Boy, Oh Boy!

I am so excited about having a little boy!  

I know all of you boy mamas are going to laugh at me, but there are times that it scares me half to death.  And I'm not really sure why.  I know it's going to be different, and different is OK.  It's just that I'm used to girls.  I know what to do for them.  How to care for them.  But a boy?!?!

From the first days of his little life, things will be different.  A whole new world lies ahead. 

Let me just say again, though--I really am excited about having a boy!

One of the biggest reasons I am excited about having my own baby boy is because I've fallen in love with this baby boy:

My sweet nephew has brought such joy to my life!  His cousins adore him and I know it's going to be fun for him and our little one to grow up together.  

This little guy is just more precious than words, and I can't wait to have my own little man to love on.  I can't wait to be a boy mama, too!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

The only thing this post has to do with St. Patrick's Day is that today is St. Patrick's Day.  

It's already not been the best day--not terrible though, and mostly unrelated to my children.  Until just a few minutes ago...

The only upside to this?  It's dry erase marker, not permanent or even Crayola washable.  I'm not sure how this got started or who is more responsible, but they are both guilty.  Abby was holding an open marker when I found them, but I know Emma well enough to know she didn't just stand back and watch.  Also, the marker on her face looks too intentional, almost like she was trying to put on makeup.

I shouldn't have been stupid enough to leave markers in the reach of a 22-month-old.  But they were up in a drawer of a desk, so it's not like they were laying on the floor.  She had to stand up in a chair to even reach the drawer.  I didn't realize she could get in that drawer--now I know!  Luckily, they only colored on themselves, a book (which wiped clean), and the dresser (which wiped mostly clean).  As far as I've found, no clothing, carpet, or bedspreads were harmed.  Not even the white walls, which would have been a fantastic place to draw with 8 different colors!

I should have known when they got quite to go check on them.  It wasn't until Abby screamed about something that I went to investigate.  I've definitely re-learned a lesson I already knew: Quite children=Mischievous children!!

Oh well.  Happy St. Patty's Day anyway! 

PS.  I sent an email to Robby and our parents with these pictures attached.  Here's my daddy's reply:

"OK, who do you think decorated Abby?  Abby couldn't have done her left

hand, left side of her face and her left leg with the same hand.  I doubt

she switched hands to do her left arm.  Notice that her right side has very

few marks.  I'm thinking Emma did 99.9% of the decorating on Abby with her

right hand, while facing Abby.  Also, this conclusion supported by the fact

that Emma didn't tattle.  Emma wouldn't tattle on herself, but would have

been overly anxious to tattle on Abby.  Emma definitely did the dresser,

because Abby couldn't have reached up there."

I'm off to investigate the details of this case more closely.......

After further investigation, this is what I discovered:

The stool from Emma's bathroom was in front of the dresser, so that's how Abby was tall enough to color on it.  I drilled Emma over and over about telling the truth.  She fessed up about writing on her desk with a pencil but insisted that Abby wrote on the dresser.  I have no choice but to believe her at this point, but she knows she's in hot water if I find out she lied. 

Emma colored her own face and body. 

She and Abby colored Abby's face. 

Abby colored her own arm.

Emma colored Abby's leg.  She wanted to make Abby "purple all over."  You can see that especially on Abby's foot!

New Projects and a Name

I've finally gotten back to my sewing room!  Yay!!!  After being on bed rest, there were so many other things that needed tending to.  But I've been doing a few things here and there the last couple of weeks, and one of them is applique.  

When I was first introduced to what applique was, I was intimidated by it.  But I decided it was time to get over that and learn.  (Machine applique, I should clarify.)  I've watched a couple of tutorials online and figured out the best way for me.  I've only just begun, but so far it's been successful.

Many months ago, I purchased a couple of shirts and some scrap fabric from a friend who owns a children's clothing business.  I planned to applique the shirts for my girls--my first applique project.  It would be a simple project, I kept telling myself.  And it turns out, it was!  The girls won't be able to wear the shirts for a year or so, but when I purchase them, I knew the shirts were a couple of sizes too large.  They were the only sizes she had available, but I figured that would give me plenty of time to get up the courage to get them done. :-)  Good thing, too, because like I said before, it's been quite a while since I purchased them.  Anyway, here's how they turned out:

Abigail's is a little off center, but I figure she'll be moving so constantly that no one will be able to tell!

I've also been doing a few things for the little man that will be joining our family in a few months.

The one on the left isn't applique, just a fun new font I was playing with.  

I was very pleased with the way the UGA applique turned out.  It'll be fun to have this burp cloth on hand next fall while he's watching football with his daddy.

And in case you're wondering, the "W" stands for William.  His name is William Franklin, and we'll be calling him Will. 

I've got a few more projects in the works, some of which aren't applique but just plain ol' sewing.  I just found a pattern yesterday for a classy little dress I want to make for the girls, but it may be more than I can handle.  We shall see...  If they turn out alright, I'll make sure to share the pictures.  

Until then, Happy Sewing!

A Dreaded Task

Of all the things necessary to keep a child's appearance in order, a haircut is my second most dreaded task.  Nail clipping comes in first only because it has to be done so much more often!  

But it was time.  I couldn't put it off any longer.  This mess needed attending to:

While she has very nice hair for a child her age, the bottom layer was getting long and stringy and the top layers were a mess of crazy curls.  It was also starting to look a little mullettish. 

But, oh how I was DREADING trying to keep her still long enough to cut it.  And the thought of taking her to a salon was even worse than the thought of doing it myself even though I have NO hair cutting abilities!

Today, however, we (Dora and I!!) tackled it!  Dora (the one on TV, not the one in her hands) provided us with entertainment that kept the crazy one still for a few minutes.  And I attempted to cut it...

I have to say, I was quite pleased with the results.

I tried to get a picture of the front, but apparently I was in her way of the TV.  The final evaluation will come this evening after she's napped, played, and generally wallowed herself to pieces.