Jonathan and I were blessed to have a Babymoon weekend.  After Jonathan got home from work on Friday, we took Miss Abi to my parents’ house.  They were kind enough to watch her all day/night from Friday until Sunday church.  That was the longest time I’ve been away from her.

Instead of traveling 4 hours to my parents’ condo in the mountains, which was covered with snow, we decided to stay at our house.  Here were our rules: no cell phones (except to say goodnight to Abigail), no computer usage (except to watch hulu shows together), and we said we’d be able to spend the amount we would’ve spent on gasoline ($100) on going out to eat and doing other fun things.

So, Friday night, we ate at Carino’s.  This has been an eventful place for us.  It’s where we had our first date, where I told Jonathan we were pregnant with Baby #2, and the place from where I ended up getting really sick the last two times I’ve eaten there (my Birthday in December and Babymoon weekend).  So, I will not be partaking in their food for the next several months– if ever again.  Ugh.  I’m 31 weeks; when will the vomiting end?!  Anyway, after that, we rented a movie, and I explained the rules to our Valentine’s project for the year (instructions and pictures here).

On Saturday, Jonathan made me breakfast in bed: Butterscotch and White Chocolate chip pancakes!  Yum.  Then, we relaxed around the house until noon when we went out to eat at Taco Bueno.  After that, we looked at the Dollar Store to get Abigail some Vday gifts, then I got a pedicure and manicure while Jonathan got his hair cut next door.  Later, we ate dinner at Garcia’s and had the best waiter ever!  We came home and watched shows on Hulu.

On Sunday, we saw our sweet girl at church.  Daddy got a homemade card from Abigail, I got a red rose and sweet card from Jonathan, and Abigail got some flash cards, two books, and Reeses’ Pieces.  Later that night, we made a fruit dip and ate strawberries (recipe to come later).  Apparently, Abigail adores strawberries now.

Anyway, in case you didn’t know, I have the best husband for me.  I’m so glad we were blessed to spend our 8th V-day together.

Audra suggested that I put up a poll to see if you guys think we’re having a boy or a girl.  To help you decide, I copied some “old wives tales,” and marked out the information that is incorrect:

Does Lori have . . .

• Shiny and full bodied hair or thinner and stringer boy
  
• Leg hair growing faster or at the same rate as before   girl
• Nails growing faster or at the same rate boy
  
• Severe or no morning sickness   girl
• Craving for sweet or sour.  [I didn't and haven't craved anything, so we'll throw this one out.]
• Tush growing in size or remains unchanged.  [But maybe Jonathan would tell you differently?]  boy
• Feet colder now or always this way boy
  
• Baby heart rate below 139 or above 140  girl
• Craving or no craving for orange juice  boy
• Baby rests high or low   boy
• Tummy shaped like beach ball or watermelon  girl
• More kicks to the left or right  boy
• More kicks high or low  girl
• Dad is or is not gaining weight in sympathy  girl
• See or do not see the pregnancy on Lori’s face.  [But maybe I'm wrong.]  boy
  Vote below:
  
  
  

Well we had another sonogram a couple of days ago.  Here are some things we learned:

• Baby is no longer breech.
• My placenta is no longer low-lying.
• Baby is measuring 13 days ahead of schedule.  [At the last ultrasound, Baby was 4 days ahead.]
• They estimated Baby to weigh 3.5 lbs already.
• Baby’s heartbeat was 147.
• I have another sonogram scheduled in late March.

Here are some of the pictures we got:

Foot & Leg

Arm

Ear & Nose

Face

And here’s what I look like:

Here’s the tutorial for how to make a crinkle square mini blanket with taggies like the one below for a baby.  It’s super easy, quick, and doesn’t cost much.  If you don’t have ribbon on hand, that might be your biggest expense. 

Supplies

• thread
• 2 squares of flannel (I used 9×9 inches)
• ribbons cut to about 4 inches long and folded in half (I used 4 big pieces, 4 medium pieces, and 4 skinny pieces)
• crinkly sheet/package, the same size as your flannel (I used a wrapper from a sample diaper I got in the mail).  Some other options: wipes package, microwave popcorn wrappers, chips bag, clear gift wrap . . . Just make sure that you cut your flannel pieces to whatever size your crinkle sheet ends up being
  

Directions

1. Put one piece of flannel right side up and pin ribbons along the edges with the cut sides off of the flannel.  between the two pieces of material (wrong sides together).
2. Put the second flannel sheet on top of the ribbons right side down.
3. Put the crinkle sheet on top of the flannel and pin all layers together.
4. Sew along all the edges– except, make sure to leave a big enough section not sewn so that you can turn the blanket right side out.  Take the pins out.
5. After sewing, turn the blanket right side out.
6. Then, sew all the way around the square, and you’re done!

   

Back in November, we decided to grow my daughters hair out, but her hair kept getting in her eyes.  Bows come in and out easily, so I decided I’d try to make her some headbands.  You could make some for yourself, too, and your daughter might be extra excited about wearing headbands, just like Mommy.

Materials Needed:

• material
• an elastic hair band/ponytail holder without the metal
• coordinating thread

Instructions

1. Measure around your toddler’s head to the nape of her neck.
2. Cut your material to the appropriate size and iron flat.  [Cut a rectangle that is double the width of what you want your headband to end up, plus about 1/2 in for seam allowance and 3 inches less than measurement you got from step 1.  I think I cut mine 3.5 x 15.5inches.  If you want it to be reversible with two different patterns, cut accordingly.]
3. Measure in on the bottom ends in about 1/2 “  on each side and mark, draw a line up to the top corners and you will have a tapered rectangle.
4. Fold right sides together “hot dog style” and iron flat.
5. Then pin together and sew around, but leave a “U shape” opening in the bottom, as if you were sewing a pillow.
6. Turn tube of fabric inside out and iron flat.  Also, fold a 1/4 inch or so on each end and iron down.
7. Put elastic pony tail on one end inside the flap created in step 6.  Fold the 1/4 over the pony tail, and sew straight down.
8. Do the same with the other side.
9. And you’re all done.

I made the headband in the pictures and a pink one.  I also made a reversible one: one side black and one side red.  Abi loves them.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Just a little note to say that I have done a few crafty projects that I thought I’d share with you . . . sometime.  I just need to write up some tutorials.  So, you can look forward to learning how to make:

• Baby Square Crinkle Mini Blanket

• Fabric Headbands

• Baby Legwarmers (I’m still working on these, so I haven’t uploaded the pictures, yet.

So yesterday, Jonathan and I went to see our fetus again.  Here are some things we learned from the appointment:

1. Baby weighs about 15 oz.  The Perinatologist (sp?) predicted that Baby’s final weight could be 8 lb, 8 oz.                                                                                        
2. Baby has my toes (the second toes are longer than the firsts)
3. My placenta is low lying.  This isn’t a bad thing now, but it could be of a concern if it doesn’t move up later on.
4. Baby is breech now, which isn’t a bad thing now.
5. They didn’t see anything wrong with the kidneys, at this point.
6. I have another Sonogram scheduled for February, and I’ll probably get another one after that!

Here are some other pictures: Arm, Leg, Head & Chest

Last night, Jonathan felt Baby move several times for the first time!  Yea!

And, we’ve decided to refer to Baby as JoJo, as suggested by Jonathan’s sister.  I’m not sure of her reasoning, but here’s our reason: if Baby is a boy, his middle name will be Jonathan, and if Baby is a girl, her middle name will be Joy.  Hence Jo for Jonathan and Jo for Joy, so JoJo.

Here’s what I looked like last week:

To update you on this post: my mom is going to watch Abigail while we go watch the Sonogram tomorrow.  Unfortunately, they told me it wouldn’t be a 3D/4D one.  Boo.  Also, we’re not allowed to videotape the monitor.  Boo.  And, they don’t give out a video of the movement.  Boo.  All we’ll be getting to show you are still images (2D).  Sorry; I tried!

We’ve also decided to let the gender be a surprise to 99% of everyone.  It has yet to be seen whether the remaining 1% of that group (the doctors, and Jonathan & I) will find out the gender.

Just yesterday, I was looking up paint colors in greens and blues (which is what we’ll be painting the room, regardless of whether Baby’s a boy or girl).  So I started thinking of decorations I could make, like paintings, picture frames, wall letters, and signs.  That really made me want to know the Baby’s gender!  Ahh.

Oh, has anyone attempted to make a diaper stacker??

We had planned on letting Baby use Abigail’s crib and on buying Abigail a twin bed.  But just a couple of weeks ago, Abigail’s crib was recalled.  It converts into a toddler bed, twin bed, and then full, so that is good because we can just convert the crib to a toddler bed for her.

So, we’ve been looking at cribs for Baby.  We’re really liking the Baby Mod Lily, which we’re told is the same exact crib as Da Vinci Emily.  Does anyone have either of these cribs?  If so, what do you think of it?  I’m concerned about it not having a drop side (even though it’s safer, I know) because I’m only 5 ft 3 in.  I haven’t been able to “test out” the crib in person.  Or do you have another crib that you’d recommend?

Sorry for being the worst blogger, again.  We were on Thanksgiving vacation from Wednesday-Saturday (pictures to come later).  And since we’ve been back home, I’ve had to catch up on laundry, do regular household things, and finish up my Christmas shopping.  I still have a few Christmas sewing/making jobs left, but at least I don’t have to shop!

About the pregnancy: I’m feeling Baby move a lot more for the past week or so.  In fact, Baby’s moving now.  Last week, I started feeling better with the nausea/vomiting.  Since I felt good for more than 3 days, I thought, ‘I’m better finally.’  And then, Monday happened.  UGH.  Definitely not over the all day sickness.  The past three days have not been fun.  Please, please God make me better!  Okay, sorry about the whining . . .

Picture of Baby #2 at 13 weeks

I am now 20 weeks along, and knowing how my previous pregnancy went, it probably means I’m more than half way done!  Yea!

So, next Tuesday is the big Sonogram.  The one where we could find out the gender.  We’re still debating about whether or not to find out.  What do you think- objectively?

My cousin Katie got me thinking that it’d be fun to wait until delivery day to find out.  If we already had babies of each gender, I would so wait until delivery day.  But, I’m not sure since we wouldn’t have boy stuff if Baby is a boy.  And then, I thought since this is probably going to be our last baby, it might be fun to be surprised.

Either way, I think surprises are fun, so we’re thinking we might not let anyone know regardless of whether or not we find out.  Is this rude?

How did you decide whether or not to find out Baby’s gender?  Specifically, to those of you who waited, are you glad you did?

Another question: We took Abigail to Baby #2’s first sonogram, but we’re not sure if we should take her to this one.  We want it to be special, and it was hard the first time, because we were constantly having to answer Abigail’s questions/comments.  Also, we were wanting Jonathan to video record Baby’s movement on the monitor.  So, did you take your older kid(s) to your new baby’s sonograms?

Abigail at 20 weeks