Hollyhocks

Handmade Babies

We have been the lucky recipients of some beautiful handmade items for the babies. I remember several years ago when my friend Amy had her first child. Her dad had spent months crafting a handmade wooden cradle for the baby. When she opened it at her shower, she and I both cried. It is such a tangible reminder of her dad that will live on for generations. So, whenever I open a handmade gift, I am reminded of the time, skill and love with which it was made...

The chenille afghan and booties are from my friend Anne...the one who made dinner, planted and weeded my front garden and, most recently, spent an afternoon sorting and organizing baby clothes.

Anne also made the white booties. The prayer blanket is from one of our secretaries at work. The ladies at her church sent it over shortly after I went on bedrest and I took many naps under that meaningful gift.

This sweater for Joe is also from Anne, who taught herself to make sweaters, just for the twins...

...and she made one for Rory, dog buttons on Joe's, cat buttons on Rory's...

My maid of honor, Danielle, made this blanket for Rory...

...and this cozy blanket for Joe...

My friend Kery asked her mom tomake this vintage-inspired cotton sweater for Rory (I am crazy about the button)...

...and this adorable sweater for Joe (love this button too)...The sweaters came with..

Matching hats. Kery's mom is really talented. She makes intricate glitter ornaments that resemble quilt blocks and modern art and they are sold at our art gallery and a few really nice shops in the area. I am so lucky to know Kery and her mom!

These last 2 outfits are from one of my dad's nurses at the Nursing Home. She surprised my parents last week with gift bags stuffed with these outfits, toys and pacifiers. People are just so good and thoughtful sometimes that you can't believe it. The outfits are not handmade, but they are among my very favorites, all laundered and ready for the lucky babies...

It occured to me today that...

I am going to need more blocks soon!!!!

I intended to make lots of things for the babies... before the "bedrest imperative" So, I'll just have to find a bit of time after they arrive...All is well here. It won't be long now...My profile is comical!

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

34 weeks, 3 days.

Sneaking a Peek at the Nursery

 

The nursery is ready and waiting for the babies. There were times when I was afraid that my children would come home to find themselves sleeping in dresser drawers...but the DH came through with hours and hours of work and he even put the linens and dust ruffles on the cribs... I did the years of collecting and lots of pointing...

I made the swag over the curtains months ago and we're still deciding how high to have the mattresses initially. In the old days the crib moved, now the mattresses can be raised and lowered...We have heard that twins like to be in the same crib for the first few months. I think that's just adorable.

The quilts are vintage. I didn't realize that I had 2 and that one had pink borders and one had blue. The buntings are from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (merino wool with polar fleece linings, from landsend.com) and the teddy bears, complete with recorded womb sounds, are from my parents.

The vintage Irmi lamps, switchplate and mobile are some of my favorite touches.

The "theme" of the room is the Children's Bedtime Prayer...Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep...but I am picky. I like the original version "if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take" not the "new", gentler "angels watch me through the night, wake me with the morning light".

 The scale is an Amvets find, the bibs are from my blogging fairy godmother Nicky and the tin holds silver feeding sets that originally belonged to the DH and his dad.

The chalkware babies were just too cute. They were in the basement at an estate sale last year.

I have a bunch of vintage chenille bedspreads stored in the room.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep nightlights...

Vintage wall decorations and...

The cutest doggone rug ever, from the DH 6 years ago, before the 1st miscarriage. I never used it because I always believed that the same soul from the first baby was still just waiting to be born...and I wanted to have her rug ready for her nursery. The funny thing is, Cadbury likes to curl up on it. I think he knows they're labs. Lately we've been finding Cadbury's toys and marrow bones in the nursery. I hope that means he's getting ready to take up residence in there and protect the babies... I also wanted to add that as soon as the big blue rug was laid, Cadbury promptly threw up on it! Oh well, I'm sure he won't be the last...

Thanks for stopping by...day 108 on bedrest. I can't believe that we have made it this far. Thank you to all of you who have sent encouragng notes and comments...now who wants to sign up to babysit? The job comes with all of the homemade baked goods you can eat...that is,  once I can stand up!!!!

33weeks, 5 days

Edited to Add: The Dear Husband has written instructions so he can make the blog announcement when the twins arrive.

Garden Gone Wild

Here is what happens when you neglect a garden...in my case...it flourishes.

My brother weeded once on Mother's Day and my husband once in June and...

The Bee Balm is Bountiful.

The Echinacea is Excellent.

The Rugosa Roses are Robust.

...And I am going to ask one of the menfolk to cut the Chamomile so I can dry the flowers for tea or potpourri...and I didn't even show you the golden and red raspberry plants and the lilies...I remind me of Oliver Wendell Douglas of the show Green Acres, gardening on his little terrace. I don't care if it's a tiny yard. It's going to be productive!!! (My secret is TONS of mulch).

So far, so good at Camp Bedrest. Big OB appointment on Weds. Hanging in there, although at this point I feel like a visitor in my own body. Thank goodness for TUMs and labrador retrievers...and don't even ask about my ankles...although my toes are pretty. DH painted them.

32w,6d  (unbelievable).

Almost There and a Little Cotton Bear

Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get this little bear for my future daughter? I'm sure many of you have heard of a little blog called Little Cotton Rabbits...Well, Julie started the blog and began to post about her handknit toys and cupcakes. Each animal has a name and a unique face and article of clothing. My bear is named Pia and she is made of bamboo and cotton yarn...I think. I'll have to read the tag again. She arrived gift wrapped with cute little cards and tags.

These animals have become the "must-have" handmade for bloggers everywhere. They sell out so fast that Julie emails ahead of time to alert her fans about planned sales of a few animals and they sell out in 2 MINUTES!!!! She had over 4500 hits in minutes for one of her sales. One Sunday at 5PM  I raced to her site and typed as fast as my hands would move. I still can't believe I got one!

The animals are pretty adorable. I will just have to keep (my future) Aurora from spitting up on her precious toy!!!! The next timed sale is Sunday at 10PM UK time. Good Luck!

32w,3d

Happy Independence Day

Today I thought I'd share a sample of the samplers...or is it embroidered sayings? Whichever...I collect them because I love the handwork and many of the sayings are true "words to live by"...not all are framed yet so here are the ones that are...

Isn't this one great? I found it at an estate sale, in a box of yarn and fabric....

I have a necklace with this sentiment on it...I just love it.

This one you've seen...

...and my favorite...below

The entire text of the poem is available online. I had trouble with the link. I keep it in a folder on my desk at work as a reminder. I also love the poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" (I think that's the proper title). Isn't it wonderful to live with things that were made by the Head, Heart and Hand of someone before us?

This is what things were looking like on the way to the Dr. Tuesday. It's always nice to stand up!!!!! Cadbury came from the living room and insisted on being in the photo. We had a family/church shower on Weds. which I spent in a recliner for a good portion of the time.

I'll post some of the amazing things with which we were showered...I love our baby car seats and high chairs!!!! It's just so funny to see 2 of everything. Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks.

31w, 3d

Collecting From the Couch

Well, the Dear Husband has been out estate saling for me again. He found these adorable bowls and the cup and I have to figure out a way to use them in the nursery.

He also found this embroidered apron...

...this embroidered rooster tablecloth....

...and this wonderful frou-frou baby dress which laundered beautifully. Pretty great haul for a trainee, huh?

In his "spare time" the DH painted the trim in the nursery and this armoire (it's periwinkle in real life). I think it needs vintage Meyercord nursery decals on the doors, doesn't it? I am starting to get really excited about the babies now. I am jumping up and down (inside, but not enough to go into labor!!!)

Today's Dr. visit was good. The babies look great. I had one contraction while I was on the monitor and they had me drink water and I didn't have another,,,so that's good. Back to the sofa. I ordered the nursery curtains online--thank goodness for online shopping. Thank you all for visiting Hollyhocks.

31 weeks!

Edited to add: Mary Ellen asked if we had a current weight estimate for the babies...yep. They're trucks. Aurora was 3lbs. 9 oz. and Joe was 3lbs. 15oz. when they measured them last week. Both are ahead which is good and both are "practice breathing". Next measurement is in 2 weeks....