Spoiler Alert: You're getting this for Christmas

 

Cards...big sticker letters...envelopes.

 

How cute and easy?

 

I saw something like this on one of my new stalking websites and before I could purchase, they were sold out. And then I realized this wouldn't be all that hard to replicate.

 

Grabbed some card and envelope sets at Michaels along with these adorable large sized lower case letters. Different colors/patterns. Searched for my 40% off coupon and we were set.

 

I'm thinking 4 cards and envelopes, wrapped up all sorts of lovely with bakers twine and raffia (God I love raffia) as a fun addition to gifts cards etc.? 

 



For some reason I've always thought first name initial if you're single and last name initial if you're married. Is that normal? Feel free to weigh in!

new digs.

Here we are, new layout and all.

Not that I wanted to put time and effort into a new blog setup when I haven't been so much in the blog scene lately, but when I get threatened...oh you best watch yourself.

There was a little button in the left hand corner of my blog last week that was threatening to go blank if I didn't pay for it. Hmpf. Whatever. I thought about paying the money...it was only $15 by the way...but then I got annoyed. Oh no you di'nt threaten me. What happened to the free internet? Or at least just charge the new people? You've obviously already made the stuff, it's not taking any more of your time. (Andalso, my wallet was downstairs again, and to get off my pedestal, go all the way downstairs to get the money card to pay for something I already had, well, we all know that isn't happening.)

So here we are now. All sorts of free again. The background itself is Cutest Blog on the Block, the header is mine. It's not hard. Just make something, snip it and save it as a PDF.

Oh and the new pics...you like? The pictures from the recent family photo shoot turned out well. Lots of cute kiddo ones...and then there was me...ruining every picture. I won't lie, I'm generally a photogenic person, however this go round? Blah. Apparently I was too focused on the kids or not freezing or not freezing the kids to look normal. We did get a keeper for the Christmas card though so it's fine.

And then I read somewhere that you should have your internet photos watermarked, so I'm using those to show you some of the good ones a la Erika Leitch Photography...then I won't end up in some Czech advertisement.

See how normal I can look without kids?

o-n-e

ONE!

One year ago, we met our little man Ethan Michael Fellows. Though our meeting was brief and he was whisked away to the NICU, he had his mommy's heart from the get go.

 

 

Those big brown eyes, that sweet baby face, all those cords...who could resist.

 

It's true, the first few weeks weren't so awesome. We had the flu, we had fussiness, but after a few months...that boy...he was a little piece of heaven. (Even if it took 10 months for him to sleep through the night.)

 

 

 

 

He is a crawling machine, standing up on his own, but not yet interested in walking on his own.

 

He loves his paci and playing with the kitchen.

 

 

He has six teeth and is still a lil peanut, though he will eat anything you put in front of him.

 

And we have finally discovered the cause behind his terrible skin. The Mister is allergic to dogs, soy, wheat and eggs. Yep. We took anything made with eggs out of his diet about a month ago and the change was dramatic. No more red, itchy face. After some testing, the other allergens were identified. We have since changed Ethan to a gluten free diet and we're waiting too see if that also makes a difference. Tucker is staying...for now. We will rule out all of the dietary changes to see if the dog is a biggie or not.  For now, only time will tell.

 

Other than that, I just want to eat him up. I've said it a million times, but he is just a laid back little dude. Until it's bed time, then you'd think we were trying to cut off a limb when putting on his jammies.

 

I've been asked if I'm trying to savor his babyness and keep him little forever. Honestly, I'm not. I love him and his babyness right now, but I am so excited to meet the little person he is going to become. I want to know his personality, with words attached. Will he be outgoing or shy? Will he be talkative or quiet? Will he be a wild child or maintain his laid back ways. Will he grow out of the allergies? I'm so excited to find out.

 

But I won't rush it...I promise I'll keep kissing on those sweet baby cheeks as long as I can.

 

 



 



Entryway redo = done!

Remember when I made that chair and told you that my long term plan was to make a coat rack area? Well, I finally did it!

The project actually started back with project blackboard. Because I was using pretty much the same supplies, I tried to get it all done in one day. (Yeah, that part of the plan didn't work out as expected.)

From Pinterest inspirations, I decided the entryway needed a board and batten fix. Like the blackboard project, the textured walls were holding me back. I needed to commit...so I filled in all of the texture with putty. Once the putty hit the wall, it was the point of no return. And then I started sanding and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. And I was pretty sure that had Andy walked in at this moment, he would've killed me:

 

 

And then it was time to paint...a layer, or five.

 

And then...the project sat. And sat. Until I had another day off, sans kids and husband, to tackle the rest.

 

In the meantime, I readied the other supplies. I found the vertical boards at Menards. Precut, the perfect size. I just gave them a few coats of white paint and a little sanding. The horizontal board is the same as our floor trim. I asked our builder if I could have an extra piece and thankfully she obliged, so everything has a similar look. Dad cut the pieces of wood while Andy was hunting and I patiently waited for my day off.

 

Fast forward to my day off and I busted out the air compressor and nail gun and got started on the vertical boards, level and coffee in hand. I had located the studs, marked them and then nailed the vertical boards accordingly. The horizontal boards just went up right on top of the vertical ones.

 

 

After all of the boards were up, I used wood putty to fill in nail holes and anywhere there was a gap.

 

Once the nail holes and gaps were all filled, it was time for another coat, or three, of paint. I added a few coat hooks and the project was finished!

 

After some restyling of three picture frames, adding in the rug and chair: entryway redo = done!

 

 

 

 









The things she says, from the back seat:

Driving anywhere with a toddler is pretty entertaining. And Emmie, that girl, she's a talker. You can tell her mind is running a mile a minute as we drive through town. She sees lots of different things and always comes up with something funny:


E: Mom, do you know my dad likes beer?
Me: I do know that. What does mom like?
E: Tacos.

. . . . .

E: Mom, dad likes to drive those!
Me: ?? (Look around, see a row of golf carts.) Yep, Em, he sure does. What else does daddy like to do?
E: He likes to go golfing...and hunting...and shake his booty.

. . . . . .

E: Naked boys!
Me: ?? (Look around, finally see the billboard for Thunder from Down Under. Giggle.) Yep, Em.

. . . . . .

And this one isn't from the backseat, but it was a funny conversation between Emmie and Olivia. They were having a deep discussion about who they like to play with.

E: Well Livie, I like to play with my "neighborhood" Shea.
O: I like my school friends too Emmie.
E: Well, Shea is my best favorite to play with.
O: No Emmie, I'm your favorite.
E: I know.