Hollyhocks

Amy Butler Knows Babies

 

Have you seen the new Amy Butler book? Sandy  has the book and it is so charming. It's a curl up with a cup of tea and dream about making beautiful things for your baby, grandbaby, future baby or the baby next door book, just so you can see the simple, adorable oufits come to life...

Serendipitously (new word), I purchased these fabrics before I perused the book and now I have visions of making these...

If I just had one freakin' second to myself that wasn't taken up with frivolous indulgences like...a shower, throwing a load of laundry in...the little swaddled ones are sooo needy, such babies! Oops, did I write that out loud?

...and, lest I get too confident about my abilities, a nice lady at a large chain store pointed me in the direction of this beginner pattern...I could do this...if I cut the fabric out one day and sewed the next, while the little burritos were snoozing away...

This cute dress is more of an advanced maneuver...someday Rory...

...and before you think you're going to get through a post without baby photos...feast your eyes on these...

 

This guy is happiest when he is in the arms of one or the other exhausted but enchanted parent. Time goes by so quickly when you are holding a warm snuggly baby...Thank you for stopping by.

3 weeks, 2 days

Farmer's Market and Fabric

Warning: This post...typed one-handed while soothing a baby with the other hand I might add... will surely make you hungry... The above fabric, from a collection called Farmer's Market... is the fabric for which I have been waiting all summer.

 But before we talk fabric, let's talk farmer's markets. I delightedly woke up early on Saturday and visited our nearby market (on my second day of driving!).  Words are inadequate to describe the thrill of a peak-of-season heirloom tomato sandwich with salt and Miracle Whip on white bread. Only to be eclipsed by fresh mozzarella and basil with balsamic vinegar and the rest of those tomatoes, sliced and salted...

Vanilla yogurt for breakfast with fresh plums and apricots and local organic granola...this is the life! There is a farmer wanna be inside of me. If it wasn't for the bugs, weather and really hard work...

Now about the fabric...the designer is Sandi Henderson, of Portabello Pixie , and the fabric is just plain pretty. It makes me happy to look at it. It is, or at least was, doggone hard to find. Everybody was selling out.

 

When you have a chance, check out Sandi's site and tell me how much you wish you were a little girl again so you could whip up a pair of those pants with the ruffles on the bottom (June 6, 2008 post). If I can find more yardage of the dahlia fabric, I could see a mommy and me combo of pants for Rory and a shirt for me...

 

Every print and colorway is prettier than the last. So, if you aren't hungry yet... When my friend Anne visited last week, we had mini toast with brie, imported bleu cheese and sliced figs. I can hardly wait for this week's market.

The babies had their second Dr. visit today. Both are growing and gaining at a really good rate and we are the proudest of parents. Cadbury is back to sleeping on my feet at night and, as one commenter said...Life is good. Really really good.

I have a wishbone that I dried and saved months ago. Does your family do that? I think it would be greedy to ask for any more than I have been given lately. Would anybody like a wishbone?

Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks. I count you among our blessings.

 

That Old Familiar Estate Sale Feeling

I'm back! The sunporch is clean and I had a (small) glass of wine with dinner out there tonight...and...I went to 2 estate sales yesterday. I think Susan hit the one sale on the first day. I didn't get there until the second day, but believe me when I tell you that there was PLENTY for everyone. This was a craft/sewing supply buyer and collector extraordinaire. It was a house with so many crafty/fabric things stuffed into the attic that I had to refocus myself several times...box after dusty box with the odd treasure mixed in... Here's what I got...

Lovely vintage ribbon in sherbet colors. I was selective. There's enough left for all of you!

Those adorable little flowers, faded, the way I like them best.

Fall colored ribbon, flocked ribbon, a little handmade bird and pips for flowers...

Spun cotton...strawberries? Help me out here folks... I like spun cotton anything.

Flocked fabric that needs a good soak...

Velvet millinery flowers...a quarter each...it took some digging though...

A big lovely piece of vintage fabric...

 

...A tablecloth scattered with lovely embroidery...

Some vintage wrapping paper...

2 simple vintage lampshades for the nursery...

...and a book with wonderful illustrations...brown dog...

It was great to dig through piles and boxes again. I left with dusty hands and a couple of bags full. What fun! Farmer's Market and fabric store today...more about that soon. Anne brought dinner tonight...roasted chicken, beet greens, roasted potatoes, corn-on-the-cob and fresh peach brown betty....yum! I owe that woman...big time!

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. What have you found recently?

Joe and Rory's 2nd Week

Well, we don't need a neonatalogist to tell us that their lungs are working just fine. They get their second wind about 3AM and let us know that they would appreciate a little attention! (bassinet compliments of Josie. Thanks Josie, they love it!) 

I think we might have to adjust our future plans for med school...and law school for this guy and consider a career in Rap music!

1st trip was to the pediatrician. They look so little in those car seats.

Big Brother Cadbury is, as expected, protective of the little guys, curious and so sweet. He also takes any opportunity to grab a nap and snores Loudly!!!!

My friend Anne (who brought food, candles and flowers and weeded and planted my garden during bedrest) trying out the 2 handed baby hold. She brought baby clothes and lots of books for the babies' library.

...and, new outfits all around since they were swimming in their respective wardrobes...I'm sure things will fit, soon enough.

We are having fun watching the facial expressions of the little ones as they begin to discover the world. It's still so hard to believe that they're really here. I drove today for the first time since April 2nd...to an estate sale...where else? More about that next post. Oh, and I have lost 71 pounds in 12 days...Imagine! I guess that explains the crazy blood pressure. Now I need to start walking to get healthy again. Oops...babies' crying...I'm off...

I hope this finds all of you loving August weather and dreaming of autumn, apple pies and homemade grape jelly. I am a stay-at-home mom for a little while. I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

14 days...

Joy Beyond Compare

There are no words to describe the sense of joy, promise and instant and overwhelming love we have felt over the past week as we welcomed our beloved and much anticipated twins, Aurora Paige and Joseph Donald...

The only thing that matches the depth of our joy is the depth of our exhaustion. I don't remember ever being this tired in my whole life... The babies were born at 4:13 and 4:14PM on 8/8/08. They spent a few days in the NICU just for observation and came home with us and a clean bill of health on Wednesday. We are very aware that we are very lucky.  The DH's colleagues celebrated with us by putting the munchkins on the news 6 times! If you go to the WIVB website and type twins in the search box, it will show the photos and video. We became temporary celebrities at the hospital, which was fun. Hi local blogger Mary Ellen who saw the coverage!

We have had a few challenges along the way. I developed preeclampsia (also known as toxemia) late in the pregnancy and I am currently battling the accompanying high blood pressure (mine is usually super low) and severe anemia. The Dr. felt that if she hadn't delivered the babies when she did, I would have been in serious trouble. Strangely, the swelling was so out of control that I have lost 54 !!!! pounds in one week. I am still a little scared but, with time and medication, these problems should resolve.

To all of you in blogland who held my figurative hand throughout the pregnancy and bedrest, thank you a million times and please continue to hold my hand as I stumble through parenting and attempt to raise children who wake up every morning with a sense of joy and wonder about the day ahead. We are truly blessed... twice!

8 days...

More Handmade Baby Joy

My mother-in-law brought this adorable handknit sweater and pants set over yesterday. It was made for my husband by his grandma many years ago. She has a photo of the DH in the outfit so it will be fun to see our guy dressed in it.

I am in the stage now where I am best left alone to whine about my swollen ankles and other aches and pains. However, when Josie suggested a visit, I knew that if anybody would be a happy distraction, she would. Josie makes beautiful things. I love all of her creations. My lucky twins are going to be drawing admiring glances in these...

Josie sells handmade sweaters in her Etsy shop. She uses beautiful yarns and she is so skilled that her creations are heirloom quality. I am an admirer...Josie also brought a gift for me...

She knew that these cards would be just the kind of thing I would buy at an estate sale... I love them. Well, since we are in the home stretch, here's the 2nd and last shot of me...

Yikes! I thought the twins would get a kick out of it someday.Get it...kick... I hope you all have a great weekend. Say a prayer for healthy, dimply babies by next weekend...

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks!

35 weeks, 4 days

Just Popping In...

The cake from one of the baby showers, Isn't it the cutest?

In case you're wondering...no babies yet...

I do have a date though...Scheduled C-Section for late next week...if we make it that far. I am one swollen, achy, whiny gal right now!

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

35 weeks, 3 days (120 days on bedrest)