new family member

here are some videos of Ivy Kiya McCoy, born Jan. 25. these are within the first few days of her birth. something went wrong with my computer and i can't upload from my camera OR my flip video--these ones were obtained by making a disc at Ritz camera. this typical computer phenomenon coincided perfectly with Ivy's birth. great timing. with similar uncanniness, a black spot appears on all video recordings, even though the lens is flawless-- ever since ivy's birth. hmmm. isn't technology wonderful?

holidays over, baby time soon

hello anyone out there who's reading... just trying to get back on track after a long, holiday-induced dropping of the blog ball. i'm sure all my many fans missed me so. anyway, this is my first attempt at attaching a video, just to sort of see how it works out... it doesn't look like the image quality is going to be that great, but oh well. this is a glimpse of christmas morning on big island after gramma claus left the cutest tricycle and the cutest boots in all the land for aidan to enjoy. santa also left me the means of acquiring this video, the so-sleek-and-handy Flip Video camcorder. thanks to all parents and grandparents for making my child the most spoiled kid ever. his gifts are much played with and treasured. but what we treasure most is our most wonderfulest of families--i can't even explain the wonderfulness. we miss you all and wish we could be closer.
also ranking exceptionally high on the wonderfulness meter is my baby hui. today they gave a little baby shower-type gathering for another pregnant group member and me. it was so much fun with all the pint-sized ones running around together-- usually these days only a fraction of the moms/babes can make it to any given meeting so it was such a great feeling to see everyone together again, and i was once again reminded of what a blessing this great support group has been since becoming a mother. we were marveling at how it's already been a year since we first met, and a couple of us are already about to give birth to seconds.
on that note, as yet unnamed baby girl is due in about 2 weeks, give or take. i hope it's not give because i'm reaching my limits on the whole pregnancy thing. this is the point where you say enough is enough, i'd rather have a needy toddler and a completely-dependent-upon-me-for-all-aspects-of-survival newborn attached to me like i'm a host organism, which i suppose is accurate, than to feel this uncomfortable and awkward in your own body. edit, it's not even your own body anymore. but a joy it still is, parenthood... alrighty then, that's probably more writing than i've done since college, so ciao... by the way, if anyone's reading this we are open to name suggestions...

aidan's new ride

this is aidan's christmas present which couldn't wait for christmas. after today i think i will never go to toys r us again--so much plastic junk all i could think of was LANDFILL. notice the glazed look in his eyes. when it was finally assembled he spent the first half hour just getting in, closing the door, opening the door, getting out, closing the door, opening the door, repeat. and making very loud exclamations about it. he is thrilled, so that makes me happy, even though i swore i would never buy this type of plastic monstrosity for my kids. and thanks to my mom, i know there will be plenty of gifts for him to open on christmas morn... talk about spoiled rotten...
anyhoo, here are some other snaps of aidan's daily life, and another bag i made for another friend.

stuff i've made lately

here's aidan the other day. i sewed a truck onto one of his t-shirts because he's hopelessly obsessed with trucks, cars, heavy equipment, etc. i didn't know it would start this early. he's holding the truck in his left hand and making his sign for "drive" (shaking fist back and forth, like holding a steering wheel) with his right. he does this sign so often he looks like he has parkinson's or something. today when we went on a walk we saw an excavator at a construction site, and when we said "bye bye" to it he cried most of the way home. this too shall pass.






and here are some bags i've made for friends. actually the
one hanging on the left is MINE, and i love the fabric. as usual the photo is terrible, but i do in fact have the world's worst camera. the shoulder bag i made from this tutorial, and the handbag and clutch are patterns from amy karol's book Bend-The-Rules Sewing. the wallet i made for myself as well. i am moderately pleased with how they all turned out-- not too bad for a rookie, i say. bags are so fun and easy to make. off to the library now, when i should be starting dinner... oooooooooh welllllllll........

testing

okay, now i'm learning how to add a link. i made these ornaments from this tutorial/pattern at allsorts. sorry about the horrible blurriness, but the other option is the dreaded flash.

blog virgin

hi, this post is really just to see how this all works as i've never blogged before. the plan is to maintain this blog so that family and friends, should they care to, can pop in and see what we're up to, how the kid(s, soon) is (are) doing, see pics, and so that we can blog randomly about whatever projects we may be up to.