Kleas

I used to run Marathons

Twelve to be exact.

Less than six days from now if all goes as planned I will be in the hospital holding my new baby.

I am ready.  I am so, so ready to be done being pregnant.  There are women who do this so well.  They are beautiful, maternal, they truly "glow" with motherhood.  That woman is not me.  For as grateful as I am for this pregnancy and for how blessed I feel to bring this one to term...I'm done.

I'm done with

• heartburn
• kicks to the ribs that keep me up all night
• sleep deprivation
• feeling like my pelvic bone is shattered
• this bronchitis I've had since early October
• feeling like I'm about 84

So what does running marathons have to do with anything?  In my previous life I was a big time runner.  I raced just about any road race I could find.  I especially loved the sense of accomplishment after running a marathon.  Funny thing is, I still think of myself as a runner.  I always imagined I would run through pregnancy.  That was not going to happen for me.  But I can't seem to get out of my mind the story of a woman from my city who finished a marathon well into her eighth month.  In fact a Marine friend of mine who prides himself on being a runner told his disenchanting story of running the Twin Cities Marathon and the victorious feeling he felt as he approached the finish line only to have this pregnant woman pass him on the final stretch.  He was dumbfounded (and quite humbled).  But her story made the newspaper because the weekend after that marathon she ran a race called the "Twenty-four Hour Race".  You basically run for 24 hours straight and see how many miles you clock on.  The day after she ran that race she delivered a healthy baby boy. 

As I waddle about, I think of this woman constantly and the impossibility of her accomplishment.  I certainly couldn't even run a few blocks right now with my belly as big as it is...let alone 26.2 miles!  I'm short of breath just sitting here typing.

This will all be coming to an end very soon.  And as much as I sit here and complain, I am also very aware that there are things (believe it or not!) that I will miss about being pregnant. Like...

...good morning hugs... 

...and kisses...

                        

...to bebe from Peanut.

I will miss that busy little body constantly moving about inside me.  (Kicks to the ribs and all.)  I had forgotten how lovely that movement is.  After Peanut was born, the absence of the butterfly flutters inside, even though he was moving in my arms, made me a little sad.

There are also many reasons to be grateful

• feeling as wiped out as I do, I don't have to wait until my due date of the 14th to deliver
• this has been a very healthy pregnancy (aside from the bronchitis)
• there have been no surprises
• and FINALLY...I can be THRILLED I don't take after my sister whose breasts grew to a frighteningly huge "H" cup with her second pregnancy.  (That is NOT a type-o...she was an "H"...and I have her permission to say that here).

I still feel like I have a gazillion things to do before Tuesday, and the panic is starting to set in.  Knowing I will have a few weeks of bed rest when I get home adds to the stress.  Why I think I need to add "re-grout the bathtub" to my list right now is beyond me, but I guess that's just part of that craziness that pregnancy brings on.  There is only so much I can do right now, every little thing starts to feel as big a feat as running a marathon. 

All I really have to do right now is make sure my bag is packed and make time for more "besos para el bebe".

                                                                            

Who do you resemble?

I had no intention of posting today, but when I read Betz White's post today on "who's your celebrity look-a-like?", I thought it would be fun to play along. 

When I was a child and The Goodbye Girl movie came out, I was a dead ringer for Quinn Cummings. 

 

Here's me at six years old...you decide.

Then in the early nineties when Melrose Place was popular, I was constantly told I looked like Courtney Thorne-Smith, although I never really got that one. 

I've never had blonde hair, but there must have been something about her because I heard it ALOT.

Then the late nineties, I kept hearing "You and Caroline Kennedy could be twins!!"  But then again, I was traveling to the East Coast alot for work and that is kind of her neighborhood.

 

Lately, I've just been hearing that I look a lot like this great mammal.

Won't you play too?  I'd love to know who your celebrity look-a-like is.

WIP's

We had waaaaaay below freezing temps all weekend long.  So it was a good time to stay indoors and work on some projects.  Here are a few of them.

My boys peeling blanched almonds to make panellets.

The beginnings of some sweetheart pincushions.

Blanket for baby...will I finish it in time?

Finally...the biggest WIP of all (yipes), me at 36 weeks with only two more to go.  Oh, my aching back...I'm ready NOW!

"Uffdah!"  (as my grandmother would say).  I swear, that shirt fit me just a minute ago!

Thrifting for baby

Peanut and I bundled up today for a big outing at the local thrift store.  Seems baby things were in abundance today and I scooped up everything I fell in love with...no hesitation.  Maybe I went a little crazy buying four, yes, FOUR baby quilts! 

They were all under three dollars, so how could I refuse?  Not only that but it's six degrees outside today so I think baby will be very happy with extra blankets.  My favorite is this one with the green ruffle.  Maybe a bit girly for a boy, but I love it.

Then this adorable little red corduroy vintage jacket with a Peter Pan collar jumped out at me.

...and this sweet gnome and mushroom switchplate.

Then, just when I thought I could waddle no longer (yes, I'm actually waddling these days), a box of Tasha Tudor puzzles!!

Really, I couldn't believe my luck.  Tasha Tudor has long been a fovrite of mine.

These are really for me :).

"Simplicity..."

...that is the theme for a photo swap dreamed up by the ever inspiring Megan. 

You have until Friday to sign up.

A Crush and a New Best Friend

One of the things I loved about my job was that I got to travel quite a bit.  This gave me the opportunity to meet many blogger friends when I happened to be in their part of the world.  With the pregnancy and my suitcase packed away, I thought it could be a while before making any new connections.  So to my surprise and great joy, I got the chance to meet another blogger pal yesterday while she and her husband were in town for the weekend.

Sarah is every bit as sweet, charming and kind as she appears on her blog...and even more so.  She and I met up for a few hours yesterday and did what craft bloggers do when we first meet.  We talked about the blogs we visit, about projects and how we got started.  We went to a thrift shop and a local favorite antique store. 

Sarah was quite patient as I move at a sloths pace these days AND I had Peanut in tow.  She also came bearing gifts.  I saw a little teaser on her blog about a gift she had made for the baby.  And I wondered.."which one?" I had no idea she was going to gift all five of them!

Each bib with a different and fun fabric.  Warm terry on the flip side.  All perfectly sewn and so beautiful.  And I learned yesterday, she didn't even know how to sew before she started blogging.  Maybe there's hope for me yet.

She also made quite an impression on Peanut.  I have to say, he's got an enormous crush on Sarah and has talked non-stop about her since we parted ways.  She made this adorable fellow for him.

   

And he lovingly named him Pulpo (Octopus in Spanish).

Pulpo goes everywhere with Peanut now.  Usually tucked under his shirt mimicking my big belly.  It's safe to say, he has a new best friend.

 

Thank you so much Sarah!

All packed up

Yesterday we celebrated El dia de los tres magos, or Three Kings Day.  It's a big deal in our home as it's the one holiday that truly has meaning for Papa.  Of course, there is quite a huge difference from how we celebrate it here in the Midwest, and how he once used to celebrate it in Barcelona.  His memories of it look more like this, this and this.  We went with the more mellow tradition of putting Peanut's shoes under his bed, filled with hay for the Kings' camels to eat on their journey home.  So when he woke the next morning the Kings had left treats and treasures in his shoes as a "thank you" for the hay.

I thought it would be fun for Papa to get a little treat too so filled these little elf shoes with chocolate for him.

The pattern for these fun little elf clogs came from the very talented Jenny B.

Sadly, January 6th also marks the end of Christmas for us.  I say sadly because I always feel a bit meloncholy when the tree comes down.  I get a little attached to having that little corner of our living room glowing with the soft luster of the white Christmas lights.  But it's time.   

I took some photos of ornaments I made before it all got packed up.  Here are the sweet little stacking trees I stitched up.  Pattern courtesy of The Small Object.

Wool felt and hand stitched.  They were quite quick and easy to make, except when I decided to add "snow".  All those tiny glass seed beads sure took a while to stitch on...

...but it was still completely satisfying to make. 

And finally...when I saw Hillary's free pattern for one of her pull toys, I had one of those "drop everything" moments so I could stitch one up.

Link to the pattern can be found here. 

   

Instead of stitching on felt eyes which I usually do, I simply needle felted them in-it was alot quicker.

Thanks to all the above crafty gals who published these free patterns for us to use.  For next year I have my eye on this adorable fella.   

Welcome 2008!!

It didn't scare us one bit that it was -1 degree outside when we woke up early this morning.  All that mattered was that the skies were blue.

With our Ultimate Flyer in hand we headed for the hills...

...and enjoyed the crisp, frigid air of this this new year.

We thoroughly enjoyed our holidays.  With Papa on vacation for two weeks we three spent a lot of time together, precious moments as we realize that Peanut won't be our only child for much longer.

I love the New Year.  Clean slate.  Fresh start.  Anticipation for what is yet to come.  It's all there, stretched out before us, new adventures, time to share with old and new friends, a new addition to our family.  I look forward to 2008.  And as I look back, I am thankful for all the goodness in my life.  I'm grateful for this space where I have met so many wonderful people and I'm happy you are part of my life.  Thanks to you all for sharing your lives with me too.

One last image of Peanut, that will forever be burned into my memory, of him trudging along, singing his own little tune...

 

"...uuuup a hillll, uuuup a hillll....."

Peace and love to you all in the New Year!!