Practical projects for the crafty mama

As a crafty mama, I've been having a blast making all sorts of fun stuff for my little tyke, some of which I share below. I'm also a practical mama--everything must be useful and durable (you won't see my baby wearing a delicate, lacy bonnet or clothes he can't get dirty), so each project here meets those qualifications. Let's start with my favorite:

I got the pattern for these baby slippers from New Conceptions. They are super easy to make and only require three seams. I've made a pair of fleece slippers (left) and a pair of flannel (right). The last seam, which goes around the sole, is tricky, as you have to line up multiple layers of fabric, but the end product is so worth it. The best part? Baby has a tough time pulling these suckers off (my son is a ninja when it comes to pulling off his socks). An alternative pattern, which I haven't tried yet but is next on my list, is for adorable kimono slippers.

By hook or by Nook, get your hands on the right pregnancy book

The moment I found out I was pregnant, my first thought after “Holy shit, I’m going to have a baby--EEEK!” was “I need a book about pregnancy!” I wanted an authoritative yet not condescending companion to guide me through each stage of my pregnancy. The book should be able to answer the bulk of my questions so that I wasn’t calling my doctor every other day but not give me so much detail that I would lose sleep worrying about unlikely scenarios. My goal was to educate myself so that I didn’t worry about every little pinch and poke, and also so that I knew what to ask my physician during my appointments. As far as I could tell, there was no perfect book, so I ended up with four books, all of which supplemented each other. 



If you’re a book nerd like me and are looking for a good read while you put up your swollen feet, here are my thoughts on some good (and some mediocre) titles: