proper weekending.

who doesn't love a crisp, sunny morning? and waking up every day now with more and more joy and anticipation is something i am loving.

happy weekend! we'll be busy bustling around whittling down that 'to do before baby comes' list balanced out nicely with some sitting around relaxing to college football and a hours of knitting for baby conklin. can't get any better. especially 4 days in a row!

taking joy in the little (and big!) changes

i am still surprised when i look in the mirror - he is taking up more and more space!
seeing little piles of this around the house makes me very excited

halloween 08

if you haven't seen the movie Juno, this won't be funny....

Juno and Paulie Bleeker

our costume - Reid's shorts are definitely not short enough ;)

housewifely flair

seriously - 54 free apron patterns? so great! my Grandma Jan always has on aprons. or housecoats. and she's always puttering about the kitchen whipping up some masterpiece without any recipe at all as she's clearly made it a million trillion times. i've never really been into them for myself for whatever reason, but they always look so cute on her. and then my Aunt Kathy had me put one on over the baby and now i am thinking suddenly they are sort of amazing and everyone should definitely own one.

there's also a really neat book The Apron Book that has patterns and photos and histories of people's aprons and what they mean to them. its seriously history and people's identities all rolled into one. "Aprons take us back to our favorite place-hearth and home. Vintage aprons help us remember home and family the way they used to be, while bright and sassy contemporary aprons confirm that nesting is all the rage. " it makes me smile that wearing an apron all day every day used to be the norm - and still is for some people. i need to find and make my perfect apron so i can be part of that history. do you have any happy memories of aprons on your favorite ladies of yesteryear?

and looking at this picture that wasn't taken all that long ago, this baby man inside me has certainly grown A LOT.

do something about it!

thanks to Soulemama's new blog Mama To Mama, I have found my new favorite way to make a difference...through craftivism!

Project Linus <-- check it out, I'm really excited about this! Be a Blanketeer (from Project Linus website)
"Our volunteers, known as “blanketeers,” provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. It is Project Linus’ policy to accept blankets of all sizes, depending on local chapter needs. All styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. Always remember that blankets must be homemade, washable, free of pins, and come from smoke-free environments due to allergy reasons.
To help you get started, we have compiled a special page just for you that has many popular patterns. This page also has links to several web sites that sell items to help you make blankets and quilts. Many of these web sites offer special discounts to friends of Project Linus and also donate a percentage of their Project Linus sales back to us. Be sure to check our Patterns / Links page for details.
If you are interested in getting involved, refer to our Chapter Listings page for a chapter near you. If you need additional information please check our FAQs page. If you still have questions or just want to contact us then see our Contact Us page."

a taste of Sunday - donut muffin recipe

i most definitely made these for breakfast this morning and it was cool enough we all could enjoy them outside on the patio. Baxter was particularly interested in tasting one.


it was so beautiful today - it even rained, just the light-can-barely-tell-its-raining kind of rain but you can definitely smell! in fact, i smelled it first....then glanced out the window on a whim and saw the spattering on the brick patio. and then proceeded to head outside barefoot and sit cross-legged on top of our patio table under the big umbrella and just sucked in that delicious fresh rain smell. the rest of the evening is being spent on the knitting project and relaxing before monday strikes.

i think this post is exciting.....not particularly due to the content (although the making of sugar skulls to celebrate the day of the dead does sound like a neat process), but because there are other moms out there who are exciting about teaching their kids about cultural celebrations around the world. i love the Mexican day of the dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration - that is all about honoring their ancestors. if you know me, you know i pretty much love every tradition and cultural ideology originating in central and south America. maybe someday i will be lucky enough to be IN Mexico, experiencing this celebration myself.


poor Baxter - Reid put his "Paulie Bleeker" costume wig on the dog when we got home from our halloween party friday night. if any of our friends send us a picture of our costumes, i'll share - but i definitely forgot the camera battery in the charger.

things i don't mind admitting

in no particular order (and get ready for some random!):
a. since its my first ever knitting project, it is less difficult for me to announce that i cast on too many stitches to this blanket and after adding 6 rows (which look quite beautiful if i say it myself), i am announcing that i am starting over. and this time, i will count much more carefully. and perhaps listen to music instead of trying to watch a movie while knitting. my brain is not ready for that much activity at one time apparently.

b. i love talking to my best friend. if life going on around us could pause indefinitely, i am quite positive we could fill hours chatting. maybe even days. with minimal bathroom breaks. it would obviously be way better if we were doing it from a porch swing while drinking lemonade or sitting on the side of a cliff with the wind in our faces, but i will settle for the cell phone. and am thankful for the minutes (and sometimes hours = yay!) we can dedicate to just being friends.

c. my legs feel like barbie legs. you know, how they are sort of just detachable if you accidentally pull on them too hard trying to dress them. the books said this would happen, but now i think i know what they mean - i mean my hips feel just crazy like literally i could just take my legs out of the socket and leave them somewhere for awhile. its the wierdest thing. and oh, am i slowing down indeed! i am encouraged knowing that all of this is supposed to happen (and that it is not permanent!)

d. i'm ready for Christmas. its a day past Halloween and it is time. for Christmas music and Christmas cookies and Christmas trees and Christmas cards and ribbon and scented candles. something about all of that is so comforting and homey and absolutely delicious. no matter where you are, these things make it feel like home. that's such a great term because it has nothing to do with the house you live in. :)

e. i like to go in the unfinished baby room and just stare at stuff. and imagine what life will become in a matter of days (the official count is 45 days people. nuts).

could you please tell me some of your favorite Christmas songs/artists/collections? i'm in dire need of an updated Christmas tune playlist. thanks and happy weekend.