Snap-on Blanket Details

After mentioning Forrest's snap-on blanket in my last post, details were requested, and I'm happy to fill you in!

The blanket is two layers, one cotton and one fleece and measures about 20 inches square.  I added four snaps (hard to see in the pictures because they are white).  Two are on Forrest's shoulder blades near his armpits, and two are on his lower hips (not too far down, so his legs aren't restricted).  His feet do stick out the bottom of the blanket a couple of inches, but he doesn't seem to mind.  I added snaps to the backs of all of his pajamas, and he's set.  He moves and rolls all around his crib, and the blanket stays nicely in place.  Diaper changes are not impacted by the blanket, and it's easily removed in the mornings.  It's quite a simple invention, but he really does seem more cozy with it on.  I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!  The next one I make for the spring will be a little larger and will use flannel instead of fleece for the warmer weather.

Six Months!

Half way through our first year together!  How did that happen?

 (Did I really think a piece of paper was going to be less distracting than the iPad?)

Yesterday was Forrest's six month check-up, and I'm happy to report that he is a healthy little boy. His height seems to be catching up with his weight (now in the 75th and 95th percentiles, respectively).

Things we learned this month:

Walkers are too much fun!  Fun for Forrest for exploring and fun for his parents to watch him move around and discover things like the lazy susan, pantry, and other corners of the first floor.

Sleeping seems to be going a bit better.  He has finally been weaned off of his second night bottle.  Everyone kept telling me that he would just magically sleep through and miss it one day.  Ummmm, I don't think so.  Who wouldn't want to get up and have a snack with me?  So, by decreasing his bottle .5 ounces every third day, we did it, and he doesn't miss it all.  At this point, Forrest is getting up once to eat and wakes about two other times during the night.  We're making progress!

Snap-on blanket invention!  Since the beginning, I've felt bad that Forrest can't have a blanket.  I don't put him in sleep sacks; I think they look like death traps, keeping babies' legs tangled up.  So, I dressed him in layers and kept the space heater running, but he still looked cold.  Finally, it came to me, if a blanket was small enough and snapped to his pajamas, there would be no suffocation hazard.  So, I grabbed some fleece, stitched a small blanket and added snaps to the blanket and the backs of his pajamas, and done!  He looks so much cozier and sleeps in a more relaxed position (not as scrunched into a ball, trying to keep warm).  Rest assured, no part of the blanket can reach his face :0)

Sitting up!  It seems like one day it just clicked.  The day before he needed support to sit without falling over, and then he didn't.  It's pretty fun to leave him on the carpet with toys, go to wash dishes for a couple of minutes, and then return to him still sitting and playing.

Still loving all things wild - being swung around and tossed on the bed and being put upside down by Daddy.

Peek-a-boo is a sure way to get a smile.

It was time to pack up the newborn toys including the bird mobile, swing, and Boppy seat.  Although Forrest was still having fun with them (kicking over the mobile while under it, pushing the swing from his walker, and wiggling out of the Boppy seat as quickly as possible), cousin Abby's baby is due soon and will probably enjoy these things for their intended use.

Let's see what month seven has in store for us!

Going Visiting

Joshua was in Arizona for a few days attending a rural healthcare conference, so Forrest and I took advantage of some time in Orion with Poppy and Gigi.  We spent a relaxing four days just hanging out, visiting with aunts and grandmas, and eating far too many Dove chocolates (I was on vacation, right?).

Dad and I also started working on a project that I'm very excited about.  Since moving to Monticello, my sewing area has been in our bedroom.  There is plenty of space, but the card table and mess are a bit unsightly (though the entire room is a mess at the moment, and for the past several moments...).  So, finding some inspiration on the internet, I've roped Dad into helping me transform a vintage armoire into a sewing cabinet.  Once it's done, it will feature a fold-in table, plenty of storage, and light, all contained on one good-looking piece of furniture, neat and cute when put away and very handy when in use.  I'm excited!  I really need to take some "before" pictures before we get too far on the project.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Five Months!

Goodness, five months old! (and too old to use the iPad to mark his age, as it's now much more interesting than smiling for a picture)

 

Things we have learned this month:

Don't get too optimistic about sleep.  It can get worse :0)  There is just too much he might miss if he sleeps...

Fruit is much tastier than vegetables.

Wanting to crawl so much, but only managing to looking like he's swimming the carpet, while going nowhere.

Developing quite the sense of humor.  Mouse puppets are hysterically funny!  Daddy "wrestling" time is too much fun.  (Never thought I would say that about a five-month-old.)  And my dance moves are certainly laughable.  (We've known that for awhile.)

Still growing!  Even though the tag on a onesie might say 6-9 months, or even 9-12 months, it may be necessary to put your 4-5 month old in it, as he is an 18+ pound chunker.

Enjoying (almost) every minute with this little boy.  (Perhaps I would enjoy spending less time with him during sleeping hours...)  How lucky I am to be able to stay home with him, and catch some midday naps!

On to month six :0)

Fun, Quick Sew

Forrest has started trying a few foods, which inspired me to create some generously-sized bibs.  Well, really it was the flying sweet potatoes that led to the inspiration :0)

They sewed up quickly.  Perfection was not the goal, and the total cost was $0.  All materials were on hand.  What a fun project!  

Hello, 2013

Where to begin?  I can easily say that 2012 was the most eventful year of my life.

January started off with the news of our pregnancy, and there began the changes and transitions of 2012.

I began preparing for the sale of our home in Peoria in late winter, with final paint touch-ups, decluttering, and for sale by owner research.  We knew that having owned the house for only three years, that our profit margin would be tight, so selling it ourselves was a challenge we wanted to attempt.  I had no idea how time-consuming it would be!  In the end, it was well worth the stress.  We sold our house exactly three years after buying it.  We came out ahead of renting and were able to enjoy such a beautiful home.

While working to sell our Peoria house, Joshua and I spent a couple of days in Monticello shopping for a new home.  We began the search thinking about renting, but we were soon too excited about buying.  We closed on our new house (just a five minute walk from his dad's house) at the end of June and began moving in the following weeks.

During this time, we also took our annual vacation to visit Joshua's grandparents at their Wisconsin lake house.  Joshua hasn't missed a year!  We had a great time (although I spent too much time thinking about closing on the Peoria house, which happened the day after we returned from Wisconsin.).  While we were there, Joshua's cousin Nick and his wife Nicole and their two children were visiting as well.  They were a fun group to spend time with, and it's always nice to see Grandpa and Grandma.

That brings us up to the end of July and the beginning of Joshua's work in Monticello.  This was a fairly easy transition because he had spent a rotation here at the end of residency doing all of the orientation necessary.  Overall, he has enjoyed his time in practice here and is so glad to be done with residency.

August's major event, of course, was the arrival of Forrest, and what an experience that was.  I think I will leave it at that :0)

Since then, we've continued to settle into our new house, new routines, and new family life.  The transitions have been challenging, rewarding, and ongoing.  I still miss our life in Peoria.  I miss living so close to Shaun and my parents (although I still see them frequently).  I miss our house.  It was nice having everything just how I wanted it.  Settling into the new house and making it our own has taken longer than expected.  I don't move as quickly on projects as I used to.  Forrest's helping is not always very helpful :0)  We've also decided to put off finishing the man cave until we get our student loan debt under control.  That's a daunting task.

Despite my nostalgia over things we left behind in Peoria, I hardly want this to be a negative post.  How many wonderful things can I say about our changes as well?  We love our little boy.  It's a joy to be living so close to so many of Joshua's family members.  Joshua is so fulfilled to be practicing in a small town after so many years of hard work.  I feel blessed to be able to stay at home with Forrest.  I don't know how working mothers do it!  We are a very content little family.

So, on to 2013, which is a bit of a mystery.  With so many years working toward specific, time-sensitive goals, our lack of goals currently is very strange.  College, grad school, med school, residency, jobs, and starting our family were all parts of a carefully constructed plan, and we have achieved it!  What should we do now?  What should we strive for?  This is what Joshua and I are thinking of as we begin 2013.  What a fantastic position to be in, to know that the world is ours.  We can do what we want, with the hardest part being figuring out what that is.

So, with this in mind, we begin 2013, focusing on enjoying the present, slowing down, and thinking of the future.

Hoping you are as optimistic about 2013 as we are!  
  

Christmas Review

This year, Shaun and Bill were kind enough to host our family for a long Christmas weekend.  We continued family traditions, as always, with relaxed time together, good food, and lots of presents.  This year was fun because we welcomed Bill and Forrest to the festivities.  Also, Grandpa and Grandma came down for the second year in a row.  Hopefully this becomes a tradition.  It's always nice to see them.  Here are a few pictures from our time together.  

As Mom was thinking about her Christmas card, we realized that we haven't all been together for a group picture since last Christmas, so she decided on a new years card instead.  Here's what we came up with. 

Not a bad looking group :0)