays: Etched Casserole Dishes

For the ladies in our families, I made etched casserole dishes.

I designed individualized templates with my silhouette SD and let my machine cut them out of contact paper. I then peeled off the template, placed it on the glass, and brushed on etching cream in all the negative spaces.

The directions say to leave it on for 5 minutes, but I learned quickly that 5 minutes wasn't enough---and actually had to re-lay two of the templates ( that's hard to do on a long last name!) and re-etch. Pain in the ass. So, to save yourself the frustration, lay the cream on heavily, and wait 10 minutes before rinsing off the cream. It made a world of difference.

[After 5 minutes, not completely etched]

[After 10 minutes, completely etched]

Easy, and useful..now everyone gets their dishes back after a family get together.

Eviction Notice

It seems that my little tenant is running out of space in the room uterus I had renovated for him. 

In the past week, he has found new nooks and crannies and ohmygawwwwd body parts to move aside to make himself more comfortable. I feel like he is literally trying to break free, like it's a prison or something. Either that or he's throwing a rager and punching holes in the walls.

photo courtesy of: surpriseblessing.blogspot.com

I LOVE being pregnant, and I can't wait to do it again..aside from the anxiety, which I think I have managed pretty dang well, it's been a wonderful experience. I don't take a single day for granted. 

That being said, I am ready to serve eviction papers on my little guy. I think he is ready to get out into the world too. We find out today if he is still lying oblique breech (he's maintained this position for the past 8 weeks), and my honest feeling is that he remains in this position or in a transverse position. If this is the case, i'm ready to talk C-section! After the road we've taken, I just want him out safely. I don't want to have to labor a breech baby and then end up with an emergency C-section if we can avoid it. I'd just assume get it scheduled, get in, have it done, meet him face to face, and then deal with the recovery of a C-section versus the whole emergent thing. Sure my mindset is a bit different than many, but I'm okay with it.

The last few nights, he has gotten himself into a position where I swear he is sideways. Like perpendicular to the position he SHOULD be in.. We're talking head poking out my right side, butt above my belly button, and feet to my back--and it hurts is uncomfortable as all get out. My belly is a lopsided mess. No torpedo, no watermelon, but more like I have a Chevy engine hidden under there. All big and bulky and awkward. He fires up that engine and there's no sitting still or getting comfortable. 

oblique lying fetus

Since I'm measuring full-term, and the Boy's estimated weight is over 6 lbs, I feel confident in serving him an eviction notice, and allowing 2 weeks for him to get his stuff together and vacate the premises. 

Baby boy, I love you. Your dad loves you....and we're really excited to meet you! There's a whole lot more room out here in the outside world!

Homemade Holiday: Quiet Book

A couple years back, I made our first born nephew a quiet book when he turned three. This year, one of our other nephews also turned three, and seems to be drawn to my childhood quiet book every time he comes over to "Uncle Nick's house". So, I decided that I would make him his very own book and give it to him for Christmas. I call this one Quiet book 2.0, since I have made some changes to my original pattern.

The main change I made with this book, was that I opted to use felt for the pages, like my friend Liz , over at A crafty B, did for her daughter's book. The felt just feels sturdier, and is easier to snap, button, and velcro to, than the quilting cotton that I used on my first version.

I like quiet books because they work on a child's fine motor skills, and they can go at their own pace. Some pages are meant to be challenging, with things like lacing, or weaving, and others focus on color recognition, counting, and day to day tasks, such as snapping, buttoning and using velcro.

Upon completion of the pages, I made a canvas cover complete with carrying handles, so our nephew can take his book on-the-go.

I hope it provides hours of entertainment ( & some quiet time for his mama!) for years to come.

The crib: a temporary nursery

At first I thought we'd keep the baby in our room for the first few months, but we both decided that our house is small enough that having the baby in his own room, about 8 feet from us, will be the golden ticket.

The Boy's green, gray & navy room

The Boy will get his very own nursery come March/April, with a real crib . I have my eye on this crib, (Walmart's BabyMod Olivia), toy storage  like this (Ikea Expedit) and all things little boyish..You can bet I am already "pinning" ideas all over pinterest so when the time comes, I have everything all together.

For now though, he's sharing his room with a full-size bed, so the room can still double as a guest room for out of town visitors after his birth. We are using a pack-n-play for his first few months, and it's totally portable, so if people do come visit, we'll roll it into our room or the office so our guests aren't subject to midnight feedings and diaper changes.

DIY Chalkboard

I made a chalkboard and hung it by his bassinet. I used Rustoleum chalkboard paint in black, and it was really easy. It will eventually serve as a "Welcome [insert name]" with his birthdate, time and birth stats. I should start to practice writing some cool fonts like the ones used on Little Baby Garvin's signs.

visit Little Baby Garvin to see her adorable nursery

A couple years back, I made wooden "quote" signs as Christmas gifts for my family. I ended up with one that I had intended to use in our daughter's room, and although she never made it to a nursery of her own, I have kept that sign in the room ever since....and wouldn't you know...it goes perfectly with my make-shift color scheme. The verse is " Sempre Bacilo Buona Notte" which loosely translated from Italian means, "Always Kiss Me Goodnight". I love it. I must have known that it would eventually fit perfectly into a little boy nursery...because most everything else I had for our daughter has been sold or given away..but that sign has stayed. I'm happy about that (=

My DIY changing pad cover & sign

Thank you to my ol man for being a furniture mover, and bassinet assembler on his Saturday morning. 

Dare I say it??

Here it goes.

I feel ready for this baby.

THIRTY FIVE weeks

How far along? 35 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 33 lbs ( although I am disgruntled with the PA at my OB's office...she just so non-chalantly slid the weight past the balancing point, and wrote down a gain of 4 lbs since last week!) Being a tad bit OCD, I had done a pre-emptive weigh in at home prior to the appointment to avoid any surprises because she did the same thing last week..According to my scale, I gained half a pound this week, so I'm going with that (=

Maternity clothes? My day-to-day choices revolve around which of two shirts to wear..Navy blue or Gray and white striped. Yep, down to TWO shirts that cover my belly. Although I have grown all over, I really am pretty much one of those ALL belly girls.

Stretch marks? Not that I can see

Sleep: Decent. 

Best moment this week: Being told that I am measuring 2 weeks ahead, and even though I am 35 weeks, the boy measures full term! If  labor starts, there's no trying to stop it now. My other favorite moment this week was just going to the Apple store at the mall with NZ one night--with him traveling and me being mega pregnant, we really haven't gone out together very much..So yes, the mall date ( and dinner at HotDog on a Stick) was a highlight this week. I love the little things we do together.

Miss Anything? Not this week.

Movement: Again, the anxiety took over for 2 days straight, and although his kick counts always clocked in as directed, his movement throughout the day slowed a lot compared to what I was feeling over the weekend. By Wednesday, he was back to himself, and during the non-stress test on Thursday he had my OB laughing at the magnitude of  his movement.

Food cravings: Ice. (Discovering that an ice craving could be indicative of an iron deficiency , I have made an effort to eat more iron rich foods to see if it helps--so far I still just really really like love ice)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken.

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: A few contractions in the past few days.

Symptoms: My wrists have been hurting throughout the night. I know from working for a Hand Surgeon that pregnancy can bring on symptoms of carpal tunnel as swelling and water retention can put pressure on the carpal tunnel...so hopefully its short lived and goes away after delivery.

Belly Button in or out? sorta outtie

Wedding rings on or off? Off. Booooooo! I decided it was better to take them off myself instead of having them cut off if I have to have a C-section or anything. I do have a band I am wearing so I don't feel all that naked yet.

Happy or Moody?: Nervous. Anxious. We've gotten this far and I just don't want anything to go wrong between now and delivery! I want to see his face, hear his cry....and just know that we've got a healthy, living baby to bring home. 

Looking forward to: Christmas and a few days with my ol man off of work.

Make It: Chalkboard

I've mentioned it a time or two before, but I have fallen in love with the chalkboard updates over at the blog, Little Baby Garvin. I wish I would have seen it before I started documenting The Boy with  blurb bubbles--I totally would'a copied her idea. Anyways, in the spirit of re-purposing whatever we can for the boy's makeshift temporary nursery, I found a tutorial on how to make your very own chalkboard out of an old picture frame.

I have tons of old frames. Most have been sitting in a closet since our hallway remodel, as I am too lazy to map out placement on the wall to re-hang them. Yes, I'm lazy. Sue me. I'm pregnant, remember?

Today was just as good of day as any to take a trip to Home Depot and buy some chalkboard paint. And a couple foam rollers even though  we have foam rollers at home. Why buy foam rollers if we already have them? Easy answer... because I am notorious for failing to rinse them well enough after use, and it drives NZ nuts. So, for $2.50, I figured buying a couple of designated chalkboard paint rollers would keep me out of trouble. I also lined our paint tray with aluminum foil ( thanks again, pinterest) for easy clean-up.

To start, I removed the backing from the frame. My idea was to pop the glass out of the frame as well, but unfortunately, the glass has adhesive between the frame and itself, so it was easier to tape off the frame, then to pry the adhesive off. If I were to do it again, I would choose a frame whose glass pops out.

Just sayin'.

I poured a little of the chalkboard paint ( I used Rustoleum Black) into my foil lined paint tray and coated my roller with it. I rolled in one direction, laying the paint on in a medium thickness. The hard part about rolling paint onto glass, is that if you roll over one spot too much, you can see the glass through the paint.

After allowing it to dry for 4 hours, I then applied a second coat, which got rid of all of the imperfections from my first coat.

All in all, it was an easy project for under $15.

Still on fast forward

I'm going to be real, and honest here.

I thought that once I had a baby, or was at least pregnant again, that I would once again feel the excitement over the Holiday season..

Yet, here I sit, once again, wishing this season would be as easy to fast forward through as commercials during a DVR'd episode of Pan Am.

Totally not what I expected.

I remember after Halloween was over, feeling excited for Thanksgiving, Black Friday deals, Christmas decorating and gift buying.

That was.... until I was put on restriction the first week of November.

No excess activities. One errand a day, max.

Totally threw a wrench in my plans..In my perfect world, I would be done with work as of November 1st, and would have time ( & energy) to visit friends, shop, decorate and really just relax and enjoy having freedom to do whatever I wanted before we learn about sleep deprivation, midnight feedings, and 2 minute showers.

Right now my reality is sleeping in, moving from our bed to the sofa, and deciding what errand I will go on to get some human interaction that day--and fearing that if I overdo anything, our son will be born early. I am back to wanting a fast forward button through the Holidays, just so we get to the day where we get to meet our son, and know that he's here alive and well.

Once he gets here, time can stand still. That'd be alright by me.

THIRTY FOUR weeks

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 32 lbs ( I swear I didn't eat those chili dogs that I bought for Nick's work last week!!)

Maternity clothes? Old Navy saved the day. I bought a new long sleeve shirt and a pair of super comfy trouser jeans on clearance. Woot Woot!

Stretch marks? No but I have the itchiest, tenderest skin. I've been slathering on cocoa butter oil and lotion. I'm a hot sticky mess.

Sleep: Decent. Nothing to brag about though.

Best moment this week: We had our last ultrasound at the MFM ( I'll miss his Fedoras, but not the half hour to hour wait that we always sit through even when we're scheduled as his first appointment) and everything, I mean, EVERYTHING, looked "NORMAL". Man, I love the word NORMAL. It might be my new favorite word. The kid weighed in at an estimated 5lb1oz on Tuesday. He is what's called oblique breech, and we hope he flips in prep for a normal birth in the next few weeks.

Of course, in his own stubborn way, he refused, once again, to show us his face, He had his feet tucked up and away, and hands were hiding where his pants would be (= So, no pictures to share of him, but that is really the least of my concerns..He is still alive--and doing well--and honestly, that is ALL that matters.

Miss Anything? I may catch some lip about this one, from all the parents out there who will tell me " Freedom? Just wait till you have a baby and we'll talk about freedom!" But I miss my freedom right now. I miss being able to tend to more than one errand a day. I miss being able to walk through the mall. I miss going to the fabric store and spending the better half of an afternoon in there. I miss being able to wash my own car, or bring the overfilled laundry basket back in the house to fold clothes and keep my house tidy. I miss being able to lift boxes or carry in groceries on my own. I really have a hard time letting myself depend on others and delegating people to help me out is not one of my strengths. I keep telling myself that this is SOOOOO worth it--better to be safe than sorry. But it does get to me.

Movement: Beaver ( our 18 lb kitty) came and tried to sit on my belly the other night--to which he was promptly relocated to a more suitable position on my lap, and he just purred away while I pet him. Next thing I knew, the boy was moving so much I couldn't sit still. I think the purring of the cat next to my belly really ticked him off.

Food cravings: Ice. If only I had my very own crushed ice maker. Specifically, the pellett kind.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Nope

Symptoms: Sore ribs.

Belly Button in or out? Flush

Wedding rings on or off? Still hanging onto hope that I will be able to continue wearing them up til delivery day...but acutely aware that they should have come off yesterday, lol.

Happy or Moody?: Happy & nervous.

Looking forward to: Christmas with my side of the family this week & some social interaction at our company holiday functions.

Song of the week: A woman Like You

Such a sweet song..I'm in love.

Lee Brice " Woman Like You"

Lyrics:
Last night, outta the blue
Driftin' off to the evening news
You said "Honey, what would you do
If you'd never met me"
I just laughed, said "I don't know,
But I could take a couple guesses though"
And then tried to dig real deep,
Said, "Darling honestly...

I'd do a lot more offshore fishin'
I'd probably eat more drive-thru chicken
Take a few strokes off my golf game
If I'd have never known your name
I'd still be driving that old green 'Nova
I probably never would have heard of yoga
Be a better football fan
But if I was a single man
Alone and out there on the loose
Well I'd be looking for a woman like you."

I could tell that got her attention
So I said, "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention,
I wouldn't trade a single day
For a hundred years the other way."
She just smiled and rolled her eyes,
Cause she's heard all of my lines
Courtesy of lyricshall.com
I said, "C'mon on girl, seriously
If I hadn't been so lucky

I'd be shootin' pool in my bachelor pad
Playing bass in my cover band
Restocking up cold Bud Light
For poker every Tuesday night, yeah
I'd have a dirtbike in the shed
And not one throw pillow on the bed
I'd keep my cash in a coffee can
But if I was a single man
Alone and out there on the loose
Well I'd be looking for a woman like you."

She knows what a mess I'd be if I didn't have her here
But to be sure, I whispered in her ear
"You know I get sick deep-sea fishin'
And you make the best fried chicken
I got a hopeless golf game
I love the sound of your name
I might miss that old green 'Nova
But I love watchin' you do yoga
I'd take a gold band on my hand
Over being a single man
Cause honestly I don't know what I'd do
If I'd never met a woman like you."

Future Gator

A while back I found out that the step-son of Nick's aunt Adele, ( who I swear is Nick's brother from another mother) and his other half were expecting a baby boy. I think Michael is as passionate about his University of Florida Gators as Nick is about his Pittsburgh Steelers.

So, when I found out we were also expecting a boy, I got to work on some onesies for the cousins to wear... A U of F "jersey" for baby Ross, and this Steeler " jersey" for our boy ( don't even begin to think I'm divulging his name yet..keep dreamin'!). Baby Ross' jersey has the Gator emblem on the front, along with his last name on the back. If I had known his dad's college football #, I surely would have put it on his sleeve just as I did for our boy.

And here's a picture of the first cousin as he made his appearance early this morning..literally born a Gator fan.

Congratulations Michael & Kimberly!

Make it: baby leg warmers

Have you seen these?

I ran across Baby Legs, and love the idea of simplifying diaper changes ( no pants to take off) while keeping babies legs warm and protected while crawling.

However, at $12-$15 a pair, I thought to myself, they can't possibly be that difficult to make on my own. I was right!

I found a tutorial over at everything your mama made & more and made my own boyish version for just $2.

First I bought a pair of knee high socks at Target for $2

THIRTY THREE weeks

How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 30 lbs (yikes!!!!)

Maternity clothes? Over them. Even the biggest hand me downs aren't fitting anymore. Hello, sweatpants, I love you!!!!! If only they'd be deemed appropriate attire for my office's holiday luncheon at the Country Club next weekend... After all, the dress code only indicates that collars must be worn, and denim is frowned upon. Nothing about sweat pants (=

Stretch marks? Knock on wood. None yet.

Sleep: Much better this week. NZ is finally home after 3 weeks of jet setting, so I always sleep better with him home, and also, my cold of the century is starting to clear up, so it makes it like totally possible to breathe again, which helps with the sleeping situation.

Best moment this week: Having the lady at Weinerschnitzel ask me if my order of 3 dozen chili dogs was "for here or to go" when I stopped by to pick up lunch for my husband's office. Yes, as if I was going to devour all 36 chili dogs on my own..I know I'm pregnant, and all, but really???! It gave me a good laugh. 3 dozen corn dogs, maybe...but chili dogs, no thanks!

Miss Anything? Being able to look in my closet and pick out a cute outfit, and knowing that it's going to fit. Seems like I am at the point where everything I put on just magnifies my big-ness these days. I miss my favorite pair of blue jeans!!!!!!!!!!

Movement: He's been super active this week. Lots of rolls..and he has an arsenal of different types of rib and bladder kicks. No two are the same, and they've forced me out of bed at 3 a.m. a couple times this week until he calms down.

Food cravings: Frozen lemonade, even though the only place it's available is at the mall, and I am avoiding the mall at all costs, therefore, my craving is left unsatisfied. Maybe it will pass?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Considering I bought steak for steak tacos a few days ago, and it is still sitting in our fridge because now I can't bear the thought of eating a steak taco...I guess steak is not my friend this week.

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: After a stellar check up on Thursday with my OB, and a NST that he passed with flying colors, I was on top of the world and had energy to spare. I picked up lunch for NZ and his office mates, then decided that hitting up target and Ross was a great idea....until I got home, 5 hours after I left the house..which was my longest outing in about 8 weeks... and had contractions at 10 minute intervals for a good hour. I laid on my side, drank water and they were still coming. I finally called NZ who was working late, and he told me to call my OB and he headed home to possibly take me in for monitoring again. I called the OB, and by the time I received a call-back, they had subsided. The OB and I agreed that I had overdone it, and I was allowed to stay home with instructions to head to L&D if they picked up again. Thank goodness they went away. I want to meet the kid and all, but I'd like at least 3 more weeks of baking before we meet.

Symptoms: Sore ribs. Difficulty getting a deep breath when he is in certain positions.

Belly Button in or out? NZ says it's flush, I say it's out.

Wedding rings on or off? I can't get them off. I will be getting the baby oil out shortly so I can avoid having them cut off in the hospital. As a treat, I'll send them to the jeweler to be cleaned and buffed so that when I can wear them again, they will sparkle like the day we said " I do!"!

Happy or Moody?: Happy. So freakin' excited to have the weeks fly by.

Looking forward to: My last ultrasound with my fedora wearing MFM is on Tuesday!! How big will he be???

"Bun in the Oven" Baby Shower

Wow, the past week has been a whirlwind. Between coming down with the World's worst cold, and having out of town visitors here, I haven't had time to sit down and do a little bragging about the talents of my sister, Stephanie, and sister-in-law, Charlee who co-hosted ( along with my mom, the "silent partner") a baby shower for the boy.

The theme was "Bun in The Oven". I fell in love with it when my sister-in-law sent me a link to this party. I love the mod-ness ( is that a word?) that the party had--not too babyish at all. My sister then re-created the invites and decor off the inspiration party, using the navy, gray and orange color scheme that I adore.

The tables were borrowed from my husband's work, and beautiful floral arrangements that were put together by my sister-in-law sat on top of gray table runners. Inside the house, I hung some "subliminal messages" that I ran across on pinterest and recreated for our temporary nursery. The colors coordinated well with the onesies & bibs made by Coral Tree, that were hung on an opposite wall. Aren't they cute?

And the food....how could I forget the food?

The girls did a fantastic job incorporating all of my favorites into the shower grub. The sweet spot table, was full of lemon cut out cookies with the letter "Z", my absolutely favorite butterscotch oatmeal cookies, cinnamon "bun" cupcakes, chocolate dipped pretzel rods ( my granny loved them & took some for the road!), and rice krispie treats.

The main course had menus listed, "Between the Buns", and "Beside the Buns", to tell guests which kind of sandwiches were available, as well as what they could choose for the side dishes. Pretty clever play on the theme!

And of course, because of my lemonade infatuation, we had lemonade and water available as refreshments.

These girls know me too well!

My sister in law made a really cute backdrop for photos, from which she hung from a cafe curtain rod. With the leftover cardstock from the invites, my sister used her silhouette to cut out circles of differing sizes. My sister-in-law then hung them from string, making the neatest "photo booth" backdrop.

We played a couple non-traditional games, this one being my favorite.. The object of the game is to hold the baby, hold the phone, and use only ONE hand to remove as many clothespins from the line as possible..and you can't readjust them against your body..it was a handful! It was no surprise that the winner was a mother of 3 kids. Let's just say I need some practice.

The other game was played while I opened presents. In keeping with the shower theme of "BUN in the oven", the guests played "BUNGO", instead of BINGO. Each card had empty squares which each guest filled in typical items received at a shower. As I opened gifts, they could mark off a square if I had received an item they put on their card. I liked it because it sort of took the attention off of me and all those gifts!

And speaking of gifts?!

Holy mackarel!

The boy got a lot of gifts.

The best gift of all, though, I have to say...was being surrounded by the friends and family who have supported us on this journey. I got a little emotional while thanking everyone for their love and support, because it hasn't been easy. I truly appreciate the many lended ears, shoulders to cry on and shared experiences that so many of these women have offered me.

And check this out--Not only am I lucky enough to still have both of my grandmothers very much a part of my life, but they both made the trip south to celebrate their great-grandson.

[great-grandma Dot, Me, great-grandma Pat, and Grandma Sandy]

It was so very, very special.

For more information on the sweets, visit my sister's blog over at

www.sweetcreationsbystephanie.com this week.

She's providing tutorials on all the goodies she made for the shower.

If you like the appliqued onesies, check out my sister-in-law's etsy shop, Coral Tree.

Okay, I'm done plugging, but seriously, aren't those two awesome?

Make It: Rolled Diaper Wreath

I found that it is really really hard to let others do all the decorating for your baby shower, when you love crafting as much as I do. Don't get me wrong, my sister and sister-in-law put my crafting abilities to shame with all that they do, but I just couldn't help myself....I had to make SOMETHING for my shower.

Afterall, I am home all.day.long.bored.off.my......

So, I asked if they had anything for the front door, and the

answer was no. This gave me the green light to attempt a diaper wreath.

Most of the tutorials for diaper wreaths are for wreaths like the one pictured below, where the diapers are opened up, and the wreath form is sandwiched between the two sides of the diaper and then tied or rubber banded shut.

[craftelf.com]

That type of diaper wreath is the most common, but I wanted one more like this...

{photo and wreath from: A busy mom blog}

So, I set out to make one myself.

To make a rolled diaper wreath, you'll need approximately 20-24 diapers. I used a mismatch of leftover diapers I had on hand for our first nephew (he's almost 5 now!) and some newborn ones I have waiting the boy to be born. I also added in some flannel burp clothes I had sewn up, just for an added splash of color. If I were to do this over, I would have used all newborn diapers, because the Pampers I bought don't have prints on them like the leftover ones I used did.

You will also need a wire wreath form, available at most craft stores. They are usually green in color. Mine was 18" which was bigger than I wanted, but it was on clearance, and hey...it's no secret that I'm cheap! 18 inches would do!

I started by opening up each diaper, but leaving the tabs folded in. I started rolling from the top front down through the crotch and up the back until I had a perfect little bullet. I wrapped fabric ribbon ( the gray and white polkadots) around it, and tied it off on the underside..then repeated this 20 something times.

For the burp cloths: I folded them to be the same width as a rolled diaper, and rolled them up, and tied them with the same fabric ribbon.

Once all of my little diaper bullets were rolled, I got out some baker's twine, and threaded it through the fabric ribbon at the underside of each rolled diaper. This made it possible for me to tie each rolled diaper to the wire frame ( sorry, I didn't photograph that step). Just keep threading the twine through each roll, and tying each separate roll to the wreath...making sure to pack them in tight.

You'll end up with something like this...

Since I used actual fabric, cut into 1.5 inch "ribbon", I decided to make a large bow tie out of the same fabric for the top.

To make the large "bowtie", I simply cut two rectangles measuring about 3.5"x6" and placed them right sides together. I sewed around the edges, leaving a 2' opening to turn the fabric right side out. Once turned right side out, press, and topstitch around the edge of the rectangle, making sure to catch the folded in opening.

For the bow "center", cut a strip of fabric, measuring about 2.5" x 3.5" and fold in half, lengthwise ( makes a tube shape) with right sides facing in. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance, turn right side out, and then sew the two ends together, making a "ring".

Fold large rectangle of fabric accordion style, then slip it through the ring you just made. Position ring in the center. Open up the accordion folds and there you go...a huge bow tie for the top!

I tied the bow tie to the top of the wreath in the same manner that the diapers were tied on. Just thread twine through the backside of the "ring" on the bow, and tie to the frame.

Confused yet?

I hope not..but I realize, I might be worse than ikea with these instructions..I reallllly, realllly should have taken photos to do a step-by-step.

Here's how mine ended up..

Best part of it all?? The diapers are useable! Just untie and unroll!