Michelle Had A Little LAM

Sew Crafty Saturday: New Blog

2009-05-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

As you know, "michellesbelles" won for my new blog address. I still have a lot of work to do over on the new blog, but I am ready to start using it. From now on you will be able to access this blog at http://www.michellesbelles.blogspot.com/ Thank you for watching our family grow. I am having such a great time blogging and sharing our life with you!

Wee-One Wednesday: One Month Down

2009-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Iris is one month old now. She is such a wonderful baby. She is a great eater and sleeper. She rarely cries, and is just content to be in the world. She loves being held, but can tolerate being put down. She doesn't mind loud noises or being hugged and patted again and again. We are very blessed!

Misc. Monday: New Blog Name

2009-05-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

It appears that "michellesbelles" won for my new blog's address. (Nice job, Betsy!) I have started working on it, and will let you all know when it is up and running. In the mean time, here is a lovely pic of my girls.

Sew Crafty Saturday: Gnome Sweet Gnome

2009-05-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

There has not been much sewing over here lately, but that doesn't mean we are not crafting. I am almost finished with Lilly's second scrapbook and Lilly is discovering the joy of crafts. Yesterday, we painted a gnome for the garden. It was so much fun and she got pretty into it. She was even SILENTLY concentrating for a few minutes. Amazing! Putting in the garden this spring has been especially fun because Lilly has been a big part of it. She is amazed that the corn is growing and calls the seedlings her "babies" and she loves to water the plants. Even Iris loves to take in the fresh air of the garden. P.S. The gnome is from the dollar section at Target. How cool is that?

Misc. Monday: New Blog Name

2009-04-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Please vote on a new blog name for our family. (This will be our new web address on blogspot, not the header title once you get there). I have listed 4 choices to the right of the posting. Vote for the name you like the best. It has been brought to my attention that IF we ever had another baby and he happened to be a boy, I'd have to do this all over again. But that is a very big IF...

Sew Crafty Saturday: Aren't We Green?

2009-04-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

We finally received the Eames rocker for Iris' room and we love it! We actually got two chairs and the boxes were quite sturdy, so Dan decided to build Lilly a clubhouse. I don't know which one of them is having more fun with it!

Wee-Ones Wednesday: Sisterly Love

2009-04-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Lilly sure loves Iris! We are very excited about the welcome Lilly gave her sister.

Here are some of the comments Lilly has said since bringing Iris home:

"Baby Iris is crying. I think she needs me!"

In a very low voice, "She's sooo cutie." "Where's Baby Iris?" "This is for Iris." (tons of stuffed animals piled on Iris). "Baby Iris wants to pet me." Baby Iris needs a kiss." After being outside with Dan, runs in the house yelling "Baby Iris, I missed you." When Iris cries, "It's ok, sister." "She wants to sit by me, Mama. She wants a noodle." Iris sneezed and Lilly ran to get her a tissue.

Misc. Monday: HELP!

2009-04-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I need some help. I am going to have to change the name of this blog now that I am more than "mama2lilly." I was thinking something with the words: garden, bouquet, bunch, flowers etc. I'm not sure. Please leave me a comment or send me an email if you can think of a fun new name for our family blog. Thank you. I'm sure we will come up with something!

Lilly Update

2009-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have never seen a person as sick as Lilly was this week. As you know, it all started Monday. The last time she threw up was 12pm on Friday, and she appears to be on the mend. She is very interested in food now. Yay! We visited the doctor twice this week and talked to her on the phone three times. Lilly has lost quite a bit of weight and has purple bags under her eyes. It was very difficult for Dan and me to witness her demeanor change. Lilly is usually a very happy, active girl and she became a sad, lethargic patient. She was dead weight when held and even asked us at one point if she could laugh. It was heart breaking. Thank you for all your prayers and support. We definitely needed them.

Wee-Ones Wednesday: Mommyhood

2009-04-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

It all started Monday when I was trying to get out the door with the girls. Penny and I were going to the mall and Iris had just projectile pooped on my hand when I got her cleaned up and in the car seat. On the way out the door, she threw up all over the seat and had to be changed. As I opened the car door, I hit Lilly in the head causing her to fall to the ground. I gave her a big hug and kiss and proceeded to hit her head on the roof of the car as I lifted her into her seat. Whoops! The girls were great at the mall. I wore Iris in a carrier and Lilly cooperated as Lilly does (walking, eating, running, fountain touching, whining, laughing, talking to strangers, riding in stroller, and asking for me to hold her with Iris). As we were getting ready to leave, Iris woke up demanding to be fed. We live close to the mall, so I wanted to wait until we got home to nurse her. The entire car ride home was filled with two screaming girls, one from starvation and one making fun of her sister.

After putting Lilly to bed that night, she hollered, "Mommy, come back. Daddddy!!" This is not unusual for her because she doesn't enjoy sleep as much as her parents do. After debating about "spoiling" her by going in, my mommy voice told me to check on her anyway. As I crawled into her bed, I felt a yucky mush. I yelled for Dan to turn on the lights only to see myself covered in vomit. Long story short, Lilly has the stomach flu. After a bath and clean sheets, she threw up again. I went to Target to get new bedding (we had to throw out 3 pillows). She wound up throwing up every hour for the next 12. Dan was going to work the next day, so I stayed on the couch with the girls, feeding Iris and cleaning Lilly all night long. She finally fell asleep at 4:30am. On the way to the doctor's office the next morning, she threw up in the car, in the office, and in the street in front of the house.

I apologize for the length of this entry, but I could have made it much longer! There are so many details that have been left out, like having to give her teaspoons of Pedialyte every 10 minutes so she wouldn't hurl and praying for a wet diaper in order to avoid an i.v. in the emergency room. It was a crazy 24 hours and this may not have been the maternity leave I imagined, but there is no where else I would want to be than taking care of my little girls. Mommyhood here I come!

Misc. Monday: He Has Risen!

2009-04-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

We hope you had a blessed Easter yesterday. We enjoyed time with family, decorated & hunted eggs, went to church, flew kites, and put Baby Iris in an Easter basket. Lilly is really enjoying church. She knows that Jesus loves her, enjoys singing Bible songs, and looks adorable when she closes her eyes to pray. It's funny to think that Iris' due date was for tomorrow because she has become such a normal part of our lives already. I tried something new this year and made a jelly bean trail from Lilly's bedroom door to her Easter basket. She was soo excited when she came out of her room. She kept saying, "Look at the Christmas lights." I also decided that starting next year, I will put tooth brushes in their Easter baskets every year as a little gift from the "bunny" to go along with all that candy!

Introducing Our New, "Wee-One"

2009-04-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

Introducing Iris Ray-Lynn Michael
7 pounds, 8 ounces
19.5 inches long
Birthday: 3.30.09 @ 11:29pm

Sew Crafty Saturday: Little Deer

2009-03-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here is the deer I told you about in Iris' room. She all done and ready to make a little girl smile. I found an image I liked and drew it on the wall with pencil. It only took about five minutes. I thought it would take much longer. I contemplated painting her white or brown, and Dan said I should use the darker green from the geometric wall. He's so smart!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Iris' New Digs

2009-03-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a glimpse of Iris' room. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE how it all came together. I wanted to go with a "shabby chic" feel, but that didn't compliment the rest of our house very well, so I think we wound up with a more modern/vintage feel. (If that makes any sense). I ordered some vintage illustration decals and made the pink sock hat box on the book shelf. It was just plain cardboard, so I painted it pink, antiqued it, then added the decals. The cubbies over the dresser and the mobile are from Pottery Barn Kids (on clearance) and the dresser is from Wal-mart. Dan sanded and repainted the little end table and the mirror above it. They are from Salvation Army and the mirror was an ugly gold color before. I still have to paint a deer on the wall behind the door. It's drawn and ready for color, so I'll post it after it is painted. We have an Eames rocker that we are waiting to come in. It will go in front of the curtains and we went with deer accents. Lilly's our little lam (her initials), and Iris will be our dear baby.

Misc. Monday: First Haircut

2009-03-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

Lilly got her first haircut last week. I had to sit in the chair with her because she was screaming, "I don't want a haircut either" at the poor lady. After awhile, Lilly began to enjoy herself. She said, "She's helping me, and She's nice" about the lady cutting her hair. We had no idea what to expect, but at the end Lilly got little cornrows and flowers in her hair. We were shocked that she sat through it. She kept looking in the mirror and saying, "I'm a flower gurl!" It was so cute. I told her she could have a lollipop when it was all over and she got a balloon & a certificate from the shop. She wound up having fun and she only took out one of the flowers by the time we got home.

Misc. Monday: Second Grade Love

2009-03-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Our second grade class had a little shower for Heather and me last Friday. It was so much fun! The kids really got into it. They got to measure our bellies with ribbon and play some other games. We received lots of new clothes that will look adorable on our little babies. Heather is scheduled to have Reese this Wednesday, and I hopefully have 5 more weeks to go!

Wee-One Wednesday : Snuggle Puppy

2009-03-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Hey all, this is Dan and it's my first blog entry ever but I could not be more excited. Lilly wanted to share her favorite Sandra Boynton book with you all and I was lucky enough to catch the moment. It goes, "Oohh snuggle puppy of mine, everything about you is incredibly fine, I love what you are, I love what you do, Oohh Oohh, I love you!" From Lilly, with love - Good Night!

Wee-One Wednesday: Preparing the Nest

2009-02-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

I am super excited to announce that we are finished painting Iris' room. It is better than I could imagine! The paint colors are perfect and my wonderful hubby did a fantastic job mapping out the pattern on the wall. The pictures do not do the colors justice, but the room is a soft green. The entire room is the color of stripes and this focal wall will be behind the crib. I will post more pictures as the room comes together.

Misc. Monday: Diapers, Anyone?

2009-02-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

Dan's friend's got together and made us this incredible diaper cake filled with Pampers Swaddlers. I honestly think it is the biggest one I have ever seen. It is resting on a base of plywood! Lilly is in a picture with it, so you can have some perspective on its hugeness. The little flowers in it are matching clothes for Lilly and Iris to wear. They also sent home a pretty dress for Iris, and matching flower Barbies for both girls. We were so touched by their thoughtfulness and generosity. I already asked Dan's friend Jennifer if she would help me make on for my sis whenever she gets pregnant...

Sew Crafty Saturday: It's All Done!

2009-02-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

I wanted to show you the completed book shelf. It looks fabulous! Dan did such a good job. The wood quality and stain are much nicer than the one at West Elm.

Wee-One Wednesday: Sicky

2009-02-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Lilly has been feeling under the weather since Penny's wedding. She has an ear infection that will not go away and is now on her 2nd round of antibiotics. Overall, she is still her spunky self, but she tends to tire a bit easier than usual and has been waking us up in the middle of the night. I think she is preparing us for a newborn!

Misc. Monday: 33

2009-02-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

I am now 33 years old. Dan and I spent the morning of my birthday painting Iris' room. Then we went over to my parents house to have a summer BBQ in February, complete with the "Mother Load" chocolate cake from Claim Jumper. Yummy! The tablescape was adorable. They got me a bouquet of lilies and irises, so thoughtful. My friends and family really made me feel special. I love birthdays!

Sew Crafty Sat.: Heart Day

2009-02-14T22:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! XOXO

Misc. Monday: Rehearsal

2009-02-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here is Lilly at Penny's wedding rehearsal. Ready to be the best flower girl ever, big smile & joyful attitude. Too bad Penny didn't get married that night! Wednesday, I'll show you what Lilly looked like the day she got her 1st ear infection, the day her auntie got married...

Sew Crafty Saturday: Book Shelf

2009-02-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, we are trying to get our old office/craft room ready for Iris. One of the things we need to move out is my collection of books. We have put some in the living room, and the aqua step bookcase Dan built me, but there are still many books that do not have a home. I really wanted to buy the vertical book shelf in the West Elm catalogue, but couldn't not bring myself to spend the $169. So today, my sweet husband turned two boards of poplar wood into my new book case and I couldn't be happier. Now all he has to do is stain it, and mount it, and we are ready to go. Yay! I will post another picture after if is all finished. I'm just so excited to have married such a talented guy.

Misc. Monday: Snow

2009-02-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

We went to Big Bear about a month ago and had such a great time. Lilly really loved the snow this year and wanted to help Daddy shovel it. She is hilarious because she gets soo frustrated when she can't lift the shovel. She is definitely at the stage where she wants to do things by herself. She gets annoyed when you try to help her and is determined to have it her way. Good luck with that, Lilly!

Sew Crafty Sat.: Break Time

2009-01-31T14:49:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a week. Dan's father had another heart attack and got sent to USC for an operation. He is home now and doing well. My sister got married. Lilly was difficult the entire day and woke up that night with a fever. She wound up having her first ear infection and has been a beast to bear all week. She is now on the mend, but Mama and Dada are not feeling so hot. I needed some time to myself, so I Modgepodged some pretty papers onto her crayon and coloring book drawer and put together some new frames for our bedroom. I am currently trying to make some Valentine's for Lilly's little friends. Crafting is so nice during nap time; it gets your mind off things.

P.S. I am waiting to get some pics from the wedding and will post some soon. She was pretty adorable even though she was a bit of a pistol (as my mom likes to say)!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Happy Home

2009-01-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

Dan bought us this new/old Heywood Wakefield side table for our anniversary. I love it! He said it's four legs for four years - too cute. He also built me this new shelf for over the kitchen window. I can't wait to put exactly what I want up there. I have a plan, you know...

Misc. Monday: Happy Anniversary!!

2009-01-19T17:53:00.001-08:00

Well, the handsome hubby and I have been married 4 years now. It's hard to believe that in that time, we both got our Master's Degrees, bought a house, got another dog, went to Paris and Hawaii, had a baby, and got pregnant again. Woohoo! I love him more now than the day we got married. He is such a kind, loving, generous, sincere man. I get a little misty just thinking about how blessed I am to be his wife! P.S. We went to the most amazing restaurant to celebrate. You should check it out, http://www.parkavedining.com/

Sew Crafty Saturday: Scarves

2009-01-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

I drove with my mom last weekend to Penny's bachlorette party in San Diego and crocheted a scarf on the way. I haven't crocheted in a long time and it was so much fun that I made another one when I got home... Now it's on to business. I have no more time to fool around. We are trying to get the baby's room cleared out for her. Having to find a new home for the computer, sewing machine, scrapbook supplies, musical equipment, all our coats, and tons of books is proving to be quite a challenge. Anyone have some extra garage space they wouldn't mind sharing?

Wee-One Wednesday: Aquarium

2009-01-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

We took Lilly to the Long Beach Aquarium over vacation. Her Aunt Abby, Uncle Ryan, Cousin Michael, Grammy and Papa came too! It was so much fun. Lilly wanted to touch everything and kept yelling, "How many are these?" at the fish in the tanks.

Misc. Monday: Baby Bedding

2009-01-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

I was so sad to have to get rid of Lilly's crib bedding now that she is in her new twin. I love the little birdies, and even incorporated one into the mural on her wall. I purposely bought a twin comforter that I could use her old quilt with, but what was I supposed to do with the fitted sheet, skirt, and bumper? I decided to take the bumper apart and make a banner for it to hang in her room. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I numbered them 0-9 and strung them on the wall behind her new kitchen. I think I'll make some small pillows with the bed skirt. I guess you could say I'm going green by reusing linens. Oh well, I've been called worse.

Misc. Monday: Big Girl Bed

2009-01-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

Our little girl is growing up. We got Lilly a twin bed over Christmas vacation, thinking we would need the 2 weeks to teach her to stay in it and not get up. Books tell you that this transition can be hard, so I felt prepared and ready to attack this new challenge head-on. Little did I know that Lilly was ready, beyond ready. She took her 1st nap in it with no problem (I even stayed home from running errands, just in case). That night, I went in to check on her and accidentally woke her up by fixing her blankets. She sat up and said, "So proud. I'm so proud of you!" I gave her a kiss and I had to smile as I walked back out of her room. Those were the last words I told her when we said good night! She is amazing. She has since fallen out only once (we moved the rail higher). Story time and prayers are much comfier now because I get to lay in bed with her and now every time she sees her crib, she calls it, "Iris' bed." Maybe she won't need much adjusting time to a sister either! Knowing her, she's ready...

Wee-One Wednesday: Christmas

2008-12-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Jesus!! Lilly loved Christmas this year and we had soo much fun looking at it through her eyes. She wanted to hold every baby Jesus she saw, squealed at the Christmas lights, and loved to watch the Grinch and Charlie Brown classic cartoons. All she asked Santa for was a candy cane. Her favorite presents were 2 dolls and a pink slinky. She is also especially fond of her new ugg boots, big girl bed, and radio flyer horse that stays at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I'm not sure when she is going to understand that it is over. She still asks to go to the "punkin match" at least once a week.

Misc. Monday: Rain, Rain Please Don't Go Away

2008-12-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

Lilly LOVES the rain. She stands at the back door and says, "I need to play in the rain." Right now everything is a need. "I need a cookie. I need to have it..." It's pretty hilarious. Here she is in our 1st real downpour of the year in her new rain boots. Ever since this day she asks to wear them around the house, silly girl. P.S. I haven't uploaded Christmas yet, but it is still to come.

Sew Crafty Saturday: Decorating

2008-12-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

Have I told you how crafty my daughter is? I mean, look at her concentration as she sprinkles her cookie! I can't wait until she can get her hands on some scissors and glue, not to mention a needle and thread.

Wee-One Wednesday: Disneyland

2008-12-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

My sister and I took Lilly to Disneyland on her birthday. She got a special b.day sticker and a phone call from Goofy. We had such a great time. She rode the carousel all by herself for the first time ever, and made me sit on the horse next to her. She is really growing up. She played peek-a-boo with Pluto and gave him some high fives and she asked to ride "It's A Small World" twice. Lilly LOVES Disneyland and this was her last time for awhile because our passes have expired. I'm sure after her sister arrives, we'll get them again. It's just that much fun!

Misc. Monday: Jawno

2008-12-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

It breaks my heart to say that we lost a dear friend this weekend. Jawn passed away this Saturday and we have not thought of much else since. This blog is really for Lilly and the thought of coming on here and not mentioning something that has so deeply touched our lives doesn't seem right. We want Lilly to remember who Jawn was. She sees him on our fridge everyday, and loves when he comes over to visit. She knows him now and it hurts to think that she won't remember him. Jawn met her a few days after she was born and he gave Lilly her first official pink Dodger jersey. I am so glad that his pictures grace her photo albums. We will be able to tell her about her silly friend Jawn who loved her so much. Lilly loved to play peek-a-boo with Jawn and was so excited when he let her play his drums at church. Jawn will be missed terribly by our family. We love him and know that he truly is in a better place.

Misc. Friday: Lilly Love

2008-12-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

It is 7am and I couldn't wait to get on here and blog. Last night, Lilly woke up at 3:45. This is unusual for her, so Dan brought her into bed with me. While we were laying there, she was just talking away, not falling back asleep. Here is one thing she said: "My mama's so cute. She's beautiful. (pause) She's pretty. Need a hug, Mama." I never fell back asleep because I didn't want to forget what she said exactly, and I couldn't wait until Monday to write it down. I love being a mom!!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Wreath

2008-12-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

For two years in a row now I have gone to my husband's school (OCHSA) to make our Christmas wreath for the front door. It is so thoughtful of him to sign me up because even though I think that I'm too busy to go, or we shouldn't pay for the extravagance, I have a wonderful time. They have tons of food, desserts, and wine set out. The wreaths are big and gorgeous. Tables are filled with supplies and there are lovely ladies who can help you make bows and arrange all the items you collected on your wreath. Last year, I made the wreath with my ascetics in mind (hot pink, silver, and birds), but this year I was thinking of my Lilly. I wanted to go with a "Babes in Toyland" theme. It is a success; she loves it. Thanks Dan, for giving me this time to myself! xoxo

Wee-One Wednesday: Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Spending time with family on Thanksgiving is always a lot of fun. Lilly had her own idea of what fun meant and that was climbing up stairs and laying in her 2nd cousin's big girl bed. She is definitely an independent child and even told me, "Mama, go" and closed the bedroom door on me. Crankiness abounded for most of the day. We went to my mom's for dinner later that evening and she was not much better. That night when I was getting her ready for bed, I noticed she was gnashing her teeth. Sure enough, her last set of molars are coming through. It never even crossed my mind to look. Bed time Motrin sure seemed to help her mood!

Misc. Monday: Happy Birthday, Lilly!

2008-12-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

Lilly turns 2 today! Can you believe it? I feel like I just had her. We threw a small party in her honor on Saturday. She loved the attention and was very excited to have everyone in her house. We sat her in a chair by the cake while we sang "Happy Birthday to You." She just smiled and looked around the room at everyone. It was a pretty perfect moment. Who knew she would react that way? I kick myself now that we didn't get it on tape. She loved all of her gifts and has enjoyed playing with them since. This had been our first glimpse at independence play. It is pretty cool. She got her kitchen from us, lots of kitchen accessories, an easel, table and chairs, and a pony, just to name a few. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LILLY! WE LOVE YOU!

Sew Crafty Sat.: Curtains

2008-11-29T18:36:00.000-08:00

I made some kitchen curtains this last week and I have to say, "I love them!" The turned out exactly how I imagined them. The fabric is a bit silly because there are little curtains on them. Of course I had to add the ric rac. Dan says I am turning into a happy homemaker. Sounds all right to me.

Misc. Monday: Here Comes the Bride

2008-11-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday was my sister, Penny's wedding shower. It was a lot of fun. She was very happy to be spoiled and was very appreciative of all that was done for her. The theme was classic "something blue." The wedding is set for January 25th. I will be a very plump maid of honor by then. It's a good thing she loves me!

Misc. Monday: Kitchen Update

2008-11-17T17:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Lilly will be 2 in two weeks! Her birthday kitchen arrived and it will take Dan a little while to put it together, but it has inspired me to make some more food. I haven't done much crafting lately and it was really fun to be creative. Don't you just want to eat that plate of pasta?

Misc. Monday: My Amazing Hubby

2008-11-10T15:43:00.001-08:00

Have I mentioned before how crafty and handy my sweet husband is. I found a picture of a book case a while ago and asked him to build it for me. He designed it to fit the space that I wanted it to go on perfectly. We desperately need places to put everything in our office to make room for our new little bundle of joy. He just finished it today and I couldn't wait to start filling it up. We picked the aqua color together, and the liner in the back is Paperchase flocked wrapping paper from Borders. I had bought the fifties legs for him a on Ebay few Christmases ago. Isn't it lovely?

Misc. Monday II: New Baby

2008-11-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

Well, the votes are in and baby boy got 11 votes, while baby girl received only 8 votes. As we all know girls are much stronger, so our new daughter overcame the odds. She will make her debut in mid April. We couldn't be happier! Lilly is already yelling, "I'm having a sister!" Although, I'm not sure she know what that means!

Misc. Monday: Confession

2008-11-03T07:10:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make: Friday night, I became one of "those moms." You know the ones that I am talking about. The ones that are way too into their kid. The ones who think their baby's diaper doesn't stink. Yeah, I crossed over to the darkside. It was a rookie mistake and it won't happen again...
It all started when we went trick or treating at my girlfriend's house. Lilly had already impressed me because she was wearing the Tinkerbell dress that she had refused to wear all week. I was a bit worried because she was one of the youngest ones going, so I wanted Heather's daughter to help her to the door. Little did I know that Lilly would be the one yelling "trick or treat" at the top of her not even two year old lungs. She was hilarious. She would chase this little boy telling him, "Tigger -wait!" Then bang on the doors, shake the door handles, only to peer inside if they did not come fast enough.
Here is where I lost all rational thought: All I could say was, "Did you see her? Dan, can you hear her? Look at Lilly; she's amazing!" My heart was bubbling over with so much (too much) pride that I could not even carry a conversation with Heather's neighbor. I couldn't answer even the most basic of questions because I kept checking to see if Dan was taking enough pictures. I barely noticed how cute the other kids were (and they were adorable).
Laying in bed that night, what I had become became clear to me. I am way too embarrassed to show my face in Heather's neighborhood. All kids are amazing and adorable and funny. Like I said, it was a rookie mistake and it won't happen again (I hope).

Sew Crafty Saturday: Jack 'o' Lanterns

2008-11-01T11:18:00.002-07:00

I am not sure if carving pumpkins counts as crafting, but we did create jack 'o' lanterns. Lilly had a blast. Her Grammy and Papa came over to help. She used her little scooper to pull out one seed at a time and she did not want any help. I guess we've hit the independence stage! It took a bit longer than we planned. She wound up taking her bath before we were all done. They are not that fancy since everything with an almost two year old is a rush. Next year, we'll get out the stencils. It'll be so much easier to carve pumpkins when we have two kids, don't you think?

Wee-One Wednesday: New Baby

2008-10-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

We find out if "new baby" is a boy or girl on Monday. We are really excited to see what direction that Lord will be taking our family in. Will Lilly have a best friend in her sister, like I do? Or will we have the pleasure of navigating the uncharted waters a boy will bring? I thought it would be fun to hear what you are thinking. Please vote and we'll let you know Monday.

Misc. Monday: Punkin Match

2008-10-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Lilly was soo excited to be going to the "punkin match" this weekend! We went to Irvine Regional Park. She tried to pick up the biggest pumpkins, sit on them, and kiss & hug them. We went in a hay bail maze and a spooky house. Auntie Neanee, Brian, Emy, and Quentin came too. We went on a tractor pulled hay ride and bought her one of the only pumpkins that she could carry out! We had a lot of fun. It may just be a start to a family tradition.

Sew Crafty Sunday?

2008-10-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been awhile. I spent another weekend free from crafting. (However, I did purchase some fabric to finish a quilt that I started a long time ago). I read another book this weekend. The much talked about:Twilight. It was a good, easy read. My sister, who never reads, is actually reading the entire series, so I thought I would see what all the buzz is all about. It seems that Lilly also has her mother's love of reading. Whenever I read in front of her, she climbs into my lap, asks me to read to her, and proceeds to take my book away from me. Go figure!

Misc. Monday: Ralaxing Weekend

2008-10-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

With the craft fair behind me and in the midst of a free weekend, "Sew Crafty Saturday" & Sunday were spent reading. Ah, what a luxury! I finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I enjoyed it tremendously: family drama, meets dog breeding, meets ghosts. Trust me- it all makes sense!

Misc. Monday: New Hat

2008-10-13T14:42:00.001-07:00

Emy made this hat for the craft fair and I got Lilly 2 of them. It's the first hat she has ever left on her little head! I pinned one of the felt pins I made to it and I think she looks super cute, don't you?

Sew Crafty Sat.: Craft Boutique 3

2008-10-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

It's all over. The craft boutique was a lot of fun. My friends and family came to support me and I got to share a booth with my "four feathered friends," Emy, Stephanie, and Amy. Now it's on to designing a new nursery, Lilly's birthday, Christmas, and Penny's wedding.

Misc. Monday: Craft Boutique 2

2008-10-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more items I finished this weekend for the boutique on Saturday. I made 6 yarn wreaths in all. One is hanging on my front door for Halloween. The little felt creatures are pins. They can be attached to clothing, bags, or headbands. My sewing machine is on the fritz. Hopefully, my mom can get it up and running for me...

Sew Crafty: Saturday: Craft Boutique

2008-10-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if I have shared this or not, but I am participating in a craft boutique next Saturday. It is from 8am to 11am at my neighbor's house across the street. I was very excited when we planned it in the summer, but I haven't done much lately because I have been a lot sicker with this pregnancy. Now I feel like it is crunch time. I have made aprons, yarn wreaths, sewing kits in a jar, button broaches, felt pins, oilcloth coasters, button bobby pins, stuffies, tissue covers, and a bit more... It sounds like a lot. But since I get bored easily, I only have a few of each item. I am looking forward to it, and I still have a lot to do. It will be a crazy week!

Wee-One Wednesday: Costume

2008-10-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

I am driving myself nuts this year because I don't know what Lilly should be for Halloween. I don't want to spend too much money because it's only one day, blah blah. But, I also realize that pretty soon, it won't be my decision to make. In a few years, she'll be telling me what she wants to be. Last year, she was a baby elephant and she didn't really get it, but this year will be so much fun. She's almost two and she loves lollipops. Her music class is even having a Halloween party. How cute is that? If you have any ideas or you are local and have a fun costume we can borrow, please let us know!

Misc. Monday: Felt Food Cont.

2008-09-22T07:19:00.001-07:00

Can you think of any more food that could be easily made out of felt? A kitchen needs more than Popsicles, bread, apples, and eggs!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Food

2008-09-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Lilly is developing quite an imagin-ation. She loves to feed her babies and pat their backs. She makes noises like animals and pretends to read to herself. She loves to help me clean and cook. I want to get her a kitchen for her birthday and have been trying to make some felt food to go with it. I think homemade food is so much more charming than plastic food.

Misc. Monday: Family

2008-09-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sew Crafty Sat.: Quilt Front

2008-09-13T19:36:00.001-07:00

I am super excited to say that I finished a quilt front (awhile ago). I used the crazy 9 patch pattern. Now I know, it is just the beginning. I still have to decide what to do with the back, bind it, and quilt it. But, I like to enjoy the small accomplishments. One step at a time, right?

Wee-One Wednesday: Rough & Tumble

2008-09-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

We got this lamb chair from my step dad at my baby shower. It looks adorable in Lilly's room, but she never paid it too much attention. Recently however, it has become one of her favorite things. She loves to wrestle it and bounce on it. This is not what I envisioned she would be doing in this sweet chair (sitting quietly, reading a book), but I now know Lilly has a mind of her own. Just the other day, she told her Grammy that she did not want to wear the dress that I had left out for her to wear and she can often be seen wearing two different shoes. Go figure!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Love Birds

2008-09-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

We are having a bridal brunch for my sister, Penny, this Sunday. She is really excited. It is just the bridesmaids and mothers, and it is the first official event of her wedding season. I am so happy for her! I made a new wreath for the front door. She will be welcomed by these two love birds. I hope they make her smile!

Wee-One Wednesday: Time

2008-09-03T20:23:00.001-07:00

Do you know how everyone says, "They grow up before you know it" and "Time goes by so fast when you have kids?" It is so true. Lilly has changed sooo much in her 21 months of life. It is almost unbelievable. Here are a few favorite pics of her babyhood. Really, where does the time go?

Misc. Monday: Baby Blanket

2008-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a prototype of a baby blanket I made. I think I may start making more. It was very simple and I just used yarn to tie it together. It only took an afternoon to complete and it is the softest flannel.

Wee-One Wednesday: Endless Energy

2008-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well, Dan and I went back to work this week and I am one hot & tired mama. Needless to say, Lilly has not lost any of her energy! When we get home, she demands our hand and wants to go for a walk. I'm sure I'll get used to this new routine next week, but for now, all I want to do is take a nap!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Decoupage

2008-08-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

I am continuing my explor-ation of Modge Podge. Here are a few more little plaques that I decoupaged. They are only about 5 inches tall. I have an apple one in the kitchen. They look so cute on a little shelf.

Wee-One Wednesday: Cousin Michael

2008-08-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Dan and I had the oppor-tunity to babysit our nephew, Michael. We had so much fun. Lilly had a blast playing with her only cousin. They rode in the wagon, wrote with sidewalk chalk, threw balls at each other, and read books. It would be so fun if we all lived closer together!

Misc. Monday: Butterflies

2008-08-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

Do you remember the canvases I made for my friend's birthday, the ones with the painted fork and spoon? I wasn't super happy with the painting process, so i tried the project again. This time, I cut the images I wanted out of scrapbook paper and decoupaged it to the canvases. I am very pleased with how they turned out. They are presently hanging in our master bathroom. This room has not received much attention from us, but I am now thinking I may go with a butterfly/botanical theme in there... I'll keep you posted.

Wee-One Wednesday: BBQ Corn

2008-08-13T09:40:00.001-07:00

Dan loves to BBQ in the summer-time. Lilly got a chance to experience her first taste of corn on the cob last week. Let me tell you, she really enjoyed it!

Misc. Monday: New Floor

2008-08-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

We have hated our kitchen floor since we moved into our house 3 years ago. It was ugly, plain, textured (which held onto dirt so well) linoleum. Dan and I have been talking about changing it for a long time, and last week we did. We couldn't be happier! My planner of a husband, made an exact grid on the computer of the floors measurements, and I got to decide where each tile would go. It was fun and took me over an hour. The color placement does have a bit of a pattern to it, but it is row by row, not throughout the whole floor. I wanted it to look a little more whimsical and random. We are very pleased with how it turned out. One friend commented that it looks like its been there all along, and that's how it feels too.

Sew Craft Sat.: Picnic Quilt

2008-08-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

I parti-cipated in my first swap with Elizabeth from Oh frannson

about a month ago. I had to find vintage sheets, cut them into fat quarters, and mail them off to her. A few weeks later, I received a cute little thank you for participating and 17 different fat quarters. I wasn't sure what to do with them; she has been posting some cool ideas for inspiration. A few days later, while I was browsing blogs, I came across this picnic quilt tutorial http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=531. It even has pockets in the back to put rocks in, so the wind does not blow it away. How cool is that? I went out right away and found a sheet for the back and went to work. I am really happy with the way it turned out. We have already used it outside twice!

Wee-One Wednesday: Auntie Nea Nea

2008-08-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Lilly loves her auntie, and the feeling is mutual! Most of Lilly's high fashion outfits came from Penny. She even watches Lilly once a week while I am at work. THAT IS LOVE! Lilly could not say her name for the longest time and could only call her Nea Nea. Now that she can say "Auntie Penny," we don't want her to! It seems so sad when the baby words start to disappear.

Sew Crafty Saturday: Quilting

2008-08-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Wed-nesday was the last day of my quilting class. It was a lot of fun, and I am actually going to register for it again in the fall. The project (a doll quilt) was a little daunting - a 16 patch square that is only three inches big. I sort of butchered the front of the quilt, but it was definitely a learning experience. My seam allowances were too large, which in turn shrunk everything down. Since I hadn't ruined the back of the doll quilt, and it wasn't plain material, I decided to use it as a new quilt top with plain fabric behind. All I have to do now is bind the edges. Yay!

Wee-One Wednesday: Hula Lilly

2008-07-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pics of our little hula girl in Kauai. I got her black dress from Old Navy

before we left with the luau in mind. Wasn't it perfect?

Misc. Monday: We're Back!

2008-07-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

Kauai was beautiful. The resort was relaxing. Lilly was the perfect travel baby (except for the red eye flight home). She was on Hawaii time (3 hrs. behind) by the 1st day, taking her nap promptly at 1:30. We went to a luau, a coffee plantation, drove to waimea canyon, snorkeled, zip lined, shopped, and swam. I even got to go to a quilt shop. Lilly embraced the beach. She loved the sand and giggled at the waves. Dan even took her out in the ocean with her. She came home with a few new words too: mahalo, aloha, ocean, and freckle. Next time you see her, ask her what the ocean says!

Wee-One Wednesday: We are outta here!

2008-07-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much we are enjoying summer? We are leaving for Hawaii on Friday. I'll let you know how wonderful our trip was when we return. Pray that our "no volume control" baby does not get us kicked off the plane!

Misc. Monday: Doggie & Doll Quilt

2008-07-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

I made this doggie quilt for my friend's dog, Willie. It was a birthday present for her, but being a "woman who has everything," I thought she might enjoy something for her new best friend. Lilly and I delivered it, and the colors matched her living room perfectly. Both dog and birthday girl were pleased. The other quilt is a doll quilt that will belong to Lilly's friend, Riley, who is turning 2 on the 16th. We hope she likes it as much as Willie liked his!

Sew Crafty Saturday: For Shir!

2008-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

I saw a shirt tutorial on http://www.indietutes.blogspot.com/ and decided to give shirring a try. You use elastic thread to gather the fabric. The package the thread comes in is also quite helpful. In true Michelle fashion, I did not follow the directions exactly and have one major flaw. Can you see what it is? Basically, all you do is measure the chest and multiply that number by 2. Hand thread the elastic thread on the bobbin. Place matching thread on the spool and go for it. Make as many rows as you need. You do need to pull the fabric taut as you sew because it bunches up right away. Oh, and set your machine for wider stitches. (Maybe, read the directions on the thread box). It was fun and easy. I think I will try it again.

Wee-One Wednesday: Baseball

2008-07-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

We got Dan some outdoor games for Father's Day since he loves it when we are all outside. Baseball is his favorite sport. I'm not quite sure Lilly has the hang of it yet, or maybe she'll be just as athletic as her mother!

Misc. Monday: The 4th Report

2008-07-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

We had a very fun 4th of July spent with friends and family. There was a little bounce, sprinklers, and a small pool set up in the backyard. We ate lots of yummy BBQ, lit sparklers, and watched the fireworks from between rooftops and trees. Who could ask for a better day?

Sew Crafty Saturday: Wreath

2008-07-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

I realize that I am a day early but, we are having some friends & family over today for the 4th of July and I didn't have anything to put on the front door. I went to the store, but everything was too expensive or ugly. Then I remembered that little wreath I made for our bedroom a while ago! I had all the supplies on hand, so it didn't cost me a thing. (I usually but 2 of everything when I am trying something new - just in case). I made the new wreath last night while Dan and I were watching a movie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Wee-One Wednesday: Water Lilly

2008-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

It would be an understatement if I said, "Lilly loves the water." She has a melt down at the mall because she can't swim in the fountains. She screamed, "Swimming, water" over and over again at Disneyland while we were waiting in line for the jungle book cruise and the pirate ride. And finally... yesterday, she decided to dive into my friend Heather's pool. (Don't worry, we were right there). I guess I don't need to tell you how much she enjoyed swim class!

Misc. Monday: Yum Yum

2008-06-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am so excited. The garden is gorgeous. I made fresh salsa last night for dinner using home grown tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. It was very yummy.

Sew Craft Saturday: Painting Project

2008-06-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

I was planning on making my girlfriend some place mats for her birthday. They would have been a nice, safe little gift. Then I saw the Anna Maria Horner segment from when she was on the Martha Stewart Show and thought, "I can do that!" Well, I tried and they did not turn out as lovely as I would have hoped. Attaching the fabric to the canvas was the easy part, but it was a different story once I started painting. The lines look a bit unsteady and you can really see the brushstrokes. Lisa is a good friend, so I know she will forgive my ill attempt. I used some of the left over material to make her a small tote bag as the wrapping paper. Maybe, she can use it for a lunch sack when we go back to work, since it does have utensils on it. You can find Anna's bit on the Martha Stewart show by clicking on her name on the left hand side of "lovely places to visit." She makes it look so easy!

Wee-One Wednesday: Where did my baby go?

2008-06-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Lilly sneezed and then said, "Bless you" to herself. At swim class, she pointed to the 5 on the side of the pool and said, "5." She knows the letter L. She remembers peoples names. When she is tired, she will tell you, "Home, nap." She can count to five. She says, "Amen" after we pray. She feeds her baby and brings me books to read. When she puts on sunglasses, my headband, or Dan's hat, she goes and looks in her mirror. What is going on? Where did my baby go? Now I get it when moms say that they can't remember when their baby did this or that. It's because they are always doing something else, something new. I can't keep up!

Misc. Monday: Fabric

2008-06-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

I was very sick this weekend - stomach flu! Let me just say, "Yuck and gross!" Saturday's post got completely looked over, but I am feeling much better now. I went to the fabric store with my girlfriend not that long ago and had too much fun. I think fabric is the new scrapbook paper. It is so pretty. I need it, although I am not quite sure what I am going to do with it yet...

Wee-One Wednesday: Summer Mornings

2008-06-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

To be a teacher who is married to a teacher is the absolute best! We always enjoyed our time together, but we didn't realize how great it was until we had Lilly. I taught summer school last year when she was 6 months old and I am sooo happy that I am not doing it again this year. We love sleeping in and showering late. Lilly loves it when we get her out of her crib and she gets to play in bed with us. Let's here it for the lazy days of summer!

Misc. Monday: First Year Quilt

2008-06-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this amazing quilt over at wee wonderfuls (link to the left) and I'm pretty sure I gasped out loud. I then called to Dan to come take a look. Although he did not gasp, he did say, "That's a cool idea, baby." Lilly has grown out of some beautiful clothes that are now sadly housed in plastic bins. The idea of making her a quilt with some of my favorite clothes from her first year makes me want to cry tears of joy! I hope this quilting class I am going to take can teach me how to do it!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Father's Day

2008-06-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Lilly is on to her second giant coloring book and her grand parents just bought her a table with a roll of butcher paper attached to it. My mom even bought her a back-up roll of paper for when she runs out! Needless to say, we have an abundance of scribbled on paper around here. Instead of throwing it away, I decided to use it for Father's Day wrapping paper. Seeing her pieces of art wrapped around a gift is a present in itself if you ask me. Besides, in this time of recycling, repurposing, and reusing, it seemed like the "hip" thing to do. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Wee-One Wed: Where's the Rain?

2008-06-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Who knew an umbrella in the house could be so much fun? Lilly played with this umbrella for quite awhile by herself and once Dada showed her it could be twirled - well, we got at least another ten minutes out of her! I can not begin to explain her pronunciation of the word umbrella, but she did repeat "up down" as she swung it around the living room. I think I took 25 to 30 pics of this little event because she was having so much fun!

Sew Crafty Saturday: Craft Can

2008-06-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

We just got home from Maddie's 4th birthday party. It was a lot of fun. It's hard to believe she is already 4 years old. I remember visiting Heather and Jason in the hospital; Dan and I had just started dating. Wow, how time flies! Anyhoo, I made Maddie a "craft can" for her birthday. I saw them a long time ago at thelongthread.com (listed on the left). You can even go there and print out the label from a pdf file. I got the can from Home Depot and filled it with all kinds of goodies. I also made her a little apron, so she doesn't get dirty because her mama can be a bit of a neat freak! I think Maddie with enjoy crafting with it this summer. We sure had fun filling it up.

Wee-One Wed: Long Legged Lilly

2008-06-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Recently people have been telling me how tall Lilly is. I just agree and smile without giving it a second thought. Then I reviewed these pictures of her sitting, having a grape snack like a big girl. (I realize that there are some on the floor, but she always eats in her high chair so this was a first). Look at those legs! Do they look as long to you as they do to me?

Misc. Monday: Late Ramblings

2008-06-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

School is out Thursday for summer. YAY! I am soo excited. Today, I am registering for a summer quilting class for me, and a toddler fitness class for Lilly. We also start Parent and Baby swim class next Monday, and in July we are going to Hawaii with my family. Dan is even taking a auto body class, so he can work on his baby in the garage. We heart summer!

Sew Crafty Sat.: Lil' Bags

2008-05-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

Lauren from Goody-Goody Handmade (which is one of my fav. blogs listed on the right) gave a quick and easy tutorial for these little bags using 2 fat quarters of fabric. I just love the way they turned out. I kind of played with her measurements a bit, making one set long, and thin and one set short and wide. I accidentally forgot what "cut in half" means, so I lost a few inches off the flower set, oops. Don't you just love the little hedgehogs? I think I squealed when I found them. I have no idea who made the fabric because the selvage was cut off. Unlike some of my finished projects, I actually have a plan for these little gems that I am excited about. I am thinking little girls, crayons, and restaurants.

Wee-One Wednesday: Pig Tails

2008-05-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Lilly was a very bald baby, so we were super excited to see the little hairs curl up on the nape of her neck. Here is her first day with pig tails. She did not like it when I put them in, but I think the end result was well worth it. She looks like such a big girl to me. The finger sticking up was her answer to my asking how old she is. I am also very proud to announce that Lilly said her very first sentence, "Where did it go?" Let me tell you, it's exciting times over here! I have also realized that 18 months does not a baby make. We have begun setting some house rules, saying no, and redirecting her unwanted behaviors. I'm starting to think that newborn sleepless nights are nothing compared to telling a toddler that she must sit in a cart, hold our hand, or that she can not write on the floor with a crayon. We will raise an upstanding member of society, I promise!

Misc. Monday: Buttons

2008-05-26T09:18:00.001-07:00

My friend's sister decided that she was done with sewing, so she gave me her button collection. There are some beautiful vintage buttons in her stash that I had to find something to do with. Many of them are singles, so I decided to glue them onto bobby pins. Since I had the glue gun out, I also made some flower pins out of buttons. (psst...This was not an original thought). I then attached them to little tags. I think I will use them as birthday cards, and I'm sure Kathy would be happy that her buttons were put to good use.

Sew Crafty Saturday: Decoupage

2008-05-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

I bought some Modge Podge along time ago thinking every crafter needs some in her supply, but it just sat on the shelf for months. I have seen a lot of cute decoupage crafts lately, so I decided to give it a try. Last weekend, I opened up the cute little jar for the first time. It really reminded me of a watered down version of the Elmer's glue that we use at school. Anyway, I cut some images out of scrapbook paper and stuck them onto little pieces of wood I bought from Tall Mouse. They are about 5 inches tall. Here's my first attempt at decoupage. Next time, I might paint the wood first and/or try a bigger piece of wood. I was also thinking that they could be really cute in a baby's room if they matched the theme. Yes, I am already thinking about the next time...

Wee-One Wednesday: Crayons

2008-05-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Lilly loves to color and it brings me joy to see her scribble away. What fun!