Defeat or Glory

My wetsuit is ready to be shipped.

My campsite is cancelled.

I've accepted hours to work Saturday afternoon.

I am not doing my first open water Triathlon this Saturday.

The Baby has some kind of awful stomach bug.

The kind of bug that you don't want me to blog about.

And Hubby has been working nights.

I think I could could count the number of hours I've slept on one hand.

There is no way I'm dragging us on a camping trip to do a Triathlon.

It would be miserable and dangerous for me.

It's been hard to let this go. I feel like I've failed. I hate sucking up a $200 loss with no glory picture.

I am not a silver lining kind of gal. I leave that to my Bestie and Mom.

But there is one...

I am stronger now.

I am leaner now.

I am faster now.

I am eating clean now... and so is my family.

I am motivated now.

I am healthy now.

Would I be any of those had I not been working my butt off to compete?

Without a doubt.. nope.

There are a lot of reasons why I jumped on the healthy path,

but one of the biggest is to be role model for my girls.

And I will do that this weekend by letting go of something that is important to me,

for something is that is more.. the health and happiness of my girls.

Saturday - Personal Projects

Wow - I only have 1 personal project to show you today. I guess I really didn't have too much time this week for *me*. I am finishing up a dress for myself from a sew-a-long. I had hoped to finish it for Julie's baptism, but time ran away with me. Now my hope is to finish if for Mother's Day; my mother & I like to have professional photos taken each year. I will be making the girls dresses too. Hopefully I can post the pictures of those dresses next week.

In the meantime, here is my latest peek-a-boo lamp design. Truly inspired by Isabelle. If you raised/raising a toddler, then you completely understand. It truly has just been one of those weeks.

I can't share the file for the frame (it's from Silhouette), but if anyone would like the text file - just let me know! It was a bit fiddly since the words are so small. I actually had to get out my super duper lamp/magnifier to repair some of the letters. But I wanted this sooo bad, it was worth the time.

We are shopping right now for a camping trailer. We are sooo excited. I imagine we'll be gone most of the summer weekends if we have it our way. And well, a new "home" means new quilting projects! I'll have to make some blankets, pillows, curtains,and I'm sure some new embroidered art for the walls..

Do you know about the Quilting Gallery? I recently joined and it is the best site! I love swaps and recently signed up for the fabric basket one. Right before the Easter holiday I received mine from Sharon. All I can is wow!! I love the basket. She absolutely got what fabric makes my heart go pitter patter!! Check out this basket..

And if it weren't enough that I received the cutest bag on the block, it was chock full of fat quarter yumminess. Some serious fabric people..

Look here..

and here...

and here..

What an amazing swap giver!! I can not say enough about how much I love this and what it meant to me to receive. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

And here are some parting pics of Thing 1 & Thing 2..

Be sure to come back tomorrow for my sewing pattern review of the cutest baby romper ever! Lots of pics of Julie's yummy chunky thighs and adorable smile..

Halloween!

Amen, Isabelle

This year Isabelle started a pre pre-school at a local church.

She has learned so much and loves it so much.

We can not say enough positive enough things about this experience for her.

Every once in awhile she'll break out in a new song, sentence, or dance

that we are pretty sure she learned at school.

The latest is especially sweet.

Out of nowhere yesterday,

Isabelle told T and I,

"God is great, God is good.

Let us thank him for this food.

Amen."

Amen, Isabelle, Amen.

Zzzzzz

Isa must be having a growth spurt.

She's been doing a lot of new things this week,

and she's being such a *pain*.

I hate to say it, but when she goes through a little spurt,

it usually leaves me desperate to book a single, one way flight to Bora Bora..

I've spent way more time this week napping when she naps.

I know, I know..

I can hear you..

I need to nap - I'm in my 7 month of pregnancy..

It's just hard to be resting when I have so many new ideas,

and I know my life is only going to be all the more crazy in a few months.

Alas...

I'm going to take a nap.

Here are some photos from the shower of my wonderful mother and I!

Baby Shower For Miss Julie!

When we found out that we were having another bouncing bundle of pink,

I totally didn't expect to have a baby shower.

I figured if we had a boy then we would need some rough 'n tough items,

but I literally saved everything from Isa's babyhood.

Of course my family and friends

couldn't resist another pink baby shower though!

My mom and one of her best friends, the Original Martha truly outdid themselves.

The invites and boot favors were perfect for Julie's vintage cowgirl theme!

We had it at Dear Lizzie's in Alpine.

This place is every big girl's fantasy.

A frilly, sweet boutique with a quaint little tea room.

We spent the morning dining on tasty morsels and laughing over the trials and tribulations of motherhood. And then I was bombarded by the most thoughtful and adorable gifts!

I'm so lucky that my girls and I are surrounded by so much love and support!

((And no, I didn't get a single picture of myself or friends..

but I will be hopefully getting mom's photos soon and will post them!))