Baby Socks

I have been knitting a lot of things for the baby lately. When I first found out I was expecting I found a Toe Up Baby Sock pattern and promptly knit up a cute tiny pair of infant socks! I can't wait to put them on my newborn.

While I wasn't really impressed with this pattern, I am not giving up on knitting socks and have plans to try two other baby sock knitting patterns in hopes I can find one I really like. Baby socks are so quick and fun to knit. Also, right after finishing these is when morning sickness hit me like a fright train and so I'm just posting a picture now.

Ohh, tiny baby feet! I'm so excited for this January baby so he or she can wear wool! Reuben, although a wonderful child, was born in July and did not need such things.

Things I need for Second Baby

When I had Reuben I published a list of things I bought for him before he was born. Many of those things (and the things we received from our baby shower) we will use again. We have almost everything we need if we have another boy with the exception of a few infant toys that Reuben utterly destroyed or that I gave away.

So what do we need? There are a few products that have come out since Reuben's birth that have peeked my interest, and a few things I realized I would like to try. So here is what I will be buying for my second baby; yes my sixth pregnancy, but my second birth.

• I bought a dockatot. Since I have a toddler, this baby will need it's own space and safe area to lay down to sleep. I was lucky to find the infant dockatot (goes up to 8-9 months) for sale used locally for almost 1/2 the price. We will use the dockatot only for naps and lounging (as I said, a safe space for me to place baby that a toddler can learn not to touch) until four months and then I plan on using it as a bedsharing cosleeper. The arms reach cosleeper we bought for Reuben will be used as the baby's sleeping area for nighttime sleeping until four months. Or the tiny kid will just sleep on my chest. Because you can't really predict baby sleep preferences. 
• I splurged BIG TIME and bought Reuben and new baby a matching pair of rainbow Sloomb Woolies. I love Sloomb Woolies (but they are $70 each)! As this baby is due January 29th I decided wool would be wonderfully useful AND that the money was worth spending. I spent a lot of time looking at the Sloomb website as Reuben was growing but never bought anything. This is my splurge item for the new baby and for Reuben! I'm so excited!
• Burp cloths. What, you say? You didn't buy burp cloths for Reuben? Well, I had one pack of two. And goodness knows I needed a lot more than two, but never got around to buying more because I was exhausted from being a sleep deprived mom and my brain wasn't functioning well enough to make the connection to buy more. This time we will be buying a lot of burp cloths for sure. I'm thinking cute ones from target--I'll probably add this to my baby sprinkle registry for baby two. 
• A car seat. Reuben's infant car seat is in good condition and is not expired, so we will reuse it--but we have two cars, and thus will need another baby car seat for my car eventually. 
• If the baby is a girl (and I am SO HOPEFUL) we will need to buy some "girlish" clothes. I do plan on reusing a lot of Reuben's clothes. I'm not picky and I definitely have sentimental attachments to them; but I do want some things new for this baby, girl or no. 
• I plan on cloth diapering again. We will only need one or two covers as some of Reuben's covers are completely worn out. I already knit a diaper cover for the new baby, and plan on making several more items as well.
• Maybe items: there are a few items we are considering but have not purchased yet. A double stroller? A standard Mai tai? And I've been seriously considering a my breast friend nursing pillow. I am not sure if we will buy all those things, but they are on the list to consider. 

What did you guys buy for your first or second baby? Any suggestions to add to the list?

Giving up to Survive

I'm around fourteen weeks now, and I've started to acclimate to the nausea. In order to reduce my stress I have given up a lot of things that I thought were permanent parts of my life! I am starting to function so whatever works, right?

Here is what I have given up.

1. Cloth diapers. Reuben is wearing plastic on his butt. Gasp.
2. Making my husband lunch. He just starves. I mean, he eats at a restaurant for lunch.
3. Worrying about our budget. I'm pregnant and miserable and just need to eat, not item crunch. Or make lunches for my husband.
4. Unpaper towels. We bought paper towels for the first time in two years. The Earth can look after it's own self for a few weeks while I figure out how to walk without getting dizzy.
5. Facebook. I needed to simplify. I've been having panic attacks and stress trying to keep up with my interpersonal relationships. I usually love facebook, but for right now it has to go! I need to get my own ducks in a row before I can worry about toddler advice or vaccine debates.
6. Worrying about how much TV we are watching. Am I able to lay on the couch? Is my toddler's attention not on me? Yay, who cares what else is happening.
7. Making videos. Nope, not happening. I can barely feed myself, so filming stuff is at the bottom of the totem.
8. Finding a picture for this blog post. I mean, all blog posts need pictures, so I slapped one up from Reuben's birthday drive on the blue ridge parkway, but it really isn't relevant to this post. Oh well, I don't care.

Downsizing all these things may not seem like much, but it really has been the world for me! I feel better equipped to deal with my two year old (who is suddenly so two, tantrums and all) and attempt to get something done with my life, like make food. And feed myself. And try to relax so I don't have panic attacks.

You know, priorities.

How are you guys?