Playpen ideas

 I really enjoy the mulit-purpose these things serve nowadays.

1. Fold up changer. This design is adorable! I love the play gym concept and the fold up changer is awesome!

2. Drop down changer. Just like the previous one, I really like how the changer drops away for storage. I also love the remote control idea so you don't have to disturb your babe if the vibrations/music turn off and your little one begins to stir. The roll down curtain is neat as well. Good for hiding storage when your aren't using the lower part.

3. Changing Caddy. I enjoy the gray, black, and orange colors here. Also the changing caddy is awesome! Tons of space!

4. Super cute design. This one is almost exactly like the previous, just missing the toy bar. Such a fun print! And again, lots of caddy space for diapering.

5. Basic but functional. While this one is just a playpen, it is super cute, and would work well for a grandparent.


Thanks for reading!! Comment below on which is your preferred playpen. Cheers!

Nikky

Crafty Pay it Forward

What's going down:

The first three people to comment on this post will receive

a little gift - something personal from me to you.

Within 2 months I'll create something

unique to share with the first three people to

comment on this post.

But in order to receive your present you have to play along.

Spread the love on your own blog promising to send a

little special something to the first three people

who comment on your post.

You get 72 hours to re-post, or I'll have to move on to

the next person.

Please only comment if you're willing to pay it forward.

If you want to receive something unique and hand-made from me in the mail and if you are willing to do the same for others, leave a comment below! 

Please leave your email address so that I can contact you directly! And blog URL so that I and others can visit your blog! Again, I want to emphasize that please only comment if you're willing to pay it forward. Nobody likes a taker.

Who's down for paying it forward craft style?

CD2

AF came yesterday. Booooo!!!! :-( I really thought I felt different this time. Hopefully Sept will be our month. :) Again, I wont be temp-ing, but I will be using OPK's. 

In other news, I put my 2week notice in at my job! FINALLY! Don't get me wrong, there are so many things that I love about working there, but sometimes it just wears ya down. Luckily, Scott's work situation has improved greatly and we are on our way to our planned future! w00t!!

Bright Blessings and Baby Dust!!

N.

Crunchy Momma

 Here's to all the Crunchy Momma's out there...

 1. Cloth Diapers! While the photos here shows BumGenius, there are so many different kinds that your head could explode! Nothing screams natural crunchy momma than cloth diapers!! Here's the link to the ones shown.

2. Cloth Wipes! Again, the photo shows the BumGenius brand, and I will be making mine from flannel scraps, and the receiving blanket overload I'm sure I'll get. At first it didn't occur to me to do cloth wipes, but the more I thought about changing my child's diaper. I'd have to have a cloth diaper pail and a regular diaper pail for the wipes?! Wait...no way, it's way to easy to just have one and throw them in the wash with the rest of the diapers.

3. Reusable Cloth Nursing Pads. well...duh! why wouldn't I use these? Breast milk is water soluble so it's not like these little guys wouldn't get clean. The ones shown are some organic kind, but you can find them all over etsy and other sites from WAHMs. I will more than likely make my own. (sensing a trend here?)

4. Nursing Cover. Clearly I plan on breastfeeding, and while in public, I really don't want/need gawkers, so these little covers will definitely help. They have a wire in the upper hem that you can bend outward to see your beautiful baby. Here's the one shown.

5. Boppy or any other breastfeeding helper. I used to work in a daycare in the infant room. I know how hard it is to keep that sweet little baby up to give him/her their bottles. I always propped a pillow under my arm. I love this cover from Boppy.

6. Breast pump. Again with the breast feeding. I definitely want to go BPA free, and I've heard nothing but great things about Medela. This model seems pretty mid-range. It's a scary thing to spend so much money on something your not even sure you will be able to use. If that is your main concern, there are smaller hand pump models as well. It wouldn't be a bad idea to start off with a hand pump, and then move up to a larger model if needed.

7. Beaba Babycook or any type of food processor really. I will most definitely be making my child's baby food. There really is no reason not to. You will be aware of what is going in to your child as well as saving you TONS of money! The Beaba freezer containers are amazing! They have a soft silicone bottom so you can easily pop one out.

8. Think Baby BPA free dishes. These are amazing! Nuff said.

9. Ergo Carrier. This is the sport version. Out of all the carriers I've heard about, the Ergo is the most talked about, and the most raved about. This would be nice to be fitted for my husband, and I could have the wrap that I talk about in #10.

10. Baby K'tan. I really love the two shoulder sling wraps. This one can be worn so many ways, and can also be used for breastfeeding covertly in public. Sneaky sneaky!

Nursery Ideas

Here are some of my Nursery Ideas, Enjoy :) 

All these items came from www.buybuybaby.com

1. notNeutral Arbor Friends Lamp Base and Shade. I love owls! But I'm on the fence if I could plaster them all over my child's nursery yet. I would love little pops of them here and there. So, I love this line of bedding and decor. Not too much. I'm still unsure if I'm in love with the lamp, but it couldn't hurt to have the ideas out there. I love...Lamp.

2. Color Study owls Vinyl Wall Decal. This is super cute because it is sorta off the cuff. I would rather it be a canvas than a wall decal, but who knows, maybe I could paint one similar to match our colors. Owl Decal.

3. Nursery Smart Changer in Mocha. Instead of having the traditional changing table, I definitely want a low dresser (like this one, or even a bit larger). That way as the child grows, this can still be used for years to come. We are undecided as to Mocha or Cherry color, but either way, it will match the crib. Mocha Changing Table.

4. Orange Butterflies I Wall Art. My husband loves insects, and if he wasn't a farmer, he'd be an entomologist. I thought this would be a nod to that, and would go with the orange in the bedding. Butterfly Wall Art.

 5. Mulitposition Reclining Sleigh Glider and Ottoman. While I'm definitely not tied to one glider over another, I definitely think comfort is key. I would also love for it to be neutral in color so we can always move it to another room in the house. Glider.

6. notNeutral Arbor Friends Storage Bins. If we go with the changing table pictured, I'd love to have two of these and one brown canvas bin to go in the upper slots. Super fun, and a great way to incorporate color and theme without going over the top.Arbor Friends Storage Bins.

7. JJ Cole Striped Storage Box in Brown. I love canvas bins and like I said in #6, This would go great to compliment the Arbor Friends Storage Bins. Brown Storage Box.

8. Tree of Life Wall Art. I love how similar this is to the bedding! More than likely I would end up making something like this. Super cute! Tree of Life Wall Art.

9. notNeutral Arbor Friends 4-Piece Crib Bedding Set.One of the few bedding sets without a bumper! I love how simple this is, good contrast of colors, and definitely up my alley. Bedding Set.

10. Ethan 2-in-1 Convertible Crib in Mocha. While I'm not super concerned about it being a convertible crib, it is a nice feature to have. I love dark wood, so we would go with either this color or the Cherry. Crib.

Well, there you have it! My first go at one of these fun picture boards. I hope I did alright. It really helps to see it all put together. I think I might make some more for the other areas. (ie. travel systems, toys, feeding, etc). How fun! :) 

N.

my cycles are confusing

As of today, I am DPO 7 and CD 23. I ovulated a little later than normal and I am also aware that my projected AF date is on CD32, I've never gotten AF on CD32. CD31 has been the longest cycle I've had since March at least. And my cycles vary from 27-31 days. So it's kinda difficult to be appropriately excited/nervous/shitting myself scared/wanting to POAS, but is it too early?... I really have no idea when to expect AF this month. I know I ovulated a little later, but does that necessarily mean AF will be later too?

I really am keeping myself busy so I dont read into symptoms and just to help to not think about it all day long...see my last post if you want proof...haha. But really...I am pretty go with the flow this 2WW and hopefully it stays that way!


I will keep you all updated on my cycle, and hopefully I will be able to report a BFP!

Nikky

reveal ideas

Sometimes I get stuck watching baby announcement videos on you tube. Like "Surprise! we're pregnant!" It really makes me smile and/or cry! Some of them are so touching and it's so funny seeing the way people react. I think I just spent and hour or more watching these! I wanted to note a few ideas here for when the time comes for me to reveal my pregnancy to my parents.

*fortune cookies restuffed with "You will be a grandparent in (month)" fortune.

*gift of a ring to grandma and this note along with it:
            Dear Mom, You are the greatest and the best in all the land.
            We hope you really enjoy this, especially on your hand.
            We'd really like to thank you for everything you did.
            And by the way, in (month), You're going to have a grand-kid!

*line everyone up for a photo and instead of saying cheese say "Nikky and Scott are Pregnant!"

*Card appropriate for the season/holiday that is near our reveal, and it is written out to "grandma &
   grandpa"

*fun video/photo/slideshow that we show to them after we went on "a day trip" and wanted to show them the pictures from our trip. Add a photo in the middle of us holding up a sign that says "We're Pregnant!"



of course there are so many other ideas that would make the day so special, and we really wouldnt have to do anything extravagant to make it an amazing day, but here are just a few to remember for when it's time. :)

Nikky