How lucky am I??

I am so excited!! My friend Marnie of http://designsbymarnieperry.blogspot.com/ made me the kewlest diaper bag... with 'bling' heehee! She used to make purses and I bought one, fell in love and commissioned her to make me a diaper bag for the baby. I found the perfect fabric and sent it to her. Well it came in the mail the other day and check it out!

Isn't it gorgeous! And she told me when I'm done with it as a diaper bag, I can convert it to a purse :) There's so many features, little things I can use in there, I just love it. AND of course, she sent me a bunch of goodies, only some are showing in the picture. THANK you Marnie, love you!!!

Then as if I'm not already lucky and been treated so well by all my prim friends, I also got another handmade diaper bag that I want to show off too. My friend Sue of http://www.thepunchinfool.com/ sent me a box with a handmade diaper bag that our friend Bette made. Bette does all sorts of neat things with patterns and purses too, http://www.bettestomorrowstreasures.com/store/Default.asp. This sweet diaper bag matches the rug I have in the nursery and I love the pink ruffle on the top. She also made a portable changing pad I can take along too.

And Sue filled this bag up with all sorts of good stuff that we will need for the baby :) LOVE YOU too my pal, thank you! XOXOXO!

So I have to laugh because my hubby also got a diaper bag. Teehee, being who my hubby is and what he does for a living, he got one from his friends at BlackHawk, http://www.blackhawk.com/product1.asp?P=61BC01&C=C1184 He just rolled his eyes while I strutted around the house with both of my handmade frilly bags on my shoulders the other day. Then this one came in the mail shortly after. Hahahaha!
That's OK, I loaded it up with some stuff the other day - nothing like a manly bag filled with wipes, binkies, winnie the pooh toys and diapers, huh!

Well we are busy getting ready for our big day - it's coming so quickly!! I will be back to share a picture and name, etc. after she is born. I feel ready physically - the last few weeks have been a killer with being uncomfortable, swelling, not sleeping well. I'm done with being pregnant. Haha, most women tell me they reach that point along the way. Here's the last picture I'm allowing of me - it's from last Thursday, week #39. Hubby and I had a date night so I had a dress on - it's so comfy, definitely coming with me to the hospital.

There she is, the watermelon in my belly!
Thank you for all of your well-wishes and support - can't wait to share our joy with you all!

This mama bird has a little update

Well I was at the dr's on Friday and had a complete scare with my blood pressure being too high. They were talking pre-eclampsia and other stuff; I was sent across the street to the hospital for monitoring; everything is fine but what a scare!!!

The baby is still breech - my doc's don't think she will turn at this point, so I am scheduled for a cesarean. We have the date picked but I'm going to wait before posting it, I am feeling superstitious :) We did pick a special day though!

Alot of people have asked me how I feel about having a cesarean - I really don't care how she is born, as long as we are both safe. I don't want to try to deliver a breech baby, there are so many scary complications that could arise. So I feel this route is safer, a little longer recovery time for me but that should be okay. That was my main concern for a long time - if I would recover in a reasonable time. But I've been hearing good stories from people on that (besides the horror ones some feel obliged to share).

I've talked to my sister and my friend Megan - they're going to be able to help me alot at Lititz even if I'm still not 100% so if all goes well, I will still be there! I'm glad because I've been working since Jan. on inventory. It's my favorite show! Now... all you Lititz craft show attendees, do me a favor and talk to Mother Nature about the weather. We need another year of beautiful weather!

Oh and I finally got my spot number for the show, it's the same as the last 2 years - Main Street by Sturgis lane. I've got 2 spots - me and Megan www.AmericanPrim.com will be there side by side.

Empty Nest

Well I guess it was time for them to spread their wings and fly! I was so privledged to see one of them actually take its first flight, it was so cool to watch.


The first time I peeked outside I saw just 2 left in the nest and thought, Ut oh, what happened? Well then I looked over on the deck railing and sure enough, one of the 'escapees' was sitting up there, looking so proud checking out the huge world around him. The mom or dad landed on the railing next to him and the baby just opened up his mouth for food :) I guess a mother's job is never done is it? It was so cute!

So I kept checking the progress every half hour or so, I noticed that there was just one little birdy left in the nest. I watched as he stood up, flapped his wings and stood at the very edge of this light. It looked like he was thinking "Ok I can do this, I can do this" haha! Well sure enough he did!

Off he glided, he landed on the deck below and started running all around, checking things out. My cat was going nuts, howling at the door - but we just stayed inside and watched for a long time.

Yesterday my hubby was out mowing the lawn and said he saw all three of them down in the yard, moving around when he'd get within a few hundred feet. I was so glad because I know they can't fly real well yet and there are lots of stray cats out there and fox too! But thankfully they are doing well.

I really enjoyed watching these robins! I don't know that I'd want them so close to the house again next year, maybe outside my craft room windown in the holly tree.

The baby Robins

I have been peeking more and more lately to see what the babies are up to. They are growing so fast!! I got a good picture of one of them waiting for food, heehee :)
Sorry it's a little hard to see, the picture was taken though our glass doors going out to the deck. I peek at them through the curtain just to make sure they are doing OK.

Well, and while I was doing that, my kitty 'discovered' them. I think she hasn't noticed them until now. And where can I find her allllll the time now? Also peeking behind the curtain, meowing at them (and me to let her out, NO way !).

Haha, check her out there, watching and watching. She is there alot lately but I won't let her out there - just in case. The babies are growing so fast, I saw they had nice feathers on them now. They will be flying the nest soon! Mama and papa are still around alot and chirp at me everytime I walk outside - it's the only way out to the deck so I have to get out there to water the tomatoes everyday. But I try to be quick so they can keep nurturing and feeding those babies.

Thought I'd share those pictures today :)

Lessons on motherhood from the robins

Quite a few weeks ago, a mama robin built a nest up on top of our light on the deck. It's right outside the door and next to the grill, so my hubby took it and moved it down to a tree in the yard - hoping they'd get the hint (it was empty). Not so much! That nest was back within a day; again he moved it. This time, there was alotta bird poopy on his car (I told him that was karma paying him back - the birds found 'his' car in the driveway and let loose). Well, he left for a little trip and I didn't pay attention - yep, the nest came back! This time, there were eggs in it so we didn't dare touch it.


Here it is, not a very safe spot - it makes me nervous that it'll fall off.

Well about 2 weeks ago, the eggs hatched!! All 3 little eggs hatched and now we have babies in the nest. And the first time I saw their little heads peeping over the side, I cried my heart out! I feel like we have a bond, the robins and I; I'm only 3 weeks away from my own little chickie coming into this world.

I've been watching the robins to see how they take care of their babies. It's very interesting! I've seen both the mama and the papa robin birds; I've gone outside to hang things up on the clothesline on the deck. One of them always sits on the railing and chirps at me.

I do my best to hurry my work and get back inside so as to not make them nervous. I have also been talking alot to them - don't worry, I just have to do this quick and I'll leave you alone. Haha! I watch the mama and papa bring food in to the nest - worms, bugs, all the good things those birdies need to grow strong. I love watching the babies waiting with their mouths wide open, waiting for food. How they depend on their mama and papa so very much to take care of them and bring them food.

Every morning, mama and I have a little routine - she sits on top of our tent frame and watches me through the kitchen window. Here she is chirping, I think she's telling papa HURRY they are hungry, get some more grub!

We watch each other every morning for a good few minutes while I get my coffee made, feed my kitty, and make breakfast. Speaking of my kitty - she's not real understanding about why I won't let her out on the deck with me. Usually we go out together and she sniffs all the corners; and if I feel good I will brush her too. Well yesterday she ran right between my legs to get outside. Luckily, she didn't even notice mama and papa robin chirping at us from the rooftop and deck railing. I hurried to water the tomatoe plants and got her back in the house.

I've loved watching this process of how the babies are taken care of. Even in the wild, how instincts kick in and babies are nurtured and grow until they are old enough to take care of themselves. As a mommy-to-be very soon, it's reassuring to me that my instincts will be called upon when my little one is finally here.

The Power of Words

Wow! Have you ever been really inpsired by someone else's words? I sure have! Both in a bad way and in a good way. Earlier this week, I was hurt by someone else's words and I gave those words power in a way they didn't deserve. Have you ever been there before? Someone casts harsh judgement on you without a valid reason? Have you ever listened to that little voice in your head that feeds on it, pushes your fears and doubts and insecurities forward to give them power? I have been here before, we all face these demons at times, don't we!

Last night, I was IM'ing with my good friend Cedara and she suggested I read our friend Jodi's blog http://sugarplumstitcheshome.blogspot.com/ about something else. Well sometimes our friends hearts guide us to a place we need to be. Because as soon as I started reading Jodi's blog, I felt so much better. She is a great example of a wonderful mom, who is single and raises her children on her own. She has so much light and love in her posts about her children and the other sweet kids in her life. If you ever had the chance to meet Jodi in person, that is who she is. They aren't just 'words' - they are how she lives her life. She inspired me sooooo very much last night.

Suddenly I 'got it' - the reason why I was giving those harsh words power. I was letting the 'nastiness' create more nastiness in my life; I was letting those words feed on my fears. Well I also got that I didn't need to do it anymore! It's my choice how to live my life every day and I am chosing to live with love and light. Life passes us so quickly - why do I need to spend anymore time on the ugly when there's so much love around me?

Thanks for letting me share this! And to Jodi - thank you for sharing yourself so openly. You made a difference for me. I love you girl! XOXOXO!

And if ever you are confronted with the choice of harsh vs. love - my wish is that you will take the road of love. Your words may affect someone more than you know; choose love!

Free Fall Ornies Pattern!

I wanted to share a free pattern for fall/halloween ornies - or bowl fillers - that you can use. I hope you like it :) You can also use the candy corn and broom as little holdables for your fall dollies. The witch's hat makes a great hat for a little doll too!



To download this free pattern, please click on this link:
http://freepdfhosting.com/uploads/8b1742ad52.pdf

Enjoy!