raising baby

Some of what we did seems old-fashioned (minus the full-time working mom part) but we really loved it & feel good about our successes:

• Washed & folded cloth diapers.  But no pins - we bought proraps seconds from the factory.
• Breast-fed until 14 months with no formula.  I pumped at work every 2 hours, and she never used a pacifier.
• Cooked & smashed home-made organic babyfood (also never ate food from a jar).
• No TV/movies for the first 2 years.  Then when we moved 3 years ago we never set up the TV (but do love our Netflix on the laptop).
  
• Slept sweetie in her own crib so we could keep our bed (and get some sleep).
  

Of course, every baby has their way about things.  
As I watch ours grows, I know we're blessed with an outgoing, strong, adventurous, independent, willful, playful, young spirit - and I'm so happy about it.

jan 11th round-up

So many people I know personally have a birthday today - all cool, strong Capricorn gals:

1. Moriah McSharry Mcgrath - went to college with my brother (Haverford); we spent two weeks with her in Madagascar when she was a Peace Corps Volunteer and caught a partial solar eclipse the moment our plane landed on the island/continent; like a true sister to me
   
2. Amy Harms - my super awesome little 'cousin' (granddaughter of my mom's cousin)
3. Baby Leda - must be 2 or 3 today; DD of my brother & Moriah's friends, Laddy & Christine
4. Salma D. - 7th grade student in one of my Life Science class; sweet, scarved Muslim gal
5. Erin Relph - special ed. co-teacher in my 6th grade Earth Science class; witnessed me tripping over a rolling backpack and branding my knees by falling onto my classroom's outdoor metal walkway
6. Me - 36 and very excited; no work today because I teach year-round school & DH is not working either so we're dropping the kiddo off at school and going to the movies
   

mish-inspired notebook

Real quick, here's a notebook I CASEd last night from Mish in the idea gallery for Take Note at PTI.  I made it for my mom to go along with the card.  My dad just retired so they are permanently moving into their two homes - So Cal desert & Oregon coast.  This is to help her get organized w/ 2 houses to go between!

xmas thanks

I love to tie my christmas cards and christmas thank you's together, so the challenge at Nichole Heady's blog (here) was right up my alley… even if I was slow to start it.  

There were lovely strips of left-over patterned paper I punched from a super-cool Mish photo-card design I used (here).  For this layout I remembered a N.H. card I'd CASEd before (here).  BONUS: this was also my first chance to use some of my new large envelopes I've been hoarding, which is a good new year thing to do.

Things are off to a GREAT start in my corner of the world - I hope they are for you, too!

affirmations

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I do set three intentions for the year at the spring equinox (there's still time to see how last year's intentions are unfolding).  Affirmations, on the other hand, are a daily way to hit the re-set button and get life flowing in a positive way.

The easiest and favorite I use is, "I am so happy that only wonderful things happen to me all of the time."  It feels silly to say, like how we all used to laugh at Stewart Smalley, but I continue with the affirmation and then my business for the day.

Here's an enlightening little snippet on the matter:

 

Affirmations
by Owen Waters

Affirmations are used to reprogram the subconscious mind in a desired direction. This helps to empower you to move through emotional blockages which may be limiting your opportunities to experience life to the fullest.

Every time you make a mental affirmation, your subconscious mind hears it and adjusts towards the reality of that statement. The subconscious mind does not filter, it just acts

on your statements. It is important, therefore, that you feed yourself positive thoughts about who you are.

A great way to start is to make a habit of using the classic affirmation, "Every day, in every way, I am becoming better and better."

Ignore any skepticism that arises inside you when you start doing this. That's just the automatic response which comes from resistance to change. Remember, for every action in life, there is an opposite and equal reaction. When you launch into an action which will cause change, resistance to change can manifest as the automatic, opposite reaction. Just carry out your action regardless. Keep going with your affirmation, and turn it into a habit.

mish sketch challenge

It's time to create a few baby cards and challenges are so handy to give me direction :)  Michelle Wooderson - Mish - had a New Year's Eve sketch (here) and I had the joy of a LONG naptime to get it all done.  

I pulled out the Basic Grey gamma series stamps - and remembered the so-called "Freaky Girl" :)  I loved them all instantly - so Burton-esque.

Here's a close-up of that sweetie:

 

She's colored with a few Copics for the heart (RV04, RV17), hair (Y32) and some T1 and 0.  I have a trio pack for hibiscus & leaf on the way, but alas, for now I used some good ol' Crayola colored pencils.

 

 Adorables!  Just cut these out from the DCWV Nana's Nursery paper pack.  It was mostly paper play on this card - most of the stamping was on the envelope (on the back with the Around & About Sentiments I stamped 2 borders: Congratulations in hibiscus & hearts in blush.

xmas card wonderland

I just love laying out a collection of coordinating cards... well, who doesn't - they look gorgeous (and you're glad it's finally over!).   You can see the previous post for design credits.

This year I made 50 cards, which didn't seem too bad because there were so many different Basic Grey papers I was drooling over.  And TONS of PTI scarlet jewel, aqua mist & spring moss ribbons in saddle stitch and polka dots.  I finally tried making those Copic-colored gems/pearls/brads.  Wow.  Total money saver - and I dig using up stuff in my stash.

Here's the gal in her Hanna Andersson dress (every year we buy a size big at end-of-season sales and save it for the next year).  We did our photo shoot at the zoo - so lush!

Everything was going well when suddenly - drama! - the cat takes a dirt bath and strolls across my master pieces.  Ahh!  Dirty beast.  Why do they ALWAYS get right on top of your project?

Here just a few close-ups of some of the cards.  My little moments of zen:

 

 

 

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI rustic snowflakes

paper - PTI kraft; Basic Gey Eskimo Kisses

ink - PTI snow; Versamagic

ribbon - PTI scarlet, moss & aqua saddle sticth & polka dot

embellish - glitter embossing powder, multi-color fine glitter, various gems/brads/pearls & Copic markers

tools - Scor-It, sewing machine, heat gun, glue pen, yellow Marvy circle punch, corner rounder, 1/8" Scor-tape, Tombow mono adhesive