Babies are the Best!

Say hello to my new grandson, Henry Michael, born 7/14, isn't he just beautiful!

Henry with his mom and dad the day after birth. My daughter, Dannon, who is a radiographer, and her hubby, Aaron, who is an ex Marine Sharpshooter, did 3 tours at the beginning phase of the Iraq War. Is now a Police Officer in a big City located in Ohio.

Both their boy's together...William is the one in the photograph on the left side of the blog, wearing the little owl sac and hat after he was born....with his new brother Henry...who was born with some health issues. He has bilateral kidney reflux clearly shows in the right kidney, which means the urine back flows from the bladder back in to the kidney... along with a duplicate right kidney. I am not sure what all that means....I do know he has been on antibiotics since birth. From what I know it looks like surgery is clearly in the near future, along with surgery to his eye ducts which didn't fully develop to open them. We are all praying for Henry.

William is certainly enjoying his new little brother is bonding with him very well.

And what a handsome little guy, Henry is, I just love this photograph. It was a preview of what's to come. I can't wait to see them all. Be still my heart ...I am in love!

                                                                      

New Baby

There is a new baby in their house....Henry Michael was born a couple days ago to my daughter and her hubby.  He is just perfect in every way.

Hand Sewing a Quilt...

I've been working on the quilt for little Emma Ann and must add it's going really well, in fact I decided to do it all by hand. Yes, I am hand stitching the entire quilt, no sewing machine at all. Although I have one I get so annoyed at changing everything moving the fabric around and such...and as you know I love the Amish way of life. I do a lot of things around my home just as they do, like washing my clothes, gardening to fill my cabinets to lower cost of groceries. 

I have done extensive research on Amish quilting by hand and have to say I am so much more pleased with the out come of this quilt compared to machine stitching. According to the Amish a machine quilt looses value with time where as a hand stitched gains with time. By hand stitching a quilt also tends to last longer, they should not be washed or stored in plastic only a sheet. Washing a hand stitched quilt is not recommended merely taking it outside after a snow and whipping it up and down against the snow will freshen the quilt.

I can not express how easy and rewarding hand stitching a quilt really is when working on it, not only is it relaxing but also seems quicker. I am really enjoying this quilt and plan on making more the same way. I have the top just about completed, once I get the quilt ready to sew the batting and back together I will show a photograph before the tah-dah moment.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, it's spring and that alone is nice, isn't it?

Raining Babies

Hello all, I know my posting has been far apart. I'd like to thank all who follow and visit for doing so, its truly from my heart, much appreciated. And with that said.....

It's been raining babies around me, yes in deed, I am a grand mother for the 3rd time in 5 months. All three girl's had babies just months apart. This is Emma Ann, just a day old, she was due the end of May but decided to surprise us all. She arrived May 9th, 2014 this baby girl is a doll, she was so tiny at 6 lbs. 09 oz. I can't remember seeing a baby so small. It's been so long for me it's hard to image the size. Emma Ann belongs to my daughter in law, Amanda, and my second oldest son, Aaron, she is there first born.

Yep, this is my son, Aaron, he is the proud father of Emma Ann. He looks like he's in love, doesn't he? I am so head over heels happy for them. He was due to head to Spain right before she was born, Aaron designs new systems for cars. They send him to other countries to see how cars have advanced and what idea's he can bring back. In a couple weeks it's off to Spain and yes at 31 he is rather gray, gets it from his dad who went all gray by 35, poor guy.

                                                                     

Then there is me, yes I am the grandma to this beautiful little girl. Emma is the second girl in the family, my first grandchildren were boy's. I haven't had a new grand baby in 7 years, the first two boy's are currently 7 and 11. I too am head over heels in love with this little girl!!!

I took all the photographs with my Cannon Rebel here is Camilla Marie, finally home from the NICU last week. She finally but on the pounds she needed to come home, she was in the NICU for 6 weeks. What a blessing she is to the family and to her brothers, my first grand children. She was my very first grand daughter. I am so happy and head over heels in love with her!!! Oh, and I set the camera for this photo on monochrome/black and white. Isn't it just gorgeous?

And finally her mom, Shawna, my daughter in law to my oldest son, Adam. They now have 3 gorgeous children, two boy's and this little girl, Camilla Marie. As you can see it's been a busy time with babies and grandma trying to keep up with blankets, knitting, etc. for them all. All the girl's the first being my daughter to have William on November 12, 2013 are asking me for anything handmade. Although Shawna in the photograph made it very clear... no more pink.

So there they are, I will keep you posted. Currently I am putting together a pink and gray quilt for Emma. Oh, its going to be beautiful and goes with her nursery so well. I can't wait to finish it. I also have three baby blankets to make. Thanks to Kate at Just Pootling for posting her blanket pattern for me. Pop over and check it out all done in garter stitch, she's one talented girl and very nice at that, she left a comment on my last post. Thank you so much, Kate!

And Now We Know.... Exactly What!

We know that this little guy was born Nov. 12, 2013

And his mother is so incredibly in love with him...she stares at him constantly...Well, she tries, literally! 

I've never seen a mother so engaged with a child as my daughter, and that's not being bias, it's so true, if only you could see her with him. Well let's just say... What a lucky little boy! Two miscarriages, and an ovarian disease, it was a struggle to have this little guy, bring this little guy full term and into the world. Rightly so, she can stare as much as she likes!

What we didn't know, when he left the Hospital he would go back the first two weeks of his life. Loosing weight beyond what was normal, mom and babies blood mixed in womb, which is bad when it's incompatible, along with becoming extremely jaundice. I had noticed he was a bit off color during my visit (me holding him) and mentioned it to my daughter, who said, mom they said he was fine. But indeed he wasn't...what a struggle this little guy had right after his birth. With tears she said, I feel so bad mom, I should have known but I trusted the Hospital and I won't make that mistake again. Will (the little guy) is doing fine now and while speaking with my daughter on the phone last night, who loves him so much, was afraid to give him his first in water bath. Afraid she would drown him or break his tiny neck. So...daddy gave Will his first bath. 

I pray every night, this little guy, stays healthy.

Then there is the Season of all Seasons 'Christmas" one I did not enjoy for many years nor did I decorate. I did my best to just hide and sleep through that week. 

It takes time to heal from a devastating situation...but it doesn't feel it will change when you're going through it, does it?

Yet it does...if you speak of it out loud, if you take it day to day and know that every day you get through is one more day closer....because when you hit bottom the only way to go is up! Whether it's a year or ten years up is the only way you can go and that life will lead you to.....

Brighter days! Yes it does...I know from first hand experience what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And even if the days are dark the light finds it's way to you...God loves us all... you truly are never alone. You just have to trust him and pray, believe he has more for you to accomplish...because he does in times of troubles. You can't give up and you can't let go! This is a tough time of year for a lot of people, we must keep that in mind, think of others, and ask, how are you...really.

One candle light is all it takes to find your way home... and today was "Giving Tuesday" I hugged my cat, and am sending many Blessings your way.  To all of you reading or passing through, I will put you in my prayers tonight by mentioning my post. 

And what else did I know...after many prayers there it was right in front of me...I know what I am going to do this overly creative gal. On Cyber Monday I bought a Cannon ESO T3I with two lenses, a bag, an 8gb SD card and many other features. I re-evaluated my life since my son and I talked about what I wanted to do in this empty nester life. I realized every time I go to the store I interact with children especially from birth to 5, I just love everything about how pure there souls are...how honest, how incredibly real they are in everything they do. Remember when you were little you did everything, you played, walked through stores, went anywhere with family, etc.....and did what you felt without caring what anyone thought. I think we all need to go back there let the inner child dance, play, run, twirl in circles without caring what anyone thinks. I know I do and it feels awesome. Rejuvenating! Exactly what do I know.... I was a photographer for many years when I was in my twenties for a local studio. I know when I go outside I am always taking photographs. I know that my current camera has done it's job...my Kodak Easy Share Z712 IS held up and did it's best even though I always wanted a real professional camera, and didn't give it the interest I should have...I am grateful for having it. I won't part with it..unless one of my children needs a better camera.

Happy Holidays to all! Thank you again for visiting!

New Grand Baby Has Arrived...

 

Meet William Carter C. " Baby Will"

 

 

 

My third grand baby made his way into the world. Birthday 11/12/13 weird isn't it...Weighing in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. - 21" long. And what a cutie! I had forgotten how small a newborn really is...especially with the last grand baby born, who is now 6 years old. And now this little one, so tiny, so new, so much ahead of him, I just couldn't stop watching as my daughter hovered over him. Not missing a sound, a movement, a facial expression, she was completely mesmerized, and so in love you could see, by her new baby boy. She looked at me and said, Mom, I don't want to miss a moment with him, I want to watch him every single second.

 

 

She swaddles him so tightly in his little blankets, wrapped tight like a little burrito. A technique Will's daddy has down pat. I watched has she spoke to him in such a soft voice...telling me...I wonder what he will look like a year from now...when he's all grown up, she said, I keep trying to imagine what he will look like all grown up. A very familiar question I too had ask and wondered the day she was born. There she is sitting in the hospital rocker looking beautiful, despite the fact she had just given birth, and all natural too. No medications after many unsuccessful attempts to administer an epidural. She did it!

 

 

 I look at her and think my baby just had a baby. So incredible different from a daughter in law, such a amazingly close feeling and one awesomely new experience. I always tell people don't have a girl, they are so demanding, whinny, and verbal, yet as I watched her with her own, I now understand the connection. It's also amazing how much the camera likes her....both her hubby and I agreed. She knows how to express herself to a camera lens, so proud, and in love, she is, with that little guy!

 

 

And this guy...her hubby...was so amazingly patient, and attentive to them both. I don't believe I have ever seen a father so involved in all ways, so soon. I was in aw and impressed at his ability to know exactly what to do in every moment she held him, he knew just by her sounds, when she was becoming frustrated with the new nursing method. He just got up and guided her patiently.  I could see it in so many ways, how much he had grown, matured and took noticed of his wife and son. I was always worried, he did 3 tours in Iraq in the early years of the war as a Marine sniper. His third tour he was commander of his brigade and on his second tour loosing his best friend to an IED. He came back a very quite, yet angry and cocky young man. But there has been a change with age and now as a father he is humbled. What a team they make...as I watched the rhythm, the understanding of each other in the simple ways they communicated. Waiting 7 years for this little guy, building there careers, him a police officer for the Veterns Hospital and her a radiographer. They managed to put together funds to let daddy stay home with his new son for a month. Good job I say to them both...I see this union lasting a lifetime.

 

And now on to more big news....I am to be a grand mother again in April to the first baby girl of the clan. And with that said...

 

Happy Birth Day, little Will, there is much love around you, and I am sure, more to come.

 

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have Peace"

Thomas Paine

 

 

All those Knitted Owls...

 

 

 I finally finished this adorable little owl newborn sack for my daughter's baby due in about 4 weeks. I have to say although I love to learn... reading patterns is something I have always had trouble doing in knitting. I am a more visual person than I am a person who can read, and follow instructions, but, that's okay...because I know I am not the only visual person in the world.

 

 

It takes me time to read a pattern and that's what I enjoy about this new journey in my empty nest later years. I can sit take the time to read and re-read the pattern, look up the abbreviations, so I know what I am going to be doing.

 

 

 All those little owls as adorable as they are took me a bit to figure out...I kept knitting 4 stitches front and 4 back and wheee....all I had was cable working that looked really nice but no owls. So I thought hmmm, something has got to be wrong with the pattern, well of course, it couldn't be me! Yeah right, okay, so it was...I miss read the C4F and C4B meaning cable 4 stitches front and the next 4 back. Amazing how the smallest oversight can make one sit and go...dah!

 

 

I can't wait for my daughter to see this set, she just loves the color gray..and yes...I am still knitting owl's! The little hat designed to coordinate I can not tell you how many times I ripped it out and started over...now this time it wasn't me! I went back to the pattern site and read all the comments...thank goodness for everyone who does comment it's very nice they do so as it cleared up everything. Which goes to show commenting is not only appreciated but very helpful!! Now they say to block it to bring out the owl's and I hear everyone when it comes to blocking, Arg, is all I have to say...so I think I just might steam block instead.

 

Have a good Thursday...and don't forget to watch...

 "SCANDAL"