A Nursery On Rest

I've quit keeping count of how many weeks I've been sitting around resting, because when you're 26 weeks (!) pregnant, all you really want to do is get a nursery ready (especially when you didn't have one for your first little one).  So over the last four days, I have found several small preparations I can do while sitting.  They do, after all, need to be done anyway.

I knit a new cover for an old pillow.  Eventually it will wind up in the nursery, but for now I think I will enjoy it on the green sofa.  It is Autumn, you know.

A crib skirt to hide all of the junk we're hiding storing under the crib.  I used leftover fabric from when we had the sofa recovered.  Beautiful crib skirt for zero dollars.

Letters for the wall.  We're going to put this little one's name on the wall just like we did for Noah, but is it HAR from Harper...

or is it AHR from Kathrynne?  We'll let you know in January.

My dad put this mirror together several years ago, and although my parents have always had it in their home, they decided there really wasn't a place for it in their new house.  I happily snatched it up and painted it white.  I know you are all shocked at my color choice.

For now, I have to be satisfied with small projects here and there.  Eventually, the walls will get painted, a curtain rod will go up, curtains will get made, crib sheets will get stitched, and letters and photo frames will go up.  But for now, I have to be satisfied in the small, the still, and the resting.

Even After Seven Years

He still buys flowers for me, and I still love to bake for him.  While our anniversary was technically last Monday, any day of the year is a good day to tell you all how great he is.  Just look at those blooms!

Friday Photo

Conversations with Blair: Whatcha Thinkin' About?

Blair:  (from the other side of the couch)  Whatcha thinkin' about?

Me:  Well, I had to wash that towel that we used to clean up the water that Noah spilled in the dining room, but since it had dog hair all over it I had to rinse it by itself so the hair wouldn't get all over the diapers, which by the way I had to pull out of the wash and they're sitting on the shelf.  They're not clean, though, so don't put them away.  Not that I think you would, but just to be on the safe side.  So I had to wash that towel by itself, and I still really don't have anything else to throw in with it for the second wash because I'll have to wash it twice since it's covered in dog hair, and it's too late at night to hang it up outside, but I have sweaters drying on the rack in the back which technically I guess I could open up and have enough room but then I'd have to make space and move it to the nursery so you don't trip over it, and I don't know that I really want to do that.  I could just move the sweaters off, but since they're not really dry I would have to hang them up somewhere and they might get all stretched out, and really I don't know where I'd put them.  I can't really drape them anywhere else because I don't want to ruin the wood finish on anything or get wood finish on my sweaters.  Moving them over without opening the rack isn't really an option because there still won't be enough room for the towel and things need to be spread out right now since it's cool in the house and there isn't much air flow.  I don't want the towel to sit there and be damp for a couple of days because it might smell or Noah might throw it in the floor and mess up that finish.  I hope I remember to add soap for the next wash...

Blair:  Ok.

Radio silence for several minutes.

Blair:  What's for supper?

The Great Conductor

Now, I realize that many of you (my husband included) probably thought this was going to be a post about him.  You are mistaken.  While he is indeed a great conductor, we'll make that a post for another day.

...........

Saturday there was a rare occurrence in our home.  The dog let Noah play with him.  Not that Murray isn't a friendly dog, because he is.  He would just rather lay on the hearth and stare out the window all day than let a two-year-old beep his nose and giggle repeatedly.  

For whatever reason, Murray decided Saturday morning that he needed to drag his favorite toy out of the depths of the laundry room and be playful.  Perhaps it was the cooler weather.  He and Noah tossed and played catch for several minutes, until Murray found himself backed into a corner and staring into a very small face.  Noah immediately began imitating his daddy.  

"Sit, Murray."  "Lay down, Murray."  "Stay, Murray."  However, the dog's good humor does know it's limits, and this was not going well.  I could hear the pitch rising in Noah's voice, so I silently stepped in to intervene.  

Noah: "Sit, Murray."  Murray sits.  Fits of giggles.

Noah: "Lay down, Murray."  Murray lays down.  More fits of giggles.

Noah:  "Stay, Murray."  Murray stays.  Dancing ensues.  

What Noah didn't realize, is that I was standing a few feet behind him giving Murray the silent hand signals we used to train him.  He doesn't need to be verbally told to sit, lay down, or stay.  He just needs us to use our hands and show him what to do.

We silly humans often pride ourselves on being able to make things happen.  We plan, toil, and celebrate our achievements regularly.  We're pleased when life goes our way, and we're just sure that we made it happen.  Meanwhile, what we don't realize is that off to our peripheral (where quite often we have placed Him), the Maker of All Things is conducting the entire show.  

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.  The LORD hath made all things for himself."  Proverbs 16:3-4a

Friday Photo: Homemade Lacing Beads

Favorite Things

I've been enjoying:

my little boy's first violin.  And the joy it brings to his daddy's face.

homemade (decaf) pumpkin spice lattes.

watching my little one also enjoy pumpkin spice lattes from his very own special mug.

the lesson that went on this morning as he tried to teach the dog the alphabet.

reading the same book over and over because he loves it.

seeing him watch the world around him.

listening to him say, "I'm me!  N-O-A-H, Noah!  That's me!" several times with pride.


What are you enjoying today?

Resting

Resting.

This pregnancy has been so different from the one I had with Noah.  I know that they are all different, but this one has had so much mandatory rest.  I don't do that well.  Fortunately, autumn is here to the rescue, and with it has come cool rains and the need to stay in.  We're filling our days with crafts, pumpkin songs, reading, and knitting.  Knitting lace is the most restful of all knitting I do believe.    The rhythm of the pattern much like a song, the counting that busies the brain.  Unfortunately, I jumped into this scarf with the impression that I had all the yarn needed without actually putting much thought into it (rest may very well be my mental detriment).  Since I bought it five years ago, I'm sure I won't find any more of it.  

Resting. 

However, as we snuggle and drink hot chocolate (thinking of the much cooler days to come), I'm doing my best to enjoy this time alone with my sweet boy before our next little one gets here, because there's nothing else quite like a little boy looking up at you and saying, "I had a good day!".  And I do believe that that sweet new baby will need some mama-made hand knits (winter babies always do), so I'd better get busy on that as well.  

Busy resting.