And Our Big Thanks Goes Out To:

This Guy!

Thanks for making your big entrance last 2 whole months. Could you send your buddy along sometime soon?

Meet Alysa

Yes, that really is this Barbie look-alike's name. My twin sister gave her to me for Christmas when I was a teenager. Who wouldn't like a barbie doll named for them for Christmas, I ask you?

Except see, there are a lot of differences between my namesake and me.

She has much better looking legs, owns more short skirts and hats and purses, and wears more dramatic and daring clothes than I ever would.

She has calf-length hair! I'm not sure I would EVER want to grow my hair that long.

I'm glad that I am not in any way shape or form like my barbie.

I'm not sure I could keep up with such high high standards of living.

Or that I would be happy doing so.

"Ba-ba"

We are at that fun stage where we are searching for the perfect sippy cup to replace Aftyn's bottle for her milk. We haven't as of yet been able to find that oh so elusive "perfect" sippy for her. We've only tried 2 cups, so I guess there are still quite a few options out there.

Tonight as Aftyn started to feel tired, she told me what she wanted. "Ba-ba". And so the search began. She is in the habit of placing her bottle anywhere she finishes it which can sometimes be hard to find. It doesn't help that we only have one. So a few times a week when not easily seen, we go looking for her bottle. I generally wander around, calling "ba-ba" so Aftyn knows I'm not slacking off, just walking away from her needs. If I don't let it be known why I'm walking away from her, fantastic fits have been known to happen.

As we were searching with me calling out "Ba-ba", Aftyn followed suit probably a total of 4-5 times which in and of itself was quite endearing and totally new for her. We looked in all the rooms and in the last room I quickly scanned the room not seeing what we were looking for. I turned around, only to see Aftyn bending down, reaching for that special something that was her hearts desire!

This has never happened before, and I really didn't think Aftyn even connected what I was saying for what we were looking for. Who knew 1 year olds really ARE that smart?!

By the way if you have any sippy cup suggestions we are open to hearing them!

And thanks for enduring my illustrations of the whole event. I thought I would heed my sisters suggestion to me earlier about illustrating my own stories. And I would suggest to all - use markers, not crayons. :)

A Quick Bedtime Story . . . .

Once upon a time, there was a little princess and her name was . . . . . . Sophia.
(Sounds princess-y right?)

One day her mommy the queen went away on a little weekend trip to help a neighboring castle throw one heck of a shindig reception for a recently married niece. Her mommy the queen had to leave princess Sophia with her very dependable father King Daddy.

While Mommy the queen was away, princess Sophia and King Daddy had so much fun that Sophia forgot all about mommy. And started to make funny "roar" sounds just like King Daddy when he played with princess Sophia.

Finally Mommy the queen came home and took princess Sophia out of her car seat while King Daddy watched. Sophia wouldn't even LOOK at Mommy the queen, she just kept staring at King Daddy as if to say "who is this weird lady, I don't seem to remember her."

Mommy the queen took princess Sophia in the house and set her in her lap and hugged and kissed her and reminded her how much she loved her until princess Sophia began to hop up and down on her lap, clearly showing how excited she was that Mommy the queen whom she suddenly remembered was home.

But from that day on, princess Sophia certainly seemed to become a King Daddy's girl. And she liked to "roar" a lot in a gravely voice.


The End

I love mornings

Our future seamstress, she somehow managed to get herself in this position into my sewing basket. Hilarious!

I hear a little voice babbling, sometimes impatient and occasionally crying. All signifying a wonderful morning about to begin.

I swoop into the room and talk to my little one, with smiles on my face as she staggers to her feet and walks to me in her "i-just-woke-up" wobbily way.



I pull out the binky in order to hear her words more clearly. Just as I thought, it's gibberish. Silly girl.



As we make our way to the kitchen, I talk to her and she looks at me with sleepies in her eyes and only half understanding what I'm saying until I get to her favorite word. "Do you want a baba?" "Baba" she says back. In fact most days she keeps saying it until I present it to her, full of that wonderful white liquid which is her hearts delight.



I put her down so that I can make myself a bowl of cereal. After I measure it all out, careful to keep track of what I put in my bowl, we wander wherever we feel. Today it is to the computer so I can catch up on my readings. My little Aftyn follows me, her little legs walking quickly to keep up with mine.



I plop myself in the chair, and begin to eat as I read.

A little body pressed against my knees and an impatient look on that face and I know: I had forgotten to share.



In an effort to save myself some time and to get Aftyn to try new things, I had recently been sharing my cereal bowls contents. I doled out a few spoonfuls to her waiting mouth, unsure of her enjoyment. And yet she stays, wanting more and as much as I will share. When the bowl is empty only then does she turn back to her ba-ba.



I love mornings like these. I want to always remember these sweet moments we share where we spend these moments together, sharing and snuggling and all is very very sweet. And so I write this today, so that I can remember.

Because even on good days, these moments don't last very long. :)

And it's ALL because of my sister Laura . .

Last night while talking to my sister Laura on the phone about what she was wearing to our niece's wedding this weekend, I suddenly had a burst of inspiration for the skirt I should wear.

I was so excited I hurriedly got off the phone with her to go and peruse my closet for an old pair of pants that I never wear anymore. I'm sure we all have a pair like that, right?


I found a pair of work pants I had never really liked and had only worn maybe 3-4 times. They had huge legs and a little waist and most of all they were from Walmart and had been on sale when I bought them. Possibly even clearance.


Ever seen those jean skirts that girls made out of an old pair of jeans? That is exactly where my thoughts led me on the phone with my sister.


I took that old pair of pants and I cut the inseam of both legs all the way up to the zipper and all the way in the back just above the part where there is extra fabric to make room for your tush. Luckily, these pants were made of a stretchy, linen-y type of fabric, so my seam ripper worked its magic in about 10 minutes.




I cut the pant legs just below the knee, leaving myself some room to sew under some of the fabric for the bottom of the skirt I was about to make, took the extra fabric I just cut off, added it back to the middle where the legs don't meet with some pins, and away I went with my sewing machine which I was rejoicing and thanking my mother for more and more. Thanks for that awesome Christmas gift so long ago!!


And here's what I came up with:

Complete with a cute little bow!

I came up with that idea while looking at all the scraps I had leftover.

Yesterday's Project

I bought this cute little sleeveless dress a few months back at a garage sale - and my niece getting married this weekend is the perfect excuse for Aftyn to wear it.

I decided to sew in sleeves and make my life easier

not having to find a white shirt that would look good underneath.

My mom ( oh ye of little faith ) asked me how I was going to sew the sleeves in,

as if it couldn't be done. Well I showed you! :) lol

Actually, it looks a lot better than even I imagined.

Must have been a blessing for me.

Yay for projects working out the way you want them too!