The Boy's Garbage Truck Costume

I am not an innovator. Every time I think I have an original idea, one Google search shows that 5 other people had the idea before me. Such is the case with my son's Halloween costume. You see, he is obsessed with “trash trucks”. I thought, why not make a garbage truck costume for him. A quick internet search showed me several examples of what I was aiming for. Glue gun in hand and a large selection of cardboard boxes, I got started. Once I found the properly proportioned cardboard box, the hopper portion of the truck was really simple to shape. To create the beveled edges of the hopper, I used the pre existing creases that form the box bottom and top. I cut a couple inches off each flap, both top and bottom, to make more space for the torso and the legs.

One of the outstanding Google-garbage-truck-costume-pioneers had drawn diagrams of their costume design and shared it on their blog. While I didn't use their method for the hopper, I did follow their pattern for the cab and the built-out portion of the hopper back. I figured, why reinvent the wheel? Especially when that one looked awesome. My husband had the idea to use plastic from a toy package for the windows and windshield. I think the effect is really stunning. I had planned to paint the logos but I ran out of time and ended up printing the WM decals and I found the MACK grill again, thanks to Google. I could have gotten more detailed but again, I ran out of time. The entire costume was made from things we had around the house, except for the paint. In the end. My little guy wasn't over-the-moon with the idea of wearing the costume. He willingly wore it to take pictures and get candy. The toy trash cans, bought on Amazon, really made the costume more appealing to the little guy. I glued a bag in the trash truck in the space behind where the boy was meant to stand. The idea was that he would collect candy in the little can and then dump it over his head and pour the candy into the hopper. THIS aspect of the costume was a hit. Ultimately, I was really surprised by this lack of enthusiasm considering he loves to pretend to be a trash truck. He sets up buckets in the yard and runs a “route” picking up trash. He even makes sound effects complete with hydraulic hisses and beeping when he backs up. It really doesn't matter, because I had so much fun making this costume. It is the first creative project I have done in a while.

Comic Con report 2011 Baby Wearing Rocks

Comic Con was different this year. It was busy and not 100% fun. I think the preregistration for 2012 being such a fiasco tainted the whole weekend. Alas, we got our tickets for next year with a lot of effort from dear hubby. Looking back, I did enjoy myself and have mostly positive memories and I can't wait for next year.

This was the second year that we brought the baby. Last year he was only 7 weeks old. If you have been to Comic Con, you know that pushing a stroller around is next to impossible. I really feel sorry for those folks with strollers or wheelchairs for that matter. The husband ran into a couple with a newborn in a stroller. He was telling them about bringing our guy when he was about the same age. He told them that we had worn the baby. The wife indicated that she had wanted to do the same but her husband didn't like the idea. The obvious and in my opinion, only option at Comic Con is baby wearing. Getting around is so much easier and having the little one close so that you can check in with them is awesome. Baby got his best naps while being worn around the show floor. He found the hotel room too interesting and couldn't relax enough to sleep. I noticed that most every other conventioneer with a baby/toddler had the same idea. I saw a lot of Ergos, a few Bjorns, a Moby and one person with a Beco Gemini. Hubby and I have a Beco Butterfly 2. (Last year we alternated between the BB2 and the Moby.) Here are a couple shots from last year.

I was still learning how to use the Moby at the time, I realize now that if I had spread the fabric over my shoulders, it would have been way more comfortable. The wrap was a challenge to use with a newborn, especially one that hated to be confined. Eventually, the Moby had its place in our life, mostly at parties when I wanted to be able to get baby in and out of the carrier with ease. The Beco Butterfly 2 has been our favorite.

What a year it has been

I'm sure many a new mom feels that way after the first year with a baby. So much is a blur and I would love to get as much detail recorded as possible, before things become blurrier. I had hoped to blog more about this first year as a mom but frankly I was way too overwhelmed and tired. I need to really sit down with a pad and paper and think about the important experiences I want to preserve. Time keeps right on ticking.

I am at a crossroad and even though so much has changed, there are more changes looming on the horizon. Things I haven't really wrapped my head around yet. The main issue weighing heavily on my heart is being a working mom. Before baby, I had never really invisioned myself as a SAHM, nor did I imagine that I would have the desire to stay home. Now present-life-with-baby, I find the idea of staying home the optimum choice. My parents were able to watch Little Guy when I returned to work last year which was a huge blessing. I didn't have to search out daycares. I am now on Summer break and get to experience the daily joys and struggles of being an at home mommy and I like it and yet I hesitate.

In all honesty, I am afraid. My fears are all the regular ones that many women have who struggle with this decision. I am afraid of giving up a part of me and losing the security of a decent paying job with great benefits. So much to ponder and pray about.

More sewing for baby: My first quilt

I decided I wanted to make a quilt for baby. I went online and searched for "free easy baby quilt pattern". I got several great results but ultimately settled on the Urban Baby quilt by Valori Wells.



I used various space and robot themed fabrics. It is definitely a crazy quilt. Sewing together the top was fairly easy, it was doing the "sandwich" and actual quilting that was challenging. I was glad that the blanket was relatively small. For the quilting, I tried to "stitch in the ditch" on the the sewing machine. It was so hard to stay in between the seams and it started to look messy. I was getting so frustrated until I decided to switch to a pretty zig-zag stitch. I'm sure this isn't the proper way to quilt, but it served my purpose. I also machine stitched the binding. I am really satisfied with how that turned out. I wasn't sure how to do a proper mitered corner but just kind of played with it until it worked.

Prepping the Baby's Room

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We've been busy around here preparing for our little one's arrival. We painted his room blue. I had initially wanted something less obvious for a boy but ultimately decided that blue matched the fabric I had picked out and he would be able to grow with the color. I sewed two bed skirts, one for the crib and one for the day bed that will remain in his room for the time being. I used the pattern from Amy Butler's book, Little Stitches for Little Ones. It was easy and I am happy with the results.

I also felt the need to do some fabric dying. The largest project was the chair cover. We had a red Tulsta chair from Ikea. I bought a white slip cover and some orange RIT dye. I used a large plastic tub that we have around to put drinks and ice during parties.

I was nervous to use my wash machine because I had heard that it can stain the tub and I wasn't sure of the results as I have some "fancy" HE washer that doesn't fill with water until you close the lid, which then locks unless you push pause, in which case all the water then drains out. I had great results using the large plastic tub and hot water. I kept the fabric in the dye for an hour. Technically you are supposed to stir the fabric for 30 mins but this was too much for my back. I did stir it in 5 minute intervals with no set pattern. I tried to keep all of the fabric submerged for the whole hour.
At first, I was concerned that the color might be too bright. Now that I have lived with it a while and see how it works in the room, I am satisfied. I had such success with the slip cover, I decided to dye the white duvet cover for the day bed a nice apple green. The color couldn't have been more perfect.
All in all, I am more than pleased with how baby's room came together. I can't wait to show it to him.



The posters we found online from The Land of Nod. The crib is the Gulliver in birch from Ikea. It got great reviews online. I love the small foot print and that it comes with everything needed to convert to a toddler bed. The price was nice too, about $150.

Adventures in Cooking up a baby: Crying in public

Today I had a prenatal appointment. I am currently 24 weeks. I'll be 25 weeks tomorrow. They did the usual, protein-in-the-pee test, weight, then blood pressure. Not sure why they think it is a good idea to take your BP after they weight you. At any rate, my blood pressure is fine. The midwife said she is happy with my weight gain so far, about 6 lbs in total, especially since I was "over weight to begin with". I could tell she didn't buy my low thyroid function theory. (I test within Kaiser's normal range) Even when I explained that as soon as I became pregnant, I lost 10 lbs.(When you are overweight, the health care providers always assume that you eat like crap and don't exercise.) In fact, one appointment I went in and had lost 2 lbs by their scale and she was concerned it was because I had morning sickness, I explained that wasn't the case, and she said, "Oh well maybe you have just cleaned up your act." Nasr stuck up for me on that one, because I do eat healthy. My conclusion is that pregnancy has boosted my thyroid function. I'm also hoping that pregnancy will permanently fix my hormone levels as well. Everything else with my pregnancy looks fine. Baby looks and sounds great.

I had to book my next two appointments on my way out. I am so stressed about taking so much time off for appointments. Especially when Kaiser only has appointments in the middle of the day that would have me driving to Clairemont for work, only to leave at 10:30 to drive to Kaiser El Cajon and then back to work in Clairemont. I broke down crying at the reception desk when there were no appointments available at a decent time. The lady I'm sure is used to crazy pregnant ladies so she was really nice to me and went out of her way to find some appointments that would better suit my schedule. She didn't just book the next two, she booked all my appointments until the end of May. I feel like such a silly person crying. In looking back, I think it was the weight conversation that upset me and the appointment issues were the final straw.

Adventures in cooking up a baby: "Number Two"

While some women carefully butter their bellies to prevent stretch marks, I am obsessively tending my colon to prevent hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are like stretch marks, once you get them, you can't get rid of them. Anyone who knows me, knows I am keen to talk about poop, especially at the dinner table. Pre-pregnancy, I am not an everyday bowel mover. Sometimes I will go through phases and be able to go everyday. I love those times and wish they could last forever. Inevitably they don't last and I have to really put some effort in to keep things moving. They say, "eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water." Check and check. Sometimes I think I could eat a whole bag of prunes and still not go. As a pregnant woman, I am of course more stopped up. (Those pesky hormones.) I am taking psyllium twice a day as well as eating my high-fiber, plant based diet. I am having some success in that I am able to produce a little something most days, but most of the time nothing really satisfying. I am keeping track of my poops on my calendar. For successful but unsatisfying days, I put a "P" with a straight mouthed emoticon-face-thing. On the rare occasion that I really feel good about the results of my bathroom visit, my calendar has a "P" with a super happy, smiley emoticon-face-thing. In his new book for people having a baby, Dr. Oz recommends something in addition to the fiber and water treatment. He suggests trying 1500mg of chlorella per day. I took my first dose today. I am hopeful.

Today at our 14 week appointment, we heard the baby's heartbeat. I am still tripped out. I can't believe there is an actual person growing in there. My bump is still small, in fact the first night I noticed it I thought I was just bloated. I also can't feel baby moving around yet so it is easy to feel somewhat disconnected. After hearing the heartbeat, I am more at ease.