Painted Curtains

Have you seen all those awesome striped curtains on Pinterest? I had pinned a few of them and wanted my own very badly! One I looked at took white and black tablecloths and sewed them together. Another blog painted drop cloths as curtains. I liked this idea a little better. 

I decided to sew my own curtains although I am TERRIBLE at sewing!  I didn't want to spend alot of money on the fabric and ended up buying drapery lining - enough that I needed for about $30. It is heavy enough that light doesn't get through very easily and has the linen-y look without having it be too  heavy to sew. The back side of the fabric is soft. 

I wanted four panels of floor length curtains  - two curtains for the kitchen/dining and two for the adjoining family room. I cut each piece 100'' long then hemmed the top and sides on all the pieces. Let me just say again that I have a sewing machine and try hard, but can't sew a straight line to save my life! 

Next, I hung the curtain rods. I bought these awesome curtain rods with clips from Menards a few years ago.  

After the rest of the curtain was hemmed on the top and sides, I hung a panel up on each window. I then pinned where I would want to hem the bottom. I did each window just in case they measured different based on the flooring. 

Next, I pinned the panels for each window together so I could have their hem match, and then hemmed each of them. When all the sewing was done and all the sides were hemmed, it was time to tape and paint. 

The taping was the next part and took some time to do. I wanted 12 inch stripes and wanted the top of the curtain to be a white stripe. I measured 12 inches from the top of the curtain to the bottom of the tape since the part underneath the tape would be white when pulled up. I moved the ruler down the curtain, making sure there was twelve inches between the top of the curtain and the bottom of the tape and get a straight line. 

To make the black stripe, I measured 12 inches from the bottom of the tape to the top of tape. This whole area needed to be painted black. Again, I moved the ruler down the curtain, making sure there was twelve inches between the bottom of the curtain and the top of the tape to ensure the line would be straight. I followed this pattern until I was at the end of the curtain. 

I marked which stripes were supposed to be black with a piece of tape. 

In order to paint on fabric, you need to use a textile medium paint. I bought one bottle of textile medium and two bottles of black acrylic paint. I used one bottle of black acrylic paint and half a bottle of textile medium on each set of curtains. 

I mixed the two paints together really well. 

I used a foam roller to paint onto the curtains. 

I only did one coat. They could have maybe used another, but I like that they don't look as saturated. I took off the tape when I was done painting. 

All done!!

On the dining room/ kitchen windows... 

On the family room windows... 

Failed Test

I went in for the routine glucose test today to check to see if I have gestational diabetes. I was confident - too confident. I wasn't even worried about this test, my mind was worried about the dentist appointment later this week. Last pregnancy, I failed the first test (from what I thought was eating Frosted Flakes that morning) but passed the second test.

This morning was a bit different. I didn't eat anything because I didn't want any problems. I drank the sugar drink, waited an hour, then had my blood drawn. She took a quick check of my blood and said it was really high, that I wouldn't event need the 3-hour test but there was a chance the other blood work would come back differently and to talk to my doctor.

I decided to get myself a CinnaBun before my other appointments. Probably stupid, but I thought that I didn't officially know I had diabetes yet, so I might as well have one last splurge for a while. And let me tell you, it was good.

Next, I had an ultrasound because they were concerned at my 20 week appointment that my placenta was too low. At least this had corrected itself. And I got to see Sweet Pea again and I was able to see a 3d image of her. I have never had a 3d ultrasound done before, so this was the highlight of my day. Her little face was so precious, although she kept covering her face. She looked so much like Brecken.

 

Sweet Pea - She is partially covering her face 

Brecken as a newborn... see he resemblance? 

Next, I had my appointment with the midwife and that is where I found out that yes, indeed I have Gestational Diabetes. My levels were so high, I didn't even need the second test. I didn't even eat anything this morning so this level was crazy high. The ultrasound also showed that Sweet Pea is in the 91th percentile for weight. Blindsided is the word I have used today to describe my shock. The risk factors don't really apply to me and I don't know any family members with diabetes, but they said it was something to do with my genetics and isn't something that I did wrong. At least that makes me feel a bit better that it wasn't something I did that caused it, it just is what it is.

I am now worried about so many things. The diet really scares me. They told me a little bit of what I need to stay away from or limit - sweets (what I crave ALL the time!), cereal, anything processed, fruit, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk, carbs - breads, ect. Umm... so what do I eat? Vegetables and protein. Well this will be a fun two months. I have an appointment on Thursday with a dietician and to get trained how to check and monitor my blood sugar. Once I know all the details, then I can make a plan and stick to it, just right now I have no idea what is a danger and what isn't. They won't know if I need to go on medication/insulin until I have been monitoring my levels.

Another thing that scares me is the labor and health of the baby. If I have to go on medicine or baby gets too big, I will have to be induced. C-section was brought up today as well. This makes wanting to try another natural birth difficult. With the diabetes present in the mom, babies can get alot bigger, especially growing more in their shoulders and chest making labor more difficult. Depending on how my body responds to the new diet, there will be more ultrasounds to see how she is growing. Babies

can have other health risks and complications with the mother having diabetes. It is all just so scary and my head is spinning with the what-ifs.

 God had the timing down of this news, because tonight I had a prayer shower with some of the ladies I work with at the preschool. I shared my concerns and they lifted me up in prayer. They were such a blessing and I felt peace as they were lifting me and the baby up in prayer.

So, this is not exactly how I had planned my day to go but things don't always go as planned. The next couple months holds many unknowns but HE knows.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" 

Exodus 14:14

Brecken's 2nd Birthday

Yesterday was Brecken's 2nd birthday and we tried to make it a fun day for him. Here was his day captured by my iPhone.

He LOVES donuts, so instead of making him a cake, Todd got him a donut for breakfast AND he ate it in bed. Clearly, he was excited.

Putting together "track" which has been his favorite activity lately. 

After hitting some garage sales and having a complete two-year-old meltdown due to a bout of teething, we headed to the small local zoo that features Minnesotan animals. 

The Bear! 

Feeding the goats

Next, we got a happy meal and saw daddy for lunch. 

Then we went to Chuck E Cheese. I still have a bag of tokens from when I worked there ten years ago. It always brings back memories when I go back to a Chuck E. Cheese, and yes, they are still playing many of the annoying songs from when I worked there. 

Brecken had a fun time playing some games and going on rides. 

His morning of fun wore him out and he took a fantastic nap. 

We headed to the pool for some dinner and swimming after his nap.

He got to open one of his presents... 

A Cars rug with little cars! 

Even though he probably had no clue it was his birthday or what a birthday is, I think he had a fantastic day doing some of his favorite things.

Happy Birthday Brecken! 

Two.

Two years ago on July 12, 2011, at 4:13 am, I met this sweet baby boy.  Little did we know how much he would turn our world upside down and how much we would fall in love with him. 

 I thought I loved him when I was carrying him or when I laid eyes on him, but my love for him keeps growing. I adore his personality and being his mommy is such a privilege. 

Happy Second Birthday Sweet Boy! 

23 Months

Cuddling Brecken tonight, it hit me that he will be two this week. It just doesn't seem right... 

Love: Lately he has been loving to play with his Thomas track and making his own train track patterns. He gets up in the morning, excitedly saying "Trains, Track?" Yes, we can go play with trains. Lately he has been enjoying playing with duplo legos as well. When I let him play with the ipad, he will sit on it for a half hour. He loves watching PBS kids shows like Elmo and Curious George. It is so crazy he knows how to work the thing.  I think he is starting to have a longer attention span and actually sits and plays for a while with something. He also still loves bicycles, tools, popsicles, the pool and donuts.

Words/ Learning to do: Lately he has been trying to sing. He loves to sit down at his little drum set and play the drums and "sing" at the top of his lungs. Brecken loves the "Wheels on the Bus" song and sings "round and round" and "wawawa." He usually has an opinion on which shoes he wants to wear - usually the "hill ups" (flip flops) but also likes his "crocs" and "mocs." He is even more particular when it comes to the pajamas he wears - usually he wants the "Cars one," trains, or Buzz - he gets pretty opinionated about it.  He asks to be cuddled at times and it always melts my heart.