a special project, story and thanks

i am not a saver. i don't see the point of hanging on to things and find great relief in purging and organizing.

however, i saved every card, email and note i received after coopers birth, surgery and death. i had a box full of stuff. i knew that i needed to do SOMETHING with it, but the thought of the task was just too overwhelming. i didn't even know where to start and i was grieving and hurting too much.

enter marta.

i began reading marta's blog shortly before cooper was born. i felt in instant connection, like she was my long lost friend. i loved her posts, her sense of style and how she talked about her beloved boy. sometime after cooper's death, i realized that she helped people create books out of their memories. i immediately knew that i had found the person to create a book for sweet cooper.

but how do you ask someone to take on a project so personal? we were not talking about someone's memoirs, the subject was a 3 week old whose life was cut short. and would she want to tackle such a project, knowing that she had a baby not much older than cooper? would it be too close to home?

i figured all i could do was ask. so i carefully crafted an email, giving her a brief summary of our story, my vision for the project, and the link to my blog so she could read more. i hit send and waited. i think i checked my email obsessively, anxious to see her response. of course her reply was caring, gracious, thoughtful and pure marta.

after several emails back and forth, we embarked on a journey together with one mission, sweet precious cooper. i boxed up the things i had saved and sent them to her and she began her own journey. a journey that took her into the depth of my heart and soul, my son and the love we had for him, and in time she too came to know and love cooper.

this morning i received an email from marta telling me that the book was being printed and sent to me for approval. after i had a chance to look it over and make changes, it would go to the printer and then to the bindery. yes this is the real deal. she also attached a post about her journey on this project and her perspective of our story. there was a puddle on my computer when i finished reading it. and i wanted to share it with you all.

marta's willingness to take on this project means more to me than i can express. she has poured her heart into creating this book for us and by doing so as helped us heal. i can not wait to see the final edition and will share bits with you here in time. but more importantly, i am honored to be able to call marta a friend and am sure that we will stay connected, thanks to the world of blogging.

thank you marta.

this morning

i woke to a back yard covered with leaves. seriously, all the leaves were on the tree yesterday and they fell over night, a sure sign that winter is on its way.

so, i took the time to shuffle around in them, before my precious husband rakes them up this afternoon, and document the change of seasons. i do love the sound of leaves rustling under my feet. and B well he watched the last few leaves flutter to the ground and rolled around in the leaves, practicing his snow angels, in anticipation of the first snow.

tuesday tidbits

* today i met baby riley, who was born early this morning. he is perfection.

* my heart ached for cooper and soared with joy at the thought of meeting the bean.

* the bean got some cute clothes in the mail from zutano.

* i made some more holiday patchwork napkins today. i do love them so.

*last night, i got really mad that cooper died.

* my c-section date was scheduled today. february 22, 2010. it seems so far away.

* the doctor who delivered cooper will do the c-section, as well as my obgyn, who is coming in on her day off! i am happy to be part of such an amazing practice.

* still loving my iphone, although it is a bit like crack.

* have one more gift to make and then i am done with my holiday shopping.

* then comes my favorite part, picking out wrapping paper at target!

* the bean is still very active. i think he has his days and nights mixed up.

* in 17 days cooper would have been a year old. i don't really know what to expect in terms of my emotions.

* all in all life is good.

holiday patchwork napkins

we are having indian summer here in the northeast for a few days, so it certainly feels like the holidays are far away. but i have been working on some holiday napkins and wanted to share them with you. i will be making more and putting them in the etsy shop. i found the pattern here and used the scraps from the holiday pocket placemats. i love how they turned out, very festive!

a good read

a few weeks ago, marta and summer, wrote about this book,

rules for my unborn son, by walker lamond. lamond wrote this

book as a way to preserve the words of wisdom, bits of advice

and rules that his father told him while growing up, while at the

same time adding a modern day twist.

incidentally, his first son was born shortly after he finished

writing the book.

i was intrigued and thought it would be a good to buy for the

bean's room (it would also make a great baby shower gift).

my precious husband i and stood in the garage,

flipping through the book,

laughing, debating and agreeing with lamond's rules for his unborn son.

these are some of my favorites:

* yes ma' am. no sir. no exceptions.

* make a hipsters day. donate old clothes to charity.

* sit in front of the classroom.

* remember the girl you are with is somebody's sister. and he is

perfectly capable of kicking your ass.

* don't underestimate your fertility.

* let napping dad's lie.

* dont date the bartender.

* when fishing, practice catch and release.

* until you are a doctor, never answer your phone at the table.

* nothing is more important than family.

this is a great book. it has tidbits that we can all benefit from, i cant

wait to share it with the bean.

the beans room

i have designed the beans room a million times in my head, if truth be told, before i even got pregnant i would imagine what i wanted it to look and feel like. i knew that i would be using the same furniture and the paint colors would stay the same ( my precious husband has painted almost every wall in this house in the last 2 years and i couldn't ask him to paint again!) the challenge was to create a new space with new energy.

it is starting to take shape and i like the direction it is going. no, i haven't started to put the room together, but i have started gathering things. yesterday the crib bedding came. and i have to admit i am in love

i have also acquired all the fabric for the quilt i am going to make for the bean. he is going to have a quilt and a knit blanket ( wait till you see the colors of his blanket). i am crazy about this fabric. now to figure out what pattern i am going to make up for his quilt. i have to get this to the quilter by mid-december.

i am looking forward to sharing my design ideas for the beans room, as it comes together.

stay tuned......

tidbits

some random tidbits for you today....

* my mom and one of her oldest friends left today after a week long visit. we had a great time.

* the bean got lots of goodies this week.

* i made a huge technology leap... a new macbook pro AND an iphone.... i think i am in technology overload.

* my mom taught me how to sew on binding.

* i ordered a new sewing machine which will be here in a week. cant wait!

* we went to niagara falls.

* there are holiday placemats in the etsy shop. they are sure to bring holiday cheer.

* the bean is kicking like crazy these days.

* i got the swine flu shot today and feel like i am now protected from the pig germs.

* we attempted to take a holiday card pic this weekend. this one is NOT the one we will be using.

* there is way too much halloween candy left in the house, maybe that is why the bean in wild. sugar overload.

* and finally, i hope you are having a good day!