It's A Girl!

Macey is here! She looks very much like her brother and sister. She's a great nurser, even from the begining and she's going for a spit-up world record. Macey is one month old and starting to be interactive, talking and very social.

I had been moving stuff for the carpet cleaners Sunday and I knew I was doing too much, but I always do too much. Monday night, I had very sharp pain in my old scar area with lots of contractions. Tuesday the pain continued with contractions so I was sent to labor and delivery. I was so reluctant to go in because I really thought everything would be fine. The doctors didn't agree and weren't going to take the risk. I was alone and had to call Michael (he didn't believe me, he was still a week from finals) and find babysitting all from the hospital bed (and bathroom). They wanted to deliver her in thirty minutes, so not a lot of time to get everyone in place.

As soon as Michael got to the hospital, he was acting like a different man than I had known for a long time. He seemed to have no worries or distractions and was very light-hearted and focused on me and baby. The atmosphere in the operating room was very relaxed. I started shaking like I had with my first so I was joking with everyone to calm myself down. It worked like a charm, and after getting my epidual and giving the resident a lecture about how I wanted a pretty scar after the surgery, in case they were going to let him near me with a scalpel, Michael came in and sat next to me. I kept calling everyone by their first names (except the actual doctor, I did not want her forgetting where she was! In my guts!) which made me feel much better, like we were all old friends. It felt very intimate. Michael stroked my hair and stayed very close to me.

When my other kids were pulled out, there was an uncomfortable empty feeling in my abdomen but when they pulled Macey out, I suddenly felt normal. I felt like myself again, but not that weird empty belly feeling. After Macey was delivered, the nurses kept her within eyesight the entire time. Michael held her close to me while they finished the surgery. We all went to recovery together, Michael made phone calls and the kids came a little later to see their sister. Simon held Macey and sang her a lulaby. The kids were so in love and it couldn't have been more perfect.

Michael took such great care of everyone the week after deilivery and treated my like a queen. I don't know if we've ever been that peaceful and content. Because the c-section was planned, there was absolutely no disappointment or negative feelings surrounding the delivery. I finally got to have a really positive delivery I loved (and it was surgical, go figure) and haven't had post-partum problems. We're all doing really well, Sarah has matured quite a bit and Simon has gone all soft and gushy.

New Blog

I know no one is reading this regularly, but just in case... I've started a new blog for all the furniture I've been building/refinishing and to share my own home design philosophy/taste/etc. It's up, but I the pics won't be very good till I get a new camera (next spring hopefully). Anyway it's Hand-Made Home (hand-madehome.blogspot.com) and I'm planning to post weekly, so check next week for my first real post.

Sleeping Beauty

I have a hilarious daughter, even in her sleep.

It began at an early age. When she's sleepy, there is just no stopping her.

She grew out of her highchair, and the laundry basket became a favorite sleepy time spot.

Our issue was, girl WOULD NOT sleep in her bed, and when she got tired of sleeping on the floor, she found a whole new array of places to sleep.

And then she got really good at sleeping in her bed, but didn't grow out of her "sleeping in inappropriate places" fetish.

She had BARELY enough space to even fit here, let alone balance and snooze. This represents about a 3 1/2 foot fall. Risky business.

And this is the aftermath. She is entirely asleep, angry that I moved her from her oh-so-comfy kitchen counter top!



And her most recent exploit. 4 and finally toilet trained, but not sleep-in-your-bed-and-not-the-toilet trained.


And we never know what's coming next. Better not let her drive til she grows out of this one!

What I Did During Finals Week

I've finished the enormous coffee table that is really more like two storage benches pushed together.

Proof that I did it myself:



You narrowly miss a fantastic view of my bumcrack (lucky you).


The top, I've used giant gate hinges I fell in love with.

Shows it's in two pieces.

It's finished in brown mahogany, with a satin clear coat.

And it opens!

Construction Crew

My big, strong, construction man. And his tiny hammer.

Helping Daddy study.

Where was I during all this abuse? Behind a camera, he has a hard hat after all.

And I'm reminded what a disaster this bedroom layout was. We're doing much better these days, and I'll post pictures and a headboard tutorial soon (if only for my own and Liz's benefit).

San Juan Island

For Hip Hop Daddy's 30th, he and Mama went back to the San Juan Islands. Not much to do, but pure serenity. And a really beautiful trip.

This is the view from the dining room, not really a good representation. The view from the room was an amazing harbor view.

The images make me feel so peaceful, and are the inspiration for my decorating style. Not really "beachy," more calming and seaside inspired.

Party! Lego Style!

The lego cake ended up giving me a major brain fart. Fortunately, Arrow came to the rescue with her mad skills. The cakes were made in loaf and min-loaf pans, and the lego humps (?) are marshmellos cut in half.

Crazy boys making their best lego man poses. The masks were so cool, just googled lego man head (think of this the filthiest way possible, because you WILL get images of that also) and printed these images using fit to page option. Or, if you don't want pictures of lego men engaged in graphic acts, just go to findmybrick.com.

And he blew out the candles. (mmmm, spit prinkles).


The Crazy Capers unmasked.