Ten Joys of January

1 ~ Matching handmade elephants, Christmas gifts for brother and sister. (Pattern from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson)


2 ~ Lots of rocking in this little corner.



3 ~ Gifts of food from neighbors and friends after Maari's birth (especially those weekly grocery store runs from Grandma). I have been a little spoiled lately.

4 ~ Silly spectacles on a silly seven year old.

5 ~ New bangs.

6 ~ This CD

7 ~ The snowman that never melts (now diasassembled but still here).


8 ~ Watching Polk come up with new places to nap.

9 ~ Fitting into a pair of non-maternity jeans!

10 ~ This little peanut.

Reading

Reading for three now! It looks to me like someone is already fascinated by her older brother.

Maari has been adapting well to life outside the belly. She is a very easy baby, the other night she slept almost six hours. What a treat for mom! Connor has adjusted well also to life with a sibling. He is very proud and protective.>

As for Justin and I, we are ecstatic!

All is well here.

A Very Special Christmas Gift

Maari Frances

Born Christmas Eve Day.

Feeling blessed New Years Eve Day on her one week birthday for all that 2008 has given us and looking forward to 2009!

(I just knew she would come on Christmas)

Practice

Trying out my new birthday/early Christmas present on the belly...baby is going to need to get used to that camera. Justin's pictures seem to be turning out better than mine. After this crazy holiday stuff I am planning on sitting down for a one on one with this monster - so much to learn!

Redo for Baby

Well, we have been digging stuff out of the depths of the basement for baby. Seven years down there uncovered (oops) left some things a little gross. Nothing a new slipcover can't fix.

This project was a little more difficult than expected. Maybe if I had planned and marked the old parts before just completely ripping it apart it would have made things easier. But who has time for that?

Now I suppose it would have been wiser to just wash the previous cover, but the little trees were calling to me.

For Baby

Wow it has been a LONG time since I have written here! I guess things get crazy... we have been adjusting to first grade and all that extra homework, juggling soccer and football games, trying to finish bathroom construction, and rearranging rooms in preparation for baby.

I have started several projects and have actually completed 2 of them!!

One baby kimono & a pair of linen shoes:

The kimono is from a Martha Stewart pattern and the shoes from the Cloth Shoe Pattern from Stardust Shoes.

In the works: a quilt, bibs, sweater...sometimes my head works harder than my hands so we will see what actually gets finished!

Finds

With another person soon to arrive in this house we are having to do some rearranging. In the spirit of things I have graciously donated my closet to the new arrival. I have been attempting to stuff its contents in other spots which has proven to be a frustrating task.

We happened to be out looking for a new computer desk, when I spotted my solution, a giant beautiful old armoire for only $160!! I have always wanted one but the typical $3,000 price tags are far outside of my armoire budget. I sat and stared at it for awhile wondering if it would fit in my room, trying to decide on whether or not to splurge. Then I opened it and saw little sign.



Yes, we are going to have a little girl, 95% sure we are anyway. Connor is still holding on to that 5% chance that he will get a little brother, but I think in time he will be very happy to have a sister. When I saw this little dress sitting on the shelf of the armoire I knew I had to have both. The first of many vintage dresses and a solution to my huge pile of sweaters without a home. It was a good day!