Oh yeah...

So here's the baby I made. Violet Elise was born on 4/4/12 at about 6:30pm. She was born at home, which was an incredible experience. Nothing can beat it! Violet is now 8 weeks old and is so sweet. She's very strong and curious and alert to everything going on around her. William loves her to pieces and is always giving her kisses and holding her hand and asking if he can "pet the baby". They are ridiculously cute together. Here are just a few of the many, many photos we have of this sweetie.

Waiting

The backing fabric has been ordered. Can't wait to get this quilt sandwiched, tied and bound!

Baby Girl Quilt

Just about two months left until this human comes out. I feel a little overwhelmed with everything I need to get done before then. I thought I had plenty of time! And then suddenly all the time was gone.

Bought this fabric and pattern while in Utah at Christmas and just started working on it this week. I'd be done already if I didn't keep taking naps. Ha!

It's coming together very quickly and easily and the fabric is so lovely to gaze upon. Not sure if I'm going to tie this quilt or send it to be quilted -- kinda don't want to spend another $100...but we'll see.

Finished Gifts

The gift making is done! I took it easy this year by only making a couple things. I'll share more about these after the holiday...





I am surprised to realize December is basically already half-way over. Time is completely out-of-control lately. Only 4 more months until I suddenly will have two children. Can't wrap my head around it!

Done!

Oh, I do love checking things off my to-do list. I finished Will's scarf while hanging out in bed with him and his fever. Also finished up this set of ornaments this evening.

Next up, a knitting project that will be a Christmas present! Excited.

And a gripe: I'm really quite offended at the complete absence of colored maternity tights or leggings. Like, WTH? Seriously, they do not exist. And that makes me have a sad face.

Some Items of Interest

It's almost October and the weather is cooling down a *little* bit around here. The light is different and I'm craving soup and apples and pie. And, as usual, I'm now getting over my usual summer slump of disinterest and apathy. I'm starting to actually feel motivated and creative and want to make things again. All around great news.

I'm working on this ridiculously sweet crewel sampler from Alicia Paulson. I love it so so much. This is my first time doing crewel because I've been intimidated for a long time. But, turns out it's exactly like all other embroidery just with wool yarn instead of floss. It's all good and I should have this finished in a week or less. Yahoo.

Finally, that brings me to the big news around here which is that there is a fetus currently living in my uterus which will come out as a baby in early April. We are very excited and are already making plans for all the incredible things we're going to do as a four person family. Judging by how terrific the three person version is, I can only imagine it's going to be stellar.

A Little Red Chair

I found this little chair while antiquing in UT. I looooooove it!

Letterhead Love

I am a big fan of stationery. And I have a lot of it. I used to write little snail mail notes quite often and need to start writing more again. I don't know if anyone loves receiving mail as much as I do, but I'm going to send it to them anyway!


I recently discovered this blog, Letterheady, through another favorite blog, Letters of Note. Both are fascinating. I especially love the Letterheady. I want my own letterhead. You know, for all of my business correspondence. I really really love this letterhead of Eva Peron's (above). It's so lovely and simple.

Here are a few more favorites:





Super love the font on the "Lawrence Welk" on this one:



There are a couple Adolf Hitler letterheads that I actually really like. But then I felt weird about posting them on my blog. Go check them out on the site.

In other news:

-Bread making has me completely baffled
-William went for his first dentist appointment and was complimented up and down
-We're starting pre-pre-school activities this week!
-My dining room has been taken over by t-shirts and scraps
-I've had to capture and release 5 earthworms that have been found in various states of distress around my dining room floor. They keep coming in, somehow, trying to escape biblical flood that is currently in my backyard
- Today is the most beautiful gray, rainy day and all we're doing around here is playing, baking, reading and lots of cuddling!

One More Baby Afghan...

And here is the third crocheted afghan I've made in the past month and a half. Phew! Yet another Vanna pattern (though I ended up doing something wrong and it looks nothing like the pattern, oops!) with Vanna yarn. I have so much of this yarn around now that I have plans for about 5 other projects just to use up all these left-overs!


This one is for my friend-since-9th-grade Christie who is due at the end of the year. I'm really hoping that the baby comes while I'm still in town at Christmas so I can meet him before I have to come back home. Make it happen, baby!

Manly Granny

I told you I was addicted to these granny squares, right?


This afghan is essentially the same as the previous one (same stitch, etc) but in different colors and with a scalloped border.


Lisa's baby shower was today -- this afghan is for her little boy due around Christmas. We are very excited to have another boy in our little group of friends so Will has some buddies. :)

Finished Granny

I loooove how this blanket turned out! The colors kill me and it was so fun and easy to make. It ended up being gifted to my friend Christy for her baby girl who will be born in just a few weeks! Can't wait to meet the little one!


I might be a little bit hooked (get it?) on granny squares now. I'm working on another one plus have ideas for some pot holders (so 70s!) and/or wall art. Oh yeah.

Granny

John has the fancy camera with him at an out-of-town shoot so I'm left with the PowerShot. Adorable kid though, right?
Here's a peak at another blanket I'm crocheting. It's just one big granny square and I love it. I had tried granny squares several years ago and they were always failures but somehow it clicked this time -- yay! This pattern and yarn are both Vanna again, and I can't get over how cute the colors are. I think I'm about half-way done and then I've got to figure out which of the five babies due in the next few months to give it to. Please tell me, does it look unisex? Or does the purple make it too girly? Hmm...

A Lazy Day

"I'm walking to Norway, Mama!"
Today is a lazy day. The weather is beautiful and fall-ish. The house is cozy and smells delicious. We're in lounge-y clothes making cookies and watching Beatles movies. Blogging the Norway trip and making plans.

John left for a shoot last night and won't be back until tomorrow night. We miss him.

My mama will be here on Saturday night and we are very excited. William's birthday is next Wednesday and we have lots of fun plans for the week.

We went for a wonderful walk this morning. Kickboxing tonight. Maybe another walk after dinner. More working on the trip blog (I promise more is coming!) -- I didn't keep a journal while we were there so I've got to get it down before I forget things.

I should be mopping the floors and cleaning the shower. Washing the windows. Vacuuming.

I think I'll continue to enjoy this lazy, comfy day and worry about the cleaning tomorrow. Hanging out with my best little buddy "cooking hot french fries" and "walking/flying/driving to Norway" is the best way to spend today.

WJS

There's a new William in town (in fact, he has the exact same initials as my William, which means they'll probably be bros-for-life) and we spent most of last week visiting that sweet baby and our great friends.



I threw this quilt together at the last minute (ah, procrastination) the night and morning before driving out to our friends' house. It's made with scraps of a few of my favorite boy fabrics that I've used in other projects (here and here). Easy 6" squares pieced together in rows and machine quilted with organic bamboo batting inside. Yum.


Also yum, this sweet sweet new baby:

Another Baby Boy

Some friends are having a baby boy in a few weeks. It's so exciting. I quickly sewed up this blanket and then wasn't able to attend the baby shower. So it's been sent in a package and hopefully has arrived at it's destination by now.




Love these fabrics! And look -- my favorite color combo!

Mama and Bebe

William calls me "Mum" and "Mamaaaa". He calls himself "Eee!" and "Bebe". He'll call to me to get my attention, "Mum. Mum! Mamaaa!" and then when I respond he goes off on a little William-language tangent for a full minute. Very seriously. He apparently has a lot to tell me.

I love this age...


Please excuse my appearance. This was taken literally within 3 minutes of walking in the door from my kickboxing class. Eek!

For the Perfect Thursday Afternoon

1) Rainy and grey outside
2) A well-napped mommy and baby
3) Vegetable Masala burgers from Trader Joe's
4) Baked Sweet Potato Fries
5) A mug of chai
6) Pushing Daises extra features
7) Plans for some paper cutting

*Content sigh*

15 Months

Can you believe this kid is 15 months already?

He can:
walk (the crawling-to-walking ratio goes up everyday)
say mama, dada, shoes, orange, cheese, mmmm, what is this?
sign 'more', 'eat', 'milk' (working on 'drink')
give hugs, kisses, cuddles
climb on top of the coffee table
climb on top of his little piano
empty drawers
empty laundry baskets
help put things away
follow simple directions
grow teeth



He loves:
his dada
clementines
cheese
ice cream
cookies
dada's wallet, belt and phone
"driving" the car
eating
exploring outside
ice
mama's milk
pushing buttons
taking showers with mama or dada (no baths)

He also:
throws mini-tantrums (already!?!)
makes your heart melt with his sweet face
has started sleeping most of the night in his crib (we're sad and glad about this)
needs a hair cut again
is really, really obsessed with being outside




Basically, we think he's just the greatest kid around and are having the time of our lives with him. We love you, little chicken pot pie.

Birthday Prep

Hello, October 8th. Why must you be 96 degrees? Why?

So it's been quite awhile since I wrote and it's because I have been super busy! Two very exciting things are happening next week. William's 1st birthday is on the 14th and we're having a party, and also, half of my family is coming to visit. They fly in on Saturday and will be staying for 7 whole days! We can't wait!!

Here, take a look at what I've been working on...



Invitations. Beautiful papers and envelopes from Paper Source -- my paper nirvana.




Olive and Archie dolls made from a Wee Wonderfuls pattern. These were way fun to make and super easy. I loved designing their outfits. I will totally be making more of these dolls. I also want to get the pattern for the Space Boy & Robot. Maybe that'll be Christmas. :)




Some favorite books from my childhood (does anyone else remember Santa Mouse? I had totally forgotten about it until I saw it at B&N -- I love the illustrations! Like, in an obsessive way).




A 'Happy Birthday' bunting to be hung on the special day.

I always have thought that birthday parties for kids under 3 were silly. I swore I would just do a low-key dinner with family only for my kids' first couple birthdays. Yeah. Then I got too excited about the possibilities of an acorn theme (see invite, more to come) and it just got a little out of hand. Now I'm thinking about party favors and stuff. I must be stopped. :)

Anyway, can't wait to show you more pics from the actual party -- it's going to be very acorn-y and autumnal. I just hope the weather cooperates. Please? Can I at least get something in the 70s??

"Cool weather, please!"

Jillian

You may have noticed on my Twitter from a few days ago that my friend, Lisa, finally had her baby -- Jillian! She was born almost two weeks late which was making all of us (not to mention, Lisa) very anxious to meet this new little one! But, she was cooked just perfectly and born at home! I'm so happy for and proud of Lisa for getting to have the birth she wanted. Jillian is a very lucky baby to have such great parents.

Congratulations, Stephen and Lisa!