december...grab a pen and paper

I am a huge list person.  I have them everywhere.  It is how things get finished in our house.  You know something will really get attention if it is put on the premier list spot in our house...the chalkboard.  I already have several lists: lists on notepads, secret pieces of paper tucked here and there, pinned on pinterest, lists of things to do, places to visit, pictures to take, people to see, things to make, things to buy and new recipes to try! Here are several list toppers that can be found on some of my lists for this month:

1. Finish making homemade presents for some little ones that have been very good this year!

2. Introduce Charlotte to Santa.

3. Festival of Lights.

4. Christmas Parties.

5. Learn to use our new camera, by completing this 31 Day Challenge.

6. A date with my husband.

7. Decorate the house from top to bottom with sparkly lights.

8. Make homemade stockings for the family.

9. Find the perfect gift for everyone on our list.

10. Explain what Christmas is all about to a nine month old, hey you have to start sometime! :)

Hope you have special plans for this exciting time of year!

-melissa

one busy thanksgiving...

Charlotte’s first Thanksgiving was a huge success, largely in part to one easy going baby!  We were very nervous taking C on her first flight yesterday, but she could not have done better.  She really loved to fly just like her daddy.  She spent her first flight gazing out the window, making eyes and giggles at strangers and playing with her new toys that we had in a secret stash for her.  After a short layover and a snack at BWI, she passed out on the second flight.  She was such a trooper all day, from airplanes to rental cars and giggles with family all on very little sleep.  The day was a success and now I can take a huge sigh of relief!  Now we have a couple of days to enjoy all of our loved ones in Cincy before heading back home. -melissa

crazy eights

Charlotte is now eight months and crazier than ever!  She spends her days no longer cooing, but shrieking the words “dadda” and “hey”.  She can be heard all over the house and from several different zip codes.  While she plays on the front porch in her exersaucer she definitely knows how to use her outdoor voice.  When she is not making us laugh by her mighty pipes she is bouncing in her new favorite toy, the Johnnie Jump Up!  She spent most of months six and seven twirling like a ballerina, but one morning discovered the thrill of jumping!  She keeps her energy up by consuming her favorite foods of apples and sweet potatoes.

here come the holidays...

So, I have the weird idea that everyone loves homemade gifts.  I know that is not true.  I have promised to stop making our nieces and nephews gifts when it starts to get weird.  I mean, I do not want to be that weird aunt that always gives you something you hate and you have to put on that weird fake smile or you will get in trouble later with your mom.  I know that my time with Benjamin and homemade gifts are growing to an end.  You can only last so long being cool in a boys world with some pretty fabric, needle and thread.  Honor, I still have some time with, and poor Charlotte has got a lot of me to deal with in her future.

When you make gifts and multiple gifts at a time, you have to plan in advance.  Thus the reasoning I have already started the gift making process about two weeks ago.  I am well on my way and have everything all planned out!

Before Christmas even gets here we do have Charlotte’s very first Thanksgiving coming up, and of course she needed something to wear!  I got my inspiration for this onesie from the web, but made it my own with the fabrics and the pattern that Jay and I created.  It was simple and from beginning to end maybe took two hours.  I just traced the body, feather, eyes and beak on fabrics that had been covered with Heat N Bond, and sewed them all on a onesie.  I was super cheap and found a onesie that I really did not care for in her dresser.  I just had to make sure I completely covered the appliqué that was previously on the shirt.  Two quick hours thanks to a girl with a long Sunday nap in her and wham, one turkey onesie!

If you are a parent of either our beloved niece or nephew and you wish NOT to see what I am working on for your sweet ones Christmas present, do not read any further.  Warning, major spoiler alert!

I have been thinking about a very smart little boy and what he could use besides some cars that go vroom!  At the end of the day cars are totally cool, but eventually he will need to learn how to spell the word car.  So for our ever evolving nephew we have some fun alphabet presents under wraps.  I have been doing some major cutting, I feel like I have rediscovered the alphabet myself!  Here are a few sneak peak pics.  See if you can see the major problems with two of the letters!  I only caught the mistake after I took the picture.  That is why you always photograph your crafts!

For some very pretty little ladies I have been scheming some girly baby toys.  Here is some fantastic fabrics I got from a great little fabric store that one of my sewing besties introduced me to this weekend.

If you have already started the mad crafting dash, good luck, happy crafting!

-melissa