Beach Games

     While at the beach, Miss G invented a new game that went something like this:

The husbandman would toss a ball up to the third floor balcony where Miss G was waiting.

    Then she would find it...

 
    Run to the railing...

     And then drop it back off the edge...

For the husbandman to fish out of the pool...

And throw it back up to where...

     Miss G was patiently waiting to start it all over again!

   Nothing like a bouncy ball and a juice box on a breezy summer day at the beach.

Beach Robe

      As soon as I saw Dana's beach robe, I knew I had to make one for Miss G. So as soon as I could, I ran out to Walmart to buy a towel to chop into pieces and tun into one of these too-cute-for-words robes.  My favorite things about this project? The hood, I think everything should have a hood, and luckily Miss G seems to agree, I also love that the strap is sew down in the back, so it doesn't slide off wiggly bodies.

 

I also grabbed a pillow case to use for the lining. I lined the hood, the ties, and the sleeves. I already had the bias tape made for another project, so my only worry for that was that I would have enough. I did, but just barely. I could not believe how easily this project came together, I really don't think I spent anymore than three hours making it.

       I also ran out of yellow thread on the last stitch, so I knew it was went to be.

      I was so proud when my dad asked me how I did the stripes on the bottom that I was almost a little disappointed to admit that I didn't do anything at all, I just lined up the pattern piece to use the striping already on the towel...

Babysitting

    My fourth of July weekend was made special by many things, but most clearly by two visits from this sweet little girl, my amazing niece (and soon-to-be big sister) Miss G.

    She still has much more fun with the hose than the pool, but watching her smile and laugh means that I will happily jump away and squeal "Oh no! Not the hose!" over and over again until she's either cold or bored. I think she is one of the most active little ones I've seen. She wore everyone out. She visited the goats ten times, climbed that stairs fifteen times (in fifteen minutes) and was outside as much as possible. In fact, the hardest part of her weekend seemed to be the rainstorm that kept her from her swing set.

    We finally wore her out, or rather let her wear herself out, and she crashed as soon as she sat still for even a moment. I don't think their is any antidepressant that comes close to matching the powers of holding a sleeping, cuddly baby.

    What moments or things always warm your heart, no matter how often they happen?

Water Fun

     Yesterday, my parents bought a baby pool for my niece, Miss G. She didn't have much interest, but the hose captured her attention for almost 30 minutes.

     But when she figured out that everyone jumps back to keep from geeting sprayed, her day was made! She chased anyone that came close, laughing the whole time.

    She never lost interest, the hose just magically disapeared when she started shivering. When she was dry and warm again, she had a blast discovering the joy of making faces through windows.

Swing Set

     As a part of my brother's birthday present, he and my dad spent most of the weekend building Miss G a swing set. And withperfect timing, as soon as they finished, the clouds broke, and the sun came out!

     Miss G has a blast. She's too little for much other than the swing so far, but that didn't seem to bother her in the least.

     Her fun was contagious, and soon everyone was gathered around to hear her laugh and babble. Aren't swings the best?

Birthday Party!

     Well, after running around like a chicken with its head cut off, sewing frantically, hot gluing my fingers to paper, my finger to the table, and my finger to other fingers (I did a lot of hot gluing), and being so stressed out that the sheer magnitude of my stress stressed my mother and the husbandman out (and he doesn't stress about much) Miss G's first birthday party was a huge success!

     We ate cake

     We opened Presents

     We pulled the decorations off the wall (these ones were made just for her and scattered throughout the kitchen and living for for her to find, I don't anyone else even noticed them)

     We played with our new toys

     We explored the wide outside world

     We made lots of faces

     And we just hung out with family on an amazingly beautiful day

Birthday Party!

    I'm helping my sister-in-law throw Miss G's first birthday party, and I'm having a blast getting ready and decorating for it!  I thought I would share a sneak peak of my favorite project so far.  (I'll post more pictures after the party.)

     I jumped on two bandwagons at once with this project: the yarn wreath wagon and the bunting wagon. I love both, so I mixed them together! Maybe I can even convince the husbandman to let me make on to hang in the window... if I take off the rosettes, it's not girly at all!! Mrs Priss first showed this idea, (at least it was the first I saw) and I think her tutorial is wonderful.

     The only thing I did differently from her's is that I found a white foam wreath, so I used that in case I couldn't get the yarn just right.  I think I'm going to take a tip from some other bloggers though and wrap my next one with fabric or batting before I wrap it with yarn to make it thicker. I think this one is a little thin, what do you think?

Mouse Hat

      This was my attempt at Inner Hooker's mouse beanie for Miss G. (If you crochet and don't know Inner Hooker, you need to look her up: Inner Hooker)  It looked adorable and very easy to do. Mouse Beanie.

     It crocheted up very quickly, the directions were very clear, and I had it all but one ear done by the time we got back from visiting my grandparents.

    
      The only problem: I forgot to check my gauge. And the hat is just a wee bit bigger than it needs to be... And Miss G looks thrilled to get a hat she wont be able to wear for years. But we all got a laugh out of it, I guess that made it worth it.  And hey, in a year or so, she'll have a really cute beanie!

     Moral of the story: if a hat made for a 9 month year old looks like you could wear it, it might be a little big...

baby-sitting on new year's eve

     I was slightly bummed out when I found out that the husbandman's grad school application were due tomorrow, thus cancelling any new year's eve plans. (Our first new year's eve as over 21's I might add.) But then I found out that my brother and his wife were bringing their beautiful baby girl over to spend the night at my parent's house.  My night was made!

  
     I work in a day-care with kiddos only slightly older than Miss G, so everything she doesn't shouldn't awe me.  But it does.  How fast she moves, how well she stands up, how expressive she is, how determined she is, how long her reach is.  All these things made me smile in wonderment. What a precious thing a child is, what an amazing creation.

     I could watch Miss G for hours and still be blown away by each little thing she does. And she's not even mine.  What a powerful thing God has given in the heart of the motherly. How well he knew us, even when the kids at the day-care do everything they can think of to drive me insane, my heart still melts when they bump their heads, or when a mean name is thrown their way.

      I could not think of a better way to spend the new year than with family, those who raised me, and those I will help raise. No its not they typical new year's night, no we may not even last till midnight, but it is a wonderful beginning filled with hope and love.