Naptime is Craftime {Home Sweet Home for Ellie}

Hey sweet lady!!  Right now you are just getting your four top teeth.  I know that you would much rather chew on things like rattles, socks, and mommy’s yoga pants.  Maybe this little Home Away from Home will make it better??

 

See you can go right inside, right through your little heart door.  This project only took mama 30 sewing hours, 5 cursing hours, and 3 cutting hours.  Not that I was counting.  Nothing would make me regret starting this hell of a project I mean easy little project for your little sweet face…

Maybe you want to send me some letters about how bad your little gums are killin’ ya??

 

See, they even have heart stamps.  Sent with love right??

Or maybe you just want to pick some fruit from the orange/apple/pear/lemon tree I made for you?  Our little tree grows anything we want it to!  How did I make all of that fruit?  Only eight little sewing steps in each little piece.  No biggie.

First you just…

1. trace shape onto wonder under

2.cut out around the line

3. iron on to all of the different colors of felt

4. cut out the felt on traced line

5. sew velcro to a matching color of felt

6. iron on fruit to velcro felt piece

7. cut out shape again

8. sew around both pieces of felt

repeat for all piece of fruit, don’t forget to sew on stem and leaf to apples and oranges too!

 

 

Or maybe you want to peak out of the curtains and wave hello?

 

You could also water your plants and flowers?  The little watering can comes off for you to play with!

 

OK, so you just want to sit by the basket and chew everything in sight.  I get it.  I don’t know who I am more proud of.  You for turning one, and do all kinds of grown up things like get four teeth at once.  Or me for finishing this crazy task I decided would be “fun” for your first birthday.  This from the lady that turned on a sewing machine for the first time last November.

I just know it is worth it.  I get to see you follow your brother inside and talk to him in your little house.  I hope you love in the years to come little Ellie.

Love,

your tired of sewing,

happy and content,

mama.

Ellie: A Look Back

March 25th, 2010
The best day and the worst day, all rolled into one.


April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010


January 2011

February 2011


March 2011


My how you have grown!  From a tiny miracle, to smiling during your Happy Birthday song!  We love you so much!

Ellie’s First Birthday {Gingham Cuteness}

Happy Birthday Sweet Little Girl!!  This little doll has stolen our hearts and the hearts of her family.  She is such a sweet baby, soon to be toddler!  I cannot believe an entire year has passed.  It is hard to imagine our lives without her.

This weekend was filled with a cute baby girl, lots of gingham, and of course cupcakes.  And yes that is Ellie trying to touch the burning candle.  Don’t worry I stepped in before she was in danger!

 

There was yummy mason jar cookie favors. Filled up with pink and purple m+ms, and topped with purple gingham fabric.  Don’t ask me how long it took to sort out the m+ms, or how many extra m+ms I have in the candy closet.  It is absurd. 

We also had flowers and lots of pictures around the house. I jumped at the chance to decorate with hydrangeas and tulips.  It isn’t every day that your baby girl turns one.  Especially at this perfect time of year when the flowers are beginning to bloom!

 

We also had yummy cupcakes.  I made the cupcake toppers from pink gingham cardstock and “e” and “1st” stamps I had from my crafting days. 

Ellie's month by month pictures hanging from the mantle, and a pink gingham bunting banner for extra sweetness!

And then there was the sweet little girl. In her pink gingham pinafore, ready to party. She tried to open gifts, but mostly got help from her big bro and his friends.

The boys stood around and told stories.  Of course!

But she did eat her cupcake! Almost down to the last bite!! Which is more than I can say for Bradley, who found it too disgusting and crumbly to even touch. Ellie might have a sweet tooth like her parents, I think!

 

Sweet Elle Belle.  You are a little miracle.  You are more amazing and perfect than I could have ever dreamed.  You were so wanted, dreamed of, and loved before you arrived.  Thank you for letting me be your mommy. 

I love you ellie through and through.  Happy First Birthday!

 

You are One Little One!!!

This week for me used to always be about reflection, hope, forgiveness and healing.  But, you have given it a new meaning and a new purpose.  You have shown me that I do have a special place on this Earth.  And it is right here raising you.
For today I just want to talk about you little girl.  I just spent the better part of the day remembering.  Filling out your baby book with the final few months of pictures and memories.  Jotting down all of the amazing cute things you do.  From waving bye-bye, to leaning over to give your brother kisses, and always picking The Wheels on the Bus book from the basket because it is your favorite.  I finished your first year calendar.  Marking every tooth, play date, and music class with a little note.  I hope someday we can sit down together and look through all of these memory keepers. 
The first year is really amazing.  The growth and learning you have done, and so much that I have done as a Mom.  I got my first taste in learning to balance.  How to be a Mommy to two little people that need me in very different ways.

Thank you for being patient and understanding when I didn’t figure it out the first time.  Or the second.


I just don’t know how to put into words just how much I love you.  Your little soft arms, that have just the perfect little creases of baby chub.  The little wisp of curls on the back of your head.  The way you rub your eyes with the back of your hands when you are getting really sleepy.  Or the way you squawk and stretch when you see your nighttime bottle.

Or maybe it is the green flecks in your eyes, just like your Daddy’s.  The way you look at your brother when he walks in the room.  It is like you say with your eyes, “There is my most favorite person on the Earth, I was wondering where he went?” 
But, mostly it is just that you are you, and I carried you in my belly and brought you into this world. Our hearts are forever attached.  You and Bradley are the best things I have ever done in my life.  I cannot believe that we have already been together for 365 days.  Most of those spent with me nursing you 4 to 12 times a day, depending on your size and your lung capacity. 

I love you little miss ellie clare.  forever.

happy 1st birthday little one! 

Round and Round We Go

I apologize for totally messing up my blog posts.  I re-wrote Ellie’s first birthday post, in this document.  When it uploaded onto blogger, it replaced my post about Bradley’s first tball game.  Here are the pictures from the weekend, and I am so proud of my little man!

They got dressed up in these cute uniforms…

To play his first official game of tball!!

Having a huddle about the game...
Organizing the team...
And of course, going up to bat!