Non-Toy Toddler Gift

LW happens to have a lot of friends, and they all happen to have birthdays around the same time. Since I am no longer in a salaried position, I needed to get very creative with the gifts we gave this year. I couldn't just go on Amazon and order whatever looked cute for $30 or even fill a basket of snacks from World Market (another favorite gift option of mine).

I found this article on Pinterest of 18 Non-Toy Gifts for Toddlers and knew I needed to create something from it as our gift to all of these parties. Because really, what toddler *needs* another toy??

I opted for something somewhat practical and educational – a bird feeder!

I like to give "packaged" gifts, so I also bought some bird seed in bulk: 

And each child got a book about birds. Every book was unique because I scored them at Half Price Books – my favorite book store. 

To me, for toddlers and any age, it isn't about what is spent on the gift monetarily but the thought that counts. Maybe I'm tooting my own horn but I feel like this is a really thoughtful gift and I did it for a lot of kids on a very tight budget! 

I'm so proud of how they turned out! 

Of course each gift needed its own hand made, coordinating card! I used scraps for the cards (as I always do) so nothing was spent on them. 

For the bird seed in each gift, I used mason jars I had on hand (because everything looks cuter in a mason jar!) and decorated them with scrap fabric, tags and twine. Again, all things I already had in my craft supplies. 

I bought bags and tissue from Five Below in really fun, bright colors so each gift would be wrapped in an exciting way. 

 Three down, more to go!

The feeders were on sale when I initially placed my order so each toddler gift was less than $15 total - including wrapping materials, feeder, book and bird seed. Hopefully this post doesn't make me sound too cheap...just creative :) 

Each toddler I've given the feeders to so far seems really thrilled with the gift (at least their parents do!). It's something that doesn't clutter their house, since it hangs on the outside of the window, the bird seed all goes into the feeder so in the end they can recycle the card, save the jar for something and save the bag/tissue for another gift!

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Nursery Decorations – Paper Mache Letters

I'm so thrilled to have this awesome part of the nursery done: Mo's name is now on the wall!!!!!!

I started with some paper mache letters. I love the brown kraft paper look and wanted to just embellish them enough to be a extra cute.

I used a rubber stamp, paint brush and acrylic paint to add stars to the letters. 

TA DA!!!! I'm thrilled with how the name turned out. It is exactly what I had envisioned when I started daydreaming about his nursery. 

I stuck them to the wall using some 3M strips I had on hand. One quick Google search told me that was the adhesive of choice to put them on the wall. I'm hoping they really do stick! I had JUST enough for the name. 

The curtains aren't hung yet, but the room is coming together. One step at a time! 

For those who don't know, Hubs and I chose the name Simon last Easter (2014) in church. We were studying John over a few weeks and the more we read, the name Simon Peter kept coming up. The more we learned about that guy, the more we liked him. "Simon" just kept ringing through our heads and we decided if we had another boy someday, his name would need to be Simon. Our Simon won't be Simon Peter, but he is named after the apostle. He's commonly known in the Bible as Peter. 

Ironically, today the reading in church was again about Simon Peter. A line popped up that I hadn't thought twice about in the past, but feeling our Simon rolling around my belly while it was read made me feel extra connected to the reading. 

Acts 10: 34-35

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 

That's why we're naming him Simon. Because in the most important book in the history of the world, Simon is known to be an honest and god-fearing man. A true good 'ole boy. I know our Simon will live up to his name. 

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Pregnancy: 32 Week Update

How far along? 32 Weeks

Size of Baby:  Large jicama (almost 4lb) 

Weight Gain: Only 3lb over the last two weeks!!!!!!!!!!! That puts me at 29lb total. I'm very proud of that number :D 

Nursery: I made his name and hung it on the wall today!!!!!!!!! Post about it here. Here's a sneak: 

Movement: He is not small. It's fun because I can see him rolling around in my belly and feel every hiccup but in the middle of the night I just want to sleep, not lay there thinking about when his hiccups will be over. I sent a video of him bubbling around the other night to my mom and she said it looks like I've smuggled a pillowcase full of puppies :-D HAHA! Kind of what it feels like too.

Symptoms: Tired. Backache. Cramping. Winded. You name it, third trimester symptoms are here with a vengeance. However, today I had what Hubs calls a "good belly" day. I actually felt "tucked in". I'm not sure how else to describe it. 

Lately I've felt like such a beached whale it's been hard to appreciate pregnancy and the cuteness that can come with it. Today just wearing my favorite yoga pants, with a tank top and a jean jacket I felt so good! Not like a whale. Just like a cute, happy prego. It was such a nice breath of fresh air.

Edited – I've started having to do mid-night yoga to get him to cooperate too. He wiggles and worms his way into a position that's uncomfortable for both of us so now I've started to just get out of bed and do some cat/cow stretches and a few down dogs to get him where he needs to go. 

Cravings: Edited – My pineapple craving is back. I had it beyond belief with LW and now it's back with this pregnancy. I ate an entire pineapple today. Also, I have re-found my passion for Nutella. I'm going to try to limit myself to slathering it on one plain rice cake a day. That may not last beyond....right now.

Looking forward to: Labor and delivery!!!!!!! Two friends of mine are INCREDIBLY close to meeting their littles. Reading through labor stories and getting updates on how they're feeling makes me so excited for that stage. I am trying to embrace being pregnant all I can, but the labor and delivery part is so exciting to look forward to.

Things I can't stop thinking about: Finishing up the nursery. Only a few little doo-dads to take care of. I've just been so busy lately I haven't been able to do much of anything. I feel like I have a thousand things running around at once and I'm not FINISHING anything. Trying to take it one day at a time and accomplish all I can while still keeping my feet up an appropriate amount of time :) 

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Pregnancy: 31 Week Update

How far along? 31 Weeks

Size of Baby:  Coconut (3.5lb!!!)

Weight Gain: We all know the answer to that from last week....so let's not talk about it again until next week, shall we? 

Nursery: It is coming together!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. 

This week I ordered the monitor as our item of the week. Only a few things left on the list! 

I did add a white noise machine to the list, however. After some research, I picked this one: 

The humidifier I picked that we've ended up using in LW's room bc his kicked the bucket isn't as noisy as our previous humidifier. I really like it (once I painted over the nightlight which was actually like EXTREMELY BRIGHT HEADLIGHT) because it has great output, is small and lasts all night long on one tank, but I specifically remember needing white noise for LW in his newborn days, and really until recently we had the really noisy humidifier in his room that buffered out sounds. This is the humidifier we have now: 

So since the new humidifier is so quiet, I decided a white noise machine is a good thing to have. For LW we used an old iPhone in a docking station with a free white noise app. Problem with that was the home button on that iPhone didn't work consistently, and if I forgot (in my sleep-deprived state) and hit "play" on the docking station, Carrie Underwood would start BLASTING through the speakers at the volume we had been playing soothing waves sounds previously. 

That made for plenty of panicked mommy moments, LW jumping awake, and a lot of frustration. So, I'm not doing that again. $42 will be well-spent on that little noise maker machine. It's gotten great reviews. 

Movement: This little dude is a WILD MAN. He's moving around so much lately! It's really fun. I feel like he's very long because I already always feel him very low in my pelvis while simultaneously feeling him up at my rib cage. I have a feeling my dreams of a baby under 8lb may just be that....dreams :)

Symptoms: Well, this is where it gets interesting. Thursday afternoon LW and I visited my dad in the hospital (he just had both knees replaced) and I got stuck in traffic on my way home. I had to use the bathroom REALLY BADLY by the time I finally arrived to my door and had been contracting from the need to use the bathroom (or so I thought). Turns out the contractions didn't stop once I "emptied my tank" and continued fairly aggressively for over an hour.

I contacted my midwife and made a plan on what to do if they continued but thankfully after a lot of water, sitting with my feet up and completely relaxing 100%, the contractions slowed and eventually stopped.

That said, we're considering Mo a bit of a flight risk so I'll be taking it easy more often than not the remaining 8 weeks....as much as I can possibly stand to do so.

Also, I have SO MANY BRAXTON HICKS lately! It's like my uterus doesn't realize it's done this before and thinks it needs to practice. Earth-to-uterus: YOU GOT THIS. CALM YO'SELF.

I've had a little heartburn this week, but nothing crazy (thankfully). My back hurts now and then. I'm tired. You know...third trimester woes.

Cravings: I think it's probably just residual from Easter, but CHOCOLATE THE MINUTE LW GOES TO BED. As much as possible, get it in my belly. Just thinking about it right now I think I need to bite the ears off of a bunny.

Looking forward to: Getting the final items done in the nursery. I have a craft list of things I want to do and between that, freelance work (blessed!), Jamberry, What I Feed My Kid, housework, LW, sewing ring slings, and oh, trying to "relax" I don't know how I'll do it all!!! One day at a time, I guess :)

Things I can't stop thinking about: Nothing, really. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and get all of my tasks done on my various lists as I go. 

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Pregnancy: 30 Week Update

How far along? 30 Weeks

Clearly between weeks 29-30 I "popped" because this baby got HUGE! Look at that tummy! It came kind of at the perfect time, because last week I had my maternity photos done with Milamemories Photography. I have only seen one "sneak" peek photo so far, but I'm in love. 

Size of Baby:  Cabbage.

Weight Gain: Are you sitting down? Because you'll want to be. I should have been when I heard.... Twenty. Six. Pounds. Ladies and gentleman, that's a record breaking 12 pounds in a month I just gained. Ho-ly sh*t. I feel like I've been pretty well behaved, too! I mean, a doughnut or two here, a Cadbury egg or six there but.....TWELVE POUNDS?!?! That's embarrassing. Apparently my body thinks Mo needs the cushioning....

Nursery: OH MY GOSH so many things are happening in the nursery. The twin got moved to LW's room, so he's in a big boy bed now (a post on that another time). The crib is set up and ready in Mo's room. I bought curtain rods which will be installed this coming weekend and I FINISHED THE DRESSER!!!!!!!!! Recap, BEFORE: 

And this is the finished product: 

The paint I wanted to use for the drawer fronts ended up being bad so I painted the whole thing the blue/grey from the accent wall at the old house. Paint was free, dresser was $30, hardware was $30. $60 for a super sturdy and adorable nursery dresser! I'm thrilled with the outcome. (I also just noticed from this photo that I have the drawers in the wrong order. I'm awesome at paying attention to detail.)

I've also acquired a few pieces to repurpose/refinish for Mo's room which I'll leave you in suspense over. ANNNNDDD I plan to make a crib skirt since I never made one for LW (poor LW). I'm planning to use this tutorial...I just need to find the right fabric! Which is proving to be more challenging than I had anticipated.

Movement: Easter Sunday MoMo was COMPLETELY wild. Probably the two ham dinners. Or the Peeps. Or the Cadbury eggs (and really I'm wondering how I gained 12 pounds in a month...really....) but he certainly isn't small anymore. His movements aren't too extreme like I remember LW's being, but he LOVES to hook his feet under my ribs and push push push. 

Cravings: None really. Lemonade tastes awesome and my heartburn went away (for now) so I've been really enjoying that. Otherwise, nothing fun to report. 

Looking forward to: Doing all of these projects in his nursery!!! His room and LW's big boy room are coming together so adorably! 

Things I can't stop thinking about: More projects. I'm in DIY mode, big time. This morning I had two items in my hands at HomeGoods and it was going to be $70 + tax so I put them back. Went to the thrift store and scored the same two items for $5 ea!! They'll take a touch of creativity and DIY but they will be exactly what I want in the end! I can't wait to share them, and the other items in our home when I finish them. I'm trying to do all I can now, when I have good feeling days. Every few days I feel absolutely wretched and I hit the "WHEN CAN I HAVE THIS BABY" wall. So good days become very productive days. 

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Finished Project: Toddler Quiet Book

Remember that time I thought I could finish LW's quiet book for Christmas!? HAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHA. That was good.

Well, now it's Easter and he IS getting the quiet book in his Easter basket. WAHOO!! A finished project. Want to see?

I made it page by page, rather than cutting everything at once then gluing everything, then sewing everything, etc. I like seeing progress and I tend to need instant-gratification when I am working on projects. Working on a page until I finished it in one sitting was both rewarding and efficient for me.

I did learn a few things as I went. The first half of the book took me about an hour per page. I was REALLY obsessed with every stitch and perfecting every cut. The second half of the book took about fifteen minutes per page because I either didn't sew it down at all (hot glue, people! MAGIC) or the pieces I needed to sew were minimal.

From sewing the first half of the book as much as I did, I gunked my sewing machine up pretty badly. The felt letters I used were adhesive backed, which I thought would help them stay extra firm on the book, but in actuality that adhesive screwed up the needles I was using. A little acetone took care of it, but still. Yuck.

Also, felt is a really inexpensive material and with sewing the less expensive the material, the more likely it is to "shed" into your machine.

So, needless to say after sewing this as much as I did my machine is due for a good cleaning.

Here is the cover:

I wanted lots of texture for him to touch and feel and wanted the letters to be big and bold. These are those adhesive letters I mentioned previously. Great for the book. Bad for the sewing machine.

The lion and mailbox spread took me the longest, but they were pages I was most passionate about. I really wanted a lion with a full, unique mane that LW could tousle his fingers through and a mailbox with a "Door" that really opened, plus a flag that really worked. Did them both! And the mailbox has a few surprises inside:

EEP! It's so cute. I used the special stitches on my machine to spell things on certain pages. You can't see in the image, but the lion page says "Lion Says Roar!" and one of the letters for the mailbox says "I love you!"

Then came the Tic-Tac-Toe page. This one took me a while too and was when I decided not to sew those little letters anymore. I stitched a quick little baggie to store the game pieces. These game pieces do not have anything to help adhere them to the felt - they are just sticking with felt on felt.

The caterpillar is a color-matching game. The goal is for LW to match the correct colored pieces to the stuck-on colors on the page. The game pieces have "hook" pieces of velcro on them, so if he pushes them down their little velcro teeth will catch.

This spread was faster than anticipated. The Peek-A-Boo page was just a few minutes to measure and cut the ribbons and fabric plus glue them down.

I worried the fish page would take a long time, but it didn't. The fish all have a tab of magnet on the backs of the pieces, so when he plays it for real it will be magnets facing out. The goal is for him to use the "bait" gold fish which also has a magnet on it, to pick up the other fish with the magnets. There is a little pocket labeled "Fish" to store the pieces in when not in use.

All of the pages are hot glued together and a little mish-moshed around the edges, but to me that just gives character and shows that it's homemade with love. Also, I'm lazy. Felt stretches and these pages were a far cry from their original sizes when I was done with them....so the answer was trim them all down and lose some of my hard work on the game pages or slap them all together and bluff that it's "character". I don't think LW will mind.

I made the back cover in my favorite color with a little love.

I'm thrilled with how it turned out and I can't wait to give it to LW on Sunday to see how he likes it!

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