Home again, home again ...

So I thought I've done a lot of "hard" things in my life.
This was definitely one of the very hardest.
Just knowing I wasn't going to see this little guy again until Thanksgiving.
Knowing how much he's going to grow and change between now and then.
Talk about feeling your heart breaking right in your chest...



I tried putting him in my carry on bag. He would have fit.
His momma said I couldn't take him. Greedy little girl!



Memories were made that will have to sustain me for these next five months.
Then Benjamin will come to Grandma's house. Think I need to start counting down the days!

Benjamin is Stylin'!

Of course Grammie thinks Ben looks just adorable in his pristine white onsie and little white socks.



Auntie Ashleigh thought he needed a big boy outfit. His mommy says all he needs now is a little bitty brief case!



This was our first venture into shoes. He was a good sport about the whole thing. But then again, he is the world's most perfect baby!

Deception Pass

So today we drove up to Deception Pass and saw the water at Puget Sound which Rick says is all but the Pacific Ocean. Cool.



It was cool and breezy, overcast, but we had a good time. It was Benjamin's first visit there as well. Daddy says we were only about 45 minutes from the Canadian border.



I got a biology lesson on barnacles, anemones, star fish, and other such creatures. Benjamin wasn't particularly impressed.



Between the cool ocean air and Grammie's snuggles, Benjamin was all done in!

Western Washington Shop Hop

So, what are the odds that when I would ask my daughter if she knew if there were any quilt shops in the area that she would do some on-line research and discover that the W. Washington Shop Hop started today!


So we did a little further research and discovered that there were several shops within a twenty mile radius of their home. So Benjamin gave us permission to do a little shop hopping today.



I made a couple of small purchases, which shall remain undisclosed, as they are all gift related. I did buy a nice Amy Butler bag pattern that my daughter liked. Then we tried to find fabric to make one for Rhonda and wow! is she picky. We're going out tomorrow to see some water somewhere (?) and there are a couple more shops on the way, so we plan on trying to stop then.



Benjamin was an absolute angel and a real conversation starter. We wore him out!

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day.
Don't take it for granted.



Tell your dad you love him.
He won't be here forever.

I miss you, dad.
Love, your favorite daughter

My new best guy

All right, husband of thirty-three years, please try to understand...
you're just not my number one guy at the moment!



This little man has stolen my heart, 100%,truly and completely.
Picture taken at the end of a long day, long after Grammie's normal bedtime,
but "normal" takes on a whole new meaning with a newborn in the house!

I love you SO MUCH Benjamin!

Day trip

Thursday my son-in-law took the day off of work so we could take a little day trip.



Leavenworth, Washington is a little Bavarian town with quaint gift shops and authentic German cuisine. Since that IS my nationality, Rick thought I'd enjoy it. He also thought I'd enjoy his pointing out various peaks he has summitted as he drove up the winding mountain side sixty miles an hour (that part, not so much!) At one point I did have to throw all caution to the wind and say "Richard, will you Please keep your eyes on the road!" Now I can be branded all the nasty mother-in-law names.



We had the most amazing lunch. I enjoyed cabbage rolls which I haven't had in years. My mom made the BEST cabbage rolls; I'll have to go through her recipe cards and see if she wrote anything down. Yes, she was one of those amazing cooks who just did it without thinking about it. I do have her potato salad down pat.



This was Benjamin's first outing in his new sling carrier. One on-looker thought Rhonda was taking a picture of the contents of her purse! All in all, it was a good day. I know I slept well that night. I enjoy doing the five thirty a.m. feedings, seeing as I am a morning person anyway. I just tell Rhonda to take advantage of my being here and to go back to bed. I never have to tell her twice!

Ben Approved

I didn't want to blog Benjamin's Pooh quilt until I gave it to him.
Now THIS is the way to display a baby quilt!



Benjamin give Grammie's handiwork a thumbs up!
(Yes, I am SO loving being here with him. My daughter commented last evening that she didn't "get to" change him once yesterday! I told her to remember that in ten days when I've gone back to Pennsylvania and she's changing the fifth poopie diaper of the day!)

Love at first sight!

I can't remember the last time I had butterflies in my stomach like I did as my plane approached the airport in Seattle, Talk about an important blind date! When I saw Rhonda and Ben coming down the hall towards the baggage claim area, I wanted to leap the barrier and scoop him up!



I didn't want to put him down so we could leave the airport. For some strange reason, his parents seem to think I'm going to spoil him while I'm here. I, however, think that's already been done! More later!

Baby Ben Update

Five weeks old today ... doesn't seem possible.



Rhonda's Aunt Peggy, Benjamin's GREAT Aunt Peggy, made him this beautiful afghan. (Gee, Peg, does that make you feel old ?!!)



This time tomorrow night, I'll be fretting about what I've forgotten to put in my suitcase. Which, at this moment, is still empty!

Old Red Barn QAL

Old Red Barn QAL
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

So I decided to stop at 6 X 6.
I can use the extra blocks in pillows.
I'm thinking, "wedding gift"
although two teenaged girls in my life
are both saying ... "me, me !!!"

Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along WIP

Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along WIP
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

I've added the fourth row since the picture was taken. I'm happy that the organizer of this quilt along decided to give us an extra week for the quilting process. Since I'll be away for weeks 5 and 6, I don't know how I would have gotten it done. I may end up packing it along to Seattle with me anyway. We'll see. Weekend done. Wow, that was fast.

So sew busy

Why I thought I had time, or could MAKE time to participate in another quilt along is beyond me, but I did, and I am. I also promised Rhonda I'd decorate some letters spelling out
B-e-n-j-a-m-i-n for the baby's room, and with Ashleigh and Rachel's help, I decapauged for the first time!



Loads of things I should be doing this morning, but when my sister-in-law called and asked if I wanted to go with her to a Founders Day Festival in a near by town, I said "Why not ?!!"



Just got back from taking three boxes and a birthday card to the post office. And this time next Saturday, I'll be at the airport!!!

Counting down the days!

Can you believe Benjamin is almost four weeks old already?




Thursday he has a weigh-in at the pediatrician's ... I'm eager to hear how he's doing. Rhonda's brother Tim sent her a gift card that she used in part to buy this cute bouncer seat. It'll work better once he has more head control.




And brother Jim sent her this stroller from her registry.
Pretty nice brothers, huh? Think they're trying to make up for some of the mean stuff they did to her in their younger days ?!!!




Have a nice walk, Benjamin ... 11 more days and grammie will be there to walk you ... and rock you ... and hold you ... and kiss you ... and hug you ... and love you ...

Flights of Fancy

Woo-hoo ... I just ordered this Friday ...



And when I got home from work tonight, this package was waiting for me!



I was so excited to open it ... I couldn't remember exactly what I'd ordered, only that it was from the Flights of Fancy line.



The black print will be the binding as well, but they didn't send the right amount, so I had to email and let them know, and I'm sure they'll make it right. So I got out the iron and got it pressed and all cut up. I feel fairly caught up!