am i taking crazy pills?

cause it feels like i'm taking crazy pills.
why else would i think this:

was a good idea?

in case you can't tell (or are currently now in the fetal position crying 'why mary, why?) that is my fabric "stash" (other appropriate words:collection, obsession, monstrosity) and i decided that it was as good of a time as any to go through it.
i could probably list of about 30 other things i could have been doing. and then 60 other things that should be getting done. you know, because there's a new baby coming.
but, i wanted to send some fabric to my good friends aaron and emily who are in the process of adopting a baby, and emily is selling various items at her etsy store: the tulip patch and i thought i could easily help by sending some fabric their way (all proceeds from her etsy store go towards their adoption- and if anyone is looking to get me a baby present-which is not necessary- i'd love one of her cloth high chairs).
apparently to "find" fabric, i had to go through that whole mess.
i worked on it for about 10 minutes before becoming completely unmotivated. sam came upstairs to check on me, and i told him, "i'm not motivated anymore" and he surveyed the room and said, "oh geez, i hope not".
it was awfully nice of him to move ALL of that fabric out of our "second" kitchen (which doubles as a sleeping nook for babies and as a fabric room and is where our elliptical machine is so you can just imagine how easy it would be for me, nearly 9 months pregnant to navigate in it).
and as i was sorting through the fabric he did watch all the kids so i could be uninterrupted.
about an 1 hour into it, i was happy, i do love fabric.
about 1 hour and 1 minute, i was fed up. apparently i have been buying fabric like it was going out of style. also, i think i was purchasing fabric for my alter ego- you know, the person who has all the time in the world to do nothing but sew and create, and sew and create, and sew and create. its never a good sign when you realize you can categorize your SCRAPS into 3 separate tubs.
about 2 hours into it, i stopped for lunch.
then went back to it until sam had to leave for a meeting.
its to hot to be up there now, but when the sun sets, and i can stick a fan in the window, pop a movie on my computer, i have every intention of finishing it up.
i'm sure you can't wait to see :)

it's coming.

well maybe not today, but if i have baby #4 a week early (which is the plan) then really, its less than 15 weeks till we abandon the crazy of 3 and enter the mad world of 4 kids ages 4 and under. yikes. i am not sure which is more "yikes" worthy- the 15 weeks to go, or the 4 kids. although, newborns (my newborns) just sleep and sleep and sleep. and nurse. so really, its just working around that. i am not nearly as terrified with this baby coming as i was with switching from 2-3, i am really excited to meet this mystery baby. i am 99% sure most days what the baby is, then i start to doubt myself. i am planning on one specific sex, but will be absolutely shocked (like, are you sure that's my baby? shocked) if it comes out differently. i am pretty stinking excited about the nice 6 week break sam will take when our new baby comes. we've been saving up our starbucks stock, plus the money he'll get from the state, and it will make for a wonderful 2 months of baby-hood. we are planning on taking the family to zion national park sometime in the beginning of october (when it is apparently the best time to go). i've already told sam that we are driving super slow to get there- it will not be a drive there in one day kind of stint. we will probably stop through las vegas (where i have technically never really been) and find one of those fantastically cheap hotels (because they really want you to gamble, and let me tell you something- while in new orleans we went into a casino and i absolutely hated it, money tends to stress me out- when i am not trusting- and i just can't seem the appeal in playing a game where they take your money) and maybe do something fun with the kids.

15 weeks to go.

when i was new to blogging and pregnant with little henry i did a big weekly countdown with goals and such for each week, and quite honestly, i think it must have been very snooze worthy for the few readers i had (so snooze worthy it isn't worth posting a link to those old posts- i just put worthy/worth and posting/post in the same sentence, hmmmm) but i like having a countdown of sorts.

so instead of having many separate goals per week, i will probably just have a goal a week. or maybe just 14-15 goals- well, lets say 15 goals- here's #1: pick goals.

phew. better get started on that one. they probably won't be weekly, simply because i have the crazy notion that one will be something radical like: sew all Christmas gifts in July.

i'm not crazy. sewing all gifts in july might be crazy, but in all reality, with the amount of gifts i make- christmas is just knocking at the door.

so, that's about it- 14 "things" to accomplish, to represent what little time i have left before the baby comes. it will be really hard to just stick to 14, because already i am thinking, well how about 14 things to sew, 14 things in the house, 14 things to cook....

stop mary, stop.

and i will. because henry is crying in his bed, and mason is crying outside.

wish me luck sticking to 14 things, because seriously, the head is swimming!

a possibly scarry post.

today is august 25, 2009.

christmas.

christmas is coming.

it is only 4 months away.

4 months.

no longer 12, or 9 or even 6.

but 4 months.

4.

and have i started sewing yet??????

if you can't find me, i am hiding under my sewing table, trying to make the calendar fly back to march.

a different kind of friday five

i am getting very frustrated with myself and my lack of motivation and my misuse of time (this is being written at 12:49 while i wait for cloth diapers to finish washing).

i am just not happy with what is getting fit into my day, and just what is not getting done.

this isn't really how i want to live my life. i am pretty happy and content with what i have, but not with what i am doing.

so i am going to try something.

my 5 in 15.

i am going to try and add 5 things into my daily life that i wish i was doing now. and i am going to try and do them for the next 15 days.

and i am officially removing "try" from the words above. i am going to do it.

my 5 are going to be fairly specific.

one that brings me closer to the Lord.

one that is directed towards Sam.

one that is directed towards my children.

one that is directed towards my body.

one that is directed towards my mind.

so here are my 5 in 15.

1) devotions. at some time everyday. i will read at least a chapter in the Bible, and i will journal at least a sentence. and i will pray. and this could take 5 minutes, or 50. its the act of doing it.

2) make a lunch for Sam everyday. he never eats at work (usually just snacks on samples) so i really want to be an encouragement to him, and help him stay energized at work.

3) spend my mornings with my kids. i usually stumble out of bed, zonked to the world, dragging until 1 1/2 cups of coffee has seeped into my skin. allowing my kids to wander around, watching pbs and eating breakfast bars. that isn't the morning i want for us. i want breakfast together at the table. i want us to read a story from their Bible, and i want us to start our day together. of course, after that- its pbs and wandering while i get focused for the day!

4) brushing my teeth. i bet some where expecting either exercise daily or eat right in this category. well i do weight watchers so diligently as if a drill sergeant is in the kitchen with me. and daily exercise gets me through every single day. but i do not have great dental hygiene habits. and that really needs to change.

5) reading. i need to read at least a chapter in ANY book. i need to re-establish my passion and eagerness for reading, so that i can set a great example for both my husband and my children.

so that is my 5 for the next 15.

i would love to encourage anyone who would like to, to do the same! and if you do, i'd love to know what you are doing.

not quite the bookworm.

in one of my very first posts, i had a long list of goals for myself.  and specifically i had books that i really wanted to read.  i think since January i am not quite sure if i have really finished a book. (i am trying to remember when i read the Twilight series... maybe since January?)  perhaps i read a C.S. Lewis book? where has my memory gone? i know i read a Francine Rivers book.

clearly, i need to read more.

which is where this post is going.

i am so far behind on reading the Bible in one year.  and it really disappoints me.  i only made it as far as the beginning of Numbers last year, before i got so far behind i didn't try to catch up.

i was doing so well this time- 1 Samuel.

then i had a baby.

and somehow i am (gulp) 3 full books behind.

what to do?

not be discouraged! trying to catch up on those 3 books isn't going to help me get on track.

so this is what i am going to do:

start reading the One Year Bible- from today's date on.

yes, i'll miss out on some of the Bible this year, but I'll read it from May 5-Dec. 31st.  then start over.  this gives me accountability of spending time in the Word each day, which is what i am desperate for.

Hmmm... perhaps a weekly post on what i am reading? i have 5 books sitting out in the living room that i wish i was reading.

and maybe i will put this down, and pick up one of them.

back and busy

i am back from Fort Bragg.  been back since late sunday night, but have slowly been trying to get back in the routine of things.

so i have a lot i want to blog about... but it seemed necessary to first do a little check in blog.

so this is me checking in! i am back.

and so busy.

between planning a baby shower, trying to plump up my baby, laundry, the heat, a birthday gift half down on my ironing board, another sewing project stuffed away in a drawer, a 3 year old who desperately wants me to resume "school books", a great reading curriculum set my father in law found me that i need to peruse, ahh books for myself i am desperate to read cover to cover, a brother in law i really want to spend more time with-playing settlers, a husband i want to laugh with, a daughter i want to cuddle and kiss, a baby i want to hold all day, 2 books of the Bible to read and catch up on, friends i am desperate to spend time with (Serena that's you!), and did i mention laundry?

back and busy.  that is me.

money.

today i feel really tired of stuff.  sick and tired of all this clutter in my house.  i asked (made) Sam take the two older kiddos and leave for a bit.  Sam has been great- a huge help, making meals, changing diapers, and letting me get lots of extra sleep.  but still... he isn't me, and he doesn't see the "mess" i see, and he doesn't always put things where they are supposed to go.

so after 3 weeks of keeping things low key, i needed to try and play a bit of catch up.

hard to do when there is so much laundry it makes my head hurt (the enormous amount of laundry is in part due to a family of 5, and not made any lighter by the fact that we have tried to potty train Campbell- lots of accidents means more dirty clothes, and Henry has been projectile spitting up, and has been making a huge mess on lots of things).

anyways.

while racing around as quickly as i could to get some things done, i just couldn't help but notice how much junk... i mean stuff... we have.  it just feels like too much stuff!

and then i had to move some clothes into bins out in the garage, and there we have even more JUNK!

and i feel a little like the walls are just pushing in around us.

3 little kids.  the inability to play outside (weather and box elder bugs make it impossible).  

and money.  i know that eventually we will need to move.  and that just makes me stress about money.  because i don't really earn any income for this little family.

and i spend.

so as i was engulfing in all of this stuff, i think about what i often do.

i'll say this: "i have everything i need, i don't need anything else".... but... and then i list off many different things that "would be nice to have".

well i am tired of doing that.  i am really sick of tired of thinking that i need something new.

i am tired of spending money when we have so much stuff.

so, for the rest of the year, this is the only stuff i want to spend extra money on:

*gifts for others (includes showers and parties)

* notions for sewing.  i do not need any new fabric. i have so much.  and the 2 dollar sale just happened, so i will wait.  but i cannot say no money to spend on sewing- because occasionally i will need more thread, or bias tape or a zipper.

* crayons and stickers at the dollar tree.  little Campbell loves to play with these things, and we do run out of these.

*vacations and camping

*homeschooling supplies (i am going to try and not spend more than $75 dollars in this year)

well i don't know how well i will stick to this.  but i really want to.

i just want to be content.  and i am really content.  i need to get rid of some of this clutter and stop buying the little things we don't need.

sometimes being a grown up just isn't fun.

6 days to go!

So, yesterday marked the 1 week to go mark for us.  Hard to believe, but it is true.  As of today, I have six days that I am counting down.  I will not reveal to many pre labor details in this post, but things are moving along, and I am hoping to be snuggling Henry in my arms before too long.

So how did I do this week?

week 2

finish Jana's baby gift- well I didn’t really start this. I have cut out some of the fabric, and I know what I am making for this little boy.  But Jana’s baby shower isn’t going to be until the end of May, and I took a closer look at what needed to be done, and knew this could get moved for a bit.  I don’t think I will have a very long sewing gap, because I am too addicted to it right now!

finish Gaia's birthday gift-  Gaia’s birthday also is several weeks off, not until cinco de mayo! so, I did get all the materials (except some padding) cut out for her 2 gifts, but this will be held off until middle of April?

make fun totes- well, originally this meant fun totes for me! Cause I wanted to be able to have various sized cute totes and drawstring bags for different projects and purposes.  However, last week at Joann’s I found this wonderful animal fabric that I had to have- because it had a giraffe, elephant, and a lion on it (only those 3 animals, and they aren’t whimsical- they are really retro and cute) and these are the animals that I have assigned to all 3 kids.  So I decided to make 3 totes, and embroider each kiddos name onto the tote (and these will be their “Easter bags”).  They are started, and soon they may be done!

work on Campbell's homeschooling folder- I have printed out a bunch of worksheets for Campbell, I just need to hole punch and put in a binder.  However, I want to do a fun craft with Campbell to decorate the binder.

work on Mother's Day gifts- I should be working on this, but this will be easy to do while sitting on the couch, staring at my new beautiful baby boy!

work on van basket- nah, but I did get my carseats professionally installed at CHP- and I am so happy that I did! They are not moving at all!

finish Campbell's Easter pants- YES! DONE! I am so happy I got to this.  Henry won’t have matching pants, but I am really happy I have a little pair of pants for Campbell.

 Added from last week:

follow up with healthy families- called and faxed additional information, and YES- she has been approved and I got her insurance card yesterday! So thrilled about this.

do my recert for medi-cal- YES! Mailed out Saturday morning!

Maybe work on window frame- again, no.  but hey, I gave myself 10 weeks.  Maybe during Sam’s 10 weeks off we can work on it together!

Campbell flash cards- finally purchased index cards, so ½ way done!

Print out my lists (kids and diapers)- YES! DONE!

Maybe make Mason a little dress and kitty (maybe)- nope

Finish packing my hospital bag- YES DONE!

Burp cloths for Henry- YES DONE!

Addie’s birthday gift- YES DONE!!!!

Last Week:

Well I don’t really know what I want to do this week.  I am really hoping that the baby will come and come soon!  I think I will really just take it easy.

How’s about I just check back in and let you know what I get done from this day on? 

 

two weeks and counting

yippee 2 weeks to go!

yippee 2 weeks to go!

yippee and yikes! i have such mixed emotion. i don't feel ready for anything most days, the house is a disaster, i'm on the couch exhausted, sewing projects are strewn all over the house.

but then i don't care.  i don't want to spend time cleaning, because it will still be such a mess regardless, because i just don't see how it will possibly be perfectly prepared for when henry comes.

i'm hoping nesting will actually happen (not just the mental nesting i having racing through my mind)

 

but here's my 3 week recap:

make Mason's Easter skirt**Done! and this is actually an Easter dress.  As soon as i have a room with great light, i will be posting pictures.

make my Wrap Skirt** DONE! this is finished as well! 

make picture hanging for Campbell- not started, i might need Sam's help.

start Gaia's birthday gift-  i printed off the instructions for part of the gift and found the fabric I will use.

pack hospital bag- started this! Finally.  I need to wash a couple of items, but it is almost done.

start Campbell's Easter pants- washed the fabric for this and cut out the pants- this should sew up quickly.

added from last week:

make Henry's booties** Done! whoo hoo!

follow up with healthy families- almost done, i did call, and i have the paperwork i now need, i just need to call and get a fax number.

work a little on Jana's baby gift (if there is time)- i traced this pattern, and washed and dried part of the fabric, and cut out 1/3 of the gift.

maybe work a little on the window frame- this just isn't going to get done.

filling out my medi-cal recert package- thought about it.

 pack a bag for my kids.  not sure how i forgot about this.- **Done (ish) there are a few things that will need to get added to the bag on the day the kids leave (but that is in the little list I have made)

 make a list of all the things my kids need, but can't be waiting in the bag (plus location of where those things are )- did this, but need to print it out and put in by the front door.

 instructions on how to wash my cloth diapers (because they can't just be sitting in the bucket for days while i am at the hospital)- did this, need to print it out and tape it to the wash machine

 make a list of what i need for the hospital that i can't keep packed (aka my fan and our camera) I need to just put a little post note by the door- I only need my fan, camera and chapstick.

 make a phone list of who needs to be called when i am having the baby... i'm giving it to you Serena, but just to call when i go to the hospital- and i'll put little notes next to the names so you can tell so and so to call these 3 people- etc.  that way it isn't all on one person.- done and emailed to Serena! Thanks!

 make a gift for another person- another friend's child is turning one this month, and i forgot.-i pulled out the fabric, and know what i am going to do.

 Campbell's party:  we are postponing this until May.

 i need to make some burp cloths for little Henry.

Not a lot, but some. - made one and will make a couple more, and got some beautiful green flannel ones from Serena- thank you!!!

 i found this great kitty fabric in my stash, and now i want to make mason a little dress out of it, and a matching little kitty stuffed animal for Easter.... when to do this... still just a dream.

 and flash cards- i need to make Campbell some matching sight word flash cards and then make him so rhyming word flash cards... nope.

 and then for this week:

 week 2

finish Jana's baby gift

finish Gaia's birthday gift

make fun totes

work on Campbell's homeschooling folder

work on Mother's Day gifts

work on van basket

finish Campbell's Easter pants

 

so to add from last week:

follow up with healthy families

do my recert for medi-cal

Maybe work on window frame

Campbell flash cards

Print out my lists (kids and diapers)

Maybe make Mason a little dress and kitty (maybe)

Finish packing my hospital bag

Burp cloths for Henry

Addie’s birthday gift

 

I sure do keep adding it on.  I wonder if I should start panicking as to what would happen if some of it doesn’t get done???  Nothing other than the medi-cal and healthy families is truly tragic, I mean gifts can be given late, flash cards made at any time, etc.  I am really just trying to keep myself occupied.  And I do enjoying have to do lists, so this isn’t painful.

I’ll try to give a little midweek assessment again- because I do think I can most likely get a bunch of stuff done tomorrow.

sorry the color and fonts are so crazy, i'm to tired to really address the issue.

an almost midweek assessment

i have 18 days till my due date.  18 days.  i wish it were more like 18 hours.  however, i technically still have awhile before i can start crawling at the walls. technically.  i started crawling at the walls about 3 weeks ago.  yup.

however, life keeps handing more time consuming projects to do.  here is what i'm hoping to do this week:

 week 3

make Mason's Easter skirt

make my Wrap Skirt

make picture hanging for Campbell

start Gaia's birthday gift

pack hospital bag

start Campbell's Easter pants

added from last week:

make Henry's booties

follow up with healthy families

work a little on Jana's baby gift (if there is time)

maybe work a little on the window frame

now i have made some progress on some of these items, but why would i give away my progress early- i'm drawing out the anticipation for myself.

but what do i need to add? what other things are quickly flying into my mind and must be written down before i forget? the following:

apparently i need to fill out a re certification for my own medi-cal benefits.  this is absolutely ridiculous.  you aren't supposed to need to recert for a year, and i haven't had my benefits a year.  so now i have to gather all the information and get it down? what? awesome.

pack a bag for my kids.  not sure how i forgot about this.

make a list of all the things my kids need, but can't be waiting in the bag (plus location of where those things are )

instructions on how to wash my cloth diapers (because they can't just be sitting in the bucket for days while i am at the hospital)

make a list of what i need for the hospital that i can't keep packed (aka my fan and our camera)

make a phone list of who needs to be called when i am having the baby... i'm giving it to you Serena, but just to call when i go to the hospital- and i'll put little notes next to the names so you can tell so and so to call these 3 people- etc.  that way it isn't all on one person.

make a gift for another person- another friend's child is turning one this month, and i forgot.

i think i may cancel Campbell's party.  i've only told one person.  i'm just getting tired.  i don't know what to do.  i could do it in May, he won't know.  he won't know if i don't do it all.

so maybe i will just do it next week, but only with the one invited guest (you know who you are).  all i want are balloons and cupcakes and the fun sparkle in his eye.

don't i get one more year before he knows what is going on? and then when he realizes that i need to do it for his brother and sister?

i need to make some burp cloths for little Henry.

Not a lot, but some.

i found this great kitty fabric in my stash, and now i want to make mason a little dress out of it, and a matching little kitty stuffed animal for Easter.... when to do this...

and flash cards- i need to make Campbell some matching sight word flash cards and then make him so rhyming word flash cards...

those last 3 were added here at 2 am...

well, i think that's about it.  still feels like i am forgetting some things.  guess it doesn't matter.  i have officially become unmotivated.  

Down to 3

Somehow i am looking at 3 weeks to go.  And now i am starting to freak out, internally at least.  labor and pain and recovery.  making sure the other 2 kids are happy while i'm in the hospital (having there stuff ready for them), trying to have this house somewhat clean.  oh, how my mind begins to reel.  nursing again, recovering from labor, sleepless nights, and the shocking adjustment of a new baby when i still have a baby.

i kinda want to sit and hide under a blanket.  oh man.

 

well lets pretend to recap what i got done this week:

 

week 4

put up pictures- **DONE there are new pictures hanging in our hallway! it only took 14 months, but there are finally pictures hanging of Mason.  Campbell likes looking at the new pictures.

finish picture window with frames- ha, this didn't even get started.  well, it kinda did. i bought some paper for backing the frame, and then i did upload pictures that i want to print out for the frame, but i still need to order them.  so this was kinda started, but i'm moving it a low priority of sorts. i just realized that the paper i bought is a little short of the window frames, so i'll have to improvise what i want to do.

make Campbell's backpack ** DONE! i will post pictures on it later.  i am pretty happy with it, however with the pattern, the picture in the book made it look so much bigger than it turned out.  so if i ever decide to do this project again, i will have to make my measurements much bigger.

finish Henry's hospital bag ** DONE!

start Jana's baby gift- this is another one that may move to a lower priority.  Jana's baby isn't due until June 23 and i am guessing i'll be up to sewing more in May, so i may need to shift this on the list. however, i have bought the fabric for the project, and traced the pattern for 2 parts of it (and i know what i am making, so that is half the battle)

follow up with healthy families-i didn't even bother to call.  i was hoping to get something in the mail from them, but alas- i did not.

finish pictures in kids room- i don't remember what this means, i did change some pictures in the room, so i think i would call this one **DONE!

do top shelf frames** DONE! I painted picture frames and put 2 new pictures in 2 of the frames, i am waiting for one more picture (henry's)

added from last week:

finish Meaghen's baby gift** DONE! i will take pictures of the finished blanket.  i did drop 2 projects from the list, but i have 4 bought things for her, and i did make 3 semi pretty things for her.

finish Kris's birthday gift** DONE! i will take pictures of her finished gift.  i am not thrilled with the second part of her gift, i really wish i could sew a tad straighter, but apparently i cannot.

Henry's booties- i have all the fabric i need for the booties, and i have cut out 1/3 of the project.

hang other item** DONE!

register at hospital** DONE!

plan my big boys birthday party! **DONE! but there are still things that need to be done in prep for it.  however, i realized i just want to have a quiet little lunch party for him.  however, i want balloons, streamers, and other decorations all set up for him.  i want to make him a special little lunch and cupcakes, and make sure he knows just how special i want his day to be.

 week 3

make Mason's Easter skirt

make my Wrap Skirt

make picture hanging for Campbell

start Gaia's birthday gift

pack hospital bag

start Campbell's Easter pants

added from last week:

make Henry's booties

follow up with healthy families

work a little on Jana's baby gift (if there is time)

maybe work a little on the window frame

4 weeks! 4 weeks!

yeeks! we are getting down to the wire.  a friend at my shower today said she thinks it will be 5 weeks... of course, i would love it to be 2.  however 5 seems like a more reasonable estimation.  and it is probably for the best- i am NOT making the progress on my sewing projects that i wish i were.

however, a few things here have changed.  my brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer in august.  we were all told it was something called germ-cell cancer.  he did several rounds of chemo, and then just had major surgery.  today we were told that the cancer wasn't germ-cell cancer, but another type of cancer.  with a very discouraging prognosis.  before we were told the surgery was going to be truly effective at removing all of his tumors, and then maybe a little more chemo, and then cancer free.

now we find out that this new cancer has a 20% success rate.

where am i going with all of this?

stem cells.

stem cell research is huge and making wide strides in helping to treat and cure certain types of cancer.  

we have the option of banking the blood in henry's cord, and the stem cells in that could potentially help in the treatment of my bro in law's cancer.  

after doing some research we found that his type of cancer was on the list of treated by stem cells.

its crazy.

9 months ago i was utterly shocked to find myself pregnant again.  unplanned. so soon after mason.

and then a few weeks later we found out that levi (my brother in law) had cancer.

and now to find out just weeks before henry's arrival, that we may need his cord.

i am just amazed at the Lord's plan.  i mean, i don't know if henry's cord will save levi's life.

but it could.

and the unplanned, surprise of a baby, may have been made with a very specific purpose in mind.

Our Lord is amazing.

so what does this have to do with 4 weeks?

well, i really do want to get my list done.  and i know that the baby will come when he is ready.

however- our doctor on call has never been really ready.

i have been very resistant on induction for this pregnancy.  i was induced with campbell and mason, and i really wanted to go into labor on my own this time.

but with how fast my deliveries have gone, i wonder if that's the smartest thing.  with the possibility of there being a need for the cord blood, i don't know if i can risk whether or not the doctor will show up to bank it.

but i don't know.  i have a few questions for my team of ladies where i get my maternity care.

so 4 weeks to go.  and lots still to do.

recap from last week:

week 5

write my Grandma's ** Done and mailed! Whoo hoo!

finish Kris's birthday gift- this is halfway done.  the main part of the gift is completed, however i have a small little item to make to go along with it, and that fabric is cute and ready to start the sewing process.

make Meaghen's baby gift- well i kinda have a ton of things that i am making for her.  2 projects are done.  and i have, gulp, 4 more i was going to do.  yikes.  i might pick just 2 and do 2 more things.

finish Mason's little Kimono dress ** yea! i did this! i did it a little wrong, but i am really happy with how it turned out, and i know what i need to do to make it right for next time.

work on embroidery-** i have been doing this, and loving it.

finish up what's going on for Campbell's party- i'm a terrible mom.  i don't know what or when i am doing this.  well, i think i know what.  but i don't know when.  

make Henry's booties - i didn't even start this.

start Henry's hospital bag- ** but i did finish this!

register at the hospital- i was going to do this- but i have an appointment next week, and i decided, why take an extra trip up to the hospital, if i need to be there anyway?

** and from last week:

call healthy families- nope

hang other item- double nope

ok, so i really need to get more on the ball for this week.  i do think i bit off a lot on the list for last week.  so i will try and be a little more realistic this week.

week 4

put up pictures

finish picture window with frames

make Campbell's backpack

finish Henry's hospital bag ** DONE!

start Jana's baby gift

follow up with healthy families

finish pictures in kids room

do top shelf frames

added from last week:

finish Meaghen's baby gift

finish Kris's birthday gift

Henry's booties

hang other item

register at hospital

plan my big boys birthday party!

Agh! 5 weeks!

5 weeks left.  That's one hand.  That's saying- baby's coming next month.  On a sad (not really sad, but I think its sad) its also 5 weeks until my baby turns 3.  How can that be? Oh whoa is me.... I did not see... this coming.

- that was my lame attempt for some sort of poem-

but seriously, its sad.  Sam's been calling him 3 for the last few weeks- and I hate it.  He is  not 3.. not at all... not until April 1.  Sure, people give me strange looks when I say he's 2 (um, cause he's also taller than some 3 year olds) but I don't care.

Back to my epic to do list.

Here's what was on the agenda for last week:

week 6:

brainstorm Campbell's birthday party, decide when i'm going to do it, and start invitations 

** well, it's been on my mind, but i haven't even narrowed down a day.  the problem is that about 4 little kids i know have birthday's in March, and i don't want to upstage them, or plan a party on their day- and all i really want to do is just lunch and cupcakes with friends- that's it.  but of course, i want to do decorations... and maybe plan one game or something...

follow up with healthy families for Mason

** well, i followed up with medi-cal, and apparently as of next week she should be "unblocked" (whatever that means) and eligible for healthy families.  so i will call healthy families next week.

get Mason's birth certificate from the county office

**got it! and i mailed it off to healthy families! whoo hoo!

start Kris's birthday gift

** started- and almost done i might say. i am proud of this, as i kinda came up with my own bag (i almost dared to write designed but its loosely based off of one bag i've been eyeing, and constructed based on the skills i have learned from Amy Butler's Birdie Sling)

make gift for Chelsea's baby

** gift made, baby shower is today.

order pics of Mason and pics for frames

**ordered! soon the world will know that my little Mason belongs to this family and lives here!

work on Mason's little Kimono dress

** sadly, i haven't worked on this.

work on embroidery

** yup, been working on it, finished a little project i wanted to do, and am loving embroidery.

hang under my shelf

**i realized after i posted this that it may have sounded a little strange.  i have 2 things to hang under a new shelf Sam put up in our bedroom. i have hung one... one more to go!

pretty good.  I will need to move a few things down for this week:

week 5

write my Grandma's

finish Kris's birthday gift

make Meaghen's baby gift

finish Mason's little Kimono dress

work on embroidery

finish up what's going on for Campbell's party

make Henry's booties 

start Henry's hospital bag

register at the hospital

** and from last week:

call healthy families

hang other item

well, i think i can do it.  

6 weeks

so technically i've got six whole weeks left.  now i could have this baby in 4-8 weeks... which is a very huge gap.

however, i'm kinda tired of the way i was doing my list of things to do.  instead of overwhelming myself with all the things to do, i want to break it down for myself so that i can prioritize what i need to do and when.  so i'm going to set up what i want to do in week 6, week 5 and so on.  for the next 4 weeks i will put the things i really want to get done, and then the last 2 weeks will be filler, and then i may make an optional 2 weeks after... not what i really want to do- cause i'm thinking positive that 6 weeks from now i'll be holding my new baby boy.

but here's a recap:

what i had previously done in weeks 10-8:

made Piper's Birthday Gift

made Madeline's Birthday Gift

cleaned/organized under my bed

cleaned/organized my side of the closet

organized living room dresser

organized and cleaned up all my art and sewing stuff

finished Campbell and Mason's names

sorted all baby boy clothes

hung wall photo boards in the kids rooms

made my diaper bag

sent in Healthy Families application

hung picture in back room

worked on the white walls in the kids rooms

been blogging

not to bad when i look it over.  i'm pretty proud of myself. and i'm sorry to be blogging about it and boring anyone, but it makes me happy to see that what i've done!

and on what i've done:

recap of week 7

**finished Jana's birthday gift (pics to come after her birthday)

**finished Henry's baby blanket and small blanket

**finished my taxes (about an hour ago! whoo hoo)

**blogged

**hung up Henry's name

**cleaned up the hall closet- there's some empty spaces that i wanted to fill, and         then i realized, i didn't need to fill it all, its done.

again not bad.  and here's what i still have to go:

week 6:

brainstorm Campbell's birthday party, decide when i'm going to do it, and start invitations

follow up with healthy families for Mason

get Mason's birth certificate from the county office

start Kris's birthday gift

make gift for Chelsea's baby

order pics of Mason and pics for frames

work on Mason's little Kimono dress

work on embroidery

hang under my shelf

week 5

write my Grandma's

finish Kris's birthday gift

make Meaghen's baby gift

finish Mason's little Kimono dress

work on embroidery

finish up what's going on for Campbell's party

make Henry's booties 

start Henry's hospital bag

register at the hospital

week 4

put up pictures

finish picture window with frames

make Campbell's backpack

finish Henry's hospital bag

start Jana's baby gift

follow up with healthy families

finish pictures in kids room

do top shelf frames

week 3

make Mason's Easter skirt

make my Wrap Skirt

make picture hanging for Campbell

start Gaia's birthday gift

pack hospital bag

start Campbell's Easter pants

week 2

finish Jana's baby gift

finish Gaia's birthday gift

make fun totes

work on Campbell's homeschooling folder

work on Mother's Day gifts

work on van basket

finish Campbell's Easter pants

week 1

work on Mother's Days gifts

make diaper pouch

make Christmas lift

work on Jess's purse

work on Vera's gift

Overdue ideas or if i finish everything early and need more to do:

make seasonal decorations

make 2 pillows and ottoman runner (to hide the disgusting)

make gift list (for birthday presents)

make Christmas list

well that's the plan.  here i go for next week!

if i've missed anything, please let me know!