various and sundry

Yesterday was a very proud day for me. I actually made something on my sewing machine. I know that's probably not very impressive to many of you, but for me it was a major feat. I have been believing for years that sewing machines are highly advanced pieces of machinery that require someone with an IQ of at least 230 to master them (and mine is only 225. *ahem*). I concluded this must be so, since every time I tried to use mine (which is a cantakerous and inexpensive breed to begin with), my project ended with my bobbin thread being gathered in a malignant mass somewhere inside the bobbin case, and (this is embarrassing) I could never figure out how to get the bobbin back together correctly and carry on (unless my husband was there to do it for me, the project was usually abandoned at this point). However, I have been in nesting mode lately, which means that I've been taking on WAY more projects than anyone in their right mind would ever attempt. So, when I saw an adorable flannel print at JoAnns on black friday, on sale for 1.49/yd. and then saw a remnant of surpassing cuteness and coincidental perfect co-ordination lying nearby, I couldn't pass it up. I simply had to buy them and take a stab at it. And so I made my first official, finished sewing project. A receiving blanket. I know, I'm almost 30 and I'm proud of myself for successfully sewing four straight seams. If I were born 100 years ago I would be hanging my head in shame.

But isn't it cute?

I'm also very proud of that vintage highchair its sitting on. We snagged that at an estate sale for $5. Eliza has had many fewer spills since she is sitting on a highchair again. Mealtimes had become painful occasions around here because of her tendency to squirm and slide and sit in every way possible to maximize her chances of spilling food somewhere between the edge of the table and her mouth. And 5 dollars! And its cute!

Another estate sale find. Old piano bench. Also $5. Pretty nasty old upholstery.

We painted it white, shabbied it up a bit, and re-upholstered and padded the seat. We have a chair purchased at the same estate sale that we are going to paint and upholster to match it.

We have other things going on too, but they aren't finished yet, so I won't mention them. Lets just say buying cheap furniture (or other decorative items) to refinish is becoming a very bad habit around here.

Did I mention I've been in nesting mode?

In other news,

We had this delicious baked pumpkin french toast for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, from one of my favorite blogs, MADE. Its a great place to visit if you ever want to be made to feel entirely inadequate in your domestic abilities. I also made the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies she featured, twice. And I don't bake; well, hardly ever. Something about pumpkin inspires me.

We put up our Christmas tree

Ingrid is still adorable

And the pink hibiscus in the backyard is beautiful.

Finally, we are planning to leave for Michigan on Thursday morning. We are anxious to get this babymoon started, and especially to be safely through the driving part of it. This will be the third time we have traveled to have a baby, but the other two times only involved a 3 hour drive. We plan on stopping for the night twice (the second time with Jessie's brother's family in Kentucky), and getting out and walking around at least every two hours. I am still feeling uncommonly well for 38+ weeks pregnant, although I definitely reach the point of exhaustion pretty quickly lately.

I really enjoyed sitting down and making the blanket for our baby. I felt a closeness and an anticipation that I've never felt quite as strongly before. The baby was being quite active while I worked, and it just gave me the warm fuzzies to be actually making something especially for it. I daydreamed the whole time about welcoming our little one and wrapping it up in the cozy fabric I was working with. I can't wait to meet this sweet child!

It Has Begun...

I sometimes wonder if my house would ever get anything resembling a spring cleaning if I didn't have a baby every year. Last week the nesting urge really hit me and I know that I simply have GOT to get all my windows and floors washed. Every day that passes in which my windows and floors go un-washed is excruciating at this point. So I was thrilled when my wonderful sister-in-law, who usually takes Theia to play with her girls for a few hours on Monday, offered to take Eliza as well today. I feel very accomplished when I manage to actually be caught up with dishes AND the laundry when I have both girls all day at this point, so embarking on a larger project with them home was not an option in my mind. Jessie flat out ordered me NOT to mop any floors, so I satisfied myself today with getting out my vacuum attachments and vacuuming all the molding, baseboards, trim, and windowsills (old, nasty windows they are) in the house, and vacuuming all the floors, including using a crevice attachment in all the cracks in the old hardwood floors! I'm sure the baby will really appreciate the absence of dirt between our floorboards. It was one of those amazing "Domestic Goddess" type days. When the girls came home, they'd already had lunch so they went right down for their naps and slept for hours so I was able to finish up my project AND make supper (its sad when making supper starts to seem like a bonus accomplishment). It was really good, too. And wholesome and healthy, with vegetables from my very own garden. I felt like I should be wearing a black and white-checked dress and heels, maybe with a kerchief on my head, when Jessie got home. Anyways, that's enough ego-stroking for now. Jessie is mopping the kitchen and dining room as I type this. What a guy :).