new baby thank you...

this was the thank you card that i made (while tending brand new baby, nonetheless!) for the first 20 people who sent us lovely baby gifts... unfortunately, my initial burst of creativity hasn't been matched and i have about 10 thank you cards outstanding... please forgive me! love the paper i used for this one, which from SU...

a very simple thinking of you...

i made this card using PTI's Guide Lines Two set... what did i learn? i need to buy a longer acrylic block and i need to invest in some ink that works better with photopolymer stamps...

an apology and a card...

i've been missing in action since July... partially because i've been too busy to craft at all... partially because i've been uninspired... partially because the idea of sitting down and listing everything that i've used to make a card has changed the blog from something enjoyable to a chore...

so, as many bloggers often do, i'm prepared to make promises... i promise to post the few cards (some of them over a year old now) i have backlogged and haven't shared yet... i promise to list supplies when asked (so leave your comments!)... and i promise to try and get back into crafting regularly...

without further ado, here's the first card i've made in ages for a friend's daughter's birthday... i love how this card turned out, despite the fact that my handwriting pales in comparison to Kristina Werner's (from whom i CASE'd this card)...

new blog candy...

Kerin at Stamps, Paper, Glitter! is giving away a lovely blog candy of Stampin' Up gear... check it out and be sure to enter by July 19th!

Gift Card Holders for my Midwives

today i said goodbye to my midwives... it was a bittersweet moment, especially since a third pregnancy is unlikely for me... it's just hard to say goodbye to people you've spent the last 10 months getting to know as they see you through a really huge moment in your life...

due to complications, i ended up having kid 2 in the hospital (i had planned another home birth)... one of my poor midwives was pulled from bed at 5 AM to assess me and i could tell that running out to get a coffee or something to eat was the last thing on their minds... i thought i'd give them gift cards to the coffee shops and cafeteria in the local hospital, so they wouldn't be stuck for funds when at another unexpected hospital delivery...

Recipe:
Inspiration: this gift card holder by Amy
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, & Urban Oasis DSP
Ink: Whisper White craft ink
Stamp Set: Edgy Eloquence, Short & Sweet © Stampin' Up
Embellishments: Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon
Tools: wide oval & slit punches, Mini Glue Dots, tape runner, paper trimmer

for today...

as seen on Ali and Cathy's blogs (original idea from The Simple Woman's Day Book)...

Outside my window... i see the street slowly waking up...

I am thinking... how strange it is that i feel better having slept for only 3 hours...

I am thankful for... my kids, my husband, my life... but mostly the silence that still fills my house this early in the morning...

From the kitchen... i foresee hot oatmeal with lots of brown sugar in my future...

I am wearing... pjs and a pair of old slippers...

I am creating... Thank You cards for the gifts kid 2 received...

I am going... tile shopping today... i am insanely in love with a high gloss, apple green wall tile at the moment...

I am reading... "Breaking the Good Mom Myth" by Alyson Schafer...

I am hoping... the weather is nicer today than the forecast is predicting...

I am hearing... the cats bat at the basement door, meowing for their morning breakfast...

Around the house... i see baskets of laundry to be folded...

One of my favorite things... is cuddling my newborn baby as he breastfeeds...

A few plans for the rest of the week... my Mum coming to visit, a few playdates, hanging out on Friday with my husband and kids...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

my sling collection...

this is not a typical post for me, but my personal blog (where i'd usually post this) is invite only and i wanted to link it to an older post over at Adventures in Babywearing... this is the first chance i've had to take pictures of my sling/carrier collection... having recently attended a sling workshop to learn how to use my slings better, my interest in babywearing has been rekindled...

from top to bottom: Peapod Cuddly Wrap, Gorgeousbaby pouch sling, Beco Butterfly II carrier (Avery pattern), Rockin' Baby ring sling (All You Need Is Love pattern), and a 4th generation Beco carrier (Jolly Rogers pattern)...

first up is my 4th gen Beco, which i bought when i had J... i love this carrier and refuse to sell it... one, because i can do a hip carry with this Beco (unlike the Butterfly version) and two, because of the awesome pattern... i haven't worn my Butterfly II yet... i bought it because of the removable infant insert and because i suck at doing back carries with the 4th gen...

i didn't get my Cuddly Wrap until J was close to 3 months old and, by that time, he was almost to heavy to use it comfortably... i've worn it with Em a few times and i love how snug he is in it... i also learned a better way to wrap it at the sling workshop, so i'm more inclined to wear it...

my Gorgeousbaby pouch sling, i used only for quick trips into stores once J was old enough to do a hip carry... in truth, i don't like this sling because i'm between sizes, so this one (a large) hangs just a little too low... i haven't used this sling in about a year... i probably need to sell it... love the pattern, though...

finally, there's my Rockin' Baby ring sling... besides being absolutely beautiful, i bought this to use with Em before i was even pregnant with him... the ring sling was the only sling i didn't try to use when i had J and i wish i had... the reason i bought one was because i hoped that i would like it more than a pouch sling, since i could customize it to my body... i've used this sling the most since Em was born and now that i know how to properly get him in it, he's happy to sleep in there for hours...

could i pick just one? for the newborn stage, it would definitely be the ring sling... and the 4th gen Beco for the over 4 months old stage...