Sew Much To Love

Sewing going on...

2012-01-16T23:10:00.006-05:00

...and I think there is more for a while. ^_^
There are times during the year where I just don't feel like sewing at all but recently, I have been enjoying it more than usual.
Foo is getting big. Clothing is starting to get too short on her, plus our 5 years supply of clothing is coming to its end and I am being more pushed to sew something for the oldest one because if I don't, then she wont have choices to wear. This winter, long sleeves dress have been quite pricey and since I know how to sew, I look at the inside of the dresses, feel the fabric, see the details and I am not real impressed. You can truly see by the stitches that ready to wear clothing just doesn't have that special thing, AND I want my daughter to still look like a child but once they get to size 5T, clothing just gets a bit skimpy out there.

Heidy & Finn Cowl Neck Jumper Dress

Lina has been needing some winter clothes that don't end up being too tight around her cloth bum. Lots of mamas have told me that NCBE is somewhat an ok pattern for bigger bums and i must say that it is actually perfect.

New Conceptions Baby Essentials

I have another dress cut already, 2 actually. They have been waiting for me for over 3 months and my sewing mojo didn't come back until just last week. They are spring dresses so I am not even looking at them yet, which i should since Michigan's winter has been quite mild and I have a feeling spring will come early this year. :D

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word subtitles

2012-01-15T01:29:00.001-05:00

I thought what this guy has to say it is very powerful. It is a great reminder of what God wants for me and what He has done.

FAITH!

2012-01-15T01:26:00.001-05:00

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!

2012-01-14T00:13:00.005-05:00

At least, i will try to make them happen.
I have never done this and the first time i heard of them, was here in the USA so i think it is about time to see how this works for me.
So my list goes like this...

*Work on my relationship with God. I know He hasn't forgotten about me, but i have put him aside. I know it sounds bad but i am just trying to be honest here.
*FORGIVE. But that is after i have worked on my relationship with Him. People, especially "family" have done or said horrible things to me or to someone in my little family and i have kept resentment for the longest time. i think it is time to really talk about this and try to Forgive.
*Spend more quality time with my husband. After being a mom for 4 1/2 years, i have finally been able to see that Ben and I need more time for each other. We love our children and we want more BUT we also need to put more attention to our relationship. Don't take me wrong, it is all good but we need to make it better in some ways.
*Teach my Foo how to speak in Spanish. I am doing great with Lulu but i really need to focus more on Foo this year.
*Try to sew items for my Etsy page to save/raise some extra money for extra things, like mini trips. Friends have asked me several times to do this but i usually just sew it and give it away as a present. I think i am at that place where i think my sewing skills are good enough to sell.
*Sew more fabric than buy more fabric. I have enough to sew just about 80 girls dresses and it is taking over my basement.

Here is to HOPE that i will accomplish some of things this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

We hope you have a wonderful time with family, creating memories that will be everlasting.
We started our Christmas with a nice layer of snow on the ground and then a sunny afternoon... which melted lot of it. Foo is participating in the Christmas Celebration at our church and will be singing Oh Holy Night!
I will make sure to share some photos later this week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Broken Computer

2011-12-10T22:55:00.002-05:00

Sorry, i havent been posting anything lately. i have broken my second computer in less than a year. VIRUSES!!!! i hate THEM!!!!
For now, i am borrowing one but i cant download programs, or my pictures in it. I am also scared of plugging back my external hard drive in fear that it might have a bug in it and potentially braking another computer. *sigh*

Bear with me, please!

L is turning 2 today....

2011-10-20T14:10:00.004-04:00

to be more precisely, right at 2.49pm.

...Yes, at 2.49pm on a dry, cold fall Tuesday of 2009 i became the mom of TWO! Lulu didn't look like her sister. She had more Latin features especially the lips. She was a quiet child, barely cried and needed some oxygen to pink up. She is so far my shortest labour which is about 11 hours 20 minutes long, my first drug free birth and my biggest child, 9 pounds or 8.16.8LBS.

She has become the LIGHT of our days just as the meaning of her name.

She isn't a whiny girl unless her big sis is around trying to take everything away from her, she LOVES to hug, she is Bi-lingual, and very sneaky. Trouble has a total different meaning with Lulu but when she gets her pouty lip out when i am telling her to NOT do certain things it makes it THAT MUCH HARDER to continue my disciplining with her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LULU!!!!

KCWC Fall 2011. Project #2

2011-10-15T01:08:00.008-04:00

I have been chosen to test another pattern. YAY!!!!
I love being able to sew and help out with some ideas at the same time AND getting my second KCWC project even though it is a testing.
These precious little boots will go to a brand new baby girl named Charlie.
The pattern was just so simple to sew and the instructions are just perfect. No way to mess this boots up or just give up. It is way to easy to not try it.

Head to Jaime's blog and be amazed by her creativity. ^_^

Peace.

Pin It

KCWC Fall 2011. Project #1

2011-10-12T23:49:00.005-04:00

So, i got behind.... *sigh*
I was hoping to do more sewing but in the last days, we have had so much on our plate and bedtime has become a bit more difficult with L trying to nurse to sleep.
She makes me lay on her toddler bed and wants me to stay there, nursing her until she is asleep BUT as soon as i want to get out of the bed she wakes up and cries. So then, i just have to lay again and see if i will be lucky in 15 minutes later and set myself free from the nursing monster. Just let me tell you, i am not so lucky.

Anyways, by the time i get away, it is late and i only get to sew a few straight lines and then i have to go to bed.

The first night, i got the top done and last night, i got the skirt done....so TONIGHT, i FINALLY GOT IT ALL TOGETHER! ^_^
It is 1am. here so i will have to get back to you with the picture tomorrow.
The combo of fabrics are ok for my classy taste but, it is wearable.

KCWC Fall 2011

2011-10-02T21:36:00.003-04:00

I hope to make it this time around....

You should join if you can. It is not just for sewing but for knitting, crocheting, stitching....whatever you know how to do, as long as it is for children. ^_^

Knit T-Shirt.

2011-09-29T00:18:00.004-04:00

I am quite proud of myself. ^_^
I personally love sewing with woven. Knits just truly scare me, but i have been trying to learn to like this material.
It is very forgiving, it's true, But what mostly scares me is my stitches popping after a little use and feeling like my effort wasn't good to keep this nice item in good shape.

We are pattern testing so i choose some ok fabric that i can practice on and so far, with the instructions and all... i am liking this pattern and the nice professional steps this pattern has. I love the techniques and how easy this shirt comes up together.
I am just about to cut another one. I think i like it a little too much. :D

Happy 27!!!!

2011-09-06T00:19:00.004-04:00

The man in my life turned 27 yesterday!!!!
I cannot believe it has been 7 years since we met for the first time. Time flies!!!
He is the Best Dad to our girls and the Best Husband to me.
We do not know what life will be like without him. We like it the way it is.

Happy Birthday Honey!!!!
I hope to celebrate you for more years to come.

Growing Up Sew Liberated: Envelope Tee

2011-08-26T01:08:00.003-04:00

Highlighted in yellow is the tee.
As usual i forgot to take a photo of it myself, so i stole this photo from FB.
I love this pattern and it isnt so hard to sew.
I know most people LOVE/ADORE sewing with knits because the fabric is forgiven but i dread it. I really want to like it so i try to sewing simple things and see how it goes.
There are a few things i will change about my sewing techniques with knits. The stretch of the fabric throws me off.
But i can say that at least "I TRIED". ^_^

Little things to Sew: Bucket Hat

2011-08-26T00:00:00.004-04:00

This sewing book is so good and it is full of cute things to sew.
I sewed this hat for one of my nephew, another one is on its way for the older brother.
I sewed this hat in about 30min. so, so easy to sew, and i think i saw a tute where it shows how to sew it even quicker.

Polkadots+Summer Dress

2011-08-24T00:39:00.005-04:00

I love this pattern!!!
It isn't just super easy to sew, it is also very cute.
I got it all together in 3 hours from beginning to end, and the birthday girl LOVED it too.
I wish i had some more of this unicorns fabric since Faith has been asking for a dress with them.

Ps. sorry about the photo. the little one isn't mine and i don't feel like showing her face.

The Bapron

2011-08-24T00:03:00.006-04:00

I have been able to sew a bit more lately, i just cant find time to really post about them.
Tonight i got to go to a Baby Blessing and i sewed a baby tee but i forgot to take a photo of it. Maybe (once i figure out how to blur people faces)i will post the photo of that project once Baby gets here.

I sewed this bib for the same Baby. That little one is so wanted and waited for.
Her mom makes the most wonderful hennas. She is spectacular!

Find the tute and pattern here. THE BAPRON

The B's Household: Little Miss Attitude

2011-08-02T23:07:00.004-04:00

Lulu is by far more strong willed than my Foo.
She even has a little face thing that she works well. I love her though but i struggle to discipline this little one. She melts my heart as about all the time.
Enjoy my Little Miss Attitude.

Hang that Cast.

2011-08-02T22:57:00.003-04:00

He DID want it there at first but i think with all the decluttering we have been doing lately he got a bit overwhelmed and needed that cast off the kitchen counter. N-O-W!

He went online, watch a youtube video and did the work. Withing 15 minutes i had a beautiful reminder of my last pregnancy hanging on my wall. Hubby also chose the ribbon to go with it. He is detailed like that and i love him for that.
Now every time i go into our room i get to see this and i start to imagine how it will look painted. Once i get a better idea of what i want to draw and colors as well, i will show you the final product.

PS. The sweaty walls? that is what happens when you put a vaporizer close to the wall and close the doors so you can soothe that sick little baby.

Happy Friendship Day!

2011-07-22T22:56:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow it is the our Bolivian Friendship Day.

In this special day we show up with something meaningful, cute and most times inexpensive to our best friends.
Most times, i do wish USA had a special day like this but for now i only get to wish you all HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY!
True friends are like gems. Keep me very close to your heart.

Found a group of weirdos...

2011-07-20T22:37:00.003-04:00

... and where i feel i fit right IN!

MNPC is an awesome group of Michigan moms who are crunchy, granola, hippies whatever you want to call them/us.
I no longer have to explain why my girls cant have certain foods, vaccines, toys, etc, etc, etc.
We have been having so much fun lately, it is C-R-A-Z-Y! and i am loving it.
Even Ben is surprised that we aren't seeing each other as much, because we always have a playdate, or just going for walks with some other moms.
I am so glad God put this wonderful group of women in my path so i can finally have a special groups of crunchy moms like me that enjoy certain things in life the way i do, not to mention that i get to learn even more.

Now, seriously i need to invest in a portable camera again. My big cannon is too much to take around with 3 little ones and my old little one is lost and gone for good.
Now if Ben read my blog will be helpful *wink*

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

2011-07-04T17:40:00.001-04:00

... and she is gone. :/

2011-06-23T21:46:00.004-04:00

I am not sure if i have shared this with all of you but my mom had been coming to the US to visit my family. This was her second time EVER!
I love it when she is here, but it is also very heartbreaking to say goodbye to her.
At the end of each stay, i try so hard to get mad at her (defense mechanism i have to not hurt so much when she is being left at the airport)so it is easier to say goodbye.
I have been struggling all day because i feel like i am looking for so many excuses to get mad at her but i just cant.
My mom is just such an awesome person even with her crazy stuff she is so lovable.
Faith didn't treat her much good as i thought she would. Last year, she was quite mean to her and this year, she was still like that but a bit better. i guess it is a start.
Lulu understands about 90% of Spanish but she isn't talking much yet. Faith is starting to learn some and Ben has gotten good at it now to even have a little and simple conversation with my mom.
I am guessing by next year they all will speak in Spanish and will finally have a good chat with her granddaughters and son in law.
.
.
.
Today, we did the Traditional Ear Piercing. i cried for the second time. Ben knew i should have not looked but she is fine now.

I hope time goes flying so i can see my mom again and share weeks of laughter and joy, 2 am conversations, teas at 4pm and just enjoy her presence once again.

Lini, Liniiii......Doodie, doodie!!!! ^_^

2011-06-12T00:33:00.008-04:00

I am sorry Lina.
You are the baby of the home and will be for quite some time (or at least those are my plans, lets see what God has to say about that)so your life will be filled with lots of squeaky noises, high pitch sounds, slobbery kisses(but kisses after all, right?) and lots of nursery rhymes -or at least mommy will try to hum them for you if she doesn't know the words.-

Sorry if we become too much for you, but remember, WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Man, i sound terrible when talking to Lini. Thank goodness, she loves me.

Lina turned 2 MONTHS OLD!!!!

2011-06-10T15:06:00.004-04:00

The lucky child who got to meet Grandma at a very early age. Faith was 3 when she got to meet my mother for the first time and Lulu was 8 months. Now Lina got to turn only 2 months and she was already wrapped in Grandma's arms for naps.
My mom is over for another 2 weeks. Time is flying for me since she has been here for about 2 weeks now. Ben has been having a break on "being a daddy" and gets to hang out with friends and watch basketball on TV or play the Wii with the girls while i chat with my mom until midnight. I bet he doesn't want her to leave GR. just like last year.
My sister was also in town for 2 days and i got to my girls for the first time. It was emotional to see her but i was so happy to have her around although she does drive me crazy. Faith has been practicing her Spanish and Lulu has mastered it i think. i talk to her completely in Spanish and she understand everything.
Lina learned to smile since my mom has been here, to laugh would be the right word. Yes, the 2 months old little one in this house likes to laugh. She has a super strong neck since Birth Day and tried to roll by 3 days old.
Ben didn't like that much, because that means that his baby will start being too mobile too soon and it is heart braking to him.
We have been doing great with cloth diapering 2 children. Lulu is a bit more overwhelming ( as far as smells and times to change) and we hope she wants to potty train soon.
They both are nursing, Lulu is doing it more often than before Lina and sometimes gets jealous of her and wants to nurse with Line on the wrong time and space.
I have been trying to squeeze some sewing while my mom is here but i think i need to focus on her stay than in fabric.
Hoping to write more often soon and thinking doing some giveaways soon. ^_^

Have a great day you all.

Lina turned 1 month old.

2011-05-24T21:45:00.008-04:00

Lina 1 month old
Sorry friends.
I have been gone for so long.
Adjusting to 3 children is quite challenging and i am still in the process of learning.
The girls love Lina very dearly.
i cannot wait to see what God has in store for them. I pray that they will become the best of friends and sisters.
We have been in the journey of tandem nursing. Nursing Lulu and Lina at the same time is a whole new chapter in breastfeeding.
I try my hardest to make sure Lulu doesn't get jealous of Lina when i cant nurse them both at the same time, but i also have to make sure that Lina gets more milk than Lulu so it wont affect her growth. Trying to keep up a healthy diet to make the best milk but strangely, i am craving lots of carbs.
I didn't crave this much carbs even when i was pregnant.
Lina has been the sweetest so far. She woke up 3 times the very first night and after that she stuck to 2 times for a couple of weeks, later she went down to only once and sometimes none by 5 weeks old BUT i am still as tired as if she was up every 3 hours.
The older girls take most of my energy so it is still an adventure to wake up every morning and already feel like a zombie.
.
.
.
.
.
Our latest deal at home was that somehow i downloaded a virus in my computer. Trojan Horse to be more precise.
The sick thing got everywhere in my computer and at the end we had reformat the whole computer and guess what happened???
IT FRIED my laptop!!!

Yup, for the first time in my life i broke a computer. i felt terrible but i have no way to know how i got this virus here since i only check out known blogs, my gmail, facebook and hulu.
Ohh well, Ben says it is possible that the virus has been in the computer for a long time and it finally showed up.
The good news is that we have a "new" used computer and i am thankful i can get online again without hurting my neck.

Anyways, I AM BACK!!!!! ^_^

Catalina Myown Briggs

2011-04-11T16:24:00.014-04:00

It all started about 3am. But I was still in denial that it could be the real deal. By 4am. I decided it was time to get up and read my Ina May Book just because I couldn't seem to concentrate well to do other things, like sewing or stitching.
Ben wakes up around 7am. And I was feeling that this birth could take quite a long time, I was just hoping it wouldn’t take as long as Faith’s birth. (48 hours)
The girls woke up the regular time or maybe even a little earlier that normal. We fed them, and got Lulu ready to leave the house by 8.30am. My heart felt bad for letting her go. I am such a mama bear when it comes to my kids but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy labouring with her at home.
We called Sara (our midwife) pretty early (can’t remember the exact time) to let her know that we are in very early labour. She offered to come but I declined her offer because I thought it was too early and I didn’t want her to wait for me all day long although, I know she had no problem with doing that.
Ben and I decided to go for a walk with Faith. Somehow the contractions were more manageable if I kept moving. We had the walk but I was getting cold and we just saw Sara and Jennifer driving by so I wanted to go back.
When we got home, they were already boiling some water to make the PP pads and wash.
We sat around for a while, and Kellie got there too.
Eventually, I got in the pool but I kept looking at the clock and wondering about my Lulu’s naptime. Kellie turned the clock around so I wouldn’t look at the time anymore and instead, focus on my labour. I just knew it was about lunch time and I was getting hungry. (YES! You do get to eat at your homebirth.)
Eventually, the girls let me know that they were leaving for lunch but before that Sara let me know that she was heading to South Haven because the mom whose due date was after me needed her help and she only had one back up apprentice there AND her water broke at 9 that morning.
I was feeling ok with the idea. I wanted for Sara to be there, but I also knew and trusted Kellie’s wisdom and knowledge with the birth, so I had no problem with Sara leaving to help that other mom.
Ben and I decided to go for another walk(so this is after 12pm.) to get doughnuts at Sandy’s but it was closed. We forgot it was Saturday, not Friday.
So we just headed to Charlie’s to get something to drink and a snack for Faith.
Kellie caught up with us to ask us if it was ok for Penny (her 11 months old baby girl) to come to nurse and that she was staying and Sara and Jen were going to leave.
When we got to the driveway of our house, we saw a dog fight. A pregnant woman was int he middle of all of this.
I mean, seriously woman! Let the dogs fight and protect yourself. You have a child growing inside you. It was so not worth the risk.
The mom of the pregnant woman is on the ground trying to separate the dogs and yelling at her daughter "get away from here", the pregnant woman is trying to grab her dog, our next door neighbour is trying to get her dog. IT WAS CHAOS!!!

Well, that didn’t help with my labour, it almost stopped it.

I covered Faith's ears and eyes as i have another contraction but so, so mild.
I tell Ben "Go help Honey!" and he goes, but i worried that my husband will get hurt too.
Anyway, i got in the house with Faith. Ben gets home and i feel much better.
Kellie, Sara and Jenn were still there but at the end they all left since labour was going very slow.
We laboured as long as we could and called Kellie to come at about 4pm. She came and brought Penny with her. Faith was thrilled to see another child in the house!
After a while we decided to go for a walk, Kellie, Penny and i.
That walk felt like forever but it helped. By the time we got home, i was exhausted and really put it in my head that I had to have this Baby before bedtime (8pm) because I was missing my Lulu.
I started to contract harder and harder but voicing it out loud for the Baby to come out.
I squatted every time I knew a contraction was coming and that helped so much. My bottom was hanging so there was no pressure on my hips and that felt really good.
FROM NOW ON, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
.
.
.
.
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Eventually, Kellie saw some more of the mucus plug coming out. I wanted a mirror to see what was up down there. I got my mirror and yes, the time was coming and I wanted it to come.
I wanted to hold this Baby so badly, and have my Lulu home. I couldn't let Lulu go to sleep somewhere else. It just didn’t feel right to me.
I told Ben to call his brother and tell him to keep Lulu for a little while longer because I knew the birth was going to happen soon. Kellie asked what we wanted to do, either call Yolanda (the backup midwife) before pushing, during pushing, after Baby was here or not at all.
From here on, time goes flying to me, so we told her to call Yolanda so she can be here to check on the Baby.
Kellie makes the phone call, and as she is about to hang up either with Yolanda or Stephanie (doula-midwife apprentice and friend), I feel the strong urge to push.
They both come (Ben and Kellie)to the living room, I yelled for Ben’s help to push, he holds my hand while trying to see what is happening. I wanted him to catch this Baby and be a big part of this birth so he was confused in what to do.
Now, this is what they say it happened… they say that they could see a little bit of hair but nothing big yet, I had another urge to push and the entire head was delivered (Penny (almost 1)and Faith(almost 4) are screaming and crying at this point. ^_^) and I am screaming as loud as I can and my socks got wet with warm fluids. I had almost no time to feel the “ring of fire”. Baby crowned too quickly and it was painful.
Kellie tells me to pant (sp?) and I hear them say something about the baby having to turn.
I am looking at the ceiling, hanging from my arms/elbows at the edge of our couch.
This is the part that I have never been giving the opportunity to do myself, so as I look at the ceiling, I am doubting whether I can deliver the rest of the body.
I keep thinking “How do I do this?, I told them not to pull. They aren’t going to help me get the body out. Why aren’t taking the Baby OUT?. Ok. STOP IT! And push one more time.”
…So I did and it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my life. She cried so loud, Ben was almost crying, Kellie was cheering me up and in her voice you could hear her happiness for me. The girls stopped crying. Faith asked me if I was ok. I told her “Come and see the Baby”. And Penny was taking it all in.
Yolanda gets there few minutes after the Baby was born. Stephanie held Penny. Stephanie missed the birth by 2 or 3 minutes. She got lost trying to find my house.
Yolanda checked on Catalina….and she is PERFECT!!!!
Catalina was born at HOME on April 9th, 2011 at 8.14pm. After about 16 hours of labour give or take, only 3 strong mama pushes.

She is great at breastfeeding and sleeping.
I could not be any happier. She is an ANGEL!!!!
And Ben and I have fallen in love for the fourth time.
Faith and Lulu are doing great with her.
Faith wants to take over all of Catalina’s time whether she is asleep or awake and Lulu keeps repeating “Baby, Baby!”
All in all... I LOVE my homebirth experience.
I got something (A LOT) out of it. i felt empowered, respected, loved and cared for.
I still smile when i think of it and i am sure that feeling will never go away.

NOTES:
*The mom in South Haven had her baby 6 minutes after i had Catalina.
*She did needed Sara more than me. She pushed for several hours.
*She wants to meet with me so we can compare birth stories.
*I just want to tell her, that next time she plans on conceiving to call me ahead of time so we dont get pregnant around at the same time. ^_^
*I wonder if she return the pool back to the store after using it. LOL.
*Neither of us had a waterbirth.

HER NAME...
We were thinking of naming her Georgia at first but since we have named the girls after Ben's family members, i decided it was my family's turn this time around.
The only name that i really liked other than Ines was Catalina.
Catalina is a very much Spanish name, and Catalina was my Great Grandma Mother from my mom's side of the family.
Myown is the middle of Ben's Grandma who passed away about 4 years ago.
We thought both names are pretty unique and no other family member has used them in their kids so it was a perfect fit.
I hope Catalina likes her name when she gets older because we really try hard to find a name that could go with her and that is as unique and precious as she is.

Early Labour

2011-04-08T13:33:00.003-04:00

Yup, i am there.
Many things could still happen. Like for example, labour stopping and not coming back for a couple of days.
I am excited though. i was talking to the Baby and asking please to come out soon.
I really want this Baby in my arms. i really do.
The sciatic nerve pain has been pretty much gone in the last couple days BUT the pain I feel between my legs while walking has been as hard on me the sciatica one. I keep telling myself, it is for a reason so i just have to suck it up and continue because there is nothing else i can do.
Today, i am extremely tired and still dealing with a cold/sore throat i got a few days ago, plus the every 2 hours trips to the potty last night, make things much, much harder at the moment. i did take a nap while Ben and the girls were out and no contractions in between. That kind of disappointed me a bit, i just hope the feeling doesn't just take over and makes my body keep the Baby in for longer.
The contractions i have been experiencing are quite hard, harder than normal. much harder so that also makes me feel like m =y body is just doing what it supposed to.
Planing on going to the store with the family today. Check some baby clothes to trigger labour even more and walk around for a while since it is quite chilly out and it is sprinkling (raining) a bit. Not a "I am in labour" type of weather today.
Please pray that this birth goes smooth and that Baby decides to come out fast so Mommy can rest and finally get her Baby Fix.
Thank you!!!

Nothing new...

2011-03-21T19:24:00.006-04:00

...to update.
No baby, mild Braxton Hicks, just achy but not today somehow.
If i go into labour, one of the cues of going into labour will be confirmed in my life.
You know, the one where you get so much energy before it is going to happen, because i have had so much energy today.
I mean, it is still a challenge to walk when you feel something in between your legs, have 30+ lbs. on you and have 2 girls running around all day and ask you to do stuff for them just about "all day"?
My midwife called me today, worried that while she is 1 1/2 hours away from me i could go into labour and she will have to fly all the way back.
I honestly, dont feel that labour will go so fast for me. I guess, i am a pessimist after my 48 hours labour with Foo and my 11 hours with Lulu.

Sara (my midwife) had a dream last week, where she sees me giving birth this coming Thursday with a 4 hours labour.
I have heard she does get the "gut feeling" when mom is going to go (into labour that is)but we will see.
i dont want to keep my hopes up that it will happen since i dont really know or have an true EDD. i just keep trusting that the Lord has the perfect timing for this little one to come and that we will do fine together.

March 22,2011:
Ben and i decided it was time for the belly casting.
It is quite emotional for me to talk about this because i have missed the opportunity to create such a beautiful memory with my other 2 babies.
i wish i would have met someone back then to let me know of this wonderful keepsake.
It is easy but messy and weird feeling BUT worth every second of it and every picture. We plan on painting it with some acrylics after it is completely dry and when we have time to just create. Foo was excited when i mentioned "painting". :D
Now, Lulu is not even caring what is up around her. i dont really think she has the capacity to understand that there is a baby in my belly. But what can you expect from a 17 months old? not much, in my opinion.
Picture to come soon, but just to give you heads up.... No, i am not naked. I am wearing underwear.

37 weeks give or take

2011-03-13T22:36:00.006-04:00

About 37 weeks

Based on last period i should be giving birth about the end of the month but based on ultrasound, it shouldn't be happening until mid April.
I honestly feel that i will be going at the end of the month.
I am feeling like the baby dropped more and of course, it moves and kicks and punches a lot.
The punches are a bit painful since it is already head down.
I am in the time where i am going to the potty at least 2 times at night, during day... lets not talk about it. :D too often.
I waddle if my bladder is full but at this stage full is after drink a glass of water or tea.
I am still going to the Chiropractor once a week, if i am too achy, i go 2 times.
I am still nursing my little Lulu. She had nothing to do with me getting pregnant when she was only 8 months old so i believe she should not have to deal with the consequences of it either. Which in this case will be weaning her from the breast.
I am thankful though, that God made it easy for us to continue nursing.
I was very nauseous the first 4 months of my pregnancy but it wasn't bad enough to make it hard for me to continue our bonding. i never got sore until now so that was a big plus.
Our challenge is finding a good position to nurse when you have a big belly and that belly kicks the toddler. :D
Lulu doesn't really know that there is a baby in there or maybe she is just in denial??? o.0
I had a blessingway this past Friday night.
I loved it!!!!
It means so much to me that a group of wonderful women gathered together in my home to bless me and give me words of encouragement.
i could have not been more blessed to have such amazing friends.
It is quite crazy but i went from having no one to lean on in my previous pregnancies (only Leslie but she is on the other side of the USA)to have 4 doulas friends and my awesome midwife plus i was introduced to a forum of women who think like me and have experienced homebirth or worked with doulas and midwives for their pregnancies and births plus they are all about cloth diapering, tandem nursing, cosleeping, etc.
Ben is excited about this baby too. He wants to catch the baby and Faith wants to cut the cord.
And i am ready to have this little one too but come when you are ready ok. not before not after, just right on time. :D

I love you Baby. i cannot wait to see you and hold you in my arms.

*************************************************************************************
UPDATE! (03-14-2011)

I had a prenatal with my midwife this morning.
She checked on Baby and noticed that Baby is engaged (meaning very low in my pelvic bone and ready to come if it needs to). :D
she said "i give you 2 or 3 weeks the most. If you are still pregnant by April 1st. I will buy you a sundae."
Well, I just hope she is right and that she will not have to buy me a sundae.

29 Weeks Pregnant.

2011-03-13T19:37:00.004-04:00

29 weeks along give or take
i cant remember how many weeks i was back them. i will update the tittle once i figure it out.
As the usual stuff, i am dealing with sciatica nerve pain. But at this stage i was enjoying myself big time. No midnight trips to the potty or cravings.
Just a regular and healthy pregnancy.
Round, ROUND, ROUND!!!! that is all i was then. ^_^

Retro Pinafore for Foo.

2011-03-10T20:47:00.006-05:00

i LOVE this retro pinafore!
It was easy to cut, sew and i got it done in one night.
The only hard part i would say, it is making the bias tape yourself but if you are more practical than me, you will enjoy sewing this pattern.
It is only 3 main pieces and one long strip for the ruffles.

I like it so much that i was already gotten more fabric out to sew one for my Lulu.
Foo is loving it. She wore it for about 3 days in a row and only took it off because i told her i needed to wash it. :D
Honestly, i think i should be sewing for Baby instead of the girls.
Their closets are full. Although Lulu is about to change size and Foo is about to change her clothing to springish, summerish so that could make for more on an empty closet.
I usually buy clothing ahead of time for Faith (second hand ones) but i am so tired with the big belly and worry about other things that i have neglected such a shopping trip.
Ohhh well, she will just have to wear whatever she has in hand for a little while longer.

Big Butt Baby Pants Pattern

2011-03-03T23:55:00.003-05:00

I must say that having a baby with a "ghetto booty" at such a young age plus being cloth diapered makes it even harder for us to find something that will fit over or that it will cover up her rear end.
I found this pattern and i had to purchase it. It is an e-pattern.

I made a 18-24 months for Lulu and it was a bit too long and a little too wiggly around her tiny waist.
i have a terrible time sewing the crotch part of the pants, but i think i made it harder than it is since i have heard that many other sewing mamas have loved the pattern and didn't complain about it as much as i did. They actually sewed more pairs after their first try and i haven't because of my first fail.
i will try to sew it again and not topstitch the rear panel and see how that goes.

Like i said, this pair didn't come out "well" but it does the job and that is covering up the big bum Lulu has.

Sew Baby Prairie Bonnet

2011-02-25T02:07:00.007-05:00

If you live in MI. you know how cold and LONG winters are.
This Latin mama cant handle so much snow and cold weather as well as the "natives" here do.
My girls sure are used to it by now, but after 5 1/2 years of living here, i think(just a thought), i think i am finally being ok with my reality.
I just have to bundle up even if i feel heavy with that many layers on me, especially now being this pregnant.

BUT a few days ago, we had another snowstorm and the "wanting for summer" feeling got to me.
I cant wait for Spring to be here, so Baby B. makes its debut and for me to wear lighter clothing and to done with my sciatica nerve pain.

Anyways, Foo loved her bonnet.
I have to tell you that this pattern is the easiest one i have ever tried and there is even an adult size in it.
I like it that much that i just finished another one (at 2.18am) for Penny (my doula's baby girl) or Lulu. (photo of that hopefully by tomorrow once Lulu wakes up)

And here, i leave you all with a photo of my 3 babies.
Baby B is still in there and hopefully getting stronger by the minute AND getting ready to come out as well.

Our Love Story

2011-02-03T23:19:00.007-05:00

So, I just recently scanned a couple of pictures of when Ben and I were dating and when we got married in Bolivia.
A friend of mine, Karen asked about my love story.
I have shared it so many times that sometimes, i forget how special it is and i just assumed people dont want to listen anymore.
So LONG story, short...
we met, we dated, i left, he went to Bolivia, got married and came back to the USA.

If you like details go ahead and bring some snacks or a cup of coffee because this is quite a long love story.

So in the year of 2003, i decided(as well as my mom) that we needed to do what my Dad wanted me to do, and that was study English and go to United States for one school year to practice my English, go back home, get a job, and go to college.
I went to a private center and study English for about 8 months before coming here and submerge myself in a crazy adventure.
After a couple of months of finally adjusting to cultural shock, I was invited by a classmate (and guy i liked) to go to a Youth Group meeting every Wednesday night.
I honestly wasn't interested in going to church much, but I was interested in the boy, so I went along and finally realized that the guy wasn't interested in my in that way and if he was, then he was testing me.
I dont like to be tested so I decided to go to church on my own since I have already made a ton of friends.

One day, i was introduced to a white boy with longish curly hair.
He seemed a nice person but nothing else, other than that.
He decided to not go to youth group for a couple of weeks (about 3 or 4) so when i saw him again, i decided to chat with him and ask him why he wasn't coming every Wednesday. And no, i wasn't interested in him at all.
He responded me by saying "ohh, i dont like coming here that often. People in this youth group are so shallow and full of themselves and FAKE. You might even be FAKE like them."
i guess me asking about him not coming was a fake interest, and i didn't really care, I just was obliged to ask because i am a "good christian girl".
It hurt my feelings when he responded that way to i just walked away and told a friend what he just told me.
I avoided him the whole time but it wasn't like he was trying to start a conversation with me anyways.
My friend shared my situation with our pastor and next Wednesday the curly guy was there. i only said "Hello!" and kept walking.
After that last conversation i wasn't interested in having any type of relationship with him.

Our pastor preached about how we hurt people, and we need to say we are sorry and have grace for one another. i didn't think much about the service but that the curly hair guy took the message more deeply than i did and came to me (in the middle of the service) and asked me to forgive him for being rude.
I accepted his apology but there was a wall build up between him and i by now.
Service was done and i needed to either walk home quick or get a ride.
I decided to walk but the curly hair guy wanted to talk to me and instead of actually remembering my name he used a derogatory name to catch my attention.
he yells "Beaner!" (if you dont know what a beaner is, you can compare it to the "N" word for an African American person.)
i personally, didn't even know what the word was. i have never heard it before so i asked someone to tell me what it meant. The person just told me that it wasn't a nice word and as Curly hair guy gets closer to me, i tell him to "back off" and i keep walking towards my home because it was getting darker.
He follows me and i tell him to go but he doesn't want to listen, he keeps apologizing and i turn around and tell him that he doesn't know what it is to not be either white or black, that they both fit in a group and that i didn't feel like a belong because i was right in between and there was no other person with my skin color in the whole school.
he tried to apologize but i was so offended that i couldn't listen.
He fought talked for a long, long time until we finally gave up with the whole thing. He offered me a ride and as we walked back to his van he shares all the things he was struggling with. Drugs and Alcohol that is.
We get into his van and i guide him where to go to get to my house, but with my hand on the handle to open to the door and jumped to the side of the road just in case he was a serial killer or something like it. Back at home, you hear lots of stories like that about USA criminals so i was very afraid that maybe, just maybe he was a serial killer. :)
we get to my house and i give him my phone number.
A whole week goes by and he never calls but the weirdest part was that i was worried about him all week. All i could think about was him.
The thoughts in my heads were, that maybe he was drinking or smoking marijuana and i wasn't there to help him choose better.
He finally calls on Saturday but "Aunt Flow" came for a visit earlier that day so i wasn't feeling "well" at all. i declined the invite but we set up a "date" for Sunday afternoon.
We went bike riding downtown and i guess i called him "weird" about 100 times.
He tried to jump into the river NAKED and i just walked away as i see him trying to take his shirt off.
We ride back to my house and decided to go to a Beatle Mania concert that night.
We went and had a awesome time together listen to The Beatles covers until 9pm.
We then just knew that we were a couple.
On May 16th, 2004 we decided we wanted to date. we just didn't tell each other.
He takes me home and we see each other every day after that Sunday.
At Day 5 -May 20th-(on a Thursday), while we were sitting on the love seat at my host parents' house as we were chatting about me going home soon, he asked me if i wanted to marry him.
If he was crazy enough to ask, well, then i was crazy enough to say, YES!
He give me his "Promise" ring that night after worship practice and i took it.
I honestly didn't think much of the ring other than it meant that one day we will see other again and marry each other. i didn't care that it was white gold and real diamonds. Yes, later on that week, The Briggs side of him came out and let me know how precious (material way type of precious) this ring was.
And I say "it was" because i lost it about 3 or 4 days before i went to Bolivia.
I was baking cookies, i left it on the kitchen counter, went to youth group and when I came back, it was gone. :/
I told my my host mom that Curly guy ask me to marry him and that i decided i wanted to that. Host dad wasn't happy at all.
One of the rules as an exchange student is that i cannot marry while in the program but i was going to go against because of Love.
On Day 7 -May 23rd-, i got to meet the parents.
It was a nice dinner and a very awkward conversation with people i didn't know well and me having a very thick Latin accent.
Curly hair and his dad decided to go in the basement for "something" and left me with my mother in law. It was a great moment!(...NOT!!!) we sat there quiet.
The few times Curly Hair and i were alone in the living room he would take pictures of us while kissing and i didn't know why.
His mom caught us once and i felt so embarrassed.
I mean, i have never brought a boy to my house in Bolivia and now, here i am kissing in the living room with a boyfriend??? and getting caught by his mom??? i felt SO ASHAMED!!!

That following week, i got a couple of phone calls from his Dad trying to figure this whole wedding and papers thing. i decided to call my mom that week as well, to let her know that i wasn't going back home in a couple of weeks and that i might not see her for a long, long time again.
Honestly, she never believed me.
At the end of the week, i decided i was too homesick to marry Curly Hair, and that whether i wanted to or not, i just HAD to go back home.
I let Curly Hair know and he was quite sad and so was i.
When June 4th came we stayed up all night with each other, waiting for June 5th to arrive and have to say goodbye to one another.
the ride to the airport was so short, i wanted to be in the car for longer so i didn't have to say goodbye or even have to get to the airport.
We waited for my flight to get there and it just felt too short.
I cried so hard before i had to go through the gates, that after a few minutes the plane took off, i felt asleep and arrive in Detroit.
I got on another the plane in Detroit and cried hard again since i felt that it was true, i was getting farther and farther away from Grand Rapids and from the love of my life so i fell asleep again and woke up in Miami.
By the time i got on the airplane from Miami, i had no tears left to cry but i did feel my heart brake in tiny little pieces.
There was no turning back. i was on the direct flight to Bolivia.
I got to Bolivia and it just didn't feel like home anymore. My body was there but my heart was left in Michigan with Curly Hair.
I got homesick after being in Bolivia for a couple of days and the feeling of going back to Michigan just wasn't going away. But i just had to adjust once again.
Curly Hair and I used letters, emails, skype and phone to keep in touch with each other for 14 months until finally on July 14th, 2005 i had to go to the airport and pick up my "GHOST" boyfriend.
Yes! that is the name my mom gave him, and she couldn't believe the Gringo was actually there, in front of her.
The guy that i got phone calls from for 14 months, the guy that promised many times to come to Bolivia sooner and failed to do so was FINALLY there to marry her daughter. UNBELIEVABLE!

On July 19th, 2005 we decided to elope and start our lives together as ONE.
July 19th, 2005 is the day i became MRS. Briggs!!!
We stayed in Bolivia until Nov. 10th. but got married through the church on Nov. 6th, 2005 so my family can see me be married to the love of my life and for them to have some peace about the guy that was taking me away from them.
I got married legally in the USA on Jan. 20 or 21, 2006(not sure anymore) for the sake of the Government and for Curly's parents sake too.
Went to NYC for our honeymoon. Came back and moved to our first home on Feb. 6th, 2006. Got pregnant in July 28 or 30, 2006 and LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!
After almost 3 babies later, 5 1/2 years of marriage we still love each like the first day and my heart still aches and i cry when i think or write about us having to say goodbye at the airport.
That is the one sad feeling i cannot get rid off, i am just glad i never have to say goodbye to Curly Hair ever again, unless God decides He wants to take one of us away from the other but we hope that will be when we pee in our pants and cant walk that well anymore and that once one goes the other one wont take too long to go as well.

The B's Household

2011-01-31T19:21:00.007-05:00

I am still in awe of my girls.
I am not going to say that they are "perfect" children (only to my eyes and heart they are) in every single way and in every single second of the day BUT they make me happy.
Moments like this one makes me forget the other not so pleasant moments we have throughout the day.
I cant wait to see what Lulu will become in the months to follow.
She is in the point in life where she is figuring out who she is and i am loving her journey.
Here i leave you with a couple of very loud girls.
Of course, Daddy is their match made in Heaven. :D

The B's Household

2011-01-25T20:16:00.007-05:00

This is how our kitchen is looking like right now. *blush*
For now, i just cant worry about my house looking perfect but instead, enjoy the little time off i have with my girls.
Foo is actually playing with the leftover dough from the apple pie, Lulu is just playing with me and hits her head on the door quite hard.
She just thinks it is so silly, but my mama's heart cant take it when she tries to do it again and again.
If you were sitting where i was, you would have been smelling a nice homemade apple pie baking in the oven. The best smell in the world!!! after a newborn's smell of course.

Enjoy!

Pregnancies

2011-01-22T21:43:00.003-05:00

One of the easiest and hardest decision i had to make in my life was choosing to live in the United States.
"Why? you have better here than in a developing country." you might ask.
i must say that my life here is just what i wanted and more but leaving family and your old life behind is never easy.
When Ben and i had to come back to MI. it was the easiest part for me.
The hardest part started when we bought a home and i had to adjust.
There was no choice whether i wanted to adjust, i just HAD to.
I think many couples say that the hardest part of marriage are the first 2 years of your lives together but i have a different experience.
I dont feel or think that Ben and I would have had such a hard time if we were born in the same country.
Those first 2 years of our lives were hard because i was just extremely homesick and i didn't want to let go of my past.
So anyways, with making this decision i find myself in hard situations that makes me think of "what if...".
With that said, my 43 year old sister is pregnant!!!!!
The second oldest sister and the youngest sister are pregnant at the same time, and the best part, SHE IS EXPECTING HER FIRST GIRL!!! (after 3 boys)
I can only imagine how happy she must feel. I mean, i am happy for her, VERY happy so i can only imagine how she is feeling.
I will be giving birth some time in April and she will be having a cesarean some time in May.
She has had 3 previous cesareans so i doubt she will be allowed to try a VBA3C in Bolivia.
She is still in shock that i willingly wanted a drug free birth with Lulu and she confessed that we her second boy she got up to 5 cm. and couldn't handle the pain.

The saddest part is that i am wishing with all of my heart to be at home within the next couple of months to give birth there and give my mother the privilege to witness 2 more births of her grandchildre.
Now, this is the part that makes it hard for me to live here in the USA.
I would love to share those special pregnancy moments with my sister but i have to be content with the decision i made 5 1/2 years ago.

Another thing i must tell you all, is that none of the "Terceros" girls had giving birth to boys AND girls. We mostly stick to one gender.
My sister Gloria says "Mom and Dad never taught us of VARIETY" and i have to laugh at that because she is right.
We might have broken "the curse" TWICE this year or maybe NOT since Baby B's gender is a secret until birthing day.
I will let you know in April for sure. :D

Hugs.

PS. I cannot wait to update you all with a picture of baby girl. I hope my sister remembers to send me a picture or something to show off.
Longing for the month of May already.

CIRCUMCISION

2011-01-06T11:49:00.014-05:00

I am extremely against circumcision (unless it is required for health issues of course).
Although, I don't have baby boys YET, i do have a husband with a broken soul.
Do I take this subject personal although i dont have baby boys????
YES, I DO! i am married to one of those baby boys that went through this.

I know, i cannot stop you from doing what you decide is right for your children but i can be give you some great resources to decide the opposite or (hopefully not) still stick with your opinion/decision.
I feel my mission as a mother and a wife of a circumcised MAN is to inform the moms out there (and dads as well) that you have a CHOICE.

Here are a few articles i have found that i thought would be great to start with.
I will be adding more and more as a find more information.

Death from Circumcision
There are risk with circumcision.

Neonatal Circumcision
This video is quite painful to watch. If you are a sensitive soul that cries for the tiniest thing like me, then DON'T WATCH IT or WATCH WITH CAUTION.
It is quite traumatic.
Note that the doctor repeats that it is a COSMETIC surgery NOT a medical necessity.

Biblical Circumcision Information
Please, if you still believe that "the Bible says so" then read this link, go to your church and ask your pastor to go into more details about this subject in the Bible.
Encourage him and yourself to do the research before you decide this is what you need to do for your child.
A friend of mine decided to ask her pastor and challenged him to explore this.
Now, they have an intact boy and he is 15 months old.

Circumcision is TRAUMATIC
Many people use the excuse that babies dont remember or dont feel pain. it is obvious that the child is in pain while the procedure is being done. They might not remember but a trauma has been put in them already.
Many grown up men who found out what has been taken away from them, tend to get very upset and wished they have made that choice for themselves.
Allow your child to decide whether he needs a circumcision or not.
In the United States is becoming more common to not be circumcised, so if you as a mom or dad are worried that your boy might not fit in, think about the future because it is more likely that being circumcised will be the strange one on the crowd.

He Didn't Cry: Babies in Shock
I had a relative tell me that his son didn't cry when he allowed the doctors to circumcised his little baby boy. i tried so hard to do some research online maybe agreeing with my relative's testimony but mostly, to disagree with him and i couldn't find anything about it until just a few days ago. His son went through a lot of these post-traumatic consequences of having a circumcision and now, it totally make sense that he just wasn't a "plain and extremely" colicky baby, but sometime major was going on in this baby's body and brain.

One thing to remember though.
If you are a mom who has allowed for your boys to go through this and now, you are having one more boy, you can still change your decision. It is NOT late!
It is not wrong of you to do different with a new child. You didn't know any better before, no one can blame you for just not knowing.
Here a quote to thing about and i hope it helps.....

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." ~Maya Angelou

She is having the time of her life.

2011-01-03T17:03:00.007-05:00

My little one left Saturday at 4am with her daddy.
That child was so excited to go on a trip with her daddy that she said, "i am so excited, Daddy!" when Ben woke her up at 3.30am.
After that we got to church and we watched a movie for a bit, waiting for the guys to pack the trailers a little more and then take off.
She was not scared one bit, i think i was more scared for her.
I hugged her for a long time and told her to be obedient and dont give attitude.
I am guessing she listened, because Ben is having a good time with her and he is surprised she hasn't giving him a hard time at all.
Of course, when they were driving for 36 hours she said, "Daddy, i am tired, i want to go home and see my Mommy." ohh... that brakes my heart but there was no going back. They were close to Missouri when she got a bit upset.
Other than that, she has been fine.

Today, it is the first day they get to worship at the chapels while my little one dances. She loves dancing as you might know by now.
They get up pretty bright and early and are done by 12pm. but some days, the schedule is different. If they have days like today, they do fun stuff like hiking.

Here a picture of my Foo at the first hike of the week.
Foo(3 years old) Rehoboth, Jan. 2011

I can't believe she is looking so much bigger already. I know she hasn't grown more than the normal but she is looking older to my eyes in this picture but i still see my first baby in that beautiful face of hers and i always will. Even when the day comes that she starts to get wrinkles and all, I will still see my baby.

Please if you follow my blog or read it every now and then, please pray for the crew and for the little town of Rehoboth.

HUGS!!!

Rehoboth

2010-12-28T22:39:00.007-05:00

Foo (2 years old) in Rehoboth, Jan. 2010

Ben and Foo are leaving to go to Rehoboth in a couple of days.
This would be Ben and Foo's Second Year going to a Missions Trip.
Rehoboth is in New Mexico. It is a little Indian Reservation very close to Arizona.

This yearly trip is truly a challenge on my Faith. I like being around my babies and knowing exactly what they are doing and who they are interacting with.
Most children in this reservation have been sexually abuse by close family members and even their own parents.
Myself, as a sexually abused child, i have a hard time knowing that my child is going to be around these type of problems. Of course, our guys go to spread the Word of God to the children and young people but that doesn't make it easier for me to let go of my kiddo.
i know Ben will take care of her, and that the crew will always keep an eye on her and of course she IS part of the crew so she is involved in many, if not ALL the events.
I love hearing that she is having a great time with other children, and that she encourages them (with her dance) to seek God in their lives.
For me, this is a time to meditate about my fears and issues with control as far as this goes. I knew that one day i will have to face them again and i am pretty sure God is ok with letting me go through this.
Please pray for our crew as they go to Rehoboth.
That they will help these children and teens to find a much needed Faith in God.
And that the crew will be filled with humbleness and once again, they will witness the love of God through these hurting children.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2010-12-24T13:32:00.007-05:00

In the Briggs' Household time has paused.
The sinks are full of dirty dishes since yesterday's morning cooking from preparing food for our Briggs' Get together with the extended family.
We had an amazing time seeing the children open their presents and getting to spend some much needed relax time with the family without having business talk in between. :)

Today is time to rest for a bit and then continue cooking to get ready for tomorrow Briggs' Christmas Day.
This year we try to be very limited with the amount of presents we are giving to our children and you know, it feels good to do that.
The more simple Christmas Time is, the more we learn to appreciate it, it think.
Spending time with our children, sitting around the table doing crafts, chatting, the littlest one is watching everything while eating some fresh fruits.
What else can we ask for, really?
Foo can't wait to set up the Nativity under the tree and sing Happy Birthday to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!!!!

We hope this post finds you well and surrounded by the most important people in your lives.
May God bless you all each and every day!!!

Briggs Family!

Baby B.

2010-12-17T23:45:00.009-05:00

Hello World! Here I AM and my cute face. :)

Nope, it is not the initial for the baby's first name. B is for Briggs.
This little one LOVES being almost under my ribs and straight across my belly. Interesting position i must say and so thought the doc BUT it was great for getting measurements and get a good look of the little one.

Cute Little nose, like his/her sis'.

I am still amazed how much love can grow in your heart when getting to see the life inside of you through a computer monitor.
It just makes it so real but still AMAZING that you have a whole little person growing in there.
God's creations is just WAY passed perfect and pretty much impossible to explain.
Ben and I are looking forward to have this Love in our arms.
I was doing so great with "the wait" which is about 17 weeks or a little more but after seeing how Baby B moved and opened its mouth (asking me to nurse already :) )and those little hands and feet... It just made it harder for me.
We are also looking forward to birth at home although my insecurities are telling me "What if you go longer than 11 hours and 20 minutes like with Lulu?" or "What if it is another 48 hours labour like with Faith?" but as far as my Midwife having my back on this, i am feeling very secure.

My Goals in this pregnancy are:
* Not gain too much weight (only healthy gain -8 pounds so far-).
* Have this baby at HOME!
* Give BIRTH to this baby all by myself (this is one big topic i have never touched here on the blog).
* Have Ben catch the baby.

I think they are pretty realistic goals. Nothing too wild and crazy or impossible.

Anyways, this is an update for all of you who are keeping up with Baby B's journey in the womb before it comes and changes my world for an "even" better world than what i have right now.

Pregnant Belly

2010-12-07T11:07:00.010-05:00

I keep promising to my best friend that i will post a picture of this pregnancy but i always forget plus having a computer super old which doesn't take the pictures of my camera vs. waiting to download all on the laptop and send it "Forget It" Land.
Anyways, my point is that i never get around it BUT here it is!!!
Round as it should be at this stage and personally, i have to say "PERFECT!"
This is the time in pregnancy where i TRULY feel beautiful.
That is until all the evil comments get to me and i dont feel that way anymore.
I am hoping NOT to hear "i am so sorry for you!" by the time i am about 7 months pregnant or "are you due next week?" when i still have over a month left in pregnancy.
I do have say that somehow women are the most cruel at this and it will never make sense to me why we say such horrible things.
I am not perfect. i might have given a rude comment here and there but if you are one of those women who "got it" from me and you are reading my blog...
Please, FORGIVE ME!. i truly DID NOT mean it that way. i am just kind of dumb like that at times.

22 weeks (give or take)

So this Honey Bunch (we still dont know the gender) is doing ok, i think.
He/she moves like crazy but not crazy enough to keep me up at night.
I have noticed i have to be extra careful with this pregnancy. i dont get hungry like with the other 2, but i also dont have much chance to eat with 2 little ones trying to eat everything before it gets to my mouth.
I literally tell Ben to "close the doors because i am eating now."
He carefully listens and follow my orders. He has witnessed the Hunger of Foofoo and Lulu and even he gets annoyed.

i dont know if i had shared this with you but we are going to have this baby at HOME! (at least that is the plan-it is all in God's hands now-).
I am purposely being very secretive about this baby.
I want some privacy this time around.
Very few people know the EDD which is ok i think, but it really doesn't say much of when the baby is really ready to come out.
We also aren't sharing both baby names we have picked as well as the gender if we decide to find out.
Also, we might not want visits from people until the baby is about 3 or 4 days old. We feel this is time for our family to enjoy the new experience at HOME and take for us the most we can.

It may annoy many people but that is ok. They will get over it.
All i keep thinking is "This is my birth and i am hoping to make the best of it. The way i want it to be, and that is all it matters to me right now".
Too much has been taken away from me with my 2 girls so i am being very particular with this one.
And now, i sound like a CRAZY pregnant mom. :D
I know you moms are more willing to understand where i am coming from.

Hope to update soon with some sewing if nothing else exciting happens in the Briggs' Household.

PS. i know i should have cleaned the mirror or the room.
But why should i clean the mirror when my 1 year old will mess it up AGAIN and AGAIN?
........and the room?
well, the room is my "woman cave". I RULE in that room!
plus i am still cutting my t shirts for the rug i am making so it is more of a mess than the usual. :D

Lulu is WALKING!!!!!!

2010-11-27T22:43:00.008-05:00

Sure, this child took her sweet time.
Most children show signs of wanting to walk at around their first birthday if they are not walking already but not my girls.
Foofoo was the same. She actually took a little longer, around another month or two than Lulu.
Ben was sure obsessed with getting Lulu to walk. Me? not so much.
I want my kids to motivate themselves to take such a big step. Every thing in their own time, not mine.
Lulu has also mastered the head bowing for "YES!" which is great because i was getting a little tired of the "NO!" one. :)
This child likes to climb as well as her sister did at the same age.
Ohh, man... i think i am in trouble.

Halloween Update

2010-11-05T14:19:00.004-04:00

Halloween has been quite quiet this year.
For the first time in 4 year, i didn't dress up and went out with my girls to do Trick or Treat instead i stayed home to give out candy to the kids.

Ben still went out but only half way dressed up. i am guessing it is because i didn't go out with him.
i promised to my self, next year we are going to have the regular party and dress up as it has been done years before.

I took pictures of my loved ones before going out to the neighborhood and i only see that my Foo is just growing too fast.
It kind of hurts my heart to see a picture like that of hers but that is Life, right?
I can only be happy that she is healthy, smart, beautiful and blessed.
i tell her every day, "Foo. dont grow up too fast." and she says "I won't Mommy, i will grow slow."
Maybe i should stop telling her that but it is truly what i am feeling when i look at that beautiful face, that once was my newborn baby face.
I always said "i will never be one of those moms that can't let go of their kids" and guess what?.
I am becoming ONE of THOSE MOMS. :/

I hope you all had fun dressing your babies up as i did.

FALL !!!!!

2010-10-19T21:10:00.008-04:00

How i love this season!
I honestly believe i have come to live in the best place of the United States to enjoy such beautiful fall colors.
Actually Ben says that golfers love coming to Michigan during Fall and it is one of the Top Places in the U.S. to golf and all because of the colors.

God blessed us with a beautiful YELLOW side walk a few days ago.

If i was able to take photos of all the places i go and i get mesmerize by the colors i think i would have to purchase another external hard drive to put all of those photos.
Wishing you all where here to see what my eyes enjoy every day. :D

The B's Household

2010-10-13T17:02:00.010-04:00

Sometimes, i wonder what goes through Ben's brain.
The guy is always in some of other dimension.
I LOVE IT!
Faith, not much at times.

Update:
Ben said after i posted the video "why did you show the one were i am yelling at Faith."
To be honest, i didn't even thought he was yelling badly. He was just frustrated. He is a good dad but Faith does know how to push buttons.
She is just like HE WAS when he was a kid.
I guess, you rip what you sew. :)

The B's Household

2010-10-13T16:01:00.009-04:00

There is always something going on in this house.
Especially after Ben comes home from work, new and crazy and bizarre things happen.
Yes, Foo has eyeliner on.
Yes, Lulu got some awesome rhythm.
And YES! i married a CRAZY one but i am still very much IN LOVE.

and Yes, after 5 years of marriage, 2 kids later and another on the way, none of that craziness has gotten to me and i am still the most boring person in the family, but i kind of like it. :D
There is got to be some type of balance, right?

Enjoy.

Count me IN!!!!!

2010-09-09T15:18:00.005-04:00

Well, i saw this challenge in the beginning of the year but i didn't feel i was ready to commit to something like this with a NB baby but now, (although i am still feeling the wrath of the morning sickness) i feel that i can make it through and actually accomplish something, even if it is just ONE item, right?

i do need some type of motivation to use up my fabric so if you feel the same way go ahead and copy the button and be part of this challenge with me.

i cant wait to see all of the wonderful creations!!! :D it always makes me happy to see handmade clothing. :D

Took a shower with my Lulu.

2010-08-21T16:45:00.004-04:00

Today, i took a very much needed shower but i had one special little one with me, Lulu.
While sitting there and watching her have fun splashing and laughing i felt a bit sad. why??? because i thought if my Foo and our bath times. there were several of them. pretty much every day and this is about my 3rd or 4th one with Lulu.
See, once you have an older child the second doesn't always get as much alone time with Mommy or Daddy. We literally had to sneak out from the basement and quietly get in the shower because if Foo figured out that we were about to take a bath she would automatically get naked and jump in the tub with us.

When i told my mom that i was pregnant she was happy for me but also worried for Lulu. At that moment i thought she was just being too dramatic and there is no way that Lulu would feel left out or feel the lack of attention from us because, well, there was no way i would let that happen.
But now, i am starting to doubt my capability of making sure my Lulu grows up with the same attention my Foo had. And how am i going to handle or accomplish that when Baby #3 comes?
Would she feel or noticed that she didn't or doesn't get enough attention?
Would she resent us for having another baby so close to her so therefore her Mommy and Daddy time is too short for her needs?
Questions that only God and time can answer.
But for now, i will try my hardest to give you all the attention you deserve my Lulu.
My always so calm child. I hope it is good enough to you.

I love you and i am sorry if you ever feel that we don't give you enough attention.

Love,
Mom

We are Pregnant !!!(again.)

2010-08-10T00:39:00.005-04:00

YES, indeed Baby #3 is on its way!!!
I imagine it will be quite the journey but i am looking forward to have a brand new baby to snuggle up with.
Lulu is getting big and independent and lets not talk about Foo, she has always been the "free" type child.
We are guessing we are around 6 weeks pregnant.
This time around things will be even more different than they were with Lulu.
The more and more i think about it i am getting more and more comfortable with the idea of homebirth.
No vaccines for us, late ultrasound (just to check on things) we might not even find out the gender this time (but we will see) and if it is a boy, most definitely NO CIRCUMCISION!!!!
So far, i am feeling pretty good.
i do get hungry quite often though.

Please pray (or send good thoughts and vibes) our way. i want to pass on morning sickness with this baby. i am sure i wont have much time for that since i have 2 to care for already so it will be nicer not have to deal with it at all.

Mama's last day here is tomorrow. i am not looking forward to have to say goodbye to my mom but life must continue for her as well so she needs to go back home. it sure has been such a wonderful experience to have her here. i cant wait to repeat this again and again.

Love everyone!

HELLO WORLD!!!!!

2010-07-22T22:18:00.002-04:00

Sorry, i haven't been here much.
Lots of things have been happening in my life lately.
My mom is over and enjoying my girls to the max. Sadly Miss Foo decided to play hard to get while my mom is here.
It hurts a bit that she is so indifferent to my mom but my mom keeps telling "kids are just like that sometimes, she will eventually grow out of it" but even though she understand, i still feel like so many things are being missed because of Foo's lack of interest in my mom. Even her Spanish has been improving very slowly because she wont even talk to my mom unless she is needing something.
Other than that things are good with us.
Ben is about done with his brother's home and.......
Today i GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE!!!!
I am the happiest person at this point.
i have had experiences what it is to have that kind of freedom and i was sad to have to give it up because i wasn't able to get my SSN.
No more waiting for hubby to get home to go out and getting the "death look" because i take longer than i say i would in the store. :D
One thing though... if you see me parallel parking, PLEASE! PLEASE have mercy on me. I SUCK AT IT!
Mom will be going to NYC next week for around 3 days. not happy about having to give her up for that long, but glad to get a brake from her since i just find out once again that my mom LOVES to give me a hard time.
It is the good HARD TIME but it is still hard time, right?
Ohhh... We are getting ready for a photo shoot this weekend. I am more than excited!!!!

Ohh... and when i get my Elements cable back from my mother in law then i will be uploading all of my old project pictures.
See ya around!!!!!!!
:D

Angelina Ballerina = Ben Ballerina??? :D

2010-06-08T16:52:00.005-04:00

He sure is the best father for my girls.
I am so proud of this man. you have no idea how much.
He is just like a regular human with virtues and defects, but the virtues truly make him one of a kind.
His heart is full of goodness for our Lord and his family.
He taught me to be a little bit more "alive" and enjoy being spontaneous(thing which i still struggle with).
I love him dearly, more than words can express.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to find my "match made in Heaven."

HEY, BEN BRIGGS!!!
YOU ARE THE LEADER IN OUR FAMILY.
WE WILL FOLLOW EVERYTHING THAT GOD PUTS IN YOUR HEART.
YOU ARE THE BEST!

Sewing: Sugar City "The Village Frock"

2010-06-03T18:37:00.015-04:00

Sugar City patterns are sold out now, but i am hoping she will be restocking some time soon.
i love this pattern.
It is so easy to sew.
I love it so much that i made a Fall frock and a Christmas frock for Foo.
I would totally recommend this pattern.
I like the gathering around the neck but my favorite part is the buttons.
The two frocks i made for Foo are getting a bit short but soon enough they will become just tunics for the fall to go with a pair of pants.
So crazy that i have made these outfits around the time Lulu was born and i am just now posting them but i think with these 2 i am done with my projects from last year.
i did take picture of the other dresses i made so i am hoping to put them up soon. :D

I AM ALIVE!!!!

2010-05-31T18:42:00.004-04:00

Sorry, i have been ignoring the blog. :/
I really need to catch up on photos of the stuff i have sewn.
For now, we are doing great.
Foo is trying some new product we just found to heal her eczema problem, but she is also going to see an allergist this June 2nd. Please pray that she is not allergic to gluten. I can honestly say that Gluten Free Diet is by far the hardest diet out there. It is so overwhelming that i broke down and cried like a baby.
But i am guessing it was a combination of several things that made me cry. We were just getting rid of all kinds of sugars and starting to buy organic as well and teaching Foo to be more responsible on her own diet. She is only 3 but she is quite smart as far as good and bad sugar goes.
She tells Daddy when he is breaking the rules and tells him he is making a bad choice. So he stops eating whatever junk he is eating to show her that he is listening and what she is saying is true.
Lulu is growing like a weed. We are still going hard core on cloth diaper. She loves it too. We are also introducing EC (Elimination Communication) and she went pee pee in the potty once so far.
Also, my mom is finally coming to visit. July 7th in the afternoon she will be here in GR. This is her first time coming to the US and her first time seeing her granddaughters.
Just the thought of seeing her after 4 1/2 years makes my heart ache. i bet i will be shaking when i see her and probably will cry just like i did when i met Leslie at the airport.
i am hoping Ben will video tape so i can show you all a bit of what it is for me to see my mother and the joy that fills my heart to finally have my daughters meet their Grandma.

i promise i will take some picture of Foo with all of the dresses and little things i made for her this week. i hope you like them.
Better go now, Lulu just woke up from another nap.
Bye!!!

10.20pm

2010-04-13T16:39:00.013-04:00

Today(3 years ago)at 10.20pm. I held my FIRST BABY!!!!
Three years ago today was a Friday. Yes, I had my baby girl on a Friday 13th.
Scary, isn't it? :)

I truly started labor 2 days ago, a Wednesday night after dinner.
At around 8.00pm. I started to contract. It was a small pain that I could handle, but it kept me up ALL NIGHT.
I tried so hard to not focus on the pain, but just like every new mom, I was anxious and nervous and most of it, LOST. Lost because I didn't know what to expect and certainly my husband didn't know either.
I am the first Briggs to give birth here in Grand Rapids. My family is in Bolivia. My half sister lives in NYC, she is over 40 and she has never had a baby. My niece is also in NYC but is she a little younger than me and she just got married 2 months ago.

Anyways, when laboring on a Wednesday Night, no one here could really help me out because other than my mother in law, there was no other mother to ask for advice to, and even she had a hard time remembering.

I waited until 5.00am to go the hospital. Contractions were 5 to 7 min. apart but no luck. I was sent home because i was not even 1 cm.

Can you imagine that? I labored all night and I was not even 1 cm?????
Thursday at around 10.00am. I got home disappointed and I spent all day there. The nurse gave a sleeping pill so I can rest but I decided I didn't want to take it so Hubby did instead of me.

Yes, he was snoring out loud in our room while I was in the computer room, online, chatting with my sister in Bolivia while having contractions. :D

Friends came over, brought some lunch, we ate together and try to hang out while I labor this baby.

Friday around 3.00am. asked Hubby to take me back to the hospital. Contractions were regular now. 5 minutes apart. Got to the Triage Room, got checked and guess WHAT???? Almost 3 cm.

UGHHH!!!!! 3cm???
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

Nurse gave me the ultimatum. I had to walk around and dilate 1 cm in 2 hours, otherwise, I had to go back home.
2 hours they told me, 1 cm. it was.

I got in now(finally!)... labored with no pain medication as long as I could but I didn't make it. I needed to sleep, so they brought the drugs.
I slept for 3 hours and felt much better. Order the drugs to be turned off because my contractions were slowing down too much.
The pain was back and I was ready to be OK with it once again.
A couple of hours later, I felt like going to the bathroom. My sister in law was holding my leg. No nurses around, or doctors.
She saw something black so first thing she thought was "It's POO."

NOPE, that was Foo's hair.
Yes, my child was crowning and there were no nurses or doctors around, just my sister in law.
She runs outside and yells for nurses and Daddy.
They all rushed into the room and I was asked to not push anymore.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? TO NOT PUSH???? ARE YOU NUTS DR. KORNIIVA!??

At around 10.18pm. I screamed like I have never screamed in my life.
The doctor stretched me out(I know... GROSS! and mostly PAINFUL but that is what she did).
3 or 4 pushes later, SHE WAS OUT!

At 10.20pm. on a Friday night of April 13th, 2007. I became a MOM!!!!!

At first, I didn't know what to feel.
She was precious! She was long, slippery and warm.

SHE WAS MINE!!!!

I didn't know if i was supposed to smile or cry so but to make sure, I did both.

I love you my PRINCESS!!!
I can't wait to see what you will become in the future.
All I know is that you will be always my baby and PERFECT from your head to your toes.

HAPTY BIRFDAY, FOO!!!!

First Night together.

A couple of hours old.

Tired Daddy.

Lulu's first feeding.

2010-03-23T11:18:00.010-04:00

I guess i can call myself one of those kind of moms that doesn't always follow the books but this time around i think i am and i am not in a way.
Most infants supposed to have their first cereal at around 3 months.
With Foo, i didn't do this. In fact, she did not get her first taste of cereal until she was 9 months old. she didn't like it anyways so we stopped and did breastmilk ONLY until she was close to 1 year old.
It is so true what they say about each child being different.
Lulu was an almost 9 pounds baby so she was a good eater from day 1. She had to suck on something ALWAYS, and she still does.
When newborns don't get breastmilk right away after birth they start to salivate as a sign that they need to be fed, in our case it is a case of "drools". i already know that when Lulu is hungry she will wet her outfit and No, she is not teething at all.
So, just last week i thought it would be good to see if she might be ready for cereals since she was almost 5 months old. Well, she is ready, very ready.
Foo was more than excited to be the one feeding her sis and i am so glad i got this on video.
What a wonderful memory!
(Since i couldnt upload the video, here i give you a photo)

Doesnt Lulu look scared???
LOL.

Such a good eater! Good job Lulu.

My girls.

2010-03-23T02:32:00.004-04:00

Yes, these two little girls are growing way too fast.
Foo is about to turns 3 this April. Can you imagine that?????
3 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!
It still feels like it was just yesterday when i was in labor for 48 hours and finally i got my little one in my arms on a Friday night at 10.20 pm.
Foo has the most crazy little ideas. Every day is a new adventure with this child. She truly fills my heart with so much love and freedom and with LOTS of grace as well. When i look into those big brown eyes, i see so much innocence and i don't want it to ever go away.
Foo, you are my first baby and you will ever be special to my heart. You taught me that i am good enough to be a mom and that i am doing a great job although sometimes i don't think that myself.
Thank you for forgiving me every time and showing what true love is. You are my angel.
I love you!!!

Lulu,
Oh, my little one.
You are just so full of smiles, honey!!!!
I ADORE your dimples!!!
You are one happy one, every one that is around you cannot believe that an infant can just be so happy by being herself. You are even happier than Foo was and that is really hard to beat but not for you.
You are so content my little one and so cuddly as well. It is just amazing to know that a such at a young age you already know how to give love.
I love it that when we play and i pretend to munch your chubby cheeks with little kisses you just love it so much that you rest your little face on my lips on purpose just so i can keep playing with you. Or just today after your nap you just laid your little head on my chest so you can still be more cuddle up.
You are sure growing fast, and i am trying so hard to savor every minute and every second of your young life so i can have memories that will last me forever.
I love you Lulu! You are such a blessing to this family, you truly are!

Asparagus and Bacon Quiche

2010-03-01T18:15:00.005-05:00

Really, the recipe calls for asparagus and spinach but since i didn't have spinach i just put some tasty bacon. Not too much though, i didn't want the bacon to steal the flavor of the asparagus. Also call for a crust made of wheat flour but i didn't make it. i just put the ingredients altogether in a glass pan.
I LOVE this recipe!!! it is so quick and most of all SO EASY!
We had with baked sweet potatoes and of course Hubby had to complain about something. :/ .... he doesn't like sweet potatoes. :(
He should have told me that when he saw me making holes on the potatoes with a fork so they can bake better.
Anyways, i forced him to eat them. :D

Quiche Integrale
Filling
Fine sea salt
12 asparagus, trimmed
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
Sliced and cooked bacon or 1/2 cup packed torn fresh spinach leaves
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Emmental cheese
*Emmental cheese is just Swiss cheese but i put cheddar because i didn't have Swiss cheese and it tasted fine. :D
Preparation
Heat oven to 375F with rack in middle.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 5 minutes; drain and pat dry. Cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, eggs yolks and milk.
Get your baking sheet/pan; fill with spinach/bacon and asparagus, then ladle egg mixture over the top. Sprinkle with generous pinch of salt and cheese. Bake until filling is puffed and lightly golden, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ENJOY!!!!

Family Vacation

2010-01-21T15:20:00.006-05:00

The Briggs' are leaving for a WHOLE MONTH!!!!
We will be leaving Saturday morning to Ohio, Washington DC(wishing it was the state of Washington, more specific Tacoma*wink, wink*), North Carolina, Georgia, and finally FLORIDA!!!!
This is our first family trip in a minivan.

My DH's family used to do that and we are trying to carry on the tradition. The original Briggs would just jump in the car and leave without really knowing where they are heading to or even where they were going to sleep. They sold candy (Thin Mints) to afford the trips. My DH is more than excited to do that with our family and i just tag along. LOL. A little bit of adventure is not bad every now and then.
Our final destination is Key West. i have never been there, but i have heard that it is a party city, very liberal and very much welcoming to nursing mamas. :D i wont have to hide when i want to feed my Lucy, and i wont get the stares that intimidate me and i am SO excited about this experience. it would be like being at home, Nursing a Baby= the most natural thing in the world.

Also, we will try to talk to a friend who could possibly could get us all into Disney World for free. Can you imagine that?
But like i said, it is just a possibility so we have not told Foo anything about it. We don't want her to be excited and then brake her little heart if things don't go the way we would want to. I am excited though, hoping the Lord will bless us with such a beautiful experience and even better, the face of my beautiful daughter when she sees Jasmin. "my favorite friend" Foo would say. :D
i better not get so pumped up myself, i might just get MY heart broken. LOL.

Please, keep us in your prayers as we go through this adventure.

Love,
Kathya

Sewing: Third Nursing Cover.

2010-01-20T14:52:00.007-05:00

One of SIL is pregnant right now with her second baby and she requested me to help her with a nursing cover. I was afraid in the beginning because the first nursing i have ever made was lets say...useless.

I still have it though, just like my first blouse i made (which doesn't fit me lol).

The first cover didn't have boning(i didn't know what boning was in 2006), it is too little and it doesn't have D rings, instead i made buttonholes. :D

The second one i made it for a friend. It is much better and she loves it but now that i look back... the strips are too thing, it has a button as well as the first one and the boning was the covered kind which is too thin.

And finally, i was able to find this tutorial PRUDENT BABY which is wonderful.
I guess it is true what they say "third time is the charm" or something along those lines.

i think SIL did well for her first time. don't you think?

Sewing: Ottobre 1/2005 Hat

2010-01-08T23:22:00.005-05:00

I am BACK!!!

Motherhood has gone a bit crazy around here. Lulu does take a lot of my time but i feel very much blessed for having such a wonderful and happy baby girl in my life(just like her sister).

Lulu is growing to be this wonderful little girl who loves to snuggle. She sure likes it more than Foo did.

In a way, i feel that Lulu might be a little bit more quiet than Foo and as a mother sometimes i am afraid she might be too shy and maybe even isolate herself from every thing. But i am sure trusting the Lord with my girl, He will lead her to what is best and more comfortable for herself.

So.... i have traced this hat for a long time now and i think the reason why i didn't try to sew it until now it is because Ottobre intimidates me and because KNITS are required. : /

Ottobre's instructions aren't that helpful at times...so here you have some photos of the Kwik sew pattern i have followed to sew the hat (this is a 3 panel kwik sew hat but it doesn't affect the way you supposed to sew the Ottobre hat). The pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

Somehow, i cant rotate my pictures. :(

Graphic from Ottobre -sew on the broken lines-

This picture is quite blurry (sorry about that).

This is how you supposed turn the ties but like i said, i cant seem to find a way to rotate my pictures. :/

After this last step(above)...just topstitch.

i hope it is helpful. :D

Leslie was Here!!!!!

2009-11-16T22:13:00.005-05:00

So Leslie and I met at a Sewing Forum long time ago.... we exchanged emails and we have kept in touch with each other ever since.
She had a slight chance to move to GR. thanks to her husband's job but God has different plans for them at this moment. i really wanted her to move here but i cant go against what the Lord has in storage so i am very happy for them that they can move to a state where they can enjoy all 4 seasons. :D
So i better go straight to the point, right?
LESLIE WAS HERE!!!! she flew all the way from Tacoma, WA to Grand Rapids, MI and stayed with us for five days.

This is the first time i get help in the beginning of being the mother of 2, meaning that with Foo i didn't have anyone to help me and of course stubborn me, i didn't want to ask for help either. Leslie helped me out so much in this 5 days that i am afraid to not be able to make it without her anymore.
i sure do feel an empty spot in my heart at this moment. i am already missing you Leslie!

It hurt even more to tell Foo that you weren't here anymore.
She woke up after coming from the airport and the first thing she did was to look and ask for "Ellie" and i said "i am sorry Honey but she left to go home to see her babies" and she said "i want Ellie NOW!!!!" and started to cry for a bit.
You have truly been a blessing to my children and to me. i really hope to see you again in person.
I usually don't get attached to people this much and i don't even cry this much for someone that i just met in person and for so little time.
Now, i have to figure out what i am going to say to Foo tomorrow at 7am when she looks for you again and she can't find you.
We will miss you lots and lots!!!!

Lulu is here!!!!!

2009-10-22T00:20:00.007-04:00

She finally made it!!!! and right on her due date.

So the story goes like this....

I lost my mucus plug right after church(i know... TMI) but we still kept on doing what we had plan for the day. We enjoyed a wonderful Fall Potluck with our friends and all but nothing happened that day.

Monday went by and nothing.... i was starting to get a little anxious.

Tuesday at 3 am, i felt some contractions but i just thought "ok...it is probably just my uterus practicing, i doubt it is actual labor" but i was wrong...contractions started to get harder and harder.

By 5.30am, i called my doula Kellie and asked her to come to be with me. She got to my house around 6.00am. or somewhere around there and by then my in laws were already informed to come to pick up Foo.

At around 8.00am, Foo woke up and the first thing she sees is Mommy in the bathtub taking a bath so she jumps in too. She enjoyed the warm water for a little bit with me and then Grandpa got home and she had to leave.

She screamed terribly because she wasn't allowed to stay for longer in the water and i am glad she left that early. It would have been a lot harder to deal with Foo while i am in pain.

I stayed in the tub until my skin started to wrinkle, then we decided it was time for me to go to my bed and get into the running position. Ben slept with me and Kellie had a short nap in the living room.

While in my room, i got sick once. It was horrible!!! Never eating pizza again.

After laboring for a couple of hours in my room, we decided to go for a walk (well, i really wanted to pick up my mail -the walk not so much- LOL. and then go for a walk.)

We headed towards the school up the hill and turned around. By the time, i was close to home, they were getting closer and closer(the contractions). So we all decided it was time to go to the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 10.30am but not before my water breaking at home right when we were about to leave.

We didn't get check in the Triage Room for quite a while and i am glad they weren't fast...because by 11am i was only dilated 3 to 4cm. So discouraging!!!! i started to tell Ben that "i am going to give up and that i was going to do drugs."

Finally, around 1pm or so we got to the Delivery Room (ohh...did i mention that i got sick again in the Triage Room?) and got checked there again and i was 5 to 6 cm. and i kept saying "i cant do this Ben!".

Everyone left us alone for 1 hour and the contractions were very strong and they weren't going away.

In 1 hour, I dilated from 5/6 cm to pushing. (no wonder why the pain wasn't going away LOL) so i was ready to push... pushed around 10/15 min.(i think) and then she was finally here, after lots of moaning and one big scream...

Lulu I. was born on Tuesday October 20th at 2.49pm, she is 20 inches long and weighs 8 pounds 15 ounces. Yup..... me, 5'3" medium frame woman delivered an almost 9 pound girl in 11 hours and 20 minutes labor with no drugs AT ALL!!!!

i felt like someone was tearing me in half or truly like a watermelon came out of me.

i never thought that Lulu could be that big... i honestly thought that she wouldn't be more than 8 pounds but

she is a wonderful little girl...loves breastfeeding and biting too(i am glad she has no teeth whatsoever LOL)

She is spoiled by Grandpa and Grandma by a ton and loved by her Big Sister Foo.

BTW... i miss my Foo... i cant wait to see her tomorrow.

So there is our birth story and here you have another picture of my little lady.

Enjoy!!!!

Ps. When Lulu was coming out i started to shout out orders to the doctor, like for example:

"Do not push down!"

"Don't pull her head!"

"Let her come out by herself!"

LOL.... now i think it is hilarious...although at the time when everything was happening i was very serious. Like a "demanding mama" said my Doula. :D

Sewing: Kitty Top MC5918

2009-10-10T13:16:00.008-04:00

I love this pattern!!!! it is very easy to follow and the sizing (at least on my Foo) was the correct one.

Foo LOVES it too!!!!
Last Sunday, she wore it to church with an orange t shirt and brown leggings just to show off the kitties in it.

I kind of mixed up the several details that the pattern offers and i like what i got.
In the beginning, Ben didn't like so much the fact that the buttons are not matching but he likes it now.
I recommend this pattern very, very much so if you decide to give it a try i am here to help you out with any questions.

Lulu's nursery under construction Part II

2009-10-09T16:53:00.006-04:00

Lulu has been a FULL TERM baby for about 1 weeks and couple of days, so she has the green light to come to this world at any time now. i certainly cant wait to hold her and of course, to get my special moment back by nursing a child.
i have been working on and off in the nursery. it is kinda of strange that my "nesting" feeling has been quite dramatic at times but now i am just chilling about it.

i have been sewing some, but maybe not as much as i should.
Here is a picture of the wall decors we have from Foo. I like for my nursery to be very neutral since i am hoping to have at least 2 or 3 more children. i have changed the binding from blue to a yellow and now it matches perfectly with the room. :D

Now, this is a bed skirt i have bought in a garage sale after Foo was born. i don't like the green on it so i also changed it to a yellow to match the crib bedding and the wall decor. :D (you will see some of the crib skirt on the next couple of pictures.)

Here is my Foofoo with the "cheese smile". She has been going to through some regression ever since we started to be a little too pushy about her being a big sister. She had 2 accident in one day and a couple of pee accident for a couple of days. Now, she is back to normal since we started to push less and less about her being a Big Girl.
She ADORES Lulu's nursery and it is really hard to keep her out of there.

So, remember that the other crib was a piece of trash?

Ben and i decided it was time to invest in a very nice crib for our kids, so we got this one and we love it (crib skirt matches now) :D

Of course, Foo wanted to climb up and lay on it. LOL.

Here is my disorganized "organizer". i still don't care much about fixing this part of the nursery but we are going to put clothing, towels and stuff like that until we get a matching tall dresser.

My nursery section is still the same. except that i am trying to make more boppi covers so if we got an accident (spit, pee or poo) we will have clean ones on hand.

Now, i got my Lulu's bag ready!!! 2 girly outfits (with shoes and all) and 2 boy outfit (just in case), some wipes, 2 disposable dipes, 2 burp cloths, baby book and for me i added cloth nursing pads and a nursing bra. I LOVE shoes!!! (just in case you didn't notice). i still have to get another canvas bin but that would be next week.

Lulu's closet from newborn to 3-6 months. Most of the clothing are hand me downs from Foo, Goodwill deals and some brand new things, Lulu's has been so blessed!!! People love her without even knowing her.

What else can a mom want for their children? Other than LOVE, LOVE and more LOVE.

I hope to update my blog soon with photos of the 4 for us.

Please, keep praying for us.

Love,

Kathya

36 weeks and 5 days!!!! and ready to POP!!!! LOL

2009-09-27T23:01:00.005-04:00

Here is me again!!!!

As you can see i look like i am going to deliver anytime soon. The aches from pregnancy have finally caught up with me. My hips are hurting more often and i get tired very easy. Although, my feet are not getting as swollen, i still feel the pressure of the weight gain in these long almost 9 months.

This coming Tuesday i will be 37 weeks, which is consider FULL TERM!!!. i am so glad that Lulu have made it this far save and sound.

Please pray that she will come to this world very healthy and strong.

i know it could be too much information, but i don't care. LOL ..... i had a check up last Friday and i have gained 2 more pounds(i will not tell the total, only Leslie knows.) which left me impressed. Anyways, i am already 1cm dilated, 50% effaced and -2 station and it gives me hope that i wont have a 48 HOURS LABOR this time, but please!!!! Prayers are important to me.

Could you all ask God to make this labor easier for me and that Lulu wont get jaundice? Jaundice made me so depressed with Foo....the baby blues got too far for me since i couldn't get out of the house.

Also, sorry about the outfit...nothing fits me anymore and yes, i am wearing men boxers. :S Shame on me!!!

Lulu's nursery under construction Part I

2009-09-27T22:43:00.009-04:00

Here is Foo trying to be involved (as usual) with the set up of Lulu's nursery. She sure is so excited to have a baby at home. Every day, Foo talks to Lulu and lets her know that she is loved by her big sister Foo.

Here is my lovely Ben who has tried so hard to get everything together just because i have been wanting a nursery ready although Lulu wont be sleeping in this room until she is 3 months old.

Do you like the color of the walls?

i do. :D

I still got to put on little walls decor that i got from Foo but i have decided to change the bias tape for a neutral one. They are blue right now. We will be purchasing another crib when Lulu is ready to go to her nursery to sleep by herself. This one that we have is just not good. The wood and the set up of the whole crib is very, very cheap. I guess you cant always find good things at Craigslist. I wished i could have been there when Ben was checking out this crib. For right now, it is up only for show. :( This was the most frustrating part of the "nesting" today.

And here, it is my little nursing area. I will probably be rearranging more, but not before we get rid of some old furniture that we still have from when this used to be Faith's nursery.

I still got to bring the changing table up. :D Pictures soon!!!

Sewing: Repurposing a maternity shirt

2009-09-21T23:02:00.006-04:00

A week ago, i was washing some clothes and to my huge surprise, 2 of my favorite maternity shirts got ruined. The worse part it is that they were 2 out of 4 shirts that totally cover my belly. :(
I was very upset to start with but little by little the anger went away.
Now, Foo has another "ruffley" skirt to enjoy and i am happy for her. Hopefully she will love this one so much that she will let go of the "ballerina" skirt she has been wearing for the last 3 days.
Bye bye maternity shirt and welcome Foo's skirt. :D

Sewing: Mei Tai to go NYC MC5678

2009-09-17T00:57:00.027-04:00

When we went to NYC to visit family after almost a whole year of not seeing my niece, i decided to give a try to this pattern. We do have carriers but not for a toddler over 30 lbs. Foo was kind of scared of the Mei Tai. i wished i would have made this before so she could feel comfortable in it.
About the pattern, it is very easy to follow. You can replace the fleece with batting if you like.
I would suggest changing the strips/ties to be wider than what the pattern (around 3" wider) says just to make it more comfortable. And also make the hood taller (if you have a toddler)for when they fall asleep. This change wouldn't have to be necessary with a newborn.
I used canvas and bottom weight in this carrier. Don't do knit or corduroy. it wouldn't be as safe for your baby.

Picture coming soon.... since we didn't get to use it in NYC. Foo is too heavy for our small frame family.

My Lovely Foo!

2009-09-05T00:59:00.005-04:00

Foo will be exactly 2 1/2 years when Lulu decides to make her beautiful debut to this world.
I have been a little emotional about this... about Foo becoming my Oldest Daughter and not being my little baby anymore. She sure has brought so many episodes of laughter, tears and frustration on our lives but mostly of laughter.
Foo is a child with a very wild spirit when she gets together with her Daddy (they both are wild!), very smart for how young she is, a talker! the kind that she only can be but LOVING! VERY LOVING! -that is something that she has been blessed with.-
Here, i will let you enjoy some pictures of my Lovely Foo when she was a couple of hours old, maybe around 10 hours old the most?

Ben feels so young in this picture.

My baby has grown too fast. :(

Bolivian Princess(like Grandpa said)

Would Lulu look like Foo?

Very Lulu!!!!

2009-08-31T20:22:00.012-04:00

Here it is!
My belly with an active Lulu in it.
She is being gentle to me, most times it is more than a couple of kick or twirls.
And yes! that is the soap opera i am obsessed about, that has been keeping me from sewing all the things i need before Lulu comes. :)
I had my doubts of putting this video up but i think i would like for my friends to see it and my family too. :D the reason why i was doubting is because i don't feel confident when showing my hairy and stretched belly. if you put enough attention, you will see what i am talking about, LOL.

Very Pregnant!!!

2009-08-25T00:05:00.007-04:00

31 weeks and 4 days pregnant!!!!

This time around i will not post this picture in my FB page. Why???? Because i don't want to hear about how HUGE i am. i already know it. This picture was taken last Saturday August 22nd.
Luciana enjoys moving around a lot, taking my breath away and kicking my ribs. LOL. She is sure a very active baby and loves being on my left side.
Braxton Hicks are very much present every day so far and they are starting to get a bit painful but not too much to be worry about.
My feet are getting a tiny bit swollen now, but not nearly as bad as they were with Faith.

Today, Ben and i decided to take care of the wall border in the nursery. This USED TO BE Faith's nursery and room and we are changing it to a lighter color(i will keep you update it). :D
It was just so hard for Faith to have to move out. She threw me the biggest tantrum August 21st. it was just heart breaking. She was ok during the day but when bedtime approached and she realized that the nursery wasn't there anymore, she told her Daddy to go to the nursery to rock her in her rocking chair(which is really Luciana's) when Daddy said "No, that is not your rocking chair, yours is in your Big Girl's Room", she threw herself on the floor and said that she wasn't a big girl, and that she was a baby.
After 20 minutes, i had to intervene because Ben didn't know what else to do, so Faith and I's conversation went like this...

Me: Faith, lets go to your pretty princess big girl's room!
Faith: No, Mommy! this is my room and i am not a big girl.
Me: No, Honey, this is Luciana's room.
Faith: No, it's not!
Me: But Foo, there is no bed here anymore, where are you going to sleep?
Faith: I sleep on the ground (she laid on the rug and cried with such a pain)
Me: (hormones attacked me and i started to cry too)Please Honey, lets go!
Faith: No, Mommy. i sleep on the ground *sniffing and sighing*

At the end she came with me and rock on her blue rocking chair.
Now, it is all back to normal. She LOVES her room!!! (Thanks God!!!)

Lulu's Things

2009-08-11T23:21:00.008-04:00

Here i am 29 weeks and 4 days pregnant

Yup, i am getting bigger and bigger.
Luciana, you better weigh a lot when you come out, because this belly is too big for my body. LOL
So far, i haven't had much problem with having my feet swollen or my hands but i waddle when i have a bladder full of urine. LOL i think it is hilarious!!!
I can honestly say that this pregnancy has been easier on my body than Faith's, i am still trying to watch what i eat, trying not to have too much sugar, HFCS or fast foods.
I have been cooking at home more than i have ever and i am enjoying it. :D

In this pregnancy, i have not gone crazy trying to shop for baby clothes, i am guessing it is because this is my second baby but that doesn't mean that i haven't bought one single item, right?
i love little shoes, so i have bought a couple of them and of course i am taking advantage of garage sale every time i can.
Also, my dear friend Leslie send me a package with a baby outfit with a cloth diaper that she sewed herself, what a precious gift!!! (also LOTS of knits for me to try to sew on) and geeshhh!!! she is a GOOD seamstress/sewist(new term i just learn).
Leslie, you are really blessed, you sew beautifully!!!!
Thank you!!!!

Oatmeal Berry Breakfast Bars

2009-08-08T09:27:00.014-04:00

These bars are great!!!! The ones i made just got blueberries and they taste a bit more sour than usual. i am guessing it is because i put lemon juice instead of orange or apple.
I think they are close to Apple Crisp(as far as taste)but not as juicy or sweet which is perfect in the morning with yogurt, a glass of milk or for dessert with some vanilla ice cream. :D

INGREDIENTS
Crust and Topping:
1 cup flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
2 1/2 cups-quick oats
2 tablespoons apples or orange juice

Filling:
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons flour
Pinch of salt
3 1/2 cups(18 ounces)fresh blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Heat in the oven to 375F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch pan.
2. Add the flour, light brown sugar, and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 1 or 2 times to combine, then add the butter and pulse 5 or 6 more times until coarse crumbs form. Add the oats ans pulse 2 or 3 more times.
3. Remove 1 1/2 ups of the mixture and set aside. Add the juice to the remaining mixture and pulse 3 or 4 times until mixture is moistened. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan using your fingers or the bottom of a measuring cup.
4. For the filling, whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt in a medium-size bowl. Add the fruit and lemon juice and gently toss the mixture using a rubber spatula until the fruit is coated. Distribute the filling over the crust.
5. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the filling. Bake the dish until the top is golden, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let the pan cool on a wire rack for About 2 hours, then cut the sheet into 16 bars. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Enjoy, Leslie!!! ;D

Vacation to NYC VI

2009-08-03T12:46:00.019-04:00

After the Pet Show, the Sea Lion Show was open.
We got wonderful spots, and Foo was happy to be there but the sun was just a little too much for her.

The show was just awesome, i was so excited to see it too. The sea lion was very well trained, and so friendly. We even got videos of the show and the wait was worth every second.

After the Aquarium, we wanted to have a good Latin meal before coming back to Mexicans' Land (Michigan). Ohh... how i miss Bolivian Food!!!! :( Salteñas was our choice, a GREAT CHOICE!!! i really need to learn how to make this wonderful bakes.

Here it is around 9.00pm on Tuesday. Faith fell asleep a few minutes before getting on the airplane and woke up as soon as we were in it.
She ate her snack, and MY snack. Ben had Spicy Tomato Juice and peanuts. EWWW!!!!

(Here Ben and I at the airport, missing Silvia already :( )

Vacation to NYC Part V

2009-08-03T12:38:00.013-04:00

Sunday, we went to the Flushing Park to grill some food and enjoy the last weekend we had with my niece Silvia (who happens to be only 3 months younger than me). We were resting peacefully when a big storm came and made us leave the park completely soaked but besides that it was a great day.

Monday was Silvia and Daniela's day off so we decided to go to the New York Aquarium. Foo has been charmed by the fishes. Dorothy (from Elmo) is her favorite one.

We had a wonderful day at the aquarium but once again, we got soaked by another storm while having lunch. I think this was the best part of NYC for me, other than the AG Doll store. I loved how excited Foo was to see all of the animals and fishes.

Once outside, we went to the Pet Show. Faith got to touch a starfish, turtle and some other little creature while i was resting my legs on a bench.

Vacation to NYC Part IV

2009-08-03T12:04:00.016-04:00

After Rockefeller Center, we went to the American Girl Store. I was more than thrilled to be there. i was like a kid in the candy store.
I have had only 2 dolls in my life. One, i lost when moving from my old house to the new house when i was around 8 years old and the other one, i got it for Christmas when i was 11. The second one is still in Bolivia, i couldn't bring her with me when i got married and she is probably gone by now since i have 2 nieces back at home.

I really wanted for Foo to get new toddler version of AG but she didn't want that. She wanted her Bitty Baby so we got one that had the same features as Faith when a newborn. Next step will be to get the toddler one for me. (if Foo doesn't want her. LOL.)
She totally freaked out when she saw the starter kit. She wanted the backpack but going from $45 to $101 for an AG doll????hmm.... i don't think so.

Friday, we wanted to go to the museum, the best option was MoMa. And God blessed us with free tickets.
If you are around NYC and want to go too, remember that Fridays after 4pm. everyone gets in for FREE!

Ben had a blast, and as usual i was exhausted from the walk. He saw some Picasso's and some Kahlo's too, but somehow the Kahlo ones cant be downloaded to the computer and something weird happened to them where you cant see the picture anymore. :(

This last painting is Ben's favorite of all. He even went back for the second time to stared at it.
I couldn't be there as long because it was crowded.

Vacation to NYC Part III

2009-08-03T11:32:00.011-04:00

Later that week, we ended up in Little Italy. Foo officially named this part of Manhattan as "Christmas Tree". We went to the same restaurant we were a 1 1/2 year ago. This time Silvia and Daniela were with us to enjoy some delicious Italian food.

While in the restaurant, Faith decided to get a hold of my cheap digital camera and get some shots of us and Yes!!! i am not photogenic at all, besides that i was exhausted and felt a bit sick when i got to the restaurant. i am guessing i was dehydrated.

Two days later, we hit another park just to chill out. Foo had a blast playing with other kids in the park(i tried to not get them in the pictures because i wouldn't want the parents to feel uncomfortable), she got wet and we had no pull ups afterward. Went to Brooklyn to get our week pass metro cards that we forgot at a party the day before, and got really cheap diapers around the area.

Here we are at the Rockefeller Center. We tried really hard to get to the fountain with the golden statue but you need to ask for a table in the restaurant to get somewhere near it, and we thought "That is not happening. Having lunch in the middle of Manhattan? no WAY!!!!"

And here Foo and i decided to wait at the store because Daddy was trying to buy this little helicopter toy he saw at the window.
Can you see that she chopped her hair? i found her 3 days ago in the bathroom very quiet cutting her bangs. She was ready to cut a second string when i caught her. i am just glad she cut underneath and not on the front of her bangs. You really have to look for it to see it.

Vacation to NYC Part II

2009-07-28T09:11:00.008-04:00

When we finally got our stroller back(yes!!! Delta took it all the way to Cincinnati, BLAH!!!!)we decided it was time to hit the road(well, the subway) and get our vacation and little trips started.
First, we visited Chinatown.... half way there i was already sore on my legs and hips. Ben decided he was even more tired than i was and took a little package "spa" deal and got his hair washed and a GREAT MASSAGE! he says. i went to see where he had to go and the place look nice but a little confusing since they had the massage beds and they were divided by blinds. At the end of all, Foo got a huge bump on her forehead but the bangs covered it and Ben said that the massage place was really a massage place but you could have been asked for a "happy ending", and you know what i mean. i just felt disgusted when he said that. :P

After the massage place, we went to have dinner at a sushi place, i enjoyed my vegetarian rolls, Ben was pleased with the price and the food and Foo loved her chicken noodle soup.

Couple of days later, my niece got a day off so we hit the beach... crowded as i guess it is very usual in NYC but after all, LOTS of fun and great food.

Then next day, we started pretty early and went to Manhattan for the day, Ben had his much missed and wanted Gray's Papaya frankfurters and Foo finally had a swimsuit so she could play freely in the fountain right in the middle of Washington Square Park.
i really love that even though NYC is a city where you can mostly see "working lifestyle people" and it is not really a city to raise children(in my opinion), they can be very laid back with certain rules, as you see they didn't care that a bunch of people were refreshing in the fountain and this probably wouldn't be allowed in a smaller city.

Vacation to NYC Part I

2009-07-26T19:52:00.014-04:00

I don't think i have shared much of this here in the blog but we have been planning on coming to NYC for quite a while now. That is the big reason why i have not had anything to show from my sewing.
Although, we are glad to be here, i would not recommend coming to NYC in the middle of July with a toddler and an almost 7 months pregnant mom.
It is exhausting!!!!!

i was dreading to get on the airplane with Faith but she behaved like an angel. We told her that if she didn't behave, the guy with red hair will ask her to leave the airplane and probably put her in a time out too. She pretended to not see him every time Robert(flight attendant)was around.

She fell asleep most of the time, which was great because we were all exhausted. i even took a nap in the airplane, but with this big belly, i couldn't get comfortable.

First thing we did in NYC was to get on the bus. Faith behaved pretty good the first time but i would rather not say anything else about the other times.
i like the subway better but i dislike very much so all the stairs.

Family Photos

2009-07-14T03:45:00.013-04:00

I cant type much right now, as i am supposed to be sleeping.
We are leaving for NYC in a couple of hours and i am just more than thrilled to be able to see some family while we visit.

This past Sunday, we scheduled a photo shoot with a friend.
She took so many picture and i was just so glad how all of them turned out.
Foo (of course!!)was the center of attention. She really enjoyed it but she also gave us a little bit of a hard time.

Erin posted some pictures in her blog so i wanted to share with you all our (finally!) family pictures.

Hope you enjoy them!
:D

Go Here!

Sewing: 4th of July dress for Foo MC5084

2009-07-06T20:04:00.019-04:00

I looked for this pattern like crazy when it was on sale.
I even went to 2 different JoAnn's stores to find it and they are like 30 min. drive away from each other, but there was no success( :( ), until a very a good friend Karen offered to check in her JoAnn's in Idaho. She successfully found it and i was just so happy!!!!!

The pattern is really good, very easy to follow and sew. I was very surprised by the measurements, they were very accurate. I have nothing to complain about with this pattern, i would recommend to anyone who wants to try it.

Sewing: Elmo, Zoe and Abby Dress for Foo B5019

2009-07-03T10:31:00.014-04:00

I might have to start using some other tactics to get this child to stay still for a second. As everyone knows, Foo is very much independent and she knows what she wants at all times(well, most times)so every time we take pictures she wants to be in charge of the camera. i guess i should have not let her think that it belongs to her also.
Anyways, i made this dress for her 2nd birthday but i didn't finish on time...morning sickness and organizing a birthday party all by myself was already hard enough on my body.

(Yup, sorry about the lil' face, she didn't want her picture taken)

The dress was a little big on her this past April anyways. Now, it is fitting perfect.
The pattern is very easy to follow, but i think the neck hole is a little too big or Foo has a small head???? :S
In the inside, the dress supposed to keep itself together by a little band and buttons. I though it was too much of a risk have the buttons get out of its place so i sewed one in place and the other one is just like the pattern suggested but i made several buttonholes because some children have bigger or smaller bellies than others and in this case Foo is very slim around her waist.
She loves it... i wish it was a little warmer right now(not too much though)so she can go out with her Elmo's dress.

Sewing: Burp Cloths for Lily

2009-07-03T09:48:00.012-04:00

These burp cloths are going all the way to NC. My sister in law gave birth 2 weeks earlier than expected but it is common for her to have early children. Lily was supposed to come a week later than Nater. But God does certain things in certain ways for a reason.

I got this pattern from New Conceptions. I think you should check it out, who doesn't love a free pattern with tutorial, right?
Sewing them was very easy, now i just gotta wait for a feedback from my sister in law.
I am thinking of making some for Lulu too.
The outer fabric is just woven cotton that Ben chose at Hobby Lobby and the inside is from Terry Cloth, surprisingly soft enough for baby's skin.

Lulu I. Briggs!!!!

2009-06-26T16:10:00.009-04:00

I totally forgot to do this (once again but this time i will blame it on the pregnancy).
So far, everything has been good. I have gained around 20 pounds(9.07 kilos)pretty good compare with my first pregnancy. i am feeling GREAT just a little too hot in this Michigan weather. We are at 85F(29.4C) today, pretty good compare to the 96F(35C) we had two days ago.
This year, i am trying really hard to not use the AC(air conditioner), it really spends a lot of money and it is horribly bad for the environment.

So....IT IS A GIRL!!!!

And yes! the title....that is her name.
So far, everything is going great with her. she was a little lighter than Foo was at 20 weeks, but i don't think that matters much.
i wish i could upload a picture of Lulu but my cable burned or something so i cant get my pictures from the external drive(which totally sucks :P )but here it is a picture of my big self, or at least that is some "friends" have told me and some people from church....ohh, well! what can i do about people's opinion , right?

Here it is a picture Ben took just 2 days ago. i am 24 weeks now. :D

Blog Award

2009-06-26T10:45:00.015-04:00

My friend Ximena from Casazoo. gave me this award LONG ago...but i am always so bad at this. So here it is for Xime. Thank you for all the wonderful comments but mostly for showing us your life all the way from Chile. :D
Also, here are 5 other blogs i enjoy, hope you like them too.

Leslie.
Nena.
Dawn.
April.
Karen.
Samantha.
Sabrina.

Well, i think i like more than just 5 at the end.

Enjoy these wonderful blogs!!!!

Sewing: Orange Cloth Diapers for Emma MC5194

2009-05-17T01:58:00.007-04:00

Tiny little diapers that just make me want my baby here so bad.
Still five months to go though. :/ what a long wait ahead of me.
Anyways, these are going for a friend from church. I made 6 of them.
It is just 2 pieces of flannel(inner and outer piece)with a terry cloth soaker sewn into. So it is pretty much a prefold but with shape.
The only part i struggle with was the elastic but i got better after the second one. Now, i know what do to if we decide to use this kind with baby #2.
Well, now i have to go to sleep. After cutting and sewing all 6 of them in one day i think i well deserve a good night of sleep.
Good Night!!!

Sewing: Orange Butterflies Shirt MC5835

2009-05-12T13:47:00.012-04:00

I honestly love this pattern. I only had an issue with the lining for the chest part, but i think it is because i haven't been able to get that little detail of sewing so maybe with more and more sewing being done i will finally will come up with a way to make it so i don't have to hand sew the lining anymore. (it was only one piece but geeshh!!!! my finger hurt so bad)

Besides that, i think Foo loves it.
This is a size 1(yes, my child is very petite) and i would guess she would get a whole another summer of use out of this little top. :D

Sewing: Elmo Halter Top for Foo MC5303

2009-04-30T19:43:00.016-04:00

I am still alive(in case you were wondering :D)
Sorry, i haven't been blogging as much. I have been done with Morning Sickness for about a week or two but now i am dealing stomach acid(heartburn). :(
The beauty of pregnancy for some of us. :/

Baby is doing fine so far. It likes to stay very low and sometimes it scares me a bit when the doctor cant find the heartbeat but she goes low enough and finds the heartbeat just fine.
I am still deciding whether to find out the gender or not. But i still have around 7 weeks to decide.

So about the halter top. i have sewn this halter top for Foo long time ago, probably around March. She loves it and she shows me who is who on her top. She has lots of fun with it.
She also wore it for her birthday party since Mommy was too sick to finish her dress that also has Elmo and Zoe in it.
Cant wait for summer to come and use this top a bit more often.
Overall, it is a very easy pattern even the instructions are good. :)

Here is a picture that a friend took of Foo while she was singing Itsy Bitsy Spider at her birthday.

Present from next door

2009-04-08T11:46:00.008-04:00

Grandma Wierzbicki.
i never got to meet her, she left before i became Grandpa Wierzbicki's neighbor. She was sure missed by Grandpa. That kind of love he had for her was very unique and hard to find. I think the day he left us, he was just glad to finally being able to see her.
Anyways, before i get sad.
Two weekends ago, Grandpa's family decided it was time to clean up and move on.
And while they did so, they found great things to bless me with.

I honestly wished i could have met Grandma, i think we could have been great for each other. She loved sewing!!!!!

These are some of the things they found from her. Some very old stuff that i really love and treasure now.

I am hoping she is ok with me keeping some of her precious things. I promise i will take care of them Grandma!!!

Pregnant Again!!!

2009-03-02T23:29:00.008-05:00

This is the reason why i have been out of the internet for a little while. Today has been a great day, although i am still having a hard time eating.
This is a totally different experience than the one i had with Foo. Foo's was a lot harder since i got sick between 3 to 4 times a day. Now, i am very nauseous and most things upset my stomach a bit but no more than just that. In some ways is a bit harder to deal with the nauseous feeling but i think i like it better than being totally sick. So far i am in my 7th week, the baby is tiny, tiny still. :D
And i am totally in love with this child as i was with Faith.
Please!, pray for my baby so he/she can be strong and healthy baby and so i can handle better this 24/7 morning sickness. <3
BTW. i am due in the month of October.

Sewing: Sleepers for Foo S5874

2009-02-06T12:05:00.010-05:00

I was a bit terrified by this pattern but at the end it was a great choice. and i honestly don't want to keep spending lots of money in Foo's sleepers.
This is a size 2 but i think next time i will change it around a bit.

i would make the neck a size 1/2, the length of the arms are perfect for a almost 2 years old kiddo. but i would change the length of the legs for a size 1(sorry! for the mess on the floor, it is all Foo's fault):)

Through this project i found out i don't like working this fleece. ohh...my...it is harder than working with the beautiful silky material i love. the fleece i used was a blizzard kind so it is great for kids like mine so you don't have to worry about them getting cold anymore. i think this pattern is great for beginners but a beginner that has a bit of experience on sew. don't choose this one as your first project unless you are sewing with knit. :)

Passing on the Bloggy Love

2009-02-05T22:33:00.009-05:00

I have received a blog award from a fellow blogger Ximena, at http://casazoo.blogspot.com/
This being my first award, It is fantastic to me and my blog!!! :)

Thanks, Ximena!

I have to nominate at least 8 blogs which show great attitude and /or gratitude.
The rules of the award are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show attitude and or gratitude.
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

A few of the blogs I visit on a regular basis because they always entertain me, or make me smile,(attitude or gratitude) are as follows....
I would like to nominate for the Lemonade Award :

Leslie - http://sewingsquared.blogspot.com/
Nena - http://gawakoito.blogspot.com/
April - http://stitcheryfriend.blogspot.com/
Karen - http://thebigtradeoff.blogspot.com/
http://jennylousprojects.blogspot.com/
Carina - http://www.wardi.dk/craftyblog.html
Samantha - http://thehandmadedress.blogspot.com/
Stacey - http://patchyapple.wordpress.com/

Sewing: Red and Green Dress for Jo S3512

2009-02-03T14:28:00.012-05:00

I am finally done with my February projects. but as usual something else comes up.but i a love being able to have projects after projects. :)

This dress looks so much complicated than what it really is. It is very easy and a very nice project for some who is starting to sew except for the part of the lining on the bodice.

This was an idea after seeing a little girl (Jo)from church was touching over and over another girl's dress. Of course children are cruel sometimes so the girl was not nice about the fact that Jo was fascinated about her dress.

Now, all i need to sew is a sash so it can be cuter. This is a size 3 and i think it might be a bit too short so i might sew a pair of bloomers.

i hope you like it. i LOVE the dress.

Sewing: Jumper for Ximena to see :) MC5167

2009-01-29T14:02:00.013-05:00

I made a friend through this blog. She lives in Chile and she just started to want to sew. Since I buy lots of patterns sometimes I cant keep track of what I get. :(

So, many times i have repeated the same pattern. ohh..well, they are only 99cents, right?

So here Ximena,this is how one of them look like.
Good luck with your project and just write me when you need help.

Sewing: Preemie Onesie

2009-01-23T22:03:00.009-05:00

My dear Friend just had a baby. Landyn was around 6 weeks early. He is healthy (Thanks God!) but he has a bit of trouble breathing on his own for too long.

I did a search and i found great preemie clothing ideas.
This is my first time putting snaps and i am very happy with the results. Although i made a couple of mistakes that were fixable. Ohhh.... it is also my first time sewing on knit. I was so scared of it and now i am just loving how easy it is(better than silky and slippery material i love so much too)
The ruler next to the onesie is a 12 " long(30 cm - for my friends who use CM instead of inches).
i love the onesie. and i am sure i will be making many more if i find out that i am pregnant. Faith was very little, as little as Landyn when she was born and she was only a week early. i make tiny babies, they fit better in my arms. :)

Sewing: Diaper Bag for Julie B5005

2009-01-18T03:13:00.012-05:00

Finally i got this project done. This is a present of my sister in law Julie. it was a last minute idea for Christmas present and i am finally done with it.

i am hoping she will like it since she asks for a big and with lots of pocket diaper bag.
This diaper bag gave me headaches "big time", if i ever sew this again it will be with a softer interfacing. This is definitely a project for someone that is patience enough(which i am not) and someone with experience, really a bad choice for a beginner sewer, really bad choice.I not a beginner and i felt like quitting, or maybe i made it harder because of the hard interfacing. i do love the final result. It is a very nice bag.

Pay it forward...and mail!!!

2009-01-15T22:46:00.004-05:00

pay it forward...and mail!!!

THE RULES:
I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people
who comment on this post and I have 365 days (ample time)
to do it in...
You must have a blog to join in and be willing to do
the same for three other people...
Lets have fun!!!

Sewing: Winter Hat for Jojo B4673

2009-01-08T21:21:00.015-05:00

Jojo had a slightly bigger head than most children, thanks to Mommy and Daddy. So my sister in law can't really find a cozy and good size winter hat for him. So i decided to make one for him as a Christmas present and so far it has worked wonders. It is soft and cozy and... it fits.
He is my favorite guy because he dislikes to cuddle, hug and kiss so i tease him that way and so does her cousin Foo.