Week One

Ok, so for the first week I decided to make Sammi's dress. It started out as a plain white men's dress shirt. I replaced the buttons, added a tie, and made the owl. I love the way it turned out, but I hated it yesterday. Everything that could go wrong, did. It was a pain and if you look closely there are still some signs of how rough it was, but with how much Sammi moves, I doubt anyone will be able to get a good look. I'll add a picture of her in it later if I can get her to model it for me.

Great Expectations

I keep finding myself in awe of what other people are making and wishing I could do the same thing. So, I'm going to. Once a week for the remainder of the year, I am going to make one project...no excuses. Then I'll blog about it so that all of you wonderful souls can keep me on track. If you have any cute projects that you'd like to send my way I'd love it. Here's the list I've started of projects that I'd like to do.

• Dress for Sammi out of a men's dress shirt (same one I've made but big enough to fit her now)
• Fabric wreath with spring colors http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/11/fabric-wreath.html#more
• Bibs/burp cloths to have on hand for baby showers
• Christmas stockings (yes, this will probably happen later on in the year)
• A canopy to go over Sammi's bed. I'm not sure exactly how I'll do this, but I'm imagining something simple like ribbon and sheer fabric around a hula hoop.
• Make a nightlight out of one of the kids’ artwork http://salsapie.blogspot.com/2009/11/transform-childs-artwork-into.html
• Make a chore chart http://bobbicamacho.blogspot.com/2010/01/chore-chart.html
• Some skirts & dresses for me. I'm not sure if I'll try to find a pattern or just try to copy one of my favorite skirts.
• A chair for Sammi and one for Paul http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36087723
• Clipboard frames http://lindseyscraftlist.blogspot.com/2010/01/mini-clipboard-frames-with-tutorial.html
• Advent Christmas tree (again, probably won’t do this until later, but I don’t want to lose the link) http://lindseyscraftlist.blogspot.com/2009/10/advent-christmas-tree-tutorial.html
• Photo tiles http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/12/easy-photo-blocks-tiles.htm

I am sure I could list more things that I want to make, but looking at all those blogs and all of these AMAZING people who whip projects like it was no big deal was starting to make me doubt myself. So I’m going to quit looking and start doing. Wish me luck.

Paul at 21 Months

Here's a look at Paul at 21 months....

• He is just cute. Period.
• The best way to describe him is all boy. He loves cars, trucks, trains, and Bob the Builder. (In fact he has a car in each hand as I'm typing and he's trying to figure out a way to hold a couple more). His "all boyness" also translates into temper tantrums, yelling, and hitting when he's mad...although the hitting is getting MUCH better and only happens rarely now.
• He doesn't walk. He is either climbing or running.
• He's still "stout" and his cheeks jiggle when he runs.
• His biggest challenge is that he's still not talking. I know he understands what we're talking about because he's able to follow directions very well. I can tell him to put the lid on his water bottle and go put it in the sink and he'll do it. Sometimes yelling while he's doing it because he doesn't want to, but he'll still do it. Not being able to tell us what he wants often leads to him being frustrated. He's getting evaluated for speech therapy in a couple weeks and hopefully that will get him started.

• According to the doctors surveys he is ahead in every other developmental area, especially fine motor.
• He is the door police. If he's anywhere close, he is the only one allowed to open or close doors.
• He is a total ham and loves to be the center of attention. He gets a big kick out of making people laugh and does it as often as he can.
• He LOVES Sammi. When she's gone (at school or wherever) he runs around looking for her and then laughs and runs to her when she gets home.

• He'll give hugs and kisses but is not NEARLY as affectionate as Samantha. He's very picky on when he'll give you love.
• He doesn't suck a thumb or pacifier (never did) but is very attached to his blanket. It doesn't happen so much during the day, but at night or if people are gone for an extended period he won't let it go.
• He loves swimming and isn't afraid AT ALL of the water. It's great, but makes me very nervous and I have to watch him EVERY second.
• He is a cleaner. I think living with Dad Dad has rubbed off on him. If he spills water he runs over to get a towel and clean it up. He is also happy to pick up his toys and will sometimes do it without being prompted.
• He makes the best faces.
• His favorite foods are cereal and PB&J and his favorite dessert is anything.
• He will dance whenever music comes on. Often this is with his tongue out and eyes looking toward the sky. Then he'll stop to check and see if we're watching/laughing. If we are, he'll keep going. If we're not, he'll yell until we are.
• He is such a sweet and fun kid to have around the house.

Sammi at 3 1/2

It's been quite awhile since I've updated what the kids are like these days...so here's a look at Sammi at 3 1/2:

• She prefers to play with others. Anytime we are at the mall play area or McDonalds, or anywhere she will ask every little girl in the place if they want to play with her. She'll even ask babies that are barely learning to walk if they want to play house and be her daughter.
• She's super kind and loving. That's probably the best quality she has. She tells everyone in the family at least 3-4 times a day that she "super" loves them. She is also sure to include anyone in playing with her.
• She is almost always happy. She whines when she gets tired, but for the most part she's got a smile on her face.
• She is stubborn. It doesn't come out very often, but when she gets her mind set on something, there is no way she'll bend from it.
• She has no interest in learning her letters. I have tried to sit down with her, but we don't get very far because the pencils soon become "guys" and it turns into playing family.
• She loves playing pretend. We are always playing baby/doggy/child/family/etc. She doesn't have much of an interest in board/card games, it's only fun if she can use her imagination.
• She gets into bed at 7:30 but lately has been playing on her bed until 9:30 or so. At least she doesn't get off her bed.
• She is a total TV head and would spend all day watching shows if I'd let her. Currently Care Bears are her favorite, followed closely by Clifford.
• She talks to herself. I'll find her singing to her babies or saying "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Care Bear....STARE!!" quite often. Especially at night when she's playing by herself.
• Her favorite food is pizza and her favorite dessert is no bake cookies.
• Her favorite song is "Gracie" by Ben Folds Five and she tells us every time she hears it that it makes her think of Daddy.
• She's a great listener. Most of the time she'll do what I ask without me needing to ask over and over and over. Unfortunately there are times when this is also accompanied by whining, but hey, I'll take what I can get.
• Caitlin is her best friend. She LOVES playing with her and tells her all the time, "Caity I love you, you're my best friend." Caity is 8 so this doesn't always turn out since she's not always interested in playing with a 3 1/2 year old.
• Sammi is SO proud that she's 3 1/2. If I tell anyone she's 3, it's not long before she pipes up. "I am not. I am three and A HALF!!"
• She loves swimming and could play in the pool all day every day. We try to go to the YMCA once or twice a week.
• She still loves Paul and almost always wants him with her. She does get frustrated with him more often now since he commonly grabs her toys.
• She still sucks her thumb and sleeps with her "yellow" blanket, although I think if I took the blanket she'd be okay with it.
• She likes preschool now. There are days she still cries for a second because she wants me to stay (she doesn't want to leave, she just doesn't want me to leave either).
• She's just a wonderful girl and it's so fun watching her grow up!