Blog Title: Inspiration Comes Easy

So here it is, the end of another year. I once again find myself sitting here wondering "where did it all go?" But I know the answer to that. I was pregnant for most of it, then the rest has been filled with baby-ness.

I was folding Mr. Man's laundry yesterday and I was thinking about how often I fold up his and Miss Pinks, I make sure it gets put up and that the house is mostly clean. I do what I can but it could be mopped more often. I try to make sure that Miss Pinks has her favorite juice and afternoon snacks and that Hubs has all his favorite foods, too. I make sure there are clean towels and that we never run out of hand soap/ toothpaste/ body wash/ shampoo.

I know that I don't always come out on top and that sometimes I'm a real pill to deal with, but I try. I try to take care of my family everyday. I make sure they all get hugs and kisses and comfort. I try to lend an ear for Hubs anytime he needs me to. I help with homework and I make sure baths are just right, not too hot.

I don't usually make resolutions but I think this year I'm going to try to treat myself a little better too. I put me last and I have got to quit doing that. Yes, I am a mom, wife, employer, friend, sister, daughter. But, I am ME above all else and I think it's time I remember that.

My 2008 was filled with so many wonderful and amazing things, I don't think I have to wherewithal to write it all down. So, I'll just say that it was grand. I have a new son, I have a spectacular daughter, I have a loving husband and a thriving business. May 2009 be blessed, too.

Cheers! and Happy New Year!!

Happy One Month Day my handsome son!

Man, that still sounds strange... but aren't they awesome?!!

But I'm still really cute.

8 pounds, 10 ounces, 20.5 inches long, born September 30, 2008, 3:34 p.m.
All kinds of awesome.

First up is something I made for me. I don't do a whole lot of that, so you should be impressed. Last week, Karen over at Misses Kwitty had this FABULOUS tip about using stick glue when trying to get something to stay in place that pins just wouldn't work right on. Well she was right!! I woke up early yesterday and made this for me:



Isn't it cute?? I've been just cramming my hooks into yarn balls that were not in use, but that's not always a good thing. Karen's tip worked wonders as it made it easier to tack the ribbons and set the material. Thank you so much!!

Next up is a hat and scarf set that I put together for Miss Pinks. I am SO in love with this set!! The color is really a pretty purple, but it looks blue in the photo. (also, I'm washing sheets, so not one word about the naked bed!)



The pattern for the hat was plain, but with the curly scarf, I wanted to add a little flair, so I added a ruffle to the trim.



She loved it!! Hubs even thought it turned out well and it didn't take me that long to do, so this may be a set you see again before this winter is out.

Well, this may be my last post for a little while. They are going to induce labor tomorrow morning so I'll be at home snuggling with my new son. I'll try to post photos of him and at least give an update, but you know how that labor thing goes! Please, say a prayer or wish me luck. I'll see you guys when I'm Momma X 2!!!

Much Love,
Pinky!

Today is Miss Pinks 8th Birthday!! WOW!! It's hard to believe she's already 8 years old!! We couldn't plan a traditional birthday party for her this year because we figured THAT would be the day I went into labor, but I am surprising her at school with a party in her class!! She has NO idea! I'm really excited about it. This way she can still party with all her friends. Plus, today is picture day at school, her Book Club where she gets to do book reports AND it's Pizza Day! Talk about a great birthday day at school.

I gave her the bunny this morning! Here is the bunny:



Getting ready for school:



FREEZING! (it was 54 degrees here this morning! That's chilly for the South!)



Bunny Snuggling!!


I am constantly amazed by how blessed I am with my daughter. She is a joy and a light not just to me, but to so many others around her. I am thankful for her every second of every day. Did you know that she wanted one of her presents to be made by me? I told her she would be getting one gift before school and she asked, "did you make it??" Not many kids would do that in today's society. I felt very honored and very proud. I love you so much my darling princess. Have a most special 8th birthday.

All My Love,
Momma

That's it. I am due this weekend and I think I may go past that date just like I did with Miss Pinks. I wouldn't mind except that I'm huge and it kinda hurts to move around. I really thought we were doing this last week. I had 5 hours of solid contractions, starting at 7 minutes apart, then 5 minutes apart, then 3 1/2 minutes apart. Hubs put his hand on my stomach, got big eyed and said, "Are you doing that?" I told him yeah, but not on purpose. He didn't think I was very funny. We took Miss Pinks to the Aunts house and headed to the hospital...where the contractions almost completely stopped. Yeah, nice. I told Hubs I was tired and just wanted to go home, so we did. I had contractions all night, all the next day. I talked to my Doc and she said that until they got back into a regular rhythm, there was no point coming in. I had contractions off and on all weekend long. My tummy really started to get sore by Saturday.

Now I am just waiting on my son to be ready to come out. I did get several more things crocheted AND got to go to this FABULOUS yarn store. Loved it!!! I bought myself some awesome organic cotton yarn that will be a lap blanket for me this winter. OH! I got the bunny finished for Miss Pinks!! I'll take a photo but I can't put it up until after Friday, that's her birthday. It turned out SOOOOOO cute!! Hubs said she was going to scream and cry with it's cuteness. That's all a momma could want.

Well, I better scoot, I actually need to go to work for a little while. I'm working on a big project for the Pardon Johnny Cash Festival we have here in Starkville. If you want to go to a great 3 day festival in October, head this way!! There will be street drawing events, music, memorabilia and all kinds of great people to visit with. LOVES!!

~Pinky!

Yea, he's seeing how long he can wait this out. My doctor said I could still go at any time, but he's being stubborn. I have contractions off an on through the day, some nights are really bad, but still, no bebe. I've tried eating spicy foods and only gave myself heartburn. I walked around and made my ankles swell and my blood pressure rise. I rode around in the car and that seems the safest thing to do, then gas goes up over a dollar. I still have 2 more weeks until my due date, but I thought he might want to get here sooner. Since Miss Pinks birthday is in 2 weeks, too, I would like for him to come on down! HA!

But not to worry! I've been busy as all get out! Sitting at my desk cutting patterns made my feet swell too much, so I haven't been able to sew anything. I did, however, drag out all my yarn and start playing with it again. Then my mother in law went and bought me more yarn and I've been nuts!! Having a blast making stuff. I can sit in the bed and crochet up a storm making all kinds of goodies. Here is a sampling of what I've been doing!





Don't you just love my closed-eyed model?! The first scarf is made out of a dreamy chenille and is decadent as all get out! The pink shawl is made from an acrylic that mimics wool but it can be washed and dried. VERY convenient and SO soft. The black and grey one is super cool with it's twisty, curly design. The last one is made from 2 different strands held together. One is a grey/ white mix and the other is a fluffy, pale pink. Fringe added just the right touch!

I've also got a blanket in the works as well as one arm warmer completed! I'm about to start on a funky poncho for Miss Pinks and darling little bunny that I hope I can get done by her birthday. I've made up a pattern for something else but I have to get some more yarn to make it. It's going to be more design cool than actual function. I have some craps of all these colors left that may go into a hodge podge scarf for me. Who knows! I've got this super snuggly head wrap/cowl that I've got to finish and that's about it!

I hope you all have enjoyed seeing what I've been up to since my child has decided to live in my tummy forever! Lots more to come!! I really like the curly scarf, so I think I'm going to add one of those to my Etsy shop. I'll let you know. Hugs and love from your still very pregnant friend!

~Pinky!

What's funny is that every person we called today said "NOT TODAY!" My mother in law is out of town, my step mom had minor surgery, my mom is stuck at work, my brother has super law crap going on, so yeah, all the fam is out of commission. Which is precisely the time that this bebe would decide to show up. AND, Hubs had to go back to work to finish up a project because we have the first home football game here this weekend. I'm sitting here laughing because it's just so ridiculous I can't help but giggle.

Watching Hubs put the car seat in the car: freaking hilarious! He asked why the hell he hadn't been stressing about putting that thing in before now. If you've never done it, it can be a challenge. Oh, if you also broke the door handle on the driver's side and have to roll the window down to open the door, that adds to the stress. Especially when the motor is dying in the window and it sometimes won't roll back up!! OMG! This is messed up!!!

So this may be my last post before we have the new addition. If he decides to wait longer, I'll let you know. Hugs, love and all kinds of good thoughts,

Pinky!

That's all I have left until my due date. Crazy, huh? I know I went MIA since my last post, but I had a really good reason. You know how I was saying that Jumbo has stretched my ligaments in my stomach? Yeah, well, if you eat something that disagrees with you, then throw it all up, it shreds your stomach. That's what happened to me. I got sick and then was unable to get out of the bed for nearly one solid week. I could go to the bathroom, but even that made me cry for the first few days.

I got better, then my husband got sick. Someone had to take care of Miss Pinks and the Contaminator, so I went back to full on mom/ wife mode and ended up hurting myself again. I didn't have much of a choice, though.

All in all, I'm ready to have the baby. He's put such a strain on my body and I'm not sure how much more I can take. A friend of mine told me to get up and get out of the house because I was going to hurt no matter where I was. Honestly, it pissed me off because I couldn't get out of the bed. Folks, never underestimate just how much you use stomach muscles. I wanted nothing more than to get up, go out, take my daughter to school, go to work, go to the grocery store, but I just couldn't. I have a high pain tolerance but there is no point in hurting myself for the next month.

I go back to the Doc on Thursday and then I start my weekly visits. We're nearing the end and I am excited and terrified all at once. Okay, I've posted, I'm getting back in the bed.

Hugs and love!
Pinky!

Okay, okay, you guys have waited the week I did, so here is the update on New Baby! It is in fact, just one baby, although my girth would suggest otherwise. He is already at 6 pounds 9 ounces, which in case you didn't know, is freaking HUGE! I'm at 34 weeks at he's big enough for a 37 week old baby. Heck, Miss Pinks only weighed 7.6, so he's not far behind her already! Also, I'm sharing the new ultrasound photos!! WOOOO! He gets camera shy and hides his face a little, but you can see him smushing up his lips and his little button nose all the same.
SO AMAZINGLY COOL!



Computers amaze the crap out of me. We never had anything like this with Miss Pinks. Just too cool. He's got his foot and hand in the way on the left side. Funny thing is, he did the same thing on the earlier ultrasound. Me, have a shy baby? Puh-leeze, he just wants his privacy.

Speaking of the darling girl, here is a shot of her in her new shirt! I finished it just the other night and she wore it to school yesterday. I'm glad she was proud to wear something her momma made. I seriously altered this pattern and I wasn't all that thrilled, but she loved it and that's all that matters.



( I made it from an old twin sheet of hers!)




(getting tickled at jumping on her dad)



( REALLY tickled at how unhappy he looks to be jumped on at 7:15 in the morning! heeheehee)

I've got to throw this next dress in the wash, but I am really happy with how it turned out. I made her a dress from this pattern earlier this year but this is the modifed version. I had bought the green to make a maternity top for me only to realize that the pattern I picked up was the wrong size. Oh, well, she got to use it, so that's good.




I shortened it and added this gorgeous battenburg lace that I've had forever!



Isn't this lace pretty!! It looks really good on her and with the shortened length, it fits her a little better, too.

I've also finished my nursing cover. My cousin had one this summer and I thought is was a great idea! Thin cotton, but in a dark pattern so you can't see through it, adjustable strap and a little boning at the neckline so you can peek in at your baby while your are nursing. Loved the idea, so I go on the internets and found these great ones at 40 bucks a pop. Yeah.... I didn't want to pay that, so I made my own pattern, adjusted width and length to suit me and I even did the boning in the neckline!! I am REALLY proud of myself for that one!



I know it just looks like a polka dotted blob, but it looks right when you put it on.



Boning! I'm going to make one for a friend of mine for her upcoming baby. Oh, the best thing, it cost me less than 8 bucks to do it all!! WOOO! Talk about a deal. Way better than 40 plus shipping.

After the Dr. visit, Hubs and I did a minimal amount of shopping and I picked this up for Miss Pinks:



She nearly fainted when she saw the crazy material in the bag. She loves bright colors!! That's all that is going on. I'm toting around a giant baby in my tummy all day and sewing. I get bored sitting still all day, but sewing gives me something to do with my hands and I've gotten pretty good at it. Who knows, maybe I'll start making more than just for Miss Pinks and sell some of this stuff. I sure could use the money! New babies aren't cheap!

I hope that everyone is doing well and I will try to get by and visit everyone in the next few days. Hugs and much love!!

It hurts all the time. Serious. I think I'm growing watermelons that move, not a baby. I know we only have a week left to go back to the doctor but it's getting uncomfortable here. I've finally relented and quit working. It's just too much. I get Miss Pinks to and from school and that's about it.

Speaking of, I had been trying to figure out a way to pay for dance again this year. Let's face it, a new baby kinda screws the budget. I FINALLY got it and she tells me yesterday that she doesn't want to do it anymore. Kids, what can you do with them?

I really don't have anything going on. I've been sewing a LOT lately and I'll take some shots of the work I've done. I finished a nursing cover for me and made a new dress for Miss Pinks. It's really pretty!! I bought material to make her a few more things and I'm even thinking about putting some of it in my Etsy shop. You never know.

Alright, I'm going. Have a good one and I'll chat at you all soon. HUGS!

I have been missing something from my diet that I shouldn't skip on while preggo but I honestly didn't realize I had been doing it until yesterday. Vegetables!! I haven't been eating as many lately but when the craving hit, well I just had to have a bunch. This was dinner last night. (I had never understood taking dinner pictures, but it just looked so yummy, I thought I would share!)



Summer squash, onions and mushrooms being cooked in olive oil with rosemary and cracked pepper.




Steamed broccoli. I put rosemary, sage and thyme in the water below so the flavor infused itself, then I drizzled it with butter.




The finished product! Smoked sausage added a nice meat to the meal without being overbearing in flavor and the orange pile is mashed sweet potatoes. OMG, it was sooooo good!!

Well, I went to the Doc today and I'm now on my every 2 weeks visit rotation. Which means I'm nearing the end. She is going to do an ultrasound on the 20th because I measured large for how far along I am. In case you are wondering what that means, either there is another baby hiding in there, or our son is ginormous. I'm pretty sure it's the latter but if he's real big, they may decide to do a C-section to keep me from having further complications and from hurting him during childbirth. Miss Pinks was a normal, 7 pound 6 ounce baby and she got stuck, so I'm concerned about having him the traditional way.

We will know more in two weeks. It did make Hubs and I double up on some work that we were doing in the house because you never know what may happen. There is another girl that I know that is due one week before me and she is going to have a Section done the end of this month because her son is big. We're about the same size, so the thought of surgery is in there. Who knows? As long as he's healthy, I'm fine with whatever they decide.

Well, Miss Pinks starts back to school tomorrow, so I better scoot. Hope all is well and I'll stop by and chat soon. Hugs and love!!