11 Months & A Sewing Challenge

Mmmm...Sidewalks chalk.

Miles turned 11 months old this week.  I can't hardly believe that he'll be a year old next month. This month has been an eventful one for this little guy. He grew three new teeth, he's added a couple of new words to his vocabulary, dog and clark, although we don't hear dog very often, and Clark is more of a dra sound. He figured out how to take off his diaper, and stand up in the shopping cart. He even started walking this month...tear.  He's up to a total step count of about 7 or 8.  

He's a happy little guy with a short temper. He cries, but rarely when he's hurt.  

He's busy, busy, busy. I'm constantly having to clean up the mixing bowls, and tuna fish cans that he pulls from the kitchen cupboards.  He thinks that everything is a stool, and is quite the climber already.

 He has some serious curls on the back of his head, and I plan on keeping them for a while.  A kind gentleman at the store last week told me it was time to cut his hair.  "There will be plenty of time for long hair and earrings down the road", he told me.  I plan on keeping the curls as long as I can.

This boy loves being outside.  It makes him so happy to play in the grass, and so upset when it's time to go inside. I used to take Clark for walks in the stroller to fall asleep, but Miles hasn't fallen asleep in the stroller yet, he's too fascinated with his surroundings.

Now it's time to start planning a birthday party.  With my boys' birthdays a week and half apart, I'm still trying to decide whether we'll do a joint party or not.  Clark thinks that Miles wants a submarine party, and Clark is dead set on having a "big and mighty machine party".

About the challenge...I was trying to find something in the top drawer of my craft dresser yesterday.  It was filled to capacity.  The top drawer is typically filled with half finished projects.  Yep, I have that many half finished projects.  So, in an effort to clean up my work space, and get something accomplished before it's time for halloween and holiday sewing, I'm going to challenge myself to complete as many of my existing projects as I can.  I've got a lot of projects on the list, and I'm sure I won't finish all of them, but it will be good to make progress.  Anyone want to join me?  I'm starting today, and next Friday I'll try to recap everything that I've finished.

Also, don't forget to visit P&G's eStore for a 10% discount on your purchase, and free shipping on orders $25 and more.  Today's the last day for the discount, so hop on over.

Miles: 9 Months Old

 How is it that my lil' baby is now nine months old?  It's really hard for me to believe.  I know that one day he'll be thirty (Anne), and I'll be asking myself the same question.

He's changed so much in the last couple months.  He went from not even rolling at four months to full fledge crawling by six and a half.  As soon as he had that down he was pulling himself up on the furniture, and cruising along the side of it. 

Now he thinks that he can stand by himself, and is getting ready for walking.  He's a bit more cautious then Clark was when it comes to standing and walking.  If he doesn't feel sure on his feet, he has no problem dropping down to get where he want to go.

Mobility really brought out his personality as well.  I used to think that he'd be my laid back child....I think that I was wrong.  He's a busy boys these days.  He also loves rough housing and wrestling.  He loves tickling toes, and is a real joy.

 He's also become much more expressive.  He can hardly stand it when a door closes, or I leave the room.  He'll scream, and cry. He has a couple of words (sounds that he's using), mostly mummmmummumm (mom), and Dja (dad). Miles also loves repeating sounds, Clark will scream, or roar, and Miles will echo it.  It's really quite impressive.

His face has become more expressive as well.  This silly little curled up nose, he makes this expression all of the time. It's not the most attractive expression, but it's his.

This little guy also has two teeth.  They haven't been very much fun for him.  Teething paired with mobility, have made sleep difficult (for us all).  I can't lay him down for a nap anymore.  He just cries, and cries, and cries...all standing up.  He's a stubborn little boy, and doesn't give in easily.  Any suggestions on how to help them fall asleep once they start pulling themselves up in their crib?  I'm all ears.

Fortunately we've found something that cheers him up when he's sad...his brother.  All that Clark has to do is sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Miles perks right up.

We sure do love this guy...even when he's sad.

The Boys

I've decided that it is hard to be a parent.  The only easy part about parenting is loving your children.  But because you love your children, it makes the rest of it that much harder (and easier I suppose).  Because I love my boys I want the best for them.  I want them to be smart, to be honest,  to be good, to be wildly successful, and to be happy.  I don't want them to make mistakes, suffer, feel alone, feel afraid, or struggle in any way.  Unfortunately, they have to.  It's part of life.  Those things are going to be what mold them into the men that I hope that they will become.

Clark had to get a couple of stitches in his lip last week, after he fell onto a toy.  I just about passed out when I saw the blood, and the thought of dragging my son into urgent care made me sick.  He's a really bright and busy boy, but he has an iron will, and absolutely hates going to the doctor's office.  His survival instincts kick in, and there is growling, and flailing, and roaring.  It is pretty ridiculous.  My husband was at work when he split his lip, but fortunately we were at my parents' and my dad was able to accompany us.  With three adults and a sheet restraining him, we were finally able to get his stitches put in.

I was amazed at how well the doctor was able to line up the stitches.  His lip is looking great, and we were able to get the stitches out on Friday (miraculously without any restraint or roaring).  He's growing up, and he's going to get hurt, and he's going to be sad, and it breaks my heart to think that I won't always be able to cuddle him when he needs it.  But hopefully I can control myself, when he can't control himself, and somehow I'll be able to lead him by example and help him become the person that God made him to be.

Funny unrelated Clark story:

Last night we'd gotten Clark in bed, and he'd flipped his lights back on.  My husband said: "Clark, get back in bed", to which Clark immediately replied, "Sorry Dad, I'm nocturnal".

 In other news, Miles is officially seven months.  He too is a busy boy with places to go, and things to see.  He's crawling all over now,  learning to like solids, and is just about the most affectionate baby you'll ever meet.

Blessed.

Easter (or Eastird as Clark refers to it)

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday.  I hope that you did too.  I wanted to snap a few pictures of the boys in their Easter ties/outfits.  Unfortunately I didn't get it done before church, and Clark covered himself in chocolate spit, while devouring some chocolate he received from his teacher. So chocolate spit is present in the picture, but it is probably a good representation of what Easter is really like.

 I tried to take the pictures on our front step, but cars kept driving by....

 ...and planes kept flying overhead.  It was really hard for these little guys to focus on the camera.

While I'm showing you family pictures....Miles is now six months old.  He's super close to crawling, and moves all around the room, only in reverse.  He's expressing his frustrations more and more.  He can hardly handle when anyone takes something away from him.  He is also becoming more and more active.  I used to type up most of my posts with him on my lap, but now that is impossible.  He loves pushing buttons and grabbing the mouse. He's still a bit of a monster, 98th percentile for weight, and 99th for height.   We sure love both of our boys and feel very blessed to have them in our family.

Miles...Five Months

I don't know how it happened, but Miles is now five months old.  I love babies.  I love watching them learn and grow.  Miles seems to have learned a lot in the past month.

 He's decided that it's okay to roll over.  He has found the joy of toys, and passing them from one hand to the other.  He loves blowing raspberries, and...

 he is now really good at sitting up on his own. He's my big little guy.

Blessing Day

Miles was blessed on Christmas day.  It was such a special day for all of us.  Miles has been such a joy and a blessing in our family.  Seeing a little baby dressed in white was a good reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

He looked awful handsome and cozy in his blessing outfit.  The size of the bow tie ended up being a bit overwhelming. Next time I'd move it down a bit and scale it down a little as well.


Don't you love his sweet blanket.  Miles' grandmother knit it for him.

Christmas day was beautiful.  We had nice sunny weather, which made it really nice and comfortable for taking pictures outside, unfortunately the clear skies and noon day sun wasn't ideal for taking photos.

I hope that you all had a very merry Christmas.  I can't wait to share a few of the projects I've been working on lately.  I'm also trying to figure out a few series that I'd like to try out in the coming year.  Hopefully all goes well and I can post a bit more regularly in 2012.

On an unrelated note, if you're doing any after Christmas shopping be sure to check out Shabby Apple-you can get an extra 20% off their sale section-Wahoo!  Just enter WINTERSALE at checkout for 20% off, and free shipping.  The sale runs through the end of the week.
20% Off the Sale Section at Shabby Apple and Free Shipping with Code 'WINTERSALE'

Two Months

I can't believe that it has been two months since Miles joined our family.  We love him, and he is the sweetest little guy. He seemed so small when he was born (Clark was a bruiser), but Miles has quickly packed on the pounds.  He's weighing in at fifteen pounds and is already 25" long.  I hate that they grow so quickly, but love watching him learn and develop.  What a blessing.