First Time Around

This week, a thousand thoughts have come to mind of things that I would like to post about... the baby, new fabrics, projects I'm dreaming up, flowers blooming in the garden, springtime, and a whole bunch of randomness enough to fill pages. BUT... as a new mother, I am finding out that getting showered by 2:00 in the afternoon, doing a load of laundry, and cutting just a few orders with a two week old is already quite an ambitious plan for the day. How do you convince your brain that between the feedings and the diaperings (and sometimes an occasional nap for yourself) that you simply cannot do much more?... at least not yet. In fact, to be quite honest... it has actually taken me several days just to do this quick update.

But for our little Ben-Jacob, this has been a busy week for him too... he got his belly button, went on his first walk, first shopping trip, first time meeting both sets of grandparents, and let's not forget his first bath!

Slowly, little by little, I am starting to feel like I am able to accomplish more each day... but be patient with me, it could take a while. This too, is after all my first time around.

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

As you may have imagined, I am feeling completely all consumed with things that have to do with baby, but I'm allowed to, right? Especially when I see things like this, I just can't help myself...

Go ahead... just try tell me that you didn't let out a big 'ol "aaawww" when you glanced at these precious baby cocoons? Some things are just so sweet that I don't know what to do with myself. I have found so many of these adorable baby photo props on Etsy... I just couldn't resist sharing.

1. Angel619 Baby Treats, Cradle Hammock 2. Click Knits, Newborn Blanket Wrap 3. Kathy Neilsen, Photography Cocoon 4. All Things Belle, Baby Cocoon.

Allow Me to Introduce...

As the long, still silence may have already indicated, we have been quite busy welcoming our new "little one" into the world this past week. Pink or blue is no longer a question with us.

So perhaps it is time to do a proper introduction. On Thursday March 11, 2010 at 11:37 a.m. we finally met the addition to our family...

Ben-Jacob Manuel Richter

3805 g / 55 cm
8lbs 6 oz / 21.6 in

Now is that special time of getting to know one another... just the three of us.

unsere kleine Schnecke

You may remember the baby quilt that I posted about here... well, actually as Astrid pointed out, technically it is a "blanket" and not a "quilt" since I didn't actually do any top quilting stitches. But for a girl who likes to "get it done" and get it done fast without all of the details holding me back, in my mind, it has enough time consuming squares to qualify.

I decided to stay neutral with the colors so I could easily use it with a boy or a girl (since we still don't know), and I thought that it might be nice to have something for the baby to wear that matched. So...

I would say that yellow would be perfect for whoever comes, and I simply repeated a few of the designs that I had used for the baby "softie book".

One of the pet names that one often hears in Germany is "meine kleine Schnecke" (my little snail). I am inwardly amused that the pet names one hears in Germany often involve an animal... things like "my mouse", " my rabbit", "my dirty sparrow". While often American pet names have to do with things you eat... things like "sugar", "honey", "cookie", "sweetheart", etc.

So, the "baby cookie" will get one more matching t-shirt from "mommy", but still the question...

PINK???....

or BLUE???....

....maybe we'll find out this week (fingers crossed) since our due date is Friday!

Nicey Jane

There are those people that design fabric... some who do it well... and some who make it sing! Everything that I have seen that Heather Bailey put her hand to has been over the top fantastic. From her fun fabrics and sewing patterns to her projects and photography... and then there's her blog (pure eye candy), this is one of the women that I find truly inspiring... a fabric designing goddess, if you will.

That's why I was so excited the first time I saw her latest fabric collection, "Nicey Jane". It is described as "a kicky mix of nostalgic florals and modern geometrics presented with Heather's signature flair for color."... and boy, does she deliver! These beautiful photos from her just capture the essence of the collection...

Source

So bright, fun, and fresh, where does one begin? With the soft, sweet, juicy, pinks?

Or with the delicate, soothing, calming blues offset with spring greens...

With such inspirations... Springtime, we are now ready for you! Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane collection can be found here.

März Kind

So I guess March is a special month for me. I have celebrated 36 birthdays in this month and will celebrate the birthday of a "new life"... just before my 37th! I would have to say that I have always been a "März Kind" (March child)... the beginning of spring makes me feel so alive, green has always been my favorite color, bulb flowers seem to bring a bigger smile to my face than any other seasons, and moderate temperatures are when I feel the most comfortable... I just love the transition time from gray to green.

So for the first day of my favorite month, I thought I would share the second from the series of postcards that I had picked up last year. For some reason, I only picked up the spring cards... hmmm. I just love this image of the courting "daffodil gentleman" perhaps requesting the company of the soft, elegant, and delicate lady.

Yesterday the snow had melted from the ground and we saw our green lawn for the first time in months. I cannot begin to describe the thrill of anticipation that went through me as I gazed over the green blanket... I know it is just a mater of time before bursts of color break through the once frozen ground... I am ready for you, March... more than you know.