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One of the projects Chris came up with for Mackenzie’s room was hand-making a crib mobile. For the longest time, Chris and I were at an impasse as to what to put over Mackenzie’s crib. I wanted this mobile from Land of Nod, and Chris wanted something with lights, music, and image projection. We just couldn’t seem to come to a compromise.

On the way to and from Huntsville, we listened to the audio lessons for our Financial Peace University class and talked about our financial goals as a family. Then, after a visit to Popo in Nashville, we were both re-inspired to create a sustainable, quality environment for Mackenzie. Thus, the idea for a handmade mobile was born.

We pulled the idea for the cutouts from our inspiration fabric. The mobile is bright and colorful, and it moves simply by spinning one of the rings. I think it’s perfect. (Follow the jump for a simple tutorial.)

Chris and I are both really pleased with the end result. At a total cost of less than $10, the price tag doesn’t hurt, either. Here’s what you’ll need if you’d like to make your own mobile:

• 2 wooden dowels (we used 3/8″ dowels from Michael’s)
• Drill bit to match width of dowel
• 1 1″x1″x24″ square wooden dowel (found at Home Depot)
• 2 embroidery hoops (we found the widths we wanted at Michael’s, but Joann’s offers larger sizes)
• Felt or heavy-weight paper for cutouts
• Embroidery thread
• Zip ties
• Small eye screw
• Paint, if desired
• Sand paper

*If you have drill bits on hand, we found it’s easier just to buy dowels that match the bit you already have. If not, the drill bit will be the most expensive part of the project and will cost between $8 and $14.

1. First, determine the height above the crib that you would like your mobile to reach and determine the length you would like the arm of the mobile to extend over the crib. Cut your dowels to these two lengths.

2. Cut the square dowel into three pieces. Cut two 1 1/2″ (or measure to square) pieces for the bottom and end pieces of the mobile. Then, cut a third, longer piece to stabilize the joint. Determine the length based on the diameter of your dowels. Our dowels were 3/8,” and our joint piece measured about 3 1/2″.

3. Drill a hole approximately mid-way into each end piece. Then, drill a hole about 2″ deep into the bottom of your joint piece. Then, drill a hole into the side of the joint piece about 1/2″ from the top.

4. Fit the longer dowel into one end piece and the bottom of the joint piece.

5. Fit the shorter dowel into the side of the joint piece. Place the second end piece on the end of the second dowel. This section forms the “arm” of the mobile.

6. Attach the eye screw into the bottom of the end piece at the end of the mobile’s arm.

7. Sand any rough edges and paint the mobile if desired.

8. Discreetly attach the mobile frame to side of the crib using two zip ties. We used white zip ties to blend in with the color of our crib.

9. Remove the outer hoops (with the screws) from the embroidery hoops. Use only the inner hoops, without the screws.

10. For each hoop, tie two equal lengths of embroidery thread to opposing sides of the hoop. Floss the thread threw the eye screw and tie to the other side of the hoop. Balance the hoops and hang them at the desired height.

11. Create stencils of your desired shapes and cut the shapes out from your heavy-weight paper or felt. Or, you could create other elements to attach to the mobile.

12. Use embroidery thread to attach the cutouts to the mobile.

Simple, sustainable, and beautiful!

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What an amazing week. We were busy every single night. Gotta squeeze things in while we can, right? On Monday, we had coffee and caught up with friends, and Tuesday night we went to another Financial Peace University class to make up for missing Sunday night. Wednesday, Chris’s parents came up to Nashville with Ria to have an early birthday dinner with us. We finished our last (yay!) child-birthing class on Thursday, and then on Friday, we left for Arkansas.

The weekend was wonderful, too. We celebrated Lea’s and my 29th birthday together with her and Joel, which was just perfect, and we managed to squeeze in lots of visits with some of our close friends. The baby shower my friends threw for me was so thoughtful, and it made me miss and appreciate them even more.

Driving in to Arkansas on Friday night felt strangely like going home. In a way, it felt as if we could drive over to our house, pull into the driveway, and pickup life just as we left it nearly eight months ago. Chris and I have never had a place we really called “home” — for a while, it was Colorado, but since Chris’s parents moved, it doesn’t feel quite the same.

I suppose it makes sense, really. We spent four and a half years in Conway, and the relationships we have there really are incredible. God is doing an amazing thing at New Life and in that community. It is honestly difficult to really appreciate until you step away from it. I left Sunday night feeling so overwhelmed by the love of our friends. I hope it is something I never again take for granted.

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Chris and I spent the weekend in Huntsville, Alabama, with his family. It amazes me how quickly Ria is growing every time I see her! She started kindergarten a week and a half ago, and her English is coming along really well. Next big challenge: out-smarting those big brothers of hers!

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The rest of our cloth diapers for Mackenzie should arrive from Cotton Babies later today. This order has small BumGenius AIOs, newborn Bummis Super Whisper Wraps, and pre-folds. I never thought I’d be excited about diapers, but I honestly can’t wait to see the covers!

A big part of my attempt to be both a frugal and green parent will be cloth diapering Mackenzie. Some of my friends look at me like I’m nuts when I say that, but both my mom and Chris’s mom managed to do it with far fewer options than I have available to me today. I know it might be tough at first, but I’m determined to stick it out.

Before you write me off as “super green,” or the idea of cloth diapers as “super ick,” check out these facts:

• Disposable diapers are the third most common consumer product in landfills today.
• A disposable diaper may take up to 500 years to decompose.
• One baby in disposable diapers will contribute at least 1 ton of waste to your local landfill.

*Based on a report from the Women’s Environmental Network and quoted from CottonBabies.com.

Even without the environmental impact, the cost of disposable diapers is enough to motivate me to consider cloth. Based on the advice we’ve received from other parents, we’ve been told to plan on 8-10 diaper changes per day, or about a package of diapers per week. At an average $20 per package of diapers, we’re looking at $80-$100 per month, which rounds out to $1,000 or more per year.

Our initial investment in cloth diapers is just $250, plus another $45 for a diaper sprayer (which I’m told makes cleaning them much less icky). We’ll need to add to our stash as Mackenzie grows at a cost of about $150 per year, possibly less. The savings are undeniable.

So what’s in our diaper stash? The options are overwhelming, and I’ve finally decided to just try a few different things and see what works for us and what is best for Mackenzie. (Much of what I know about cloth diapering I learned from my friend Keli over at Kidnapped by Suburbia. Check out the nifty cloth diapering tutorial she wrote up here.) Here is the diapering plan of attack Chris and I have come up with so far:

• BumGenius All-In-One’s: Six of these are in our order today. These diapers are just like disposables, except that you wash them instead of throwing them away. We’ll have to buy new ones for each stage of growth, but they’re perfect for a few reasons. Namely, making getting used to the diapering process as easy as possible on both of us, and for babysitters/trips out of town.
• BumGenius One-Size Diapers: I ordered 6 3.0s when they were on sale in June, and I think they are going to work out great. They’re pocket diapers, which means that you stuff the prefold inside the diaper. Chris and I kind of think that you could just lay the insert inside the diaper, and that would work fine, too, but we’ll see how things go. We haven’t just completely made our stash up of these because I’ve read that sizing and absorbency can vary from baby to baby.
• Bummis Super Whisper Wraps with Pre-folds: I ordered four newborn covers and fourteen pre-folds. I think covers and pre-folds are the most economical route, but you do have to order them by size. We’re going to compare covers with pre-folds to the one-size diapers and see what we like best. If the one-size diapers work best, then we won’t have to order new ones as Mackenzie grows. All of that really depends on her, though.

So that’s what we’re starting out with. There are tons of options, but we’re attempting to keep our diapering regimen as simple as possible. If you have any questions or tips to offer, please post them in the comments!

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Today I am hitting the ground running, and these shoes seemed to be just the thing. I bought them for $2 at a thrift store when I was in high school, and I refuse to give them up. I love the blue velvet, and somehow, they remind me of the beautiful fall days (and cooler weather!) that are *hopefully* just around the corner. They need some love, for sure, but nothing that a bit of duct tape and Dr. Scholl’s can’t cure.

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A few minutes after I settled her on the couch pillow and moved to a different spot, Annie jumped up on the couch and squeezed in right next to her. My first instinct was to correct Annie and have her move, but Sydney didn’t seem to mind the closeness. If anything, she settled deeper into her pillow.

Chris and I are participating in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University through our church, and in the sidebar of last week’s workbook pages, Dave has this quote:

“Accountability and support are the ladders that lift us up from life’s pits.”

I’ve mentioned before that the first half of this year was a major Plan B scenario for Chris and me. Nothing seemed to go according to plan, and the worse things got, the more I wanted to withdraw. Thankfully, we plugged into two great small groups, so we weren’t isolated during such a difficult season in our lives. However, I still fight that tendency to huddle down when storms move in, rather than reaching out for support and accountability from the people God has placed in my life.

Sydney’s instinct today when she was scared was to huddle into the nearest corner, but what was best for her was the closeness of her people and her Annie. Seeing her reaction reminded me that we aren’t meant to face the storms of life alone. The only way to get over the fear that accompanies a storm is to face it, and the best way to face fear is with support and accountability from people you trust.

Comment Guide for Today

I thought I’d follow Havi’s cue and try a new thing with comments on the blog. Instead of leaving the discussion open-ended, here are a few thoughts to prompt your interaction with this post.

Are you facing a storm? Who can you reach out to for support and accountability? If a friend of yours is facing one of life’s storms right now, how can you provide the support and accountability they need to come out safely on the other side?

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Chris worked with designer Brandon Wright to create the initial site design, and I completed the development and worked with Beth on her social media strategy. We are so pleased with the end result. Please check out Beth’s site and consider following her on Twitter!

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Gabrielle over at DesignMom shared this video on her blog the other day, and I had to share it hear, just in case your world doesn’t intersect with hers. According to Gabrielle, “Apparently, when making it, they shot 60,000 pictures and developed 9,600 prints.” This is exactly the kind of video Chris would love to put together. I’m looking forward to seeing the next one Olympus produces.

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I’m not sure why this surprised me, but suddenly it felt as if my options were rapidly closing in on me. Since finishing my degree, I’ve been passionately pursuing jobs with companies that I would be proud to work for, jobs that seemed otherwise impossible until we moved to Nashville. This new realization that those aspirations would need to wait until Mackenzie is at least six months old hit me like a ton of bricks.

As these thoughts flooded my mind, I panicked. Completely. Just me and Mackenzie, all day, every day, along with the incessant laundry and dishes and sweeping and mopping. In that moment, it was hard to remember how much we have wanted her, how much we [attempted to plan] for this. And the fact that I am not alone, that Chris will be by my side.

I closed my laptop and walked out to the laundry room to pull out yet another load of laundry — the third that day, I think. As I folded, I thought about the years and late nights and time away from friends and family and sacrifice that finishing my degree required. I wanted to cry at the thought of waiting even longer to finally begin — to finally start living the life I had planned for myself.

But then I remembered the night in the car with Chris when we decided that it was time to start a family, and my tear-filled confession that I wanted to do it right, when we confessed our fears, recognized that control is an illusion, and decided to forge ahead anyway. I remembered how hard it was for us to get pregnant. And I remembered the moment we found out and those tender first eight weeks, doing our best to make sure Mackenzie was healthy and safe.

I think these moments are what it is to become a mother. After I re-settled in my heart how much we love Mackenzie already, and how much we really do want this, I started to pray.

I’ve been smack-ow-ing against what I perceived to be an arrogant, frustrating, despicable wall. I have been totally stuck in a rut with my job hunt. On the flip side, I’ve been blessed with some great freelance referrals. But rather than seeing these referrals as the direction I should be going, I’ve said over and over again to God, “This is not what I wanted. This is not the direction I want to go,” and then run directly into the wall again.

I can’t even tell you how many times I have said that in the last six months.

But suddenly, standing there in the laundry room, I realized that the wall I have been running up against isn’t a wall I should have been trying to overcome in the first place. If life is a video game, then I’m running into this wall because I’m not where I’m supposed to be. I missed a step somewhere, a ladder, or a door, and I need to go back and figure out where that is.

And then I thought about Creative Perch. And how I was so exhausted by our circumstances and morning sickness last April that I decided to give it a break. I was uninspired and could see so many other wonderful writers sharing about creativity that my own thoughts seemed an unnecessary contribution to the conversation.

I’m still working this through, but I know in my heart it is time to bring Creative Perch back. To do what I am supposed to do, what I should have been doing all along. To get back to the things that sustain my heart and bring me joy. I have a goal to “unveil” the new site on September 1, so please check back here often for updates on progress over there.

I know today’s post is a long one. Thanks so much for hanging in there with me, for sharing the journey, and for walking with me through these last several months. Much love to you always.

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Imagining all of the milestones and the ways we’ll grow and change between now and then is almost unfathomable to me, but it’s magical to think about, too. I love my life. There isn’t a single part of it that I would change.

Since our anniversary is on a Monday this year (ugh… Monday), we celebrated by taking a little trip to Atlanta last weekend. We dropped the dogs off at a kennel and spent two nights away. Even though it was short and sweet, it was very refreshing — a much needed break from the mile-a-minute pace we’ve been keeping lately.

Friday night we visited with one of my husband’s best friends and his wife, and on Saturday, we spent almost the entire day agonizing over what to buy at IKEA. We went with what we thought was a decent budget for purchases for Mackenzie’s room, but as always happens, lots of things got crossed off the list, and lots of things got added. We decided on Mackenzie’s dresser, but the shelf and rug got nixed. I am still on the lookout for those.

We were exhausted by the end of the day, so rather than go back and get dressed up for an evening out, we just headed out to find the nearest, nicest, casual restaurant with a short waiting list. We ended up eating at Brio’s Tuscan Grille, and it was amazing. Chris ordered chicken under a brick, and I ordered a chicken and sweet potato risotto. We both ordered wildberry and mint lemonades to drink. The meal was rich, full of flavor, and completely satisfying. If you’re in Atlanta anytime soon, I highly recommend Brio’s. I’m sure we’ll be back.

Today is going to be busy, but I *hope* to finish the chair for Mackenzie’s room and set up her dresser. Painting will commence tomorrow, and then curtains later this week. I’ll post pictures as soon as it’s all set up.

One last thing before I go — congratulations to Robin on winning the book drawing! I’ll email you soon for a mailing address. Thanks to everyone for sharing what you’ve been reading lately! I’ve added your recommendations to my reading list.

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The Wednesday Sisters is such a sweet book, and one that I do want to share with my close women friends. I had a rough week while Chris was gone, and this book became my refuge for those few days. It’s the story of women as real as you or me, going through the very real changes and challenges that life brings, but with the kind of warmth, clarity, and authenticity I hope to have. And it has a beautiful, satisfyingly happy ending — not the sappy, cheesy kind, but the kind that warms you to your toes.

I’d love to pass my copy along to you. It’s very gently used, I promise. Post a comment below about a book you’ve read lately, and I’ll pick one person at random on Saturday. After you’ve read it, I hope you’ll pass it along to a friend who will enjoy reading it, too.

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I finally finished Mackenzie’s crib bedding last night. I sewed a simple fitted sheet for the crib out of the fabric that we used on her blanket. I was planning to sew a bedskirt, but I think it looks good without one. Who knows — I’ll probably change my mind.

This afternoon I will probably start on that chair. I need a piece of foam for the seat, and then I’m good to go. The fabric is in the dryer now. We have just enough of the print from the bedding set left to make a pillow for it, too.

We’re planning to go to Atlanta this weekend to celebrate our anniversary and pick up a few last things for the nursery from Ikea. I found a dresser online that I like, and we’ll pick up a rug, too. We’d like to get a shelf as well, but we’re not sure we’ll have room. If I can fit it in, I’m going to paint the nursery this week, too, so that when we get back, all that will be left are the finishing touches.

We also finished painting the living room over the weekend. We haven’t quite figured out where all of the pictures should go — we have so many that it’s hard to choose! I love how the gray color came out, though. I think it makes the trim and hardwood floors really pop.

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80 days to finish setting up the nursery.

80 days to plan and attend baby showers in two different states.

80 days to wrap my mind around how our world is going to change when our family of two becomes a family of three. Plus two dogs.

When I read the blogs of other expectant moms, I often feel like they are so prepared. Like they have this thing down already. Whether it’s number one or two or three for them, it all just seems to flow naturally.

There are nights when I’m starting to fall asleep and when Mackenzie starts kicking that I think it’s still something I ate that’s not going down right. Or when I walk past the crib in the nursery and think, “What’s that doing here?”

But it was a beautiful moment yesterday morning before church when I walked out of our bedroom to see Chris putting the finishing touches on the crib. And today, watching him put sheets on the mattress. We made ourselves late for church yesterday because we couldn’t wait to tie on the crib bumper and set out the blanket we made for her.

It’s an exciting time, but it’s scary and surreal, too. The words to that Needtobreathe song are going through my head a lot lately.

Because I need more time
Just a few more months
And we’ll be fine

And then I think about the fact that in 80 days, our little pumpkin will be here. The leaves will be falling, and we’ll be dressing her up for her first pictures, taking her to her first football game, and sharing her with her great-grandma. I can’t wait.

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I can’t believe I still haven’t posted pictures of my family’s trip to Nashville to spend the Fourth of July with us. We had so much fun with them, and it meant so much to me to have them here. Pictures are coming. Soon.

I also owe you pictures of the new house. It’s actually an old house, but we like the way it has been remodeled, and the neighborhood is good. It will be great for the next year or so, until we decide if and where we want to buy again. There are still boxes everywhere, though, we haven’t painted yet, and a million other little things, so while I’m tackling that list, I thought I’d share a fun post from someone else with you today.

Yesterday, author Don Miller let his dog take over his blog while Don works on a new project. The post made me laugh out loud, which is really rare. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you do, too. Guess which dog this reminds me of?

Read “Lucy’s Blog Part 3: The Terror of Learning Right from Wrong.”

I wonder what would happen if I let Annie and Sydney take over my site for a few days? Give me a break from writing and all that? It’s fun to think about…

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My approach to life, however, is very similar to the game philosophy behind Tetris. I fit the pieces of my life together as tightly and carefully as I can. For me, the point is not to fill the bottle. The point is not to make mistakes.

I realize this makes me sound uptight and unhappy, but the truth is that for the most part, I am very happy. I live a good life, and I feel like I have benefited in the last few years from learning to walk carefully and plan wisely.

The downside of my approach is obvious. When mistakes happen, as they invariably do, I have not left any room for error, and the little empire I have been working on seems to fall apart. I try to give others plenty of room to mistakes, but I have no grace for myself.

I haven’t learned how not to live like this, but I want to. I know that stress is a reflection of my level of trust in God, but I also don’t believe in using hope as a method for navigating through life.

How do you balance the practice of wise living with keeping a spirit of joy, trusting in God, and not trusting in yourself?

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I love this part of the process. The clearing out, the moving on. I love the feeling of saying no to something when I put it in the box. No, I will not try to fix this. No, I will not keep this shirt that is two sizes too big, or these pants that make my arse look lumpy. No, I will not keep these books that I haven’t read in ten years.

The giveaway box sits in our hallway, accessible to both Chris and I as we pack up our belongings and clean out closets. Every so often, one of us will stop in front of it, peer in, and pick up an item for reconsideration. Very rarely do we decide to keep the item, but that last glance, that last consideration is a necessary part of the vetting process. Call it closure, I guess.

I wish I had a giveaway box for life that I could just toss things into and ship them off. Expectations from other people, classifications that don’t fit, and plans that aren’t in line with my own values or desires. Even though no such physical box exists, I am learning that it is still possible and even necessary to metaphorically “giveaway” those things that I no longer need or want to take with me. This usually means taking time to consider the things I am carrying with me, to examine them closely, to remember where they came from and why it is I have them. It’s a cleansing process, one I find more valuable from year to year.

In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Some versions of the Bible translate “my yoke” to mean his way of being and doing things (see this verse in The Message Bible). Whichever version of the Bible you prefer, it is clear that Jesus’ way of doing things is better than anyone else’s – better than my method, and definitely better than the latest self-help trend.

What are you carrying with you? What expectations can you set aside? What is weighing on your shoulders that is no longer your burden to bear? Are you doing what God has asked you to do, or what someone else thought was best for you? Take some time today to let go of these things. Trade them instead for the perfect fit that Christ has in mind specifically for you.

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