Christmas Stockings

This past week I was at quilt retreat...  I usually get at least 3 or 4 quilts made during my week long stay plus a couple of other projects, but this time around I didn't feel like I accomplished much. The projects pictured here are the main reason why:

I actually made 6 of these a couple years ago and I needed to make for this Christmas since there are 4 1/2 new members of our family this year.

This project was so time consuming because I ended up cutting, sewing, and quilting 1445 2-inch pieces of fabric! It was truly a labor of love.

Mason's Quilt

So I can finally post a picture of the quilt I ended up making for baby Mason now that the baby shower is over and I have given it to Emily and Chris. Here is what I ended up coming up with. What do you think?

This quilt pattern was inspired by 3 other quilts I saw:

• Peek-a-Boo Monkey Quilt
• Simple Modern Baby Quilt: Giraffe
• Snuggly Squares II Baby Quilt
  

A huge help in coming up with this pattern was a Web site Katie introduced me to, called Pinterest. I gathered together pictures of all of the baby quilts I liked and it helped me compare them all side by side!

Still Searching...

If you remember, a few weeks back I wrote about how I was trying to find a pattern for a quilt to make for grandbaby #2...  Well, I am still on that quest; although, I am narrowing down the search!

I have found other quilts I want to make. Too many of them! I realised one thing I can do is to use the quilt patterns I like as inspiration to make smaller versions of the pattern. The smaller versions can be used as stroller quilts like this one I made for Blake:

Perhaps these stroller quilts might be a good thing to try to sell in our Etsy store? What do you think?

Flashback Friday

Awhile back, Katie shared a flashback picture of the entire family and I thought it was great to see those pictures right next to each other.  I thought with all we have shared about Blake on this blog, I thought I would dig out some pictures of Katie when she was a baby! (Sorry Katie! :-)

I tried to find some of Katie eating similar to the ones posted of Blake this week but I don't have anything similar scanned.  I did find these though:

Wasn't she an adorable baby! :-)

Blake and Cereal

So Blake is almost 4 months old, and she hasn't been sleeping through the night like she was before.  Josh and I have been talking, and, even though we haven't been to the doctor for her four month appointment, we decided to let her try some rice cereal to see if it will help fill her up so she gets back to sleeping through the night.  I did my research, and Blake seems to have met all of the milestones that she was suppose to meet before trying the cereal (holding her head up, a good supported sitter, interest in food, etc.).  

We tried the cereal for the first time this week, and she seemed to enjoy it!  She kept leaning forward to get the food quicker, and would get frustrated when I put the spoon in the bowl to get more!  She also seemed to really know what to do with that spoon!  Here are some fun photos!  

Happy Anniversary :)

A year ago on Sunday (August 21st), I married my best friend.  Josh is the only one who could put up with me.  And three and a half months ago, we gave each other the best gift in the world--our daughter!  I am incredibly blessed and lucky to have such a good man in my life!

Happy 1 year anniversary, Josh.  Here's to many, many more!

Baby Quilt Patterns

One of my favorite sewing related blogs is the Moda Bake Shop, so when I was searching for ideas for a quilt to make as a baby shower gift for Blake (my granddaughter), I checked there first and fell in love with this Bricks in Bloom QUilt. I fashioned Blake's quilt with that one in mind, what do you think?

So, now I am on a quest for another baby quilt to make for Mason's baby shower (my grandson who is due in November). I want to include Mason's name on his quilt like I did with Blake's. I also know I want to use greens, blues, and browns, but other than that I had no clue.

At first, I was overwhelmed thinking about all of the possibilities, but then I remembered the Moda Bake Shop! I found several there I am now trying to choose between, plus I am still looking around:

• Snuggly Squares
• Snuggly Squares II
• Pure Baby Boy
• Whimsy Square

Like I said, I am still looking a little around for more quilt pattern ideas. If you know of one, please share it! I am also in search of fabric. Blake's quilt was made mostly with fabric from the Chirp Line by Katie Hennagir and I am hoping to find a fun fabric line that features blues, greens, and browns.

Maybe next time, I will share the fun and easy stroller quilt I designed and made for Blake...

Book Review

I just finished the book, "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana De Rosnay.  This book has been sitting on my shelves for quite a few months, and I finally decided it was time to read it (shortly after I found out that it was going to be made into a movie).  

 

This book was terribly depressing and hard to read.  It was extremely touching and emotional, and I found myself unable to put it down even though it hurt my heart with every page that I turned.  

In this book, French police officers raid homes in France to round-up all of the Jewish families.  These families are eventually split apart and sent to concentration camps like Auschwitz.  

When the French police officers came to the home of Sarah Starzynski, she hid her little brother into a secret hiding spot in the wall promising that she would come back for him.  She had no idea where they were going, and always assumed they would come right home and she would let him out.  

The book also follows a journalist, Julia Jarmond, who is researching the round-up for an anniversary article that she is writing.  She realizes rather quickly that this event is one that is barely talked about in French history.  As she researches the events in history, she also discovers Sarah's story.  

While this story was a tough read (emotionally), I would recommend it to others!

Headbands!

When I found out that I was having a girl, I had too much fun searching all of the fun accessories that Etsy shops had to offer baby girls!  Once I realized that I would become poor if I bought everything that I wanted to buy, I decided that I could probably make the headbands myself.  Since then, I have been having way too much fun experimenting with different styles!  I am going to work on making headbands with bows very soon, but for now, I have the flower headbands!  

Here are some of my favorite styles!

"Blake" headbands (named after our daughter, of course):

"Olivia" Headbands:

"Monroe" Rolled Flower Headbands:

All of these headbands can be found on our Etsy site.  Happy shopping!

Hidden Treasure Craft Etsy Store

The past couple of weeks, mom and I have been working on creating our very first Etsy Store!  We are super excited to finally have all of our items added.  I have been amazed at how many people have "liked" our store and added our items to their treasuries.  

This morning I got a message from Marisol of Modishly Delish Blog, letting me know that she posted one of our headbands to her blog.  I was super stoked that someone noticed it and wanted to share in their blog!  Please check out her awesome blog--I did and I spent too much time there!  

We also started our facebook page this past week.  We are hoping that it continues to grow as well!   

Blake's Three Month Photos

My baby is getting so big :).  It's bittersweet, but I look forward to continuing to watch her grow up!  Enjoy my photos!!

Happy Thursday!

Pity Party Today

So I went back to work full-time today.  It was terribly hard.  I felt so guilty knowing that I wouldn't be with my girl during the day.  To be quite honest, my emotions have been all over the place.  I feel like someone else will be raising my daughter because they will be spending all day with her while I am work.  I feel nervous about sending her to a stranger (although I felt pretty good about our daycare provider, she is still essentially a stranger).  The more I think about it, the more upset I get.  I know it will get easier, but today was very hard.  

Our daycare provider doesn't have a spot for Blake until the 29th of August, so, for the time being, my mom has come up to our house to watch her for a couple of weeks.  We are very lucky that she works from home, and is able to be there for us.  

Here's a shot from Blake's three month photos (another post to come sharing more photos):

Flashback Friday

I hope this weekend is wonderful for everyone!  I thought I'd share a flashback Friday photo (along with a more recent photo to compare). 

My family in the 90s

My family (now with my hubby) last summer at my wedding

My, have we all grown....

Book Recommendation

Mom and I both love to read, and we do it all of the time!  I thought it might be fun to have a regular post sharing a book that I have read and really loved.  I might also eventually do a post on books that I wasn't so thrilled about.  Make sure to follow me on Goodreads (katieosborn) as well!

Little Giants of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

I read this book last summer, and still can't stop thinking about it!  I fell in love with it before I even got too far into it because the protaganist's name was Truly.  I LOVE that name!  The story is about a very large girl, Truly Plaice.  She has had to live with her unsightly appearances, while her gorgeous sister, Serena Jane, has lived a life of privilege and positive attention.  Eventually Truly finds her place in the world, and everything falls into place for her.  The moral of the story is to feel comfortable in your own skin, and I think that is a "truly" important message!  

The book I am reading right now:

Just One Look by Harlan Coben (recommended by my mother)

 So far so good......

Soooo BIG!

In honor of the end of my maternity leave, I am going to post some week-to-week pictures of my beautiful baby.  I may start crying about going back to work at any minute, so deal with the emotional rant of a proud mama!  

Mom and I went to a citywide garage sale in the middle of May, and I found this really cool crib to be used as a photography prop.  In the meantime, it was a perfect photo prop for my own darling!  She is going to be 12 weeks tomorrow, and it will probably be the last "weekly" photo.  I will switch to taking monthly photos now, but I am going to probably have to find a new prop, and my pumpkin is outgrowing the crib!!  

Enjoy the photos!

6 Weeks :)

7 Weeks

8 Weeks 

9 Weeks

10 Weeks

11 Weeks

She makes my heart happy! 

Blake's Birth Story

So I know that we have kind of abandoned this blog as of late, but it’s for a good reason!  Meet Blake Leigh Ann Brockpahler!

 

 I went into the hospital at around 7:00 AM on Tuesday, May 3^rd to be induced (I was 41 weeks pregnant and miserable)!  I was told later that I was lucky that I came in so early, because shortly after I get settled in a room, more girls came in active labor. 

  So they started my pitocin around 10:30 AM, and I was dilated at about 1 cm and about 80% effaced.  At around 2, I was started to get frustrated because I didn’t feel much for contractions and I didn’t think anything was progressing.  Shortly after that, I was dilated to a four.  Shortly after that, my water broke!  Once my water broke, labor started progressing pretty quickly. 

By the time my doctor arrived at around 5:30 PM, she said that I was completely dilated.  I started pushing at 7:00 PM, and our little punkin was born at 7:51 PM with a full head of hair!  She weighed 8 lbs 1.6 oz, and measured 20.5 inches.  She was (is) the most beautiful little girl ever, and the sound of her cry right away was the best noise I had ever heard! 

 I was one of the lucky girls, because both labor and delivery were relatively easy for me!  Contractions were nothing like I had expected—I didn’t really feel pain, just pressure.  I guess I was just made to make babies. 

Since this little girl came into me life, everything has changed for the better.  I love her and life even more every day.  Every little thing in life brings me so much joy because she is in it, and when I start to think about how much I love her, I start to tear up.  I love my role as a mommy more than anything!

What's in My Hospital Bags??

Let's be honest, I only have one thing on my mind. At 39 weeks pregnant, I am concentrating on getting this baby out of me (safely and healthily, of course). I'm uncomfortable. I can't sleep. And I am just sick of feeling so limited! Anyway, I thought that I would share what is in my hospital bag.

Our Diaper Bag--Mom bought this for me at Pottery Barn Kids/Baby Store. It is from Petunia Pickle Bottom, and I absolutely love it!

Blake's Coming Home Outfit--We found this outfit at Gymboree, and just couldn't resist it!

 We also got a cute little hat and pair of matching pants with this outfit!  

Baby Book--I want to make sure to pack the baby book, so we can get hand prints and foot prints!  I bought an adorable, customized book from the Edna Mae Etsy Shop.  I love it!  This picture isn't of our book, but it is an example of the books that she makes!  Our book is gray. 

 Blake's baby blanket (or one of them)--This was the Dr. Seuss blankie that I made for my daughter!

My camera--DUH!

Our Video Camera

Bathrobe and slippers

Toiletries

Gum

CHAPSTICK!  Hospitals are dry and with all of the breathing we will be doing, this is essential!

Cell phone and charger

Extra clothing

Change for vending machines (for the hubby)

Nursing pads

We are ready--we are just waiting for baby!