An Update...

Now that I have reached my 30th week of pregnancy, I am going to the doctor every two weeks. Yesterday I had a check-up with Dr. Arze. Now, Dr. Arze isn't my favorite doctor of the group, mainly because I hold a grudge...when I was pregnant with Bella, he happened to be the doctor I saw the first time they had to check my cervix. It was not pleasant, and I'm afraid I've held it against him ever since! To be fair, he seems entirely capable, and always makes sure to give you a lot of information. In fact, yesterday he started talking the moment he came in the room, talked the entire time he was in the room, and talked till he left- all so quickly that I probably couldn't tell you three things he said!

Anyhoo, I had gained two more pounds, bringing my grand total up to (drumroll please!) twenty pounds. Which honestly was less than I expected. I also got my flu shot (regular, not H1N1). My belly is measuring right where it should, and Baby Abby's heart rate was 157 and sounded great.

This morning our pediatrician's office (Riverside Pediatrics in Elizabethton- LOVE them!) did a flu shot clinic, and Bella had an appointment at 8:50. When we got there, the nurse told us we could either do FluMist, a live vaccine that is administered through the nose, or a regular flu shot, which is inactive virus. I chose the flu shot, because Bella did fine with that last year, and because the nurse said the FluMist vaccine gives them a runny nose and cold-like symptoms for a couple of weeks. Bella did great with her shot, she cried for a couple of minutes and then was ok. I gave her a dose of tylenol as a precaution and we went on our way.

As far as being prepared for the arrival of Baby Abby, sadly I am not! My mom, who is my official 'nursery painter', has been in Panama City for a week, so the room still isn't painted. And until the room is painted, we aren't going to put furniture in it...and until the furniture is in it, there's no reason to go through Bella's newborn clothes, bring them up from the basement, and wash them and put them away! I also need a new infant carrier/carseat base. The one Bella used was a hand-me-down from Ashlyn, and was pretty much worn out! In addition to that, I need to find some sort of a double stroller that I can put both girls in. So I still have a lot to do (and buy!)

The bad news is, I'm starting to creep into that 'uncomfortable' stage of pregnancy. Abby moves a lot, and likes to kickbox with various of my internal organs. Plus, at night, whichever side I am laying on my hip hurts, so I have to turn over a lot. I know it's all worth it. But I can't say that I will be sad when delivery day gets here!

Her big bed!

Now that Bella is two, I figured it was time to convert her crib into her big bed. Especially now, since I can use her crib mattress for Abby! So today Kenneth went and picked up her new mattress and box springs at Zaks and took the crib apart. The back of her crib makes a headboard.....

And of course Bella had to help daddy!



As usual, the instructions were not helpful at all. I had to buy some extra nuts and bolts at Lowe's while I was out- we did this by me taking a pic of said bolt with my phone, sending it to Kenneths, and him texting back "Looks good. Get 4." Believe it or not, they fit perfectly!
Once the bed was together, of course Bella had to try it out....



Kenneth got it done in time for her to take her nap in it today, which was good. I wanted her to be able to try it out before night time. Well, it took a while, but she finally fell asleep. She loves her "big bed"!

In stitches...

Whenever the air starts to get that 'fall' feeling, and the sunlight starts to change just a little, I start craving mums, pumpkin-scented candles, foddershocks, and most importantly, my sewing box!

I started quilting about 5 or 6 years ago. It sort of runs in the family. My maternal great-grandmother, Janie Kate Loyd (love that name!) was a prolific quilter. She could whip up a Log Cabin quilt in no time flat. And a good thing, too. She hung them by the old highway up in Temple Hill and sold them to passersby, and from what I hear there wouldn't have been food on the table some days if she hadn't! Her daughter, my grandmother, took up quilting, too. When she was a child the women would gather at the old church in Rocky Fork to quilt, and she would sneak under the biq quilting frame to watch their needles work and listen to the gossip- although it was tame by today's standards. Back then, even when no men were present, they referred to pregnancy as "so and so is getting big" or "in a family way" !

Anyway, I became interested. My first quilt was a very simple pattern called a Nine Patch. each square is made of nine smaller squares pieced together. It took me a year to hand piece and hand quilt it (I took the summer off!), but when it was finally finished, it was so rewarding! I gave it to my grandmother as a thank-you for teaching me to quilt!

Actually, I've given away all my quilts. After the nine patch I did four baby quilts for various friends and relatives, and then a Dutch Doll for my other grandmother. I took some time off when Bella was born, but yesterday I felt that familiar craving in my fingertips, and got out my sewing box!

Right now I have two irons in the fire: This first one is a variation on the Log Cabin, it's a little simpler but still very pretty and very colorful.

And this one is a true Log Cabin. I had planned on making it in yellow and blue, but fell in love with these fabrics.

Both of these are hand pieced. I have a sewing machine, but to me it's just so relaxing (and a little more authentic) to do it by hand . It's also a lot slower, but that's all right! I'm hoping to finish the true Log Cabin by spring, but with a two year old, a new baby on the way, and holidays coming up, that may be a pipe dream!

Beach Trip photos

Here are some pictures from our trip to Hilton Head island!




Digging in the sand with Daddy...

Taking a break with mommy...

The most beautiful thing on the beach!

I loved jumping in the pool to Daddy!

Heading for the waves!