Showing off some recent projects

Sometimes Facebook makes it difficult to locate photos I post via status update. I know the most recent update has allowed you to choose an album, but I don't have time for that. So, I'm coming here to share some pictures of my recent sewing projects!

I decided to sew all of my kids' outfits for our upcoming Disney trip. We'll be there for 4 days, so naturally they each have about 123 outfits each!

Jack's stash! Mickey Pretzel snacks - Animal Kingdom theme (we're not even doing AK this trip!) - and a second Animal Kingdom Lion Guard theme. He will also have a couple of Star Wars themed shirts that haven't yet been made!

Parks themed tops. Jack's is the Epcot Ball (his FAVORITE Disney attraction/landmark!) And Nina gets a castle!

What kind of trip would it be without a Princess!

More Arielmermaid

I even made myself some capris!

First day of school dress!

Baymax!

Hello Kitty BB8. This will be her Halloween costume!

I've also been experimenting with quilting and bedding. I've yet to finish Nina's crib to twin quilt conversion, but I did use a bunch of elements from her crib set to make a pillow sham and a cute little throw pillow. She loves them both.  




This blog will probably start being more geared toward my projects. I'll provide kidlet updates occasionally, but I may end up starting a separate blog for each, with photos of my kids being in a locked blog. Reach out to me on Facebook if you check back here one day and need access granted! I want to start writing again, even if they're photo heavy blogs. Writing relaxes me and I've been super tense lately!

Car seat safety

I'm looking into becoming a car seat technician. In the course of my research, I've learned a lot. The most important thing I've learned is how much safer extended rear facing is. I flipped Jack right after he turned 1. Those were the guidelines at the time. We flipped Nina right at 2 because we thought it might help her not hate the car. It did nothing and she'll be going back to RF as soon as my hand is strong enough to lift her in and out multiple times a day. Right now she's climbing in herself, which is a great help to me. 

http://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

It does not matter how tall or heavy your baby is. The fact is their spine is not developed to be forward facing before two, at a minimum. The closer to 4 before maxing out the height/weight minimums the better. They are not uncomfortable RFing. Their bodies are much more flexible than an adults. They will not get broken legs, ankles, etc, in an accident. There have been no documented cases of broken limbs due to rear facing. There have been plenty of documented cases of severe injuries and death by forward facing too early. 

In many states, forward facing before one is illegal. A lot of states have "proper use" laws, which mean following the car seat manufacturers requirements. There's not a seat on the market that doesn't have a minimum guideline lower than 1 year AND 20lbs. (FYI, belt positioning boosters are not meant for children under 5)

Another fact: most pediatricians aren't knowledgeable about car seat safety studies. If your doctor tells you it's okay to FF before 2, they are being negligent. The AAP guidelines state RF until at least 2. This is a MINIMUM. The safest is to have the child rear face as close to 4 as possible. 

At least 90% of car seats are installed or not used properly. That's a scary statistic. That's 1/10 kids who are truly safe in the car. Google CSPTs in your area. A certified tech will not install your seat for you, but will help you install your seat and ensure you know how to use it safely and properly every time. 

Look up the laws in your state to find out if you're inadvertently breaking one. 

http://csftl.org/resources/state-laws/mobile-state-laws/

Jack is FOUR!

It's true. I have a 4 year old. 

My Big Boy

Now's the time where I start pinching myself, because surely, I'm dreaming. I can't have already lived with this tiny human for 4 full years now, right? Nope, still awake. 

Jack, my love, my firstborn, my big boy. I love you. I love your tenderheartedness, your love of people, animals, and all things squishy. I love seeing the person you're growing up to be. I even love your whining, your screaming, and your tiny temper tantrums. 

However, I wish the whining would stop. Anytime would be nice.

I watched the transition from 3 to 4 over the last few months. I must say, 3 was not the best age for us. You were stubborn, emotional, and you pushed boundaries like no one's business. In about mid March, it was like a switch was flipped and you became...awesome. You began listening better, communicating better, you were helpful. You used please and thank you and bless you without being prompted. Your speech has cleared up and while you may need a bit help with some articulation, you're mostly understandable. 

I watch how much you love your sister. She's still small, and you're always reminding us of things she's not supposed to have, but she's becoming your playmate. She frustrates you sometimes. She takes your toys, or knocks your Skylanders off the portal while you're playing games, but you're always quick to forgive. That's good, you'll need that ability when she's older and you're fighting over who gets to drive the hovercar first. 

The world is a scary place, but you're fearless. We just got back from Disney World (reason why this is a few days late) and you went on the big kid rides. Even though you're only 39", we snuck you onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, and you cried when we told you that you were too small for Everest. Next time, buddy, I promise! You love roller coasters. I think you enjoyed them especially because it was something you could do and Nina was absolutely not allowed to do with mom and dad. It was a special time for you.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Meeting Chip and Dale

Meeting Minnie Mouse

Meeting Minnie Magnifique

 We swam almost every day while in Florida. You even dared go down water slides and under water. You even got brave enough to stand under the rum bucket and let the tidal wave of water rush over you. I can't wait to take you back. A couple more years, kid, and we'll go. I promise.

I can't wait to see what this year brings. You start preschool in the fall, where you'll be leaving the small group of kids you've known for the last 2 years at Miss Kim's house. You'll be fine, I just know it. I fully believe that I will have a harder time with you leaving daycare than you will. You always seem up for new adventures.

Dancing with Olaf

About that time I accidentally (almost) stole a car

*please forgive typos. I'm using Safari on an iPad mini. Half this post was typed without me actually seeing it.*

I just...wow. I'm still having spasmatic giggles about this particular event. It's too long to post as a Facebook status but should definitely make for an interesting blog post.

To begin, a small backstory. Right before Jack was potty trained, we bought a bad box of diapers from Target. They scratched and tore his poor hips up where the outer and inner pieces come together. Nina is in cloth diapers about 85% of the time due to her massive thighs and explosive poops. More or less depending on where I am in laundry and whether we remembered to pick up disposables and whether we are traveling. Usually, when we're good, she wears a disposable at night and we usually buy Luvs. We almost exclusively buy Luvs from BJs and we get a box every other month or so.

Tonight, when we went to put on her bedtime diaper, we noticed she was gouging at her poor bum cheek. Knowing the protocol from having been through the disastrous diaper event of 2012(13, maybe? Who cares?) with Jack, I knew that not having the receipt meant that we would get a handful of $8 coupons instead of my money back. I know Target can look up my receipt with my debit card, so I opted to just take the box back and complain to them. So I did. I trudged through 5 inches of snow, thanked god again for owning the only van that currently has AWD and meandered my way to Target.

When I arrived the lot was practically empty. It was after 9:15, so they were only open for another 45 minutes. I pulled in and parked like a jackass, but that's not my fault exactly, as you can't see the lines what with all the snow. I parked between a dark blue Sienna and the cart corral. Walked in, did my stuff, paid, and walked out. Walked over to the cart corral, unlocked my car, and threw my stuff in, avoided hitting the door of the dark blue van next to me. I realized I turned off my interior lights from earlier after I used them to blast the defroster while I cleaned the snow off the van.

As I got in the van....something felt...not quite right. The seat was too close to the wheel and sat too upright. The radio was silent. I looked around and noticed there was a pair of glasses hanging from the rear view mirror. Now, I know what you're probably thinking, that I should have figured out that the car wasn't mine when I noticed the glasses. Not so much. No, I had to go to the scary, I've-watched-too-many-shows-like-Criminal-Minds place and immediately my first thought was that there was SOMEONE in the car and they were going to kill me. Duh.

Panic set in. I started hyperventilating. I looked around and realized...

The car was spotless. There were no cups chilling in the cup holders. No daycare notes or crafts cluttering the center console. And most importantly, NO CAR SEATS. I stopped. I calmed down. I laughed. And I got the hell out of that other, much cleaner, lady's car. I nonchalantly grabbed my crap and casually walked across the lot to my lonely van, sitting next to the OTHER cart corral. My blue neighbor had left. I got into my own, messier, more comfortable van and laughed my ass off.

OH BUT WAIT. It gets better. There were witnesses to this entire event! A couple walked out of the store in front of me. They parked across from the other van. The van that wasn't mine. I can only imagine what they were thinking.

Seriously, though. Who doesn't lock their doors at night, in a massive parking lot, practically in the middle of nowhere?

I'm still laughing. Can't believe I did that moment documented for life. It was too good not to share!

A Letter to My Daughter on Her First Birthday

Dear Nina,

Dearest sweet baby girl: You're one! You're beautiful, funny, and so smart. I can't even begin to express how happy you've made us over the last year. You completed our family.

One Year

Your last update was at 9 months. I haven't been a very good mommy blogger lately, probably because you keep us on our toes! You're learning to walk and climb. You're perfecting your wobbly baby steps and have progressed from arms out zombie walk to a slightly more stable gait. You still prefer to crawl, as it's so much faster, but you're getting much braver with your steps. Tonight, you astounded us by standing without supporting your upper body with the floor. Just popped right up. It surprised you to, and we laughed and clapped as you quickly fell back down onto your bum. It didn't keep you down, you popped yourself back up and down about 10 times in a row. Trouble, kid, is what you are!

UPDATE: On your first birthday, you stood up in the middle of the room and took more consecutive steps than you ever have before. Now, four days later, you're walking almost exclusively. You do trip over some toys, but man...you're a mover!

Newborn Nina

Little Bit Bit, we must discuss your blatant daddy preference in the mornings. I know you've got him wrapped around your tiny finger, but really? Screaming when he leaves? Conversely, you don't want anything to do with him when he gets home from work. I get to do a little happy dance until the moment you realize you still adore your bearded mountain man daddy.

Words. Oh, with the words! You say nah nah, Jack, dada, mama, baba, whasdat!? and pbthhh! I think you sometimes say Nina, but it's hard to distinguish from the demanding nah nahs. Nah nah means nurse. You wave hello and goodbye. When someone says "hello!" you immediately put whatever is in your hand up to your ear as though you're talking on the phone. Probably to daddy.. traitor (said with love!)

Your world revolves around your brother. Doesn't matter what he's doing, you want to be a part of his moment. It's been leading to some affectionate aggression, and we're trying to work with Jack to not be too rough. Your days of being the fragile sibling are numbered, though, as you can certainly dish out as much as you can take. You guys love watching Bubble Guppies and Mickey together.

You eat everything we give you. You seem to have a preference for our salsa or fajita type chicken meals. The slow cooked chicken is tender enough to eat and you seem to adore rice. Your favorite food after milk is peas. You will eat, by yourself, at least 1/4 cup of peas. One at a time. Drives your brother nuts, as we don't let him leave the table until we're all done eating.  "Eeny all done da food?" "No." "Ugh! Eeny! You eat dat food so I get down and pway!"

I can't wait to wake you up and sing happy birthday to you. I can't wait to see your beautiful smile and enjoy that moment where you see me and reach your arms up and say MaMa! Happy birthday, Squish. Let's hope the next one doesn't come too quick!