j.m.b.

Moments of rain...

2009-11-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

November 12, 2009, 2:26 PM... early to pick up big brother, a shocking riot of color through the dripping windshield...

Little brother rocking out to "Dog Train"

Thinking about walking out in the rain to get brother...
November 12, 2009 2:48 PM... sun again. Lovely and bright. A double rainbow! Sun and rain, both necessary.

JMB

2 months ago...

2009-11-11T14:29:00.001-08:00

Hi there little Mango!

You are two months old now. You have been teaching us lots of things about you. You love when your big brothers talk to you, I think that they are getting to close, but you enjoy seeing them right up in your little face. You are such a calm girl. You leave crying for things like a dirty diaper and hunger. Sometimes you cry a little bit when I take too long getting ready for bed. But as soon as you see me you let out a sweet little sigh, as if to say "Mommy, Finally!"

You saved your first smile for your devoted brown-haired brother, even though your Daddy and Grandma thought that they caught it first. You have been working on a giggle this past week and I especially love your lop-sided grin.

You were such a trooper when we all had the swine flu, content to just cuddle while we all waited to get better. You are a wonderful third child. You are a sweet little girl.

JMB

Moments...

2009-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

November 8, 2009, 9:30 a.m
I was reading a blog the other day and the pictures and writing were so very true. It wasn't that it was a post of grand revelations. It was just a post about a family, across the world from me, but so very like my family. It was comforting and funny. I like that. It talked about using your blog to show how you really are, to relate, to share your true self. If you would like to share with all of us you can read more about it here. It is nice to have a pretty blog. To fix your pictures. Crop out the ugly piles of laundry, hide the zits with photoshop, make it look like you want to remember it. Sometimes it is nice to just be, pajamas, holey socks, toys on the floor, all of it.

We all are getting over our flirtation and then straight on romance with H1N1. It wasn't pretty here the last week plus. Our saving grace was little Mango only got a snorkely nose. I was so worried that she would have the fevers along with the rest of us, but she has been saved thus far. I am so thankful. I am also glad that it looks like the rest of us are going to recover with just a cough and runny noses to bring in to this next week. We missed Halloween, my sister came over with treats for the boys but they could only look up from the couch and manage a pitiful "Thhhank you." Big Daddy had his ears all blocked up and I lost my voice, so we were quite the pair. It just makes me thankful for how healthy we are normally.

I made 4 more pumpkins yesterday for my pumpkin quilt. It is nice to have something brainless to make when I have a spare hour. I have 5 more cut out, maybe this will be a finishable project?? We will see. Jacquie is hosting a project finishing party here. I think I might play along, I need to move some stuff out of my sewing room!

Stay healthy!

JMB

Sticker charts...

2009-10-27T19:51:00.001-07:00

Things are in flux around here. Thinking back, they were in this magnitude of flux back when Blondie was born. The difference I think, is that, back then I was a new "stay at home" mommy. I was still trying to wrap my personal identity around that as well as being the new mommy of 2. And Big Daddy was not traveling nearly as much...
This time around, the mommy of three, the mommy of a school age child, a preschooler AND a little one, well there is a lot of "WHAT AM I DOING??" everyday. Not in "how did I get here?" but "Wow, how am I going to get from point "A" to point "B"?" Point "A" and "B" change from second to second. This blog post was going to be about the wonders of sticker charts...but how do I get from here to there?

We started charts a couple of weeks ago during Big Daddy's first trip away. The first night I will admit to being a screaming mommy. I was. It wasn't pretty. I thought "Would they behave any better if I gave them stickers for all of the (few, seriously it was a bad night) good/helpful/nice things they do?" It worked pretty well. It helped Brownie stay focused on being helpful and Blondie was able to have a better incentive for using the potty more regularly.

It worked for them, but in the weeks since I think that it works better for me. At a low moment I can go to the charts and see that they really are helpful most of the time. I can be reminded that if there aren't many stickers that I maybe have not been "present" enough with them to notice when they are working well together.

We are all works in process Must remember... we are all works in process.
I leave you with my latest quilting bee block. This goes to my friend "hanies" in this bee. She wanted us all to make a 16" block that was like a mini quilt. What a fun group of fabric to work with!

JMB

The games we play...

2009-10-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is the game we play with little babies. If you haven't done it before, you should try it, it will make you laugh, even if you are "very mature".
The other game I have been playing lately is called "Collect fabric until you feel like a spoiled fabric brat"
It is true. For my birthday, when people asked what I wanted, I said "Fabric. Fat Quarters, whatever you like!"
And boy, did I receive! Thank you, thank you family! I just finished washing and putting it all away. Wow, I really need to reorganize now.
This was a lovely collection from Big Daddy and the boys...I think that I want to make another birthday quilt...but I have to finish last year's first.
The following photos are the fabrics that I bought for myself this year, it is a little game that I like to call....

"I shouldn't,

yes I should,

no, I shouldn't...

wait, they aren't going to be around forever, so I should....."

Well, I did...
And I am so happy...
JMB

what to do today??

2009-10-21T20:51:00.001-07:00

How's this for 2 posts in one week?? Hooray for me!

Today, Mango gifted me two hours of sewing, during which she slept in her car seat. First time ever folks!! I got to sew and move and there wasn't a baby to be found ON ME! SO EXCITED!

I do realize that they are only small for a short window of time. I have been loving all of the Momma-baby cozy time, but it was nice to sew ALONE!! Plus the house was quiet! For the first time in over a week... BOTH of the older Brothers were well and AT SCHOOL!!!

I worked on my "Traveling Threads" virtual bee blocks. I really want to keep the upper one. I don't know why I like it so much. I was making a kind of lame house and then I flipped it over and it made kind of a cool boat.

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE!! That is what is called for sometimes. For instance I was giving my kids LOTS of time-outs and basically being a crabby mommy... so I decided to make a positive chart and they could get stickers for when they were doing what they were supposed to. NOW, on a "bad" day I can go and look at the chart and if I have been doing a good job then there will be stickers there and I can remember that they were behaving better then, say earlier today...but let's not discuss it, OK?

Here was my extra block...I made it with some of the scraps from the first one... these blocks really made me excited about sewing again. I just LOVE the "good folks" fabric, but I have been too miserly with mine. Maybe I will cut it now?? I hope so!
Here is a peek at Little Blondie's "I spy Apartment House" quilt. It is getting so big. I finally put the roof on and I just need to add the side borders and then we will be in business for basting it up for quilting. Hooray!

Mango is screaming for her supper... gotta go!

JMB

35 is half way to 70...

2009-10-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday. #35. Is that a big one? Aren't they all?

I did everything that I wanted yesterday...

I woke up early with Mango, then went back to sleep and let Big Daddy do his own thing with the brood.

I sewed, showered, went on a walk, and bought some delicious cream for a special afternoon cup of coffee.

I drank my coffee in the backyard, as Blondie shared his shelled peanuts with the chickens.

I read a new book, received a store's worth of fabric, and had a nice dinner with my family, sisters and mother included.

I had a second piece of cake as I watched Battlestar Galactica.

What a way to start a year!
Little Missy was so busy this morning. We really saw her changing this past week. She is 6 weeks old now. This morning she graced us with her first smile. She was beaming at her dear brother, Brownie. Yes, Big Daddy and Grandma...she smiled TODAY. (It is only the official first smile if the family documentarian sees it to confirm, and that is me folks. That is me.)
The kids were so cute this morning laying on the floor together. What a full house I have. What a full heart. 35 is going to be a busy and exciting year, who knows what it holds, but I bet it's going to be great!

JMB

This was a fun challenge block for my guild this month. I didn't win the drawing for the blocks at the meeting (which I actually made it to, with Mango!) I am a sucker for pumpkins and Halloweeny/autumny things so I started a pumpkin quilt using this pattern to show off my Halloween fabrics....I have 3 finished and they are so fun. There are more cut out, I am such a good starter!

Sometimes, when I 'm lucky...

2009-10-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

See there, tucked in so sweetly... a wee Mango, going for a ride at the sewing machine.
Before, I show my most recent acquisitions, all mommies should at least glance at this site. I found it enlightening and so very real.
There was a sale on decorator weight fabrics... $5/yd!! I am such a glutton.
I finally bought a yard of these...I had been looking, but then the local store got them in and wow they do look THAT good in real life.
Must buy pinks!!
Still can't escape the aquas!!
And to top it off some beautiful new solids. The orange I had to buy because it is called "Mango". The two drab ones are actually lovely colors of grey, a light one and a charcoal. I am excited to start something new... but then again I always LOVE the starting!!

I saw this post, I just love the colors that Lily used!! I have never tried this pattern because I thought it was "too easy"???? I have to say that, today, I am so wooed by the simplicity of it.

I have been working on a large quilt (on and off for about 3 months) it is for my little Blondie. He was so excited when I let him hang a swap quilt on his wall that I knew it was time for him to have his own bed size quilt. I finished another big chunk of the front piecing. I will share it when I have some of the bigger pieces put together. I am very happy with how it is turning out.

Well, in the famous last words of a new mother, I am off to feed the baby. Thanks for being so sweet to little Mango last week, she had such a lovely time blogging.

JMB

another little hello...

2009-10-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

Mango here, taking over this blog. My mom wanted to post, but I am really needing her attention these days. I am a month old now and I am just beginning to realize that I run the show around here. I think I kind of like this.

So, just between you and me, I cry and then I get food/attention/clean dipees/ANYTHING I WANT. Then there are the "bigs" around here. They are pretty fast, it is as if they don't like it when I let a scream out. The only problem is... sometimes they don't guess right the first time, so I have to scream real real loud the next time to help them out. THEN they usually get it right.

I really like to ride around on this one "big". She takes me great places. The smaller "bigs" call her mommy, so I think that for my purposes here she will be known as Mommy. I like to sleep in that carrier thing, look around, all sorts of things, because I know where she is AND she knows where I am... it's a good thing.

I have gotten so good at going to sleep in there that sometimes I wake up in this room filled with fabric pieces and there is a relatively comforting whirring sound. My mom just seems so happy in here that I usually just go back to sleep and rest a bit until I get SUPER hungry. I am living a pretty good life.

it is kind of hard to hold up my big head and type at the same time... I am getting very very sleepy... KShfksjghkshgkjsh

Hi there...

2009-09-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Thought that I would drop by with some friends...

Has it really been 2 weeks since I posted?

I guess it is kind of crazy around here...

but this week is definitely going smoother than last week...but don't tell, 'cause that could TOTALLY jinx it.

See you soon!

JMB

these are the days...

2009-09-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

these are days you'll remember

never before and never since, I promise
will the whole world be warm as this
and as you feel it, you'll know it's true
that you are blessed and lucky
it's true, that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you

these are days you'll remember

when May is rushing over you with desire
to be part of the miracles you see in every hour
you'll know it's true, that you are blessed and lucky
it's true, that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you

these are the days

that you might fill with laughter
until you break

these days you might feel a shaft of light
make its way across your face
and when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be
see the signs and know their meaning

you'll know how it was meant to be
hear the signs and
know they're speaking to you
to you

-10,000 maniacs "These are the Days"

Last night, we walked down our block to an open field. I sat in the grass with little Mango as the boys and Big Daddy played Frisbee. I don't think that we have ever played Frisbee down there before. Yet, it seemed as if we had always done what we were doing right then, with our family just as it is right now. There was a lightning storm that we watched move across the sky. Then a small bat darted over our heads in the breeze. It was a perfect moment. We were together, so healthy, and blessed to be out on a beautiful night.

While the boys played and ran through the field, this song played in my head. I am horrible at remembering lyrics, but this song always felt a certain way to me. Looking at the lyrics tonight, they really capture the way I feel about this moment and this time in our lives, right now.

I feel so blessed.

JMB

When it rains, it pours...

2009-09-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world baby girl!!!

We are home and happy! The rains started here right after she was born, it feels like a new beginning all around!

Mango came to be with us @ 12:56 a.m. Saturday morning (the 5th) She is 8# 7oz and 19.5 in long. We are all doing well, a bit sore, but that will fade. The brothers are coming home from Grandma's today. Let the party begin!!

Thanks for all of your kind wishes, they helped me through...we will be around!

JMB

Just about this time last year...

2009-09-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

(Brownie, first day of school circa 2008)

Here I sit, 2009, in the hospital room. No baby yet but some contractions... we will see. Last year at this time I was sending my first born off to Kindergarten. How the times have changed.

I just wanted to get a note out to the "outside", the "web locks" here won't let me do facebook. Maybe it is too salacious??

I can't wait to hold that little girl in my arms.

JMB

Why it is important for children to have balance...

2009-09-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if you will believe me, but they got muddier than this... Really, Blondie was a brunette and I wasn't sure that his hair would ever be clean again. All I could see of Brownie's face were the whites of his eyes. Kids need balance. They NEVER would have had this kind of fun if I was not on bed rest and Big Daddy was at work. I can admit that, I am OK with that. I can do arts and crafts, library time and Big Daddy can do mud and large scale painting projects. Big Daddy is not adverse to the crazy mess and I think that is cool. I couldn't stop laughing when the boys came up crying and said that they had mud in their mouth... HOW COULD THEY NOT?? It was Every Where!
While they were doing that I was taking a few "show and tell" pics of our new baby Mango's quilt. Very girlie, muted colors, not my thing as of late (I started it 4 years ago...really I did) but I think that it will fit her perfectly. Pink... it could be my new thing for a while.
The back was just some stash busting and an orphan pomegranate flower block from when I was teaching myself to applique. Funny thing, the flower had a lot of the same fabrics as the front, so it works too. (I am glad that I am not going to be sorting through those fabrics again, some I think that I have had for 10 years... I am a hoarder.)

Here's to hopefully only a few more days of pregnancy and to welcoming a baby girl in to our family!

Take care,

JMB

No baby yet, but I haven't had a stroke, so it is all good...

2009-08-28T20:10:00.002-07:00

Hi there,

I am just popping in for a bit of a visual interlude... The picture above of my youngest (thus far) won a 2nd prize ribbon and a "Banner Award" at our county fair this year. Blondie and I are so excited because a "Banner Award" means that they are going to blow this picture up REALLY huge and hang it at the photo exhibit for next year's fair. He is excited because it is of him and I am excited because I can never figure out what they look for in judging the photos at the fair... but this year I guessed right!

I entered these two also, they didn't win anything, but I do like the colors and the texture in the photos.

These last two I just like and thought I would share.

We are still going in for baby appointments 2X a week. Our appointments consist of getting hooked up to the fetal heart monitor, sipping some juice and listening for our baby girl to wake up and move around a bit. It actually has been kind of fun, because it is a rare occasion that Big Daddy and I get to sit around and do nothing but chat. Sometimes he reads me silly articles from old Parenting magazines, sometimes we snicker about all of the silly products in said magazine that are for "People who have too much money and too little sense" His words, not mine...he is rarely so blunt, so that makes me laugh too.

The laughing can get tricky, because sometimes I laugh so hard that the monitor stops recording and then we just have to wait longer to get a "good read". The silliest I got was when he started retelling stories of my friend Sara from high school. (I don't think she reads this, but we were on the track team together for four years and her sense of herself and her sense of humor still never fail to make me laugh... uncontrollably sometimes) (I haven't seen her in 15+ years, but still, so funny.)

I am less afraid about inducing, my BP has stabilized somewhat so we are just playing by ear, which is good. Each day I lay around a lot and check for swelling (not too much) and headaches (none) and side pain (only from laughing). Our little mango baby continues to grow and come Monday we will officially be one week away from her due date.

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts, I appreciate every one.

Have a lovely weekend!

JMB

No baby yet, but I haven

2009-08-28T20:10:00.001-07:00

Another day, another awkward family photo...

2009-08-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

I just love this site. It always earns at least a chuckle. But I felt like this one really spoke to me... you should go and pick your favorite too.

I am doing OK. Yesterday was kind of a low for me, but today the boys are home, Big Daddy is home and it feels real nice!

JMB

Late breaking news...

2009-08-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

I am officially 3 weeks away from my due date AND on a modified bed rest restriction due to high blood pressure. I am OK with slugging around a bit until the "blessed event", but any thing out of the norm is a bit anxiety raising for me. Yesterday at the office when we discovered that I was running a bit "hot" there was all this talk about induction and "delivering" me. It kind of freaked me out. I am still hoping for a natural birth, with as little intervention as possible. I go in tomorrow for another BP check and an ultrasound. I guess I will know more then. If you are so inclined keep me in your thoughts for a gentle and healthy birth. I would like that very much.

I am a little bit disappointed because our county fair is this week and I can't go (maybe???). I was more pro-active than usual this year (I don't know how, maybe it was the kids being in summer camp??) and I entered 3 quilts and 3 photographs. Big Daddy took the boys this evening and reported back that of the 4 items he could find (dragging the boys through the exhibits was a bowl of fun, I am betting) all 4 had ribbons!!!! The quilts won 2 seconds and a third place finish and the picture, they could find won, a second place. I am so excited!!! I have never placed in the fair before (I have entered various things maybe 2 or 3 other times.) I really want to go and see them...I will be asking the midwife tomorrow, if that could possibly be allowed. Wouldn't that be sweet? (I think that the one above was 3rd place for quilting in a wall hanging.)(the other two are here and here.)

JMB

Somedays Mommy makes a good decision...

2009-08-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Summer has been a little bit harder this year.

Mommy is very tired in the afternoon. Her belly is very heavy. She gets grumpy way faster.

But somedays despite the fact that she just wants to nap on the couch, she makes a good choice.

Her boys get to make airplanes, skip around outside, read some books at their favorite place and Mommy is not so very tired after all. These are the times to remember.

Sigh, Summer...

JMB

It was like 97 degrees, humid, and I'm 9 months pregnant...or Why I like Portland so much...

2009-08-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, Big Daddy and I got to go up to Portland for a belated anniversary getaway. I was looking at the pictures and the few that I took made me remember what a great time I had... It is funny how photos/images of things that you saw can help you rewrite what actually happened. I enjoy going places with my husband, he is game for most of my "ideas" and likes to be spontaneous in terms of what we do/eat once we get to our destination. I do want to be honest this trip was so hot, humid, and I am so pregnant that my feelings the actual days of the trip were so much more, let's say "intense", than my feelings about our trip today.

I will spare you all my pregnant whining and I will just comment on how I feel about our trip today...

We walked to Farmer's Market from our hotel. The market is held on Portland State University's campus on Saturdays, which is up in the leafy and green park blocks. We sat and rested on many of the lovely benches on those blocks and heard a bagpipe up around the corner. I love bagpipes, they are awkward and strange looking and they can produce a lovely tune. When we got closer to the music I noticed that, not only was the piper playing out in the park, but he was on a unicycle. Nothing quite as cool and awkward as some pipes on one wheel... He was pretty cool and ALL about keeping Portland weird. We made our way to the market and they had SO many cool vendors and musicians. I would definitely recommend a trip to one and all.

We napped and headed out for lunch around 3:00 and found The Original (the website is pretty fun.) It was happy hour and so we could have had any number of fun cocktails...but wait, not me... but it would have been fun a different day. The Original is sort of a hipster diner joint. The food looked like 50's diner food with a gourmet twist. There was some sort of fries dish that somehow incorporated foie gras. I didn't try it, but good for them for making pate' more fatty... We shared the Ruben sandwich and a BLT (+avocado). They were the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. After chatting with the rockabilly host we found that this restaurant subscribes to the local fare craze (love it!) that is sweeping our area. I must say, it is a good plan. Simple quality food always tastes better than fancy imports to me!

We went to see "Hangover". It was really funny, but pretty gross. I did enjoy sitting next to a couple in their 60's on date night. The husband could not control his laughter, it was so hilarious. I like a good laugh. We spent the next day at IKEA (my husband insists on looking at EVERYTHING) (so I was happy to lounge in what ever chair was available.) But first we went to Mother's for brunch. I love this place, we have been there 3 times now and it is just tasty.

There, I have successfully written my whining out of my memory of my July 2009 trip to Portland. Maybe Big Daddy will read this and remember that I can be fun, I really can.

JMB

One, 2, THREE...

2009-08-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

And they are all grown up...

We lost two teeth this week. My first baby lost two little teeth. He looks so much older to me now. I can see the new, grown up, ones peeking through his pink gums. When I want to take a picture he now gives me the full "razz-a-ma-tazz" sequence, but he still smiles. I love that, but part of me misses those baby teeth.

JMB

Some days you better just cut your losses and head to the bookstore...

2009-08-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't handle it. The dog...I was gone for 1.5 hours and the dog made some nasty messes on the rug and in the kitchen. What??!! Then the ants came back. What??!!

I have only 45 minutes left of "kids in camp" time after all that was cleaned... What??!!

Thank you Barnes and Noble for being close and having just what I needed. Let us not bury our frustration in indulgences ALL THE TIME, but these were made for a day like last Tuesday.

JMB

P.S.

I really liked this magazine, LOTS of EYE candy and an article by Jude. Her work is...sigh... amazing.

Because I had to yesterday....

2009-08-13T11:02:00.001-07:00

I was trying to organize my old quilting magazines... and the familiar anxiety happened... What am I doing here with other peoples' work?.... I need my own.

I like it and it might be my first mini... "just because." What are you doing "just because?"

JMB

Getting it done...

2009-08-09T20:43:00.001-07:00

We had some ladies on the loose this weekend. Our "little" chicks are finally big enough to roam our back yard.
It is so fun to watch them investigate EVERYTHING. So far they have left the main food garden alone... I have been so lax in my yard work this summer that there are lots of exciting places to look through that are less groomed than usual.
I did have some perverse pleasure in throwing snails out for them while I weeded the garden. I love how I can call to them and then throw something in their direction and they will go and check it out and eat it. (I only throw treats like slightly mushy strawberries and snails.) Ahhh, cheap summer thrills. My little Blondie is turning in to quite the Chicken Whisperer. He loves to walk real close to them and just kind of pat their backs and look lovingly at them. His whole face lights up.

My Brownie has been really keen on harvesting things out of the garden. He loves to pick the tomatoes and berries and bring them to me or Daddy or Blondie, but will never eat any of them. It is quite cute and odd.
My crowning achievement this weekend were my July quilting bee blocks!!! Whoot! Once you get a little behind it can snowball! I don't want that!
These lovely green ones were for this bee. It was nice to sit down and just sew.
These were for this bee. I LOVE the colorful skin prints. I didn't know that I would, but they look really fun. I can't wait to see the final quilt.
It is sure to be zany.

I have more to share, but I just spent 45 minutes on the phone with my sister (fresh back from a trip to Joisey to see our niece...I miss her so! And our brother and his lovely wife too.) and my dear husband needs me to watch some BSG before he falls asleep.

JMB

Phinally, photoshop is back!

2009-08-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome August! (I am feeling gutsy for sharing one of the few pregnancy pictures that exist, maybe I should have only posted the thumbnail version.)

I have been jonesin' for Photoshop since I made the mac switch over. I accidentally bought the wrong version (for a P.C., duh!) and then that just made me mad and I hid the box from myself for a few months... Then I found that you could do a trial from the Adobe web site, I was so excited... but then the day that I was going to download it, there was a code error in the trial and it wasn't going to be fixed until August 1. Drat thwarted again (I should have just bought it, but then I thought, it could be a lot different from the PC version.) July was a long month for me.

It was HOT HOT HOT here. I think that last week's high was 107 degrees. That is not right for Oregon. Just not right! Then, I guess I am 8 months pregnant??? What? De Nile is a deep and vast river here in mi casa. My belly is HUGE and I keep trying to figure out why it is so hard for me to move out of bed in the morning. Hmmmm, curious, could this be why I desire a nap EVERY SINGLE DAY?? Maybe.

I am down to a month + 2 days until the due date and I think Big Daddy and I are finally getting serious about this 3rd child. Oh, yes we are. (I don't know why but this whole pregnancy has been the last thing on my mind most days, Brownie is getting ready to lose his first tooth, for goodness sakes!) I am happy to say that I did make an appointment to look at the new hospital (I really loved the one that I delivered both of the boys at, but there is no Dr. support for midwives there... but that is a whole other ridiculous issue.) (Healthcare choices would be nice!) But I am proud to say that this Thursday we are going to figure out how to get to the labor and delivery area, I only had to beg a little bit before the maternity coordinator let us squeeze in to one of the tours this week. (I told her I had been having anxiety dreams, but are they dreams if you are awake?)

This morning I was scanning the web for a car seat, because you need one of those to come HOME from the hospital. Car seats are so complicated to buy, my sister happily suggested that I need to buy a pink one. Yeah, OK, but is it going to be safe???? Pink, schmink... but there has been a lot of pink clothes shopping, I can't deny that. I think that I might run out and buy some teeny tiny diapers tonight... just to be ready, you know.

The boys were in day camp the last two weeks for a few hours every morning. It was such a blessing. I really only feel like I have energy in the morning so I was able to get some sewing and quilting done. Our little baby Mango is the my only child to date that has a quilt made by ME to welcome her in to the world. She may not have a car seat and she may be born on the kitchen floor, but this baby girl has a quilt! (I guess I should take a picture of it... another thing on the list.)

The best thing about camp was really how much the boys LOVED it. We chose science camps this time around and they both came home everyday brimming over with facts, facts, and more facts. Their eyes were bright and they were so excited to go the next day. We have one more week of camp next week and I am hoping to finish a quilt for Blondie's bed. He has been so enamored with textiles lately. He says he loves quilts, just like his momma. Sweet music to my ears...

There you have it, the "brief" wrap up of the things that swirl in my head...maybe our kitchen will be finished later this week and I can post "After" pictures... Maybe.

JMB