Homespun Baby! Shoes

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Remember me saying this yesterday...??

I realized, this morning, I have another pair of Homespun Baby! Shoes I was to make - which I had completely forgotten about (long story!) -  due sometime this week.  Oops!  (that makes me feel and look bad..) 

(AND, I should be working on them right this instant...but, it doesn't take me long to whip them up! I'll get to them.  Little secret, about me... I work best under pressure!)

Well, here they are!  I finished them up, late last night.

:: Reserved for Karen K.
(Not for Sale!)

***

You know, there'll be some more sewing today.  Right??

Somewhere, in the middle of it all..

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In the middle of the cleaning...
In this particular Corner of our Home !

...are the
new and
continued, and
lasting,
forever... childhood
memories
made!

Kept.

Back onto the shelf... until another time!

For all of this I graciously give thanks.

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Of course you all know where my thoughts are on this here Monday, as it relates to my gratitude posts... in my continuing to name the thanks onward towards One Thousand Gifts, and that is this: in just having a brand new baby; a beautiful daughter - Jayne Abigail. 

one of our first photos of Jayne - from in the hospital

Jayne {God's gracious gift; gracious one}  Abigail {Source of Joy; a father's joy}

My heart is full of gratitude to the Lord for the blessing he granted to my husband and I.
A celebration of our love; another daughter; a true gift.

I find it to be truly amazing how one's heart can enlarged - even more than it already is - to love even someone else just as though they've been a part of our lives all along.  This is a new love.  And yet, it is a deep, deep vein already.

I'm struggling to share this next part with you - so please, bear with me...

When I first realized we were expecting (and even before, in "the planning" of this baby) - I wasn't too thrilled about it.  Deep in my heart there really was a struggle to accept this "blessing" as a blessing.  My sister, Gladys and I were talking about it one day over the phone.  She mostly listened to what I was saying in the lamenting of my struggle to even "want" this baby.  She said a few hard things... but one thing that really has stuck with me is that she said this.  "You know, Bev.  This will probably be the child that brings you the most joy - or, the child that is meant to be in your life to bring you that 'source' of joy". 

We already had names picked out, at that point, and I knew what the meaning for Jayne Abigail was... but I hadn't really thought much about it until now.  All along - I "thought" I was having a boy... so I didn't dwell on it.  Immediately, I knew my sister was right.  And, the Lord continued to soften my heart as the pregnancy progressed.

But.

Let me tell you.  This blessing from the Lord is exactly that.  She is sweet.  Gracious.  A little one who literally has her Mama wrapped tightly around her little finger.  She knows my voice... and responds.  There are tears welling up in my eyes right now as I type these words.  The regret of my heart to say at one point - I really don't want this baby - is very real.  Am I grateful to not be pregnant anymore?  You bet.  No more pregnancies.  God's gift has been lavished on us - one last time.  I truly am grateful.

#424.  ten fingers

#425. ten toes

#426. rose-bud lips

#427. pudgy cheeks

#428. her unique cry (sounds sorta like a seagull) ;)

#429. the way her fingers wrap around mine

#430. a wonderful hospital stay

#431. caring doctors and fabulous nurses

#432. a hubby who lovingly embraced the challenge of being Mr. Mom for a few days

#433. the body's natural process of elimination - I'm very serious. ;)

#434. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made"

#435. naps

#436. no more heartburn - per say

#437. the love and longing for a hot cup of coffee and or more then several glasses of cold water

#438. hands back in the dishpan  :)

#439. protection in the wake of the 5.9 earthquake (through our area, in the early part of last week) and the through Hurricane Irene - later in the week.

#440. turning the lights off at night

#441. mist rising off the meadow - in early morning light

#442. delicious meals making their way to our home - every other evening.

#443. my husband's comforting embrace in a weak moment of emotion

#444. the way her siblings are taking to her - lots of love, lots of love

#445. a foot massage

#446. He who softened my heart - the Lord Almighty!

#447. the way her name will continue to remind me...

For all of this I graciously give thanks.

*****

Wow!  Sorry it took nearly all day to get this post up.  I'm sure that any future posts will just have to come in time and that you'll all understand. ;)

First moments at home

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Wow.  It sure is good to be home.  We arrived home late Saturday afternoon.  It was a great stay at the hospital but, as you all know, coming home and being at home is always THE BEST!!

leaving the hospital - homeward bound

I sat down and thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the comments left the other day and just had to smile.  It sure made me feel so good to be "thought of", prayed for and loved... all from y'all.

It's been an interesting couple of hours of "making adjustment" - especially through the night, last night, our first night home.  Here is a funny one, that I thought I would share with you.  Something that Scott told me about, after the fact. 

It was like 2:55am and Jayne decided she was seriously in need of something to eat - again!!  and though she nursed very well for the next 40 minutes or so - decided, you know, that she'll just stay awake.  Wide awake.  And well, everyone else is asleep... and I'm desperately wanting to go back to sleep... I lay her down in the bassinet and use the bathroom (because that was on my immediate to-do list) - when she starts up again, crying very loudly.  I soon hear Aubrey yelling out:  THE Baby's CRYING!!   I hurry up to rush aide... and well.  If that doesn't wake up the rest of the house?  I think it was well after 5am that the world fell asleep to a peaceful hush ... at least inside our home.  Outside was a whole nother story...as Hurricane Irene was upon us.

Scott tells me that the older two told him (on their own accord) that if the baby wakes up during the night, that they would put their fingers in their ears and yell out to us that "the baby's crying"... just to help let us know.

I thought it was sweet.  Because, that's what they did too.

****

Here are just a few more of my favorite photos of our precious bundle of joy... I hope you enjoy them.

****

Many of you mentioned in your comments that you love her name and the spelling of it.  If you must know... Jayne is my middle name, as well.  That is one reason we chose her name like we did.  Abigail has always been a favorite name for my husband... and it just sounded great together. 

I will talk more on this, tomorrow... in my gratitude post... as you can be sure - I have much to be grateful for in the birth of our beautiful daughter. 

It's a .... girl!

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Updated post 8/25 -  with pictures

So sorry to keep you all out of the loop for as long we have here.  I'm WAS also unable to post any photos till now, due to a few technical difficulties.  In fact, my hubby being the techie-dude that he is, finagled his way - just so that you could even get another update from us.



Jayne Abigail joined our family at 8:21am...via c-section, this morning, August 24th.  She is one big gal.  She weighed in at 9lbs 12 oz. (5grams) and is 21 1/2" long (head circumference 14 1/2in).  The two doctor's performing the surgery had quite the time trying to get her out.  She was so lodged in there - they actually needed to use the help of a vacuum.  Believe me - I felt the struggle.  I'll definitely be sore the next couple of days.

Thankfully, though, all is well.  Her apgar score was 9/9.  Really good!!  We're so grateful for that.

She's been a champion nurser...another thing I'm so grateful for. :)

Big brother and sister love her to pieces... so does Mommy and Daddy, aunts and uncles - and both grandma's.

Love you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.

~Bevy

Hospital here we come

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Due to leave our home at 5:00 am, in the morning. 

We're (supposed to be) first on the OR list.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Check in here for any further updates and baby news... as soon as we are able.

Thanks for thinking of us.

Bevelled, dishevelled and now reassembled

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Quite the post title, I know, but let me explain.  We had quite the week around here, last week, at least in the beginning.

I knew this was going to happen at one point - just not sure exactly when.  So when I noticed a white work van pulled up into the front lawn - EARLY Monday morning, last week.  I was in tears.  Literally.
I wasn't expecting the "job" to take place that day.  I have lots of stuff in and around these windows.
I won't even tell you what my hubby thinks of it.  I'll let you think he's nice about it and L.O.V.E.S my style, immensely, and accepts my love of all things "dainty and breakable".

Not to mention... we had the fullest week last week with other things already planned and already going on.

Anyway.  I know these windows "were old".  It was probably time for them to be replaced along time ago.  They were letting in "too much" cold air and I know - that is not cost efficient.  But, they were bevelled glass!!!! There is nothing more charming in an old farmhouse then bevelled glass windows.

Don't you love the lock/knob?  (I realize it's not a very good picture.)

So, I called my sister, Jules - to ask if she could come over and give me a hand to move some of the furniture (IE; white table, old ironing board, and several other pieces) and "help move" most if not all of the kids toys upstairs - plus give a hand with some quick cleaning.  She loves doing this sort of thing. 

Plus, she was available....

Big Plus!

It was 2:30 in the afternoon, Monday, when "the guy" asked if he could get started on our windows.  I begged - please - if he could hold off on our four windows to do the following day.  He said, sure!

As well as, Scott needed to move the AC unit out of the kitchen window.  Besides the fact... I had decided that I didn't want to be around when he was here... because of the kids and whatnot.  So - I needed to quickly make arrangements for Tuesday. 

Can you tell I was feeling a bit dishevelled?

Grandma Susie agreed to come for Caleb at 8:00am the following morning. 

And, I kept Aubrey with me - while we cleaned upstairs, plus, she did get to go over to play with our little next door neighbor buddy for a little while - and that helped me go through ALL of the kids toys (upstairs) (tossing and putting some away) and do other reorganizing up there - that with them by my side would have put me over the edge.  At least.

By four o'clock pm, Tuesday...

These are the new windows.

Things are finally back to resemble reassembled in this corner of our living room.  Plus - we exchanged some things put to make needed room for the Pack & Play.  Of course...

***

One of the things planned for the week was that on Wednesday of last week, Scott  would take the day off of work - with plans to make a car purchase.  Long story - something that ended up not happening. 

But, we got more knocked out on the baby-to-do list.  Like the crib/bassinet here.  I didn't get a picture of it - all in pieces.  The side rails needed to be re glued as some of the spindles had come out...

The painting began with gusto...

the reassembling... completed.

The finished piece...

left awaiting.

Can you tell - I don't enjoy pictures of myself, let alone taking them, of myself?  :)

I know some of you wanted to see this baby bump - again - before it's GONE - counting down,  about 14 days, to go.

((sigh))

I am so ready.

****

Thanks for 'enjoyin' this rambling post.

All wrapped up in gratitude...

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I'm finding myself giving a few extra hugs these days...

as I'm realizing (they are too!) that their world is about to be rocked.

(The baby just kicked me as if to say - "Hey, I resemble that statement." Giving  me it's complete and total affirmation that, that rockin' statement is TRUE.)

Several have asked me (recently) how I'm feeling.  I'm hanging in there.  The usual tiredness "in the end of term" - has been coming on more and more readily.  I've had my (literal) first taste of swollen ankles, feet and toes - this past week... grateful that that is only happening now.  Trying my hardest to keep up with fluids.. praying for strength to "get things done" before my energy is expended... and, I'm pooped.  I'm grateful that I'm still sleeping fairly well at night.  However... all I know is that I'm very ready for August 24th to roll around.  I'm scheduled, to have my C-section, that day.

Over the weekend, we got several things knocked out on the To-Do list... making ready for this here #3.

~~car seats are rearranged in the van

~~the crib/bassinet needed to get "glued" and that is done - the next is to reassemble it and repaint it.

~~ the stroller/gift that we received last weekend is now fully assembled and our current infant seat does work in it.

~~ we took a full tour of the *new* Maternity Floor - yesterday.  (we're so glad we did that).

~~ the call list has been made and an appeal has been made for help in case we need to go "in early" - that we would have (at least overnight) childcare coverage for the other two...

It's all coming along.  Little by little.

So... there you have it.  Wrapped up in baby stuff... gratitude style

 

****

So.  How does this tie in with my Counting the Thanks - my usual Monday postings?  Well it does and it and it doesn't... but I thought I would share all of the above with you all anyway.

#343. friends who are letting us know "they're available".

#344. extra hugs and snuggles

#345. story time

#346. sippen' Iced Coffee (drizzled with Carmel and whipped creme) through a straw - lip smacking delish!

#347.  rain drops, like pearl beads, strung out on the wash line

#348. yellow sunflower faces

#349. an out-of-the-blue email from a dear friend wanting to get together.

#350. safety for my extended family - while on their vacation

#351. hearing my kids in the next room, in interactive play

#352.  I love overhearing their conversations - it's too funny - when they role play

#353. stopping for ice cream - sharing a cone or two.

#354. a *new-for-us* vehicle for Scott to replace his old one .... hopefully bought today or tomorrow

#355. fluffy, billowy, huge white clouds edged in sunset's glow

#356. the little brown bunny, who makes his everyday appearance, allowing us an up close and personal look

#357. the way everything greened up so nicely due to last weeks several days of intermittent rain showers.

#358. backroads

#359. going down memory lane - back to the good ole days

#360. smells of the farm!  (it just can't seem to get strong enough - I love it!)

#361. early morning sunlight streaming in

There's Only One!

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Just wanted to share with you all the biggest news around our household....
and, Little One makes three!! 

Big Brother and Big Sister are very, very excited... and so are we.  But also rather grateful... it is... only one.  There had been multiple prayers for the potential of more than one...child.  But, we won't say from who. ;)

We found out we were expecting, on Christmas morning!  And here is the way we told our (extended) family...

We waited with anxious, bated breath - to see if anyone would be nosy enough to figure out the message left (ALL DAY!) on the fridge... no one noticed, until my niece, Maddy, asked me if those were just a lot of letters up there?  I told her that there is a secret message on the fridge and the first person to figure it out - won the prize.  "Everyone" overheard that being said and came running...

I think my brother Joel was the one who first figured it out that he was going to be an uncle, once again. ;)

See you in real life, Little One, (Lord Willing!) sometime in mid-to-late August.

****
FYI: Another reason for the trigger of the unexpected - bout of Phlebitis, over the past three weeks.

**Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers - as I hope these next weeks and months go by smoothly and without further incident. 

We'll keep you posted, as we go along....

It flew the coop...

Just so you all know... this bag ~ Spring Chicken ~ SOLD! this past weekend - at the CHAP convention in Harrisburg.  Yeah...

Oh, by the way... this is going to be one of those "feather's a-flyin' in all sorts of directions" sort of posts.

All the other bags are back up on my etsy...just till Thursday.  Then they're off to another Home School convention in NJ, for this coming weekend.  They should be back in my shop for the rest of whenever - after this convention - unless you all plan to buy me out.  ;)

**Big thanks to Susan Kemmerer (and her husband, Dale) for being so involved and excited in doing this for me.  More on Susie, another time...stay tuned.

*****************

Guess what else, flew the coop?  All of the baby bottles in the house.  No pictures - cause they're gone, as of this past Friday night.

Need I tell you that we've got one little 21 month-old, around here, who is "ehhhh" - not so sure and not so happy... but trying really, really hard to be okay about it. 

The big hazel eyes and semi-poochy lip are kinda funny to see.  Yet, it almost makes me tear up.  I also know if I try to get a picture of her face - it won't happen.

I just cannot believe -I'm the one who feeling free as a bird, right now- that are no more bottles in the house, to wash!!  It is just such a relief.  Almost three years of baby bottles.... yuck! (Just the washing them out all of the time, is why I say it that way.  We don't have a dishwasher.)  But, we have our reasons and it was turning into more of a comfort measure, for her, more then anything.  It was time.  Way past time.

*******************

Do you see this?

Some big ole black bird, decided to get really friendly and build it's nest up close and personal to our house.  One morning I was planning to leave for the day...and Scott was getting ready to leave for work.  So, we - together on impluse- decided that we needed to 'rid' the grill of it's mess.  And, together, we cleaned it out.  Well, Scott did - more then I...

ONLY for several hours later, when I returned home, there was another nest was starting to get rebuilt.  Busy little mamma bird.  I did feel bad for her - cause I know what it's like... the need to nest. 

No! I'm not telling you anything.  Don't read what I'm not saying!  I have a feeling some of you are trying to read between the lines, right now... throwing out "one kid's" baby bottles...then, talking about nesting.  I'm just feeling the need to clear the air.  Thank you, very much.

I love natural art work... But, not in the grill!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway.  Enough of my ramblings for one day...  time to get ready to clean this roost and ready it up for our guests coming next week.  That said.  I may (or may not), fly the coop, myself, here on the blog.  Just consider it a little pre-warning... in case you don't hear much from me, next week.

********

Oh, one last thing.  Another HUGE Prayer Request.  Not about Ben - although, you can still be praying for him, I just haven't heard any real recent update on him and what's been going on. 

This time it's for a little 6-month old, from our church.  His family has a blog and any (and often changing) current update on his serious health issues is on their site.  Here is the link. 

Please be praying for little Owen and his family.

She's 6 months old...today!

: : I am having a hard time believing this, myself, actually.

~(usually) always content~

~such a silly little goof, sometimes~

What a precious blessing Aubrey has been to our family...

and she continues to remind me, to remind us,

That God is good!!!

Children are such a wonderful blessing & gift from the Lord.

Even when I'm still...

• Getting up with her once, or so, through the night to nurse her
• Constantly changing clothes out of her drawers from the already packed boxes; because she's growing so fast
• cleaning poopy clothes because of an "oops", while changing her diapers
• at a loss, because she's decided she doesn't need her nuk anymore... & still won't be happy unless she's being held or entertained by someone - namely Caleb, Mommy or Dad!

At least she loves her peas and will often fall asleep on her own

and that right there is a major blessing in itself.

Rice cereal and Aubrey!

YEAH! We've come along way... Baby!


~I'm loving this, now~

... from not so long ago...

~not so sure about this~

It's amazing. The concept of an acquired taste. Pretty soon it will on to the "Big girl" stuff... peas, carrots and squash.

I would love some practical advice for making my own and storing (freezer) baby food... I tried with Caleb but I didn't follow through to well.

Any suggestions for how it worked "well" for you??