little lovelies handmade

Things to Obsess Over

Today my friend Sonya came over to have a cup of tea, chat, do some needle felting and just generally keep this bored girl entertained for a bit. It worked! We had a lovely few hours chatting it up and showing off needle felting. I could kick myself because naturally I forgot to take pics when she was here. I'm no brainiac, folks! Thank you soooo much for coming over, Sonya!! You are the best and i hope I can return the favor....um in a few months...

She also explained the fun that is Ravelry to me and told me about some blogs I needed to check out, which I can't wait to do . Now I guess I better check 'em out and see if there are any new obsessions I can indulge before this little miss arrives. As it is I have two. First is needlefelting. SO FUN.  I got my kit the other day and have benen felting anything that doesn't move. Second is the Japanese embroidery books Stitch Idees. Love it. LOVE IT. I bought volume 6 the other day and now I want all of them.

 

This little onesie and bib was the first thing I made with the kit. I think I am going to have a few sets on Glitter and Grunge this month. Pretty cute for the first try, if I do say so myself. My flickr has pics of all the other things I made this week, too.

First Timer

With all my crafty endeavors you'd think that I'd have tried my hand at jewlery making before, but I never really have. Well today when me mom came to babysit me, I mean the kids, she also brought a huge pile of beads and earring making supplies. I spent many an hour making earrings and now have 16 pair that I am not sure yet what to do with. I'll actually wear a few of them, but the majority I won't mainly because of the beading choices my mother had available you'll notice a trend. Lots of wood and lots of green and black. I think I was channeling this gal when I was choosing beads. I was nice and made my mom a red white and blue pair even though it killed me and they looked like old lady earrings. She figured that works out since she is an old lady (oh please). There is just something about red white and blue jewelry that conjures up images of elementary school teachers and their bad holiday sweaters and accessories. Which now that I mention it my mom used to own several frightening holiday and back to school themed sweaters in the day. There must be photographic evidence of those atrocities somewhere. Gotta look into that...

Anyway, lets not digress into bad parental fashion choices, lord knows my own children will be scarred by something in my closet someday. So where was I? Oh yeah, earrings. I made lots, it was fun. Now I kinda really want to order some cool beads and such online. We'll see if I actually do it. I'm still waiting on my needle felting supplies. Good old Amazon delivered my book yesterday, so I drooled over the projects last night and in between earrings and Gilmore Girls DVDs today. Patience isn't one of my better skills, but I'll try to be good and wait!

My birthday is on Thursday...I can justify an expenditure, right?

Sheesh these pictures are terrible. Oh well, they were taken in our room on my bed at 5:30 so the light wasn't exactly great.

Gratuitous Cuteness

 

Had enough yet?

Boredom Busters

Nothin' like a cutie pie niece coming to visit to bust the boredom! Today was actually anything but boring. Last night we made our way (yet again) to the hospital where I got more shots to stop contractions. My aunt stayed over night with the kids while we watched tv and contraction monitors (and hoped and prayed not to have to stay overnight). My mom came over this morning with my sis to watch the kids while I did the bed resty thing. It was hard on all of us I think. My house is tiny, the kids wanted to go to the pool really bad, and kept picking fights with my sister who is at an age where she screams alot, much to the constant amusement of my children.

Later in the afternoon my brother brought Sydney over to play and watched The Man From Snowy River with me. His wife, Kate, came over on her lunch break and after work and at one point my mom, my brother, my sister, Syd, Kate and myself were all piled on my bed watching the movie. Thank goodness for king size beds! It was a tad overwhelming when my kids would get my sister all riled up, so I am really really hoping that my mom takes them out tomorrow for awhile. I doubt she will, but a girl can dream!

Under House Arrest

I am happy to say there is no baby yet, but I have been put on bed rest (house arrest) at least until my next doctors appointment, but likely till baby comes. Before hospital visit number one my doctor had put me on modified bed rest, so that may still be my future. Modified bed rest will allow me to leave the house to go places that require me to just sit and lounge (like the pool), but I can't go anywhere by myself with the kids (can't pick them up, carry their pool toys, chase them into the car when its time to go). Aaron has had to take medical leave from work to help and a few friends and family members have very kindly offered to take the kids on the days he has to go into work.

It is a tough situation to be in because Aaron has a great job that he loves and really only just started. He moved to another office in March where he isn't the guy in charge anymore, so it isn't as easy to take time off. Or at least not as easy to not feel guilty about it. I'm hoping that we can work something out where he can work three days a week and we can have help those days, but it is just so much to ask people! I know that people are willing to help, but they have lives too! I know it will all work out in the end, Aaron isn't worried, so I'm not going to be either.

To keep me busy I hopped online last night and ordered myself a cute book on needlefelting, a starter kit and some roving. I got the tracking numbers for both packages today and am very excited to get started on some cute little guys. Peanut loves all things tiny and sweet, so they'll be right up her alley.

 

I'm also on the lookout for books to read while I'm imprisoned. Any recommendations? Any local gals willing to come over and lend me some? Or just come for tea and cake, lol? Caffeine was also banned, so I won't be having coffee. I had just started drinking it again, too.

Can't wait to join the party!

Both my kids were born early, at 36 weeks, so we have been told to expect an early birth for this little gal and the doc wasn't kidding around! She tried to join us last night, but after some shots and pills to stop the contractions we were sent home with instructions to rest. I followed the directions to the letter. If there is one thing I know how to do, it's rest!

But despite a long nap this afternoon and channel surfing this evening contractions are at it again and we are scurrying around getting ready for another trip to the hospital, likely for an overnight stay. Boo hiss. The fw hours I was there last night were some of the most uncomfortable ever, so I am NOT excited about that possibility.

Anyway, my mom just got here to take my kids for the night and now I have to admit that I am on my way back to the hospital and probably more shots and other poking and prodding. Since I am just 30 weeks, this baby can't come yet!

Yay!!!

Chloe and Isabella were returned to their family late last night! HUGE thanks to everyone who helped us in the search!

I'll be back later with a regular post. My own children are currently engaging in "I won't take a nap, and you can't make me!" temper tantrums. Monkey is working on his third tantrum of the day and Peanut threw her first ever tantrum for me in Target. But. I am thankful to have whiny, tired tantrumy kiddos safe at home with me!

5 minutes = hours of fight free play time.

After a long day at the pool we came home and whipped up this Kool-Aid Playdough, yesterday afternoon. The bickering around here had reached a whole new level, so we made this quick playdough. And I do mean quick.

Kool-Aid Playdough

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid

Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Knead until color is mixed evenly through. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

As you can see they thought it was pretty cool.

28 Weeks and counting

I'm 28 weeks now and feeling the pressure of a new baby coming. And not just the pressure of a whole house overhaul, if ya know what I mean... Anyway. We are moving my craft room to our living room, our son to the craft room and the baby in with our daughter. It's one of those projects where you can't just do a little at a time and expect the house to be normal. Or as normal as we roll anyway. Its coming along though and I am pretty proud of the progress made so far. My stud of a husband did the dishes this morning and started some laundry so all I have to do is get the craft room cleared and into the front room. Good thing that the SCM is having a rummage sale this weekend, because I have lots of crap, er, treasure to take to our meeting tomorrow night.

We are lucky that we don't need much for this third babe, just a carseat and a new diaper bag. We decided not to register for anything because what would we register for? My friends are mad at me and think I am being dumb, but seriously we don't need anything! We have a crib, changing table, stroller, clothes, bedding, blankets, even a few diapers. I did ask if at the shower we could do onesie decorating, and collage making for the girls new room.

However, if I were to register for things, these would be at the top of my list! (the pics have links attached)

Too much cuteness for one day, I think!