And so it begins...

....the first bit of "making" for Baby Caffee! Until about two days ago, I was so unmotivated to make anything for this baby. I can't explain it well, but it's almost like I didn't believe I was really having a baby. For weeks I've felt this baby kicking and moving around, and still somehow my heart wouldn't let me believe that it was real. I guess this old heart has been knocked around so much for the last few years that I was experiencing some kind of built-in defense mechanism. But then Tuesday night I had this really vivid dream about crocheting something for a baby, my baby. I crocheted all night long in that dream, and when I woke up yesterday morning the motivation to make something for this little one was finally there! It's funny that crocheting was what I was doing in my dream, when that was the very thing I used to keep my hands busy in the past when my heart was broken....crazy.

I decided on a blanket, and it didn't take me long to figure out that I wanted it to be some sort of granny square. I like granny squares because you can work the patterns from memory, you can stop when the blanket is the size you want, and you can change colors whenever you like without too much thought. Being too lazy to hunt down a pattern I worked this "filled in" version of the original granny square (that link will take you to the tutorial). I really liked the way my sample turned out, it will be a lot more practical this winter (when we bring baby home) than the original granny square with the lacy holes.  

These are the colors I decided on for the boy blanket, blue, gray, and green. I think I'm really going to like it when it's finished. It's so boyish but soft, and I think it will match lots of things too.

And then the girl blanket was started. For this one I chose the colors pink, gray, and purple. I don't love the way it looks in this stage, but I think when I get one more round of gray on it I think I will like it just fine. (The purple looks much softer in person.)

I was afraid that if I made one blanket at a time that I would burn out after the first one was finished, so I'm going to work two rounds on one and then move to the other for two rounds, that way they will be finished at about the same time. When I have them about half way done I will share the pattern, if you can even call it that! It's so stinkin easy!



If anyone needs me I'll be sitting here in my lazy-boy crocheting baby blankets, for my baby, while being kicked from the inside! God is so good! xo, Sam

The Email Mix-up

For some reason a few weeks ago my junk folder started eating good emails (which is extra weird because my inbox still seems to be filled with JUNK that I didn't sign up for most of the time). I didn't know this until it was too late and I only found out then by chance because I'm not in the habit of checking my junk box. The worst part is that it automatically dumps (deletes) email every few days, so I really don't know what I've missed. I think I have it fixed now, so if you sent me an email that I have not responded to please forgive me and re-send it. I'm so sorry! And if you use hotmail, you may want to check your junk folder too. :)

Finding a new routine....

....that's what we have been doing around here, just finding our new rhythm and balance. I have come to the point in this pregnancy where I have to spend about two thirds of everyday with my feet up. The other third I try to squeeze in as much normal as I can, but I haven't quite found the balance yet.....and that's fine because everything is going to be different around here for the next few months, good different, but different. 

I know I've been a terrible blogger! I'm sorry! I really want this place to still be a fun place to be, but I just have to find a way to work it into my new normal. I need this space! I miss you guys, and I miss being in the habit of documenting our day to day around here.

The above pictures are of Molly cooking her famous sausage biscuits. (Pay no attention to the dirty stove, I just noticed the traces of last nights chicken and dumplings.) Since I have been saving my steps, Molly has completely taken over breakfast duty. She told me yesterday, "Mom, I love cooking breakfast every morning." I LOVE this kid!

There were some other things that I wanted to cram into this post too....

The office is done! Which means I have my sewing loft back! I'll show you some pictures soon (maybe tomorrow). I have so much more room than before, it's soooo nice.

Slowly I am getting this house in order so that it will be easier for my family to keep clean when I'm on total bed-rest. The kitchen cabinets are cleaned out, the kids rooms are cleaned out and neat including the clothing switch from Summer to Winter (which is kinda killing us with the days still in the mid 80's here in the south), and with the office stuff out of my room Ben moved the cradle in. The CRADLE people! The one that I thought would stay in the attic until my grandchildren needed it! I have to admit, Ben and I both freaked out a bit when that cradle was coming down the steps. I mean to be honest, we haven't completely grasped the fact that we are actually having a baby yet. That may sound crazy, but on one hand this baby was such an out-of-nowhere-surprise, and on the other hand there has been a part of us that was almost scared to believe it....but there is a cradle in our room now! Like, right next to my bed! Call me crazy, but that has been a total shocker for me this week. Who'da ever thought I'd get to kiss, smell, and nurse a fresh baby again?!

There is more, but I'll save it for later. I plan to try to be a better blogger this week so I shouldn't blab everything in one post! Oh, I just have to say this one more thing though, in the next few weeks I want to have a "Guess what the baby is!" post soon. I'll answer all of your questions about hair growth and cravings and all of those other old wives tales, and then everyone can guess. I think it will be fun! Nkay, I'll be back very soon friends! xo, Sam

Introducing! Baby Caffee!

Yesterday was the big mid-pregnancy sonogram and I am happy to report that everything looks PERFECT! My doctor warned me at my last visit that they would be running a few extra tests and taking extra measurements so that I wouldn't be alarmed, and boy did they take their sweet time! I didn't think I was ever going to get a peek at this baby! But all of the measurements and tests turned out great and even showed that our little one is a few days ahead of schedule, so good news was worth the wait. This little Caffee was curled up in a ball about as low as he or she could get and refused to budge! The sonographer said that the picture above was the best she could do for a profile shot since baby was being so stubborn. I thought it was pretty cute that the baby was so stubborn! Maybe this baby will be so stubborn that he or she will stay put until 37 weeks or so, that would be nice.

We took the kids with us (including my Mary) and they just loved it! They seemed to get excited all over again. After we were home they watched the video over and over and guessed at what "kind" of baby it is. Molly and Tim think it's a boy and Maddie and Mary say it's a girl. We have never found out what we were having before, but this is the first pregnancy that I have no gut feeling AT ALL about what the baby is. I think this little one will be my first surprise! I LOVE surprises, and this pregnancy has been one big surprise from the very beginning!

Abraham stays with "Aunt Panta"

And I let him have the full experience! Because you know that I believe for a child to grow properly they need a good mud bath every now and then!

This is Tim's mud puddle that he keeps in the garden. It's the perfect size for a boy about Abe's size. He LOVED it!! You see that grin?

It didn't take him long to figure out what to do. He made full use of it! He was head to toe mud by the time his mama got back. She laughed "What are you going to do about this?" I just went in, and while she hosed the clumps off, I filled the mop bucket with warm soapy water, then I gave him a good yard bath like I do my own.

He was as good as new when he left (I even washed his clothes) and worn out from a good day with "Aunt Panta" (my name given to me by Lily and Iris). Mama said that he didn't even make it out of my driveway before he fell asleep! You see, mud'll do that to kids. It makes them sleep good and grow better. I guarantee it!

The Beach

We had a wonderful time on vacation! In those eight days we did a lot of this....laying around in pajamas with no make-up on....

...watching and listening to the waves roll in...

..lovin up on chubby little people...

...boat watching...

 

....playing in the water...

...LOTS of playing in the water...

...and playing volleyball.

But I just watched...

...they played until dark...

...and then there was lots more laughing, playing, snuggling, and giggling until we finally went to bed and got up to do it all over again. It was such a good, long, relaxing, break. Just what we needed!

I'm having to slow down a bit now with this growing little one... and before too long I will have to spend most of my days laying around on bed rest. I have been doing all I can since I've been home to get everything in order. I still can't believe I'm nearly half way through this pregnancy! In the days since I've been home I've been cleaning out closets, drawers, kids rooms, and doing all I can to make it easy on my family for when they have to do it all on their own. The office will be done in a few more days too! It's going to feel so good to have all of that in order too! I can't wait to show you! I'm pretty happy about getting my sewing loft back too.

I'm so glad to be back! So has anything new been going on with you? What are you guys up to?

xo, Sam