made with love

When I found out I was expecting my little Dollop,

in fact before we even decided to have a baby at all,

I knew I wanted to make my baby a patchwork quilt.

I had made a kingsize one as a first-place-together present

when the then-boyfriend and I moved in together.

I like the idea of labouring over something for someone I love,

putting all my effort and creativity into something for them.

All my favourite people have had one.

My mum and dad have one on their bed which I made them.

I made one for my brother out of some crazy shirts he had as a teenager.

So my baby had to have one.

I finally finished Dollop's quilt in the weeks of maternity leave that I had before he arrived.

I was so pleased and proud and couldn't wait to tuck my baby up in bed under the quilt I had made.

I took photos of him on it when he was exactly one month old,

the quilt looked so huge back then.

And now he likes to play peekaboo with it.

And I still get a kick out of seeing my peaceful baby sleeping in his cot

being kept warm by the quilt that I made him.

Of course once I found out I was expecting Splodge I started planning another quilt.

Because having made one for my first born, if my second born didn't get one too

then I was officially the worst mum on the planet.

So we picked out the fabric (the hubby and the beautiful boy helped)

and then I have panicked and worried and had many a sleepless night

about when exactly I was going to find time to labour with love over this quilt.

But the nesting instinct kicked in

and I found the time.

And my little unborn Splodge is the proud owner of a patchwork quilt of their very own,

made with love

by mummy,

just like their older brother has.

I'm so pleased with it,

because it is so like the beautiful boy's quilt

but also slightly different.

But I think I'm mostly pleased with myself that I actually made it in time

and that my new baby will get to be all wrapped up in snuggly, patchwork love.