And Then There Were Three!

Gregory Robert
November 3, 2010 / 5:25 PM
7 lbs. 10 ozs. /21.45" in length

Thanks be to God!

Life is GRAND!

Thinking Pink!

When you think of late October what color comes to mind?

I'm thinking PINK!

Life is Good!

Great Expectations!

Easter fills the world with hope and promise. The big (almost) Easter announcement made in our family today has had the same result! (Okay, so it was a Palm Sunday announcement!) Our son and daughter-in-law are expecting in the late fall; we'll be grandparents once again! Hope and promise has never seemed more wonderful.

Life is the BEST!

Schedule?

I am schedule-driven, I admit that. Friday is cleaning day, no exceptions; but I can learn to be more flexible... particularly where my grandson is concerned! I spent the better part of this past week at Mason's house, helping out. On Thursday, my daughter and I loaded up the baby and she brought me back home; I kept Mason for a while yesterday, as she had an appointment here. Yep, it's true, Mason can absolutely interrupt cleaning day at Chez Goodneedle, any ol' time he wants! I am reminded of this cross-stitch sampler that I stitched for my son's nursery twenty-eight years ago. (I have no idea what happened to the actual framed sampler, but I did locate the chart.) Definitely words to live by... "babies don't keep"... ain't that the truth! And now, today, I'm off to annihilate a few dust bunnies; it hardly seems fair, they won't be expecting an attack on a Saturday.

Life is Good!

Guess Who Came To Granny's House?

Yep, the little charmer and his Mommy! We'll squeeze in every visit that we can! It was wonderful, he's the best baby (of course!) and a perfect traveler. They've headed back already to the Capital City, I miss them bunches.

Life is Good!

Granny Goodneedle

He's been here for almost 48 hours now; that's how long I've officially been a Granny and, naturally, I have a few thoughts to share:

1. Even though I thought my heart and mind were ready to welcome this precious child, nothing could have prepared me for the first moment I saw my first-born holding her own baby; it was both amazing and completely overwhelming at the same time.
2. The capacity for love in one's heart knows no limits; there's always room for more. I couldn't love this little boy any more if I tried, my heart was already full, or so I thought, and then... I held him.
3. I am deeply thankful to God for each day, every single moment; they are blessings, like pearls, and they stretch out far beyond my gaze, my grasp. Shining brightly among the pearls are scattered brilliant diamonds, flashing their own lights and illuminating whatever they touch. Precious, special blessings; God reached down and quietly added one more of these to the treasury two days ago.

"...Grandmas can shed the yoke of responsibility, relax, and enjoy their grandchildren in a way that was not possible when they were raising their own children. And, they can glow in the realization that here is the seed of life that will harvest generations to come... "
-Erma Bombeck, American writer (1927-1996)

Life is Good!

Mason Has Arrived!

Wednesday, July 23, 12:00 PM
6 lbs. 1 oz., 19.5" long
Mom, Dad and Mason are doing very well.

Welcome to the world, little one!


Life is the BEST!

In Preparation...

... for the little one's arrival we spent the day in the Capital City on Wednesday. My husband helped to hang the letters, that our daughter has so lovingly painted and detailed, over the crib.

The curtain rod was installed and I pressed the curtains just so. Ceiling fixtures were moved and his towel rod was installed in the bathroom. There's lots to get ready, he's not even here yet and he's got everyone hopping! My husband used the laser level, all the while under the watchful eye of the "nursery supervisor."

His clothes are washed and ready.His toy basket awaits... (this was Hannes' favorite spot to visit!) as does the rocker... as do we all...
Such a wonderful and happy home, precious parents, so much love,
all to greet one very special little boy!

Life is Good!!

We're Off...

... tomorrow to the Capital City for the day. Our daughter needs some help with a few things before the baby comes. I have an ever-growing pile o' stuff to take to her, too! I spent yesterday stitching more burp cloths for the little one, these on cloth diapers. They stitch up very nicely, they are thick and the stitches nestle down in beautifully. I pre-washed them, that left lots of raggedy strings on the serged ends, I then bound them with a cute little polka-dot binding. My husband isn't fond of dots, I also had polka-dot ribbon for the edge trimming, he vetoed that... so, it was the plain blue grosgrain that you see pictured here, on all four. The baby's name is on the two cloths hiding in the back, the ones with the dinosaur and the happy helicopter. I'm not sure my daughter wants his name revealed yet; (or at all on my blog) so we'll be content, for now, to have those two sets of eyes peeking out from behind!

Life is Good!

A Wondrous, Whirlwind Weekend

It's been quite a weekend. Today's my husband's last day at work, he'll be retired come tomorrow. There was a send off at his office on Friday afternoon, I am still processing all the joys, wonders and blessings of the weekend that started with that event. Our family gathered at a favorite restaurant on Saturday evening to celebrate; it was a happy time to both reflect on where we've been and look forward at the same time. We anticipate sleeping in a bit later each day, gladly planning our own daily agendas together and in just a few short weeks becoming proud grandparents! In fact, our grandson received his very first quilt on Friday evening! Two of you guessed correctly when I asked the question in an earlier post about what would be following "Sugar and Spice" off the long arm. Yep, "Snips and Snails" it was! This quilt was made up from a jelly roll and two charm packs of the softest flannel. The fabrics are from the"Giggles" collection by Moda and the pattern is Easy Breezy by Touchstone Designs from The Little Quilt Shop in Madison, VA. I have a few more things to stitch up for him in the next few weeks, some burb cloths and bibs, and anything else that my daughter needs help with now that his first quilt is done. She and I worked around the kitchen table together crafting birth announcements on Saturday afternoon, what fun that was. Looking back, it was a weekend of wonders, and a whirlwind of emotions... and it's all good!

Life is Good!

From The Sewing Chair...

Hey, guys! It's me again, Hannes. I haven't posted for awhile; my life's been a little stressful lately. Mom's been running here and there, hither and yon; sometimes she takes me with her and sometimes I stay at home with Dad. All of this activity is bothersome to say the least. Yesterday and the day before she stayed at home all day... it was heavenly. I stayed right here in my chair and she sewed sweet, soft things for my little nephew-to-be. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like the staying home part, I'm not quite so confident that I'm going to like Mom dividing her attention between us when the baby arrives; that's what's worrisome. In less than two weeks now Dad will be home all day, every day. I may be dividing my own attention; maybe I'll spend mornings in the workshop or in the garage with Dad and afternoons in the Studio, I haven't quite decided yet. You know, I may even go to the Capital City now and then to see the little nephew, I hear he has an abundance of stuffed animals. Someone's going to have to check them out to see if they have squeakers inside, right? (That's my special talent!) It's the least that I can do!

Life is Good!

Dust Bustin'

Here's my daughter and her teaching assistant packing up the classroom. I've been back in the Capital City assisting with this monumental chore. It was two days worth of work, toting a LOT of books! An elementary school teacher accumulates many things, did I mention that my daughter collects books? She does, and they're heavy! Bit by bit, box by box the classroom was emptied and scrubbed down. We had fun working side by side, we always have fun together. It wasn't all work. We went to Char-Grill for lunch on the second day. It's a unique fast food restaurant where one marks up their own order form outside, drops it through the slot in the glass and waits until their name is called. My chili dog was delicious! I had to keep my strength up after all. I arrived home in time for Church Council meeting last night. Today I spent time visiting with quilting friends I haven't seen for years at our "Quilting Pleasures" Guild Show. I needed some quilt therapy in the worst way, I'm itching to stitch and received much inspiration. I've been gone so much lately that my sewing machine is gathering dust; sadly, I may even have to reintroduce myself to Sundance! I have baby quilts to make, and time's a wastin'. I'd like to use the colors of this puppy dog as a color pallete for a wall quilt for the nursery. The blue matches the crib bedding, the green is fresh and lively, while a little touch of red adds interest and will match a rocking chair in the room. I'll have to see what I can find in my stash. In the meantime I need to embroider some burp cloths and bibs and, oh yeah, find my dust rag; I know there's a sewing machine under here somewhere!

Life is Good!

Timing Is Everything

There are no worms in the Capital City, there couldn't be... the early birds must have gotten them all. Where I live, in our rural setting (where it's dark at night) the birds awaken and sing just before the sun comes up. In the urban-ness of street lights and traffic, the birds around my daughter's home (poor, confused things that they are) begin their morning serenades at 2:15 AM! I was alarmed at first when I heard them, thinking I'd overslept and missed my alarm clock. A quick inspection of not one, but two, clocks reassured me that I could go back to bed for a while longer!

I attended a birthing class with my daughter on Wednesday, I stood in for her husband who was traveling this week. Amazingly, even with all the technological advancements (each of the 13 expectant mothers in class knew their baby's gender) of the past 30+ years, childbirth class is exactly the same as I remember. Moms still carry pillows and a mat to class, the conscious relaxation techniques are the same as I remember. Imagine, as much as things change in a hurried up, fast paced world of high-tech everything; they really do stay the same. Babies still enter the world, when they're ready, according to God's perfect timing.

Now, about timing, clocks, and those birds...
Life is Good!

Mother's Day and TO DO Lists...

Mother's Day came and went in a flurry of activity here. It was a celebration of motherhood heightened only by excited anticipation of the "wedding-to-come" on Saturday! Pictured here is the mommy-to-be "modeling" a new outfit from the almost bride and groom. Isn't it just the cutest? Hannes chose a new purse for me for Mother's Day; reminding everyone who sees it what his mother's definite breed of choice is, seriously, could there be any other? (And, by the way, doesn't he look pleased and proud of his purchase?) Things are shifting firmly into wedding gear at Chez Goodneedle, I have "to do" lists that measure a mile long. I will most certainly be on blog-land hiatus for a spell from here on in; I'll return with wedding pictures next week and an upcoming giveaway to commemorate passing the 400th post milestone. Y'all come back! Y'hear?

Life is Good!

If Blessings Were Pearls...

I know I'm getting older. I'm choosing to count blessings, not years. I have LOTS of blessings this year alone! Our baby is getting married soon, very soon. My husband is retiring at the end of June. We are expecting a grandson in August. Amazing, blessed events; each and every one. These types of events are reserved for those who've gained experiences, and collected blessings, along the way. Something happened this weekend that made me smile, I'm not saying this occurrence made me feel old, or even particularly blessed, it just made me smile! Our daughter called on Saturday. She and her husband have bought a mini-van. Yep, the couple who are the epitome of all that is cool and fashionable are now driving the very symbol of impending parenthood! I'm so very glad I've lived to see this day; for if blessings could be pearls, then it's moments such as these that become the sweet, strong string that holds them all together. This accessory one earns only by living!

Life is Good!

It's Been Awhile...

... since I have been shopping for a baby; but, with a grandson on the way I'm back in the game BIG TIME and enjoying every single minute! Aren't these the cutest things ever? They're foot rattles! I love them. He needs them. My shopping list is growing; he needs this cute little sign for his doorknob, don't you think? The list could go on and on... we have time. He's not arriving until August, that's good, I have his quilts to make. Yes, quiltS, plural; it's what I do! I already have a few fabrics selected for a couple of projects, here's a peek:and of course he'll need a Picture Play quilt, and one with Minkee pets, and some special "quiet books"... I'd better get stitchin'! He will be receiving one very warm, soft, welcome to this world! And, if you think about it, isn't that the very best way to be received; all warm and soft and loved?

Life is Good!

21. Every day, find time to be alone.