Working Weekend

The new baby is due to arrive any day now. So, we spent our weekend finishing some of our big tasks!

Laundry: Check

Pack Bags for Birth Center: Check

Make a Nursing Cover: Check


Thanks to this tutorial by Made By the Mama Monster!

Make Celebration Banner inspired by Amanda Soule's The Creative Family: Check

I will post the finished version once the baby is born and we've hung it up to celebrate!

Make Birthday Cake for Sofi to Consume Once the Baby is Born: Check

We finished the weekend with a relaxing evening with the grandparents who sedated us with take-out Chinese... yum!

Triskaidekaphobia

It's 3am... I woke up at 2:30 this morning with a strong premonition for when this baby will make her arrival! She was moving all around and had the hiiccups, and it was like she was waking me up to say... I'll be here Friday, 3.13.09!

Now, I was born on a 13th, my dad was born on a 13th, and my aunt was born on a 13th. Friday the 13th has always been a lucky day for me! I turned 13 on Friday the 13th, and our local newspaper did a little story about me and triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13. No fear here... favorite number! So of course I had entertained this idea previously, but thought it unlikely; now I think this baby actually knows and is waiting for that particular day. We'll see if my gut is right. It would be perfect timing as well considering Jason's school has CSAP exams next Tues-Thurs that he really needs to be there for. Could she be appeasing DPS as well as her own mother's wishes?!

Well, I can't sleep. I want to check things off my to-do list, but then I don't want to because that could be "labor"-ious behavior, and I want to save that for next Thurs/Fri! Oh, the dilemma, maybe if I only do a couple things it won't count.

Honoring the Baby Belly

My first pregnancy I was pretty uncomfortable with my changing body and felt a bit awkward with a big ol' belly. We didn't give it the proper "attention" it deserved. This time, since it will likely be my last, I wanted to commemorate it and enjoy it more! So, tonight I had my sibling labor doula, who is also a Henna artist, create a Henna tattoo with my large belly as her canvas! It was so fun, and I think she did an amazing job. This belly feels fully appreciated and loved :). I particularly love the little birdie that she added, per Sofi's request, on my right side!

Note:

Not all my posts will be about crafting. I may let my mind wander on this keyboard.

For example: why does the radio still regularly play the songs "Two Princes" and "In Your Eyes?" Every station seems to play them. I wonder if there was a study done that concluded that these two songs improved listening rates amongst all age groups or something. Frankly, I turn the station when one comes on; there is plenty new music to choose from!

Crafty Girl

I'm trying to bring the power of creating into Sofi's life, and to teach her to value that which she owns. Yesterday was an incredible 72deg day, and so we headed outside for a project I've had in mind for a little while. I had some denim fabric that I thought might make a cute children's purse. I wanted Sofi to put her "stamp" on it, though, so I decided to get some fabric paint and let her have her way with the fabric before I sewed it into a purse for her. I gave her some shapes cut from sponges that she could use like stamps, and she also used her fingers. Of course, mommy did help a little... who can resist a "Mama, hup" from a 2-year old?!

I'm also learning the art of embroidery, so I added a touch of embroidery to her design, just to make the star stand out! One stitch down, many more to learn.

An Introduction of Sorts

I'm a young woman (30, yes, that's young) who grew up on the western slopes of Colorado. Always excelling in science and math, I pursued an Engineering Physics degree in college. It proved to not be all that I was looking for, and so I took some time with my then boyfriend, now husband, Jason, to travel the country. On this journey, I discovered the art of beading. I've always loved to use my hands, but had shunned the craft world previously as being too domestic. How wrong I was! It's an incredible feeling to make something yourself, and it gives you a whole new appreciation for how everything is made.

Well, at the end of this trip, Jason and I decided to move to California. We lived in Sacramento for a year and then in San Francisco for a year and a half. I decided to continue in the sciences and studied Integrative Physiology, culminating with an M.S. from the University of Colorado. Next stop was a doctorate in Physical Therapy. I began the program at Univ of Colo Health Sciences Center, and soon learned we were pregnant! I thought I could make it work and continue school, and it did work for a while. However, I got to a point where I decided I wanted to raise my child, and I wanted to give her all sorts of different experiences and foster her creativity. Deciding to stay home wasn't a tough decision, but it was an emotional one. One that left me not knowing what MY future would hold, but I've learned that worrying is a waste of energy, and that you get one chance to live right now.

It has been amazing for my own growth/development, let alone my daughter's. Together we are discovering new things about ourselves. I'm learning that I am much more creative than I ever thought I was; I'm not just a left-brainer. I'm still relatively new to the world of DIY, but I am in love with it. I still cherish the challenges of science and math, but I am reveling in the opportunity to explore what else I might have to offer myself and my family.

I don't expect anyone to read this blog. I'm doing it for myself, and maybe to share some of my crafts with my family, and as a place for relatives to see our childrens' lives unfold!

Thanks to the w-w-w for letting me put myself out there...