Life In Color

I have clever friends

Carmen and I always pine that we can not craft together as we live so far apart. She has sent me things she's made and I've made her things and sent them, so I know she is being crafty. Just not with me, boo! While I was at her house she showed me this awesome outfit she made Chloe out of one of her husband's old tee shirts. Of course I snatched it up and said, "I must squeeze Tuesday into this so I can blog about it!"

Is this not adorable?!?! It is a concert tee so check out the back:

The pattern is McCall's 8574 Um, I had Carmen tell me, and wrote it down and everything but now it is lost, boo. Carmen please comment with the pattern number when you get a chance! Carmen made me a couple of these out of plain knit (what the pattern calls for) and then she must have taken a genius pill because she came up with this! Or maybe that's what happens when you're in Alaska and you don't have the crafty resources. Anyway she's clever and I love this.

In completely unrelated news I need plum advice! I went to hang up Tutu's diapers and realized that we have a plum tree! I had forgotten about it when it was being crammed out of our yard by a cedar that we had cut down earlier this year (two were growing too close together with the plum and they were all going to die, I don't take tree cutting lightly). We all went out and picked a bunch tonight. I cleaned them, and now they are sitting on my counter:

only I put tea towels over them. I don't even know how to store them, I just took my best guess. I'm not sure what these type are either, but they are freaking awesome and taste like candy. I want to try and make some baby food for Tutu and freeze it, maybe a plum jam, or a plum sauce on a pork chop (mmm). Ideas, advice? I wish I would have figured this out earlier, they are ripe like, yesterday. And some are bruised, as you can see, from tossing them into the bowls (there are not a lot of low branches). Please give me some advice ASAP! I will send you big kisses!

Sweet Sundays

Today was a lovely day, much lovelier than the night that proceeded it. Let's just say me cutting out diet coke + giving Tuesday some solids does not make her sleep better, but much much worse. I knew the solids and sleep thing was a myth, as our doctor told us, but now I really know that to be true. But on to Sunday (the Sunday that started at 8:30 and not 2:30).

Bj's parents were in town for a wedding so we thought we'd show them just how much Tutu loves the ocean and drove to the coast to have lunch and go to the beach. Tuesday got to participate in a favorite family activity for the first time:

Feet pictures! We were only at the beach for a few short hours, but it was still fun. The ride home seemed long to poor Tutu. After lots of milky at home I took her out back for an impromtu photo shoot. When you spend all season growing a nice field in your own backyard you might as well use it, right?

I couldn't get her to look at the camera, but that's alright because I got lots of shots of her cute little bits that I know will grow so fast.

There is a little bit of new hair there. 

Then I let Tuesday pull me in for some baby kisses:

Awe my sweet little sparkly pants, how I love thee.

In the swing of things

When we took the train ride to Seward we had most of the day to hang out in the town before heading back to Anchorage. Seward is a small town but lucky for us they had an awesome new park. I saw a mom pushing a baby in a swing and I hadn't even thought that Tuesday would be old enough for that. But she is very strong now so I thought I'd try it and see how she liked it. 

So she tolorated it. Just kidding she freaking went nuts on this thing!

It was so much fun getting her to giggle. Carmen had the idea to put a blanket behind her and I had a big one so that worked for padding our skinny girl. I think out of all the pictures from the trip at least a third are of our time in the park. It was so wonderful, sunny and not too hot (leading to a little papa head burning, oops!). Plus seeing our girl this happy was so much fun.

Her little squeals are the best. 

Then this last week I went to a mom's group for the first time up at this cute little park I didn't even know existed before and Donna had this idea:

That is Tuesday and William in the same swing. I think she said she saw someone doing it at another park. Oh the cuteness. In one of the videos of the Alaska swing adventure you can here Bj saying, "Well, looks like I'm going to have to put a swing in the backyard." I think so!

Old and Unwanted

This morning I left the little peanut with Bj and Sarah and I went out thrifting. Unfortunately there were not many great sales, and no estate sales, boo! Fortunately I can scrounge (and so can Sarah), so we found some fun things. I didn't get anything on my looking list, but that is more of a guideline, not hard and fast get/don't get. 

After all how would I have know to get these rulers? I have a good idea for them too... 

Or this set of curtains and pillow. The woman who sold them to me nearly wept, they were her son's bedroom set. Indestructible she said. Copyright 1977, so they've been around a while. They are in pretty good condition so I think I'm going to try selling them on etsy, I've only ever bought on there before. 

This is my favorite thing from the day, a handknit sweater. Yes, it's in acrylic, but I don't think it's ever been worn. I can hardly stand for a handknit to go so unloved. And at a dollar I figure I could doll up Tuesday in it. I also got her a few other things, a pair of pants with turnips, some polka dot socks, and a thermal shirt that looks slim fitting and oh so cute. I may get the girl a lot of clothes but at least most are hand me downs and good deals (with a few splurges thrown in).

After thrifting Sarah and I hung out with Tuesday and were crafty. Tutu was a little more fussy than crafty, teething maybe? - Update just got finished with over an hour trying to get poor little Tuesday back to sleep. Hope it sticks this time. Here are Sarah's blocks:

She also worked on a pillow case, yeah for pillow cases! My progress:

Okay not much, and one of those blocks I made up in Alaska (we did friendship blocks for the girls, similar but not exactly the same). I hope this weekend is super chill so I can get more work/play stuff done. And maybe a little exercise? 

Alaska

I have a few separate posts planned about our trip, but first a pictorial overview.

Kenai Lake (good thing you posted the name of it on your blog Carmen!)

Carmen and I on kayaks, first time, I loved it!

Carmen and Chloe, me and Tutu.

Early morning train ride, sunglasses for the sunrise (it was really early).

Amazing views from the train.

Us in Seward (destination of the train that day).

Papas and babies!

It was a long adventure day:

Beautiful Chloe:

Trying to get a joint shot:

"Chloe you have ears!"

"Chloe you are so tasty!"

"Why can't I eat Chloe?"

And for the grand finale:

The reason we had to lower the crib when we got home - Sparkly Pants what are you doing?!?!

4 years and 3 months later...

I finally got a badge for my shop put up on my blog (oh and when did I first blog about it? Back in the blogging stone ages). And I didn't even do it, Bj did because HE IS THE BEST. He even made it extra cool so roll your mouse on over there and check it out. I have a lot of things I've been working on for The Ribbon Jar, including lots of new ribbon I need to add to the site, projects to upload to the gallery, and new special collections I'm planning. 

I'm also working on a nice long post about our trip up to Alaska. It was wonderful, and last time we went I did not do it justice on the blog. I tend to be good about my crafty endeavors and everyday life, but fall short on reporting about the big adventures. I like to just live them, maybe I'll do a photo wrap up, I took lots!

Seven Months

Oh my sweet, sweet baby I can't believe you are seven months old (yesterday). Time really has flown by. Everyones says it will, but it's not until you're uploading a couple of years worth of pictures from your iPhone and each one passes for a millisecond that you really realize it. I had to do that today because you drooled my old phone to death. Not your fault really, I thought it would be a good toy for you to play with so I could get a few extra minutes of sleep. Turns out it had a tiny little crack in it that you managed to slobber into.  I found this photo tucked away in the phone: 

I took it at a rest stop at the beginning of December, a month before you were born. How things have changed.

You are a real person now. Someone I couldn't have even dreamed of, because until I met you I didn't know people as awesome as you even existed. We took you traveling recently, your first big adventure, all the way up to Alaska. I was not worried one bit about how you would do on the plane. You love to nurse (oh boy do you love to nurse) so I figured I could do that the whole time if I had to. I nursed you a lot but you also played. You love your toys more than ever now. Sophie is still one of your favorites.

But she didn't go on the plane with us, she rode under it, as you've recently learned you can chuck your toys  pretty far. Unfortunately you can't always get them after you do this and it makes you a little frustrated. The whole time we were visiting with our dear friends I couldn't get over how giant you looked next to little 9 week old Chloe:

She's sort of a lump. An adorable soft, cuddly, sweet, sleepy little lump that we miss a lot, but you've got her beat in the sitting skills by a mile that's for sure. At your last appointment they told us you were in the 5% for weight. I didn't think that was a big deal, you were right on track with my weight when I was your age, and hey look at me, I made it to adulthood! So I always think of you as a wee little thing because the babies your age are so much bigger, but you are not so tiny any more. And some of the clothes I brought for you to wear in Alaska I left there because oh my goodness almost no sweaters fit you any more. I better get knitting! We decided to wait until after our trip to give you solids. I did not think you were ready. The few times we tried you choked and gagged and did not like it one bit. Now you can sit up so well and we're slowly introducing little bits of things for you to try. I love cooking for you, I even love cleaning up after cooking for you. That's probably because I love doing everything related to caring for you. Though I will admit your papa had to install the diaper sprayer today and I'm not much looking forward to using that. 

You still nurse a lot, and we cuddle many times in the night. I don't mind but you did freak me out for a couple of nights when we got home. I was afraid you were going to run on five hours or less forever:

But you seem to be getting back on track now. We cuddle you to bed around nine and you get up around nine, with at least a few nursing in the night. I'm happy if those last around half an hour, but sometimes you like me to stick around for a while (and sometimes we fall asleep together on that comfy chair). 

I know every parent says this, but I think you are the smartest cutest little thing. Today we had over an older friend (by one month). She was making very cute little talking sounds. You watched her the whole time she was here. Later you ran errands with your papa, and he said you were talking the whole time in the car. When you got home you kept this up and it is the cutest thing I've ever heard! We've decided you are going to have the best little voice. I see you watching other things we do and I try to always be mindful of my actions and words. I know you are just trying to figure everything out and I can't wait to see what you do next. 

And the winner is...

I used Random.org to generate the winner and it is:

Lynne S said...

How clever! Love how the punches can make a border!

Lynn I've sent you an email to get your address, be on the look out for it! Thanks everyone for playing.

Punch Giveaway... or I still at least think about scrapbooking

I know, I've been the bad scrapbooker. And to that I say, thank goodness for this blog to keep the wonderful memories of this first year of mamahood fresh in my mind. I been playing around a little bit though and one thing I love are these punches.

Sarah got me hooked on them and they are SO GENIUS. Each one is a corner rounder, but THAT'S NOT ALL... the guard is removed and then they can be used to make scallops. Because Sarah turned me on to these, I thought it only right that she whip up some examples for the giveaway.

This was actually published in a Cards Magazine. I love that magazine (more like an idea book really). The cards in there are always like, "ohhh where did you get that?" Not "Oh did you make that?" You know what I'm talking about. 

And this one she really did just whip up to show the three sizes of punches. They are so awesome right? I mean you are so awesome Sarah, but the punches do help a little. Also loving the Ribbon Jar trim, yummy!

I'm going to take a little blog vacation for the next week and so I don't feel so terrible leaving all my wonderful readers I got a set of these punches to give away. Just leave me a comment below before Saturday, August 8th and I'll draw a winner. Have a great week!