tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-212799772024-03-19T07:30:51.007-05:00Creative MusingsBack for 2010...the Creative Musings of a domestically challenged mother of multiples. Stay tuned!Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-4137111432327811232013-05-29T06:17:00.001-05:002013-05-29T06:23:36.163-05:00Camera giveaway and new life for this blogHello out there!<br />
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You can't win if you don't enter, so here's a chance to win a Nikon D800 or a Canon 5D Mark III ( the latter the camera of my dreams) with SnapKnot wedding photography directory!<br />
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<a href="http://snapknot.com/blog/wedding-photography-pictures/" target="_blank">Click here to enter</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left;">Big thanks to the SnapKnot </span><a href="http://snapknot.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=93e78cd9f5b65db4f451fe10b&id=b887866124&e=ae896b6a5a" style="text-align: left;" target="_self">wedding photography</a><span style="text-align: left;"> directory for offering this great </span><a href="http://snapknot.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=93e78cd9f5b65db4f451fe10b&id=5985623931&e=ae896b6a5a" style="text-align: left;" target="_self">camera giveaway</a><span style="text-align: left;">!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left;">And I'm hoping to revive Creative Musings in the next couple months! Stay tuned!</span></span></div>
Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-6542515605832336662012-12-08T00:13:00.000-06:002012-12-08T00:21:30.073-06:002nd annual Inappropriate elf contestThe elves are loose! Those creepy elves designed to keep your children in line until Christmas are back in full force and our elf, Ralph, is no exception. He's been playing it pretty cool this year so far, but I was not prepared for this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUdZBRLM7I7c0-Bch3-1bN8EOLs4lHrD48tLVlIpo5UjjY22p8_iNnj8LkY6tepscTephK8ltkUcK91AgsA5GSP8eI7kXYMWwyqsHZaRzRCEPFJa99Xaj73_OdbUGvOwEQMY4tw/s1600/elf121208-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUdZBRLM7I7c0-Bch3-1bN8EOLs4lHrD48tLVlIpo5UjjY22p8_iNnj8LkY6tepscTephK8ltkUcK91AgsA5GSP8eI7kXYMWwyqsHZaRzRCEPFJa99Xaj73_OdbUGvOwEQMY4tw/s400/elf121208-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bubble bath, some wine, candlelight and a copy of Fifty Shades of Gray...not to hard to imagine what's on Ralph's mind. </td></tr>
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And in my bathroom sink!<br />
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Confused? You can read more about it here: <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/11/inappropriate-elf-contest-2012/">Baby Rabies 2nd annual Inappropriate Elf contest</a><br />
Vote for me! I'm number 85!!!<br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: 'century gothic', 'apple gothic', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">#InappropriateElf</em>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-44343483605010647402012-03-26T23:12:00.000-05:002012-03-26T23:12:31.239-05:00Join me at my new home...http://www.melissaivesphotography.com<br />
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I'm not sure I'll be giving up Creative Musings entirely, but until I post here again, you will find me at <a href="http://www.melissaivesphotography.com/">Melissa Ives Photography</a><br />
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Thank you!Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-62371400455911179732010-12-02T07:55:00.001-06:002010-12-02T07:55:21.724-06:00New Note Cards<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0IatWTRmyZsc/0IatWTRmyZscYY8/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1291298087000/0/"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Ink Damask Thank You Card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Create custom <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">thank you cards</a> at Shutterfly.com.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-50580150250461413092010-12-02T07:36:00.002-06:002010-12-02T07:50:44.823-06:00Maya and Maxwell's First Christmas<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" height="425" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0IatWTRmyZscYXA%26uid%3D001032340255%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1291296949000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0IatWTRmyZscYXA%26uid%3D001032340255%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1291296949000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"></embed></object><br />
<div style="margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; width: 425px;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IatWTRmyZsWHl&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><img border="0" height="1" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" width="1" /></div><br />
I just received this photo book the other day and am thrilled how it turned out! This is one of the projects I was working on in my last post. I created every page in Photoshop using <a href="http://www.designhousedigital.com/karen-funk/christmas-magic-digital-scrapbook-kit">Karen Funk's Christmas Magic</a> kit and a few templates from<a href="http://simplyyin.blogspot.com/"> Yin Designs</a>.<br />
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I have several Shutterfly photo books now using both my designs and Shutterfly's own design templates. I love them! They also make great gifts! *wink wink*Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-16250807263158611172010-10-21T21:48:00.000-05:002010-10-21T21:48:39.990-05:00Projects aboundOne of the hardest struggles of being a new mom, especially a new stay at home mom of multiples, can be losing interest in or more accurately TIME to do the things you once enjoyed. This was true for me. I used to knit, scrapbook, take photos of nature...all these things I used to create I put aside when I created the two most beautiful children in the world. (Sorry, I'm just amazed at these two little people.)<br />
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As much as I adore staying home with my children, I do miss creating. But with a long break comes a huge creative block. Every time I sat down to make a scrapbook page, it felt forced. But I've been searching for inspiration and inch by inch I'm chipping away at that block.<br />
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Here is my first attempt:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HBifFBsfDM83zizl0U-RjC4MnF8bkaJqXYNDfRigrIITqQxkEAoZkysX5XUh83cCXWb6BgNXJBwhNY3H0OOYVpNWBJT2NTY3xE6gtvwcb6RiENiPwNM4MP9ccpIn3xJK4MqmLw/s1600/Make-a-Wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HBifFBsfDM83zizl0U-RjC4MnF8bkaJqXYNDfRigrIITqQxkEAoZkysX5XUh83cCXWb6BgNXJBwhNY3H0OOYVpNWBJT2NTY3xE6gtvwcb6RiENiPwNM4MP9ccpIn3xJK4MqmLw/s320/Make-a-Wish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I downloaded a template from <a href="http://www.digitalscrapper.com/blog/">The Digital Scrapper blog</a> to get me started. I wanted to enter the challenge, but was late. I have an 8x8 Shutterfly book sitting in my account to use for the kids first birthday this layout may or may not end up there.<br />
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There was another challenge which I did enter and I'm very pleased with this one:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzS2JLySdxxAp1AYg8NL2YbZRvVFKAMyI6yFKBEQDm6ADn7BWW2J1wKaWWV1IgsYai0ELnkXcdKN1BpBEf5jQLgRRy0X6b25l0MjtEvM8jjLabNvdzx6Gb8q9PP_dZf4Ikr4GxQ/s1600/cousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzS2JLySdxxAp1AYg8NL2YbZRvVFKAMyI6yFKBEQDm6ADn7BWW2J1wKaWWV1IgsYai0ELnkXcdKN1BpBEf5jQLgRRy0X6b25l0MjtEvM8jjLabNvdzx6Gb8q9PP_dZf4Ikr4GxQ/s320/cousins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm very proud of this page. I huge chunk of the creative block has broken off and I'm getting in the groove again!<br />
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Next project...this blog. Notice the new look? It's still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.<br />
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Then the other day my Real Simple magazine came. There was a gorgeous layout on chunky knits. I was especially drawn to a scarf that basically was a large knit ring that you wrap around your neck a couple times. It was about $35 at the Loft. (I tried to find it online, but they only had a lighter version of it.) It was a simple knit stitch so I ran out and bought some bamboo/wool yarn.<br />
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But that's for another blog post. Stay tuned...I haven't even mentioned the holiday's yet!Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-86153583386074201342010-09-19T15:45:00.000-05:002010-09-19T15:45:10.010-05:00Really want to win this...Yeah, that g.c. for the Photoshop actions! Here's a link: http://ginaraemillerphotography.com/2010/09/post-processing-a-my-four-hens-giveaway/ <br />
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I'm slowly working on starting a small niche photography business. At the kids first birthday party, I wanted to take all these photos...but I was also party hostess and coordinator and didn't have time or opportunity to grab the camera for many shots. Also, these were my kids! I didn't want them to look at the pictures in the future and wonder why Mommy wasn't at their party.<br />
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Thankfully my sister in law stepped in with my camera and caught a lot of those precious moments we can look back on, but what about the other moms out there?<br />
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My business is still in the works as I work on marketing, pricing and a portfolio. I've shot a couple events already and am happy to report that everyone has been pleased with my work.<br />
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More later! This contest has been a great motivator for me to get back to my blog. :)Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-44195425826379887752010-09-18T12:22:00.000-05:002010-09-18T12:22:11.843-05:00Back again!It's a well known fact that we love Halloween! We actually start preparing Nov. 1 of the year before. It's even more fun with the kids. Last year they were Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNk_zt0spU3NfxHGHHOds45PpqjUp9UaO6NjfzgeuOswryefGB2JBNEp8K7LcKs8vLI7hnz5Qyh_BzATlGjXXraFHg9DDJ94B4NF65QE0G9Gzpt6JYVD9mY1Uh2aEXAbjdIggEA/s1600/Momandkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNk_zt0spU3NfxHGHHOds45PpqjUp9UaO6NjfzgeuOswryefGB2JBNEp8K7LcKs8vLI7hnz5Qyh_BzATlGjXXraFHg9DDJ94B4NF65QE0G9Gzpt6JYVD9mY1Uh2aEXAbjdIggEA/s320/Momandkids.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I was a Cat in the Hat)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So even though it's only September...I already have their costumes for this year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuD6iUe_JnwnW4n35fWarr5GDhU8xMHQm3BVuCWgP08sEYLnqzE1r7iz9xHa6rINczHB3AzuXhI-_OFvpU-eDsbLpaMnnFrF1ml6cqJxiOLDagm6RkGkKAoSGTn-8aki2xATGhg/s1600/Maya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuD6iUe_JnwnW4n35fWarr5GDhU8xMHQm3BVuCWgP08sEYLnqzE1r7iz9xHa6rINczHB3AzuXhI-_OFvpU-eDsbLpaMnnFrF1ml6cqJxiOLDagm6RkGkKAoSGTn-8aki2xATGhg/s320/Maya.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xdYoF4p2jOZnrhhbpZGz96zipS4BURhKn6x1K3rZ8tBzalgS5weMvDrZoaR1tuQF-qUpRAcRXpu2_9niQdJtXlQXQyP_jGBvxXMm8qGlivqYJw51CWCmYA5cWAEcbji8yEpwzA/s1600/IMG_9264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xdYoF4p2jOZnrhhbpZGz96zipS4BURhKn6x1K3rZ8tBzalgS5weMvDrZoaR1tuQF-qUpRAcRXpu2_9niQdJtXlQXQyP_jGBvxXMm8qGlivqYJw51CWCmYA5cWAEcbji8yEpwzA/s320/IMG_9264.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would you deny candy to these kids? I think not!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Gina Rae Photography still has her giveaway for Photoshop actions at Four Hens Photography: http://ginaraemillerphotography.com/2010/09/post-processing-a-my-four-hens-giveaway/ </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
I've only played around with the freebie actions, but Four Hens has amazing actions!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">More tomorrow!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-9567019481867868992010-09-17T11:09:00.000-05:002010-09-17T11:09:27.861-05:00Yeah, it's been awhile.So I have a lot to update. In fact that's why I haven't written...things just keep happening and I get further and further behind. Also I have 16 month old toddlers...so not much time to get much done on the computer. Oh and I'm starting my own business. AND I have to completely revise how I eat and exercise--doctor's orders. Scary.<br />
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More on that later....<br />
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But I do love giveaways! Especially photography/Photoshop giveaways. Gina Rae Photography is giving away a $40 give card to My Four Hens Photography. Here's the link: http://ginaraemillerphotography.com/2010/09/post-processing-a-my-four-hens-giveaway/#comment-20 Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-11064901654843923382010-05-09T10:53:00.000-05:002010-05-09T10:53:55.639-05:00Happy Mother's DayThis is my first Mother's Day with my children. It's a day that has been long coming, and seeing those shining faces wake me up this morning filled my heart with more love than I could have ever known.<br />
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The last two Mother's Days, I was pregnant. Two years ago, I didn't know I was pregnant for the first time. However, that pregnancy wouldn't last.<br />
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Last year, I was VERY pregnant with Maya and Maxwell. I was on bed rest with high blood pressure. Maya and Maxwell didn't even have names yet! They would end up missing Mother's Day by two days, but that's ok. They are almost one year old and I feel great!<br />
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But I believe I became a mother long before I first saw my children. I don't remember exactly when it happened, but it was about the time I started thinking less of myself and more of my future children. <br />
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I remember that episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica are meeting with a potential birth mother and ended up lying to her. Chandler went to the angry mother and tried to explain their actions. He said something like "I have a lot to learn to become a father, but Monica's already a mother...she just doesn't have a baby yet." (That was totally paraphrased.) I thought that was so beautiful.<br />
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I'm not the only mother I know who is celebrating a first Mother's Day today. So to the mothers celebrating their first and their <i>n</i>th Mother's Day, I wish you the happiest of days!<br />
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And to those mothers who don't have their babies yet, I wish you a Happy Mother's Day also.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-74889827559958643982010-04-15T09:55:00.001-05:002010-04-15T09:55:54.737-05:00Pampers Village: Connect with real parents like you!<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://pampers.popularmedia.net/click/share/ea449030-2acc-012d-1be2-f1015eef33b2'><img src='http://www.popularmedia.net/cache/7ca66451a23de2a1803fc01cd4f95352/0d87f22714131cc2a2da576b89ab34fc/invite_image.gif?d=20100311105540'/></a></div><div style='font: bold 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 8px 0;'>"When Maxwell and Maya were born the hospital used Huggies diapers. We were not impressed. So when we got home, we went out to try Pampers Swaddlers...we LOVED them! Now the kids have moved on to Cruisers, which we also love. <br /><br />We also go through a lot of diapers, so we like a little reward. We signed up with the Pampers rewards program and every time we buy diapers or wipes, we enter the codes on the Pampers Village Web site. In return, we've traded in points for Sesame Street books, Shutterfly items, gift cards...etc. <br /><br />It's a great program. I definitely recommend it to all moms!"</div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'>On Pampers Village, you can share tips, support, and experiences with real parents like you. You’ll discover more about parenthood through articles, videos, and online tools, and receive offers, samples, and coupons! </div><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://pampers.popularmedia.net/click/share/ea449030-2acc-012d-1be2-f1015eef33b2'>View >></a></div></div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-45783989669046574332010-03-19T10:44:00.003-05:002010-03-19T10:55:38.228-05:00Help me raise money for March for Babies!<div style="text-align: left;">March of Dimes is a cause very near and dear to my heart. I will be walking in the March for Babies walk on April 17, 2010. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu4yfyAarbqBPkuSMQkFFemzbfE6AeUGlaP3akgZpKcn1leerTrQxGTC1BX6o3cWKJgaPvVzk4_deTwGzqlYVfQJUQ8jwnF5kWQQNVvBsgtoF0E8qKtJ5fi7uAghsUe0hsJQWMw/s1600-h/IMG_6182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu4yfyAarbqBPkuSMQkFFemzbfE6AeUGlaP3akgZpKcn1leerTrQxGTC1BX6o3cWKJgaPvVzk4_deTwGzqlYVfQJUQ8jwnF5kWQQNVvBsgtoF0E8qKtJ5fi7uAghsUe0hsJQWMw/s320/IMG_6182.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In May 2009, my twin daughter and son, Maya and Maxwell, were born at 36 weeks and 2 days. Maya weighed 5 lbs 10 oz. and Maxwell weighed 4 lbs 10 oz. I was fortunate to have the best prenatal care, but many women do not have this opportunity. Sometimes, even with the best prenatal care, babies are still born too small or too early. But every baby deserves the best chance, and that is why I am walking! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maya and Maxwell doubled their weight quickly and are now becoming active toddlers. I'm excited to walk with them for March of Dimes!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Please support my walk. Making a secure donation is easy: just click the 'donate now' button on this page. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.</div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-42692997720128906272010-02-08T11:02:00.000-06:002010-02-08T11:02:37.543-06:00A few of my new favorite things...As a mother of young multiples, it's very easy to forget the things that make you, YOU and focus exclusively on baby land. But every once in a while it's good to indulge just a little. Here are a couple things that made my life a little easier:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/ipod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/ipod.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Ipod Touch. No not an iPhone, but it has plenty of the features without the monthly charge. This was a lifesaver during the first couple months of motherhood. There are several great apps for parents, including Baby Geek. The most useful though, Just Light. It's simply a white screen that provides a soft light. I still use it during my before bed breathing checks. I can see them, but the light isn't bright enough to interrupt their sleep. And it's FREE! This gadget also provided middle of the night entertainment while I was up alone pumping milk for the next day. I played games, watched YouTube and read books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/bars.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Kashi Dark Mocha Almond bars, aka "Crack bars" Chocolate, almonds, fiber with a subtle rich coffee taste...enough said. NO one takes my Crack Bars.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/kindle.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kindle, aka Otis. I never thought I could read on a gadget, but I downloaded the Kindle app on my iPod and read "The Book Thief" for book club only weeks after having my babies. This was my birthday gift from Andy and I love it. I read a lot of historical fiction so if I want to read more about the subject of the book, I can scroll down to the name or place and instantly access the Wikipedia entry. Yes, I can do this by going to my computer too, but I often read in bed at night. I would make mental notes to look something up, but always forgot. It's not for everyone, but it works for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/lotion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/lotion.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a new discovery! I had a gift card to Bath and Body Works and was desperately in need of a good lotion for my winter dry skin. I'm kinda cheap and my other lotions were not doing anything. This costs $15, which is expensive for me, but I had a gift card. Wow! My skin feels as good as the babies!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/31vKQ9ETM6L_SL500_AA280_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/31vKQ9ETM6L_SL500_AA280_.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A pop-up camera flash is one of my biggest pet peeves. I prefer not to use it at all, but the lighting in the house in the winter isn't the best, especially for those impromptu snapshots. Then I found the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017SVEDQ/ref=oss_product">Opteka Universal Soft Screen Flash Diffuser</a>. Wow! No more deer caught in the headlights photos. It fits over the pop up flash of your DSLR in seconds and the harsh flash is instantly softened. And it's less than $10. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, I can't finish without a picture of my two most favorite things:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/IMG_5698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/mives21/BLOG/IMG_5698.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Maya and Maxwell--8 months</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">before I had the flash diffuser</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next time...my favorite baby related items that make life easier for mom and babies.</span><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-75566654221310723122010-02-03T11:11:00.000-06:002010-02-03T11:11:44.895-06:00Busy, busy, busy...Ok I'm still lacking on the blogging thing.... Sue me.<br />
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Another house hits the market! Yes, we're finally moving! After almost 10 years and all the new toys from last Christmas, we're running out of room and need to expand. So our house will be officially on the market by the end of the week and we can start looking for a new home. I'm very excited! Even though Andy and I were dating when he bought this house, I really didn't have much say. So to me this will kinda be my first house. And the decor and organization will be how I set it up.<br />
<br />
Here are some of our requirements:<br />
<ul><li>at least 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms</li>
<li>maintenance free siding</li>
<li>two living areas</li>
<li>a decent size kitchen with a dishwaster (goodbye dishpan hands!)</li>
<li>at least a two car garage</li>
<li>a good sized yard (preferably fenced in)</li>
</ul>Here are some things we would like to have:<br />
<ul><li>a dining room</li>
<li>first floor laundry </li>
<li>fireplace (I've just always wanted one.)</li>
<li>a finished basement</li>
</ul>There's more...but I'm drawing a blank. We're really not expecting to have trouble finding something, but hopefully we can sell our house pretty quick.<br />
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Because I just don't have enough to do, raising almost nine month old twins and all, I decided that I needed to start making our own baby food. Ever since I was pregnant, I've read about how easy it was...even in my twins books. My friends did it too.<br />
<br />
So I started with peas. Why? Good question. I HATE peas! We had a couple jars in the cupboard, but I've been putting them off. But Andy gave them peas one night and raved how much they loved them. And peas were the first recipe in my baby cookbook. And homemade pureed peas looked so much prettier than the Gerber variety.<br />
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I bought some frozen peas, a steam basket and used my new food processor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUwS_yUb4mdhfLRjD6mtL6-gL3B6A_9SRgfR6-d79ppb4Ny_mRnUUL6fHT2Gl6E7sBvabGN6Ny92H_jKwPONBkBI_PCsQWRPsMQkY8oV-abotYOv5uT6nUWFG-0sQRmvp0z4XTg/s1600-h/IMG_5769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUwS_yUb4mdhfLRjD6mtL6-gL3B6A_9SRgfR6-d79ppb4Ny_mRnUUL6fHT2Gl6E7sBvabGN6Ny92H_jKwPONBkBI_PCsQWRPsMQkY8oV-abotYOv5uT6nUWFG-0sQRmvp0z4XTg/s320/IMG_5769.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZWCJIBVWPhCd2rsRN3twUn-rku0kB1HeJJzFhsKMS8a_vkWnet_UbXGnMKE94niCtRRgjIaXIuvDBRlAI75rP2tveewwCJHH7OEShj93tktLseQk66zrIiXHIBMn9oo36T2O3A/s1600-h/IMG_5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZWCJIBVWPhCd2rsRN3twUn-rku0kB1HeJJzFhsKMS8a_vkWnet_UbXGnMKE94niCtRRgjIaXIuvDBRlAI75rP2tveewwCJHH7OEShj93tktLseQk66zrIiXHIBMn9oo36T2O3A/s320/IMG_5773.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOHA7KHrHODvKCBTPYCosvCp7YzHZtepB72MynUFjCxwOvo4sPCFuCg7MjZz_PGgMBu-O3aMJJ_Y2Jrgzrn7lmk4faLzX3E7Ss2SGMx8cnJaAvy2ZHVsYqMa5wm_V8wKcBPRdmg/s1600-h/IMG_5770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOHA7KHrHODvKCBTPYCosvCp7YzHZtepB72MynUFjCxwOvo4sPCFuCg7MjZz_PGgMBu-O3aMJJ_Y2Jrgzrn7lmk4faLzX3E7Ss2SGMx8cnJaAvy2ZHVsYqMa5wm_V8wKcBPRdmg/s320/IMG_5770.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My eager little testers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H-05Z7uuQTWJC9A6Kll3zPPgz_3PbfvYV7ZYqcHgWSxnKxePG5iEm749c05-VbqvWr3gfHRJCsGQEaSHRQgVGAXmGUM5DiWV9cnmAXT-VoULBVsk6SsXw7T4vniDflG3znxY5w/s1600-h/IMG_5790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H-05Z7uuQTWJC9A6Kll3zPPgz_3PbfvYV7ZYqcHgWSxnKxePG5iEm749c05-VbqvWr3gfHRJCsGQEaSHRQgVGAXmGUM5DiWV9cnmAXT-VoULBVsk6SsXw7T4vniDflG3znxY5w/s320/IMG_5790.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>It was pretty easy. However, Maya and Maxwell didn't feel the same about Mommy's peas as they did for Gerber's.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPvxCBdaX9FybawCK4Xzx2kYQyZUW-NNDt_umr0LwQp0OCNfYFCpJPxG7Fux3_jnh6LFgGtR1BBs5J0WxzhjWFMRjK4J70hSRAeJxscTL9-bsLE06mX1zOkRl4t7IJ3BeHviCAg/s1600-h/IMG_5779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPvxCBdaX9FybawCK4Xzx2kYQyZUW-NNDt_umr0LwQp0OCNfYFCpJPxG7Fux3_jnh6LFgGtR1BBs5J0WxzhjWFMRjK4J70hSRAeJxscTL9-bsLE06mX1zOkRl4t7IJ3BeHviCAg/s320/IMG_5779.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oNmMjSziRnFiyk1pXdke-xwcLcvXcSi8WAIt83hTSWIOWlmJBeNXssMv2CmfdIVtBU2UXuC3xCpipvYvgcMQlX2xtnrTH-TxKUUdoHVuWKtLR5E91pM9KVk9X1Hd-TdUvP1U2A/s1600-h/IMG_5778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oNmMjSziRnFiyk1pXdke-xwcLcvXcSi8WAIt83hTSWIOWlmJBeNXssMv2CmfdIVtBU2UXuC3xCpipvYvgcMQlX2xtnrTH-TxKUUdoHVuWKtLR5E91pM9KVk9X1Hd-TdUvP1U2A/s320/IMG_5778.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The short of it...both gagged then Maxwell vomited all over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first cooking experience for my children and my son vomits! I shared my news with the Facebook world, and was quickly assured that not many kids like their mom's peas. In fact I reread the section in that twins book and the author admitted that her twins didn't like peas either. Stupid cookbook.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I admit that I haven't tried again, but I would like to try some applesauce because that's their favorite, but I'm a little scared. Maybe Gerber isn't so bad after all...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-36940248915770149092010-01-17T20:44:00.002-06:002010-01-17T22:07:06.694-06:00New and Improved in 2010...I can't tell you how long I've written and rewritten this blog post in my head.<br /><br />In 2009, I wrote only five times. After five years of infertility, I finally became a mother (x2!) but as I would sit down to write, my mind would go blank. Even now, I find myself struggling for words.<br /><br />There's a couple of reasons for this. First, I have infant twins...I'm freaking exhausted and it's amazing I can manage to put a couple words together. Second, it's been a few years since I've really had to put a couple words together, which is sad because at one time writing was my job. My most recent corporate job didn't require stellar writing skills. And when you don't use it, you lose it.<br /><br />After I became a mom, I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take this blog. I started it as a way to express myself creatively and share my photography and scrapbooking. Along the way it became a sounding board with my struggle with depression and infertility and included many anecdotes about my fun loving dogs, who kept me sane for so long. The most natural transition, I think, would be to turn this blog over to the antics and milestones of my children. But I'm not going to do that.<br /><br />Why? The other day I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the person looking back. A month or so ago, I found myself in a crowd of people and I didn't know how to act. I've been thinking about writing on this blog for months now, but I couldn't come up with words to write.<br /><br />I think all women feel like they lose themselves a bit when they become mothers, but when you've been trying to become a mother for so many years, it's hard to look back and remember who you were.<br /><br />But this is a new time...a new and exciting time. So Creative Musings will continue to be my creative musings on life and art and dogs, but will also reflect my new role and journey as a domestically-challenged stay at home mom of multiples. I can't promise great writing, grammar and spelling, but hopefully with a little practice I'll get there.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-80980530567439390222009-06-09T10:11:00.003-05:002009-06-09T21:09:20.217-05:00Welcome Maya and Maxwell!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSRLOegBANUqWKieG58ObWJgLnJ9UtkP6gt-nEyuuyBmcdMojPdjHPlI2bUEfJrQh4NVmbxmw8uGrYe5igOONeQqbeCzeTw-5nIl6koNmt6gsZ0HRoTzXc2BnX52vpSu0_UY8sg/s1600-h/Birth+Announcement.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSRLOegBANUqWKieG58ObWJgLnJ9UtkP6gt-nEyuuyBmcdMojPdjHPlI2bUEfJrQh4NVmbxmw8uGrYe5igOONeQqbeCzeTw-5nIl6koNmt6gsZ0HRoTzXc2BnX52vpSu0_UY8sg/s400/Birth+Announcement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345346437532595554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They're here!!!<br /><br />Actually today they are 4 weeks old already! My due date was June 7th, but early in May I had to go to the hospital with pre-eclampsia (or high blood pressure). I was put on strict bedrest.<br /><br />On the 12th I went in to have my blood pressure checked again and sure enough it was very high. I was immediately admitted to the birth center and by 6 p.m. I had two adorable babies via c-section at 36 weeks and two days.<br /><br />Both Maya and Maxwell were sent to the NICU because of respiratory problems and were there for two days. We were so happy when they were released to my room!<br /><br />Life since then hasn't been the easiest...there's been a lot of poop, cries (for them) and very little sleep (for us), but there's nothing like the feeling when I pick one of them up when they are crying and they calm down in a couple seconds and cuddle into my chest. I can't wait to see their first real smiles (although I've caught little previews when they are deep asleep!)<br /><br />Sorry this is so short, but there hasn't been much time for the computer, as you can imagine! I did design their birth announcements above though.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-29339138769646730582009-04-15T10:16:00.002-05:002009-04-15T11:28:31.917-05:00Grieving...About 7 and a half years ago, Andy walked through the front door with a shaking mop of black fur and my life was never the same. I was never a dog person and was so nervous about being a dog owner. However, this little bundle of fur, known as Kelvin, grabbed my heart and became my best friend in every sense of the word.<br /><br />Yesterday, Andy was with our beloved Kelvin as he closed his eyes and slipped out of this world.<br /><br />The last couple days have been some of the hardest we've ever had to deal with...comparable with our miscarriage last June.<br /><br />From the beginning, Kelvin was a nervous pup. He was nine months old when Andy brought him home because his cubemate's wife was expecting a baby and they couldn't keep the dog. Rather than seeing him go to the humane society, Andy offered to bring him home. It wasn't long before I fell in love.<br /><br />Kelvin and I have had a special bond from the beginning. My favorite part of the day was coming home because he was so exciting to see me. His little butt would shake so hard that I thought his tail would fly off. He became my little Wiggle Butt.<br /><br />Kelvin came into my life when I was extremely depressed. For nearly eight years, Kelvin has been there for some of the most troubling times of my life, including a five year devastating struggle with infertility.<br /><br />However, Kelvin had struggles of his own. We don't know anything about Kelvin's early life and where he came from. It was apparent from the beginning that he had problems with dominance. We took him to puppy training classes and even met with a behaviorist. But Kelvin was extremely anxious. He barked at anyone walking by, hated when people came over and tried to dominate over Andy and I. Over the years, though, I became the alpha female in Kelvin's life, but that didn't stop him from lashing out at Andy and our lab Dakota. However, I constantly worked with him...trying to adjust his behavior.<br /><br />Over the past couple years though, our training proved harder and harder, as Kelvin's outbursts became unprovoked. In a second he would turn into a different dog, not the sweet pup that curled up to me and licked my tears when I cried. He would go into a frenzy when anyone came to the door. If Dakota walked past him, he would strike out at her. Then he became extra protective of me, growling at Andy whenever he came near me, even biting him.<br /><br />Then I finally became pregnant and we weren't expecting only one baby, but two. Many people say that dogs can tell when a woman is pregnant or at least know something is different. Both our dogs knew something was different. Each time we had a baby shower and brought more and more new stuff home, Kelvin became more and more anxious. He clung to me, never leaving my side and even wanting to come to work with me. Unfortunately, this made him even more hostile to Andy. Things came to a head on Easter Sunday when in "protecting" me, Kelvin snapped at Andy, then me for trying to correct him.<br /><br />With the birth of our twins only a month away, Andy did some research on the Internet and read about Rage Syndrome, which is rare, but prevalent in spaniels. Reading the symptoms was like reading Kelvin's personality. Still, I wanted to speak with a professional. I made an appointment and after a long discussion of genetics vs. behavioral problems, we knew what had to be done...for us, our children and Kelvin himself.<br /><br />God, I wish there could have been another way. I wish there was another option. For despite his problems, Kelvin, the TRUE Kelvin who struggled within his fears and anxieties, was the sweetest, funniest dog. If we could only rewire his brain! If only we could find a way to release him from the prison that was passed on to him from his parents.<br /><br />The Kelvin I will treasure for the rest of my life is the puppy who looked up at me with those big brown eyes when he first entered our house and tried to hide under Uncle Steve's legs. I'll never forget his little Wiggle Butt dance when I got home. I'll never forget the time Andy brought him back home from the vet and he could barely walk, didn't want water or food, but when we brought out his ball, sprang into action, forgetting his charade. I'll always remember the time he dug into my knitting bag and found an apple I left in there and carried it around the house like a precious prize until I cut it up for him and Dakota to share.<br /><br />Kelvin is the dog who turned an entire family into dog lovers. I grew up with an intense fear of dogs so we never had one growing up. But Kelvin was welcomed into my parents home for extended visits, even sleeping in their bed.<br /><br />Kelvin, my buddy, wherever you are, you will always be my first baby. Daddy and I love you and will always love you and treasure you forever. I will never, ever forget you and everything you taught me. I'm so sorry, buddy. I love you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Because I knew you...I have been changed for good.</span><br /></div>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-87882471893011805262009-02-09T18:44:00.002-06:002009-02-09T18:56:52.528-06:00Octomom is a loon!Well...I tried to give her a chance, but this chick is a few fries short of a Happy Meal (well maybe the entire order of fries and a couple bites of hamburger, as well.)<br /><br />I watched bits of her interview. First, the only people who support you are your parents and yet you tell the world you had a dysfunctional childhood? Because you were an only child??? Really??? Second, you have 14 children, but think that you can go back to school and get your masters degree? What kind of delusional, fantasy world do you live in???<br /><br />There are 16 people in this story I feel so sorry for...her children and her parents. She may love her children, I don't doubt that, but if she TRULY loved them...she would not risk their lives like that. Apparently it's still unclear who is going to pay the $1.3 million hospital bill.<br /><br />The more I hear about this story...the angrier I get.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-14710833547416381422009-01-30T16:37:00.000-06:002009-01-30T16:47:10.919-06:00This upsets me...Everyone’s been asking me about the woman in California who delivered octuplets this week. Apparently I’m an expert on fertility treatments and multiples.<br /><br />Usually I don’t pay attention to stories like these. But today I read that she’s also the mother of six other children. No one knows much about the mother (which I give her credit for), but from the article I read on <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28927339/">msnbc,</a> it sounds like she lives with her six children at her parents.<br /><br />Now I hate to pass judgments on people I don’t know, without knowing their story, but I hate how the media romanticizes these extreme multiple births at the same time passing judgment on people who use fertility treatments to get pregnant in the first place.<br /><br />A couple months ago, ABC News ran a story featuring the Jon and Kate Plus 8 family and the dangers of IVF. The story was the most ill informed story I had ever read. First of all, the couple they were using as an example didn’t even do IVF. They supposedly did a combination of fertility medications and IUI.<br /><br />In a normal cycle, a woman releases one egg a month. If that egg is fertilized with a sperm, it may or may not implant into the awaiting uterine wall. With IVF, a woman’s ovaries are stimulated and harvested, then combined with the sperm and inserted a day or so later back in the uterus where it may or may not implant. Most doctors I have worked with, or know of, would never insert more than two or three (in the most extreme cases) to prevent the possibility of extreme multiples, a condition that is extremely dangerous to mother and babies.<br /><br />You tend see more extreme multiple gestations from the combination of fertility meds and IUI. In these cases the ovaries are stimulated to release more than one egg. Sometimes the medications can produce 20 or more eggs (which was my case in many instances). At this point, most doctors will cancel the cycle to prevent extreme multiples or harvest the eggs for later IVF. But some do not.<br /><br />When I initially heard about the octuplet story, I assumed it occurred from a combination of fertility meds and IUI, but the NBC story alludes that the mother had more than 8 embryos inserted into her uterus, which would actually be IVF. I’m hoping this is another instance of a poorly researched story, because I do not know of any doctor who would do such a thing….especially if the woman already has six children at home!<br /><br />The story also mentions the fact that the mother rejected the idea of selective reduction, where they abort a number of the fetuses for the sake of the others. This is one of the cruelest realities of fertility problems…you finally are pregnant after so, so long, but have to make this awful decision. It was because of this that we were pretty conservative in our approach, but as someone who struggled for so many years without success, I can see the thought process of “the more you have, the more likely it will work.”<br /><br />However, the story of the woman in California made me angry. I’m hoping there is more to the story than what has been printed so far, and I appreciate the mother’s decision not to go public. I guess I see fertility treatments as a way to help people, like us and many of our friends, to achieve the families they want. When I hear someone using such extreme measures to get pregnant, when she already has six children, I feel like she’s abusing and giving a bad name to a system that has helped so many.<br /><br />I am very thankful for my twins. I cannot tell you how much I love them already. Both are pretty active, but shy away when Daddy wants to feel. I’ll be at 22 weeks this Sunday and have another ultrasound next week. My goal is to get everything out of the nursery (all the junk I’ve collected over the past 7 years) and basic furniture in by the time of my first shower the end of February. My birthday last week was fun, as I received mostly clothes for the babies.<br /><br />Well that’s all for now. A bientot.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-65274883324516431012009-01-08T20:48:00.003-06:002009-01-08T20:55:54.733-06:00Drum Roll Please....It's a<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Girl!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It's a<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Boy!!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We're having the perfect combination!!!! I cannot tell you how excited we are!!! Both babies are incredibly active and healthy.<br /><br />Considering all we've been though, I can't believe how lucky we are!<br /><br />I am on cloud 9!!!<br /></span></span></span>Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-68564339853568687902008-12-31T10:08:00.000-06:002008-12-31T10:09:29.291-06:00Happy Holidays!!!I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season.<br /><br />We are still thrilled in the Ives household, as we await the arrival of our twins in late spring.<br /><br />Everything is going very well. Our last appointment was during 13 weeks (I’m at 17 now!). However my boy/girl theory has been blown out of the window because both were 6.8 cm and had heartbeats of 138 bpm. So who knows? We are going to find out this week though, as I have an appointment with the perinatalogist on Thursday. I hope they cooperate!<br /><br />Last time it was such a relief to see them moving around and almost interacting with each other. At first both were lying in the same direction, with their heads toward my left. Twin A kept moving around, then when it was time to measure Twin B, he/she moved breech with his/her butt on the others head. Twin A didn’t appreciate it. They were both stretching and yawning. It was the most amazing sight I’ve ever seen.<br /><br />I’m just starting to feel them move a round a bit, mostly at night, but sometimes while I’m in the car. In the last couple days my belly has really popped out, even though I’ve been “showing” for awhile. I was worried after my 13 week appointment because I hadn’t gained any weight in between my 8 week and 13 week appointments. However, the babies had grown and the doctors didn’t seem worried about it. I’ve been eating plenty also. I think the pounds are starting to come on now though.<br /><br />It still seems so surreal though. I went through a really rough period after my first trimester, which I didn’t expect and was honestly a little ashamed about. I was really depressed, which is the reason for the long periods between updates. I’m starting to feel a bit better, but had a really hard time dealing with my feelings because we’d been trying for so long and shouldn’t I be happy? Unfortunately, I think the scars of infertility remain after pregnancy is achieved. It always seems too good to be true and even though this is what we wanted for so long, it’s still a big change. One thing I do know is that I am absolutely in love with both babies, which gives me strength to move on and do what’s best for them and myself…even if it means acknowledging feelings I’d rather not feel. At least I am familiar with depression and knew I wasn’t going (completely) crazy.<br /><br />Well that’s all for now. I do have more to talk about, but it needs a segment of its own. And it’s a little emotional so I can’t really write it at work.<br /><br />I finally do have ultrasound photos scanned too, but they are on my iPod and I don’t have wireless access here to get them. (Andy surprised me with an iPod touch for Christmas…I LOVE that thing!!!)<br /><br />So expect more from me before the week’s out! I appreciate everyone’s comments and good wishes! Thank you so much for reading!Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-16065301698767596712008-11-16T15:05:00.003-06:002008-11-16T15:41:30.390-06:00Update...I don't know if I still have readers out there, as it's been so long since my last post...but hopefully some of you have stuck around or will stop by to hear the good news...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We're pregnant!!!!</span><br /><br />With TWINS!!!<br /><br />As of today, I'm 11 weeks pregnant, so nearly out of the first trimester! And it has been a whirlwind of a couple months!<br /><br />I found out I was pregnant the last week of September, although I did cheat and take a home test before my blood tests. I actually took three home tests before my blood test and all were positive. So I was feeling pretty good when I went in for my test on 9/29. Sure enough my HCG level was 199! On Oct. 1, I had a little scare when I woke up with some spotting. I still went to my test, but spent the rest of the day at home after talking to my nurses in Michigan. My HCG came back 329, which was less than they wanted (it's supposed to double or rise by at least 80%.) I was so scared...it was too much like last time. On Friday, they had me go in for another test and our fears were put aside when my HCG came back at 638!<br /><br />Of course, anyone who has been through infertility treatments knows that there are several little milestones you have to go through until you can feel comfortable with your pregnancy. Our next milestone was the six week ultrasound on 10/15. Andy and I went to the afternoon appointment hoping that our baby would be ok...so imagine our surprise when we saw and heard two heartbeats!!! However, there were actually three implantations. #3 did not have a heartbeat and appeared to be a couple days behind the others. We made another appointment on Halloween to find out.<br /><br />I was scared about the Halloween appointment. It was very much out of our hands if there were two or three babies. I tried not to think about it, knowing we'd be blessed either way, even though it would be sad if #3 didn't make it. As soon as the ultrasound was applied, we saw our twins...healthy as ever. #3 had continued to grow a bit, but never had a heartbeat. We were sad, but it was amazing to see the other two thriving. Baby A measured 1.85 cm and had a heartbeat of 158 bpm. Baby B measured 1.72 cm and had a heartbeat of 172 bpm.<br /><br />Now it's too early to find out the sex of the babies, but I think Baby A might be a boy and Baby B a girl. I had a dream shortly after our first ultrasound that we had boy and girl twins. Of course, some say that the heartbeats look like two girls. We'll find out in January!<br /><br />My due date is June 7, however the doctor expects that these will be May babies, as twins typically come earlier. I am showing a little bit already, as my uterus is already the size of someone 6 to 8 weeks ahead. I love maternity pants! Most of my regular pants are just a little too tight around the belly. Thank goodness for the maternity section at Target!!!<br /><br />And whoever called it "morning" sickness, has never experienced it! I've spent much of these first months very sick. It hasn't been easy, but I never expected it to be and I'd rather throw up everyday than not at all.<br /><br />Well that's the biggest news in the Ives house! I wanted to put up ultrasound pictures, but my printer/scanner is buried in what is going to be the nursery. We've got a lot of work a head of us!Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-4969951167363553442008-09-21T21:42:00.007-05:002008-09-21T22:08:16.231-05:00Three's a charm?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UFnzBij2WXMz1i2aZ8lt35r5CnFHOqrCdxvIK-mntm0IAjywwn7iGPJH75sMdGguAKZ2uUeutQk_abmFD3AHMwSFzTc3pNvp8hNl4Eiek2F5WA9xTWqBhwpK5k5jtFn2YbSS0A/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UFnzBij2WXMz1i2aZ8lt35r5CnFHOqrCdxvIK-mntm0IAjywwn7iGPJH75sMdGguAKZ2uUeutQk_abmFD3AHMwSFzTc3pNvp8hNl4Eiek2F5WA9xTWqBhwpK5k5jtFn2YbSS0A/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248670994706928994" border="0" /></a>They all survived the thaw!<br /><br />Last Wednesday, the doctor transferred all three embryos. They were unfrozen on Tuesday and all continued to divide over night. However, the doctor told us that the chance of triplets are very slim. The two bottom ones are the higher quality (about the same as the last two) and the top one is rated a "3+".<br /><br />For the most part, I've spent the days since Wednesday flat on my back (which is aching now, by the way.) I could turn from side to side after four hours, but I didn't want to risk one straying toward a fallopian tube. This is about the time now that they should be implanting. I think I feel a couple twinges, but it's really hard to tell. I think I just want to feel something so bad.<br /><br />So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next month and beyond!<br /><br />I did leave bed rest on Saturday for about an hour to go see the Dragon Boat races on the river. I really wanted to get some photos for my class. I really need a telephoto lens. I picked three photos out of over 100, but I really was not pleased with any of the photos. But since I was laid up all week and it's Sunday night already...I don't have time to reshoot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQTxJUfINc7sE7ZJl2_Z7uxXNd3Ixm1aEpaxfODOBqCJD5QKLJJz7f-uEbxLGdDRJMJH1lhOSE1PdF7n_Nkwydr-C81U7e0eADnTGjZIFshyuuzdBA21jGo_1ML-QpJ6zJXP0RQ/s1600-h/Dragons_wide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQTxJUfINc7sE7ZJl2_Z7uxXNd3Ixm1aEpaxfODOBqCJD5QKLJJz7f-uEbxLGdDRJMJH1lhOSE1PdF7n_Nkwydr-C81U7e0eADnTGjZIFshyuuzdBA21jGo_1ML-QpJ6zJXP0RQ/s320/Dragons_wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248676679526982594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNzbJLa_NxwGShXdOn-7aPnes7EntXGS1OFUapCWzU05oUZbWjGcfJkpDKnZHDjMXY6pkIhm7o75xpJWVq0z3G4slsUai37DFDheP-OlqIQvaj5mkc0hp2VZg1GLyGikkxkpiVw/s1600-h/Dragons_med.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNzbJLa_NxwGShXdOn-7aPnes7EntXGS1OFUapCWzU05oUZbWjGcfJkpDKnZHDjMXY6pkIhm7o75xpJWVq0z3G4slsUai37DFDheP-OlqIQvaj5mkc0hp2VZg1GLyGikkxkpiVw/s320/Dragons_med.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248676511937733682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5noJqU2E5bD-vD3mBWx_Hgcui7r_-BmLW9QkbOfEx0dw22nDNwEWicIiBf984nHJkWECiy7aX9__3W3S-TDM8IMOgRJ4nJ30LsDahOSZcIXKm_gK2qgcxYyPsKvKeWYQeCcEag/s1600-h/Dragons_close.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5noJqU2E5bD-vD3mBWx_Hgcui7r_-BmLW9QkbOfEx0dw22nDNwEWicIiBf984nHJkWECiy7aX9__3W3S-TDM8IMOgRJ4nJ30LsDahOSZcIXKm_gK2qgcxYyPsKvKeWYQeCcEag/s320/Dragons_close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248676390402579026" border="0" /></a>That's all for now. I hope to update more now that I dressed this place up a little bit.Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-32309128103493999012008-09-13T23:38:00.009-05:002008-09-14T00:32:37.939-05:00When all else fails...try, and try again.<br /><br />It's now been three months since last IVF cycle. Three months to heal, three months to climb out of that dark hole and reach toward hope. Here we are three months later and this week I will be going back to the clinic to have perhaps three frozen embryos transferred back to my body.<br /><br />I'm terrified.<br /><br />But I had a small taste of pregnancy...a small bit of hope. And I'm ready. I'm so ready to hold my child in my arms, sing them to sleep and comfort them when they cry. Of course, I'm ready for diapers, runny noses and baby puke too.<br /><br />So wish us luck. Pray that they make themselves comfortable high in my uterus, far away from the fallopian tubes. Pray that they stay there for nine months.<br /><br />In other news...I'm very weak.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkxVOeR4BkuzpBGZBflvWlUIqYqXKcBrDukeB_IfPxcjgMMb71xO5D1h3ZKWa50bpE36ryl1y98GoRt_Fbuxat65K6ulcja9ImbFGhRV_lDsU_vdw5mZhsOaA2HQxb_ruESTHFw/s1600-h/51gZwAX6YvL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkxVOeR4BkuzpBGZBflvWlUIqYqXKcBrDukeB_IfPxcjgMMb71xO5D1h3ZKWa50bpE36ryl1y98GoRt_Fbuxat65K6ulcja9ImbFGhRV_lDsU_vdw5mZhsOaA2HQxb_ruESTHFw/s320/51gZwAX6YvL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245735747065700290" border="0" /></a>Yeah...I got it.<br /><br />But I'm so glad I did! I started my photography class last week and there are so many more advantages to me learning with this camera. I am so happy with it. Our first assignment is to bring in three "texture or feel" photos. To me, that means some awesome close up photography.<br /><br />Here's what I'm bringing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbnZQYD-xmrdNJyiaQFodLOyTysKD4K9gaAwlRKeh4TJ_AdsvCdAwAV7h68_2Rie9vRdW9cm6LH5jfujGljHwPXh5M-vdMJbQuXsxXHhruWCgubdi3WEPOKaeN4XXXVPPmL7qvQ/s1600-h/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbnZQYD-xmrdNJyiaQFodLOyTysKD4K9gaAwlRKeh4TJ_AdsvCdAwAV7h68_2Rie9vRdW9cm6LH5jfujGljHwPXh5M-vdMJbQuXsxXHhruWCgubdi3WEPOKaeN4XXXVPPmL7qvQ/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245738657734312194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d9It5nWHWA1KKtkDnqmNwkBY2vRseKVgzJ9kshJ25zMZhMZbA63zA40G_6UGnmUX91POIpz3bKgSPz-2qh2FrdAd-5slsFHpiSoFVvtWGm87tClkhAPSLBghvxO_o5lVLiyxzg/s1600-h/IMG_0204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d9It5nWHWA1KKtkDnqmNwkBY2vRseKVgzJ9kshJ25zMZhMZbA63zA40G_6UGnmUX91POIpz3bKgSPz-2qh2FrdAd-5slsFHpiSoFVvtWGm87tClkhAPSLBghvxO_o5lVLiyxzg/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245737828561193570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BLFm5iCmsiibvS5VOxVown4qlp60FIVqkPN5TWym_l9xevMdVSNF74HmcmmxWQE1q_1tJDxd_1_roTeRs2viPx80nZEmt9mrpDYYPtW7TfNuJ3vnjfGinsuO7tzFho4q5uv4Ng/s1600-h/IMG_5483_edited-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BLFm5iCmsiibvS5VOxVown4qlp60FIVqkPN5TWym_l9xevMdVSNF74HmcmmxWQE1q_1tJDxd_1_roTeRs2viPx80nZEmt9mrpDYYPtW7TfNuJ3vnjfGinsuO7tzFho4q5uv4Ng/s320/IMG_5483_edited-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245737207275128642" border="0" /></a><br />Actually that last one was taken last weekend with my S2 IS. The other two were taken this afternoon during a break in the rain.<br /><br />I think I really like macro photography so a macro lens is on my wish list, and I could use another zoom lens. Yeah...photography can be an expensive hobby.<br /><br />Speaking of hobbies, I'm particularly pleased with my latest knitting project:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zKmnZFD7y4SlhaNVz9bPHMD3VrbO5bIkuqNNsKagcWaGIeVJUlbwzVBfRDLzg_Ji9MmOwpSLFde30trFfZPI6BBNc78Ac-WTQTc7rlIjBE4FGwqUD3QUtOTp-M-luZzhqhY7fA/s1600-h/IMG_5024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zKmnZFD7y4SlhaNVz9bPHMD3VrbO5bIkuqNNsKagcWaGIeVJUlbwzVBfRDLzg_Ji9MmOwpSLFde30trFfZPI6BBNc78Ac-WTQTc7rlIjBE4FGwqUD3QUtOTp-M-luZzhqhY7fA/s320/IMG_5024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245740496190355778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z7rAVom8-SgYDbJ3TIv6pBtNWkh6i3ssBCGYKR2ZGOxGsaoBv0ZCz2Wr95qnniOgdDGRjF-30TQ94fNGWMx8u0Gig92mxWmPy9WyUWdiixed5s1wcPFJIE_gqXcSeG2XhbLknA/s1600-h/IMG_5012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z7rAVom8-SgYDbJ3TIv6pBtNWkh6i3ssBCGYKR2ZGOxGsaoBv0ZCz2Wr95qnniOgdDGRjF-30TQ94fNGWMx8u0Gig92mxWmPy9WyUWdiixed5s1wcPFJIE_gqXcSeG2XhbLknA/s320/IMG_5012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245740961590912770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is for my new little nephew, Cade, who was born on Labor Day (funny enough!) I adapted the pattern from Lois Daykin's Baby Knits book. The pattern, Teddy Suit, is featured on the cover. I knew when I first saw this, I had to make it.<br /><br />I did make some adjustments to the pattern though. First the pattern calls for Rowen Calmer yarn, which costs about $10 a skein. I substituted Knit Picks Comfy, which was $3 per skein. The yarns are very similar in fiber content and weight, although the Comfy does feel a little bit heavier. Comfy also does not have the same sheen as Calmer, but the cotton/microfiber blend should wear and wash well.<br /><br />Next I finished the entire suit, and knit the first bootie. The frustration set in. First I couldn't figure out how to make this piece which was knit flat to a bootie. When I finally figured it out, it was much too large for a newborn (maybe even a three year old.) Since I had a lot of brown yarn left, I knit another using much smaller needles...still too big.<br /><br />Perhaps it was the different yarn. But I did knit a swatch and had the right gauge. Even if it would've fit, it was still an awkward pattern. I considered leaving the booties off completely, but the suit with the footies were what sold me in the first place.<br /><br />I went to Knitty Gritty's site at DIY.net and found an "ugg" bootie pattern I made a couple years ago. So I adjusted that pattern to fit the suit pattern. This included adjusting the pattern so that the instep was knit in seed stitch. I wrote the pattern out. I'll post it here soon if anyone is interested.<br /><br />In the end I was much happier with the footie and the gift was well-received by Andy's brother and sister-in-law. I can't wait to see a photo of the little guy in it.<br /><br />Well this was a long post. I'm off to bed. We have a busy week a head of us (followed by four delicious days of much needed bed rest.)Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279977.post-18529235295960078182008-07-30T21:43:00.004-05:002008-07-30T22:24:13.980-05:00Less than one week until...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJioIt89rJkPVSb6usR20maa1HoUdiMdZNEDaIXsmpfSMoo6TJKDgiaI4UPLnkgeYgoTEQoY8dZtGkUx14WBrvDqIvegZPnSiX5RPDKpMEJagnOrAL4KZt4Fs5hz_kSWLH-XY2GA/s1600-h/tour_banner2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJioIt89rJkPVSb6usR20maa1HoUdiMdZNEDaIXsmpfSMoo6TJKDgiaI4UPLnkgeYgoTEQoY8dZtGkUx14WBrvDqIvegZPnSiX5RPDKpMEJagnOrAL4KZt4Fs5hz_kSWLH-XY2GA/s320/tour_banner2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229004789336785410" border="0" /></a>That's right! Monday evening I'm going to be front row (that's <span style="font-style: italic;">freaking</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">front row, </span>people!!!) at the Idina Menzel concert. After the summer we've had...I am so looking forward to this! It really is the highlight of the summer for me. As corny as it sounds and is her music has helped me through a lot. (God that sounds lame.) It was Brave and Better to Have Loved that helped me realize my fears of continuing fertility treatments earlier this year. I think I'm going to need to hear those songs live to continue again after losing the baby last month.<br /><br />We're on the schedule for our embryo transfer in September. I'm ready. I'm really ready to be a mom. My short pregnancy, even doomed from the start, just solidified that for me. I knew right when I lost the baby and even though I knew it had to happen and was going to happen...I still went into shock when it did. I don't remember ever feeling that empty. It was awful.<br /><br />Then, of course, the next day this happened:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-9lUPt2edPKfiTbLKcOxH5uLsmPD1F1cKXtRxQsLdiZlCSpXejcO4safB0n8tdnVVUjMgEatuQExJ-PcA9WExPsVsjIHN_9T0QhmBgqZJCsQOa1Wq4bAMz4ypw4cyERsfehfbA/s1600-h/IMG_3661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-9lUPt2edPKfiTbLKcOxH5uLsmPD1F1cKXtRxQsLdiZlCSpXejcO4safB0n8tdnVVUjMgEatuQExJ-PcA9WExPsVsjIHN_9T0QhmBgqZJCsQOa1Wq4bAMz4ypw4cyERsfehfbA/s200/IMG_3661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229009918735868482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVUsk4OnaVrtsaDInGb1WreefNdNWGd48P3GhQWNsZXE2976qthBzLEu6Jh3b83RwqxnXWvwBPR0hPjJqaq_a5RFgMbGaC1-OcguXuhj5yVSKSqDdzC13gNIDAGLeMmGnZfiUEw/s1600-h/IMG_3662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVUsk4OnaVrtsaDInGb1WreefNdNWGd48P3GhQWNsZXE2976qthBzLEu6Jh3b83RwqxnXWvwBPR0hPjJqaq_a5RFgMbGaC1-OcguXuhj5yVSKSqDdzC13gNIDAGLeMmGnZfiUEw/s200/IMG_3662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229009924553182802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD5wl8wIRk1Ht6y67drtoxdjZAbOgVcFxsQcXhn2mEN2OfHk4OpuB9I7P3B2IqhZ3LNZ8hGVwLlsAcVdgVJEfVQkpW7g_6-E4ZQ8BhtSuB0QopIXGcQo3W6GzgcS37HOXKvLkpQ/s1600-h/IMG_3665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD5wl8wIRk1Ht6y67drtoxdjZAbOgVcFxsQcXhn2mEN2OfHk4OpuB9I7P3B2IqhZ3LNZ8hGVwLlsAcVdgVJEfVQkpW7g_6-E4ZQ8BhtSuB0QopIXGcQo3W6GzgcS37HOXKvLkpQ/s200/IMG_3665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229009931519892850" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, that is our basement....flooded. Yeah.<br /><br />See why I'm so excited for a concert?<br /><br />In other news, I've really excited to learn more about photography. It's been something that I've wanted to learn more about for a long time, but I've finally signed up for a class at the technical college this fall. So...if I'm going to learn more about photography....<br /><br />I need a new camera!!!<br /><br />Seriously, I've gotten a new camera for Christmas for the last two years. (Then another one three years before that.) But I <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> a DSLR camera. Really I do. I'm currently using a Canon PowerShot S2 IS and an A560. I'm leaning toward a Canon because I'm used to Canons and I think I have it narrowed down to the Rebel XSi or the XS (which is scaled down from the first mentioned and not out until next month sometime). It depends on what the XS ends up costing. Right now it's showing as $699 on Amazon, but have heard that it should drop a week or so after it comes out. I'm also going to be depending on Christmas sales.<br /><br />Any suggestions? I'm still open. I really don't want to have to buy a new one in a couple years. (or next year.)<br /><br />Well I'm chatty tonight. I'm off...Melissa Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139285401665790381noreply@blogger.com1