Mei Tai Baby Carrier

I finally finished my mei tai baby carrier. It was harder than I thought it would be (like most projects I endeavor). Mostly it was hard because of the thickness of the material and I still cannot figure out my sewing machine. Some times I wonder if I should have gotten a little more fancy one. Anyway, it's done and the baby and I are still getting used to it. It is cooler (temperature) than the Moby wrap, but so far I still love the Moby best. I have not attempted a back carry yet, I'll wait until she's a little bigger. I mostly used the Scandi Mei Tai Tutorial for the whole thing, but I decided to go without the hood and make a curved head rest like the Frankencozy.

I used twill fabric for the straps, blue minkee for the inner lining and a pretty paisley silky rayon for the outer. It is reversible too. Love it!

Sewing Endeavors

I started sewing several years ago. My first project was some curtains for my room when I was still in high school. Then I took quite a few years off and decided I could sew some baby blankets. When that seemed easy enough, I moved onto quilting. Still relatively easy, cut some squares, put them together and then it's just like a blanket. I even made a full size one for my friend when she got married. I procrastinated on it, then made some construction mistakes so my mom ended up finishing for me.

In the last few years I've made curtains for my house, more baby blankets, and then when the baby was coming I decided to make her bedding instead of buying some outrageously overpriced stuff that did not fit my theme. So I made the crib bumpers, a wall hanging, the curtain ruffle, some wall decor, and even the mobile. I've also made a cute little bonnet for her.

So now here lies my current project. A baby carrier. I have been coveting an Ergo baby carrier. Basically it's kind of like a backpack, with straps and buckles and the baby nestles in it quite nicely. I already have a Moby wrap and love it, but it's layers of fabric and so hot in the summer. So I started researching other options. Turns out most baby carriers are way expensive! I was also eyeing the mei tais. They are basically some fabric to hold the baby and then straps that go over the shoulders and tie and then a waist strap that ties. Finally a friend and I attended a babywearing class at a cool store in Denver. After seeing a mei tai up close, my friend and I thought, "that would be so easy to make." So I came home and started researching the internet for ideas and patterns. I found a few and bought the fabric and went to work.

So far it has been harder than I thought. Mostly because I have to sew through multiple layers of fabric and cannot figure out how to make my machine cooperate! So now it's day 4 of sewing. I'll post more, and hopefully can have some pictures ready too.

Life Goes On

I've been having somewhat of an internal struggle lately with life...and death. Like how BIG death seems, how final, how eminent for all of us. Now, I don't want to start a discussion on the afterlife or anything, I'll save that for later, but just the concept of death, and then the life that continues on afterward, especially when it hits close to home.

My mother-in-law has been sick in the hospital for nearly a month now. She has had several surgeries and each time she has been precariously perched on the edge of death. She lives far away, so we haven't been able to visit, so we get phone calls with the latest news. First, she's in ICU with pneumonia, and a severe infection, then she is intubated with a ventilator machine to breath for her, then she is able to breathe, then she can't breath and needs the tube, then she needs a feeding tube, then the feeding tube is dislodged and spilling into her gut, then she needs surgery to clean it out, then she needs the ventilator again....on and on it seems.

Then we get the phone call asking what our thoughts on "end of life" and "lifesaving measures" and DNR's and things you never want to talk about. I think that's finally when my husband decided to go, see his mom and offer support to his brother and dad and to assess for himself how big the situation really is. Is it as bad as they say? Right now it's looking like it is, but there's also progress, a small glimmer of hope. She opened her eyes and smiled and listened to a recording of our baby girl laughing. I'm glad he went. I was scared that if she died this time that he would regret not seeing her. The ultimate hope is if she pulls through, we can all go visit her in the fall and she can hold her granddaughter for the first time.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, life goes on. I am here, alone, dealing with a broken hairdryer (I know, so trivial! but such an annoying thing for various reasons), changing poopy diapers, trying to come up with a single person plus baby meals, disciplining an unruly dog, and sleeping by myself. Sometimes I feel like my life should stop for awhile too, like something should be different. But who else will change the diapers, make my meals, fight with the dog? Life and the mundane things must go on. For now the best thing I can do is pray, pray and pray, trusting that God has a plan in all of this and ultimately He will be glorified.

Shampoo as Body Wash?

I have a confession to make! This morning I hurried to take a shower while the baby was napping and once I got in there I realized I forgot that there was no more soap in the shower. Now, let me tell you, I have tried very hard to be organized but it is a challenge, especially after having a baby. So of course I think, "the soap is conveniently on the kitchen counter!" I remembered to buy it, but never carried it upstairs and placed a bar in the shower where it is needed! So, I thought quickly! Do I get out, dripping wet and run downstairs to get it? Is there a smidge of a papery thin bar left that I can make do with? I finally decided, shampoo is soap, right? So I poured the shampoo on my washcloth and voila, suds! My skin doesn't seem to know the difference and I am clean.

So I have to work harder at not only remembering to buy something, but to place it where it is needed before it is needed! Also a good thing to keep in mind for diapers and wipes, kleenex, dog food...pretty much everything!

Hello! This is my first attempt at a solo blog. I'm not really sure yet what I want it to be, but I guess that's the beauty of creativity. I'm sure it will be about life, about faith, about family...and Dragons and Butterflies. My husband loves dragons, I love butterflies and we love each other. So we will see what this combination will bring.