Baby Girl is 1! {Happy Birthday}

On July 19th, my baby girl turned 1! On July 20th we celebrated her birthday with friends and family. :) Over at GYCT Designs I'm sharing the sheets I made to help me with planning and organizing the birthday party as part of her Sizzlin' Summer Organization Series.

Enjoy some of the pictures here of the party, her cake Hubby decorated and her 'eating' it, and the dress I made her. :)

We used a Koala theme for the birthday cake and invitations. It also happens to be the mural that is on her wall in her bedroom! :) We used the Koala from the Create a Critter for the  (affiliate)for the Cricut Expression Cutting Machine (affiliate) , cut it out from cardstock and used it to make an impression in the frosting.  Hubby then filled it in with frosting once removing the cardstock.

She was shy listening to happy birthday

Baby girl, just like her brother, was not a fan of the frosting!

And some more cake eating pictures, mostly because I missed the first bite...

We had family and friends over, and I am so thankful for them celebrating with us. I was too busy to take too many pictures, but here are a few good ones.

Cousin's helped open presents. They are such good helpers.

I made her a dress for the day too, in a very thin material to help stay cool. It's the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's Sweetheart Halter (affiliate). I just extended the shirt to make it a dress. 

Don't forget to head over to GYCT Designs and check out the sheets I made that help me plan birthday parties (and other parties). 

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! May you have many more!

Reflecting on Loss: Thankful for What We Have

I am letting you know. This is a type of honesty post from me. Today has just been an emotional day. This is an emotional post.

I know what it is to experience loss. It is heart wrenching. "Time makes you forget" is an illusion. It is false hope that things will get better. It doesn't get better. It just gets a little easier.

And then, every once in a while you get those not so subtle reminders that seem more to slap you in the face causing an avalanche of tears rather than tickle your cheek to bring down a single drop. Sends you back to the "what-if's" and "if-only's" or "it would be like this now..." Those are the dangerous thoughts. Then, those thoughts because the ultimate self-defeating: This is silly... This is not me... Snap out of it...

That is the time when you need to look at what is before you, not behind you. In the midst of it the present is all there is.

I have shared on Facebook and instagram about a blogger who is need for prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. They still are in need of those prayers. (I am not going too into detail because they are not mine to give)... Me, being emotional already, was sent into a whirlwind of whatever seemed to be tormenting my mind.

I looked at my babies... I couldn't imagine... There is so much wonder, hope and intrigue looking through their blue eyes, directed at me. There is so much I hope for them. I hope for them to become great. To be able to feel successful, to feel loved. I am so glad that I have them. 

We do not realize that life given to us is precious. Just as easily does it start, it can end. The hardest part is just not knowing when. 

So I look at my two babies and am thankful. I am thankful that I have the time with them that I have. My little boy turns 3 on Sunday. Every day, every year, with them is a blessing. It is amazing that anything and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

I am thankful for our good health. That my 2 babies (though the doctor was worried about weight gain) are doing well. (Samara gained 12oz this last month and Nikolai is up to 26lbs!)

Perhaps I am being over emotional. But sometimes, all it takes is that little thing to send you hurtling back...

All I have to do is look into those sweet faces to be reminded that we should be thankful for all we have...

All children deserve to live a full and happy life... thus today I pray...Adapted from John10:10 ... might we have life and might we have it more full...

Halloween 2013

I love dressing up for Halloween, and I especially love doing it as a family. There is nothing greater than the cheesy, group-themed, Halloween costumes. And, I love making them! 

Here are the last 2 years... So fun!

And this year...

I was Tigerlily, Brandon was the Fox Lost Boy (Not anything to do with 'what does the fox say?'), Samara was Tinkerbell and Nikolai was Peter Pan. :)

Here are Samara's wings, green sparkly tulle sandwiched with cereal bag to make it crinkle...

Here was a picture before adding the lacing and wings so you can see the bodice and skirt. Got the idea here but didn't do halter...

Nikolai loved being Peter Pan! He was thrilled when people knew what he was dressed up as!

And what good is being Peter Pan if you can't shoot something?

And Brandon's Tail... Made with yarn and took forever! Tutorial used here...

And my Father-in-Law, pretty cool costume too!

I love it! So fun! Hope y'all had a fantastic Halloween!

3 month Update..

It's been crazy 'round up in these here parts! Baby girl can roll over from tummy to back and very much prefers to sleep on her tummy...

Nikolai loves singing his ABCs and story + activity time. Love it! I have my Nick Sharratt story activity on the camera, but just need to get it onto the computer...

That is, after the craziness of Halloween!  Can't wait to share our costumes!

I attempted to join in at the end of Kids Clothes Week and look forward to the next sewing event! Fun!!

We've also been to the zoo...

And celebrated a birthday....

So when I am not rushing to finish the costumes I will post more! :)

Nearly 6 Weeks!

Time is going by even faster! It is amazing what children do to you! Well, to time!

But, how much we do love them...

A Baby in the House

"It's just nice having a baby in the house... Again..."

The Arrival of Samara - part 2

I am actually taking the time to go through pictures! Now that it is super late and I should really be sleeping... But then when else am I going to do this? Hopefully this is ok since my new momma sleep deprived brain is still a little out of whack! I put coffee grounds into the basket and completely spaced the filter the other day, and didn't realize until 2 scoops in...

So, here are some pictures. :)

41 Weeks 2 Days
Getting Ready to go to the Hospital

Welcome to the World,
Samara

Baby Shower, Swimming, and Other Things...

This last Sunday my good friends Beth and Arlene threw me a baby shower for Samara. I am just so thankful for all the people that came out, and sorry we missed the ones who couldn't make it (it's ok, we should get together later!)...

Nikolai and I went swimming on Monday in a blow-up pool that we bought last year (and hardly ever used) He is so cute and had so much fun!

I had a doctor appointment on Wednesday, and I have some news about that too! So... Here we go...

36 Weeks and 5 (now 6) Days...

Yesterday was the ultrasound appointment to determine if Samara is in the head down position! About 2.5 years ago, in November 2010,  I had to undergo an External Cephalic Version in order to turn Nikolai from a breeched position ( I talk about that here, here and the actual Version here). I have to say that once the wand was showing what was in the pelvic region I was extremely...

relieved!

Potty Time!

It feels like it has been forever since we started trying to get Nikolai to use the potty. We tried naked, only to have him demand a diaper. We tried underwear, only to have him demand a diaper and accidents galore. (don't mind the yellow on the walls in the bathroom, we haven't decided what color to paint yet)

 

Then I started to tell him, as soon as the diapers are gone, you have to start using the potty. So then, after every diaper change we counted the number of diapers left and talked about when you wear underwear you have to tell mommy and daddy when you have to go potty...

Hello, Summer!

It's done. School is over and so the summer has begun! It was a good last couple of weeks of school, full of meetings, IEPs, and getting everything of mine out of the classroom and home. I will miss it there. I will miss the kids, the teachers, the people. I will have to go back and visit them when I can; show off the baby. I am sure that if I do not, I will hear about it!

 

It has been a while since I last posted! Nikolai and I went to the zoo, not this past weekend but the one before, with my friend Meghan and her two kiddos. It was the first time we tried to feed the giraffes and the ducks. Nikolai did well with feeding the ducks. I think he was a little scared to feed the giraffe!

 

 

Mother's Day Weekend

I know that was last weekend, but we had so much fun with the kids and grilling. It was fun. Yummy food, yummy dessert, and family always makes an event fun! :)

Had a BBQ with family on Saturday...

Nikolai wanted Daddy to sit in his lap...

Cousins

Sunday we went to the park!

Good fun! Though this is a week late, hope you all enjoyed your mother's day!