DIY Baby Mobile

I love crafting! Especially during Christmas break when I have time. Josh plays his video/ computer games and I craft...very relaxing. A project I have been working on is a baby mobile for our baby girl's room. I wanted something bright and attractive that she can look at. The following sites inspired me to do a butterfly themed mobile:

http://raechelmyers.blogspot.com/search/label/Color

Raechel is such a creative person and is an AWESOME decorator! Her site is very inspirational and has great ideas.

http://heartlandpaper.typepad.com/heartland_paper/2009/08/handmade-chandeliers-on-studio-5.html

Here are the supplies I used:

I started by cutting strips of ribbon about 4 inches long. I tied them knots going around the circumference of the cardboard circle.

Next, I took clear thread and cut it into long pieces (~20 inches). I tied it to the circle and let the pieces hang down. I "sandwiched" identical butterfly piece stickers to the clear thread with hot glue. I glued 3-4 butterflies on each thread piece. I did the same with the sew-on dragonfly pieces.

***This part was kind of frustrating because the thread was like working with a piece of hair and the threads kept getting tangled. To solve this I used a black surface to work on. I put the circle in the middle of the table and had the pieces of thread spread out in different directions (like a sun).

Lastly, I used four strips of tulling to create a bow at the top for the mobile to hang from. Josh hung the mobile on the ceiling by a metal hook.

Baby Girl's Nest

First off, since Christmas is over I can tell our secret. We are having a GIRL & we are SO excited! She is healthy and moving like crazy!

It's hard to believe that Christmas has passed, and the New Year is 5 days away. It's crazy how fast time flies. Sadly, I know when our baby girl is here time will fly even faster. Josh and I have had a great Christmas break so far. We realize how fortunate we are to even have a Christmas break...and are enjoying every moment of it. Last week we painted the nursery a warm tan color. Auntie Kates came over to help...she's great! We started to organize and set up all of the baby things we have been collecting over the years and the past 5 months. Whenever I found something I wanted my future children to have, I would buy it and store it in the now baby closet... especially books!!

She already has some outfits (Grandma Nilsson gave a few years ago!) and stuffed animals. I was fortunate enough to find most of her nursery items at...I am embarrassed to mention it...Goodwill. I have so much luck there it's crazy. I found a light pink bumper for $2. I am going to add fun bows to it with my new sewing machine. The curtains in her room were $5, light pink changing cover (very soft, I might add) for $3, lamps for $5 each, orange blanket comforter $4, round mirror $4...the list goes on and on. It's amazing how much you can find second hand that looks brand new! The glider chair was a gift from my mom, which she also found at a second hand store. The changing table & pad was a gift from Katie at a second hand store near her. The only piece of furture we have bought so far is the crib & mattress and the turquoise storage cubes.

I am very pleased with how the nursery came out. It's exactly what I was going for...not matchy matchy or overly "babyish" or too gender specific- neutral walls with bold accent colors in turquoise, pink, orange, and lime green. God-willing, Josh and I want many children so this room will be very easy to adapt for a boy. I also wanted the room to be a space I could see myself spending a lot of time in, and so far whenever I walk past the room I have to walk inside and look around. I love how I was able to use little knickknacks from my childhood and Josh's to make it more meaningful.

I can't wait until our little girl is here!

1/2 Way There!!!

20 weeks 2 days! YAY!
On Wednesday we found out the sex of the baby. It was an overwhelming sense of realization & of course... I cried! The sex of the baby will still remain a mystery to family, as we are going to tell them on the most special day of the year... Christmas! So until then... my lips are sealed family!

Christmas in Chicago & still no Sheepy

Yesterday, Josh and I kept our Christmas Tradition alive by going downtown for Christkindlemarket & shopping. We wanted to find some type of security blanket for our baby, a Sheepy, if you will.
When I was a baby, my mom was changing sheets on the bed and I started holding it and sucking my thumb. I wanted to carry the sheet around with me. My mom said "That is a sheet." And I said "sheepy." She didn't want me to be dragging around a big sheet so she gave me a temporary blankie, one of my dad's undershirts and it stuck.... "Sheepy."
This was the first year that it rained...no...POURED! It was that just above freezing rain... the coldest rain you can have. We still had a great time, jumping over puddles, and trying to eat our German Brauts with our nearly frozen fingers. We went to Old Navy and found some great buys for Josh. And had the best yogurt in Chicago... in the basement of Macy's- fresh strawberry yogurt! SO good! We looked in Macy's for a Sheepy, but had no luck. Maybe Babies R Us?

Before leaving Chicago, we made sure to get another braut for dinner. Yes they are just THAT good! For dessert, our favorite is the Warm Cheese Strudel.The cheese strudel is very messy but when you are already soaking to your bones, you just don't care what your powder sugared lips (or in my case, cheeks and forehead too) look like, plus is is so good.

We left a little earlier than we normally do, because we were soaked and I was sore and tired. For the first time ever, we did NOT have to run and catch the train...10 minutes to spare. Getting home early was nice because we were able to change into dry clothes, cuddle in blankets, and watch some Christmas movies.

Baby Update: 19 Weeks

It's so hard to believe that I am almost half-way there! Next week we will know the sex of the baby & I can't wait! We have both of our names picked out, now we just need to know which one it will be. This week I am feeling the baby move a lot more. Josh felt the baby kick three times the other night...we were so excited! The baby is very strong-This week I have noticed that I am starting to have some minor braxton hicks & continue to have round ligament pain. Other than that I feel great and am enjoying every moment with child! I have been feeling kicks since 15 weeks, which is early for first time mamas;-) Sometimes it is all still surreal... almost like it's a dream. I am so blessed to have a healthy baby and pregnancy. All blood tests have come back negative and the doctor's words are "Everything is perfect"... THANK you LORD!! Thank you to all of my readers and friends who have been praying for the baby and I during this process. God is answering those prayers & this pregnancy has been a huge blessing to me.

Now I need to go get ready for our Christmas party for work!

Baby Update: 18 Weeks

Last week's picture at 18 weeks (I'm now 18w6d):

I'm late on this post... as I will be 19 WEEKS tomorrow!!! I didn't get a 17 week picture since we were visiting family in Ohio for Thanksgiving:-(

Since my last post I have been feeling the baby move a lot more! Sometimes I can even feel the baby's kicks with my hands. Everytime the baby kicks I wish Josh could've felt it...he seems to miss it everytime! I think God has the perfect day planned when he will first feel the baby kick & I can't wait!