Transitioning Boys and New Routines

Let me tell you a little about Elliott. At 13 months he knows exactly what he wants and how dare you suggest it isn't safe for him to eat, or climb on, or play with. He has the most contagious laugh I've ever heard and is oh so easy to tickle. He loves being flipped upside down, being diaper free (oh yes he can now pull off the Velcro diapers!), and everything outside. He especially likes sticking dirt in his mouth when I blink. Blink, I tell you! This boy of mine is quick unlike his sister who at 13 months would at least think about it for a couple of seconds giving me time to stop her. Well my dear baby boy, who is not so babyish, thank you for proving me right all those years when I said "dirt don't hurt" Elliott has three words he uses regularly now, Mama, Papa, and uh-oh. Uh-oh is so appropriate for a just barely one year old who insists on using his own fork, spoon, and CUP. Yes, he insists on a cup, preferably with a handle. (Imagine where the uh-oh comes from!)


So for the last 6 months, which feels like eternity, Elliott has been waking up between 5:30 and 6am. This wasn't too big of a shift from the newborn awake all night every night routine so I guess I didn't think too much of it, except of course when I would mention it to other mothers and they would look at me with pity and admit they sleep in until 7:30 or 8 every morning! Ok, enough back story! Elliott is now sleeping in until almost 7am every morning! wooohooo. Not only that but when he does wake up (in my bed) I can usually convince him to go get some books from his room and bring them to me. Then I can lay in bed even longer and read him some stories. Sometime during this time Bella usually wakes up and morning bedtime silliness begins. I love these kids and all the giggles they bring into my life.

New Years Resolution Update: Month one completed with one whole day to spare!

More of the Same Only Different

I must be on a sewing kick to have this many projects to post in one week. I feel like I am playing catch up with all the projects I've wanted to do since before the birthday/holiday marathon started. Here is the first real successful top I've made myself. I see me wearing this a lot in the summer. I like it so much I may start sewing more wearable things for myself. This top ended up costing me 15 dollars in fabric. (actually free because I used a gift card. Thanks to Ben and Julia!) I already had fabric for the facing, thread, and the pattern.




These produce bags are technically for my sewing circle project even though the project was to make a tote. I can't imagine getting excited about making a tote when I already have around 15. I am not exaggerating when you count all the reusable grocery bags that keep finding their way into my home. Does anyone need or want any reusable grocery bags? Of course you don't you probably have as many as I do. I thought I'd ask! So back to the bags, these were all made with scraps which is why they are all different sizes. I took a lesson for my grandma who uses EVERYTHING and used selvage for the draw string. I resisted the urge to go buy something new that would look perfect with these, but seriously they are produce bags. Who cares what the draw string looks like? I think the selvage adds character. =P

Our Dinning Room Gallery

I May Not Be Posting... Believe Me I Am Sewing

Here is a quick run down on whats come out of my sewing nook. The best part about these projects are that they cost me almost nothing and required very little "new" materials. I know being green is on it's way out but something about using little AND saving big will forever be appealing to me.

Some how most of what I sew is for Bella. I think even she is getting burnt out on that. It's just so easy and fun to sew for little girls, not to mention a lot easier to find fabric.




I spent 99 cents on this pattern and probably have enough of this fabric left to make another dress. Since I started sewing my grandma has been dumping giving me me lots of fabric. Not necessarily fabric I would have picked out on my own (most of it left over from the 80s when we were growing up) but so far I've been able to turn them into things I like.

Some PJs for Bella from the same stack of free fabric. This time at zero cost due to me having the pattern already.



A couple upcycled toddler t-shirts turned into a not so pretty but not horrible necklace. I look forward to trying this again with an adult sized t-shirt.

New Years Resolutions

I guess this would be a first for blog posts from me (although I have many many failed New Years Resolutions.) My offical resolution is to start and finish a book a month. I'm going to stick to fiction since those are the only kinds of books I can read cover to cover, in order, in a timely manner. I figure blogging about it here and posting what I'm reading will motivate me to stick with the resolution past February.

Here is a short list of books that I am interested in reading this year.
Sons and lovers
The Tea House Fire
A Lesson Before Dying
Some book Crisa said that I can't remember the name of?
and..... I'm open for suggestions.


These will most likely change.

On to the not so official resolutions that will most likely be forgotten at any given point through out the year:

strive to be more mindful
find time to meditate everyday
continue running 2-3 times a week
cook more
eat less
be more affectionate
write/call friends more
oh, and blog nore.

My poor blog has suffered since Elliott was born. (not to mention my poor second child has an empty baby book, no photo album, and hardly any pictures taken by me. How could this happen? I swore I wouldn't be that parent!) I've got a new ipod with picture taking abilities so maybe, just maybe, this blog (and you) will see more of our world