Video Baby Monitor!

So I researched and talked with many friends about what they did when their baby was born regarding monitors. Some didn't use them at all, some had the baby in the room for the first few months (some still have the kid in the room), others used audio monitors and others used video monitors.

Knowing that we plan on having the baby in it's crib, we figured we needed a monitor. We went back and forth about a million times. I wanted to get a video monitor, but they cost so much! It was hard to justify a $100-$200 purchase for just a monitor. So I decided to go to Craigslist to see what they had. I saw several different monitors over the past few months. Lately I've realized just how close I am to having this baby and how we need to get a monitor ASAP. The other day I saw a video monitor out of Silverton for $40. There were no pictures. The person just said it had a tv monitor, audio monitor and video camera. I asked Eric about it and we decided to take the gamble and check it out.

I looked online for ideas of which monitor it could be that had three parts. There were some oldschool ones and new ones online. We went in person today and it looks great! They turned it on and it worked great too. Well as great as an analog camera can work. So we bought it. Here are pictures:

The Video Monitor

The Audio Monitor

The TV Monitor

This is what it is if we bought it brand new:

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Nursery-Monitor-System/dp/B00005BSXI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I think we got a pretty good deal only paying $40 for it. We figured it was a good gamble, we'll see how it works later on when the baby is here! :)

37 week 5 day doc appointment :)

Today I had my 37 week and 5 day doctor appointment. Eric went with me this time. It was a nice visit.



I am putting the details on this blog in case it's TMI for Facebook. :) So.. the baby has dropped a little which is good, it means I am making progress. I am still at 2cm and she didn't say anything about effacement so I am assuming that's the same. I am measuring at 39-40cm so that means the baby is still growing well. :)

However I got the results of the Group B Strep test and unfortunately I do have it. : ( So that means that I'll have to have IV antibiotics while I am in labor. But as I was telling Eric, there are worse things that I could have. It's good that they caught this because it means that they can treat it and help prevent the baby from getting sick with pnemonia or other illnesses that the baby could get from passing through the step. I guess 1 in 3 women get this, so it's not uncommon at all. I am not excited about the idea of an IV, but sounds like I just get a 20 minute dose every 4 hours so I should be able to still move around like I want.

Other than that things have been going normal. I've had some cramps/contractions here and there but I didn't know they were contractions until today. So that helps me to actually identify them! We've got most of the projects figured out at the house and are ready for the baby to join us. We still need to get a baby monitor... and Eric needs to finish the changing table. He also needs to pack his hospital bag. Other than that we are set. I am attempting to try to make some baby shoes to see if I can do it. :)

We'll keep you updated!

36 week 5 day pregnant doctor visit

I've been saying for weeks, perhaps even months that I have a feeling this baby is going to come early. Most people laugh at me saying,"You are silly! Most first time moms have their babies late!" Well, according to my doctor..she is very confident that I will have this baby either early or right on time.

I am 2cm dilated and 50 percent effaced. She says the baby technically could come at any time now. I've only gained around a lb since my visit 2 weeks ago. I am measuring at 38-39cm for my cervix... which could confirm the early delivery probability. :)

So today I am finishing up packing for the hospital and getting the other things done around the house that need to get done. We hope to have everything ready for the little one in the next few days. That way if the baby comes early or on time, we'll be good!

Okay...gotta jet...lots to do!

In the 37th week of pregnancy.. (36 weeks 2 days)

So this is the post I was going to type, but sometimes you just never know where your heart is going to take you when you start to write. The post previous to this one is something that needed to be said. Now on to the fun stuff!

This baby could come at any time!!!

I cannot believe that this little one could come at any time AND be healthy! What a blessing! They say by the 37th week of pregnancy the baby is considered full-term and can be born safely. Yes everyone is different and every pregnancy is different, but that's the average. I still have a feeling this baby will be coming sooner than later. I could be completely wrong, but it's such a strong sense that I have and I can't shake it. Maybe it's just me knowing that the time is coming near, we'll see when our little one arrives.

We finished more things with the baby room!

This past weekend we worked on the baby room a little more. Eric finished painting the baby room closet and it does look a ton better than it did before. I am so glad that we decided to paint the trim in that room! The dark brown looks great. He also spot stained the baby's crib where there were scratches and dents and it looks great for being used! (Remember we got the crib off of craigslist) I washed sheets and got them on the crib. He also started sanding the baby changing table. We decided to go ahead and stain it to match the crib. That is still a work in progress.

I tried to sew a cloth insert...

Yesterday I tried my hand at sewing a cloth insert to put in the baby's gdiapers. Yeah...didn't work out like I had hoped, but exactly how it was supposed to I guess. I made a flannel pocket and created a triple layer microfiber towel insert to go inside. It fit well and looked good. It even soaked up water well...but the baby would still be wet and most likely have a diaper rash. So..scratched that idea.

I tried to make a baby kimono shirt...

I also experimented with making a baby kimono. I took a side snap shirt and dismantled it and sewed other fabric over it... it turned out okay, but needs work. I figured out a pattern I think and I might go with that. I am hoping to get it done before the baby comes so that she can go home in it (if it's indeed a girl) but we'll see.

This week I am making curtains and finding baskets..

This week I am making baby curtains. We need to get the curtain rod and figure that stuff out first though, so it might take a couple of days before I can start that. Eric picked out the fabric and it's adorable. I'll show you the finished product when it's done. :) I am also going to find some baskets to put in the bookshelf that will go in the baby's room. In those baskets I'll place children's books (I have just a few....) and children's toys. On top I'll place the MP3 speaker set and the baby's airplane lamp. :)

I've gotta organize this room!

Since the baby's room is painted I can finally add things into the room again and free up the guest room! I am excited to organize things and put them where they need to be! In fact... I should go do that now! I'll post more pictures later!

Blessings,

Kristine

Remembering a year ago :)

Wow... so here we are and this pregnancy seems like a dream still. Overall other than being sore at night when I sleep and it getting harder to stand or sit for long periods of time, this pregnancy has gone fairly well. The fact that this little one really could come at any time AND will be healthy is also crazy and a blessing too. Below are the ramblings of a pregnant woman. Meaning my brain isn't quite connecting as well as I'd like to get my point across well, but I'll try my hardest. :)

A year ago a life was lost...

Yesterday as I was in church I remembered where I was at a year ago this time... in mourning for the little one lost. In case you didn't know, we lost a little baby last year at 8 weeks pregnant or so. It was devastating. God decided that little one belonged with Him in heaven and that the timing was off for us to have a little one on Earth. It was hard to understand at that time why God would take the little one from us. It took months of mourning, prayer and reflection on events to realize that God brings good even from tragedies. Here are some things I've learned:

God used this pain and tragedy to bless us and others...

By me going through this experience and being open about it, God worked through it to help others to be open about their experiences too. People I never thought had this happen opened up and talked with me about it and we were able to heal together. I now had extra time to look for work positions, and God brought me the Macy's job...but most importantly I was able to accept a temporary teaching position at a local Christian School. I was able to actually teach! That was something I'd dreamed about and worked hard toward, and God gave me that opportunity for three months or so. It was such a blessing to be able to teach and meet the wonderful staff of that school. It was an experience I'll treasure for years to come. God allowed me to work with at-risk youth through tutoring and gain experience that way as well. All these things I would not have been able to do had God not decided to take my little one early. God made me a stronger woman, a more empathetic woman and showed me that in the midst of tragedy, He is there more powerful than ever.

Every life is precious, no matter how small...

God's also shown Eric and I how precious life is. You just don't know how long you're going to have someone in your life. It's helped us to appreciate and cherish this little life inside of me all the more this time around. We loved the previous baby every moment of every day that we had with it. Every moment we have with this little one is a blessing. Every time I feel this little one kick it lifts my heart and fills it with joy. We'll love and cherish this little blessing for however long God allows us to, and I hope that's for years and years to come.

This pregnancy has been different...

This pregnancy has gone tremendously well as I mentioned before. No major sickness, no back pain (something I was seriously concerned with given my medical history, no major weight gain and other than being tired and sore from time to time...it's gone very well. I am blessed to have a wonderful doctor who believes in the Lord and cares about her patients. I am blessed to have the opportunity (thus far) to have a hospital who supports their patient's choices in the birth process, has friendly staff that love working there and is a calm peaceful environment. I am blessed to have wonderful family and friends to come along side of Eric and I in prayer support for this new blessing in our lives. The timing of this baby is perfect so that my mom can come down and spend some time visiting with us and helping out the first week.

God is the master orchestrator...

God orchestrated this pregnancy to be perfect and a blessing and something we'll never ever take for granted. We weren't ready to be parents before, and God knew that. He knew our hearts and lives and had a plan all along. He had us go through the experience before to teach us more about ourselves and to teach us just how precious life is. We were able to in turn be a blessing to others in ways we never knew we could, all because of God.

Freezer Meals

Most people would sit and relax on their birthday, me... I decided to take on the task of budgeting food costs and meal planning, which included making up freezer meals. I searched online and asked people for which meals they liked the best, then I compiled a list of ingredients I would need to get to make them. I tried to pick easy recipes, but I was also concerned on the taste. Because to have it be too easy and taste bland wouldn't work.

My reasons for trying this

I mentioned this endeavor on Facebook and was greeted with many cheers and warnings. Several people assumed I was creating these meals in preparation for after the baby comes, you know to eat then. I love to cook and this was a task I had not yet tried to take on. I'd heard of friends and other women who had made up a bunch of freezer meals, but it seemed daunting for some reason. My purpose for creating these meals was 1) to see if I could do it and 2) to just spend ONE day cooking to be able to not have to cook for a week or two. It sounded like a good trade-off to me. I also figured this could be a test run for when the baby does come. If it works out, then while I have help around to watch the baby (either relatives or Eric being home) I could make up some meals on that day and then not have to cook the other days that it was baby and me. :)

The results

I went out and bought all the ingredients I needed (and then some) for $65. My goal was to spend as little as possible. When I got home, I decided to make the easy recipes first. The ones that required the least amount of time and the least amount of cooking. These were the lasagna and the chicken enchilada lasagna dish. These dishes were easy because they involve layering ingredients. As long as I had all the ingredients, I just layered, let them cool and then froze them. They went fast.

The next meals I created took a little more effort. I made about six stuffed pasilla peppers and 9 stuffed bell peppers. Both of these recipes required that I cook several different ingredients and then compile the dishes. I also made two shepherd's pies. I had ingredients to make chicken soup and hamburgers, but decided that I should wait until the next day to create those.

All in all... I think I created 14 meals for 4 people for $65. Not bad! They are almost all in the freezer, other than the ones we're using immediately. It feels great to have some food options in the house and all it took was a few hours. I was pleasantly surprised that my brain worked the whole time! I was focused and could easily multi-task. I even talked with my family on the phone when they called to wish me a happy birthday! Amazing! :) I am glad God enabled me to focus!

Projects :)

Lately most all I can think about are projects. Not because I'm "nesting" but because it's not that exciting being home all the time. Last night we moved the desk from the baby room into the guest/office room and the cedar chest into our room from the guest/office room. It was a process that involved sliding it on a quilt across the wood floor into the different rooms because I am not supposed to lift much and Eric had to do most of the lifting. Eric wanted to use marbles or ball bearings, I won out with the practicality of using the quilt we already had. This move of furniture is particularly exciting to me because now I can organize the guest/office room!

Previous to this venture ALL the baby stuff, the office stuff and the guest bedroom stuff was well... STUFFED into that front room. We are still working on painting the baby room closet and doors so it has to be in there before we can move it all back where it belongs. Right now we have the couch, changing table and crib in the baby room (now that we moved the above mentioned desk out). Soon we'll move in the glider and ottoman into the room from the living room.

But... there are a few projects left to be done. Just so I can keep track of them, I will blog some of them.

Eric's jobs:

• Paint the baby room closet
• Spot stain the crib (There are scratches in it, remember we got it from Craigslist)
• Stain the changing table
• Repurpose the tall cheap old book case by cutting it in half and painting it to go in the baby room.
• Finish the hallway hardwood flooring (We are almost done, just need one corner to go!)

If those jobs are done, I'll be a happy woman. :) Now onto my current projects:

• Find/Purchase baskets to put baby toys in the above mentioned book case.
• Organize the office/guest bedroom
• Make a birth plan
• Start packing hospital bags for me, the baby (including take home outfit) and my husband.

Sewing projects:

• Attempt to sew up some baby leg socks: http://www.ehow.com/how_2189814_make-baby-legwarmers.html
• Re-purpose a bag I bought at value village into a diaper bag (If this fails, I may just purchase one. )
• Create some cute baby shoes: http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html
• MAYBE learn to crochet and make a baby beanie hat like this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/41158670/0-to-3-months-baby-brimmed-beanie-hat

Things left to get for the baby: (This list is to help me keep track)

• Around 24 cotton (non-bleached Indian cotton preferably) prefold cloth diapers. We'll use these in our G-diapers as liners. They are like this:http://www.amazon.com/OsoCozy-Indian-Prefold-Diapers-Unbleached/dp/B000TZVW9E Although I am searching Craigslist for a good deal on them.
• Hygenikit for my breast pump:
• Ergo carrier so both Eric and I can carry around the baby:
• Spin and Dry Rack to help sterilize bottles
• Baby Monitor, so we can hear the baby wherever in the house we're at. :)
• Travel Crib of some sort with a bassinet so we can take the baby on trips
• Baby Car mirror and sun shade
• Thirsties Duo Wrap diapers in Medium and Large
• Cloth Wipes Warmer
• Wet bag for cloth diapers/wipes

As you can see, we've pretty much got what we need already for the baby. With the exception of the baby monitor, wipes warmer, spin and dry rack and potentially baby mirror, we're set for this little one to arrive. Once we get the room painted and organized, we'll really be ready! :) I just gotta get motivated, create more checklists and get things done!