Anatomy Lesson ala Norah

Norah has found her "butt". No, I'm not referring to her derrière. The "butt" to which I refer would be her belly button. For about the past week she has been mildly obsessed with this simple discovery. She loves to pull up her shirt and point to her naval, proclaiming "butt!" Each time, I try to correct her, enunciating "butt-UHN", but she just keeps on grinning and saying it her way. The funny thing is, she calls buttons (like you would find on a dress shirt) "buh-tees", so I'm not really sure what the pronunciation hang up is when it comes to her belly button.

She can, at least somewhat correctly pronounce eyes, ears, mouth, nose, toes, feet, knees, hands, belly, and teeth. She'll point to her shoulders if asked where they're located, but she hasn't worked up to saying it just yet.

Twirly Skirt Alert

Today, I tried my hand at another House on Hill Road tutorial, resulting in the outfit at left. The skirt fabric is not something I would normally have chosen, but Norah really does love strawberries, so I thought she'd like it...and I was right. Norah loves her "berries" shirt and matching skirt.

The skirt is made from the "Twirly Skirt Tutorial" on House on Hill Road, and it is called a "twirly skirt" for good reason! Talk about full--it's perfect for spinning! The t-shirt was one I picked up on clearance at Walmart, then appliquéd the strawberries on to dress it up a little. It was a lot of fun, super cheap, and didn't take long at all. I definitely plan to make a few more.





I haven't decided yet what my next sewing project will be, but I have learned that Norah is way more fun to sew for than myself! She really seems to love wearing the things she's watched me work on--and that is such a good feeling. She was the same way about the quilt I made for her. Any time I take it out, she loves to dance, spin, lie down, and roll around on it.



One non-sewing related bit of news I want to chronicle is Norah's increasing ability to repeat and recall things she hears. In Bible Class, there is a song the teacher sings , during which she has a child figurine "run" toward a mommy figurine, while singing "I'm happy to obey, I'm happy to obey. I'll come quickly when Mommy calls. I'm happy to obey." Last night I was bathing Norah, and she found two of her tub toys--hippos that stand upright, and she started the smaller hippo out "running" toward the larger one, while singing, "Bay! Bay! Happy!" I had to laugh because I knew exactly what she was talking about. I've also noticed that if I call Norah and she isn't coming as fast as I'd like, I can sing "I'm Happy to Obey" and she comes running. Anyone who says toddlers are "don't really get anything from Bible Class" should visit our house. I beg to differ.

A Day of Sewing

Today was a fun day. Norah and I headed over to Grammy's house bright and early to tackle a new sewing project. Grammy and I had been looking forward to this project ever since we read about it on House on Hill Road.

As you may recall, a few weeks ago I made Norah a 4th of July dress from pre-shirred fabric. Well, that was easy enough, but I was limited to the 3-4 pre-shirred fabric selections offered in the store...and that just wasn't enough. Enter House on Hill Road. Erin offered a step-by-step tutorial (with awesome pictures) explaining how to make a shirred dress or top from regular fabric.

The scariest part was using elastic thread for the first time--which turned out to sew incredibly smooth, and gave us nothing to worry about!

The top went together in just a few hours (thanks to Mom's help, and Norah's cooperation) and I was tickled pink at how it turned out. We actually made this one for Norah's friend, Patti, who lovingly handed down tons of clothes to Norah, but their measurements are very close, so I was able to have Norah model it for me so I could be sure it would fit. (Don't worry, I would never leave Norah out--a shirt for her is next on my list!)









Here is the finished product. It's amazing how big it started out, vs. how tiny it finished up...but it stretches nicely and fits well. Norah really seemed to enjoy wearing it, too...let's hope Patti has similar taste in clothes!








Grammy and I were so proud of Norah for being so patient and entertaining herself while we sewed today. She was especially fascinated with Grammy's thread collection, attempting to name the colors of each spool she saw. (Of course right now, everything is initially "blue", but as soon as we would tell her the correct color, she would begin calling it the right thing).

Thanks so much to Erin, at House on Hill Road for being a source of inspiration. I've got 2 more projects lined up and I'm enjoying sewing more than I have in a while!

Uh-Oh, Spaghettio's

Inspired, perhaps by a recent post by Sheri D, in which she posed that sometimes you just have to deal with the mess, smile, and let your kids be kids, I decided to let Norah have her first taste of Spaghettio's yesterday.

I submit you to, for your entertainment, "The Evolution of the Spaghettio-Induced Coma".

Disclaimer: If photos of messy-faced children gross you out and are in no way humorous, cute, or reminiscent of your own children/grandchildren, this post may be of no interest to you.

Phase One: Pure Bliss (as pictured above) This is the stage in which our subject gets her first taste of tomato-ey goodness. So good, perhaps, that she makes the decision to forgo the use of a spoon for the much less efficient, albeit more "hands on" method of hand-scooping.

Phase Two: Eyelids Droopy-ous. This is the stage in which our subject begins to question the prudence of that last scoop of Spaghettio's. A futile attempt to cleanse the hands is made, but to no avail, as our subject already begins to show signs of crankiness and exhaustion brought on by the ingestion of far too much sodium-rich, tomato-paste product in far too short a period of time.


Phase Three: The Peaceful Slumber. Our subject succumbs to complete and total fatigue, giving way to a sleep so deep, it defies all necessity for cleanliness or comfort.






Phase Four: The Babe Rouses. In this phase, our subject either A) Hears a loud noise, B) Realizes the discomfort of sleeping in a sea of tomato paste, or C) Is awakened by her mother, who needs to leave the house and cannot do so whilst the child remains fettered to her sticky, orange chair. Regardless of how transition to phase four is attained, the subject will likely show signs of confusion.






Phase Five: Epilogue. By this point, the subject has regained consciousness and at least some semblance of where she is. She is somewhat more cooperative and willing to be cleaned, but may let out a series of fierce stretches, without warning. This is also the stage in which the subject's mother may determine that Spaghettio's, while fun for a season, are perhaps a treat best reserved for rare occasions, or at least until the subject can hold a spoon more steadily.

Tag, I'm It!

Well, Irma has tagged me (I guess to insure that I actually update my blog again sometime this summer)...so here goes nothing!

First memory - After watching the winter Olympics, I remember desperately wanting to try ice skating, but alas, we had no skating rinks here. As if in answer to my prayers, I woke up to a "freeze", and begged my mom to let me go skating on a mud puddle I'd found outside. She said, "No", but I disobeyed her and went anyway as soon as she had her back turned. Of course, the puddle wasn't frozen very hard, so within a few seconds the ice broke and I fell and ripped my pants and cut my knee. I was so afraid my mom was going to pulverize me for ruining my clothes and not listening to her--but instead she dried my tears and cleaned me up, and just reminded me why it was important to listen and do what I was told.

First real kiss - Jason Robinson, senior year of high school, Christmas Eve at Gabbard Park...where he later proposed.

First love - Jason...again...I wasn't much into the dating scene prior to him.

First thing you think in the morning - What is on my to-do list today?

First question you'll ask in heaven - I can't think of anything "down here" that would matter too much "up there"

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation - YES!!!!

First best friend - Amanda White. We were Brownie girl scouts together and all but rode a groove in the road between our houses on our bikes. Then her family moved to College Station and she switched schools...I haven't seen her since.

Last time you dressed up -Last weekend for David and Melissa's wedding (and Jason told me I looked "very pretty"!)

Last thing you ate -Ramen Noodles...call it a pregnancy craving

Last CD you bought - Joy Williams' "Genesis" CD...but that was a couple years back...I'm more into downloading from Itunes these days.

Last good book you read - "The Last Sin Eater" by Francine Rivers...actually, I have about 20 pages left, but I've really loved it so far!

Last time you cried - This morning when Jason left for a disc golf tourney. Pregnancy hormones...

Last time you told someone you loved them -a few minutes ago...Norah is just too lovable!

Last really funny thing you did - went to Walgreens with hot-rollers in my hair, topped with a do-rag, in hopes that no one would notice the rollers.

Last thing you watched on TV -WonderPets!

I tag...Jenny, Sheri D, and Erin!!

What I'm ExCiTeD about...
Meeting our new baby

Mellow Yellow, and More Excuses

I really did used to keep a fairly regular blog. These past couple of weeks have FLOWN by so fast! When I realized this morning it had been over two weeks since my last update, I decided enough was enough. If anyone's still out there reading, thanks for not giving up on us. I'll try to do better.

These pictures were on my camera from a couple weeks ago, but I figured something was better than nothing. I had dressed Norah in a yellow shirt and shorts, and she decided the hat was a perfect match.







What tickled me more, was the fact that she seemed drawn to play with only yellow toys, too. Guess that'll teach me to dress her in a monochromatic color scheme.

Last Thursday morning (at 1:35am, to be exact), we experienced Norah's first-ever stomach bug, and it is not something I wish to revisit any time soon. Jason and I both sat up with her, comforting and cleaning her up each time she would get sick. After we got a "routine" down (you'd be amazed how little you think about what to do with a throwing-up baby until you actually have one on your hands), I finally convinced Jason to go back to bed (he had to be at work in a few hours) and I sat up with her until 5am, when she finally slept peacefully, with the bug behind her. Surprisingly, she was awake, perky and normal just 3 hours later...which didn't leave me with much sleep, but I was just thankful she felt better.
The next day, we were on the road to Abilene for my cousin, Melissa's wedding. It was a fun weekend. We stayed at the same motel as my mom, Jonathan, Amanda, and Trae. AA spoiled Norah (as usual) with a new outfit, some lime green crocs, and a Little People Tea party set (all of which she loves) And, of course, we had to check out the Mall of Abilene (where Amanda convinced me to buy some very impractical, uncomfortable shoes...but they really are cute and I do love them) It was good to catch up up with family (near and extended) and the wedding was absolutely beautiful. (We sent the bride and groom off with a fanfare of sparklers at sunset--very romantic) It was fun to go out-of-town, too...Jason and I aren't big travelers, so its an adventure for us, everywhere we go!

Finally, this last picture, I thought, needed a little explanation. We have crossed somewhat of a hurdle, in that Norah will now watch something other than her beloved "Bob" ("VeggieTales"). Jason and I bought a "Wonderpets" dvd, and she is in love. Now, instead of Bob, she asks for "Behts?" It's pretty fun to watch her watch them, too. If you have ever seen the Wonderpets, then you'll understand--they pretty well sing the same few songs in every episode, so kids can pick up the words/tune pretty easily. Norah's favorite part of the song is, "Go Wonderpets, yea!" (Which, by the way, must be exclaimed at the top of her lungs with her head kicked back, as pictured above)

That's pretty much what's been going on in the County (and other parts of Texas) these past couple weeks. I'll try to check back soon!

Where We've Been?

Well, we've been away (from the blog-world, at least) for a while, so I'm sure inquiring minds (all 3 of my regular readers) are just dying to know to what was so important that I couldn't find time to update. Well, my first answer is pictured at left. I mean, come on, if you had a choice between sitting in front of your computer, trying, to no avail to think up witty things to say...OR, satisfying this precious girl's request for a mommy-hug...which would you pick?

Actually, my second reason for the hiatus is also pictured above. I've been working on a little sewing project for Norah. Granted, this was no major-seamstress job--just some of that fun, pre-smocked fabric you can buy at any fabric store that only needs a seam down the back, and a little bit of hemming. As simple a dress as it is, I think my model really pulls it off.




When I saw this red-white-and blue striped fabric, I just had to make a little July 4th weekend dress for my favorite girl. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that in all her 17 months, this is the first article of clothing I've attempted to sew for Norah...and she loves it! I had to try it on her a bazillion times when I was trying to get the strap length/width adjusted, and she was always more than happy to comply. She spun in circles for me and everything! Sweet girl. So maybe I can make this a semi-regular thing...we'll see. My next project is a matching pair of bloomers from the left-over fabric. (I have a thing about bloomers--it really bugs me for her diaper to show under her dress)



Here is yet, another reason for the blog-free week. I had a massive cake! You can't really tell from the picture, but this cake is actually 8-layers. It's about 18 inches tall, and weighs close to 20 lbs. It was time-consuming, but also pretty fun to make! The "towers" are frosted ice cream cones, covered in edible hot pink glitter.






Oh, one last thing before I go...Norah has been trying to say "hi" to her friends out there in blogland, and it was just too cute a face for me not to share. So from Norah to you, "Hi!"