Happenings in Mouse World

This is the first post I've actually typed on a computer in a long time.  Usually, I send the post remotely via email.  So this will be a really long post.

FYI - I have to add a picture of me, since Facebook is posting a maternity pic from below, and everyone will think I'm pregnant!  I'm not!

Currently, I'm battling a cold. But I slept practically all day, so I can't sleep now.  Sad!!

Which is bad, because I'm supposed to take my basal temperature at 4:15, and its midnight.  Oh well - probably won't be that accurate. 

Basal temperature?  What? 

Hmmm.... well I got my IUD taken out on Thursday, and so I'm charting my temperatures to determine when I'm fertile and when I'm not.  I had to get the IUD taken out because I was having some unpleasant side effects, and anyway, we are hoping to get pregnant in the late autumn or early winter.

YAY!!!!

Matt is having trouble adjusting to the emotional aspect of becoming a father.  So we are waiting until he is more comfortable with the idea.  Me - I've been waiting for this for almost seven years.  A lot of mistakes in my life were made because I tried to rush this.  But I'm ready - so ready.  Financially, we are okay.  We would be better if Matt got into the apprenticeship this January, but even if he doesn't, we will be okay.  Emotionally, I am SOOO there.  I want more than anything for next year, when we go applepicking with Mom and Dad, to bring along Baby Cubical Mouse.  And I really want to have a baby before Beth and Gina have their weddings.  I'd rather not be ready to pop at their weddings.  

I did manage to drag myself out of bed around noon.  We ran to a couple thrift stores.  Matt needs work clothes, and we're not going to pay a ton of money for clothes that will get ruined by oil.  While we were shopping, I found a two pairs of jeans and a pair of capris that fit my legs perfectly, but are too small in the waist.  (That is my perpetual problem with jeans - my butt is a size bigger than my thighs.)  They will be perfect to convert to maternity jeans!!  I found a couple tutorials, but I think my best option is to get some jersey from Joann's, take the waistband off the jeans, and convert them to very high waisted maternity jeans, like these at Motherhood Maternity.  I'll add an elastic band at the top, too.  

Speaking of maternity clothes, I've been searching all over the internet for tutorials.  Unlike about ten years or so ago, maternity patterns are not available in plus sizes, and actual maternity clothes are very rare and very expensive.  So far, the cutest (and best) ones I've found are:

This rouched shirt tutorial from Homemade by Jill:

I love this countdown shirt from DIY Maternity:

I'm a huge fan of this empire dress that uses a T shirt for the top, from Do it Yourself Divas, but I would make it shorter, since I'm not a fan of maxi dresses:

This one is almost the same, but uses a woven shirt and jersey fabric for the skirt (opposite from the one above), from Versus:

I like this tutorial, but it uses a men's shirt, so I would have to get, like, a 3XL men's shirt for it to work! (From DIY Maternity)

I'm not a huge fan of maternity skirts, mostly because they slip all over the place, but this one from DIY Maternity could work!

So that is what I have found.  I'm not going to actually make anything until it's time, but I'm glad all these other ladies before me have figured out the DIY clothes!!