Prairie Mama

Aren’t these beautiful flowers?  J and S brought them to me today.  At first I thought it was because I am 1 day shy of 37 weeks, tired, grumpy, hungry, blah, blah, blah.  But no.  Here is why, in J’s own words…

As my 4-year-old son and I were entering the grocery store we stopped by the flower case to look at our list.  As I was deciding where we needed to go my son, very innocently, asked “Dad, how did mom get pregnant?”  I stared at him in silence for a moment trying to decide what to say.  In a desperate attempt to dodge the question I looked at the flowers and said “Should we get Mom some flowers?” He was sufficiently distracted and ceased his line of questioning, delaying the inevitable “talk”.

Oh boy, you know this is going to come up again…I was just hoping it wouldn’t be until he was much older!

I am now 36 weeks 5 days pregnant. If I were to have this baby the same time Emma was born, s/he would be born next Wednesday, and I’d be 37 weeks 3 days. S was born 38 weeks 2 days and A was born 39 weeks 1 day. I have said that my pattern states that this baby will be born at 40 weeks on the nose. My sweet husband doesn’t agree. He thinks that it will fall on the average of the 3, which would be 38 weeks 2 days, September 9.
So…let’s play a little game, shall we? You guess the date, time, weight, length and sex of the baby. Who ever is closest will win a prize. I can’t say when you’ll get said prize, or even what it will be…but games are always fun, aren’t they?

Ok, here is some info about the others to help you form your opinion.

Emma – 37 weeks 3 days, 7 lbs. 8 oz., 10:35pm (water broke 8 pm, born via c-section for being footling breech).

S – 38 weeks 2 days, 9 lbs. 3 oz., 4:59 am.

A – 39 weeks 1 day, 7 lbs. 15 oz., 12:06 am.

Now, in knitting news.  I know, I’ve been promising pictures of my finished objects…well, wait no more, here they are!  I have socks and a hat done for baby, socks for A and a sock and a half for S.  His will be finished tonight (thank you Arrested Development!).  I think I may have to do more for A though.  I did a short row heel with hers and I really don’t like them.  I don’t like how they fit her…they are just funky on her little feet.  Luckily, I have some that I made for S when he was A’s age, so she can wear those until I get her other ones done.

Baby socks…those were SO fun and easy to knit.  Why have I not done this before?!?!

Socks for the girl.  Like I said, I don’t love them…that darn short row heel.  I love the yarn though.              All Things Heather, Winterberry colorway.  LOVE IT!

The Boy’s socks.  I love these.  J’s Grandma gifted this yarn to me, Fortissima Sock Yarn, and it is SO fun to knit with!  I’ve never done a self patterning yarn before and am loving it.  He loves them too (finally! I’ve knit something for him that he likes!!!)

Cute feet eh?  Yeah, they’re nice, but this fall and winter they are going to be very cold.  That is why this knitter needs to get making some socks for herself!  I have lots of great sock yarn, and I’ve been debating about what I will use…you’ll find out soon enough!

Now, in non-knitterly news.  We’ve had some surgery this last week.  Our kitties.  Yep, it was time, they reached the ripe old age of 4 months and it was time for them to get the old snip-snip.  I am too young to be a grandmother and I really firmly believe in controlling the pet population in the world.  So, we did our part, took them to the vet last Friday and they are slowly healing.  Ok, Sandy (our boy) is fine, he’s back to 100%.  His sister, Gracie, on the other hand is struggling.  They didn’t send us home with an E-collar for her, so I had to wait until Monday to get her one.  Long story short, they gave us the wrong size (too small) she has a nasty infection, and is on antibiotics.   Not fun.

As my mother-in-law put it, isn’t it just the way it goes that the boy is better within a day and it is taking our sweet girl so long to heal??

Speaking of sweet girls…

She was cracking herself up sitting in the baby seat!

She came upstairs this morning telling me she was a cowboy.  She is some kind of cowboy…what a cutie!

I have wanted to try a Beco Carrier for ages, now I just might have my chance…or maybe you’ll have your chance
Win a Beco Butterfly Baby Carrier and Beco Toy Carrier from Along for the Ride.

Oh how I love a contest!!  Now you can love it too!!  Go check this out

Win a $250 Speesees organic cotton baby or toddler wardrobe from Nature’s Child – Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies

There was something wrong with the link, but I have fixed it now.  So…go check it out

Fun for everyone!!  My mother-in-law got in last night and will be in town for a few days.  She’s actually here to help her Mom who had surgery yesterday, but stayed the night with us last night.  Right now my kids are LOVING the attention from Grandma and playing pirates and reading books.  It is SO nice!!!

Next week, my Mom will come, so the kids will get to play with Meemaw.

I don’t know who it is more fun for, the kids or Mom when Grandma/Meemaw comes

Thank you all for your love and prayers and vibes and just…love.  I feel it.  You all rock.

On Emma’s day, we went to the cemetary and sent her some red and black balloons (for ladybugs).  It really was nice.  We also went to my brothers house and the kids got to play with their cousins and I got to hang out with my sister-in-law, my dearest friend.  It was a nice day and I felt Emma near me all day, so that was good.

In crafting news….I have been knitting up a storm!  I have finished the baby’s socks and hat, the girl’s socks, and one of the boy’s socks.  My goal is for them each to have Mama made socks before babe gets here.  Since I have about a month left, I should be just fine!  I am loving making little socks though.  It takes me 2 days to make a sock, whereas with adult socks, it takes me MONTHS!  This is great!!!

I’m also going to be making myself 2 more pairs of pants (hopefully today) and I will be done sewing for me for a while.  I have 2 dresses to make and mail this week.

Ok, now a couple of quotes from S that have made me laugh this week…

Me: S!  Look at this, this man is the fastest man in the world!
S: Oh, he’s as fast as I am??

Gotta love his confidence

The other day, S got to watch Star Wars for the first time.  We only have Episode 1 and 2, so he started with Episode 1 (I really wanted him to start with 4-6, but we make do with what we have).  Anyway, he was watching it in my room, and I was downstairs sewing.  He came running down stairs and said this,

S: MOM! Obi Wan just killed Darth Maul!
Me: I know.
S: When I grow up, I want to be a Jedum Knight just like him.

Now, he isn’t the only one that makes me laugh…A was helping me put away the baby clothes the other day and found this shirt.  She insisted on wearing it.  She is just SO stylish (btw, it’s a 0-3 month shirt).

I can not believe it has been 5 years since I last held my sweet Emma.  I am not going to write about her last day today, or do a picture montage as I have in the past, if you want to see that, go here.  Today, I am just going to share video of her.  These two videos were taken the week that she died.  One was on Wednesday and the other on Friday.  I always hate that it ends, but I love that I have it.

I miss you Em.  I wonder what you’d be like.  I look forward to the day when I can see you again.  I miss you everyday, and love you more than you will ever know.

Love, Mama.

Tomorrow is Emma’s day. I will (hopefully) have a video of her up tonight or tomorrow morning. Be sure to come back and see how cute and funny she was.

In the mean time, here are some pictures of the flowers J’s folks and sister and her husband sent. They are so sweet.

One thing about my in-laws…Emma died at their house, my mother-in-law found her, and it was on their anniversary.  The support they give us and their strength continually amazes and humbles me.  I am truly lucky to have them in my life.  I love you guys.

Now, for a belly picture.  Two things about this picture.  First, I am 35 weeks 5 days in this photo.  Second, I made these pants.  From cutting to finishing, it takes me about an hour to make one pair.  Not too shabby!  In fact, I have fabric to make 3 more pairs today.   They are WONDERFUL and super comfy.  I have another pair that I made, but they are more lounge/pajama pants.  I’ll post a picture of them too, but just not today.  These are great maternity pants, and will be great postpartum pants too!

I really wasn’t as cranky as this photo looks.  I just wasn’t quite ready, but didn’t want to have J redo the picture.  We were trying to get the kids to bed.  I always have the best timing when having him take pictures of me

Is not a fun one at my house.  5 years ago this week (Saturday to be exact) Emma died.  I won’t be here much.  I’m trying to figure out what to do for her tribute this year.  Typically I do a photo montage set to music, but I might just have J put some video on the computer and share her, living, breathing, HER with you all.  If you’re the praying type, pray for us this week.  If you’re not the praying type, just send us lots of good vibes.  We can use all we can get.

I am now 34 weeks 5 days pregnant.  Check out this belly.

We also went to the Gardener’s Market this weekend and got 2 cups of beautiful blueberries.  S and I made these Blueberry Oat bars.  They are FANTASTIC!  If you don’t have Agave nectar, honey works too.  Here are some pictures of the kiddos enjoying their bars.

As you can see, Miss Sassy Pants is thouroughly enjoying hers.

Check out the blueberries in Mr. Magoo’s teeth there!  He is crazy.

Now for sewing and knitting news!  I have some finished projects!

First knitting.  I have made a pair of longies, a diaper soaker and a hat for the babe.  The yarn for the longies and soaker is Pure Wool.  I love it, soft as all get out.  The dye wasn’t completely set, so my fingers kept turning blue, but I have given it a nice vinegar bath, so hopefully it won’t bleed all over the baby’s diapers.  The longies are Sheepy Pants and the soaker is a Pea Patch soaker.  Love the longies pattern, I’ve used it several times and it is by far my favorite!  Yep, they’re tiny, but the baby will be too.

Now for the hat.  I made this same pattern for my niece last year, and it turns out SO cute!  I don’t remember the yarn I used.  I got it from a boutique in Salt Lake this summer, I know it’s hand dyed by a lady in Salt Lake, I LOVE IT!  I have enough left over to make the babe some socks too.  So sweet.  My model is my preemie Cabbage Patch baby that I got when I was maybe 8?  It’s a bit big on her, so I imagine it will fit the baby perfectly at birth.  Luckily my babies have small heads.  I love that they get that from their Dad!  The pattern is Sweet Baby Cap.  I didn’t get gauge with this sock yarn, so I went ahead and did the 6 month size.  I still love it though!  I might make one for Miss A, we’ll see though!

Pretty sweet, eh?

Now for sewing.  My dear friend, Michelle, asked me to make some shirts for her little girl, Erin to wear to Kindergarten this fall.  Michelle and I met when we were both pregnant, her with Erin, me with Emma.  When Emma died, Michelle was one of the first people to call me.  She was and still is, such a support to me.  She lost a baby too, she gets it.  I have loved watching Erin grow, and see the things Emma would be doing.  So, I happily made Erin some shirts, they turned out so cute.  It was very nice for me to be making them.  Next Saturday, the 23rd, Emma will have been gone for 5 years.  It gave me some peaceful time to think about her, imagine her and talk to her.  I imagine if Emma were still here, she’d be just as sweet and cute as Erin wearing these shirts.  Anyway, here they are.

I am sure that when these make their way to Florida, Michelle will take pictures of her always willing model, and I will be able to post even cuter pictures of them.  They are never as cute on my living room floor as they are on the kiddos.

We’re off to Lava Hot Springs, ID this weekend.  So, I have packing, packing, packing, and sewing to do today.  Have a great weekend everyone and I’ll see you next week with pictures from our fun trip.