22 week bump and it's a...............

Well homies, the cat is officially out of the bag. We are having a little G I R L. Charlotte Jameson is due May 4th, 2012. We are so excited to have one of each, though I'd be lying if I said that we weren't a bit nervous. We've gotten so used to the rough and tough that is Ethan that having a little, dainty girl around the house is going to be a dramatic change of pace. We reached a couple big milestones this week as well. One, I busted out the Bella Band. I'd have to check my coveted pregnancy calendar, but I'm pretty sure I was WAY further along when I had to don this with Ethan. Looks like I'm just a bit bigger this time around.

AND, in even BIGGER news, Mr. Ethan went on the potty this week.

With very little coaxing, he sat on his own "potty" and did his thing. (And of course, mom had to memorialize it--this will be a great conversation starter with his girlfriend when he's 18). Gabe and I were over the moon and Ethan was clapping. It was a monumentous occasion around the Redmond household. Now--if only we could get him completely potty trained before Charlotte arrives....BUT, baby steps. Steady as she goes (well, as HE goes).

Last minute Christmas (and a bump)

I am not a last minute shopper. In fact, the thought of that stresses me out. I'm a planner and therefore any amount of procrastination generally sends my blood pressure rising. However, I will say that I am a little envious of all of you last minute shoppers who brave the crowds in the last minutes before the "big day". Everyone always seems so carefree and happy-go-lucky...and surprisingly, they generally find everything they were looking for. Why can't I be more like that?

Ah well. While I figure out a way to tame my strict ways, I thought I'd share a couple last minute gifts with all of my homies. These were just 2 of the goodies I made for Ethan's daycare teachers this year and let me tell you...they were a hit!!!

Handmade hand warmers:

Disclaimer: I only cut these out and filled them with the rice. My mom sewed them because Lord knows that I can't sew to save my life! 

The steps to make these little cuties are easy peasy:

1.   Find some fabric that you love (I'm no seamstress, but I think anything will work here). I used an old red sweater for one side and a felted wool gray scarf for the other).
2.   Cut out your heart shapes
3.   Sew away (I have no direction on the sewing, folks. But if you're handy with a sewing machine...you'll know what to do here. Something about a seam allowance and flipping it inside-out)....
4.   Leave a small hole (not only to invert your fabric) but to fill with rice. And any rice will do. I used plain old white rice.
5.   Finish up by hand sewing (I employed my handy husband for this job. Yes...I can sew a little, but I wanted him to get in on the action, too)
** Heat in the microwave for one minute for toasty hands

And walla! You're done. The total cost of this project was maybe $3.00. And do you know? Ethan's teacher LOVED them. (We made 2 pairs of them and I thought they were so cute that I kept a pair for myself)




TILE COASTERS


These were a little more labor intensive, but boy were they cute! I bought 4, 4 x 4 tiles at Home Depot and I believe they were roughly .16 cents each. What a bargain.

I found several tutorials on good old Pinterest and got to work. I think they turned out really cute and, in fact, I made a set for us at the house. This is, by far, one of my favorite presents I've ever made (and this one I did all by myself--but probably only because there was no sewing involved).

These are just a few to get those wheels a-spinning.

And while I'm at it, I thought I'd share the latest photos of our little baking baby. (These are taken at 20 weeks) and I am now going on 21. (Hey, I procrastinated....)

 

4's company...

It's official homies. There is another bun in the oven. Ethan is going to have a little brother or sister soon. My due date is 5-3-2012, which means our kids will both have birthdays in May. Should make for an interesting time in trying to conjure up ideas for birthday parties at the beginning and end of the month. 


I'm at 13 weeks now and I'm finally starting to gain back some of my energy (well, and let's be honest, that's not ALL I've gained....) Being pregnant and chasing around a toddler has me running for my bed at 8 o'clock.

I can already feel this little homie move, which means he/she is going to be a little active thing just like big brother was. I don't think he sat still the entire time he was in utero, and have a feeling that this one is going to be the exact same, which both excites me and scares me.......

Ethan is so cute, he know's that somethin's up, he's just not sure what. If you ask him where the baby is, he'll come running over, lift up my shirt and poke my belly button. Occasionally, if he has his shirt off when you ask him where the baby is, he'll point to his belly button. Too cute.