Asa's birth announcement

In the weeks before Asa's birth when I had begun my maternity leave, I started playing around with some ideas for a birth announcement. I had SO much fun trying different ideas and learning some new techniques in Photoshop, including downloading/using brushes and harnessing the power of layers. :)

Here is what I came up with for the announcement (his room is decorated in a woodland forest animal theme, and I made the owl on the announcement in order to coordinate with the owl in his bedding):

And then so everyone could see his sweet self, we made this photo collage and had it printed through Shutterfly--for the same cost as a normal 4x6! :)

We love our little guy and praise God for him! :)

Baptismal Gown

Back when I got my embroidery machine, I started dreaming of making a baptismal gown for any child(ren) God would add to our family. We considered using the gown my brothers and I were baptized it, but in the end I hoped to be able to make something for our kids to use and have the option of passing down.

I found a great pattern during one of JoAnn's super pattern sales and stashed it away. The closer Asa's arrival came, the less likely it seemed I would get it sewn before he was born. I just hoped I'd have time some time after he was born! Then he took his SWEET time coming, and Mom and I had all this extra time on our hands! We made a prototype out of muslin to learn the quirks of the pattern, and then we ended up having time to make the real thing, too!

We also made "under armor" for the gown, as Matt says his son will not wear a slip. :)

It was a really sweet thing to sew the gown with my mom and to know Asa and any other children we are blessed with will be baptized in this gown--sewn with lots of love and prayers! And he will hopefully be wearing it next month. :)

How we pray for you to walk in the ways of the Lord, Asa, that you would do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and love Him with your whole heart all your days--just as God's Word says of your namesake!

Long time no write

I guess I underestimated how all-consuming these early days with Asa would be. :) But such sweet days they have been!

As you might imagine, I haven't done much crafting. I don't produce much.... other than milk! Ha! :)

I did recently cut a bunch of scrapbook paper to make a mini photo album. I have been wanting to cut it for weeks, and I finally got to last night! Asa hit the 6 week growth spurt and it started slowing down yesterday. He is over the eating-every-second-of-the-day hump and now on the downward slope of SLEEEEEPING to make up for all the sleep he skipped frantically eating all day long and refusing to nap in his hyper-alert state. :) Anyway, during his first stretch of real sleep I got to cut out my papers. And today I got to sort them into coordinating sets. I am excited to show you when I have it assembled!

I also cut out some little corduroy pants, but I haven't sewn them yet. I'm not sure how they'll turn out. I used a pair of pants that fit Asa well as my pattern (adding seam allowance, of course), so it's really an experiment. It would be so fun if they turn out!

And I WILL still tell you/show you about his baptismal gown. And lastly, I found a really cute travel diaper changing organizer (kind of like the skip hop changing wallet) at a nearby boutique. I had eyed it before, hoping to use it as a pattern, but I didn't want to pay full price. I found it on clearance over 50% off and snapped it up! I'm excited to try one out and hopefully have a fun new baby shower gift to make people. :)

Lastly, I'll be sure to post some updated pictures of our sweet baby boy. He is seven weeks old!! I can't believe how fast the time is passing!