tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40855430508955133162024-03-04T23:36:49.721-08:00The Busy Bug LifeSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-80648650675656212332015-04-07T10:46:00.003-07:002015-04-07T10:46:50.431-07:00Raise Your Glasses for Normal!So yesterday was a normal day. You would think that normal would not be remarkable, but I had a *normal* day guys. A day without my anxiety, my old "normal." It was not perfect, it had stressful times and great moments like every day. However, it was like for the day I took of my anxiety glasses and could see clearly. I used to be a roll with the punches kind of girl, nothing could keep me down or make me lose my cool. My mom actually asked me to go a little bridezilla on her while we were wedding planning. PPD gave me some killer reactions to stress and anxiety that range from panic attacks to losing my cool to irrational tears and such. Little things can set off big reactions that I have to work hard to control. it is a big personality shift for me, and yesterday I could roll with the punches just like I used to. I wanted to say that it felt amazing, but it didn't. It just felt NORMAL, which is so, so much better.<br />
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Today isn't quite the same. I am post-night-shift-got-2.5-hours-of-sleep-tired and I got a text message that we have a showing right before I have to go to work tonight. Went downstairs to disover that half of the walls and furniture have been tagged with asterisk snowflakes by my nearly 6 year old and the 3 year old has made handwashing a nightmare because "he wants to keep his germs." Working hard to deal today, but looking forward to taking off the anxiety glasses again soon! Let's raise our glasses for normal! *clink*Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-45685269701412127312015-03-23T11:38:00.001-07:002015-03-23T11:38:33.042-07:00There were 4 in the bed and the little one said...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our house has two bedrooms, it is a fairly small house that a family of six lives in. We make it work but when I found out we were having twins in our third pregnancy I got a little worried. I may or may not have found myself googling "Are we people or sardines?" at some point. We went back to the basic meaning of bedroom. And put just the beds in the room.<br />
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The theme is owls, you know, just in case there weren't enough of them in there for you to notice all on your own... Sometimes I go bit overboard, but in my book owl overload isn't really a bad thing. <br />
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I knew we couldn't do a full on bunk bed. Nate was 2 at the time and the ceilings in our house are kind of low, not to mention the sloped part that takes it even lower. So I was just going to go and get an Ikea Kura bed and call it a day. When I showed the hubby he said that he could make that, only cheaper. And then being the brilliant woman that I am, found this <a href="http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/2010/08/build-it-plans-low-loft-bunk" target="_blank">set of plans to DIY a low loft bunk bed</a>. It went a lot faster when I could give him a shopping list and measurements already completed.<br />
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It's sturdy and perfect. I am glad we went in this direction because, of course, the 2 year old wanted the top bunk. Also, the 2 year old has jumped off of said top bunk. Usually into the crib that is easily within range. Occasionally all the way to the floor.<br />
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You can see that even with the low loft bed, it was tight squeeze getting it in here. We had to basically cut, sand, and paint all the pieces and then build it right there.<br />
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We don't have any room for toys, just books on the bookshelf and this reading area. I covered all our outlet plates and the light switch with leftover fabric. Mod podge made it super easy and they are cheap enough to just replace if we want to redecorate.<br />
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The quilt was made when Nate was a baby, but went with the color scheme so I hung it up. When I was high on nesting hormones I thought that it would be really cute to applique orange owls onto it to tie it in a little better. Applique on my sewing machine kind of stinks. I put this project off for over a year before finishing it, although it turned out pretty cute in the end. I should have done it while I was still nesting.<br />
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I found these neat duvet covers at Ikea. They remind me of feathers. They have their I Spy quilts on their beds as well, which happily go well with the orange. <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-spy-quilt.html" target="_blank">Natalie's I Spy Quilt</a> / <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2014/06/alphabet-i-spy-ticker-tape-quilt.html" target="_blank">Nate's I Spy Quilt</a><br />
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The two cribs. The ginormous amount of space they take up is ridiculous, but the babies are cute so I guess I will keep them. I actually had to really search for a crib that was the same style as the one we already had. I wanted to get one used but they were all white or espresso. I finally found one that was "honey oak" and ours is "natural" but the price was right and they were close enough.<br />
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I made the teething rail guards and puff quilts for their cribs. Brandon's set has more of the cooler tones and the brown chevron.<br />
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Puff quilts are so dreamy. If you want one of your own I bought the pattern from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneybearLane?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Honey Bear Lane</a>, worth it!<br />
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And rag finishing made them really easy. The hours and hours of clipping seams wasn't sooo bad with a drink and some tv series binging on Netflix.<br />
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Alice's set is a bit brighter with warmer tones and the red chevron.<br />
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I had fun with the back on her quilt. Since I was all out of plain white quilting cotton. I am in love with the pinwheel/houndstooth print. So pretty!<br />
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Twins, but different.<br />
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I just did some simple valances for the windows, with the fabric that the whole room was built on. It is hard to see but there is some orange pom pom trim between the owls and blue gingham, one of my favorite little details.<br />
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I covered a $2 plastic ikea clock with fabric just like I did in the playroom, one of my favorite design tricks now. So cheap and easy.<br />
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That doorway on the right heads into the upstairs bathroom, and to their closet. Where we store all the clothes for Natalie and Nathan. Alice and Brandon have plastic carts with their clothes downstairs by the diaper changing station.<br />
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My super awesome hubby built out the shelves in this closet for me. I found those canvas bins at Target, they each have 3 big bins (pajamas, tops, and bottoms) and we used the smaller bins for socks and undies.<br />
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There you have it. Four kids in one small bedroom. I actually love that we don't keep toys up there, makes life simpler that all the toys belong in the playroom. I only wish that there was enough room for our glider in there, that is in my room for now instead.<br />
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If you wanted to see previous versions of this room, here you are:<br />
<a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2011/01/bumper-pad-to-teething-guard.html" target="_blank">Version 1- 1 baby</a><br />
<a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2012/05/breathable-bumper-and-nursery-for-two.html" target="_blank">Version 2- 1 preschooler, 1 baby</a><br />
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-49918243044058932372015-02-28T13:46:00.003-08:002015-02-28T13:46:32.781-08:00The Hair Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, Natalie has cut her hair a total of 6 times in the last two years. The first time it was just some bangs. The second time it was everything. Literally. The third time it was a hank from the top of her head (Alfalfa sprouts for months guys). The fourth and fifth times were bangs. Really short bangs. But the sixth time. The sixth time will stand out in my memory forever. Because not only did she cut her hair, again, but this time she glued it to a foam card, with a heart in the center.<br />
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After I died, I called my mom to freak out about it and we laughed until we cried. Then I told Natalie that hair is not an art supply. Add that to the list of things I never thought I would have to say. I started wondering why on Earth my daughter would cut off her hair and make art with it. Was it something that I did? Something I didn't do? She had a plethora of art supplies in front of her. Stickers, construction paper, tissue paper, yarn, you name it. She chose her hair. Why? Why? Why? Well it wasn't about me as a mother. It wasn't even truly about her hair this time. She is an artist. She loves beauty. She aspires to be on Project Runway when she is a grown up designer. To her, that hair must have looked so beautiful contrasting with the green foam that she had little choice but to follow her vision. True artists make sacrifices for their work, and she has certainly shown that she is worthy. </div>
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I do draw the line on art and hair. Hair is not an art supply in this house. But I will nurture my little artist and help her grow. I may or may not be locking up all the scissors and eating the key. I am also framing The Hair Card and putting it in her childhood box of memories so that when she has daughters, she will know exactly what she was like as a young artist. Natalie is a challenge. Every day. My 5 year old Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She drives me bananas, steals my fabric, draws on the walls, uses scissors on things that aren't meant to be scissored, shouts when she is frustrated, blames her misdeeds on her brother, lies even when it doesn't make sense, takes things without asking, removes her shoes 60 seconds before the bus arrives, and changes her mind about her breakfast order when the first one is complete. On the flip side she is a most entertaining big sister, she has amazing ideas for stories, books, drawings, and sculptures, she makes gifts for everyone, tells me I am beautiful, wears all her handmade clothes with pride, and dances to all the music. I will always remember The Hair Card. The last minute rush to the car because we missed the bus, drawings on the wall, lies, and petty misdeeds won't be important to any of us in the near future, much less in the far future. At the end of the day it is our lasting memories that count. I've been trying to just survive for a while now, but The Hair Card has made resolve to live like I'm young, laugh until I cry, do something bold and passionate, even if it might be a little stupid, and have no regrets. Those are the things I will remember.</div>
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-3429539688196258242015-02-18T08:57:00.003-08:002015-02-18T09:00:14.426-08:00I Survived: A Story About Healing After Birth Trauma<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I sported
this on a t-shirt when I was out and about, most people who see me would be
like “Oh, you have four kids. And TWINS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know how you survived the first year.” And I would wink and
smile and say, “It has been wonderful being a mom to four kids. And twins
especially.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so, so wonderful to be a mom of four
beautiful children, and it is truly amazing to see how twins grow
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t have to “survive”
parenthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have survived birth
trauma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wrote
about my c-section <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2014/02/that-is-that-birth-story-of-twins.html" target="_blank">here </a> just a couple weeks after it happened. I knew I had a
long road ahead of me then, but I had no idea what I would go through in the
next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the hospital
knowing that I would have a c-section because Baby A, Brandon, was breech and
presenting first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that took away
all of my choices once I arrived at the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to tell myself that it was going to
be fine. The babies would be fine. I would be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physically, we were all fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The surgery went exactly as planned- no NICU
time for the twins, I have successfully exclusively breastfed my twins for a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those fears came to nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not anticipate the extreme levels of
fear that I would go through leading up to and during surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never experienced that level of fear
during any other moment in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
terror of signing the forms pushed in my face about what could happen to me on
that table, the pressure to AGREE to let those things happen, the fear of what
would happen to my babies if I did not sign them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I signed away my power, it felt like I was
sacrificing my own health and safety for the sake of the health and safety of my babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would sacrifice anything for my babies, and
so I let go of my power and control over the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that I felt like all of my choices were
gone and I was no longer in control of what happened to me or my babies, which
sent me into terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tightly controlled
terror, because I was also terrified that they would put me to sleep for the
birth of my children after a horrible nurse threatened general anesthesia for
crying in the triage room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They would not let my hubby in the room as they did the spinal and prepped me for surgery. A room full of people getting ready to cut me open and I was alone and terrified. They let him in just in time to hold my hand before they made the incision. His presence helped a bit but I was already so afraid that it couldn't bring me back down completely. Then h</span>earing the
doctors talk in such sterile terms using such cold words as they cut me open
and took out my babies was not affirming or gentle or even focused towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was laying on a table with my stomach
sliced open and curtains in between me and my babies and they were talking like
I wasn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told my husband to go
over with my babies once they were delivered because I couldn’t bear for them
to be alone and I wanted so desperately to be with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trapped and afraid and alone on my side
of the curtain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Separated from my family
for eight full minutes of terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, I was meeting my babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
they were brought to me they hardly left my sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pushed away all those things that I didn’t want
to feel so that I could enjoy my first moments with my twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so very glad that I was able to do that,
but at the same time, bottling all that fear up was not healthy for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bottled it all up for the sake of
motherhood, for all the things that I wanted out of motherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom-Sarah and Wife-Sarah enjoyed having some
of the best times in my life. I have truly enjoyed motherhood for the last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah-Sarah, the one that experienced all
that fear, was down for the count. I didn’t do anything that Sarah-Sarah
enjoyed, things just for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sewing
machine collected dust, I neglected to get new books to read at the library, I
didn’t write for myself, and I was no longer the queen of lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to make lists of my lists, yet every
single one that I had made post c-section was pitiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ignored it, said that it was just because I
was busy with four kids and newborn twins, but that wasn’t true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was busy with four kids and newborn twins,
but that wasn’t what was stopping me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t want to go anywhere near that nest of fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went through life as Mom-Sarah and
Wife-Sarah for 6 months before I shook up that bottle of fear cola I was
working so hard to repress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It really
shouldn’t have been a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
putting the big kids to bed and out of the blue Nate kissed my stomach and said
“Hi, baby.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brushed it off then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a wacko 2 ½ year old kid and there literally is
no way I can be pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But over the
next few days I found that moment was stuck on replay in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I wasn’t thinking about anything it just
popped up, unbidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started thinking
about the “what ifs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I was
pregnant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I get pregnant again
someday? What if I have to give birth again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had decided when we were pregnant with the twins that we were done
for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That pregnancy was no
picnic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was banking on never being
pregnant again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the what ifs got to
me, they started shaking up that bottle of fear cola and a couple days after
that moment I had my first anxiety attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was in the kitchen making lunch and Alice crawled towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the sudden I couldn’t breathe or move,
and the only thought I had in my head was screaming “I can’t!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have another baby, I couldn’t go
through that fear again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought that
I just needed some firm proof so that I could move on. So I went to the store
and bought a pregnancy test, confirmed that I wasn’t pregnant, and put it
behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a crazy moment, I
rationalized myself through it, I would be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even tell my hubby about it. I didn’t
know what to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I freaked out because
Nate kissed my stomach and said, “Hi, baby.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sounded crazy even to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the anxiety attacks didn’t stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got hit with two more a couple days after the first one, with less
discernable triggers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would get hit
with one, get myself back together, and continue on with my day as bet I could. So confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did tell my hubby after over a week of them
happening, and while he was supportive and tried to comfort me, he didn’t
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know anyone who
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I did try to talk about it
I was told that I had beautiful, healthy twins and “that’s what matters.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those words just say that my feelings about
this life changing experience don’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course I am thrilled that I have beautiful, healthy twins, but I
checked in a lot of baggage with that experience and it matters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That first
anxiety attack was just the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over the next two months I had them with more frequency, often
accompanied by flashbacks to the operating room. I become moody. I couldn’t
bear for anything to touch the c-section scar and numb area around it.
Wife-Sarah gave into the depression and I stopped finding as much joy in my
time with my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom-Sarah tried
the hardest, but on my lowest days I got overwhelmed, had more anxiety attacks,
and was generally about as friendly as a blast-ended skrewt come bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see that I was not ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that there was a huge problem. I had
no idea how to get back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So one day I
sat down with a notebook and a piece of paper and I got it all out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went back to the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked for patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally, purposefully, relived every detail
of my birth experience from when my water broke until the moments before I
finally saw my babies for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was horrible. I mean it really, really sucked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I saw what I had been doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah-Sarah still felt helpless and powerless
and afraid. I had been ignoring and hiding away the most essential part of
myself and I was still letting that damn experience have power over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I started writing a list, which was just so me, that it was refreshing
to see that I was still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a
list of things I want, things that I need to work towards, things that matter
more than my fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing on
the list was smile, so simple, but so hard on your worst day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One by one I worked on my list, millimeter by
millimeter, I pulled myself back up from that place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a little while before I could do some
of the things on the list, while others were easy and felt natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want nothing for than for Mom-Sarah,
Wife-Sarah, and Sarah-Sarah to be reunited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think when that happens I will be able to conquer the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have relapses. I fell off the edge of a
cliff and I climbed back up, but I am still teetering on the edge on a day to
day basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little things will push me
closer and big things….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well that is why
I am writing again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to tell my
story to remind myself of how far I have come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Balance is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balance has been
my goal the last few weeks and I keep sinking the boat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I jumped the gun on this goal. Right
now I feel like I am in too many pieces to juggle everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I have to pull myself back together
before I can find balance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wish so
hard that I could go back to pre-birth trauma Sarah, pre-PPD Sarah, pre-anxiety
Sarah, without losing post-twins Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How different would my life be if I’d had more choices in the hospital,
if I hadn’t been terrified out of my mind, if I were able to have a birth that
I could remember without fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My birth
experience has taken so much more away from me than I ever could have imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me away from myself, the most
essential parts of me missed out on a whole lot of things in the last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I survived. And I am determined
not to miss another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that
next February 4<sup>th</sup> at 8:30 pm I will look back and think, “This is
the moment that my water broke. This is the moment the fear began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I survived two years after birth trauma.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully one of those years in my future, I can
use the word thrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully one of
those years it won’t even matter enough to remember. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-3478313698280452282014-06-17T22:15:00.002-07:002014-06-19T05:46:00.417-07:00Alphabet I-SPY Ticker tape Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For Christmas I made Nate an i-spy quilt of his very own. I saw the <a href="http://crafterhours.bigcartel.com/product/4-i-spy-labels-alphabet-set" target="_blank">Alphabet I-Spy Labels by Crafterhours</a> and knew I had to design a quilt around them. I decided on a tickertape style of quilting, though true tickertape quilts usually are made of small scraps of fabric instead of 4" squares.<br />
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Has anyone else ever noticed how difficult it is to design with 26 of something? Designing this quilt made my eyes twitch because nothing I came up with satisfied my obsessive compulsive tendencies when it comes to symmetry. Poor "Y" got stuck in between "X" and "Z", and the eye twitching was resolved with marginal success. <br />
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If you would like to make this quilt, the printable pattern can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-OFVsX2tudEduREk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. I wanted this quilt to be a little longer than it necessarily needed to be so that it would be a decent coverlet for Nate's bed. I originally came up with a 44"x44" quilt design that only used the alphabet i-spy blocks. Pattern for the 44"x44" quilt is <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-M3pzNlV5RU5udGc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I know I really made this quilt for Nate, picking out the perfect set of alphabet i-spy squares that I knew he would love, and using every single transportation themed i-spy in my stash for the coordinating squares.<br />
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He loves all things that go and he loves this quilt. He got to enjoy it for a whole month before I stole it to use with the twins, he he.<br />
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We love that is is big enough to put both of the babies on it and still have room to play ourselves. Those babies are never alone if Natalie is conscious so we need plenty of space to share their sweetness and delight in their crazy expressions.<br />
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They LOVE tummy time on this quilt, it is colorful but not too busy, has plenty of contrast with the white background, and gives us lots to talk about while we play.<br />
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"Hmm... I bet if I giggled and squealed Nate would share his John Deere tractor with me."<br />
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And when we are all done with eating the i-spies, it is nice and cushy for a quick nap.<br />
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"Nice try, Mom. Just kidding."<br />
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All in all, my favorite i-spy quilt to date, it is going to be well loved here for many years.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-60851374701015259332014-03-14T12:21:00.002-07:002014-03-14T12:21:32.929-07:00Tutorial: Customize your Ergo Baby CarrierI've been wanting to pimp my ergobaby carrier for a while now, black is fine but I like to have fun! I just bought a beautiful wrap to make into a ring sling and size 3 wrap. <br />
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The wrap came in a bag made out of the same material and I knew it was perfect for pumping up the volume on my carrier. Also, this is another cell phone camera tutorial since I was squeezing this in between tandem nursing sessions.<br />
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I ripped it apart first,<br />
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Then I got out my plain back ergo and undid the hood webbing through the buckles on top of the pocket. I want to add that when you are customizing your carriers, it is important not to cut or alter major components of your carrier, I did not rip out any seams in this customization and stitched through all the layers of the carrier. Function should not be affected by the additions you make whatsoever.<br />
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The fabric was the perfect width when I lined it up over the top of the carrier.<br />
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I started at the bottom seam just above the waistband. I folded the fabric in at least 1/4" and pinned it down. Then I cut out the pocket section. I made sure to cut it 1/4"in so that I could fold it down around the edge of the pocket.<br />
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Pin the fabric on the sides under and finish cutting the pocket. The top of the pocket was a little tricky, it is really tapered in so I cut in towards the taper for the inside, and then cut over to the edge of the pocket on the top so it just hugged around that seam.<br />
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The next step was to trim off the top and strap sections,<br />
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and then pin the fabric under.<br />
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Lastly I pinned the fabric under around the pocket area.<br />
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All ready to sew! Sew around the edges of the outside of the carrier and around the pocket.<br />
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Looking good! But that pocket....<br />
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The small pocket for the hood is sewn over the zipper pocket. Which means that it can't be sewn on the machine without ripping up the zippered pocket.<br />
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I pinned the fabric over the pocket and then stitched it on by hand using a <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/01/embroidery-tip-the-backstitch-vs-split-stitch-controversy.html" target="_blank">backstitch</a>.<br />
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It took a while and was kind of a pain because you are sewing from inside the zippered pocket; however it really does complete the look of the carrier.<br />
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I am so so happy with how this turned out! I am really looking forward to matchy tandem babywearing with the twins!<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-74471685072605665822014-02-21T19:01:00.001-08:002014-02-21T19:01:48.086-08:00That is That: A birth story of twinsIf you have been keeping up, I was very nervous about the possibility of giving birth to my twins via cesarean section. I first wrote about it <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/10/unseen-scars-emotional-recovery-from.html" target="_blank">here</a>, when I discussed all my fears of having another surgery, and then revisited<a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/12/let-it-go_12.html" target="_blank"> here</a>, when I had resolved to let go of the fears and need to control the outcome. I had a c-section and that is that. It is all in the past and there is nothing to change it now. I wanted share how everything turned out with the birth of my twins and my feelings about having a c-section.<br />
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It was 9:00 at night, I had just sat down 20 minutes earlier after putting Natalie and Nathan to bed, I'd had a busy day with running the daycare all day, heading to the hospital for a non stress test, coming home and hosting a sewing night, and seeing my hubby off to work for the ice/snow storm expected that night. So I was finally sitting down, and felt what I thought was more Braxton Hicks contractions when my water broke. I kind of freaked out to be honest. Firstly because I was only 35 weeks and 4 days along, secondly because at the non stress test earlier that day the nurse had confirmed that Brandon was still breech and still presenting first, so when my water broke it all sank in and I knew I would be having a c-section. I called my hubby to come home and then started rushing around trying to pack a bag and arrange child care for Natalie and Nathan. Somehow it all got done, and the contractions got really intense, really fast.<br />
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By the time we made it to the hospital, I was already 5 cm dilated so they rushed to get a team together to get me into an operating room. Out of the entire experience, this is the part I am angry about. There were at least 8 people running in and out of the room trying to get everything ready. Doctors shoving papers into face trying to get me to sign off on a surgery that was terrifying me, nurses botching my IV, an anesthesiologist explaining that I would be getting a spinal and if it didn't work for some reason that I would be put under general anesthesia, in which case my hubby would not be able to come into the operating room during the "procedure". It felt so cold, sterile, distant, and foreign. It did not feel like I was about to welcome two new little lives into the world. I was very upset, in tears and was trying to calm down talking to the hubby during a short lull when we were actually alone in the room. At that point a nurse walked in to check our vitals and saw that I was upset, while taking my blood pressure she told me that if I couldn't get myself together that they would put me under general anesthesia. I was not hyperventilating or uncontrollably upset, I was crying and trying to calm myself. Threats to put me under and make me miss the birth of my children completely because I was crying and scared was completely uncalled for and I felt bullied and threatened. <br />
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Despite the added stress and fears I made it into the operating room, and the spinal worked. The room was so cold and so full. Two OB's, two teams of nurses and pediatricians for the babies, the nurses and anesthesiologist assisting the OB's, quite overwhelming. Eventually they let the hubby come in, and the anesthesiologist was great in talking to me and letting me know what was going on. The hubby watched the babies being delivered, and left me to watch them as they were cleaned up and assessed. I heard them both crying, they sounded strong. I couldn't see them though, I had to wait for almost 10 minutes before they finally brought them over for me to see them. That was the most painful part of the whole birth process, not being able to see or hold them when they were born. Natalie and Nathan were put right onto my chest after their birth and assessed while I was holding them. It felt so wrong and so painful not to be holding my babies when they were born, and I'm not sure that pain will ever really fade away. I was very glad to finally see them but there was no skin to skin in the OR because it was too cold and I couldn't hold them properly on the operating table anyways. <br />
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I was glad to finally get to the recovery area. Then I was able to hold the babies and start nursing them. I am very glad that they didn't have to leave my side, and that the surgery didn't impact our nursing relationship at all. The recovery was quite different from my other deliveries, with a very extended hospital stay. Ugh, I could not wait to be discharged, the longest. 3 days. ever. With my others I was out 24 hours after baby was born, I cannot sleep in hospitals. The hubby had to help a lot when we got home with up and down with the babies and taking care of the other kids. He is kind of allergic to being domestic, so the last two weeks have been pretty fun :) <br />
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All in all, this was not the birth experience that I wanted, nor was it an experience that I enjoyed. It makes me so very sad that I cannot say that I enjoyed the birth of my twins. I am thrilled and blessed that they are healthy and there have not been any complications. At the same time I need to mourn the loss of the birth experience I could have had and wanted so desperately. I am not sure that it is possible to truly heal emotionally from that loss. For the last two weeks I have simply been trying not to think about it very much because I don't want to wallow, but there has to be a point where I face it and try to accept it. Which seems impossible at this moment in time.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-69430872459155831242014-02-21T17:02:00.005-08:002014-02-21T17:05:08.787-08:00And then there were FOUR!I have FOUR children, two of which are brand new!<br />
Brandon Heath<br />
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and Alice Grey<br />
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The twins were born about 2 weeks ago, and we have been adjusting to being a family of six. I've been lucky enough to have my husband home and helping with Natalie and Nathan and making sure that we are eating real food and aren't buried under a mountain of dirty laundry. The babies were born about 4 weeks early, but are absolutely perfect despite their early arrival.<br />
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<i>(Brandon above, Alice below)</i></div>
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No time in the NICU, breathing well on their own from minute 1, nice healthy 6 lb birth weights, and nursing champs from the get go. Of course, there is a healthy amount of twin baby problems, like one of them trying to eat the other basically all the time.<br />
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There are also lots of peaceful tandem milk comas...<br />
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and plenty of baby snuggle time where I simply stare at their beautiful faces.<br />
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They like to sleep at night, but they like to be <i>held</i> while they sleep at night. Which means the amount of sleep that I am getting is pretty minimal to be honest. They will sleep on their own in the crib during daylight hours, but once the sun goes down all bets are off and into the arms they must go.<br />
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There they are at 2 weeks old, I think the identical poses are pretty great. I actually find them in similar positions in the crib quite often.<br />
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All in all, we are pretty happy and enjoying the changes to our new, big family. We love it when things are nice and peaceful....<br />
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Even though it doesn't last very long with two newborns in the house. We love the crazy, chaotic times too :)</div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-32083956134886287042014-01-23T13:48:00.001-08:002014-01-23T13:54:50.086-08:00Quiet Book for the BOY!I made my boy a quiet book for his second birthday, and I was so excited to finally be able to dig into "boy" pages since Nate is into trucks, tractors, trains, cars, and monsters. I don't even want to count how many things with wheels entered our home between Christmas presents and his birthday presents....<br />
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I used my <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/11/tutorial-quiet-book-cover.html" target="_blank">tutorial for a quiet book cover</a>, covered with tractors and trucks, of course.<br />
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The first page is his name with snap on letters and a dump truck with button on wheels. I used the <a href="http://allthequietthings.blogspot.com/2013/03/quiet-book-boys.html" target="_blank">dump truck template here</a>.<br />
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The number page I did using train cars, inspired by <a href="http://www.andnextcomesl.com/2013/08/number-train-quiet-book-page.html" target="_blank">this page</a>.<br />
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I think the train cars turned out to be very cute. I wanted to incorporate touchpoints from Touch Math in the same way that I did in my<a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/10/quiet-books-busy-bug-style.html" target="_blank"> other quiet books</a>. However, these numbers are smaller and the button touchpoints really distract from the numbers themselves. I don't think I would do the buttons the same way again. The train cars stick to the page using velcro.<br />
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I fell in love with these two pages from Imagine Our Life. I HAD to make the <a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/2011/12/26/forklift-quiet-book-page/" target="_blank">forklift</a> and the <a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/2012/01/03/dump-truck-quiet-book-page/" target="_blank">dump truck</a>.<br />
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Her templates are so easy to use and they turn out so cute.<br />
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I mean, the forklift goes up and down. Are you kidding me?<br />
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The dump truck dumps like a champ and has been Nate's favorite activity so far.<br />
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I liked the idea of adding a versatile pouch to a quiet book. It can hold anything! Busy bag games, puzzles, trains and tracks, etc....<br />
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Right now it is holding a popsicle stick building game from a busy bag we had. The pouch has snaps attached so we can remove it from the book entirely if we feel like it.<br />
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The parking lot page is one of my favorite pages in the book and one of the only ones that is of my own inspiration and design.<br />
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The hot wheel size cars store in the zipper pocket and you drive them to their parking spots for a fun color matching activity just for boys like mine.<br />
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The last page is inspired by Nate's love for Monsters, Inc. The closet door theme from the intro to the movie inspired me to create a fun door pocket, and inside the closet.....<br />
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MONSTERS! Monster finger puppets to be exact. I loved the <a href="http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2013/1/28/stl-felt-monsters-to-make-with-your-kids-plus-free-mix-n-mat.html?lastPage=true&postSubmitted=true" target="_blank">monster templates that I found here</a>, but they were a little large for finger puppets.<br />
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Easy solution! I downloaded her pattern and opened it up in Adobe Reader then pushed print. Once the print menu came up I went to the "Page Scaling" section and chose the option for multiple pages per sheet and chose 3 pages across by 3 pages down and printed. When they printed out they were the perfect size for finger puppets :)<br />
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I think I am going to slow down on the quiet books now, perhaps until the twins are ready for them in a couple years ;) Which could be slightly influenced by the fact that making this book sent me to an urgent care clinic to get stitches for the first time in my life.... Rotary cutters are deadly man! The quiet book that literally cost me an arm, haha. Nate better treasure the blood, sweat, and stitches poured into this present!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-11064700483073108852013-12-12T07:52:00.000-08:002013-12-12T07:52:23.889-08:00Let it Go<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=429308700446014&set=a.395352443841640.95361.395340760509475&type=3&theater" target="_blank">Image via </a><br />
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I posted my story about my <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/10/unseen-scars-emotional-recovery-from.html" target="_blank">emotional trauma from surgery</a> and how it relates to my fears of a c-section with the twins a couple months ago. Since then I've been trying, and struggling with, facing my fears about having a c-section. I've done research, loads of research, on every facet of a c-section from preparation to recovery. I've written a comprehensive birth plan for a family centered c-section that I've shared with my doctors. I've read countless stories of twin births, both with vaginal and c-section deliveries. I've spoken with other moms of multiples and moms who have had c-sections. Yet I still felt fear, panic, and extreme anxiety at the thought of a c-section. I was still reduced to tears at the thought of having another surgery. My plan wasn't working, and I'm now 28 weeks into this pregnancy. I didn't have very much time left to face these fears.</div>
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November was a tough month. We were busy and sick and I just didn't have it in me to make the trip to our church with the two kids. Our church is amazing and like family, but it is over an hour away from us and a trip to church is an entire day trip for us. I finally pulled everything together and made it last week, and it was exactly what I needed. The talk was about control, which can be a touchy subject for type A personalities like me. It was what I needed though, because there are some things that we can't control no matter how much preparation we do. </div>
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My daughter is 4 years old and having the typical battles for control and independence. She often wants things that she can't have, like making a snowman in August. That simply isn't a choice. The weather is not something that we can control. We could make fake snow. We could build mini snowman slushies with crushed ice from the freezer. We can travel to Antarctica and build a snowman there. We can try to make things bend to our will. But we can't control the weather and make a snowman in our backyard in August. Controlling the birth experience of my twins isn't a choice. I can't dictate the experience and how it should go. But what then? My type A personality needs a plan. </div>
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Well the plan is to Let it Go. It comes down to faith in the end. I trust God and his plan for my life, I have seen so many things in my life work out somehow. I don't question that I am in his hands. So why didn't this occur to me sooner? I have done my part by doing everything I can do to prepare for this birth, but it still hasn't been enough to ease my fears. Once I let go of the control, I started to feel lighter. I couldn't do it all at once, over the course of the week I have been thinking and letting things go bit by bit and getting lighter and lighter. I can finally see the big picture when I couldn't see it before. I'm going to have two little miracles, one way or another. Either way, it will be ok. I'm not saying that I will have an easy time emotionally if this birth ends in a c-section, and I may feel some pain and grief about losing the birth that I wanted after their birth. But the paralyzing fear is gone, and that is enough for me to get through it.</div>
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As I was falling asleep last night, I started to worry again and had to tell myself to Let it Go. Then I remembered the opening lines of Little Wonders by Rob Thomas-"Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder. Don't you know, the hardest part is over. " The rest of the song describes the big picture for me so well. I can't wait to meet my little wonders.</div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-21358131442575207412013-11-15T08:17:00.001-08:002013-11-15T08:27:37.403-08:00Tutorial: Quiet Book Cover Here it is at last! Another camera phone tutorial, sadly. It seems that the only hours I have available for sewing and tutorial making occur between the hours of 6:00 PM - 7:00 AM, at which time the sun is down and my flash-less DSLR is pretty much useless. At any rate, now you can make a cover for all your fabulous <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/10/quiet-books-busy-bug-style.html" target="_blank">quiet book pages</a>!<br />
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You will need to cut:<br />
*Three 13" x 24" rectangles (inner and outer from quilting cotton and one from batting, warm and natural is my favorite! )<br />
*One strip measuring 3" x 13"<br />
*One strip measuring 2.5" x 3"<br />
*Velcro- 1" strip of 1" wide velcro (hook side and loop side)<br />
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Fold the 2.5" strip in half, then pin and sew down the long side. Turn tube right side out. Pin down scant 1/4" hem on the long sides of the 3" x 13" strip and sew.<br />
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Turn down the top edge of the small tube twice to conceal the raw edge and pin.<br />
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Pin on hook side of velcro and sew around the edge of the velcro to secure it. Voila, your velcro tab is complete.<br />
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Lay out the batting, then the inner side of the book cover on top. Then find the center of the rectangle and place the 13" strip down the center. On the right side, find the center and place the tab in the center velcro side down. The raw edge of the tab should be placed on the raw edge of the cover.</div>
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Lay the outer fabric face down on the inner so the right sides of the fabric are together.</div>
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Pin all the layers together around the edge of the fabric. Make sure to pin the center strip and velcro tab securely. Note the lower right section where I placed two vertical pins with about 4 inches in between. You will not sew that part of the cover closed. We leave it open so that we can turn the book cover right side out.<br />
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Sew around the edge of the cover, then even up your seam allowance and clip the corners.<br />
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Turn the cover right side out through the hole that we left open on the lower right edge.<br />
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Poke out the corners and straighten it up, you will have something that resembles a book cover!<br />
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Turn the edges of the hole inwards and pin closed. Then topstitch around the edge of the entire book, which will close up that hole nicely.<br />
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The next step is to add the loop side of the velcro to the front of the cover. Fold the book in half and use the velcro tab to mark where the placement should be, then pin and sew it down.<br />
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Now we will need to divide the center strip into sections. We will use binder rings to hold the pages in the book, but each of the binder rings needs and individual casing in this strip.<br />
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First, use one of your book pages to mark out the placement for the binder rings. <br />
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You want the casings to be at least 1/2" wide. Then you will need to sew lines where the pins are placed in order to create the casing.<br />
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I actually sew 4 boxes to secure the parts of the strip that do not need to be open to give the binding strip more reinforcement.<br />
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You're nearly there. You will need 3 1.5" binder rings, or you could always slide ribbon or cording through the casing and page grommets as well.<br />
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Slide in your 1.5" binder rings.<br />
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And add your pages!!! A beautiful cover ready to be abused by young children enjoying their new quiet book. Sadie is going to LOVE her Christmas present!<br />
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And that's a wrap!<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-48392012293997039582013-10-31T07:11:00.001-07:002013-11-15T08:26:17.479-08:00Quiet Books: Busy Bug StyleI started making quiet books about a year ago, as Christmas gifts for Natalie and my daycare girls.<br />
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I gleaned my ideas from all over the internet and stored them on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/bear7328/quiet-books/" target="_blank">my pinterest board</a>. I searched for templates and just plain adorable pages that covered a variety of skills and came up with 8 pages that would make for a fun quiet book.<br />
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I attached them to a cover using grommets and binder rings so that I could easily add more pages and take out pages that had they had outgrown or grown tired of.<br />
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This year I've made a few more pages to add to their books and made a book for another one of my daycare girlies.<br />
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I'll go through the pages I made, list any templates I used, and share a few of my tips and tricks that came in handy when designing my books. I did not include any information on my book covers. A tutorial will be coming on that separately since I still need to make a cover for Sadie's pages. Quiet Book Cover Tutorial <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/11/tutorial-quiet-book-cover.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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I relied heavily on my cricut when I was designing my pages. I used the Sure Cuts A Lot 2 program which allows me to cut the images I create in the program without relying on a variety of cartridges.<br />
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My pages are 10" x 12" finished, so I was able to design effectively on the area of a 12 x 12 cutting mat. It was very helpful to use the program because it was easy to make plans and make changes without committing or spending a ton of time hand drafting. It also made cutting the patterns a lot faster and more precise. It was easy to use the measurements to make PDF templates of the when they were perfected.<br />
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The first page has their names with snap on letters, and button up flowers in a vase. I was inspired by <a href="http://quietbook.blogspot.com/2008/09/page-1-flower-vase.html" target="_blank">this page</a> and <a href="http://craftymumnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/quiet-book-page-5-flower-pot.html" target="_blank">this page</a>. I found a nice chunky font and made sure that the names were no more than 9" or so wide and 4 inches tall. The flower is about 2" in circumference and I just added a buttonhole that fit the size of my buttons instead of cutting the hole in the center of the image. I hand drafted the vase, it is about 2" tall and 2" wide with a little shaping to make it vase like.<br />
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This is an example of how I was able to plan on the Sure Cuts A Lot program, you can see how the grids can help and how plans changed for how large the different names were depending on how many letters are in the name.<br />
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The second page is a dress up girl and closet to keep her clothes. I found the <a href="http://www.serving-pink-lemonade.com/2011/01/quiet-book-templates.html" target="_blank">template</a> for the girl and the clothes here. The closet is a 8"x 4" rectangle cut in half. I used regular felt for Natalie's page, and then stiff felt for the lastest page that I did. The stiff felt is definitely much better!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFiJ3I36Aq0/UnFcsz_-y3I/AAAAAAAAC6I/2rMc9Mv1Uus/s1600/DSC_0283-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFiJ3I36Aq0/UnFcsz_-y3I/AAAAAAAAC6I/2rMc9Mv1Uus/s640/DSC_0283-001.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Page 3 is a washing machine and clothesline page with a color matching game included with the socks. Here is the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-Vmx1UGlaRnFHN2s/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">template.</a> I found the inspiration for this page <a href="http://sweetmamaduck.blogspot.com/2012/01/quiet-book-revealed.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://adventuresofourfamily.com/2012/01/airing-your-laundryquiet-book-page/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Page 4 is all about numbers 1-10. As a teacher, I taught Touch Math to my students and it really helps with addition and subtraction for young mathematicians. I added buttons to touch points to teach touch points and help the children match a quantity to the numeral. The numbers can be stored in the pocket and velcro sticks them on the page. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-Z2Jnb252bmJWdms/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template here.</a> To make the pocket, fold over the top edge of the fabric 1/4" and then fold it over again about 1/2" and sew to make a casing for the elastic. Sew the elastic into the casing and then get ready to place the pocket on the page. You will want to fold the edges under 1/4" on the other 3 sides and pin, adding a few pleats on the bottom of the pocket to accommodate the extra length. Finally, sew down all 3 sides.<br />
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The fifth page was inspired by an<a href="http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/IceCreamFeltPatterning.htm" target="_blank"> ice cream patterning activity</a> that I found when making busy bags for my kids. I added the menu/counter pockets to store the pieces to the game. Here is a<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-U1d6cFRCY2RMNnM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"> template</a> for the shop portion of the page. I wrote out the signs using an ultra fine tip sharpie.<br />
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This page was inspired by a cupcake building busy bag game and I turned into a cupcake bakery page. <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/07/free-cupcake-busy-bag-instructions-and-pattern-download.html" target="_blank">The cupcake game can be found here</a>. The pieces are stored in the pocket behind the oven. I was inspired by <a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/2012/06/11/baking-cupakes-quiet-book-page/" target="_blank">this oven</a>, but thought the cupcake building was more fun than have premade cupcakes.<br />
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It didn't really make sense to make a template for this page since it is all rectangles that are too large to print on a letter size sheet of paper. Here are the basic dimensions for the oven. The black glitter felt is 8 3/4" wide x 9" tall and sewn on 3 sides, leaving the top open to be used as a pocket. The oven door started as 2 8 3/4" x 9" rectangles and a piece of vinyl (this vinyl was from a duvet cover bag) cut to the same size. I layered all 3 rectangles together and used a paper template cut to 6 1/2" wide x 6" tall to place the oven window and sewed around the edges of the paper template. I centered the template width wise, but placed it just 3/4" up from the bottom to leave room on the top to accommodate the handle. After I sewed around all 4 edges of the template I trimmed out the blue and white felt from the center and trimmed the excess vinyl from the outside edges of the window. Finally I sewed around the outer edges and added the velcro and the ribbon handle. The oven door opens and closes with velcro in the top corners.<br />
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The sixth page is a lacing page/tying page, but has been different for all the books I have done. Natalie has a basic, converse style shoe to lace and tie using some fun fabrics. I did a football cleat for another girl that is a Raven's fan. For my monster loving daycare girl, I made a fuzzy monster that has a vest to lace and tie. Sorry, no templates for the shoes or monster. I modified my shoe pattern from<a href="http://quietbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/page-24-tie-my-shoe.html" target="_blank"> this one</a>.<br />
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The latest page I did omits the lacing and just focuses on tying the bow for the ball gown. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-N2VHbzBmMzBrVWM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template for the dress here</a>.<br />
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The seventh page is a weaving task. I did a "weave the blanket" page for the first few books.<br />
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Then I saw<a href="http://www.bubblesandbobbins.com/2012/05/activity-book-quiet-book.html?showComment=1337613416798" target="_blank"> this "weave a pie crust" page</a> and had to do my own version! So cute and less intimidating for the kids than the weave a blanket page. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-eUFZZmhHc2dZQlU/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template for pie weaving page here.</a><br />
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Page 8 is a barn with farm animal finger puppets <a href="http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/p/templates-printables.html" target="_blank">designed by Homemade by Jill</a>. I modified it by making the door a zippered pocket to hold the farm animal puppets.<br />
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This year I have made a few new pages to add to Natalie's book and my monster lover's book. They are a whole year older and could use a few new challenges!<br />
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This page is inserted after page 4 as a follow up to numbers 1-10. The bead strings show place value for the tens and ones columns and numbers 11-20 snap on and off. They can also be stored in the pocket with numbers 1-10. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-WktPd08xbUNXQWs/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template here</a>.<br />
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On the other side of that page is a clock face with movable hands and a zippered pocket with cards to show digital representations of the analog time shown on the clock. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-a0NCZWxnOHV1VTA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template here with black number cards.</a> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-MGFnYnFHbWlRT00/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template here for colored number cards.</a> There are grommets on the hands just like the grommets on the pages themselves so they move quite freely under the button.<br />
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Next comes a Marble Maze! I saw a few ideas out there, but the mazes were not very fun so I made up my own to keep up with my 4 year old daughter. The fact that the hubby played with it for a full 10 minutes figuring out all the different paths he could take to get to the end tells me I get a thumbs up : D <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-bDhXSDZ5cWJ3eVU/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Template here</a>. Cut the fabric to 9" x 11.5" and fold the edges under 1/4" on all sides when sewing onto the page. Don't forget to put in the marble before you close the last side! Then embroider the maze on the fabric using embroidery floss. I couldn't seem to get the orange to pop on camera as it does in real life :(<br />
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On the back side of that is what may be my favorite page ever, a mailbox with ADORABLE letters and envelopes to send in the mail. <a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/2011/12/03/mailbox-letters-quiet-book-page/comment-page-1/#comment-5861" target="_blank"> I found the template here</a>.<br />
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One of Natalie's favorite new games to play is tic tac toe, so I included a board and playing pieces stored in the pocket.<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwmCY76mB2s-cjhxMkJjVVhsc1E/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"> Template here.</a> The pocket is constructed in the same manner as the pocket on the numbers 1-10 page.<br />
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On the back side of that page is an I-SPY bag that snaps out for I-SPY fun. It is a rather noisy page for a quiet book, but is quite fun :) There are great tutorials for I-SPY bags all over blogland, <a href="http://seweasylemonsqueezy.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-spy-bags.html" target="_blank">here is one that I like</a>.<br />
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I know these books are on the girly side....because all of the books I have made are for girls! I will be diving into some more boyish pages soon, I'm hoping to finish a quiet book for Nathan's 2nd birthday featuring trucks, tractors, trains, and other things that go.<br />
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I hope you enjoy my quiet book goodies and are inspired to make your own!<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-86101503037627654352013-10-23T07:12:00.004-07:002013-10-23T07:12:51.102-07:00Tutorial: Recover or Customize Your Baby CarrierBabywearing is one of my favorite things. I have actually made several of my own carriers using various tutorials all over the internet. An option that many new parents are choosing is the market for <a href="http://www.becomingmamas.com/babywearing/soft-structuredbuckle-carriers/" target="_blank">soft structured carriers</a> like the Ergo, Beco, Boba, and more. There are so many options out there, and they are often pricy. Chances are the cuter the carrier is, the more you will spend, but what about those DIY souls who don't want to break the bank but still want a cute carrier? This tutorial is for you. Please pardon the camera phone photos, it was the best that was going to happen that day :)<br />
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One of my friends found a used Beco Butterfly II that she bought at a great price, but it was covered in a peeling Moose Argyle print that she did not want to keep. She asked for some help updating and recovering the front panel, and I was glad to assist.<br />
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Word of Caution: Baby carriers are made to be structurally sound in order to hold something as precious as a small child. Ripping out seams can compromise the integrity of your carrier and I do not recommend removing the fabric panels that are original to the carrier or ripping any seams on the carrier. <br />
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Step 1: Measure the front panel(s) on your carrier.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf6OFv4OhfKR8_izPxXOV7uqFphTI9rbFsZiS0wTflNtKu0U1zBVucZSfDBpOHZrhvvbiY5GqfBmtib9xFEKndfZBig1fu2UbCU7ZHPf5DPxf5G3YMW-qCj9IQuo3nrupVg7E9CxVuBSV/s1600/20131020_100308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf6OFv4OhfKR8_izPxXOV7uqFphTI9rbFsZiS0wTflNtKu0U1zBVucZSfDBpOHZrhvvbiY5GqfBmtib9xFEKndfZBig1fu2UbCU7ZHPf5DPxf5G3YMW-qCj9IQuo3nrupVg7E9CxVuBSV/s400/20131020_100308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This carrier measured 7.5" in width on the bottom section of the panel and 7.75" at the top of the panel. I chose to use the 7.75 measurement and make my new panel square rather than try to match it exactly. 1/8" on either side does not make a difference.<br />
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This carrier has a panel sewn in for snapping on the hood, so I had to keep that intact and recover the bottom and top sections separately.<br />
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The tag was also getting in the way in this area. I did need to use a seam ripper to unpick the TOP STITCHING ONLY so that the tag could move freely. I did not unpick the tag completely or rip the seam the tag is encased in.<br />
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Since the fabric my friend chose to cover her carrier in was very light, you could see through the fabric to the lovely peeling meese underneath. I had to back the fabric with white in order to completely obscure the pesky moose argyle.<br />
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Step 2: Cut the lining fabric to the exact size of the fabric panels.<br />
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Step 3: Cut the cover fabric panels 1/2" larger than the lining all around.<br />
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Step 5: Put the lining and cover fabric right sides together and sew the lining and cover fabric together on 3 sides, leaving the bottom open.<br />
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This is a little trickier, considering that one piece of fabric is larger than the other.<br />
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Line up on of the sides first and sew, then line up and sew the other side. <br />
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Then you will be able to line up the edges at the top and sew across. You will notice that you have some extra fabric around the edges, that is supposed to be there, just line it up like the picture shows, it should overlap to the edge of the lining fabric.<br />
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When you turn it right side out, you will have a nice little trim around the edge of the fabric on the back, which ensures that the lining fabric won't peek through around the edges of your carrier and reduces the bulk a bit around that seam when you are top stitching later on.<br />
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Step 4: Pin your new cover panels onto the carrier!<br />
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Step 5: Top stitch around the edges of your new panels.<br />
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The top section on this carrier was a bit tricky. I machine stitched the exposed part on the top, and hand stitched the area on the sides and bottom next to the snap strip.<br />
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Don't forget to pin the tag back down and top stitch over it.<br />
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Much, much better than peeling moose argyle, eh?<br />
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Now go forth and beautify your baby carriers, while I search for the perfect accent fabric for my plain black Ergo...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-82302862883092925802013-10-22T20:18:00.001-07:002014-01-06T09:52:59.759-08:00Unseen Scars: Emotional Recovery from Surgery<div class="MsoNormal">
Nearly 4 years ago I had a gall bladder attack that resulted
in having my gall bladder removed surgically.
The surgery was performed perfectly. Physically, I recovered
completely. Physically, I was fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emotionally, I was not fine.
The circumstances surrounding my surgery have made emotional recovery
difficult. You see, my daughter was 10
months old at the time. My body was so
swollen from trying to pass the gall stone that started the attack that surgery
wasn't possible until the 5<sup>th</sup> day that I was in the hospital. A blizzard started the night that I was
admitted into the hospital and lasted for 4 days. My husband is required to
work during snowstorms to remove snow from essential roadways around the
county.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am blessed in many ways.
I am blessed with fantastic sisters that came to my home to care for my
daughter. I knew she was in excellent
hands while I was unable to be with her.
I am blessed that I had excellent doctors that helped my body heal from
the gall bladder attack and surgery. I
am blessed with a husband that takes his work seriously and worked tirelessly
to help keep countless people safe on the roads during that blizzard. Because of the blizzard, schools were closed
and I did not have to use sick leave that I didn't have during my hospital
stay. I am so grateful for all of these
things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each of those blessings has a flip side, and that is hard for
me to admit. I spent so much time trying
to feel blessed instead of facing the reality of my emotions while still
acknowledging the blessing. Before I
knew it I was drowning in the emotions that I was trying so hard not to feel. I spent 6 days separated from my baby. Days full of pain and boredom and medications
and strangers and snow, which were spent missing her. When the storm stopped and the roads were
clear enough, my sisters brought Natalie to see me, and she didn't recognize me. It took her a while to come willingly back
into my arms. That killed me. After I was home and off of the pain
medications I tried to breastfeed her again and she refused. Over those 9 days, she weaned
completely. Our breastfeeding
relationship was over, just like that.
And I died again. I felt like a
failure. Yet again, my body had betrayed
me. I had already gone through the
experience of not being able to pump enough milk for her while I was at work,
and had to accept that she would be formula fed while at daycare, and breast fed
at home with me. My breastfeeding relationship
with my daughter had been snatched from me, and we had been so close to making
it to the one year mark.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While the doctors and nurses were great, the thought of
surgery was quite scary for me. My
husband was supposed to drop my daughter at daycare and come to see me at the
hospital before I went in to surgery. I
was counting on that support to get me through the scary part, but my surgery
was moved up and my poor, tired husband overslept and I went into the OR
feeling very afraid and very alone. I
was put under general anesthesia, a first for me, and I went from falling
asleep in a relatively quiet OR to waking up in the hustle and bustle of the
hospital hallway while they were taking me back to my room, which was very
disconcerting and unexpected. My husband
was not in my room waiting for me like I expected. Ever practical and hardworking, he came to
the hospital after dropping off Natalie, they told him I would be in surgery
for a couple more hours, and he decided that it made sense for him to go back
home and shovel the feet of snow off of the driveway. You know men, you can generally take their
estimate of time to be spent on a job and double it for a more accurate
estimate. He finally came to the
hospital to see me 2 hours after I was out of recovery. Unfortunately, I had been through too much
emotionally by that point. I had been alone in the hospital for 4 days, my
daughter did not want me to hold her, I went into surgery alone and scared, and
I came out of surgery alone and scared.
The rational part of me tried to understand his logic, but I felt very
abandoned. It made me retreat back into
myself and put us through a very rocky part of our marriage because I emotionally
distanced myself from him. He didn't
understand what I was going through, why I felt alone, why it made a difference
whether he had been there or not, why it mattered so much that Natalie had
stopped nursing… It took a long time
for us to move forward from that experience and begin communicating effectively and really connecting again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a long, hard road to emotional recovery, and
until recently, I thought that I had recovered.
Right now I am faced with a very real possibility of having to give
birth to my twins through a c-section.
The thought of delivering my twins through surgery terrifies me. For me, surgery has meant separation from my
family. I cannot bear the thought of
being separated from my twins through surgery.
Surgery also meant the end of my breastfeeding relationship with my
daughter, and I am determined to breastfeed the twins, but worried that the
surgery and recovery will prevent that relationship from forming properly like it
did with my other children. The mere
thought of having a c-section puts me into tears and makes my heart race, it is
a physical reaction to the stress that I cannot prevent from happening. I watched a video of a very calm and
peaceful “natural” c-section that did not separate the mother from her child
and I was still on the verge of a panic attack.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realized that in order to come to terms and have a
peaceful birth, no matter whether it is a vaginal delivery or a c-section, I
need to face my ghosts from surgery’s past and finish the healing process,
since I have only scratched the surface.
Step One is recognizing the feelings that I still have regarding my past
experience. I have found writing this
story of my past to share has been a good first step. These feelings are not something to be
ashamed of or hide from others. Step Two
for me will be work through these feelings one by one and come to peace with them,
separating my gall bladder surgery from the possibility of a c-section. Easier said than done, I’m sure. Plus, I have a deadline. These babies will come into this world when
they are ready, whether I am healed emotionally or not.
Hopefully by that point I will be able to embrace the possibility of a
c-section with peace. Moreover, be able
to enjoy the birth of my babies without fear and emotional scars. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2013/12/let-it-go_12.html" target="_blank">Update 12/12/13: Let It Go</a> is an update on my journey to recovery from these emotional scars and how they affect the impending birth of my twins. </div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-35494501446854402452013-10-22T20:01:00.003-07:002013-10-22T20:01:51.516-07:00Got Twins?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TQwQO-_RwxsC2uc2sOtJd36sP6uBTRJqRa-hy8Lw8tUZV4IWbX2PTDlD-vcbYafmPQBlq-aF7HPj1ifTrY0Gm5ek_SRBv3Y7OP8eWWIl_37pYbjASsrSZuNEAQM1zsqUXX8gJiWxBPET/s1600/gottwins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TQwQO-_RwxsC2uc2sOtJd36sP6uBTRJqRa-hy8Lw8tUZV4IWbX2PTDlD-vcbYafmPQBlq-aF7HPj1ifTrY0Gm5ek_SRBv3Y7OP8eWWIl_37pYbjASsrSZuNEAQM1zsqUXX8gJiWxBPET/s400/gottwins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, I do!<br />
<br />
Talk about the surprise of your life. Finding out there are two little babies instead of just the one we were expecting is definitely going to be on our list of the top surprises of our lifetime. <br />
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We are so blessed and these twins will be the perfect addition to our family.<br />
<br />
A brother for Nathan<br />
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<br />
and a FEISTY little sister for Natalie.<br />
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<br />
Baby Girl actually kept her parts a secret at the first ultrasound we had. Then at the second one 3 weeks later, she decided to keep the state of her internal organs a secret as well and wouldn't let us get the pictures we needed for an anatomy scan. She also loves to push on my GI tract and give me heartburn. It's a good thing, she will need to be feisty to keep Natalie in check :) Baby Boy is quite active, but behaves pretty well for a sonogram once his sister stops pushing him around. (Weirdest yet most awesome part of twin pregnancy = watching them interact with each other during the ultrasounds. I can feel them kicking me, but I can't feel when they are kicking each other.) They will make their entrance into the world in late February or early March.<br />
<br />
Since you are all wondering-<br />
1. No, twins don't really run in my family. I have an identical twin grandmother, but that is not something that is hereditary. <br />
2. Yes, they are fraternal. They each have their own little sack and placenta.<br />
3. No, I wasn't as shocked as you might think. I had very little trouble wrapping my head around the idea of twins. I love the idea of twins, and that I can get two babies out of one pregnancy ;)<br />
4. Yes, I am well aware that you are quite glad it is me and not you. I could tell by the way you said "wow" when I shared the news.<br />
5. Yes, I will have to sell my car. And buy a minivan. And maybe a bigger house while we're at it.<br />
6. I am in fact exhausted, though no longer nauseous, in pain, growing a bump exponentially faster than my last two, and generally dying. But I will say that I'm fine, and I might even sound convincing.<br />
7. Despite the fact that I have had this conversation countless times in the last 4 weeks, and it has become a little predictable, I never get tired of talking about my babies and I love that my friends and family and complete strangers are so interested.<br />
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I have been<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/bear7328/got-twins/" target="_blank"> hitting pinterest hard</a> looking for the best ways to parent (and craft for) twins. I think some of these ideas are definitely in my future. Especially this one<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoNmlA_jPd94HSJz8ZEB3-J5SgGHkxnzIw8rMD8LDaMTmvRjhkE3UahMAEOI1w5phqf5VsA3cnNZsbynE_2HAhoGvofBVTqkpyMPLmP5SRbsxbR0hzW-zKZC3FKO4oCGDH7f3r7cM2uy3/s1600/youaremysunshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoNmlA_jPd94HSJz8ZEB3-J5SgGHkxnzIw8rMD8LDaMTmvRjhkE3UahMAEOI1w5phqf5VsA3cnNZsbynE_2HAhoGvofBVTqkpyMPLmP5SRbsxbR0hzW-zKZC3FKO4oCGDH7f3r7cM2uy3/s640/youaremysunshine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/160846513/swanky-baby-twin-girlboy-set-of-two?ref=sr_gallery_43&ga_search_query=baby+boy+girl+twins&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">This set and image is from Swanky Shank on Etsy. Isn't it completely adorable?</a></div>
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I've got a few things that I've been working on to share, once I find the perfect combination of energy, time, and lighting to photograph them. I wouldn't hold your breath on that one ;)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-22787319195768383782013-06-10T13:34:00.000-07:002013-06-10T13:34:24.258-07:00Fruits of Labor Infant/Preemie Beanies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myEOazagzEM/UbYyMsI6usI/AAAAAAAACbU/KduYY0OleA0/s1600/DSC_0034-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myEOazagzEM/UbYyMsI6usI/AAAAAAAACbU/KduYY0OleA0/s640/DSC_0034-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I sew for a cause, I tend to go way overboard and SEW for a cause :) My local mommies group ran a drive for the Special Care Nursery at our local hospital recently, and these hats were my contribution. I upcycled t-shirts from my stash of leftovers from t-shirt quilts, and these babies are so fast to whip together it didn't take much time at all. I used the sleeves of the shirts so that I could use the existing hem and save a step. I also made them itty bitty and super itty bitty. I don't know about others' experiences with hats, maybe my kids just had small heads, but all of our newborn and 0-3 month hats were huge on my babies and we ended up using the hospital hat most often for Natalie since it fit her the best. Therefore, the special care nursery hats are super small so they can fit right away, and their parents can enjoy the "fruits of their labor," ha ha.<br />
<br />
The concept of the DIY baby fruit hat is not mine, I was inspired by Delia's version of <a href="http://www.deliacreates.com/2012/01/nesting-freshly-picked-baby-hats.html" target="_blank">Freshly Picked baby hats</a> and by the<a href="http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/06/fruit-salad-baby-hats-with-guest-maggie.html" target="_blank"> Fruit Salad hats</a> made by Maggie of Smashed Peas and Carrots. They have excellent tutorials to show off the basics of their baby hats.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-51985769163316163392013-04-27T14:16:00.000-07:002013-05-08T05:27:58.650-07:00Owls + Puff Quilt + Diaper Cake = Best New Baby Gift Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JJdUusGvms/UXw3TZSjBBI/AAAAAAAACUY/rQ5BL9RejwE/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JJdUusGvms/UXw3TZSjBBI/AAAAAAAACUY/rQ5BL9RejwE/s640/DSC_0113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
One of my friends is having a new baby soon very soon, and he just couldn't come into the world without a having dozen embellished prefold diapers/burp-cloths to soil and owlish puff quilt to snuggle on.<br />
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I fell in love with these owl prints I found at Joann's (The fabric line is called "Night Owl Club" and I have officially used all that I have. I am now trying to think of an excuse to buy more!). Baby couldn't spit up on anything cuter, and I love a good prefold diaper cake. <br />
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This quilt. Oh, this quilt was hard to let go. The puffs are so "fluffly" to quote Natalie, and between the puff and the owls and the soft n fluffy border I just about died. LOVE, just love it.</div>
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I perused the web for tutorials, and ended up getting blogger after blogger referring me to buy the pattern at Honeybear Lane. Let me say, I'm not usually a "buy the pattern" kind of girl. I usually just wing it. Two things made me buy the pattern in the end, 1) I was on a time crunch, and it would have taken longer to figure it all out myself. 2) I wanted a quilt <i>just</i> like the ones she makes.</div>
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The pattern is wonderful. I didn't change up too much, but I did try to accommodate my time constraints. I used the rag puff quilt technique to eliminate the need for binding/backing and extra steps.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPg5c4Gem1U/UXw3OrLkOrI/AAAAAAAACUA/45kpi3jqsEU/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPg5c4Gem1U/UXw3OrLkOrI/AAAAAAAACUA/45kpi3jqsEU/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The clipping seemed to last forever, but it is awfully cute. I would recommend not using the ragging technique with the soft n fluffy in the future. I spent half of my life trying to get rid of all the little threads that stuck to that fluff in the wash. A normal minky probably would have turned out a little better. All in all, love the puff quilts. I've already got visions of two more dancing in my heads for friends who are expecting :)</div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-85718886780636789862013-04-21T20:18:00.000-07:002013-04-27T13:19:01.542-07:00Princess Dress Up Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
My Natalie just celebrated her 4th birthday! Complete with self-performed haircut just 2 weeks before the event. I suppose most preschoolers do it at some point, but still, she cut off <b><i>all</i></b> of her hair.<br />
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Sigh. I was totally heartbroken for a few days. Then I got over the shock that was hitting me every time I looked at her and realized she had grown up. She wanted to make more decisions for herself. My opinions and desires do not trump her own. I've never attempted to force things on her, she dresses herself in clothes that don't match, pink and red are her favorite colors so she looks like a red hat lady half the time :), she plays with whatever toys she likes, and makes plenty of her own choices. I thought I was doing a great job at raising her to be free and independent. She had asked me on several occasions to cut her hair short, and I would
trim it a little bit, loving her long hair too much to cut it all off. I had tricked myself into thinking that she loved her own long hair, but she actually didn't want it. She took matters into her own hands, and I have resolved to listen to my strong willed, all grown up, 4 year old daughter. <br />
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Anyways, she wanted a "Princess Dress Up Party" for her birthday, and requested a "down low" Snow White princess dress as her birthday present. I did my best to make it happen!<br />
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The dress was my first experiment with a peasant style princess dress. I wanted it to have a very twirly skirt, so I added a circle skirt to the bottom of the peasant top. It worked out alright, but it does sit a little funny at the waistline.<br />
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It is super twirly! And meets the "down low" requirement as in almost reaches the floor.<br />
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And she loves it!<br />
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To make her day extra fun I did a little decorating to the playroom. Tulle transformed out chairs into thrones.<br />
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We made princess cupcakes that I had the kids decorate themselves.<br />
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Natalie chose Snow White, of course.<br />
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And promptly started to eat her princess on the cob<br />
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She loved the dress, and the cupcakes, and the thrones, and the two dozen balloons hanging from the ceiling, but her favorite thing by far was the cardboard castle. Now I saw <a href="http://www.thatsvandy.com/2009/09/the-princess-castle/" target="_blank">this cardboard castle</a> playhouse and knew that it would be perfect. When I saw it I fell in love with it, it was so fancy! Then a couple minutes minutes later I went from "Oh that's really fancy!" to "Oh. That's <i>really</i> fancy." It is awesome and amazing, but I don't have room for a huge castle playhouse nor do I want to spend $50+ and hours upon hours of time on a cardboard playhouse that I don't have room to keep up around. Here is my version of a cardboard castle. It cost me $5.00, some duct tape, and 3 hours of my time.<br />
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I picked up 2 extra large (22"x22"21") moving boxes and 1 small (16"x12"x12") moving box from Home Depot. I turned them inside out, taped up all the seams, added the arch using the small box, and then cut out the squares on the top for the battlements, cut the doors, and cut the windows. <br />
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The structure was still not very sturdy. I taped squares and triangles of cardboard to the corners of the boxes to act as L brackets and make the structure more sturdy. Like so<br />
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I also taped the castle to the floor and the wall. <br />
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As an added bonus, I left the castle to be a blank canvas for all the kids to enjoy decorating. Natalie chose to draw long lines representing Rapunzel's hair coming down from the castle. <br />
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Happy birthday Natalie! You are the most amazing, independent, brilliant, sassy, and fun daughter I could have. Love you to pieces :)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-29554681192374968282013-02-02T17:03:00.001-08:002013-02-02T17:06:24.006-08:00Book Page Photo FrameDon't you love it when a project fails initially, but turns out even better than you expected? Around Christmas time I saw <a href="http://goodwillionaire.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinspiration-phabulous-photo-phrame.html" target="_blank">this frame</a> on Pinterest. I fell in love, and thought it would be a fun gift to make. I actually thought it couldn't be too difficult to do the project as directed with spray paint. I soon remembered that there is a <i>reason</i> that I stay away from paint in general. Let's just say I had to scrap the project as a Christmas gift.<br />
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I thought on how to save the project for a week or two and ended up thinking about mod podging something onto the frame to cover up the horrendous spray paint mishap. I love things made from book pages, I even have a <a href="http://pinterest.com/bear7328/book-page-projects/" target="_blank">pinterest board</a> dedicated to book page crafting projects. Thinking about making things with book pages in the abstract is easy, it was much harder to cut into the book! I chose a book I loved as a child, and therefore had read to pieces, literally. The book was in 4 pieces, merely contained in the cover that no longer stuck to the spine. I tried to start tearing the pages up half a dozen times before I realized I would have to give the book one last hurrah before giving it another life. <br />
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I finished the last page, returned that portion of the book to it's place in the cover, gave the book one final caress, and proceeded to rip, tear, and mutilate the book into oblivion. The application was simple, I tore up pages in different directions and used mod podge on the back side of the paper. I didn't seal over the top of the pages with it because I didn't like how it changed the coloring of the paper. I was able to follow the instructions on the original tutorial to finish the frame with wire and mini clothespins.<br />
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I loved the idea of having all of the photos in sepia tones,and while I love it, it is a bit dull. The next time I update the photos I will try some color! If I get tired of the color of the frame I may try "staining" it with a color so the words still show through.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-88226122548518350642013-01-28T08:32:00.000-08:002013-01-28T08:32:29.375-08:00Sit tight and hold on!A new year makes you look back and look forward. To think about things you have achieved, and things you want to accomplish. I have been simultaneously proud and frustrated with myself about what I have achieved in my life in 2012. We added a new member to our family, I had some time with just me and my babies (and a brief affair with this blog), and I started my home daycare. Those are just some of the big things, things I am certainly proud of accomplishing. I wish that I had been more vigilant about eating healthy all the time, that I had been more successful with balancing my needs with the needs of my family. It may be selfish, but I have really been struggling with the lack of time to spend of my crafty projects, and on being able to share them here on the blog. Blogging is something I truly enjoy, and something I haven't had time to do in months and months.<br />
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Last year I thought that 2013 would bring great things for me. I imagined that when Nathan was a year old, I would be able to share parenting duties a little more equally with the hubby and have some time to work on my personal goals. I went to a 3 hour photography workshop yesterday, something I have been wanting to do for over a year. It was great, I accomplished a goal for myself. I was finally able to put together all the disjointed information I had been trying to learn from books and you tube videos and tutorials and learn how to take full advantage of my camera. Then I walked out of the workshop to my car, and my phone rang. It was the hubby, asking if I was finished and when I would be back, and could I please pick up some diapers on the way since we only had one left. He'd had a difficult day, I could tell even though he hadn't said so. I felt guilty. I had told myself before I left that I wouldn't feel guilty. I had told myself all month that I wouldn't feel guilty about leaving the kids with the hubby to do something that I wanted to do. But I did. I felt as though I had shirked my duties, been selfish, and perhaps even irresponsible. Which made me realize that my life had become about making my family's life run smoothly. "Not a bad thing," I said to myself. It's my job as a mother and wife to do what I can to make my family happy and content with their life. They rely on me for that, and when I am not there to make sure that their favorite outfit has been washed for the fifth time that week, they have their mommy milk whenever they want it, and to know where to find all the paraphernalia needed to take the kids sledding, the day is difficult. I keep my family running smoothly. That is something I am proud of. Is that all I can do? Well, maybe right now the answer is yes.<br />
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My days are full. From 7 am to 6 pm, my daycare is open for business. I have anywhere from 4-7 kids running around my house needing me to care for them. I enjoy it. I love teaching them, and playing with them, and being able to stay home with my own kids to watch them grow. It is the right move for me right now, it is where I am supposed to be. It also means I have to spend a ridiculous amount of time keeping my house clean and sanitized, plan lessons and prep activities for my preschool set, take classes and develop myself professionally in early childhood development, and maintain my daycare website, which includes a weekly private blog where I keep parents apprised of the goings on and what their children are achieving while in my care. Before and after daycare I am still a wife and mother of two small children. I have one night a week when the hubby relieves me of dinner and kid duty from 6:30-8:00, I need that time for my sanity. I put up the gate and usually take out my sewing machine, and try not to feel guilty when I hear them struggling downstairs. It is frustrating to be pulled into so many directions, wanting to do so much, but always falling short in one way or another because you just can't do it all.<br />
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This morning I read a<a href="http://www.littlepinkmonster.com/2013/01/28/little-social-monster/"> fantastic post from one of my favorite bloggers</a>. I felt so happy for her, that she is in a place to start working on new dreams and goals. Of course it made me think about my own dreams and goals, and then a familiar feeling of frustration came over me. What about my goals, my dreams? When would I be able to even consider being able to put time into growing my etsy shop, setting up tables at local craft fairs and events, making things and blogging about them? <br />
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I first wrote the title of this post "Sit tight and hold on!" feeling resigned. I had accepted that right now, those dreams and goals are on hold. I can't work on them right now, but I don't want to lose them. Right now I have to sit tight where I am at, and know that those dreams will be in my future someday. However, as I was writing this I realized that despite the fact that I have new goals and dreams I had lost sight of the fact that I am currently living one of my dreams. Staying home with my children has been an amazing blessing. It surely has not been without difficulties and challenges and I made the mistake of getting lost in them. I found my way out of the mire of frustration and guilt today. Instead of feeling resigned I am feeling resolved. I am going to remember that I am living my dream, and my dream still needs me. I am going to sit tight and hold on to see where this dream takes me.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-38130799984374794982013-01-25T17:02:00.000-08:002013-01-25T17:02:07.805-08:00My Sewing CornerI moved my sewing table upstairs to my bedroom about 6 months ago, and I've been working on making that space my own, since my crafting time has been hindered by the fact that children are sleeping just 10 feet away and we don't have bedroom doors. I either have to move my project downstairs after bedtime and move it back up before my house becomes a daycare again in the morning, or craft in the hour and a half after we eat dinner and before the kids go to bed. (Which generally happens once a week.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This is the cleanest my table has been in the last 6 months, and let's j<span style="font-size: x-small;">ust say </span>there is a reason you can't see the area surrounding the table top...)</span><br />
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My idea for the wall started with the two large embroidery hoops, which I inherited, along with many of the fun vintage looking fabrics I used in the hoops. I saw <a href="http://www.sewdaily.com/user/Confirm.aspx?ReturnUrl=/media/p/2361/showcontent.aspx&UserName=bear7328&Token=c1a4f244-6f7d-45d2-9775-b8e976be2fb9">this pattern</a> (it is free, but you may need to create a free account to view it) and liked the idea of turning the hoops into more storage for crafting tools.<br />
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I thought that the top of the largest hoop looked a little bare, and then I knocked the answer off my table onto the floor. Magnets. Perfect! I stitched a 1x 12 grid across the length of the hoop and slit a hole in the backing at the top of each square in the grid just large enough to slide the magnets into, being very careful not to cut the outer fabric. Then just slide the magnets in, and voila, instant storage for bias tape makers, needles, bobbins, etc...<br />
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The drawing in the frame on the right was done by Bug right after she turned 3. It is my sewing machine, in case you couldn't tell. I think it is fabulous, and deserves a place of honor on my wall.<br />
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<br />I've been making Barbie dresses lately, by the way. I'm pretty sure Bug will notice Tinker Bell's new dresses hanging on my inspiration board and beg me for them soon, but until then they will grace my inspiration board and make me smile whilst sewing stacks of pink barbie clothes. I think she picked out almost every single pink print I have when we were looking through my stash for fabric together. I tried to steer her towards some fun greens and blues, but I was told they "just aren't good for Barbies." I should have known better than to suggest any color that is NOT pink.<br />
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I finished off the wall with a couple printables, the ever popular "Keep Calm and get the seam ripper" was of my own creation using their free poster maker site, and adding the vintage sewing machine graphic. The CREATE printable was found <a href="http://anythingbutperfect.com/2011/06/free-printable-create-subway-art/">here</a>. I punched up the plain black frames with some washi tape. Love that stuff!<br />
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Now that I have my nice, clean, organized, and inspirational crafting corner finished, maybe I will be able to figure out a way to spend more time there. Not likely in the near future, but I can dream right?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-24432533377309418492012-09-05T11:33:00.001-07:002012-09-05T11:43:57.174-07:00Doily Canvas Paintings TutorialI pinned <a href="http://shealynnbenner.com/2012/05/tutorial-7-spray-painted-doily-canvas/">this project</a> on pinterest a long time ago, and I've had the supplies for a long time as well. I had even had the blank canvases hanging on the wall for 2 months before I got around to actually painting them. I buckled down and got to it on Monday, since the hubby took Natalie out for the day and I actually had a "vacation" day with just little Nathan.<br />
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I did mine a little differently, since I <strike>hate spray paint</strike> wanted a more rustic, worn look. I used acrylic paints and 5x5 canvases from a craft store.<br />
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I started out painting the base coat on the canvases. I used a dry, stiff brush and painted Xs until it felt right.<br />
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Then I arranged my doilies on top of the canvas and painted over them. I painted the top coat with a dry, stiff brush using a stippling motion.<br />
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I wanted the top coat to be thin enough that you could still get a hint of the base coat. When the paint is dry carefully pull up the doilies and see your masterpiece.<br />
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I did two sets for my wall, so here is what other one looks like.<br />
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To get the full effect, you should see them on my dining room wall.<br />
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I hope you also enjoy the frames that are still sporting photos that are obviously not of my family. I still have to send pictures to get printed. I started a gallery wall in our bedroom, and half of those frames are hung and still missing pictures as well.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-12326169539610469912012-09-01T05:02:00.000-07:002012-09-01T05:02:47.970-07:00Happy Birthday Aunt Bri!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister just had a birthday a few weeks ago, and while I was thinking about what to make her I thought of a scarf. Then I realized that I have given her scarves for the last few holidays over the last few years. We needed a change. Enter the ever fabulous goodies from Pick Your Plum. I scored a $30 grab box and everything I needed was inside! I did an earring and ring set with the white cabochon flowers, and added some pendants. The owl is my favorite, but the little bird is so sweet too. Happy Birthday Bri! We love you!<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-55372395366901626462012-08-31T17:28:00.000-07:002012-08-31T17:33:32.471-07:00Feeling that Itch!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, I know it's been over a month since I posted anything. I do have a good reason! I have been adjusting to my new daycare business. It's a long long day of keeping lots of kiddos entertained, happy, fed, and relatively clean :) I've got 5 kids under the age of 3 years old and they are wonderful and hilarious and I love them dearly; however, they are stealing my crafting and blogging time with their adorable shenanigans. Little Baby Bear here is all the explanation I need.<br />
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What is it about boys and dirt? And now to what's been on my mind.<br />
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Every couple years I get this itch, an itch for change. Not just any sort of change, a big change- something dramatic. When I was growing up we moved every few years, or sometimes more often. I think I got used to the change, and I even liked it. Now we've been in our house for nearly 4 years, and I'm getting an itch. My wonderful husband doesn't understand it, he is just fine with things staying the same. He just shakes his head and helps me move the heavy stuff when I decide to rearrange the furniture in every room of the house. He was slightly less understanding when I stayed up late redesigning my blog, but he conceded when I told him it was a late night or a can of paint. (Anything to avoid paint!)<br />
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I have to say that I am pretty happy with my new look here. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted at first, then in my googling I found <a href="http://shabbyblogs.com/">shabbyblogs.com</a> and found everything I didn't know I was looking for- for free! It was very liberating to redecorate the blog, doing something for me and the blog and satisfying my need for change. It's really quite powerful, if it's not satisfied by simply watching my baby grow into a little boy in just 8 short months. He's started eating people food, and he loves it so much that he's now scrounging for scraps of food on the floor under the table like a little puppy. Chances are if he's not climbing up my leg, he's heading over for a meal under the table.<br />
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I have two new(ish) projects to share, one of which hasn't been photographed, and I want to do it justice. I'm not sure of how much I'll be able to craft for a little while, so I'll post when I can.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085543050895513316.post-50391421331205450682012-07-17T13:34:00.001-07:002012-07-17T13:34:47.293-07:00Tutorial: Tin Can Dollhouse Chair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, this tutorial has been much awaited by google searchers everywhere. <a href="http://thebusybuglife.blogspot.com/2012/05/vintage-doll-furniture.html">My first post</a> showed my first attempt to recreate the furniture, and it's pretty popular! I thought it wouldn't be too hard to do a tutorial, but it proved to be difficult to illustrate using photos. (It's not easy to photograph these things, by the way.) So this tutorial uses a combination of diagrams and photos, but you may need to use some trial and error and imagination along the way. I hope this can help you quill some tin can doll furniture of your own.<br />
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Start with a can. I used a soda can, which is aluminum and fairly malleable. I think you can use other types of cans as well, but I would imagine that you would need some nice strong tools if your material is smaller.<br />
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I used some heavy duty scissors to cut off the top of the can. I poked a hole, stuck the scissors in and went for it.<br />
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Trim off the curved portion of the can, make it as smooth as you can. The next step is to mark and cut 1/4" strips around the can. Your goal is to cut 54 strips total. <br />
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This is where things got a little bit tricky here. This diagram will give you a better picture of how the strips will be used to make the chair. They are color coded.<br />
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There are only 2 techniques you need to know to make furniture, how to curl the strips and how to clamp the strips together. The tool that I use is a pair of round nose pliers that are used for jewelry making, easily found at your local craft store.<br />
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To curl a strip: Grab the end of the strip with the pliers, twist the pliers away from you to begin the curl. You can continue to curl the strip with pliers, but I prefer to finish curling up the strip with my fingers.<br />
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These short strips are clamps. They are used to connect strips together when you are forming the chair.<br />
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To attach a clamp: Fold the clamp in half to make a crease, wrap the clamp around the strips, and squeeze the clamp shut with the pliers.<br />
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Let's make a chair! We need to start with the chair front, because that is where we get the clamps to make the rest of the chair. <br />
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Step 1: Cut off about half of the center strips to be used for clamps.<br />
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Step 2: Curl the strips up to the top of the can, twist the curled strips to the side gently.<br />
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To make the legs, twist the strips gently to the center. Gather the strips together and use a clamp to hold them together. Slide the clamp so that it is about 1 1/2 " from the top of the can.<br />
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Use the round nose pliers to curl the ends of the strips out toward the edge.<br />
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Then use your fingers to roll up the curl all the way to the clamp. Repeat for the other 3 legs.<br />
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Voila! You have a chair that can stand on it's own 4 legs. That was the easy part.<br />
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Time to do the back of the chair. The crazy awesome part that is totally worth it.<br />
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Turn the 8 inner strips to the center, and clamp them together.<br />
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Curl down the two outer strips down to the clamp.<br />
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The next two outer strips will be used later, put them to the side and curl down the next two strip down.<br />
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The two strips that were put to the side, are going to be pulled around and clamped to the last two strips in the center. It will be helpful to curl up the ends before you clamp it up, you can adjust it as needed. Curl down the two center strips until they touch the touch the larger loops.<br />
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Attach the next two strips on the outer edge to the large loop with clamps.<br />
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Now curl the edges of the last two strips in, and clamp the curls together. It's tricky, keep trying.<br /><br />
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Congratulations! The hard part is over. I promise.<br />
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We reserved 7 strips for the arm rests. 4 strips get bent up to use for the arm rest, and 3 get bent down and curled, just like the chair front. Start at the right side of the diagram and work to the left side. Clamp the two strips together, leave some slack in the rightermost strip to give the piece a nice curve. Curl down the edge of the rightermost strip. Clamp the other 3 strips together, curl down the 2 strips on the outer edges. Lastly, attach the center strip to the chair back with a clamp, and curl up the strip.<br />
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<br />That is it, you're finished with the chair. I'm sorry if the tutorial is a little rough, but I hope it gives you a better idea of how to make vintage tin can doll furniture.<br />
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I will be working on another tutorial for the ottoman, and now that the basics are here, you can get creative and work on your own designs. If you would like some inspiration, check out <a href="http://pinterest.com/bear7328/tin-can-doll-furniture/">my board on pinterest</a>.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994852152076431958noreply@blogger.com17