Baby Girl!

My good friend Nicole had a baby girl yesterday! She named her Ansley, although I am not sure about the spelling, and I don't know the middle name yet. Her mom emailed me last night saying she came out with a head full of black hair, long enough for a bow! I am so excited that I get to go visit her when Brandi gets home from school. You all know how much I love babies!

Which Formula Is Better?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I went to the store the other day with my sister to buy formula for Lylah. She has been exclusively breastfeeding, but the doctor took her off dairy, so her back supply of milk was no longer good for the baby. This meant that she needed to have something to supplement her when she wasn't home at feeding time.

So we stood in front of the formulas, trying to decide which was best. I am not sure if any of you have had to buy formula recently, but there are a whole lot more varieties now than there were when my kids were infants. To be honest, I was a little overwhelmed. I was also shocked at the prices. I guess I only thought it was expensive eight years ago. The can my sister finally decided on was pretty small, and she paid over $20 for it. I tried talking her into buying the store brand, but she didn't think that was as good as the name brand. I believed it was, and this led me to do a little research.

Turns out, I was right. The store brand formulas are the same, nutritiously, as the name brands. They have to be because they all have to meet very strict FDA guidelines. In fact, PBM Products just won a lawsuit against Mead Johnson for false advertising. It seems Mead Johnson was claiming that their formulas were superior to the store brands, and the store brands fought back. This is a huge deal, I think, because it proves that you can save money by buying the store brands.

In my sister's case, the store brand was about $10 cheaper. If you add that up over the course of a year, it totals hundreds of dollars in savings. I can things of a lot of things I would rather do with my money. How about you?

Being Overprotective

When I was a new parent fourteen years ago, I questioned everything I did. I was so inexperienced. I have three younger siblings, so I had been around babies. It was just that I had never been solely responsible for one.

I was just like every new parent, I think. I mad sure everyone washed their hands before touching him. I made sure he was always wearing a complete outfit, from onsie to shoes. I never let him out of my sight, and I was completely overprotective.

I can admit this now, but at the time, I just thought it was good parenting. By the time I had Brandi, I was a pro, and I think I was a little more relaxed. I remember when Ryan started walking, we used to put him in a harness buddy whenever he wanted out of his stroller in public. People used to give us the strangest looks, but we didn't care. I thought those things were great, and I was thrilled the first time I saw my sister use one with Carson. In fact, I see them all the time now.

I still think they are great, and now they can look like animal backpacks. I told Junior the other day that we needed to have another baby just so we could use all the new baby stuff they have available these days.

He didn't go for it.

Colleen's Baby Blanket

I finally finished this baby blanket for my sister. She is having her baby the 30th, and I can not wait to find out what it is. I know this blanket looks a little girly, and that's because I am hoping for a new niece. If she has a boy, I will start a new blanket.

But let's all hope for a girl, 'kay?

Handmade Christmas

I am going to try and make this Christmas a handmade one. I am determined to buy most, if not all, of my gifts off of etsy.

I found this adorable Baby's First Christmas ornament in Carolyn's Clay Qt's etsy shop, and fell in love. The hardest part was picking which ornament I liked the best.

There are the cutest twin ornaments, and I am excited to get one for my newest nieces or nephews next year. They aren't due to arrive until March, so I will just have to wait.

This one is going to be perfect for baby Jake, and for whatever my sister Colleen has in October. I hope she has a girl, because I love the ornament of the little girl in purple, too.

Baby Blanket

Remember this blanket? I started it when I found out my older sister was pregnant, because I was convinced she was having a girl. When she found out the baby was a boy, I set it aside.

Sunday I was bored, so I pulled it back out and decided to finish it. My youngest sister, who is also pregnant, may have a girl, and I want it to be ready if she does. She didn't find out the sex at her ultrasound because they want to be surprised.

I really want her to have a girl but I think, by the way she is carrying, that she is also having a boy. If so, this blanket will be put away until someone has a girl.

Baby Blanket For My Sister

I am now convinced, more than ever, that my sister is having a girl. This is the first time I have seen her since she got pregnant, and she looks like she's carrying a girl. The baby's heartbeat was 162...girls are always higher than boys. She'll find out next month, for sure.

Anywho, this is the blanket I started, then pulled apart and restarted, for her, because I am so sure it's a girl. Doesn't it look Eastery? I love the randomness of the lines of color. I'm about a third done, and once I finish this one, I need to make a neutral colored one for my other sister, who isn't finding out what she's having. When she was pregnant, I was sure he was a boy, so I'm no good guessing with her.

My Sisters

I have two sisters who are pregnant. My older sister already has three kids, and her youngest will be almost seven when the new baby is born. It's been a while since she has had to deal with diapers and colic. My younger sister has a two year old, so she knows from recent experience what it's like to have a baby. They are due five weeks apart, so it will be nice that they can talk to each other about all the things a parent has to deal with. They could also check out parentsconnect.com, where parents get together and offer support to each other. It's hard some days to know that you are doing the right things, and it's nice to know that other parents have been through it, and have survived. They can find answers to questions about diapers or pre-school, and anything else in between.

Frustrated

Remember the blanket I started when I found out my sister was pregnant? Well, I didn't like the way it was coming along, so I pulled it apart and made that nice pretty ball over there. I thought the stitches were too tight, and it was too long. So, I started over with a bigger needle, and not so long a starting chain. I have a few rows done, and I think it looks, and feels, better. I'll post a picture in a couple of days. You may not be able to see the difference, but I can.

Door Hanger

I painted this Christmas door hanger the other day, but I'm not sure I like it. I don't like the way the words came out...it looks sloppy to me. I also think the snowflakes need to be different...maybe silver and sparkly or something. I have a few months...lol...to figure it out before I will use it, so that's good. I have a bunch more Christmas things I bought on clearance in December that I need to paint.

I am also excited to make name signs for my sisters babies. I can't wait until Tami finds out what she's having. Colleen, on the other hand, says she doesn't want to know before delivery day. That's so frustrating!

Baby Blankets

I have been working on the blanket I started when I found out my sister was pregnant. It is coming along pretty nicely. It will only be a couple of more months until she finds out if the baby is in fact a girl. The good news is, if it does happen to be a boy, I have one more shot at a niece now that my baby sister is pregnant, too. I would love for her to have a little girl. She already has Carson, who is going to be a great big brother.

If one of these babies is a girl, I get to make a layette, and I love making baby girl things...

Baby Sling For Tami

I think I have mentioned that my sister, Tami, is expecting her 4th child. She already has three boys, so you can imagine how busy her days are. I saw this baby carrier and immediately thought of her. It would be perfect for her to use when she is at the boys' sporting events, because her hands will be free to clap and cheer like always. She has always been an active mom, and this new baby will not slow her down at all. This sling can be worn in a variety of ways, so whatever she is doing she can have the new baby with her. I might just have to get her one. This particular one comes in a variety of fabrics, but I think she'd love the circles. I know I do.

Progress

The blanket for my sister's baby is coming along. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up too much for a niece, but I can't help it. Odds are she will have another boy. Just a few more months until she finds out. Hopefully by then I will have this done, so I can mail it as soon as she says
"It's A Girl!".

Baby Knitting

It has been too long since I have made anything with yarn. I really want to knit a baby layette, but need an easy/beginner pattern to follow. Anyone have any ideas where to look? I have only done one knit project, and that was Brandi's sweater. I think it came out really good, so I am excited to do something else. It's fun now that I have niece's to make things for.

Purple Ribbon Baby Blanket (carseat size)

Wekend Work

I wanted to crochet, but only had leftover yarn. I started this white blanket, then ran out. So I started this off-white blanket, and ran out of yarn again.
So I took the blanket I made for my niece (that she returned), pulled it apart, and started this blanket. I know I'll have enough to finish it, and I'm using a stitch I've never done before, so it's fun. I'm hoping to finish it this week.

For My Newest Niece Ashleigh

During the move I misplaced my bag of ribbon. This sign will have purple ribbon, with pink and purple curly ribbon making bows at each end. I will post another picture when I find and finish the ribbon.

Boy Baby Blanket

I finally finished the blankets I've been working on. The first one is big and fluffy and beautiful. This one is much smaller. I seem to have a problem judging size. It is perfect car seat size. You know, for those chilly days when you want to cover baby.So, miss donna, you're getting both!
I hope you like them!

Blanket

I just finished this baby blanket for my sister's friend. It's white, pink and purple, with a ruffle border. It took me 2 days to complete. It's 24 inches by 24 inches.