Lucky Number 8

I've been browsing a lot of the Sew Mama Sew giveaways this weekend, signing up for anything that I thought I might like... which ended up being most of them, actually! So, perhaps out of the 100 or so blogs that I commented on with hopes of winning, maybe I'll win something.

Speaking of winning, turns out the lucky number is 8, and the eighth commenter on the previous post was Bethgun! Now, she does have a cute header with her car and her cat... but she's requested a new one, so we'll have to see what we can come up with!

Thanks for participating in my spontaneous giveaway. Maybe I'll do another one later this summer, you know, when I get bored of swimming at the Y or playing all day long with a very active toddler. Or if you bribe me, maybe I'll make you a new header anyway.

Lucky Numbers 7 and 3

Looks like for the previous 7 posts, I've had 3 comments on each one. Props go to Carolyn and Leanna for being my faithful commenters! And Lydia is a close second.

I've run across some blog giveaways here recently that are fun to participate in. So, I'm doing a blog giveaway of my own! I assure you the prize will be something fun and nifty. All you have to do is comment! Then I will use a randomizer to pick the winner.

Maybe, just maybe I will get more comments on this one. But if it's only 3 again, then that means you have a 33% chance of winning!

Update: Hubby requests that I don't spend any money on this, so this gift will need to be homemade. OK, how about I design the winner a new blog header! I've had a couple of people request that, so that's your prize. (If you happen to be a designer, too, perhaps we can talk about something else if you win.)

It's Almost Summertime!

Not what I planned...

Well, Ian is fifteen months old today. I thought I would post something about how it was the last day of Mothers' Day Out for the school year. Or how we went and played at the spray park again this afternoon. Or about how he weighs 23 lbs. and get this– he weighed himself! Yep, just stepped right on the scales and waited patiently for the number to come up. Or about how he can throw a ball and loves to sit and play with you, tossing the ball back and forth.

But really, the highlight of my day was trying to get Ian to take a late afternoon nap. He was fighting it hard. So, we rocked and listened to a new lullaby CD I just made. It was such a sweet time. I haven't rocked him in months. He snuggled. I kissed the top of his sweet little head... where the soft spot used to be. And then I thought, wow, fifteen months? And suddenly I wanted NOTHING more than to just sit there and rock my baby boy. So I did for about an hour.

Ian didn't sleep, but it didn't matter. I prayed through several of the lyrics of songs that played. He would reach up and stroke my face... at one point, gently touching my tears. He would look up at me from time to time, and I would see a big smile form behind his pacifier. Then, he would settle back in with his head just under my chin. I can't believe how big he's gotten and how much he changes even from day to day. And it hit me that these rocking/cuddling days are numbered. A mother's heart cherishes this moment, knowing that it might be gone tomorrow!

One of the songs on my CD is this one from Rachel Aldous. She came and sang it at our church on Mother's Day. I wasn't there, but a friend told me about it, so I looked it up. The whole picture slide show thing is cute, I guess, but really, it's the lyrics that are touching.

Hodge Podge

Here are a few things from the past week.

I was a "chaperone" at the Mothers' Day Out End-of-Year Luau party which basically meant I got to hang out with my baby for the morning. I thought this shot summed it up... mom is trying to get Ian to pose for a picture, but he's definitely more interested in the beach ball.


Doesn't he look stinkin' cute in his Hawiian clothes, though?


While I was out of town this weekend, John took to teaching Ian a new trick.

At Life Group on Sunday night, it was fun to watch all the babies play together!


Lastly, Ian ate mashed potatoes with a fork AND a spoon last night. It was a pretty messy ordeal, but fun to watch.


That's all folks!

I can't sew, but...

...I can take fabric swatches and a pattern into photoshop and play around a bit. I've switched around some fabrics from the line I've been eying (it's called Studio e Flourish, and it's not available many places, and the one place that carries it can't seem to keep it in stock for very long) and I think I'm getting close to what I want. I've got a "convo" going with the Etsy seller... mainly to find out when she'll have my fabric in stock but also to get a custom order going soon hopefully.


The seller sent me this photo that was at a recent quilt market. I'd probably change up some of the fabrics, but the pattern ain't bad. Ergh! Why can't I make up my mind?

Turquoise Tumbling Tot

Ian wore two turquoise t-shirts last week, played with a turquoise ball, and drank from a turquoise cup.


And in just a few short months our little walker has turned into a runner, climber, and tumbler!



And just think... this time last year, he was working on simply rolling over.

Also for Grandma

Grandma requested a video of Ian dancing, so here you go!



Did you notice any, uh, product placement in this video? Well, if you missed it, here's another example.

So appropriate

Last week, Aunt Lydia brought a little something for Ian...


Now, why would he need one of these? Well, we are a bunch of bumps and bruises around here. And a couple of weeks ago, we got our first cut followed by the first bandaid!

Patterns and Colors

Perhaps I am closer to a decision? I am posting mainly so Grandma can see what I'm thinking. If you'd rather see pictures of the boy, scroll on down.

How about this for pattern? Grandma, I found it at ConnectingThreads.com which is the same place of the one you sent me in the mail.


Here is another pattern option that Leanna sent me.


And this for colors...

Developments

So, Ian has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease which is going 'round at the church. He hasn't had fever, but he's been a little cranky lately which I assumed was due to teething and well, general toddlerhood. And speaking of toddlerhood, Ian was deliberately hitting tonight! He got a VERY stern "No!" which upset him enough to not necessitate further discipline. (I mean, do you spank a child for hitting? Seems counterproductive to me.) Shortly thereafter, we all exchanged hugs. And then he promptly went to bed... for which he seemed pretty grateful, actually.

Phew, crazy day! But we must end on a positive note! Here is a fun pic of Ian in the tub yesterday. "Bath" is one of his new words!


Also, I am putting together a fun CD for Ian to have in the car. If you have any suggestions of fun songs for kids that aren't too incredibly cheesy, leave me a comment!

What about this?

Well, no one seemed to vote for MY favorite which was the top left! But MAB recognized the designer and sent me a link to her site. So, what do you think about this? I probably would only pick 3-5 of this lot, but gosh, I love the colors and patterns!


Update: MAB says this fabric isn't good for quilting... patterns are too large and it's not "quilter's weight." So, back to the drawing board! But here is the room it's going in... (Actually, that's at our last house, but it will give you an idea of the room decor.)


And since MAB said the fabric above wouldn't work, I started looking again at some sites she recommended, so how about these:

#1

#2

#3

Oooh, I love them! I guess you can tell what "style" I'm diggin' these days.

That's My Boy!

Ian shares his mom's love of chocolate. Tonight, he was saying "brownie." OK, so it came out, "Mow-mie," but it was so cute, and he knew exactly what he was talking about!

Something blue part two

Something old (the Sentra)
Something new (my car!)
Something borrowed (money from the bank)
Something blue... my 2006 Honda CRV!

And because it's hard to get a good shot under my carport at dusk, here are pics taken at the dealership.


And here's another picture of my cutie who loves to play peek-a-boo on his slide castle. Ian was a trooper at the dealership since we were there for three hours today. Oh... and if you haven't "voted" on the quilt fabric, please see the previous post.

Quilt Quandary

OK, this post is for Grandma who is making us a quilt... hooray! So, I've been browsing fabrics online, and I've come up with these combinations. She's advised me to have an odd number, hence the 3 and 5 swatches in each set. Now, which one to choose? I am perplexed. What do you think?

I will never know

The whole discrepancy with babies' clothes sizing is mind-boggling. My long-torso-short-legged kiddo normally wears smaller in the bottom (we're in 12M for the most part, although they're still a little big on him) and bigger in the top (size 18M). However, today's outfit consists of size 18M cotton shorts that fit in the waste but are a little baggy in the butt and a size 6-9M tshirt that I didn't even realize was that size until I pulled it out. But it still fits. Crazy, huh?

Backyardigan

Ian's outdoor play was somewhat short today by his choice! He seemed to think the sun was really bright and the plastic slide was really hot. Hmm, what will the summer hold as far as heat? Soon it will be time for the kiddie pool!

The Nap Protesters!

What do these sweet faces have in common? Well, for starters, they are both anti-nap today!

I spy something blue...

From where I sit right now, you are 59.3 miles away from me. But, oh, how I want you. I sought you out. I found you. You are perfect. Maybe, someday soon, I will bring you home!

Pillow Fight

Spray Park Smiles

Tonight I was heading back into town and decided to meet up with some friends at our city park. It was on a whim, and I was feeling a little guilty about not going straight home to hubby plus it had already been a long day for Ian. But we did it anyway, and Ian ended up soaked to the bone and filthy, but wearing some of the biggest smiles.

The bigger kids were playing at the spray park. So, of course, Ian had to explore this new phenomenon. He was inching toward the spraying water, reaching out with his hand while another spray was pelting him in the back of the head. He was a little confused at first, but then he looked back and gave me a big grin. And then he just plunged right into the water and the mix of children... fully clothed. Shortly thereafter, I stripped him down to his diaper and let him run around some more in the water. After water play was over, I bundled him up in a sweatshirt we had in the car and headed home.

Hey spray park! We'll be seeing you more this summer!