Three PJs in a Pod {ALYOF September Goal Complete}

The cousins love them!

I finished all three nightgowns (and two sets of under-shorts) just in time for a weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's! (The heart is in place until her adoption into my sister-in-law's family is official... we're hoping for next month!)

E was pretty fond of her new "dress," but she also loved that I was making them for her cousins, too. She was always aware of which cousin each nightgown belonged to as I sewed them assembly-line-style.

Nightgown pattern: Riley's Nightgown by Everything Your Mama Made & More
Night shorts pattern: Anna and Alex Summer PJs by Peek-A-Boo
Yellow Fabric: Hancock Fabrics a year and a half ago
Pink Fabric/Purple Ribbing: From a stash I purchased through craigslist back in MT
Shorts Fabric: Pink cotton/lycra from my local Fabric Warehouse

#21 in the Goal Setting Linky

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WIP (works in progress) List

• 1 Monikered Baby Bag (fabric chosen, cut and interfaced... waiting on Mom for the name appliqué... then need to sew it)
• Christmas lap quilt (finish binding)
• E's Halloween Costume (dress/bloomers finished... just need to finish two bows/ears)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)
• Burp Cloths 9cut out but need to be sewn)

UFO (unfinished objects) List...

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

Another Month. Another Family Update.

A boring month... but sometimes I like boring months!

We spent two nights over Labor Day weekend at my parents' lake cabin. We all love it there... we even dipped JT's toes in the lake. Of course, he needed to wear his entire swimming get-up just to get his toes wet! We recently purchased a fishing pole for E, since she loves fishing. This pole seemed to entertain her longer than others since there is a removable fishy on the end that she could "catch."

I was able to get some swimming in this trip, too. (See, I told you E loves the lake. She had to share her tube with JT after I told her where we were going that weekend, ha!). My brother found a crawfish on the beach. E wasn't super impressed with it... she just wanted to keep fishing.

Grandma's favorite thing... breakfast on the porch! We also spent one night at Dan's parents' farm, but I forgot to take pictures! 

We took the kids to the Corn Palace Festival one night. E rode the carousel 3 times! 

Breakfast with both kids in my lap made for a challenging bowl of cereal...

E still loves dandelions. We're just glad she doesn't eat them this year!

We had our first date night! One of Dan's former coworkers watched both kids while we went out to eat... and to Menards! 

5 Months! {JT Update}

Our little man is 5 months! 

He just keeps getting happier and happier... he is still not wonderful in the car - we think it's because he gets bored so quickly. He also loves cuddling so much, and that's just not possible while he's in the carseat! While he is able to keep a pacifier in by himself now, he is also able to grab it and pull it out (but he can't put it back in!) which doesn't make him happy. Anyways, we just keep doing lots of cuddling and rocking when he's crabby. Otherwise, he is a very happy and smiley boy ;)

We started foods this past month - mostly oatmeal mixed with breast milk. We also have tried avocado. He tolerates this feeding stage so much better than E did! She never did like being spoonfed, while he doesn't seem to mind it - especially because it means that Mommy is 100% focused on him during it, ha!

He sleeps much better at night now that he's eating solids. Most of the time he sleeps through the night, but he does wake up once every now and then. He is really getting the rolling thing done, but he is pretty lazy so he only does it in his crib when he wakes up from a nap. He does a lot of scooting backwards and he likes to get up on his all fours, but he can't stay on them for long!

Overall, it was a pretty boring month (I'm fine with that!). We did meet another friend. He lives in Arkansas, but I went to college with his mommy who actually grew up near Dan's family. (I made little Beau this and this). These two boys are only a few days apart. Yay friends!

My First Manhattan

This was the first pattern that I ever bought on a whim (and has since opened my wallet up to a lot more whims... and a lot more patterns purchased! I'm definitely on a clothes-sewing-kick!)

Pattern: Manhattan Blouse

Designer: Kate of See Kate Sew

Size: 4T

Fabric: Pink and blue florals are from Tasha Noel's Country Girl fabric line (I won a fat quarter bundle of one colorway over a year ago). The pink for the bottom portion and the lining was from my stash.

I've had this cut out since before JT was born, which is why I cut it in the bigger size - I knew that I wouldn't get to it right away! It is big on her, but I think it's perfect for growing into :)

I love the V-detail and the flowy-ness of the bottom. It is great for over comfy leggings. The one button closure is a quick finish for the back.

I was not that impressed with the way the sleeves turned out - can you see how it turns back into the shirt? Perhaps it was a mistake by me, but regardless, I plan on omitting the bottom of the sleeve the next time I use the pattern.

And there she goes! She was running and hopping all over the backyard in it. Here's to hoping she will wear it, now! A nice sweater over it will work well this winter :)

Beau's Bag

Another friend... another baby... another bag! 

Last weekend, Beau and his parents traveled north from their home to visit his grandparents (who live about twenty miles from Dan's parents) so I was able to see my college roommate/teammate and her little Beau! Beau was born a few days before JT, so I'm thankful that her roots keep bringing her back to the Midwest so we can see each other (and our babies)!

Since I finished this bag, I have one more to make before October. I recently found out another running friend is due in February, but that's a few months before I have to worry about picking out fabric ;)

Fabric lowdown: The cottons and denim were from my stash, while the corduroy is from Mom. 

Mom's Viking workhorse sewing machine did wonders on the multiple layers of the straps and the topstitching! It's amazing how fast one can finish a bag when you don't have to worry about skipped stitches :)

A Few Family Pictures

My family needed to take some family pictures before my oldest brother and his family moved to Guam for 2 years!

And since schedules were hectic and difficult to predict with 6 kiddos under 6 years of age... we decided to forgo trying to book a real photographer and we just set up my tripod. We were at my parents' farm in the country... Dad and I had scouted for good shady locations the week before... and this is what we came up with! It should work for a good Christmas card and perhaps even a canvas for my parents' walls.

Of course we had to do a goofy picture :)

The 6 grandkids!

E and JT! E refused to take off the necklace...

My nephews and niece who are now living in Guam...

Individual family picture time!

This brother and his family only live an hour from us :) Cooper is right in between E and JT in age.

Our turn... eh, ours may not be Christmas card worthy, but it'll work for a photo collage wall at my parents' house :)

Before A Storm {Photography}

While hanging out at my inlaws' farm one Saturday evening, we were able to watch a major thunderstorm approach.

This produced wonderful photography opportunities!

The greenish sky did stay true to the old-wives'-tale and produce hail. We didn't get much at the home place, but several fields were hit a few miles north of here.

It was an evening that showed speckles of storms popping up in many places. We could see more clouds on the horizon.

A swirling cloud right before it started raining.

Just waiting for the storm to hit! Don't worry, we got E inside before it started raining :)

WIP and ALYOF {September Goal}

I had a couple of yards of this yellow knit that I purchased at Hancock Fabric in Rapid City when I was in the Hills for a wedding last summer. I bought more than I had planned because it was nearing the end of the bolt so I just bought the remnant as well. I always figured I'd make a top or a dress for E, and maybe even for her cousins. Instead, I've decided on making E and her two cousins matching pajamas. It will be perfect for when they're all at Grandpa/Grandma's farm this fall and winter.

Pattern: EYMM Riley Nightgown
Fabric: Yellow Jersey knit from Hancock. Pink and purple accents from my stash - no idea when/where I purchased :)

Official Goal: Finish sewing three nightgowns!

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Finally, an updated WIP and UFO list :)

WIP (works in progress) List

• 1 Monikered Baby Bag (fabric chosen, cut and interfaced... waiting on Mom for the name appliqué... then need to sew it)
• 3 nightgowns (fabric cut - just need to sew it)
• Christmas lap quilt (quilting done... need to attach and finish binding)
• E's Halloween Costume (fabric and pattern chosen... need to cut and sew)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)

UFO (unfinished objects) List...

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc