New Year's Projects

So far this year, I'm doing really good on starting and finishing some new projects. Right after we found out we were having a girl, of course I had to make her first bow. I also finished a headband I had started for Natalie but never finished it because she was too big for a headband.



One of my friends, Fallyn, is having a little boy. So, I made a diaper and wipe case for them. I found the pattern online. It was pretty easy, but it turns out to be way too small. So, I'm going to enlarge it for next time. I think it still turned out cute. I'm amazed that my stripes lined up perfectly! I wasn't even trying!

I've been wanting to make Natalie something to keep her crayons organized, so I made her a crayon roll. It was so easy! I also made one for her friend, Carson, who just turned two. Fill it with crayons and put it with a coloring book and you have a great gift!

I don't remember if I posted this picture or not, but I finished Nat's stocking for Grammie's house before Christmas. She loves Cinderella so it was perfect!

I said I would post pictures of the shirts I made for grandparents for Christmas. Well, here they are. I put on the letters and stiched around them, then one of my friends monogrammed the rest of the names on. I think they turned out great and of course all the grandparents loved them.

I also made all three of us matching pj pants for Christmas morning. I got the idea from my friend's mom. We may look nerdy, but I think we're cute!

I also finally made curtains for Natalie's room on Monday. I plan on hanging them up later today, so I'll have pictures soon. Natalie went to visit Nana and Pops this past weekend, so Michael and I worked on a few projects around the house. I finished painting the entryway and painted some of the trim in the hallway. Michael pulled up the peel and stick stuff on our bathroom floor and laid tile. Yeah! We're one step closer to getting our bathroom done. It looks great! Now, we just need to tile the shower. That'll be another project for another weekend.

I need to post some pictures from Christmas one of these days. I just need to make the time to do it. Hopefully, it won't be too long.

It's a Girl!!!

We went to the doctor yesterday for our monthly check up and had our second sonogram. We are having another baby girl! I am so excited and scared at the thought of two girls! Poor Michael is way outnumbered now. He's really excited, too! Natalie was so sure we were having a boy, so she's getting used to the idea of a little sister. She hugs and kisses my belly. It's so sweet! I know she'll be a great big sister. I'm sure she'll have a time of adjustment learning to share mommy and daddy, but she'll do great! Here are some pictures of our beautiful girl. Enjoy!

Christmas Festivities

We had our annual Christmas parade downtown last Saturday. My in-laws were visiting so Nana carried Natalie and chased down some candy for her. Of course Pops got some for Natalie, too. Yeah for Nana and Pops! I feel like my belly's really popped out this past week so I'm learning how to adjust carrying Natalie. Carrying her is one thing, but getting up and down to pick up candy off the street is another. So, thank you again Nana and Pops.

I was wrapping presents with my little helper Saturday night and decided to wrap her up, too. She had a great time unwrapping herself.

I caught Nat reading to her babydoll yesterday. It was so sweet! She loves her babies! As you can see in this picture I think we might have problems with the new baby's paci. She just sticks it in her mouth every now and then when she's playing with her dolls. She thinks it's funny. Somehow I don't.

Santa is bringing her babydoll things for Christmas so I decided to make a quilt to match. I bought some bags of scraps from a baby store going out of business a few months back. So, I spent an hour making the top of the quilt. Now, I've got to decide if I want to use quilt batting or just make a thin blankie. I was going to quilt the back, too, but decided against it. I'm just going to get a solid piece of material for it. Here's what it looks like so far.

Thanksgiving

I've been procrastinating about posting pics from Thanksgiving. I took so many that I'm still not sure which ones to post. That and they never seem to get laid out like I want them. (By the way, if anyone knows how to upload and layout pictures on here without all the white gaps PLEASE let me know!) We had a wonderful time visiting Grammie and Gramps (my parents). Uncle Joe, Aunt Cole, Uncle Matt, Papa, and Patrick were also there. Oh, and we can't forget all the dogs (mom and dad's 2, papa's 3 and our 1). Wednesday was pretty relaxing. Joe, Cole and Matt got there that night and we just hung out. Thursday morning, mom, Natalie and I finished preparing lunch.















Natalie helped me make sweet potatoes. Then, she helped Grammie make rolls. She played in the flour and even ate some of the raw dough. Yuck! Uncle Matt carefully snuck in for a picture. I can't imagine why he didn't want flour all over him. She loves to help in the kitchen as you can see.














After lunch, and everyone's naps, we spent some time outside. The weather was beautiful! Nat rode her little four wheeler for a while. She's really getting good at learning how to make it turn. Then, she rode around with Aunt Cole and Uncle Joe on the lawn mower. She waved, blew us kisses and said, "Whee!" while waving her arms in the air. She had so much fun!

Natalie just had to explore what flowers were left in Grammie's flower beds. I think she even picked a few for us. As you can see, she's wearing her favorite outfit-just a diaper. I promise it was warm. I love this picture of her and Cole. She's really warmed up to Cole. She spent pretty much all afternoon with her.


















Natalie also had a great time playing in the dirt pile. She even played "swords" with Uncle Joe. I'm not sure which one of them had more fun.

Uncle Matt, Uncle Joe and Aunt Cole had to leave Thursday night 'cause the guys had to work on Friday. Here's a few snapshots we took.

























On Friday, Grammie and I spent the day shopping. Yes, we are crazy and love to shop on Black Friday! We only get to go every other year, so we love it even more. Grammie and Gramps live about 45 minutes from Waco, so we didn't want to leave too early. There's nothing that we needed that badly. We made our list and started out about 6:45. We got back that evening right before 6. Natalie stayed with daddy and had a a great time, too. She loves to play in the sink at Grammie's. Her favorite food was the German Chocolate cake. She couldn't shovel it in fast enough!












On Friday, Gramps took us behind the school (where he works) to show Nat some piggies. She wasn't sure about them at first, but then we couldn't get her to leave. I think she would have gotten in the pen to play with them!













When we got home on Saturday, daddy put up our tree. We had a great time decorating it. Natalie even put on a few ornaments for the first time. She loves the tree!

I made Nat a couple of Christmas bows yesterday. They turned out really cute! The one on the right is huge, but I love it!