Dear Me....

Please stop procrastinating your work...the work from the job that pays in dollars. The long days at the computer are beginning to be unbearable. Just do a little bit each day, problem solved.
Much obliged.

RE: Dear Me,
If you haven't learned to overcome procrastination in the last 30 years, what makes you think you will now?
Keep trying.

Sometimes

...this feels so long ago, and other times it feels like only yesterday. 

This was two years ago! Two years ago we were planning a Wish Trip, and scheduling the Fontan. So crazy!

Looking at this picture makes me think about both the past and the future. I wonder how long he'll go without needing oxygen help. How long until we have to find another way to help his heart work well enough. How long until we walk the transplant road. 

I know I try and enjoy every day with both of my kids, and that's because of all the unknowns and what ifs regarding Maddox.  That's a blessing. A tender mercy. 

Nesting...a new experience

This pregnancy has shown me a new side of nesting. It's been different for sure. With Bai, I was working full time and we lived in a little apartment. With Maddox, I was determined to spend as much time with Bailee as I could. (That turned out to be a bigger blessing than I could have known.) This time around I have 4 hours of being alone 4 days a week. I try and get some work done in the mornings, but mostly I have this insane desire to organize and complete projects. Like this:

 Anyone who's been in my office/craft room in the last 3 years will be shocked. Look, there's carpet! It no longer looks like a paper bomb went off. I was having a hard time making calls and working with the huge mess behind me. It's so much nicer to be in there now. 

And this...

Minus the ball basket being tipped over, the playroom is clean, organized, and useable. It got disrupted a couple of years ago when we had my sister and then cousin live with us for short periods of time. The toys were returned to the room, but unorganized and mostly unaccessible. There was grumbling and wondering about why the kids never played with the toys, and talk of just getting rid of all of them. However, the whole family pitched in to clean and organize, and now that they can get to the toys and they remember what they have, they both have spent a lot more time playing, and much less time watching tv.  

I (almost) finished organizing the boys closet and am so much happier with it! I am just going to add a shelf or two to the side of the closet to hold lotion, wipes, etc. I also saw this really cute pegboard idea with baskets to hold diapers and other essentials. Hopefully that will get finished in the next month. 

I put together this quilt for baby. It's the first time I've used minky fabric, and a first for ribbon binding. I learned a few things that will help me put Maddox's together a little easier. I think I need to add a few hidden ties to hold the layers together, but mostly, I'm pleased with the result. 

 

This is the quilt top for Maddox. He chose blue minky for the back, and I am planning on doing blue ribbon for the binding. Maddox is pretty excited for it to be finished. His is of course bigger, but I think it'll go together more quickly now that I practiced on the crib one. 

My next organizing project is this:

We have a lot of books! Love that! But I think I'll move the shelves to the playroom and of course reorganize them. 

I also started this:

The kitchen will be getting a paint job in the near future. I have a lot of prep work to do first though, and there's only so much I can do myself. I will not be standing on the half wall and leaning over to remove that wallpaper.... 

I am hoping to be done with the kitchen project by my birthday. Which is about a month before baby comes. We shall see. 

In other news, 

Are these yours?? I can't find the owner. So if you recognize them...

Another check off my list!

I don't chrochet a lot, but I have made each of my kids an afghan. Here is baby boys. It took me forever to decide on colors. I love how it turned out!  

This is Maddox's. I love his, too. 

And here is Bailee's. I actually made hers while I was in highschool. I think it may have been a young women's project. 

My mom taught me basic chrochet and a granny square. She doesn't read patterns, she either figures it out by looking at it, or someone shows her. I am quite opposite. I want step by step instructions, and a pattern to follow. Classic example of very different learning styles.

I was able to find a pattern for both of the boys afghans and figure them out. I love that all three are different. The colors of the boys coordinate. I wanted them to match their room. I also really don't like baby themed or colored things for boys. Weird. I know. 

It worked out well for Maddox. I didn't buy anything that was light blue before he was born. Afterwards, I wouldn't put him in blue. It looked terrible on him. He was blue enough by himself. I loved him in red, brown, and darker orange. I still prefer those colors, though BYU blue is okay. 

With this baby I've been drawn to navy blue and green. Like this:

Luke's not a fan of matching, but how cute will my three boys be in these ties in blessing day? I told him he could live with it for one day. 

I survived the glucose test! I have one more 4-week appointment and then will start the 2-week appointments. Time is moving on! I'm really getting excited for this little one, and the upcoming summer. 

CHD week

I kicked CHD week off with a day at the hospital with IHH. We delivered lunch to our awesome cardiology clinic and cookies to our amazing ICU staff. We were also able to provide dinner to families at the new Ronald McDonald Family room. That was amazing. What a resource for families! 

It was a pretty long day, but so productive in so many ways. I love serving with IHH and seeing the difference we can make.