Work in Progress also known as My First Quilt

For Arlo's birthday, I had the grand idea to make him a quilt using the horse print from Heather Ross and some corduroy I found on super sale.

In my impatience, I did not really use a pattern. I got the inspiration from a quilt in the winter 2007 Quilts and More magazine. But it was for a large quilt and I wanted to make a crib sized one so I attempted to figure out the math myself. Big Mistake.

And since I'm terrible at waiting for a finished project, I only cut enough pieces for the first two rows so I could see what it would look like. Big Mistake number 2.

Now I'm mired down by it's imperfections. Nothing really matched up and I have no idea how I'm going to quilt it once I get to that point. But I keep reminding myself that it's my first quilt. First quilt, Michelle! And as Matt keeps saying, the hard part is finishing. So tonight I'm going to cut out the rest of my pieces (oh, and by the way, does anyone have any advice about cutting quilt pieces?? Because that's where I'm really screwing up!!) and keep sewing. Eventually it will be done, the two year old wont' care about the mismatched seams, and I'll have better idea of how to do things when I start on my second quilt. You know, someday.

Two years ago today...

my little man was born.
I can't believe it's only been two years.
It seems like he's been here since the very beginning.

Arlo, you've become such a little man. You are opinionated, vocal and desperately trying to be independent. I love how much you enjoy discovering things and how you insistently show them to us. Once again I am reminded to look at the world, not just walk through it blindly. I am amazed at how well you've learned to make yourself heard (I think I have your big sister to thank for that) and I hope that you continue to do so throughout your life. I'm so proud of you for all the things you have accomplished and all that you will. I love you little dude. Happy Birthday!

Things I have learned......

1. not to think about how many times the cat has probably drank out of my cup that I don't know about.

2. my almost two year old son can climb to the top of the diaper changing table.

3. I don't look good in fancy dresses but my daughter does.

4. I'm massively uncomfortable purchasing strapless bras especially if a sales woman is standing outside my dressing room. (also why I don't like fancy dresses)

5. mindfulness is really difficult for me. Not so hard that I want to give up but hard enough that I realize how much pointless clutter is constantly in my mind.

6. that maybe teaching my children to say "Shake Your Booty" was a bad idea.

7. three weeks goes by quickly even though you thought about blogging every day.

8. that Christmas is coming waaaay too soon.

9. at age 31, I finally used some of my math skills. Woo Hoo, all those painful math classes weren't in vain!

10. that if you drop your camera while shopping with Lori, it will break. Leaving you sad and your posts pictureless.

11. it's a good thing to be married to a photographer who doesn't mind when you borrow his pictures, especially since he got a good one of the Halloween skirt.