Monday, October 26, 2009

A Quiet Morning

This morning (and yesterday morning, and probably tomorrow morning) I woke up at about 4:45 and was never able to return to sleep. Not an uncommon occurrence, but one that comes in cycles of about 3 mornings. No big deal, I have just learned to get up and make use of the rare opportunity I have to sit quietly at my computer and do whatever I wish. Now at 5:45 I have finished Facebooking, emailing, making a list of items for my hospital bag, and looking up a pattern to use to make burp clothes for baby Sara! Now its time to blog. I must note that the second I start blogging I take the risk that one or both of my children will likely wake up immediately. That's just how it works, so I have to wait until I am truly ready for the day before I start. And sure enough, as predicted, as I typed the words "tomorrow morning" Maddox has begun to stir, so my time is short. That's OK though, because he happens to be kinda cute, and I always get a good smile out of him when I go to him that makes it OK no matter what time it is! Gabriel too, he always comes out of his room happy, sleepy, and pretty much adorable. There is a reason God made kids so cute!!

The last few weeks I have truly enjoyed something of a sewing frenzy! I have gotten so much done, and sadly taken so few pictures which, after all, was sort of the point of this blog - showing pictures of what I make to share with any who might care, but more importantly so that I can sort of log them and remember them for myself. Oh well, what can I say! I'll try to make a list if I can remember, and dig up any photos I have later today, although I think most of them are on my phone if anywhere, and probably have been deleted by now!

First there was the turquoise jumper dress and bloomers for a friend's baby girl who will be joining us on November 2! I also made her a flannel blanket (that I SO wanted to keep for baby Sara once I was finished with it!). The blanket was made of squares of white, pink/white gingham pattern, and pink/red ladybugs and (I thought) turned out SO cute!! Next I finished up an art bag for nephew #2 (#3's bag is on my "to do" list for his December birthday). The art bags are simply long rectangular bags with a pocket on the outside (with their name), and on the inside I sewed up a little colored pencil roll up organizer thing (much like you see for knitting needles), and then filled with colored pencils, markers and other age appropriate art materials along with their own bound art book.

Next I made a blanket for my mom to give to a co worker's new grand baby with cute little sailor/anchor cotton on the outside and fleece inside (for Colorado weather), and a simple swaddler blanket made out of monkey print fleece. I finished baby Sara's crib set (this I can get pictures of) with the exception of her fitted sheet which I am in the middle of now (my laptop is actually sitting on the cut pieces of fabric now!) I went through a bout of hate for the set last night, but have been assured that it was purely hormonal, hubby gave his seal of approval which means a lot to me, so I am trying not to worry about it. The set includes crib skirt, bumper with pockets, quilt, pillow, and I'm also making her wall hangings out of a combo of fabric from the set as well as some matching(ish) fabric with butterflies. Its a little out there, but I'm hoping it makes for a fun set. We'll see. Lastly I just need to make some small room things out of those last two fabrics to tie them in with the set. We picked up the crib yesterday, so I'm all ready to get her room set up! Hubby keeps reminding me that she won't even use the room for several months, but I don't care. :) How often do I get to set up a baby girls room I ask you?!? And in case you aren't 100% clear on the answer to that, it is once. There will be no more girls or boys for us!

This week I sewed up three aprons for friends, including one cute little ginger apron for a friends' little boy (one coming for Gabriel shortly), a Thanksgiving apron for Flutterby Threads, which I am now actively trying to stock. And finally I sewed up one major project consisting of several smaller projects which I can't say any more about at the moment because they are for Christmas! The project is not so much done as it is "done for now" as I will have to spend some more cash on it to finish, so I'm going to wait till closer to Christmas. After Christmas though I'll be just about dying to share pictures of it!

Pretty much other than that, nothing has been new! Sewing has kept me pretty busy in the kids sleeping hours, and they have kept me busy in their waking hours. Speaking of which, it is officially time to go get me that baby Maddox smile!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Our Anniversary

5 years ago Friday, I married my husband Dan and started on the whirlwind journey that would be our lives to this point, and will probably continue to be a whirlwind journey for the rest of our lives, since, well, that's just how we roll. Looking back at who I was 5 years ago I can hardly believe how far I/we have come. Marriage and parenting has put us on a learning curve I never could have fathomed, and while I've often felt like I'm hanging on for dear life, knuckles white, arms screaming and tired from being whipped around on this roller coaster, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

5 1/2 years ago, or any point prior to Cinco de Mayo 2004, my life revolved around me, and that was pretty much all that mattered to me. I had no purpose and no direction other than living for the moment and pleasing myself. I flew by the seat of my pants, refusing to be pinned down to anything or anyone. Literally the ultimate commitaphobe. I had started a promising career (in an industry that would soon take down our economy) making good money assessing risk in securitizations, I was living in downtown Denver which I loved, and I thought that I was happy. Dancing, partying, yoga, and work were all I needed.

Then I met my husband on Cinco de Mayo 2004 on a blind date, married him 5 months later, moved across the country, had two children, three jobs in two industries, got laid-off from a giant mortgage company, got work in Marketing and then quit to be a Stay-at-home-mom, experienced the deaths of three Grandmas (two of mine and one of Dan's), lived with my mother-in-law for 2 years until her untimely and unexpected death, moved across the country again, got pregnant again, and bought a house. Which brings me to today. It has not been a quiet five years. But through it all, my husband and my best friend has been by my side, and I have been by his. We have been through the highest highs filled with joy we can never describe or top, and we have been through some of the lowest lows filled with money troubles, deep grieving, and pain. And we have come through it, almost cemented together now. Its crazy how love develops and changes through time and trials. One thing is for sure, I am eternally grateful to God for bringing us together. Only He could have orchestrated a pair like us, and He loved us enough to make sure we found each other.

I want to take this opportunity on our anniversary to thank my husband for what he has meant to me, and to tell him what I am most grateful for.

-I am so thankful for the sense of humor he has always carried with him and taught me.
-For teaching me to relax and let go a little bit - perfection is not always worth all the strife it entails.
-For his ability to go with the flow, and for teaching me how to be a little better at it myself (an ongoing lesson). How refreshing when the world takes another sudden turn, big or small, or when I make some huge mistake and expect it to be met with anger. Instead it is constantly met with a dose of humor, and always with an attitude that we will get through this too. Together.
-For his patience.
-For always having the right words when they are needed most, and enough silence when that is what is needed instead of words.
-For teaching me that I am capable and strong, and that he will always be there for me, and always willing to give me a kick in the butt, but for not being willing to simply be a rescuer. He will always support me and give me as much help as I need as long as I too am giving it my all.
-For his trustworthiness which I have never had to question, and have never had to worry about.
-For loving me from the inside out, and standing by me no matter what I look like, and for always making me feel good about myself when I feel giant and ugly. This one requires and example: The other day when I was feeling fat and ugly, Dan said "You're not fat, you're just pregnant." and when I responded that I'm always fat, he didn't miss a beat before saying "Well, to be fair, you're always pregnant!" Again, just the right dose of humor, combined with just the right words leaving me no room to feel sorry for myself.

The list goes on and on. I am blessed to be married to this man, and thrilled to be celebrating our 5th anniversary. I look forward to many more -although I hope they will be a little less eventful! :)