Craft Lust and Lists

I'm sure I'm seriously late on the uptake here, but Kaffe Fassett is my new quilting hero (if I had a quilting hero before, that is). I ran into his book, Passionate Patchwork, at Golden State Sewing & Quilting Center and was somewhat frustrated because my hands were already full of fat quarters and I had Keats in a front carrier. I felt like my niece who never puts down her toy rabbits. I managed to flip through it and was dumbfounded by the beauty within. He has an absolutely flawless sense for color, texture, and placement. He makes me want to go out and buy all the schmanciest quilting equipment out there and turn Keats' nursery into an all-out quilting den. Of course, I won't, but the desire is there and has implanted a very serious need to add this to the list of must-haves if Birch and I ever get to build our own house: a quilting section in my crafting room. For now, I'll settle for his books Passionate Patchwork and Quilt Road. I've got to get my hands on some of his fabrics, too.

A Brief Tangent and The Labor Story

Before I write all about how amazing being a mother is and how absolutely adorable our little Keats is, I have to take this opportunity to write about just that: this opportunity. Birch and I decided before we even got married that if we could at all afford it, I would be a stay-at-home mom. It's a sacrifice on a few different levels, mostly financially (especially in the Bay Area), but I can't imagine going to work and leaving Keats with a nanny or daycare. Not because I think I wouldn't be able find somebody good, but because I'd have to leave him. That being said, the combination of waking up during the night to feed him/change his diapers and being alone with him until around 5pm each day can be a bit much for me mentally, physically, and most decidedly emotionally. Hearing a baby cry for so long can be really draining and while most of the day I handle it pretty well, talking to him and bouncing him and going on walks together, at the end of the day I am ready to hand him to Birch and take a break. This is one of those precious breaks and it must be said that without my dear Birch, it wouldn't be possible. So thank you Love-of-My-Life for this opportunity filled with silence and free hands.

Now, our little man was born just over a month ago and no, I'm not sure how big he is at this point. At his two-week check-up he was 10 lbs. 11 oz, so he's gaining weight really well. Birch is estimating Keats' weight at around 13 lbs. He's outgrown half of his 0-3 month clothing already (some NEVER fit him). FYI: Newborn size is really "preemie" size for most brands and Gerber brand runs small. Keats barely fit in those when we were dressing him to leave the hospital! So, note to self, if buying Gerber, buy the next size up.