Joyeux Noel - Christmas 2012

As snow falls softly outside our second floor apartment's living room window, I'm reflecting on all of the Christmas-y events of the past couple weeks.

We went to several Christmas parties with some great people, Adeline and I went to the Rotary Lights downtown with some of my favorite people, and lots of shopping for presents and crafting occurred.

On Christmas Eve, our church had two services that, this year, I happened to be very involved in: planning and on the worship team. Like most Sunday services, Adeline made it to the sermon or prayer during both services, hyped up on the music and energy from the special lighting, and decided, since it was quiet, it was now time to start talking up a storm! Luckily the hubby was there to take her to play in the nursery, since this time I was a bit preoccupied with everything else. Our theme for Christmas Eve was "Light and Love", the theme song being "Light of the Stable". It was such a blessing to see everything fall together the way it did and to be a part of it! It definitely was a great reminder of "the reason for the season"(as corny as that may sound). Especially after all of the recent tragic events around the nation, it was wonderful to hear about our hope for the future and God's unending love... this world with all of it's grievances and pain is not all there is!

Adeline's first Christmas certainly didn't disappoint! We started out the day driving to Matt's parent's house, and got to watch all of the babies (and older kids, of course) open their presents! Addie got plenty of new toys and Matt got Batman footy pajamas. After that we had Christmas #2 at Matt's grandparent's house, with more food and presents. Adeline was pretty tired and cranky by the time we got home.

Christmas #3(with my family) was yesterday. Adeline and I went over early in the day to bake cookies with my brothers, parents, and Emily (Michael's girlfriend, you may remember from Thanksgiving)...and boy, did we make a lot of cookies! Any broken ones (and, Honestly, some unbroken) were turned into zombies once decorated. Matt joined us after work for presents, Fievel Goes West(one of my gifts and a quintessential movie of my childhood), a game of Dominion (Matt and my gift), and Bezzerwizzer (a family fav).

Lots of memories made and photos taken with my favorite gift: a gorgeous and fancy Nikon Coolpix P510 (from Matt)! Now I'm already looking forward to this next year and especially Adeline's first birthday! Already in planning mode thanks to Pinterest :)

I hope you all had a lovely holiday, as well! And, Happy New Year!

<3 Katie

Thanksgiving...all 4 of them

This past week we celebrated a day set aside to give thanks. This year it also meant a lot of travel and food and family. Starting off with Wednesday night at my parents, we ate and ate and watched the Muppets! My little muppet even ate some sweet potatoes, which was super exciting seeing that it was the first time she had eagerly eaten anything that wasn't paper or cardboard or a bug. My crafty contribution to the holiday was a felt feather headband i made for the munchkin to wear (I'm so thankful  she wears things on her head with no complaints!). Thanksgiving #2 was lunch on Thursday at my in-laws. With aunts, uncles, cousins, and two doggies to play with (she loves animals!), Adeline had a blast! There was also more sweet potatoes for her to munch on. She was worn out by the time we got to #3 with Matt's aunt, uncle, and grandparents. Adeline was a bit grumpier than usual but we still had fun and got home to get some sleep in before Friday's shopping frenzy with Matt's aunt and Adeline. Of course, we didn't do the 8PM Thursday thing, more like 7AM...which turned out to be perfect as far as parking spots went, we kept getting spaces right up front of every store. 12 hrs later, baby in tow for every single one,  we came home and i got to work on Vanilla Chai cupcakes for Thanksgiving #4. Saturday morning bright and early (and with my body aching as though I'd run a marathon rather than shopped the whole day before) we got into the car and drove to the Chicago area, to my aunt's house with the babe sleeping the whole way. Yummy soups, sandwiches, and treats (including my labor of love cupcakes that turned out pound cake consistency, since I forgot baking soda...oops) greeted us, as well as lots of my extended family (Matt was a trooper and Adeline loved the excitement). My oldest younger brother came from college and his adorable and funny girlfriend was there, too (come on, Michael, put a ring on it already). Adeline didn't sleep quite as well on the long way home, but, all in all, a great Thanksgiving week was had...and all my cupcakes were eaten.


Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful time spent with family! Thank you so much for the most beautiful blessing of a daughter that I get to spend precious time with every day and who I get to introduce to the fun things this life has to offer, like family and holidays! Thank you for Your amazing grace and unending, unchanging love.


Now, on to the next holiday! I can't wait for her first Christmas!

<3 Katie

Headbands!

So, I'm starting a business... sort of:

Slowly but surely, I've been building up an inventory of baby headbands made from old t-shirts and other jersey material. I started making them for Adeline at about 4 months old, when her big ol' head had outgrown all of the store bought ones (her head was in the 90% at one point!). We were actually on our way somewhere one afternoon and I wanted her to wear a bow... so I whipped one up, out of the trim on a jersey sun dress. It was wonderful for her, no marks left on her head like those elastic bands, super soft and comfy,  and for me, she looked cute and girly and actually left it on! I kept making them (had to have one to match every outfit, of course!), and people started expressing interest and saying I should sell them. I spent the last couple months making a large variety. Then my father, a potter, offered to let me sell some at his Autumn sales, and at a craft fair w/ my mother. So a couple weekends ago my mother, Adeline, and I went off on our craft fair adventure to sell pottery and headbands... and it went pretty well! I didn't go into it expecting too much necessarily, so it was a pleasant surprise. Adeline did so well, too! She loved all the people (there was a TON of people) and got a lot of attention... if we had been selling "Adeline's" we would have made a fortune, for sure! I definitely heard "oh she's so cute, I want to buy her!", and variations there of, many, many times that day. She made it through the day without much fussing, which was perfect, since we were in a high school hallway filled with people and she practiced her new skill of waving at everyone. Now, this weekend, my father is going to try to sell some more of my headbands at another big craft fair, so I'm hoping that goes well, too!

<3 Katie

P.S. for some awesome pottery check out Darrel Bowman Pottery

Baby Love

I absolutely adore being a mother... every day it becomes more and more apparent that I was made for this!

I just survived my first couple of hours separated(more than a room or two away) from my daughter. All day I was half-dreading the moment i was going to be leaving her with her daddy to go to the first night of our small group Bible study(men and women alternate weeks, since we all have small children). I reluctantly handed her over, sleeping like an angel and full-tummied, with a few last minute reminders he obviously already knew("Don't fall asleep holding her!" and "watch her closely, she puts everything in her mouth!"). On the drive there, I even found myself talking out loud as if she was in her car seat behind me. However, once I was there, sitting with iced-coffee in hand, I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the company of my fellow mothers. This will be doable!

Of course I was very happy to come home to smiles and cuddles! Once home, I found out that she had woken up shortly after I left and, after playing peacefully for a bit, realized I wasn't there and started looking for me and crying... so my husband had it a little rougher than I did, but I hope that will just get better with time! Needless to say, I returned to a baby bear and papa bear who were very excited to see me!

...and now here I am, on a bit of a coffee buzz, typing this, with a sleeping angel beside me once more. I just have to say it again...I love this!

<3 Katie

Nursery Craftiness

I have been working on Adeline's nursery little by little, and hopefully it will be done by the time she starts sleeping through the night. I still have her sleeping next to my side of the bed since she's breastfeeding and wakes up a couple times during the night to eat, but I'm hoping that once she starts solids (we're waiting 'til she's six-months-old), I might get a full night's sleep!

Most of the decor in her room so far is d.i.y. and It has been a ton of fun...I've painted canvases, strung bunting, decorated storage boxes, arranged books and toys and baubles...

I've been collecting a lot of pretty, vintage children's books to put on display (and read!)

Mommy's little helper, chilling in her crib

Some lovely '70's trim I am determined to use in at least one project...also i thought the tag line on the rust colored lace was hilarious.

I'll post some proper pictures when the whole room is done.

---Katie (and Adeline)

oh, hey there

Hello Blogosphere!

It has taken me an unusually long time to join you (if you don't count the awkward high school xanga), but here I am! I suppose it took me this long because I've been over-analyzing what i wanted to say and  how i wanted to present myself online. So this is what I have come up with thus far: I want my blog to be about things that are important to me, such as my wonderful new turn at motherhood and whatever lessons and adventures come of it, crafting my life, and trying my best to honor God and live according to His plan. I do not want this to be long, drawn out or overly personal by any means, and, yet, I want it to stay honest. This should stay a place to share my ideas (crafty rather than controversial) and brag about my adorable daughter. That's the plan anyway.

<3 Katie