tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62529348208555484022023-11-15T22:09:27.436-08:00ajPERSPECTIVEHandmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-33094233824861987502011-10-25T16:48:00.000-07:002011-10-25T16:48:46.045-07:00New Site!I am super excited to announce the launch of my all-new website: ajperspective.com! This has been something I've wanted to do for a long time now and am so excited it's finally happening. It will be a little of everything I love in life: my family, crochet, quilts, photography, design work, and crafting in general. It will house a special showcase of products I am selling as well as a portal for placing orders, including custom work.<br />
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Thank you for all for the years you've spent following this blog. It will always have a special place in my heart. It was an outlet for me through some of the most crazy, insane, difficult, and wonderful times of my adult life. I have already transferred all my posts to the new site so I can remember everything that's happened (you know my memory is terrible)! I will continue to blog through the new site and have already posted a few new things there for you, including a new section called MY QUOTABLE KID! You're gonna love it!<br />
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If you want to receive updates of when I post at the new site, I'll make an RSS link available on the homepage. You can save it as a bookmark in your web browser.<br />
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And finally, here's the link to the new site... go crazy, spread it around, share it with your friends and family:<br />
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<a href="http://ajperspective.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ajperspective.com</span></a></div>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-58272917464768789092011-09-23T17:56:00.000-07:002011-09-23T17:56:10.959-07:00Don't Worry...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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... Be happy, mon! This oh-so-happy hat is my latest completed crochet project and is now for sale in my "shop" to the first person to claim it! Click read more for all the specs!<br />
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<b>Size: 22.5" circumference, will stretch an additional 1-2"</b><br />
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Today was a fantastically calm day for me and the kiddo. Daddy had a meeting out of town that was to last aaaaallllll day so Baby K and I decided to stay home instead of tagging along like we would normally have done. So after he left at the crack of dawn (for normal folks, that's a little before 7am) we slept in for another hour and took the day off, which meant lots of movies for her and lots of crocheting for me.<br />
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The crochet part of my day didn't begin on such a high note... I've been working on a gorgeous shell design hat for little girls and finally decided I must have something wrong this morning and frogged (rip-it, rip-it) the whole thing a little before lunch. After weighing my options for re-starting the Shell Hat, I opted for working on something new for a while. Well, "a while" turned into my project for the rest of the day. I cranked out most of the hat while the kiddo was napping (in addition to watch <a href="http://www.greenfusefilms.com/" target="_blank">this</a> fabulous documentary on Origami - anyone else want to take it up with me???) and was close to done by the time the hubby wandered home this evening. Overall I'm pleased with the final turnout, hopeful that I can sell it, and mostly just grateful for a relaxing day of doing something I love after a week of craziness!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-9609335961585472272011-09-14T07:50:00.000-07:002011-09-14T08:37:35.889-07:00For Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey guys, I've been working the last couple weeks on a few items for sale. I only have a limited number so the first people to claim them get them! :) Check them out!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Winter Hats, Size: 15.5" (appx 6 months) - $12 each shipped</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ladies' Headbands - $3 each + shipping</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_emqmgrJdaucoHPYJ57TUAaLGqZsx3gLgPcM5pTV0cM00VLXBVZOvYVHug2KqIhiI0mNpysfziC0_5JRYuCHtugqQ-HeGMku-rZjZAfI5Zcguc_dIuGK7uBQol10NSlgJyq9PrvXNCY/s1600/Photo+Sep+14%252C+8+46+33+AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_emqmgrJdaucoHPYJ57TUAaLGqZsx3gLgPcM5pTV0cM00VLXBVZOvYVHug2KqIhiI0mNpysfziC0_5JRYuCHtugqQ-HeGMku-rZjZAfI5Zcguc_dIuGK7uBQol10NSlgJyq9PrvXNCY/s1600/Photo+Sep+14%252C+8+46+33+AM.jpeg" /></a></div>
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I have done a TON of design work here recently, mostly ministry-related as usual. Here are a few things I'm most proud of:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kristen's Cards</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCcz0TKHPfujfHlWrklKEsZ8qsZMaHv7TBdsFTzhG4-cU6N_RFToVxXxY_DXO7JvYwc0gemaPouAaZOrBkAbOoZTVNSuM7B633yKhYvCiIo3MZ46tforYzhFxbMrI1ODLFvLPToL6b1I/s1600/kristen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCcz0TKHPfujfHlWrklKEsZ8qsZMaHv7TBdsFTzhG4-cU6N_RFToVxXxY_DXO7JvYwc0gemaPouAaZOrBkAbOoZTVNSuM7B633yKhYvCiIo3MZ46tforYzhFxbMrI1ODLFvLPToL6b1I/s400/kristen.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
Kristen is a new staff member, old student / friend at SFA Chi Alpha. Truth be told, she's the reason the group didn't disintegrate the first year we were here. She finishes up her Master's degree this May and will join the staff here working mostly with the girls' leadership. She is currently in the process of raising her support and she needed a business card for connection purposes. This is what we came up with for her to use. I worked up two options for her, one vertical back and the other horizontal. In the end, she chose the vertical.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ICON Guest Guides</span><br />
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My church has been in the process of re-vamping their "look" and I get to be part of the changes! Up first was some literature for guests on Sunday mornings. I did quite a bit of research, scouring the web looking at what other churches are using and found several that were very helpful! In the end, this is what we came up with: The blue page is perforated and will be returned to us. It has a short <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-YVb7WhfVEp1c-XcN6v4maQEebtq1kYsXf9ubhauSAY2-Ty_6p0DdrKAgu9Qj6eqIBapXG9xmF3VIgmwToyKkpw699eJHOTffgNVtZ07iXvWcIzECkmFJUgoXXCYoV5eCc4uFXJJnHI/s1600/print-press2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-YVb7WhfVEp1c-XcN6v4maQEebtq1kYsXf9ubhauSAY2-Ty_6p0DdrKAgu9Qj6eqIBapXG9xmF3VIgmwToyKkpw699eJHOTffgNVtZ07iXvWcIzECkmFJUgoXXCYoV5eCc4uFXJJnHI/s400/print-press2.jpg" width="400" /></a>questionnaire to help us with contacting guests for follow-up and a spot for prayer requests on the back. The other four panels are stuffed full of information - the name of the game on this piece was definitely strategic use of space! We have a brief overview of our theological beliefs - where to find us online - a welcome note from our Lead Pastors - a little explanation of what to expect on a Sunday morning - and an overview schedule of weekly activities offered. Whew! Finished size is 11" wide x appx. 6.5" tall, tri-fold. Sadly, due to a major miscommunication with the printer, we did not have them ready for our HUGE Easter Sunday service. Oh well... next year!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Church Maps</span><br />
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Our church property is large and confusing! Our sanctuary is round (built pre-1970's probably) with crazy little off-shoots everywhere. Then a few years back they added a new building in the back that houses Sunday school classes, a large gymnasium, and a full industrial kitchen. To help guests find their way around we have designed these double-sided cards with color-coded map. The reverse would have Sunday's activities but would look exactly the same. I was surprisingly pleased with the turnout and like the visual connection back to the Guest Guide. The plan is to insert these cards into the Guest Guide and they've been sized (hopefully - we have yet to print them) accordingly. But my favorite part of the entire design was the decision to white-out the ICON logo in the lower left corner! :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Work in Progress - Nursery Graphics</span><br />
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This is the logo I've been working on for the soon-to-be-updated Nursery at our church. I LOVE kids, the smaller the better, and our church has an amazing ministry to children on Sunday nights. We are working right now to improve the quality of childcare on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights to better reflect our church's crazy love for kids! And I'm super excited because I get to be part of it all! In my excitement, I started working on graphics - maybe a little ahead of the game, but seeing something like this helps me get a feel for how the entire program could be run! Hopefully it will feel like these logos - fun, simple, trendy, and, of course, ALL about kids!<br />
<img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgLn4vB-n5Dzy7gPZvgdOrJhycSZU9STSoOZfBbPC5Fns7CJAXdtjubk1eSWhwgiEH60WJJpY6FJz2AdLW4T3aQXiagNh4w4ej_ttY0UOGarIvRyGoVvmxkNfftb3a71Vht5fVf_Jr44/s320/nursery.jpg" width="320" /><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9XZ1hTlApDux1yruaPQl2t7WTumMpr8l9SkGqkmIvhMnvgoW_J-TIIQlEruZuCWYIfu1Fp7e39xKEZkFcnvkAZBgHgHYk1wRkEkinQUWpOA9-MvwAvfITTHGNFolp9iynpP4UBFAzcY/s320/walkers.jpg" width="320" />
These are possible designs for hallway signage in the nursery hallway. Theoretically, we would have multiple classes for children not yet old enough to participate in Children's Church, broken down into ages suitable to play with each other: birth - walking and walking - 2/3 years. Aren't you just IN LOVE with these animal characters???Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-83323438836014956312011-05-04T17:46:00.000-07:002011-05-04T17:46:42.625-07:00Back in the KitchenI cooked my first meal post-Katelyn's-surgery tonight and it really did feel great to be back in my kitchen! That said, it wasn't my best: Shepherd's Pie with corn that definitely needed more spices! I tend to over-salt my Shepherd's Pie so I was trying to avoid that... which I guess I did, I just also avoided any flavor at all. Oh well - there's just something about eating a meal you cooked in your very own house that makes even the most bland meal taste great!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-23524746453986046042011-04-24T13:27:00.000-07:002011-04-24T13:29:50.981-07:00Faithful to My Heart<span style="font-size: x-large;">I know it's silly. I know it's irrational. But it's still what I laid awake thinking about last night.</span><br />
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My child is lying sick in a hospital bed - she's 18 months old and had surgery yesterday. I should have been thinking about doctors and antibiotics and stitches and gauze. But all I could think about was her Easter basket.<br />
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See, it got left behind accidentally when we made our made dash for Dallas. We didn't mean to leave it; it's just a funny thing that happens when you hear the words, "she might need surgery" spoken about your toddler: all other brain function ceases. So her Easter goodies are still sitting in our closet.<br />
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I have been working on that basket for the last month. She has such fun things waiting for her! She has pretty pink and purple bracelets (plastic, of course) - and some candy... not so much for her teeth to rot instantly, but enough to ensure a few trips to the dentist (plus, enough for Mommy and Daddy to have a taste, too) - and her big surprise is a set of beach toys for our trip this summer! I also spent a solid week hand-sewing a set of Barnyard Balls for her - a pig, a chicken, a dog (my FAVE), a cat, and a sheep. Each animal makes a different noise - Derrick had to help me find things to put inside to jingle, rattle, rock, and scrunch.<br />
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On top of all that, this is her first "real" Easter - last year she was only 6 months old, and while she did get all big-eyed when she her basket and toys (she reached first for a book), the excitement lasted about 10 seconds. This year, though, she is old enough to get the fun of it all - to hunt eggs, although she already had to miss her school's Easter Egg Hunt, and new toys, and candy... and, the part I was absolutely most excited about... dying eggs! I guess it's because I am an artsy-fartsy type of person... hopefully more artsy and less fartsy... but I was really looking forward to destroying my kitchen, making the house smell of vinegar, and ruining two sets of clothes so I could dye my daughter's first Easter eggs.<br />
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And last night as I lay in a strange hotel bed, fully exhausted from lack of sleep and the stress of making major decisions for someone so small, I thought of all that.<br />
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As I dressed this morning, I remembered it was Easter and, even though I wanted to feel grateful for what Easter represents, mostly I just felt sad because my baby girl was going to sortof miss it this year. I guess my preoccupation with all this is why I didn't think much about it when Mr. Steve said someone had told him Katelyn had a delivery coming to her room. I walked in to find a pink Easter basket all wrapped up just for her! It was filled with all sorts of goodies - a puzzle, a new stuffed
Cow (who was promptly named "Cow"), some necklaces, a bend-y bunny,
crayons and a Care Bears coloring book, which I kindof want to color in
myself!<br />
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Then we were invited by the hospital to an Easter program for the kids.
I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what we got. I
was immediately struck by the atmosphere in the room - sick kids were
everywhere, but they didn't seem sick. They were just happy-having-fun
little kids who happened to be wearing hospital gowns or oxygen masks.
My ears adjusted to the kid's Easter music playing over the excited
chatter (<i>"...you'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade"</i>) as we tried to decide where to begin. As
we looked around the room (and the kids!), our eyes ran from table to table to table... 5 or 6 different
stations set up with various Easter activities - at one station she
could ice and decorate an Easter cookie shaped like a bunny rabbit; at
another were Easter color sheets and crayons; at another she could make a
bunny's face out of pipe cleaners and yarn... and then I saw it at
the very back of the room... a table set up to dye real Easter eggs!<br />
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Now my precious baby has not just one Easter basket, but THREE, plus a bag of goodies from her Granny. (One basket from the hospital, one from the Easter program, and one from her Aunt T and cousins Chy and Presley) And even though I never expected to have the chance, I got to dye Easter eggs with my daughter for her first real Easter. These are memories I will always cherish and, this Easter, I am truly amazed at how faithful God is to my heart.<br />
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More pics are in the Facebook album, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10100434447425905.2896619.23443959" target="_blank"><i>Katelyn's "Hip" Trip</i></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyMxpyNhPB5ADQDOQPCPvpZtT1NkxVSIzw8hnDeWGV3VfVJUBOx6SVhdfOf7t-vYN-aha_kv6pjwNAPgnWvfodVbxE4mK_ITeKMI1mxE2u-5rZqIUMQC2dNtp9DR_aN5HLH3f5ED-HWA/s1600/Photo+Apr+24%252C+1+25+59+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyMxpyNhPB5ADQDOQPCPvpZtT1NkxVSIzw8hnDeWGV3VfVJUBOx6SVhdfOf7t-vYN-aha_kv6pjwNAPgnWvfodVbxE4mK_ITeKMI1mxE2u-5rZqIUMQC2dNtp9DR_aN5HLH3f5ED-HWA/s400/Photo+Apr+24%252C+1+25+59+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyMxpyNhPB5ADQDOQPCPvpZtT1NkxVSIzw8hnDeWGV3VfVJUBOx6SVhdfOf7t-vYN-aha_kv6pjwNAPgnWvfodVbxE4mK_ITeKMI1mxE2u-5rZqIUMQC2dNtp9DR_aN5HLH3f5ED-HWA/s1600/Photo+Apr+24%252C+1+25+59+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-32535312851894337492011-04-24T11:47:00.000-07:002011-04-25T07:24:41.677-07:00Katelyn's StoryClick the pic of my baby girl to be taken to the story of what's going on with Katelyn right now. Thank you all for your many prayers and sweet thoughts - it's really been overwhelming! We love you!<br />
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<a href="http://xajacksons.blogspot.com/2011/04/katelyns-story.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhyphenhyphenMzijjPhmwY0CzFskGcWzeUEFY6mta-vc9YMtTCM2w4wmOiGdR2kl5qwJ6lz2aUWW7VIOEOYo4ZfKTNrru_clsVUnW90EzU6BFrw93IC3-fDQunnTXM3yGUE0l_yVqWzw4wOO7zCSc/s400/Photo+Apr+23%252C+5+00+56+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-23232234487228963722011-04-05T06:10:00.000-07:002011-04-05T06:11:41.945-07:00To the Love of My LifeHappy 8th anniversary to the love of my life! I can't believe it's gone so fast! You and I have shared some of the most beautiful and the most devastating moments together and through them all you have been a safe place for me to fall, a shoulder to cry on, and a best friend to laugh with. I do not deserve you but I thank God everyday for you.<br />
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I know this anniversary is bitter sweet. Even as we grieve together, you have been a source of strength and comfort. In those moments when I see you beside me, I think of your song, "It's been harder than we dreamed but I believe that's what the promise is for, so let's go dancing in the mine field." And then I remember... you and I have always been able to dance in dark, haven't we?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I love you! </span></b></div>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9AZ7_ZD47UwmbRgqNAR0MdahNnRMWlGDr6bGT2cRrIPi8PTaO-G53XZQOw-2aU2_zh33FKL18EHubfCfuSNm6kj-B9Eh9NJ5EJo0RhP4AqjI4sK2b8ySK58sCh7QHUQ7QpdoJz0QPMI/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzac8jljiH3l-OHXlb_BOSfmOmRavL_CZl5EirFnW3HeBpnDa5iBbGWcJ06NoQVCjC6aL8nvnxWw4zEQ7iOOsVfAY04sA54dPOf0Vz8uSkgLuG46FXQxJ2p32cYWzpA-68WjrR5MoBnQ/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9oE-dhMK4_5SHyjLlj2PEXlkXKMKmc-Qg5PIiM5lL-Rnfz-4kvqmHK0gQUCkTmmi7xFVSlofl5X698v0ZT8mZbUgMcc6b9bs-8hwM8qCAB7ZgIVfIk63WcFrNnAdlrBkBntHfJflNJk/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r2nr-hPj0bUGIRdo7PqkK8fGWGweVKZovKen20TGn-WFysOXIZxVN7EEod0j_2XUjkjsw7RCaq4ZZA_AIrywB43j75TvtKI8tZjrm0h_jUQXRlnErp8w5QQQpn7QtvkNC1XOTznxBTo/s200/4.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sK-X0ghLxzv7dbrXOPbWoaQo7FtR30BG81JMsbEDqAZ2DXu1sXpOhW4NYxPcKJkjCh28dAPHmaHN_BMPh8zmGIVrfSAVvt3OeyV3Mh9vuWFS11Nco_Pp-WiDbFuZUuDfHmAMQu2o62U/s200/5.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FMdUOwt4U0SBNQiHe9om9_AlutYJ_JseF9fp60ooTXksWGi0_zOH6qBZ3TB1or2LTa_DA1PkKXzPB7GwiEQH7hCfyHqeDERt4SUotSeOsdJVFi1tj6J4DqPKsm_vi8sNTaEL7HKC-I4/s200/6.jpg" width="200" />
</center>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-37083995704922267622011-02-27T15:56:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:57:19.767-08:00Happy Belated Valentine's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eTDc74LWYfcV0Zc_QK9tMn4JjcnopOic3acp4HA8-zU8OLO6P-B_fCGymYI5oFAFuwhqquSYi0Avdc5Jzf03_VAmx-SJKFv28RdEuVt_z8firkl0ZqX3fBI8R3ecHLdbf5v6NJgF5p4/s1600/175236_1862159759587_1408767451_2133521_7417335_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eTDc74LWYfcV0Zc_QK9tMn4JjcnopOic3acp4HA8-zU8OLO6P-B_fCGymYI5oFAFuwhqquSYi0Avdc5Jzf03_VAmx-SJKFv28RdEuVt_z8firkl0ZqX3fBI8R3ecHLdbf5v6NJgF5p4/s640/175236_1862159759587_1408767451_2133521_7417335_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to take pictures of Katelyn in her pretty Valentine's dress, which ended up being too big. Then, on top of it, she wasn't in the picture taking mood, so we got only a few decent pictures of her. Needless to say, I had to get pretty creative with the wording of her Valentine's card for family. All in all, I thought it was pretty cute! You can see the few other pics we got by clicking Read More!<br />
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-24302610770372513602011-02-11T10:49:00.000-08:002011-02-11T10:50:08.512-08:00SO in Love with HIM!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hasenpfeffer/4410105084/" target="_blank" title="Little People – Boy by Hasenpfeffer Incorporated, on Flickr"><img alt="Little People – Boy" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4410105084_3afe807ecb.jpg" /></a>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-24436565741591133532011-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:002011-01-28T13:13:08.829-08:00My Heart Hurts for This Belief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFYitk78j9JpvOPUaq5mdQ9h1S2UG-o1LSXbjWAa7jivWS5sCEP5dCNwetiflVtGosdNPrU-Ij96nvLH24xk3tEhS3EggtXHO62vS-HaVyAOb7niU6BGw5sKiuVqRdnVFFExhk2pqjBo/s1600/billboard-in-the-beginning-man-created-god.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFYitk78j9JpvOPUaq5mdQ9h1S2UG-o1LSXbjWAa7jivWS5sCEP5dCNwetiflVtGosdNPrU-Ij96nvLH24xk3tEhS3EggtXHO62vS-HaVyAOb7niU6BGw5sKiuVqRdnVFFExhk2pqjBo/s640/billboard-in-the-beginning-man-created-god.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-83312159593729759622011-01-20T17:36:00.000-08:002011-01-20T17:36:29.601-08:002011 Goals, Personal & OtherwiseSince I believe firmly that my personal (aka "inner") life is directly related to my professional (aka "outer") life, the following goals blur the lines between work and home. But I know me, and if I don't find a way to articulate these things, I will inevitably forget what I have set out to this semester / year. So, in all their relentlessly honest glory, here are my goals for 2011:<br />
<ul>
<li>Work out a minimum of 5 times a week</li>
<li>Read a successive chapter of Celebration of Discipline during the first week of each new month and work to incorporate that discipline into my life during the remainder of that month</li>
<li>Write a minimum of 1 blog on some aspect of Christianity / faith / religion each week, to be posted here and at sfaxa.org</li>
<li>Implement and stick to an envelope system of budgeting for our family</li>
<li>Discover and make steps towards becoming a person who consistently honors the people in my life</li>
<li>Discover and make steps towards becoming a grateful person</li>
</ul>
Well, there you have it. Obviously, if you read the wording carefully on the last two, you will see that I don't know exactly how to DO those. But I am excited in my life right now to be developing plans to move forward. No matter how small the step is, as long as you make it, you're making progress, right? That's my hope, anyway! That God will honor my feeble attempts to grow in His grace. I trust that He will make up what I lack if I just give Him what I have! <br />
<br />Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-30299503290574730222010-11-21T17:44:00.000-08:002010-11-21T17:48:24.854-08:00#3... and 4 & 5???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AkABrecO-Lt1-6OVJl5RnZIKqyTOQEuM8gr4qajzCL0ZS0nG2kqrrt9zUTiqe9qFWvgWPvVXZzIklNJ2A0Zo9nNoa-UwnFpMGVcGWNmwKapuZYkodlE3Qu7h2iJxf3_I0keVYHDkgPo/s1600/IMG_3569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AkABrecO-Lt1-6OVJl5RnZIKqyTOQEuM8gr4qajzCL0ZS0nG2kqrrt9zUTiqe9qFWvgWPvVXZzIklNJ2A0Zo9nNoa-UwnFpMGVcGWNmwKapuZYkodlE3Qu7h2iJxf3_I0keVYHDkgPo/s320/IMG_3569.jpg" width="320" /></a>After having so much fun quilting again (<a href="http://ajperspective.blogspot.com/2010/11/100th-2nd.html">Baby J's Gig 'Em Quilt</a>)... and after Katelyn carried Baby J's quilt around all day while I was trying to quilt it (she REALLY liked that quilt, hee hee), I decided to make Katelyn a quilt she could actually keep for herself - my third quilt of the year! Look at these yummy fabrics - don't they just scream PRETTY LITTLE GIRL??? Most of these I had left over from previous projects, so I spent little to no money on her quilt. That said, this was the project of never-ending messes...<br />
<a name='more'></a><ul>
<li>Katelyn kept stealing my squares and I would find them scattered on the floor in random spots around the house.</li>
<li>Then I almost ran out of fabric with no border or binding. When I trimmed it all up, I literally had about .5" of fabric left in both the border and binding fabrics!</li>
<li>Then I ran out of thread while piecing the top... which wasn't such a big deal because I thought it would be nice to have slightly different shades of thread for the piecing and quilting.</li>
<li> But then I ran out of thread in the middle of quilting, too - and thanks to Coats changing their spools I had no way of matching the threads.</li>
</ul>
So... she has 3 different colors of thread on her quilt, but unless you're looking closely, you'll never be able to tell!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3YPVP5Y5iK_s0TY4IGS-MiRn795o0y4SILOdZg8qJFPCaFdB9GfzxLyEhKL5GVJ4LkLo4VDYGxsYSgN2T-6-HNnBRhoPdy61altFoVwJS4Xh4MkZvq78qfSv6A3fTe2qMRtOo8bOnIc/s1600/IMG_3571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3YPVP5Y5iK_s0TY4IGS-MiRn795o0y4SILOdZg8qJFPCaFdB9GfzxLyEhKL5GVJ4LkLo4VDYGxsYSgN2T-6-HNnBRhoPdy61altFoVwJS4Xh4MkZvq78qfSv6A3fTe2qMRtOo8bOnIc/s320/IMG_3571.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
Here is the top, finally pieced, and "basted" to the quilt back and batting. Katelyn thoroughly enjoyed toting this around as it was - guess I could've skipped all the quilting!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2cxkrG1oX9BD8UHLtdbZR6V1zZw7cZDfJh_kzkEuoXIvXicX6mpGTbTvNuNH3vmQ7aa6cTiPJmMKBd3kN58_TsGXnChfL5ALkpB7oF5QRvYF0zq4dlodT35fNY2YNxACBhmzHM0Mrx4/s1600/IMG_3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2cxkrG1oX9BD8UHLtdbZR6V1zZw7cZDfJh_kzkEuoXIvXicX6mpGTbTvNuNH3vmQ7aa6cTiPJmMKBd3kN58_TsGXnChfL5ALkpB7oF5QRvYF0zq4dlodT35fNY2YNxACBhmzHM0Mrx4/s320/IMG_3573.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And, boy, did I quilt! This is probably the most heavily-quilted quilt I've done thus far (in my very extensive experience... a whole 4 completed quilt & one partially hand-quilted twin-size quilt). I gave background quilting a shot surrounding the raw-edge appliqued squares on top of the blocks (the two smaller squares on each block). I quilted what looked like continuous diagonal lines emanating from the center of the quilt. In reality, I had to start & stop the lines each time they hit a piece of applique. Not an easy feat. Luckily, thanks to <a href="http://anyonecanquilt.typepad.com/my_weblog/machine-quilting-tutorial/">this</a> site, I learned a new technique for machine quilting that greatly cut down not only on the chaos of lose strings while the quilting was in-progress... but also on the finishing work that needed to be done after the fact!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjMVOaDW_3Zm-xAzlWaSlwCciqZ11xOaLL3gsgU2IIV1Mk0LLbg5SpKYvjvVF1NQmAXdUUpMKvLergS_iaXLb0goiBYWFAFLi9RrkOYAnID7c-2FirVSvl5y_jWz5E_JhLEMC-4P3VNo/s1600/IMG_3574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjMVOaDW_3Zm-xAzlWaSlwCciqZ11xOaLL3gsgU2IIV1Mk0LLbg5SpKYvjvVF1NQmAXdUUpMKvLergS_iaXLb0goiBYWFAFLi9RrkOYAnID7c-2FirVSvl5y_jWz5E_JhLEMC-4P3VNo/s320/IMG_3574.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I recently heard about a way of including a signature patch to the backside of the quilt - cut it into a triangle shape and set it into the corner of your quilt. The binding holds the two raw edges in place and then you sew the top edge in place when you hand-stitch the binding closed. I have wanted to try this technique and thought this would be a good practice run, so I whipped up this little hand embroidered label one night while we watched movies.<br />
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And... presenting... the final product:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6cks4RuNYHFIPnfSNC2QERShcwVkwFhTnkmveO00ea19eZzuCXoe0i0IZK_t7rWr3ydDxOBVtjOEVI4Mlt9d2yfCmB5o0aNzj0JmYvGDnTXyTgZMpELJ_AuGHhwCJTvJJaogj4ZXblA/s1600/IMG_3612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6cks4RuNYHFIPnfSNC2QERShcwVkwFhTnkmveO00ea19eZzuCXoe0i0IZK_t7rWr3ydDxOBVtjOEVI4Mlt9d2yfCmB5o0aNzj0JmYvGDnTXyTgZMpELJ_AuGHhwCJTvJJaogj4ZXblA/s320/IMG_3612.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
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As you can see... Katelyn LOVES her new quilt! I brought it with me when I got her out of bed this morning - when she saw it, her face lit up and she smiled a huge smile! Just the reaction I was hoping for!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now... a hint #4 & #5 quilts of 2010!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXto0_sr2lp5vbQDQDUmHBbJnPo3ke9hyphenhyphen51BhQFDRrTALWucjq9rXMKZNkMyfaBBGDtyv_p_K0B-GKAs95Yed5Kum63eKPkK-NmfsFwHsuxxGovD4ThNbfbPxdRfiGUFGL_Y1AJf_fp2U/s1600/IMG_3568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXto0_sr2lp5vbQDQDUmHBbJnPo3ke9hyphenhyphen51BhQFDRrTALWucjq9rXMKZNkMyfaBBGDtyv_p_K0B-GKAs95Yed5Kum63eKPkK-NmfsFwHsuxxGovD4ThNbfbPxdRfiGUFGL_Y1AJf_fp2U/s200/IMG_3568.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUnzUjKm_Xsv5TFBZGQ5OyejtjG8uUdADsvOHmz-0ATTwU6UXk5kI3Gprr1nnhyphenhyphenBj9IIt_Jds-zD03RMgh_T_FCQzHTmFrRQQ77OsNZPDgkP2r4OOVf4APlwaeYRTHf2ACoN_-jOyDdQ/s1600/IMG_3567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUnzUjKm_Xsv5TFBZGQ5OyejtjG8uUdADsvOHmz-0ATTwU6UXk5kI3Gprr1nnhyphenhyphenBj9IIt_Jds-zD03RMgh_T_FCQzHTmFrRQQ77OsNZPDgkP2r4OOVf4APlwaeYRTHf2ACoN_-jOyDdQ/s200/IMG_3567.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-75727809684154103462010-11-21T06:58:00.001-08:002010-11-21T17:47:07.412-08:00Quilting: an ApologeticI have been quilting again. In the last two weeks I have made two toddler quilts, one for a dear friend who is expecting her first child (a boy) in January and one for my DD (pics and progress to come soon). I have also spent a good deal of time researching and learning online. I have come across several blogs of quilters who have been amazed and inspired me!<br />
<br />
All of this has me thinking: I LOVE quilting! For a lot of reasons, really. But largely I love the taking of something utilitarian (a blanket, to keep us warm, to cuddle and snuggle with, to provide comfort to my little girl) and making it beautiful. I love that I am leaving a piece of myself in this world for as long as thread and fabric hold together... and not just anything, but something meaningful and beautiful. Hopefully, at least. Haha.<br />
<br />
To take the ordinary and make it beautiful.<br />
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What is this search for beauty? Why do I have this desire in me to make the things (and people) around me beautiful?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote>
At one time I was much impressed by Arnold's line 'Nor does the being hungry prove that we have bread.' But surely tho' [while] it doesn't prove that one particular man will <i>get</i> food, it <i>does</i> prove that there is such a thing as food! i.e. if we were a species that didn't normally eat, weren't designed to eat, would we feel hungry? You say the materialist universe is 'ugly.' I wonder how you discovered that! If you are really a product of a materialistic universe, how is it you don't feel at home there? Do fish complain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that fact itself not strongly suggest that they had not always, or would not always, be purely aquatic creatures? Notice how we are perpetually <i>surprised</i> at Time. ('How time flies! Fancy John being grown-up and married! I can hardly believe it!') In heaven's name, why? Unless, indeed, there is something about us that is <i>not</i> temporal.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>--C.S. Lewis</i> </div>
<br />
If I am looking for beauty, I am NOT guaranteed to find it. Maybe my next quilt will be hideous, haha! But there MUST be something Beautiful to be found!<br />
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But it goes further than that. If I am always looking for Beauty, then I must be meant to be part of the Beauty!<br />
<blockquote>
Ah, but we want so much more—something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>--C.S. Lewis</i> </div>
<br />
Resources for further study:<br />
<a href="http://www.leithart.com/archives/001706.php" target="_blank">http://www.leithart.com/archives/001706.php</a><br />
<a href="http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/desire.htm" target="_blank">http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/desire.htm</a>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-28771868713834497062010-11-19T16:32:00.000-08:002010-11-21T17:25:40.951-08:00100th & 2nd<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's time to celebrate - I have hit my 100th post on this blog! Yay! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Baby J's Gig 'Em Quilt</span><br />
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Our dear friends, J & T, are expecting their first child in January. I almost had a heart attack when, after 3 consecutive weeks of missing church for one reason or another, I found out her shower was in one week!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
I had so many plans for lovely things I wanted to make for Baby J... but the one non-negotiable was a quilt with these gorgeous fabrics I had been stashing away! It would be my second completed quilt this year! His nursery is being decorated with A&M theme so I wanted to stick with that color palette - I tried to have "pretty" fabrics without getting too girly for a little boy's quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU3ctcTzIKk8JIp_f9X8ghnpaYxfjfb3LQXjSRziTSvHvxEHANJhvAPW4nbX5UK56eUSem3bfjkc-E_ACbnffX4bkS0XrgmhjrakrcC6Pjv3X2p7xDjQvzQWjzO_bzzGtfAaHuWHFC6U/s1600/IMG_3484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU3ctcTzIKk8JIp_f9X8ghnpaYxfjfb3LQXjSRziTSvHvxEHANJhvAPW4nbX5UK56eUSem3bfjkc-E_ACbnffX4bkS0XrgmhjrakrcC6Pjv3X2p7xDjQvzQWjzO_bzzGtfAaHuWHFC6U/s320/IMG_3484.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I chose a ragged edge square quilt, which I had seen on <a href="http://www.teenytinyquilts.com/2009/09/five-and-six/" target="_blank">this</a> blog. I loved how soft and touchable it was and thought that would be perfect for a baby. Once I had the top pieced, I laid it on the floor to snap a pic, but before I could get my camera, Katelyn had found it and "claimed" it as her own! Guess she approved of the colors and fabrics!<br />
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This is the only pic I have of the quilt in its almost-finished state. I forgot to take one of the fully quilted blanket before I wrapped it - our friends live close by, though, so I'm going to get a pic in the next few days/weeks. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx0Amg3kMVgycNYIjguXiwiVTkhcQa_erjxKgBJFfw4EI2bsRFt7TKMsBusSuohkOFKjySt0S8HlNY6MW1KfzwP0ltdPhXqD9wTZBgik2-_FIs-xKKOyU4iQzyVL6kMoXpFQd61Dzo90/s1600/IMG_3494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx0Amg3kMVgycNYIjguXiwiVTkhcQa_erjxKgBJFfw4EI2bsRFt7TKMsBusSuohkOFKjySt0S8HlNY6MW1KfzwP0ltdPhXqD9wTZBgik2-_FIs-xKKOyU4iQzyVL6kMoXpFQd61Dzo90/s320/IMG_3494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
All in all, I LOVED the finished product and, hopefully, they did too!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-9893909274346744192010-11-18T05:30:00.000-08:002010-11-18T05:31:40.031-08:00I Dropped Him!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj5mJ0-FboBXw5HBhx5vjFVzbqVUdtC92-Iw45lzbE8hUPrnaASxaM4EpJQAcmLp8GgPyAeyVCh08ArIuiFJvIjIcIlrsc_NqsWyjgvf4Fe3J6Vn05z3PNIEt1UodmuPo33pqOILJgm8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj5mJ0-FboBXw5HBhx5vjFVzbqVUdtC92-Iw45lzbE8hUPrnaASxaM4EpJQAcmLp8GgPyAeyVCh08ArIuiFJvIjIcIlrsc_NqsWyjgvf4Fe3J6Vn05z3PNIEt1UodmuPo33pqOILJgm8/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
Meet Snuggle Monster. I found the pattern for this little guy <a href="http://www.craftbits.com/project/plushie-pretty-little-monsters" target="_blank">here</a> a few months ago and have made several, mostly as gifts for friends who are expecting. I think he is too cute!<br />
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I made this little guy last - but I dropped him at the Nac Public Library last week. Oh, no!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Wait, that's what I was trying to do! Snuggle Monster is my first drop as a member of the Toy Society. We are a community of toy makers (that's right, as in, by hand) who make toys and "drop" them all over the world to be found by... whoever... maybe you!<br />
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Check out <a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/2010/11/drop-1409.html" target="_blank">my log</a> on the Toy Society website - I'm hoping that the finder's will post a found log as well; but either way, I had so much fun making something for a child I don't even know - imagining the excitement on his/her face when they realize they can take Snuggle Monster home! What a genius idea! Give something for nothing - except it's not really for nothing... I've gotten alot out of this project! More pictures below!<br />
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-52624033328351302732010-10-30T19:06:00.000-07:002010-11-09T11:46:34.263-08:00My Black Apple Doll - I Think We Will Call Her...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...Minnie! I made her to look like a mini-Katelyn, so I think we will call her Minnie until Katelyn's old enough to make up her own name. This was my first attempt at making such an intricate toy and I am relatively pleased with the outcome. The hardest part: Turning those oh-so-skinny arms and legs!</div>
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And... I would like to add to my Christmas wishlist, the following books on soft-toy-making:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0896897346/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=13Q9HKW71ZBKNCPPNF42&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lxcB30khL._SL500_.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-27546167257264051972010-10-28T19:18:00.000-07:002010-11-09T11:49:35.487-08:00Our Little PumpkinLast year we were propping her up in her Boppy to take Halloween pictures of Katelyn in her little pumpkin and kitty cat costumes. Our favorite was a sleeper with jack-o-lanterns all over that said, "Our Little Pumpkin" across the top. Well, our little pumpkin is not so little anymore. Today we took her to see her first pumpkin patch - she had a great time and we got some cute pictures!<br />
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-77108716673174576482010-10-28T19:06:00.000-07:002010-10-28T19:10:26.902-07:00A Party Fit for a PrincessI am long overdue for posting pics and details on Katelyn's first bday party, but better late than never! I was super pre-prepared for her party, so that makes up for my tardiness in blogging about it, right???<br />
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I didn't have an official theme - my awesome sister bought Katelyn a really cute birthday outfit that we loved, so I planned the party to match her outfit. Lot's of pinks, yellows, and greens. For snacks, I served fruit skewers of watermelon, pineapple, and strawberry bits; marshmallows dipped in chocolate; frosted animal crackers (because they are pink); and my special treat was popcorn with 4 different flavored toppings: pizza, cajun, cinnamon sugar (the most popular, by far), and plain salt.<br />
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For decorations, I mostly made things by hand or used items from around our house or that were important in Katelyn's first year. Many thanks to the following folks for posting great tutorials FREE online for me to find and use:<br />
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Katelyn's Birthday Crown (which she wore for a total of 3 seconds): <a href="http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/32-felt-birthday-crown-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Juicy Bits</a><br />
Giant Pom Poms: <a href="http://www.katydidandkid.com/2010/04/giant-pom-pom-flowers-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Katydid & Kid</a><br />
Pinwheels: <a href="http://www.leslietryon.com/3dcolorcutout/makepinw/makepinwheel.html" target="_blank">Leslie Tryon</a><br />
Happy Birthday Banner: <a href="http://www.katydidandkid.com/2009/03/kitchen-table-crafts-birthday-banner.html" target="_blank">Katydid & Kid</a><br />
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If I have forgotten any, I am very sorry! I started working on the decorations about a month before the party so I would have enough time to get everything finished. It was alot of fun, especially without the stress of doing it all last minute. Things I pulled from around the house where: the lamp from her bedroom, the quilt I made for her that hangs in her room, I used one of her canvas bins to give the cake a little extra height (not that it needed it!), various serving pieces, a beautiful, giant pink diamond from her Granny, and some crystal baby trinkets that were used at one of my showers.<br />
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All in all, it was a very special, relaxing day with family and friends - Katelyn had a great time and so did we! And now... a few pictures:
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-52587676263262049712010-10-27T20:33:00.000-07:002010-11-09T11:46:59.013-08:00First Steps!I am testing a new format for loading photos in my blogs... and I thought I'd test it out with a pics of Katelyn's first steps about a month ago! There she goes...<br />
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</style>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-7161451970343946272010-10-23T18:27:00.001-07:002010-10-23T18:27:47.558-07:00I Want to Do This!!!Who's with me???<br />
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<a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Toy Society</a>Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-12721775843706176392010-10-23T06:09:00.000-07:002010-10-23T09:36:46.977-07:00To My Daughter: 2.5 Hours that Changed My Life<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Story of Your Birthday:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Caution: Graphic details included - read at your own risk. :)</b></span></div><br />
There I was asleep on my couch, enjoying a much needed afternoon nap on my birthday when everything changed. It was my 29th birthday; not really a big deal, except it was my last without children. But I hadn't been feeling well courtesy of a head and flailing arms in my right rib cage, so we skipped any festivities and I opted for a quiet day in front of the TV. As usual I fell asleep during the movie. I had just started to rouse towards the end of the movie (I can't remember which one it was) when I felt the strangest sensation. I was half a second from telling Derrick about it when I realized with a violent shock that my water was breaking! <br />
<a name='more'></a> Forgive the detail (this is mainly for my own memory), but in less than a second I was off the couch and completely drenched from the waist down with a steady stream still flowing. Derrick jerked up from his couch and stared at me somewhat blankly - battling desperately between confusion and frustration at the mess that would need to be cleaned up. The only words I could find for the first 30 seconds or so were, "Oh no... Oh no... Oh no..." Derrick echoed with, "What's going on? What's going on? What's going on?" Finally, I suggested (and by suggested I mean demanded) he grab some towels... a minute later he returned with three towels... two under my feet and one in my hands, feebly trying to dry my legs. When I realized they were rapidly being soaked through, I waddled my way to our guest bathroom.<br />
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It was in that bathroom that I first fully understood what was happening. I was only 37 week with a breech baby and my water had just broken. I didn't know what to do next, but I knew it had to happen fast. My "Oh no" now changed to, "This is not good..." I grabbed my phone and called Momma. "Momma, uh... my water just broke." "WHAT??!!?" I tried to sound calm as I told her what was happening, but I know I sounded hysterical. She told me she was packing her bag and would be on her way within minutes. As I unsuccessfully tried to dry/clean up and control the loss of water (haha!), I yelled for Derrick to call the hospital for directions on our next step. Of course, he didn't exactly have the phone number memorized (note to self in the event of pregnancy #2!), so he yelled back asking for the number. I grabbed my iPhone, fumbling to Google the number to Woodland Heights Hospital, when I realized he had been using his laptop when the chaos ensued - it would be much faster and easier for him to look up the number. As he dialed, I changed into pair-of-pants-#2 and made a dash from the guest bathroom to our bathroom. Before I could get there, pants #2 were completely soaked. By this time Derrick was off the phone with our hosptial and had been instructed to get to the nearest emergency room to us - he threw me pair-of-pants-#3 and grabbed shoes for both of us and we were out the door with only a fleeting thought about being extremely grateful we had packed our bags early and stashed them in the car along with the carseat.<br />
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It was rainy that afternoon. He mashed the emergency flashers button as we whipped left out of the driveway onto North Street. The nearest hospital was only about 10 minutes down the road - Derrick made it in about 5 with only two near-wrecks. During the drive, Derrick's parents called and said they were headed our way. I remember the sound of Mr. Steve's voice - I'm pretty sure he was crying. I tried to sound calm and assure him everything would be fine, but in my head I wasn't so sure. My mom also called to say she was getting in the car. As we made our way passed the university, passed Scholtsky's, passed Burger King, passed Hobby Lobby... I kept one hand on the door for support and one hand around my belly, trying as best I could to hug my baby and let her know I was there and would do everything I could to make her OK. I prayed the most heartfelt prayer I knew at that moment, over and over again: "Oh God, I need You right now. My baby needs You right now. You are good... no matter what. But please, please let this baby be ok. Oh God, I need You..."<br />
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Derrick pulled into the drop-off zone of the emergency room and I jumped out, still leaking water but not having contractions. The signs on the doors were very confusing and although I was in the building, I was not in the ER. A nurse noticed the panic on my face and pointed me to the door for the ER. The lady behind the desk was very nice and did a good job keeping calm for my sake. There was a couple sitting in the waiting room and they overhead me explaining the situation to the receptionist, probably because by this point I was almost yelling, not because I was angry, but just having lost all control of the volume of my voice. As the nurse came to collect me in a wheelchair, the lady of the couple looked at me with a very reassuring smile and said they would be praying for me and the baby and that everything would be ok. I hoped she was right.<br />
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The nurse in charge of my wheelchair hit me with a flood of questions about my pregnancy, my healthy, the baby's development. By the time I reached the labor and delivery wing, it had been roughly 30 minutes since my water broke and all I wanted was to hear my child's heartbeat. The next two hours are somewhat of a blur, with a few moments of extreme clarity. Derrick was on a constant rotation of phone calls from family and friends. Mrs. Cindy Land (our Pastor's wife) and two of their sons happened to be near the hospital and stopped by to pray with us. All the usual things were done:<br />
<ul><li>I was strapped into all the monitoring machines and I finally got to hear that most precious of sounds (her heartbeat), which showed that Katelyn and I were both fine, at least for the moment;</li>
<li>they wheeled in a dinosaur of an ultrasound machine and did a quick ultrasound to confirm the baby's position (still breech);</li>
<li>I repeatedly assured the ladies that my water had indeed broken (was I really sure it was my water breaking? YES! I lost gallons of fluid from my body!!!);</li>
<li>exams were done (finally confirming that, yes, my water had in fact broken).</li>
</ul>I distinctly remember the nurse poking her head in the room and saying, oh so casually, "Oh, we are definitely gonna have a baby today!" She seemed so relaxed when I felt anything but relaxed. Derrick and I just looked at each other. She came back a few minutes later and told us they had decided not to send me to my hospital, but were going to do the C-Section there at Nacogdoches Medical Center with the doctor on call. It would take a few minutes to call the surgery team in since it was a Sunday, we were told; in the meantime, they would be prepping me for the procedure. An IV was started - new questions were asked - I had to drink the nastiest tasting liquid I've ever had in my life - and finally, they came to take me to the OR.<br />
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As scared as I had been up that point, it was only going to get worse. Because of some (in my opinion silly) hospital policy, Derrick could not join me in the OR until my spinal block was started, so I was taken to the OR without him. He was left in the room to finish up last minute phone calls and change into his blue birth get-up. As they wheeled me down the hall to the OR, my nurse warned me how cold the room was... she was not lying. I immediately started shaking as the 59 degree air hit my body (I was only in one of those thin, paper gowns). Praise God for the warm hospital blankets! It took a few minutes for the nurses and doctors to get their equipment situated before I was told it was time for the spinal block. Since the only other surgery I'd had was under general anesthesia, I didn't realize how tiny those surgery tables are. I'm pretty sure my body was hanging over the edges when I was lying down. When it was time for the spinal block, they had me sit up and hang my legs over the edge of the table. My nurse, Misty, took her place standing directly in front of me. She told me to lean toward her, curving my back, with my head on her shoulder. "Small pinch, little burning," said my anesthesiologist as he administered the lidocaine to numb the area on my back. He was right; it stung, but was not terribly painful. After a few seconds, he told me he was ready to do the block.<br />
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I lost track of how many times we replayed that little scene as he tried to get the block started, unsuccessfully, and had to pick a new insertion point. Everytime he would numb the area, which meant another "small pinch, little burning," and then would use the big-momma needle, which didn't exactly hurt, but felt like lots of pressure in my spine. A few times he got a little crazy with the big-momma needle and I could feel it hit the bone; that was not such a pleasant experience. The longer it took, the more nervous and scared I got. I just wanted Derrick to be there with me, but he was locked out, waiting in the hallway. Misty noticed how nervous I was getting and started talking to me. Finally, after 20 minutes, my block was finally started and they had me lie down on the table. It was the strangest sensation. The block was in my spine, but the numbing started from my toes and spread up to my chest; first my toes were gone, then my ankles, then my calves, then my knees, all the way to my hips where it seemed to stall. No problem, though; the anesthesiologist just tilted the operating table so my head was a little lower than my feet and, sure enough, that pushed the numbness right on up to the my chest in no time.<br />
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Finally they let Derrick into the room - everything felt better once he was with me. The doctor and all the assisting nurses came in, too, and there was alot of commotion as they prepared to start the surgery. They checked again to make sure I was numb and then Dr. McMorries simply said, "OK, let's have a baby." Derrick and I chatted about phone calls I had missed while the team worked. Derrick wasn't supposed to peek over the blue curtain at my neck, but he did. Within just a few minutes we heard Dr. McMorries say he could see your feet - you were definitely breech! He told us as he twisted your legs around and then said you were mooning him, but that you were definitely a girl. And finally, he had you all the way out, the umbilical cord was cut, and you were passed off to your nurse - you were born at 6:20pm. As nerve-racking as that afternoon had been, nothing compared to the 10 seconds between when we knew you were born and your first cry. We were nervous about how early you were - would your lungs work? would be able to breathe on your own? After what seemed like an eternity, we heard the most beautiful sound I've ever heard in my life - your first breath, your first cry broke through the hollowness of that OR and literally took our breath away. Immediately we were crying as they suctioned your throat and nose, wiped you off, wrapped you in a blanket and handed you to your Daddy. I've never seen him smile bigger. It was the most proud moment of our lives. I wanted so badly to hold you right then, but because of the anesthesia, I couldn't really use my arms. So Daddy laid you across my chest and I kissed your chubby little cheek and told you how much I loved you.<br />
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The nurses had to take you back to finish cleaning you up. The team was still working to finish my surgery. Dr. McMorries joked - "Now that we've got the baby, let's put you back together." I didn't care what he did at that point, I couldn't take my eyes off you. I stared as the nurses worked with you, so tiny and so red. After a few minutes, they were ready to take you to the nursery. Daddy left to go with you while Dr. McMorries finished taking care of me. I would have to spend an hour in the recovery room before I could see you or Daddy again. Once the surgery was all done, they had to move me from the operating table to a portable bed - this proved difficult considering I was still totally numb. They had me cross my arms over my chest as they slowly rolled me onto my side and slide a board behind my back. This was the scariest moment because I was hanging literally on the edge of the table, about 4 feet off the ground (those tables are high) with only a 5'1" nurse keeping me from falling. Once the board was in place, they rolled me back and could then lift me onto the new bed. I felt much more relaxed as we headed to recovery, knowing you were safe and finally with us. I started thinking of all the things I'd left undone when we rushed to the hospital and, without really thinking about it, I said outloud but to no one in particular, "Oh no, I forgot to harvest my raspberries!" (Daddy and I had been playing a computer game right before you were born about farming. I had planted raspberries that afternoon and they needed to be harvested within 4 hours or they'd go bad and I wouldn't get any points for them.) To my surprise, my nurse played the game, too, and understood exactly what I was talking about! Once in recovery, I was so excited but had no one to talk to, so I kept talking to the nurse, telling her about you and Daddy, and asking ridiculous, random questions. I'm sure she was glad when it was time to send me to my room!<br />
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As my nurse pushed my bed down the hall, we found Daddy and Granny outside the nursery, standing in front of the big glass windows, watching you have your first bath. Daddy said Mrs. Cindy had been back up to the hospital to see you and had taken some pictures. Granny had gotten there just after you were born and had been watching with Daddy at the nursery. I got to stay and watch for a few minutes before it was time to go to my room.<br />
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Because my legs were still numb from the surgery, it took several nurses to get me moved to my bed. They had the process down, but I still wasn't excited about being carried around like that. There was no board this time, just a few tiny nurses moving me, one body part at a time. I was excited to see Mrs. Linda Marshall was going to be my nurse for the night. She was so sweet and helpful! Daddy and Granny had come to the room with me and left you with the nursery to finish your bath. It took probably another hour for them to finish up everything they do with newborns, and then they finally brought you to see me in the room. Daddy and Granny were there, but Mimi & Poppy hadn't made it just yet. The rolled you into the room in your little cart and brought you right over to me. I finally got to hold you - you were so tiny, and so beautiful, sound asleep after your very exciting day. Everyone took turns holding you - Mimi & Poppy, too, when they got there a little while later. Eventually it was time for you to eat and so the grandparents headed to bed for the night and Daddy and I got to have some time with you.<br />
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As we laid down to sleep (haha) that night, Daddy on the tiny, pull-out bed with squeeky springs, me in my hospital bed, and you in your cart between us, I prayed again: "Oh God, I need You right now. My baby needs You right now. You are good... no matter what. But please, please let this baby be ok." That prayer has been prayed more times than I can count this last year - it's changed a little. You're no longer my baby; now you're my little girl. But the heart of it is the same. I want to be the best mother to you I can be!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-62437665600495085172010-10-22T18:23:00.000-07:002010-10-22T18:42:43.198-07:00I DO Love Soy Sauce, But...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parenting.com/gallery/Toddler/homemade-toddler-costumes/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www2.worldpub.net/images/parenting/2-Hcostume09_12_Sushi_P.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>I think this is a bit much even for me! But since this is my first real Halloween with a kid, I'm obsessed with costumes - I've picked up 3 in the store in the last week... and we've already got a costume for Katelyn!!!<br />
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Still, these are so cute and creative, I had to share. Enjoy!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-26286164166743397682010-10-14T13:54:00.000-07:002010-10-14T13:54:45.211-07:00The Last 2.5 Months...Wow! I've been on quite a blogging break! Let's see... in the last 2.5 months...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kTvBXcc2y3Nyg5OJ3cNqFrfbsrV6-h0YHU8L870kQRq8WW78RYNoPZDjw720Rq-w7I9W6eGyh2btVBKZjCDicL-wAn3_aov2gjN_75IERKhmGeuFnypTYS1a6Mmh4iSgEJGIWfct1qQ/s320/lfaa6bb42-m0x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kTvBXcc2y3Nyg5OJ3cNqFrfbsrV6-h0YHU8L870kQRq8WW78RYNoPZDjw720Rq-w7I9W6eGyh2btVBKZjCDicL-wAn3_aov2gjN_75IERKhmGeuFnypTYS1a6Mmh4iSgEJGIWfct1qQ/s320/lfaa6bb42-m0x.jpg" /></a></div>1. We bought a new house! Praise the Lord! We have been wanting to buy a house for the last 4 years and it was never possible. But we are now the proud owners (or will be in 29 years and 9 months) of this little house. It's actually not so little - she measures right at 2000 square feet and has a nice sized, fenced back yard for the baby to play in. We spent a week cleaning the inside and out before finally moving all our stuff. We have been living here the last two months and are loving every minute in our new home!<br />
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2. Our little girl turned ONE! I cannot believe that it has already been a year since Katelyn was born. And almost two years since I found out I was pregnant. Insane how fast time flies! Because we are fortunate enough to have lots of family, friends, and students who love us and our little girl, Katelyn got to have two parties - one with family and one with Chi Alpha. She really enjoyed both, but I think her favorite part was the cake! It took her about 5 minutes to figure out how to eat it, but once she did, she tunneled out a huge hole in her smash cake! It's on video somewhere and when I find it, I will post the video so everyone can see how cute she was! Luckily, it doesn't seem that sugar affects her too much because she slept great that night.<br />
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3. I finally went to see an orthopedist about my left knee. It's gotten progressively worse over the last 3 years to the point that I cannot make a trip to the grocery store without ending in pain. Now that I've done the doctor's visit, I am kicking myself for not going sooner! He is fairly confident we can fix it without surgery, which was a huge relief to me. I have "Patella Alta," which means that my kneecap sits about an inch or so higher than normal and it slips out of place with every step I take. It's done this my whole life, but something somewhere along the way has made it start hurting. I am on a dose of anti-inflammatories, wearing a flexible knee brace when I'm active, and starting a new exercise routine to help strengthen my legs. He wanted me to start biking, so I convinced Derrick to buy a recumbent bike for the house!!! He set it up today and I get to start working with it soon.<br />
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I haven't done much sewing or crafting, other than for Katelyn's party, for which I went all out! Again, pics to follow at some point. We left all my craft supplies at the old house for a month or so while we got everything else settled and finally moved it all about two weeks ago. I'm glad to have it back and have finally gotten caught up on back orders for Soft Straps. I have missed my sewing machine!<br />
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Well, that's about it for now - better get up and ready to do my "bike ride" for today. Peace out!Handmade aJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407840238878195623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252934820855548402.post-76597944865117957412010-07-09T18:11:00.000-07:002010-07-09T18:13:03.783-07:00From Watermelon to Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU6nN5gwjJubZSHsT_7zlveGbqHyIQAbv-vdLD7JFsOXmdOPFLa4FJsEpiT__jUKpT6A28tm3EMxI0tVXaUAA251bv805KaujBufBRs0jkW_9RH0JC0cGJIvt532GfkEx05cIb2LUs6M/s1600/xmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU6nN5gwjJubZSHsT_7zlveGbqHyIQAbv-vdLD7JFsOXmdOPFLa4FJsEpiT__jUKpT6A28tm3EMxI0tVXaUAA251bv805KaujBufBRs0jkW_9RH0JC0cGJIvt532GfkEx05cIb2LUs6M/s320/xmas1.jpg" /></a></div>I have been super busy the last few days with getting ready for an upcoming trip and crazy details with the house we are under contract to buy. Needless to say, it's been insane and now, so am I! Most of these pages were done before said insanity set in and I'm just now getting around to posting them. I'm happier with some than others. Click "Read More" to see all the pages, the good, the bad, and the at least not-so-cute! <br />
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