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Month: November 2007

My First Tote Bag

Multimedia messageThis blog seems to be dying a very slow excruciating death at the moment, so even though this isn’t knitting related, I’m posting it anyway. Hopefully I’ll get back to some regular knitting soon and will have something interesting to post.

A very, very long time ago I followed a link somewhere that led to another link somewhere that led to another link and eventually I found a pattern for this super cute little tote bag. I would link to it but I have no idea where it originally came from now. At the time, I had just gotten a new sewing machine and was really wanting to learn to sew so I copied the pattern and had grand plans of giving the tote bag a shot.

As usually happens with my big plans, I never got around to starting it. You see, it required me going to a fabric store and actually purchasing the fabric and supplies needed to make the bag and I never managed to find my way there until last week. I decided Thursday during my lunch break to check out one of the local fabric stores. I was on a search for some cute Halloween fabric so that I could make Zach a Trick or Treat bag that he wouldn’t drag on the ground. I was apparently a little too late to find Halloween fabric, but along the way I fell in love with some coordinating flannels and decided they would make the perfect little tote bag.

I couldn’t wait to get started on my project and started cutting the fabric that night. By the time I got all the pieces cut and the interfacing ironed on I had to quit and go to bed. I couldn’t wait to get home and start sewing on Friday. I didn’t actually get started until about 9:30 that night, but after many toddler interruptions and a couple of sewing machine difficulties, I finally finished it. My seams are far from perfect and I could have possibly measured a little more carefully, but I absolutely love my little bag. Plus, I’m very impressed that I made the whole thing from start to finish. It is my first “real” sewing project and it actually turned out okay!

I also bought enough material that I can make a second one (because I figured I would manage to screw up the first somehow) so I’m thinking of trying again and possibly doing some experimenting with the size. We’ll see how it goes!

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19 Weeks

19 Weeks

So here I am in all my 19 weeks glory. I thought it would be interesting to take the shot in the same outfit I wore during my 16 weeks belly shot since I was wearing it last night anyway. I’ve definitely rounded out a bit over the last three weeks (not only in my belly, but also in my face apparently). The funny thing is, I hadn’t even realized how much. I guess that means the baby is growing in there just as it should be.

A few days ago I realized that I hadn’t been feeling the baby move around much and started to worry just a little bit. Apparently, my worrying was totally unnecessary, because ever since then it has been jumping all around in there. I can’t say I mind much though. At this point it is still nice to feel those tiny movements. I’m sure before long I won’t enjoy them as much.

30 Days of ThanksToday I am thankful for this baby growing in my belly. There was a brief period of time when Hubby and I weren’t sure if we would ever have any children of our own. We went through a series of fertility tests and were told that having children was not impossible for us, only that it would be a little difficult. Fortunately, all it took was a bottle of medicine to combat my PCOS and eventually everything lined up just right. Now here we are four years later with not only one beautiful child but another one on the way. We are blessed indeed.

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30 Days of Thanks – Day 1

30 Days of Thanks When I decided to sign up for all this NaBloPoMo business, I also joined a few groups that were forming over there. One of the groups I joined is the “30 Days of Thanks” group. Not only did I assume it would help me come up with a decent amount of blog material to get through the month, but it also kind of forces me into spending some time reflecting and appreciating what I have instead of complaining (which I generally prefer to do).  I’m thinking that could be a nice change of pace for a while.

On this first day of thankfulness,  I have family in my mind.  I am very thankful that I live so close to my mom, dad, sister, and brother.  As most people do, I’ve come to appreciate my family much more as an adult than I ever did as a child and I don’t know what I would do without them.  I know they are always there for me and I, in turn, am always here should they need something.  Having family nearby also means that Zach will get to grow up with most of his cousins and will get to experience a closeness to his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents that I never had.  It is one of the things that I always wished for and I’m so glad that I will get to experience it through him.

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Night of the Tantruming Toddler

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Halloween was fun, but I have to say I’m glad it is over. For one thing, I now have a huge bucket of candy to dig through that is sure to satisfy any sugar cravings I may have for the next month or two. For another thing, I’m absolutely exhausted.

For Zach, it was a very busy day. At school, he had a field trip to a nearby retirement community where he got to Trick or Treat and have a little party with the residents. Then, that afternoon they had a costume parade and got to Trick or Treat through the church offices. I managed to get off work a little early so I could be there for this. It was really fun to see all the kids dressed up in their costumes. After the parade, they went back to their classroom and had a little party where Zach scarfed down an entire cupcake while his classmates licked at the icing on theirs. His teacher commented that everyone really loved his Buzz Lightyear costume.

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After the school party was done, we picked up Hubby at home and headed up to my sister’s house. We had a quick dinner and then got the kids dressed up to Trick or Treat around the neighborhood. Dylan and Ryan were very into the Trick or Treating, while Zach was lagging behind a bit. He was actually more interested in checking out the stars in the sky than rushing up to the next door.

We were hoping to go by my dad’s house as well, but it seemed like things kept happening to slow us down. By the time we did a quick walk around the neighborhood the kids were pretty worn out.

When we got back to the house, Hubby put Toy Story 2 on and Zach and Ryan were glued to the TV. Zach hadn’t seen the 2nd one before and was completely mesmerized. There was no way he was going to leave until it was over, so we stayed while he finished the movie and then headed home.

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Unfortunately, the ride home was not very pleasant because Zach spent the entire drive throwing a massive tantrum. He had been playing with Ryan’s Woody and Buzz toys and really wanted to take them home. I finally convinced him that he needed to leave them with Ryan, but when we got to the car he started screaming. He wanted a BIG Woody and Buzz like Ryan’s (he has some small ones but they apparently aren’t good enough). It was at least slightly humorous to listen to him scream, “I want a BIG Woody!”

The night pretty much went downhill from there. Zach did not want to go to bed and ended up in bed with Hubby and I. He spent most of the night tossing and turning and having the night terrors. It is so hard to have to sit there and watch him go through that. I feel so helpless and it is hard to remember that he’s not actually awake when he is screaming and thrashing around the way he does. I have learned over the last couple of nights that when it does happen, I need to just sit back and wait it out. If I even try to touch him, he gets more hysterical. If I just wait it out, eventually he’ll settle back down and be fast asleep. The worst part of all of it is that no one in our house is getting much sleep and it is starting to show. We’re all a little crankier than we should be and that isn’t really helping things much.

So, to make a long story short (or at least a little bit shorter), Halloween 2007 started out very fun and ended with massive tantrums and night terrors. I’m just hoping that when I look back on it later I remember the good parts and not the bad.

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