Christmas List

So I've been getting my elf on.  I already have completed one handmade Christmas present, completed a second but decided it was a failure, and put several hours into a third present.  I've also made about half of our Jesse Tree ornaments.  I love it!  I'm super excited about Christmas this year primarily because Kira will finally be old enough to enjoy starting some new traditions with us.  I finished my Advent calendar last January so we'll get to use it for the first time this year.
Here is my Christmas list:

Because let's face it, I need help as a mother. 

New rain boots.  I not super particular about the design but I need, need, need new rain boots.  

I don't know that I really need a dutch oven, but it sure would be fun to have one in a pretty color.

Last but not least, I'd like to refill my supply of dark chocolate.  A little goes a long way as I like to eat it slowly and enjoy small bits of it during the day.

Life With a Toddler

Here are a few little snippets from our crazy life.

During a diaper change:
Kira: I have poopies!
Me: Yes, a lot of poop.
Kira: I did good job poopsies!
Me:........uh..........a good job would have been if you had done your poop on the potty.

 We've been attempting to teach her the sounds that the different letters of the alphabet make.  Aaron was trying to use songs that she knew to help with this.  For instance, whenever they would see an "A", they would start singing Amazing Grace stressing that "ah" sound.  When they came to "E", Aaron asked for a song suggestion.  I volunteered Everybody Wants to Be a Cat as Kira had just watched Aristocats.  Now every time Kira sees an "E", she loudly proclaims, "Evybody be a cat, Mama!"

This is what happens when daddy picks out Kira's "pjs"

 Me: Please stop crying now.
Kira: I want to cry!

She kept wanting to sit in Will's bumbo and then would get stuck.

Me: Please don't smoosh your brother. 

Kira in a whiny voice: "But I want to smoosh him." 

Things I've had to tell my daughter not to lick: 

1. The dustpan

2. A package of raw bacon at the store

Finally, I just found Kira holding a blanket over Will's face.  He'll be lucky if he makes it to his first birthday at this rate.  

The Finished Project!

A long, long time ago (somewhere around a year) I started collecting old jeans to make a denim quilt for Kira's toddler bed.  I finished the project about 6 months ago and here are some pictures to prove it.  My quilter friend Leah pointed me in the direction of this tutorial which worked out quite well.  I did do a couple of "crazy" blocks because I had so much left over denim that I didn't want to waste.  I'm not sure that I love the hand quilting but there is no way I'm going to do it all over again.  These pictures aren't the best pictures but they'll give you a good idea of how it works.

I sewed on a button flower which Kira adores.  

I chose to not add any batting and to use this flannel for the back.  It is appropriately heavy and warm.  Kira is a fan.  

Peas in a Pod

My son and daughter couldn't be more different in a lot of ways.  He weighs around 16 lbs which is more than Kira weighed at 9 months.  She insisted that she had to be laid down in her bed to sleep, he wakes up as soon as you lay him down and screams until you snuggle with him.  Despite their differences, it is a blast watching them become friends especially now that Will is starting show some interest in toys and interacting.  

The other day I was busy when the baby woke up from his nap.  I asked Kira to go amuse him and this is how I found him a few minutes later.  

This is the kiddos waiting for daddy to get home from work.  

Morning just wouldn't be morning if we didn't start it off with a few snuggles.  

Here's to hoping that they'll stay good friends for the rest of their lives. 

Life on the Funny Farm

Sometimes we have fun here.  Sometimes we just try not to go crazy...like when both of your children want to stay up till around 11.

Sometimes moms save a special button up shirt for their baby to wear only to discover that they've waited too long and their baby is too fat to button it up. 

And sometimes we make the silliest faces and sounds just to get our baby to laugh and coo. 

Other nights we are super cool parents and let our child eat pizza and ice cream on the couch while watching a "Muffin" (Muppet) movie. 

Other days we dump out 200 hundred or so pennies just so our daughter can put them in her piggy bank.  She likes the piggy bank more than the money.  

Finally, we did this to our son.  I don't know if we did to keep ourselves from going crazy or because we've already gone crazy.  

They may be a whole lotta tears in this house, but we definitely still manage to have fun.  Feel free to drop by for some hot tea and freshly made banana bread anytime.