Spring Break 2012 - Memphis

We headed to Memphis for a short Spring Break trip (Thursday - Saturday). I got a super-cheap rate at the Hilton Memphis on Priceline for 2 nights (thank you, Kelly Webster, for your tutorial all those years ago!).

James really did not like sleeping in the pack-n-play in the hotel room, so the nights were rough (like I wanted to pack up and go home at 4am), but the rest of the trip was a LOT of fun!

The front desk clerk had asked if we wanted a room down low or up high, and Maggie said "up high!". Here are the kids looking out the full-length window of our room on the 18th floor. Both of them loved the view and being able to look out at the pool.

 The weather was pretty awesome for Memphis. Both times we've been it's been 80+ and so swampy with humidity, but this trip it was 72, ZERO humidity. It made for a cold pool, but the hot tub was just right! Both kids had a great time swimming in there. And since we were there before the weekend there weren't any other families at the pool so we got it all to ourselves!

 Pool toys and water bottles are appropriate in-room entertainment. (this happy attitude, however, did NOT last through dinner). We went to Neely's BBQ for dinner. Tyler and I had been 8 years prior, and this time around it was alright but not fabulous. James let them know, too. He screamed through half of dinner and I was about to get my meal to-go. But, he piped down and we got to finish.

 Double-Bed Olympics. Lots of jumping between the beds. Here's a good shot of the take-off.

 And in-flight.

 Friday we went to the Memphis Zoo. It's set up really nicely. It was crowded because of Spring Break, but we did the whole thing at our own pace, and it was really enjoyable. The weather was so amazing, 70 and a light breeze. Cool enough in the shade that Maggie kept her long-sleeve shirt on, but not hot in the sunlight, either. And a lot of the animals were out where we could see them really well. 

Look at that lazy hippo. We were 3 feet away!!!

Never gotten to see pandas up close. It was hard to photograph through the glass. But this guy munched that bamboo with serious speed!

 With the elephants.

 Two happy guys!

 Here is Maggie at the wolf exhibit. Wolves figure prominently in her nightmares, so we were glad to see them lazing about and napping - docile and dog-like, not ferocious.

See? Sleepy. Not scary. We talked with her for a while there about them. I hope it helped her not be scared.

 

James didn't sleep well the night before, so we were all glad when he napped in the stroller.

Mama's silly monkey!

Saturday the Easter Bunny visited us in the hotel. Maggie thought that was pretty fun!

So did James.

Mama's Got a New Problem - It's Called Sewing

So I started being serious about sewing about 2 years ago. Did some things here and there, learned some skills, had some fun, but still preferred "rogue" -style sewing - minimal pattern, mostly freeform.

Well, there's a new craze called Pinterest. It's a visual website bookmark thingy that you can share with the world. And the world has shared with me a LOT of super-cute and fairly easy tutorials on sewing kids clothes (mostly girls' dresses). So I jumped right in. I am now losing more sleep than ever, and spend many nights sewing!!!

Here are some recent projects (the websites for the tutorials are in the project name):

This is the Layered Twirly Dress. It's a tank top she already had with an added elastic waistband and two layers of skirts. She loves that it twirls. It was my first real jump into sewing clothes for Maggie. 

A Midsummer Dress
Feeling emboldened by my success with the twirly dress, I marched to Joann's, bought some more fabric, and went to work. Took about 4 1/2 hours. Would've gone quicker if I could read directions properly. And not be left-handed. I blame that on 75% of my sewing problems. Maggie loves this dress, and I am SO glad because I've worked the hardest on it. Went slowly, made SURE everything was as perfect as I was able to make it.

 And so then James had to get a matching onesie with necktie and faux-suspenders.

Both dresses had patterns in the tutorial that you had to improvise. That sounds scary to some, but honestly, the little packages of tissue paper patterns that you have to cut out just right and match things up freak me out. Online tutorials are more free-form and that just works for me.

So after two dresses, 3 circle skirts (imagine just one layer of the twirly dress, no tank top attached) and James' onesie, I embarked on my own creation. Sylvia gave me a bunch of fabric a while ago, and one was a light blue cotton material. They were screaming to become summer PJ's for Maggie. I wanted a traditional look to them and for it to be a top and bottom, not a gown. I found a tutorial online for ruffle pants, modified them to bermuda shorts-length, then looked at a dress tutorial for how to do the top part and instead made a button-up tank top. Also a winner! She loves them.

I have one more dress' worth of fabric to use, and an online pattern that I want to make as well. I'll post when it's done.

Newest Habit

James' new mealtime habit. It was funny the first time, but he does it with everything instead of shutting his mouth or signing "all done" which he knows. 

So Much Hair - SOO Unfair

Do you see all that hair?! James' hair is getting thick and wavy, and some mornings he even has bedhead (need to remember to get a picture of that). His hair is already thicker than Maggie's was at 3 years old I bet. Must've inherited his Daddy's hair - I have a lot of hair, but it is fine. Tyler used to have thick wavy locks of blonde. Yes, I said locks. Most of you probably don't remember the long hair from freshman year... hard to picture, even harder not to laugh. But hey, it was the grunge era in Seattle at the time. He had long hair, I had long hair, we both wore flannels WITH our Birkenstocks, and it still all worked out.

Sparks-A-Rama

The 2nd week of March they had the annual AWANA games - and as a Sparky, she "competed" in the Sparks-A-Rama. It was pretty cute. I don't think she really knew what was going on, but she had a LOT of fun. Especially when she got her ribbon for FOURTH Place (4th of 4 teams, by the way).
Ready to go.

 Here's James not enjoying Cubbie Bear. He hooted and hollered and pointed and squealed with glee every time he saw Cubby Bear, until he got up close. Even after this unhappy hold, he still got excited when he saw Cubby. 

Ready for the first game. It was some kind of free-for-all crawling event. 

Relay time.

SO very happy with her ribbon and patch for her Sparks vest. A fun Saturday morning!

Year in Pictures

I whipped up a collage picture of James from birth to 11 months. I'll post his 1-year boppy picture soon.

James' First Birthday

 I'm getting on it quick this time around! James has had a great birthday. We made his cupcakes last night, I decorated while he slept, opened his presents after breakfast, and had a party for lunch!

Making cupcakes before bed. I tried to give him the spatula I was using- he promptly put his hand in the batter on it. 

 Switched spatulas and got this cute photo of him putting his hand in the blender. It was not running, for the record.

 Decorated for the party! His gifts out and ready for the next morning.

 Not my very best creative work, but the cupcakes were good! Homemade buttercream frosting.

 Checking out his new CAT ride-on. It even came with tools he can use on it when he's older. So fun to get stuff that isn't pink, purple or covered in sparkles and princesses! 

I think we picked a good gift! He loved it.

 

Daddy taking him on his inaugural ride. 

 

We got him a pillow pet, too. It was soft - and got lots of cuddles. 

 

Teaching good manners- gotta open and read the cards before we can open your gift.

 Here we all are! Celebrating such a wonderful moment with our little family.

 Party time! Had to get some love from Dixie.

 Enjoying some homemade pizza and grapes before cupcakes!

 We had lots of little friends - Zayli & Zeke, Pierce (not pictured), Frankie and Isabella (littel Jaydon not pictured), Jack Ruby and Molly (they got there a little late). SO much fun to celebrate with friends.

 Maggie telling James not to touch the candle.

 Getting ready to dive in!

 First bite!

 Maggie is "helping" but really, he could do it on his own.

Enjoying his cupcake!

 Look Ma! I like it!

 He needed some milk - all that chocolate made him thirsty.

 Num! Cupcake all done!

 

My dear, sweet little boy-

I know you won't always be little and not always want to be with your mama (you're already quite the Daddy's Boy!) but just know I love you so much. You are a daily reminder to me that there is amazing blessing on the other side of trial. Not every blessing given to us by the Lord is so evident as you and your squishy cheeks and loud squeals, sucky lips and chunky thighs are, but they are there. I thank Jesus so often, daily, hourly, for you and how much grace He has shown to our family by granting you to us. You bring happiness to our family in ways I never imagined, and my heart has grown even bigger than I thought it ever could. Your Mommy, Daddy and Sissy love you so very deeply much!