A Baby Gift

This weekend I was needing a quick baby gift, one that I could work on for a few minutes at a time at the machine. This little idea was perfect! I sat and cut out wool felt balloons of all different colors and cut these little blue flannel clouds. Of course the bag was just one of those $3 canvas totes that I already had in my stash from the craft store.

I used colorful variegated thread throughout and I have forgot how much I love it! In short sessions at the machine, one little cloud or balloon at a time I actually finished a project!! Now that felt good! I forgot to get a picture of the inside, but I dropped in a little liner with two big pockets on one side (perfect for about three disposable diapers, and one of the little plastic wipe dispensers) and three small pockets on the other side (that would probably fit a cell phone and a few mom essentials well). The gift was for a baby boy and the bow was meant to look like a bow tie, Timothy and Ben thought that it looked a little bow-ish, but mama can remove it if she doesn't like it. 

I wish I could have went to the shower, but it was out of the question today. I'm almost there friends! I've just got a little over a month left before I'm 37 weeks! Woot woot! I have another almost finished project to do now. I'm finishing up a knit cardigan for a shower next weekend. It's baby season here in Bama! I've got 6 more rows, and a few ends to weave in then I'll show ya that one too. I miss this! working on and sharing little projects with you all. I may go on a sewing binge when this baby gets here! xo, Sam

He's got this!

In the last two or three days I'm feeling like myself again! Woot woot! I can't say that things have really turned around much, but I've definitely adjusted to our new normal for now, and I'm happy! It's actually been a crazy week but we were able to roll with the punches.

I went to the doctor this week and baby is doing great, but mama is struggling. I was hoping to get better news, but I knew something was different. I'm dilated now so I've got to be extra extra careful. I'm shooting for 6 more weeks and I'm praying I make it!

I had to take my sweet little man, Timothy, to the doctor yesterday. Poor boy, he has struggled with a really junky cough for almost two weeks now and Tuesday he started running a fever and acting tired. You know what it means when an eight year old boy wants to take a nap! They are SICK! He had a nasty respiratory infection and had to get a couple of shots. We also had to drag his old nebulizer machine out of the attic for breathing treatments every 6 hours. That sounds bad, but it's a blessing to us!! Do you know that that machine sat by my bed for almost three years when my boy was little? We haven't used it again since he was 3 or 4 years old. He had round the clock treatments back then during the winter months and I carried around an inhaler in my purse for emergencies. His rough start in the NICU (as a 35 1/2 week "lazy white boy") followed him for years but I am so thankful that it didn't stick!! He is one healthy boy now! It has been a good reminder of God's grace. You see the doctor thought that he might likely always struggle with "weak lungs" but God had another plan. :)

That very story gives me hope for this new babe. Even if my body doesn't cooperate, or if my 37 week goal is still too early for this babe, my God has big plans! He's got it all under control. Now doesn't that sound good? That my friends is a very comforting thought. He's got this, so I can just let go. :)

Tim is having a little fun with this too, now that those two shots are over with.

He is receiving tip-top medical care (and entertainment) from his three little nurses. Too sweet! Now that makes mama's heart smile!

He happens to think that he looks pretty stinkin' awesome in this mask too. Only and eight year old boy!

His smallest nurse wasn't so sure about that thing! Look at that face! :) And that cracks us all up! She stood in front of him for several minutes during the first treatment and waved and said "Hey!" like she wasn't sue he could still see her. Then when she crawled up next to him he got this "You look like you've grown another head" look. These kids are too much fun! xo, Sam

The firefighters wife can hang!

I want to say that we have had such a great week! But It'd be a total lie! So, I'll just give you the highlights in that "if you don't laugh you'll cry" way that I'm so good at. ;)

* I'm in labor. Fo real, like if I get up to just walk to the bathroom I have 2 contractions, kinda labor. I'm as-big-as-all-outside too so the doctor is thinking that we may have my dates off! Yes! Not that I'm on a hurry to get this baby here, but it makes me feel better to have some wiggle room ya know? It's a good thing to measure two weeks ahead when you are struggling this much, this early.

*My oven went out in a blaze (or really a poof) of glory Monday-ish. I was sitting at the table cutting up potatoes when I hear this electrical/fire type *poof*. The kids start yelling that they saw a flash of fire! I get up to look and sure enough, the stove and oven both are dead. I checked the breaker and it wasn't tripped. When Ben got home he did manage to get the stove back to life but my oven is a goner. No big deal, we will just make do with the toaster oven for now.

* Two days later as Molly was cooking biscuits in the toaster oven, and I was again sitting at the table, when we smell smoke. I turn and flames are licking out of it like its a wood burning stove! Tim grabs the fire extinguisher, I start fiddling with it trying to get all those silly pins off of it (why are those things so fiddly?!) and finally get the fire out and run it, billowing smoke, out the back door. That's major points for the firefighter's wife! A VERY pregnant and in labor one at that! Chaos!! Claire is screaming in the high chair, the girls are coughing their heads off, the entire house is full of black smoke, I'm contracting, Tim is still saying "THAT was AWESOME" between every cough, and we are all still hungry. The kids turned on the fans and we opened up the doors and we stayed out on the porch for the rest of the morning. My house still smells like smoke! Isn't that crazy?!

*My kids were bummed (which hurt my feelings a little because it felt like my fault) that our whole family went to the beach this week and we couldn't go. They were sweet about it but I could tell that they were disappointed. They have to miss Paw-Paw Day tomorrow too, which stinks. I guess since it has been vacation season it seems like we are missing out on a lot this year (mama too), but I keep telling them (and me) that this Spring we hit the road with a new babe for a whole month of gypsy travels in the airstream! Now that is going to be even sweeter because of our "confinement", and we are pumped!

So in other news, we are doing whatever it takes around here to keep from going stir-crazy, and one day this week the girls built a book tower to the ceiling! They were pretty impressed with themselves and so was I. :)

Claire has been making us laugh constantly as she repeats EVERYTHING we say -I really need to stop saying "dadgummit" cause she is really good at that one...Awww man, can't I just have one mama-swear-word? Her funny act today (besides trying to convince us that "Sissy" pooped in her diaper) was to use the binoculars as a camera and walk around saying "Cheeeese!" The kids were so cracked up by it that I just couldn't help but laugh at how stinkin' cute it was. She was also very upset that she couldn't wear her favorite sparkle shoes (pictured above) to take a bath, which had us all rolling! You should have seen her trying to talk us into it! They are hand-me-downs from Lily and Iris and she thinks they are IT! Have I mentioned that this is one of my favorite stages? Ahhh! We could all just eat her up!

I did do some knitting this week! Yay! I plan to finish it up tomorrow, so I'll share that soon. I also had a visitor who came bearing a bag of goodies this week. Woot woot! We had a good time talking and I wish I had taken a picture. Next time I will! Danielle, if you read this, remind me to get a picture next time you visit. ;)

What a weird post huh? Oh well! It's not perfect but it's written down. One more thing before I go, do you guys have any cloth diapering blogs that you love? I'm wanting to extend my blog list a little, while I have the time to read, and that's what I'm into at the moment. :) Thanks friends! xo, Sam

To be honest...

I know it has been a week since I posted, but I just haven't had much to write about. We did have market last weekend, but I didn't do anything to get ready for it. Ben took my big green cushy chair, I came late, left early, and just sat the whole time. It was fun, but it wasn't the same, I didn't even get to decorate my booth. :( Ben did a great job of getting it all done by himself, and I was really proud of him, but it bummed me out a little to not get to do it. To be honest I've pretty much been bummed out the whole stinkin' week. They had to change my medicine again because the procardia just wasn't working at night. AT ALL. The new medicine is something that I have never tried before, and it's making me sooooooo sleepy all day long. I don't feel like doing anything crafty because I'm so foggy, and I think that is one thing bugging me, not being productive. Another major thing is not being able to take care of my family like I'm used to doing. It totally bums me out to not be able to DO. I realize that it's good to learn these things about myself, and it's very sweet to see my family taking over and getting the job done so well (they have been AMAZING!), but I feel so not needed! I hate that. I love to feel needed. All week I've been in denial, just pretending that I was feeling just fine, but here is the truth. Just when I think I have this high risk pregnancy stuff all figured out, and I know just how to make it through without any more hiccups than is expected, I go and have a week like this. So yeah, I'm bummed out, I miss my friends, I miss being able to be outside, I miss seeing my family that I'm used to seeing three times a week, and most of all I miss being mama and being needed. There I said it. It's out and I feel a little better having said it, but I'm not going to camp out here. Nope. I'm here at the end of this battle and it's time to put on my big girl britches and finish this thing. It's time to man-up!

My plan of action is as follows:

:: Focus on the little kicks and bumps that mean that this little one is doing just fine even though mama isn't. Preterm labor, you stink!

:: Start knitting, even though I don't really feel like it, I know that I just need a little jump start to get me inspired again. Knitting will make me feel productive and I need that right now.

:: Find a good soaker knitting pattern and order the yarn that will work best for newborn cloth diapering. YAY! Tiny cloth diapers! Any suggestions friends?

:: Blog more. I really do feel better when I write on a regular basis. I can write things that my introverted personality could never say, and I feel good about having all of this real life documented, even if it isn't always rainbows and kittens. :)

:: Be grateful, oh so grateful, for another chance to be a mama to a baby. It has never been easy, but that's how I know that each one is such a HUGE blessing! Even when I'm bummed it's easy to see that. God is so good!

:: Invite friends over, even if I will be a terrible hostess, they probably won't care and the kids will love it too.

:: Get Ben to stock up on citronella candles so that I can be on the front porch more, fall is in the air and I don't want to miss this just because of bugs! I'm an outside kinda girl, it has always made me feel better to be outside, even when I was little.

:: And know that "1For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3

Thanks for listening friends! I'm sure with this plan of action, some prayers, and just knowing that we are almost there, I'll be feeling better in no time. xo, Sam
 

A quick sewing project!

 

I have had a major case of cabin fever. Knitting is just not happening as much as my brain wants it to, because it's just too hot and humid here, it gives me sticky fingers and sticky yarn. No fun. So the knitting has been put aside for the last few weeks. Yesterday I was desperate for a creative outlet. Desperate I tell you! I CAN'T just sit, I feel like I'm wasting my life away. It's more relaxing for me to have a little project to play at, then I feel productive, and just happier in general. Yesterday I was going a little nutty, so my very dear husband told me to get in the car, and in minutes we were headed to Target. I slapped on some mascara in the car and I was ready. He wheeled me around Target in a wheel chair and I bought knee socks for $2.50. *Joy* And then the knee socks turned into leg warmers/ baby legs! (If you want to know how to do this g00g1e images will be your best friend. There are about 4000 tutorials on different ways to accomplish this. Serger, no serger, cuff, no cuff, ruffle bottoms, no ruffle, hand sewing, recycled t shirts....you get the idea! There is an answer for everyone! It's awesome!) It literally was less that 5 minutes sitting at my serger and I had a pair. Woot woot! My body can handle a 5 minute sewing project! It was like a ninja project that I just snuck in before my body even knew what happened or had a chance to pitch a fit!  Then I was no longer nutty! Ahhhhhh.... I have more, but I'll have to show you later because as soon as I snapped this picture with my phone it started raining cats and dogs.

 

 I'm planning a post to explain the wool dryer balls this week for those of you who wanted to know more. They are pretty stinkin' awesome! See ya this week! xo, Sam 

A common myth busted :: A gift for a crafty friend

 

 

There is a common myth that crafty friends and family are hard to give gifts to, it's not true!!! Today I'm going to prove it! People think "Well she can make anything she wants for herself, she doesn't want anything I make." People have actually told me this before, IT'S NOT TRUE! People who love handmade things, LOVE handmade things! Especially handmade things that they didn't make for themselves! That gives them time to make more handmade things! If anyone in this world can fully appreciate your handmade gift, it's going to be another crafter. They are the only ones that truly understand the love, time, and thought that goes into a handmade gift. Now that that myth has been busted, lets move on to a good example of crafty gift giving.

 

Crafty friends are so easy and fun to give gifts to! In the last couple of days I have gathered and made these little bits of things for a sweet neighbor. (By the way, have I told you that I have really really awesome neighbors? On one side I have a young mama with two little girls who loves anything crafty, and on the other I have a couple that my kids call their "back-up-grandparents" Yes, they really say that, they are THAT awesome!) Now a non-crafty person wouldn't like this gift at all (or maybe just a little), but to a crafty gal this should be a fun gift (I hope!). You see crafty people look at things differently, they see potential in everything! When giving gifts to crafty friends I try to give them lots of little gifts instead of one big one, with lots of different options for fun! Let's see what we have here....

 

A mason jar- There is ALWAYS crafty potential in a plain ole mason jar! It can be reused to hold knitting needles, buttons, or they might just fill it with homemade jelly and give it back to you next summer. Mason jars = AWESOME to any crafter.

 

Handmade bath salts scented with essential oils- Well, we know what they are going to do with that. (You can find my recipe HERE)

 

A crocheted flower- It may end up on a headband or bow for her girls, it could be used to embellish a shirt, bag, quilt, or purse, it could be sewn to a gift bag and re-gifted as a Christmas gift...the possibilities are endless!

 

Plain brown gift bag decorated with an unfinished crazy quilted square, and sharpied clothes pins-

Brown bag- This could be used to hold her yarn so it doesn't run off while she crochets, or re-decorated and re-gifted.

Crazy quilted square- This may be the front of a small bag, the center of a quilt, an edging applied and used as a table centerpiece, it may be a pillow for her little one, you just never know where this may end up!

Sharpied clothes pins- They may be used to hold her grandmothers apron around a small curtain rod over her kitchen sink, they may be used to hang cloth diapers out to dry, they may be used on a little indoor clothes line as decoration.

 

Handmade scented (with essential oils) wool dryer balls- Pretty self explanatory, like the bath salts, she's going to use these to decrease her drying time up to 20% and save more money for craft supplies! Or she may put them in a bowl in her living room as a pretty air freshener, and when they aren't smelly anymore, then use them as dryer balls. :)

 

So this little decorated bag, with a jar of handmade bath salts, and 4 wool dryer balls can be ALL that and more to a crafty mama next door. Now go spread the word! Crafty people LOVE handmade gifts!!! xo, Sam