Graduating, Painting, and the Belly.

On Wednesday, these two sweet little goobers had their last day of preschool.  Boy, did this year go by fast.  So fast in fact that now I have a super big boy Kindergartner on my hands.  A for reals Preschool Graduate...say it ain't so.  Next year Noah gets to take the bus AND go to school 5 days a week...strange, exciting, and sad all at the same time.  

We took the kids out for a celebratory lunch of their choice to mark the end of the school year.

And then had a painting party to seal the deal...summer has officially begun!

Rainbows were painted...and ROYGBIV has been memorized by heart...well done, preschool, well done!

Thank goodness for the makers of Crayola washable paints.  This momma is utterly and completely in love with them. 100%. In. Love.

In other news, how about a belly shot?

"Hello feet", you seem so far away these days.

{35 weeks}

Somewhere in that belly of mine is a little babe swimming around in some pretty warm water.  Seems so surreal those kicks and hiccups and flips and somersaults.  

So is this a boy belly or a girl belly?  

Usually by now I have a sense of what gender is inside but this time around I have to say that I'm still pretty undecided.  Maybe it's those three other little ones I have running my ragged, no time to think about it.  Hmmm.  I've been 3 for 3 up until now....can I go for number four.

I think we have narrowed our names list down to a reasonable number, but I suppose it depends on what you think a reasonable number is. 

Thanks for stopping by today :-)

XOXO,

Choose Joy

I'm sure many of you have heard of the lovely Ashley of Little Blue Boo and her battle with cancer, if not you can read all about her courageous fight here in her Cancer Chronicles series.  I love Ashley, she is an amazing and strong woman and I pray for her every day.  Her story has struck me to the core as she is my age and is also a momma to a little girl my Noah's age yet she radiates nothing but joy and calmness in what I can only imagine is pure madness when your body is at war with itself.  Right around the time that Ashley was diagnosed with cancer (choreocarcinoma from a miscarriage gone bad) I became pregnant with our number 4.  I just couldn't believe it.  It's hard to think that from such joy can come such shear pain....one minute a baby the next minute cancer.  

She is so candid with everything she is going through and I am so grateful that she decided to share her journey with all of us.  Her story has had me in tears one moment (this video gets me every time I watch it) and then laughing the next, how does she do that?  Her motto has been, "Choose Joy" and she really does live it...I love this motto and feel like I live my life this way too.  There is no need to let the bad rule your life especially when there is so much good out there.  I always like to look for the bright side in things...an eternal optimist I guess!  Last week I finally received my official Team Ashley t-shirt 'Fear Will Not Rule' in the mail and I was so excited I have been wearing it every chance I get!  Stephanie Corfee designed it and you can read all about it here...not sure if they will be printing more of this exact one or not but anything you buy from Team Ashley will go to help Ashley pay her medical bills, we're talking 100%, every penny counts!  So if you feel so inclined...go buy something now!

And here I am, 25 week belly and all (joy!) :-)  Team Ashley doesn't do maternity wear so I just bought a medium and thought I'd stretch it out a bit, that way once baby is here the mid-section will have some extra space for that post-baby belly flab, lol!

Side view anyone?  

For those that are wondering, we still haven't opened that darn envelope.  I know, I know...we are so weird.  

It's fun to take wild guess though, right?  This babe's heartbeat is always around 150 and so far no heart burn (crossing my fingers!)  I haven't had any major cravings yet and have been loving my protein...cheeses, chicken, fish.  What does that mean!?!  That baby likes to eat I suppose!

On another joyful note...I have been thoroughly enjoying my Cuppow a whole lot lately.  I saw it a while back on Pinterest (follow me here if you want!) and just had to have it.  Can I just tell you it is such a super duper awesome invention!  Love!

Now I can take my at-home glassware (mason jars rule our home) with me on the road.  They only make one size that fit wide mouth canning jars currently but I have heard they may be making one for regular mouth canning jars this summer.  Sweet!  Hopefully they will work with the 1/2 pint jars making them the perfect reusable sippy cups for my kids!

Hope you are all having a lovely start to your week.  

I'll be back tomorrow with a uber-delicious recipe you are sure to love!!

We'll talk soon!

XOXO,

A Finished Project of a Different Sort...

Whoa! Guess what happened yesterday?!?

We had a little baby!

So please, let me introduce you to our newest family member....

Eloise Margaret

6 lbs 15 oz

19.5 inches

6:41 am

12 July 2010

It was a bit of a whirlwind of a day yesterday. Labor and delivery were crazy fast...contractions started at 4 in the morning and she popped out at 6:41 am!!! I'm glad we left for the hospital when we did cause she was born 17 minutes after we arrived...talk about cutting it close!!! The hubby was more than happy he didn't have to deliver a baby in the car (and so am I!)

Okay, so more to come later, I just wanted to let you all know about our great news :) Now, off to revel in the sweet little coos and tiny hands and fingers of our gorgeous baby GIRL!!!

{The Elastic Band} Empire Waist Dress

So, I've been dying to make myself something fun to wear lately but being pregnant makes it hard to justify especially with only 5 weeks to go. But, this weekend I finally bit the bullet and made myself this little puppy:

Oh-So-Darling!

I figured it was the perfect thing to make because it could easily be worn after the baby comes and look just as cute cause of the empire waist. No fleeting last minute maternity wardrobe additions for me!!

Even better is the fact that I just used a tank top I had on hand that had some grease stains from me not wearing any aprons in the kitchen while I cook. Does this happen to anyone else? I swear I ruin waaay too many shirts with butter or EVOO splashes...so annoying!! Well, here is a great use for saving one from the throw-away pile!

Annnd what's even better is that I had a super cute dress to wear on Father's Day...yay for something cute to wear in the 90 degree humidity we have been "enjoying" this summer!

So whether your pregnant...

or not...

an Elastic Empire Waist Dress is so easy to sew you just have to make one for yourself!!

Or you can even make a smaller version for your little lady...

The instructions are the same just scaled down for your Mini Me!

A-dorable!!

Are ya ready?

Ok, here we go!

{The Elastic Band} Empire Waist Dress

1 tank top

2-inch wide elastic cut to the size of your measurement under your bust line (for your mini-me use 1 1/2 inch wide elastic)

fabric of your choice (1 and 1/2 x the length of your waist measurement for the width and cut it however long you would like it to be...I made mine hit at just above the knee)

rotary cutter and mat

sewing machine and coordinating thread

The goods...easy sewing project here we come!!

See, what did I say...grease spots!!

Ok, so first put your tank top on and mark where it would fall under your bust line. If you are serging the cut edge add about a 1/4 inch to your length. If you are using a regular sewing machine add about 1/2 inch so you can fold it under about 1/4 inch twice and hem.

Then, place the elastic band under your bust and add about an inch to the measurement. I know my elastic is white here but I had a change of color choice at the last minute!!

Then, zig zag stitch the elastic band into a tube overlapping the edges by about 1/2 inch. I zig zagged mine a few times for strength!!

Then, take your fabric and either hem (folding the fabric over 1/4 inch two times) or serge the top edge...where the elastic band will meet it.

Next, you are going to make a gathering stitch right under the hem (or serged edge). To make a gathering stitch you are going to use the longest and widest straight stitch and you are going to sew a straight line all the way across your fabric (at the width you measured at 1 1/2 x your under bust measurement). Do not backstitch at either end and leave long threads at both ends!

Then, pull the bottom thread (or the bobbin thread) and make nice gathers throughout the fabric until the length measures your elastic band.

Now, at this point I sewed my fabric into a tube but your could easily do this step right before your gathering step...it really makes no difference.

Then, just pin the skirt fabric, right side facing the elastic band, to the bottom of the elastic band and zig sag stitch it in place. Make sure your skirt seam and your elastic band seam are matched up too!

Then, pin your tank top, wrong side out, at the upper portion of the elastic band and zig zag into place too. Making sure your tank top side seam is matching the elastic band/skirt seam too!!

Lastly, flip your dress right side out and try it on to see where you would like the bottom hem to fall. Then just cut your fabric and hem it in place and you my friend are all done!

Woo Hoo!!

You just made yourself an Elastic Band Empire Waist Dress!!!

Sooo Pretty!

...and Stylish!!!!

Or, make one for your little lady!!

**FYI: Penny's elastic band measurement was 20 inches and her fabric width was 30 inches...she is 22 months old!**

Now, your Mini Me can stop and smell the flowers looking Oh-So-Cute!

Yup, now that's sweet!!

LOVE IT!

33 Weeks Along...

Yuppers, that's right, I am 33 weeks preggo today. 7 weeks to go...really? It seems so far away yet so very close. Far away since 7 weeks really equals about 2 months, seriously...ok, now that seems faaaaar away. And so very close because I think we need a bit more time than that to get some projects done around our house. Yeah, it's pretty crazy around here, we've got fans going up in all the bedrooms, lighting projects galore, and a few minor electrical changes, some dry wall work and lots of mudding and sanding...sounds like lots of fun, right?

The nursery you ask, what are we going to do there? Oh, silly you, we aren't even bothering with a doing a nursery for this one. Poor third child, I can see where you birth order really puts you in a funk. But, the reality is that the new babe stays with momma and daddy in our room so there really is no rush to get a room completed PLUS the fact that the gender is unknown makes for a really bland color palette. Are you with me on this? Tell me you understand.

So, here are a few shots of me and the belly, I always mean to post these but well, third child, momma drops the ball a lot these days in that department.

Side view...I believe this is called a 'high' belly!?! I am really feelin' the heartburn and indigestion with this one Every.Single.Night. Like I did with Penelope, even though both her and Noah had full heads of hair when they were born. It totally sucks. Please tell me one of you has some helpful advice in this area, please!?! Tums do not work and cheese and dairy seem to make it worse which is such a shame 'cuz I love me some dairy products.

And a front view cause I think I have never really posted a front view before, have I? This will give you an idea (maybe?) if I am wide-looking or not...I am still completely unsure if this is a boy or girl and it's killing me not to know especially as I get closer and closer to the end.

Ok, that's all...just a little pregnancy update. Bean III is still momma's number one unsolved mystery, just thought you'd like to know :)

What the Whaaat??

Okay, two things...have you ever had Swedish Fish before?

So, I have never had them until last week. Whaaat!? Yeah, that's right. Never.Had.Them. Until last week that is. Now, let's just say I'm addicted. I bought my second bag of them already...the big bag, the giant bag, the super-sized bag. Ughhh, I can't believe it. It's almost gone already. Ughhh. But now I know what I've been missing this whole time. Every time I would go to the movies and see them sitting in the candy case next to my beloved Reese's Pieces but never bothering to look twice at them. I'm so sorry Swedish Fish. I never knew what I was missing...until now. Ughhh! So.Freakin'.Addicting.

Second thing, my other food addiction right now are/is Reese's Puffs.

Double Ughhh! We normally don't buy this type of cereal so I don't know what possessed me to buy it the other day. But darn it, it's good. All chocolate-ly and peanut butter-y and full of crap-loads of sugar. YUM! But seriously, the box is almost empty. Not good.

Ok, that's it. Just wanted to share...not sure why.

27 weeks along...

Ok, here's me and the belly. 27 weeks and kicking right along. I'm getting the heart burn and indigestion now and loving every minute of it...or not.

My hubs and I went through all the old week-by-week photos we took when I was preggers with Noah and Penelope last night. You know, trying to compare the bellies and face fat and figuring out if it's sitting high or low...all the good stuff.

Our conclusion...we have no clue. This baby is still a mystery to us. I think it would be fun to run some sort of poll and do some type of give away with the person who gets it right...not sure how blogger likes gambling though.

Soooo, Boy or Girl? What'cha think???

Stretch Knit Pregnancy Band Tutorial

I recently bought a pair of jeans that I love...this is monumental because this doesn't happen very often for me.  Me and jeans, well, let's just say we don't get along so well.  It is so hard for me to find a pair I that I love.  They are either, too short or too long, make my butt look weird, flare too much in the legs or not enough, blah, blah, blah...I am never smitten...until now.  Unfortunately, the big suck factor with these newly found lovelies comes from the fact that I'm pregnant so my perfect jeans fit everywhere except for the whole 'gotta button them up' thing.  Stinky!  You might be thinking why on earth would I even bother buying non-maternity jeans right now but the whole 'I can never find perfectly fitting ones' was a huge part, plus they have super cute button flap pockets on the back and I have been looking for a pair with those forev-ah, double plus they were on super clearance for $7.98!!!  BARGAIN!!

Ok, so in thinking about my last pregnancy, I remembered some new-found crazy-ily priced maternity thingy called the Bella Band.  It's basically a piece of elasticized fabric that you put over your button-popping pants to help hold them up.  I figured there's no way in heck that I was going to spend that kinda money when it looked simple enough to make so that is what I did.  FYI, the two I made cost me $5!!!  I know this is totally a preggers post but bear with me, ok!?!  I'll give you some non-preggy crafty tutorial next week...promise!

Alright, so here is what it looks like peeking out from under my shirt...it looks cute sticking out like this but it can also be hidden under the shirt so you don't HAVE to see it!

Do, you see these freakin' cute jeans!!!  

Did I mention the awesome butt pocket flaps!?!

I love the back pockets...I soooo have been coveting a pair of jeans with neat-o back pockets!!!

OK, so this is how you make a stretchy preggers band:

Stretch Knit Pregnancy Band

1/2 yard knit fabric 

coordinating thread and sewing machine

rotary cutter and mat

soft measuring tape

***FYI***  This post contains some nakie pregnant belly shots, beware as they are not and I repeat NOT pretty!

First, measure your belly at the widest part, making sure your measuring tape is snug!

Yeah, I'm in my pj's...hmmm, what can I really say?

My length was about 30 inches and then I cut my width to 8 inches for one band and 12 for the other.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like a shorter band or a wider band that is why I did two.  With my first pregancy, I liked shorter better but with my second shorter bands totally bugged me...see what you like and cut to that width.  

You also want to include a little extra fabric for the 1/2 inch seams at the top and bottom of the band!

Then cut your fabric so that the length you need is going with the stretchiest part of the fabric.  

See the picture above, the most stretch is going perpendicular from the selvedge!!

The least stretch is going the same direction as the selvedge!!!

Ok, so cut your fabric...and iron 1/2 inch seams along both long edges.

Then, stop what your doing as you sit in amazement at the ridiculously awesome magnetic force field that your sewing machine has for small children...

and watch as a small child starts inching her fingers toward all your spools and bobbins...

and then reaches her little hands up to see what she can wrap her little paws around...

grabs something...

and makes a run for it...all the while giggling her devious little laugh!

Ok, really...let's get back to business!  

Sew a straight stitch down both seams, backstitching at the beginning and end.

Then, fold your fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together (and seams you just finished on the outside), sew the two short ends together making a tube of fabric.

Iron down your seam and then topstitch on the right side of the fabric.

That's it!!  

Really, it takes 20 minutes to make (and if you don't have a little stinker in the house it takes less!)

**You may want to try it on and see if it's snug enough at this point.  Knit definitely stretches so if you think it's too loose than just turn the band inside out and sew a new seam further in.  

Aaahh, it feels so good to wear my jeans!!!

Naked belly shot...sorry folks!

Here is the full 12 inch wide band...I wear it folded over though cause I like the feel of the shorter band right now!

Peeking out from my shirt...'Hello there Lovely!'

Did I mention those super awesome button flaps on the butt?  Oh, ok...just checking!!

CUTE!