Crochet Shawl - it took two generations to make for the third

My mum started this shawl.
She started it while I was pregnant with Michael.
After he was born she handed it to me to finish.
It sat in my bag for almost 2 years!
Now with baby number 7 due I have a reason to finish it.

All done!
The pattern ended up being modified because I made a mistake and didn't want to rip back and fix the mistake, so I just changed the pattern!
Now it's no longer a mistake but a design feature.
The pattern came from a Leisure Arts Publication Baby Layettes and Afghans

Week 37!

This pregnancy has flown by!
Baby is due just after Christmas.
It's NOT allowed to come before I have too much to do and no where for it to sleep.
Number Seven was a surprise package and I had given away my trusty bassinet to a good friend.
When I rang her to tell her I'd need it back she laughed at me!
Her little one is just about to grow out of the bassinet so back home it is headed soon.
That bassinet has had more babies than I can remember sleep in it.
All of my brood and all the foster babies we have looked after over the years.

Michael is soon to be a big brother.
That's making me sad, soon my focus will shift to the new baby and he'll be moved up in the order.
No longer the baby of the family!
Just at a time when I am totally enthralled with him.
Amazed each day by how clever he is, how sweet.
Watching his little personality explode.

They say God never gives you more than you can handle but sometimes I think God likes to push my boundaries and stretch me to the limit. I suppose with out the stretching I wouldn't know how strong I am.

A new kitchen

It's been all action here.
My new kitchen is going in!

Michael acted as site supervisor.
Overseeing Pa and Daddy on the job.

My new kitchen is installed!
The sink is now at a height that doesn't hurt my back.

I have lots of bench space now.
Still a few little jobs to go. The old tiles near the stove need to come off and the wall repaired and repainted and we need a custom built bench for the microwave corner.
This is an IKEA kitchen Udden.
I love how streamlined it is and how easy it will be to keep clean.

There's still a lot to do.
But we do a little at a time as we can afford it.
I'd like to put a wood oven/ heater in the fireplace.

Eventually there will be a huge remodel of the bathroom, laundry and toilet areas.
This will add some room to the dining area.

WARNING ..this contains images of birth...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is the LINK to watch it in a bigger window. I couldn't work out out to shrink it in the embed code.

I have never home birthed. It has never been an option living in Tennant Creek, a remote town, I was lucky to get a hospital birth in my home town! I live in a country area now and still a homebirth is a dream unless I pack up my family and move to the city.

Women in rural and remote areas get even less choice than city women in how they birth. Some have to travel over 500kms, to a large town with a hospital that will do births, two weeks prior to their delivery dates. Many need to leave behind other children and spouses as affording accommodation for up to a month, sometimes more, would be financially beyond them. Giving birth without their partners and family around. And this is here in Australia.

We could not have afforded to have this baby if we still lived in Tennant Creek, both financially and emotionally.

If men gave birth ..do you think there would be a huge improvement in the services available?