15 Minute DIY Nursing Necklace

Lily has hit the stage where she has to hang on to something while she nurses, either a necklace or my skin. My usual necklace was thin and dug into my neck and her razor blade thin fingernails scratched up my chest like crazy. Enter the nursing necklace! I got the idea searching Pinterest, where I found links to ones on Etsy that looked great, but I didn't want to spend $20+ or wait for it to ship, so I made my own. It cost about $7 in supplies (with left over rings and beads) and about 15 minutes. I say 15 minutes, but I also had to change my bobbin and re-thread the sewing machine, so it could probably be even less!

What you need:

5" wide strip of fabric (by however long it comes on the bolt, usually 44")

Wood ring (came in a 5 pack, with the knit/crochet supplies)

1" diameter wooden beads (6) 

Coordinating 1" ribbon (two pieces at least 12" long)

Sewing machine and thread 

How to Make your Necklace:
Fold your fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together (like the picture). 
I recommend choosing a fabric with a simple, non-linear pattern so that it folds nicely around the beads.

Sew the long side to form a tube. I did two passes about an eighth inch apart for strength, but it was probably overkill. When you're done, trim the fabric close to the seam and turn your tube right side out. Iron flat if you want, but I'm to lazy :)

Fold your tube in half and thread it through the ring. Put both of the ends through the loop and pull tight, straightening and flattening your knot as you go.

On each side, tie a knot and pull tight. Slide a bead into the tube and knot tight. Repeat three times on each side. 

Roll in the end of your tube to make a clean edge and insert the ribbon. Fold and tuck the ends of the tube around the ribbon to make a nice edge and sew. 
Again I did two passes, for strength.

Repeat on the other side. Tie on with a bow and decide if you want to trim your ribbon. When you like the length of the ribbon, carefully melt the ends with a lighter to keep the ribbon from unraveling. 

Put that necklace on and enjoy baby having something other than you to yank on while they eat!

Lily is 2 Months Old!

Big Events 

• 7/7 - 1 month old. Girls' day with Mom while Dad was in Illinois for work
• 7/11-7/13 - Trip to Mount Vernon for Mom's class reunion
• 7/12 - Met Great Grandpa and Grandma Grunder
• 7/20 - Slept through Reiman Gardens with Jenny, Tyler and Ben. 
• 7/23 - Met new Cousin Madeline at the hospital on her birthday!
• 7/24 - Slept through the night (6 hours) for the first time
• 7/25 - My first bath in the tub
• 7/29-31 - Spent the night at the hospital when Dad got his appendix out
• 8/2 - Aunts Melissa and Amanda babysat while M&D went to CPR.
• 8/7 - Two Months Old!

Size/Percentile: As of 8/13/14

• Weight -  9 lbs  10.5 oz (7%)
• Height -  22.25 inches (30%)
• Head -  15.4 inches (65%)

Typical Daily Schedule: 
I usually sleep from about 10 or 11 pm to 3:30 am and then wake up, eat, and go back to sleep until about 6:30, eat again and sleep until 9:30. Then I eat and am awake while Mom finishes getting us ready for the day and we go down to the living room. This is my happiest time of day. I eat again at about noon and Dad and I cuddle to help me get to sleep again while he's home for lunch. I eat again at about 3:30 and again at 7, but I sleep in between. Then I like to be awake for a while and play with Dad until I have my bath at 9. Then I eat and eat and eat until about 10 or 11 when I fall asleep for the night.

Things I Love:

• Boob. Of course.
• Baths! I cry the 10 minutes before bath time every night and calm down as soon as I hear the water running.
• My giraffe sound maker in my crib. 
• Having my arms swaddled to sleep, but out if I'm awake
• When we drive on gravel or bumpy roads
• Touching Dad's beard
• When Dad whistles to me
• I think I like the swing but I'm not quite sure.

This Month's Milestones:

• I started smiling on purpose at 5 weeks old.
• I went on my first trip - Mount Vernon for Mom's class reunion
• Major growth spurt at 6 weeks - Mom's excited for a break from those for a while!
• I slept through the night (from midnight to 6 am) on July 24th! Usually I only sleep 4-5 hours, but I have slept up to 6.5 in one night!
• I had my first bath in the tub on the 25th.
• I "talk" a lot and am trying to figure out how to laugh like Mom and Dad do. Right now I just kind of wheeze.
• I blow bubbles and I found my tongue at 8 weeks old. 
• I recognize and let Mom and Dad know when my diaper needs changed.

Highlights of the Month:

• I met my new cousin Madeline at the hospital on her birthday (7/23). She was already heavier than me. 
• We got a stroller from Aunt Jenny and Uncle Tyler, so Mom and Dad take me on lots of walks so they don't have to buckle me in my car seat which I don't like much.
• I still rarely eat without the shield, but we're practicing. I don't like it but Mom sure is excited to be done with it.
• I moved up to size 1 diapers, but only because I could really fill the NB sized ones - the 1's are really still too big on me. 
• Mom had to put away my Carter's brand NB outfits because they're too short, but all of my other clothes are too wide, so nothing really fits me right now. I'm working on filling out the rest of my NB and 0-3 month clothes.
• I usually sleep in my crib or car seat now, but sometimes Mom is still too lazy/tired to put me back after I eat in the night, so I sleep with her. 

One of my first smiles 

Ready for Grunder Campout - my 6 mo shirt is huge!

Snuggling my duck

My eyelashes came in this month!

Hi!

Meeting cousin Madeline

Man that flash was bright!

First bath in the tub!

Loving the swing we borrowed from Mary and Jon 

Upset that Grandma went home...
but she came back the next day for Dad's appendectomy

Sitting with Daddy so that I can't kick his stitches

Happy to be home!

2 Months Old!

Hospital Packing List

So this post is mostly for me for if/when we have Baby #2 and I can't remember any of this :) The hospital provided gowns and a robe for me and everything but mittens and a pacifier for Lily. Here's what was actually used from our bags at the hospital. 

• For Me:
• For Labor
• Thick pillow
• Sports bra
• Dark zip up hoodie/jacket
• Phone + charger
• Fuzzy socks/slippers
• For Recovery:
• Flip flops
• Non-gown clothes option: black pj pants, nursing top and bra, socks
• dark top for pictures
• Toiletries - Chapstick, hairbrush, extra hair ties, makeup for pictures, toothbrush/paste and deodorant, little shampoo/conditioner
• Going-home clothes: loose pants, nursing top, nursing bra and "maternity undies"/depends
• For Mike:
• Paperwork folder: pre-registration form, insurance card, driver's license, check for birth certificate, contact list for first announcement
• 2 Changes of clothes
• Pajamas/Slippers
• Blanket/pillow
• Toiletries - Deodorant and toothbrush
• Snacks
• Laptop & Cord
• Phone & charger
• Camera & charger
• Extension cord
• DVD's and other boredom busters
• For Baby:
• Car seat in van
• Coming home outfits (1 Carter's NB and 1 other NB or 0-3 mo.)
• Outfit/hat/blankets/props for pictures
• Pacifiers - didn't use but will probably have in the diaper bag
• Extra bag - for all the stuff from the hospital for me and for baby

Also see my Baby Registry Review Here