Thursday happenings

Working on some last minute crafting projects tonight, which included making these new paper beads. Must say that I really love this batch. Also working on checking over all our Christmas gifts to make sure what else I need to pick up. The shopping is very close to being all done!
In case you were wondering, here's the baby belly at 22 weeks and a shot of one of our many icy trees. Luckily we haven't lost any trees or big branches in our yard yet. The ice is a slippery mess around town, but it really was beautiful to see the sun shine through the trees this afternoon.

ice ice baby

So, I guess my first clue that there was some big weather coming was when I stopped for groceries at Hy-Vee on my way home and it was *insane*. Seriously, I thought the world was coming to an end. Anyway, Tuesday we did get lots of ice and nasty weather (I think we're due for just a nice fluffy snowstorm!) and school was canceled for the day.

I used part of the day to work on finishing up our Christmas cards and getting them addressed and ready to send. I didn't want to commit to one design and get tired of it, so instead I bought some Northern Exposure and played around with several different designs, then repeated the ones I really liked. Yeah! Check one thing off the list - now on to wrapping gifts!
Of course, some of the day had to be spent lounging around and playing on the Macbook. Cleo was happy to be of assistance.

It's a Boy!

We had our first ultrasound yesterday and all I can say is Amazing. We decided ahead of time that we would find out the sex if we could and even though Bill already knew *wink wink* it was a boy, it was still very exciting to hear the news! I can't believe how much detail and depth they can show in the ultrasound - getting to see his little fingers and toes and face and the heart working... just amazing. Everything feels much more real now that I feel like I've really seen him and met him! We went out for dinner with Bill's parents to celebrate and Bill's mom brought me his little blue baby booties!

Just in time I received this sweet onesie from Harrilu's etsy shop. Isn't it the cutest?
Oh, and I have one more spot on my Handmade PIF if you want to play! Come play!

Handmade PIF

So, this is a new idea for me - but I loved it right away when I had the chance to read Zhenia's blog today.

Here’s how the PIF works:

I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment and tell me that they want to pay it forward. If you’re interested you must have a blog and you must write a post offering to send your own handmade items to three of your readers.

The time line is pretty generous too: I have a year to send out my handmade items and you have a year to send out yours to the people who comment on your blog.

As Miss Fish points out:

Please don’t be intimidated by the whole handmade thing. No one is expecting you to make a quilt, knit a sweater, or fold 1000 origami cranes. How about some handmade soap, or marble magnets, or a pretty ornament?

You know, you only need to send some hand-crafted love in the mail. It’s all good.

Don't be shy - come play along!

gift from afar

What a treat to receive this box from Australia in the mail! Kristi and Josh are living in Melbourne right now and they sent us this wonderful Christmas package. Enclosed was a cute kangaroo card and ornament and aussie candy. But the really fun thing was for baby W - an Australian animal mobile for the nursery. It was hard to photograph - but SO cute! Can't wait to hang it up...

cozy.

Rain and ice and snow - oh my!

Man, is it nasty out there. I am so glad that I don't have a good reason to leave the house today. Very happily staying warm and cozy inside... enjoying our Christmas decorations... listing some new ornaments and jewelry on etsy (btw - if you are in the market for ornaments, check out Zhenia's sweet birds!)... listening to music... making new paper beads for some extra special people with custom jewelry requests... and definitely thinking about having soup and/or hot chocolate soon.