Hand Made Lace

Handmade items are always special and this amazing little shoe is no exception. It was a gift from our friend Danielle. She laughed when she gave the package to me saying that normally she gives a pair of socks trimmed with handmade lace but there was "no way" she was going to make us two pair because it's a lot of work so she handed me this instead ...

I'm sure I caught flies! Isn't it amazing??

 

Here are some close-up pictures too ...

Star Light, Star Bright ...

We received the first gift for the nursery this weekend from our special friend, Laura.

Isn't it sweet? It lights up and casts stars and a moon on the ceiling!

Thank you Laura for the starlight lamp!

I know some of you are wondering what are plans for the nursery so I'll try to start putting together a "mood board" to share with you in the next couple of weeks.

Socks & Shoes

I am very behind in sharing some of the gifts we've received for the babies
 ... so there will be a couple of posts coming today.

First, more socks and shoes ...
these twenty little toes will never be lacking for warmth!

Mieke, how did you know that Axel has a soft spot for Giraffes?

Thanks Marleen, you covered our bases ... regardless of whether the
second baby is a boy these will come in very handy!

Many thanks to all of you from all of us!

The Diapering Decision

We decided long ago that any babies in our house would be cloth diapered. Yes, I know, we've heard all the pros and cons arguements - but we've made our decision. Please don't bug us about it. Instead support it ... we've added diapers to our "wish list" so if you're looking for something you know we will use this is it!

The brand I've settled on is Bambino Mio ... mainly because we were given some and they made sense. Ha! Keeps me from having to do hours and hours of research and buying and trying (after the babies are born). She liked this and so we're going with it :)

This is kind of what I have figured out we (still) need ... as we've received some I've adjusted the quantities.

Diapers

• 32 of size 1 (0-7kg)
• 48 of size 2 (7-16kg)

Covers:

• 8 of newborn (0-5kg)
• 4 of small (5-7 kg)
• 6 of medium (7-9 kg)
• 6 of large (9-12 kg)

I have added the diapers and covers for newborn and small sizes to the babies Amazon wish list to make life easier ... and I'll come back to this post and update these quantities as our needs change.

If you'd like to know more about bambio mio click on their logo above or here.



Note to self - ideal quantities for two babies:

Diapers

• 48 of size 1 (0-7kg)
• 48 of size 2 (7-16kg)

Covers:

• 8 of newborn (0-5kg)
• 8 of small (5-7 kg)
• 6 of medium (7-9 kg)
• 6 of large (9-12 kg)

18 weeks!

Today, we are twice as far as we've ever made it before ... it's an amazing feeling. We're getting more excited by the day and making plans. Lists ... ha, I've lost track of the lists ... there is so much to do but right now we are just trying to just enjoy every . single . day.

Current status:

18 weeks

cravings: doing great here and not craving anything in particular. 

aversons: still don't want anything sweet - my friend just heaped sugar into the hot chocolate I just made her because it wasn't sweet enough. Ha! mine is perfect.

weight gain: about 5 pounds

Cute Stuff!

Source: Craftiness is not Optional

We were sitting at the breakfast table the other morning and Axel commented on how he notices things that he didn't used to. Like in the ads ... if it's baby related, he actually stops and checks it out - sometimes he even asks if it's something we need.

Now, I have a slew of nieces and nephews so things baby aren't really all that new to me. BUT some things have changed or just gotten way cuter.

This bapron sure looks like a darn good idea instead of just a little bib ... plus it would be so easy to add a crumb catching pocket.

And I've just ordered a bunch of this gauze to make a stack of swaddles. I figure that with two I could use all the help I can get when it comes to me and them getting enough sleep.

Source: Melanie Ham Designs

I've also seen some really cute burp rags but I'm not keen on the pre-fold ones .. not sure why .. do you have any advice? I quite like the ones made from regular flat fold birdseye cloth diapers but I couldn't find any pics or tutorials on-line.  I need to do some checking here to see if I can get the flat fold birdseye diapers ... or put that on my list of things to be sent from the states.

One thing I know they don't have but is already winging it's way here are those oh-so-practical sleepers with the drawstring/elastic at the bottom.

Some people are already asking what we need and what we have so I'm trying to take stock and make a list. Maybe that's a job for today ...

17 weeks

WHAT, NO PICTURES?

Sorry, nope. Darn, huh? I almost took one this morning because the bump was really showing but I was in sweats and since it's Friday I couldn't be bothered to do my hair.

I'm feeling great - slept solidly two nights in a row AND took a nap today (sure didn't see that one coming). Nose continues to be stuffy most of the time and I really should follow the doctors advise and stick my head over a bowl of steam but ... well, it's boring!

It's possible I felt them kicking the other night. When we went to bed I was laying on my tummy and felt a funny tapping ... no luck last night - maybe they were sleeping. Tummy continues to grow - a whole inch in the last week.

Piles of clothes have rolled in from friends that I need to sort. Two friends each gave me a baby bathtub full of clothes plus another box and a bumbo seat.

Current status:

17 weeks

cravings: none really, just really like things that are very savory - made the *best* chili last night :)

aversons: still don't want anything sweet

weight gain: about 4 pounds

15 weeks

Our primary OB referred us to a doctor at UZ (university hospital) Leuven today for a 15 week scan. He was hoping to check for Down's but it was too early for one test and too late for another. But we're not bothered. It wouldn't change anything for us! We'll take them as they come and love them to bits regardless. The doctor has advised against an amnio since there are two and much too precious to risk any complications and we have turned down any further tests for abnormalities.


The appointment was at least 45 minutes long and he printed LOTS of pictures. He also took measurements of both babies ... one is a tad smaller than the other plus they are both just a little small for 15 weeks so he thought my due date was too early. We saw our primary at 16 weeks and he said that we shouldn't worry. All heart, liver and lung function looked good.

They were kicking and squirming the entire time so the doctor had a hard time pin-pointing some of the measurements (maybe why they're reading small?) and one umbilical cord was folded so he couldn't determine how many vessels / arteries it had.

We're scheduled to go back to Leuven at 20 weeks so might know more then. We'll see our primary OB again at 24 weeks. It seems like so long but obvious he is confident that things will progress well.

Current status:

15 weeks

cravings: none

aversons: coffee and anything sweet