my wonderful friend becky posted today on being thankful. i fear i tend to complain a bit to much in my little space here. and i don't mean to. wait- yes i do, when i open my mouth and complaints come out, that is something that i am intentionally doing. i noticed i do it when i talk as well. someone will pay me a compliment or ask me about something and somehow in my answer a complaint or criticism follows.
like this:
q:"how's the new house?"
a:"oh it's great... i really wish such and such was done, or that we didn't have to such and such...."
q: "the kids are getting big"
a: "yeah, i really wish they would...."
see what i mean. and i really do it way to much.
and i wonder, if i demonstrated a tad more thankfulness in my life, if i would be a tad more happy.
"a thankful heart, is a happy heart". i'm sure that can be found somewhere in the Bible, or a paraphrase at least. but for now, i quote one of my favorite veggie tales: madame blueberry.
that song is really wonderful. and i can't help but think if i broke up arguments with my children by breaking out in that song, if our days wouldn't improve just a little.
or if when i feel the urge to be frustrated with my kids or with sam, if i really stopped and said a silent prayer of thankfulness for them. because really, if they were stripped from my side it would be darn near impossible to find the thankfulness to continue on, so shouldn't i be thanking the Lord everyday that i have them?
or the multitude of other wonderful things that He has continued to bless so unworthy a person such as me?
what if when asked a question, if instead of tagging on a complaint, i always added "God is so good".
i understand the need to complain, the verbal monologue that can pour out of my mouth. maybe, just maybe it would be better to pour that complaining waterfall of thoughts towards the ears of the One who can give me peace. and of course, my trusted friends and loved ones who will guide me back to Him.
thank you becky, for giving me a wonderful dose of inward perspective, i know that the Lord used you to day. i am very thankful for you!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
being caught up.
i have just discovered that i will in fact never be caught up. not right now anyways. i sometimes contemplate what it would be like to wipe my plate clean, and just have the kids and Sam and the house. but that's a funny thing to think, because it never is just those things, is it?
and i really am loving the other things that i am doing. but the truth is, i am feeling once again- overwhelmed. like, sit in a corner and shake with hysteria-how do i ever think i will accomplish everything- overwhelmed.
sadly, this little blog is one thing that is easily neglected. maybe if my phone was working i would actually start "tweeting" because i tend to have random one line thoughts many, many times throughout the day.
right now its almost 10:30, which i have been in bed my 10 pm most nights. i am happily sticking to my workout schedule, and very happily shedding the baby pounds. i have been neglecting so many things i just don't know how to get back there.
for someone who prefers to be on top of things, this isn't how i love to live.
the holidays are a busy time. starting an online class on the composition of breastmilk is a challenging subject. preparing for the possibility of a part time job gives me a second to pause and reflect how i spend my time.
i know that i do have obligations and commitments. and i know that i do love making gifts for people. but i also know what i need. i need to be silly with my children and try and not let my brain think about all the things that i need to do. i need to spend time with sam connecting and talking and vegging. i need to expand my brain and read, and pour myself into my relationship with the Lord.
most importantly i need to find the geneticist from the movie mulitiplicty and see if there is anything at all that i can do.....
i hope to share more of the positives of what i've been doing. i did get a little caught up on the blog for the kids. not so much narrating each picture (which i like to do, and need to do to remember all of this in the years to come) but some new ones are coming.
10:33. I really do need to go to bed. i really do need to make a list.
but i don't really have time or the focus.
15 days till i get to have a small vacation in portland, and then a week with my family for thanksgiivng, and then my first (and sam's) ever football game to attend. and getting to spend time with my sister.
and then, my birthday. and holiday fiascos. which just reminded me of something else i have forgotten to do.
maybe a list isn't such a bad idea.
the best idea would be a embedded chip into my brain that automatically listed everything i need to do, by priority......
so apparently i either need to start taking science and technology classes or
i need to give myself a break.
and i really am loving the other things that i am doing. but the truth is, i am feeling once again- overwhelmed. like, sit in a corner and shake with hysteria-how do i ever think i will accomplish everything- overwhelmed.
sadly, this little blog is one thing that is easily neglected. maybe if my phone was working i would actually start "tweeting" because i tend to have random one line thoughts many, many times throughout the day.
right now its almost 10:30, which i have been in bed my 10 pm most nights. i am happily sticking to my workout schedule, and very happily shedding the baby pounds. i have been neglecting so many things i just don't know how to get back there.
for someone who prefers to be on top of things, this isn't how i love to live.
the holidays are a busy time. starting an online class on the composition of breastmilk is a challenging subject. preparing for the possibility of a part time job gives me a second to pause and reflect how i spend my time.
i know that i do have obligations and commitments. and i know that i do love making gifts for people. but i also know what i need. i need to be silly with my children and try and not let my brain think about all the things that i need to do. i need to spend time with sam connecting and talking and vegging. i need to expand my brain and read, and pour myself into my relationship with the Lord.
most importantly i need to find the geneticist from the movie mulitiplicty and see if there is anything at all that i can do.....
i hope to share more of the positives of what i've been doing. i did get a little caught up on the blog for the kids. not so much narrating each picture (which i like to do, and need to do to remember all of this in the years to come) but some new ones are coming.
10:33. I really do need to go to bed. i really do need to make a list.
but i don't really have time or the focus.
15 days till i get to have a small vacation in portland, and then a week with my family for thanksgiivng, and then my first (and sam's) ever football game to attend. and getting to spend time with my sister.
and then, my birthday. and holiday fiascos. which just reminded me of something else i have forgotten to do.
maybe a list isn't such a bad idea.
the best idea would be a embedded chip into my brain that automatically listed everything i need to do, by priority......
so apparently i either need to start taking science and technology classes or
i need to give myself a break.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
and it's october.
how did that happen? sheesh. and today, my beautiful newborn is 5 weeks. how did THAT happen? it really does feel like yesterday i was staring into his face at the hospital, waiting for sam to come and pick us up. wilder and i enjoyed several hours of alone bliss before we headed home to the zoo, um family, that was awaiting us.
and its been full steam ahead ever since.
i don't have much blog worthy to say tonight. i wanted to post a 5 week shot of my little man, and check in, cause its been a couple of weeks.
how fast weeks fly now.
i really want to do some fall art projects with the kids, hope i can get myself into gear for that. we did make little leaf people (an idea i saw on one pretty thing) that was really quick and easy, and the kids are still playing with their people weeks later. maybe it hasn't been that long. i burnt myself with my hot glue gun when we made them and the burn is still on my wrist.
how long do burns last?
i was planning on going north next weekend, but it isn't going to happen. i need to plan a trip. i have some special people i need to see. and christina, my sister has learned to sew, so she will definitely want to do some fabric shopping in portland (and just oodle at your awesomeness- i saw lunch bags at ben franklin and fought the urge to prop it open to your bag for all shoppers to see!)
tonight i read to campbell out of Charlotte's Web. his attention lasted for 2 chapters and then we had to quit when henry wouldn't stop jumping on me. it was a very special time. i love to read out loud, and soon campbell won't need me too. i mean really soon, his reading is impressing me more and more each day.
mason's turning into a girl more and more each day. she's kissing longer. uh-oh. but really, its cute. she's realized that giving a kiss is a special thing. lately when she goes into take her nap she'll be naughty and get out of bed and cause mayhem (aka waking henry from his much needed naps) but then sometimes i'll peer in at her, undetected, and watch her playing with her dollhouse, or animals, or looking at books, or today- cuddled in bed with all her elephants and having the "mommy" take care of the "baby".
be still my heart.
and then there's henry. he walked around all day today with "that's not my dragon" a book that i bought for campbell years ago. he would only flip between the first two pages, but he carried it around, "reading" it all day. and today as i was nursing wilder, he came up with his book and sat next to us, and kept leaning over kissing wilder's head.
and my baby, my new baby (because henry is still the baby in my heart) nurses like a champ, is being such a good sport about all the gentle love he gets from his siblings, and gives me more sleep at night than i deserve.
when i found out that sam wasn't going to be able to take his 6 weeks off like we had hoped, i knew that being alone with the kids early on would either solidify in my mind that i was done having babies, or make me realize i could handle more.
well, i know i can handle more. both sam and i realize that.
but do we want more.
how's about this: is my sister gets pregnant in the next 6 months, then it will be pretty impossible to resist the urge to have a baby at the same time as her (a month or 2 later obviously) but to have cousins the same age.... and to share a pregnancy with her.....
of course, tomorrow i might be ready to pull my hair out, you never know.
all i know is, i'm getting a quiet few minutes to myself at the craziest time of day, and i have a pretty nice husband to thank for that.
sorry for the random post (although i have real random thoughts to share at another time). i had no real topic in mind when i sat down. and then the fact that my baby is 5 weeks, and it goes so fast, made me want to write down the memories i have of today, because sad as it is, this- blogging, pictures, journaling, is the only way to keep the memories for me.
and they are so precious, i don't want to lose more than i have.
Friday, September 24, 2010
a pretty good deal
so my friend jana just called me about a fun online deal from one kings lane. it seems to be a fun online home decor store, that has sales all the time. if you use this link (cause it's mine) and sign up (its completely free) you get a $15 credit at the store, which includes the shipping, so if you find something for under 10 bucks, you can spend about 2 dollars and get something fun- either as a gift, or for yourself.
i got these for under 2 dollars. not to shabby, especially if you know how much i love salad, and how much i love green!
refer your own friends and get $15 bucks each time someone signs up.... you could probably get most of your Christmas shopping done that way.
although, sign up under me first :)
ok, i'm off to a child free day (except my newborn) of alone time!
i got these for under 2 dollars. not to shabby, especially if you know how much i love salad, and how much i love green!
refer your own friends and get $15 bucks each time someone signs up.... you could probably get most of your Christmas shopping done that way.
although, sign up under me first :)
ok, i'm off to a child free day (except my newborn) of alone time!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
my full plate.
life is full. i've been alone several times this week, and am surviving. the days are not so bad. basically because our schedule hasn't changed to much- we still have our morning routine (which i am constantly trying to improve on) and are doing our home-schooling, but mostly we are surviving because i have mastered nursing while walking around.
i figure it burns twice the amount of calories.
everyday there are still struggles though. my biggest puddle to wade through right now is to work on not yelling. there's the yelling when i am on the couch nursing trying to get someone's attention (usually to stop fighting or to have someone race outside and get henry to stop doing something unfortunate- aka, heading for the street) or the loud un-loving words that come out of my mouth as my children push me towards utter frustration.
and it makes me sad for many reasons, 1- that i have such little self-control that i cannot keep myself from constantly making the same parenting mistakes, and 2- that little wilder is hearing his mama have a pretty unhappy tone way to much.
its not all bad. its pretty good (however the last 2 nights that i had to manage solo had some un-fun moments and my first everyone crying at once catastrophe) its just when i see the bad spark up in me it seems to undo the good.
at least everyday is a new day. i can apologize to my children for losing my cool, and move on to the next thing. i can look at my new baby and think about his gentle spirit before i open my mouth. i can remember that my children are sinners just like me and they haven't been given a spirit of self-control.
and i can ultimately remember that i will blink my eyes and this will be over. even as mason came and kissed wilder this morning, looking at her little brother with such affection i thought, "she's going to be a mama someday". and that someday will come faster than i realize.
outside of the day to day routine of children, cleaning, laundry, cooking, and the other multitudes of homemaking, i have other things sorting through my brain. like the constant paranoia that every little cough my baby makes could be whooping cough.
or the fact that my application for becoming a lactation consultant has been accepted, and that i now have 2 years to complete 500 clinical hours, take 45 hours of breast-feeding education, and another long list of tasks to complete, and still awaiting to hear when i will start peer counseling at our wic office.
oh, and we are doing a handmade holiday (super excited) so i will be making all our gifts.
and christmas is less than 100 days away.
and a week in washington for thanksgiving.
co-hosting a soup night with my girlfriends, and getting ready to plan out my 2nd annual handmade holiday party.
and wanting to really enjoy the holidays with my kids this year.
and exercising and dieting. because i would really like to slim down.
hmmm. i thought taking a few minutes to blog would make me feel a little bit more relaxed, not a little bit more overwhelmed. that's ok. sam took the older two for an errand and its quiet here (except for the sounds of screaming children at recess at the school across the street) so i think i will finish my christmas list (its almost done) type it out and promise not to change it.
but first, maybe my Bible, and another cup of refresh tea.
i figure it burns twice the amount of calories.
everyday there are still struggles though. my biggest puddle to wade through right now is to work on not yelling. there's the yelling when i am on the couch nursing trying to get someone's attention (usually to stop fighting or to have someone race outside and get henry to stop doing something unfortunate- aka, heading for the street) or the loud un-loving words that come out of my mouth as my children push me towards utter frustration.
and it makes me sad for many reasons, 1- that i have such little self-control that i cannot keep myself from constantly making the same parenting mistakes, and 2- that little wilder is hearing his mama have a pretty unhappy tone way to much.
its not all bad. its pretty good (however the last 2 nights that i had to manage solo had some un-fun moments and my first everyone crying at once catastrophe) its just when i see the bad spark up in me it seems to undo the good.
at least everyday is a new day. i can apologize to my children for losing my cool, and move on to the next thing. i can look at my new baby and think about his gentle spirit before i open my mouth. i can remember that my children are sinners just like me and they haven't been given a spirit of self-control.
and i can ultimately remember that i will blink my eyes and this will be over. even as mason came and kissed wilder this morning, looking at her little brother with such affection i thought, "she's going to be a mama someday". and that someday will come faster than i realize.
outside of the day to day routine of children, cleaning, laundry, cooking, and the other multitudes of homemaking, i have other things sorting through my brain. like the constant paranoia that every little cough my baby makes could be whooping cough.
or the fact that my application for becoming a lactation consultant has been accepted, and that i now have 2 years to complete 500 clinical hours, take 45 hours of breast-feeding education, and another long list of tasks to complete, and still awaiting to hear when i will start peer counseling at our wic office.
oh, and we are doing a handmade holiday (super excited) so i will be making all our gifts.
and christmas is less than 100 days away.
and a week in washington for thanksgiving.
co-hosting a soup night with my girlfriends, and getting ready to plan out my 2nd annual handmade holiday party.
and wanting to really enjoy the holidays with my kids this year.
and exercising and dieting. because i would really like to slim down.
hmmm. i thought taking a few minutes to blog would make me feel a little bit more relaxed, not a little bit more overwhelmed. that's ok. sam took the older two for an errand and its quiet here (except for the sounds of screaming children at recess at the school across the street) so i think i will finish my christmas list (its almost done) type it out and promise not to change it.
but first, maybe my Bible, and another cup of refresh tea.
Friday, September 17, 2010
a funny observation.
my little mason, ms. attitude, was helping me fold some laundry today. well, "help" isn't the best description, standing above me and offering helpful advice and a bit of sass might be a better description. and as she was standing there she was poised ever so perfectly with her hand on her hip. and i thought to myself, "i really need to catch a picture of this" because it is a new little trait she is bestowing.
and then, mere moments later, a nice elderly couple showed up with a casserole for us for dinner. and as i was talking to them mason came and stood by my side, and as i casually looked down at her, i noticed that not only did she have her left arm propped up on her hip, but so did i.
i guess it's either genetic, or she's watching me more than i realize.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
surviving.
people i love very much
its intimidating. i have a few more days to get prepared. and i know that the only way i will make any of this work is to have a very consistent and strict schedule. at least for the mornings. basically, i know that if i don't wake up before my children i am toast. i can do it. who needs lots of sleep, right? actually, i don't. pregnancy makes me tired. as in my body doesn't function the same way. but i really don't need a lot of sleep. and as of today Wilder isn't really waking up to nurse at night. i mean, he kinda wakes up, roots around (as he is nestled right next to me) and will nurse. i am not sure how long, he's mastered nursing while i lay down and i fall asleep. its rough.
i'm nervous about how things will go, but its also that anticipation of seeing what it will be like.
the last few days have been really nice. my sister has been here, spoiling me with her time and attention and help. i taught her to sew. well, basically we worked through a pattern and she revealed her amazing ability to sew and catch on to things. seriously, serena- she did her very first zipper, without help. its very impressive, and i'm jealous. i didn't catch on this quick, and still need lots of help. she's a rockstar. i hate that she is leaving tomorrow. it sucks. absolutely sucks. but she is (i hope, hope, hope) coming back in october. and i am finally getting a small break- i'm flying up to portland (christina- here are my dates) october 15-17th for a girls getaway. i haven't been kid-less and sam-less since i was pregnant with mason. and i won't be kid-less, i'll have my wilder, but he's so sweet and sleepy that its not the same.
things are going really well. my biggest concern right now is getting enough time to spend with all my little ones, especially henry. i miss him. its strange to say, but i do. having him changed my heart in a way i can't explain, or i can- having him made me know that i wanted another baby, and he's held a different spot in my heart. henry doesn't seem worth for wear though, he's happy to be playing outside, interested in our new baby, and incredibly busy. but i do miss the time i had to just snuggle him. and i need to make sure that i am doing that with all of my children, every day.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
baby boy
Wilder Michael
born September 2, 2010 at 4:14 am
7 lbs 2 ounces, and 21 inches long.
born September 2, 2010 at 4:14 am
7 lbs 2 ounces, and 21 inches long.
i am pretty much hopelessly in love.
labor was wonderful, albeit incredibly long and boring. and nothing like any of my other labors. my induction plan for the previous weekend hadn't worked at all. and monday i was barely dilated or anything. it would be putting it mild to say how discouraged and unpleasant i was. sam was burning through his limited vacation time and there was no baby.
sam worked a little on tuesday and a little on wednesday. about 10:30 wednesday morning i thought my water broke. with campbell it was unmistakable, this time i really couldn't tell. after about 2 hours i was fairly convinced, but didn't want to sound any alarms. luckily, my team at maternity health center was all working (i've had my babies on the weekends and never been able to go in and "be checked" by my usual gals) so i made an appointment for 1:45, and went in a little early.
where, to all of our glee (literally, we all cheered) it was confirmed- my water had broke!
but, the baby was really high. so as a precaution, i was sent immediately to the hospital (which was difficult seeing that i had the only car which had all of our carseats) to have the baby be monitored. seeing that my labors would go fast, and my water had broke, there was a fear that the cord could potentially come out before baby- and that is not good.
i was checked in roughly after 2, and thus began the waiting. i wasn't alone for long, sam and serena arrived at the same time, and our good friend gaia, and then jess (after driving WAY WAY WAY to fast) made it to the hospital.
and nothing happened. we walked, and walked and walked. watched how i met your mother. ate fish tacos, walked some more. anna (my doula) came up and we tried some positions. but nothing happened. after 10 hours of being at the hospital i hadn't progressed at all.
this was so stinking crazy. and i was not happy at all. i wasn't in pain, don't think that i had 10 hours of wretched labor. i had 10 hours of nothing. contractions that didn't register on my pain scale. even contractions that would come every 5 minutes apart, did nothing. the baby was still to high.
and i was concerned. this was so different. and with my water having broke i felt horrible pressure. that if the baby didn't come i would have to start undergoing medical intervention.
not what i wanted at all.
at midnight we sent everyone home. i didn't want to. but i didn't want everyone waiting around for nothing. i mean, 10 hours and no change? jessica was smart, and stayed in the waiting room (she missed henry's birth and didn't want to miss this one) and sam and i tried to get some sleep (him curled up in a chair, and me lying on my side trying to get the baby to change position).
and lying on my side helped. i couldn't sleep at all, i was obsessed with watching the heart rate monitor making sure our baby was staying healthy. i kept changing sides, and around 2 am, i realized i couldn't sleep because my contractions were starting to bother me.
at 2:30 i woke up sam because my contractions were hurting. at 3 i got checked, and was told (by the worst nurse in the world) that i was only at a 5. 20 minutes later i sent sam for another nurse. i was at a 7 and was rapidly moving to transition.
this nurse made everything start to happen, she got all the labor gear and moved like lightning. the other nurse, barely moved, acting as if this was a leisurely event- despite my warnings of how fast this could go.
we called anna at about 3:15 ish? maybe 3:30. sam told me jess was waiting outside. i was lucky this time, usually during transition i have contraction upon contraction. this time i got little breaks where i was able to talk.
basically from 3:30-4:00 ish it all moved really fast. i was checked a few more times (by horrid nurse) and kept changing positions to try and get comfortable. literally, everyone entered the room and i moved up into a more "push-able" position and sam and anna tried to keep me from pushing. but the horrid nurse she was casually walking by and was like, "oh yes, there's the head".
well that's all the "go ahead and push" i needed to hear. with my next contraction, i pushed, out came babies head, in walked doctor, and i pushed more, and out came baby.
baby boy.
4:14 am. 2 hours of "labor" 10 hours of boredom. and he's here. born on my due date.
he's perfect, tiny, and making us all very happy.
God has been very good to all of us.
sam worked a little on tuesday and a little on wednesday. about 10:30 wednesday morning i thought my water broke. with campbell it was unmistakable, this time i really couldn't tell. after about 2 hours i was fairly convinced, but didn't want to sound any alarms. luckily, my team at maternity health center was all working (i've had my babies on the weekends and never been able to go in and "be checked" by my usual gals) so i made an appointment for 1:45, and went in a little early.
where, to all of our glee (literally, we all cheered) it was confirmed- my water had broke!
but, the baby was really high. so as a precaution, i was sent immediately to the hospital (which was difficult seeing that i had the only car which had all of our carseats) to have the baby be monitored. seeing that my labors would go fast, and my water had broke, there was a fear that the cord could potentially come out before baby- and that is not good.
i was checked in roughly after 2, and thus began the waiting. i wasn't alone for long, sam and serena arrived at the same time, and our good friend gaia, and then jess (after driving WAY WAY WAY to fast) made it to the hospital.
and nothing happened. we walked, and walked and walked. watched how i met your mother. ate fish tacos, walked some more. anna (my doula) came up and we tried some positions. but nothing happened. after 10 hours of being at the hospital i hadn't progressed at all.
this was so stinking crazy. and i was not happy at all. i wasn't in pain, don't think that i had 10 hours of wretched labor. i had 10 hours of nothing. contractions that didn't register on my pain scale. even contractions that would come every 5 minutes apart, did nothing. the baby was still to high.
and i was concerned. this was so different. and with my water having broke i felt horrible pressure. that if the baby didn't come i would have to start undergoing medical intervention.
not what i wanted at all.
at midnight we sent everyone home. i didn't want to. but i didn't want everyone waiting around for nothing. i mean, 10 hours and no change? jessica was smart, and stayed in the waiting room (she missed henry's birth and didn't want to miss this one) and sam and i tried to get some sleep (him curled up in a chair, and me lying on my side trying to get the baby to change position).
and lying on my side helped. i couldn't sleep at all, i was obsessed with watching the heart rate monitor making sure our baby was staying healthy. i kept changing sides, and around 2 am, i realized i couldn't sleep because my contractions were starting to bother me.
at 2:30 i woke up sam because my contractions were hurting. at 3 i got checked, and was told (by the worst nurse in the world) that i was only at a 5. 20 minutes later i sent sam for another nurse. i was at a 7 and was rapidly moving to transition.
this nurse made everything start to happen, she got all the labor gear and moved like lightning. the other nurse, barely moved, acting as if this was a leisurely event- despite my warnings of how fast this could go.
we called anna at about 3:15 ish? maybe 3:30. sam told me jess was waiting outside. i was lucky this time, usually during transition i have contraction upon contraction. this time i got little breaks where i was able to talk.
basically from 3:30-4:00 ish it all moved really fast. i was checked a few more times (by horrid nurse) and kept changing positions to try and get comfortable. literally, everyone entered the room and i moved up into a more "push-able" position and sam and anna tried to keep me from pushing. but the horrid nurse she was casually walking by and was like, "oh yes, there's the head".
well that's all the "go ahead and push" i needed to hear. with my next contraction, i pushed, out came babies head, in walked doctor, and i pushed more, and out came baby.
baby boy.
4:14 am. 2 hours of "labor" 10 hours of boredom. and he's here. born on my due date.
he's perfect, tiny, and making us all very happy.
God has been very good to all of us.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
determination.
so, i have this sewing book that is devoted to purses and skirts. glorious, right? it really has some wonderful ideas. and in the book i saw a picture (several pictures) of a drawstring tote bag that has a circular bottom. it. was. wonderful.and the pattern/directions were no where to be found. and i flipped through that book many, many times.
who in there right mind puts out a sewing book just for purses and skirts and then pictures a super cool purse that they don't include a pattern for?
argh.
so. i did my best, to recreate the project. and this really looks nothing like it.
but i love it.after realizing how much i really liked the way this bag was coming together i had to throw in some pockets. after all, the bag is really deep, and i just knew that if it didn't have pockets i wouldn't be happy.
and i am sooooo happy with this bag! i just love it.
it was pretty confusing to put it together. involving math to make the circular bottom, creating pleats where maybe there shouldn't have been pleats, and then realizing at the last minute that i couldn't attach my lining in any of the normal ways i usually attach it.
somehow, it worked.
ahhh, and now, this bag needs a name.
home projects.
i posted this over at my family blog: mynieskids.blogspot.com this last weekend (when baby 4 FAILED to make its appearance) we got a lot of home improvements done. and by we, i mean everyone else. i moped around and did everything humanely possible to induce labor.
oh well. you can see other rooms: here, here, here, and here.
i'm posting this over here, because i think this room is my favorite, mainly because i spend the most amount of time in it. my home-schooling/sewing room.
or i mean, the kids school room.
either way, i think this room in our house has had the most transformations. it started out being our dining room (where we still did our home-schooling)
and then the table got moved because we needed more working space, oh, and i needed to have my sewing in there as well.
well, this room was definitely working mainly as our home-schooling room and as my sewing space (because i tend to sew in spurts when the kids are busy with a project- but in my eye-sight) and the table we had was bumming me out, because it was big and taking up unnecessary space. plus, we never eat at the table all together because this room is just to tiny for that.
i imagine that after the remodel and we have the huge long rectangular table of mine and Sam's dreams that family dinner together will be a cherished thing.
but until then, this dining room is now my home-schooling room.
and my dad did a fantastic job making it feel wonderful!
yup, that's a huge chalkboard- courtesy of chalkboard paint! oh and my dad and my sister applying coats of it :)
my dad and sam's dad built this little table together. 2 shelving units which house the day to day home-schooling supplies and games and such, with a board cut for the top.
we aren't doing end of times studies- we are trying to learn to write the number 6.
ahhh, an organized closet.
i really, really, really, love this room.
oh well. you can see other rooms: here, here, here, and here.
i'm posting this over here, because i think this room is my favorite, mainly because i spend the most amount of time in it. my home-schooling/sewing room.
or i mean, the kids school room.
either way, i think this room in our house has had the most transformations. it started out being our dining room (where we still did our home-schooling)
and then the table got moved because we needed more working space, oh, and i needed to have my sewing in there as well.
well, this room was definitely working mainly as our home-schooling room and as my sewing space (because i tend to sew in spurts when the kids are busy with a project- but in my eye-sight) and the table we had was bumming me out, because it was big and taking up unnecessary space. plus, we never eat at the table all together because this room is just to tiny for that.i imagine that after the remodel and we have the huge long rectangular table of mine and Sam's dreams that family dinner together will be a cherished thing.
but until then, this dining room is now my home-schooling room.
and my dad did a fantastic job making it feel wonderful!
yup, that's a huge chalkboard- courtesy of chalkboard paint! oh and my dad and my sister applying coats of it :)
my dad and sam's dad built this little table together. 2 shelving units which house the day to day home-schooling supplies and games and such, with a board cut for the top.
we aren't doing end of times studies- we are trying to learn to write the number 6.
ahhh, an organized closet.
i really, really, really, love this room.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
before things get really crazy
so really, i haven't been just sitting around, diddling my fingers, waiting for baby 4 to come. i have been sewing like a crazy person. i guess i figure that in just a few days my time for sewing will be thwarted by other things.
*other things: staring at new baby, holding new baby, falling in love with new baby, nursing new baby, and cuddling all my babies.
i love to sew, but nothing quite beats those precious few first days of newborn love.
but- this is what i've been sewing.
i've been trying to create a drawstring circle bottom purse. this did not turn out the way i wanted it to- at. all.
but, i LOVE this fabric. i'll probably use it, even though it isn't lined and the linen is paper thin, but still, they were scraps i had and i just can't stand cutting into new fabric.
burp clothes. its just white flannel that i sewed together, and did a little felt/fabric applique on. the duckies on the bottom is a receiving blanket that i made for the new baby. its stretchy and not flannel- its so unbelievably hot here. i know i have some amazing receiving blankets in one of my newborn bins, so after the baby is born i will send sam searching for them. i have fabric to make one more- but if i don't need it, then i'll use it for a different project.
the little white shirt that i made for baby 4 came in a 3 pack. well, i couldn't just let that go to waste. so i had fun resting on the couch and embroidering these.
any guesses?
we went up to redding last week to visit dear friends and to have family pictures taken. my wonderful friend (and great mothering encouragement) just had her 4th son and thinks (falsely i might add) that i behold some creativity in sewing. ha.ha.ha.
anyways, i have yet to create anything for her. so, as a woman living in an all boy house i thought she deserved just a little clutch style purse, something to always help remind her that girlie things are great.
i also made her a coffee sleeve, which i forgot to photograph.
i literally whipped this up the early morning hours before we left, because i wanted something else besides the coffee sleeve. i "came up" with the design myself. so the flaws are apparent. one of those- oh, i should have done it this way kind of things after you are half way through.
below are messenger style bags that i made. the blue one i really don't like. mainly because i wanted it turn out totally differently so that i could use it for a camera bag.
the green one (right below) i actually do like, but it could have used some interfacing. but that's what i get for hurrying through a project just so i can see how it will look.
this bag was my own design. and i have used it a couple of times. i sure do love this color green. a lot.
and this purse i really don't like. mainly because the tutorial was AWFUL.
there's a flap. i didn't even picture it. whoops. oh well. i'm not quite sure what i will do with this bag. it's lined with padding (you know, because i wanted it to be used for my camera) and the pockets are sewn to a specific size (for camera things) but it just did NOT work.
and did i mention the tutorial was dreadful? you know someone isn't grand at tutorials (not that i have any room to speak at all) when you mention who did it to someone and they comment, "oh yeah, so and so does terrible tutorials" you know its not just you.
i do have one more unfinished project on the ironing board. its almost done. and again, its coming from my crazy crafting brain, so i don't know how it will turn out. but i did figure out how to do a circular bottom, so i am pretty excited about that.
and today my dad is here, helping me transform some rooms.... so pictures to come from that.
oh, and did i mention that i am going to try and naturally induce labor tomorrow with some castor oil?
i guess i have a few things going on.
*other things: staring at new baby, holding new baby, falling in love with new baby, nursing new baby, and cuddling all my babies.
i love to sew, but nothing quite beats those precious few first days of newborn love.
but- this is what i've been sewing.
i've been trying to create a drawstring circle bottom purse. this did not turn out the way i wanted it to- at. all.
but, i LOVE this fabric. i'll probably use it, even though it isn't lined and the linen is paper thin, but still, they were scraps i had and i just can't stand cutting into new fabric.
burp clothes. its just white flannel that i sewed together, and did a little felt/fabric applique on. the duckies on the bottom is a receiving blanket that i made for the new baby. its stretchy and not flannel- its so unbelievably hot here. i know i have some amazing receiving blankets in one of my newborn bins, so after the baby is born i will send sam searching for them. i have fabric to make one more- but if i don't need it, then i'll use it for a different project.
the little white shirt that i made for baby 4 came in a 3 pack. well, i couldn't just let that go to waste. so i had fun resting on the couch and embroidering these.
any guesses?
we went up to redding last week to visit dear friends and to have family pictures taken. my wonderful friend (and great mothering encouragement) just had her 4th son and thinks (falsely i might add) that i behold some creativity in sewing. ha.ha.ha.
anyways, i have yet to create anything for her. so, as a woman living in an all boy house i thought she deserved just a little clutch style purse, something to always help remind her that girlie things are great.
i also made her a coffee sleeve, which i forgot to photograph.
i literally whipped this up the early morning hours before we left, because i wanted something else besides the coffee sleeve. i "came up" with the design myself. so the flaws are apparent. one of those- oh, i should have done it this way kind of things after you are half way through.
below are messenger style bags that i made. the blue one i really don't like. mainly because i wanted it turn out totally differently so that i could use it for a camera bag.the green one (right below) i actually do like, but it could have used some interfacing. but that's what i get for hurrying through a project just so i can see how it will look.
this bag was my own design. and i have used it a couple of times. i sure do love this color green. a lot.
and this purse i really don't like. mainly because the tutorial was AWFUL.
there's a flap. i didn't even picture it. whoops. oh well. i'm not quite sure what i will do with this bag. it's lined with padding (you know, because i wanted it to be used for my camera) and the pockets are sewn to a specific size (for camera things) but it just did NOT work.
and did i mention the tutorial was dreadful? you know someone isn't grand at tutorials (not that i have any room to speak at all) when you mention who did it to someone and they comment, "oh yeah, so and so does terrible tutorials" you know its not just you.
i do have one more unfinished project on the ironing board. its almost done. and again, its coming from my crazy crafting brain, so i don't know how it will turn out. but i did figure out how to do a circular bottom, so i am pretty excited about that.
and today my dad is here, helping me transform some rooms.... so pictures to come from that.
oh, and did i mention that i am going to try and naturally induce labor tomorrow with some castor oil?
i guess i have a few things going on.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
squash
its growing. in a barrel in my front yard. this is truly a feat for me, because every single houseplant i have ever had has died a sad, slow, death. in fact, even the pretty flowers that i had on my front porch (and have replaced twice) have suffered at my hand (suffered and died). needless to say that our little garden doesn't look all that great (okay, it looks pathetic) but someone we have some little munchkin pumpkins growing- and growing crazy i might say- but we have some real possibilities in some tiny little cherry tomatoes (or roma's are not looking good at all) and then there's the squash. and honestly, the only reason i wanted to plant this little garden in the first place was for the zucchini. i just realized i keep referring to it as squash, when i don't have any squash growing in my garden, its strictly green zucchini.
and its awesome!
and its awesome!
this big beauty showed up out of nowhere....or i guess it was growing for days and had been painfully neglected. oh well. it still tasted great.
so today while i feasted on various zucchini cuisine, i thought i'd share a couple of my all time favorite ways to eat zucchini:
1) fried.
okay, so sam's mom makes the best best best fried zucchini in the world. sam and i have tried to recreate it and we fail almost every time. its dipped in egg white, flipped in flour, crisped to perfection in a LOT of butter, and seasoned to your hearts desire.
it sounds easy enough, but for some reason we cannot mimic the tastiness that she produces.
i need fried zucchini right now. pronto.
2) roasted.
i like to slice my zucchini in circles (and if its big then i'll cut the circles into moons) place them in a pyrex dish, drizzle olive oil, garlic, salt, a little pepper (if i'm sharing with the kids) and a couple tablespoons of parmesan cheese on them. i set my oven to 400 and roast them for about 20-25 minutes. wonderful.
3) in this recipe: rice with summer squash
i didn't put in any onions (because i hate onions) and i added a little extra pepper to my own portion and some parm (because i think that the carrots in it make it a little sweet) but for a quick meal its very tasty. plus, i think it would make an impressive side at a family gathering. or for a more complete meal- add chicken.
4) in this muffin: zucchini muffins.
i've already blogged about the amazing-ness of this recipe. i have several muffins in my kitchen right now. the kids are warming up to them (not as sweet as blueberry, but i think they rock) and i reduced the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg to help the kids- i think it was a bit to much spice for them.
5) and my favorite is a little dish i call chicken/tortellini/zucchini.
now, i usually use both zucchini and yellow squash, but when i only have a garden of zucchini, i just use that. however, sam's parents garden is INSANE, and i have access to a bountiful supply of various squashes. i have varied this recipe off of a ravioli and squash recipe i found in a real simple years and years ago.
what i do:
cook 1lb of fresh (or if mine were in the freezer) cheese tortellini's.
set my oven to 400 and roast 3-4 zucchini/yellow squash (cooked just as i mentioned above, only i will add a little bit of red pepper flakes)
sautee up some chicken breasts in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little garlic.
when all have cooked- add together in a big bowl, mix generously with parmesan cheese.
and devour. i think this dish tastes well tepid too.
that's my way of saying, i eat it all night long and rarely remember to get it in the fridge for leftovers. oooh, and it reheats wonderfully.
i am officially hungry. and need to work on a small sewing project before it becomes midnight.
so today while i feasted on various zucchini cuisine, i thought i'd share a couple of my all time favorite ways to eat zucchini:
1) fried.
okay, so sam's mom makes the best best best fried zucchini in the world. sam and i have tried to recreate it and we fail almost every time. its dipped in egg white, flipped in flour, crisped to perfection in a LOT of butter, and seasoned to your hearts desire.
it sounds easy enough, but for some reason we cannot mimic the tastiness that she produces.
i need fried zucchini right now. pronto.
2) roasted.
i like to slice my zucchini in circles (and if its big then i'll cut the circles into moons) place them in a pyrex dish, drizzle olive oil, garlic, salt, a little pepper (if i'm sharing with the kids) and a couple tablespoons of parmesan cheese on them. i set my oven to 400 and roast them for about 20-25 minutes. wonderful.
3) in this recipe: rice with summer squash
i didn't put in any onions (because i hate onions) and i added a little extra pepper to my own portion and some parm (because i think that the carrots in it make it a little sweet) but for a quick meal its very tasty. plus, i think it would make an impressive side at a family gathering. or for a more complete meal- add chicken.
4) in this muffin: zucchini muffins.
i've already blogged about the amazing-ness of this recipe. i have several muffins in my kitchen right now. the kids are warming up to them (not as sweet as blueberry, but i think they rock) and i reduced the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg to help the kids- i think it was a bit to much spice for them.
5) and my favorite is a little dish i call chicken/tortellini/zucchini.
now, i usually use both zucchini and yellow squash, but when i only have a garden of zucchini, i just use that. however, sam's parents garden is INSANE, and i have access to a bountiful supply of various squashes. i have varied this recipe off of a ravioli and squash recipe i found in a real simple years and years ago.
what i do:
cook 1lb of fresh (or if mine were in the freezer) cheese tortellini's.
set my oven to 400 and roast 3-4 zucchini/yellow squash (cooked just as i mentioned above, only i will add a little bit of red pepper flakes)
sautee up some chicken breasts in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little garlic.
when all have cooked- add together in a big bowl, mix generously with parmesan cheese.
and devour. i think this dish tastes well tepid too.
that's my way of saying, i eat it all night long and rarely remember to get it in the fridge for leftovers. oooh, and it reheats wonderfully.
i am officially hungry. and need to work on a small sewing project before it becomes midnight.
Monday, August 16, 2010
baby 4
everything i had hoped to sew, crocheted, or knitted (for me) for this new baby is complete and packed away neatly in this little bag, just waiting to be taken to the hospital.
and here is what's in the bag. a little baby t-shirt with a zebra that i embroidered, (that is not a patch- i made every little stitch myself) tiny little shorts for the baby to wear (in neutral muslin) a small blanket with green trim that i crocheted, and a beautiful knitted hat that my dear friend made for the new baby. although, this time it was delivered to my house. for henry she had shown up at the hospital to see her sister-in-law's new baby and i had surprised her by being there as well, and she had henry's hat in her purse.
a number 4 sewn onto the back of the shorts
and a close up shot of the zebra. my friend christina was there as we tried to determine 3 different shades of gray. it was actually difficult.
so, my hospital bag is packed, the baby's bag is ready. i need to get the other kids ready with some little bags. and we still need to find a bear for this baby. we've had bears at all the births. so.... we need a bear.
and here is what's in the bag. a little baby t-shirt with a zebra that i embroidered, (that is not a patch- i made every little stitch myself) tiny little shorts for the baby to wear (in neutral muslin) a small blanket with green trim that i crocheted, and a beautiful knitted hat that my dear friend made for the new baby. although, this time it was delivered to my house. for henry she had shown up at the hospital to see her sister-in-law's new baby and i had surprised her by being there as well, and she had henry's hat in her purse.
a number 4 sewn onto the back of the shorts
Sunday, August 15, 2010
what a week
i cannot believe that is sunday evening. i cannot believe that 12 days from now i should be holding our brand new baby. i cannot believe that at 37 some weeks pregnant i am still feeling this nauseated. why is that? its gross. i would love to just feel like i don't need to throw up every time i eat or don't eat. of course i don't throw up, but i do feel like i want to.
anyways. only 12 more days and no more pregnancy posts. how excited are all of you?
back to this week. this wild and wonderful (albeit sick-ish) week.
monday was a crazy day. the usual stuff, trying to home-school campbell and mason, trying to keep up after whatever henry is needing from me, and trying to start some cleaning projects so that i wouldn't be overwhelmed the next day when our bible study would be coming over. i remember about 10 am sending my sister a chat message asking her why she wasn't at my house helping me so i could take a nap.
i went on with my day, remembering that later that evening i was having a small baby party to celebrate the arrival of number 4. i didn't want a traditional shower, just a small gathering of us gals to eat food and laugh.
sam had opened, and came home around 1:00. i knew that he had to leave again to go get retrained on espresso down in sacramento. i was a little bummed, because it meant being alone with the kids for another 3 hours and then rushing to my party.
he came back a little early. about 4:30ish? which was good, i was about in tears and really needing a break. i left him with the kids and went back to de-boning a chicken i had roasted. minutes later there was a knock at the door. which truly annoyed me. why, why, why was someone stopping by right now? 2 hours before i needed to leave for the party, and i still had so much to do. i wasn't even really dressed.
i went and opened the door, and standing there was an angel.
my sister.
she and sam had completely surprised me. and i am not one to be surprised. i find out everything. and i cannot believe how absolutely dense i had been regarding this. it really makes me think how self-involved i must be these days, to not put it together. like sam asking me weeks ago to just not check our credit card bill saying he had got me something as a surprise. or him randomly needing to drive down to sacramento for a very short 1 hour meeting the night of my baby shower (our airport is in sacramento).
seriously, where is my head?
i am glad they pulled it off, it was the most wonderful surprise. we spent the evening at my baby party and then talked till about 1 am. when my lovely children awakened us at 6:15 she literally leapt from our bed (thanks to sam for sacking out on the couch) and did not stop working until about 8 pm that night.
she cleaned everything. she used attachments on my vacuum i didn't know we had. and used that vacuum to clean every room and crevice in my house. she deep cleaned my kitchen while i did school with campbell and kept mason and henry busy. she then moved down to our family room and put toys away and vacuumed the spider rug. she dusted, she cleaned up spills, she paused to read books to the kids.
and then she transformed my bedroom and bathroom (side note, ash- the bathroom floor hadn't been cleaned since we moved in.... in march....). the pictures aren't the best- but check it out. our bedroom was such a disaster zone (and we didn't even take pictures of what was the second kitchen, which is now also completely cleaned and organized) and just the last thing on my list to do- mainly because i would never make it over there to clean.
this before picture does NO justice to the mess and chaos of our room.
i only include this pregnant shot for my sister. but there's me. ready for baby. really ready, like hospital bag is finally packed.
i wish i had more pictures of all the work she did. i'd love to say that at this moment the house has never been cleaner. but that's a lie. the house has never been more deep-cleaned and more organized. because she let us change her ticket and she stayed an extra day and i was finally able to mark off more and more from my epic to do list. and now that so many little things are done, i have the ability to keep it cleaner longer. well, at least picked up.
i am so thankful my sister came. i love you so much! i wish you were still here- not so you'd be cleaning and helping- but just because i had so much fun having you around. i am so glad that you will be back soon, and we need to figure out a more frequent way to get you down here!
i miss you! thank you so much for everything you did!
anyways. only 12 more days and no more pregnancy posts. how excited are all of you?
back to this week. this wild and wonderful (albeit sick-ish) week.
monday was a crazy day. the usual stuff, trying to home-school campbell and mason, trying to keep up after whatever henry is needing from me, and trying to start some cleaning projects so that i wouldn't be overwhelmed the next day when our bible study would be coming over. i remember about 10 am sending my sister a chat message asking her why she wasn't at my house helping me so i could take a nap.
i went on with my day, remembering that later that evening i was having a small baby party to celebrate the arrival of number 4. i didn't want a traditional shower, just a small gathering of us gals to eat food and laugh.
sam had opened, and came home around 1:00. i knew that he had to leave again to go get retrained on espresso down in sacramento. i was a little bummed, because it meant being alone with the kids for another 3 hours and then rushing to my party.
he came back a little early. about 4:30ish? which was good, i was about in tears and really needing a break. i left him with the kids and went back to de-boning a chicken i had roasted. minutes later there was a knock at the door. which truly annoyed me. why, why, why was someone stopping by right now? 2 hours before i needed to leave for the party, and i still had so much to do. i wasn't even really dressed.
i went and opened the door, and standing there was an angel.
my sister.
she and sam had completely surprised me. and i am not one to be surprised. i find out everything. and i cannot believe how absolutely dense i had been regarding this. it really makes me think how self-involved i must be these days, to not put it together. like sam asking me weeks ago to just not check our credit card bill saying he had got me something as a surprise. or him randomly needing to drive down to sacramento for a very short 1 hour meeting the night of my baby shower (our airport is in sacramento).seriously, where is my head?
i am glad they pulled it off, it was the most wonderful surprise. we spent the evening at my baby party and then talked till about 1 am. when my lovely children awakened us at 6:15 she literally leapt from our bed (thanks to sam for sacking out on the couch) and did not stop working until about 8 pm that night.
she cleaned everything. she used attachments on my vacuum i didn't know we had. and used that vacuum to clean every room and crevice in my house. she deep cleaned my kitchen while i did school with campbell and kept mason and henry busy. she then moved down to our family room and put toys away and vacuumed the spider rug. she dusted, she cleaned up spills, she paused to read books to the kids.
and then she transformed my bedroom and bathroom (side note, ash- the bathroom floor hadn't been cleaned since we moved in.... in march....). the pictures aren't the best- but check it out. our bedroom was such a disaster zone (and we didn't even take pictures of what was the second kitchen, which is now also completely cleaned and organized) and just the last thing on my list to do- mainly because i would never make it over there to clean.
this before picture does NO justice to the mess and chaos of our room.
i only include this pregnant shot for my sister. but there's me. ready for baby. really ready, like hospital bag is finally packed.i wish i had more pictures of all the work she did. i'd love to say that at this moment the house has never been cleaner. but that's a lie. the house has never been more deep-cleaned and more organized. because she let us change her ticket and she stayed an extra day and i was finally able to mark off more and more from my epic to do list. and now that so many little things are done, i have the ability to keep it cleaner longer. well, at least picked up.
i am so thankful my sister came. i love you so much! i wish you were still here- not so you'd be cleaning and helping- but just because i had so much fun having you around. i am so glad that you will be back soon, and we need to figure out a more frequent way to get you down here!
i miss you! thank you so much for everything you did!
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