Yellow Square Love

http://www.yellowsquarelove.com

I’m a little nervous about it, but excited for the new layout and things to be coming. Nathan will be adding a few more design elements in the next week or so, and I am hoping for the blog to be added to Top Baby Blogs. I’ve found so many blogs I adore and read daily via that site, and thought it would be fun to join a blogging/journaling networking site after all these years.

I don’t have the largest following at this blog, but those who do read I treasure your comments, well-wishes, and presence (even when I don’t know you are there). I do hope you join me over at Yellow Square Love!

This message was brought to you by the Sunday morning latte I want.

We took my 22 week photo today! Minus a very long headache this week I’m feeling really good. I can’t believe how fast time is going right now - Thanksgiving is next week, and I only have 18 weeks to go until we meet our little girl! That’s incredible! I’ve been daydreaming about who she will be, and what she will look like, and how cool it will be to watch her discover the world. I have always had such a zest for discovery, and I’m excited to see that through her eyes.

Oh, and I’ve been sleeping a lot better this week though my dreams have been crazy!

My mama also brought so many sweet heirlooms from her childhood and mine! I can’t wait to share them - from my first blouse, shoes, and an amazing ceramic bassinet that my grandma received with flowers when my mom was born. It’s almost 53 years old!

And, finally me and my lovely, funny husband.

I also had a few other favorites as a kid one of those was a book called Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.

Has anyone read this book? It is so good! We read it so many times that it eventually had to be duct taped down the spine to hold it together! I still have it somewhere… in a box at my mom’s I think. The other day I found a new shop Seek that I love! And, discovered they had a small area for vintage children’s items. I scooped a couple of books, and then noticed this one.

There was something so familiar about it. I had never seen this book, or read it. And, then it hit me that dog looks kind of like Harry! So I bought that one, too and came home to see if there was any connection. Turns out Margaret Bloy Graham illustrated and wrote an entire series about Benjy the dog as well as illustrated the Harry the dog series! Jackpot!

The book is adorable, and the illustrations bring back such warm thoughts of when I was a kid. I loved reading, and Nathan and I are committed to reading to our little girl all the time as she’s growing up. I’m excited to read more of the Benjy series, and to pull our my very favorite Harry the Dirty Dog.

Here are a few more books I got while at Seek.

Another new favorite. I had always heard about this book, but don’t think I ever read it. It had tears in my eyes (we will blame that on hormones), but it was very sweet and represented how I feel lately about the city and the country.

You know I love a Little Golden Book! I had the Dog Goes to Nursery School growing up as well, and one of the Panda books! Both of them brought back good memories.

This happened to me last night.
I saw a photograph of Nathan and I.
And, it woke me up.
There were only two smiley faces in that photo.
Not three.
There were only two bodies to worry about, feed, clothe, entertain, love.
Not three.
There was a lot of familiarity in this photo.
Peace.
And, I started to tingle from my heart outward.
And, I started to cry because my mind was able to finally fully realize.
We are going to be parents.
We are going to be three.
We are going to be unfamiliar and uncharted.

And so I replied Hey-Hi-You-Hello….I-see-you.
There’s really no need to knock me over like that.
But thank you.

I did have fun, though. See I showed up…early. I usually do if I can help it, and I came prepared. As prepared as I am for school of any kind - Nathan laughed at me before hand because I make shifted some of the supplies I was supposed to bring. I couldn’t find masking tape in the house so I brought painter’s tape! We have lots of that it seems. I set up my sewing machine, and all my supplies neatly. I was ready.

About twenty minutes in to the class as the other 3 women and I are taking notes another woman walks in. She sits down, and the teacher says a funny comment about her being late. Another 5 minutes pass by, the late woman is scribbling on her i-pad, “Were we supposed to bring our own supplies and machine?” she says. She was empty handed minus her i-pad. The teacher said it would be okay - we could share.

And, wouldn’t you know she was the only woman that actually finished her block by the end of the class! I just couldn’t believe it!

Towards the end of the class I went up to iron my 5 inch squares only to realize I had sewn them all backwards!! I just put my hand on my head and started to laugh out loud uncontrollably. This was also after I only cut one strip instead of two, and trimmed my squares wrong. I mean really I was listening, I promise! The teacher was very nice though, and came up to me at the end of class. “Don’t be discouraged, Carey… it takes practice,” she said to me.

Boy do I know!
The good news - I have the basics. With a little patience, more time, and an alert brain I think I could sew a hole in the barn door quilt. It’s my goal at least!

This is what I had by the end of the class.

I did like the colors/prints I chose.

And, he’s home.
It makes me giggle but Bradshaw is back.

We all met for brunch yesterday. It’s been really hard to get together as a group for a while. This city just keeps getting bigger and colder. It’s easier to stay inside sometimes. AJ has always been able to get us out, though.

This week we bought baby girl’s first dress, and her papa read to her quite a bit! I love this time as much as she probably does. Reading the Little Golden Books again is so fun, and funny. The Shy Little Kitten had me cracking up! It’s a great way to reminisce and for Nathan to bond.

She has been moving around a lot! I can feel her changing positions throughout the day and she is definitely moving up and more center as time goes on. I try to get Nathan to feel but I’m usually too late, and then she stops! I’m noticing she likes to kick in threes and fours though so next time I will move faster! Though she did kick real good for him to feel this morning.

being silly

I’m becoming more interested in how to care for a baby, and have been trying to dial down my sources of information. Any good books you know of? I watched this breastfeeding how to on Baby Center, and I have to tell you I was a little intimidated.

Two things I am going to do for myself in the next few weeks - haircut and new glasses.
Other than that we have a lot of visitors coming - Uncle AJ, Mammie (My mom), and Uncle Drew in December!

Well Nathan and I finally decided on a suitable first piece of clothing for our baby girl. I don’t know why I wanted it to be so special, but I did. You know years from now I can say that was your first dress! I might have squeeled when I opened the box. They were both wrapped so sweetly with a blue ribbon, and in perfect condition!

It’s just a dress, but it makes me the whole idea of having a daughter so much more real in my mind. She will fit in to that!! Can you believe it?!

Oh, and I got this cute as a button jumper as well!

Oh, and tonight is my Quilting 101 class at Joann’s! I am super excited to see what this is all about, and learn if I have the patience to do it. Yesterday I went to pick up some supplies for the class and seriously got so excited because Simplicity patterns were 5 for $5! I got a couple easy to sew dress patterns and baby things. Hoping to try it out this week!

Wish my luck with quilting! Anyone else ever done it?
I’d love to make a quilt like this!

photo from Ohdeedoh

I’m basically not allowed to buy any more fabric until I make more things!

So I started with my first pattern - a stuffed animal! I went for the giraffe because well, they rock!

She’s so purty!

Meet Georgina the Giraffe for our baby girl.

I really struggled with putting the eyes on because I forgot to do it before I finished the stuffing. She won’t really be played with so that’s why I went for the smaller buttons, but overall I was really pleased. I even sewed my first two darts! What?!