hands

i love these hands. they are changing so quickly. it's bittersweet.

i remember when she didn't know what to do with them and how they were such a source of frustration.

now, they are being mastered and helping her actually do the things she thinks of... they are helping show us who she is and what is going on in that brain of hers.

it reminds me of motherhood... something that you fumble around with at the beginning... you see other great women/mothers and want to be like them... but you can't quite do it as well. you have to practice and master the skills... learn how your "fingers" work together and how to handle all that is required. but then it begins to click and you forget those first days or months of struggle and you begin to thrive....

i'm afraid i'll be re-visiting those days again soon. days filled with learning how to balance it all and being in survival mode. having two children seems so daunting somedays, but i'm hopeful and excited about the time when i look back and realize how far i've come, how much i've learned, and how much i can do with my "hands".

i'm so thankful for this man.

things sewn for the room

so here they are, room pictures... well, kinda... as i am uploading these pictures of sara and baby boy's new room, i realized i didn't take any good full room pictures. so maybe, (if you're lucky and i don't go into labor before i get around to it) i'll post better room pictures later. but for now, you can enjoy some pictures of the things i made.
and as an added note i'm not sure why my pictures are looking really grainy... so forgive the picture quality. any ideas?

this is over sara's bed. she is really into tea parties these days, so a tea pot and cup were perfect for her. since they have been hung, they have been taken off and "used" several times.
the print is from Sarah Jane. love her stuff... so cute and simple

this next picture is what is hanging over the crib. forgive the lack of artwork in the frame. this picture is ordered and on its way. and in the other frame there are ultrasound pictures (hung upside down) waiting to be replaced with new baby pictures.

and here is the little kicker's bedding. i fell in live with this brown polka dot. it is such a perfect color of brown... not too dark but not khaki
i took off the brown sheet and replaced it with a green one... it was too dark.
if you look close enough you can see the curtains... the same green that is on the bed skirt.

and this is sara's quilt top. it is somewhere in north carolina being quilted as i type (i hope). i didn't have the guts or the machine to quilt a twin size quilt... i decided to leave that to the professionals... but hey, i made the top and the back so i can say i half-way made it... right?
can't wait to see it finished!

so there you have it... some things i've been making for my kids. wow, i can add an "s" to kid. weird.

almost done

this little guy is almost done cooking!
he is measuring quite large... 40 weeks actually... the doctor says he should be 8lbs. right now (we'll see if she is right!)
so, it could be any day....
i'll be cleaning and sewing until that day comes :)

state fair...again

i had to post a few more pictures from the state fair.
enjoy!

sara and jayden's first fair ride...
look who's missing in the next picture.

sweet sara had a major meltdown and had to be taken out of the boat... so sad. but thankfully we got our tickets back.

howdy folks!

we went to the state fair a couple of weekends ago with ryan's family... and last week... and this past wednesday! it was fun to be able to go several times with sara. she loved it!

she has not stopped talking about the animals, the dancing dogs (yes, we saw a canine freestyle dancing show...and it was as hilarious as it sounds!) and big tex (she calls him big texas or texas). here are a few pictures from our trip with ryan's family...

don't you love the way sara is pretending to "feed" the bunny?!

rewind

due to my lack of blogging over the past months, i felt the need to share a few pictures of our summer adventures. bear with me as i catch up...

did i tell you that we were switching rooms around here? or better put... my sweet husband switched the rooms? and now i am trying, in my 34th week of pregnancy, to put them back in order. hopefully by next week... right?!

oh yeah, following up on new bed news...
many good naps taken... few missed and one that is being avoided by the little toes that are sticking out from under the door as i type

big day

look at what was delivered (and assembled...thanks to land of nod and their great delivery service!) yesterday. sara got her very own big girl bed. isn't it the cutest little girl bed?!

she was quite happy to see this in her new room.

i think she is more excited about playing under the covers then the actual sleeping idea.

can you tell how sleepy her eyes are... she never napped because the guys came during her nap time... she fell right to sleep!

after a little of "holding" daddy time!

but naps are a different story...as i type away, i can hear a little one trying to open a door. we'll see how this goes. good thing the crib is vacant.

soon i'll show you what i have been making for the new room.

thanks pawpaw for the great birthday present! she LOVES it!

giveaway... finally!

i took a last minute weekend trip to see my sweet family before the little kicker comes. so, it has taken me a few days to get to the giveaway. but this afternoon i had a little helper who picked two lucky ladies to get a new fall flower broach!

isn't my mom's new bedding beautiful and dreamy!

my little helper hands!

yay for kath and amy!

have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Mom! ... and a giveaway!

Happy Birthday to the best mom and Gigi in the WORLD!

mom, it has been amazing to walk through these past years with you. you have always been an encouragement and a blessing to me and my family. especially in those first days/months of being a new mom. you were always so willing to listen to my complaining! and then encourage me to be who i am created to be. you are, by far, the bravest and strongest woman of God I know. this year has given me a new appreciation for your strength and your beauty. you have always been honest, vulnerable and willing to let me be apart of your process. thanks! we love you and miss being able to hug you everyday! hope you feel loved and cared for today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!



in honor of all the birthdays (my sweet mom and i share the same birthday...fun, huh?), i'm going to have a little giveaway. leave a comment by next wednesday september 16 to get your name in the hat and you might be the lucky winner of a fun, fall-ish flower broach.
good luck!