Giving Thansk - Day 27

Happy Thanksiving! I hope everyone has a wonerful day filled with loved ones and delicious food. I am thankful to be spending the day with family today. Lots of love and turkey to all (unless you're a vegetarian, then maybe just lots of tofu and green bean casserole).

Giving Thanks - Day 25

Some onesies I made for a friend's baby.

25.) Craft projects that turn out right. I am trying to hand make most of my Christmas gifts this year which means I am VERY busy. It is so much fun. So far I have only completely finished with gifts for two people so I have a ways to go. I also am doing some stuff for fun too. Check out this cute shirt I made for Emmy yesterday:

Giving Thanks - Day 21

21.) My grandmother's (Ma - as she was known to us grandkids) aprons. I have had them for a few years now but just recently "rediscovered" them . I was single, in my early 20's, and still living at home when Ma passed away. At that time, the aprons were special to me because they were something of hers to hold on to, but they didn't hold much symbolic meaning. Since then they have been tucked away in my sewing cabinet for lack of a better place for them. I came across them again recently while doing some sewing and fell in love with them. I spent the entire afternoon with one wrapped around my waist. I changed the sheets in the apron, cleaned dishes in the apron, cooked dinner in the apron, and played with Emmy in the apron. With her apron on, all of my daily chores now felt purpose driven and more meaningful. Everytime I caught my reflection I was reminded of my dear sweet Ma. She was the epitome of a grandmother and, I believe, an extraordinary woman/wife/mother. I became more aware of the fact that Emmy is watching me in the same way that I watched Ma and decided to remain cognizant of the legacy that I am creating. I want Emmy and my grandchildren to remember me in the same way that I remember Ma.

Giving Thanks - Day 20

20.) I am thankful for evenings like tonight when The Hubby gives sweet Emmy Lou her bath. I got to listen to them laugh and play and Emmy splash while I started a batch of cookies. Daddy is so good at making her laugh. He uses the bath soap to blow bubbles as big as her head and she screams with delight. And that LAUGH! Oh that laugh. There aren't words to describe it. I truly believe that if it could be bottled, it would be the means to achieve world peace. You can't hear it and not feel joyful and tender. Here's a video to prove it:

Oh, that LAUGH!

Giving Thanks - Day 19

19.) The budding (but never starving) artist that Emmy is becoming. Today was the first time I gave her paper and crayons and just let her go at it and she loved it. She sat and played with them for at least 45 minutes. In her entire life, nothing has kept her interest before for an entire 45 minutes in a row. It was F-U-N! Proudly displayed on our fridge is her first masterpiece. But you don't have to come to my house to see it, I'll post it here for your convenience. Beautiful, right?

Giving Thanks - Day 18

18.) The 250 free 4x6 photo prints I got from Shutterfly through the Pampers Gifts to Grow Program. Learn more about it here. I had enough rewards to order the 200 free prints plus, it was the first time I ordered from Shutterfly so I was able to order an additional 50 prints plus free shipping. All told, I ordered 263 photos for only around $2.00. I may have mentioned it before but it bears repeating, I LOVE free stuff! Now I'm only a year behind in ordering my pictures.

Giving Thanks - Day 17

17.) Emmy's new phrase de jour, "Night, night." (Pronounced "nigh, nigh.") I can say with 100% certainty that there is nothing in this world more precious than laying my sweet 17 month old in her bed at night and having her look up at me with those big, beautiful, sleepy, blue eyes and saying:

Emmy: Mama?
Me: Yes, Emmy?
Emmy: Nigh, nigh.
Me: Night, night, baby. I love you. (All as my heart melts and puddles around my feet. I just leave
it in there on the floor and slip out. I don't want to ruin the mood collecting my heart mush off of the
floor. I'll get it in the morning when she wakes up.)

Giving Thanks - Days 12 - 16

Okay, I'm a little behind. We've been dealing with an unwanted house guest this past week, aka: The FLU. It's not that there hasn't been anything to be thankful for, just that my thoughts were focused on our most basic of needs. So without further ado, here are some more things I'm thankful for. (Disclaimer: This is no longer a "Picture" journal of Thankfulness. Not all of my entries have pictures and I've decided I'm okay with that.)

12.) Little Ceasars' HOT-N-READY Pizza for those days when I just don't have it in me to prepare dinner.

13.) The hubby's roll of "Grill Master." This week we had quite a few days like the one mentioned above. Luckily for me, the wonderful Hubby took to the bbq grill a couple of times to make dinner.

14.) HSN and QVC Commercials. Not because I shop at these networks (I never have but the Hubby did order a set of knives from one once) but because I can depend on them to start their holiday season commercials promptly on November 1. Weeks before most other networks are promoting their holiday programing, I can hear the familiar tune of Jingle Bells and the "Ho, Ho, Ho" of Santa Claus (even if only for a moment) on one of their commercials. And it makes me happy.

15.) Watching my Sweet Emmy Lou grow. It is so much fun to see her become more imaginative and verbal everyday. In this first picture, she's playing with her piano and wearing her daddy's hat, which she puts on herself. Whenever she gets the fancy to wear one, she goes over to the drawer we keep them in, and says "hot" (meaning "hat"). She'll throw it on and wear it around the house while she plays. Can you say CUTE? In the second photo, she's playing in the pretend kitchen at Gramma Cindy's and Dziadzia's.

16.) At the risk of seeming like a couch potato, next on my list is Cable Television. I don't sleep well when I'm sick so I am up to watch a lot of late night television. Luckily, with cable, there is always something on, usually Home Improvement or The Cosby Show. Both of which, I love! I would most definitely have been forced to spend the midnight hours watching info-mercials if not for my cable programming. Which, let's be honest, would be great for the first 30 minutes but any longer would be just lame.

Giving Thanks - Day 11

11.) Nap time. Oh, sweet, blissful, nap time. In general, I have a very healthy respect for the nap. Never do I appreciate it more, however, than on days like today when Emmy woke at 5:45 AM with the flu. Yep, that's right, the dreaded stomach flu. By 10:30 AM, a little rest was just what the doctor (would have) ordered for us. We both got some much needed shut eye and, even though it isn't a cure for what ailed us, we both were refreshed to start the battle anew. And, while we're on the subject of sleep, I'm really pretty fond of bed time too. So much so that I think I'll go to bed now. Goodnight!

The Story of Emmy's First Official Haircut

Emmy had her first official haircut today.

We took her to the same hometown barber that gave Daddy his first haircut when he was just a wee boy.
(Note: Don't overlook Gramma Sandy's priceless reflection in the mirror.)

She did such a wonderful job; sat so still and quiet. And only shed a few tears.
We are so proud of our big brave girl.

They did a great job. She looks beautiful with the same Dutch Boy haircut that daddy had at this age.

They gave us this adorable "First Haircut" certificate and some locks of her hair for her baby book.

Then Emmy, Gramma Sandy, and I went for a celebratory "First Haircut" dinner.

And shared some delicious, celebratory, "First Haircut" chocolate cake.

THE END.

Giving Thanks - Day 10

10.) Thrift Store Finds. My mom and I found this little wooden rocking chair for a steal at a consignment shop in Chelsea -now closed- before Emmy was even concieved. (Back when I planned on naming my first daughter Sofia. We bought the chair for "Sofia" but I am so glad it is Emmy who gets to use it.) I have had it tucked away for a while so last night I pulled it out for her. She is now at that stage where she knows how to use her body and loves to climb in and out of pint sized furniture. Climb in, climb out, climb in. climb out, climb in...well you get the idea. It was a great way to fill those dreaded pre-bedtime evening hours. And she went running right to it when she got up this morning (screaming of course, as you can see from the pics). Great entertainment for the cheap. Hip Hip Hooray for antique/thrift/consignment stores!

Street Sweeper GO HOME!

The number of times the evil street sweeper driver zoomed up and down my street in a blatant attempt to wake my sleeping angel: 1403 (Or something like that. I stopped counting after 10.) Go home street sweeper. You will not ruin naptime in this house! No you won't!

Giving Thanks - Day 9

9.) Snow! "Snow, snow, snow, snow. I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow..." (POP QUIZ: Anyone know what that song is from?) The first snow of the season here in Southeast Michigan fell this evening and I was drunk with excitement. Emmy and I stood on the porch, barefeet and all, watching our breath, and singing the aforementioned Snow song.

Even though we were in our pajamas, I dressed Emmy up in her winter coat and snow boots and we went out back to play in it.

The snow wasn't really sticking to the ground but enough had collected in the swingset for me to make my first snowball this season and for Emmy to get her hands in some too. It was so fun and exciting for us. I L-O-V-E this time of year. Nothing gives me the warm and fuzzies quite like the holiday season. I think I'll go make myself some hot cocoa now and watch "White Christmas."

Giving Thanks - Day 8

8.) Decorating on a budget and how nice this beautiful vase filled with festive colored balls of yarn turned out. Even just spinning yarn into balls made me feel crafty. To top it off, I'm thinking about collecting some large branches from the yard, spray painting them black, and standing them up in the vase for some added height. Then maybe using it as a "Thanksgiving" tree. We can write the things we're thankful for on paper leaves and hang them from the branches. That idea came from here. I owe many thanks to others for this one. The vase was a generous gift from my mother-in-law and the idea to decorate with yarn was stolen from here. The yarn itself was scavenged from my mom's basement '0 craft stuff. Many thanks to all for the collabrative effort.

Giving Thanks - Days 1-7

To honor the month of Thanksgiving (hooray for the new and improved holiday season - now extended all the way to January 20, 2009!) I am going to post a picture journal of one thing I'm thankful for each day. I have some catching up to do, too, since it is already November 7, so I'll post 7 things today.

1.) Obvious, I know, but truth be told, I am T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L for Emmy. As a little girl while my friends were pining for their Prince Charming and planning what their ideal weddings would be like, I was dreaming of this little girl and hoping to one day be her mommy. Gotta be thankful for dreams come true.

2.) My hubby, because afterall, #1 on my list of things I'm thankful for wouldn't be possible without him. Oh, and also because he is my best friend, makes me laugh, he laughs at me, is a wonderful daddy, works unbelievably hard to support our family so that I can be a SAHM, is HANDSOME, and the list goes on and on.

3.) Our home. We talk often about wishing we could sell this house and find one that better suits our needs but this will always be our home. It is the place we brought Emmy to when she first came home from the hospital and where she has spent the first 17 months of her life. The place where we went from being a couple to a family. Sure, there will always be things I'd like to change (right now my obsession is a new front door) and we really could use a bigger house, but if we spend the rest of our lives here, that would be okay too.

4.) My entire family. (I don't have a picture for this one but I can bend my own rules, I think.) I am lucky to have the world's most wonderful family. Blood relatives, step/bonus family, in-laws...you name it, I've got 'em and they are all great!

5.) The simple things like how much fun Emmy and I can have with a plain, old, homemade ball of yarn.

6.) Peanut butter and jelly on a rainy fall day. And that Meijer's "Stars and Pals" baked cheese snacks are even better (and cheaper) than the national brand. Bonus - Emmy likes to pick out the Stars and yell "TAR!" How fun is that?

7.) The beautiful weather we've had the last few days and the opportunity to take Emmy to the park for what will probably be the last couple of times this year.

Okay, that's 7. More to come tomorrow. In the meantime, tell me what you're thankful for. Now I've got to go get my #1 out of bed. She has woken from her nap and is calling out for her mama.

Election '08

We voted today. Did YOU?

Things That Made Me Happy Today

1.)Lovings from my baby.

2.) That sense of accomplishment that can only come from checking things off of your "To Do" list.

• Clean bathroom
• Grocery Shopping
• Laundry
• Run Dishwasher
• Empty Dishwasher
• Fix Obama Sign in Front Yard
• Pay Bills
• Go to Post Office
  

3.) Seeing how pretty my new cake plate (thanks mom!) look piled high with apples in the morning light.

4.) My hubby/daddy coming home from work to spend the evening at home with us.

5.) Making a perfect batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. (FYI: Easiest thing ever. I have started pre-mixing the dry ingredients for cookies in a freezer safe ziploc bag. I use a sharpie marker to write the remaining wet ingredients and directions onto the bag and throw the whole thing in the freezer. I keep a couple on hand for whenever I want some homemade cookies. I just grab a bag out of the freezer, let it come to room temp for a while, add the wet ingredients, and bake. Delicious! Better and cheaper than store bought mixes and super convenient.)

6.) Partaking of said cookies and seeing my family enjoy the fruits of my labor. (No pics of hubby since he was the incognito cookie eater.)

7.) Watching Emmy and Daddy play.

8.) Ending the day much as itbegan, snuggling with sweet Emmy Lou. Her cuddled into my armpit signing "more" each time I neared the end of a song in hopes of prolonging bedtime. And it worked...for a while. She has me wrapped around her little finger and I love every minute of it!