The Girl/Boy Blanket

So there was this blanket.  LOL.  Hubby's coworker had his first grandchild.  And of course, new babies make everyone excited.  So in the kindness of my hubby's heart, he thought it would be a great idea for me to make a quilt.  So I ask the general questions.  You know, boy or girl, weight, length, etc.  I was told this baby was a girl.  No other information.  Apparently it's not that important in the man world.  HAHA!  So I found some fabric that was left over from my niece's quilt.  It was just enough for the top.  And it was going to be a cute quilt.  I found this great simple pattern on Pinterest and ran with it.  The top was precious moments fabric.  And then I had coordinating solids and gingham.  All flannel.  I got pink minky to back it with.  And then while cutting and sewing, I was wanting a little girl.  I love my boys, but I always will wonder what it's like to have a girl.  Anywho, I get half of the top put together.  And I send a text to hubby asking what the name is.  And that's when the trouble started.  He replied back, Austin.  Now, I have a Rionn(Ryan) and it's becoming the newest, latest, greatest name for a girl.  So I jumped online and asked around in my mom groups if Austin was another new girl name.  Then I got another text from hubby saying that the baby was a boy and there was a miscommunication.  So I went back to my fabric stash and found some Mickey fabric.  A few leftovers from several quilts.  So this top had a Mickey flannel that was left border fabric from a previous co-workers quilt.  I also had a perfect strip of Minky that was leftover from a pirate quilt.  Red and blue hand dyed from a WHOA donation blanket.  Black fabric left over from a wedding bedrunner and a halloween blanket.  And then there is the back which was from when Hubby thought he'd buy me a bolt of fabric to get my sewing business started.  LOL.  It turned out cute.  And the best yet.  I think it could be a boy or girl blanket.

I decided to tie this quilt instead of quilt it.  So I used embroidery floss in red, black, blue, and yellow.  I also didn't bind it.  I needed to save time.  I got this quilt done in 12 hours.  And they loved it.

But this fabric and gender debacle got me thinking about how much fabric I do have.  I think I'm not going to buy anymore fabric unless I need to for a custom order or for specific nursery/birthday theme.   Really all I needed was backing fabric for the girl quilt.  And batting.  But I think I have plenty backing fabric for boy stuff.  So no more buying stuff for me.  This may be hard.  But I've got to use my stash sometime.  And who knows, I may end up selling it all.  But my first project.... the half finished girl blanket.

Birthday Gift Exchange

I signed up for both Christmas and Birthday in my mom's group.  There are people in that group from all over the world.  So we thought it would be neat to do a gift exchange.  I made the cherry quilt for the Christmas exchange.  And after making and shipping a quilt, and getting nothing in return, I was ready to pull out of the birthday exchange.  But we drew a new name.  And it was another girl.  LOL.  I decided to go easier than a quilt, but still functional.  So I browsed my stash.   And then I decided to make a cow apron.  And a color book holder.  I was thinking about a purse.  But when I emailed the other mom about likes and activities, she said anything Minnie Mouse and Doc McStuffins.   Who I had to google by the way.  My youngest 2 nieces are every thing Minnie.  But having 2 boys and no cable tv, I had no clue about the McStuffins girl.

So I came up with this.  I did aprons for Christmas a few years ago.  But I painted the faces on.  And make the neck as ties like the waist ties.  I also appliqued the bow on and left off the pockets.  I wanted something different this time around.  Ribbon bows, pockets, and neck loops.  I also lined it.  And put buttons as the face instead of painting it on.

I also came upon Doc McStuffins fabric.  And decided it would be a great color book holder.  I got a couple Disney color books and a box of crayons to put in there too.

I changed this one up a little from the first one made for my nephew.  I shortened the handles a bit.  And I put a flap with velcro on it instead of the button and elastic.  I also spaced the pockets out a little bit differently.  I still loved how it come out.  And much easier for a 2 year old to use.  I still need to make one for the boys.

And the little girl loved it.  Her mom sent me pictures of her coloring.  She said her older daughter wanted to keep the apron for herself.  I'm really hoping that he gets a gift out of this exchange.

The Great Challenge

So while I was without a computer, I joined this local gym's 6 week weight loss challenge.  20 lbs in 42 days.  I went into the challenge confident.  I went sure I wouldn't have a problem.  I had 6 weeks with a custom meal plan and a personal trainer.  What could go wrong?  Well....  I like cake.  And netflix.  And cake and netflix at the same time.  HAHA.  And to be honest....I was kinda glad I was without a computer.  I was waking up at 5 am to be at the gym by 6.  And the workouts weren't hard.  But I had the trainer telling me to do more than what I wanted to do.  I can work out at home.  But through this challenge I've learned that my thought of being so tired that I can't do one more pushup/exercise is so much different than my actual being tired.  That first week had me in tears more than once.  I mean, not from pain.  Although, I was so sore the next day and the whole first week.  But I was so out of shape that I couldn't do a lot of the exercises without modifying them.  I cried because I let myself get that out of shape.   The whole challenge was just as mentally tough as it was physically tough.

But I know, you want to know if I made the 20 lbs.  I didn't.  But I succeeded in getting more fit, healthier, and well, happier.  I move better.  I feel better.  And I can keep up with the boys better.  I went into the challenge without having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or any other obese health problem.  I honestly thought I was healthy.  And on paper, I was.

Here's my official before and after pictures.

But here's what I got out of the challenge....  I earned enough money back from the weight I did lose to have a gym membership till May.  I also learned different ways to workout at home.  And I learned what diet works for me and what doesn't.

Overall, I lost 18.1 lbs, 16% body fat, and 2 pant sizes.  So while, I may not have succeeded and won my challenge, I won.  I got healthier.  And I determined to not stop because I'm not on a challenge.

TWO!!! 2!!!!

My baby turned 2 over the weekend.  The last baby I'll ever have.  It makes me sad.  But he's such a joy.  And he makes the room brighter just being in it.  And he's sssoooo different from his brother.  Anyways, he's 2.  A non speaking, always demanding 2 year old now.  I'll explain him through pictures.

 He loves being outside.  Even from day one.  Whether he's swinging or just sitting outside in the sun.

And he loves dirt.  Whether it's inside or outside.  He just likes to put his hands on it.

He also likes to wear silly things.   Help out around the house.  And he loves food.  He hates blankets.  But loves pillows.  And he still likes to nap in a baby carrier when we are out and about.  (Which is the few times that I'm thankful that he's on the smaller side.)

And the best part is.   I'm his mom.  And he'll always be my baby.  

A "What Was I Thinking" Moment

So Jet's been a little stir crazy.  Between the wind and being sick and on medication, we've been stuck inside.  I decided to get a little crafty.  I had bought him some paints and construction paper.  So for the grandmas for Valentine's Day, I thought we'd make this cute stamp art that I saw on Pinterest.  This post should go on one of those Pinterest fail sites.  Seriously, I envisioned this whole calm and clean and relaxed scenario in my head.  Jet  had other plans.  (I should mention that the actual craft does work.  It was my kiddo that wouldn't cooperate.)

Anyways, I'm glad it's washable paint.  Otherwise my white table and chairs would have been pink, purple and red.  And he did enjoy his time.  But I had a hard time cleaning it up while he was still trying to play in it.  

What's Up With This Day?

So a week ago, the baby(ok, ok, he's not a baby anymore.) got sick.  And when I say sick, he was sick.  We ended up at the hospital on Sunday morning.  Exhausted from being up 2 nights with a sick toddler who didn't want to sleep or be awake.  Or be touched, or be left alone.  He had had a cold for about a week before that.  But nothing serious.  Runny nose, some sneezing.   Verdict at the hospital was an ear infection.  But his fever was so high that the doctor couldn't explain it just from the ear infection.  After a week on antibiotics, the fever is gone.  And he's back to eating and sleeping and being himself.

With all the new technology, I was checking my messages while in the waiting room.  And I came upon my timehop app.  We were in the same waiting room, on the same day, for the same thing.  I hope he doesn't make this a yearly thing.  

The Saddest Part of the Year

This is a sad post.  So I'll begin with the happy background.  I stumbled upon a mommy group website/forum when my oldest was itty bitty.  It was part of googling a new parent in the middle of the night question. But through that, I've gotten to meet 2 great groups of women.  All going through the same challenges of parenthood that I'm going through.  Even now at 10.  It doesn't get easier.  I don't know why people tell each other that.

Anyways, back to the post.  In my younger mom's group, there was a woman who had to have her baby earlier.  Knowing that it wouldn't make it.  She's asked us to share her story.  A couple of the ladies got a fund going to help her and her family with medical expenses and funeral expenses.  I didn't have the money to contribute.  But I had other skills available.  My hoarding stash skills let me make her a baby quilt to honor her.  It was hard to make.  To me, it had to be just perfect.  This quilt was going to a little angel.  So I decided to do some applique and use the ribbon for trisomy 18 and the color.  And an elephant.  We all bonded together over this.  And somewhere(not really sure since I was only able to be there from my cell phone) someone came up with the trunk up idea.  They got it from elephants.  How they never leave the mourning momma elephant.  And stick by her side till she's done.  Which is perfect.  And always why I've loved elephants.  Really they are all over my house and the main theme of the nursery.

It came out perfect.  And luckily, the kids left me alone to let me do this.  It was hard.  To know that this quilt would either go in the casket or stay in the home for them to remember.  I paid to have it shipped overnight to ensure it got there in time.   But I hadn't heard from her.  I didn't want it to be a burden.  I mean, what do you really do in this situation.  Well, the Friday after the funeral, she sent me a message saying she had gotten it that day.  And that it brought her to tears.  And that she loved it so much and was very thankful.  Which then had me in tears. But I'm glad I was able to do it.  To me, it's more important than the money.  In a way.  

They Did Great

We had our first 2 sewing meetings for 4-H.  I wanted them to do something that was relatively easy.  That they could practice straight lines.  And something that they can use.  So since California went and banned grocery bags starting this summer, I decided grocery bags were a nice and easy project.  

And they were.  And amazingly they all did really well.  The only one that had problems was my kid.  He can't focus and wants to use that time to play.  But they turned out so well.  Here's a picture of Rionn's.  Mine were opposite colors as his.  Polka dot sides and handles.  

I was so proud of them.  They all looked really good.  And they were all so different.

Offline

Well, my laptop was down for the count.   I haven't been able to do anything with it.  Well, till the computer fix it guy said I just had a cracked screen.  That didn't look cracked.  And apparently it was from the inside.  Even thought the outer part of the lid was perfectly fine.  LOL.  Weird things apparently happen to my stuff and I.  Anyways, I will be back to blogging.  And well, there may be lots of posts in the next few days.