My Valentines.

This year was a fun Valentine's Day because Ingrid was in school, which meant making cards.  Luckily her teacher sent us an email asking parents not to go overboard, no candy or toys, just simple cards the kids made themselves.  I am totally fine with that!  We cut some printer paper in half, folded them into cards, and Ingrid sat and drew with markers and put heart stickers on them.  It took a few days of her doing this little by little, and in the end we had a nice stack for the class. 

 I also helped out at her school the other day.  We made these heart guy bags for them to put their cards in.  It was so funny to help out a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds!  And they all think you're a teacher because you happen to be an adult, so kids came up to me asking me permission to do things.

Of course some parents went crazy anyway and made some Pinterest inspired cards that obviously were not made by the kids themselves.  I do like the paint chip bookmarks, but I was not about to sit and make 32 of them for my kid.  I love that she wanted to sit and draw and create her own cards! 

 

We got her glasses a couple days ago, so now she is wearing them full time.  She is adorable, there is just no getting around it.  And she looks about ten years older when she wears them...

 If you've noticed my square pictures, you can see I have finally joined the Instagram party.  I'm not so much into the sharing part, but oh my god, I love the square pictures!  I love the borders and filters!  Even pictures that aren't completely in focus look better because they look like they were taken with some 70s camera and developed at one of those Fox places, right??

And now it's the weekend and we are going to shop for a stove and a refrigerator.  Possibly paint Ingrid's dresser.  Definitely bathe the dirty children.  And maybe go buy a cake for my birthday tomorrow?  I love cake.  It's a fun filled weekend, woohoo!

Family Photos

My friend Melanie's husband is an amazing photographer, so I asked if he would take a family shot we could use for our holiday cards.  And also, Brendan has been begging for a picture to put in his office at work and I have none to give him.  The last family picture we have that looks good is from when Otis was 3mo old.  Yesterday was bright and sunny, so we met Jack and his family at an old train trestle in the Third Ward.  It was the perfect urban backdrop for some fun family pictures!

 Pretty cool, huh??  I love having talented friends!!  Go visit his site here. 

Ingrid the Photographer

My inlaws got Ingrid a really cool digital camera for Christmas.  It was the favorite thing she's gotten, by far!!  Today she kept going around the house taking pictures, and I have to say, I really love seeing life through her eyes.

Today she played fabric store with my scraps, and then took pictures for a couple hours.  She is totally my daughter...

Here are a couple shots from her little camera.  Who knows, someday maybe she'll get one of my old ones to use for real!

Cute Pictures, and a Giveaway!

Damn, she's good.

Also thought I'd mention that there's an Applesauce Crafts giveaway going on over at Modern Kiddo!  You can win a bib, burp cloth set, and bunny just in time for Easter!  You have until next Friday I think, so go make your comments and get your chance to win some cute stuff!

Helping Mama

Ingrid's been a good little helper lately.  I really do feel lucky she likes to play by me while I sew, it makes it easy to get stuff done.  Now that Otis is here, he's really the one that hinders my sewing (thanks a lot, buddy!)  With Ingrid I can just pull out the box of scraps or show her my new pin cushion and she can find ways to keep herself busy.

Yesterday I finished up some things for the shop and had to take pictures.  They weren't turning out right just laying on a table, so Ingrid helped.  She's such a good model!

Our friend Tia came to take pictures of Otis on Sunday.  I really cannot wait to see them!!!  She's amazing.  Her daughter is a couple years older than Ingrid so she brought three bags of hand me downs for Ingrid.  It was like Christmas up in here.  Of course Ingrid had to try on everything, including a nightgown with pj pants, a bikini, and this getup.  Yesterday was a full day of changing into new clothes.  How easy it is to please a young one...

Today we are going to play play play.  I feel like I've been really neglectful of Ingrid lately and just having her do stuff near me instead of actually engaging with her.  But today the shop is stocked, laundry is done, groceries have been bought, and after my computer time this morning it's all her.  And Otis.  But he's easy enough usually!  If time does allow, and Ingrid is up for it, we got new wool felt in the mail and I want to cut out a couple pairs of those new baby shoes.  But only if my little dearie wants to.  It's her day today. 

Big Butt Pants!

Oh holy cuteness!  My friend Brandy got me this pattern so I could make her daughter some pants that fit over her cloth diapers.  Why didn't I ever think of this???  The pants I made Ingrid always always were too tight in the butt, I could've used this pattern for her for sure!  Good thing I have it now for Otis.

Anyway, I tried a basic pair today to see how the pattern worked.  It's pretty straightforward except it takes some getting used to when sewing the curved part of the butt panel.  It just doesn't look like it's going to match up and then viola!  It does!  Amazing how patterns work, eh?

Here's the front:

And here's the butt.  Love that panel!

Now to add some pockets, a coordinating fabric cuff, rick rack.  The possibilities are endless and I'm so looking forward to making more!  And Miss Brandy is a super fine photographer in the Charlotte NC area so hopefully she'll take some sweet pics of her chunky monkey and let me use them when I sell the pants.  Hint, hint, Brandy.