Small Steps

Now that treatment has officially ended, my mother's Bard Power Port was removed today. Another step in her cancer journey... each step made with faith that she {we!} are coming closer to the end of this path. While I wouldn't have chosen this painful way for her, or for our family, I can say with all praise and surety that the Father has been present and is at work revealing Himself to us in ways that we would not have seen otherwise.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Empty vases are so forlorn. I cannot let winter and its lack of green stop me from bringing the outdoors inside so yesterday I filled my kitchen with sticks! When we lived in South Carolina there was a magnificent eucalyptus tree that grew across the street from our house in a little school science garden. Sometimes during naptime I would dash across the street with clippers in hand coming home with an armful of fragrant sprigs. The clippings filled empty vases beautifully, dried perfectly, and smelled divine. I miss that tree.

After last week's frenzy I'm learning to take my nesting, cleaning, and beautifying urges in small steps rather than giant, exhausting strides.

This is me {and baby} as of yesterday. Today I am two months and one day away from my April 10 due date. My doctor tells me that I am measuring a little ahead of schedule, a first for me as I am a small person who tends to have small babies. I pre-registered with the hospital today, a small step in bringing us closer to meeting Baby.

This morning I began earnestly working on consolidating the boys' bedrooms. They have been happily bunking together for several weeks but Little Brother's things must be moved and made at home in the bunk bed room. It's no small task... many more small steps to go.

As for nursery plans... well, they're still just plans. My talented interior specialist, the professor, and I have a vision and some work to do. I'll show you our inspirations for the room tomorrow.

And finally, for the little blessing within me whom we can't wait to meet...

Blessings upon you

My baby unborn

Safe in your mother

Asleep and so warm

Sleep must come easy

To those who’re unborn

As the Maker so silently

Fashions your form

Sleep while you can now

So watery and warm

For outside this world

Is a terrible storm

Too soon you’ll discover

The taste of your tears

So sleep now my baby

My loved one, my dear

"Lullaby for the Unborn"

by Michael Card

Pop's Electric Train

Adonai, Lord and Master

I said to the LORD [Jehovah],

"Thou art my Lord [Adonai]; I have no good besides Thee."

Psalm 16:2

My Pink Posy Pin

Pick a posy.

{Gracelaced Shoppe}

Made by Ruth.

The nesting frenzy officially ended when I fell asleep on the couch at 10:30 this morning. I've crashed. Nesting is over {for now}. While I napped a certain young master packed his suitcase to take to Bunny's house. The contents: a measuring tape, a garbage truck, sidewalk chalk, a dump truck, an assortment of stuffed animals, and cowboy boots. I think I'll opt for low maintenance too... I'll pin on my posy and enjoy a pink and pleasant weekend. May yours be just the same.

Nesting, Hatching, and Horton

a light lunch

Last night, at an hour when I should have been sleeping, I was cleaning out and reorganizing my fabric stash and sewing notions. This morning I was a flurry of brushes and rags while valiantly blitzing the house. On days like today I'm thankful that Little Brother can be an amazingly self-satisfied little guy.

After a quick, light lunch {baby seems to be infringing on my stomach capacity} I made one last pass with the vacuum cleaner and settled in on the couch to read aloud with a somewhat neglected but content little boy... his book choice, Horton Hatches the Egg! {Oh, the irony it is not lost on me!}

It wasn't until that moment, when I was sprawled on the sofa with Tukes pointing to my round belly asking, "Is dat da baby's egg, Mommy," that I realized... I'm nesting.

Nesting, it's an invigorating and exhausting place to be.

Horton did indeed hatch the egg and then my little guy went down for a nap. I should have napped too, but my frenzy continued... I added more tasks to the "to do" list, cleaned the kitchen floor, and plopped myself in front of the sewing machine to churn out a few gifts.

Nesting... indeed. Hatching an egg... oh yes. Just don't hatch too soon Little One!

Boys After School

Hot chocolate and snacks... consumed eagerly.

Homework... commences reluctantly.

He missed an entire week of school because of the flu... that was on the heels of a three week Christmas break. Big Brother was lulled into a sleepy, slow-moving, vacation state of mind. Getting him back into the swing of school, and, specifically, focusing on classwork has been no small task of late.

This is what I am learning... something mothers of boys have been observing for centuries before me: Welcome them home happily, fill them with a hearty and pleasant snack, turn them loose outside for a minimum of an hour, preferably with a bike or a ball or a rake or a shovel... even if it's dreary and cold.

You will still encounter homework reluctance and a bit of squirming but the situation is greatly improved with fresh air and physical exertion.

This month let's "Celebrate the Boy". Dana and Rae are providing a month's worth of fun, boyish{!} tutorials designed for the little men in your life.

Simmering...

Homemade Chicken Stock for many nights of beautiful soup.

I love the bright splash of green and orange veggie scraps in my pot.

Green is my favorite color.

Beautiful soup, so rich and green

Waiting in a hot tureen!

Who for such dainties would not stoop?

Soup of the evening, beautiful soup!

Beautiful soup! Who cares for fish

Game, or any other dish?

Who would not give all else for two

Pennyworth of beautiful soup?

Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Bench Monday...

Because he decided this was a good lunch spot today.

Because a buddy tackled him in the playground mud today.

Winter Read Aloud

After dinner and dishes, toy tidying and baths, Big Brother eagerly asks, "Can we read Narnia tonight?" And, that is our cue... when we pile on the couch and enter the land on the other side of the wardrobe.

El Shaddai, God Almighty, The All-Sufficient One

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,

"I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before me and be blameless."

Genesis 17:1

Vintage Day Gowns

Ever so slowly tiny baby things have started creeping into our house again... most recently, a big, beautiful pile of vintage Feltman Brothers cotton day gowns. The professor's sister, while in the process of helping her mother-in-law clean out the old family home, saved them from a certain demise when none of the family members wanted to keep them {gasp!}. With a bit of laundering and some mending they'll be ready and waiting for our spring arrival.

A Link and a Smile

If you're a furniture scavenger and/or a modern enthusiast, or {ahem!} if you happen to live with one {or both} then The Blu Dot Real Good Experiment will definitely amuse and delight your furniture loving heart. Set in New York City, this ten-minute film is beautifully and creatively produced while the story is cleverly told. Go ahead and watch... it'll leave you wondering, "Would I have taken the chair?"

*image courtesy of Blu Dot

Let Him Eat Cake... and Donuts, Too

Turning four was lots of fun, although we were not permitted to sing the Happy Birthday song.

Miss Brown Eyes delivered chocolate donuts and a balloon to the birthday boy... oh my, she does know the way to this little man's heart!

For those of you who know Tukes one glimpse at his birthday cake will make you smile, then giggle, and, finally, nod knowingly. I can't imagine a cake that better captures my little guy's funny, laid back, creative personality.

In keeping with the birthday tradition that the professor's mother established several years ago with big brother, she took Tukes to the bakery so that he could pick out his own birthday cake. It seems that none of the cakes were just right so he proceeded to design his own. Of course Khaki let him... she is a grandmother after all. Incorporating the whimsy of cupcakes with his serious love of chocolate, Tukes brought the best of both worlds together into one.

Needless to say, after donuts, cake, and ice cream {oh, and there were some cookies involved as well} we're facing major sugar withdrawal today.

Today You Are Four

Gifts for Baby and Sister

It all started on Christmas Day when my mom toted a bag full of vintage table linens into my house. After the flurry of presents and food, when the Christmas afternoon lull came over the house, we sat on the floor and sorted through napkins, tablecloths, and placemats -- items that belonged to and were made by my grandmothers and great-grandmother.

My mother is one of the most resourceful people I know {one day I will show you the beautiful dresses that she made for my two sisters and me using fancy cotton slips, embroidered tea towels, and placemats!}. As we sorted the ideas started flowing... "Christian, wouldn't this napkin make a pretty collar... If you added ribbon here you'd have a pretty little bib... Oh look, you could make this napkin into a little bonnet, fold it just like a handkerchief bonnet."

We were both in need of some special baby gifts so on that afternoon we put our heads together and devised a plan. My mom and her ideas were the inspiration; I executed and embellished them.

Last week I visited one of my dearest childhood friends and delivered a napkin turned into a baby bonnet for her newborn baby girl {big sister was delighted with the crocheted placemat bonnet that I showed you few weeks ago}.

And for both sisters, napkins made into fancy bibs, I call them country club bibs because they're not at all practical although quite pretty for church, Sunday dinner, or fancy styled teething. If she wishes, my friend can easily convert the bibs to collars by removing the ribbon, folding them in half, cutting a slit up the back middle, as well as a neck hole, and adding binding.

For two beautiful girls who are precious gifts from God, items lovingly made from Bunny and me.