So what did you get up to in the weekend?

Well I was again army-wifed for the weekend while Cody went fishing. So I decided to do something productive. A few months ago I brought a sewing machine which to be honest I used once and it has sat in the office ever since. So I decided it was time to drag that puppy out and give her a whirl!

Friday I went to Evans's and brought some supplies... hhhmmmm I wonder what that could be??



I brought a few patterns ($120 later :O ) and spent all of Friday night cutting out the paper pattern pieces - God that has to be the worst part of sewing! Cutting out all the paper pieces and then having to cut all the material! This particular project involved the main pieces, lining and padding!

After spending about 3 hours completing all the cutting I then had to iron on the padding to all the pieces - that was all before I could start up the machine. But once I got started I was definitely on a roll and this baby came together before I knew it!

ITS A NAPPY BAG!

With an elasticated side pocket perfect for a bottle (babies or mine :) )

And a Velcro pocket on the other side perfect for cellphone or wallet

Is this photo fuzzy or is it just my bung eyes playing up again?

Under the main flap is a larger pocket for the change mat (which I still need to make up)

Then on the inside are more elasticated pockets for all those extra bits and pieces and a strap with a clip (clip not visible in this photo) for attaching your keys so they are easy access GENIUS!

have been on the look out for a cool nappy bag for awhile. I wanted something cool, functionally but that doesn't necessarily look like a nappy bag. I'm not 100% happy with the outcome of this bag, its a bit flimsy for my liking but I can say I gave it a go and I can always use it as a spare if needed.

A few weeks ago we were visiting some cousins in Wellington. My cousin Mel had her daughter last November and was given a nappy bag at her baby shower which I totally fell in love with!

*Sigh* Its a Babymel (which is quite fitting considering her name is Mel!) it is quilted with little love hearts all over it. Unfortunately it cost $105.00 US :( Maybe the baby shower fairy will get it for me......

Weather Bomb

So the forecast for the weekend was rain. But not just rain - a WEATHER BOMB!! I love how they describe it as a bomb, makes it sound so dramatic and very terriost-y.

The winds reached up to 150km p/h and caused havoc, ripped roofs off houses, blew over trees and brought down powerlines. It was certainly an inside weekend....... if only!

Frances and little Chloe had to go back to Gisborne -ON AN AEROPLANE! We left Masterton with plenty of time to accomodate for the bad weather and got as far as Greytown before I got the text

Air New Zealand flight NZ2230 WGTN > GIS has been CANCELLED

Great.

Rung Air NZ and they were re-booked to the 5.35pm flight so not too bad. We decided to go straight to Steph and Sheps in Stokes Valley and hang out there until the flight time came. We went out for lunch at one of those asian chicken places which suprisingly wasnt that bad.

Then we cracked out the old Monopoly - but this was like no Monopoly I have ever played. We actually had to read the rules!! I KNOW!!

We had to buy 'districts', then build little cities - with schools, power stations and even bad stuff like prisons, dumps etc. Anyway....

This 'weather bomb' caused a hell of a lot of damage - into the millions they reckon. I was a bit worried to see the state of our place when we got home from Wellington but to be honest there was nothing out of the ordinary, a bit of flooding in the garage but nothing major. The horses covers got soaked but they will dry out.

The rest of the country however did not come off as light...

All in all the weekend was very much a "stay-inside" kind of weekend, although they are warning that there is more to come.

Cool.

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

This week marks the 30th week since we created you, and each day that goes by I get more and more excited about meeting you.

You move around a lot now - usually early in the mornings or late at night. There are different movement, the rolling over, the kicking, the flutters and the all scary complete rolly-pollys!! You are so active that you even wake me up some mornings, maybe this is your way of preparing me for the early mornings that are to come? even as I write this letter to you, you are kicking away. It sometimes startles me the force behind your movements. It can feel like you are trying to bust out! Then I'll see a bit bump roll across my tummy as you make yourself comfortable. Your daddy has seen and felt you move a lot more now and this makes him so happy, if only you could see the smile on his face when he feels you...

Your nursery is all ready to go - your daddy even put together your new pram so when you get here we can go out for walks. Boy, our cat, (which you will get to meet very soon) loves sleeping in your nursery and I have had to wash your cot linen multiple times as he leaves his grey fur all over it. His latest possy is the feeding chair. I am sure he will be great company for you when you come.

You are growing so big and strong, it worries me how big you actually are - but at least that means you are healthy and that is all I want.

Everyone says these last 10 weeks are going to fly by, but it seems that it is dragging on - I just cant wait to meet you and see what you look like. I hope you have your daddy's eyes, but not his feet. I hope you have my olive skin but not my poor eyesight.

I still feel nervous about your future. Your dysplastic kidney is shrinking which is excellent news however I still worry about what kind of life you can live. Can you play sport? Will you be able to travel? Can you do everything in life that you want to? there are so many more questions than answers and I struggle to wait the 8 weeks in between specialist appointments to get answers. We get to check up on you one more time on the 5th April 2012 and hopefully you are still doing well.

Keep growing baby, be nice and healthy. Continue to get yourself ready - and remember you need to be head down. We cant wait for you to join us so we can start being a real little family. I love you more and more each day.

Lots of Love
Mummy xox

Cloth Nappies vs Disposables - That Old Debate!

So the whole cloth nappies versus disposables debate has been going on for years! My mother used cloth nappies on me and my sister. You remember those big square bits of material that were folded and pinned?

Although I dont remember the crazy fastener thing on this guy??

Well that isn't the sort of cloth nappy I'm talking about! I'm talking about these!

ARRGGHHHH How cute are these guys?!!

I’d always been interested in the idea of using cloth rather than disposable nappies.  To be honest, my biggest motivator wasn’t about the environment or health concerns – it was about cost.

There, I said it.  It may make me sound like a cold-blooded Scrooge, but if using cloth meant saving money, then I was all for it.  Being kind to the environment was just a bonus, and I’ve seen enough babies live through disposable diapers to realize that they won’t kill you (although I am a bit alarmed by the materials that they’ve found in disposables, but that’s a topic for another day…)

Why use MCN's (Modern Cloth Nappy) you ask? Well there are a number of reasons

1. Environmentally there’s no choice - In NZ we dump 575 million nappies per year in landfills (which are said to take up to 500 years to breakdown) (http://www.zerowaste.co.nz), while cloth nappies can be washed and reused time and time again.
2. Cloth Diapers Are Healthier For Your Baby - Disposable nappies contain the toxic chemical ,Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases, and genetic damage, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers.
Trace quantities may even exist in the diapers themselves! Dioxin is listed by the EPA as the most toxic of cancer related chemicals. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. Disposable diapers also contain sodium polyacrylate. If you have ever seen the gel-like, super absorbant crystals in a disposable, then you have seen this first hand. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years. Studies have also been done to show that the chemical emissions from disposable diapers can cause respiratory problems in children. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers.

3. COST - As a general rule, it is almost always cheaper to reuse than to buy new every time, so lets now look at the breakdown...

The cost breakdown based on fulltime cloth nappies.

Cloth nappies for one baby/child

26 Nappies - $710.00

I am using Itti Bittis because I am anal and really like the cute designs but there are cheaper, less effective nappies out there such as the BabyCo ones from baby city. If you used these nappies it would only be $440.70

Wipes

5 pack of re-usable wipes - $12.30

Washing Costs

Many parents will actually wash the babies clothes and nappies all together making their washing process even cheaper.

*Washing $182.50    Detergent $255.50    Dryer $82.50

*Based on Consumer magazines latest findings

• Washing costs are all based on a warm wash every second day using a large top-loading machine.
• Detergent costs based on using one scoop of detergent per wash. (suggested a third to a half of the normal suggested amount on the pack) 
• Drying costs based on using a dryer during autumn and winter and line-drying during spring and summer.  Most parents in NZ line dry most of the year and only tumble dry when absolutely necessary.

Total Re-usable nappies cost = $1,242.80

Disposable Nappy Costing:

273 Packs of Disposables over 3.5 years @ average of $12 ea

Disposable nappy cost = $3276

This total could come from a combination of pull-ups and normal disposable nappies.
No allowance has been made for night nappies that are used after the age of 3.5years. 
A leading disposable brand website stated that it was normal for a child not to be night trained for 2 years after they are trained through the day time. This is based on parents buying budget brands or better brands on special.

Wipes
52 Tubs of Disposable wipes over 3.5years @ $7.15ea - $371.30
39 Refills of wipes over 3.5 years @ $6.89ea - $268.71

Possible Wipes Cost = $640.01

Rubbish collection*112 Rubbish bags @ $3.20 ea = $358.40

*Based on the cost of the Masterton District Council rubbish bags.

Optional Nappy Wrapper

1 Nappy wrapper unit $ 60.00
17 Wrapper refills (to hold up to 6000 disposables) @ $24.50 per refill $416.50 

Nappy Wrapper Cost $476.50

Total possible disposable nappy cost = $4,750.91

So that's $1,242.80 for cloth nappies compared to $4,750.91 for disposables! Now I am no math geek but it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out! Thats a saving of $3,508.11 over 3 years!!!



4. THEY ARE SO DARN CUTE!!!

And because I couldn't resist I ordered this 2 on a whim in the weekend! SSQQQUUUEEEEE

When I mention cloth diapers to my friends and family I was met with SO much skepticism.  A lot of people thought it would be gross, thought that I was crazy, and most certainly thought I would fail.  I have been doing so much research on cloth diapering though, and had found so many moms that loved it for so many reasons.  I tried arguing all of those reasons to the many skeptics... it's greener, it's cheaper, it's healthier, gosh darnit it's cuter.... but skeptics, being who they are, are not easily convinced.

I was meet with "What about the laundry" - I hear having a baby is extra laundry anyway so what a few more items a day to wash in the grand scheme of things?
"How will you deal with the poop?" Guess what... I hear that babies who wear disposable diapers poop too!  And you still have to wipe their bums.  If I'm wrong about that, someone please let me know. 



Now of course our baby isn't here yet - but I have stocked up!  I currently have 36 itti bitti as well as the above 2 baby beehinds (which is well more than is needed!) so I will be sure to give you all a rundown on how I get on with the MCN's.

Baby Buchanan - Update 28 weeks

We had our second specialist appointment at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic in Wellington on Tuesday 7th February 2012.

We saw a different Doctor this time as our normal specialist only work Thursdays, but we couldnt make it over on Thursday (whole other story!) we saw Dr Tuohy who is actually the head of the unit so that was reassuring.

He seemed reletively impressed in Baby B's progress. The defect kidney had actually shrunk in size which is really good because if it shrinks completely then there will be no need to operate! Hoorah! He also advised that the working kidney is looking good and seems to be functioning well with no reflux and that there is plenty of amiotic fluid (which apparently is another good sign)

So the measurements as they are on 7th February 2012:
Head Diameter = 80.2mm (Average 70mm)
Head Circumference = 284.3mm (Average 270.1mm)
Abdominal Circumference = 266.1mm 9Average 240mm)
Femur Length = 56.3mm (Average 54mm)
Est Fetal Weight = 1618g or 3lbs 9ozs (a 28 week fetus should be 2lbs 2ozs)

So over-all baby is measuring the size of 31 week fetus at only 28 weeks, everywhere except for length.

Well isnt that fun times ahead for me!

There was one good thing which resulted from the scan....... we got to see our babies face!

So we go back at 36 weeks and see our normal specialist - Dr Sangalli who will be able to advise the final oucome, but at this stage it is looking like I will be able to deliver in Masterton and not Wellington which is really good news.

Fore, For, Four

So last year I tried (and failed) at doing like a fortnightly countdown. This year Im am going to  try different things... I blog-stalk a few other blogs so will nick some ideas from them and give it a go.

This week its Fore, For, Four which I stole from Breathe Gently 

4 Things I did 10 years ago (2002):
* Got my first real paying job at Moore Wilsons
* Meet my first love and had my first serious boyfriend
* Passed School Certificate - (it was second attempt but I got there)
* Went to A LOT of parties and learned what being hung over felt like!

4 Things I did 5 years ago (2007)
* Ended a go-nowhere relationship
* Got lead astray by Jemma :P
* Meet my now husband
* Drunk way more than is humanly possible and survived!

4 Things I did yesterday:
* Worked
* Signed up with WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals)
* Grocery Shopping
* Had a bath

4 TV shows I love to watch:
* Teen Mom - all series
* One Born A Minute
* Kardashians (this includes Keeping up with... Kim and Kourtney Take NY..... Khloe and Lamar etc)
* Good olde Shortland St

4 Things I love to do:
* Ride my horse
* Spend time with friends/family
* Scrapbook
* Be in bed!

So there is a quick rundown in the life of me! Thought it was time for a non-baby realated post :)

Baby B's Nursery

As with everything else in my life I wanted our nursery to be perfect. Just like when I was planning for our wedding I had trawled through numerous websites and saved photos of nursery's that I adored and had done some research on what I wanted.

Here are my inspiration pictures:

I really like the neutral colors of this one and like the awning thing that hangs over the cot.

How cool is this Mad Hatter theme! Its a bit over the top but I'm not all that
keen on doing that much painting.

The matching yellow throughout this nursery grabbed my eye.

I LOVE the vintage feel of this nursery,
however this wouldn't really work in our 1980's neutral colored house.



This color theme was more what would fit into our current home decor.

<> 

The green on these 2 is really cute! I the idea that it is neutral, but still colourful

Of course some of these are just over the top, but the main theme throughout all the photos was that I liked the idea that everything matched and was co-ordinated. And because we don't know what flavour baby we are having it will have to be gender neutral.

Back in November 2011 we went over to Wellington with the in-laws to look at cots etc for Baby Bs room.

Of course we ended up with a lot more than just a cot. Buying baby furniture and setting up a nursery is a lot more of a daunting task than I expected. The range of furniture out there is crazy - all offering to be the best because its 'made in NZ' or has extra draws, or 'this is the one everyone uses'.

We looked at ALL the cots and bed sets on the market - of course I was drawn to Touchwood which is one of the most expensive sets you can get in the baby shops.

But at over $899 for just the cot it just wasn't justified. There was also the Cariboo which was taken into consideration.... but again over $999.00 just for the cot!

Then of course there is the Ubabub pod cot - which is the most stylish cot I came across, but also had the most stylish price tag of $2,629! Yep that wasn't a typo!!!

We spent the day  in Wellington tramping through all the baby stores and after much decisions we settled on a Genesis Manhatten Cot. Its made in NZ, very sturdy, and wasn't a ridiculous price.

The added bonus was that it had a matching change table and set of draws - which suited my OCD very nicely....

 Then it was just a case of arranging them and decorating the nursery.............

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Porn for pregnant woman

I am probarly a bit behind in the game sharing these but heck, if they make me giggle then they are worth sharing!

DAM that got me all hot and sticky!!!!

2011 Recap

For an end of year re-cap I stole this idea from Amelia over at 'Rantings of a Basket Case' - thanks chicky!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Well we got married?! That's something I have never done before and will never do again :)
We also travelled to Vanuatu!


2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tend not to make New Years resolutions only because I can never keep them! I have a few things planned for this year with the baby coming.
I will try and stick to our budget and still manage to put SOME money into savings so we can still enjoy a few luxury's.
I will also try and keep regular track of photos of Baby B so I can make up a scrap book (at this stage I'm thinking weekly)


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep. Kelly gave birth to their much wanted son, Cooper Jack Bicknell.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Mums horse, Niece, who has been in the family for over 25 years had to be put down. Her time was up-it was really sad but I did get to say goodbye so that was nice... no people though...


5. What countries did you visit?
We took our honeymoon in Vanuatu which we had mixed reviews on, really glad me and Cody got a chance to have one last trip before Baby B comes, and we got to experience so much it really was an eye opening trip!


6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More time! Just in general. It seems the days were full and the weekends even fuller! never really felt like I got much 'us' time. We were so busy!


7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
4th February 2011 - Our Wedding Day
22nd Febuary 2011 - The Christchurch earthquake which claimed 181 lifes
22nd August 2011 - The day I found out I was pregnant


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It would definitely have to be finishing my Diploma. After 4 years of distance learning I finally got my Diploma of Financial Services. I am so proud of myself for doing it and passing but am also glad it is over!


9. What was your biggest failure?
I really wanted to loose a few kgs, I did yo-yo for a bit, but once I found out I was pregnant all that went out the window.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Surprisingly I don't think I did. It must of been the first year in history!


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Jeez, I have to pick one? I think it would be our new camera. Its a Olympus SZ30 MR with 16 mega pixels and a 24x optical zoom! Its so nice having a reliable camera that actually takes really good photos.


12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Can I say the All Blacks? I think those boys did an amazing job and I am so so so proud of them for winning the Ruby World Cup. I am not usually a mega rugby fan but with the world cup on in 2011 I certainly learned a lot and actually really enjoyed going to the games. It also helped that I learned a lot of the players.


13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The guy who skippers the Rena, the cargo ship which hit the Astrolabe reef off Tauranga on 5th October 2011. Over 20,000 birds and wildlife lost their lifes due the massive oil spill. As I write this post now, the ship is still there and containers are still falling. It is an absolute disgrace and I am appalled by the whole situation!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Probably on food and travel. Ski trip burned a bit as did the Vanuatu trip. We have also been going hard trying to clear all our extra bills before baby comes.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Well the wedding was certainly an exciting time, but there were plenty of other things in 2011 that got me excited..... The girls ski trip and getting a positive pregnancy test in August, Rugby world cup in September and October, Vanuatu in November, Christmas in Galatea in December and New Years at Lake Ferry for New Years!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Adele - "Someone like you". 2011 was really the first time I heard her and she has stuck with me. I love her unique and timeless sound.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Happier - I married the love of my life and we are expecting a baby - things are AWESOME
b) Thinner or fatter?
Fatter - But I am carrying an extra person so I think that I am allowed to be :P
c) Richer or poorer?
Hard to say. We have more money coming in due to pay rises and some bills being cleared. But we are also paying extra on the ones we had left. So I would say the same.


18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Horse riding. Now that I am pregnant I am not allowed to ride at all and I didn't realise how much I would miss it. Especially now that it is getting darker later. And my poor ponies must be feeling so neglected.


19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Nothing - 2011 was a great year. Oh maybe not spend so much money on silly things...


20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Up in Galatea with Kelly, Shaun and the rest of the family. Spending 3 days on the farm. Christmas is always so much nicer when you can do it with children.


21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Um well I was already in love.....22. What was your favourite TV programme?
16 and pregnant, Teen Mom, The Walking Dead, Kendra, One Born Every Minute.
And the usual Home and Away, Neighbours, Shortland Street.


23. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
Not that I can think of.....I'm not usually one to go off and on with friends. You are either my friend or not. I have changed my opinion on a few people.....


24. What was the best book you read?
"Water for elephants" - By Sara Gruen. Bawled my eyes out!


25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Adele. When ever I hear her sing I close my eyes and sing at the top of my lungs. Shes just one of those singers who totally hits the soul!


26. What did you want and get?
An overseas holiday for just me and Cody.


27. What did you want and not get?
A weekend in Sydney for my birthday. But being pregnant it probably would of sucked anyway! But I endeavour to do it this year.


28. What was your favourite film of this year?
Oh man, I didn't really go to the movies much. Cody falls asleep at the movies so we don't go.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27. I had a dinner out at The Countryman with family and close friends. My birthday was also the 12 week mark of my pregnancy so Cody announced it to everyone.


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Keeping our credit card paid off!!!


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Only buy things that are on sale, that are comfy, versatile and not black! (I have way too much black in my wardrobe!)


32. What kept you sane?
Relaxation. If I don't get my 'me' time I go mental


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I would have to agree with Amelia, Kate Middleton. She is just so 'girl next door' and a role model. I love her hair, her fashion sense, and just her general morals. She is my idol.


34. What political issue stirred you the most?
All of them. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a non-voter. Politics never really interest me and to be honest I cant be bothered either way.


35. Who did you miss?
My sister and niece, who live in Gisborne. Although we do see each other regulary it would be much better if we were closer. I hate being so far away and I hate it that the journey from Masterton to Gisborne is such a terrible trip.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
Alicia Oliver. The coolest chick who I meet off the weddings.co.nz forum and still regulary keep in contact with even though we are hundreds of kms apart.


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Dont sweat the small stuff - there is always someone out there who is worse off than you!


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Now I've had the time of my life

No I never felt like this before

Yes I swear it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

And I owe it all to you

I've been waiting for so long

Now I've finally found someone

To stand by me

We saw the writing on the wall

As we felt this magical

Fantasy

 

Now with passion in our eyes

There's no way we could disguise it

Secretly

So we take each other's hand

'Cause we seem to understand

The urgency Just remember

You're the one thing I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love because

 

I've had the time of my life

No I never felt this way before

Yes I swear it's the truth

And I owe it all to you