Halloween 2011

I was really excited about trick or treating this year. As in, I started making costumes a full two weeks in advance. The day of, all I had left to do was make Ginny's treat bag. Not bad.

I was so ahead of time that Ginny's costume was done in time for Aunt Tasha (a much better photographer than me) to do a photoshoot. That means I didn't take a single picture of the girl on the 31st. And I do not feel guilty!

Here the little lady is...

 I used THIS tutorial by Prudent Baby. If I had had red fabric, she would have been red... but since I already had yards of this pink, well, she was a pretty little pink bird. I loved it.

Raymond's was a bit more work. About two weeks before the big day I sat down at the computer with Raymond at my lap. We googled images of "toddler costumes" and looked and looked and looked. What he really (insistently) wanted to be was a skeleton. Really. He's two. There was no way I was going to go with that. Not while I can convince him otherwise. I talked him into a cowboy.

I made the vest, chaps, and horse. Poor Max (the horse) didn't make it to trick or treating because he was so heavy. Next time I would make a sock horse instead of using this tutorial.

And since I'm lame, I only got two phone pictures. Alright, I do feel a little guilty about that. Sorry.

Earlier in the day I cooked (!!) a pumpkin and I made pumpkin soup (only Ginny would eat it... it was a total let down) and roasted seeds. I love me some pumpkin seeds. Trick or treating was interesting since there are only a handful of kids in our neighborhood. I think we made people's night by knocking on their doors. We saw only two other trick or treaters the whole night. Seriously. (And didn't get any ourselves. Boo.)

Raymond was pretty cute about it though. He wouldn't quite say "trick or treat" but when we got to a door would just start yelling instead of knocking. It was hilarious. He was pretty cute. All in all, it was a great Halloween!

And so

life goes on and on.

But it sure is happier when wearing a baby muumuu. Here is my latest Ginny creation. I cut down Lier's Raglan dress pattern and added the ruffle. I adore it.

So far I've made two. Only twenty more to go. Because who wants to wear anything but a muumuu in the summertime?

To Do List:

• Make at least two more muumuus for Ginny Bug
• Make more red, white, and blue crape paper garlands.
• Make another skirt for me. Because I like wearing skirts. (So far I've made this skirt twice and every time I wear one I think: why don't I have twenty of these? The last one I made matches Ginny's dress above).
• Make a market skirt for my niece Bentley (her mom is taking our family pictures as a trade. I would do anything for someone else to take pictures instead of me. And since I've been wanting to make this little skirt for awhile now, this is a win win for me!)
• Make Raymond a 4th of July tie.
• Find housing in Salt Lake. 
• Kiss baby cheeks.

All in all, I think I can handle it.

Five things that are making me happy

I am really bummed today. As in, fighting tears all day, sad.

Today my little sister, Paige, graduates from high school. And I don't get to be there. Or hang out with all my family that is congregated for the occasion. (Again.) Or go to California at all this summer, for that matter.

And I'm unendingly sad about it.

But I know I need to buck up and get over it and move on with life.

So in an effort to be cheerful in all things, here is my list today of five things that are making me happy. Because I can choose to be happy.

1. I am sewing again! After a six month break, I've busted out my machine (as of last week) and am sewing up a storm. I've made three skirts for Ginny, one for me, and have a Ginny dress in the making (as in, the pattern and such are in the making). I've also been making yoyos for Paige's quilt. And I've remade three (or four?) of Jeremy's ties into Raymond ties for church. Creativity breeds happiness.
2. I've joined pinterest. Just today I've been working through the details and adding pins to my boards. Most notably my "Salt Lake Options" board in which I've added the many different houses and apartments in SL that I've looked at in the past two days. Sigh. Finding housing is stressful! (But this portion of the post is supposed to be happy... so I'll stop there!)
3. I've exercised five or six days a week for three and half weeks now! I feel so dang good about life when I'm exercising. I alternate daily between the elliptical and a kettlebell workout. It's a great mix of aerobic and cardio.
4. I've successful convinced Jeremy to watch movies with me like Persuasion and North and South. And low and behold he enjoys them. Seriously opens up all sorts of movie-watching possibilities around here! (And isn't it happy that we get to bum off my in-law's Netflix all summer? Yes. Very happy.)
5. Summer weather is finally (FINALLY!) here to stay (or so it seems). Blue skies, hot sun, cool breezes. I love summertime.

And because this picture has been making me happy for a few days now: here is Miss Virginia in her new (made by Mama) all pink ruffle skirt. It's seriously darling on her (much cuter in person than in the picture)... but who can resist being happy with that little face looking up at you?

Happy Half Birthday

to Ginny Bug!

I can hardly believe this beautiful girl is already six months old (as of Monday!).  There are so many things I love about her growing self.

(As a side note, I just love this age. The newborn stage is a tender time, but I love me a baby that is rolling and moving and smiling. Every day feels like a milestone, and I love it.)

First off, if you can't tell from the fuzzy, poor-quality picture above, Ginny is a by-and-large very happy girl. She has the most beautiful smile. She lights up with a little attention from just about anyone. But probably attention from Dad is the happiest.

Gosh and golly, she loves to watch her dad. Most preferable is for Mom to hold her so she can follow his every move around the room, eager for each glance or smile he gives her.

Next to Dad, Raymond is the next light in her life. A week or so ago the two of them discovered each other. They sat across from each other laughing, making faces, and all-together amused with the other's company. I about burst with the happiness of it.

Miss Virginia is also very happy when she is outside soaking up some sun, and when she is eating. Wowsa, food is fun. She laps up with eagerness just about anything that comes at her on a spoon. And she has the rolls and dimples to prove it.

Seriously this girl is a little (er, not so little) butterball. Hello, I hope her soft squishiness will stay forever. I can't kiss and squeeze her cheeks, dimpled elbows, and chubby legs enough. I am constantly astounded that we are moving up to yet another size.

As far as latest (or current) milestones, she rolls every which way, scoots to reach toys (already!), almost sits on her own, eats (rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, applesauce, and little puffs), and occasionally sleeps for six hours at a stretch during the night (but is in her bed for at least twelve hours a night with a couple feedings in there). And I'm guessing she's pretty close to cutting a tooth or two (judging from the amount of drool, gumming, and fussiness that sometimes surfaces.)

Oh, and she's blonde. My dark-haired baby lost just about every last brunette lock she as born with (see) and is slowly growing a whole new head of of soft very-blonde fluff. I'm still trying to get used to it!

Happy half birthday, Baby Girl. We sure love you.

Because I can do hard things

So yesterday, after writing that post about my total lack of picture-taking skills, I forced myself to take pictures. Because  weaknesses can become strengths, right? Or at least I can swallow my pride and frustration with the whole thing and do it anyway.

And because this was too wonderful not to document.

So I believe I've mentioned before that my mother is a seamstress. She really and truly is phenomenal. Her sewing skills are not only vast, they are deep. She does many things. And she does them all well.

One of my favorite types of things she sews is heirloom children's clothing. Hand smocking. Piping. Lace. Pleats.So so darling. My childhood was littered with dresses sewn by my mother. To my fifth birthday party I wore a yellow smocked dress... with lace on the edge of the puff sleeves. I thought that lace was so elegant and pretty (even as a five year old). I vividly remember the year we all wore various styles of pale green dresses for Easter (and took pictures in Grandma and Grandpa Snowball's backyard). My first-day-of-school dress in first grade was a purple dress with a smocked pinafore. My favorite doll (also made my mom) had a matching dress (she still wears it). Second grade was a blue dress with a big red apple appliqued on the collar.

My memories of these and other dresses are so tender to me. They are associated with love and the devotion of my mother. I would give anything to have one or two of them back in my possession (anyone know what happened to them all? Mom? Are they in a box somewhere??).

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my mom called to tell me she had just bought material to make Miss Virginia an Easter dress. Delighted. I held my breath in anticipation.

And oh. my. She did not disappoint. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present (despite my poor photography skills) Ginny's Easter Dress.

(I love it so much I wanted to cry every time I looked at it on Ginny on Sunday. It is beautiful.)

 (Can you tell she's been crying? I was frantic to get the pictures taken before Raymond woke up from his nap, however. I'm just grateful she's not screaming in these pictures.)

 (Almost a smile. I'll get one with a real smile someday!)

 (If this last picture hadn't turned out blurry, it just might have been my favorite. I adore those big blue eyes and jowls.)

Who's child is this?

Raymond is a social butterfly.

Disclaimer: he can be very slow to warm up sometimes, especially in new places or situations, right after taking a nap, or around people he doesn't know. He will be a little introvert until he's comfortable... and then watch out!

Seriously though, this boy loves to be around kids his age. We were first to arrive at play group at the park today, so we just sort of did our thing for a while. Raymond wasn't too excited about the swings, the slide, or the dandelions (which he usually loves to find and pick). It was a little windy and chilly and overall blah.

And then Micah showed up. And WOW Mr. Social Butterfly came out of his cocoon. He was talking and running and ecstatic to do any and everything the park had to offer.

And the more kids that showed up, the more animated Raymond got. No one was more excited to go down that slide, more eager to run across the grass, more ready to dig in the dirt than Raymond.

I didn't think kids this age really "got" the whole friend thing. I thought they were still pretty independent players. And maybe so, but Raymond is much happier about it all when a few little guys his age are around.

Really and truly he thrives off social interaction.

And to be honest I can't for the life of me figure out where  it came from. I was super shy as a child. Jeremy claims to have suffered from mega anxiety as a child when left to play at other kids houses. Nope, this is all 100% Raymond personality shining through. He has been this way from just about the time he could look over my shoulder and makes faces at people in church.

It makes me excited for a year from now when Ginny will be much more of a little playmate for him. I have high hopes that the two of them will love playing and being together. And maybe Ginny will meet some of his social needs... either that or I am going to have to be much more proactive about setting up play dates for the boy!

It's been a while

Since some mirror pictures have graced this space. Today definitely wasn't my best photo-shoot (although that isn't stopping me from posting the results--proceed with caution), but it does showcase a few things I love:

1.Sweet Virginia with all her four and a half month  grown-up-ness. She was desperately trying to see what was happening on the camera screen. Can you believe how big this cute girl is? She is super-dee-duper alert and active. She loves to get one-on-one attention, play with Raymond's pirate doll (as in, she adores this doll), go for walks in the increasing spring weather, and eat rice cereal (I know! I can't believe I caved and started already either. But she loves it, so I guess I'll forgive myself).

2. My Baby K'tan. I cannot sing the praises of this baby sling enough. I love, love, love it. And so does Ginny considering she likes to be totted around almost everywhere I go.  (And um, yes. She does have a mullet. I keep debating whether or not to cut it. I will also admit that her hair seems to be growing in much more red than it was at birth. Or maybe all the dark hair is just falling out and leaving the few scattered red ones to fend for themselves? Only time will tell.)

3. And we couldn't leave Raymond John out of the  mix. Only he wasn't very happy I wouldn't give him the camera. Sorry dude. (And yes, this boy's hair gets curlier and curlier. I love it with my whole heart.)

Sorry I didn't get a single good picture of either of my kiddos smiling. They do smile quite often, however. You'll just have to take my word for it.

It shouldn't be hard...

...to sit very still
And think about Jesus, his cross on the hill,
And all that he suffered and did for me;
It shouldn't be hard to sit quietly.
It shouldn't be hard even though I am small,
To think about Jesus, not hard at all.
Primary Song Book, pg 71

Key word here: shouldn't.  Oh but it is, isn't it?
 

I have a friend who has asked me a few times how we keep Raymond reverent during sacrament meeting. I'm sure every single time I look at her surprised and incredulous... because I wasn't sure there were many specific things we were doing to make it happen. And besides that, I'm not sure I think Raymond is always very reverent. He loves to make faces at anyone and everyone sitting behind us (a true little charmer), he likes to try to get to the bench behind us by any means possible, he has been known to start vocalizing his frustration when he doesn't get what he wants immediately.

But by and large, I will say Raymond is a pretty calm little fellow, particularly in public or around people he doesn't know. This means that at Church he can be much more introverted than at home, and will fairly quietly observe everyone and everything around him.

And on top of all that, he and I read books together all day every day. We spend (literally) hours and hours looking at books together. Every day. Thus, when we get to church and his church bag is full of books to look at, he knows what to do. He is very used to that sort of entertainment.

But the question from my friend prompted an in-depth conversation between Jeremy and I on our philosophies about sacrament worship with kids. And while we are not perfect, we are idealist who work hard at putting their ideals into practice. It was interesting to put to words the things we have been almost subconsciously doing with Raymond. I thought I would share what we've learned in the past (almost!) two years.

1. We believe that the goal of sacrament meeting with kids is not to simply keep the children quiet so mom and dad can get something out of the meeting. I'll say it again: the goal is not to make them quiet. The goal for us is to teach reverence. And there is no better time and place to teach than than actually during the meeting. This means we are not stressed out about no longer being able to take notes, hear the whole talk, or otherwise be spiritually uplifted. I mean obviously we want those things to be possible, but know that in the grand scheme they won't always. And that's ok.
2. We work hard to spend the meeting teaching Raymond reverence. We do that by involving him actively in what is going on. For his whole first year of life, Jeremy was in a bishopric and thus never helped with Raymond. When that ended, we shared the responsibility. Now Jeremy takes full custody of Raymond and I of Ginny. So for now, this applies mostly to Jeremy (since Ginny still likes to cry all during Sacrament meeting, I am either at the back of the chapel bouncing her in my arms or in the mother's lounge). Anyhow, Jeremy will sit Raymond on his lap and talk to him through most of the meeting. Pointing out and discussing what is going on during Sacrament, singing hymns and pointing at the words together, pointing out the bishop, and looking at books about Jesus. 
3. We are super ridiculously strict about what our kids are allowed to do during sacrament meeting. The point for us is we do not want to trap ourselves into behavior that will be inappropriate in the future. For example, he is not allowed to eat (he can drink water from his sippy cup, however). We don't do cheerios, raisins, or fruit snacks. He will not starve for an hour. This means we purposefully feed him right before we come. And before he went to nursery, he did get snacks during Sunday school and the third hour. Obviously I know that snacks work for keeping kids quiet, but there's nothing worse than watching seven, eight, twelve year olds eating their way through the meeting too. It's a bad habit we don't want to start. This goes for toys and games too.  We are even getting stricter about coloring or drawing. 
4. We provide other appropriate materials to help him get through the long meeting. For Christmas this year my mom made and assembled church bags for all the grandkids. They are FANTASTIC. She bought quite a few books at Deseret book and we have a few others we rotate into the mix. Since Raymond likes reading books (mentioned earlier), this works great for him.When he sees the bag, he knows it's time to go to church.
5. We teach as clearly as possible that being in the meeting is always better than being in the hall. Jeremy and I both work hard at making being in the meeting more "fun" than getting taken out. Obviously Ginny is too young to really learn this yet, but pretty soon, she will. We started very early with Raymond making the hall a no-good place to be. He gets held tightly in Jeremy's arms with no talking and very restricted movement. No walking in the halls. No looking at pictures. No talking to other people. While being in the meeting means he can move anywhere on our bench (we take a whole side bench). whisper with mom or dad about what's going on, look at other people, read his books. I can't even remember the last time we took Raymond out (unless it was to change his diaper). He knows he would rather be in the meeting.
6. We are diligent about getting to church early. This might seem like a bad idea since it just prolongs the whole meeting, but it actually makes reverence better. Raymond is allowed to stand on the bench and watch people come in (he loves to do this). He shakes the bishopric's hands. He can eat the piece of candy the high counselor gives him (only before the meeting starts). The prelude music really does get him in church mode. It is a calm and quiet transition for him.
7. At five after, if the speaker has not stopped speaking, we don't restrict or hold him back any more. (Well, obviously we wouldn't just let him scream or anything). But if the meeting goes long, we lighten up a little. And hope the speaker takes the hint!
8. We believe nursery is inspired. Hooray for play time after all that reverence!!

It's definitely a work in progress, with some Sundays much better than others.  We'll see how it goes as Ginny begins getting older and as more children get added to the bench. Maybe we'll learn that all are efforts really don't amount do much and it's just Raymond's personality that seems to make it more-or-less work. That and that fact that so far there are only two of them (and two of us)!!

Anyhow, what do you do to teach reverence to your little ones?

Ode to sleep

Ginny showed all the signs of being a great sleeper as a newborn. Sure she still woke up quite a bit at night, but she was a newborn.  She took long naps. She slept any and everywhere. Very early on she seems to be able to put herself back to sleep with little fuss.

I was a happy mom.

But something happened between now and then. Once upon a time didn't I even write in a blog post that she would sleep from about 7pm to 2am every night?

Where did those nights go, I ask you?

Because somehow this little lady has become the lightest sleeper ever. Ever.

I'm talking, open the door, she wakes up. (Which is a problem considering she's in my bedroom still. With nowhere else to go.)

Most nights this week she's gotten up roughly every two hours (or sooner) from the time she goes to bed to the time she gets up for the day. For a few nights I made her cry it out every other waking, but the crying! The screaming! The duration! I couldn't handle it after a few nights and resumed the unearthly amounts of waking up. Jeremy has been sleeping in a sleeping bag on the living room floor (with ear plugs no less), it's gotten so bad.

And day sleep, if it's possible, is worse. She takes 20 minute naps lately.  Not that that counts as a nap. I jump for joy if she sleeps longer than a half hour. (Without being attached to me, of course. Because probably she would sleep all day long if I let her nurse and sleep. If I didn't have a toddler, that is.)

Anyhow, she really is a very happy baby considering how little she sleeps. (And I think I am actually a very happy mama considering how little I sleep). She laughs and coos and has the most adoring eyes. She delights in sitting up and rolling over. Her cheeks are as soft and chubby as ever.

But, sleep, (oh sleep!) I miss you so. I look forward to your company again someday. Please don't make it too far away.

And YES I have read Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth all the way through twice. I let her cry it out for at least five days... and to no avail. I can only handle so much crying when my nerves are raw from so little sleep.

Oh and please do NOT ask me (not matter how well intentioned) if she is getting enough to eat. Nothing  stresses this breatfeeding mama out more.

Sweet Nothings

So much of each day is filled up with tiny seemingly insignificant moments that testify of the sweetness of motherhood...

Raymond wrapped his arms around my legs, then peered up and me and smiled.

Ginny, tired and hungry and distraught, instinctively nestled in to me and let out an audible sigh of contentment at what I had to offer her.

Raymond laughed hysterically each time I threw the ball up toward the skylight in our kitchen. Dressed in only his diaper, he scampered after it each time it landed, giddy with excitement for me to throw it again.

Snuggled into her baby sling across my chest, Ginny and I danced quietly around the living room.

As I rocked and nursed, Raymond settled himself onto the couch, opened the picture Book of Mormon, and--with finger pointing emphatically at each picture--jabbered aloud the story to me.  Interjected into his pretend reading were the clearly identifiable names of Nephi and Alma.

Struggling to hold her head upright, Ginny's eyes swept around the room until she saw Raymond. And then with a look of astonishment at whatever antic he was doing, she intently watched his every move for as long as she could hold her little head up.

With sippy cup of water in one hand and  favored blanket in the other, Raymond settled comfortably into my lap so that we could sing and rock before "nigh night."

After Raymond insisted "hold her!" and I propped Ginny up on his lap, she proceeded to stare intently as he  pointed to and named all of her body parts (elbow! chin! eye! knee!)

Caught in the act of a "no! no!" Raymond quickly lowered his head and then slowly swept his eyes upward through his incredibly long red eyelashes in a look of feigned innocence. It is a look he knows to be irresistible every time.

While sitting quietly on my lap, Ginny instinctively reached out and wrapped her long slender fingers around one of my own.

Such simple, sweet little events that make me glad to live with these two little people. Glad to be recognized by them. Glad to be the one they turn to for comfort. Glad to be someone they trust and love. Glad to be responsible to nurture and love them.