It took a couple of minutes for him to warm up to the idea, but once I told him Santa was going to bring him presents on Christmas he was more than happy to sit with him and take a picture. I felt a little guilty about that at first, but it is a great picture so maybe it was worth it.
Comments closed
Yesterday at lunch my mom and I ventured out to the fabric store because she has accepted the task of making a Santa Clause suit for my nephew to wear in his school’s Christmas play. Since it was snowing and my car handles the snow better than hers, I went along to help her pick up her supplies. The only problem with this was that we were going to a fabric store. Fabric stores are like crack to me. I can’t go in without buying something.
I went in with a couple of things in mind that I wanted to look for. I needed some fabric for a gift I want to make, and some art supplies to go along with the easel that Zach is getting for Christmas. I ended up not really getting any of that. I couldn’t find any fabric that I liked for the gift and didn’t find exactly what I was looking for in art supplies. But, I did find some Buzz Lightyear fabric that I couldn’t turn down, a Buzz Lightyear fabric book kit, a few patterns that looked fun, and some fleece remnants that were marked down super cheap (These are perfect for lining my dog’s kennel).
By the time I got home I was so giddy I couldn’t stand it. I had planned on waiting until Zach went to bed and then starting in on the Buzz Lightyear projects. Unfortunately, when I was carrying in the incredibly see-through bag he got a peek of what was inside and started going nuts. He saw Buzz Lightyear and knew it was something for him.
I had decided to make a couple of quick pillows out of the fabric so as soon as I got Zach out of the bathtub and settled down I headed back to my sewing room and started in. I figured I could whip up a quick pillow for him before bed time. After a little problem with my machine and thread, I finally got a pillow put together. Zach came in and helped me stuff the pillow and we got it finished up just in time for him to head to bed. He was very excited about his Buzz Lightyear pillow and pushed his old Diego pillow right off the bed to make room. It didn’t help him go to sleep any faster, but he sure did like it.
I put together another quick pillow for my nephew but didn’t have quite enough stuffing so I’ll have to make a quick trip to Wal-Mart sometime this weekend so I can finish it up. Then I started in on the fabric Buzz Lightyear book. I know Zach is really a bit old for these types of books, but he still loves the one his Granny made him so I figured we might as well try it. Besides, I’ve been wanting to make one of these anyway to see how complicated they are. There are a LOT of babies that will be born soon and I really love to make gifts. I’m not sure when he’s going to get the book though. I think I may have to hold out for a while and make it a “potty prize”.
The book probably took me a couple of hours to put together, but part of that time was spent watching Grey’s Anatomy so I wasn’t going full force for that hour. It really was fairly simple and the finished product came out great. I think I could do it much faster the next time now that I have the process down.
I really surprised myself by finishing these all up in one night. I guess it just goes to show that I really can do it if I am determined. Now I need to get started on those Christmas gifts I wanted to make. I just need to find some more fabric…
Comments closedBusy, busy, busy. It seems like things will never slow down at this time of year. We start gearing up for year end at work. At home I have so many things I need to do and so many more I want to do and there is never enough time to get them all done. Right now I would love nothing more than a week at home alone without a toddler to distract me. My house is suffering from months of neglect. I have so many little projects that I want to complete. I have gifts that I wanted to actually make this year instead of buying and I’m not sure I’ll be able to get them done. I have a few more items left to shop for before Christmas. Oh, and a little sleep here and there would be nice too. I’m already looking forward to my maternity leave just because I know I’ll finally get some sleep – even if it is in two hour spurts!
Instead of going home and snuggling with the boy on the couch tonight, I have to attend a meeting that I really don’t want to go to. It isn’t something I have to go to, but something that I’ll feel guilty about later if I don’t attend. I would much rather spend the evening with my family, then snuggle in for some TV time and a little knitting.
I had my 24 week check-up today with my doctor. Everything is still looking great with this pregnancy. My belly is measuring perfectly and Baby G’s heart rate is still at 147. Next time I go in I have the dreaded Glucose test to look forward to. Then a few days after that we are going to have a 3D scan done and hopefully get a glimpse of her little face and confirm the sex again. Hubby is a little paranoid that our girl will come out a boy and wants to double check.
For a short time this morning I thought I just might be greeting a new niece by this evening, but it looks like that isn’t going to happen. It is actually a good thing because I think my Sister-in-law is only 36 weeks along and I would rather she let that little girl cook for a couple more weeks before popping her out. I think it scared my brother a bit though when he realized just how unprepared they actually are. I have a feeling they will be hurriedly getting baby things ready over the next couple of days. I was excited thinking that she may be here tonight, but it really is for the best that she waits.
Comments closedNo matter how much I want to slow it down, Christmas seems to be coming up very quickly. I always enjoy the shopping, but I’m not exactly finding myself in the Christmas spirit yet. We’ve decorated the tree, pulled out the Christmas music, and have been reading all of Zach’s Christmas books, but I’m just not feeling it yet.
I really want Zach to get excited about Christmas this year because for some reason I think that if he gets excited it will help me get more excited. I’m not sure he really understands the whole concept yet, but I’m trying to teach him little by little what to expect on Christmas morning. I also would like to find a book written on a toddler level that tells the biblical Christmas story so he can learn that as well.
In my effort to get us both a little more excited, I decided to pull out the construction paper and have a little craft time with Zach. He wasn’t too sure about it at first, but once he found out he got to use glue he got a little more excited.
He worked really hard for a while, picking out the right colors and gluing each strip.
He got pretty excited when he started seeing results and figured out that we were actually making something with all of that paper and glue.
Zach got a little bored before we were finished. What can I say? He has the attention span of a two-year-old for some reason. While he watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I finished up the chain. He came back to help a couple of times. I was pretty tired of it myself by the time I finally glued the last strip.
When all was said and done, we hung our Christmas paper chain up along the doorway next to the Christmas tree. Zach was very excited to see the finished product. I was just glad that it was finally done. I have to say that it was kind of fun while Zach and I were working together on it though. I can’t wait until he gets just a little bit older and we can do more things like this together.
Yesterday was my nephew Dylan’s 8th birthday. I wanted to get this up on his actual birthday, but believe it or not, I actually spent the evening away from my computer and with my family.
Eight years ago, I was going through a difficult time in my life. I was about to graduate from college. I was splitting up with my ex-husband. My mom was going through treatments for breast cancer. My parents had recently separated. There were so many unknowns in my life. Then I got the call that my sister was heading to the hospital and my nephew was about to be born.
It is amazing the effect that a baby can have on a family. I had really pulled away from my family during college. We were all dealing with our own problems in life, but when Dylan was born, he was the one thing that pulled us all back together.
Before Dylan was born, I had no idea that it was possible to have so much love for a child. Sure, I loved babies, but this one was one of us. He was part of our family. He was wonderful.
In the eight years since he was born, our family has changed in so many ways. Sometimes it seems like his birth was just yesterday and sometimes it seems like it was a lifetime ago.
One thing I know for sure is that I love this boy with all my heart and I would do anything for him, just as I would my own child.
Happy Birthday Dylan! Your Aunt Dee sure does love you!
Comments closedEverybody all over the internet is posting their own version of holiday gift guides and I’m feeling left out. I have great ideas this year for gifts, but unfortunately am limited in funds. Plus, most of my family and friends are not as geeky as me and wouldn’t appreciate some of the great things I’ve found. So, if you are searching for gift ideas for that somewhat geeky, sorta crafty, gadget-loving person in your life maybe one of these items will jump out at you. Or, you know, if you are shopping for somebody like me, any of these would be fantastic gift ideas. Best of all, none of them are super expensive.
First up is the digital photo keychain. This particular model is made by Coby, but a quick online search will turn up lots of other options. It would be a great gift for new parents, grandparents, or even kids who like to show off their photos to their friends. The screen quality isn’t the best, but good enough to show off photos of the new baby or grandkids. Along the same line is the credit card size photo album which can easily be carried around in a wallet or purse.
Since we’re talking about digital photos, let’s move on to the next item, the Eye-Fi Wireless SD Memory Card. I’ve been drooling over this since I first found out about it. Stick this little SD card into any digital camera that uses SD memory and you can transfer your photos instantly. No more searching for lost cords or card readers. With this little device you no longer need them. There is also a CF card adapter available if you need it.
For those not-so-technical girls on your list, you can’t go wrong with some nice smelling lotions and/or body wash. I suggest Victoria’s Secret Ultra-Softening Body Butter. It is light and non-greasy and feels so good going on. Plus, it doesn’t irritate the skin (unless you are allergic, I suppose) and it smells fabulous. Coming from someone with extremely sensitive, dry skin, that is saying a lot. I highly recommend the “Love Spell” scent as I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t just love it.
I’m not sure where I originally saw the link, but I bookmarked it and have been waiting for just the right time to buy this one. I think it would be a great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time sitting at their computer. This USB Drink Chiller and Warmer can keep your coffee hot and your soda cold. All it takes is a little flip of a switch. It is powered by USB, making it just as portable as your laptop. Everyone has seen the coffee warmers, but I love that this one does both. I’m not a fan of coffee, but occasionally have a cup of hot chocolate on a cold snowy day. I would use it mostly to keep my water or soda cold as I usually find myself drinking it warm every afternoon. The CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller is another option for those who just want their drinks cold.
For the music lover in your life, I have a couple of suggestions. First off is the Creative Zen Stone MP3 player. This tiny little 1GB player easily fits in the palm of your hand, is half the price of an iPod Shuffle, and doesn’t limit you to using iTunes for transferring your music. There is also a 2GB version for those that may want to carry more music with them. Of course, if you are gifting and MP3 player, why not include a gift card for iTunes, or a gift membership to Rhapsody or eMusic so they can fill that thing up?
Are any of your friends taking part in the recent baby boom? It seems half of the women I know are just about to pop out new babies and the Itzbeen Baby Care Timer would be a great gift for them. I can’t imagine a more useful tool for new parents. It keeps track of how long it has been since the baby’s last feeding, diaper change, and time awake/asleep, plus has an extra timer for whatever miscellaneous item you may want to track. There is also a nursing reminder switch to help you keep track of which side the baby has last fed from. It is hard to remember much of anything during those first few sleep deprived months and I really wish I would have had one of these when my son was born. It would also be handy to pass off to a baby-sitter or grandparents if you can ever manage to let your little one out of your site.
I want to mention one last thing before I finish this list off and that is Etsy. If you are buying for anyone with a bit of a crafty flair, you should definitely check it out. Most Etsy items are handmade and some of the most creative I’ve seen. There are so many fun things over there I can’t even narrow it down, but I’m pretty sure you can find something for anybody over there.
I’m going to end it here because it has taken me long enough to write all this out and do all the linking. Hopefully this list at least gives you some fun ideas to work with. Now, go shop!
Comments closed