newest project

So the most recent project I have going (and almost completed) is and idea I found on Pinterest.  Can I just tell you, once again, how much I love that website?!  Anyway, this project is a creative way to display and store children's books.  Take a look:

(No, his walls are NOT neon yellow.  I don't know why it came out this way ...)

Using $4 IKEA spice racks, I painted them the same wall color as Seth's room, mounted them securely onto the wall and can now lean his books in them ... at a level he can reach.  And he loves it!  Before, we stored his books up on top of the armoire in his room, so unless me or my husband pulled them down, he didn't really get to play with them.  Now they can be stored in a neat and tidy place and yet still be accessible by my kid.  Plus, it's super cheap, and doesn't take up valuable play space on the floor (like a regular book shelf would).  We still have two more shelves to install, but need to get better mounting hardware to keep them up securely.  Great idea!  Thanks, Pinterest!

Oh ... and I just had to post this.  When Jack was putting up the shelves, Seth just had to be with his dad in the middle of the action!

new nieces

Five days ago my sister-in-law gave birth to identical twin girls!  Isabella Frances and Siena Marie.  How exciting!  I remember when I was little it was my dream to have twin girls.  I think that's what every little girl dreams of!  Their wedding, and having twin baby girls.  Why?  I'm not sure, but it was definitely my dream.  So when our sister told us she was pregnant with twin girls, we were ecstatic for her and her husband.

To honor their coming into the world, I got an idea for making a piece of all art for each of them to hang up in their nursery.  I love how they turned out!

Isabella Frances Crandall

Siena Marie Crandall

Super easy to make too!  What I used was:

-$9.99 mated frame from IKEA

-craft paper

-textured hemp fabric (any type of textural fabric would work ... I found this in the reminent basket at JoAnn's)

-alphabet stamps and ink

-craft label holders

And here's how:

1) Design and print out the initials you want to use (I did mine in Microsoft Word, using the Art tool and chose the outlined letters option) onto your craft paper.  You could also use old piano sheet music or old book pages to print your letters out on.

2) Cut out your letters ... carefully!  I ended up wanting an outline to the letters, so I glued them onto a piece of regular printer paper and then cut along the outside of the letters, leaving an even space.

3) Glue your letters onto your background paper (making sure to leave space for placement of the label holders).

4) Cut the background paper down to the desired size.  I ended up cutting mine 1/2" smaller than the opening (leaving 1/4" inch all around).

5) Glue the background paper onto your textured fabric, which should cover the entire opening, leaving extra for overlap onto the back of the mat.

6) Stamp out the child's name onto regular printer paper (or a velum or other desired paper).  I actually wanted to stamp out the meaning of each of their names, but #1 I didn't have enough room within the size of the label holders I got, and #2 The name Isabella has a beautiful meaning, but the name Siena, though a beautiful name, didn't have as much of a beautiful meaning.  I also thought about stamping their birth dates, but I don't have number stamps, so I ended up just stamping their names spelled out.

7) Attach the stamped paper to the label holder and attach the label holder to the background paper and fabric.

8) Place in frame opening and tape in place (to avoid sliding down).

Wallah!  A beautiful, personalized piece of wall art!

OH.MY.GOSH.

Target has the beginnings of their Christmas items in stock!  What a glorious day!  I absolutely love Target at Christmastime!

seth's first birthday

What a fun day it was!  When Seth went to sleep the night before his birthday, Jack and I went to work putting up one too many paper chains, moving around furniture and getting things ready for the big day.  That way, when Seth woke up the next morning, he would have a surprise of a fun house followed by many more surprises throughout the day.


So when we heard him talking to himself the morning of his birthday, Jack and I went into his room, and sang him "Happy Birthday," while he stood in his crib, laughing at us.  Haha!  Then we brought him out to the living area and he couldn't stop looking all around at his birthday decorations.  Later that day, we had Jack's delicious homemade burgers with our families and then had birthday cake and opened presents with our close friends later in the afternoon.  A delightful day!  


My baby is no longer a baby, but a little boy.  A toddler.  Oh dear ...

Cups

Seth's dog cake (from a cookbook that was originally my Grandma's, then my mom made me and my brothers cakes out of the same book, and now I am!)

Seth garland!

Paper chain galore (and there was still more outside!)

Eating lunch with Grandma, Grandpa, Lito and Lita

Almost ready to eat!

Seth was so excited to see his cousin, Naya!

Haha ... apparently he adores her!

Reading with Grandma

This is one of those sound books where you push buttons to make noises while you read ... Seth was grabbing my mom's finger and making her push the buttons.  Haha ... creative way to do it!

LOL

Singing to Seth ... he didn't know what to make of it

... and still didn't even after we were done

Blowing out the candle

He also didn't know what to make of the slice of cake in front of him ...

... but soon figured it out

Opening presents!  He got so many awesome gifts!  What a blessed kid!

Still opening gifts ... (with helpers!)

Opening more ...

"Tickle Monster" gloves

Uncle Joel got him his first bat

Uncle Max pitching to Seth

Seth currently has an obsession with hoses ...

With Uncle Joel and the hose

I can't quite remember why everyone was laughing in this picture ...

Playing already!

Putting together a new toy!

The new toy!

party prep

I can't believe it, but my baby is going to be one year old in a mere three days!  Boy, how time flies!


We were debating on whether or not to have a party for Seth ... I mean, it's not like he's going to remember it at all ... but at the same time, we couldn't just do nothing.  So, after settling on a small party of mostly family, I have been slowly gathering ideas for his party (And need I remind you how much I love parties?!).  The theme I decided on was ... no theme ... and to be honest, I'm not really into themes too much.  Just lots of colors and shapes.  Well, here's a sneak peek:

11 months

I mean to post this yesterday, but the day got away from me, so here it is today!


Today (as in yesterday), my son is 11 months old.  Almost 1 year!  I cannot believe it. The nine months of being pregnant seemed to go much slower than these past 11 months.  It still amazes me how much growing, learning and forming he has done in his lifetime thus far.  He was so little, so sleepy and now he's attacking his dad and calling me "Mama".  Has this really happened?!


I wanted to share a few of the most recent photo's I've taken of him.  They are of no good quality, taken on my trusty iPhone, but when he's doing something cute, it's often the closest option.

(Mr. Smiley!)

(You know ... just laying on the kitchen floor ...)

(We were driving to the grocery store last week and saw this on the side of the road with a "Free" sign.  Heck yes we picked it up!)

Seth is in such a fun place right now.  I honestly miss him when he's taking naps.  I just want to play with him!  And play we do.  He loves pushing around his walker into my feet and watching me jump dramatically away.  He also loves sharing his food with me (I guess he sees me feed him, why not feed me back?).  He has discovered my closet and will open the door, and take out all of my shoes.  He's taking steps now - every day he gets bolder and more confident in it - yesterday he walked the entire length of our kitchen!  He has said his first three words: Dada, Mama, and nigh-nigh (at bedtime).  And, as before, loves dancing to music!

What a joy he is!  Happy 11 month birthday, Seth!