A big surprise is coming in July!

Finally... the month I've anticipated for a long, long time is here! Can you guess my big news? I bet some of you have figured it out already, haven't you?  Well, for those of you who haven't, take a closer look at the photo below...

My new--and somewhat unusual (for me) -- projects!

Hmmm... not my usual stitching, is it? Do you see the hexie flowers and the little zoo animal stitching, how about the sweet elephant shirt. Surely the smiley-faced booties give it away... YES, I'm going to become a grandmother! After years of hoping and praying, my little grandbaby is due this month! At 65 (and a half!), I am surely one of the older first-time grandmothers around and I often wondered if it would ever happen for me. I think that may make this upcoming grandchild even more special... My husband and I couldn't be more thrilled!

It's been a very emotionally difficult pregnancy for my sweet daughter-in-law in California. If you recall, she suddenly lost her dear mother in March when she was nearly five months pregnant. Can you imagine how hard that has been for her? Her mom was only 71 and I just tear up each time I think of my daughter-in-law not having her mother around for the birth and to witness this new grandchild growing up. I will do the best I can, but I know it's not going to be the same as having her own mother with her on this journey. Throw in the frightening experience of being pregnant while the Covid-19 epidemic is raging around you and she has been through so much over these past 8 1/2 months... But, her bravery and compassion for others will lead to one strong little child in the end, I'm sure.

Can you imagine going through pregnancy without all the "normal things?" Having your husband there at doctor's visits? Sharing your excitement with other pregnant friends over lunch? Enjoying the well-wishes from family at a baby shower? Not being able to attend child birthing classes? It's been tough... We did manage to have an online Zoom baby shower for them at the end of May, though, and it was wonderful how many people were able to attend. We mailed out some decorations which my oldest son and daughter-in-law put up in their dining room, they ordered a small cake and cookies, and then had a total of six Zoom showers--yes, six! They divided them up into families, local friends, hometown friends, college friends, etc. so that there weren't too many people at each one.  And, with everyone in lockdown due to the virus--almost everyone was able to attend virtually! Even my 93 year old mom was in attendance--something that would never have happened if there had been a real-live shower. See... there are silver linings to almost everything! We played a few games, watched them open presents, and just sat there smiling at our friends and family--it was wonderful that, even during these circumstances, everyone was able to pull together to celebrate a precious new life coming into the world.

The baby shower cake and cookies ordered by my son and daughter-in-law. Aren't they adorable?

So, is it obvious what they are having? YES--IT'S A BOY!! Surprise, surprise--well, not really. You see in my husband's family, it is just boy after boy after boy. We have three boys, my husband was one of four boys, his dad was one of two boys... In fact, in the direct lineage over the past five generations on my husband's side of the family, there have been 19 boys and only two girls! Amazing... People have said, "Oh, I bet you wanted a little granddaughter." Not at all--I am so used to little boys and I truly think they are easier to raise (from what I've heard!). Honestly, all I'm praying for is a healthy, happy little grandson. 

It's a boy!

As you can imagine, I've been very busy creating hexie flowers for an "I Spy" quilt for my future grandson. Probably not a gift he will receive until he is at least one or two years old, though, at the rate I'm going. I've never made a quilt of any kind and am just kind of fumbling my way through it. Lots and lots of hand sewing involved in each one of those hexie flowers. And then I have to sew all of the flowers and spacer hexies together--whew! I've had it laid out on my kitchen table since I began sewing it in late March so we've had to eat at the bar countertop all this time! It will definitely be remembered as a Covid-19 creation and I even found a little piece of fabric with a not-so scary "Germ" creature to fold into a hexie shape and sew onto the back of the quilt with a note about life during the pandemic and the baby's birth. 

A portion of the I-Spy Quilt laid out on my kitchen table... Lots of hand-stitching to go!

The little cross stitch piece I've been working on for the baby is called "Zoo Lineup" by The Trilogy. I've left the middle section empty to stitch the baby's name and birthdate. Might add the weight and length alongside the giraffe's neck, too. We'll see! My daughter-in-law and son chose a jungle animal / sloth theme for the nursery so, who knows, a stitched sloth may make an appearance at some point in the future!

All it needs is the baby's name and birth date!

I'll share my progress on the quilt and the little birth sampler as time passes.

For now... I hope you will all keep my oldest son and daughter-in-law in your thoughts and prayers. I will be taking a blogging break for the month of July as I'm going to be helping them out with the new baby. See you all in August--can't wait to be awed by what springs from your creative hands and minds this summer. I'll miss each of you! Thank you again for your wonderful comments and well-wishes for my mom--we both appreciate them ever so much.  Bye for now...

♥♥♥ HAPPY 4th of JULY!!! ♥♥♥