Off The Trunk Show Rack And Onto Baby

Although I love having pretty little baby things for my Trunk Show.......

It doesn't compare to pretty baby things on our first grandson! Christian wore this little baby apron, made using pattern #122 during a visit with his other grand parents on Sunday. The outfit is made out of Imperial Batiste and is trimmed with bias binding around the collar, sleeves, and hem. The three sailboats were stitched with a Chain Stitch. You might recognize the quilt as the one I made for his arrival.

Although he looks like he is trying to talk in the picture, I am sure he is just looking for his Mommy and lunch! I know the boy well!

Michie'

Things I've Learned This Week

Here are a few things that I have learned this week...

1. Babies sometimes bounce back from medical emergencies faster than the adults. (He doesn't look like he was in NICU last week!)

2. A baby can still melt my heart even if I haven't slept more than 3 hours straight in over a week.

3. And according to his Daddy, I can call it any cute name I want, but that is still spit up on my shoulder and I should have packed more clothes!

Michie'

Home At Last!

One week old today. Little Christian is now home with his Mommy and Daddy where all babies should be. He is now the picture of health and is an especially good baby just sleeping, eating and trying to figure out the world around him.

Anna and Jason are loving getting to hold their baby whenever they want and not according to a hospital schedule. I live less than an hour away and have been staying with them until Anna gets her strength back and enjoying every minute. We are spending a lot of time just watching Christian sleep which we refer to as, "Gazing on his loveliness."

Have you ever noticed that when you look into a newborn babies eyes they look like they know something that we don't? Did they get to see the face of God before they came to join us on planet earth?

We can't thank you enough for your prayers and messages of encouragement during the last week.

Michie'

Baby Christian Update

A little update about Anna and baby Christian. Anna is now home and doing very well all things considered. Christian has been moved from the NICU and is now in Progressive Care. Anna and Jason are able to go to the hospital and feed him several times today day and I was even able to hold him for a few minutes!

The little guy still needs prayer, but he is steadily improving and may be able to go home in a few days. With all the stress and concern we have had this week we have felt the overwhelming love and comfort that only comes from God.

Anna's face expresses how we all feel right now!

Michie'

It's A Boy!

Christian Jason Alexander

May 16, 2011

7 pounds 15 ounces

*Christian was delivered by emergency C-Section and lost a lot of blood. He is now stable, but he and Anna both need your prayers.

Michie'

Diaper Shirts For Baby Boy

Although I have know since Christmas that Anna is expecting a baby boy in May, I have been sewing like a crazy lady the last few weeks! Ever since I made my first diaper shirt and cover 33 years ago to bring my oldest home from the hospital they have been my favorite!

Made from pattern #109, this sweet little white outfit is embroidered with "Little Lion" by Karen and Tamzin Bosch, and can be found in Sew Beautiful issue #132.

Brown buttons and a Running Stitch around the sleeve added a little color.

This pale blue and white cotton stripe is summery and masculine at the same time. When Rex saw the fabric laying on the cutting table he thought that I had claimed one of his shirts for a sewing project! Not a bad idea.......

The puppy is an "Aunt Martha's" embroidery design. I think that I used this very same puppy on that very first diaper shirt! I used two strands of white floss and a Back Stitch. This one is Jason's (Anna's husband) favorite.

Anna asked me the other day why they are called diaper shirts. Back in the day before air conditioning, a diaper and a little shirt were all that baby would need for Summer!

And how is Anna doing? She is being admitted to the hospital tomorrow night and we are expecting baby sometime on Monday. Let's just say that Rex and I are more than a little excited!!!!

Michie'

Dedication Dress Free Smocking Design

I couldn't resist sharing a picture from Emma's Baby Dedication. Have you ever seen a Mommy and Daddy any happier?

Click here for the free smocking design.

Michie'

How Did The Dedication Go?

And how did the Baby Dedication go? Well, we know that the dress that Nana Shay made was delicious!

Apparently so is Daddy's finger. Could this baby be teething?

Michie'

A Dedication Dress For Emma

Tiffany asked me way back in December if I would make a dress for Emma's Baby Dedication on Mother's Day. Are you kidding? Of course I would!

In our Baptist Churches, Baby Dedications are fairly simple. They are happening more often on Mother's Day and any baby born during the past year is presented to the church by his or her parents along with special scripture readings and sometimes responsive readings by the congregation. There is a special prayer and a small Bible with the babies name engraved on it is often given to the parents.

My only instructions were, "Make something that you think she would look pretty in." Well, along with that and the fact that Emma is one of the prettiest babies ever, that left things pretty wide open. Since Emma is turning 6 months old this week (I know, hard to believe) I thought it was time for her first smocked to the shoulder dress.

I made the dress from white Imperial Batiste with a scalloped Madeira hem and yellow bullion roses. Anna noticed during our visit that yellow looks good on Emma which is unusual for a baby, so we decided to go with that.

I don't have a pattern for a smocked to the shoulder dress, so I used pattern #131. I cut a piece of fabric about 42" wide and the length of the yoke and skirt together. I pleated and smocked the yoke area and then using a small straight stitch, stitched around the outer edges of the yoke pattern piece. Using a small zigzag stitch, I stitched again on top of the straight stitch then cut out the yoke next to the stitching. It always makes me nervous cutting through the smocking, but I have been doing this for 20 years and it works every time! This is also a project that having a Lace Shaping Board is extremely helpful.

I would love to be in Arizona for the Dedication but since Anna and her watermelon (her words not mine) are about ready to do something, we thought it best that I stay here.

*Our power situation is now back to normal and I am in the process of restocking the freezer which has never been so clean before. I still get excited when I flip a light switch and something happens!

Michie'

Storm Update II

Just a little update.....I wish that Anna's comment of "Mom and Dad have power" was current. Our power only stayed on a few hours. We are now on day 5 without! But, no complaints, and it is getting closer to us each day and I hope that business will be back to normal soon. Meanwhile, Anna is having a lot of false labor, so things are pretty exciting right now.
*For those or you who are wishing that the blog would get back to sewing....you and me both!!! :) Let's just both be patient!


Michie'