Thursday, December 26, 2013

Nesting

Pregnancy does crazy things to a person. Let me preface this post by saying that I have almost no sewing skills. I own a machine and know the basic principles. I have made one or two things with it, but I've never undertaken a project like this...

Somewhere around August or September, as I laid awake in bed at night trying to fall asleep while being uncomfortably pregnant, I suddenly had the overwhelming NEED to make a quilt for Clark before he was born. I laid there designing it in my head, and the next morning I got some graph paper and started sketching it out. As I designed the pattern, I kept adding blocks until it turned into this huge project. Luckily, Alan supported me in my insanity and we went to the craft store. He figured out all of the math and how much fabric I needed to buy, and then I started cutting. And sewing. And then sewing some more....


Just less than 1100 two inch squares (and two months) later, I had a quilt top done. I finished sewing the last of the blue border right after Clark was born, and suddenly all of my nesting energy and the NEED to finish it vanished. I did what any semi-rational mother who has just given birth would do - I outsourced. I asked my friend Ann, who does wonders with quilts and all sorts of awesome projects, if she would finish it up. She did an amazing job piecing together the batting and then quilting it all together (and fixing some of my mistakes).







After four-ish months, it is finally done. This project kinda grew out of control, and I didn't realize just how big it would be (both literally and figuratively) until I was already waist deep into it. I learned a lot in making it, and I think my next project will be a little bit smaller. At least for now, Clark has a giant quilt for him to enjoy for years and years.


For anyone who might be crazy enough to use my design, this is how I mapped it out. I used 2 inch squares, and just kind of made up all of the other measurements when it was all sewn together.




Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas ornaments

Elsie chose Cinderella...


and Alice picked Rapunzel. They are really into princesses this year.


Here is Clark's ornament. It just seemed fitting.


Alan picked out a little family of five for us this year.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Meeting Santa

The kids met Santa last night at the library. Santa asked them what they wanted for Christmas. Elsie asked for Santa to draw her a picture. Alice asked for a hug. Clark just slept.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

One month


Happy one month old Clark. This month has gone by really fast; a lot faster than my last month of pregnancy. Clark is growing fast. I weighed him this morning and he is already up to 12.8 lbs. I'm not used to having a kid that gains weight so easily. He, not surprisingly, loves to eat and eats a lot. He is sleeping fairly well at night, only waking up one or two times to eat and then goes back to sleep. He is the first of my kids to really like being swaddled, and it helps a lot to get him to go to bed. He doesn't cry or fuss much, only to let us know he is hungry, and even then it takes a little bit for him to work up a cry. He doesn't babble a whole lot yet, but he is starting to find his voice and will talk every once in a while. He is content to sit quietly and watch the world go by (or his sisters run in circles).

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

On My Own

The last of my baby help flew away this morning. My mom was here for two weeks right when Clark was born, and Alan's mom was here for the two weeks after that.

On the one hand, I'm ready to have my house back. I'm ready to figure out our new routines and what our new normal will be. It's time for our little family to figure out how to get along with this new little person.

On the other hand, I'm really nervous to be on my own. I've gotten very used to our pseudo normal. I've gotten used to being able to sleep in and take naps when I need them (and when Clark will let me). I've gotten used to someone else being here to handle the girls when all hell breaks loose every time I sit to nurse the baby. My mom made all of my favorite dinners, Alan's mom made all of his favorite dinners, and pretty much took care of all food prep. They followed the kids around cleaning up after every meal, craft project, and disaster they made. They kept my laundry folded and dishes washed. They cleaned my floors and kept my fridge stocked. They read story after story after story to the girls. They got me through (hopefully) the majority of my baby blues.

I have to be the grown up to three little people now. At least until Alan gets home in the evenings... 

Sunday, December 1, 2013