any day now…

We are trying to seem like we are waiting patiently for Baby S’s arrival… We’ve had plenty to keep us busy, but one can’t help the pregnant pauses (pun totally intended) in the evening after dinner when we just catch each other’s eye and think, “Is tonight the night?”  Although it is completely normal for babies to come at all hours of the day, for some reason it just seems like it will all start at night.  I guess that’s why we start our wondering in the evening.

Or it could just be that there has been plenty to keep us distracted during the day.  D’s new job for starters!  Here he is all decked out on his first day…  I, however, was much less glamorously attired for the occasion…

And while my husband is off at work, I’ve been crafting away… even some non-baby related items.  I made lavendar eye pillows for the lovely ladies at First Baptist who threw me a shower a couple of weekends ago.  Since they’re stuffed with rice, you can heat them in the microwave or use them like a cold compress after a stint in the freezer.  Homemade spa!

Though I don’t have any pictures to show, I also made one of the Raffia-wrapped vases from Zakka Life I saw on One Pretty Thing’s Daily DIY.  Super easy to make, I want to try one with black lace.  Sidenote: Have you seen all the black lace on the runways this season???  Fun!

And here are some more baby projects, no longer WIPs!  Her homecoming outfit is done.  Here it is paired with the cap and booties…

And the legwarmers I finally figured out how to make from BabyHopes’s Flickr tute.  I could seriously make hundreds of these things.

Her winter jacket is done, too!  A baby pod from a tute on my Threadbanger podcast.  It was actually my first zipper and turned out a wee bit janky, but she’s only going to wear the thing for about 3 months… perfectionism being hesitantly laid aside…

The nursery is officially complete now with the paintings I wanted to finish on the walls.  I got the animal templates from Martha Stewart and cut them out of some fun scrapbook paper from Target.  Then I just Mod Podged them on, added some scriptures we felt were being laid on our hearts for her, and “Voila!” – handmade nursery art.

Then there was a fun weekday morning romp on the beach just ’cause we could since D hadn’t started his new job yet.  (I love the feeling of being out somewhere cool when most everyone else is at work…)  However, D and the pups did most of the romping… I essentially waddled around in the surf trying to keep my chubby feet cool, catching sympathetic glances from all the trim joggers-by.

Dogs rock.  Especially when they curl up and sleep together at your feet…

On the weekends we’ve been on the field.  It’s 13U Fall Ball season again (which marks my 1-year anniversary with the fine craft of knitting!).  I love it.  It’s gorgeous weather, the game is innocent, the kids are fun sometimes… It’s a nice break from the all-business feel of college ball.  Here are some pretty bad shots I managed to snap of the trophy ceremony at the tournament last weekend.  We finished 1st!

So it looks like it will be some more of the lovely same as we wait for our daughter to make her debut.  We’ll be sure to keep you posted!  Much love to you all… hoping you’re enjoying your fall.

maternity portraits

too good not to post…

We had our maternity portraits done on Monday by Mr. Mae and this was D doing a test shot for the photographer…
I love my husband…

a new haircut, a mess, and store-bought guilt

Feeling m-u-c-h better after a refreshing haircut from Jessica at Strawberry Blonde Salon.  Ahhh… I feel like I cut off some of the blahs that come with the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. 

 … I know, I know… G & B desperately need their hair done too… sorry pups.  I’m a little slower lately.

And the nice tidy nursery lasted a couple of weeks until I tore it up yesterday in attempt to organize my craft supplies.  Looks like Baby S is going to have to share her closet with Mama’s handmade habits for the time being. 

 The guilty feeling that came with buying canned food and gallons of water in preparation for Hurricane Hanna was ridiculous, I know, but it came none the less.  But what else can you do if the power goes out and you can’t cook?  Or open the refridgerator because you have to conserve the cold as long as possible?  (Anyone have any ideas?)

 I never go down the bread/cracker/cookie aisle, but I did that shopping trip because I had to get something to serve the the beans that wouldn’t perish without a running icebox or need any heating up.  And thank heaven I did!  I found a childhood favorite that reminded me of my mom because they are her childhood favorite…

 …and I finished a row of them myself.  Horrible, yes, I know.  I’ve put them out of sight for the rest of the week.  Just buy some – and don’t go for the chocolate ones they make – trust me. I love chocolate. They’re not bad, but not nearly as good as the maple.

 I guess I’m not a total DIY-dropout this week, though.  I invented a South Carolina Goes Southwest BBQ Chicken Pizza.  Homemade whole wheat pizza dough, chicken tenders chopped up and browned in EVOO and garlic, topped with Sticky Fingers’ Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, shredded cheese, and cilantro.

Humble, homemade, husband-approved.

 And I suppose the ultimate in true DIY fashion for this week was the shipment of cloth diapers that arrived.  Check them out if you’re looking into it – they’re great and so is the lady who makes them – Crickett, of Crickett’s Diapers.  You can read her reviews on diaperpin as well.

There they are: washed, dried, folded, and waiting for Baby!

A great Labor Day weekend

Summer is officially over!  Although the Low Country weather begs to differ, we celebrated the close of this sunny season with our super-fun little niece, A.  We all met up in Savannah, GA and spent a day at Tybee Island.  It was her first time at the beach!

Look at that face – she’s always up for something.  That 2 1/2 year old never stopped running the whole time.  It was fun hanging out with our super-super-fun (wonder where A gets it…?) sister-in-law, R.  She kept me company under the umbrella in Prego-land… she’s due with their 2nd little girl in December.

Aren’t they a cute, little, growing family?  That’s my little bro, S.  Papa to A and doting husband to R. D and I are definitely glad to have them back on the East Coast.  They’ll be moving even closer to us at the beginning of next year!

A little brother-in-law bonding time… football in the surf.

Who is that sexy mystery man?

Mama R… watching A build sandcastles and stomp on them with her little non-stop feet.

We had a little lunch on the beach…

…and then took a nap…

…at least as long as your niece would let you.  A was very interested in stealing Uncle D’s hat and getting him to chase her around the island.

Chillin’ under the umbrella with Auntie (that’s me) eatin’ some blueberries.

And back out to the beach with Papa for one last run before we packed up…

…yeah, I know… I can’t tell who was having more fun either.

The rest of the weekend was relaxing as well… good conversation, good food (R’s delicious Greek Pasticho), a little Lord of the Rings with ice cream… it was quite perfect, actually.  We love you, S, R & A!  Muah!

And that, folks, is how we ended our Summer 2008.  ’Twas a great ending to a wonderful season, that has now officially…

…gone to the birds.