Celebrate the Boy!

Woo Hoo!  Rae and Dana are doing another round of Celebrate the Boy.  I looooved this series last year, since I had just started sewing and my own boy was my inspiration.  I can't wait to see what they come up with this year!

Birthday and Valentine Crafts

I mentioned previously that C turned four last week.  In preparation for her big birthday, she chose some Valentine-y, Hello Kitty fabric for a twirly skirt.  We had lots leftover for bean bags and totes.

I don't remember the exact dimensions I used for the bean bags...maybe 4.5 x 4.5?  I sewed them right sides together, leaving a gap for turning, then filled with pintos and top stitched the opening closed.  S actually helped me do them, from filling bags to helping guide them on the machine.

Here's visual evidence of his help:

I made the tote bags using this Classic Tote tutorial as a rough guide and based my measurements on our old Cat in the Hat bag that fits "kid stuff" nicely.

The tutorial makes great use of french seams.  I'd forgotten how much I love those!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What we've been doing...

We've had an unusual week here, semi-snowed in, preparing for C's 4th (!!)  birthday, dealing with sickness, and trying to pack.  Here's how that looks when four little hands help:

Shameful, isn't it?  I'm reading a lot of organizing books right now, getting rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff, and vowing to start our life in our new house very organized.

Here is what our new house looks like!

 The marsh view:

One photo of the living room.  I didn't do a very good job taking interior photos, but we are excited about our new space!

C's big birthday was fantastic.  I can't believe my little girl, born on my mom's birthday (and Super Bowl Sunday, coincidently), is now FOUR!  She is so full of life, loves to sing, and never stops moving.  I truly admire her tenacity and hope that she always carries that with her, always standing up for what she believes.  Unfortunately, she didn't get to bring her cupcakes to school because of the weather, and then I was lying-on-the-floor-all-day sick on her actual birthday, but we managed to eat "Chinese noodles" and make a delicious mint chocolate cake (both per her request) for her big day.  Today, we had a small party with three friends from school and she and S both helped me sew little tote bags for her friends.  What a brilliant idea--teaching the kids to enjoy sewing so I can sew during the day!  On another sewing note, that $50 machine that started my addiction has officially said he's had enough.  I was forced to learn how to use my grandmother's very old Singer and I am so glad I finally figured it out.  Metal parts=quiet sewing!  And now Gram is with me every time I sew.

Flying with a Baby--a message to my sister

Don't worry, I'm not planning on having another baby anytime soon.  I just decided to post this e-mail message to my sister, because I've been asked this question a few times and thought it would be nice to have it all in one place.

Here's the largely un-edited e-mail....

Pack for the plane:

-lots of pacis

-2 blankets (one to keep as back-up in case other gets dirty. love the Aidan & Anais blankets for this)

-nursing cover (if you don't want to use a blanket)

-burp cloths (include extra in case of droppage)

-diapers & wipes.  Do NOT skimp, bring a lot more than you think you'll need just in case.  I usually packed a diaper-changer w/ what I thought I'd use, then had a ziplock w/ back-ups in the bottom of my back pack.  You just never know when you may get stranded in Dallas for 2 days w/ only one days worth of supplies.

-also in the bottom of backpack, pack an extra shirt for yourself and extra clothes for baby.  Would bring 2 outfits for her (one being warm jammies)

-favorite toys, preferably stuff that doesn't make noise for the sake of your other passengers

-surprise items, which can be totally random like a straw from Starbucks or the plastic cups

-lots of snacks for you, things you can eat w/ one hand.  Again, that time I got semi-stranded in Dallas I was soooo happy for food.  Nursing momma needs calories.

-water bottle(s) to fill once through security.  Remember, nursing momma also needs hydration :)

-hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes.  You can buy little packets of hand sanitizing wipes which are also good to wipe down the tray, etc on the plane

-tylenol for baby, and her antibiotics (don't put in suitcase, want to make sure you have it in case luggage gets lost)

-any meds you might want for yourself (had to pay $6 for 2 ibuprofen during my Dallas stint but so happy to have it)

-chapstick

-little tube of diaper cream (in original package, don't bring the stuff we make b/c you may have to throw it out). lather her up when changing dipe, even if no rash, just in case she has to go long w/o a change

-disposable changing pads.  I cut the big ones in half.

-bags for dirty dipes and trash.  Ziplocks for things like pacis (including an extra for the "dirty" stuff you'll when to wash after the flight)

-breast pads if you are prone to leaking

When you pack your carry-on(s) try to keep stuff you'll need (toys, wipes, pacis, blanket) on the plane on top, or put it in a smaller bag that you can pull out of your back pack and put in easy reach.  

Remember when going thru security that even children are required to take off shoes.  Although she has lots of cute clothes, I'd go w/ the easiest for diaper changes :) Use the "family" line at security if they have it.  There is no restriction on liquids for kids, so you can pack a cooler w/ a freezer pack and milk or whatever else (when they are older I packed juice boxes, food, etc in the cooler).  You'll still need to put the cooler and/or liquids bag in a separate bin on the security line (can't leave it in your backpack).  You will likely need to put the car seat and stroller on the scanner so be prepared for that.  I recommend wearing her in your mei tai or bjorn if you are comfortable so you can have your hands free to get thru security.  You won't have to take her off.  You WILL have to take her off on the plane, though.  Hubby can get a gate pass when you check in at the airport, just needs to show his ID.  When you check in, ask if they can "block" an empty seat next to you.  Quite unlikely on this trip since it's fall break and very busy, but still worth asking.  Don't be offended if the airline people are snippy, it definitely happens but the flight attendants are usually pretty nice.  

When you get to the gate, ask them for the tags to gate check the stroller and car seat.  Make sure you already have them labeled w/ your name and cell phone number (get those tags at check-in).  When you board, you'll leave the stuff right at the entrance to the plane (after you've walked down the ramp).  You'll hopefully get to board early, although some airlines don't do that anymore.  

Wearing something easy to nurse in, pee while holding a baby, etc.  If you need to pee on the plane, a flight attendant will usually be happy to hold baby, unless they are busy handing out beverages, etc.  I always made sure to pee before getting on the plane, just in case.  I also changed baby then to avoid changing on the plane.  Some planes have a changing table in one of the bathrooms, just a little thing above the seat that folds down.  Often, I had to change baby on the seat.  Now is the time to use your most effective dipes.  If you use disposables (which are definitely easier when flying) I often put a cloth cover over top just in case of pesky blow out (maybe W isn't as prone to poopie up the back? hated that).

Nurse her during take-off, or give a paci.  Same for landing, unless she's sleeping, then I wouldn't wake her.  I sometimes gave Tylenol before the flight to presumably help w/ ear pain, but have stopped doing that b/c I don't know if it would really make a difference.  My kids have never had a problem and usually fall asleep during descent.

Remember that her favorite toy is you, so play peak-a-boo, tickle-bugs, zerberts etc when she seems fussy.  Get up and walk around if you can.  If any passenger gives you a hard time, remember they were once a baby, too, and probably a pretty crabby one.  Kill them w/ kindness (and W's cuteness).   I know it sounds crazy, but I get this zen-like calmness w/ flying w/ the kids, and when they sense that you are calm, it makes it a lot easier for them.  Remember that it is only a few hours of your life and theirs, so if something goes wrong, roll w/ it.

Wow!  That's a really long post, but now I won't have to ever retype it again!

Hats & Aprons

C & S looooove to cook, both in their play kitchen, and in my kitchen.  Santa happened to raid my fabric stash to make them some personalized chef hats and aprons for Christmas.

S isn't really into wearing his carrot-themed apron (although he really does love carrots!).  C's hat came with a stuffed rat underneath, a la Remy from Ratatouille.  The hat came from this tutorial and the aprons from here.  I used something a bit thicker than quilting cotton for the body of the hat, and feared my thread might break while gathering, but in the end am happy with how the hats "stand up" better.  The circumference of the hat barely fits C, but S still has some adjusting room.  But our kids do have bigger than average heads!

The apron pattern is great.  I love the elastic neck and the velcro closure.  C and I cook a lot and now she had an apron that fits her well.  I added a pocket to each of them, too, so they have a place to store a notebook and pen when playing restaurant.

Twirly Skirt

C has suddenly found her inner "twirl"so now I can start sewing little girl skirts.  Good practice because I hope to sew myself some skirts, too, before our move to the humid Georgia coast.

I made these two Twirly Skirts in one night, albeit with much cursing at my sewing machine.  I thought for sure she'd choose the orange one (her sometimes favorite color) but she went with pink.  The other skirt went to a friend for her fourth birthday.

I was secretly hoping she would choose to keep the orange, because I like the pink enough to make myself one, too, but I think it would be really dorky if we had matching skirts, yes?

Both of the girls are rather tall, so I used the pattern for size 110cm but the skirts are almost too big.  At least they'll get a few twirly seasons in, I hope!

Tree Skirt

I know Christmas has passed, but we didn't put up our tree until a few days before, so we're still celebrating here.  I also wanted to post some photos of the tree skirt that has been four years in the making.

Sorry for the lack of creative photography, but it's hard to get good lighting, lack of blurriness, and still see the skirt.  The tree is up on the table because we have a very curious one year old.

Obviously, we're not just "The       Family".  Embroidery was done at Hip Stitch, a very fun sewing lounge and supply store.  Eventually, I'll hand stitch the year around each hand.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday.  Looking forward to a fantastic 2011!