That little bit of snow we got here in Jersey a couple days ago brought quite a chill with it! The weather was pretty mild prior to that and we'd all be surviving just fine in sweatshirts - but not anymore!

Lucas was the only one without a good fitting coat so I decided to remedy that today! Some fleece scraps and poly batting were all it took to throw this together.

I only had a few scrap pieces of this awesome blue Tonal Skull print polyester fleece - that I was saving for a possible diaper but after measuring the pieces I realized I had just enough for the jacket outer! So I pulled out the rest of my materials and got to work. The lining is a white polyester polar fleece and sandwiched between in the bodice is a nice squishy layer of batting.

I used one of Willow's old sweatshirts in 24 month size as a pattern. I just seam ripped the entire thing and used the pieces as a pattern.

I only had 3 navy snap caps and I really wanted 5 so I held off on the snap closures and used a few pieces of touchtape instead. I'll swap it out when I pick up the navy snap caps I need.

Aside from the touchtape, I'm extremely happy with the outcome, it will be perfect for the rest of winter! I'll try to get an action shot later.. Lukie is napping! Thanks for looking!

I think I may be setting myself up for disaster.. 3 posts in 2 days is going to make anyone that reads this blog think I have time to keep doing this. Fact is, I don't. I don't even know how I managed to squeeze in enough time to post this.. but I'm not about to refuse a gift horse.

I made an envelope style newborn shirt for Raven today! No pattern, just measured her and winged it.

The neck is a tad bit too small, but since it's envelope style and I used a soft plush FOE to bind, it will be just fine.

The best part is she has 2 newborn diapers in the same print and another OS for when she's bigger (which Luke uses even though it's girly!). Now to dig through my knits and make shirts to match all her dipes!

I think she likes it!

If anyone has any questions as to how I did this, please ask away.. I'll scan the pattern I drafted for it and add instructions when I have more time.

10am at my OB's office. Just a routine 'yep yur still pregnant' visit. Odd thing happened to me the night before though, I woke up round 2:30am and was throwing up! Doc said that sounded like something that happens at the start of silent labor. Huh! Who knew? Turned out I was about 4-5cm dilated and he wanted me to head straight to the hospital.

Of course I had things to do so I went back home to get things done first. Once I actually felt my previously useless contractions getting stronger and more regular I figured it was time to head to the hospital.

3pm St. Mary's Hospital. Something about even nearing a hospital makes me ill. Despite wanting to head back home, Rye dropped me off at the door and I waltzed on up to Labor & Delivery while he parked the car. We kinda got separated which added to my agitation but once we found eachother I felt much better. Or I thought I did.. after becoming decidedly uncomfortable with my nurse while settling into the labor room, we were finally alone.

We sat there discussing all the bullshit we were just fed - like how you can't eat or drink during labor.. HAHA what a joke... or how I had to be on a constant fetal monitor.. yeah that came off and stayed off. Honestly, why do hospitals insist on making laboring mothers as UNcomfortable as possible? No food or drink? Stay strapped to a bed in the most uncomfortable laboring position on earth while attached to a bunch of monitors and drips? Exactly how is a woman supposed to keep her much needed strength up in those torturous conditions? Being starved, dehydrated and tied down never helped a single human do anything!

6:30pm laboring in my hospital room. Rye an I shared some food and coffee while I slowly progressed, chatting and watching TV. Occasionally giving the ole smile and nod to the nurse if she came in. By the time my doc showed up it was shift change for the nurses and I was blessed with an even more uncomforting nurse lacking a personality and the ability to smile. But I didn't let her ruin my day and continued to endure my increasing contractions.

10pm still in labor. Doc decided to break my water, which brought on full active labor with useful contractions. I think I handled them pretty well until the last few when I 'thought' I was gonna crack. Thankfully we were left alone until Rye got the doc as the head was crowning. If there had been a crowd around me I'd have completely lost my focus and might have missed my selfish goal of giving birth on Friday the 13th.. haha but I made it happen drug and intervention free.. again!

11:35pm I was handed my beautiful Raven and could barely contain my joy! We couldn't believe she has red hair like Willow! She nursed almost immediately and for quite a while before we were transferred out of L&D and into a room.

I had some minor issues that nearly turned sour with certain 'hospital policies', but I made them see things my way and both Raven and I were discharged and home by Saturday afternoon.

What have I been up to since I've been home?
No rest for the weary as they say! Right back into the swing of things without missing too many beats.. course I'm tired but I feel wonderful and complete.

I had to make myself some more mamacloth because I ran through the 20 or so pads I previously made before I could get to do wash... which I didn't even end up having to do myself - didn't have to cook either (THANKS MOM!) since there were a few trays of food sitting in my fridge! I even made a diaper today! While I was cleaning and reorganizing the bedroom I came across an old Fear Factory tee that was just begging to be turned into a prototype diaper I'd been tossing around in my head.. and so it was...

(excuse the crappy cellphone pic, camera is still broken)

Hope everyone else out there is faring well!