Entering the Third Trimester

I can now be found….

• launching myself from bed in the morning
• sticking my head out to get a glimpse of my feet over my belly to be sure my shoes match
• cutting out patterns for toys for my baby
• fighting with the cats as they try and steal the ribbon from my craft room for my baby's new toys
• shopping for christmas gifts now and starting up my christmas card before it gets too late to do it and I'm just bigger and tired all the time;

but mostly I'm just waiting, waiting for this little guy to get here and turn my world upside down.

Baby's Song

I found a song for our baby.  It's by Kutless called What Faith Can Do.  Its a beautiful song with a powerful message that I hope my little boy will come to love and live. 

What Faith Can Do by Kutless from their It Is Well Album
(C) 2009 BEC Recordings

Songwriter: Scott Davis, Scott Krippayne

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water but
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

Baby List

Baby and I are feeling good although I'm becoming impatient wanting to know more about the baby that I'm carrying. 

Will he have mi esposo's hazel eyes and hopefully his freckles, the ones he claims are gone and haven't graced his handsome face since his early teens? Will he have my straight hair or mi esposo's wavy hair?  What will our baby's voice sound like? Will he be chubby?  Could he have a dimple in his chin?  So many questions that can't be answered are a lovely frustration, lovely because in a couple of months he'll be here.

In the meantime I've been talking to our baby getting him used to my voice in English and Spanish although most of the Spanish he has been hearing has been me scolding the cats for jumping on the table or playing with things they aren't supposed to like rubber bands. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if his first words were "deja eso" English translation = leave it alone or knock it off.

I'm trying to keep busy so I won't annoy mi esposo and family and created a list of things to do before baby arrives.

First up is to pick a song to sing to our baby.  I read somewhere that infants can recognize a song that was sang to them by their mother while in the womb which they will find comfort in times of confusion to helps them to recognize their mother.  Now what song should I pick?  I can't make up my mind.  Does anyone know of a song to help soothe a crying infant?  Any suggestions?

Baby Update

Our ultrasounds appointment arrived and we couldn't have asked for a better time for a happy moment.  

Mi esposo and I have been waiting for this since we found out we were going to be blessed with a baby.  Finally, I'll be able to use the proper pronoun when talking about the baby.  I think I've entered the disgruntled phase because whenever I hear a doctor, nurse or anyone in the medical field use the term "fetus" it irritates me.  Fetus just sounds so removed from the miracle we've been given that I just want to shout and say "it’s a baby people!"

I've been so consumed with discovering the gender of the baby that it wasn't until mi esposo pointed out that this appointment will give us our first peak at our little miracle.  In my mind I had already created a little squiggly baby, with pale skin, dark eyes and dark hair so I never really thought about what the baby would actually look like and never thought I would be able to see a 3D picture.  I also didn't realize I would be able to see the baby move and see all ten fingers and toes.  In my mind, I had though the appointment would have been full of me crying buckets of tears, but with everything that has happened I think I been just about cried out and instead I stared at wonder at the little life inside of me.  I couldn't imagine that this baby was real and that it was a HE!  Yes, it’s a boy! By the way I think he may have his daddy's lips, I just wonder if he'll have his freckles too.

My sweet, adorable esposo beat me to the punch ladies and gentlemen by buying his son his first gift from us, Mom & Dad. 

Philadelphia Phillies Bib

Its very fitting that our little boy will receives such a gift from his Daddy, a die hard Phillies fan.   

It’s been said, as per pregnancy books and websites, that fathers often feel removed from the pregnancy until they feel movement from the baby or a father may not be involved until birth but I think mi esposo is already bonding with the baby and is very much involved in the pregnancy.  He was the one who bought me the “What to Expect When Your Expecting” book and has been consistently reading ahead to be prepared for the next stage and he's been the one to lay his hand on my belly to feel the slightest ripple from his son.

I can't wait for the day that we, Daddy, his little boy and me, Mommy (wow, I'm going to be Mommy) get to take our first family photo.  

Ronald

This was a tough weekend for mi espos and I.


We brought our beloved kittens, Ronald and Luna, into the vet on Friday to have them both fixed; as we all know having your pets fixed has been purported by vets to extend the life of your pet.

Unfortunately something went very wrong and our darling Ronald did not recover from his surgery. The vet said his heart stopped beating. How is that possible? He was only six months old!!!! He was fine but the vet said he must have had a heart condition that no one knew about. I can’t believe I am not going to see that little orange face in the morning or on my pillow at night.

I know God has a plan for us all and I am definitely not mad at God for taking him home, I’m just heartbroken. I can’t bear the thought of my poor Luna being alone all day while mi esposo and I are at work. I miss my Ronald Weasley so much, and I have to think about all the wonderful times I spent with him.

I went online searching for answers and found this and I firmly believe God led me here…

I will lend to you for awhile a kitten, God said.

For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he's dead.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.

But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you and, should his stay be brief

You'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return.

But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true.

And from the folk that crowds life's land I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to take my kitten home again?

I fancied that I heard them say 'Dear Lord Thy Will Be Done'

For all the joys this kitten brings the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may.

And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.

But should you call him back much sooner than we planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

If, by our love we've managed your wishes to achieve,

Then in memory of him whom we loved, please help us while we grieve.

When our cherished kitten departs this world of strife,

Please send yet another needing soul for us to love all his life.

We love you Ronald.

Funny things I've heard.....

since I've been pregnant....

• Oh you are getting big all over, it must be a girl.
• You look like you swallowed a cantalope, it must be a boy.
• Are you sure you felt the baby move, its a bit early, I bet it was gas.
• From my doctor after we heard the baby's heart beat "Sounds like a boy, but you know I've only been 50% right."

What do you think?  Here's a picture of me and Frankenstein. 

Mi esposo took me to Citizens Bank Park a couple of weeks ago when they featured all of the Phanatic statues and I was able to get all of their pictures, which I'll be posting in the coming week.

Baked Penne Love

Baby and I are doing well.  I haven’t had many cravings in my opinion but ask those around me and they’ll say…she wants homemade food and eggs. Mi esposo and my family are such loving dears that they are taking it in stride, plus mi esposo is wisely rationing out the eggs for breakfast so I don’t have a cholesterol problem.

I’m the last in the family to have a baby so the craving thing isn’t unusual to them at all.

When my SIL was pregnant she loved 100Grand  Nutrageous bars. When anyone from the family saw that candy bar in the store we’d buy at least two, one to have on hand and one to save at the house for a just in case moment. She loved that candy bar.

When my sister was pregnant she adored milkshakes. During her pregnancy she was promised a milkshake outing and a scheduling conflict occurred and the outing didn’t happen. She was crushed. Sister’s husband, mi esposo and I knowing how much she wanted one concocted a plan to get one and make her happy. Mi esposo and I drove to her favorite place which was about 40 minutes away from her house, packed it in ice and ice packs (you would have though we were transporting a liver) and headed to her house. When her hubby opened the door and she realized her milkshake had arrived she was happy and all was right with the world.

Now I’m the pregnant chick and one morning I woke up wanting baked ziti. Not a dying need for it of course. A taste, that’s all, I wanted just a taste of it.

Sister’s husband makes the best baked ziti, and naturally I asked him if he would make it for me. He works nights so if he isn’t working, he’s watching his daughter during the day, my sister’s BB. He just didn’t have time plus its summer and therefore too hot to make baked ziti. It’s also a time consuming and laborious process as the sauce must be made scratch and all ingredients must be incorporate in a precise manner, or at least that’s what my brother-in-law tells me. I thought about stealing his recipe but it’s a family recipe, saved in the minds of the family and not on paper, but even if I were to make it I was sure I couldn’t duplicate my BIL’s baked ziti.

Remember my milkshake story, well my sister returned the favor recently in a big way.

She knew I wanted just a taste of it and so she made me baked ziti, actually penne, she bought the wrong type of pasta but who cares! It was made! She worked with her hubby and made the sauce from scratched and baked it with love for me.

DELICIOUS!

My BIL loves me since he shared the recipe with my sister; I think he wrote it down. WOW!

My sister loves me and I know this for a fact. She’s shown me by preparing a meal especially for me while simultaneously working a full time job and taking care of her daughter. She made me sauce from scratch and in her excitement to create the dish she bought penne instead of ziti but kept on going, since she knew I wouldn’t mind what type of pasta was featured as long as I was able to get the dish. My mother loves me because she allowed me to take the Tupperware home with the leftovers and my dad and mi esposo love me because they only took moderate portions so I could have the leftovers.

Thank you everyone, and thank you darling for the lovely food that I ate at your house, had as leftovers last night and devoured today for lunch.

Baby and I thank you all oh so much!

Announcement

When a certain something happens in your life, something so special you just have to share, so you make an announcement.  You tell the world your happiness so that they can share in your joy.  Some people announce things quite elaborately, planning and planning until all the details are finalized and then their plan is revealed for all to see.

I thought of a plan to announce my special news, I thought and thought and came up with a number of ideas.

I would make shirts for myself, mi esposo and even little shirts so that the kittens could get in on the act as well.....or I could make a sign, a special sign and display it so that everyone would know about the wonderful event that will be happening in my life soon....or I could play a song that would give a hint to my announcement and then yell out my news to the world.

All my plans were for naught you see as I told everyone in a different way.  I didn't make a shirt with the news thereby sparing my poor kittens and mi esposo from dressing up; I didn't make a signor play a song, instead I told everyone the simple news that has made us so very happy. 

Mi esposo and I are going to have a baby, a little baby of our own.

It might not have been an announcement with a grand design but what you might not realize is that every time I put my hand to my belly and think there's a baby in there, fireworks go off in my heart, my eyes swim with tears of joy and my mind starts to work overtime just wondering is it a girl, is it a boy, will it look like me and have mi esposo's eyes, will it have his thick hair and his sense of humor?

We are going to have a baby and in the words of Mrs. Bennett..."God has been very good to us."

Want to know how to get a toddler freak out

Tell her there's a kitty waiting under her chair just waiting to pounce on her!

Works every time!

The Tale of the Fence

When our neighbors behind us removed the trees that were in danger of falling on our house (thanks neighbors!!!) we were left with a bare yard and a chain link fence for our viewing pleasure, not unpleasant but nothing very inviting to look at.

Mi esposo and I pondered our next step. This was our opportunity to put up a privacy fence on our side and effectively banish the door on the old fence behind us (that dated back to the original owner of our neighbor's house behind us) which would destroy the shortcut the neighborhood kids were using to go through our properties. YEA! Bad kids, you know better or you at least should have been taught that your actions are considered trespassing since you weren’t given permission to come onto our privacy.

Anyway....we plotted. We drew a fence on paper and then my father sat down and gave us a plan with pictures, drawings and a completed permit request for our township.

We were now going to build a 6 foot pine fence to line the back and right side of our property granting us privacy and preventing our visitors from landing in our neighbor’s yard chasing an errant ball. We headed over to the township building with Dad’s filled out forms and obtained our permit for the 6 foot pine fence. Dad stopped by later that week and dropped off the supplies, lots of materials for the posts, nails and wood but he changed it; instead of pine we were using cedar which is more durable than pine and would possibly prevent undesirables (mosquitoes) and be prettier (my point). Our response, cool, let’s put it up.


The very next weekend Dad went to work....

Dad in his bobcat and mi esposo to the left of the photo, both working hard.

Weekends passed and dad came over when he could, God bless his heart, and he put up the frame, sometimes with mi esposo’s help, once I helped out (I also did my fair share of bringing refreshments) and once he brought his buddies to help.  Dad dug the holes with the posts, came back with his guys to pour the concrete and then came back again to put up the frame, mi esposo helped him with the frame work too.

 ah, a frame, so close to having a fence!

Dad decided to get fancy and put up an esthetically pleasing fence for us so he curved the ends of the boards, sanded them down and then installed them.

Here's the loot, just the beginning.

The weekend the fence was to be completed, on mi esposo’s birthday, an accident occurred. While assisting my father in removing the string, dad’s angle indicator, mi esposo slipped, on one of the hundreds of weirdly shaped rocks in our yard, severely spraining his ankle. Although my father offered to find something for mi esposo to bite on while he righted the twisted ankle by force, mi esposo declined his medical assistance and asked for me his wife, to drive him super fast, my favorite chore, to the hospital. Two hours later, after x-rays and a consultation by a physician’s assistant, we were home, mi esposo was asleep loaded up with Motrin and given a diagnosis of a severely sprained ankle and tears to his ligaments and tendons and I sat next to him thinking, “poor thing, and no cake this year.”

Here are the boys in happier times.....Before the incident

And here is my boy after the incident.....Dad was sitting next to him on the couch watching a movie and keeping him company, bless his heart.

Not to worry though, Dad came back the next day and completed the fence, oh and mi esposo felt better to once he got the hang of the crutches. 

the completed privacy fence

Voila! A pleasing fence don’t you think but it sort of reminds me of a bunch of popsicle doesn’t it. Come on don’t you see it too. :)

Next on the list, building the garden portion, I think I’m going to make mi esposo a shirt that says, “I survived working with my father-in-law.”

THANKS DAD FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK!!!!!

Newbies

I've been up to lots of stuff lately, unfortunately not posting you see I have two little ones that are keeping me occupied....introducing Ronald and Luna...

Little ones it seem take up a lot of time, you have to be sure to clip their nails so they are not climbing the furniture or the curtains.  You need to feed them several times a day and be sure they have plenty of water and take them to their vet appointments.  So far check on everything, we've scored a 100% and the best part is they require lots of loving and don't seem to mind sleeping on your head if it turns out they need a little extra warmth.

See you soon!

Quantum Leap

One of the best things about Netflix is that you can catch up on some great Television shows, and by catch up I mean watching a show that first debuted back in March 1989.

I'm not sure how I missed this gem but mi esposo introduced me to this show and now I'm hooked.

Quantum Leap stars Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, a scientist who along with Al Calavicci created the Quantum Leap project, but as Sam says in the first season intro, his experiment went a little caca and now he is leaping from person to person at anytime in the past to right any wrong that was done.  Unfortunately Sam's brilliant mind has gone Swiss Cheese and his memory is faulty, so he relies on his friend Al (Dean Stockwell) who appears as a hologram to help him out. 

One of my favorite episodes so far is called the Camikazi Kid, in which Sam leaps into the body of a high school, pimple faced boy named Cam Wilson, shown below, notice the braces (love it!).

According to Ziggy, the computer that assists in determining Sam's goal for each leap, Sam's job this time around is to prevent Cam's sister from getting married to her abusive boyfriend, something that happened to Sam's own sister, Katie. I won't tell you how it ends, you'll have to see the episode for yourself and here's a fun note, in each episode Sam has brushes with history in in which he is the cause of a monumental effect for the future.  In Camikazi Kid, Sam meets a young boy who he teaches how to dance the moonwalk, yup the moonwalk and who does he teach, why none other than a young Michael Jackson. 

If you missed it the first time like I did, I heartily suggest you sign into Netflix and add it to your Queue and get watch Al and Sam's adventures, especially when Sam leaps into the life of a woman, I love the outfits they put him in. :) 

Isn't he just darling! 

Would you have stayed around afterwards?

The Good Wife - Spoiler Alerts!


In the final scenes of the Unplugged episode of the Good Wife, the decision was made regarding the Junior Associate Position….would it be Alicia or Cary.

above image courtesy of starpulse

The episode began with the discovery of a hole in the conference room wall, caused by the replacement of the law firm’s sign. The receptionist told Alicia and Cary’s assistant about this discovery, who promptly went to the conference wall and overheard a golden nugget of information that the Jr. Associate position was going to be decided upon.  

The assistant runs to tell Alicia, but Alicia upon finding an unwelcome visitor in her office, which should have been denied access by her assistant but said assistant was out snooping instead, turns the assistant away. After receiving the brush off from Alicia, the assistant runs to tell Cary. Later, Alicia asks the assistant what she needed to speak to her about but the assistant says nothing and never reveals her secret. Instead Alicia finds out from Kalinda that her assistant was aware of the secret, had never mentioned it to her but had alerted Cary who was been campaigning to every partner in the office to put in a good word for him.  Cary spoke to Will regarding his future at the firm and Alicia has a discussion with Diane who informs Alicia to take advantage of her position.  Alicia then heads over to Eli to ask for help to ask his clients to move their business to her law firm.  Alicia begins to leave stating she changed her mind and didn't want his help because she isn't the type of person to do such a thing, but Eli replies "everyone is that person."  Hmmmm....

At the end of the episode Alicia and Cary are called down by the Partners, once they arrive Alicia is called first to which Cary states to her the first are always the first to be let go.  Cary sits back and smiles assuming he's won, but we all know what happens when we assume don't we.....Alicia enters the room and is surprised to find that instead of heading to the unemployment office the next day she'll be reporting to work.  Diane and Will then ask Alicia to send in Cary.  Alicia sends him in and then waits, yes she waits outside knowing all the while that Cary is hearing the "sorry we can't keep you speech" and waits for him to leave.

I don't think I could have waited and celebrated my triumph so soon especially at the expense of Cary.  I would have gone back to my office or hightailed it out of there and ran home to celebrate with my family, but I can understand why she stayed.  She stayed to take a stand against someone who didn't think she could make it, to prove to herself that she could.

It's Alicia's time now and this is just the beginning. 

I do love this show.

Updates

Last Saturday Ron had his second check-up with the Vet.  He's gained weight and is up from 1 lb, 5 ounces to l lb, 9 ounces.  Dr. announced he had a clean bill of health, is doing great and can't wait to see him again to witness his continued improvements. Sox still doesn't like poor Ronald and continues to hiss at him by the door.  Upon occasion she'll growl when she notices his itty bitty feet sticking out from under the door.  In Sox's defense, little Ronald might be trying to slap his sister so I can see why she'd be upset and it looks weird to her I'm sure.  It looks weird to me to see those legs sticking out from under the door.

Today, I took Ronald out of the bedroom and brought him to my craft room, more on that later, to give him a change of scenery.  Turns out I forgot to close the door and Madam Sox took advantage of this misstep, entered the bedroom and proceeded to eat all of his food without the slightest bit of shame. We have hope thought, we've all been together 2 weeks and 5 days and still going strong.  By Christmas, yes Christmas time hopefully we'll be one big happy family. 

As to my sewing room, I reorganized it.  Summer is here and I needed to take advantage of the sun coming into my window. 

Notice how much light is pouring through the window, the one I need to make a curtain for, just lovely don't you think so.   I need another outlet in the room (oh daddy, did you hear that, please) and time to create in here.  I have a couple of projects going on as you can see from above.  The first is an update to the Heather Ross' bag I had mentioned before.  Its hanging off the left hand side of the chair.   The second project is on the cutting board, cut and pinned just waiting to be sewing together.   I re-purposed an old bookshelf for fabric storage and am using a folding chair for my sewing chair.  Next shopping list I need to find a comfortable chair!  This weekend I'll be moving my idea board close to my station and viola, I'm ready to go, speaking of which I'm off to create a couple more bags.  Ciao!

Weekend Celebrations

Productive, that's a good word I could use to describe this past weekend. On Friday my family celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday, number 39, which I have good reason to believe next year's party will be a celebration of his 39th again.  Great fun was had by all and we gobbled up lots of food from the BBQ.

On Saturday we celebrated my brother's 38th birthday and yet again great fun was had by all and we devoured more BBQ food.

Sunday brought a lovely Mother's Day and again we celebrated with BBQ food.

This pattern has revealed to me that we are a bunch of carnivores, happy yes but carnivores just the same.  If my whole family was locked in a room unable to escape with a BBQ grill and a propane tank with only enough gas to cook one meal, I wonder which one of us we would eat first. Hmmmm....I'm scared it might be me.  Seriously thought there is another pattern to decipher from the above that would be our celebrations, how we always come together as a family to celebrate one another and to thank God above for bringing and keeping us all together.

In honor of Mother's Day, I present you with this picture of my Goddaughter, I have two but I think the oldest one would kill me if I posted a silly picture of her so here is a silly picture of Sister's BB.

Yes I am aware the photo was taken from a Christmas long ago but its a Mother's Day Treat and I'm posting it because I said so.  When you start a blog of your own you can do what you like. :)  Spoken like a true mother right ladies!!!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!  Thanks mom for helping to keep me alive when I was younger no matter how many scrapes I got into. She has the doctor's bill for butterfly stitches to prove it.

Fabric on my mind.....

I can't work!  I keep thinking about all the lovely fabric at home in my craft room just waiting to become something new, a dress, a skirt, a grocery bag, a wallet, a portfolio, an apron, a lunch gab, a cosmetic bag....I could go on and on.

I've been trying to work today; I really have, but I've found myself heading to fabric sites instead.  I did order several gorgeous fabrics from fabric.com.  Head over if you can, as they have lovely cotton prints still available for $3.95.  Later I found myself wandering over to Hancock.com and found this beauty.

This would make a lovely skirt, don't you think, or a cute top or a fun bag.   I found myself trying to find a matching solid to make a complete outfit when I realized an hour had gone by and I hadn't done a thing at work and I was still consumed with getting out of the office to head home and sew and began to watch the clock, which when watched decides to move at the pace of a snail. 

Enough, I thought, enough stop torturing yourself, but no I continued and then did the most damage. I discovered Heather Ross' newest fabric line will be released this May.  May, I have to wait until May, NO, that will be forever, I can't believe it.  I am dying to get the Owl and the Pussycat material to make a bed for my cats, Sox & Ron.  All at once, my brain clicked and I realized its only three (counting today) days until May.  I think I can wait that long and until then I'll read Heather's latest creation again (I posted back in July 2009 about this darling book) which Heather autographed for me in person after demonstrating how to create the smocked dress in her book.  Yup you read right I met her and guess what she kept my pen. :)  I'd like to think its inspiring her to create new fabrics, who knows maybe the Owl and the Pussycat began from a drawing created with my very own pen. 

  

If you don't have this book, get it, and try out the trapeze dress which I'll attempt in muslin first of course and then I'll be using an Amy Butler fabric which I'll share soon.  Which reminds me I owe you a picture of my great big tote bag that I made from this book.....another to add to my to do list which I'm sure my sister will remind me to post the pic. 

Ah, just a couple more hours and I head home to my sewing machine....just a couple of hours......

Phanatic - To Infinity and Beyond

The other day I headed over to the library to get my grubby hands on the latest Jodi Piccoult book when I came upon this beauty at the steps of the Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Branch located at 19th & Vine Street.....

Another Phanatic! 

This time our dear Phanatic is off in search of the new planets and adventures in a galaxy far away.  I can't tell you what I loved the most about this Phanatic...could it have been the great orange-yellow suit?  How about the blue sneakers.

Nope, again its the tail! This time his tail is peaking out the back of his suit! 

I love it! Notice in the background, if you look closely, very closely and be sure its towards the top right you'll see the Franklin Institute, which is right around the corner from the Phanatic.


Do you remember a story when you were little about toys that came to life after everyone was gone.....we'll whose to say the Phanatic doesn't jump off of home plate late at night and head over to the Fels Planetarium Theater to take in Night Skies in the Observatory which takes please every second Thursday of each month in which the Franklin Institute stays open late (6 pm - 9 pm all months expect June & July when its 7 pm -10 pm) and 5 different telescopes are available for everyone to set their sights on celestial objects in the sky provided the conditions are just right, you could see the hottest planet in the Solar System......Venus!

As for me, I never did get my intended book, somehow I found myself in the Sci-Fi section and walked out with a time traveling book all due to my green friend.

A new addition to the family

Posting has been extremely sparse.....hello anyone out there.....yes I've been busy, very busy you see preparing my family for a new addition. 

Introducing.....Ronald Weasley.....

Ronald weighs about 1 lb 5 ounces but like his namesake can eat like there was no promise of tomorrow.  His doctor shouldn't be surprised when at his next visit in about two weeks he has doubled his weight. 

Kittens are extremely active, not just jumpy, Ron though is hyper, super, super hyper, the second night we had him home I was awakened by the sound of meowing in my ear.  Yes, Ron had climbed up the side of the bed and decided to sleep next to me.  How he climbed at 1 lb 5 ounces up 2 1/2 feet without any fear of falling I have no idea but I'm sure this is just a sign of things to come, I wonder if he'll try to climb up my curtains just to look out the window!

As for my baby, Sox, well at present she is denying his existence and should she be reminded of Ronald's presence she will either hiss, growl or turn her back on him.  I've read it may take a couple of months for her to tolerate him so hopefully come June she won't hiss, if not there's always Christmas.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Phanatic goes Starry Night!

Borrowed from the Glora Dei St. Paul website

Starry Night is one of the most well known paintings of Vincent van Gogh.  I'm not nor was I ever an Art History Major.  I can only draw stick figures successfully as my sister can attest to this fact so please keep this in mind as I explain my thoughts on van Gogh's Stary Night. 

This beatuiful painting reminds me of a story, not any story in particular, but one of protection.  You see I have always thought the large struture in the forefront was a representation for someone or something bad about to happen that would prey on the sleepy and charming town below but the large and foreboding struture seems to be fading, almost falling a bit as the swirling clouds, cresent moon and stars ablazed in their glory illuminate the night to fight off the evil thing and save the towns people. 


Who would have ever though that Philadelphia would have its own Phanatic van Gogh waiting for us to protect those that enter Rittenhouse Square to guarantee them a moment of peace away from their jobs. :) 

Notice the swirling clouds on his belly and arms which are derived from the van Gogh's original but take special care and inspect the stars afire on our Phanatic, they are none other than our Philadelphia Phillies! 

Starry Night - Profile

Mom I know you love the Phanatic in green but I must admit I'm completely in love with him sporting my favorite color, blue.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention I snapped a photo of his tail. 

I think Phanatic van Gogh is my favorite so far.  2 down, 18 to go.....

Philly's Phanatic Around the Town - The beginning

This post is for my mom.

My mom loves Green, part of the reasoning for her loves could come from two famous celebrites....

Her Kermie

and the Philadelphia Phanatic.

This baseball season, Mom is in luck as the Philadelphia Phillies and Philly's tourisim group have launched a campaign called "Phanatic Around Town" in which 20 statues of the Phantaic, (each 6 feet tall, 100 lbs and custom painted by a local artist) have been scattered across the City of Philadelphia. 

This summer I plan on finding each of the Phanatic statues and taking pictures of them for her.  Who knows maybe I can convince her to go with me on a road trip with me and take her picture with a couple of the statues.  I'm sure she'll squeal with delight standing next to her man.
 
Okay Mom, are you ready for it....
 
Our first Phanatic is resplendit in Burgundy and Gold and is hanging out at the corner of 16th & Arch Streets at LOVE Park.
 

There are hearts in his eyes since he's such a love bug.

 

Even his tail is dusted in gold. 
 

Cute isn't he!  While he isn't Green I don't think my mom will mind.  I have a feeling she's going to love his new shade.

Easter Vigil

Saturday I was able to witness and partake in an Easter Vigil ceremony in which 17 people became full faith members of the Catholic Church.  Of the 17 people who were inducted were my nephew and his father.  It’s been some time since I attended an Easter Vigil mass and I had forgotten the beauty of it and the opportunities it presents people of the Catholic faith.  It’s a chance be a witness to the beginning of the faith journey for new members of the church and a chance to renew one’s own faith. 

The Easter Vigil Mass is no ordinary mass and its beginning is remarkable.  You see the Church is shrouded in darkness, still and quiet which can be compared to the tomb of Jesus Christ as all was quiet upon his death.  The mass does not begin in the Church but rather at the foot of the Church’s steps where a bonfire is lit.  A prayer is said by the presiding priest who lights the Easter Candle, a symbol of Jesus our paschal lamb, using the flames of the bonfire.  The priest then takes the Easter Candle and using its flame lights another candle held by a follow of Jesus who in turns lights a candle held by another member of the Church, and so on and so on until finally all those gathered for the Easter Vigil receive the light of Christ.  A procession of lights begins as the priest enters the church holding the Easter Candle followed by the members of the Church holding their candles, the symbol of Jesus who is now illuminating the Church in his glory.  Several readings were read, the creation story, the story of the Israelites exiting from Egypt to the promise land and then after the readings the congregation was witness to the baptismal, communion and confirmation rights for all the members of the RICA.   

It was an amazing sight to behold and I was thrilled to be a part of it, to renew my faith and to encourage my nephew and his father to continue in their faith journey to know God’s love for them.

Here is my newphew, I warned him in advance that I was going to hug him hard, I was just so happy for him. I look like such a shrimp next to him.

And here is the happy family.

God bless You All and Congratuations!

Weekend Rush

Is it just me or doesn't the workweek drag on oh so slowly and the weekend rush past us. 

Sunday afternoon is here, the day is almost done and of course I'm dreading work tomorrow, but doesn't everyone, but rather than lament upon the weekend that is almost over let's think about all the great fun we had this weekend instead.....What were you up to?

This weekend I made cookies, I may have gained two pounds enjoying them but still I was happy. :)

These S'more cookies compliments of my latest find, a great baking blog called Confessions of a Serial Baker.  Please visit her if you get a chance.  The cookies were fantastic; mi esposo loved them and I think we are going to hide them in case we should get company to keep them to ourselves.  I also made scrumptions sugar cookies which I'll have mi esposo take to work so I don't gain another two pounds.

Whoops, looks like someone took a bit out of a cookie.

I also found time to make anoter tutu for my niece who is totally into princesses.  I think she is going to love it.

And I finally finished my neighbor's custom bag.  The zipper gave me a bit of trouble but I conquered it and even had help (thanks sister) on creating a durable, extended strap per her wishes.  I had a little extra fabric which I used to make add a tissue holder for her as a surpirse. She loved it and can't wait to use it on her next senior's trip.   

It wasn't a bad weekend at all, just short, here's hoping next weekend, Easter Weekend brings more fun to everyone!

My sister's hard work

I love my house.  I love to spend time there with mi esposo.  I love to clean it.  I love to decorate it. Most importantly I love to have my family over to celebrate with me, what are we celebrating oh anything as long as I get them to my house. 

Apparently my love for my home has just shown through, or maybe I talk about it too much to my family, but someone noticed, my sister.  Well not only did she notice but she decided to make me this.....

...an embroidery of my home.  Isn't it just delightful. It makes me smile just thinking about it. 

Let's zoom in shall we....notice the stone front, my windows, my shutters, my red door which is concealed by the storm door (oh she captured that too), oh and the best part are the marigolds, one of my favorites.  Little did sister know but this year I'm going to buy lots and lots of them and sprinkle them all around my home just as she has them above.  I can't wait.  For now my embroidered home sits atop my mantel along with her other creations...

Jane, my dolly is to the left, and my cute red bird is all the way to the back of the photo. 

Thank you sister and thanks for the lovely photos too, now I have my embroidered home as my background on my work computer so I can gaze at it all day.

Thank you my dear, I love it!!!!

My First Niece is 10!

I wanted to write a post about how I waited for my first niece to be born but my dear niece decided rather than revisiting the past, she wanted to collaborate with me and create her own post for her tenth birthday.  Yes, her tenth birthday, she's now in double digits.  Where did the time go?  How did she get to be so big so soon and when did it happen.  I can remember changing her diaper, feeding her, trying to burp her but I could never do it right, I couldn't bring myself to thump her hard enough on her back.    Here we are today; she's ten!  Her little sister can't believe her older sister is ten years old! WOW!

I still wanted to write about the time that I was in the hospital waiting room ten years ago when I met so many people as I waited for her to be born but she said no again.  Instead she wants to write about the things she likes now and what we did together to celebrate her birthday. 

Here is my first niece's likes at age 10!

Favorite Food = Tostones (Fried Bananas), Pernil (Pork) and Empanadas
Favoirte Movie Star = Selena Gomez
Favorite Color = Purple
Favorite Song = More by Selena Gomez
Favorite Movie = Wizards of Waverly Place the Movie
Favorite Book = Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Favorite Place to Go for Dinner = Chick Fil A
Favorite Things to Do = Cooking and Baking

Here is her favorite picture of herself from my collection.

Here is my favorite picture of her from the same collection. 

 I made her this cool bag for her last birthday and she loved it. 

I should mention that I was privileged to have held a sleepover at my house for my niece and her younger sister yesterday.  We had a blast!  I helped her as she put the finishing touches on her birthday cake, which my sister and I had started earlier in the day.  Mi esposo made her really good soup (in her own words) which she and her sister requested.  We had ice cream, watched a movie in bed, R. L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly, and then fell fast asleep.  

Today we all celebrated her birthday by going to church and then headed to a special place for breakfast.


She surprised me with something though, she said to me she couldn't wait for me to be a mom. She thinks it would be wierd and cool at the same time to see me with my own child.  When I asked why she said "It would be weird because you couldn't give the baby away to someone since it would be yours and it would be cool because you could raise the baby the way you want and I would be able to babysit for you." 

I must say she has become such a smart and funny girl!  Wise beyond years, right!

Happy Birthday Darling!  I love you very much!!!!!!

Sister's Baby is Three

Today my sister's baby turns three.  Three years old, how can this be?!?!?  Where did the time go and how come she is still a skinny runt?

BB at Christmas time with her three favorite things, her pacifier, Walle and a pumpkin

Dear readers would you like to go back in time with me....back to the day she was born when I missed her birth, yes let's recount this blessed day.....

So here's how it happened that i missed the birth of my niece, this joyous occasion that we had been waiting for since my little sister told me she was going to have a baby.

I wasn't supposed to be in the room.

I need you to know that because if I had known I was going to be in the room I would have been prepared.  I would have at least eaten dinner, a snack and done research on-line as to what to expect.  I would have asked mother's about their experience and if anyone had informed me of the climate of the room I would have worn a bathing suit.

I can't recall how we ended up at the hospital only that my husband and I, recently married couple (about 3 months) found ourselves in the waiting room with my little cousin who had two boys of her own. She had been through labor and knew the drill so when you think of it she could have given me a warning no such luck.  Mi esposo, cousin and I waited for what felt like hours, sending text messages to my mom, who with her hubby was with sister, to check on how everyone was and receiving text messages letting us know that sister was doing fine but that it would be a while. Mi esposo, cousin and I settled in and waited, waited, waited and waited then we got hungry. Our nerves were rattled and our bellies were rumbling for food so we ordered a little something, and settled in for another long stretch of waiting.

Again, my memory is cloudy so I can't recall how it happened, whether I was summoned, personally escorted or I meddled my way to my destination but I ended up in the birthing room to check on sister.  Just to check on sister mind you as I wasn't supposed to be there for the birth.  Only my mother and sister's husband were to witness this blessed event. I on the other hand, was supposed to wait in the waiting room until after the birth when I would be presented with a clean child for me to view as my newest niece.  I would like to mention also for understanding sake that I don't have any children so I've never experienced childbirth before only in movies.

Movies lie.

I walked into the birthing room, saw little sister who was in so much paint, told her not to worry, stroked her brow adjusted her oxygen mask since the doctors said it would be helpful for her to have one and then talked to mom when sister's doctor walked in and told her to start pushing and push she did.

Before I knew it I ended up staying in the room, encouraging my sister to push. I remember being stuck in between the top of the bed at my sister's head, supposedly monitoring the breathing mask but if I recall correctly I did little to help poor sister with the mask as it was definitely askew on her cute pained face. Sister's hubby, who was next to me, was holding onto my sister for dear life counting with me to get her to ten as she pushed to get that little bugger out. Poor baby was in so much pain, the tears were rolling from her eyes and all I could do was count.  Afterwards Sister informed me she never wanted to hear me count to ten again in her lifetime. 

I began to sweat profusely, partly from my sister's hubby who is so much like a furnace that the heat pouring from his body in addition to the super heat lamps which they had magically installed above sister's bed to shine down on her so the doctor would be able to see everything. The combination of the heat and the brightness of the lights became unbearable as it continued to burn our skin and eyes relentlessly. It was as if the doctors thought the newborn would be born in Alaska somehow and the extra light and heat were desperately needed to see and warm the newborn instantly. I think it was overkill by the hospital.

As we kept counting the lights continued their torture, boring into your souls, deep into the pit of our empty stomachs, mostly mine. I recalled my dinner had arrived moments before I ended up in the room, an uneaten sandwich waiting for me as I thought I would just pop in to say hi and then head back out and munch away. I wondered if my husband and cousin had most likely nibbled on it due to their nerves. I began to get thirsty counting over and over again, the heat began to climb, the lights became hotter and hotter and there was an odd smell in the room, possibly fear which may have been emanating from sister's hubby. All at once I felt the pain come at my temples, the heat, the lack of food, the nervousness had brought on a migraine at such a time. When the doctor took a break letting Jenny breath, I stumbled to the bathroom, not even turning on the light and enclosed myself in the dark room took a couple of breaths to calm the beating at my temples.

After a couple of minutes I heard it.

A baby cried, a big and hearty cry while I was in the bathroom rubbing my temples.

I missed it.

I wasn't supposed to be there but I missed it.

I walked out of the bathroom, pale, sweaty and sad until the moment BB was placed in my arms.

I was given this most precious gift to hold in the first moments after she was born.

And she was clean and the lights were turned off!!!!! It was a miracle!!!!!

I held madam BB, said hello to her and stroked her head all the while watching her move her strawberry colored tongue as if to say, hey can you do this to?

It was precious. I will always remember BB's birth and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Happy Birthday, BB!

Tutulicious

Back in October my sister, mom and I visited my sister's BFF and were part of an audience for a live taped show featuring this great project...the Halloween Tutu.

After the show I wandered into Joann Fabrics and picked up some gorgeous tulle and ribbon.  I needed petals or spiders or something to float in the tulle but I couldn't find anything I liked so the Tutu went on the back burner for the time being.  Every time I entered my craft room I knew the tulle was there begging to be made into a fun skirt for a little girl to play with but I couldn't do it.  Not just any flower would do.  One day in Michael's, I frequent craft stores, I found them the perfect petals and they were in the bridal section.  Who knew! I bought up a bunch and headed home to construct a fairy tale tutu.

I never worked with tulle before, all of my projects have been from cotton materials which are incredibly easy to work with but tulle has a bit of a mind of its own.  Its so delicate and light and since my eye sight is so bad it was hard to tell when I had gathered all of the ends, sometimes I missed a few, but finally I made it.  Isn't it beautiful.

I even managed to add a little bit of detail that only the wearer would notice right away to give it an extra special feel to it.  Since I have so many nieces in my family I decided to gift this to a co-worker's granddaughter and have her be my test subject.  He's promised me a picture of her in it and will let me know her reaction when she gets it which I promise I'll share with you. 

On another note, a little girl I've know for over 13 years had just turned 18!!!!!!  Can you believe it.  She's grown into a beautiful young lady and will be off to college this year.

I made her a wristlet in her favorite color blue with a skull pattern, which is all the rage for the kids now a days.  What do you think?  Is her obvious expression of delight due to the handmade wristlet or the gift card she's holding. I'm thinking she's already spent that card in her head.