Thanks Pam!

Another fellow IVF mom posted this cartoon on her blog and I just had to keep the ball rolling...it is definitely how we all feel about having a baby and the process of IVF just truly...is like the icing on the cake!

Video Update

20 weeks, wacky ultrasound, and trying to get my baby essentials...

Customizedgal.com was having a sale for $12 so I got this tank top made for when I went to the ultrasound!
Super cute and I am so proud to wear it out and show off my belly :)

So it's been about 2 weeks since my last post.  ALOT has happened since then.  I can't believe the summer will soon be over and we've only gone to the shore, TWICE!!!  So weird as this has been my routine for almost the last 7 years, it was surreal to be HOME on the weekends during the summer, lol.  We've managed to get alot done, which is great for preparing for the baby so I am very thankful to have had the time to do what I normally don't get to do.

I had my 20 week ultrasound/anatomy scan yesterday and both Gregg and Vanessa were there for the "event!'...although our ultrasound tech was not so friendly nor did she have a nice "bedside" manner so she really didn't seem to care either way about us finding out the sex of the baby and her answer wasn't very definitive either...everything in terms of development looked GREAT and we are still left w/the question of what the gender is ...unanswered...she said it "could" be a girl, but didn't really try to show us via the scan what she was looking at that made her think so...nor did she get the doctor to confirm it...she was quite passe about it which really actually, pissed me off.  I totally get they can never guarantee it yet she really wasn't helpful. 

I do have to return in 3 weeks for a follow up as my placenta placement is unsually low and close to the opening of the cervix so they want to ensure that it starts to move up into my uterus and doesn't end up covering up the cervix opening altogether.  This condition is known as Placenta Previa which is often occurs in early/mid pregnancy but should fix itself as you progress, but if it doesn't, it could potentially end up in pre-term delivery and a mandatory c-section, which in terms of the c-section is fine as I am already scheduled for a repeat one anyways...so I have to be mindful of what I'm doing to avoid any further "descent" of my placenta.  I wasn't really instructed to do anything different nor was I given any restrictions, yet I still want to be mindful of what I am doing and how I am going about my day-to-day.

20 week belly!  My face is...getting...FAT, lol.

Profile scan of Bambino/a Davis at 20 weeks!

Vanessa is all ready to be a Big Sister, yey!!!
My girlfriend, Chantille had this shirt made for Vanessa as soon as she found out I was pg!  On the back it says "Vanessa 11" since Vanessa is 11 yrs old and how fitting, it is also 2011--so it works, lol.

In nesting and getting ready for the baby...I've been religiously scrubbing craigslist and my mommy group list on Yahoo for great finds and deals for myself and the baby.  I recently got an Advanced Pump In Style Medela Electric Breast Pump valued at $379.00 for ONLY $50 and got ALOT of accessories included w/it as well, so I am VERY happy!  I just bought new tubing since that is the part you can't clean from a previous owner as well as sanitized and cleaned all the parts in my dishwasher.  The same mom gave me an extra Graco Snugride carseat and base for FREE and I doublechecked it for recalls or for anything faulty and it was A-ok!!!  I was also able to score another Graco Snugride carseat and base (prices range online from $79.00 and up) and a Baby Trendz Snap and Go Stroller (prices range $50-65.00)...They were both only 2 years old and I got both for a total of $40!!!!  So needless to say, I am really happy that I now have a carseat for each car so Gregg and I will always be able to pick up the baby without wondering who has the car seat last and w/the lightweight snap and go stroller, I should have no trouble gettin' around...

Many of my mommy friends that have toddler-aged kids have volunteered their baby clothes and some of their baby essentials to me for FREE so I will have to pick through everything when it gets closer or maybe after the baby is born since I don't know yet if I'm having a boy or girl...so we shall see.  If I have a girl, it will be kinda sweet since I still have alot of Vanessa's clothes from 11 years ago!!!  And her stuff was so cute and will still be "in style" for the baby so that will be nice that the baby can wear some of her sister's clothes...but for now, it is going to be a surprise! :)

Also, I have been debating for awhile now if I would actually need a crib and changing table...I just hate adding more furniture to our house so I am unsure...yet I recently saw the CUTEST crib bedding that I absolutely love!  It is a bit pricey so I am searching sites and etsy.com for similar fabrics to see if I could attempt making the bedding myself....which I am sure will be an undertaking since I am a novice sewer...but I'm up for the challenge if need be.  I am still debating...and will see how I end up...but for now, my plan was to use a pack and play that comes w/a cozy sleeper bassinet attachment and converting an existing dresser I have into the changing table area...But here is a pic of the bedding I fell in love with, I really love it, especially since it's gender neutral and I can use it for subsequent kids...

As I am thinking up sewing and knitting ideas for Vanessa and I to do to prep for the baby, I am also excited about the baby shower and just getting together w/all of my friends to celebrate our soon to be arriving baby in late December or early January.  I am really hoping to have the baby before Christmas, but whatever God's plan is, I will follow it as long as the baby is doing well and healthy. 

I don't have much else to report for now, but will follow up as soon as I get more info in 3 weeks from my follow up ultrasound about the placenta previa and maybe then, I can get a 2nd opinion on what the gender of the baby is...but until then, happy nurturing and enjoying the last few weeks of summer!

Love Always!

Elise_Is_PG

18 weeks and cloth diapering updates!

...So tomorrow I will be officially 8 weeks and am so excited that I am almost "halfway" through my pregnancy already, yey!!!  I have my OB appointment tomorrow and then I have my anatomy scan in 2 weeks and I am so excited, I can't wait!  Here are my 18-week belly pix:



...And here is the quick 5-minute video blog on my update and how I'm feeling:

So I finally got my "fluffy mail" and have my "starter" stash of cloth diapers.  I still need to get things like my diaper pail, wet bags, wipes, diaper sprayer and things like that but I registered for some of them and may end up purchasing some when it gets closer to my due date.  For now I have the following items:

One dozen Cloth EEZ brand unbleached indian NEWBORN size prefolds from Green Mountain Diapers.
This is BEFORE I prepped them.

The varying inserts that came w/my cloth diapers.
These have NOT been prepped yet.



Top to bottom- Left to right: Bum Genius 4.0, Kawaii
Fuzzibunz OS, Best Bottoms OS Shell, Tweedlebugs OS
Bum Genius Flip OS Cover, Happy Heiny's OS
Grovia AIO newborn, Bummis Super Lite Cover, Fuzzibunz XS newborn, Bummis Super Brite Cover.

...To prep my diapers, I bought a sample of Rockin' Green detergent to use and to try out.  The scent is very clean and mild and I am currently researching other cloth diaper friendly detergents for my diapers as well.  There are some mainstream detergents that are acceptable to use for both your laundry and cloth diapers, but I am feeling compelled to use a separate one for my cloth diapers yet there can be conflicts w/doing that as residue from your existing detergent can always potentially get into your cloth diapers...so..I am still researching my options and will let you know what I end up doing.

...I prepped my diapers in 2 separate loads.  I did all the diapers, covers and inserts in one load and then hung them to dry with a short fluff cycle on low heat for 10 minutes.  I did the prefolds separately with some bath towels and dried them in the dryer on high heat.  I use wool dryer balls in my dryer and that definitely helps cut the drying time down alot so I am glad I bought them for that reason!

...I have an LG stackable front loading HE washer and dryer and the washer senses the size of the load and adjusts the water accordingly and the dryer senses the size and moisture and adjusts the drying time accordingly...very cool and efficient.

...For the first time in prepping my diapers, I did a cold rinse cycle with no detergent.  Then I did a normal load with one teaspoon of the rockin' green detergent on hot wash, cold rinse.  This is what  I will continue to do to prep my diapers.  The suggestion is to do this at least 5-6 times BEFORE the first initial use of the diapers and if possible, a dozen times before....this only counts for the actual INSERTS and PREFOLDS.  The actual diapers themselves and covers do NOT need to be prepped this way...when in doubt, just follow the manufacturer's instructions in washing and prepping  your diapers.  I am only going to prep my diapers once a week for the next 10 weeks since I didn't feel like spending all day or half the day doing consecutive loads to prep the diapers...so will take my time over the next few months to do so.

I am sure once I am actually using the diapers and have actual soiled diapers, my routine and cycle will be different and I will be sure to update what I am doing at that point, but for now I am only prepping them.


...I am really excited that I get to go to a brick and mortar cloth diaper store tomorrow!  It's called Green Family Living and her website is Diaperware.  She is only about 20 minutes from me and I'm just tickled to be able to go there to check everything out so I can gain some perspective before making my next few purchases, yey!

Well I hope this has been informative for you all.  I will be sure to update on my anatomy scan and everything else over the next few weeks.  It's still so surreal yet fabulous all at the same time.

Until my next post, take care and have a great weekend everyone!

Elise_Is_PG

Cloth Diapers, my new addiction!

....So I've gotten "fluffy mail" in the last week and have received some really great deals!  So far, I have 6 diapers and am due to get 4 more and will have a total of 10 in my slowly budding collection.  It's great to see that Gregg has also taken to this idea and is just as fascinated with them as I am!  He is always on board when something makes logical sense....even more in agreeance when it makes economical, practical and financial sense and I do believe he thoroughly appreciates my efforts to save money and determination to pursue this and to make cloth diapers work...for us. 

I've subscribed to so many mommy channels on YouTube related to cloth diapering and just in mothering tips related to going green....and have truly learned so much about being natural and am very excited about how these subtle changes will benefit my family as well as the environment.  I am really beginning to understand how this whole cloth diapering can be addictive, oh boy!  They come in such cute prints and nifty designs that you can't get just one....it's near impossible...but I am trying to be a realist, because I do not know which ones will work best for the baby nor do I know which ones I will like the most...so I have to refrain from going bonkers and buying on every sale that crosses my path.

Seriously, this is much harder than resisting that sexy pair of stilettos or that great purse on sale at TJ Maxx...I believe my "cutoff" point will be another 2 diapers to round out my dozen of one-sized diapers and covers and then I will buy a dozen prefolds too.  I believe that will be enough to carry me through the first 2 weeks or so ...and then I'll know which ones I like or which ones that work best and will be able to actually order my STOCK ...at which point, I will be sooooooooooooooo excited then to shop shop shop---I am in nesting mode FULL THROTTLE now it seems...and I was just made aware of the fact that there is an actual STORE...cloth diapering store..barely 30 minutes from me so I will definitely have to head over there to really check out their stash and inventory to learn more about this whole new habit I'm forming!

I am contemplating trying my hand at actually sewing a cloth diaper.  I saw a few patterns for them on Etsy and truly it doesn't look that hard...and I'm a novice/somewhat knowledgeable sewer...I'm not the fancypants my professional seamstress mother is....but I have learned some great tips from her through the years and I think she would be happy and impressed that I am trying to get better at it and taking it on as a new hobby.  I am finding that it is very therapeutic and de-stressing for me...and... I love seeing my projects come to life and finished.

Being PREGGO had certainly brought out the craftiness in me....I have a whole list of things I'd like to do before the baby comes and the projects that I have lined up are both baby and home decor related so it'll be interesting to see what I actually attempt and complete, lol.  I have a bit of ADD...as I think everyone has some bit of it...and my creativity doesn't always come when I want it to...the juices may start flowing but the actual application doesn't always happen....right away so I am making it a point to be mindful..flat out...intentional about starting and completing them because I know everyone will enjoy our home being more "homey" and decorative...I always have this running ticker...this list...that seems neverending but it always manages to keep me steppin' and keep things interesting...since I get bored so easily....ho hum.

...I fear I am just yammering away again with no true order or sense of direction of what I am even talking about...lol.  Just be on the lookout for some updates related to pregnancy progress...baby shower stuff...registry ....and of course, more cloth diapers!  Once, I actually get my full stash...I will try to do a vlog on what brands I got and why....and then attempt to do a video on my first laundering experience w/them as you're supposed to PREP them before the first initial use ANNDDDDDD I'll also be able to use the new wool dryer balls I got with them too so it should make for a very interesting vlog and post!

Until then, I'm signing off as your preggo eggo....Take Care, Stay Cool, and Be Happy!

Elise_Is_PG

16 weeks and 3 days and counting...



Front shot- to some it may not seem like much but those that know me, know i'm petite and skinny so this seems HUGE to me....lol.

I have to admit, I LOVE my growing belly!!!  I totally embrace this experience and am so proud to be PREGGO!

16wks 3 days; doesn't look that big, but it seems that it comes and goes.



Nicki's Diapers Exclusive Black Fuzzibunz Giveaway!!!

...Since my newfound addiction to all things related to eco-living and cloth diapering, I have discovered some amazing resources and websites.  One site in particular-- Nicki's Diapers.  I recently in my last post, ordered a few diapers to become familiar with the different brands and am now eagerly awaiting my "fluffy mail" so that I can do a vlog to let you know my thoughts and share with you my excitement!

Nicki's Diapers is having an awesome giveway of a BLACK Fuzzibunz Diaper!  It is a rarity to find any cloth diaper in BLACK especially one of this calibor and high quality favorite, a Fuzzibunz!  Subscribe to their Nicki's Diapers Blog and friend them on Nicki's Diapers Facebook Page and find out how you can take part in this fabulous giveaway!