Busy Little Bee

Over the past month or so I have gone baby crazy. I've been making all sorts of different things I'm going to need for when baby comes!

Project 1: A Diaper Bag

Front View

 Back View

Inside and Side View

I used a Simplicity pattern that I got on sale for .99 cents. I needed 1.5 yards of both the outer fabric and the liner fabric, and accent ribbon. I already had on hand elastic and thread. In total, this bag cost me about $12 and about 5 hours of time. 

Project 2 : A Nursing Cover

 Front View

Secret Pocket View

I had to share the pattern of the fabric because I am just so in love with it!

For this I also used a Simplicity pattern that I got for .99 cents! The great thing about Simplicity basic craft patterns is that there are 5 or 6 patterns in one envelope! This pattern was basically a square, but I used the pattern just to make sure I got everything cut straight. All I needed was 1 1/4 yard of fabric of the patterned fabric, 1 yard of the liner fabric, 1/4 boning, and 1 package of 1 in. D rings. This project cost me a total of $10 and about 1.5 hours of time. 

Project 3: Panel Book

Front View

Inside View

I swear, sometimes it is a bad thing I work at a craft store! This came up to the cutting counter and when I saw the price of $2.99 for a single panel, I just about died. I have been wanting to make one of these panel books for a long time, but I just couldn't justify $9.99 for a single panel/book, no thanks. Like I said, I picked up the panel for $2.99 (plus my employee discount), I already had interfacing, batting and thread. So, this project cost me $2.50 ish and about 1.5 hours to complete.

Project 4: Baby Bow Ties

I saw this tutorial on Pinterest and HAD to make some lil bow ties for my lil guy! The tutorial is very easy to follow, totally doable even if you don't have a sewing machine! I didn't buy any new fabric for this project, I used my scraps for each and every bow tie I made! Once I got the hang of making them it took me about 10 minutes to whip one together.

Project 5: Baby Blessing Outfit

To make this cute little vest I used this tutorial. The vest looks complicated and time consuming to make, but I promise you it ISN'T! For this project I already had the buttons and all the fabric I needed so again, this project was something I made purely from my scraps! The vest probably took me 30-45 minutes to whip together. This was such an easy project and I can't wait to make more for all occasions.

New Recipes

Since getting pregnant I have been TERRIBLE about cooking new recipes and for that I apologize! I have been very focused on work, getting things ready for the baby, and really just taking things nice and slow. Despite these distractions I have tried a couple new recipes...here are a couple we thought were delicious!

Three Cheese Chicken Alfredo Bake

Source: Step by Step Recipes

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounce) box Penne pasta noodles
• 2 (10 ounce) containers Alfredo sauce
• 1 cup sour cream (I substituted Greek yogurt!)
• 1 (15 ounce) container Ricotta cheese
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 cups cooked, diced chicken
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried Parsley
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Directions: 

Boil Penne pasta in a large pot of water, according to package directions. Drain water, and then return pasta to pot. Add all the remaining ingredients, except for the mozzarella cheese. Stir together to combine and then pour mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle the top evenly with the mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Enjoy

Breakfast Bake

I really like this recipe because it is so darn easy!

Ingredients:

• Meat (browned Italian sausage, cubed ham, bacon...you choose!)
• Veggies (red and green bell peppers, spinach, green onion, yellow onion, cilantro, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, etc.)
• potatoes (I used half a bag of frozen hashbrowns for one 9x12 pan, but you could also dice your own potatoes or make your own hashbrowns for the base of the dish, whatever you prefer.)
• a dozen eggs
• milk
• salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray your 9x13 pan with an anti-stick spray.

Your first layer will be the potatoes, so add those to the bottom of the pan. You can have as much or as few potatoes/hashbrowns as you want, personal preference people! Layer your meat on top of the hashbrowns, again..you choose the amount of meat you want. Next, you will want to chop your veggies. Again, you may use as many or as few veggies as you want. The list I put in the ingredients is just a list of suggestions...to be honest, I just used what was in my fridge! Once you have your veggies layered on, start cracking your eggs. For a 9x13 pan 12-14 eggs is perfect, if you are not cooking for a family of 4+ you can slim it down to a 9x9 pan and use 6-8 eggs. Your eggs will rise as they bake so you DO NOT want to fill your casserole pan to the brim!! Crack your eggs in a bowl and start scrambling. Add a little bit of milk to your eggs (1/4 or less), just to add a little liquid for your potatoes to soak up (don't want it dry!) and to make the eggs a little fluffier. Once your eggs are scrambled, dump your egg and milk mixture over top of the hashbrown-meat-veggie layers. Season with salt and pepper.

Slide in your oven for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and top with cheese, bake for another 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melty. Enjoy!

**The next time I make this breakfast bake, I'm going to add a little bit of salsa into my egg mixture just to give it a little something extra!

I know it sounds crazy, but you could also try mixing in a little ranch with the eggs, that would be yummy too!

32 Week Pregnancy Update

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain: I've gained a total of probably 25 pounds. I'm amazed at that number! Other than the obvious weight gain in my stomach, my body has pretty much stayed the same...I'm sure I'll realize where all the extra weight is all "hiding" after the baby is born.

Maternity clothes? Holy cow yes! I got quite a few tops, a couple pairs of pants, and a couple skirts and wow, they make a huge difference. With normal people clothes I felt restricted, but with the ultra stretchy maternity clothes I can actually be semi comfortable.

Stretch marks? No new ones! I had a couple on my side area and those have darkened, but thankfully no new stretch marks.

Sleep: As with the rest of my pregnancy some nights are better than others. I wake up quite often to adjust sleep positions, which is either my right side or my left side, both are uncomfortable. I'm a tummy sleeper and I can't wait for this lil babe to be here so that I can get back to sleeping on my tummy, when I can get some sleep.

Best moment this week: Now that my prince is getting big, Jordan can feel him on a more regular basis. It is also exciting to have others, mainly family, feel him move around and kick! 

Miss anything? I know how this sounds before I say it, but I miss being able to see my feet. I know I am getting bigger for a good reason and that I will get "back to normal" soon enough, but I miss just having a normal body. I miss sleeping through the night.

Movement: Very much so! There are days where he is a bump on a log and then there are other days where he is a little ninja. Some times I forget that I am pregnant and then he squirms around and I get excited to meet him all over again.

Food cravings: No dire cravings, but if I see something that looks good I can't NOT get it or else I will crave it!

Anything making you queasy or sick: This pregnancy I haven't had any trigger smells or anything and I'm far enough in that most of that queasy feelings have dissipated. I have, however, been having monster cases of heartburn! :(

Gender: It's a boy! Can't wait to meet my little prince!

Labor signs: Occasionally I'll have some Braxton Hicks contractions, but no real labor signs.

Symptoms: Still no bloating or swelling, thank heavens. I have been losing a lot of hair, and in general my hair is limp and lifeless...bummer! I have raging heartburn, mostly at night. I have been very forgetful lately, coming up with simple words is a constant battle and it is only getting worse! It is getting harder and harder to reach something on the floor or get up off the couch! 

Belly button in or out? For now my belly button is in...it sure is putting up a good fight!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I've been really motivated lately to work as hard as I can to do my part in the finance department so I'm trying to stay focused on the reasons why I'm working so hard and so I'm staying happy.

Looking forward to: We have passed a lot of our "mile markers" (aka 10 week appointment, listening to the heartbeat for the first time, finding out the gender, announcing to family and friends) and so I'm really just trying to enjoy the little things. Jordan and I have become much closer as a couple the last few months and together we are enjoying our last few months as "newlyweds" and finding the joy in the small things.

Jordan and I will be working on a couple big projects here soon, namely getting our headboard finished up and also getting the baby's nursery all put together. I'm so excited to have a room to put the baby's stuff instead of stuffed in a closet!