Handmade Love.

This past week, I've been feeling a little ... overwhelmed. Things like health insurance, projects I want to complete, and all sorts of unnecessary worries have been stressing me out. Also hormones. Hormones are cruel. 

And to be honest, I haven't been very productive for the past week or so. The productive quality of my life can be roughly divided into two categories: times at which I am reading a good book, and times at which I am not. I used to think it was a gift to be able to completely dissolve into a book and forget entirely about the world around me. I still do, in a way. But when I actually have things to accomplish, things that are making me feel stressed, looking up from "a quick break with a book" and realizing I've just spent the past five hours reading can be very, very dangerous. 

So, I finished a really great book this weekend, without accomplishing much else (besides some swell time with Eric). Then I started panicking, sat down, and actually wrote out a list of tasks to complete before Tiny arrives. Being an obsessive-compulsive list-maker, I immediately felt better about the world. So I made some tea, sat down... and the past two days I mostly spent reading another great book. Last night, I closed the book, looked up, and thought Oops. I was supposed to get stuff done today. Again. 

Right after I had made that awesome list. 

Don't be like me.

So it was just what I needed when a completely out-of-the-blue package from our sweet friend Alison surprised us in the mail. 

She made Tiny a quilt! A handmade quilt! And it's beautiful. Seriously, I can't get over how awesome this is. Tiny, people love you already. See, Alison sent you a quilt that she made. Made for you. 

So, a huge thank you to dearest Alison. Eric and I are overwhelmed. (In a very good way, not in a stress way.)

Also, on Sunday, a lady from church who I have maybe exchanged five words with came up to me after the service and handed me a gift bag. 

She knit Tiny a baby blanket and -- a matching teddy bear!  

Look at the little bugger. What a cutie.

So even if I'm all stressed out because I'm irresponsible and reading instead of doing things like paying attention to my awesome list, thinking about the people in our lives whose love and support is already making itself known in tangible ways is such an encouragement. It's also a great reminder to get over my stress and focus what's really important, like the fact that Tiny will be -- and clearly, already is -- loved and provided for and taken care of, even if I don't have every picture framed and hung on the wall of that darn nursery.

Now, I'm going to ignore our bookshelves for at least the next week.