Robot Quilt

Many many months ago (during our summer break in Utah), when I was still under the impression that we would be having a boy, I decided that I wanted to do robots as a theme for the boys' room. So, I got a stuffed robot pattern and planned to make some wall hangings (I'll post about these later) and I looked at tons and tons of quilts online. . . until I found a robot one that I really liked, and wanted to make for Gabe. I amassed a great deal of fabric while in Utah with the plans to start on this amazing quilt when we were back in Kirksville.  But, once we were back, and I was a little more large and uncomfortable, I came to my senses and realized that to make that particular quilt would be Crazy! I had never made a quilt (by myself) before, and that one was way to complex and advanced for me.  Plus, I didn't have much time before I might not have any time at all. So, I settled on a much easier and quicker idea, using a tutorial I found here. It's really not a Robot quilt at all, but the name has stuck. So, without further ado, and further lengthy/boring explanation, here is Gabe's finished Robot Quilt:

I actually finished up the quilting and started sewing my binding strips together mere minutes before heading to the hospital to have Rubi. And, I finished binding the thing a few weeks ago, but haven't sat down to put up all these pictures until now.  I'm so glad it's done.  Now that I can see the whole thing put together... it's not really my favorite, and I would change a lot of things about it if I had the chance to do it again (for example: it's way too busy. Too many different colors and prints),  but it was a lot of fun -- especially the quilting (except for the multiple broken walking feet that had to be fixed and then replaced, which slowed the whole process down a TON). I did a boxy spiral-ish quilting around groups of four squares.

I've been practicing different types of binding lately, and decided that the only binding I like is machine binding.  It doesn't look as tidy and neat, but I feel like it's a more secure binding and it takes less than half the time.

For the back, I bought a sheet set on clearance at Target and used the flat sheet. That way, it was super cheap, super easy to just whip it out of the package and baste it on the floor, and I now have matching pillow cases and extra fabric to use for other things in his room (maybe curtains?).

Anyways, there it is. A robot quilt. Ready to put on Gabe's bed as soon as he's left the crib. 

One Month

Woohoo! Rubi is officially one month old today! 

It has gone by super duper fast -- much faster than with Gabe. 

We have so much fun with her. . . when she's awake :)

Here's a list of Rubi's favorite things:

Sleeping

Fuzzy/warm blankets 

Sleeping

Looking around

Sucking on her binkie

Sleeping

Mom and Dad

Did I mention sleeping?

Yes, she is very much a sleeper. I always get a small sort of panic attack around 9:00pm. It's then that I realize that I haven't fed her in a long time, which enlightens me to the fact that the reason I haven't fed her in so long is that she's been sleeping for, oh I don't know, the last three hours. Then I remember that she had another three hour nap during the day. And, she's been sleeping on and off in between. The Panic: I'm not going to get any sleep because she's finally going to decide to be awake and alert at midnight. The Reality: She's always pulled through, and slept through the night. What a champ! 

She's still small. Last week, at her appointment, she weighed 8 lbs 8 oz, a meager size compared to Gabe's 12 lbs at the same age. I'm still always afraid that I'm going to snap her little legs in half or wipe her nonexistent bum straight through to the bone every time I change her diaper. Ok. Ok. There are babies much smaller than her, I know, but she just feels really petite to me.

For the most part, Gabe is still pretty oblivious to her. As evidenced by the following pictures, he was too interested in a piece of thread to pay much attention to her.

I put his arm around her and left for a split mini second to grab my camera. When I turned around, this is what had happened. 

One day, they will just adore each other.

Real Time Ross's (aka: what's happening right now. seriously, right this very second.)

Rubi's first full Sunday at church proved to be too much for her. And Gabe...

Sick-giving

Phil had nine - that's right: nine - days off school over the holiday, and we (Phil, Gabe and I) spent the bulk of that time stuck at home  feeling pretty crappy.  It's not like we would have been venturing too far from home anyway, but it would have been nice to... well, not be sick.

Because we didn't want to rain (or, should I say: cough:)) on anyone's Thanksgiving day parade, we made the event strictly a family affair and had our feast at home. Just the 4 of us. And it was soooo nice! We all slept in. No obligations. No deadlines. We ate exactly what we wanted (turkey, funeral potatoes, a fun drink, and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake - not as good as you might think) when we wanted. And, we got to stay in our pjs most of the day.

I was adamant about taking some pictures of everyone. So, we did. But, it was pretty cold outside, and we only got a few.

Gabe thought that a dryer sheet was an appropriate prop for a family picture, and brought it outside to wave around.

He first rubbed Rubi's head with the dryer sheet, and then we convinced him to use his hands instead.

As is my typical photo-taking fashion, my eyes were closed for more than half of the pictures. In my defense, Rubi and I were matching.

Don't you just want to squish her face?

It didn't take long for the turkey to get to Rubi...

Baby Rubi

I know I'll never get any pictures posted here if I try to come up with some clever commentary for the in-between photos, so, I'll just let you all gaze upon Rubi and her glory, born November 5th, weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz, and measuring 21.5 inches. She is the sweetest baby, and we are so grateful that she's here.

Serious Shopper

We've been frequenting old Walmart quite regularly lately. For three purposes:

1) I've lost the meal-making/planning steam, so every day around 4:00 I finally decide what to make for dinner, and realize that we don't have the stuff to make it.

2) There's a snake living outside our duplex.  A big one. It's been spotted twice: once by me, another time by a friend stopping by. Yeah, I screamed. And freaked out. And, I'm now reluctant to let Gabe outside. At all. So, aside from our outings to the park and the library, Walmart is the place to go.

3) Treats. I can't get enough of them.  You would think Halloween should have done us all in.  But, no. Here we are (mostly me), snarfing down every last drop of brownie batter while the real deal bakes in the oven.

A Viking's Halloween

Many of you know of Gabe's obsession with How to Train Your Dragon. So...for Halloween this year, he dressed up as: 

Hiccup!

He was so excited when he tried his costume on a few days ago--he had to go brush up on his dragon-training skills.

Running

Rock-Finding

Squats

Stair-Climbing

 Pole-Swinging

Dandelion-Plucking

and, of course, lots and lots of Pondering

Whew! Once his training was out of the way, Gabe was ready to face Halloween head on.

We started the day with some necessary chair exercises,

filled our bellies with some hearty pancakes,

and brushed up on our viking vernacular while watching How to Train. (this is Gabe's favorite cuddle position lately. the baby doesn't think too fondly of it, though.)

Then, later this afternoon, it was off to Trunk-or-Treating!

He couldn't get enough of the balloons.

Phil took him around to do the treating, and it was hard. He had a few breakdowns along the way. Once after he was given a tootsie roll. Another, when a sucker was put in his bucket. 

Just had to throw this booger one in.  All the kids had boogers - it was pretty nippy outside.

 Hope you all enjoyed your Halloween as much as we did!

See ya later!