8 weeks to go

I'm feeling really pregnant. And here is what that really, honestly looks like in daily life right now.

I'm having the husband take off one of our two mattresses. It's just getting to be too much of a task to hike myself up into bed. Especially when the energy level is low and naps are becoming more frequent.

I'm short of breath.. a lot. The central concern I have right now with labor is getting enough oxygen during the ordeal. A first-timer concern, for sure. That's just the thought that consumes me...not being able to catch my breath. Being currently congested may play into this one ;)

Getting spooked when someone tosses me something, or when objects come into proximity of my face or upper body. Wayyy too flighty.

I really don't mean these as complaints, just descriptions of the reality that I didn't fully know went hand in hand with pregnancy, and the third trimester in particular. I am really overall pleased with how mobile I still am; still oriented towards outings and commitments with friends and family. Hoping it lasts all the way through!

Timeline progression!

9 weeks

15 weeks

26 weeks

28 weeks

 32 weeks

just because

Chris' treat from Costco for me. It almost partly compensates for being 7 month's pregnant in August. :)

The Project Front

Easy "fashion statement" jewelry that I am capable of making! Underneath the embroidery floss is just craft wire.. it's kind of fun twisting the wire to form words. The wire loops at both ends so you can fasten a necklace chain onto it, like so.

Wall art! Amazing what canvas, a little scrapbook paper and some ink can do.

In California, my sister unloaded her newborn headbands into my baby stash.. came up with this place to hang them, using an old picture frame and some twine across the back.

And speaking of baby projects - a big one has been baby's corner in our room. Here's where I'm at right now. I'm a little stuck.. can't decide if I want to leave it as is, or add anything else. Don't want a whole bunch of clutter on the walls but I feel the area could use something with texture.

First and Last Vacay

Chris and I took our first vacation as a married couple - and our last vacation as just a married couple :)

Flew down to lovely San Diego to visit two sisters and their families and my mom, who was still out at my sister's place for an extended stay.

While there, we made it out to Seaport Village again. Love this little spot of shops and eats bordering the bay. We took a day trip out here two summers ago with the fam on our last San Diego road trip.

My niece was so excited to hold the parrot like last time.

What's San Diego without a beach/bay trip? This pic is from Mission Bay. Had little (less than a year old) ones with us, and so the bay affords an easier time of watching them than at the beach - less crowds, less chaos, no sneaker waves.

Lots of pool time, also. It had been a little while since I'd been in the water, and so it felt better than expected on my 6 month's pregnant belly. :)

We made it a point to continue on some traditions while there.... Taco Tuesday at On the Border, game night with "Funglish" and my competitive family, and my sister made us her famous potato soup. My 3 year old nephew regaled us with parts of his favorite movie "Real Steel," (he also does an impressive robot dance from one of the scenes), the girls did manicures and a spa night, and it was a great time especially of seeing my mom for the first time since the wedding.

Day Trip to Bend and Nursery Project

Yesterday I went with a friend to Eastern Oregon for her to drop off resumes at some bakeries and whatnot. (Can I just pause here to say I love being jobless, and able to say "Yes, I can go with you!" without having to cover a shift first??) We had a beautiful drive over there. In our stop at Sisters, we wandered into a great antique shop. We both decided it's a good thing neither of us own a home, or else we would spend way too much money at places like these. I fell in love with this picture frame:

I didn't, however, fall in love with the $28 price tag. Instead, I went home and made my own! This is *my* version of a "nursery project" (yep, I'm aware of the fact that it's The Troggs lyrics!).

This started off as a wooden hanging board/coat rack my mom gave me. I had Chris spray paint it black, then I came up with a font and lettered on first with a fabric pencil, then painted over in white. Pretty happy with it. Something to go in our nursery "corner" (since we are in a one-bedroom right now).

We also became frantically excited over a tile sale that the shop had going on. Lots of 4X4, 6X6 and 8X8 tiles for 50 cents, a buck and $2 each. Really pretty, albeit random designs. Some matched, some didn't. We each picked one with the guidelines that we had to come up with something crafty/decorative to use it for. We're also planning on pinteresting tile projects, and so next time we're in Sisters, we'll stock up! We didn't find out until we went to the counter to purchase, that they are the leftovers from a company that does tiling projects in mansions. In a job, each tile will go for about $12. We felt even better about our purchase after that :) Here is mine.

Pretty sure this is bad blogging...

I was just reminded I have a blog. Ok, I knew it all along... I was trying to forget?? :)

The neglected months and their highlights.

January: For the life of me the only interesting thing I can remember from this month was filing taxes as a married couple for the first time. Riveting. Obviously we were still (and are!) in the honeymoon phase, so life together was still new and fun :)

February: Announcing our pregnancy on my birthday! Yay.

March: Brother comes home from Hawaii/Sudan/Hawaii. The three of us visiting my grandparents in Washington on St. Patty's Day to celebrate their anniversary.

April: Heard my baby's heartbeat for the first time :D :D

May: Battling awful morning sickness... almost done battling.. oh also getting in a car accident with, praise God, no injuries! Going to see good friends A & D in Olympia, WA. Feeling my baby MOVE and KICK for the first time.

June: Seeing my baby (girl!) for the first time! Crazy one day trip up to Seattle for Chris to buy his dream bike ;) Bridal shower for my good good friend. Having my LAST day of work on the 29th!

July: Getaway trip for the bride to a McKenzie river cabin.. gorgeous outdoor wedding for her the following weekend. Brother-in-law coming back from his summer job in AK.

And now, Chris and I leave for vacation on Saturday in sunny San Diego! It will be so good to be with my family again.. some of whom I have not seen in exactly two years. Our grandma passed away less than a week ago, and so time spent together will be especially comforting and appreciated right now.

That's my last half-year. Apparently I need accountability to keep this blogging thing going.. so please hold me to it! Thanks :)

Sarah

Things with Lace..

My craft obsession of late has been with using lace. And since my mom requested to see some pictures of said crafts, we have ourselves a new post!

By far the easiest one to whip up was a pair of lace earrings. What you'll need is scrap lace - the teensiest amount will do! - two buttons same size, (and same color, if your lace is somewhat see-through), and two earring stud posts. I produced my earring posts by disassembling some studs I didn't use anymore :) But they can be found at Walmart, as well.

My lace was from a circular tablecloth.

Trace circles from your lace slightly bigger than the size of your buttons. Cut out, and lay your button in the middle, flattest side down, with a tiny spot of hot glue. Fold over and glue the edges to the back of the button.  

Then take your posts and glue to the back as well. And you're done!

I'm also wearing the top that I refashioned with lace.

What I did was cut a rectangle about 6 inches wide, and the length of my shirt + an inch. I folded the lace strip in half, sewed closed on two sides, then turned inside out so there was no open seam line. I then positioned it on the front of my shirt, sewed down the longest sides, and also folded and sewed it under the bottom hem of my shirt.

Finished:

And as long as I'm posting repeated pictures of me in the same shirt, now for a craft not involving lace! It's just as simple (and fun), and turned out just as nice as the tutorial made it look.

Fabric pom-pom pendants.. made with any scraps of material, and a flat pendant. Great tutorial found here

So fun to make, have done several for gifts.