I'd put this on, but...

I'm still pregnant...yup, 41 weeks as of today. I've gone ahead and stopped working, which has been good for my lack of energy. I am paying much better attention to myself, taking note of every little baby movement, but man my mind does wander and worry! To distract myself, I made this post-pregnancy halter top. It's the Amy Butler Cabo Halter Top pattern. I have had the pattern for a while. I even cut this out once with a different fabric one crafty afternoon with Angie a couple years ago, but never stitched it up.

Last weekend I was convinced that if I started a sewing project, I would surely have my baby, but here is my project, completed...and we are still waiting. In the meantime though, I taught myself how to install an invisible zipper, so I am feeling mighty accomplished! The fabric is new Anna Maria Horner purchased from Sew to Speak last weekend. I really hope I can fit into this post baby, it seems perfect for summer. That is one flaw in making yourself clothing pregnant...you can't try it on, so I'll hope for the best I guess.

I really think this will be my last sewing project for a while (although I thought that about the Oliver + S dresses and the bibs too...baby wants mama to sew I guess). I was showing my friend Kelli how to sew this afternoon and my sewing machine all of a sudden started sewing by itself without having to press the foot pedal. It was as if the thing was haunted or possessed! I cannot find anything online about this type of problem, and the foot pedal wasn't dropped, so I am completely stumped. We're off to the Bernina store tomorrow to get this checked out. I am sure by the time things are all better, baby will surely be here.

***While I wait, there is still time to enter my Zombie lip balm giveaway! I am running it through the end of the month. To win all you have to do is post a comment on my last post. Good luck!

Thoughts :: 37 weeks

We are nearing the end over here...less than 3 weeks until I hit my due date! I've been feeling reflective of late. I overheard David tell a friend he thought I was the happiest pregnant person he has ever seen. I wouldn't go that far...I am certainly very uncomfortable, tired and moody these days, but over the course of this adventure I have been pretty content. Pregnancy has been so interesting to me, so unlike anything else I've experienced. I can't help but be a little thrilled despite the rough spots. Now it kinda feels like we are just waiting...I've been feeling restless, but I don't have quite enough energy to be crafty after work, so I'll straighten the living room or load the dishwasher or just sit on the couch...mind racing, waiting...

My new favorite room in the house...

Our baby's room is finally almost done...I can't resist posting a few preview pictures...

Here is the little corner by the window, with the rocker and dresser. Both pieces are repurposed items from the 70s or 80s! The dresser was my brothers growing up and I took it to college and everywhere else after that. We repainted it and added new knobs to freshen it up. The rocker-recliner we just covered with a slip-cover from Walmart, it was David's and also traveled with him to college.

Here is a closer shot of a little print I purchased from the black apple. It really ties all of the colors in the room together. I actually bought this before we were even pregnant...lucked out that it works so well in here:

More fun prints from elsita above the bookshelf (also a re-used item):

Just a few more finishing touches to pull together...still need to get a hamper and a few more wall decorations (hello etsy), but I am really feeling proud of how little we spent on this room and how easy it was to give a few old cast-offs a new life. I'm sure I'll be posting more pictures eventually, once there is actually a baby living in here!

I am feeling a mix of anxiousness and complete terror as my due date approaches. So many fears running through my head and so much anticipation. Everything is feeling so very real now...the baby has a room, we now own a car seat, we've toured the hospital...I know all these little things are necessary and part of the process of becoming parents, but in the moment sometimes I feel struck at how HUGE this change is going to be...so much bigger than anything else in our lives, ever.

Hello Blog!

Hello blog, I've missed you. Seriously! Time is in real short supply lately and unfortunately blogging is low on the to-do list these days. I imagine I will be rather hit or miss for the next several months, but I am still going to try to pop in here and there. Tonight, I am popping in with three beautiful things for the week (I've actually never done one before). The theme is HOME.

01. The view from my new windows

02. My Orla Kiely Canisters which I majorly stalked Target stores like a complete dork to find. Scooping sugar never looked so good!

03. My toes...way down there, past my belly are a couple of purple-pedicured toes and feet! I can actually still reach them, but at 31 weeks, I'd rather just not...

The Holey Armpit Sweater, Part 3

Here it is again, the infamous sweater which started out as a baby gift, but will end up on my own baby instead. In case you haven't been reading my blog long enough for the whole (pun not intended) story, or would just like a recap, click here and here.

I still have to sew up the holes, but I am considering it pretty much done at this point, after all, it is OFF my needles right? I'll be consulting some of my knitting peeps about them armpit holes, in the next month, so watch out!

February is flying by way too fast for my liking. And I need to be better at slowing down...at home and at work. I swear I used to be a much more patient person than this! It seems easy to get overwhelmed with all the preparing for baby and yet when I actually do slow down, I remember the baby won't care if the den isn't painted when she is born or if we have new storm door. All these things will come in time. So much easier said than done though. I was reminded last night how important it is to still do the fun things, things that have nothing at all to do with preparing for the baby. So my mission for the next few months when I am feeling overwhelmed is to set aside time for fun, to chuck the preparing (and worrying about the preparing) out the window at least once a week. It should at least liven up these last few long weeks of winter (BTW Winter, I am soooo done with you, especially since only my ugly winter coat fits anymore!)

Friends

I am feeling thankful this morning. Despite the fact that I hopped out of bed at 7am after being awake for over an hour with a headache, I just feel really great today. This weekend I have seen so many of my favorite people. David and I have been living like hermits this last month and a half and last night and Friday we had dinner with good friends and it felt so good to just have conversations.

One of these favorite people is my best friend, Kelli. A week after my dad died, she moved 2,486 miles away, to San Jose, CA. It has been hard not to have my best friend around to cry with or be excited about the baby with. I am thankful that today it is easier than ever to stay connected despite distance, but I miss not being able to just pop over to her house and read magazines. I am so thankful she is here this weekend. It really feels as if she never left. I think I am going to cry when she leaves again though. I made the bag at the top of this post for her. It only took me about a year to deliver on it. I guess it took moving to California to really motivate me. The pattern is a variation on a pattern in the book Quilts by Denyse Schmidt and I've made it before and even posted about it on this blog. It is a nice easy project that really only takes a couple hours, not a whole year.

I started reading a (so far) fantastic book Friday, Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott. It is both hilarious and heart-breaking and just the type of pregnancy/parenting book I need right now. I can't put it down. It has already made me cry and laugh out loud. I am trying to hurry up and finish this post so I can go back to reading it actually. It is a memoir so it isn't even really a parenting/how-to book at all. I like how honest it is and I am relating to so much in it: the writer lost her dad too early, she has an amazing best friend, her disdain for Republicans...I even think David would read this book.

Do any of my mamas out there have any more reading recommendations? I have always been into the self-help genre and have already ordered in about 20 books on my library card only to feel overwhelmed and realize there is no way I am actually going to be able read them all. The recommendations of friends are surely a better way to go on this one, so please do share!