Flannel Receiving Blanket Burp Cloths

When LMS was a baby who spit up a lot, I cut a couple bath towels into squares and zig-zagged the edges (I didn't have a Serger at the time). They worked quite well, but weren't always the prettiest once the edges started fraying. Once she got past the spit-up stage, they got relegated to the rag bag, and I think there's still a couple around somewhere- I recall using them when I was doing all my painting.

Even though I said I didn't have the time and energy to do any sewing, I did manage to do a few projects lately: some baby legs and some burp cloths. I never got around to making any burp cloths before TLM was born, but I was given several, so I didn't worry about it. TLM doesn't actually spit up that much, so only having a few hasn't been a problem. However, I have a stack of flannel receiving blankets that I wanted to do something useful with. I knew from past experience that they're not actually large enough to swaddle a baby, but I bought some anyway, plus we received some.

If they're not big enough to swaddle the little guy, what else could they be used for? Some burp cloths!

I have some burp cloths that are flannel on both sides and some that are terry on the back side, and I prefer the terry cloth-backed cloths. I had a picture of the stack of flannel receiving blankets, but it's stuck in my external drive that's not currently playing nice with my laptop. There was at least 8 or 9 of them, plus some terry cloth that I bought from JoAnn's to use as backing.

After measuring the flannel blankets and comparing the size of the burp cloths I already had, I decided to cut out 8"x17" rectangles.

This gave me three across, plus a slightly smaller piece across the top. I ended up cutting two pieces that were 8"x10" from that section to make some mini burp cloths.

I cut matching pieces of terry cloth, then sewed them all together. I left a small hole in each to turn them right side out, then I topstitched each cloth, sewing the hole closed as I went. In retrospect, I don't know that I'll topstitch the next batch (whenever I get around to making them). I like the finished look, but it makes them stiffer and less flexible.

end result: 9 large cloths and 4 small ones

The green print is a loose woven fabric that was originally part of a blanket/burp cloth that we found at IKEA back before TLM was born. The monkey and tree prints started life as flannel receiving blankets.

I think they turned out super cute, though they didn't use up nearly enough of my flannel receiving blanket stash :) 

Another Snow Day

Yesterday it snowed all day, leaving quite the accumulation of snow:

This has definitely been the snowiest winter since the Snowmageddon winter of 2009/2010. We moved here right after all the storms, so missed out on the snow. We've loved all the snow this winter, but it would be nice if it had come a little earlier in the season. We're all mentally moving towards spring, but the snow keeps interfering. Soccer's been canceled twice because of snow. Usually it gets canceled because of rain, not snow. And the snow is messing with my ability to get out on the trails and increase my mileage. Soon enough, though, we'll be wishing for cooler weather again :)

LMS volunteered to shovel the walk, then decided she needed some gloves because her hands were cold.

Today was sunny and the snow started to melt a little, but most of its still on the ground. Hard to believe it's the end of March already!

More Baby Legs for Boys

I made some more leggings for The Little Mister the other day. Target has a new batch of women's knee highs, and I found these three that are cute enough for a little boy to wear. I think they're a bit more boyish and fun than the first set. And they come together so quickly and easily!

March 5k

one of the hills we ran up

Saturday I ran my March 5k (I'm trying to run a race every month this year). This was a small race that I've never run before, but proved to be a good race.

The race was a fundraiser held at a local historical property. There was only about 125 runners, and I managed not to finish last. I'm not in shape, so that's still a concern :) The course description called it a "challenging course" so it wasn't a surprise that there was a lot of hills. I haven't done a lot of hill work lately, but the brief hill work I did last Tuesday with TLM helped me be a bit more prepared than I would otherwise have been.

The course was a mix of paved roads and gravel roads that criss-cross the historical property, taking us on a tour of it. There was a lot of uneven surfaces as we moved from gravel to pavement to patched pavement and back to gravel. It was a nice change of pace from the usual paved roads that 5ks are run on.

I finished running and walking the 5k in 37:33. Not my best finish, but not my worst, either. The race ended on a hill, which is always brutal. I managed to chug/shuffle/gasp my way past another lady half a second (literally- the numbers don't lie) before the finish line. Yay me!

Despite the hills, or maybe because of them, it's a challenging course that can help me prepare for future races, so I think I'll add it to my line-up for next year.

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Physically I felt better than the mud run last month. I am still tired and out of shape, but my legs didn't feel like lead this time (I have a theory about that that I'll come back to). My lung capacity felt on the low side, probably from a lack of good workouts recently combined with two snug bras that made breathing a little more difficult than I'd like. While I can get in better shape, I can't ditch the bras- I gotta keep the girls firmly in place and the compression helps a bit when I go longer than usual between feedings for TLM, since I've left him at home with Mr M the last two races.

Back to how I felt/my energy level: my theory is that it improved because of my vitamins. About two months ago I stopped taking them (I got lazy and never refilled the pillboxes), but last week I started taking them again and within a day my energy levels were improving. Considering I haven't been feeling great lately, the boost in energy has been very welcome.

On the one hand, it's a bit discouraging that I'm dependent on supplements (I have to take 5 or 6 morning and evening) for my body to function as it should. On the other hand, it could be worse: at least I'm not dependent on medication. This has been a good reminder that I can't ignore my body and expect it to work properly. You'd think I'd know this by now, but despite the years of experience, I still forget/get lazy/rebel against the constant vigilance needed to stay healthy. It can be exhausting trying to stay on top of everything, but letting things slide leaves me feeling even worse.

Sunday Funny

he's cute, but still a baby!

The other day LMS was upset because TLM isn't old enough/big enough to play with her.

LMS: "I've waited 7 years for a sibling and he's still a baby!"

Me: "He's 5 months old. We waited 7 years for you to get as big as you are now."

LMS: {grump}

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We did warn her that this would happen, but apparently it hadn't sunk in till now :)

A Dance Bag for LMS

But it's more than just a bag for the ghillies she wears for her Irish dance class. I included a PUL sleeve for her water bottle (dancing is thirsty work!) to keep the moisture away from her leather ghillies.

I was going to use the bright pink flowered fabric (a heavier cotton), but liked how the minky pink polka dots matched the brown and pink flowered PUL. I can't remember what kind of fabric the pink polka dots is, but while minky on one side, the other is woven and it was much easier to work with than standard minky fleeces. I only purchased the PUL; I had the other two fabrics in my stash.

This was my first time sewing with PUL, and it wasn't too bad. Of course, I wasn't doing anything too involved, either, so I don't have a true idea of how to deal with it. I doubled the PUL so the pretty print could be easily seen. The edges of the PUL are sewn into the side of the bag so there's no exposed seams for water to seep out of.

I made this late at night, without a real plan, but it turned out pretty good. There's a couple details I'm thinking about tweaking because I don't quite like how they turned out, like how I attached the PUL sleeve. I'd like to make another bag some time, but I have to be getting more sleep for that to happen :) In the meantime, LMS likes it and it's completely functional as-is.

I find it ironic that these days I'm actually in the mood to sew (a mood that's been more and more fleeting in recent years), but am too tired and too busy to get my projects done.

Vampire Girl

Yep, Little Miss Sunshine has turned into a vampire. And all it took was losing a couple more teeth :)

Hmm, if I fiddle with the picture a little that front tooth isn't quite so noticeable:

And here she's trying to look fierce (note the wrinkled nose):

Our dentist gave her a referral to the orthodontist when we went in for cleanings a week or so ago because her teeth are so crowded and crooked. We've known this was coming since we took her to the dentist when she was about 2 and they could already tell she'd need braces.

This morning we went in and they evaluated where she's at. She's only got 3 1/2 adult teeth in so far (but has lost 6 baby teeth), so we're in the wait and see stage. However, she does have 4 baby teeth that are blocking the way for more adult teeth to come in. If they don't fall out in the next 3 months, she'll have to get them pulled to make more room for the adult teeth. So we'll go back in 3 months and see what (if anything) has changed.

Did you have to get teeth pulled to make room n your mouth?

Snow Day!

Monday morning we woke up to this:

and this:

Most people around here are complaining about all the snow, but we're loving it :)

We took advantage of the lazy day to make these fun little treats that I found here:

Super easy and gluten free when made with Annie's gluten free gingersnap bunnies. 

Easy gluten free treat ideas aren't the easiest to find, so I was very happy to find this one. She has another idea that uses the white eggs, but it requires a few more ingredients, so we didn't do that one.

LMS and S from next door thought they were great fun.

And we also  made more snow ice cream- so yummy!

Do you have treats you like to make when it snows?

Fun at Bass Pro Shops

Have you ever been in a Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops? They're lots of fun, and while we prefer Cabela's, we don't have one nearby. We do have a Bass Pro Shop that's not super far away, and we stopped in for a visit when we were out that direction a few weeks ago.

LMS found the shooting gallery and begged for a chance to do some shooting. I was looking at something else while Mr M helped her, and when I went to find them, this is what I saw:

I'm not sure why she's wearing Daddy's black hat, but I love all the girly pinkness that contrasts with the ".22" that she's holding.

Mr M had to join in the fun too:

Are we the only ones who are this easily entertained?  :)

What's Really For Dinner?

Back in October, I posted this menu board.

It didn't take long to realize it wasn't going to work out.

See? It's just not big enough.

But what to do?

Somewhere (can't remember where) I read about using a photo collage frame as a menu board. That sounded like a great idea, so I started looking for photo collage frames. The one I found at wally world was significantly cheaper, but it also looked very cheap. The one at tar-jay was more expensive, but looked a lot nicer. I went with the one from tar-jay.

Friday is the first day because I pick up our groceries on Thursday, and it's easier for me to keep track of the grocery list and menu if they both line up.

Instead of cutting vinyl and trying to stick it to the backside of the glass (like I did with the first menu board), I stuck the vinyl to pieces of card stock cut to size. Much easier.

A screw at the top of the frame and some command strips at the bottom of the frame keep it all in place.

Plenty of room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus space for a snack, should I feel so inclined to actually plan some out. 

Who am I kidding? That's not going to happen anytime soon- the reason there's only one day shown is because I haven't managed to plan the rest of the week. I mentioned yesterday that my food has been off lately, and some of the unfortunate side effects are that nothing sounds good except for things I can't eat, I have a hard time dealing with things, and anything that requires too much thought probably won't happen.

Needless to say, the menu is still waiting for me to plan it. It's a work in progress :)

Bob Comes Out of Hibernation

he thinks he's getting out of the jogger, but we'd just stopped for pictures

I walked/ran 2-3 times week with LMS in the jogger (aka Bob) starting when she was about 4 months old till she was almost 5, and she never complained about being in it- it was just a fact of life.  While our use tapered off as she got older, I did push her in it as recently as a year and a half ago in a Turkey Trot 5k.

Awhile ago I realized I needed to start running with TLM in the jogging stroller. Of course, I realized this when it was cold and icy and snowy, so it wasn't going to happen right then. TLM is now 5 months old, so it's time to get him used to being in the jogger. I don't think I'll manage the frequency I did with LMS because of living in completely different neighborhoods, but I can still get out at least once a week with him.

In fact, a couple weeks ago I realized that I could be utilizing the trails in town while LMS is at her Irish class. I don't travel to workout (that sucks up too much of my time), but if I'm already there, I'll take advantage of it. This won't work during the winter when it gets dark so early, but with spring moving in and daylight hanging around later and later, it's now doable. If it's not snowing like it was last week.

Yesterday was gorgeous, with temps in the mid-high 70s, so I finally got the chance to take TLM and Bob out for a bit.

But first, I had to clean up Bob. He's always been kept indoors (the house, the old shed, or the new shed), but the few months he spent inside the old shed weren't kind to him. The fabric of the old shed trapped moisture inside and Bob and the bike trailer both ended up with some mildew spots. Grrrr!

We found Bob on craigslist back when LMS was about 2 or 3 months old (my first big score on craigslist- they were given two joggers (!) and were practically giving one away). He's served us well over the years and still has plenty of life in him, so I didn't want to let a little mildew make him look grungy.

After googling around a bit, I decided to try two cleaning methods: white vinegar and borax. I use white vinegar for cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, so I know it's an effective cleaner. I sprayed Bob down with vinegar and let it sit overnight. It helped a little, but not as much as I'd hoped, so I tried borax diluted in hot water next. I dipped a scrub brush in the mixture and then scrubbed all the fabric parts. I put a bit more on the spots that were stained, then let it all dry overnight. Mostly because I ran out of time that night :)

The next day I hosed Bob off, using the scrub brush to make sure there wasn't any residue left anywhere. After letting him dry in the sun, he was ready to go.

My thoughts on the mildew cleaning abilities of white vinegar and borax:

I don't think the vinegar had much of an effect, and while the borax helped, it didn't completely get rid of the stains. Between the two, the fabric did come out looking cleaner and brighter, and the mildew stains aren't as noticeable, though the black stains are still there if you know where to look. Avoiding the mildew is the better way to go :)

After dropping LMS off at her class, we parked at the park across the street and hit the trails. I've never been on these trails, so it was a bit of a surprise to see how steep some of them were. Bob handled the rough dirt trails and exposed tree roots admirably, though TLM wasn't sure he liked the bumpiness. Other than that, TLM did fine during the 25 minutes he spent sitting in Bob.

looking at all the tree roots on the uphill trail

While it was a tough run {hills + pushing a heavy jogger with a baby in it + being out of shape = a tired and sore body}, it felt so good to be running (and walking) outside again. I've been struggling with my health/food lately and my treadmill time has been decreasing right along with my energy levels.

it wasn't all dirt and tree roots, there were some paved portions as well

It was the shot in the arm that I needed to get back on the wagon, er, trail, and find creative ways to get outside and run. LMS can't keep up with me, but is too big to ride in a jogger, so I have to do my runs when she's at a class or playdate. I think I can make this work!

Whiteboard Family Calendar

Several years ago I made this to store all of LMS' clippies:

Unfortunately, it proved to be a pain keeping them on the ribbons (it was easier to just toss them on/in the sink), so I put it in a closet, where it sat, all alone, looking like this:

I've been meaning to make a whiteboard calendar for months, and this weekend I finally did it.

I removed the drop cloth and ribbon-covered glass, spray painted the frame (16"x20"), and cut a piece of shower board to size. I'd heard it can be used as a whiteboard, and so far it's working well. I'm curious to see how it holds up to colored dry erase markers.

After cutting the shower board and putting it in the frame, I cut 1/4" strips of black vinyl with my quilting ruler and rotary cutter. It was a pain, but it worked out in the long run. After some trial and error and shifting vinyl strips back and forth a bit, I finally got the squares as even as I could.

The last step was to cut out the days of the week and affix them to the calendar.

I put the week day names over the top line to leave space to write the name of the month, but I kind of like the look.

Yeah, I have crappy handwriting and can't draw a four leaf clover if my life depended on it. But now we can see at a glance who's got what, when.

Now I just have to decide where to put it. There's a couple spaces that I need to try out and see which I like the best.

We had a similar calendar awhile ago, but it was too small and got lost/thrown out/not sure where it went when I painted the kitchen. I've really been missing the at-a-glance convenience and am glad to have it back.

5 Months

The Little Guy is growing so fast! He's {mostly} a happy little baby who is a little cutie :)

He's more dextrous: he can maneuver toys into his mouth and has found his feet.

When he's tired he bats at the sides of his head. At first we thought he had an ear infection(s), but the doctor said his ears look healthy, so the batting is indicative of being tired instead of in pain. Recognizing this makes it easier to figure out why he's fussing.

His long newborn hair is thinning out, but the new growth that started when he was about a month old is coming in strong and has grown noticeably.

He sits in his high chair while we eat- he likes being up where he can see us. He's showing more interest in food and has managed to grab my bowl a couple times when I've been eating and holding him at the same time (he still wants to be held all the time). Despite showing interest, he's still not quite ready to start eating- he doesn't know what to do when we place a dab of something on his lip.

He's working on sitting up on his own. He still topples to the side/front, but is doing lots better.

As he gets older, the differences between LMS and TLM are becoming more obvious.

My milk supply with LMS was a lot different. I had plenty in the morning, so I'd feed her on one side while pumping the other (I could only pump if she was nursing- I couldn't pump without her helping). By evening there was only a little left, so she'd get what she could by nursing, and then she'd have a bottle with milk that I'd pumped that morning. She ended up drinking a larger volume at that evening feeding, and it would last her till about 4 in the morning when we woke up and started it all over again (Mr M got up then to work out before going to classes, so the timing worked out well). I tried everything to increase my milk supply, and nothing worked. We barely made it a year, but were down to one morning feeding for the last 2-3 months.

Going gluten free has helped my milk supply (among other things), and this time my milk supply is fine, regardless of the time of day. No "running out" this time. I do pump occasionally (and can pump without TLM nursing the other side) so Mr M can give TLM a bottle while I'm at Scouts or something, but neither is a daily occurrence. I've tried getting him to drink a larger volume (by nursing both sides) at an evening feeding, but he won't do it. So I'm still feeding him every two hours or so. I keep telling him if he ate more he could go longer between feedings, but he doesn't seem to care about that :)

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LMS was sleeping through the night by this point, but because of the different eating habits, TLM isn't.  Naps are also a lot less regular than they were for her. I expected this because of the schedule we have- no two consecutive days are the same. I was hoping this would make him a more flexible sleeper (LMS was not a flexible sleeper at all), but I'm not sure this is happening if his recent naps are anything to go by. On the other hand, we could just be going through a phase and things could improve.

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LMS never really chewed on things or stuck things in her mouth. And I know how lucky we were :)

TLM, on the other hand, is constantly chewing on his fingers/thumbs (I've seen both thumbs in his mouth at the same time)/toys. I've noticed he doesn't actually suck his thumb that much (only if he's tired or hungry)- the rest of the time he's just chewing on them. I'm not sure if this is the precursor to teething, or if this is going to be an on-going issue. We were spoiled by LMS never shoving things in her mouth, but I have the feeling we'll have to do a thorough baby-proofing and keep an eagle eye on him.

Sunday Funny

have you tried the waterlogue app? so cool!

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LMS (looking up at the night sky): "What's that cloudy stuff up there?"

Mr M (glancing up): "Those would be clouds."

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In her defense, she's usually in bed when it's dark and doesn't see the night sky (cloudy or otherwise) on a regular basis.

Mommy-Daughter Dates

Did you ever go on dates with one of your parents when you were little? I remember doing it a couple times, but the most vivid was a daddy-daughter date on my birthday (6th, I think). We got ice cream and then he bought me a carnation- my first flower!

Mr M and I instituted daddy-daughter dates after Mr M's first deployment. There's no schedule- they just happen when there's time, and they do a variety of activities, depending on time available and interest.

We never did mommy-daughter dates, because let's face it, between LMS being homeschooled and an only child, she and I spend A LOT of time together. Hanging out at home, routine grocery runs/errands, as well as more fun trips to the park, the children's museum, the lake, etc.

Then TLM was born.

LMS still goes everywhere with me, but she no longer has that one-on-one attention she used to have because TLM is around. She still has daddy-daughter dates with Mr M, but I realized awhile ago that she and I needed some time together without the little guy.

She loves him and doesn't resent him for taking all of mommy's snuggles (in her mind- in reality she still gets lots of hugs and kisses), but I could tell she's been missing the old dynamic. Not surprising since we had almost 7 1/2 years before she had to share her parents with anyone else.

After being postponed a couple times because of the weather, LMS and I finally managed to head out of the house sans any male members of the family. It was a weeknight so we weren't able to do the types of things LMS had in mind (those will happen on later outings), but we still had fun.

drawing pictures while we wait for our food

We started out with dinner at 5 Guys, then headed to JoAnn's to look at dress patterns.

I'm 95% sure I'm going to cut up my wedding dress and use part of it to make a dress for LMS to wear after she gets baptized, and since that date is rapidly approaching, I need to figure out how I'm going to make it happen. Has anyone else done this? Did it turn out? Do you regret cutting up your wedding dress? 

Our next stop was a local chocolate store and then Barnes and Nobles to browse the aisles.

We met a friend and her son (a little older than LMS) doing the same thing- going on a date while the baby (her daughter is a couple months older than TLM) stays home with daddy. Quite random, but interesting that we'd both seen the need for one-on-one time with our older kiddo.

LMS is already planning our next mommy-daughter date and has requested an all-day event. Unfortunately for her, that's not going to happen as long as I'm nursing TLM. When I explained the problem, she thought bringing the breast pump would solve the problem. Kind of, yeah. But there's storage, and clean up, and privacy, and…..

We'll see what we come up with.

Do you go on dates with your children?

Bamboo Tree House in the Park

One of the parks we frequent for our weekly homeschool park day has a lot of bamboo in the outer reaches. The last time we were there, the kiddos added to the sticks and bamboo poles leaning against a tree to make a treehouse. I peeked at it and found a "door" and LMS tending a "fire" in the center picture.