baby boy burp cloths.

The cousin we're visiting in NY had a baby boy last Friday--his name is Lucas. He was a month early! We initially thought we may not be going due to the circumstances, but Lucas' mom says she really wants us to still come. So, we're excited to go and visit and be helpful to the new mama! I made her a few burp cloths with this cool orange fabric... R said it made him think of playing cards, and that made me like it all the more.

I made three burp cloths total, with two just being cotton, and one having terry cloth on one side.

Nice and thin, yet still absorbent! I stitched them inside-out, then pulled them through a small opening I left, and top-stitched all three so the fabric is extra snug.

I bundled them up with a little ribbon I made with scrap fabric... fun. This is something I'd definitely like to make again for any new moms-to-be on my radar. :)

cozy travel blankie.

We're planning a trip to NY soon, and I've been scouring blogs for advice for traveling with babies...  {Above: Liv and I made a good old fashioned countdown garland for our trip...we've been taking a loop off everyday.} This is the first time we've been on a plane as a family! Should be interesting. My girls tend to surprise me--they're more flexible than I tend to think they will be, and I'm hoping that's the case this time around too. Fingers crossed.

I've been talking with Liv about flying on an airplane--she loves to point them out in the sky if we're outside--and how fun it will be. I'm trying to keep things simple and pack light... but one thing that isn't light is Liv's faaaavorite blanket. It's huge, and blue, and warm--a classic no-sew flannel blanket, made by one of Raul's co-workers wives when Livvy was born. She doesn't carry it around with her during the day a la Linus, but if it's not in her bed when she sleeps, it's freakout time.  I've been kind of dreading her dragging this around with her on our trip as it could easily fill her seat by itself...

So I thought I'd make her a travel one. I'm trying to speed up the bonding process by talking about it, cuddling her with it when we read books, and of course, it's right by the blue one now when she sleeps. I'm thinking that as long as she has something to cuddle, she'll be good to go.

I found these instructions on how to make one of these blankets, and just made it significantly smaller. Mine is not nearly as neat and tidy as Barb's--but she's a grandma making this for her grandbabies, not a hurried mom who's looking for a quick and easy solution. ;) When I'm a grandma, I will love how just-so my projects will be I'm sure! Right now, it's a special feat if they're finished at all...

25" x 30" of fabric--I cut 5" long, 1" wide strips to tie together.
Liv picked out the fabric herself with just a wee help from me

Nat helped me out, keeping me in line with her green spoon...

20 x 25" finished size

Anyhoo, Liv's blanket turned out cute and snuggable, which little sis Natalie proved before we took it up to Liv:

So if Liv doesn't take to it, I have another little someone in line who just might. {OR, I can just use these pictures as proof it's a hot commodity... ;) I'm awful!}

snacktime sprinkles.

Bananas + sprinkles = one happy two-year-old. :)

baby faces.

christmas cookies.

Ah, the first gingerbread of the season. Usually I'll make gingerbread in the fall--I'll make BIG pumpkin cookies and ice them up all pretty and enjoy them with tea {or gift away!}--but no such thing this year.  So it had to wait until a couple of days ago, when Liv helped me put a batch together:

She loves pouring the dry ingredients into the bowl after we've measured them. Or, not so much into the bowl, in this case. :) 

My friend Susan came over for some lunch and to help us decorate the cookies, which was great. Once Liv discovered she could eat the icing, her little finger was constantly covered in it.  She liked decorating the cookies, but enjoyed eating them more!

We haven't quite figured out what our holiday traditions will be yet as a family, but it's fun to think about. Some things on my radar:

Christmas jammies
Hot cocoa
Driving/walking around to see lights
Christmas cookies
Homemade marshmallows
Garlands for their rooms
Advent calendar

I didn't get to an advent calendar this year, but by next, both will be a little older and a little more excited about Christmasy-things, so it's all good. 

A cute quote I found this afternoon:

"Bless us Lord,
this Christmas,
with quietness of mind;
Teach us to be patient,
and always to be kind."

- Helen Steiner Rice

:)

my little natalie.

Natalie Beatriz arrived on Wednesday, November 2. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz, and was 20 in. long. I am loving having two little girls at home--my little women. :)

So, I had a feeling baby would be a little early, but I didn't think she would time things almost identically to her sister. I began having contractions around 1:30AM--the same time as when I went into labor with Olivia, and exactly 20 months later. (Olivia's birthday is March 2.) We drove to the hospital at 3am during a snowstorm--along with 14 other couples who delivered around the same time!! You don't know how much I heard about barometric pressure that day... :) After 15 hours, Natalie came into this world!  The joy and relief of seeing her little face those seconds after she was born is something I will never forget. She looked so much like Olivia, I couldn't believe it.

Natalie: Nov. 2, 2011

Olivia: March 2, 2010

Liv has definitely been adjusting to having a little sis around, and is doing great.  She's been getting to know Natalie on her own terms--either she is all about her, wanting to help and give her little hugs and pats on the head, or she is happy doing her own thing and does not want to give her hugs or anything of the sort, and will say a curt "no." if you ask. I appreciate her honesty! She did help me give her a bottle today, and it was precious to see her face light up when I asked if she wanted to feed the baby.  I'm proud of her for taking things so well!

We are tired, but friends and family are taking good care of us--thank you, especially to those who have been feeding us! There's not much that beats a home-cooked meal (or pumpkin bread, yum) when you're exhausted and can't think straight.

I was telling R the other night that I feel my heart expanding every day that I spend with these girlies.  Growing as I get to know my little Natalie, and growing as I see my oldest adjust to a new little sis and love her, too.  Things are different, but in a most wonderful way.

passing the time...with bubbles.

Oh, the simple things.

39 1/2 weeks.

Waiting for a baby is no easy feat--every time I get in the car, I think "yup, I'll probably go into labor on my way to the grocery store..." Or I'll feel the familiar tightening of braxton-hicks contractions and my eyes will dart to the clock, wondering if it's the real deal and not just practice.  Nothing yet, besides lots of practice, but we're getting closer. (My official due date is Nov. 5th.) It kind of feels like waiting for Christmas morning... all day!

I'm glad I have little Liv to wait with me. I tell her that we're going to meet little sister soon, and she'll smile--but I can't wait to see how she really reacts when she meets the baby for the first time, and she realizes we're bringing her home with us! I'm praying that transition goes well--R and I are going to do our best to help Liv with the change. If you have any suggestions that worked for you, I'm all ears. :)

[My big girl and me, after taking her to the park this weekend. Soon we'll have two to take, two to smile with in pictures, two to love! Can't wait.]

it's officially fall.

Yup; right now, the trees are being pushed around by some crazy wind, and leaves are everywhere, crinkling down the street and flying over the fences. Even Dex is happier observing the backyard from the back door instead of going outside. I am so excited for cooler weather and a reason to bundle up again...!

Last Sunday, we went to Cider Days, an annual event in our area where you can press your own cider, buy tasty carnival food, watch tractor pulls, enjoy music, kiddie rides, etc.  Even though Liv was completely wiped after the nursery at church, she found her second wind and enjoyed the afternoon dancing to country music and petting some animals in the petting zoo.

The cider was delicious--we left with two bottles (although we didn't press them ourselves). I've always thought of cider as being apple juice seasoned with cinnamon and cloves, not just juice squeezed from particular kinds of apples... Now I know. Good stuff.

Next week: the pumpkin patch. Probably one of my favorite places to go during the whoooooole year.

pumpkin moon

Soo...How is it already almost October? I have six more weeks until baby bug is born, and I'm feeling mentally prepared with a twist of nervous right about now.  More excited than nervous, truly; I just have so many questions that won't have answers until she's here. Like: How is Liv going to react to a new baby? Will this baby be jaundice too? Am I going to feel as emotional as I did with Liv afteward? What is bug's name going to be...? We've been practicing breathing exercises and discussing our "birth plan," so on that front, I feel good about things. There is just so much to look forward to and not know right now, and that's what's giving me butterflies. I can't wait to meet you, baby girl!

I moved a few things into the baby's room last week, to R's dismay... But hey, when you feel a burst of energy, you just gotta go for it, right? Okay, so it probably wasn't smart to move a dresser and a couple of rocking chairs around, but I went slow and shimmied as best I could, no lifting. All was well. I remember taking it fairly easy when I was pregnant with Olivia--this time around it's almost as if I forget I'm pregnant, and try to do much more than I should. The exception to this has been yard work--I can't bend over that well, no matter how energized I feel, haha. I'd still like to winterize my pots and get some of the old plants out of our beds though... Nesting much?

I'm finding I'm more of a fall cleaner than a spring cleaner. Okay, so again, this year is kind of an exception as nesting has been my driving force, but it's true. Digging out fall decorations lights the cleaning torch. Maybe it's the whole getting-the-house-ready-for-winter thing vs. cleaning-it-out-for-spring thing. So it's been a great time of purging and organizing and getting back to what I had originally dreamed about way back in January.

More about that on the way.

For now, here are a few of my favorite little things I dug out a couple of weeks ago:

Who wouldn't love to own a bakery named Pumpkin Moon?

Cream pumpkins... love it.

Bought this in Idaho Springs in 2009. Makes me smile.

Little pumpkin tealight holders - $1 a pop at Hobby Lobby

Homegrown Jack-Be-Little pumpkins! Liv helped me pick these.

Faux pumpkins on candlesticks. Brilliant. Thanks, Pinterest.

I also made a little Owlish art insert to display in a frame, heehee:

October is upon us! What are your favorite things to have around you this time of year?