Baby Boy Quilt

 

I was going through the boys' clothes yesterday and couldn't believe how emotional that was.  I thought it would be a huge relief unloading all of their baby clothes, but I found it very difficult to let go.  We're not positive if we are "done" with the baby making phase, but with the upcoming move I felt it necessary to go through and get rid of stuff.  Baby boy clothes were on that list. 

 

Well, I did get rid of a LOT.  Two boys tend to put a lot of wear and tear on clothing.  A lot of what I got rid of was too worn to do anybody any good.  But, as I was going through it all, I couldn't help but reminisce about how they used to be so little.  I have memories attached to the articles of clothing, parting was hard.

 

I remember becoming a mother for the first time and all of the joy and anticipation it brought me.  I can't believe that it has been nearly 6 years since that time.  Crazy.  I love being a mother.  Being a mother has changed me.  How can it not?  I like to believe that it has changed me for the good.  It has taught me about self-sacrifice, patience, and creativity--among other things.  With all of the wonderful things that motherhood teaches, I have also learned that it is an on-going process.  Each new stage brings new challenges, and I must rise to face those challenges.  Sometimes I really don't know what I am doing.  Sometimes I feel discouraged.  However, as I was going through each piece of clothing, the emotions I felt weren't ones of grief or regret.  Instead I found myself feeling overwhelmed with a sense of love for both the newborns and the children they have grown into.  I felt gratitude for my husband who supports me in wanting to stay home with my children.  If I didn't get to stay home with them, I would feel such loss.  The opportunity to stay home and raise my children is so important to me.  I'm thankful for Jon Mark who supports me.  I guess the only sadness I felt was that I recognized that my children are growing in the blink of an eye, and I love these years.  But although there was sadness in that regard, there is no sense of regret, and I look forward to the other stages that life will offer them and I.

 

Anyway, I'm being kind of long-winded...  all I really meant for this post to do was introduce my latest project.  I took some of those baby clothes and used them to make a quilt.  I have never, ever, made a quilt.  Well, I guess I did once for Young Women's, but my leaders mostly completed it all for me, if I am being honest.  So, I am pleasently surprised with the way it turned out.  It is full of mistakes.  Don't look too closely.  And, Luke hates it.  But, I preserved some memories in the process and learned a lot.  It's your basic T-shirt quilt.  I had fun making it and want to do one for the girls'.  But, I'm afraid we will still be needing those clothes since my baby is a girl.  It was challenging in the sense that none of the squares were the same size.  The clothing was all different sizes, so matching them up was difficult, on top of the fact that I really didn't know what I was doing.  Where is Nikki Gaskin when I need her?!  Anyway, here it is: