Rock-a-Bye Baby!

Tomorrow, I will be attending the wedding of my brother-in-law and his soon-to-be wife!  In July, they will welcome little E...a girl (in case the pink didn't give it away.) I'm excited to be an aunt again. This will be my kids' first cousin on their daddy's side.

I wanted to make something special for baby E. Her dad is a very talented musician, so that's right where my brain jumped when I designed this quilt for her! I wanted something sweet, but a little edgy. I dreamed this quilt up one day and chicken scratched it on paper...literally...chicken scratched.

In fact, my husband couldn't tell what each block I had drawn was supposed to represent.  I had to tell him.

I'm glad the quilt turned out WAY better than my speed drawing! When you get inspiration, you just have to go with it and write it down before you forget!

I can't wait to present my brother-in-law and my new sister-in-law with this quilt this weekend! I hope they like it!

In the meantime, SHHHH! They haven't seen it yet!

Pattern is available in my ETSY SHOP or my CRAFTSY SHOP!

If you give a DADDY a donut!

This week for preschool we are learning about several different topics related to circles.  To start the week off, I thought we would read IF YOU GIVE A DOG A DONUT and visit the closest Krispy Kreme. 

When the Favorite found out what we were doing, he wanted to be a part of the fun (Of course! Who wouldn't? lol.)

Buddy was fascinated by the doughnut machinery. We explained what the donuts were doing at each section of the equipment (i.e. where the dough drops in the oil, where the doughnuts get flipped, the glazing station. etc.)  

YUM!

Made sure I got in a picture this time! I'm never in the pictures!

 While we were there, we noticed that some of the doughnuts don't come out perfect (but probably still taste delicious!) So, when we were ready to order, we asked it they sold the mess ups at a discount.  We were told they don't.  THEY THROW THEM AWAY!  I was super disappointed! What a waste! At least donate them to the homeless or something! Or...hand them to me out the back door!

This is his "smile" 

Some of the doughnuts they were throwing away were not very messed up either!  One little dough wart and it goes in the trash! Does that bother anyone else?!?!?

But, one thing we were not disappointed in was the taste! Krispy Kremes are never a disappointment when it comes to flavor.

Ten loved it! Of course!

Buddy ate 1 1/2 doughnuts by himself!

Daddy (aka...my Favorite) is convinced he wants to be more involved in the kids' education lol.

Easy FREE paper piecing patterns for beginners

Forest Quilting has a lot of great blocks that would be easy for a beginner to learn on.  I'm not going to mention all of them, but the birdhouse, would be a great choice! The Christmas Stocking is a great one as well!







The Square in Square block from Wombat Quilts is a great learning piece as well! And would make a really beautiful quilt!


Even McCall's has their version.

Just one block from their page.

Good Paper Piecing Tutorials

This tutorial is actually a GREAT beginner tutorial! Thanks to TheCraftyGemini!

Note: When trimming my seams, I just eyeball it.  I don't worry about folding the paper back and using a rotary cutter like she does at 4:55 in the video.

I also backstitch on all seams which I don't think she did.

To each their own.

Ellison Lane also has a great tutorial. She does do a few things different than I do, but it works!  (click on the link to go to her site). 

And, of course, my tutorial.

2 More Blocks Done! Yay!

2 new patterns in my Craftsy store! I can't wait until this whole this is finished so I can show you! IT's going to be CUTE! 

In the meantime, I'm not loving the fabric I sewed another block with (yes...I am going to have to re-do it...dang it.)

Why I hate the phrase, "At least you have 2 kids!"

Today has been interesting rough.

Today, my husband and I got news that we have some pretty tall fertility issues to overcome if we want to have another baby.

We knew this was likely, but I guess you always have that small bit of hope that it's not the case.  I mean, we have 2 kids already and were able to conceive in under a year with both of those pregnancies.

Prior to finding this out, when talking to friends/family/acquaintances I have briefly mentioned that it might be difficult for us to have any more children.

The response that I get most often is, "Well, at least you already have 2 kids." Or, "At least you already have a boy and a girl."

While these responses are well meaning, it does nothing to soothe my aching heart.  I appreciate the sentiment that is meant by these phrases, but what I want to hear is, "I'm sorry. I will pray for you!"

I know that for every woman, inspiration and feelings they get are different, so I won't try to pretend that my feelings are the norm or even common, but I will try to explain them the best that I can.

Prior to deciding to try for both of my kids, I had a specific feeling.

This feeling is hard to describe, but I will do my best.

Have you ever missed someone so much that it hurt? Like a deep aching inside you?

I have that feeling.  I feel like I miss someone, but when I try to put a finger on who it is that I'm missing, I can't come up with a name or a face or anything really.  Just a feeling that I miss someone and I need to see them.

I feel like whomever I'm missing is somehow infinitely different from anyone I presently know, but somehow in some way I know them.

This feeling has happened to me prior to conceiving both of my children.

And the feeling does not go away until I find out I am pregnant.  After that moment, I am so excited.

I can barely wait for this moment:

A mom for the first time.  Little Buddy and I. 

My sweet Ten joins our family. 

Nothing--AND I MEAN NOTHING--can adequately soothe a woman's heart when she feels that ache for another baby.  The only comfort she receives is through Jesus Christ and knowing that through His atonement all things will be made right one day.

So, the next time someone tells you that they are having fertility issues, please offer a prayer in their behalf if you feel comfortable.

And if you feel so inclined, say a prayer for us.  We need all the prayers we can get.

We're still missing someone.

Still waiting on the moose...

Buddy's say cheese face. 

Today, while Ten napped, Buddy and I read If You Give a Moose a Muffin.  Then, we made these Blueberry Orange Muffins.

He had an absolute blast.  I think I'm going to start pairing books with activities a little more often at our house.

When I asked him if he wanted to take some to Daddy, he was really hesitant and didn't really want to.
{We did anyways.}

You see....he's still waiting on the moose to come for his muffins.

Oh boy...it's going to be a long wait.