While Brian is at an all-day interview (with 10 different interviewers!!!), Ev and I are just hanging out in the Deerfield/Northbrook area. The company set us up in a room at the Courtyard Marriott (fancy!), and we have a late checkout, so we've just been doing some work from the room this morning. Here's a shot of Ev enjoying his Sealy Posturpedic queen sized bed last night.
We will later head over to the uber fancy Northbrook Court mall which is filled with stores like Baby Gap and Gymboree! Okay, I think they pride themselves more on having stores like Burberry, Coach, Louis Vitton, Ralph Lauren, etc., but I can't afford those and love looking at fancy baby stuff. Ooo, there's even a Janie and Jack....I wish I had a whole bunch of money to spend on dressing this boy up! So yeah, the company is in Northbrook, but considering things like the stores in the mall, and that the average income is well over $100,000, we would never be living in this village. This is, however, Bri's third interview with the company (on campus, phone, and now in person), so there is a good possibility of a job offer. He has another interview on campus tomorrow, and then we're done. The company in Ashland wants a response, so after we hear about these two interviews, it's decision time.
In other news, we think we have our May vacation set up! The Grandparents H have generously offered to let us use a condo week this summer and something opened up on Myrtle Beach, SC in the beginning of May. I'm excited to finally see the East Coast and let Ev see the ocean, and we'll just have a week to relax before craziness recommences (Brian will be working this summer at the lab, I'll be....umm....I don't know!).
Well, we should start packing up our stuff so we can get on with the shopping!!! Ikea is only 25 miles away too....dangerous!
Stupid insurance claims started driving me up the wall this afternoon (we may end up paying over $3000 for Everett's birth and doctor's appointments since), so instead of crying and being bitter and worrying, I came up with a small list of things I am grateful for right now and thought I'd share:
-Everett is healthy! Were he a sick baby, in the ICU, having all kinds of doctor's visits, we really would be in trouble!
-Everett is a happy and lovely little boy. Seriously, I cannot go a day without laughing to the point that tears stream down my face because we get into giggle fests.
-My medical/hospital bills have amounted to nothing...really, I don't think we've paid anything.
-We got a decent tax return
-Brian will graduate on time! Yay!
-Brian has a job offer (who cares where or how much! In this economy, I'm grateful.)
-Brian has two job interviews this week (see above parenthetical statement).
-I have a good job and a great boss who is working with me being home in every way possible.
-I can make cloth diapers! :)
-Brian and I are also in good health. Phew!
-We know how to cook yummy meals (lasagna florentine last week, shrimp and asparagus penne last night).
-We have a TiVo! Thanks uncle Bill!
-The weather is getting warmer --> cheaper utility bills
-Our car works very well and gets decent gas mileage
-We have a working camera (good for catching all those wonderful Everett smiles).
-We have money saved, meaning this whole insurance thing isn't devastating.
-We have dental insurance, regardless of piddliness, it helps.
-We all have clothes, shoes, and coats.
-Everett has toys and books.
-We have birth control. LOL
-We have stuff we can sell before we move.
-We have wonderful families
-Brian's done with classes
-Breastfeeding = free baby food!
-We have plenty of video games, board games, books, and other ways to amuse ourselves.
-We have two cats to amuse us.
-We don't have octuplets. heehee
-We all love each other!
Making this list, which doesn't even begin to cover the number of our blessings, made me feel better. I hope it encourages you to think about things you're grateful for too!
So...when I said that I was developing an obsession with cloth diapers, I meant it! First, I bought 5 used diapers off diaperswappers.com for a grand total of $35. This was to have some on hand, and to examine in hopes of making my own dipes. I then convinced Brian that we should really own a sewing machine, and we went to Sears and got an $80 Kenmore. (It works beautifully and doesn't have any fancy buttons that we would be afraid to use.) We then went over to JoAnne fabrics and I picked out a bunch of cute flannel, fleece, and a bit of cotton. I then cut up some old pilly blankies and towel and went to town. I first made an insert for my two purchased pocket diapers out of an old blanket and a cheap burp cloth (it's the one with tractors and such on it). Then, I moved on to bigger things and made a fitted dipe! Complete with elastic in the legs and a pocket in case it isn't absorbant enough. This doesn't have a waterproof layer, so I'm still planning to buy a couple of Polyurethane Laminate covers to use over the fitted dipes. I decided to try first on plain old cotton, so I made this four layers thick (two cotton, one towel, one extra layer of towel down the middle). Isn't it lovely!? Don't make fun of my uneven stitching! I haven't used a sewing machine since I was about 14 and my scissors need to be replaced. I might still add some velcro, or I might just buy a snappi or two.
Here is my collection as it stands now! (L-R, T-B : Two Blueberry pockets, two work-at-home-mom (WAHM) made All-in-2s (they have snap in liners), one WAHM All-in-one, my first insert, and my first fitted dipe!)
Now for those not as obsessed with diapers as I am, here is a cute picture of my two guys:
And a video of Everett not wanting a nap in his crib (just wait....) Oh, and sorry it's sideways!:
Becoming a mommy makes you see things as beautiful that you never would have before. While desperately trying to get Ev down for a nap (which didn't work...he's now snoozing in his sling as I type), he got his hands up in front of his face, and the focused, amazed look on his face was beautiful. He looked like he was trying so hard to make connections and determine just what, exactly, these things were and how they were moving whenever he did something. The past couple of days, Ev has been pretty quick to get upset. He'll go from happily playing to wailing in two seconds flat. I think he's getting started on his 3 month growth spurt a week early...he woke up twice last night instead of the glorious one time we had been experiencing. So last night it was feeding at 6:15, bath at 7:30, meltdown immediately afterward (don't ask me, it's just been the past two days) which is only eased by rocking and another quick nursing at 8, dreamfeed at 10ish (feeding while he's still asleep...coolest thing ever), then, instead of sleeping until 4 or 5, he was up at 12ish and again at 5. Oh well! At least he did it on a weekend so I could unintelligibly mutter to Brian to go give the baby his nuk at 7. Then Brian was very nice and got up with the babe so I could sleep until 8:30. Yay!
My new obsession with cloth diapers has led into a burning desire to buy a simple sewing machine. Yes, I know I'm ridiculous, but I want one! I want to make diapers! (And Brian wants shirts tailored, which I guess I could try to do after watching some youtube....yes, that's how I became obsessed with the making cloth diapers idea....youtube is the greatest invention ever!)
Anyway! Brian has an interview in IL on Thursday, so we're thinking we might all head up there for a night. (I can't work anyway since Brian will have the car...and I want to go to Ikea!!!)
Seriously. I think, "gee, it sure would be nicer to the environment if we used cloth diapers. I think I'll look into that." OMG. You would not believe the sheer number of styles, types, brands, etc. of cloth diapers!!! There is no longer just the generic piece of fabric that you stick on baby's butt with some safety pins...no no....those are still around too, but now there are pocket diapers, all-in-ones, all-in-twos, fitteds, covers, and prefolds. And in addition to that, you have to think about one size, single size, inserts, doublers, snappis, snaps vs velcro.... EEK!
I've become slightly obsessed with diaperswappers.com and have already made my first purchase - 2 size medium Blueberry brand pocket diapers for $15. Oh yeah, that's another thing. You can pay over $30 for a single diaper in some of those all-in-ones! So I am slowly investigating diapers, brands, all the associated lingo, and even more slowly building up a little supply to try out. Forget new mama wardrobe - I want diapers!!!!
We will later head over to the uber fancy Northbrook Court mall which is filled with stores like Baby Gap and Gymboree! Okay, I think they pride themselves more on having stores like Burberry, Coach, Louis Vitton, Ralph Lauren, etc., but I can't afford those and love looking at fancy baby stuff. Ooo, there's even a Janie and Jack....I wish I had a whole bunch of money to spend on dressing this boy up! So yeah, the company is in Northbrook, but considering things like the stores in the mall, and that the average income is well over $100,000, we would never be living in this village. This is, however, Bri's third interview with the company (on campus, phone, and now in person), so there is a good possibility of a job offer. He has another interview on campus tomorrow, and then we're done. The company in Ashland wants a response, so after we hear about these two interviews, it's decision time.
