Q is for Queen

 This week Briella is learning about Q and in a crazy moment I decided to make a crown for her to be a queen and of course Gideon gets a crown, too. They are reversible, but Gideon was crying about his owie (see how he is holding his arm out so nothing can touch his forearm where there is a small scratch).  So here is the butterfly side of Briella's crown.  She has some dress up clothes, so she has been wearing a dress with her crown and says she's a queen and she is fancy :)

Jump Around

I'm not sure how this little 'game' even started . . . but I'm pretty sure it was Gideon's idea.  He loves jumping and finds new and dangerous ways to test his 'skills.'  Briella is often in the background telling him it is dangerous or to be careful. So they were using the balls as stairs to reach the top of the couch and then jumping onto the couch.  Anyway, you'll notice the supportive parent in the background trying to keep things safer.  After said safety-conscious parent suggested trying to land on their butts rather than just jumping to land on feet or knees, it took Gideon two seconds to figure out the new and improved jump with gusto.  Briella on the other hand needed lessons and hand holding (literally) to get her to attempt such feats. I do think the real safety police captured some great air shots :)

 Here is a picture of Asher's TWO teeth!

 

the long awaited Purse

 I am SO excited that I finally finished Briella's purse!  I cut it out last week and sewed it last night after the kiddos were in bed and Stephan was trying to fix the washing machine that was full of wet diapers . . . I was having a lot more fun than he was!!
The original plan for the purse was to put a "B" on the purse like the tutorial . . . I couldn't find a cool looking "B" worth cutting out and then with the holes in a B it seemed more complicated than it was worth.  Basically I chickened out . . . After a few minor issues I got the purse together and decided a little fabric flower would really add some cuteness, so I found a tutorial or three and made a flower (this morning I made 2 more because I thought it needed it . . .)

 

I was so excited to show Briella this morning . . . but she saw it on the counter and came to me with a big smile saying "I see a purse . . . "  I missed presenting it, but she is thrilled with how it turned out and I'm quite pleased myself!

Every time a finish a project I feel more comfortable sewing and it makes me think I can make more things . . . next up: ties for my little guys!!

Sew Crafty

 

The other night after the kids were in bed I went to my sister's house to do a little cooperative sewing (She does the hard stuff and advises me on the easy stuff).  I made a wet bag for my diapers, I bought one from another mom and decided a second one would be nice, so the blue bag is a for my diaper bag so when I change my cloth diapers while we are out, I can put the wet one in there and it doesn't smell up the diaper bag, the van, or the store/house.  Zippers are not the easiest, but I bought a separated one which made sewing it quite easy.

Since little Asher is drooling more and most of his bibs have been through Landon and Gideon, I wanted a few more nicer looking bibs.  On Pinterest I found some cute bib ideas where you use old shirts to make into cute bibs (upcycling is the crafty/environmentally friendly term to describe using old stuff) . . . So I cut up a couple of my old shirts and found clearance terry cloth to back them.  I need to do the velcro closures after I buy some velcro.

Crafty Mindy didn't need a pattern and she whipped out this cute little wallet for Briella.  My next project is to sew a purse that will match the wallet . . 

sew much fun!!

Five Months

 Asher is 5 months old now!  He weighs 17 pounds, unofficially . . . and this morning I felt his first tooth!  He is about a pound ahead of Briella and Gideon at 5 months.  I checked their calendars and they both had their first tooth around 7 1/2 months!?! Not sure I like this news, but oh well, not much I can do!  Asher has been shoving his fingers and various toys in his mouth a lot recently so I have been checking for teeth and this morning was the first time I felt tooth rather than a hard bump.  So the drooling will probably continue for months and months . . . which is why one of my next sewing projects is going to be bibs!
I can't take a picture of one without these two goofballs wanting in on the action!  Here are my smiling sweethearts :)

Craftiness

 I finally found some time to do some sewing projects on my 'new' sewing machine I am buying from my Mom.  I made Asher a little monster taggie, a mini version of Gideon's.  Asher promptly broke it in with some drool . . .

 I added his name to one of the legs for a personal touch . . . I'm not sure if it my lack of embroidery experience, or the difficulty of embroidering on the fleece, but it was hard to make neat letters! Must have been the fabric ;O

 Stephan built these doll bunk beds for Briella as a Christmas gift and I sewed some 'mattresses' and pillows to go with them.  She is pretty excited about her bed and there have been babies sleeping in it ever since!!  (In the background you can see our new glider rocker from Grandma VM, we love it!!)

 After a two week break, we are back to our preschool letters . . . we made ice cream for I last week.  Briella is getting better at writing her name and coloring and it is fun to see her learn!  She has progressed from scribbling in the vicinity of the shape with one color to using different colors on the picture and staying closer to the lines.  I didn't realize this slow progression, but I'm thankful she has made some progress, because I was starting to wonder if she was just a messy colorer.

Four Months

At four months Asher is weighing around 15 pounds.  He is starting to use his arms to grab at things, so toys are actually fun now.  He is also shoving his fist in his mouth frequently and I'm hoping it's not teeth already . . . and we are really pushing the pacifier to avoid thumb sucking.