finished!

Let me start by saying how EXCITED I am for this project- about three years ago I found a fabric I fell in love with (namely the green and red paisly dead center in the 1st pic: Moda's Roman Holiday Collection) purchased it with the idea I'd make Christmas stockings for, at the time, Michael and myself. The fabric store I purchased it from didn't have all the fabrics I liked but I made it work. Saving the excess and scraps for later use. A year later I work in a fabric store across the country and find said fabric line. I buy more fabric so I'll have enough to supply stockings for however many children we end up with (which on a side note was higher before I'd experienced pregnancy) and a tree skirt.

When I found out I was pregnant, oddly enough, THIS is the project I was *most* excited to make. Remember how I didn't want to find out the gender of said baby? This was exactly what I wanted to be made whether it was a boy or girl (aside from the name on the front). Hence more time to let ideas churn.

Rantings over, on with the photos:

fully lined and everything

ours. which really are twice the size of hers. M used to stand for Michael, now it'll be Mom and I'll be swapping out the T for a D :)

I was going to wait until I quilted the back of the tree skirt before posting it, but since its been in this state for about 18months, and I'm on the subject, I thought I'd post it now anyway.

Isn't it pretty?? I love it. Can you tell I love the piecing and not so much the quilting? Maybe I'll finish it this year. . . . . but to be honest it wouldn't work for our current tree situation right now anyway. The Mr and I have very different opinions on the matter - he he he.

Since we're on the subject, let me be the first (hopefully) to wish you a Merry Christmas!! :)

Craftiness

So, I've checked a FEW things off my bookmarked list of "to-do" crafts. Thanks to the Dollar Tree selling onesies to practice on I didn't feel bad if the projects were botched.

Project 1: tutu onesie
I plan on making the actual tutu shorter, but this is what it looks like for now - and I'm contemplating adding "fake" jewelry in the form of paint. (have you seen those? problem is, I'd have to free hand, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that)
Project 2 and 3: Feelin' Spooky. My first attempt at freezer paper stenciling. It really is as easy as everybody says. AND babylegs, lots of babylegs. Do you LOVE the skull and crossbones!? I do.

Project 4: Toddler Backpacks

Yep, it'll fit!Project 5: hair flower. The one pictured was purchased in Utah because I fell in love, and wanted an example in my hands to dissect while I figured out how to make hundreds. I'm still perfecting the process but I'm super excited about it!

Project 6: Still in the making but let me tell you it might be my favorite :) Can't stand the suspense? I'll give you a hint . . . . . . I have 87 days to finish. But I'm so excited I'll be done before its needed, I'm sure.

Credits: here here and here although, I did make a few of my own adjustments.

slow down

It seems these last few weeks Rylee has grown so much. She's "shakin it" on her hands and knees, and if the surroundings are right she'll pull herself up.

It makes me want to cry.

Eating more "solids" so far sweet potato's are the fav. (she's NOT eating them in this picture)

While figuring how to eat off a spoon, she would often just let it sit on her tounge - then gag. it was pretty comical.

She's pretty chatty (she says "da-da" and "up" - although I'm not so naive to think she knows what she's saying) - but not really around other people. In that instance, she's more the silent, smiley observer.

People often ask/tell me that smiles are genetic - haha. maybe. ;)

She's a Momma's girl. Which I find very endearing and occationally annoying. She would be on cloud nine if I would just hold her and cuddle all day- which, I'll be honest, some days it's pretty hard to NOT do just that. I'm pretty certain one day it'll change, but for now, we pretty much love each other, oh, and Michael too :)

videos

A couple videos for your viewing enjoyment
1. proof of Rylee's mobility. Don't worry she takes a rest half way to her destination to stop and smile for the camera.
2. This morning she was making me laugh so hard. She was in her bouncer crying until I'd look at her and say Hi which produced instant smiles. (watch her eyes) Talk about mood swings! We did this back and forth about 15 times before I tried to get an off-centered video (which is easy to do when you are attempting to ignore the subject for video purposes).

WiscAAnsin

Last week we went to Wisconsin to see these two get married: aren't they cute?

{I love weddings}

It was A LOT of work, but turned out absolutely beautiful. They were married on an island (the same island we and Michaels bro had our WI receptions - ah, memories)

Rylee wished she could be a bridesmaid. . . . . All in good time.

The wedding was at the end of the week, and the time prior to, that wasn't spent planning, was replaced with chatting, playing games, and eating - my favorites.

Our first day there was the least 'structured' so we decided to have a picnic at irvine park. Michael asked "is that the park with the animals?" the answer was yes and I assumed 'animals' meant statues of bears and elk that would, of course, try to eat my husband.

I was right.

Partially.

(Apparently Uncle Michael's face makes a great handle.)There also was a bunch of exhibits for REAL animals. It was basically a zoo, only better because

A. it was free and

B. you could pet/feed a fair amount of the animals

The cougars were probably my favorite. My nephew said "look, its a BYU Cougar" haha. and the fact that when we walked around the pillars, it would growl at us through the glass and show us his teeth.

Michael's Grandpa, Dad, Grandma, Rylee, Michael

Michael's Grandma, Michael, Rylee, Mom
Lovin up their first Grand and Great-Grand Daughter!!

Sayin Good-Bye til next time.

It's always a party when family gets together. We love you and miss you already!

(I'm still routing for Christmas in Texas. . . . . . . any takers?)

Happy Half Birthday

This little girlie is 6 months today!! I gave her a few extra cuddles, kisses and bite marks to celebrate.

She's sitting up, learned to 'army crawl' (in the airport of all places), has a fetish with toes (mine, or her own - she's not picky) and has turned into quite the babbler.

Love you Rylee-Roo!!!

Rockport TX

This past weekend we decided to have one last hoorah before school started and our/Michael's life was changed dramatically. We went to Rockport Texas - a city on the gulf/bay - and it was wonderful. We invited some friends to join us and stayed in a condo owned by a co-worker of Michaels- seriously, perfection.

We went out one night to a resaurant called The Boiling Pot. They boil your food in a big pot, and just dump it on the table lined with butcher paper to have at it. A bit to much cajun spice for my liking and the fact that the shrimp weren't de-headed before served was rather strange but it was definately interesting. Michael liked it most of all.

the plastic bibs were manditory

diggin into the crab

walking around "down-town" Michael posed w a picture of an ancestor

Daddy teaching Rylee how to drive.
chillin at the house w a doll

They have a little aquarium we went to. For being free it wasn't to shabby. Our favorites there were the sea-horses, seeing 'behind the sences' workings of a salt water tank, and viewing the types of fish we caught when we went deep sea fishing a few years ago with Michael's family.

As we were walking through a few beach shops, as a joke Michael put this hat on my head. Turns out I loved it. . . . . . . its big enough to shade both myself and Rylee - who's the sucker now???
(don't answer that)

The place we stayed had a poll/smaller pool titled hot tub right on the bay. It was really pretty. They had a big fishing pier which was cool, we didn't have the right gear or we would have done some fishing ourselves.

There were a TON of cotton fields between SA and Rockport, it was pretty cool. So on the way back we stopped for a little photo-op :) Rylee was sleeping which is why the photo is sans her.

It was a perfect little pre-vacation vacation get away.