The day of quilting

While I was getting ready, Abigail grabbed my phone for some pictures. I sometimes feel like she's supposed to be a college roommate or something sometimes. Complete with feet pictures. 

And the candid blow drying shot. 

My quilt is coming right along. We made block 11 and 12 (there was one for each month of the year) and figured out the best way to arrange them all and what kind of fabric options and border options and holy cow there are so many options when you quit following the pattern. At the quilt store you could purchase the finishing kit but I wasn't crazy about it and wanted to do something different. I'm glad my mother in law is up for helping me design my own way to finish it! 

Each month we got a little baggie with instructions and fabric. 

And then we would end up with a quilt block like the picture. 

I decided I didn't like white backing and of the black options, I like the darker "true black" the very best. 

After five or so hours of quilting, my mil took off to get Nate from school and Abigail said something like "can I dress up like a princess with all of the stuff that a princess has?"  A dress, wings (shhh, don't you dare tell her those aren't for a princess... Because it's precious), necklace, wand, light up shoes, a purple gel pen, a little naked Ariel doll, and probably more than I'm forgetting. 

Brady actually slept in til 11:30. I think that's some sort of record for him. It was perfect though because we were quilting like crazy and Abigail watched shrek because she had three stickers and in preparation for going to see the play on Saturday. Also, it was extra great because from 11:30 til 2:30 when we were quilting, Brady was screaming bloody murder unless I was holding him. Turns out, he is terrified of his grandma. Ha. Anyways, I put him down for nap as soon as my mil left and he slept from 2:45 until I woke him up at 5:15. As I woke him up, Abigail couldn't stop telling me what a great mother I was and how I was doing such a great job. I really do appreciate her sweet words. And Brady woke up just from the flash of me taking this picture. Abigail sleeps straight through Brady's screaming at night, even when I turn on all the lights to search for he binkies he's thrown overboard. These kids are night and day. 

My mil does the hard (and annoying) stuff like measuring and cutting fabric to size. I do the fun stuff like sew straight lines and watch a quilt form before my very eyes. 

Through it all I just keep thinking "quilting is soooo not my thing."  It is so incompatible with my children right now. That Brady needs to be held 24/7 and Abigail was obviously feeling neglected and almost near tears before I asked her why she was sad and we decided to play trains together. I'm just pushing through this and then I'll be done! And I'll add quilting to my list of "hobbies" aka "things I've done before."

A long and pleasant Friday

First, I freaking hate the blogger app. I was pretty much done writing this novel of a post and then the screen pops up that another post has published and it has the "share" button right there and I click it every single time because I'm always feverishly typing and it's right in the middle of the screen. And then when I click back, everything I've typed is gone. First, can we not be auto-saving that all along like a gmail draft?!  Second, I don't ever care about sharing this crap!  I'm not publishing this to Facebook or google plus or anything else... That's just not this kind of blog. Can we opt out?  Because I'm super ticked to write this entire post again. I mean, I love my life, but I don't need to relive it fourteen times in one day. Just let me type it once and call it good!  Okay, end of rant... Even though I still have horribly bad feelings in my heart about this. 

My friend Shaylee invited Brady and myself to the little gym for a "bring a friend for free day" and I was super excited. Although kind of worried. Brady cried allllll day Tuesday. And yesterday, he slept in til 11:30 and then cried for the following three hours. I was kin of stressing about how it would go waking him up at 8:15 and then taking him to a new place with tons of strangers. And I'd have to myself and both kids out the door by 8:30 when normally it takes us until noon to do that. 

Well, it actually all went perfectly!  Brady was in a good mood even though I woke him up early (by taking that picture of him actually... The flash woke him up. Contrast that to Abigail who regularly sleeps through Brady's screaming and doesn't even flinch when I also turn on all of the lights to look for any binkies Brady has thrown overboard. Those two are opposites to the core.)  we got there 15 minutes early, just as planned, so I had time to feed Brady a banana in his carseat. Also, there was no traffic which was nice except that I was a little bit bitter that there was zero traffic on chambers this morning at 8:30 and yet, it was standstill traffic on chambers at 8:30 on December 18th 2012 when I was in full blown labor with Brady. Anyways... Brady looooved the gym. 

He had a blast exploring and climbing and dancing. I think his favorite was the rings (like in men's gymnastics) where he would hold on and I'd just let him hang while he giggled like crazy and then he would let go and I'd half catch him, half let him fall on the squishy mat, and he would laugh up a storm again. It was so cute. My favorite was just seeing him do his thing. You could tell he knew something was up and that it was just for him. Abigail wasn't there and all of he kids around were just his size. He knew he had my full attention and that it was his moment. He walked around full of pride and living life. It was his privileged only child moment and it was amazing. He didn't cry one single time. Also, the other moms couldn't get over his track suit. But who's even surprised at that?!0

More quilt pictures. Just expect this for another week or two. 

We've had some neglected blueberries in the fridge and tonight, both kids decided that they loved them and had to have them. Great. Just in time for that failing produce. 

Abigail was so sweet and complimentary and such a good listener today. And it made me even more happy that she was looking especially like my mini. It was the hair I think. And her Thomas shirt. It warmed my heart. 

The kid out eats me every time. 

Also, after over a year of honey dropping his iPhone, he finally cracked the screen. It has been freezing like crazy and not working well (I guess this happens with the older iPhones and the newer operating systems?) and this was the final straw. Honey went straight from work to Verizon. He wasn't thrilled. 

Also, he knows how much I truly hate the post office. 

Other notables: I left a note and some pistachios in my honey's car as a surprise for him like when we were dating. 

We finally used the last of our Applebee's cards!  Just in time because they expires tomorrow. I'll be happy not to have Applebee's for a long time. 

Today seemed like a long day (maybe because Abigail had to sleep in her white bed last night and when she does, she wakes up at 7am... Or that it's 11:31 and Brady is still having a hard time going to sleep tonight... What the heck Brady?!  You had such a good day today!) but it's been good. It has lacked the normal annoying things that can get in the way of me having a happy day. Today, Abigail was funny and always saying hilarious things. Also sweet things about how I'm a great mom. I got to hang out with Shaylee and Jodi and my mother in law. I made progress on my quilt. Abigail didn't get too caught up playing in the bathroom and even pooped in the potty completely unsolicited by me. Brady didn't cry and he didn't need a binky at all except in his crib for sleeping!  No screaming during playtime with a binky in his teeth!

I enjoyed the drive to castle rock to get Applebee's. a car ride of silence is so peaceful and fulfilling. And a car ride of regular top 40's music is actually fun and hit the spot!  

It was all just normal and small but it came together perfectly and I loved it. 

Organized: sewing bag and craft closet

First, this morning, I woke up to the sound of my children giggling while Abigail read books to Brady. It's a good way to wake up. 

I tackled a much procrastinated task to clean out my sewing bag. It had scraps in there from 2008. Seriously. Actually probably every scrap SINCE 2008. Also, every button (that comes with a new item of clothing) I've ever gotten. I might be the best person on the planet about saving every single one of those suckers. 

I unloaded every single scrap and thread and needle. 

Meanwhile, Abigail found herself surrounded by paper and thought it would be a great idea to draw all over our kitchen floor. Baby girl, the world is not your canvas. Boundaries. 

She cleaned it up just fine though. And found so much joy in cleaning it up, I actually told her she wasn't allowed to clean anymore because it was my turn. Now I'm worried she's going to think our floors are like a giant dry erase board. 

I got out all my quilting stuff. My mil is coming over tomorrow for hours of quilting fun. We've set a deadline and are going to have my quilt finished in two weeks... maybe three... for buffer.  I started this quilt at the beginning of 2012 and worked on it all during my pregnancy with Brady. And not even once since then. He's probably not going to be impressed tomorrow and will likely cry constantly for not being on my hip 24/7 but it's okay. 2014 is my year. And as my offspring, that kid is roped in too. It's gonna be an awesome quilt. 

And now I'm armed with an organized sewing bag. 

All day Abigail wanted to build a house with books. She just kept stacking them and I was so confused with her plan u til she explained it and demonstrated it to me. Basically like building a tower with face cards. But somehow we built this on our first try and called it good. Hopefully waddles does not have claustrophobic tendencies. Also, I really need to take down that crib. 

I started working on this armoire in our playroom where we keep cards and keepsake letters and stationary and scrapbook stuff and Abigail and Brady's doctor journals (and accompanying papers). I have a lot to purge but today I just separated things so when I get some time, I can pull out a bin to work on. 

My strategy for organizing containers for our house is I only buy two kinds. Those large gray totes (all in the same size and color... Except the three Christmas ones) and these little clear bins. The big gray totes are the cheapest for the size and are readily available at Walmart where I shop all the time. These little clear bins are 88 cents and also readily available at Walmart. Everything stacks well and automatically matches because they're all the same. Also, should I find that I need a fourth bin for my closet and I only have three, I'm not up a creek because "I got these on clearance and they only had three and don't carry them anymore."  And if I want it that second, it's easy to borrow a bin from another area of the house. I use these currently in my kitchen, bathroom, kids closets, master closet, hall closet, basement, craft armoire, and probably even more places that I'm just forgetting right now. I like that they're small so they limit what I can put inside. Instead of being tempted to throw all of our outdoor stuff in one big container, I have to limit myself to a bin for ski goggles and gloves, a bin for ski hats and beanies, a bin for rain ponchos, etc.  It's working even better than I'd imagined. And everything just stacks better and looks cleaner without all these random cardboard, post office, clothing boxes and cookie tins. 

Also, bath toys aren't just for the bath. 

And thank goodness for Brady who regularly takes four hour naps... Especially when he does it on days like today when my body feels like it's going to break and I forgot to actually put dinner in the oven and left it sitting on the counter instead. Then at least I can say "my kid took a four hour nap for me."  And my optimistic three year old is sensitive enough to see my frustration and say "We're having a sad day today. Lets have a better day tomorrow!"  Warms my heart. 

Frankenstein Brady walks

Maybe I mentioned it already and maybe I didn't...

BRADY IS A FULL TIME WALKER. 

He still falls all the time because he's really unstable, but it does not deter him in the least... He never crawls as a means of transportation. Abigail did this pretty much over night so this has seemed like the longest experience of our lives... But it's been fun to watch. Now I'm just wondering how long it'll be until he's actually good at walking... Or running! The kid is growing up!

Abigail the bully

Tuesday, February 25th. Mark today as the day I changed my philosophy on Brady's constant injuries. I used to think it was because he was a boy. 

Now I'm pretty sure it's because he has a big sister. She's where he gets these ideas to climb on everything and try things other babies would never consider. Also, she pushes him down the stairs. 

It was only a stair or two but he landed hard on the hardwood floor. 

And holy crap... So much blood. Pouring out of his mouth and spraying and splattering with every cry. 

And through all of it, he insisted he wanted me to put his socks and shoes on. 

But how cute that I was blow drying my hair and he stopped crying long enough to pull out Abigail's Minnie blow dryer!  

And he spent the rest of the day on my hip and/or crying. Except for his four hour nap. Thank goodness for that. 

Today we went to a huge indoor bounce house gym. And then Abigail played at Elle's house send then came home and got to watch a movie because she had three stickers on her potty chart. How does she repay me for being the most awesome mom ever?  Well, she pushes Brady down the stairs to give him the fattest lip ever and then later in the day, poops in her undies two minutes after I told her to go potty. 

So Brady and I kinda didn't enjoy the day. The girl is cute but she's a bully for sure. 

And I still have the flu. I'm pretty sure my kids and my body are working together to kill me. Maybe I should request next Sunday that we have a special ward fast to get rid of my aches and chills and congestion so I can start living my life again. I used to think I was just surviving. Now I'm not so sure I'm even doing that. Here's to tomorrow... Also, anyone have tips for the parent of an intelligent three year old that occasionally purposefully pees or poops in her pants? I'm kind of over it. 

Monday

It was trash and recycling day. My favorite. 

Abigail decided she's obsessed with this vest. 

We all woke up so early, we had no trouble getting to story time on time. Brady actually participated. And mingled with the ladies. 

We met up with Jodi and Elle at the playground. The weather was perfection. 

Brady has a bad diaper rash. Again. I positioned his diaper just so and let him hang out on my hip... Bare bummed. 

Baby girl wanted to do "learning."  I need to stop being so selfish and put that kid in preschool. 

Brady has been really into beds lately and playing with the dollhouse bed, tucking people under the covers. At bedtime, he wanted to climb under Abigail's covers with her. He was thrilled. 

 Monday, Monday.