Baby baby baby, OH!

Lyla and I were featured on Jenny's blog recently. Seriously, everyone should have a good friend (or husband) who is also a photographer. It's awesome.

http://storiesfrombehindthelens.blogspot.com/2012/04/along-came-baby.html

Sleep? hahaha

I currently have both daughters sitting on my lap as I type this. I have discovered something interesting about having two children under the age of two: I have NO time. ZERO. Well, no time for anything except babies, that is. Because really, I have two babies. One is slightly more capable than the other, but they both need me all the time, all day long (and some at night). I am really tired. All the time.

My lovely mother leaves tomorrow morning for home in warm sunny Mexico. This makes me slightly nervous, considering the fact that Lexi and Lyla will be 100% mine all the time while Eric is at work all day during the week (and some weekends). I will be investing in a good double stroller. And perhaps some therapy tapes (kidding). But seriously, I am moving in four weeks (where to, we don't know...probably should figure that out soon) and barely have energy to get out of bed at 6:30 every morning to get Lexi breakfast.

Ahh, the adjusting weeks of having two children....

I love my girls. But this mama needs a nap.

(That being said, pictures and stories and updates just may be on the back burner for a while.)

Lyla Grace

Lyla Grace Staswick

Born Tuesday, April 10, 2012

9:15 AM

7 lb. 7 oz. 20 in.

I find it only appropriate that today, on April 18th, my official due date, I post a picture of my eight-day-old infant daughter. This picture was taken yesterday by our dear friend Jenny. You can find her blog here.

This past week I have found myself just being grateful. Grateful and thankful for this new tiny life, for my sweet toddler, for my loving husband, and for my family who is caring for us right now during this transition time.

I am thankful that I am healthy and well. I had a beautiful labor and delivery (which I will write about soon), am recovering well, and I have a healthy newborn who is an excellent eater and sleeper and pooper (which, for being a baby, are pretty awesome feats!).

I am grateful for my friend Jenny, who labored all night with me and into the morning until Lyla was born. Gentle encouragement, a steady hand, and back massages go a long way during a natural, un-medicated birth!

I am thankful for a husband who provides for us so faithfully every day at work. Even though it's hard to have him gone every day all day, it makes his time at home that much more treasured for all of us.

I am grateful for a Mom-in-law, who has been with us all week due to Lyla's early arrival. She has been cooking and caring for us non-stop. I couldn't ask for more.

I am thankful that my own dear mother is arriving tomorrow afternoon, after a full year of us being apart. Being separated by countries is a cold, hard reality that sometimes is hard to face every day...especially when there are young grandchildren involved and very expensive plane tickets.

There is so much more that I could say, but Lyla needs to eat and Lexi needs some Mama time before bed. But as a parting thought, when our Heavenly Father gives gifts, He does it lavishly. What a beautiful life we have in Him!

It's finally APRIL!!!

Yes, I am thrilled that my month has arrived! It's time for this little baby to join our family (and for me to not be sick anymore!!)!!! Eric took about twenty pictures of me yesterday and they all looked equally ridiculous, but it's about the bump, right? Just ignore my face. (Lexi thinks I'm nuts...as you can see from the photo). Here's me and my babe...38 weeks pregnant.

Isn't it such a cute little ball?!?

It's actually kind of funny, because I have gained pretty much the same amount of weight that I gained with Lexi, except that my belly looks smaller (although it is measuring correctly). I'm one of those preggo ladies who can be described as being "all belly." My friends call it "the torpedo belly" because it is so narrow and just sticks straight out. lol

Now to get a little random....

Lexi has found a love for hats lately and has been tromping around everyday with this cute little one on her head. Thanks, Aunt Helen for making it for her when she was a baby! :)
I finally found the time (and the camera and computer space) to upload the photos of some of my sewing creations I have done over the past two months.

A nursing cover (or a Hooter Hider) that I made for a friend

A little peasant dress for Lexi. I'm not sure I'm sold on the ribbon in front, so that might change. But I LOVE the fabric. It's like she's wearing a little party!

A "Taggie" for my new little one. It is cotton quilting fabric on the front (it has little dragonflies on it) and a soft textured minki fabric on the back. The ribbons all have different textures as well.

And last but not least, the baby quilt that I finished at the end of February. I was planning on giving it to a friend's baby as a gift, but it is so full of funny little quirks that I kind of fell in love with it (not to mention that I made the mistake of hanging it on the side of my baby's crib...and then discovered all the colors matched my room...) and so I'm keeping it. :) I found the pattern online. It's called the "Broken Dishes" quilt and most of the fabric came from my sewing friend's generous fabric stash. I really enjoyed the process of piecing this quilt together and hope to do my next one slightly better. The back of the quilt is a lovely soft green flannel fabric - perfect for cuddling a baby in!

I also made a book bag a couple of weeks ago out of some heavier fabric that my friend had lying around. I forgot to take a picture of it, but I am very pleased with how it turned out.

And as for these pictures, I apparently was too tired or lazy (or both) to make them look good, so there you have it. Hopefully, the next post I write will be with pictures of the baby (on the outside), but I may not be so lucky. Or I might write sooner. You never know!

Also, we are fairly sure that we will be moving by June 1. So, let the craziness over here ensue! Prayer for wisdom would definitely be appreciated as we go forward with planning our next year and living situation. I will keep you posted on our progress (maybe...unless I have a baby in the next week, which is highly possible, but let's be honest, probably won't happen until two weeks from now...**sigh**). Let the waiting continue!