Crochet Projects

So with this pregnancy I have been blessed to not have any problems with carpal tunnel, but sciatica has been another issue, so I've actually had a lot of sit-down time over the past couple of months.  I've taken advantage of this time to crochet.  This first blanket is one that I made for our baby girl.  It's nice and soft and I really like how it turned out.  I'm looking forward to it keeping her warm when she gets to come home from the hospital.

I made this baby hat for another couple in the Fine & Performing Arts Department at Saint Louis University.  They are expecting their baby a couple weeks after ours and the department had a combined baby shower for us and them.  I really like how it turned out.

These pot-holders I made for our friends John & Liz (mostly for Liz) who just bought and moved into a new house back in Utah.  They are the first project I've ever made using an afghan crochet hook and stitch.  It's kind of a combination of crochet and knitting.  They are stilling sitting on a shelf waiting for me to get them in the mail since I haven't really been up to walking to the post office in the past couple of weeks, but I'll get them sent soon Liz, I promise!

This baby afghan is for the new baby boy that our friends Beth & David Clark just had.  Beth & David went to school with Bryce at SIU and w're so excited for them.  Congratulations Beth & David, and I'll get this one in the mail soon as well.

Valentine's Day

Owen and I woke up on Valentine's Day and found that Bryce/Daddy had given us a special valentine.  He left us this note and some candy and flowers.  One of the flowers is for our baby girl, but since she can't see it yet, I get to enjoy it and I'll share the pictures with her after she is born.

 Here's a close up of the flowers: 

 Owen didn't care much about the flowers.  He was all about the candy.  I think Bryce know us pretty well, don't you?

Our Baby's Blessing Gown

Since December I've been working on crocheting a blessing gown for our little baby girl and I'm pleased to announce that the project is now complete.  Here's a picture of the gown, and a headband and baby booties that I made to go with it:

 Here is a picture from another angle so you can see the top a little bit better.  

This is the first article of clothing that I've ever crocheted.  I've made hats & scarves before, but never anything as complex as this and I really, really like how it turned out.  The booties are even my own pattern.  My friend Leslie will be helping me with a slip to go underneath it (the skirt is a bit airy) since I don't sew.

Here's a picture of our baby's dress laid out in the crib that Bryce made a few years ago for our children.  I'm very glad that we have been blessed with talents and abilities that allow us to make nice things for our family.

Cabin Fever

Winter can sometimes be hard for a active 3 year old, but we've found things to do inside to keep ourselves busy.  Owen has discovered the fun of playing games with Mommy.  He likes playing the board game Snakes and Ladders, a puzzle type game called Carcassonne, and putting puzzles together.  Here's a picture of him with a bunny puzzle that we put together:

He also has discovered the joy of painting with watercolors.  He likes to paint on blank pages, but he also thinks it is a whole lot of fun to paint on coloring pages that I print out from the computer.  I will find pictures online, let him pick which ones he wants and then I'll print them off for him to paint.

Also, when Owen gets busy with a project he doesn't like to pose for the camera very well, but occasionally I can get him to look a the camera and smile for me. Isn't my little boy getting big?

37 Weeks and Counting

As of today I am 37 weeks, 4 days pregnant and we are awaiting the birth of our new daughter and sister.  Owen took a picture for me this morning, and I took a picture of him too - isn't he getting big?  You can't tell too much from the front that I'm 37 weeks pregnant . . . 

but then I turn to the side and you can tell a bit more that I'll soon be having a baby (though I haven't put on very much weight this pregnancy, so I hope that means that it will be easier to loose and keep of the baby weight this time around).

If you look carefully in this picture you can see all of us:  Owen and I in the front of the picture, and Bryce (who is taking the picture) reflected in the mirror. We're one little happy family!

Winter 2012

I finally sat down this morning and uploaded a whole bunch of pictures off of my camera and I was surprised at how many things that I hadn't posted to my blog yet, so for the next couple of days you'll get to see some fun pictures that I've taken over the past month. 

First of all, we've had a couple of snow storms, but mostly we've had a mild, drier winter. Whenever possible Owen has bundled up and has gone outside to play.  He has discovered the fun that can come from a shovel and a dump truck.

He's had fun both playing in the snow and in the fall leaves that were never raked up in the back yard.  I'm just glad that we've had enough opportunities for Owen to get outside to play, because he LOVES it!

Inner Ramblings

Today I don't have any fun pictures to share or any momentous occasion to record, but I just have a craving to sit down at the computer, type a little bit, and let my family and friends know what is going on in my life.  As I sit here, Owen is playing with his cars and and an airplane that he made out of legos.  The airplane is flying around the room as one moment he sings snippets of nursery rhymes or primary songs, and then the next he is making battle noises and getting the pretend "bad guys."  He has such an imagination and it's fun to watch him grow up a little bit more each day.  I sometimes miss my little baby boy who would sit quietly on my lap and cuddle - the days of quite cuddling are now few and far between - but I enjoy being able to take my big little boy by the hand and make cookies, take a walk to the park, or let him help push or carry a shopping cart or basket at the store.

A constant distraction from Owen's antics is the frequent movement inside my belly.  We now have less than four weeks to go until we get to meet our little baby girl.  I am constantly dreaming or planning of how I want things to be when she comes, but so far most of the plans are still dreams, since I still don't have the nursery put together yet - but hopefully soon.  I am looking forward to my baby shower on Saturday and then I get to sit down and figure out what I still need to do be able to prepare for this baby.  I feel slightly more prepared this time around than I was for Owen, but I know that she'll be her own little miracle, and the joy and change that she will bring to our family is something that I'm looking forward to.

Never far from my thoughts is my wonderful husband.  Bryce works hard to provide for his family and although it is sometimes hard for him to not stay home and play with Owen and me, I am very grateful that he is willing to go to work each day so I am able to stay home with my children. His current show seems to be going okay, with tech rehearsals coming up in just over a week.  I am amazed at how well he is juggling work and family right now, and though I know he sometimes gets lost in thought deep into the night, he manages to find the motivation to get up and keep on going each day.  I feel guilty having to have him help me lift and carry things around the house right now, but I am so very, very grateful that he's willing to help me keep the laundry and house clean.  Thank you Bryce for being so wonderful.

Right now my thoughts have also been going a lot to my dear Grandma Christensen who is currently recovering from a bad fall where she fractured both of her knee caps.  I wish that I lived close by so I could go visit her and help Grandpa around the house, but I am am grateful for those family members who are able to help.  I love you Grandma and want you to know that we are praying for you - as Owen says "to help have Grandma's knees quit being broke."  We are grateful for the news that you are starting to regain some mobility and that you should be able to go home relatively quickly.

To my missionary heroes - Benny & Garrett - I want to thank you again for the wonderful example that you are to Owen.  I know that he's little now, but he likes to see the missionaries in our ward and have them come over for dinner.  When he gets older he will know that his uncles have served missions and that hopefully that will be a goal that he will set for his own life.  Our prayers are with you as well and though I may not be the best at keeping you constantly informed on our status, I hope you know that we love you and support you in what you are doing.  Keep up the good work and know that we are very proud of you.

To all the rest of my family and my friends, I am so very grateful for your love and friendship.  You have helped us grow and become the people that we are today.  We miss those of you that are far away, but know that we love you and appreciate all that you have and continue to do for us.  Unfortunately, my time for reflection is over and other responsibilities beckon, but I want everyone to know that we are doing well, we are happy, and we have been blessed in so many ways.  Take care and I will try to write again soon.