I am back, and the Princess is ONE!

Hello All,

So it has been quite sometime! Well, life has been busy...

I can't believe that my baby is turning one already! Little Miss Gabriella is the sparkle in my eye and has daddy wrapped around her little finger. But hey that is how it is suppose to work, right?

We had her birthday bash this past Sunday, and it was wonderful! I wanted to share a little bit with you! I love planning and crafting to make their parties extra special! My favorite for this one was her smash cake and the cupcakes! Of course they were pink and fit for a princess!!






I set up a table for the goody bags and had photos layed out for everyone to take home.


Less to say it was a hit! She loved it!!

Not Usually a Cry Baby!

We went to a karate belt ceremony for L this past weekend, and while we were waiting I took a few snapshots...

She went from this:



To this:


...in about 3 seconds! But she is still so cute! LOL!

Labor of Love

Announcing Gabriella Marie Doll and the story of her arrival!

8am- wake to a small "gush" then think to self... "Hmmm? Wonder what that was...?"

8:05am- Call doctor's office tell them "My water might have broke?"

9am get to doctor's office they confirm I am leaking fluid, 3cm, go to hospital

9:40am head home to collect "stuff" and wait for hubby to get home, get a shower, and take way too long, and move way to slowly

11:30am leave for hospital

11:45am get to L&D and get put into Triage for 2 hrs... (during this time get a "doctor girl" who may or may not have really went to school to be a real doctor.... still not sure!

12:00 get checked by "doctor girl" and she says I am 4cm she also takes swabs to look at under microscope. Can't confirm that water has broke... ??

1:00pm sit and wonder what the heck has been going on... will I have a baby today? Ever??

2:00pm nurse comes in to take us to a room. Since I was 4cm my doctor wants me to be admitted.

2:30pm get IV fluids and get cozy in my room. I got the nicest nurse, Vicky, she brings warm blankets! Woo-Hoo!

4pm "doctor girl" shows up again, after much searching... 6cm? Still no real pain...??

4:15pm nurse says that if I plan to get an epidural I better get it now since things are going quickly.

4:30pm Epidural lady comes in, super sweet, like Reese Whitherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama- minus the accent. Get the line in, little to no pain!

5pm another resident doctor comes in, looks like a grown up, seems to know what she is talking about. She checks me and says I am only 3cm!!!!! What the #@!!?? I about cried, or told someone off! I then send the husband home to eat, let the dogs out and work on Christmas prep. Also call mother... toatally bummed

6pm doctor comes in to check again, 5cm! Finally getting somewhere!

6:30pm txt hubby, he then texts back, "what does that mean, should I come back?" I answer no...

7:30pm feeling weird. Call hubby, in a little panic... Come back now!!

8:00pm hubby arrives, I am freakin, feeling lots of pressure. I was thinking that it was just me wanting to think things are getting there...

9:30 ask for a doctor to check things..... 10cm ready to push!!!!!! Freak out, hands in the air like I won something. Call mother and tell her to get dressed and get here! She doesn't believe me, I have to tell her 4 times, I AM NOT KIDDING, COME TO THE HOSPITAL NOW! lol! Call Dad... All on the way...

9:35 start pushing

9:45 front desk rings the room my mom arrived to the hospital with record time. LOL! She goes to waiting room with my brother and waits for my step-dad to meet her there.

9:50 Dad, step-mom, and "big brother" arrive, actually start to come into the room, I saw small feet under the divider curtain, I yell out mid contraction... "go to waiting room... not now... turn around..." Luckily my son did not get a view of everything going on. (a bit much for an almost 4yr old)

lots of pushing... getting excited!

10:10pm I TELL THE NURSE THAT SHE SHOULD PROBABLY GO GET SOMEONE. I WAS FEELING THAT THINGS WERE CHANGING, FEELING CLOSE! Nurse replies, "No we are fine" then proceeds to push my left heel back off of the stirrup making my hips uneven causing a ton of pain. I then feel the baby's head slide to the side, it felt like a knife. Start to cry a little bit.

10:15pm pushing, pushing, pushing. The next push the entire baby's head comes out, nurse panics and tries to call for help. I totally panic... actually freak out! Start to yell out... As the nurse is yelling at me to stop pushing... REALLY!?? Like that is possible! I can hear the baby gurgling... I totally loose it...

10:16 6-7 doctors/nurses run in. Everyone looks confused, I am yelling “Hurry UP! Get over here!” and a few “Oh my God”s were in there too. The first one in the room is the resident doctor that seemed to know what was going on… she quickly grabbed the blue gloves from the wall and started to suction the mouth out. (I know that the blue gloves are not sterile… so all I could think of is that she was touching my baby, my brand new baby with dusty gloves that had been in that box for who knows how long…) I am now fully freaking out, hyperventilating and praying all at once. I look to my husband, he is just as terrified as I was, although holding it together much better than I was.

10:17 it’s official, Gabriella is born! She was pretty purple, they took her over to the warming table that was to my left and began to work on her. She cried clearly very soon after and pinked up quick. I still could not stop crying. Even when they told me she was fine… I cried and was shaking… couldn’t help it.

They finally gave her to me, she was beautiful! I loved her from the start, but to see her it made it all real! I could finally breathe. Soon after all that my parents and my son got to meet her. Landen was so proud! He was overjoyed with seeing her, and he climbed up to sit on my bed and just starred. I was so blessed to have two beautiful, healthy children!

So, the day wasn’t exactly how I planned, but the final result was perfect!


XOXOXO- Jenn

Nesting on a New Level

I have now turned on the house... Somehow things are finally happening! We talked about doing all of these things for so long, and now here we are...





Tomorrow they come to put in the carpet, and then to move it all back... updates to come!

Crafty Mart- What a great day!

           Yesterday I set up at Crafty Mart, in Akron, OH. It was a wonderful show! I always look forward to this event, twice a year! (one in the spring and fall) Being that I am pretty pregnant, this will most likely be the only fall show I get to do. Although, after yesterday I am thinking on it! I had a great day, met a ton of new people and loved hanging out with my fellow crafty chicks!

Here are a few snap shots of my booth... always changing...

Now to unload the car, take pictures and update the good 'ol Etsy Store!

Halloween Spider Shirt Tutorial

Hey there! This year Landen has a fall school party, the first one! We were told to not wear costumes, so I wanted to make a little something fun to wear...

First we painted his middle and 4 fingers and made the body and one side

of legs for our two spiders! We used fabric paint. (He loved it... can ya tell?)

We let that dry for an hour or so. 

Then we added the other 4 legs on the other side.

(By using his other hand and only painting his fingers. You may have to take a small brush

and fill in any spots that may not come out black)

And with silver glitter puff paint I added a web, and a little pumpkin for a little color.

Follow directions on the bottles for drying time, and for the fabric paint you will have to iron to set.

Be sure you don't iron the puff paint though.

After it is all dry and set, super glue a couple googley eyes for the spiders!

I also painted a maternity tee for me and the bump! Just a pumpkin!

Preggo Momma Bloggers!

In the past year I have been blogging a bit and reading a bunch of others too! I have a list on the left side of my blog that has all my favorites! I have noticed that there is a trend.... big baby bellies! LOL!

It is fun to travel through my pregnancy reading what is going on with others. Makes me feel part of a nationwide community! And I am also part of the Due in December group on Ravelry! I feel like I have know a few of those chicks forever! LOL!

Scotti from The Oxford Family Blog   -aka The Inner Hooker

Melynda from French Press Knits

Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous (I think she just had her baby!)

McMama  had another little man a couple months ago! (that makes 4 boys and one girl!!)

I also love reading Prudent Baby and Cut Out and Keep!

They are all full of awesome baby ideas and DIY projects!! If you haven't checked them out, you should!

So congrats to everyone, and I look forward to reading all the updates, projects, and of course all the fun giveaways!! I have heard that "Mommy Bloggers" are taking over... well, that is fine with me!

Ta-Ta for now,

Jenn

Go Bump Go

My birthday was great this year! I never knew that the "fun" of my birthday would be the

 best present of my life... which will now be a Christmas gift too!

On my birthday... we had no idea!

Gabriella Marie!

14 Weeks

17 Weeks

21 Weeks

23 Weeks

28 Weeks

So I am heading tward my 8th month!

I am so excited and ready to meet her and add her in our little family!

29 Weeks


30 Weeks

So.... Grow Bump Go!

My Pumpkin

    This past Saturday my husband headed off to the Ohio State game. My mom had the day off, so we decided to take a little trip to a local favorite, Kingsway Pumpkin Farm. We have gone for the past two years at least a few times each year. They have so many fun things to do there!

I love how it is decorated with all the hand painted “photo opt” spots!

We fed some animals, they are so friendly and come right up to you.

We also grabbed a little fair food and bought a few pumpkins on the way out!

The day we went it was only $2.50 a person for admission, and $1.00 for Landen to ride the train! (which is what he seemed to remember most from last year) We walked around for about 2 hours in the wonderful fall weather, and that is about all I could handle. (after we left the farm we stopped in at the Hartville Market Place to check things out and visit a friend! So that make almost 4 hours of walking… what was I thinking?)  

I am now coming up on my 7^th month of pregnancy and feeling pretty darn good! Of course after a long day of walking a hot bath was wonderful! We can’t wait to take Gabriella there next year and carry on our little tradition!

Hair Bow Display: Tutorial

Hello Everyone! I have made a bunch of these cute clips and thought to myself "Where to put them?" So, one night while laying in bed... should have been sleeping... I came up with this idea!

I had this two pack of cheapo mounted canvas. I bought a cheapo bottle ($.89) of sky blue paint and Landen and I went to town! I used a bit more than what it would have taken to just cover them and added big circles/swirl texture.





We waited for that to dry and took a nap!

Then I got out a roll of cute polka dot ribbon (5/8 inch I think, paid $1.99) I layed out the ribbon and decided what lengths to cut for the stems. Then made the leaves and set aside. Next I dug out the good ole' hot glue gun. I glued down the stem bottoms first, then lined it up and added the leaves. To finish it off I put ribbon along the bottom and wrapped it around the bottom. then added the bows! The flowers are clips too! (I will be selling all kinds of clippies at the upcoming Crafty Mart!)



Ta-Dah! It is now hanging on the nursery wall! Love it!

What I have been making.

So, I ended up going to the ER the other night for severe pain in my back and hip. I am now on limited activity for the next week. It is a good thing that I am crafty or I would have totally lost it. I am not a "sit still" kind of chick!

I have made way more than what is here... but you get the drift!

Hairbows Galore!

Little Baby Shoes! (this is one of 6 pairs I have made so far)

I have also been busy putting the nursery together and filling the dresser...

And a new stroller too!

more projects to come!

growing a baby...

Ruffles and Bows

It's a Girl!

We found out on 8-9-10! We could not be more thrilled to add a little princess to the family!
The ultrasound was fun, and we sure did have a crowd! 7 family members and 2 doctors in a room the size
of my bathroom. Not that it mattered, we were so excited! The baby is doing great and is very healthy. They were able to see every last detail, right down to all 4 chambers of her little heart! She is measuring to be about a week and a half older than what we thought, which hopefully means she will be here and home to
celebrate Christmas!

profile

Gabriella Marie Doll

Her little face! I think this one is so funny!

So let the PINKfest start!

Mah hahahahaha!

Long Time...

So it has been a while since I have updated. Not that I haven't been busy doing all kinds of things!

A trip to Vegas for work in June, which means knitting time on the airplanes...

The 4th of July, which I love! Tons of swimming.

A few little fairs and such too! Now this weekend is the Italian-American Fest at the Stark Co. Fairgrounds! I always look forward to it, so does little man!

A few picts for now...

For the love of Baseball!

Ultrasound on Aug.9th! We'll see what is growing in there!

Telling the Future?

I can't wait to find out if this baby is a girl or boy! It has been very odd how everyone seems to be having girls... Three years ago everyone was having boys...


I have checked the Chinese Birth Chart and it was right for Landen. This time it is saying girl... we'll see!

I feel so different this time. So does it mean it is a girl? Or people say that each baby is different.

Was the chart right for you? What are the "wives tales" that you believe in?

Calling Knitters- What to make?

So I am preggo! I have problems sitting still these days, although I do love naps!  I am looking for a few patterns that are kind of easy for me to work on! I have to wait till August until I find out the sex of the baby, so maybe something that I can embellish later on... I have been making a ton of hats, so maybe other items... Please let me know if you have made the pattern, maybe picts if you have them!


Smooches All!

Thanks everyone in advance!

Oh Boy, or Girl...

It’s official! We are expecting our second child! We were “planning” on trying in the fall, but that went right out the window…



So I was home on a Friday, and I noticed a few extra days had gone by. I decided to run out and get a home test, just to see. Sure enough it was positive. I then had the challenge of waiting all day for Trevor to come home from work. But how should I tell him?? So I grabbed Landen’s new baseball jersey and headed out the door. I ran down the street to a sporting good place and asked how quickly they could add a name to the back… 10 minutes later I was on the way home. Then Trevor calls, he is running late and wants me to go ahead to the birthday party without him. So Landen and I headed over to Build-A-Bear to meet the crew for Evan’s birthday. It was killing me to not tell everyone, but I had to tell the hubby first. We are all standing around with all the kids, between all of us there are 9 kids, 8yrs and under… now to be 10! (Mackenna-8, Ava-7, Jayden-5, Brayden-5, Evan-4, Landen-3, Elijah-1, baby Scotty-5mths, and little Timmons-still in the belly- yet to be named.) And add Cousin Kana in that mix too! We sure can bring the party! So we made a dragon, named Landen and headed home to pick up Trev to head back to the party for cake. I run in and change Landen’s shirt to wear his new personalized jersey… I almost cried! “Big Brother” it read. I sent him off to run around the house, hoping to tell Trev. He didn’t quite notice, 15 minutes later, I couldn’t stand it… “Honey, did you see Landen’s new shirt?” “Oh, yeah, it’s nice…” I almost lost it! I asked, did you read the back? He said, “So who’s shirt is that?” “ It is LANDEN’S!!” Then the look, the deer in headlights look! He just stood there, I cried (still not sure why) and he hugged me. Oh my! We then jumped in the car and headed back to the party. We got out of the car and made a bee-line to Aunt Harmie! Landen ran right past her, she read the shirt, and was so excited, as was everyone else! It was such a fun way to tell everyone!! I still can’t believe it, I am so impatient! I want to know, is it a boy? girl? Just tell me now, I want to go shopping!!



Thanks to everyone for your support and enthusiasm!! This was sure the best birthday gift I have ever received! And it will then turn into a Christmas gift, man are we good or what!?!?

Alive

My birthday was on a Wednesday this year, blah! What exactly is one to do on a stinkin Wednesday? So I pretended that Saturday was my "celebration" day! I was lucky enough to spend the morning junking with one of my besties, Mary! Then off to the final swim class for my little man, Landen, after which he was off to the the g-parents to spend the night. After hinting around, Trevor and I were off to check out Art is Alive in Canton, OH. I loved it! It was a wonderful gathering of fun! A few of my favorite vendors were:

Oceanne

Very cool jewelry, whimsy! I have bought from her, I love it!

marymoon.etsy.com

She had super cute bags! And buttons!!

Space Dog Studios
Fun notebooks, and journals!!

And there were many others that I loved!

Check it all out!
Many of these peeps will be at Oddmall too! As well as the Lollipop Guild, that includes me...

The Update - Etsy that is...

So I am trying to finally update my Etsy! Oh, my! I am a instant gratification type, so the waiting for uploads aren't always my favorite thing to do...

I took an afternoon and camped out on my front porch with a Coke Zero, my camera and my "button box"! I was so thankful for the nice weather. I can hardly remember the last time I sat in the sun. It was wonderful!
So here are a few of the new additions to my Etsy, more to come!

Owl by Mary

Do you have an Etsy? What do you do while you update your store? Any tips or tricks to share?