The Last Baby

        I haven't blogged in a while. Life seems to get extremely busy whenever I promise myself to keep up with a blog. I've had many blogs before this over the years that I either forgot about, lost the password, or the passion for. This one seems to be certainly different. Even though my posts are really spaced, I think about writing a new post a few times a week. It just unfortunately never happens. Raising four beautiful babies might have a big part in my lack of writing, but I can't use that as an excuse with so many wonderful mamas' spreading their passions and sharing their lives through the web. Then it dawned on me. I really never know what to write about. Well, tonight it hit me like a ton of bricks.

        As I was sitting on the floor skimming through youtube videos on my Mac of how to DIY my own industrial light fixture for my dinning room, I was getting little kicks from tiny (but not so little anymore) itty bitty baby feet. Junior, our fourth child, was playing and having a ball enjoying his new activity mat as I sat beside him. I can hear him giggle and coo at the little jungle animals hanging about the arches of the brightly colored Little Einstein's mat. He is almost three months old already and I still don't understand how he grew so fast and got so big. He will be the big three March 19th and he is already wearing nine month old sized clothing. When you post something like that on Facebook you'll get a bunch of other moms chime in to tell you how big their new baby is or how big their old baby was. I feel like being a seasoned parent and even a new mom can give you bragging rights as to the development of your child but I will never brag on this subject because it makes me nothing but sad.

        He is growing. He is growing far too quickly and sometimes I even want to cry thinking how just a few weeks ago I carried him safe and sound in the comfort of my womb. He's not only out in the world with a multitude of dangers and illnesses but thats not really what I'm so sad about. He is growing. He is slowly but way too quickly getting older. His infant stages are breezing by and I can't stand it. I might sound emotional but that is only because he is our last. He is our last baby. To say that, is pretty upsetting. There is such a sadness knowing that you will never feel those kicks on the inside anymore. No more flutters. No more bubbles and spins. No more ever so carefully watching every single thing you put into your body because another human being's life depends on it. No more growing something so special only love and God can make. No more wondering what color eyes they will have, who they will look like, what color hair they will have and if it will be fine or wavy. No more babies.

        Now you have children. Your babies will grow and get older, and there is no more turning back the hand of time to have another pregnancy experience. This is it. But.. Now you have children. And they will grow and you get to experience new and exciting, overwhelming, scary, strange, invigorating, and proud moments to share with them. But most of all you get to watch them grow. So, as I look over to the left of me, still kicking and giggling, my last baby is right in front of me. And come to think of it, I am pretty happy about it.

Cherish your babies. They grow.

 Smiles & Dimples 

Arm Knitting A Cozy, Chunky Blanket

I love those cozy, chunky blankets that I'm seeing in stores all over but their price tag is a bit much for this girl's wallet so I looked up tutorials on youtube to learn how to make one myself. I haven't tried it yet, but will be trying it this week while the kiddos are in school and the two younger munchkins are napping. I took the liberty in sharing it below incase anyone else has an itch to make one as well:) Enjoy!!

Fall/Winter Peek

I wasn't active on the blog during the Fall or beginning of Winter, but I wanted to share a peek into my home & projects during the fall and early winter months.

Fall 2015

Autumn Mantel September-October (Halloween)

My mantel was featured on one of my favorite Blogger's page, BlesserHouse.com :)

Click here and scroll down to see it!

"Thankful" Placemat I turned into a pillow. 

-Can be found @ Target.com

After Halloween we painted the dining room and went with neutral decor for Thanksgiving.

- Valspar Signature Woodlawn Colonial Gray

Winter (Christmas) 2015

Seven days before Christmas.

The Christmas pillow with the wagon & tree was another "placemat to pillow" project. 

-also found @ Target.com

Our Christmas Tablescape.

I wish I would have had the time to post these projects and decorating ideas earlier but my new bundle of joy, Derick Jr., was born December 19th 2015. I was a busy mama the last few months, especially the last few weeks. Now we are all settled into a new routine with our new special gift:) Can't wait to share more of my decorating ideas and projects in this new year! Hope you liked it!

Fresh Start

My New Year's Resolution for 2016 is simple: 

Start Fresh. Live Happily. Stay Positive.

I made a long list of things I'd like to accomplish (or finish) this year. I read it over and decided to "crumple" it up and throw it away. I want a clean slate. You can't start fresh on anything without a clean slate, or in this case, an empty page. Don't get me wrong, I have so many projects I want to start, many places I want to see, and things I want to change about myself and my life. Though, I don't want to feel pressured by my own devices. I much rather wake up every single day and say, "Today I am going to be happy." 

One thing I did promise myself though, is to actually devote time to this blog. I want to use this blog as an outlet to express my love for design and let my creativity run wild. I am now staying home with my newest little darling instead of going back to work so I hopefully will make time for the blogosphere. I hope that anyone who reads this blog can join me in this journey to get inspired, motivated, or just simply share ideas with one another in bettering ourselves, our homes, and our lives:) 

Cheers! Here's to a fantastic fresh start in 2016 for everyone!

DIY Fabric Pumpkin

I've been seeing these adorable pumpkins all over the blogosphere and instagram, so of course I had to attempt to make one myself. It was a spur of the moment, I'm bored on a Sunday, kind of craft that I enjoyed creating. I already had the fabric thanks to my eight year old daughter's size 6x leggings, with adorable glittery silver polka-dot print, that no longer fit her anymore. I simply made a cut just above the leg area to separate the fabric into three sections. I used the wider top section as the cutout for my "large" pumpkin. I plan on using the other two sections for several smaller pumpkins once they are cut and divided. I pretty much "winged it" and didn't measure anything or even use a ruler. I am one of those people who rather "eye" something than take the time to strategically pinpoint measurements before making cuts or sewing. It usually works out in some shape or form;) So I used the second to biggest sewing needle that I could find with simple white thread to sew the "top" of my pumpkin together. (I always work backwards.) I really wish I found thicker thread because it took several attempts to get this to work correctly with my simple white thread... With that, I sewed wide sections bunching them together through the needle until I ended up all the way around and pulled the  thread to close the opening. (It's now about that time that I really wish I took pictures of each step...) I then stuffed the pumpkin with a small amount of pillow stuffing I had laying around and continued to sew shut the opposite side the same way as the top, just a bit more carefully. That's when I realized that I couldn't get the bottom to match the top.. there was still an opening that was too wide to leave without some kind of covering because I am pretty sure I over stuffed the little guy. I found some burlap, cut a circular shape to cover the hole and hot glued that baby on. I then figured I needed a "stumpy thing" so I found a stick and cut it down to size for my pumpkin. I decided it would just look cuter with some twine wrapped around it so I glued that on and attached it to the top of the pumpkin with hot glue. I made the leaf cut from burlap and outlined and defined with twine. The little "pumpkin chord" was made from a cute green chevron ribbon I had left over from another project. I just used scissors to coil and glued it on to the twine wrapped stick, I mean pumpkin stump thingy. Ta-Da! My kids loved it, and apparently I am in the works of making a bunch more...

For a much better description and instructions on how to create your own fabric pumpkin, visit the link below:)

DIY Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

Surprise, Surprise! The adventures of Baby #4.

Our fourth baby was definitely a surprise! We really wanted another, but just didn't expect it. Especially so soon! When we found out, my husband and I hoped and prayed for a girl. At 16 weeks, 3 days, I had an unexpected ultrasound to check in and make sure the baby was ok because I had a terrible stomach virus, was extremely dehydrated and contracting. The ultrasound technician, bless her heart, accidentally informed me that we were having a girl! I was ecstatic because its exactly what my husband was hoping for. I of course did too because I have an 8 year old daughter, 4 year old son and a 2 year old son at home. Having another girl would be the perfect ending of my pregnancy ventures. I was "done". I wanted to get my tubes tied after the delivery. I also wanted to "re-do" the whole baby girl experience since I was so young and financially unable to really enjoy my first born. I missed out on so much because I was too busy working and with college. I regret it, but I had to survive and try to give us a better life since the father of my first two wasn't "on-board" with life goals. My now husband and I have our two year old son together and having another little girl to add to our growing family would be ideal. We told our family and friends the news, bought a few outfits to make it feel official and started dreaming up her gorgeous vintage nursery. We even picked out her name. A name that I always wanted for my baby girl and was unable to use the first time around because my ex hated it. Lillian Grace was to be this little girl's name, a name I honestly had in my mind since I was seven years old! I named all my babydolls' Lilly. We were on cloud nine. Even though we told close family and a select few of friends, something inside me told me to wait to announce it. Well, turns out my intuition didn't steer me wrong. Unfortunately, we found out that Lilly was in fact a little boy at the anatomy and gender ultrasound at 21 weeks. We were crushed. My husband put his head down, and I will admit it, I cried. My heart sank and all those ideas I had in my mind about her pink and gray vintage nursery went right out the window with the name I had picked out since I was a little girl. I know it may seem horrible, but finding out it was a boy hurt. Boys are hard work and the two we already have are a handful. I love all my children more than air, but truth is the truth. I do have everything I would need for a boy since my youngest just turned 2. And I do enjoy all the little mischievous games boys play, the sports, the giggles. After thinking about it and letting the fact we are having another boy really sink in, I am kind of grateful that we are having another boy to add to our team. After a few days, the heartache faded away. We jokingly said we would name this one after my husband since we didn't with our first, but we still honestly don't have a name picked out just yet. There is still time. My husband still wants a baby girl, so the idea of getting my tubes tied seemed to fade away just as quick as the heartache of "losing Lilly." We can try again. God may have different plans for us, and we will find out in due time, but sure does ease my mind because I was honestly terrified of "closing up shop". Everything happens for a reason and God has big plans for this little boy kicking away as I type this. His due date just so happens to be around Christmas, so he is nothing but a gift from above. I can't wait to meet our little guy!

With Love, 

Ashley

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New Beginnings.

I've had this blog since 2014 and only have two posts. (That I kept anyway.) That's a problem. I always wanted a blog. I wanted to be a blogger. One of those moms that put their life out there, not to be judged (which I am sure happens), but to share ideas, experiences, projects, happiness, love, and just living the best life she can live in this crazy world. To share the life I live, with my husband and growing family, (probably stopping after baby number four, but you get the picture.) I admire the brave women, (because it really is brave in my eyes to put your whole life out there for the world to see and read about online) that blog their little hearts out and in essence become a community all in its own that I yearn to be a part of. From an outsider looking in, it looks welcoming and warm with compassion for the ideas, experiences, and even problems that the moms of today face. I absolutely am in love with all the home decor bloggers, their ideas inspired me to get my home in order. I feel connected to the funny mom bloggers who make parenting and marriage seem at all times wonderfully humorous. I am so obsessed with all the DIY bloggers in the blogosphere that make a pottery barn and restoration hardware catalog look like an arts and crafts book for dummies. I am head over heels in love with all of the creative women who wake up every morning, pour their hot cup of coffee in their cute trendy mugs, turn on their tablets and laptops, and then open up their hearts and homes up to the world. I want that.

With Love,
Ashley