Monthly Update {October-ish}

These pictures are from the 2nd half of September and the 1st half of October... Not a lot happened, but as usual, we had plenty of family time!

The boys shingled at Dan's parents' place. It was great weather and the crops weren't quite ready for harvest... now they've been harvesting like crazy (but those pictures will be in the next month's update!)

And we hung out with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Adam at my parents' place. James got to try out the old walker and E was able to fly a kite with Adam and spend time in her happy place (the playhouse!)

We also had one weekend that we stayed home for, but we hosted Dan's sister's family. We went for a hike, tried out a new restaurant in town and Sarah and I were able to walk around a craft fair, farmer's market and antique store (without the kids!!). 

6 Months {JT ~ Update}

6 months - 6 months - 6 months! 

I've had the pictures all ready for this post, but I just haven't taken the time to talk about them until now. I need to remind myself that it is so much easier to talk about his monthly updates right away, rather than waiting a few weeks... I always forget what all he has learned to do while waiting!

Anyways, he is truly a happy little boy (carseat time is still a 50-50 chance of going well or enduring a screaming fest) and is really started to study the world around him. He still is a cuddle bug - something that his sister never was! His weight and height are both average, so he is transitioning from 3-6month clothes to 6-9 month clothes. (He loved the leaf that was the same size as his head... well, he really just loves anything that he can grasp with his fingers!)

He rolls, but can be content on either his tummy or his back (again, different that E... she would never be content on her back!). Actually, one of his favorite positions is just lying on his back on my lap and playing with his feet while looking around. His fingers are often in his mouth, but he doesn't favor any. He still takes a pacifier, but we still haven't tried a bottle. His baby attitude continues to grow. In these pictures above, he was happily playing in the dirt and grass beside the blanket. As soon as we moved him to the middle of the blanket again and out of reach of the dirt and grass, he would get so upset! 

Breakfast times are getting more and more interesting! E eats her rice krispies and James has his oatmeal. (Then applesauce for lunch and then a veggie for supper... at the time he turned 6 months, he had sweet potatoes, squash and avocado). He is a much better eater than E ever was... sometimes he gets upset when I don't feed him quick enough! (my breakfast gets squeezed before or after this lovely scene).

He's getting more grabby for her toys. She's getting more pokey/pestering and a little more defiant. Yet, she gives him "big hugs" and kisses and still loves to "hold" him :)

A Minnie Costume.

There was no question as to what E would be for Halloween this year. She is enthralled by Mickey Mouse and is duly devoted to both Mickey and Minnie. 

Therefore, I decided to make her a Minnie outfit.

Dress Pattern: Made for Mermaids Minnie Top and Tunic

Bloomers Pattern: Made for Mermaids Olivia Bloomers and Pantaloons

Ears Pattern: Ribbon Retreat Tulle Puff Mouse Ears

Dress Fabric and Ears Tulle: JoAnns

Bloomers Fabric: Eyelet from my stash

Both clothing patterns are perfect for quick and simple sewing. They may not have the most professional finishes, but I don't mind when it comes to play clothes and costumes! For example, both the sleeve cuffs and the bloomers leg elastic and hems are done flat, prior to sewing the sleeves and legs. This leads to slightly messier and visible inside seams, but E doesn't know any better and I'm not sewing for 4-H judges anymore! The bloomers were bought, cut and sewn up all in one day. Nothing better than that! 

Her personality is certainly getting bigger and bigger. I can no longer ask her to do the "itsy-bitsy" in order to get her to smile. Instead of smiling, she now starts singing! She loves getting her pictures taken though, so I can't complain :)

The hair bows were fun, too. Walmart wants $8 for Minnie Mouse ears... so I made these instead. 

She makes me smile.

I cannot wait for trick-or-treating! Yay for "Halloween-time!"

October Goal Complete {ALYOF ~ Zander Bag}

The no-longer-New-Zealanders are back on USA soil, all safe and sound. 

We look forward to having them nearby again! 

Zander's bag is finished! 

The fabric came from a giveaway from a New Zealand blogger. I had no idea a the time how well the three fat quarters would come in handy! Who knows if Zander will ever return the land he was born in, but I'm sure he will have a lot of souvenirs to remind if of where he lived for the first three months of his life :)

*ALYOF Note: Number 29 on the Goal Linky Party

*Link to my goal post

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Christmas lap quilt (finish binding)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)
• SDSU hats for Christmas gifts (6 cut out, a few started... need to buy more fleece!)

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

Pocket Full of Posies for Miss K

Miss K is turning 3 tomorrow! Happy Early Birthday! 

And so, for my niece's third birthday, I made her a skirt... she is also getting some paint markers, a book and a shirt that I stenciled (but forgot to take a picture of it!).

Pattern: Pocket Full of Posies by Elliedactyl

Fabric: Pink Cotton/Lycra - local fabric store, Purple (interlock?) - Hancock Fabrics, Black Flowers Scuba Knit - Clearance from Girl Charlie (out of stock now)

Doll skirt for "Baby" was roughly made using the same pattern with a little modification. It fits E's dolly that is about the same size as "Baby," so I'm crossing my fingers! I'm also crossing my fingers that the skirt fits Miss K. I had her measurements from making the matching cousin pajamas, and the skirt fits E, so I'm pretty hopeful :)

E was actually really good about me making this skirt for K. She would ask who it was for and when I said that is was a birthday present for K, she would sometime ask where hers was... she never whined about me not making her one, though, so I was pretty happy about that :) I am actually making her a similar skirt with the scuba knit and pink cotton/lycra... but instead of purple pockets, she'll have Minnie Mouse pockets (I just picked up the Minnie fabric this week... I have a whole pile of items to sew for E now that will have splashes of Minnie on it!)

Anyways, the birthday party isn't until Tuesday, and I am so excited about her gift. I really hope she likes it! We continue to pray for the adoption process... hopefully by Christmas she will be my niece for good! :)

DIY Projects Update

Lately, I've had some DIY fun...

We did some canning! Applesauce and tomato sauce (apples from my in-laws and tomatoes from our garden). I also tried apple butter, but I still haven't test it... I'm not a huge fan of it, so I made it especially for Dan and my dad. 

I quilted my Christmas quilt! Now I just have to finish the binding... 

I'm working on some wall-art. Some of them cannot be hung until we get some dry-wall on the basement walls (so, it will be awhile....), but others just need some hangers and nails in the wall!

Making these wall-art signs is really easier than I ever thought they would be. They provide a great remedy to my crafty-itch when I've been sewing too long :) I like variety in my DIY projects!

Daddy's Girl Dress for E

My little girl is growing up! She's not even 2.5 years old yet, but when I put this outfit on her, even Dan said that it looked like she was dressed for the first day of school! 

Pattern: Little Lizard King Daddy's Girl Dress

Bodice/Strap Fabric: Stash. No idea.

Skirt: Dan's old flannel shirt.

Overal, I love how it turned out. I have the straps tied too tight, which is why it looks bunched at the armpits in this picture. Thankfully, that just requires an easy fix of loosening the knot on the straps. I need to remember next time I sew this pattern to use a finishing stitch on the bottom of the bodice and on the top of skirt separately before gathering and sewing them together (the skirt seam is not enclosed in the bodice). 

I was afraid that E wouldn't like it, but she was all ready for the photo-shoot because 1) she got to wear her new (to her) boots and 2) Mommy was going to take pictures of her!

Because the skirt is from Dan's old shirt, this was a really quick sew! The pattern gives complete instructions for using an old shirt for the entire dress or you can make it with yardage. As I said earlier, I chose to mix and match - using an old shirt and yardage. 

 Last but not least, the pattern gives instructions on how to tie the straps so it looks like the knot of Daddy's tie. I struggled, so I just did an easy knot. Works for me! Now, let's hope I can get her to wear it again :)

A New Zealand Bag {October ALYOF Goal}

October Goal: Finish the bag for Baby Z

After being in New Zealand for 2 years, my sister-in-law and her husband (and almost 4 month old cutie) are on their way back! Knowing that they'd be coming home 4 months after Little Z was born, we haven't given them their baby gifts yet... their Monikered Baby Bag needs to be finished this coming weekend, so it is ready by the time they fly in on the airplane! 

We are so excited to welcome them home!

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)
• SDSU hats for Christmas gifts (6 cut out, a few started... need to buy more fleece!)

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