artsy-crafty babe

hanging in there

Well, here I am, nearing the end, getting larger by the day.  In some ways it feels like I've been pregnant forever (Feb seems like so long ago) and 2 months still seems quite far away, but I know that it will be here before I know it.  I think I'm still in a bit of denial. 

I am not one to slow down, but this pregnancy has put me to an almost sceeching halt. Never before have I felt so physically and mentally exhausted.  The usual response when I mention this is "well, you have 3 kids to look after", but that's not it.  Yes, I have 3 kids to look after, but they're all old enough to do for themselves.  There are no diapers to change, mouths to feed, or little bodies to bathe like the last time I did this.  If I wanted, I could bark out orders from my sofa, never lifting a finger.  In fact, many days when we all get home in the afternoon I go into my room for a little nap.  That little nap helps a lot. 

Perhaps some of my mental fatigue is my own fault.  I feel guilty for not being able to do more...and I HATE having to depend on others.  I want to do more, and I hold dear those things which I can still do, like waking the kids up in the morning and picking them up from school.  I used to hate picking them up from school, but now it's my favorite part of the day.  I love seeing them run out out to greet me and the conversations we have on the way home. 

Health-wise, this may be one of my healthiest pregnancies.  I have no aches to complain about, my swelling has been minimal, and I don't have gestational diabetes.  That last one was a shocker considering that I had it with my last two.  I'm also very surprised that my swelling hasn't been more severe, especially in this heat (my GOD, the heat!!).  My ankles are just now starting to disappear at the end of the day, but overall it hasn't been too bad.  I think the worst swelling has been in my face (lovely ;-))  Sometimes when I look in the mirror I barely recognize myself. Getting dressed in the morning has become more of a challenge, as most of my maternity tops no longer cover my belly.  At this point in the game I'm not adding to my wardrobe, so I'll just have to make do.  

As much as I've not "enjoyed" this pregnancy (i've never enjoyed ANY pregnancy), I do know that it is all worth it.  I am blessed.  Once this little girl makes her debut, I'm sure we won't be able to imagine our lives without her!

around the house

A question I get asked often by family and friends concerning our impending arrival is "where are you going to put that baby?".  You see, we don't live in a large house.  We're pretty much on top of each other right now, but there are no plans for a bigger house.  Why?  Because I don't want all that goes along with a bigger house, mostly a bigger mortgage!

For now, we'll set up a crib in my room.  The master bedroom is plenty big enough.  I've already re-arranged and cleared out a corner just for her.  There will be a crib and some sort of storage for her clothes.  Isn't that enough?  This is baby #4, we're old pros at this.  We know that babies don't *need* a ton of paraphernalia cluttering up the place. Most all of the baby stuff from our other 3 has long been given away, so we're starting over.  We're only bringing in the necessities.

When she's big enough to not nurse all night long (which will be a while), she'll transition into the room with her sisters.  I'm sure that crib in my room will mostly be used for naps. 

Yes, I'll have three girls sharing a room.  Who made the rule that every kid has to have their own room?  Honestly, all my kids do in their rooms is sleep.  Most of their belongings are in there, but they really don't play in there.  We live in our kitchen and family room.

We do have a 4th bedroom, which may become a kid bedroom one day, but not now.  That room is my current sewing room/playroom.  As my kids have gotten older, they spend more time there.  It is a loft space, which is why I never wanted to make it a bedroom (getting furniture up there is a nightmare!!).  I plan to whittle down my sewing space to make it more of a kid-friendly space, which I think will be a good solution.  As of now, when the kids have sleepovers they usually sleep up there.  I'm sure as Lily gets older and wants to be away from her siblings, she'll be up there more and more, and that's fine.

Should we decide to expand our home we have room on our lot to add on, but that won't happen any time soon.  All I know is that right now, we're happy where we are and plan to make do.  If a bigger house and the right circumstances come along - fantastic, but that isn't on the list of necessities.   All we really want right now is a healthy baby.  I think that is more than enough :)

 

loose ends + big belly

I've suddenly gotten the urge to tie up loose ends, well, of the quilt variety.  I think  it has to do with my desire to start a new one, but the guilt over uncompleted *gift* quilts has been holding me back.

It's been kind of fun finishing these projects up because the majority of the work is already behind me.  All I have left to do on them are a few hours worth of work.  That makes me wonder why I never finished them in the first place.  On quilt #1 I'm at the hand stitched binding phase - my favorite.  There's nothing like curling up on the sofa with a quilt on my lap to stitch some binding!

My love for hand sewing quilt binding has been pushing me through to finish quilt #2.  The quilt top is done, but the back needs to be pieced, then there's the quilting.  I keep my quilting pretty simple, so I should get that done in no time. 

In other news, I've reached beached whale status.  I have to roll myself out of bed and my tops are getting too short.  And I still have 3 months to go!!  Yes, I'm starting to get strange looks when people ask when I'm due.  Yikes!!

 

converted

Oh yes, relief is already needed in the pants department.  Wait, that doesn't sound right.  Let me rephrase that - I've outgrown all my pants!!

Yes, maternity wear has come a long way since I was pregnant last, but it still leaves much to be desired.  What's with all the trashy hoochie-mama wear?  I'm sorry, but I don't want to look like a floozie with a big ole pregnant belly.  I don't want to look frumpy either.  The only options I've found that I like are way too expensive for my budget.  So, what's a girl to do?

 
Well, after a bit of searching I found numerous tutorials about how to convert your regular clothes.  Bingo!  I tried it out on a pair of white cropped pants that have been hanging in my closet for years.

 
The best part is that this didn't cost me a dime!  I had everything on hand already - the pants, the elastic, and the cotton jersey fabric (left over from my alabama stitch skirts).  I'd give you a link to the tutorial if I had it, but I looked at several to get the gist, then went at it.  The process is quite simple - remove the zipper, sew up the fly, cut off the waistband, then attach the new stretchy waistband.  I'm thinking I like this style for non-maternity wear, it's so comfy!!  Hooray for the internet :)

P.S. Thanks for all the well wishes on my latest news!!

 

so...

I feel like I owe you an apology.  I haven't been in this space much lately.  The truth is that not much has been inspiring me.  All my inspiration is gone.  It left weeks ago.  Along with it went my brain function and just about every ounce of energy.  Instead of dreaming about projects or making, I've been doing a lot of sleeping...and feeling pretty miserable.  If you haven't figured it out already, baby #4 is in the works.  Crazy, huh?  We're all pretty happy about it, and I'll be even happier once I start feeling better!!  

Gosh, I sure hope I start feeling better SOON - all this down time is killing me.  Plus, I'm in need of a new wardrobe.  I have my patterns picked out and ready to go as soon as I get some energy.  As my friend Chris said, "Baby #4 isn't so subtle".  Amen to that!  (yep, I'm in good company:))  

I don't intend to document like I did last time, but I'm sure pregnancy and baby projects will make their way to this space.  Thanks for coming along for the ride!

It's a GIRL!

Beki had a baby girl at 8:28 this morning!

She weighed 9 lbs 0.7 oz. and was 21 1/2" long.

Beki and baby are both fine. Name announcement coming soon . .

The Last

The last picture in the series.

The last full day of my pregnancy.

My last pregnancy.

My last moments as a mom of two.

The last time you'll have to look at my enormous belly.

In a few short hours my little blessing will be here...my last moments of this baby being a mystery.

See my journey here.

37 Weeks

Here I am at 37 weeks.  This is my second to last picture - the next one in the series will be right before I head to the hospital.  I am the most uncomfortable I have ever been with any of my pregnancies.  This morning as I was ironing my pants I cried.  I cried because I hurt.  I don't know how much more my pelvis can take.  My hips literally throb with pain.  Thank goodness I only have two weeks left.  Matt suggested I take off work, but I'd be uncomfortable whether I was at work or at home, so I might as well stick it out.  Honestly, laying around hurts more.  I'm most comfortable sitting upright, though it does help to elevate my feet.  I'll survive - I'm in the home stretch now!

I am happy to report that this past weekend I washed some baby clothes, bought some diapers, and pulled out the baby names book.  Yeah, we're making progress!  I also started nesting.  Sunday night, though I was extremely tired after a day of Easter fun, I couldn't relax until I cleaned the kitchen, mopped the kitchen floor, bleached the sink, and vacuumed the living room.  I don't know where that energy came from.  If it weren't so late I would have scrubbed the tub.  Yesterday was my weekly Dr. visit.  Everything was fine, nothing interesting to report.  The baby scored 8/8 on it's biophysical test, my cervix isn't doing squat, and I lost two pounds.  Thank goodness the end is near!!!