Author / Bethe

by Bethe

The Latest, The End of Maternity Leave, & A Give-Away

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Sometimes I worry that all folks pull from this blog is that motherhood is hard, that baby has colic, that life is hectic, and I’m overwhelmed.

But our life is so much more than that. And let me tell you, Month Two with my baby girl has been So. Much. Fun. It’s like we woke up around Week 5 and everybody understood each other (I think the fact that we also started sleeping more has a lot to do with it). We have found a routine. She smiles and coos and is so cute I can barely stand it. She only wakes up once a night (PRAISE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH). And we’ve found some ways to help soothe the colicky spells – not totally eliminate them, but GREATLY reduce their frequency and duration.

But more about little Wrenn in her Two Month post, which will be soon. This post is just a hodge podge of what we’ve been up to.

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I’m back at the gym and loving it. Because my pregnancy was so darn difficult I hadn’t worked out a bit in 10 months, which meant that those first few workouts were humbling. Like, the first time I tried to do crunches and push-ups I could barely do five (those poor stomach muscles had been stretched to the max). But it’s amazing how quickly your body gets strong – each day I feel more and more like my old self.

I’ve never been one to love working out, but now going to the gym has become my “me time” and something I actually enjoy. I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to fit it in after I return to work, but we’ll take it one week at a time.

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In addition to working out, I’m also trying to eat healthier to drop the last 15 pounds of baby weight that I’m still holding onto. Mr. Right, his parents and I are doing the My Fitness Pal app on our phones, which tracks your fitness and food intake. I’m a fan because I get an extra 500 calories a day from nursing – which certainly helps when I feel like a little splurge.

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We took another roadtrip last week, this time to Midland to celebrate our niece and nephew’s birthdays (she’s four, he’s one). This time we felt like pros, knowing what to pack (and packing lighter), and Wrenn did great in the car. The only bad part was when she puked ALL OVER me (dripped down my shirt and gathered into a pool in my pocket) and Mr. Right was gone with the car and hotel key and I had to wear my vomit-soaked clothes for three hours. Yep, rookie mom mistake. I’m learning.

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Mr. Right and I have managed to have several fun date nights without Wrenn. As much as I love my baby, let’s face it – mama loves her date nights. I think Mr. Right kind of enjoys them too! Now that they’re less frequent, they seem to be “bigger” – we’ve done dinner at Reata (my fave) and Texas de Brazil (his favorite), as well as a night at a movie tavern (I think dinner WHILE watching a movie was invented for nursing moms who live in three-hour chunks of time).

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Speaking of nursing… (boys close your ears)… I’m now taking a few supplements because Little Miss has suddenly become a VERY good eater and frankly I’m having trouble keeping up. One of my vitamins makes you smell like maple syrup. All. The. Time. It’s like the International House of Pancakes over here in our home. But I guess there are worse things to smell like then my favorite kind of breakfast. (If you’re wondering, I’m taking Fenugreek and Mother’s Milk tea, along with chugging gallons of water.)

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I’m headed back to work tomorrow. I’m a little sad to leave Wrenn (a lot sad, actually), but also excited to see my work friends. I’m not really sure how the morning routine is going to go, and I’m pretty sure it’ll take me an hour to pack both of our bags tonight, but we’ll figure it out. I know it will get easier… but in the meantime you won’t waste a prayer on me this week. I’m determined not to cry!

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In honor of another transition, I’m holding a give-away for a free “Be Still” print in my shop. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post – it can be encouragement about going back to work, a motherhood tip, or just a random “hi” – whatever it is, just leave it and I’ll hold a drawing on Sunday.

PS–Mr. Right has added a few of his own creations to the shop – leather goods! Go check it out – I’ve used one like this one for almost two years now and LOVE it.

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Other places you can find Texas Lovely:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

This time, the quilt is for me

I’ve been quilting for five years and have never made a quilt for myself.

Until now.

Meet my Sentimental Log Cabin Quilt.

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It’s sentimental because I used scraps from past quilts that mean a lot to me. The blue polka dot on the center of each square, along with the zebra print, are from Wrenn’s first quilt. The green and blue striped squares, along with the blue backing, are fabrics that Mr. Right brought me home from his trip to India. The red polka dot stripe on the back is from my nephew Jack’s quilt. And the gray binding is from my mom’s quilt.

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This was my first log cabin quilt. I loved it. I took a jelly roll and cut each strip of fabric long-ways and then just started piecing. I did the log cabin squares while about 11 months pregnant, and then pieced the rest of the quilt and finished it after Baby Girl was born. Quilting has changed now that I have a sleeping baby in a bouncy seat sitting next to my machine.
As an aside – I read that babies grow used to certain sounds in the womb and those same sounds don’t bother them once they’re born. I’m starting to think it must be true because Wrenn sleeps right through the sound of my sewing machine, which is pretty loud. She also sleeps through the dog barking, but certain, less familiar sounds will wake her up with a jerk. It’s so fascinating.

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Back to the quilt… I quilted it on the diagonal, and I love the way it turned out. I didn’t draw out my lines before quilting, which means that there are a lot of imperfections and crooked lines, but lesson learned. Besides, I tend to think that small imperfections are what make homemade quilts so special. If I wanted perfect, I’d just buy a mass-produced one at the store. But that’s boring.

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I pieced the back because I didn’t have enough blue fabric to cover the whole back, and I love the way it turned out. I’m starting to love pieced backs more than plain ones these days. Again, each one of those fabrics holds special meaning to me.

I haven’t measured it yet, mostly because I have a squirmy 8-week-old baby who is sitting in my lap as I type this, and I just don’t want to put her squishy little self down. It’s the size of a large throw – I’ll be using it to snuggle under while I watch TV on the couch. Mr. Right already has one I made for him, so now everybody in this house has their own, just in time for the cold fall weather to hit.

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And that’s my Sentimental Log Cabin Quilt! Now that I’ve made myself one, I’m getting greedy and thinking about another one I want to make for our new bed. Oh, I didn’t mention our new bed? Stay tuned to find out why God wanted me to have a king-size bed. It’s a good story.

Also, coming next week, another give-away. Who doesn’t love some free stuff?

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I’m linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts’ Finish It Up Friday.

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Other places you can find Texas Lovely:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

Throwback Thursday

I’m starting a new feature on the blog – Throwback Thursday. I’ve been blogging since 2005 – that’s 56 years in blogging years. I started as a 24-year-old girl, a year into her new job (the same one I have eight years later), recovering from a recent break-up, renting a house with two girls and trying to figure out what life as an adult was all about.

It’s fun to look back and see how much I have changed – and how many things haven’t. Enjoy this post from August 25, 2005. (PS–The day before I had blogged about babysitting a screaming baby… a sign of what was to come, maybe?)

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I think I have a babysitting hangover.  I woke up this morning and had to drag myself out of bed–I had lost all motivation for my day.  All day I have felt stressed, grumpy and on edge, after enduring all that screaming last night.  How do moms do it?  I can’t imagine repeating that night after night after night.  I don’t think I have it in me–I’m a babysitting whimp!

My dog is great though–he’s a bit on edge after sharing a house with the screaming baby last night, so I’ve had to show him extra attention.  I think we’re both going to go to bed early and by the time we wake up, things will be easier, more relaxed.  Dogs are so much easier than babies.

I have found one of the toughest things in life might be finding nude-colored open toed high heels at the end of August.  I’m wearing a navy cocktail dress to my work event on Saturday night and have no shoes to go with it.  I’ve looked in several stores, and there’s nothing in nude except the orthopedic grandma shoes.  I wonder if anyone would notice?

Saturday will be my first black tie event to attend dateless since I took this job.  At first I was excited at the opportunity to be a social butterfly, floating from table to table talking to community friends without worrying about entertaining my date.  Now I’m thinking about how I will have to drive by myself to and from the event, walk up by myself… I’m not going to think about it.  I’m a strong single woman and have no problem playing bingo in a dazzling navy dress by myself.  This time if I win big I won’t have to split my prizes with anyone!

So me and my nude orthopedic shoes will have a fabulous time.  Who needs men anyway?

by Bethe

Happy

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Happiness is…

  1. Discovering a pair of designer Joe’s jeans in the back of your closet that your husband bought you for almost nothing at a thrift store while you were pregnant, and you had never gotten a chance to wear them… and they fit! (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.)
  2. A date night with your husband while your parents babysit.
  3. An organized sewing studio.
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  4. Finding something that helps with Baby Girl’s colic (not a cure but a big improvement… Mommy Bliss/Gripe Water).
  5. Listening to your daughter coo and seeing a big smile on her place when you play with her.wrenn-d
  6. Only waking up once a night to nurse. (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.) Baby Girl now sleeps 6-7 hours at a time. Not because of any sleep training we did but simply by the grace of God who had mercy on this mama’s tired soul.
  7. Afternoon naps.
  8. A sleeping baby on your chest.wrenn-f
  9. Going back to church for the first time in two months.
  10. A king sized bed. (We got one! And it’s quite a story… stay tuned.)
  11. Being healthy enough to go back to the gym for the first time since before you were pregnant.
  12. Discovering some of your pre-pregnancy clothes fit again. Not many, but some. (See #11)
  13. Your husband bringing you flowers. Again.
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  14. Being off work and being healthy enough to enjoy it.
  15. A book on tape.
  16. A husband who gets a real estate award for having so many closings in one month. Way to go Mr. Right! (and thank you Jesus for providing for our family)
  17. Having lot’s of family members who are willing to babysit.
  18. A hot cup of coffee in the morning.
  19. A bubble bath and a magazine.
  20. Curling up next to your husband and talking about how you can’t believe you’re actually parents.

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Other places you can find Texas Lovely:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

New in the shop – Ruffle Butt Onesies & a New Print

I’ll admit it – I’m a sucker for a baby with a ruffle butt. I just can’t help myself (also – that smile! makes a mama melt)…

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Which is why I’ve decided to make a few ruffle butt onesies for the shop. These particular onesies are size 0-3 months made of organic cotton and perfect for a baby gift for that next shower. I added a few yo-yo’s to the front because besides chevron and ruffles, well, yo-yo’s are one of my favorite things.

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(link to listing in the shop)

yellow gray

(link to listing in the shop)

Everything on the onesie has finished edges, which means no fraying. If these sell quickly, I’ll be adding some more, but they’ll be slightly more expensive.

Also, if you’re in the market for a baby gift, don’t forget this print, which is available for instant download (which means no waiting for shipping):

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Now excuse me while I go kiss on my baby model some more…

by Bethe

I think she looks like…

In case there is any doubt who this baby girl looks like… see for yourself.

Mommy… (man, I was a chunky monkey!)

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Or daddy…
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Yep… she is definitely her daddy’s child. Luckily I’ve always been a sucker for his big brown eyes and am really excited that Wrenn’s going to have them too.

by Bethe

Oh no! Not Colic!

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When I read my baby books (just two – I’m trying to be one of those laid-back mamas… ha), every time I came to the section on colicky babies, I would stop and pray, “Lord, please don’t let my baby have colic.” I think it was the part where they said the definition of colic was crying for three hours a day at least three days a week.

Whoa.

And what do you know, we are one of the 10% of babies who have colic. And you know what? It stinks. REALLY stinks. But you know what else? We’re getting through it, because just like everything else, you don’t have a choice. Kind of like that prayer I prayed before we got pregnant: “Lord, please don’t let me be one of those girls who gets morning sickness.” Yeah, we all know how that one turned out – six months of eating nothing but baked potatoes and tortilla chips and popping Zofran like the were Skittles.

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, and you just have to adjust. Which is what we’re doing. We have a wonderfully delightful baby girl about 21 hours a day. She smiles and coos and is just so much fun. But the other three hours that happen every evening where the poor thing screams bloody murder, clinches her little fists and kicks her legs because her little tummy hurts her so badly?

That part really stinks.

I’ll admit – I’ve even shed a few tears along with my little Wrenn – it’s hard to watch your baby hurt, and I have yet to figure out how to tune out the crying. My more tenured mom friends have assured me that at some point you can ignore it – but right now it both grates on my nerves and breaks my heart at the same time.

I just want to make it better, you know?

So, fellow mamas, here’s where we need your help. We are willing to try almost anything to bring Baby Girl some comfort. So far we’ve tried:

1. Mylicon drops

2. Mommy Bliss/Gripe Water drops

3. Tummy massage

4. Baby Probiotics (we’re buying these today, so we’ll let you know if they help)

5. Swinging (sort of kind of occasionally helps a little)

6. Taking her outside (her favorite – but it’s 105 degrees outside so it’s not our best option for the whole three hours – mama gets kind of sweaty)

7. Driving her in the car (people keep suggesting this, but she just screams bloody murder, which just makes mama cry… so not our solution)

The number one thing that seems to soothe her is nursing, which means I typically nurse her off and on all evening – on several occasions she has nursed for 90 minutes straight (which wears this mama out). Her doctor said it was fine because my skinny mini could benefit from a little extra weight. Eventually the nursing makes her fall asleep, which is the only time she feels relief. Which is the point where mama and daddy then breathe a sigh of relief and consider taking up drinking.

I kid. Kind of.

The good news is that she gets so worn out from crying every evening that she sleeps like a CHAMP at night. She has started going six hours from her evening feeding to her first night feeding… and last night we only did one middle-of-the-night feeding. It was like Christmas, New Year’s and the 4th of July all wrapped in one. Wow. Thanks Baby Girl, your mama has missed her sleep! And if I had to choose, I guess sleeping through the night is worth a few hours of incessant crying.

So, fellow mamas who have walked this colicky road before me – do you have any other secrets? And how long did your baby’s colic last? Tell me it stops before they leave for college?

by Bethe

Our weekend get-away

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I’m a bit of a gypsy at heart–I have a NEED to travel and explore and get away from my everyday responsibilities. But a difficult pregnancy meant that the only place we travelled in the past 10 months was a 2-day anniversary get-away (where I was still mildly nauseous). So we were due for a trip, I was off work with maternity leave, and we weren’t going to let a little challenge like traveling with a newborn stop us.

We came THIS CLOSE to booking a few plane tickets to go on a BIG adventure but then we realized that was insane, taking a big trip with a newborn. We came to our senses and came up with Plan B, a trip within driving distance with no agenda.

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Y’all, packing for a 5-week-old is HARD!! Thank goodness for a strong husband and a big car. And car adapters for breast pumps.

Mr. Wright, Wrenn, Harley the Wonder Schnoodle and I loaded up and drove 800 miles round-trip to a relative’s lake house on Grand Lake in Northeastern Oklahoma. We split up the drive by staying with our grandmother outside Oklahoma City one night on the way up and back, and while there got to show off this precious baby to all of Mr. Right’s relatives.

I had a very simple to-do list for my lake get-away:

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1. Drink my morning coffee on the patio overlooking the lake.
2. Go on a long walk.

I did both, and not a whole lot else. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees most of the time, and we laid out by the pool, cuddled with Wrenn, ate leisurely dinners, went to bed early, and relaxed. I was able to clear my head, come up with some new goals (like start cooking healthy again), and break out of my new mommy fog for a bit.

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I came home feeling more like “me” than I have since I got pregnant. In the 24 hours since  I’ve been home I have cooked a healthy dinner, organized my home office, sewn, and taken a bubble bath.

I’m back, my friends. I’m back.

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Don’t forget about my  “Fearfully & Wonderfully Made” print on sale – it’s an instant download, which means you can print it yourself – no shipping charges. Sale price is just $5. It makes for a wonderful baby gift.

by Bethe

Happy One Month Wrenn!

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Dear Wrenn,

Happy one month birthday! I can’t believe that it’s been a whole month since I held you in my arms for the first time. It seems like a lifetime ago that I looked into those big blue eyes of yours for the first time. You are the answer to my prayers and it is a joy to be your mama.

The three of us have hit a groove lately – your daddy and I now know what you like – and don’t like. You’ve settled into a bit of a routine, and you’ve turned into a great sleeper at night (thank you!), often sleeping 3-4 hours at a time and always going right back to sleep after I feed you. You’ve got a little bit of colic that makes your afternoons/early evenings a little rough. I wish I could fix that upset tummy of yours, but we will get through it and I hear in another month it should be much better. In the meantime, feeding seems to be the best way to soothe you, and so that’s what we do.

You love to be outside. You love lullabies, especially when I sing along. Luckily you haven’t noticed yet that I’m tone-deaf. You have been to many restaurants and always sleep through dinner in your car seat, completely oblivious to the chaos around you. You’ve been to the Perot Science Museum, to both of our workplaces, to the hardware store, to show houses with your realtor daddy… and of course, on a few ice cream dates with us. You love to ride in the car and are wonderful on the go (and everybody who sees you comments on how beautiful you are… I agree).

You are long and lean – so lean in fact, that you’re still in premie and newborn clothes. Pants and bloomers don’t stay on, so you live in onesies and dresses, and you always look adorable. You have the cutest wrinkles on your arms and legs, and the longest feet I’ve ever seen on a baby. You love to be swaddled, and you love to sleep on your daddy’s chest. He is exceptionally good at calming you down when you’re upset, and he’s the one that gives you all of your baths, which you don’t love yet, but I bet that changes next month.

You are wide-eyed and spend 3-4 hours at a time awake and taking in the world around you. I love to prop you up against my legs and have conversations with you – you stare so intently at me and smile and coo and make the funniest faces. I will never get tired of admiring you, sweet girl.

I love you more today than the day I met you, and I can’t wait to see what next month brings. You are my joy and my delight. I love you, Wrenn Olivia!

-Mommy

by Bethe

Around the web: Treasures I’ve discovered during 3 a.m. feedings

I have a lot of free time these days – you know, during the 10-12 times a day when I’m nursing my precious little one (which, by the way, has gotten SO MUCH BETTER – my nurse told me to give nursing two weeks and it would get better – she was SO right… it went from the hardest thing ever to something I enjoy. Mamas-to-be, take heart!).

Sometimes I just sit and stare at my little beauty and soak in these precious newborn moments. But let’s face it – there’s still at least a half-dozen feedings where I’m looking for something to occupy my mind, especially in the middle of the night. And that’s when my iPhone and iPad come in handy – I can peruse blogs, catch up on news, watch Netflix, even listen to a book on tape (I’m about to finish this one).

I get all sorts of project ideas at 3:00 in the morning, and since I can’t pin them from my phone, I just email links to myself and promise myself to check them out later. Here’s a few projects I want to tackle… I thought I’d share the wealth.

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1. I found this turban headband tutorial on one of my favorite style/sewing blogs and can’t wait to try it out. I saw a girl wearing this over her ponytail at the pool – it was very ’40s chic. I’m not a huge hat person, but I think it could make those “I didn’t feel like doing my hair” days look a little trendier. Plus, the only ones I found on Etsy were at least $20, which is more than I want to spend on a piece of jersey fabric. PS–If you don’t follow Merricks Art, you totally should.

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Speaking of her tutorials, someday I’m going to get brave and try this dress. I’ve never made clothes before… but then again, I’ve never had a little girl of my own to dress before.

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2. I have found a new triangle quilt pattern that I absolutely must try. Isn’t it beautiful? I don’t like to follow patterns, but I think for this one I may have to make an exception. This is like chevron’s cooler older sister.

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3. Speaking of triangle quilts… I also want to try these two. I’m suddenly into quilts that incorporate lot’s of white – it makes the bright colors pop better, and I think it makes everything look cleaner. PS–For those of you who have been asking about quilting tutorials – this post includes a great tutorial on how to finish your quilt.

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4. Now that baby girl has settled into a slightly more predictable schedule (and now that I’m sleeping again and feeling less zombie-ish), I’m ready to get back to making things. And by things, I mean baby girl things, now that I have a new muse. I want to start making her some cute headbands – although poor baby has such a small head that she can barely keep a headband on – and I loved this tutorial from Casa de Lewis. Which, in case you have forgotten, is the same blog that inspired Miss Wrenn’s nursery – although I switched up some of the colors a bit.

Speaking of baby girl things, I’ve also just ordered some onesies and cloth diapers off Amazon to try my hand at some custom onesies and burp cloths. My first few will be for Wrenn, but if they turn out well, they might find their way into my shop. Fingers crossed. Stay tuned.