blanket for sister

I'm feeling incredulous about the fact that my due date is just over 2 weeks away. I mean, it feels like I've been pregnant forever, but this last month also feels like it is flying by. I've come to grips with the realization that I won't be able to finish everything on my "to sew" list. I'm trying to enjoy working on this messenger bag (diaper bag) I've been obsessing about, and hoping to begin baby's quilt (which I finally finalized all of the fabric choices for). This past week the boys and I finished a small project for baby. Check it out!

One of Marcus' main concerns about the new baby is whether the baby will try to take his two blankets. Marcus is very serious about his blankets - "Star Blank" and "Truck Blank". They are both fleece blankets that were store-bought and given to me for baby shower gifts (even though Marcus has a homemade quilt from me, he prefers his store-bought blankets - oh well). I tried to reassure him that the baby would not take his blankets, but he was still skeptical. So, I suggested we make one for the baby together.

Marcus was very excited about this project. He selected the fabric himself (based on a blanket I made for Charlie long ago), and enjoyed pinning the fabric and using the sewing machine.

He also used my tiny craft iron (unplugged, of course) to pretend to iron out the blanket once he removed all of the pins and turned it out.

A few days later (in full Batman costume) Marcus invited Charlie to help finish the blanket. He chose a zig-zag stitch to topstitch the blanket.

Charlie's sewing skills have really improved - he sewed some very straight lines. The crooked, curvy ones that Marcus made are very charming, though.

The boys worked diligently to remove all of the pins and carefully replace them in the pin cushions (instead of leaving them on the floor where their dad could accidentally step on them with bare feet - ooops).

The boys plan to bring the finished blanket to the hospital when they meet their new baby sister for the first time. She has a couple of gifts for them (of the Star Wars ship variety), but I think their gift is the tops.

Hopefully I'll have a finished bag to show you soon. Tonight I can hardly get off of the couch!

:) Shelly