Thursday, September 29, 2011

Two Things

We saw this rainbow on the way home the other day, it was amazing!  If you look carefully, you can see the beginnings of a second rainbow above it too!  My photography isn't the highest quality, especially when driving in a car, and trying to capture the perfect shot of a rainbow between trees, but I wanted to share it with you anyways. :)


And I found this when I went to check on Ian this morning.  No joke. I didn't pose him or anything, he was just dramatically lying on the pile of shoes he had created! :)  It was so funny, he's such a character!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Still Waiting....

I know I may be a bit biased, but isn't he the cutest thing!?  Crawling through the grass, with that look of intense concentration on his little face!  
Lately, with the weather being so amazing, and yet not really feeling like driving anywhere, I've been taking a blanket out, spreading it on the lawn and just sitting out there with Ian.  Me crocheting or reading, and him exploring the world!  I love watching him develop every day, and explore new territory.  I think it's so important for children to have that freedom, and I'm so grateful we live in a place where he can crawl all around the grass and look at leaves and trees, and not be in any danger!

Several weeks ago, I had a few things I wanted to have done before this next baby came.  One of them was this afghan that I'm crocheting.  I wonder how much power our words have.....it's the day before the  official due date, and I'm still not finished the blanket, and guess what? Baby # 2 has yet to make an appearance! :P  I was finished it, once.  But I was not at all happy with how it looked, and couldn't just let it rest, so I'm in the process of tearing it out, and making it again fresh....this is about the fourth time I've torn it out, or at least a part of it, although this time is different, I'm actually using a pattern this time. :P  I have this perfectionist complex which sometimes makes it difficult to learn new things.  I don't always like how my first attempt at something turns out, I want it to look like I've been doing it for years, without putting in the years first!  I'm getting better though, and I really do love learning new things, it's so empowering, even if it is only a simple crocheted blanket!


 (The re-do is on the left, on the right is the one I'm tearing out) 

For a while now, I've wanted to find the best way of preserving fall leaves in all their glory.  I love them so much, I think I'd decorate my whole home with them if I could!  I've looked up different methods, and I'm currently trying the "glycerin method."  In a few days I should know how they turn out.  


I've been looking for the perfect "slouchy hat" pattern for a long time, I don't think I've quite found it, but this one comes pretty close.  I was pretty happy that I actually finished it, it only took two days, and it was really easy!  
It's been such a good few days lately.  Stephen really encouraged me not to try to do everything every day, just to take it slow, rest lots, and not put oodles of pressure on myself.  It's amazing how freeing it was to hear him say that.  The pressure I feel is always self-inflicted, but to have him verbalize that was so good!  
I've been taking him very literally, sleeping when Ian sleeps, not trying to do too much in a day, and I've been so much more relaxed, less stressed, and even less bothered that the baby isn't here yet.  Obviously, I have moments of being very, very tired of being pregnant, but overall, I've decided that the baby will come when it's ready, and worrying about it won't make it come any faster.  
Well, until next time....

Friday, September 16, 2011

Glimpses of Autumn


Autumn is finally here!  I was completely thrilled yesterday when I opened the curtains of the big picture window in our living room and found myself looking out a tree whose leaves were just beginning to be tipped with red!  I think I could very happily live with autumn all year round. :)  There are so many wonderful things about this time of year!  The colors of orange, gold and red leaves, crisp fresh air, pumpkins, scarves and sweaters, apples fresh from the tree.....
I couldn't resist running out with Ian to the aforementioned tree and picking a few leaf bouquets to decorate my windowsill and table.  Then, I remembered an apple tree I had discovered a few months ago that was behind our yard, so I made my way over to it, through tall grass, with bare feet (I hadn't bothered to put shoes on in my spontaneity :), and found to my delight that there were apples, fully grown on it!  I picked as many as I could juggle between Ian and my leaf bouquets, and brought them back to the house.  




A few days ago, I was feeling extremely impatient that I was still pregnant.  I had been given reason to believe that this baby will probably come early, so I was living through each day like it could be The Day, and I was getting discouraged and a little frustrated when nothing seemed to be happening.
Then I made a decision.  Instead of just waiting for this baby to come, I figured I would just go on with my life, get as much done as I could, and let the baby come whenever.  I know, it's so brilliant. :P  But seriously, it made such a difference!  Instead of over-analyzing every little twinge my body did, and not really making plans to get things done, I started planning beyond just one day again, and really getting excited about some of the projects I wanted to get done. (One of them being finding a good way to preserve beautiful leaves - I'm pretty stoked about that one!)
I hope you're all having a lovely autumn, and preparing to enjoy it as much as I am! :)