Wordless Wednesday: Tiny Dancer

Let's try this again

I warily made my way back to the sewing machine, after first popping a couple advil, downing them with a beer and saying some prayers, and to my relief, it went much better. No no, I did not actually wash the pills down with a beer. I was all out. However, even so, I found out I can now sew lines that fall much more into the "straight" category, except for sewing velcro, which doesn't count because that sucker is slippery and impossible to sew straight. Im-freakin-possible. I decided to make a travel diaper changing pad that can fit into a purse for a friend's baby shower. I had seen someone get a homemade one at the last shower I went to and thought it was a great idea, and a good place to start for a beginner sewer, since it was basically a rectangle. That's my speed. I love, love, love picking out fabric now and had fun designing what this was going to look and feel like. A girly, but not overwhelmingly girly outside, and a soft as a cloud inside. Here's what it looks like when you open up the crooked velcro. It has a pocket that holds wipes and a diaper or two, then it folds back up and secures with.... crooked velcro. And it is small so it can fit in a purse easily.

I had leftover fabric from the inside and was initially going to make a blanket for Sadie's baby doll, but as I was sewing, it turned into more of a pillow shape, so I stuffed it, and now it's her "cuddle" pillow, that she has slept with ever since! I am thinking about making big floor pillows now for her.

Time to start looking for the next project, I think I'm getting addicted.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

My beautiful mom in her teens.

My mom turns 70 today! Happy birthday to the most caring, nurturing, loving, all-forgiving, compassionate woman I know. You know how the Grinch's heart grows 3 times the size at the end of the story and it's huge? It's not even a fraction of how large my mom's heart is. I've learned a lot of life lessons in empathy and how people should be treated from her and I thank her so much for that. She has a strength in her most people don't know and something she herself doesn't give herself credit for. Mom, you are amazing and I'm so thankful for you. Love you with all my heart.

Wordless Wednesday: A Frosty Sculpture

Future modern art sculptor? I think so. It's clearly a political commentary 

on the state of the world today. Duh.)

Preschool Proud

All decked out in her Dora gear.

I am VERY proud of my girl for starting preschool today! It was a little rocky with potty training, so we weren't even sure if she would be able to go to preschool. But, she is potty trained..... enough. For half days anyways. :) She was super excited to be going to her big girl room this morning.... the preschool room! I know it was a little daunting to her to go into a room with 24 kids, instead of a room with only 10, but she did great. I did get the little puffed out bottom lip as I left, but we lucked out and she has a teacher she had last year, which really helped her transition into her new classroom. When I picked her up she told me all about the "new playground" she gets to play in, for BIG KIDS, of course. And how a girl named Allie was there and it was her birthday and they all got TWO oreos. And how she is now a new friend. :) She really is growing up so fast.

Modeling her new Preschool outfit.

WOW! Great job, Sadie! :) She was pretty excited about this!

Pre-Irene

Hurricane Irene is not even here yet, but as evidenced by the huge waves rolling in, she's a'comin. She is still in Virginia, but here is what we are already seeing in Newport. Our crappy camera doesn't do it justice. It's beautiful witnessing the gorgeous power of mother nature. Oh, and Sadie loved the "ocean baths" we got from getting these pics and videos. :) Luckily, we've got wine, corona's, homemade guac and salsa, and plenty of chocolate to get us through the storm! BRING IT, IRENE!

And we already did our "Hurricane Craft Project", before the hurricane even started. Sadie and I "designed" and decorated a new backpack for.... Preschool! We already had a plain pink backpack we used for daycare that fit her well, but it was pretty bland. So we took a Mama/Daughter trip to Joann Fabrics and she picked out her favorite felt iron-on appliques and we decided to put her name on it too. I decided I had better make it today since I needed electricity for the iron and Preschool starts Monday, and I wanted her to have it for the first day. She is also getting a present tomorrow- her new Dora lunch box, Dora water bottle and Dora sandwich container to take to her new big girl classroom. She is going to love it! She is so excited for Preschool!

Three Year Old-isms

What a ham.

Some recent sayings from our resident 3 year old.

On aging:

"What's on your forehead?"

"What do you mean?"

"What are those lines???"

... long pause.....

"Oh, you mean my wrinkles?"

"Hahahaha, YEAH!!"

"Would you like to know how I got them????"

(Just kidding on the last part.)

On a "blemish" Mommy had:

"Why do you have a nipple on your face?"

Subsequent peels of laughter.

On why she can't do what she was asked:

"I CAN'T, Mommy!"

"Yes, you can, please listen."

"No, I can't cuz I'm CHUFFING! I'm chuffing real fast!"

(continues to play with trains....)

(Mom still trying not to laugh over the term "chuff" and mentally makes a note that perhaps she is watching too much tv.)

On underwear malfunctions:

"Mooommmmyyy! Ow! I have a scrunchie!!"

(Translation: I have a wedgie.)

Riding the carousel, happy as a clam.

On growing up in the digital age:

"Can I play with Skylar today?"

"We can't today."

"Yes, we can! You just have to text Miss Nanette and ask her!"

(Seriously?! She also pretends to text on her own phone.)

On trying to get her way:

"I want M&M's!!"

"Not before din—"

"DADDDDDDDY!!!!!!!!!! CAN I HAVE M&M'S???????"

"John! Don't you dare....!"

On growing up:

"So when I get bigger my boobies will grow out of my chest?"

"Well, ya, but you need to be a LOT bigger, kid."

(Where does she get these things?! I think she will be the kid stuffing her undershirt with tissues, she is obsessed with boobies!)

Separate incident:

"Ha ha, Daddy has boobies!"

"Honey, boys don't have boobies (kind of a lie here), boys have?????"

"Penises." (said very matter of factly.)

(Insert John's jaw dropping and "What do you teach her?!)

Hey, I was expecting her to say "chests!"

I realize she is talking a warp speed here, she is saying "I'm a ferocious dinosaur! Rarrrrr!!!"