I'm a MOM!

Well, technically I'm an Äiti (which is mother in Finnish) but that is why I haven't been around to blog! Newborns are work! ;)

But I never have I ever been rendered as speechless and unable to express myself as I am now. This little one has just taken my breath away and turned my brain to mush. :D Parenthood! ;)

Elisabeth Louise was born June 9th at 1.14 a.m. and weighed a teeny weeny 3085g.

The last picture was from my 25th birthday just 3 days after bringing her home. I assure you, the bags under my eyes have almost gone away. She's an incredibly peaceful baby (and every time I say it I must knock on wood, lol!). We are just so blessed! :)

I have more pictures to share from my birthday, midsummer as well as a garden update (!) but I'm running out of time so it will have to wait! 

Until next time! :)

The arboretum and maternity photos

My friend was gracious enough to help us out with some maternity photos at the end of May. I really wanted to have some pictures of me and the hubby at this time in our life, photos for our little one to cherish one day and see how happy we were expecting her. :)

I had hoped to get some photos with the decorative apple blossoms (pink!) but they weren't in bloom (of course) but we found lots of other lush early summer backgrounds at the arboretum. 

Can we call that place paradise, too?

Of course I can't go to the arboretum and not take some flower pictures...

From my last arboretum post about tulips, you might remember a whole grand space filled with buds. I had been worried that I wouldn't see them bloom... but I did!!

It was glorious!

 

And one last picture of the last vase I had of tulips from our garden. Ah, can't believe that time has passed already! 

:( 

Why do summers have to go by so fast?

Lately...

These past few days I have been nesting. It's what crazy pregnant women do. Like reorganize walk-in closets, scrub the grout in the shower, vacuum behind couches, reorganize and clean the kitchen cabinets... ya know. It's time consuming. It's tiring. But I'm admittedly rather house-proud and I'm expecting someone very special to come along soon, so it can only be expected!! :)

Also, I've been reading up more on birth since it's getting closer. I have been saying all along (much to the amazement of many) that I'm not scared or nervous and I'd like to go the natural route if possible. So I've been googling natural births and finally caved in and watched "The Business of Being Born" (produced by Ricki Lake of all people, lol!). I wasn't planning on watching it (I had heard about it many months ago) since I figured it would be a lot about how crappy the American health care system was etc (and I just find that sad and depressing since there are those near and dear there), but I read there were a lot of good natural (home) birth experiences on there that I wanted to see, because honestly, who has seen one?

It could be hormones, it could be that I'm sentimental, but I cried throughout the whole thing almost!! I really felt like so many women put into words what I've been meaning all along when I say birth is something I want to experience. And if seeing babies being born isn't enough to bring you to tears, then...you're not me. :D 

If you're interested, check it out. I'll admit it's a little hippy-dippy with the home birth stuff, but it really has a beautiful message for the empowerment of women, no matter your choices.

So lots of pregnancy/birth stuff going on in my brain right now... Which is why I haven't been bothered to crochet. Or do much of anything really. Even the weather has been bad, so I've spent my downtime watching Downton Abbey (thanks pinterest for the idea --I'm hooked!) and sleeping.

I'm waiting for better weather to take some photos outside with the hubster and some blooming apple trees, but I was inspired today by the evening light and ideas from my sister to take photos by the window. 

Hubby helped of course, but I gave him direction. So you could say it was a team effort. ;) 

I know I'm not easy to photograph. :D

Those were the two I liked best. :)

It's pretty late here in my parts, so off to bed it is. 

Tomorrow: gardening!!

I can't wait! I have been missing that place but we sure did need the rain!

See ya soon I'm sure! 

My Baby Shower

This past Saturday I had my baby shower. 

Wow, insane that I had a baby shower. OMG, I am having a baby?! :D 

Just kidding, but sometimes it's still surreal...!

The theme I came up with was girly tea party and I envisioned lots of prettiness and details. Here is what I pulled together!
(The pictures were taken by friends, how weird to see other people's perspectives via your own camera and memory card! Thanks for the photo help, Friends!) 

Well, for me food is pretty high up there with most important things at a party. It's gotta be good and there should be a lot of it!

I had some help from my Aunt who came to town for the occasion. She made this vegetable quiche seen below. Behind it is a pasta salad that rocked my socks. The recipe for it is here, Penne Fresca Salad.  I used fusilli and I doubled the recipe which was totally unnecessary, I could have easily made 1 1/2 and still had leftovers.

I had a "Salad Bar" with a big bowl of lettuce and smaller bowls and dishes of toppings. We had cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, broccoli, crutons, olives, cheese, boiled eggs, and salad dressings. I wanted to get fancy and make my own, but I just didn't have the time or energy in the end. 

To accompany the salads and quiche, the other salty option was fresh bread and flavored cream cheeses, as well as good old frozen garlic bread. 

I've yet to go to a party where the frozen garlic bread wasn't one of the first things to disappear. Stuff is delicious!

(And I got off so easy with it!)

Once the savory options were eaten, we started serving coffee and tea (from my pink fancy tea cups) with dessert.

My favorite were these sugar cookies. Which is odd, since I really have only ever liked store bought (if I am really particular Publix Bakery) sugar cookies and have been disappointed with many a recipe. 

This recipe: perfectly chewy and soft sugar cookies. 

Here is the link to the recipe at Novice Chef.

I decorated them with Wilton's pink sanding sugar. Ya know, since I'm having a girl. ;)

The cake was a huge disappointment for me.

Lemme just say... I prefer the flavor of Swiss buttercream, but when it wouldn't stick to my cake... I kinda lost it. I was only able to pipe the top and the sides were such a disaster that my mom had to take over since I threatened to throw the cake on the floor in my frustration.

Lemme just say, thank you Äiti for being there to help me set up!!

The cake itself was my go to chocolate cake recipe, Lucinda Scala Quinn's busy day chocolate cake.

I made two cakes and cut each in two to make a four layer cake. I filled it with Finnish vanilla "rahka" (like a sweetened flavored sour cream/creme fraiche) that I added a liberal amount of Bonne Maman cherry jam to. 

So it was a chocolate cake with vanilla cherry filling.

Yum.

My Aunt made some super tender "marble cake" although I like the Finnish name of "tiger cake". 

In the left corner you can see the macarons I slaved over.

Um, good thing the pictures not the best to showcase them because they didn't look at all like they should. People raved over them though and I guess the flavor was ok. I filled them with orange or raspberry marmalade.

But I was not a huge fan. I don't know if I liked them enough to attempt making them again.

But they are one of the ultimate baker challenges in my mind that I might have to one day, just for the challenge.

I used Martha Stewart's French macaron recipe and I think next time, I might stick to the more detailed Annie's Eats version.

This is a Finnish style blueberry pie. Again, used that rahka to make it. :)

After food, the other important design element of a party: decor.

This was the most liked idea, hanging a clothesline across the living room and displaying all of her pretty dresses.

I also made a paper doily banner like this one from pinterest, and we had some store bought shiny pink "it's a girl" decorations hanging. In some of the food pictures you could see the pretty table cloth and felt runner my mom brought. And like I said, we had the nicer pink china out for use.

We played some fun games at the shower. 

This was a guess the baby in the picture game. I had each guest bring a photo of them as babies and they had to guess who was who and the winner won a prize (chocolate bar and a face mask). 

Not everyone brought a picture (I kinda let people know last notice), but it worked well as a kind of ice breaker because there were a lot of people from different groups of friends so they kinda got to know each other's names and stuff.

I'm #5. :)

We played the traditional "guess how big Mama is" with pink yarn. It's a hard game but we had two people who were so close I had to go back for a re-count! 

And pictured below is the little card idea for her baby book. Each guest was asked to fill in the blanks and people came up with really cute answers as well as funny ones. 

E.g. "I hope you laugh at bad jokes, because it's polite". :D

Mama's midnight diapers were fun too!

Each guest could write me a message for midnight diaper changes. 

I got a lot of encouraging ones "you're a great mama" etc.

As well as advice: "wake up the hubby"

And phone numbers for people who are willing to babysit. :D

I also had a friend record hubby answering the questions from  link below. We played the video on the TV and paused after each question and I had to guess what the ol' hubster said. 

I got most of them right. :) And he got some of his answers wrong. ;)

The ideas for the games were found from this blog Driven by Decor via pinterest.

I don't have a picture of it, but we also had a calendar template on the fridge that I decorated, where guests could guess the baby's birth date, weight, and height. 

FOUR people guessed she'll go slightly over her June 11th due date and come June 13th.

Other than that, dates varied from June 1st (impatient me) to June 19th. 

Fortunately no one put her as a full two weeks overdue!

You can find the free template here.  

I got lots of presents, even though I had said we were really only missing diapers and children's books. People went nuts with diaper cakes (we got 3!) and I felt spoiled and special. :)

Many thanks to everyone!

My friend's 5 month old son picked this out for Baby Girl, his future girlfriend. ;)

Isn't that creative? Baby spelled with the sparkly star wire! :)

Lots of cute details.

Love the thought people put into their gifts. And the effort, I know those diaper cakes aren't easy!

And at the bottom you can see our Beatrix Potter book. :)

Like I said, spoiled and special.

My parents got us (another) pretty dress and the car seat (which was awesome!). 

We also had a baby shower in a box that my mother in law threw for us. She sent out invites to family and friends stateside and we got so much (much needed) stuff for the baby, it was awesome!

It's wonderful to be so supported by loved ones. ♥

So after the party was over, I took the camera out myself and took pictures of the design element no party is complete without: the flowers.

We had hot pink roses in several small vases.

I'm still enjoying them today. 

So thank you to everyone who was a part of welcoming the little one into the world!!

Kissa was happy the party was over! ;) 

Sun, sunbursts, and seed starting

Snippets of the last few days...

Admiring Kissa sitting in perfect kitty form.

She's been mowing the lawn... and those Easter eggs have become some of her favorite toys. Tsk tsk...

 

I've started on my new blanket.

This is the stash I'm trying to use up. Blues and greens!! Also a bit of gray... 

 

I've been using the infamous Priscilla Hewitt's Sunburst Granny Square Pattern which I have linked there.

 I used this tutorial to help me fumble through the first square, but since I've started making these daily, I must say, the pattern is easy to memorize once you get the hang of it!

This tutorial by Eda's Crochet Room was helpful to learn with since the pattern calls for some stitches I don't think I've ever made before. 

I bought more little tete-a-tete narcissi. :)

 

We've had such gorgeous sunny weather and since today was my day off, we sat outside and I crocheted and soaked in the rays. 

 

I had a grand seed starting afternoon. Zinnia, asters, pumpkin, decorative gourds, corn, sunflowers, marigold, snapdragons, watermelon... I still have more seeds to plant, but the irony is running out of the 10 liter bag of particular seed starting dirt that I went all over town to find.

Also, I am running out of containers to start them in! I have egg cartons, washed out meat tubs, yogurt cups, sour cream cups, microwave meal and soup dishes... I've been saving all these things for weeks, even going as far as purposely buying particular foods for lunch at work to be able to save the container they come in!!

:D 

And it's still not enough!

I think I'm just gonna have to ask folks at work to save me their yogurt cups and the like. 

I don't know how many more microwave meals I can eat either. :P

 Hey, does this count as gardening post #0.5 of 2013?

Hahaha... 

I can't wait for the snow to be GONE so that I can stomp around the garden in my blue boots again and think about where exactly I am going to plant everything. 

Even though I've made at least two plans on paper already, lol!

Well, that's it for me. 

Off to bed soon, even though it's fairly early. This pregnancy fatigue is kicking my ass. 

Pregnancy -- which reminds me!!

The pictures of the baby blanket that blogger wouldn't upload a few posts ago...

Here ya go!

Thanks for stopping by! 

See ya around!

Spring in a new home!

So after what has been a hectic and crazy-busy February, March has brought better weather (even though it's still sooooo cold!) and a new home! 

With these two wonderful things, I am also finding more time to do things I want to do again... and so much energy and inspiration! 

Now if only that pesky job would end so I could really focus all my time on crafty endeavors ;)

The day before we moved we went to see The Killers in Helsinki. 

Yeah, I know, who goes to see a concert when moving stress is at it's peak? 

Funny how things work out though when you buy tickets months in advance, you never really know what will happen! 

Here is a picture from my phone taken from the Killer's concert. They are amazing live by the way and I highly recommend seeing them if you are the least bit a fan. 

I was hoping they'd play this song "Be Still" (because I'm obsessed with it being prego and all), but as expected, perhaps it was too slow of a ditty to perform live for a party crowd. They did play a lot of my favorites like "Dustland Fairyale", "For Reasons Unknown", and "Smile like you mean it". 

Ah, and Brandon Flowers has such a beautiful, powerful, and conveying voice... surely one of the best in music today. ♥

Is that enough fan talk? ;)

Wanna hear more about the new apartment?

Well I love it for starters!

 We have the furniture in its maybe permanent spots... Still working out the kinks from a few rooms...

I'm just blown away by how awesome a walk-in-closet is to have for storage! Wow, we have near empty closets in the bedrooms thanks to it! :)

Lots of kids live in this area... so our courtyard has several snowmen :)

That's my breakfast view. Urban scenery complete with trains passing. Thankfully, they aren't loud!
And speaking of breakfast, I've been on an oatmeal kick lately. This morning, I ate it with banana and red currants from last summer. What a surprisingly good combo!

I've had lots of flowers to keep me happy in our new home.
My friend brought us these beautiful red tulips last weekend. Thanks! :)

And last Saturday when we went to Ikea, I brought home this orchid and a pot of narcissi. 

And while we were out today shopping, hubby bought me pink tulips to enjoy for our anniversary (two whole years on Monday!!)

There were so many, I was able to take a few and put them on my nightstand. Having flowers on one's nightstand is a total quality of life measurement for me. :D
Aww, you can kinda see us in the background on our wedding day. Oh the happy memories ♥

I've been really into spring and Easter since the stores are suddenly full of daffodils and Easter chicks and chocolate eggs.

I'm loving having a proper dining room/nook now and I smile every time I walk by and see it :)

I'm having so many thoughts on decorating as far as themes and colors go... just kind of taking my time thinking though. I feel like we always rush into putting things together and then get tired so quickly, so maybe if we take our time, we'll enjoy it longer. :)

As is, I'm pretty tired most days when I get home from work. I think it has something to do with working a lot and growing a person inside. 

Here we are at 26 weeks and change. 

She's a kicker, a mover, and a shaker.

And she and I are getting bigger by the week!!

(especially this past week, I've really felt my clothes getting tighter!)

 

Well, I am itching to crochet since I am having a glorious 3 day weekend in honor of our anniversary and since daylight is slipping away, the cozy corner of the couch is calling my name. :) 

Ooh, and I bought some new yarn today which is always the motivator to finish any projects, because well, what's better than starting a new one? :)

Thanks for stopping by and hope spring is finding you where ever you might be! :)