Miss Independent

Miss G has learned to sit up now and could not be more proud of herself. She takes playing on her mat to a whole other level. Although now that she knows she can sit, she always wants to be sitting-even when she happens to tumble over she'll let you know she needs help back up:))) We have hardwood floors throughout our house, so I created "crash pads" around her to avoid the inevitable tumbles.

I love her facial expression in this picture. Astonished that she can sit---now what do I do?!?!?!? G loves to have all her toys in front of her while playing so she can grab, throw it to the side and play with something else. Last night she had such a fun time playing with Daddy:)) It made my heart melt.

But it is bath time that has turned into a whole new experience for all parties involved.....who wants to lay down like a baby in the tub when one can sit up:::::not Gianna!!! She has always been a water lover, but watching her in the bath last night was hilarious. She made sure you were watching her while flashing a smile and playing with her bath toys. She did show a little frustration when she couldn't figure out why the toys wouldn't stay put----too cute!!! This little munchkin is such a joy I can't stand it!!!! I'm so thankful everyday to wake up to her and experience life as a Mommy.

...........XOXO........

We Have a Food Lover:))))

I knew even before I came a Mom that I wanted to make all of my children's food. I gained such insight from my friend/former employer of twin girls that I helped raise from birth to two years old. I witnessed the mass production of steamed fruits and baked veggies pureed in her food processor. She had a abundant supply of ice cube trays that would get filled-and when frozen, dumped in a ziplock bag and labeled. Although I did not partake in the grunt work, it was such an easy experience when it came to introducing new foods to the girls and mixing flavors. I was convinced and determined that I would do the same.

Introducing G to solid foods has been such a fun experience. She has loved all the bananas, rice cereal and avocado we have given her. But all that takes is peeling and mashing:::::I've been anxiously waiting to for the time to produce my own baby food. Yesterday, we introduced a new food:::::Sweet Potato. I grabbed some organic sweet potato and baked it until soft. I immediately dropped it into my handy dandy food processor-----baby making food was in full effect.

Once G saw her bowl and spoon , she knew exactly what was going to happen. First spoonful of sweet potato:::::success. We even got a smile. She that grabbed tightly onto her high chair tray, lunging forward, anticipating the next bite. I was excited that she enjoyed the food as well as the satisfaction of knowing exactly what she was eating:))))))

                           

Simply Serging::::::Or Not?!?!?!?!

Following the birth of G, we finally were able to celebrate Christmas as a new little family. I truly could not have asked for a better x-mas present. But in the spirit of adding to my crafting entourage, my Mom and soon-to-be Mother in-law (((only 58 more days until the wedding::::ahhh)))) surprised me with a Serger. I didn't desperately need one, but now that I have one I know I can accomplish much more with my sewing.

We used the machine briefly to finish up a skirt for G's bassinet, but it was my first day home from my 8 day hospital stay and I was not up to learn:((( So it's been sitting in its pretty case waiting to be used. Joseph needed some table runners for a convention he has next week. In my typical sewing fashion I would have just hemmed the edges and called it a day::::but I thought it would a great project to bust out the Serger.

After doing a couple test fabrics to get a hang of the machine, two of the threads broke. That brought up a whole other dilemma. The machine is so intimidating. After reading the manuel and figuring out how to thread it all by myself, I put that machine to work. The table runners turned out great and now I feel more confident in using this bad boy. If only I could find the time to play around, I'm dying to make some dresses for G::::maybe after the wedding:)))

XOXO

P.S. I love this little girl

Rewind:::::Mother's Day

Life at our house has been crazy::::wedding planning is in full effect (((only 61 days to go:))), getting ready for our first family trip next week to Nebraska, and some other 'stuff' that hopefully we will share with everybody soon!! But, let's rewind a bit since I never got the opportunity to share my 1st Mother's Day........

Celebrating Mother's Day as a Mommy this year was such a blessing!!! It was this time last year that Joseph and I found out we were going to be parents:))) Joseph's Mom was in town this weekend too, so we got to spend time with her as well too. With the help of some family members, Joseph got me a gist that I will treasure for the rest of my life!!! He purchased a leather bond journal filled with blank pages. He wrote me a sweet introduction letter inside, explaining what this journal would hold::::

"It contains the thoughts and thanks

 from her children.

Each page represents a stage

 in her life. Filled with all

the wonderful things she

means to her children. This

book will forever remain 

a testimony of their love!

Enjoy......"

On the first page, Joseph pretended that G could actually creAte a card and scribbled "Happy Mother's Day" for her, but had her stamp her hand:)))) I immediately was in love, with the idea, the book itself, the memory and excited for its future entires!!!!

I spent the rest of the day with my little, amazing family that I am so grateful for. I am also grateful for my Mom, who as been such an inspiration!!! I was super bummed I did not get to spend the day with her, but my Dad, Sister and Brother treated her well!!! XOXO

DIY Art Bag

One of my biggest fears as a new parent (((it's probably more of a personal anxiety))) is having way too  many toys around the house. I'm sure my parents and the in-laws will gift G the most colorful and obnoxious toys that make the loudest noises:))) I'm not saying that G won't have enough toys to play with, but I'm going to 'attempt' to own a toy store in the house. Throughout my college years I did not just nanny a couple families, but gained extended families as well. I was the person who usually gave them an educational toy and a book, sometime the expressions were not as estatic as opening up a dump truck or Barbie doll, but they always enjoyed the gifts with me over and over again when we were together. 

Yesterday Joseph, G and I went to a friend's 4th birthday party yesterday and I was determined to make something that the child would love and use over and over again. After hearing she loved to draw and color I knew what I was going to make. I was originally thinking about making one of those crayon rolls, but how would she hold paper or a coloring book?!?!?! So an Art Bag is was!!! I embroidered her name to make it personal and filled it with colorful markers and Dora (her party theme) coloring books. 

Yay, for me for accomplishing another project!!!

My little Taste Tester

For the past few weeks G stares down and wants to attack any food in site (((she also wants anything that Mommy & Daddy have in their hands; cell phone, remote, camera, basically anything you have...)))) I was trying to hold off to give her food, but all signs were pointing to::::"Feed this Child!!!" She has tried a few bits of banana and liked it and I gave her some avocado on Mother's Day and she couldn't get enough. This food testing brought me back to when I was a nanny in college for twin girls and they were at the beginning stages of eating food,,,it was such a funny experience to watch them experiment!

Today was the rice cereal test. First bite, success!!! Then the screaming, crying and whining ensued because I was not delivering the next bite fast enough:))) She literally inhaled the entire bowl and then some!! I gave her a spoon to hold on her own and she acted like such a big girl-trying to eat off an empty spoon. I guess I just prepared myself to expect the unexpected and be patient if it took her a bit to get use to, but on the contrary, this girl was lllllooooovvviiiinnnggg eating rice cereal like a big girl in her high chair.

G is just growing up so fast...people aren't kidding when they tell you, "Enjoy them because it goes by fast...." G will be 5 months next week and is growing leaps and bounds every day. She is such a joy to watch, laugh with, smile with, play dress up (thats more for my benefit:)) and just love on everyday!!! Being a Mommy is everything I imagined and more (((side note::::I'll go back in time and share Mother's Day with you tomorrow:))))). I just can't get enough of her!!!

DIY Headband Holder

Since the day I found out we were having a girl I dreamed of headbands and told myself that everyday that little girl would wear one:))) If I found that  G did not have a headband to match an outfit, I was scrabbling through my craft room during nap time to creAte one! Before she was born I had made her a monogrammed bow holder, but that did not take care of the {my} hand band obsession. They basically have been in a traveling pile around her room waiting to find a home of their own. Luckily, her Auntie was looking out for her and found me a great and soooo easy tutorial from this website. All you need is {1} paper towel roll, piece of lovely fabric, glue gun, scissors, and a ruler or something for stabilization. The directions are pretty straight forward:::the only thing I changed was instead of spray painting the ruler so it 'matched' the fabric, I just glued it under the fabric...and it worked perfectly. (((the only downside is not all of her headbands fit, but I think thats a personal problem:))) Here is the finished product......