Summer Swapping

August 7, 2014 by Summer

This summer between the preparations for Ellie’s birthday party (this Saturday) and the numerous other orders I’ve been working on for my store, I was able to squeeze in two blogger swaps too. The first swap was really me, begging another blogger to let me buy one of her beautiful hand carved stamps after seeing her make several on her blog. (I met Jenny through a previous blogger swap. Ellie and I sent goodies to her youngest daughter for a children’s swap) She was wonderfully sweet and offered up a trade. A couple of her incredible stamps for some of my peg dolls. A family of six peg dolls to be exact. I was so excited for this swap and painting her adorable family was so much fun!

Unfortunately, I never got some great photos of the peg family, but hop on over to Jenny’s blog for plenty of great action shots.

I received Jenny’s beautiful stamps soon after I sent these guys off. They are so well made and lovely and now I’ll have something very special to stamp on my Etsy store purchase bags and cards. Thank you so much Jenny. These stamps will be treasured dearly!

The other swap I was in was Amanda’s summer blogger swap. I had participated previously and sent a package to a lovely blogger and received the most amazing package from this wonderful blogger (I still use most of her swap goodies on a daily basis). This time around, I got a very inspirational blogger who I had been following here and there prior to the swap. I was a little intimidated about making things for her because her blog is just so full of beauty and inspiration. I wasn’t sure my skills could measure up. But, I tried to make a few things I thought she would enjoy.
I stuck with a light purpley color scheme because I noticed she mentioned the color purple a lot. I knew she enjoyed being in the kitchen so I made her some lemon salt from lemons in our garden. Homemade granola and a hot pad too. I also made a matching fabric coaster too for those cups of tea.
Tracey uses beautiful quotes a lot on her blog and I really wanted to incorporate one of them into something special for her. I took one of my favorites and painted her a picture with watercolor and pen of some of (what I perceived) were her favorite things; knitting and a fig tree (she mentions both many times on her blog).

And last but not least, I wanted to make a little something for her grand-daughter Emerson. It seemed like Emerson was a big part of Tracey’s life and I wanted to recognize that. (I also absolutely loved when Christina sent Ellie some handmade things in the last blogger swap). I thought it was only right to paint Emerson in the horse t-shirt Tracey bought from Cory,since I’ve met Cory in person a few times (blogger world go round). 🙂
I’ve already heard from Tracey and I’m so thankful she likes everything. It was certainly a joy to make all of these things for her and to get to know her a little better through her blog. I think that is really the best part of these swaps, getting to know people all over the country. It’s a strange sort of pen pal kind of thing and it really is wonderful making things and receiving things from new friends. I’m excited to receive my gift, hopefully soon.

Your Second Birthday

August 6, 2014 by Summer

You woke up around 7am. Downstairs, your table was dressed up with special birthday things. A perpetual calendar with the today’s date. And a birthday gnome sitting on top, his crown magically very similar to your birthday crown.

A new Mama-made farm play mat. A wooden airplane, a Mama-made “Two” t-shirt to go with your birthday crown from last year and the very special Mama-made Busy Book all wrapped up.
You opened your busy book and seemed to love it. Pointing out the pictures and each pages function.
You carried the kite from the kite page with you all morning and even tried to take it to the library, but Mama thought it was a safer idea to leave it home.

Then you went back over to the table to explore your new farm play mat.

You put the pigs to sleep and you talked about all the vegetables and fruits in the garden.

It seemed to tickle you that the birthday gnome was wearing the same crown as you).
We took your monthly photo after we had all gotten dressed.
And then we were off to the library for storytime to meet your friend Summer and her Mommy.

We had a few “two-year-old” struggles while out and about. Maybe a little too much fun. By the end of the morning, you were over-tired and very grumpy. So a nap was had.

And when you woke up, your very favorite people in the world were there to greet you, Gramma and Grandpa. We enjoyed lunch and you got to ride the merry-go-round at our local mall. We ate dinner together and then ended the evening with your very first ice cream cone (you’ve had licks of ice cream before but never a whole cone to yourself. You were thrilled).

A warm bath when we got home, goodbyes to the grandparents and bedtime after that. A very busy, somewhat emotional and partly challenging, joyful, happy first day of being two years old.
Happy Birthday Eloise Harper!

What 2 Has in Store…

August 5, 2014 by Summer

I lay here in the dark next to her sleeping body. My mind returns to two years earlier. At 11:02 pm, I had only begun the long arduous journey of birthing my precious girl. I can still remember those tough bits and pieces. Contractions in the hallway of the hospital, working so hard to make it though the night and into the morning and back into the night again. And then just like that, she was here and I was a mother and Jeff was a father and we never slept again (well, Jeff slept again). The first year went by so quickly. Smiles, cooing, long walks having her tiny body pressed up against mine in the carrier, crawling, walking, talking, playing…And now here we are two years later. This beautiful, smart, challenging, amazing child- a two-year old. Some days we struggle with finding our rhythm. We spend so much time together, morning, noon and night, I am right there with her. Most days we enjoy each others company. She makes me laugh and tickles me with joy. I’m finding, the days of being pressed close in a carrier are fading away. She’ll tells me she doesn’t want to be picked up. She’ll hold my hand instead. She’s a two-year old. Her legs are longer, her body stronger. Words spill out of her mouth quicker than thoughts go into her head. Her eyes light up with amazement at the world around her. She takes everything in and tried to understand it. She’s still very cautious about the people and the things in her world. But, every once in a while, she gets off my lap and jumps head first into whatever excites her.

It’s almost midnight. Two years ago, I had twenty plus more hours to go till her sweet face made its appearance. Oh what a glorious ride these two years have been. I’m certainly looking forward to what 2 has in store.

Weekending!

August 4, 2014 by Summer

It was my Dad’s birthday this weekend so we spent most of the weekend with him and my family. Some Sprinkles cupcakes, some beer and pizza at a local restaurant, some running around chasing Ellie and some frisbee with the whole family at the park down the street. It was a very nice weekend. Now, finishing up for Ellie’s birthday on the 5th, Nana and Papa flying in on Friday and Saturday the big Birthday Bash.

*weekending with pumpkin sunrise

Portrait Project

August 2, 2014 by Summer

31/52
eloise: A few days shy of two years old and this picture tells a story… You are silly. You are moody. You are loving. You are slow to warm up but full of life and joy for those you are comfortable with. You are strong-willed and smart. You sing songs and you love to dance and move. You swing and always ask to be pushed higher. You want to balance along the walls and sometimes don’t want to hold my hand. You talk to our dogs and tell them stories about your day. You love your Grandma so fiercely, you sometimes forget your Mama is here too. You delight in carousels and pinwheels and trains and kitty kats. You shower me with kisses and hugs but can push me away just as fast. I love every bit of this almost two-year old. From the frowns to the smiles. You are my sunshine girl.

-joining Jodi for the 52 project.

{this moment}

August 1, 2014 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

– joining soulemama

Bits and Bobs and Carousel Horses

July 30, 2014 by Summer

We’re gearing up for Ellie’s second birthday around here. I’ve been trying to finish up on some special decorations.

I bought these little wooden horses in hopes of making a carousel centerpiece. I’m not sure how it will all come out or even if it will at all, but I’ve been busy sanding, and sketching designs. I also started using my wood burner I got for my birthday. It’s going to take lots of practice to get good, but it’s been fun, wood-burning the designs into these horses.
Next up is painting them and then figuring out how to make a carousel stand.

In other news, I’ve been rearranging areas…

Adding some sheep skin rugs to Ellie’s play areas to encourage play.

Getting my swap goodies all set to send out.
Reading about the beach and then visiting the beach.
Trying to get into the kitchen to cook some more (although, as you can see, a clingy toddler who just wants to dance, makes that difficult sometimes).

And someone had her very first licks of a lollipop (Daddy thankfully finished it).

But not before Mike the Peg Doll gets a lick.

I leave you with one of my favorite daily views….
Hope you are having a nice start to your week.

Weekending!

July 28, 2014 by Summer

Wow! What a magical weekend we had (as you can see by all the pictures. I went a little hot air balloon picture-taking crazy). We went to the annual Citrus Balloon Festival for the second time this year. Here is last year’s visit. Like last year, we thought we knew what we were doing and showed up before 9am to see all of the balloons fly. Unfortunately, we missed the 6:30am fly time (their website needs a little work) and only got to see two balloons. But, it was pretty exciting seeing just the two and we hung around to meet up with friends, check out the live music and take a train ride around the event arena. We were disappointed that we missed seeing all of the balloons again and knew coming back that evening was probably not going to happen with Ellie’s bedtime. However, after a very long and late nap, it seemed the stars aligned and we attempted our first “night-time outing” with Miss Ellie boo bear. While she napped, I whipped her up a mama-made Hot Air Balloon PJs top to wear to the Balloon show. And I’m so glad we went. It was so magical seeing all the balloons lit up. Seeing Ellie’s face light up and to hear her so excited was priceless. She told us when she was ready to go home, did very well on the drive home and fell fast asleep as soon as we got home, I’m sure, dreaming of colorful balloons filling up the sky.

-joining Pumpkin Sunrise this weekend.

Portrait Project

July 27, 2014 by Summer

30/52

eloise: we saw the hot air balloons for the second year. Last year you were curled up close to me in the wrap. This year you were exploring them right along with us. What a day and night we had. We saw a few balloons in the morning and then decided to come back at night (past your bedtime) to see all the balloons lit up in the night sky. It was both exciting and exhilarating for you. And you did amazingly well up so late. A very special night for both you and your Mama and Daddy.

-joining Jodi for the 52 project!

{this moment}

July 25, 2014 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

-joining soulemama!