Sew Happy

A month and a half ago we moved in with my Grandparents. My Grandmother is a seamstress. She owns her own business. She does custom embroidery, alterations, and screen printing. Her skills far exceed the above mentioned areas. She has made wedding dresses, wedding cakes, dozens of quilts, pants, painted houses, built walls-- you get the picture. I knew when we moved in with my grandparents that I was going to have a unique opportunity--that if I asked-- my Grandma would delight in showing me how to make whatever I wished.

When I was pregnant with Avey I spent a couple days with my Grandma learning how to make hooded towels. We had such a great time and it was such a fond memory that I was excited to learn more. My Grandma is a patient teacher she is someone who will give help when needed without being overbearing.

A couple months ago I found a neat idea on pinterest and I knew that in order to pull it off I would need my Grandmas help. The week after we moved in I asked my Grandma if she would teach my how to make a pillow case and more importantly I wanted to know how to use her BIG embroidery machine. She was excited that I was interested in something that she loves so much. She jumped at the chance and we were off and running in no time.

I learned how to use her embroidery program and I learned how to use her machine. I started to help fill orders.

Inspired by her enthusiasm and spurred on by a project she had going I decided I wanted to learn how to make a quilt so she took me to a quilt shop she loves. I was enthralled and severely overwhelmed by it all. I wondered around the shop scrutinizing and touching all the different fabrics. Listening to much more experienced women talk about all the different projects they had going on and all I could think was--


"I can do this."


"I can make beautiful, extravagant things that people ohhh and ahhh over."


"I can adopt this skill that would enrich the lives of my family and those around me."


I stopped dead when I spotted a fabric with the preamble to the constitution printed on it. I quickly gathered stripes, stars, and things that reminded me of America-- an idea quickly forming. For those of you who have never been to my house (before or after I got married) my entire living room (before I got married it was my bedroom) has an Americana theme. Brady-- patriot that he is-- is a fan of my decor choice. With fathers day around the corner I thought that I'd surprise him with a new quilt for the family room. He loves our country and our constitution-- I knew that he'd think it was really cool.

pieced together-unfinished. sans both borders.

Obviously that is not going to be his only fathers day gift. I've got something manly hidden away.

That was a couple weeks ago.

I am now working on my second quilt-- Brady knows about and has seen the Americana quilt. I was sewing when he got home from work and he found me out. He really likes it. I am blessed beyond compare to have a Grandma who has diligently worked at perfecting a skill that used to be a hobby and is now a thriving business. Blessed that she worked so hard and is wanting and able to pass what she's learned along to me.

All that to say-- on Sunday my soon-to-be sister-in-law had her Bridal Shower. I had thought about saving the throw pillow I had made for the wedding but I couldn't wait. I eagerly waited while she opened up gift after gift--getting closer to mine. The smile on her face did not disappoint.

the pillow says, "where he and she became we"

update.
Sunday Brady finally finished the floor in the duplex which means we can move in in 7 days. The only thing we are waiting on now if for the epoxy to cure, an air duct cleaning, and a professional deep clean.

So our move in date is set for June 16! Hallelujah!

I'm having mixed emotions. I am excited to move in but sad to see our time with my grandparents come to a close.

Our future is bright, my heart is full.

Cardinal In May

woah nelly.
I started this post two weeks ago. Time has not been kind to me. Everything lately is taking longer than I think it will--or should. Between our work schedule on the duplex, the slowest internet connection in the world, and friends coming in and going out of town-- my life has been a fast paced wreck lately.

Laundry baskets piled high in our itty bitty shared room at my Grandparents. The bed remains unmade. The dresser remains clutter central and our home is still unfinished. In the midst of all this life has gone on. We have been with my Grandparents for a month now. Avey is a half year old now. I know how to hem a pair of pants and use my Grandmas embroidery machine now.

Though hectic--our crazy, unordinary life is pretty great. Carnivals, honey stores, quilting shops, a vineyard down the street that I am still dying to explore-- life has been busy and exciting and unyielding this past month.

We have been living with two people that work harder and longer than most I know. I have been inspired to work harder myself. Spend less time online and spend more time connecting with people face to face. We are learning a lot-- wipe stain off as you go, oil based paint will leave you with semi-perminate henna-like tattoos, Avey hates it when you say "woah-nelly", and sewing faster does not mean sewing better.

We are learning together--lessons I'm glad we're learning now while we're young and have the energy to take it out and do it again--though not always the patience. We're working on that--I pray that the Lord will always give us something to work on.

hi.
Two Saturdays ago-- after Brady and I got home from working at the dulex (Brady working--me watching) my Grandma took Avey and I sat across from them, waving. To my surprise--after every time I waved she'd put her right arm in the air and wave her hand around.

Sister is smart.


Since a week ago I have caught her waving at herself countless times. Open-close hand movements, turned toward her face as she watches--transfixed. I haven't been able to get a photo yet but I will--mark my words.

Sneaky!! She is laying right next to me waving right now and of course my camera is in the other room!

ave.
She likes to look at me when she topples over. She'll be playing one minute, toppled over on the floor the next, and every time she looks at me like "What just happened? Am I okay? What now mom?" Sometimes I freeze too--waiting for the cry that I am sure she is about let out. Most of the time I cheer and then she laughs, rights herself, and continues to play.

friends.
My Grandparents invited us to a little carnival that their church was putting on for the volunteers and their families. I jumped at the chance and Brady went along with it because he knew I was so excited. We had a ball and bumped into a couple familiar faces.

minus.
Last month my cycle returned (oh joy). It was strange and unexpected. I felt like a 12 year old again. Last week  (If I had regular cycles) marked when I should have started again. Since Saturday I have been obsessing over ovulation trackers, due date calculators, and the chinese gender chart. I said time and time again that I didn't want to get pregnant until I lost some weight but when I saw that if I got pregnant in May that I would have a boy (according to the chart) I got all excited and hopeful.

We aren't using contraceptives. It's a choice that we made together after several uti's from using spermicides and a visit with our doctor where in a round-about way she admitted that all contraceptives (except for condoms and spermicides) can be abortive. We discussed it and decided that we were ready to have a family and we wanted to place it in the Lords hands. A month later we found out we were pregnant with Avey.

After I had Avey I expressed my desire to never again start out a pregnancy over 200 lbs. It was very taxing on my body. I am still about 5 lbs over and I have a ways to go before I get to my goal weight but there was something that excited me at the prospect of being pregnant again and conceiving a little brother for Ave.

So when I saw that little minus sign on the pregnancy test my heart sunk a little.

trist.
My  brother Tristan celebrated his 11th birthday last week. To celebrate Avey got all dolled up in a pretty dress and accompanied him to cold stone where she slept through the joys of candy bars incased in ice cream and brand new 11 year olds whose eyes are bigger than their tummies.

water bottle.
The return of Avey's water bottle love affair. No joke-- if anyone even walks by her with a water bottle she goes nuts-- reaching, stretching, moaning, shaking-- sisters got it bad.

sweet dreams.
People like to nap around these parts. It is such an enjoyable past time-- one I am lucky enough to share in on occasion.

big baby.
Avey was bottle fed for the first month of her life. We began breastfeeding around 2 months old and we haven't looked back. Because of her obsession with water bottles we decided to buy her a sippy cup so that she could drink water instead of spill it all down her front.

Sippy cup day one and she was working it like a pro.

She still refuses to take milk out of anything though. Bottle-no. Cup- no. Water bottle- no. She knows where that comes from and she's hooked. I don't mind. :)

cardinal in may.
Look what we spotted in the backyard the other day...

Life is good.

Grandma and Grandpa's House

burn baby burn!

My Grandparents have this 8923859 year old toaster that burns toast if you don't watch it and eject it manually. Today marks week two of our stay with them and until this morning I had not burned a single piece. We're talking smoking, crispy, solid black toast. 

Blessed to have a Grandpa who wants to eat it anyway. 

bookworm.

Grandma and Grandpa's favorite computer game is called bookworm. My Grandpa's laptop is kept open on the counter at all times and throughout the day-- as we all walk by we love to pause life and find words in the jumbled mess of tiles. 

garden.

Life is simpler at Grandma and Grandpa's. Though busier than ever life is slower paced and I find lots of meaning in doing simple tasks like laundry. I cannot wait to begin piecing our new house together but moving out of my Grandparents is going to be bittersweet. Brady and I are truly enjoying ever moment of our time with them.

They have the most beautiful garden. They make due with the space the have and they've created something wonderful. They grow flowers in their front yard and tomatoes in the back. 

My Grandma was excited to show us how wild berries began growing in their yard. Deliciously tangy, I love picking the ripe ones in the morning. It fills a desire in my heart that I discovered recently. I really have an interest in things that grow. I am glad that the Lords timing is a little inconvenient sometimes. If closing on the duplex had been easier we wouldn't be sharing this time with them now. Today I am grateful for unanswered prayers. 

Faithful stewards of the things that they have been given-- my grandparents spend a lot of time working in their yard. It inspires me to get off my butt and do something. They keep themselves busy with meaningful tasks and take pride in their accomplishments-- it inspires me to take more pride in my own. 

day to day. 

We seem to have been doing  a lot of running back and forth lately. I enjoy the late night and early morning rides on the windy country roads. Driving through the country is a spiritual experience. There is great opportunity to sing, reflect, and worship the creator of the divine eye candy that surrounds me daily (Brady Williams... I kid. I kid.). 

  

Avey has adjusted to our new helter skelter life well enough. She likes to play with her toys, watch her Einsteins, take lots of mini naps, and be held. 

sneak peak of our new home :D

Brady and I like to sit around and talk about how awesome she is. 

sew.

Yesterday my Grandma taught me how to patch jeans and today I am learning how to hem. Maybe they'll adopt us and we'll stay with them forever.