With the adjustment to three kids, I decided I needed a way to have the baby with me other than in the car seat but still allow me to have my hands free to chase the toddler.  

There are lots of different options for baby slings, carriers, or wraps so parents can wear their babies.

This was my cheap, DIY version to create a wrap for less as I didn't want to invest in a Bjorn, as great as it would be to have one!

These are also quick to make.

Mine was less than $2 and took around 15 minutes to cut and sew!

I just watched some videos online and have really enjoyed having the option to wear Isabella when she's fussy.  I tried a sling with my first baby, but he was 9.5 pounds when he was born and just got too heavy for my back.  But this little peanut is still light enough to haul around!

Make them for yourself or for a baby shower gift!

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Our first baby was 9.5 lb and slept pretty well from the beginning.

Then baby #2 came along.

Then I decided the best bottom would be a zipper, rather than snaps.

One quick zip in the dark to shut up the bottom so I can go back to sleep!

These were also great for up-cycling.

Being that Izzie was born in the depth of winter,

(We do have her wear a onesie so her arms aren't stuck on her bare skin all night)

My sleep sacks I made for the last baby work well to change diapers,

With this bag the feet are stuck in the jammies,

Thank you all so much for your well wishes on the baby!  

It was overwhelming to read all the kind comments and I really appreciate it.

She is two weeks old now and my mom has left and things are still going alright, although we have had our moments adjusting.  

RJ's done well and loves the new sister:

Sometimes Ellie's not so sure:

But both are kind of de-toxing from having so much fun with Grandma.

She probably needs a few days from recovering physically from playing so much with my kids!

I'm trying to get in a semi-routine. 

Three kids is definitely an adjustment--for some reason loading three in the car seems much more of a pain than just two!

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But on to the project!

 Yesterday I found a few minutes to finish a blanket I'd sewn but hadn't bound during RJ's preschool and Ellie's nap.

I made basically the same blanket for Ellaria, but hers is turquoise.

The blankets are really simple, just a piece of satin backed with minky and bound.

I don't sew or quilt across it, which makes it kind of a pain to line the sides up as satin is slippery and the minky has quite a bit of stretch, so sometimes they end up not completely even and there's a little satin "sag" on this red one.

 Both blankets have an applique initial in the corner.

 

I had planned to post the final segment on the dollhouse, but ended up going into labor last Tuesday!

I was shocked, as it was 2.5 weeks early and I've never gone into labor spontaneously.

At 4pm I started having contractions and thought "Crap!  I'm not ready for this!"  

As much as I was thrilled to no longer be pregnant, I still had a whole list of things I wanted, or felt like I needed to do before she came.

But she was ready so she came!

We got to the hospital at 9pm after my husband got home from work and arranging for our other kids.

She was born at 11:30 pm, so a pretty quick, routine delivery overall.

I did hyperventilate during transition--which was weird.  I was sitting on a birthing ball and had a monster contraction that lasted forever, and I guess my breathing  got too shallow and fast because all the sudden my arms and hands went numb, followed by my face.  Then they started yelling at me to breathe slower and that helped.  Luckily my husband was behind me and I didn't fall backwards off that birthing ball or something.  I guess whatever happens during birth, I don't want to become a funny story that lingers around LandD nurses for years to come!  So that turned out OK once I decided breathing should be a top priority.

After the monster contraction, transition was actually over and I crawled back into the bed and rolled on my back, as my water exploded all over the bed, splashing onto the doctor and the floor, kind of reminding me of this scene from Coneheads,  Luckily for the doctor, she'd already put on the gown when it erupted.

Then little Isabella was here in 2 contractions and our family went from four to five.

Here's the token "swamp hag" picture.

My friend said once she feels like such a swamp hag right after birth and I thought it was an accurate description of how I feel physically.

Some women look beautiful with right after the birth, but I never have styled hair or makeup. 

 I always look...like I just had a baby a few minutes ago, sweaty, worn out, but full of joy.   

Despite not being a glamour shot, it's one of favorite pictures from having a newborn.

For me, it captures one of the best moments of my life to really hold my baby for the first time.

There's a side of so much relief, physical and emotional that she's here and safe and healthy, then just the overwhelming love of seeing your baby and looking in their squinty little eyes for the first time.
All the months of barfing, exhaustion, discomfort, physical deformity, and pain all become worth it in one moment.

 

The kids have adjusted well.

We were most concerned with Ellie, but she's been either loving or indifferent, so it's been good.

RJ's pretty excited to have another baby sister, but still mentions the "next baby is going to be a brother".

Mom's not even thinking about a next baby to further that conversation.

I've recovered physically so much faster this time around.

I usually don't get out of pajamas for weeks, but on Sunday I actually got dressed and did my hair.

Shocker!

It's taken me a long time to post this, I guess I'm still getting things back to order after the holidays, and trying to nest and get ready for the baby (due in 3 weeks).

I was worried it might not happen, but did end up getting the doll house itself finished in time for Christmas morning!!

Previous doll house posts:

Part 3: House Front

Part 2: House Built

Part 1: Peg People

So the details!

The intricate stuff on the exterior was mentioned here, where my mom saved the day.

My favorite element on the exterior is probably the rounded front door.

A total pain to design around, as both sides had to meet up to make the arched doorway, and in the end it's not that functional.
But it just so cute to me, and has proved useful to throw lost little pieces in the house when I'm too lazy to open the drawer!

There's a chest latch near the top to close the doors and keep them shut which makes it nice when moving it.

It was gold, so I spray painted it with gray Rustoleum Hammered.

You can also see the dentil molding I added to the front, as the space between the shingles and the tops of the windows seemed too bare.

 My mom cut extra windows and window sills which I just glued to the sides of the house for extra detail, along with the rounded little windows at the back.

 Probably the smartest two elements in the design were the casters on the bottom which make the house mobile.  It gets shut and placed against a wall when not in use, then pulled out and opened to play.  Having the front half open so wide kind of made it necessary to roll it around easily.

The casters have locks to secure the house to make it safe, as Ellie has used it more for a ladder to climb than a house to play with lately.

Then the drawer is so nice for all the accessories, furniture, and dolls.

It's just one big drawer, but I added the dado cut in the drawer front to mimic a double drawer since it was so wide.  The hardware are the original handles I removed from my birthday dresser I refinished in 2010 spray painted gray then a light coat of white to contrast the gray wood a little.