Showing posts with label I did this. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I did this. Show all posts

Monday, July 16, 2012

I Did This! Beckham Cade Lewis Part 1


I consider every birth story a testament to the reality that miracles do happen.  Whether a birth is filled with drama,  filled with intense and painful descriptions, or is quick and virtually pain free, mother's who have given birth share a unique bond.  You get a group of women together and chances are their conversations will include the following:   menstrual cycles, husbands, diets, and birth stories.  Each of us take turns relaying our experiences of labor, epidurals, pain, and pushing.  Each story different, yet similar.  Most stories ending the same way... with a precious baby in our arms.

I guess my most recent birth story could be considered the same.  A little drama sprinkled with answered prayers and a sweet baby boy named Beckham Cade Lewis.
The week before my due date, my doctor scheduled me to be induced.  Month after month, week after week, baby boy was breech.  It was as if I was repeating my pregnancy with Homeboy.  Only the main difference was that this baby was a mover!  Where as Homeboy was content to just chill in the same position my entire pregnancy. 
The plan was to turn baby boy, break my water, and start me on pitocin.  This same scenario was played out almost 5 years prior with Homeboy! Just call me lucky.  
 Only I would have to have 2 babies turned!  Only I would have to endure such intense pain, AGAIN!

During my last doctor visit, me and my doctor went over the plans of the pending birth of baby boy.  I would arrive at the hospital on June 14th, 7:00 am.  If baby boy was still breech, my doctor would turn him and go from there.  If he just happened to have turned, the plan was to still induce my labor, because the baby liked to do flips in my belly.  He didn't want to risk him flipping again and increasing my chance for a c-section.
After discussing my induction, my doctor did an ultra sound on my bulging belly.  And sure enough, the baby had turned!  We rejoiced and I was off to cram all of my nesting tendencies into one week.
June 14th quickly approached.  I was anxious to get the show on the road, due to the major discomfort and pain that I had experienced the last month of pregnancy.  Steve and I arrived to the hospital and shared a moment of prayer, and deep breaths in unison.  This was it!  Our lives were going to be thrust into a different sort of chaos, but blessed in so many ways.  For the past 9 months we imagined what our third baby boy would look like!  Would he have the same hair color as Homey's (blonde with some red) or like Homeboy's (light brown).  Would he also inherit his father's butt chin or would it lack that special dent?  I imagined him to have light brown hair, looking similar to his big brother Homeboy, weighing in somewhere between his older brother's weights (6 lbs 9 ounces, and 7 pounds 10 ounces).  I believed his head would be bigger than Homeboy's, but closer to the size of Homey's and that infamous butt chin... it too, would be included.

Running late, I waddled as fast as I could to check in.  Once I was checked in, peed in the cup, and slipped into the bum-revealing-gown, the nurse performed an ultra sound on my belly to make sure baby boy was still head down.  And, of course, he was breech.  Shocker.

She informed my doctor and he instructed me to come back at 6pm to attempt to have the baby turned and labor induced, but I knew that was actually planning on a c-section.  Which, I did not want!  Nothing more could be frustrating to me than to not be able to recover as quickly as possible and to try to get into a routine.

So back home we went.  To wait.  

To keep me busy and my mind off of the impending pain that I would be experiencing in a matter of hours, I called my friend Lori and we worked on the alphabet that I was decorating baby boy's nursery walls with.  And then in the middle of the day, it happened.  While chatting with Lori, I felt some major movement.  I knew that the baby was most likely turning AGAIN

Prayers were answered!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I Did This! - Another one.



It's like it's show -n- tell, lately, with my blog!  But I just had to post this baby, girl, blanket that I made.

Love the colors, love the print! 

I'm totally jealous that this blanket is not mine.


Monday, September 12, 2011

I Did This - Baby Gift!

Recently, many of my friends have had babies or are in the process of having babies.  And can I just tell ya...  I'm loving it!  How can one not love the adorable, squishy-ness, of  baby thighs?  Squishy thighs are seriously, one of my favorite parts of a baby.  And their tiny feet.  And their dimply, cheeks (not the ones you smile with).  Well, and their cheeks, also (the ones you do smile with).  Awwwww baby love! 


One of my favorite gifts to give these wonderful, little, miracles are their own personalized towels, swim suits and sunglasses!  I just love seeing their pop-bellies in swim suits!



I appliqued the first initial of their names on the towels.  Slap my momma on the knee, this is cute!



I gave these towels to twin boys!  I could possibly have another baby just so I can make one of these towels for  her.  That's right people!  If by some miracle, I became pregnant again... that baby would be a girl.  Because I say so.  And because I'm not sure I can take anymore boy cooties, farts, stinky feet, dirt, and cleaning the toilets top to bottom, EVERY STINKING DAY!  Aim boys!  Aim!





Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I Did This - More cute girl stuff, because I live with ALL boys.


Whenever I make something cute and girly, my loins begin to ache for a baby girl.  Why must I age?  Why must my uterus be incompetent?  Why does my almost-4 year old BOY continue to sneak outside with no clothes on?  Why are there unsightly hairs sprouting from parts of my body that were never meant to sprout these dark, whisker-y, hairs?  Why?!?!?!  Why?!?!?!
 
Luckily, I have nieces and friends that have baby girls to help fill in my "baby girl urges" gaps!
 
My niece Raegan turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and I thought she would look adorable in the matching, apron with ruffles, the chef's cap, and an oven mitt, ensemble.
 
Be still my heart, I love this apron!


Admire the cute fabrics!


And, oh my heck... Can you stand it?!?!  I found this cute eyelet lace, with cherries, to be trim on this cute ensemble!  It's details like this, that complete me.

Um, I'm pretty sure I would be a better cook or baker if I had an oven mitt like this.  It's magic that way.

I've decided to start an Etsy shop and I have been busy creating a small stock-pile of items to sell in it.  I'm thinking I may have to include the above items!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I DidThis!


Remember about a month ago when I announced to everyone (the few people that read my blog) that I was going to be better at keeping my blog updated? No? Well, let me remind you...


Quote: "I've decided to challenge myself to return to my old blogging frequency!"

Gag.

Okay, so maybe I haven't exactly returned to my old blogging frequency. I'm a busy woman now! And I've been on a diet. I have not had any form of a cookie, cupcake, ice cream, or Dr. Pepper in the last three weeks. The first week was brutal! My husband was seriously considering performing an exorcism on me. I'm sure there were moments when my head spun around 360 degrees, and I spewed green, pea, soup from my mouth. It was an ugly moment for me.

So let me, instead of promising to update my blog every week...

How about I just promise to update my blog on a regular basis? Work for you? Works for me!

So anyhoo...

There have been alot of babies born lately! Two of my friends just gave birth to adorable, squishable, bundles of love! It's those moments when I gawk at the cuteness of these sweet babes, that crazy thoughts enter my head and my uterus begins to twitch.

I made one blanket for my friend, Holly's baby boy, and I loved it! It was so much fun to make. Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of it. Stupid me. I appliqued a little cowboy boot on the front of it! Homeboy kept asking me, "Dat's my blankie? Dat's my blankie?" I would tell him "no" and that it was for a new baby boy. He just scowled at me. He's just jealous.

My friend Chelsea just had a baby girl and whenever I can sew anything girlish, I jump on that like a fly to potato salad. I have no idea what that means. I just made it up.

I've been itchin' to make something with ruffles and gathers, so I decided to put both in this blanket.


Okay, so can you just die?!?! "Why must the Gods torture me with such cuteness!?!?!"



Here's a close up of the cuteness.




And it even looks good, folded up!

The blankets turned out nearly as cute as the babies! Okay not even close. The babies are sooooo much cuter!
(sigh)
I wonder if I should....?
Never mind, Homeboy just flooded the toilet.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

I Did This! - Sportin' a new church bag


Last Sunday, I came to the realization that I was in need of a new church bag. My old bag, although cute, was not up to the job of holding the numerous bags of fruit snacks, containers of cereal, Primary binder, Primary folder, story books, toy cars, lotion, lip gloss, pens, pencils, crayons, tithing slips, scriptures, Primary Song Book (in mini form), diaper, wipes, used tissues, and finally used and discarded sacrament cups that Conner had been chewing on during Sacrament Meeting. My previous calling didn't require all of the items, mentioned above, and I was able to manage quite well with my smaller bag. Not so much anymore.
A couple of days ago, I took matters into my own hands and sewed this cute bag.

Cute, huh?


It's large enough to hold all of my church materials and, let's face it - crap. Lots and lots of crap.


I believe the makings of a good bag is pockets. Big pockets. To hold all of my crap.
I sewed two large pockets on the outside of the bag and put an additional large pocket on the inside of the bag.


The pockets set my soul on fire! (I have no idea what that means. But really, they do.)

I'm quite happy with my bag and my fellow ward members will have to excuse me as I strut my stuff and model my new bag, while at church. Work it! Work it!

It's a well known fact among us Mormon, women folk, that we tote around various shapes, sizes, and forms of the "church bag" every Sunday, during our three hour block of service.

Some of the more popular church bags, that can be seen through out the halls of our building of worship is the Circle of Life navy, blue, tote. Nothing screams "LDS" bag fashion than the Circle of Life tote! The Circle of Life Women's Center is a well-known, local, facility that includes half of our ward's dear sister's ob/gyn doctors. Yup, it's true. Mine included.


Another fashionable tote is the free bag that one receives from purchasing a perfume gift set from Macys or Nordstroms.

Exhibit A: My "church bag" courtesy of Liz Claiborne.


Exhibit B: The Ed Hardy messenger bag, free with purchase of a fragrance gift set. I don't know, but I'm thinkin' this bag doesn't particularly bring forth the spirit.






Back in the day (circa late 70's, early 80's), the hot item of church calling organization was a clever tote made of cardboard. It was genius! To this day it is a rare, yet special occasion, if one spots such an exceptional find. I know of one lady that still lugs her various church materials in one. Oh the flood of memories!

I tried with all of my might to find a pic of one to share with all of you, but alas I failed.

The cardboard tote - similar to this pet carrier, but different. The real creative and crafty ladies use to jazz up their plain, white, cardboard, totes by sticking floral contact paper on the outside. Oooo la la! Contact paper back in the day was the equivalent to our modge podge and scrapbook paper now.

The cardboard tote - similar to this device, minus the beer bottles. And the individual compartments. And they usually were white. Not cardboard color. And longer. Yup longer. I'm annoying you. Sorry.



Another highly favored church bag of choice is the diaper bag. It serves two purposes in one! Carrier of bottles, burp cloths, and diapers...and of the sacred scriptures.







And then finally, last but not least... the high fashion of church bags. These bags can be a bit deceitful. On the outside they resemble sophistication and high-class, but on the inside you will find dried up fruit snacks, used tissues, and a Sunbeams Primary manual.


Every Sunday it's fiesta of church bag fashion!


Through the ages, our church bags have been a reflection of our personalities, a reflection of our life situations we are experiencing during that moment of time. But I know one thing for sure, no matter if our church bags are made of cardboard, homemade, or their purpose is meant to carry baby paraphernalia, they ALL serve a special purpose. They carry our precious cargo. (And in my case... also some crap.)


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Saturday, March 27, 2010

I did this!

I've realized that I have stooped to a level of hideous proportions with my last post. The fact that I even took a picture of our poo smeared television is bad enough, but then I posted it on my blog. My mom is mortified and is wondering where she went wrong.

I do have to say that my reaction to Conner's "art-work" was quite subdued. Surprising for me. But the gag reflexes were in full force. Ick. And I did get sympathy from the hubs. You know it's good to rack up those points on you and your husband's imaginary score cards, ladies!

So in order for me to regain some of my dignity, I thought I'd share some pictures of some decorative throw pillows that I sewed for my downstair's couch.

All of these pillows cost me a total of $25 to make. Not bad when one pillow, from Target, costs $25!


I think this is my favorite pillow. I love the color orange and I love the felt flower. It brings a smile to my face during those moments when I am forced to clean poo off of a tv.


I actually bought this material to make a skirt for me. I'm now reconsidering on sewing the skirt because I feel kinda stupid that I will have a matching pillow.
This dark, orange, linen, combined with the leaf, adorned, wooden, buttons make this pillow have an organic feel to it.
I'm kidding! Organic. So artsy-fartsy. So stupid.
Pillows are so fun to sew! And talk about a quick way to brighten your decor!
I hope your opinion of me and my disgusting post has softened. And if it hasn't, I'm willing to buy your affection by sewing a pillow for you. 'Cause my self-esteem is cool like that.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Felt Valentines Day Banner - Tutorial


This Valentines Banner is so easy to make and there is no sewing involved!


Supplies needed:


Coordinating pieces of felt. I had approximately 1/4 yard of each color and I had plenty of left over fabric

3/16" eyelets - 18 total (I bought mine in the scrap booking section at JoAnn's. You can use larger eyelets)

Heat-n-Bond (love this stuff!)

2 yards of ric rac or ribbon of your choice

Glue gun/stick




  • Cut out two heart patterns. You will need one slightly larger than the other heart pattern. I used my Cricut to cut out my patterns. The larger heart is 4 & 1/2 inches and the smaller heart is 4 inches. (You can also use a cookie cutter as a guide for free-hand it!)
  • Pin the heart patterns to the fabric and cut out six cream colored 4 & 1/2 inch hearts, three red 4 & 1/2 inch hearts and three of each color of the 4 inch hearts



If you are paying close attention to the pictures and the numbered steps you will notice that I repeated steps 3 and 4. And steps 6 and 7 are switched. In my defense...I'm tired. My toddler woke up at 4am today. Yes, he is evil. Amen.

Okay, back to crafting...



  • Pin each of the smaller hearts to the Heat-n-Bond and cut out 9 hearts.

  • Iron each of the Heat-n-Bond heart cut-outs to the backs of each smaller heart.

  • Peel off the paper backing and place the smaller pink hearts to a larger cream heart, the smaller red hearts to the larger cream hearts, and the smaller cream hearts to the larger red hearts. Iron all of the hearts together, according to the Heat-n-Bond instructions. (Does that make sense? Clear as mud?)

  • Punch two holes about 1.5 inches apart in the center of the hearts. I used my Provo Craft Hole Punch and Eyelet Setter. (I love this thing, too!) If you do not have a hole punch and eyelet setter, you can just cut some small slits, instead.
  • Set two eyelets in the holes then secure the back with your eyelet setter. Or use a hammer to hammer the backs of the eyelets flat.
  • String the ric rac or ribbon through the eyelets of each heart, alternating the colors.
  • Use a glue gun to hot glue the ric rac to the backs of the hearts. This will help stabilize the banner.

    Tah Dah! You are finished! Enjoy your Valentines Day Banner!

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Thanksgiving Banner


I'm lovin' these cute banners! What more can a gal want?
Cute saying....check.
Loverly ribbons....check.
Fun scrapbook paper....check.
I'm also lovin' this cute Thanksgiving banner, because it was so easy to put together! My sister-in-law, Kate, puts these cute banner kits together and sells them.

Love the pumpkin detail!
And the ribbons and cute scrapbook paper? Well, you might as well stick a fork in me! I'm done! I love it!
Thanks again Kate!
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Saturday, August 29, 2009

I did this!

A couple of days ago, I was shopping at Ben Franklin Crafts and something caught my eye, from afar. "It" spoke to me. And as you know, alot of things speak to me, while shopping. But this... this was kismet. (sigh)
The glorious colors danced in my head and the print... well, it's to die for!
I knew exactly what the purpose of the fabric was to become. A new handbag!
"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" (choirs of angels singing)
I've already received 2 compliments from total strangers!

A couple of weeks ago I bumped into a co-sister from my ward at where else, Ben Franklin's. She's a hot ropin', rodeo queen, momma! And she's got some hot sewing skillz to boot! We were both admiring the cute Halloween fabric and she said, "we should sew something with Halloween fabric for sewing group!" And I agreed!

Then I remembered I sewed Halloween trick or treat bags for my boys. And then I thought, "I should sew another one!" Because this one will be cuter than the other one! I have issues.

Love it!

And by the way, RC ward ladies... these are going to be the next projects for sewing group. You know you wanna make them!
You can go to the RS blog (sorry, it's a private blog) and check out what materials you will need to make these cute bags.
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Friday, July 31, 2009

Master Bedroom Redo - Finally

If you look around, you will find that miracles are happening all around us, all of the time. Some may be small, and some may be monumental. Such as making it home yesterday, from Az., without Conner puking. (more on this, later) See! Right there, a miracle.

Another miracle happened within the walls of my master bedroom, my nest of lovin', my escape, just last week. (Get your minds out of the gutter people!)

Last week I patched and painted the last nail hole in my walls. My husband hung the shelf above our dresser and I carefully placed the last decorative nick knack in it's reserved and well thought out, spot.

It is truly a Christmas miracle.

And it only took one thousand, three- hundred and two days, 5 hours, 14 minutes, and 8 seconds, to finish.

Here are the results of my bedroom redo!

(click on the images to make them gigantic so that you can REALLY see the glorious-nous of my bedroom re-do)

My budget was small for this re-do. The most expensive thing that I bought was the fabric for my curtains. The total for the fabric, thread and trim (JoAnns with 40% coupon) was around $86.00. Not too bad for custom made, floor length curtains!

My headboard and the small oval table were free. I've owned them for several years now. The Garage Queen Diva (my mom) bought both of them for maybe a total of $10. I kid you not people!

The headboard was total "eighties-ish" so I sanded it down, primered it then painted and distressed it. The table was already painted and distressed but they did a crummy job on it. That is my next project.

My bedspread and accessories were on clearance at Kohls. Originally priced at $199.99, I got them for $69.99! Score!

Just to let all of you know, this bedspread was not my original ensemble that I had purchased. I loved my prior "spread" much more. (sniff, sniff)

Me+stomach flu= total destruction of the prior, much beloved bedspread.

My two lamps are my favorite things that I bought for my nest of lovin' re-do. They make my heart go pitter pat. I bought them at Target! The lampshades were free, cause I purchased them with a gift card that I received. Yup, it's awesome.

The paint was free also. Me and the hubs received a gift card to Walmart from my little brother Justin, for Christmas. The paint is basically the cheapest brand you can buy there, but I didn't have any problems painting with it. It was all good.

Details...
I Y details!
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Thursday, July 30, 2009

I did this!

These are just a couple more baby receiving blankets that I have made recently.
You've seen me post pics of the blankets that I have made before, but the thing that I absolutely love about these two particular blankets are the fabric.
I'm addicted to fabric. Some people are addicted to shoes and ranch dressing (I don't know why I just wrote ranch dressing. it was the first thing that popped into my head. that's the way my brain works. it is scary). I am addicted to fabric.
These fabrics make me smile and have fantasies of running through a field of wheat, barefoot, giddy with laughter. Well maybe not so much. I'm actually wearing a cute pair of ballet slip-ons. I don't like to be barefoot.
So back to the blankets.... isn't this blanket soooo cute? The striped pattern is the back of the blanket and I sewn in some large rick rack (ric rak, ric rac ???) trim, in between the two layers of fabric.
I love the bright colors!

The moment my eyes laid upon this adorable and brightly colored fabric, I knew I had to purchase it and make something out of it. It spoke to me. Alot of "things" speak to me, as I am shopping.

I owe my mom some receiving blankets that she purchased from me, so that she can give them as gifts for baby showers and such. This one will go to some lucky tike in Wyoming! Don't worry mom, I'm gonna make some boy blankets also!

I also love these fabrics because they don't make your ordinary kind of receiving blanket.

Just like the sweet babies that will be carefully swaddled inside one of the blankets that I have made, they demand attention. And I love to pay my attention to the sweet babies!

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

I did this!

Hallelujah! Praise momma! I finished my Fourth of July quilt.

I purchased the fabric for my quilt last year, in hopes that our rears would be comfortably sitting on top of our patriotic quilt, while gazing up at the fireworks. It didn't happen.

But this year I vowed to get it done! And when I vow to get something done, there just aint no stoppin' me.

Oh my Star Spangled Banner! I can't wait to be sitting on my quilt!


This isn't a fancy quilt, by any means. Heck, it's going to placed on the ground, in the middle of a cow pasture, with my family's bums sitting on it. And some of those bums are capable of making horrific smells. And some of those bums are just down right cute.

Aren't the prairie points cute? I know!

My quilt isn't perfect.
I sewed some of the corners, perfectly. Like butta! Like a big stick of butta! And then other corners...not so much.
I had a fantasy of me sitting in the corner of my couch, watching a chic flick, and hand quilting stars in my new patriotic quilt. That didn't happen. The sewing machine worked just a good and faster.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Fourth of July and while my bum, my husband's bum, and my kid's bums are sitting on our new quilt, I will be thinking of what a wonderful country I live in!
Did I mention we will be sitting on our bums, on our quilt?
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