More Wonderland and a pie crust

After putting it off for a while because I loved the fabric so much, I finally cut into the rest of my Wonderland by MoMo layer cake and am working on another baby quilt. I was not pleased with how the last one turned out -- I did something wrong, but the recipient of the quilt loved it --so I am looking forward to 'trying again.' I have laid this quilt on a little more methodically than the last one, so we will have to see how that looks when completed.


And for those who enjoy food, I made my first pie crust this past week. My mom always made pie crusts when I was growing up, but I have been afraid to try them (kind of like quilting). But I took the plunge, and the crusts didn't turn out too bad! They might have even been good:-) The Pizza Rustica (see pic below) was delicious, with or without the pie crust

Monday Links

Since many of my current projects are gifts, I am hesitant to post pictures just yet:-) Instead, here are a few links to projects and tutorials that I have recently discovered. I hope you enjoy them, and perhaps add them to your list of "projects to try" as I have!

Glueless Collage Gift (great gift for toddlers)

Little Pink House Tutorial (from Sew, Mama, Sew's hand sewing month)

Tooth Fairy Bags (too cute to resist!)

Shirt to Dress Refashion (if only I could look at my clothes in this manner--always available for redesign!)

Reusable Sandwich Wrap (cute way to help reduce waste)

Paypal money from Swagbucks

I know I recently posted about Swagbucks, but I thought I would let you know something that I just learned. Swagbucks now has a Paypal gift certificate that you can 'purchase' with the bucks you earn searching the internet. Right now, you can get $5 Paypal money for 70 Swagbucks. That is a great offer, and it is free money, since you would be searching the internet anyway! I am hoping to put a few of these together so I can...wait for it...buy more fabric:-)

How many of these can I make?

By my count, this is at least the fourth baby sling I have made with this fabric! But why complain--this is a gorgeous fabric, and I love making them.


PS. I am working on a few sewing projects, but they are gifts, so it may be a little while before they appear here:-)

Nursing Cover in Full Moon Polka Dots

Labor and Delivery, pt.4 --Coming home from the hospital

Coming Home from the Hospital:

Have someone fill your pain prescription as soon as you get home—taking the medication regularly will make a huge difference! The day that you leave the hospital you will feel sore—it will be the first time you have moved around so much since the baby was born, so expect to be tired, sore and emotional.

Make sure your bathroom cabinet is stocked with these items:

• sanitary pads (no tampons)
• moistened, unscented wipes *optional*(this sounds crazy, but Pampers makes a Sensitive Skin baby wipe that works great—you just cannot flush them)
• Tucks Hemorrhoid pads *optional*--Tucks pads are cooling and calming
• Pericolase medication (stool softener and gentle laxative)—helps keep you regular and prevents your bowel movements from being painful
• Spray bottle (from hospital) for cleaning yourself
• Dermaplast—also from hospital—topical numbing spray that is such a blessing when you are sore
  

Your first night home from the hospital will be really rough, but you will survive! Expect to cry a lot at first. Know that every woman experiences these emotional ups and downs, and it is normal. The baby blues last through the first couple of weeks and then things stabilize—but they will suddenly pop back up at random times! It’s normal to cry. If you feel like your baby blues are unmanageable, or are lasting a very long time, please reach out to friends and family for help.

In your budget, plan for an additional expenditures in doctor’s co-pays. Your baby will visit the doctor approximately 4 times in 2 months (though this varies by office): 72 hours after discharge from hospital, 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months. Each of these visits will cost you an office co-pay, and if you do not plan for those fees, it can catch you off guard.

Above all, relax and enjoy this time. Labor and delivery may be painful, but it is the most rewarding thing you will ever experience. It is exciting! Look forward with anticipation and joy, and know that your friends and family are praying for you, supporting you and ‘cheering you on’ during this wonderful time. I hope that this series has been helpful to you. Please let me know if you have advice or thoughts to add. Thanks for reading!

Labor and Delivery, pt. 3 --Packing for the hospital (what TO pack)

What you DO want to pack in your hospital bag:

• hairband or clips to hold your hair back, if necessary
  
• anything that helps you relax for delivery and afterward—an I Pod with your favorite music, a book, a scented lotion
  
• change for the snack machines or a bag of snacks (especially for your hubby)
  
• at least one nursing bra (a sleep bra is a must, and maybe another one to wear coming home)
  
• nursing pads—during the first few days, I would recommend Lansinoh Brand Ultra Soft Nursing Pads (Babies R Us carries them). They are more expensive, but they are the softest, and when you start nursing, your breasts will appreciate the softness of those pads. You will be able to move to other pads later.
  
• Tums if you are prone to heartburn. I was not prone to it, but had horrible acid reflux/heartburn during labor. The nurses would not give me anything, but I could have taken the Tums if I had some with me
  
• camera, extra batteries/charger, film (each hospital has different regulations about videography during labor, so check for their policies)
  
• cell phones and chargers
  
• comfortable, loose tops or short nightgowns. Look for something that buttons down or is big enough to pull up for nursing ease. Pants/bottoms are not necessary—you will be bleeding enough after the delivery that you might mess up the bottoms anyway. A light-weight robe is nice—I used a short robe that I pulled on over a tank top, and that worked great
  
• moisturizing body lotion—if you should have an epidural, your skin may itch as it wears off. Lotion helps!
  
• flip-flops for the shower
  
• your favorite toiletries (i.e., scented shower gel from Bath and Body Works if you like that), your makeup, lotions and perfume—anything that will help refresh you and make you feel better
  
• slippers or socks—the hospital floor can get cold!
  
• know what pediatrician you plan to use—they will ask you this in labor and delivery
  
• book or magazine (something light and fluffy) for you; book or magazine for your husband—you may need this during labor and delivery while you “wait” to dilate, or to help you relax at the end of the day when visitors and family have left
  
• list of people to call with their phone numbers
  
• outfit to bring the baby home
  
• outfit for you to travel home—look for comfortable, loose fitting separates: you will not be able to fit back into your pre-pregnancy sizes immediately! Though it is no fun to wear them after the baby comes, maternity pants may feel the most comfortable (or something with a drawstring waist)

Tomorrow: Coming Home from the Hospital