The Nursery Reveal...

Welcome, friends...I know you are all very eager to meet our precious little brother...

We continue to excitedly anticipate his arrival and pray for a safe delivery, and in the meantime, there is a special place I would like to show you...

It is something we have been working on for the past few weeks, and although more or less finished, I know we will continue to add new handmade items and decorations here and there...

This is the first baby boy to be welcomed into our family, and we are so delighted to be using reds and blues instead of pinks and whites this time around!  It is a whole new experience, to be sure!

The theme for our baby boy's ''corner'' is sea, and we have used all our favourite fabrics...  We actually spotted them at a material shop over a year ago, long before we knew we would even have a baby boy, and we purchased some for heartmade items... 

Well, when we discovered that after six girls there would indeed be a BOY joining our home, we just knew these gorgeous sea-themed fabrics would make the perfect nursery items...and we were right!  {{Smiles}}

It has been absolutely splendid being able to sew baby things once again, and this is the first time I have been quite so involved...  Despite having almost no budget to work with, it has been amazing to watch everything come slowly together, and to see how one can create such lovely things with only a few supplies and a whole lot of love.

Baby's nursery (not sharing his name quite yet...) is simply a small corner in my parents' bedroom, but it is a special one...  My dad painted the walls white and put up a shelf with knobs underneath to hold the few decorations we wanted to put up, and he also repainted the cupboards that we had painted pink back when Rebekah was born...(see here)

I made the curtains and cot frill from white calico and trimmed them with red gingham.  I also hand-stitched a red running stitch along the bottom for extra handmade charm.

The decorations are simple as well, but they match the sea-theme beautifully!  When we decided to use these fabrics, I just knew I wanted to make a whale softie or two for Baby's cot!  I have subsequently made a couple more for my shoppe (see here)...

I covered ever so many wooden hangers in coordinating fabrics...I used the red check, blue bubble, light blue and navy blue star as well as the main fabrics, the whales and boats.  My mom knitted a few covers as well using moss and plain knit stitch (not pictures).

 

These hangers turned out fabulously and prevent the baby clothes from catching on the wood...they also look much better than plastic ones, wouldn't you agree?

I made a ribbon taggy ball with fabric remnants (similar also available in my Etsy shoppe) for Baby to play with later on...for now it looks sweet up on the shelf!

One of my first projects was actually this mini bunting... The red bias ties in beautifully with the red gingham on the curtains and in the quilt.

This big traditional jointed teddy bear actually had a spot on our market stall before us girls decided he should be given to our baby brother instead.  And doesn't he look ever so cheerful up there?

 

Nancy re-painted and re-covered the wooden box we used for both Rebekah and Sofia.  It was looking a little tired and well...a little too pink!  She used the whale fabric for the inner and strong hessian twine for the cord.

I made these two little drawstring bags, but Nancy did the crocheting of the edges and strings...so gorgeous, don't you think?  The one little bag contains cotton wool balls and the other, baby socks...maybe I will make one or two more for some other baby goodies...or perhaps a larger one for laundry. 

 

Now for my favourite part...the quilt!  This was the last item on my list of things to make...

 I didn't intend to make it quite so big, but we had a duvet inner from Sofia's camp cot, so I decided to make the quilt into an actual duvet cover which can be used for a good two or three years, that way we didn't have to use bias on the edges or pay for fancy top stitching to be done...

I had great hopes of doing a quilt design such as a 'Yellow Brick Road', but after much consideration, Mom and I decided the fabric designs were really too busy for anything too intricate.  Plus, I also saw some adorable simple block quilts on Pinterest...and so I made my piece (pun intended) with a block quilt - I absolutely love how it turned out...

  

I spliced denim in between the quilting fabrics as I wanted to use it on the edges and as the backing of the duvet.  This worked remarkably well and added a very ''boyish'' feel to the quilt!  Wish I could sleep under it...looks so cosy, doesn't it?!  {{smiles}}

Nancy created a beautiful boat picture with fabric scraps and buttons, and I used fabric scraps to quilt the sides and make a lovely cushion...

Lastly, we found a few adorable wooden decor items at a local gift shop.  The anchor and boat hooks, as well as the little boat picture frame form a collection of sea-themed decor...

...I have forgotten to tell you a little about this special wooden cot...it was in fact my dad's cot when he was a baby...and then it was mine...  A few of my sisters used it as newborns too, and hopefully Baby will use it for his future little ones.  It is a stunning wooden cot, and is in great condition...all it required was a lick of paint!

...And so we come to the end of our tour of the nursery.  Ah, I can't tell you how eager we are to see this little boy face to face.  What will he look like...?  Will he have darker hair like Rebekah did as a baby...?  Or will he be fair like the rest of us at birth?

One thing I do know for certain...this little one will be welcomed into this world with so much love and joy...

He has six delighted older sisters who prayed for him to join their family for years and who talk to him in utero each day...

As I shared in this post, we did not think we would be at this place in life again after my mom miscarried three babies in a row at 12 weeks.  Those past trials and seasons of sadness make this time a time of great jubilee and rejoicing for us as a family and as children of God. 

Here are some ''before'' pictures...

 The nursery ''corner'' ~ before 

Gabrielle helping to fill in cracks in the wall...


 Beth filling in cracks in the wall...how happy they were to give Dad a hand!

~

As I write tears fill my eyes as I think of the graciousness of God - that He chose to answer this prayer leaves me in absolute awe.  

 He is our loving Father, but many times His answer is not what we are looking for...replies such as these are difficult to bear and are often met with great frustration and sorrow on our parts.   

But He is with us through our grieving and I believe He weeps with us in our pain...

Thus, we are humbled that the Lord would see fit to bring yet another life into our family, and we pray that this child will go forth and be a light unto the nations for the glory of God!

~

Dear friends, I am so glad you could join me for a peek into our baby's nursery...hopefully my next post will be a birth announcement!  Thank you for your prayers, your love and for sharing our joy - it means so much to us, and we are delighted that this baby will be greeted with such gladness!

Many blessings on the rest of your week...

Thursday Pearls

  

"No man can do a truer kindness in this world

than to pray for me."

~ Charles Spurgeon

~

Dearest friends...I am so grateful and blessed by your prayers and sweet concern for our family...

As my dear mother's due date draws nigh, the busyness in our household increases - we are currently putting the finishing touches on Little One's nursery and I hope to share pictures of our handiwork very soon...

We have yet to find out when the C-section will be scheduled for, but we will more than likely meet our precious new brother in the next three weeks or so!  How perfectly exciting it that??

Realising that another darling babe is about to join our family, all the tiresome work and busy days become small and insignificant in comparision with the incredible miracle of new life...such a wonderful gift from God!  {{smiles}}

I am thanking the Lord today...and everyday, for the joy of having sweet friends to share this precious time in our lives with, and for the love expressed in the prayers, emails and comments each of you have left!

With much love on this beautiful Thursday morning...

Painting by:  Ernest Walbourn

An Update on Baby Brother...

February has arrived, and the excitement of soon meeting our new sibling mounts by the day...

My mother is now 30 weeks along in her pregnancy, and the thrill of watching her stomach twist and jump as our little boy moves around within her is incredible...words cannot express the wonder of it...

Oh, the delight when we will finally see him face to face and behold this beautiful miracle which took nine long months to form in my mother's womb...

 

May I ask each of you, my Bible~believing readers, to continue to pray for mom...?
The days ahead are expected to become more and more uncomfortable for her as Baby Boy grows, and what with homeschooling little girls and running a large household, she finds each day tiring and challenging...pray for God to give her physical stamina and patience and above all...rest...

And please pray that our little one will continue to grow in health and that the Lord would bring peace to my mom's heart as she prepares herself for his approaching birth...
 I do know that the Lord has her and this new blessing in His more than capable hands...this is a true comfort!

Of course it will be so wonderful to share a picture of our brother when he makes his grand entrance...{{smiles}}

Now we are thinking of all the things we still need to purchase and do before that wonderful day arrives...all boyish things this time, you know!  And we have a little corner allotted for his cot and changing area...hopefully we can have it ready in time! 

This will be the third baby I will have written about on my blog, Rebekah being the first and then little Sofia...how swiftly time flies...cherishing each moment spent with them deep inside my heart!

With much dear love and thanks...

 

Milkshakes and Exciting News!!!

Last weekend my mom and dad treated us by taking us out for milkshakes! Little did we know that they actually had some news to share with us.
The little ones enjoyed playing on the jungle gym while the big ones watched and I took photographs!

Our three littlest ones – from left to right: Miss Gabrielle turning 4 in April, Lady Beth turning 7 in July and Madam R turning 2 in June.

Rebekah or Madam R

Lady Beth

Miss Gabrielle

Nancy and Madam R on the swing

Lady Beth playing on the ‘horse’, a pole put on rope to form a kind of swing.

Strawberry milkshake – what a treat!

Delicious!

After milkshakes my mom and dad shared the news with us. It came as such a surprise to us all, Nancy and I especially. Beth, Gabrielle and Rebekah couldn’t really understand very well and thus were not terribly excited…

But now I should tell you all the wonderful news too…

My mom is expecting Gray Baby #6! Yes, another baby! I was very surprised because although I had been praying for a while, I didn’t think it would REALLY happen! So now as life gets busier and busier I might not have much time for posting, but know that I think of blogging all the time and I have not forgotten to post! My mom struggles with difficult pregnancies and is flat on her back most of the time – I’m happy because it means she might rest a bit – you know what moms are like, always running around cleaning and that, but I intend for my mom to rest for most of this pregnancy!

Oh just think...another baby to love, another baby to cuddle!

Here are some pictures of our last little blessing, Rebakah Faith...photographs keep us inspired to carry on even in tough times. We have to focus on the blessing that lies ahead!

Madam R on the day of her birth...

A few days old...I can’t even remember her as a baby!

Such a sweetie...!

Have a lovely week ahead!

Blessings,
Kelly-Anne

Today Is The Day!

Today is the day that our baby is going to be born! We are now going to be a family of 7! I am looking forward to that! I like the number seven. It is used many times in the Bible! I really cannot believe today our baby, that we have waited so long for, will be born this afternoon! A new chapter in our life will begin!

On Monday night, we packed the baby's bag. It was a lot of fun! We did it when Daddy had put the Littles down! It was fun putting the shampoo in a little container and choosing the clothes she is going to wear at the hospital!!

Yesterday we cleaned the house, so that the house will be clean when my mom comes home. We do not want the baby having hay-fever from the dust!

Our friends let their house keeper come and cleaned for us! I helped with the dusting and cleaning, as there was a lot to do as Pumla could not clean everything! My feet were so sore afterwards! I was cleaning from 10 0' clock in the morning to
2 o' clock! It is nice to sit back and take a look at the clean house and know that you have done everything you need to do and now you can enjoy some well-earned free time!
It was fun though!

My mom sewed the sheet this morning. She was very busy this morning even though she was going in to the hospital later today! She finished the curtains the other day! It looks really nice now! Nancy painted the toiletry box white, as it was brown with an ugly cover inside. My mom is going to make a new cover for the box!

Last night we made a video of moms tummy with the baby still in the womb, and all of us were drawing pictures with cream on my mom's tummy! We also took photos of us hugging my mom's tummy!

I will put some pictures of the new baby on my blog tomorrow, as my dad will only be home late tonight and I will be asleep! He is going to take the pictures.

My mom left us a little chocolate so that we (the littles) would not cry! Our friends gave us a present of a notebook and a pen! It was nice to have something to make us feel a little happier about my mom and dad leaving!

My Aunt Charmaine is staying with us! We are actually going to have a nice time despite the fact that mom is away and we will miss her! I get to play 'mommy' for 3 days! Our food is just about made for us, as one of our friends is bringing us a meal for tonight! Another lady gave us mince to make a sauce for spaghetti! It was very sweet of them to offer to make meals!

My mom's prayer was answered, she has a room of her own with a lovely veiw! I am soooooooo glad about that!

My dad will phone us when the baby is born! I cannot wait! I remember with the last baby, (Gabrielle) we went to some friends and they looked after us. I was in charge of Beth, as she was only 2 years and 8 months! I put her down for her nap, made sure she ate, pushed her in the pram when we went for walks and sang to her! I was only 10, but I was a real 'mommy' to her! We waited forever for my dad to phone and tell us that our new little sister was born! We went the next day to visit my mom! We were not allowed in the maternity unit, so my mom had to come to us! The nurse brought Gabrielle for us to look at! We would have loved to hold and cuddle her, but we could not.

I held Gabrielle and helped to put her to sleep and to change her! I was sooooo excited to have a baby sister! Now, I get to do it again! Nancy is now going to be able to do more with this baby! she is much older than she was before. She was 7 with Gabrielle and 9, nearly 10 with this one!

The littles are down for their nap at the moment. They were very good going down!

We are going to visit my mom on Friday. I am soooooo excited to hold our new baby! I will post some pictures of us there.

















Nancy painting the toiletry box white.

















Nancy washing the rocker.


















Me packing the cotton balls into the packet.















The packed bag!



















My mom appliqued the hearts onto the curtains she made.















The curtains when they are finished.

Baby Shower! (9 more sleeps to baby)!

On Saturday we went to our friends so that my dad could watch the rugby. It was not really to watch the rugby, but for the ladies to give my mom a surprise baby shower! I was going to stay with my mom and help her, but I decided I would go with all the dads and the other children to go play putt-putt. Before we left, I asked my mom: "Will you be O.K. all by yourself"? My mom laughed at that, and said she would be fine! We had a great time at the putt-putt place and we had ice lollies, though it was rather cold! Meanwhile, my mom was being spoilt with beautiful baby clothes, towels and many lovely things! The ladies also gave my mom nappies and wetwipes, the practical things! They had lovely eats and things at the baby shower (one thing I regretted about going with the dads and children to the putt-putt place)! We had a lovely time playing putt-putt, though I came dead last! On the way home, we picked up some pizzas to take to the house where the baby shower was held, for supper. We stayed till about 8:30pm, as I had a show the next day. Here is a picture of all the things we got: We had a lovely time looking through everything and packing it all into the cupboard!















My mom was also given some beautiful flowers to take home with her! It was very sweet of the ladies to organize such a lovely time for my mom, it made her feel special!

12 More Sleeps!

12 More sleeps till our little angel arrives!
We went to the gynae on Tuesday, and he said that our baby will come on the 3rd of June, as my mom is being booked in for a Caesarean. We are all looking forward to her birth!

My Aunty Charmaine is going to stay with us while my mom is in hospital. This is a HUGE answer to prayer! My mom and dad did not know where we would stay. They really wanted us to stay at our house, where the little ones know the routine. That's why, when my Aunt told us she would stay with us, we praised God! We really did not want to drive round the country to friends' houses!

My mom is really in the last stages of the pregnancy and is really tired! We all have to pull together to cope. We have to do her share of walking now!

At the gynae, we could not go in, as the room was far to small for all of us! Instead, my mom showed us a picture of a beautifully formed face! It seems as if I know her in person already! It is really amazing! It is amazing what they can measure and see on the screen! She is 2,9 kg already! The smallest of us all so far!



The cute little face! Can you see it?
We are all counting the days till she is born! I have her baby record book in the bookshelf, all ready to write in!

We all like to say 'goodnight' to the baby (even though it is still in the tummy)!

Getting Ready For Baby!

At the moment we are getting ready for our dear little baby to be born!

Beth is folding Babygros and my mom is packing them beautifully into the cupboard!
It is not long till our precious little baby is to be born, just 17 more days!

My mom has bought white winter sheeting to make the fitted sheets for the cot. Yesterday we bought a mattress. My mom also bought some pink material to make curtains for the baby's cupboard and a quilt!

We are all very excited!

We are going to have a little 'nookie' in my mom's bedroom, that is the baby's place! It is going to be pink!














I bought the fluffiest pink blanket the other day! It is pink with white hearts on it!!
I also bought a pink receiver blanket with butterflies and flowers on it!

I really cannot belive that she is nearly here!
We love going to the shops and seeing all the adorable pink clothes!
I think some people cannot even hear themselves talking when we are 'oooohing' and 'aaaahing'
over the cute little clothes and blankets!
















I will post some pictures of the all the things my mom is going to make for our baby!