Real Materials

It's been awhile since I did something with totally "real" materials, no digital color. But I was inspired by the illustrations in one of the children's books they read during story time at our local Starbucks earlier this week--"The Dot" by Peter Reynolds



So this afternoon I nestled Jude in the sling and Hudson and I got out the watercolor pencils, brushes, and pens and did some quick doodling. It was a fun little jaunt back into the world of paper and paint.

Little Peanut

We borrowed a friend's Peanut Shell sling and Daniel used it to make a pattern and sew our own. Not bad I'd say. It's even reversible. Jude's snuggled up in it right now as a matter of fact.

Grammy left yesterday morning and I'm still finding drawers and closet shelves that she somehow managed to organize and label for us while also taking care of Hudson, cleaning, cooking, doing all our laundry, and hosting a few unexpected but very welcome out of state and international guests.



"Uncle D-Sho" (as our sons will probably refer to him as), when he got the text message that Jude had been born, hopped in his car and drove 17 hours straight from Cincinnati through the night and through the snow to show up and surprise us in the hospital.



And friends from Japan, whose flight home got canceled during the snowstorm, were also then able to meet little Jude.

We're adjusting to life as a family of four and I'm still trying to rest and recover. But so far, so good. Jude's great. Tomorrow he'll be a week old and I'm already worried about him growing up too fast. Hudson is great too--such a helpful and caring big brother. So far there hasn't been much time to do anything else but be a mom. But hopefully I'll be able to sneak some creative work in here and there as the weeks go on.

Jude In Action

Just a minute of video for family and friends far away who won't get to see Jude in person for a few weeks. Nothing exciting, but then again, all he does now is sleep, eat, fill his diaper and occasionally cry.

Jude Wesley Armstrong

Just wanted to put some pics up from the past couple days. Jude was born at 4:45am on Friday 2/22. He weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 22.5 inches long. How that whole thing fit in my belly I'm not sure. But he's here now and we're very happy to have him.


Jude and big brother Hudson


First family photo : )


Finally home with Grammy


Suited up and ready for a jog.

More photos later : )

Foiled by the Lunar Eclipse

Should have seen it coming-- Salem, MA's long history of strange supernatural happenings mixed with the lunar eclipse last night sent women all over into labor. Alas there was no room in the inn for me. So the hospital sent us home and rescheduled my induction for tomorrow.



But Hudson didn't seem too disappointed when we came home without a baby brother. He's pretty occupied waiting for his own baby to hatch---this "dinosaur egg" from grammy that's supposed to hatch a baby dinosaur in a couple of days. He slept with it next to his bed last night and makes sure to check it regularly for progress.



And he's enjoying the extra attention that comes with a grandparent being around. They're reading one of my favorite children's books by Oliver Jeffers. Check out his other great art and illustrations.

Hopefully we'll have baby news soon. Til then...

On Our Way!

We're leaving in an hour to go to the hospital. I'm scheduled to be induced in the morning. We knew little Armstrong had been "in the oven" too long when his kindergarten teacher sent us some of this makeup work so he won't be too far behind his class once he's born : )

Grammy just arrived from Ohio to keep Hudson company and already Hudson has painted a pretty scary picture of us as parents...

Riding home from the airport:
Hudson: "Um, excuse me, Grammy?"
Grammy: "Yes, Hudson?"
Hudson: "I've got straps on my bed."
Grammy: "You do?"
Hudson: "Yeah, it's so I don't move around in bed."

(Alright, wait a sec. Hudson's been fascinated with astronauts recently and saw a video clip of them straping into bed in the shuttle and now likes to pretend HE has an astronaut bed. We do NOT strap our son to his bed)

Then as we walked in the door...
Hudson: "Grammy, I have hookers in my room. Do you want to put your coat on my hookers? They're in my room. Wanna see my hookers?"

(Coat HOOKS, Hudson, they're called coat HOOKS)

Then Grammy presented Hudson with her trademark array of tiny presents--an egg that hatches a tiny dinosaur when in water, a tiny tiny Bible, and tiny hammer on a key chain (aka choking hazards ; )

While Grammy was getting settled in, Hudson took the tiny tiny Bible into nap time with him. After awhile I could hear him singing and talking instead of sleeping...
Me: "Hudson, go to sleep."
Hudson:" But I'm singing about the Bible!!"
Me: "No, you need to go to sleep."
(a few minutes later, still more singing and talking)
Me: "Hudson! You need to put down that Bible and go to sleep!"
Hudson: "But I need to read..ABOUT..JESUS!!!"
Me: "PUT..THE..BIBLE..DOWN!!"

Great. What kind of mom am I?

Baby pics coming soon hopefully!

I'm A Maaaniac, Maaaniac.

I think we're all goin a little crazy waiting for Baby Armstrong to come...currently we're five days past my due date. This is what happens when you mix a 3-hour nap, Starbucks chocolate milk, and the anticipation of waiting for a new brother...that and an innate ability to get down.