Favorite Sound

This is my favorite sound to hear.

A Few Crafts

So...we have no real decorations... none at all...for anything. Lucky for us we don't need any right now. But at some point I think (hope) we'll have our own place and then I'll wish we had some. So, I've been trying to make a few things for the different holidays. The timing's a little off, but I've waited until after the holidays to buy stuff on sale.

I got a little 4 foot pre lit Christmas tree on an awesome after Christmas sale. I thought it would be perfect to be a 'fun' tree that kids can decorate. So I needed a fun skirt to match.

The little pom poms are my favorite part.

My mom and sisters made pumpkins a few years ago. They were able to dig up the pattern and I just finished making a couple. They're kind of fun.

7 Months

Here are some pictures at 7 months. She can now sit up on her own pretty well. She still leans forward some and topples over now and then, but she's gotten a lot better at it. Luckily she's still immobile, but I don't think that's going to last for long.

WOW

Hannah took a 2 hour and 25 minute nap earier today. Amazing. This is most definitely a record. I got so much done - everything on my list and then some. I kept checking on her to make sure she was still breathing. Here's a picture at the 2 hour mark. I'm not getting my hopes up on her doing it again, but it was amazing.

Lessons Learned This Week

* Hannah will tinkle in the bath tub no matter how wet her diaper was before going into the tub
* the generic brand of diapers now results in LOTS of blowouts (we're talking an average of at least one a day).
* blowouts are not fun to deal with in a public restroom
* her giggle makes it all better

* homemade wheat bread fresh from the oven is one of my favorite treats (yes it is possible for me to write about something other than Hannah)

A Few Projects

So, I think I'm lacking a little in the creativity department. But, I've seen some fun projects from different blogs - between that and my sisters creativity I've been inspired to do a few projects. Here are a few things I've been working on:

Treat jars - They were easy, used scrap material, and baby jars I don't know what to do with. The only problem, is they're pretty useless. However, I'm thinking they'd make good little gifts for visiting teaching - maybe fill them with some valentine's candy for next month? We'll see.

I made a few aprons. I started with a reversible half apron from a pattern I found online. I think it's cute, but I also think half aprons are basically useless for baking. So I made my own reversible full apron pattern. This one's more realistic, but now that I look at it it's kind of boring. I think I'm going to try a different pattern that's more exciting and make one for myself.



I organized my material and I've been trying to get rid of my scraps. Here I made some baby rings...

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.... and some baby blocks.

They're not hard at all - the rings did take some time, but the blocks were quick and easy.

A "learning to walk belt" for Hannah. I realize it's a little premature, but I had all the stuff on hand and it'll be ready when she needs it.

I also made some basket liners for Hannah's room. These are supposed to be laundry baskets, but we never change her in her room, so they're currently storing toys and books.

I got most of these ideas from my new favorite blog makeitandloveit.blogspot.com I've got a few more projects to finish, then I'm thinking about moving into the world of felt toys for kids... I dunno. We'll see what happens.

A Closet Full

I realize most girls have lots of clothes, but this is a little out of control. Hannah has a ton - at LEAST double what I have. Here are the totes:

Yes, the diapers box has clothing too!

And here's what's in the closet:

This doesn't include what's in her drawers or her shoes. Basically, she's got a ton of clothes. There is a perk to being the youngest - my sisters are done with lots of their children's clothes, so they have lots to give me. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE the fact that they've given me so much cute stuff. I just can't believe how much stuff one little being could have. My guess is this is only the beginning.

New Years Resolutions

So, I've never been huge into new year's resolutions because I try to do weekly goal setting. I usually do smaller goals more often, but I've decided to make some new goals for the new 2010 year. Here are a few:

* eat 1 serving of fruit and veggies each day. I know that's embarrassing to admit I don't always do because it's so easy, but since having the fruit in Thailand the stuff we get here is so blah. I do pretty well on the veggies, but I need to do better.

*scripture study before Hannah wakes up. Once she's awake I don't get too much out of it. So I'm going to try doing it before I exercise and hopefully I'll still get both done.

*study Thai. I don't care if it's listening to a cd, reading something, or talking with James I need to do something in Thai each week because I'm already forgetting it!

* recognize the hand of the Lord in my life each day. Sometimes I get too caught up in what we don't have or what didn't happen that I take for granted the blessings.

* save $. We talk about going back to visit Thailand, or Germany, or pretty much anywhere else, but it's not going to happen without money. I figure if I only spend half of my monthly allowance and am very careful about getting good deals and using coupons for our groceries I can save the difference. It might take a few years (:D) but eventually it'll add up.