Along came another...

 In 2003 I discovered we would be having another little one the following spring.  My husband wanted to be surprised on the gender but I found out at the 20 week ultrasound.  I was able to keep it under wraps until fairly far into my pregnancy when I slipped and made a comment about how we wouldn't need to worry about boy things....  I tried covering like crazy, saying I was speaking in hypotheticals but I guess Dr. Army is too smart for me!

While I was pregnant we went home to Michigan for my Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary, which is the day after Christmas.  My Grandma Donna and I worked on these two quilts, one for each gender, so Dr. Army wouldn't find out the gender of our baby.  If he were only slightly more observant he would have noticed that the fabrics on the feminine quilt were much nicer than those on the masculine quilt.  What can I say?  He's a guy not into fabric!

I will say, when Donna (my 7yo) was born she looked quite cute on the quilt and it was so special to have something that her great-grandmother and I worked on together since she has Grandma Donna's name.

Like I've said before, I'm a kiss-up.  Shameless, I know.  When Donna was 9 months old, she and her brother were very cute one day and my husband and I decided another wouldn't be so bad.  Besides, everyone needs a tie breaker, right?  9 months later we had Gordon.  Yup, you guessed it I named Gordon after my Grandpa.  But folks at home didn't call him Gordon, they called him Bud; so we refer to Gordon as Gordie-Bud at times....

I guess I was lucky I made that extra quilt.  I certainly wouldn't have had time with all the craziness I had going on to make another quilt for another baby!

Gotcha day...

Gotcha day...

We lived in Maryland from 2000-2007, where my husband attended Medical School and completed Residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  During that time I had the privilege of knowing some exceptional people.  In our first townhouse we lived in a little tucked away cul du sac alongside two great couples that were in early parenthood like we were.  

One couple, the P's, were awaiting the arrival of their sweetie from Korea.  J arrived when he was only three months old and his parents were absolutely delighted!  He was a cutie, that's for certain.  W and I made a banner welcoming them home and I also made a little quilt for J to fit his Disney themed nursery.  Since, the P's have added another little boy and I'd say they are some very handsome young guys now!

I love adoption... I can't imagine a better equation, really.  A loving parent giving another loving parent the ability to do just that.  

Baby love...

Ian's quilt

Soon after my success at purchasing all the necessary equipment to get started in my quilting adventure, then the completion of the flag quilt, I made a go of a baby size quilt.  My cousin was having her second baby and I used that nice little excuse to make this simple little guy...

This quilt I tried to be slightly asymmetrical with adding sashing on the sides before the final strip of blocks.   I was more than happy to let this go as I found that I did not like my little experiment.  I have to say unfortunately this began my affliction with overanalyzing my work and nitpicking each detail.  Perhaps this is why I've not kept any quilts for myself. However, with this gift I discovered how fun it was to make cozy blankets for little squirming additions to my family and friend's homes.