Come and Get It!

In November we put out the bird feeders and it always delights me how quickly the birds (and unfortunately the squirrels) make their way to our home. It is almost like a dinner bell has been rung. Within an hour the back yard is full of fluttering activity. This delights Seamus as well. Our youngest pup still hasn't realized he will never catch a squirrel and he runs outside howling to catch them (not unlike a beagle).

Go to sleep without a peep!

Mr. Miles continues to be a relaxed baby. Melanie and I were just talking about how challenging Helena was in comparison. She never wanted to sleep--FOR TWO YEARS!!! Miles has been cutting his parents a break. He gets up once in the night already and so far, has slept really well from about 2 am til at least 6 or 7. Anyone who has had infants know that 5 hours uninterrupted sleep is such a gift! My mother swears that because he was a larger baby he will be sleeping through the night in a week or two (we'll see).
All this baby-sleep happiness reminded me of an old UFO I had so I drug that out. The binding is a bit wonky--it is from when I was still following Quilt Police regulations and I had a tough time with that wee bit of fabric holding things together. Still I finished this it week and thought it would make a nice wallhanging in Miles' room.

I love the little saying fabric that I found years ago and I had fussy cut it so the child could read the sayings. I still love that fabric and wish I had more of it...

Winnie the Pooh is in the center of the block and seems appropriate for a boy's room. This is a really small wallhanging --the centers are 2.5 inch blocks but I was using up some scraps at the time. I'm just glad another UFO is complete and I'll take it down to the kids' house today.

Last ones standing.....

Every year I threaten to rip out the roses--I don't really have the time or the ambition to maintain them the way I should. Despite my negligence, they remain the book ends of the growing season: blooming early in the cool spring and bravely withstanding the early frosts of fall.

New Big Sis and Thank You Auntie Sandra!

Helena is a new Big Sister! YEH!!!! So of course we all brought her gifts today in honor of her new role :) . This was a neat gift she got from her Auntie Sandra in Canada. It is a really neat pillow case in a special cloth case which I think she decided to use to carry her plastic kittens (kinda apt considering Sandra and her cat, Zoomer). Helena says "THANK YOU AUNTIE SANDRA!"

Checking out those little fingers. Today Miles was very alert, looking all around --particularly at his sister.

Everyone that came to the house today got a special greeting. Helena would take them by the hand, lead them to the baby and solemnly (with a dramatic wave of her hand) make her introduction: "This is Miles." It was a very important job.

SUCH A PROUD BIG SIS!!!!

The Sunday Report

Miles continues to be a sweet and contented baby. He sleeps most of the time and can lift his head (briefly) already! He is heavy though, I'm not used to holding such a big lad :)

He is coming home today and when I visited our camera shop, I noticed they do "welcome home baby" banners. Unfortunately, the banner wouldn't be done until next week so we improvised. I ordered a 12 x 24 inch photograph of Miles and just had "Welcome home" printed on the photo. Found a big ol' poster frame, used up some of my scrapbooking supplies and VOILA: one welcome home poster for new babette!

Influenza continues to be a huge problem in our valley. My son Peter has it now and fortunately, he wasn't around the baby or parents. I am staying away from him because I don't want to give it to the baby or DH--who leaves for Bolivia in two days (flu in South America--YIKES).

Yesterday hubby and I were driving around doing errands and noticed a large back up of cars---for miles. All day DH and I speculated what the problem might have been. Turned out the hospital was giving out flu vaccines at the local amusement park and cars were lined up for about 5 MILES and waited 3-4 HOURS to get it. After DH leaves, I will be hibernating a bit in hopes of not catching and getting Christmas presents completed. We are even thinking of not visiting with therapy dog Seamus until this flu thing is a bit resolved--I don't want to catch it and even worse would be to transmit it to elderly. In the meantime we are washing our hands like crazy and eating healthy. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and will just ask for the flu shot. I wish my husband would get the H1N1 shot (he's eligible) but he is resistant to that yet. Hopefully he won't get sick while he is away (I swear he catches things in the airplanes!!!).

Today we will focus on the positive things and take food and presents to the new parents after they get home. I can't wait to see Helena's reaction to her new brother!

Miles' First Day.....

After we visited the hospital yesterday, we took this picture to our photography store. They are blowing it up to 12 x 24 inches with "Welcome Home Miles" printed on it. It should be ready later today and we will take it to the house (plus food) for when the kids bring Miles' home (hopefully tomorrow).
The hospital is actually enforcing a strict visitation policy due the swine flu. Only 2 visitors at a time and no children--so Helena hasn't met her brother yet. I know she will be a good sister to him when he gets home but it is hard not seeing him. Today (fortunately) she has a birthday party to go to so that will keep her busy!

Miles looks a lot like his sister Helena did when she was born and so far we think he has inherited his Daddy's collick, ears and the wide feet of his grandfather (poor kid)!

BOY OH BOY!!!!!!!!

A DAY EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Melanie went into labor and her water broke before dinner. We all rushed to the hospital and at 8:40 pm, Miles made his appearance. Thankfully, all are well. For those of you who don't know Melanie, she HAD to have this C-section--she is a tiny petite woman and the doctor said they got to Miles just in time--because he was
9 lb, 6 oz!!!!!!!!!!! and 20 1/2 inches long. We are so grateful that she is okay and that Miles is doing so well. He is already trying to lift his head and moving all around. I think he is going to be a calm baby too. He just has a sweet serenity to him (am I gushing like a grandma??). So here is his first pic (5 minutes old), before he even was weighed, measured, etc:

Attic Treasures

Yesterday I went to put something in the attic storage space and became.....well annoyed with the mess. I don't tackle the attic in the summer, it's too hot up there, and things have a tendency to pile up. This time, I opened one of the trunks I've been carrying with me since--well pre-marriage. I found some things I had been bugging my Aunt for--pictures and papers from my father's family. The treasures ended up consuming my day and I am still scanning and photocopying everything so I can make a scrapbook for my son.

Tomorrow Aunt Carole and I are getting together to go over everything and take a ride out to some of the old family houses. I can't wait to find out who this precious girl is! She has the sweetest face and look at her bracelet! The boy I know is Ralph, his name is on the back of the photo. I love that he has a cane and a gold pocket watch. Love the piano shawl he is leaning on; I think it is a tapestry....

Well off to do cleaning and some shopping. I need to buy cookie pans before the holiday baking commences.....

It was a fun Halloween!

Usually, I don't like Halloween; partly because I don't like the horror, partly because my least favorite color is orange and partly because I had orange and black birthday cakes my entire childhood. This year I had fun though "boo-ing" loved ones. The teddy bears were for our granddaughter, Helena and Kaylin, my niece's one year old. The dogs I made for my niece Nicole (away at college), our neighbors who own George the cat (included on the wallhanging) and a new friend, Cindy, who recently donated a lot of fabric to me. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving projects now :) DH is going to be working a lot the next month and doing so more little gifts, as well as finishing some Christmas presents, should keep me busy.