Baby Bib Tutorial

This project is super simple, but I don't want to forget how to do it - so I decided to turn this into a tutorial and post it on our blog. That way anyone else who is interested can learn how to do it, and if I ever forget - I can always just look this up and refresh my memory. (And eventually this blog will be printed into our 2013 Peaden Family book, so it will be accessible there as well!) I have to credit my mother in law Sue for teaching me how to make these, and for giving me the towels and ribbing for Christmas. I've been asking her to teach me how to make them, and I'm so glad that she did. These bibs are amazing for covering up a baby/toddler while they eat. There is no need to undress them because the bib takes care of most everything. Then just throw it in the washer and it's ready to go for the next time. I love love love them. 

Baby Bib Tutorial

Supplies:

1 Handtowel 

3 inches Ribbing (this comes on a bolt)

Instructions: 

1. Measure and cut ribbing lengthwise so it fits over the childs head. Mine was about 7 inches long (doubled up - so about 14" total). Then make sure your ribbing is exactly 3" wide. They cut this at the store, but most of the time it's kind of crooked, so you will want to straighten it out. 

2. Measure a circle in the top center the handtowel. You will want the circle to be about 5-6 inches in diameter. The hole stretches a bit once it's cut out, so don't worry about it being too small.

3. Cut out the circle and then sew the two open ends of the ribbing together creating a continuous band.

3. Measure the circles into quarters by folding in half and marking with pins. You want to do this to both the towel and ribbing. (Before you pin the ribbing, fold it in half lengthwise.)

4. Line up the pins with the raw edges together.  

5. Pin each of the four sides together. It will be a little bunchy, but this will come out as you sew. 

6. Take to the sewing machine and sew the ribbing to the towel. The tricky part is to stretch out the ribbing as you sew, making sure to keep your raw edges lined up together. This will provide an even stitch that allows the ribbing to stretch over the child's head and then sit snugly around their neck. 

 6. After you sew the ribbing to the neckline, go back around the zigzag the seam allowance.

7. There you have it! Simple - and so so useful. Like I said before - I love these bibs because it makes meal time so much less messy! No worrying about carrots on clothes, because the bib covers just about everything. (it's nice the it's big enough to sit over the shoulders and down in the lap.

And here are some pictures of the final product: 

 If you try it out, make sure to let me know - I'd love to hear how it goes.

Dear Lydia,

My sweet girl. Tonight as I was putting you to bed I was holding you and rocking you in the chair next to your crib. It's been several weeks since I've actually been able to have you fall asleep in my arms - you have started to prefer falling asleep in bed on your own. But tonight, tonight your breathing steadied and as I held your sleeping body in my arms I was filled to overflowing with how much I love you. I was getting ready to stand and gently place you in your crib when your little hand reached up and grabbed onto my necklace. I was surprised, but quickly realized that you were still almost completely asleep. Ever so gently your fingers started playing with the little heart around my neck. To me, it was as if you knew that I was getting ready to put you down and even through your sleepiness you wanted me to stay with you for just a minute longer. And so, I stayed. I sat and felt that tiny hand grasping the small chain of my necklace. I tried to memorize the way your fingers felt on my neck as they gently enclosed and then released the charm. I stared down at your closed eyes and prayed that I would never forget that sweet moment. My prayers then turned to you. I prayed that you would always know how much I love you, and that you would always want me to stay for just a few more minutes. I know that someday you will be all grown up and you won't need me anymore, but tonight as I held you - I cherished you as my baby girl. You will always be my darling baby, and I will always love you.

Love, Your adoring mother.

Friday Five

1- It's finally happened! Sunday night, Lydia slept through the night. The whole night! Like from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. This is the first time in her little life that she has ever made it through the whole night. (Most nights have me waking up about 2-3 times per night.) I'm so proud, and so relieved because after 8 months of barely any sleep stretches longer than 3 1/2 hours I'm pretty exhausted. She slept through the night again on Monday night, but Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night she woke up around 4 a.m. and had a really hard time putting herself back to sleep. (However, even that long of a stretch is something to cheer about.)

2- I went shopping at Target for diapers for Lydia (it's our first box of size 3's!) and ended up walking out the door with 5 shirts, a cardigan, and a comfy jacket. I'm so so happy. (All on clearance - which made the whole thing under $50.)

3- My mother-in-law came down and helped me make some really fun and cute bibs for Lydia. (I am even going to type up a little tutorial with pictures to make sure that I don't forget how to make them, so keep an eye out for that!)

4- Lydia started crawling! She is also quite the little stander. She is constantly pulling herself up to a standing position on anything she can. Boxes, couches, legs, small packages of diapers. I really think that she will be walking before she is a year old because she has such strong legs. It is SO fun to watch her at this, but also a little sad because she is entering the "bumps and bruises" stage. She crawls into things, stands then tips over, and bumps her head as she is moving around. She got her first big bump this week and it was so sad. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but when she woke up from her nap the mark across her cheek was dark purple and so so sad looking. Luckily she is a tough little girl and doesn't let her tumbles get her down - she is still happy and smiley and doesn't let a little bump stop her from getting into everything.

(It doesn't look as bad in this picture, but it was really sad when she first woke up. There is also a little bump on her forehead but you can't see it because of her bow. Poor adventurous girl. )

Diaper changes are out of control - she rolls and twists and sits up, and if i'm not careful she can pull herself up to standing before I can even get a clean diaper on her. I've started putting my legs out in a V and trapping her arms beneath them in order to keep her still. Luckily she is such a happy baby and she still just looks up at me and smiles.

5- This morning I left to head to a visiting teaching appointment. However, on my way my companion called to say that our sister wasn't feeling great and needed to reschedule. So, I decided that I would just head to the store because Lydia and I were already out and about.  Then David called and asked what I was up to. I told him that I was headed to the store and he asked if I was still at home or if I had already left, and could I please take a check to deposit at the bank. I said sure and headed home to pick up the check. As I pulled in, I realized that David's car was in it's parking spot! His office decided to close down early for the weekend due to the terrible snow that the Salt Lake valley (and really the whole state of Utah) has been having. It was such a surprise and SO awesome. David worked from home between playing with Lydia and I. It was so nice to be able to spend a little extra time with him.

Working hard (as you can see). Wouldn't it be nice if you could review financial statements in your comfy clothes from the coziness of your couch every day, huh?

Taking a break to eat some yummy lunch. 

Happy Friday!