Make it: Carseat Carrier Blanket

These blankets have many different names, among the most popular; the boring " car seat carrier cover" or, my favorite, "greeter deterrent" . You know, to keep all the Grabby McGrabberson's from reaching in uninvited and grabbing those little cheeks with their god-knows-where-they've-been-germy-hands. Don't get me wrong, I know that germs are something kids need to be exposed to, but if my baby is sleeping, and we must be out and about, I'd really like to keep him cozy and hidden. Call me crazy, but I doubt I'll be a fan of random people touching my kid.

There are a ton of tutorials out there to make these blankets. I came up with my own, loosely based off the measurements of the Chicco Keyfit Car seat we intend to use.

You'll need:

• 2 yards of coordinating fabric. (1 yard= main print, and 1 yard = underside)
• Scrap fabric to make 2 ties. ( 4"wide x 8" long per tie)
• velcro
• thread, pins, scissors, and a sewing machine

This project is easy, even for non-sewers. Really, it's worth a try.

Making the Blanket:

• Place both fabric right sides facing one another ( not pictured), and iron wrinkles out.
• Even out edges with a straight edge
• Fold in half lengthwise, and again widthwise
• Using a CD or DVD as a template, trace to make uniform rounded corners.
• Cut rounded corners
• Unfold fabric, pin, and sew with a straight stitch or serger, leaving a 4" gap on one side of the blanket to turn the fabric through to make it f
  ace right side out again.
• Turn the fabric right side out
• Press with iron
• Topstitch 1/4" margin around the blanket ( this will secure the 4" gap we left open in a previous step)

Pictured below, the blanket is turned right side out, and pressed.

Once the top stitching on the blanket it done, it's time to address the ties.

Making the ties:

• Fold your tie fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing each other.
• Sew lengthwise along the edge, creating a "tube"
• Turn rightside out
• press with iron
• Fold ends of tube inwards
• Topstitch around all 4 sides of the "tube", creating a long rectangular tie.
• Repeat for second tie.

Attaching Ties:

• Fold blanket in half lengthwise, and again width wise to find the center of the blanket.
• From the center, measure 4" from the center in both directions to achieve correct tie spacing.
• Ties will be 8 inches apart from one another, and 4" from the center of the blanket
• Pin ties to blanket
• Top stitch into place with a straight stitch.
• Attach velcro ( I used velcro glue to adhere my velcro to fabric) strips to ties.
• **Remember** Place loop side of velcro on one side of the tie, and the grabber side on the other side of the tie, so that when it wraps around the handle, it attaches to itself.

If you used velcro glue, give it time to set up ( usually 12 hours) before using the blanket. My sewing machine really HATES sewing on velcro, so I found the glue at Joann's and it has made my life so much easier!

Here's a picture of it hanging and waiting for it's new car seat.

SEVENTEEN weeks

[August 13..excuse the lack of make-up..]

How many weeks? 17

Showing? I am indebted to my sister-in-law, Charlee and one of my BFF's, Dawn for the maternity clothes they sent my way. I've worn nothing but their clothes for the past 2 weeks, and I am much more comfortable and really like my new wardrobe. Both ladies have good taste, and have saved me from having to enter the over-priced maternity store here in town--at least for now..Last time they put me on mailing lists and things kept coming even after our loss..which royally sucked..so, to keep that from happening again, I am avoiding maternity stores as long as possible.

How am I feeling? Fatigued, but happy. Have been having some moments of nervousness & uncertainty since "coming out" with the news--I think that is to be expected given what we've been through. Once people know, it's this pressure that I put on myself to produce! This however, is something that I just have to go with, and hope for the best, and know that everyone who supports us through this, loves us regardless of the outcome. I just get fearful of letting not only myself and NZ down, but our families and friends as well. I don't want to be the girl that cries wolf, and then there's no wolf--Yes, I just compared announcing a pregnancy ( a tangible thing) to crying wolf--totally not comparable, but see where my head's at? Losing babies screws with your head!

Doctor’s Appointment? I've had 2 in the past week, got to hear the baby's heartbeat both times, and it was awesome. The OB I saw last Thursday is Chinese and predicted a boy based on the heartrate, but she said that is just an old wives tale. I told her that I think it's a girl, so she said, we'd see who's right pretty soon! I like her better than my regular OB, and since they are in the same clinic, I may make the switch.

Workouts? No, but feeling more like I should start walking again. I miss getting sweaty and feeling the rush of a good workout.

Sleep? Tossing and turning, but still trying my best to get as much sleep as I can. ..I wake up with sore hip joints every morning. I never had growing pains ( insert short joke here) but I imagine them to feel similar to what my hips have been going through.

Weight Gain? Apparently, 2 lbs in the last week! Grow baby, grow!

Baby Preparation? Dare I admit, I looked into carseat carriers, and strollers. I need one that can be used with its base, and in some instances, strapped in without a base...that's a hard combination to find, but it is going to make my life a WHOLE lot easier come next Winter. I refuse to buy any baby items till after 30 weeks, but I have the Peg Perego Viaggio 30/30 on my shortlist.

Likes/Dislikes? Likes: I love hearing NZ talk to the baby ( I read that their little ears work at this stage) and kiss my belly goodnight.

Dislikes: The heightened anxiety as we inch towards the halfway mark. Once we get to 25 weeks and uncharted territory, I may breathe easier, but for now, I am just waiting to hit 18 weeks which marks half way to our probable delivery date.

I try not too look too far ahead and plan, since as fellow blogger Ashley wrote, "It's hard when people tell you 'Everything is going to be fine, it HAS to be because all you have been through'. But how do we know that? We don't. Heartbreak doesn't give you good luck, promise or happiness no matter how much you go through. I wish it did." So true, my friend, so true. So for now, I muddle my way through the hours, days and weeks till we can hopefully meet our baby under planned circumstances ( hear that baby? PLANNED! No surprises). Gone is the naievity that I so wish I could have back.