3.31.2012

DIY Easter Basket

As Easter approaches, all the sudden, I realized that our sweet baby girl didn't have an Easter basket.  So off to Pottery Barn Kid's website I went searching.  Well they are super cute, but what I was willing to spend only got us the personalized liner....yeah.  Not in the budget.  So the DIY-er and budget-crazy side of me got to thinking.  I was pretty sure I had all the supplies I needed at home to create a super cute Easter basket for Adeline that she could treasure for years to come.

My sewing machine has been giving me a lot of trouble lately...and thanks to my grandma and me putting our heads together, we finally found a way to work through the kinks it was giving me.  This opened up a whole new door of possibilities!

The main detail I wanted to have for her Easter basket was for it to be personalized with her name.  At first, I had no idea how I was going to pull that part off.  Oh, but I found a way!

Adeline was given a basket full of goodies after she was born from one of her great aunts in a pretty, pink basket.  I decided to re-purpose it for her Easter basket!


The other materials I had on hand to use were:

-pink material
-buttons
-a monogrammed hand-me-down t-shirt


The hand-me-down was a t-shirt that was a 2T that I honestly wasn't crazy about but was very thankful to receive.  I was so excited to be able to use it to re-purpose it!

I cut out the monogram from the t-shirt, sewed it onto the material I had, and created a few cutesy rosettes.


With a little bit of time at the sewing machine and some hot glue gun work...Adeline's Easter basket is now ready for her first Easter!



Pin It!

3.30.2012

Fitness Friday (week 12)

the blessed life


How did Week 12 go?

I did better this week as far as calories go, but ate pretty awful! We had fast food quite a bit and ate fried food that I hardly ever eat anymore.  Gross.  Back on the wagon now!

Was I active?

Yikes...not this week! ;) My goal is to get back on track with walks since the weather is so nice and Addie loves them.

Weight Loss?

Yes...down 1.8 more! (down 12 lbs from starting weight) I am now just 7 pounds away from my goal weight! Right on track--myfitnesspal hasn't steered me wrong with the calorie amount!

Measurements?

No change this week.

Waist: 28.5" (down 3.5" from starting measurement)
Thigh: 20.5" (down 2.25" from starting measurement)

Week 13 Goal?

Eat 2-3 servings of low fat dairy each day.

(See my list of weekly goals here.)

Now grab the button and link-up your Fitness Friday posts to share about your fitness journey! And if you have a moment...take some time to visit the links below and spread the love by encouraging these other awesome ladies that are joining in!

I haven't had the time to personally comment on your blogs here lately, but I am seeing your awesome work....keep it up!! You inspire me...that's for sure! :) I'm so glad many of you are finding encouragement in this weekly challenge!



Pin It!

3.28.2012

i heart consignment sales

I am loving this season of great baby deals!! The spring/summer consignment sales seem to take place every weekend these days... Although I haven't started selling in these yet, I am taking advantage of buying!! I am all about the deals...especially when it comes to huge, over-priced toys that we will only use for a season of Adeline's life. However, I don't like to compromise on quality...and that's where I've been most impressed with consignments. Clothes barely worn or never worn, books gently used, and large toys (exersaucers, bouncies, etc.) that look like they have barely been touched. A quick wash and sanitize...and these things are as good as new!

My most recent find was today at our church's consignment sale. All the proceeds go to our church preschool and as a member, we were able to shop early. Whoo hoo.

The finds:

-Lord & Taylor smocked romper (doesn't look to have ever been worn)
-canvas slip-on shoes for spring/summer
-4 board books
-Fisher-Price Deluxe Jumperoo (looks almost new)

The total price:

$21!!

Even better:

I shopped with a budget in mind and only spent cash that was out of our "blow money" envelope.

Check out Adeline's new goodies.



Pin It!

3.23.2012

Fitness Friday {week 11}

the blessed life


How did Week 11 go?

This week went pretty well.  I did struggle a bit more staying within my calorie limit due to it being my birthday week and us going out to eat twice...plus Justin spoiled me with some goodies at home...chocolate chip cookies for a treat and cinnamon rolls to heat up for breakfast.  Yum! Also, we had awesome weather once again but were just too busy to fit walks in.  I did stay a little active, though!

Was I active?

Friday-20 minutes of playing kickball with my kiddos at school
Saturday-15 minutes of yard work helping Justin pick up sticks in our front yard
Sunday-20 minute walk pushing Adeline
Monday-60 minute walk pushing Adeline (shopping at our local outdoor mall)
Tuesday-
Wednesday-20 minute cardio (included "4 minute workout" and sprinting up steep driveway a few times)
Thursday-

Weight Loss?

Yes...down 1 more! (down 10.2 lbs from starting weight) I am now a little over 8 pounds away from my goal weight!

Measurements?

Down in both areas this week! How did that happen?!

Waist: 28.5" (down 3.5" from starting measurement)
Thigh: 20.5" (down 2.25" from starting measurement) -- This makes it all worth the challenge by itself!!

Week 12 Goal?

Eat a salad each day + no creamy dressings. (We buy a huge container of organic mixed greens at Costco every other week and eat salads quite a bit already throughout the week.  This should, hopefully, be an easy goal for me to hit even with my busy schedule right now.)

(See my list of weekly goals here.)

Now grab the button and link-up your Fitness Friday posts to share about your fitness journey! And if you have a moment...take some time to visit the links below and spread the love by encouraging these other awesome ladies that are joining in!

I haven't had the time to personally comment on your blogs here lately, but I am seeing your awesome work....keep it up!! You inspire me...that's for sure! :) I'm so glad many of you are finding encouragement in this weekly challenge!

Pin It!

3.18.2012

a weekend of firsts

Out sweet girl is growing up way too quickly.  It seems like every time we turn around she has learned a new skill and is amazing us in a whole new way.  This weekend was packed full of firsts!

Saturday

-It was Adeline's first St. Patrick's day.  Since she has some Irish in her blood, she had to dress up a bit to celebrate!



-Adeline spent her first day "gardening" and working on the yard with Mommy and Daddy.  She mainly spent her time being cute in her swing and sunhat. :)


-It was also her first time celebrating Mommy's birthday.  My grandma, aunt and I always have a birthday celebration together since all of our birthdays are in March.  Adeline dressed up for the family birthday festivity by wearing her first tutu.  Too adorable for words.




Sunday

-Because of the gorgeous weather we've been having, Justin threw out the idea of a family picnic lunch after church.  It was a perfect idea! We grabbed KFC after church and headed to a local park.  Adeline's first picnic was a blast.





-After the picnic, Adeline went swinging and down the slide for the first time!  She loved the swing--she laughed and smiled the whole time.





-When we got home, she was exhausted.  She has been getting herself to her side in her crib and pack-n-play...but today I went in to check on her as she was going down for a nap (she was doing quite a bit of yelling--her new thing--so I knew she was up to something)...and found her on her belly.  It was the first time she's flipped over from back to belly all by herself.  (She mastered flipping from her belly to back quite a while ago.)  She wasn't crazy about it...so the new game now seems to be that we will have to flip her back to her back to go to sleep.  Although she definitely prefers sleeping on her side.


-On Saturday morning, my mom and I hit up a local kids consignment sale on its 1/2 price day.  We've been on the lookout for an exersaucer and decided we didn't want to spend close to $100 or over for a brand new one...just felt that was a bit unnecessary.  My mom made it to the sale a few minutes before Adeline and I did and found the one exersaucer they had left...we snagged it when we got there.  It was a whopping $15 and Adeline loves it.  After spending some of yesterday and today deep cleaning and sanitizing it, she spent a while this evening playing in it for the first time.  She was so excited.


-Adeline tried rice cereal for the first time on Sunday night! It was just okay to her...the spoon seemed quite interested to her. :)


What a busy, busy weekend.  But a fun one for sure!

Pin It!

3.17.2012

Four Months!

Dear Adeline Grace,

            You turned four months old on Friday, March 9th! How are you a third of a year old?! Oh how your personality just continues to come out more and more! You are so busy and spunky these days.  We are constantly finding ourselves shaking our heads and laughing at you.  You are a mover and a groover!



So what have we learned about you this month and what have you been up to in your fourth month of life?

Here are some of your firsts this month...

-On 2.13.12 Mommy went back to work and you stayed with Daddy.  It was a sad, sad day for Mommy...but we made it through! You are now staying with Daddy or your Grandma when I go to work! You are one blessed little baby!

-On 2.14.12 you celebrated your first Valentine's Day.  We just relaxed and cuddled at home that night since Mommy went back to work that week and was exhausted!

This month you also:

-have started really interacting with people in an intentional way
-started screaming and yelling (just for fun)
-grabbing at things and holding onto things really well
-became more squirmy (sometimes we will find you completed turned a 90 degree angle from where we laid you down in your bed and we have to strap you into your bouncy seat now or you will squirm your way almost out of it)
-started sitting in your Bumbo seat
-started blowing raspberries
-started giving kisses
-started going on a napping strike
-started being fussy during the night when you wake up
-learned how to get your way with a smile and your sweet little bottom lip pouting out
-really started paying attention to yourself and others in the mirror
-started grabbing your feet all the time and pulling them toward your mouth
-started putting almost everything into your mouth
-started realizing cause and effect....if you scream loud enough, Mommy or Daddy comes to check on you, you smile and get what you want (it's too cute, really)








So what do you like and dislike?

You love…

-your jungle gym and grabbing and kicking at the toys in it
-yelling and "talking"
-your changing table
-kicking lots in the bathtub (you create quite the mess)
-chewing on toys (including teething toys...we wonder if you are starting to teeth)

You dislike…

-naptime (going down for a nap, mainly)
-getting out of the bath
-getting too warm


What are your sizes?


You are still in 0-3 month sleepers.  You are in mainly 3 month and 3-6 month clothes.  We are quickly creeping into all 6 month clothes, although right now those need a bit of rolling of the sleeves.  You are in size 2 diapers when in disposables and are still in your one-size cloth diapers on the smallest snap settings.

You weigh 14 lbs. and are 24 3/4 inches in length.  Both of these are in the 60th percentile.\


What are your eating habits like?

This has changed quite a bit this month.  Since Mommy went back to work, we got you on a "schedule" for your feedings.  You wake and nurse around 6 or 6:30 (right before Mommy goes to work), you take about 5 ounces around 9:30, 5 ounces around 12:30, nurse around 4 when Mommy gets home (unless she has a meeting and you get another 5 ounce bottle), nurse around 6:30, and then again around 8 or 8:30 right before bed.  You are also waking up a couple times a night still to eat.  Your nursing sessions are still around 10-15 minutes each.

How is your sleeping?

Well this month could be tagged as the "boycott sleeping" month.  You were quite a sleeper and seemed to turn an 180 all the sudden.  (I contribute it to your new routine with me going back to work.  It's thrown us all for a loop!) We start your bedtime routine between around 7:30ish and you are in bed asleep by 8:00ish.  You wake up around 12-1ish for a feeding, again around 4 or 5 for a feeding, and then stir again around 6 or 6:30 and eat.  You go back to sleep until Daddy gets you ready to take you to your grandma's which is around 7:30.  You sometimes sleep on the way there and sometimes not.  When you get there, you usually go back to sleep for around 45 minutes.  If you are at home instead of going somewhere, you seem to have made 8 am your wake-up time...not matter what.  (You sleep about 11-12 hours at night.) Your naps are hit or miss as far as length.  You nap about an hour or hour and a half after both of your bottles for about 45 minutes to an hour.  You also sometimes take another nap in the evening for about an hour.  You really fight that one.  Where did my napper go? So overall, you take about 3 naps each day for 45 minutes to an hour each.  We've decided that you dislike napping like your mommy but require sleep like your daddy.  You are getting around 14 or 15 hours of sleep on average...which is considered "normal" so no worries. :) We'll get this figured out!



So what makes you, you this month?

I feel like I could go on and on in these letters to you.  You are just too wonderful for words.  And I don't want to forget a single thing from any stage.  You are just so full of joy, little one.  We just want to squeeze you.  I never feel like I can get enough of you...especially now that I am back at work.  Time with you is so precious.  You have our hearts and are the light of our lives.  Oh how God blessed us with you, baby girl!!

                                                                                                    Love,

                                                                                                    Mommy and Daddy

Pin It!

3.16.2012

Fitness Friday {week 10}

the blessed life


We are over halfway there!!

How did Week 9 go?

My goal this week was to only snack from the healthy list found here.  When I made these goals, I underestimated how busy my life would be when going back to work.  Needless to say, I didn't focus on just snacks from this list.  However, I did snacking more on cheese and veggies.  Pretty healthy.

Was I active?

We had gorgeous weather her this past week so my activity was in the form of taking walks with Adeline, Justin and Boone...love it!

Friday-
Saturday-30 minutes of vigorous cleaning (have I mentioned that I love that this can be counted as cardio?!)
Sunday-20 minute walk pushing Adeline
Monday-
Tuesday-30 minute walk pushing Adeline
Wednesday-20 minute walk pushing Adeline
Thursday-

Weight Loss?

Yes...down 1.2 more pounds! (down 9.2 lbs from starting weight)

Measurements?

Down in my waist this week by a 1/2"!

Waist: 29 1/4" (down 2 3/4" from starting measurement)
Thigh: 21" (down 1 3/4" from starting measurement)

Week 11 Goal?

20 push-ups each day!

Ha! I have to laugh at this because when writing these goals, I would have never imagined I could do around 70 push-ups...20 seemed like a lofty goal! But thanks to the encouragement from Natalie to do the 100 push-up challenge, I have improved greatly with my ability to do push-ups.  Find that fitness challenge here.  Seriously, you'll be amazed at how fast you gain in your push-up count!

(See my list of weekly goals here.)


Now grab the button and link-up your Fitness Friday posts to share about your fitness journey! And if you have a moment...take some time to visit the links below and spread the love by encouraging these other awesome ladies that are joining in!

I haven't had the time to personally comment on your blogs here lately, but I am seeing your awesome work....keep it up!! You inspire me...that's for sure! :) I'm so glad many of you are finding encouragement in this weekly challenge!

Pin It!

3.11.2012

weekend fun

This weekend was one of those weekends you wish would go on and on and on! The best part was that we really had no plans set in stone so we were free to relax and take it easy. Those have always been my favorite type of weekends, but now with Adeline in our lives, it makes those weekends even better!

Friday-

I took off because we had Adeline's four month check-up and shots. We spent the day relaxing at home until we had to go. We picked Justin up from work so that he could go with us to the doctor. I'm thankful for that...she squalled like crazy with these shots! I did GOBS of laundry and picking up around the house. (We hadn't cleaned in at least two weeks.) We had a yummy pinterest-inspired crock pot dinner, Cilantro Chicken, and relaxed that night at home. Perfection.

Saturday--

Justin worked so Adeline and I hung around the house and cleaned (I vacuumed our entire house with all 14 pounds of Adeline in the moby wrap...what a workout!!) until we met my mom for lunch at our favorite sandwich shop in our little town's main street area. Then we relaxed at home, played, and I accomplished tons more laundry. We watched the SEC tournament. I also rehashed our budget and envelope system while Adeline took her afternoon nap (which she has now started to flip completely around in her crib while she gets to sleep.) We also tried out the Petunia Pickle Bottom sling I found at TJ Maxx...Addie loved it!

When Justin got home, we headed to a fun local shopping center to meet our friend, Chad and Cheri. We picked up a new cloth diaper for Adeline at my favorite "green" store. (They were offering a $5 off coupon that you could even use on bum genius dipes...Whoo hoo!) We ate dinner and then had ice cream...I tried sea salt caramel ice cream....amazing!! We came home and relaxed.

Sunday--

We skipped out on church because we were just exhausted with Justin working part of the weekend and me being up a lot right now with Adeline during the night. We cuddled in bed and watched a local church on TV. :)

We had amazing weather--70s and sunny! After Adeline's morning nap we we took a family walk. This afternoon we used a Groupon to a local steakhouse and enjoyed a little family date. It was so gorgeous, we took a Sunday drive along the river...Adeline took a 1.5 hour nap while we drove (she hardly EVER takes naps that long). Now we are in our PJs early, enjoying the extra daylight...and relaxing once again.

Sorry the pictures are in random order...I'm blogging from my iPad (using the Blogger app for those of you that asked about the app I use). It places all the pics last and in random order. It's a sacrifice I'll make if I can blog this easily!

Pin It!
Related Posts with Thumbnails