Two.

Today I will be

Remembering

I remember the moment I found out I was having a little girl, like it was yesterday. I had been hoping for another little boy. Two little boys to be best friends. A girl wasn't what I was expecting, and yet a girl we were having. I found myself more excited than I thought imaginable. I knew then, just as I know now a little girl was exactly what this family needed. Today, instead of two little boys, I have a little boy and a little girl who are the BEST of friends. Life is wonderful.

Loving

I used to sometimes wonder how my heart could love another child as much as I loved my first. Then my baby girl was born. It truly was love at first sight. She was so beautiful, so perfect. My connection with her was immediate, as if she had always been a part of my life. Every day my love for my baby girl grows stronger.

She is willful, almost stubborn. It makes life hard sometimes, but I love her all the more for it.

She is my good eater. I love that even if she has the EXACT same plate of food as I do, she insists a couple bites of my food. I never have a meal to myself, and surprisingly I love that.

She is my shadow. Everywhere I turn there she is. It is like having a small dog under my feet ( I have stepped on her more than once). Some days it pesters me, and yet deep down, I love having someone who wants to be by my side so many hours of so many days.

She is my helper. My little shadow not only loves to follow me around the house, but she loves to be doing what I am doing. It is always nice to have help with "chores" around the house. Especially from someone who WANTS to be doing them. I love her helping hands.

She is independent. Everything is "my do it." Those "chores" around the house may take an extra hour sometimes with her "do it." But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love watching her become her own person, able to do things on her own.

She has the sweetest little voice. Listening to her speak or laugh melts my heart. I love her answer to any of my questions "Yes mommy."

She loves the boys in her life. Her brother is her best friend. She repeats anything he says. She does anything he does. She loves him. She is usually the first one to greet daddy when he gets home from work every day. Running full speed down the hallway and giving him the biggest hug. She loves him. I love watching her love.

Marveling

It never ceases to amaze me at how one so small has so much power, and can be so incredibly messy. My little girl has some kind of superpower. She just has to bat her eyes, use her tiny adorable voice, and she can most times get her way. She also is one of the messiest people I know. Never ending mess with her, food, dirt, paint, markers, toys, water. . . it never ends.

Hoping

Everyday I pray that I can know how best to help this little lady grow into the woman she is meant to be. I hope that we will always be as close as we are now. . . maybe not the following me around the house. . . but I hope we can always be best friends. Oh how I love my little girl.

Celebrating

Today we celebrate this beautiful child entering the world. How blessed we are to have her as a part of our family. How even more blessed we are to know that she will always and forever be a part of our family.

Happy birthday baby girl. We sure love you!

Welcomed Back With Open Arms

There are a few reasons why this picture brings a smile to my face.

1. Crocs come out of hiding, at our house, when the weather is warmer. I am most definitely a warm weather person.

2. Independence. Even if it is something as small as my children being able to put on their own shoes. With ZERO help from me.

3. Ainsley's cute, knobby, scrapped knees.

4. Isaac insisting on red crocs, because red is his favorite color after all.

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Okay there really hasn't been any blood involved. (unless you count A running through a prickle plant with her bare feet yesterday, but really that has nothing to do with anything. So it doesn't count).

Sweat. Oh yeah. There has been lots of it. The sun is so nice and toasty, and we plan on soaking it all in before (Texas) mother nature decides it should be cold again (which I heard on the news we will hit freezing again this weekend).

Tears yes. There are always tears shed when my kids are trying to work together. Sharing is rough stuff!

We have been working on revamping an old dresser this week.

He took off the old hardware, and lovely gold trim for me.

She helped me sand.

Today we primed.

Tomorrow we paint.

I enjoy projects like this, but they really are like running on my treadmill for me. Brutal, painful, and tiring. . . but oh how I love the end results!

Step By Step

As promised, here are the Instructions for the super EASY CUTE shirts. (aka freezer paper stenciling)


1. You will need a shirt* (wash it beforehand), craft knife, and fabric paint**.

2. You will also need freezer paper***.

3. Find the image you want to use (there are tons of free stencils online, or even coloring pages. . .), and print onto a plain piece of paper.

4. Cut two pieces of freezer paper (same size). Place one of the pieces (freezer paper) on top of the image you just printed.

5. Using your knife trace over your picture. (make sure you have a cutting board, or mat to work on!)

6. Carefully remove the cutout.

7. Place your new stencil onto your shirt (SHINY side DOWN). Place your second piece of freezer paper INSIDE of the shirt (SHINY side UP). This is so your paint won't bleed through to the back of the shirt.

8. Using your hot iron go over your freezer paper until it has adhered to the shirt.

9. Using fabric paint and a brush, paint on a thin layer of paint (you can do a second layer if you want the color darker, but you don't use too much paint.)

10. Let the paint dry for 24 hours (Read paint instructions for exact time), and then peel off the Freezer paper.

11. Iron over the dry paint, to set in the image (again read your bottle of paint for exact instructions).


And there you have it. super EASY CUTE shirts.

Can't wait to see what everyone creates!

* I bought my shirts at walmart. $3.50 a shirt.

** I got my fabric paint from Joanne's (super cheap if you use your 40% off coupons!)

*** Find freezer paper at your grocery store

Ready To Go

We now have a little princess on our hands.

I actually had to wait today for her to get ready to go grocery shopping. . .

Having a girly girl is all so new to me, and I am LOVING it!

Out with the Old

This is what will be going on for the next few weeks around here. I am spring cleaning.

Cleaning out junk drawers.

Touch up painting the walls.

Organizing cupboards, and closets.

Refurbishing a dresser for the guest room (can't wait for the finished product).

Washing the blinds.

Scrubbing the baseboards.

Spot cleaning carpets.

(and my least favorite) Cleaning under the Refrigerator, and oven.

The list goes on and on. I actually enjoy doing these things. It's the everyday cleaning I don't enjoy.

Basically my blog will most likely be neglected for these next few weeks. When I am back though, there will be much to tell. Two kiddo's b-days. My sis and new niece coming to visit. The rest of the fam coming for a short stay. A quick trip to AZ. Gaining a new SIL and new niece (at the same time). Hopefully spending time with old friends (and of course family. . . Dusty!) in AZ, who let me practice my photog skills (hint hint!). Yes we will be busy, but we will be having a blast!

I'm a Little Acorn Round

My little man is a nut. A determined, independent, goofy nut.

me: "Ike Do you know your pants are on backward?"
I.: "yup. . . Wanna see?"
me: "Okay, just checking"
I. " That's the way I like them"
me: "You really are a nut."
I. "yup" (then he takes off like a maniac running through the house).

That's my nut!