So, not wanting to neglect him, here he is!

I also added another storybook pin pack to the shop.

I have tons of different stories, so remember if you are ever interested in anything I don’t have listed to just contact me and chances are we can find it!

Henri has a few new things too. Well, the first one isn’t new, but new to him. Jerome’s grandmother’s made this quilt when he was a baby and it is in perfect condition. Of course, I’m scared to death to use it though!

The quilt work and embroidery is absolutely beautiful. There is even a squirrel!! Learning to embroider is on my list of things I would like to be better at. I know a bit of the basics, but it’s hard since I am sooo impatient.

My aunt and uncle also sent this exquisite sweater for him, along with one of the softest blankets and matching teddies I have ever seen.

I love baby sweaters with the zippers in the back! Darby and Zoe had a bunch of them and I wish I would have held on to them. Maybe knitting baby sweaters can be added to my project list?? Well, that would require some definate knitting classes!

Oh, and I can’t forget to show today’s bounty. I have a feeling we are going to get really really sick of cucumbers and zucchini before the summer is over. I think I will make bread today and slice up some cucumbers with vinegar and sugar to have with dinner. What else can you do with them???

I just realized Darby is still asleep! Perhaps I need to go slip a pea under the little princesses mattress…

WALL-E was completely wonderful and I think everyone should be required to see it.

For some reason my sleepy birds decided to get up at 7 a.m today, which makes for a long day for mama. I have lots I am trying to catch up on, including an appointment with one of my wholesale boutiques next week (which means production) as well as stocking up more consignment.

My niece is over now too and amazingly (knock on wood!!) they are all getting along really well. We are having a left-over, clean out the fridge dinner so I don’t even have to cook tonight. Everyone else in my family, except myself, has no problem with leftovers and since I really don’t want to eat anything I figure we might as well use up some food! The girls have been helping plan menus so we have tons of lasagna and stew left over. They don’t seem like very summery dinners, but that’s what they like! I also have about a zillion zucchini and cucumbers so maybe I will figure out something light to do with some of those.

Time to put up my feet and watch the little fish in the pool for awhile, then back to work for a bit. Went to the doc yesterday and basically was just instructed to ‘take it easy, and hang in there’. Wow, is there a different option??? I guess not, so I’ll just hang in there.

Now where did those pretty flowers come from?? Why, my yard of course! Since I don’t have much to update on the craft (or baby) front, I thought I would share a few more peeks into my world. Oh, and side note to my MOTHER…. I sacrificed about half the blood in my body to get these pics! You know the mosquitoes are bad when you walk into the grocery store and there is a sign on the front door that says ‘bug spray, aisle 5′. She usually comes in the early spring or late fall when everything is done blooming and always asks for me to take pics of what’s blooming. She did send a ton of ‘hippy mosquito products’ as Jerome calls them (if it was up to him, he would fog the whole yard…). I have to tell you though, Mom, the girls love the glow in the dark mosquito braclets! They said they worked great at the cottage…

Here’s some of the flowers in bloom.

The hummingbirds live in that last one. It is right outside my back door and visible through the living room window. I love to sit (with my feet elevated, of course) and watch the hummingbirds.

Does anyone know what this next one is? It’s really tall, probably about 5ft high and fuzzy!

And, we can’t neglect the fruits and veggies, can we?

Hiding inside of that crazy overgrown bed are these.

And also these.

More veggies.

Last but not least, the fruit. While something (bird, bunnies, neighbor kid…) has been munching on the strawberries, we do have about a zillion peaches that are ripening.

As well as a few more raspberries hanging on for dear life.

Phew! That was a lot of pics. I would like to tell you that our yard is just a haven of beauty, but in actuality right now it is an overgrown jungle. Personally, I like it that way. I do wish I had the energy to get out and thin things and weed (not to mention identify half of what we have! I actually know very little about plants…), but between the beach ball resting in my pelvis, the heat and the FREAKIN MOSQUITOES, it will be an overgrown jungle for now. At least it is our little jungle….

Now that my ’studio’ has become Henri’s room, we had to find a space for all of my stuff. So, I have my own tiny little nook in the basment. It’s ok though because I pretty much do all my work in the kitchen.

Here is my wall. I also have my work computer, scanner and printer and shelves in there.

I hope to get the rest of my corner decorated soon, but it’s a start.

This weekend was very long and not quite how we had hoped to spend it. On Friday night, by the time Jerome got home from work my feet were sooooo swollen. Beyond just normal pregnancy edema, we decided. So, after a very long restless night, I called the on-call doctor and OF COURSE they want you to go in, so we spent ALL DAY Saturday at St. Mary’s labor and delivery triage. Not of course, that I thought I was in labor, nor did I think I was near delivery, yet there is where we spent the day. Basically I had a fever and high blood pressure, although not too high, and some minor contractions (normal) so they strapped me up to the monitors and we got to listen to little man thumping away all day. He is totally fine and after hours of blood work, exams etc. I was told that basically I may have a virus or that it is just really exaggerated pregnancy symptoms. Great, thanks. It is nice to be reassured that he is just happy as can be in there and that I’m the only miserable one. Well, Jerome is probably getting there too! At least the hospital has a decent cafe so I could nibble a bit of food. I’m pretty much out of room for food too and the only things that taste good are fresh fruit and ice cream!

So, nothing personal little guy, but after almost 37 weeks of letting you take up residence in my belly, I’m pretty much ready for you to move into your own room. Your dad and I even went yesterday to pick up the rest of the stuff I need (fine, wanted) for the hospital!

Anyway, now I am basically confined to about 1-2 hours of actual productive time a day. Today it will be spent going to the post office to ship orders and some consignment packages and maybe stop and look for a few more blank frames since I need to start restocking eventually!

Time to run while I have a little oomph. Wish me luck!

The first is the Edsel takes a nap print from Elegant Snobbery

She has sooo many adorable prints. It was hard to choose just one but since I’m not really working…. well, I narrowed it down.

The next is purely for their comical appeal. Although I may find them handier than I think!

They are wee wee tee pee’s from NikiMadeIt

The girls and I keep joking about who is going to get peed on first, but I really have no idea about boy things.. it will be a learning experience, for sure!

Next is a blanket that I could not resist since it matches the diaper bag and sling I already have. It is from SmallWish, which is where I also ordered the sling.

The last goodie I have coming besides organic nursing pads, which I don’t really think I need to post a pic of, is this adorable owl decal from Elephannie.

Again, there were sooo many I wanted, but narrowed it down to one. I hope it works on our textured walls, but they included instructions that should help.

We were at Anthology last night restocking some goods and I noticed they are carrying some super duper adorable decals as well. They have a really cute forest set that I was eyeing. But by that point in the day I was having a pretty hard time getting around, so lucky for Jerome I was ready for dinner and not shopping, or they probably would have had to come home too!!

Now if I could just get back to working, I would feel a bit better about all the loot I am purchasing. I have lost almost complete feeling in both of my hands but can work small bits at a time.

The girls and I did complete a huge task yesterday though. We did ALL the back to school shopping! I know it seems really early, but I printed off their supply list, which trust me, is a bit insane considering they are only in 4th and 5th grade, and headed off to Target (I know, I know, but there are no locallly made, orangic goods stores carrying binders and pencil boxes around, OK??). About two hours later, and more money and bags than I care to mention, we dragged ourselves back home. They each got to pick out one outfit and they are turning into quite the little punk rockers. I let them pick whatever they wanted for the outfit though with only minor eye rolls from mom. There are a few things I will be ordering from Hanna Andersson, but remember that whole, ‘I’m not really working much’ thing?? Yeah. Only a couple organic Swedish outfits. I knew within another couple weeks I will NOT want to be running around school shopping though and then they leave for Florida for Disney World with their dad and grandparents. By the time they get back, Mr. Man will be due in five days, and six days after that is registration already! I was worried the summer would really drag, and trust me, the next month certainly may, but it is going insanely fast at this point!

Time to drag them downstairs for some breakfast. Anyone care to join us for Hello Kitty Waffles?

Remember to leave your gnome contest comments too! Mr. Gnome feels a bit neglected!

I am slowly sorting through all of my vintage finds to pass some along to you. I have tooooooo many knick knacks and before long this will have to be a baby friendly house again.

Here are two of the owls I listed here.

I’m also having a new contest!

This little guy needs a home. He is about 5″ x 3″ and is missing his bow, but is still completely adorable.

Simply leave a comment as to why little gnome should come live at your house (or basically any thing else you feel like) and we will randomly select a winner on Monday.

Time to run to the post office before I sit and sweat the rest of the day away. It is hot. Very, very, very hot out. But as we know, I’m certainly not one to complain or anything…. right….

Did you know that gnomes are artists?? I didn’t. I knew they were good at some things, like gardening.

In case you didn’t catch on, I listed a few more gnome coasters! There are a few more kittens and cats including this little pudgy tiger stripe kitty.

I also have a hidden talent. Well, or maybe it was just good luck.

Jerome thinks it is pretty funny how proud I am of this, but I have never in my life had an African Violet that re-bloomed. My mom bought this one when she was here in March and low and behold, it’s blooming! It is the little things that make me happy I guess.

I finished washing all of Henri’s new clothes and bedding yesterday and found a rug, lamp, cd player (I love playing music to my kids) monitor and a few other things we needed so I think we are in pretty good shape. I even packed his bag for the hospital! I guess being at home with not a lot to do (well, lots TO do, little I CAN do) motivates me a bit.

Now I am going to go outside for a little while before it gets too hot and try to tackle a few weeds from the tropical jungle we call a yard. I do love the chaos of the perennials and herbs, but it is out of control, even for me!

So, tell me, what are your hidden talents??

The shower was absolutely amazing and I really need to thank Marci, my mother in law and Jenni my sister in law for seriously outdoing themselves. Jenni hand-made all the invitations as well as thank you cards for us and Marci even addressed the envelopes (she knows my hands are not working) and printed off return labels for me! There was tons of great food and tons of family. I was dissapointed that more of my friends couldn’t make it, but it was nice to see some people I hadn’t seen in a while including my friend Ruth who used to share the shop space with me when I had Glitter.

We have been working like crazy on the nursery too and it is definately starting to come together.

I love the rocking chair corner with the fabulous mobile Lisa made. She dropped it off on Saturday and I couldn’t be more thrilled with it!

The morning light shines in that room too and it fills the space with rainbows. I guess a little bit of my hippy childhood (well, more than a little… thanks mom!) is still in me. I adore rainbows on the walls and have crystals hanging in the kitchen too.

Speaking of my mom, my niece Violet just returned from a trip out to New Mexico to visit her and her and my mom made a fabulous gift for Henri. This picture absolutely does not do it justice, but it is a fused glass owl night light. Violet drew the pattern and helped my mom with the rest!

I am so lucky to come from such a talented family.

We squeezed in a few pictures before everyone arrived. Darby and Zoe survived camping and we even got them cleaned up pretty well for the shower.

They got their summer hair cuts last week too, so that is nice. No more chlorine tangled sweaty messes for now!

Then they decided to take some pictures, and even though I promised myself not to post anymore huge, bloated pictures with me in them, I guess I will share one. Zoe had us pose for this one.

Ugh. More than one of Jerome’s family members came up and asked me HOW many more weeks do I have left. Four. Yes, you heard me correctly. Four more weeks. Then I would get the, OH, well, you LOOK GREAT. Sure. Whatever. Let me get to the cream puffs….

Anyway, is was a long weekend, although good, but I am pretty much exhausted. I have one more picture to share from the shower.

Jerome’s mom made the most adorable ‘diaper cake’. Usually I’m not too much into those kind of things, but when they are made with chlorine free diapers with an organic cotton teddy bear on top and organic blankets inside, what is there not to love??? Especially when made by the most excited grandma to be in the world.

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They were both sewn from Robert Kaufmann’s Greenstyle line, with organic cotton inside.

Besides shopping on Etsy, we have been sifting through all the things we have accumulated, including some adorable books.

We also moved the cradle over this morning from Jerome’s parents house. His mom and great-aunt sewed all the sheets and bumper from natural fabrics for me!

So besides baby stuff, and crossword puzzles when my hands are working (carpal tunnel is in full overdrive…. Jerome had to pour my coffee at a restaurant this morning… couldn’t hold the coffee pot!), well, and not sleeping, and only wanting Mexican food, pretty much our days have revolved around this.

Somewhere under the water Jerome is being attacked by little sharks with noodles! The little sharks are STILL camping, but should be back later today. I hope they didn’t wash away in all the storms!! Their grandma and grandpa are pretty amazing though, so knowing them, they probably ended up at some waterpark or hotel!

Tomorrow is the shower and from seeing how much stuff has come already, I don’t quite know where there will be room for the baby, but it is exciting. I am finally getting ready.

Have a great weekend!

I had some blank glitter cards left from last Christmas and decided it was about time I do something with them.

Here is another new frame too.

It is more Bambi, which is really nothing new, but this particular book was pretty old and had really beautiful illustrations in it. I actually saved two of them and framed them for Henri’s room. Which reminds me! Henri actually has a room! It is no longer mom’s craft and junk room. My in-laws came and cleaned and painted yesterday and then we went and got a crib. It is huge and has the attached changing table and trundle with drawers so I thought that it would sit in the box for while, but while I was dozing (and watching Shear Genius.. it’s no Project Runway, but is ok for ONE WEEK until new Project Runway!!) Jerome set up the whole thing!!! The trundle isn’t set up, but I was soooo amazed that he did all that in one night. Things are slowly coming together. Nothing against Little Man, but I am pretty sick of thinking about baby stuff. Well, baby gear and stuff, not babies!! We can’t wait to meet him.

We went to the OB today and set up the last three appointments. Yikes. He also said that although I am in incredible pain, this condition is actually good in a way because it allows for more room during delivery. I guess that’s something!

The girls are off camping until Sunday and I have been just kind of roaming (and laying, and sitting…) trying to figure out what to do with myself. I can only use my hands in about fifteen minute intervals, and it’s too hot to sunbathe ALL day…. I could jump in the pool, or start washing Henri’s stuff….

What do you think I should do? A whole lotta nothing is what Jerome thinks, but I am bored already!!!!!