New favorite website for mothers of newborns...

www.babywisemom.com

I can read it for hours...

I DID IT!!!

Several months + 1 trip to IKEA + countless trips to Joann's + reading and trying to understand a pattern for the first time + cutting + sewing for hours on end + taking out stitches + cursing + fixing those stitches + 2 broken sewing machine needles + ironing + trimming stray thread =

a custom bumper for Baby

This was a MAJOR project for me...probably the most challenging craft to date. Here is my conclusion: I'm happy I did it, but if I ever have the desire for a new crib bumper, I'll just buy one.

Baby now has permission to arrive.

This was my last project. I'm taking a break.

Curtains

Because this little stinker has gotten up before 5:30 a.m. every day this week,

I decided to do something about it.

I fixed his windows so the light doesn't come in as much.

He already had two layers of curtains - one shear black and a thicker green.

Since I wanted instant results without paying any money, I just added another layer of shear.

I also tacked the outside ends to the wall so the light doesn't leak through.

What do you think? Will it work?????

Time Out For Women

I went to Time Out for Women tonight. It is one of my favorite things to do for myself each year. Jenny Oaks Baker performed. She is an amazing violinist. She is one of those musicians that speaks to your soul. Tonight she spoke to mine. The second to last song she performed was a hymn that I played at my father's funeral. All of a sudden I was taken back to that day. I'll never forget that experience, because I feel like it was the best I've ever played in my life. My Oma and Papa sang the hymn and it was just beautiful. So, of course, during Jenny's performance I started bawling like a baby and couldn't stop. I had to pull out a handkerchief from my purse and was once again reminded of Dad, because he was NEVER without a handkerchief. Just when you needed one, he would hand it over. I don't ever remember him being without one. At that moment I missed my family so much I felt like I could touch my emotions. I don't feel like that very often, but I did tonight and it was a little embarrassing considering the fact that I was in a room with hundreds of other people. The last song Jenny performed was a hymn that always reminds me of Catholic church. It is probably one of my favorite songs that we sang at mass and every time we sing it in Sacrament meeting, I get a little nostalgic. I think about the way Dad and Mom supported each other 100% even though they faithfully attended two different churches and, of course, Dad's conversion to the LDS church . By the end of the performance, I was just starting to pull myself together. The woman sitting next to me said, "Isn't she just great? Have you heard her before? She is such an excellent performer..." I tried to respond half way decently while tears and snot were pouring down my face. I just let her keep thinking that it was "just the music" that brought me to tears.

New Onesie Applique Crafts

Cohen's Christmas Present

My mom is so creative.

I have a lot to learn from her.

The unopened present.

(A wrapped up paper towel roll.)

Complete with a pull-tab.

Whaa-laa!

I'm totally stealing her idea.

Pillow Cases

I've been working on these throw-pillow cases for several months.

Today I finished the last one!

I love this fabric! Mark brought it home from work.

They were just going to get rid of it!!

This case is made from the top layer of an old skirt which I put over a muslin backing.

I took this leftover brown fabric and sewed different stitches all over it to give it some life.

On all of the cases, I overlapped fabric in the back so I wouldn't have to attempt to sew on zippers.

Ta da!

I'm really happy with the way they turned out!!

I totally forgot...

about this website! www.exercisetv.tv It has tons of free workouts. I did a cardio workout today and had so much fun!

Splenda

I hate it when stuff like this happens.

Thank goodness for the invention of the Dustbuster!

Oops!

I forgot to freeze the family pack of ground beef I bought on Tuesday. This has happened to me before. Last time Mark and I cooked meatloaf and stroganoff in an hour. Today I cooked chili for dinner tonight, meat sauce for pasta, taco meat, and a plain meat to add to a recipe. Phew! You should have seen my sink!!!

Thanks Martha!!

We got the holiday box out of storage today. I was a little disappointed at my lack of Halloween decorations. Then I got even more disappointed when I remembered that we are seriously saving money right now (instead of pretending to save money) and I don't have a budget for new home decor. So, I got on MarthaStewart.com and found some goodies.

I'm Published!

Following in Jessica's footsteps, I submitted an answer to my favorite magazine's question of the month. My answer was chosen!!!

Not my favorite day...

This morning while I was in the shower I realized that I forgot my father's birthday yesterday. I NEVER forget his birthday. I never forget things having to do with my dad. It made me really sad. It made me wonder if that is what happens...someone passes away and eventually you forget. I hope not. It's depressing.

Then tonight I received some seriously painful news. I'm not ready to share it yet, but I'll say this...it is bringing back feelings that I'm not ready to feel again. I know it will be okay eventually, but it's not okay right now .

For now I'm going to focus on potty training. It's a good distraction.

This is funny!

Tomorrow we start serious potty training. After weeks of research, this is by far my favorite resource... HI-larious!

Note to self of what not to do at the airport...

1) Leave your house later than scheduled, get stuck pre-season football traffic, park your car at an off-site lot, and finally arrive at the airport very late.
2) Send your husband to go get your toddler some food so he doesn't eat cherrios for dinner.
3) Get to the gate and notice that no one is in line. Figure that they aren't boarding yet and let your child casually look out the window at the planes. Hear your name over the loud speaker and find out that they are about to shut the door and take off.
4) Board the plane without your husband, find a seat and pray that your husband will make it onto the plane.
5) Watch your husband walk on the plane several minutes later with a hot meal and hope that the other passengers don't throw daggers with their eyes because he was getting food.
6) Breathe with relief when you are finally in the air and have a hot dinner to feed your very hungry toddler (even though he ends up not taking one bite of it.)

Mass Exodus

Tonight I found out about another family moving out of Seattle. On the way home from their house I cried. I literally cried. In fact, I'm crying right now. I think my sadness of so many of my friends moving boiled over tonight and now I'm a mess.

Old Toys

What do you do with your kids old toys? Cohen has way too many toys. (Probably because I've never gotten rid of any.) I rotated them for a while, but he's grown out some of them. Should I donate them? Save them for a potential next child? Or, is anyone up for a toy swap?? I hear the last one that Relief Society had did was awesome! Feedback, please.

Let's go to Laie!

I recently found my journal from my semester at BYU-Hawaii. I spent about 2 hours reading it! So many memories came flooding back and I all of a sudden missed it like crazy! It was during a time in my life when I needed a serious break from everything. And Laie gave me exactly that - a break from everything! I had so much fun and met the most amazing people. Sometimes it's fun to remember...

This was the condo I lived in with the best roommates ever!
Notice the beach is just through our backyard.
Amy, Liz and Britt - are you up for a reunion???

P.S. Google Earth is a lot of fun!! I think I could spend hours looking at images!

The Problem:
A large RED loveseat...

in a room of GREEN...

and YELLOW.

SOLUTION:
Framed IKEA wrapping paper.

My next project for the room is throw pillow covers.

Facebook?

Remember when I quit Facebook? I'm thinking of getting back on. Yes, I am succumbing to peer pressure. However, I'm not the only one questioning joining (or in my case rejoining). My friend, Laura, is going through the same thing.

What do you think?

P.S. I swear I quit like a year ago. Nope...it's only been 4 months.