But First...It's My Birthday!

*I tried all day to post this and it wouldn't post.

There are so many things I want to tell you today! But for starters; Happy Birthday Blog! Well, Saturday, that marks one year since my first post. I read back on it and it was not all that exciting. Hopefully as the year went on it's gotten better, I like to believe so! I'm going to "give" you guys something at the end of the post as a way to celebrate this last year.

So some exciting news, my mom and finally true step-dad got married for real on December 28th. He suggested to go to a courthouse the Friday after Christmas and my mom didn't want to because she knew all the family would want to be there to see it. So, my mom set up a big surprise wedding at my new aunt's house and my new cousin's husband got ordained just to do the wedding! How sweet.

But my step-dad had no idea and it went off without a hitch! Little A was also the only person under the age of 18 and everyone was just all over her! She really hammed it up with all that attention but behaved really well. Congratulations to them!

I've been busy trying to keep my resolution. E's anniversary present, yeah it's way late. But almost done! The closer I get to the finish line the more excited he gets.

I also finished and handed over my step-dad's Christmas present, only 9 days late!

And my mom's present too. Her's is a crocheted crochet bag!

With a fabric liner and a pocket for hooks and a small pair of scissors. The fabric was a remnant I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I didn't have any plans for it when I bought it but isn't it lovely? They both loved their gifts and they should! They were made especially for them.

I did fib a little though on my resolution. Little A's friend had a birthday party on Saturday and I wanted to make him something. I searched google images for "crochet lion stuffy" and ran across a lion pillow on Anna Maria Horner's blog (http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2011/01/crochet-chronicles-1-lion-in-winter.html). She made a pillow similar to the one I made (because I used her pillow as inspiration and as a template).

We were late for the party because I had to finish this up. I think it was liked by the birthday boy. They were opening presents when we walked in and among the tiny hands frenzied to open the presents, someone grabbed the pillow and handed it to him. He hugged it and put it on his head then dropped it to ride the Buzz Lightyear 4-wheeler, I don't blame him! But I hope he liked it! It turned out just how I wanted it to, too. Though I was a little short on stuffing, but I think it worked out to the advantage of little hands grabbing it.

And Little A has been very busy lately too. She has to make rounds on all her toys daily, otherwise they don't get played with that day.

Busy playing with nana in our weird January weather, it was 60 degrees on Friday! I would like snow at least once this year so I can bundle Little A in her new snow gear and throw her in big snow drifts!

And busy hiding under covers naked after baths. Maybe she's cold? But she just started doing it this week. It's so hard to get her to come out to get dressed too, normally the "counting" gets her moving though, or a threatening "now" works too.

And we've all been busy waiting on the new Chinese food restaurant to come in! In my town we have sonic, not so great, four pizza places and we refuse to eat at two of them, a mom and pop's burger place we love but one can only eat so many hamburgers, and subway, which is now banned for us because some people got food poisoning. There's a few other places but we never go to them. And! We're also getting a Mexican restaurant! Our little town finally has some options!

I've also been busy growing a baby. Only 66 days to go! Well, I've caught up with all of my crafty goodness so here is my gift thingy to you!

My real name is Tabitha, my husband's name is Elliott, Little A's name is Amelia, and the new baby is A.J. Not revealing much more of the new baby than that. But I tell you this to tell you where "Buzzing Around The Apple Tree" comes from. When Amelia was a little baby I made up a song for her, it goes like this:

Amelia is a little bumble bee,
She likes to buzz around the apple tree,
She's likes to eat up all the apple sauce,
She likes to take the train from King's Cross.

Amelia is a little bumble bee,
With bright red hair and bright blue eyes,
She likes to take a nap in the morning,
And buzz around in the afternoon.

And now you know the great mystery! I don't know if I'll continue to use Little A and E or finally use their real names, we'll see. I hope you have a great day and great week!

Until next time!

Post Christmas Post

Merry Christmas! Late. But still I hope your's was very merry and everyone got exactly what they wanted. I know I did! As did Little A, who got things she didn't even know she wanted, and E! Though Christmas still isn't quite finished in a matter of crafted/crochet presents. Who's surprised? Not me! Though this time I have an excellent reason as to why they're not finished. My mom and step-dad's presents are the ones left 90% done. Well, and Little A's quilt which I'll just save for birthday time and E's present which was only going to happen if the others were finished first. But the Wednesday before Christmas I got the flu. E had it first and it lasted about five days, just a weird stomach but nothing major. Little A had it next, she only threw up three times in a matter of 3-4 days and had some weird diapers. I got it last and hardest. I was laid up late Wednesday night feeling like I had ate too much and couldn't comfortable no matter what I did. Then Thursday morning when Little A came to lay down with me I had to rush to the bathroom and it was all over from there. Luckily E works evenings so I made him get up with her when she woke up and then after he left for work I had another episode that really upset Little A because I locked her out and she got scared. So Nana and Papa S came to get her. It sure is nice to sleep without a diaper butt to worry about, especially while sick. But by the next day I was feeling better. Still ate little and nothing heavy, but by the next day and Christmas I was feeling much better! Thankfully, I'm really glad it didn't ruin anyone's Christmas.

Christmas eve was quiet. Little A opened her jammies before daddy went to work (I washed them before I wrapped them! Go me!). And after E got home he gave me something very sweet. Get ready for a tear or two...

Through a long chain of really rather unfortunate events, my baby ornaments and Christmas ornaments of years passed were thrown away. So when E and I moved in together all of our decorations belonged to him (well now us, but still his). It never really bothered me until after Little A was born and there tons of first Christmas ornaments for 2 of the 3 people in the house all over our tree. I felt left out and sad, yes, a pity party. But E always said it wasn't a big deal. Which it really wasn't. We've received, bought, given enough ornaments over the years. But Christmas eve, E handed me a box with another small box inside. It was a baby's first Christmas ornament. I thought how nice to get the new baby one already. But then I saw the year. It's a 1987, Precious Moments baby's first Christmas ornament. Brand new from a shop in Pennsylvania. E said he had been searching for two months to find something new rather than used. But he did it! Being all big and pregnant and already an emotional person, I cried. It means a lot to me that he went through all that just to get me my own baby ornament. What a great guy I married.

And check this out! It is my new massive craft storage system that E designed and built for me! Six medium wire baskets, three large wire baskets, two open shelves, and an open top. Every piece of fabric and yarn skein I have (minus two current projects) fit in it. I cannot tell you how happy I am for this. My little sewing table was covered with boxes of yarn and projects so everytime I wanted to sew I had to clear it all off, and when I was done, put it all back. I'm so proud of E for making this for me. And I'm so proud of it! Sometimes I just like to look at it and admire it. Too bad it won't look this organized in a month or so. But all of the yarn is in one place and baby's room is clear of craft stuff so come the beginning of February we can start decorating! Yay!

Because with Christmas over, E needs something to work on! He's been busy playing with Little A's toys and putting them all together, and luckily they're all together now! So bring on the new year! We're ready for it!

I even got new socks for it, and who can resist new socks to ring in the new year with? Not this girl! I really hope you have a safe new years eve, and enjoy a drink for me will you? This preggo will be struggling just to stay awake passed 10:30. Be safe and merry!

Until next time!

Catch Up

Boo! Did I scare you? I know you probably thought I was missing for good, sorry I've left you hanging. Three weeks ago I hurt my back and hips pretty bad and didn't have the energy to post. Two weeks ago I was getting ready for Thanksgiving, though better women bloggers than I posted AND got their turkeys cooked, I applaud you! This passed week Little A has decided after all this time, that she thought it was a good idea to get out of bed after I left her to see how many times she could get away with it. I admit, it was cute the first two nights, but it quickly became taxing and physically draining. By which time, once she stopped, I zombie out in front of the tv.
Then Monday night, as I was finishing a baby hat, my smoke detectors went off. I was in the basement and immediately ran up the stairs, checked all the rooms, especially Little A's because she has a little heater in there to keep her room warmer, it's right over the garage. But I didn't see any smoke or smell anything. I called E at work and couldn't get a hold of him, then called my mom an got the alarms to stop. The poor corgis running every which way to hide from the noise. My mom said it could be a fluke but if it happens again get everyone out. Right as I was saying, "I will," the alarms went off again. I hung up, called 911, put my shoes and jacket on while I was on the phone with them. Hung up, grabbed the sleeping Little A (she slept through the whole thing until that point), threw her in her carseat and got the corgis in the car and got out. As I was backing up there was already a cop outside. He came out to see how I was and said to just wait the fire department was on it's way. My friend two doors down texted me asking if I was ok. The fire department was inside checking things out so I texted her back and told her we were fine. My mom called E for me so I could just focus on what was going on. It all turned out to be an expired detector and a dead battery. I didn't know they expired, but it makes sense. But everything was good and it's always comforting to know the emergency system works.

Poor Tonka, he wouldn't come in the house for awhile, but once he did he hid in the shower. Little A went right back to sleep and E finally got home. It was a pretty weird situation. Phew, so glad all of that is over.

I've been pretty busy crochet-wise. These are the fingerless gloves I made for my mom for her birthday. I'll have to get a better picture of them on her hands later. Yeah, I made them while watching TV in be one night.

I've been working in some hats too. Virginia was my model for a few of them.

She's pretty good at it.


Little A... Not so much. She likes to see the picture as it's happening, so right as you get her to hold still and snap the picture, she moves!


Virginia holds still long enough, but doesn't sit well.


But then the knee always works too. I'm almost done with my step-dad's blanket, all the squares are sewn together but I need to finish weaving in like 8 ends and do the border. You know, stuff that doesn't take long but you put it off because you know it doesn't take long and then you end up doing it the night before yore giving it away. I'm going to try not to let that happen. Then there's still my mom's Christmas present that's like 1/8 done but won't take long if I just do it!


This is a present for some Little in my life that's half finished too. I found the free pattern at
http://aprildraven.blogspot.com/2009/11/star-stuffie-twinkle-star-free-crochet.html
It's really fast and simple! If you need a star fix, this will help. I plan to attach a little blanket on one side to dazzle it up!


Here's a picture of the granny shrug I made! I used lion brand's USA yarn, which is super chunky, with a Boye's P hook. It was really bulky until after I washed it and I like it more, but I think it would look better post pregnancy. So no pictures of it on yet!


I am in love with making pillowcases! I made Little A one and plan on making some as Christmas presents too. I'll have to find the pattern and post it for you. It's so easy and fun!


And this is Little A's scrappy Christmas quilt. It was intended for someone else but I don't feel it's give away worthy, but Little A loves it so why not let her have it?


Ok! So I think I've got you caught up with all my crafty stuff, but I do have a few funny stories to tell you. (this is what I get for waiting so long to post) Little A loved her Thanksgiving day hot cocoa. She asked for it the next few mornings too. We had a nice quiet, three person turkey dinner. I made a full sized (smallish) turkey, my first because last year we just did a breast, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, fresh green beans with bacon, and crescent rolls. Just a regular Thanksgiving really.

Then one day a few days before Thanksgiving, E and I took a nap while Little A did an she woke up before we did and decided she was hungry. Every cabinet in the house is child-proof withthose little latches, but someone left the cereal cabinet open. Little A helped herself and when I found it she picked up a piece of Chex and ate it and said, "mmm, good snack." All I could do was laugh. The damage was done and it wasn't bad so no big deal! E told me the person who finds it the funniest has to clean it up. Whatever, I had a good laugh!

Then E put one of Little A's jackets on Tonka who hated it with a passion. He refused to move or look at me.

Can't you tell by the look in his eyes he's probably thinking death treats. It was worth it for the laugh too!

Besides all that, life has been pretty uneventful, thankfully. We did find out the sex of the baby, but E talked me into keeping it secret. For now anyway. And if you think those hats give it away, you'd be wrong, those are going to other people. :-) Sorry to disappoint! Well anyway, now that we're all caught up, I guess this is bye or now! Have a great week!

Until next time!

Goal!

Hello! Hello! What a wonderfully lazy day I've had. I did some hooking earlier today but haven't done much of anything else really. But that's ok! It's actually extra ok because...

It's done! Completely, 100% done! Washed and everything, and cuddled with by everyone, including Mabel, who is the ultimate blanket tester. There has honestly only been one or two blankets that corgi has refused to lay on, not sure why though.

So last Wednesday after I had posted I thought to myself, why can't I get it done by next week? What is stopping me? Well, me, but I decided I wouldn't stop myself and got to it that day while Little A was napping. I set it all up and quilted each row vertically. One row at a time thinking it would be more random that way. I was right. And when Little A got up from her nap she saw it all laid out on the floor and said. "wow!" That little girl has never said wow before.

I got a little daring and did some hearts in the few solid pink squares I had. They're wonky but lovely I think.

I had way less ends to weave in with this quilt versus my nephew's quilt. My nephew's quilt was my first free motion experience but smaller than this quilt. This one is approx. 56x71 inches. But still not big enough for E. Sigh. He always tells me, when it's for me make it bigger than you think it needs to be, and then bigger.

It's perfect for me though! And he can still curl up under it in the chair.

I finished it yesterday morning and threw it in the wash before he saw it. It's actually a great learning tool too! Little A would run over and dance on it every time I spread it out on the floor and I would ask her to find the dogs, bugs, stars, flowers, etc. She would grin when she found what I asked for.

So happy anniversary (which was in July) to my wonderful husband. This is a little token fro me to you to say thank you for all of your hard work, thank you for going to work for Little A, Baby #2, and myself. This is a little piece of hard work from me to you. I sure do love you more than any quilt could really express.

Anyway... The other thing I was hoping to accomplish happened too. With a small set back.

It's the pattern "Contemporary Pinwheel" from the 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans & Throws. A Christmas present for my step-dad, I think I might try to do a version for my dad in Irish flag colors. Yeah, we're Irish. Or maybe like the German flag... We're German too. I have other stuff I need to make first though. Back on track; I got half of the pattern done and assembled when E suggested it was going to be too small. So do I add another two rows to make it longer or just leave it as the pattern says? What do you think? My goal is to have it completed by Thanksgiving. This should leave me plenty of time to complete my other holiday items. I've also started another crochet baby blanket. I'm not sure which baby it's going to go to. I have two cousins expecting, one in May the other in June, and my step-brother's girlfriend is due in May.

Besides all that, Daddy and Little A have been spending much more quality time together lately and it makes me happy. I love watching those two together.

Little A also ran off with a box of cereal the other morning. I caught her while watching Cars with her snack and when she was done she stood up on the blanket chest and threw chex squares to Mabel and Tonka. Oh that girl.

Well any hoot, that's all I've got for today. I hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week and have a great weekend!

Until next time!

Halloween

Good day! It's so nice that it's finally November. October was a good month but for some reason I'm glad it's over. Halloween was amazing! I hope you all had a great one too. We didn't go trick or treating on Halloween but I have a short little picture show to explain our Halloween events, yes there were many. The week before Halloween I finally started on her costume. I made a Yoshi hat and Yoshi body with a tail. I traced a pair of her pajamas on the green fleece and then sewed a white belly on one of the pieces and a zipper on the other piece and sewed the two pieces together. I made the tail detachable with velcro, and the same with the saddle.

Friday, the 28th, Daddy, Little A, and I went to the play group that our Parents as Teachers throws twice a month. She loved it! She loved all the kids and the toys, she really loved her costume too. All the kids were dressed up too. It was a blast!

Her tail cracked me up. E was the one that suggested I should probably make it detachable and it was a good thing he recommended it. It really helped with the whole car seat situation.

Friday night my mom and I took her to the Spooktacular downtown. The city blocked off the whole street and all the businesses passed out candy. Little A learned really fast that if she held up her bucket and said "treat" someone would put some candy in there.

My sister told me it looked like I was holding a real Yoshi's hand. If Yoshis were real.

All the kids knew she was supposed to be Yoshi and all the adults commented on how cute of a dinosaur she was. BUT! Most people did know she was a girl, as she's gotten older she rarely gets mistaken for a boy anymore.

Saturday, E took us to the Trick or Treat at the Barn at the Ag Hall of Fame. They have this little set up with old farm houses, school house, blacksmith shop, hatchery, and train depot complete with a mini train that circles the town. I didn't get any pictures except the one where she's hugging the Chick-fil-a cow. She hugged him like eight different times. She loved that cow.

Sunday, we had a bonfire at my in-laws'. Little A got dressed up again an we got this picture with her new baby cousin, older cousin, and nana. This was also the only picture I took there. Papa took the girls on a tractor ride in the small trailer and Daddy took Little A on a big tractor ride. I had to stand behind E on the hitch and hold her hand while she sat on his lap. She wouldn't go otherwise.

Monday was nice and relaxing really. Until 5 o'clock. Little A took a two hour nap and instead of getting the rest of our costumes put together, I took it easy. It was a double edges sword. I relaxed because I needed it but that time could have been spent finishing the costumes so come 5 pm I wouldn't have to rush arous getting things done.

It ended up working just fine though. The costumes were a hit with all the trick or treaters and Little A had fun running down to greet all the treaters with "hey guys!" and showing them the direction to the candy. She did really well when we would chase her as she wondered away with some other family and drug her back to the driveway. Our front door is hard to get to because of the stairs and we would have to sit by the door to avoid stairways inside. It's always easier to just sit in the garage.

The mustaches were my favorite part of our costumes. They were just cut out black fleece secured to our faces with double sided tape. E's was the best though.

It was a great Halloween! Little A got a bath and we threw her in bed, popped some popcorn and watched Day of the Dead. Love zombie movies! But I'm glad it's over. I never knew having a kid would make holidays so much more busy. I wonder what it'll be like with two in tow...

Well, the big granny (king size) has come out of storage. How does something get so stinky in storage? It's washed and on our bed now. So snuggly. I made this for E for Christmas '09, he had no idea it was coming!

But all other crafty has come to a trickle. Almost a stand still really. It's so cold outside today that it makes me want to hurry and finish our anniversary quilt so we have a new blankie to snuggle under. That'll probably be next in my list to complete. How cool would it be to have done by next week so I can show you?! One can dream...

20 days until we find out the Great Secret this little baby is keeping.

Until next time!