DIY: Nursing Cover!

I made my own nursing cover! I'm really loving this whole sewing thing.  I've been looking online at various nursing covers, but couldn't really find one that I liked.  Then I figured out that I could probably make one, and thanks to a combination of these websites (here, here, here, and here), I was able to make my own nursing cover, for less than $12!!!

I seriously used bits and pieces from all four websites, and then I think I even improvised at the end when I was sewing in the boning and attaching the straps. (I say I think because I couldn't really understand any of the instructions on any of the websites, so I just did what made sense to me).  I ended up making it a little longer and wider than was recommended, and made the straps longer too, because I'm tall and kinda expecting a big little guy, so I figured it was better to error on the side of it being too big.  I added some remnant terry cloth to the inside corners, and I'm debating whether I want to sew a pocket on the outside with some leftover fabric.  I ran out of steam today, but I'm definitely going to make a case for it with one of the website tutorials when I have a little more time.  Anyways, I think it will be perfect! (At least I hope!)

Also, remember when I just started sewing and I said I was going to learn by sewing some old rags? Well, I lied.  I made cloth wipes.  We're going to cloth diaper, so I figured cloth wipes were an easy way to learn how to sew.  I love them! They're so cute, and cost less than $15 to make. I just scoured the remnants bin at Jo Ann for cute nursery flannel. I trialed two different sewing methods. The first one just involved sewing a zigzag stitch around the edges.  The second one involved a little more work, but I think they turned out better.  If I need to make anymore, I will definitely make them the second way (fold inside out, sew, fold right side out, and top stitch).

Puppy Playdate

My friend Evette dog sits this little dog named Milo from time to time. I always hear stories about him, so we decided the next time she was dog sitting she would have to bring him over to meet Bailey.  This weekend ended up being perfect, because our downstairs neighbors were dog sitting Izzy again, so the puppies got to play in the back yard.

Milo is definitely more of a people-dog than a dog-dog.  He wasn't too crazy about Bailey trying to get him to chase her, but he did fine.  Izzy played for a little bit, but then reverted to eating mud/grass. Apparently she only does this when other dogs are around. Milo invited himself up on the couch once we got back inside, and wasn't timid at all about jumping into our laps!

Izzy saying Hi

Milo

Little dogs

Bailey was sad to see Milo go

Productive Weekends!

The past two weekends have been extremely productive!  Last weekend we did a bunch of baby related stuff that we had been waiting until after a good anatomy scan to do.  We registered and went to look at various items that we had looked at online.  We also went to Ikea and bought a dresser that is going to double as a changing table for the baby.  We had an old Ikea dresser that was too tall to work as a changing table, so we sold that on Craigslist.  We went back and forth about selling it on craigslist, since neither of us were too crazy about some stranger coming into our home to take it out, but it couldn't have worked out more perfect. The guy who bought it was really nice and seemed normal and was looking for something cheap they could use in their son's closet.  Double win.

This weekend Tom spent the majority of both days in lab. I was on-call for my work on Saturday but thanks to an awesome coworker, I did not have to go in. Instead I got caught up on a ton of laundry, cooked a little bit, and completely reorganized one of our hall closets.  Both of them have turned into kind of "catch alls" for a bunch of stuff.  I was able to get rid of a lot and consolidate other items.  Our plan is to reorganize both of the closets and get rid of a bunch of random stuff before the baby comes.

And speaking of the baby, we were visiting a friend last week who had a baby a few months ago, and our timing could not have been more perfect. They were literally packing up their bassinet to take down to their storage area, and instead offered to loan it to us.  It will be perfect because we don't have a lot of space next to our bed, so I was kind of wondering what we were going to do.  Bailey is pretty unsure of it.  She goes up to it and sniffs it at least twice/day, like she is suspicious of it :)

New dresser

Bailey is pretty sure she doesn't like what happening here. More furniture in the "office" means less sprawling in the sun space for her.

An Announcement

Baby BOY Bodenstine - Estimated Arrival Date July 16, 2013!

21 weeks, 3 days. Weighing a whopping 1 pound, 1 ounce

This was taken 2 weeks ago, at 19 weeks, 3 days

Vegas Baby!!

Margaret, Brie, and I chose Vegas as this years Girls Getaway Weekend!  It was kind of a last minute trip, but everything fell into place perfectly!! We got in late last Friday night so we just grabbed some dinner at Emeril's restaurant in our hotel (MGM Grand) before going to bed.

Saturday we spent the day walking down the strip, checking out some hotels and casinos, shopping, and eating before heading back to the hotel to relax for a little bit. For breakfast we ate at Hash House a Go Go, which I learned is a chain and they have the same restaurant here in Chicago! I'm super excited about that because this breakfast was DELICIOUS! The Sage Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict was featured on Man vs Food, so of course Margaret couldn't resist sampling it!  It was huge and probably could have fed all of us! They also serve a BLT bloody mary, complete with all BLT ingredients (plus more) on skewers!

Sage Fried Chicken Benedict

Saturday night we ate at the Wicked Spoon (apparently the best buffet in Vegas) at The Cosmopolitan.  It was definitely the best buffet I've ever had in Vegas! The Cosmopolitan, on the other hand, was definitely not our favorite hotel/casino.  Anyways, the dessert bar alone was as big as any normal buffet!  So good.

Here is where I win my money back!

After a yummy dinner, we headed over to The Mirage for The Beatles Love Cirque de Soleil show.  I had never seen any of the cirque de soleil shows, but I was very impressed!  There was so much going on at any given time that I don't even think I saw everything that was happening! People were flying in from the ceiling, floors were moving with things rising up, and there were just so many special effects! And of course the music was great, who doesn't love the Beatles?!  We couldn't take any pics in the show, but we took these earlier in the day when we went to pick up our tickets.

All you need is love!

Sunday was the best day ever.  It was a spa day.  Remember how having a spa day was on my list of things to do before I turn 35? I can finally check it off!  We spent the most relaxing day ever at Canyon Ranch Spa at The Venetian.  The Venetian and The Palazzo were by far my favorite hotels/casinos that we visited.  They are both relatively new so the smoke smell was kept to a minimum (so gross that you can still smoke in casinos in vegas!)  There were so many beautiful decorations and who can resist an indoor gondola ride?  (Or at least taking a picture of the indoor gondola rides).

Anyways, back to the spa!  We arrived about an hour before our first appointments so we took a tour, changed, and began enjoying all of the amenities!  They had a salt grotto, a wave/relaxation room, various saunas and herbal rooms, cool/refreshing rooms/showers, a giant hot tub with heated lounge chairs, and a large room full of oversized stuffed chairs and loveseats with pillows and relaxing music.  We each had a massage that was amazing.  I've only ever had one other massage in my life, for my 30th birthday, and I enjoyed this one much more.  After our massages, we relaxed and took advantage of the various amenities for a couple of hours before our facials. I've never had a facial before either, but it was so relaxing!!  No pics of the spa, but you'll just have to take my word that it was amazing!

After our spa day we had dinner at a yummy pizza bistro in The Venetian and then crashed hard at the hotel before getting up early for our morning flights.  

Good night Las Vegas!