There is something extra gratifying about sewing for an awaited baby. The anticipation, the connection you feel with the child knowing how much it will touch their skin, and how the item will become part of your memory of their “little” days.  I could not resist sewing for this baby.  My skills are lacking, but the desire to have some hand made yumminess for this baby kept me inspired.  My favorite fabric designer Anna Maria Horner happened to come out with some flannels at just the right time for me to make some things for baby.  Greenbaums here in Salem also happened to carry them (after saying they likely would not).  I stumbled upon them in the store one day and it was like a moment out of the movie Serendipity.  Snow flaky music, the other matching glove, the name in the front of the book…etc.  The culmination of my nesting desires in one store with no need to pay for shipping.

Today is my due date.  Projects finished and laundered “just” in time.  I have felt pretty good about this pregnancy and have really tried to appreciate every moment.  At my appointment today the wind was knocked out of my sails a bit.  I am struggling to know if it is okay to be bummed, or if I am supposed to soldier on with full confidence.  I may post more tomorrow in pregnancy updated posts, but for tonight I just wanted to share something happy and not tarnish this very important milestone.

Here are some pictures of most of my recent projects.  Items include burp rags, a swaddling blanket for baby, a double sided “summer baby” blanket (light weight but yummy and soft), and a “big brother/big sister” blanket for my first borns.  They still use blankets all the time and very much enjoy soft things.  With all of the new cozy things around here being for the baby, I wanted them to have something “mama made” for themselves.  I also included a picture of two of the hats I made for the baby (picture does not translate very well).   These actually gave me the most trouble.  Who would have guessed?  The color of our (likely) take home outfit is a bit unique.  I wanted a hat that would not clash, so I decided to just make one.  I wanted it to be embellished and special and originally thought I would attach a flower, but never found a flower that would work.  I happened upon the buttons and decided they would do.

Nothing better than sewing for baby.

Last night I did a big coupon trip to Target.  I don’t do these often and it had been awhile.  I have been pretty much fallen off the coupon wagon lately and needed to get back at it.  We had just been doing our big Trader Joe’s trips and more frequent small trips to the grocery store for things like lunch meat, buns, milk etc (these small trips are dangerous though and we want to be better at avoiding them).  We get organic beef locally, eggs from a friend, and some produce at the Saturday Market and Costco.   But, our stockpiles were diminishing and I wanted to make sure I used my good coupons before the baby came and they expired.

At the same time I was “Targeting,” hubby ran (literally) to Walgreens with the twins in the BOB to get some other coupon items…..I just think he is amazing!  What is better than a husband who watches the kids, runs with them, uses coupons correctly, and loads it all back up to run home?  I am still trying to picture the whole thing.  Somehow he fit a pack of diapers, 2 things of toothpaste, 2 cans of oatmeal, 3 rolls of tin foil, and a rain cover in case the weather turned.

Here is what I got:

(Sorry for the iPhone pic)

Pack of Huggies diapers-$4.50

Big bag of Huggies wipes-$3.50

Shout-42 cents

Butterfinger candy bar-free

Ritz Crackerfulls-free

Kraft mac-free

Olive Oil mayo-free

Welche’s White Grape-$1.64 (kids don’t really drink much juice so I might make popsicles with it)

Deli meat-free

2 Activia yogurts-66 cents each

3 boxes of Fiber One cereal-about 75 cents each

2 Boxes of Fiber One bars- about a dollar each

4 pack of lightbulbs-50 cents

Wet Ones-$1.50

Strawberry Shortcake bandages- 87 cents

Armor All tire cleaner- 29 cents (reg $3.29)

Armor All leather cleaner-$1.80 (reg $5.29)

2 Toy Story Playtex sippies-$5.74

Total before coupons-$77.73

Total after coupons-$30.37

Minus $5 gift card from Fiber one deal-$25.37

Pretty sweet since the regular price of the diapers, wipes, and sippies alone is $23.47

Everything went smoothly on this trip.  Cashier did great.  Only one coupon beeped and she pushed it right through since it was a valid use.  I usually ask if they want the coupons with the items, or all at the end…she said at the end was good except the ones for free products. So I put all my items up first with their corresponding “freebie” coupon and it worked great.  That way she was not searching for the price of the item at the end when she needed to fill out the value. As always, I warned the lady behind me that I had a lot of coupons in case she wanted to change lanes.  She was not overly friendly with me until she got curious how I was getting the deals.  Only one hitch of the trip… as I was trying to watch my coupons go through, and give her a 20 second coupon run-down, her little son lifted up my shirt to see what in the world was under there (I am about 12 days from due date).  Must look pretty pregnant of small children are curious what is under my shirt.

Did you score any great deals this week?