Winter has come already...

Normally, I love Winter. And I am actually very excited about all the snow we are supposed to get here in Western Michigan... It's apparently alot, because people keep warning me about it with very serious faces. The one thing I don't like about Winter is that it means respiratory season. I'm on the floors again this month, and it's been a very busy month. Our hospital is filled to the rafters and about 2/3 of the patients are here with either pneumonia, asthma, croup, or bronchiolitis. In a month, that number will probably go up to 80%. It means long days, long nights, and lots and lots of paperwork.

Because of all of these hours, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the things I enjoyed doing when I had more time. One of those is cross-stitching. It's been something I enjoy doing to keep my hands busy. So I thought I'd share the few projects I've completed in the last few years and introduce you to my latest...

This is a Thomas Kinkaide, obviously. I started it during the first year of med school and then because of having James and studying occasionally, I didn't end up finishing it until the end of third year. It's about 14 x 16 inches or so, and a total of 48,640 stitches.

This is Rocky Point Lighthouse. Thanks to Steve Weber for digging through his trash to find the pattern for me. I started this one right at the end of 3rd year and finished it just a few days after graduation. I ended up stitching it over 2 holes on a fine count linen. It was a lot of fun and is 12 x 16 inches or so. It ended up being 60,588 stitches.

This is my latest project. After I decided that I would have occasional time off during residency I realized I needed something to do. This one was billed as "not your Grandma's cross stitch" and ought to be quite a challenge... the above picture is what I've completed so far. Doesn't look to bad, right? Well, the stitched area you see is just one 8 x 10 page of the pattern.

Here is the zoomed out version of the whole field of work. That one rectangle represents just one of 36 eventual pages of pattern I will have to stitch. I'm excited. When all is said and done, this baby's gonna be 18 x 22 inches and be a total of 244,350 stitches. To make it more fun, it's stitched over just one hole on an extremely fine linen. But lest you think I'm crazy, here's what it'll look like when I'm done:

Yeah, maybe I am a bit crazy.

2 Months

I cannot believe that Jacob is now 9 weeks!  Time has sure flown by faster than it did when James was this size. At Jacob's well check, he was 13.5 pounds and 24.5 inches tall.  He has been a happy baby.  Enjoy the pictures of him smiling.

James and Jacob Want to Say...

Happy Birthday, BRYCE!

James and Jacob Want to Say...

Happy Birthday, UNCLE DAN!

Blogging

I know I have been lacking in the blogging.  I have been super busy.  I am hoping to catch up a little next week.  For now, I just have a few minutes typing one handed and holding a sad Jacob to let everyone know that we are still alive. Jacob got shots today.  More on his appointment later.  Got to go!

James and Jacob Want to Say...

Happy Birthday, CASSAUNDRA!

James and Jacob Want to Say...

Happy Birthday, TYSON!

Friends

A few weeks ago, we got to have Sheridan and Brockton play at our house while their parents went to a wedding.  James had so much fun!  We played in the backyard, walked around the block, watched Toy Story 3, and played with toys. I can't believe they all fit on here.

And it did not break.  Thanks for coming!  Hope you can come again!

Pumpkin Head

My awesome sister made this hat for Jacob.

It is awesome!  Thanks Lori!

Big Boy Bed

James is finally out of his crib!  Shortly after he helped me move the crib out of his room, I finished this blanket for his bed. 

He loves it!  My mom helped me tie it while she was here.  Thanks Mom!  James is a very happy boy!

Harvest Festival and Halloween

Our ward had their Harvest (or Fall) Festival on October 28th.  Jon went as Charlie Brown, I was a Soil Scientist (people were actually able to guess it this year instead of just thinking I was a doctor), James was a doctor, and Jacob was a candy corn.

There was a Chili and Soup Cook Off.  My chili actually won first place!  I was really shocked.  I have been making the same chili for about 5 years.  Sometimes doing something different.  This year I did not do anything special.  Maybe it was the new ward and unbiased judges.  Jon thinks it was the home canned beans that my mom and I (mostly my mom) canned at the beginning of October.  So we won a ladle!  Jon also won 3 of 5 squashes.  You had to tell the name of the squash and the weight.  I told Jon what the names were (I had recently looked at different squashes at the grocery store to try), and he guessed the weight.  James loved the Cookie/Cupcake walk,

the bean bag toss, and pin the nose on the pumpkin.  He had really wanted to go on the hay ride, but got too into monopolizing the bean bags that we missed it.  James also had a lot of fun with his friend Sheridan.

It was a fun night!  James did not want to leave, but it was well passed his bed time.

Monday night, I took James Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood, while Jon and Jacob stayed home to hand out candy.  James was good about saying "Trick-or-treat," "Thank you," "I'm Dr. James," "Bye-bye," and "See you next time."  Everyone seemed to get a kick out of how cute he was.  Once he saw that he would get candy at the houses we went to, he wanted to go to every house.  He kept saying, "Another house," the minute we left a door.  It seems our neighborhood is a popular place for people to come.  We bought a lot of candy for the night hoping for leftover, but we were out of candy by 7:50 p.m.  That was even after raiding James' candy and the candy my mom had sent us.  We turned off our lights and went downstairs to Skype with Grandma Felt.  Next year we will have to get more candy to start with.  I look forward to more years of taking my boys trick-or-treating.  After we finally got James to bed, Jon and I watched Signs.

Boo At The Zoo

On October 21, we went Trick-Or-Treating at the Zoo.  It was fun for a morning. James wanted to be a doctor this year.  I was glad because it was pretty easy to make him some scrubs out of an old pair of Daddy's scrubs.

Dr. James giving his Care Bear a check-up.

At the Zoo, James and Grandma Felt went through a Straw Maze.

View from above.

Bears say, "Happy Halloween!"

Making a spider bracelet.

James loved this, but I could not get him to hold on as he went.

The only melt down we had for the day was when I tried to get him away from this toy.  A sucker calmed him down and we went to get more candy.  Ghosts loose in the zoo.

We did have some fun.  Jacob did well in his car seat in the stroller.  If we get a membership to the zoo here, we will definitely go again next year.

Jacob Ivan Felt

On October 16th, Jon gave Jacob a name and a blessing.  Both Grandmas were here, and it was so nice to have some family here to share this event!  Maria and Weston also came up form Toledo. 

We are really glad they could make it!  It was great to see them again!  We had Stake Conference that day, so we met in the Bishop's Office for the blessing.  It was a small group.  Thanks to the Richmonds for joining us too!  Jacob was able to wear the same outfit that James had worn, and it fit Jacob a little better. 

Of coarse Jacob was a month younger when he wore this than James had been.  It was a great day!

James and Jacob Want to Say...

Happy Birthday, CLAIRE!