Baby's 1st Christmas: DIY Felt Ornament

This Christmas my family has the privilege of celebrating 3 babies' first Christmas.  This means that I had the joy of being pregnant at the same time as my sister Ruth and my sister Maria!  My niece Rose was born in May, my nephew Patrick was born last week, and my own little baby will be arriving within the month!  Yikes!

So, since life will be a little fuller once my own baby arrives, I decided to get going on these Baby's First Christmas ornaments, especially since I had to make three of them.  I was also motivated to do this for my dear nephew Patrick who remains in the NICU.  We did, however, receive some wonderful news--an MRI showed no damage from his traumatic birth!  Amazing!  As we are all quick to remind ourselves, that this does not mean he will be without some possible physical or mental disabilities in the future, but we couldn't wish for better news at this point!  Among other things, I just hope and pray that he is home thriving at Christmas!

To give full credit, this project was inspired by something I found on pinterest:  Here is the link.

Here's the how-to for this angel ornament:
Supplies:

• Felt
• Needle, Embroidery Thread
• Buttons

1. Use template provided to cut out 2 angel bodies (one with arms folded out, one with arms folded in), and wings.  The head and holly leaves can easily be free-hand cut.

2. Stitch holly leaves onto Angel body (the one without arms)

3-4. Pin angel body without arms on top of angel body with arms.  Pin head on top of both.  Blanket stitch around the outside.

5. Fold in arms.  Pin down and stitch buttons on so that they will hold down the arms.

6. Blanket stitch around the outside of the wings.

7. Stitch the wings to the back of the angel body.  Then, take a scrap piece of felt and add personalization.  

8. Cut a strip of felt to be used as a loop at the top.  Pin in place.  When this is done, whip stitch the piece of felt with personalization to the back, making sure to sew down the loop as you go.

And there you have it!  A cute, cheep way to mark a babies 1st Christmas!

Thanks as always for being here,

Nancy

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Wordless Wednesday: Fall Fun

Who says raking leaves has to be all work and no play?  Fall is a lot more fun as a parent.  Here's hoping that your fall is as full of fun and wonder as ours!

Troy Polamalu Halloween Costume

Here is a fun little look back at last year.  Last year was my first year as a mom--and therefore my first Halloween with a little baby to dress up.  Although I had a few cute ideas, my husband won out, and our little 5 month old (at the time) went as Steeler's player Troy Polamalu.  Can you guess where my husband is from?

But I can't really complain because it did turn out really cute.  And, as I thought about it, the little guy looked more like Troy Polamalu's Cabbage Patch doll than anything else.  What do you think?

In case you're not a Steeler's fan, here's Troy Polamalu.  Remember him from those Head and Shoulders commercials?

Although it really doesn't need much explaining, here is the very simple How-To:
Supplies:

• Jersey,
• Head and Shoulders
• baby stocking cap
• Black yarn

Making the wig: Take the black yarn and wrap circles about 10" in diameter.  Once you have a decent amount, tie the loops at one end, and cut at the other end of the circle.  It will then become several pieces of yarn, all the same size, tied in the middle.  Then, stitch the gathered pieces of yarn onto the stocking cap. stitching down just the center where the strings are tied.  Repeat several times until the entire top of the head is covered, varying the length of the yarn as you move down the back of the cap.

Finally, put all items on a little baby and snap quickly before they wig is ripped off!!

Thanks for stopping by
Nancy

Baby Prep: DIY Baby Wipes

The decision to quit my job and become a stay-at-home mom was not an easy one for me and my husband.  We spent a lot of time pouring over a budget, running scenarios and talking to people who already had kids.  In the end the door opened...and a lot of other doors shut.  However, even though I was making a teacher's salary, my income was, and is still, missed.  Therefore, I have made it my "job" to save money were possible.  I have a grocery budget (that I do better with some months), we do without some of our more expensive hobbies, we buy secondhand often, we do cloth diapers, and I make my own wipes.  I know none of these things will be getting us rich, but cutting corners and tightening the budget has brought me and my husband closer together and, I feel, led us to live a more simple, focused life.

And so, here is the simple how-to for making your own wipes.  I got this "recipe" from my dear friend Dorothy.  She uses these wipes exclusively and is very dedicated to cloth diapers too.  (Ain't she cool?) Also, and this is important, if you are hesitant I want you to know that my son has NEVER had a diaper rash of any note and we have used these wipes literally from day 1.  These wipes are natural and very gentle on his little butt.

Supplies:

• Roll of Paper towels (the kind with the smaller sheets are best)
• Knife and Cutting Board
• Natural Cleaning Solution  Here is what I use
• Essential oils, Lavender and Ylang Ylang
• Container (I use an old ice cream pail with the lid)

Step 1: Cut paper towel roll in half and remove outer plastic.

Step 2: Mix up wipe solution.  Here is the recipe:

• 1/2 cup Cleaning Solution, mixed with water 3:1
• 3 cups of water
• 4-6 drops of Lavender Oil
• 4-6 drops of Ylang Ylang Oil

Place paper towel roll into the solution, rough side up.  After 15 minutes, flip the paper towel roll around so that the rough side is down.

Step 3: After an additional 15 minutes, pull out the center cardboard tube.  Since it is soaked through, it will be easy to remove.

Step 4: Gently pull up the wipes from the middle and use!

 I hope you consider making these DIY baby wipes.  They are easy and one 1/2 paper towel roll will usually last me about 1.5 weeks.

Thanks as always for being here,
Nancy

Continued Prayers Needed, and Thanks

I was really touched by all of the people that reached out in one way or another upon hearing about my sister and little nephew Patrick.  As it is with family, especially babies, I haven't been able to think of much else in recent days, and knowing that there is a whole community wrapping this little boy up in prayer is touching.

Just this evening my husband was reading through my blog posts (a rare event) and he noticed all of the comments people had left on a previous post were I talked about my sister and her little boy, now 5 days old, that remains in Critical Condition in the NICU.  My husband was really touched and he teared up!  "These people don't even know us," he said, "and yet they said such nice things!"  I really feel the same way, although I feel like I have gotten to know you a little bit through reading your blogs.  But really, thank you, and keep the prayers coming!

Here is the latest picture of the beautiful little boy.  Progress is very slow, and it is hard to be patient.  I want the miracle now!  But, there was a miracle today.  His father arrived home from Afghanistan this afternoon.  Praise the Lord!

Thank you again,
Nancy

The Summer In Review

Today the little man spent the morning outside raking leaves.  Now, if that doesn't signal the end of summer, I don't know what does.  This got me thinking that I wanted to do an end of summer recap post, mostly for myself.  It was a good summer with a heck of a lot of photos.  So, indulge me for a moment as I recap all of, what I feel, were the best photos of the summer.

This summer we had lots of good times at the beach, especially when Aunt Tina was visiting

The little guy got his first hair cut at the beginning of the summer...and desperately needs another one soon!

We celebrated him turning one, with a tractor cake and lots of family!

I snapped this picture on our deck, but loved it so much I see it as his official 1 year old picture.

We made the long drive out to PA for a family wedding and snapped this family pic while there, with a very sleepy little guy.

We had a glorious vacation on the big lake in Michigan with all the cousins.  The little guy learned to walk while we were there!

Tons of fun with dad this summer, especially when water and bubbles were involved.

The little guy also enjoyed lots of new toys, including this stick he found in our yard and played with for days!

The little guy and I did our first art project together, and it was a blast!

There was lots of fun at the Lyon County Fair petting zoo, and one happy little boy!

This summer we also discovered the joy of splash parks!  Free, wet and awesome!

We did create a monster, however, this summer.  An ice cream monster!  

Cousins really are the best.  This summer our little guy found an idol, his cousin Dave.  Not sure that this crazy cousin is the best idol, though!

The summer of a one year old is full of bumps and scraps.  Ours was no expectation!

As is tradition, we took a picture on our wedding anniversary.  Two years, and my oh my, how life has changed!

This summer we also learned to dance.

And finally, on the last nice day of summer, we went to the zoo and had a close encounter of the sea-lion kind.

Thank you Lord for a beautiful and wonderful summer!  Thank you for a healthy and growing boy, and bless the little baby on the way.

And, please bless little Patrick!

Nancy

The end of the Link Party...for now

Thank you to everyone that linked up to the Photo Show and Tell Link party in past weeks.  I did have a lot of fun reading through the stories that went with your pictures and I feel so privileged to have shared in those moments with you.

Having said that, I have decided to suspend hosting the link party--hopefully not forever!  This week has been an emotional one in my family.  My little nephew is still in very critical condition and we are waiting to see the extent of the brain damage he suffered during delivery.  On top of that, I will be welcoming my own new baby in just a few weeks.  As you all know, life keeps on moving, sometimes in unpleasant directions, and there just isn't enough time to sit in front of the computer.

I do plan on continuing to blog, but the link party will not be part of that blogging.  Thanks again, and if you have a spare moment tonight, please send up a prayer for little Patrick.  My sister, Maria, is recovering, but the little guy still has a long journey full of lots of unknowns.  Lots of prayers are needed!

In Christ,
Nancy

Wordless Wednesday and a Prayer Request

Last night my sister reminded us all how dangerous child-birth can be.  This morning she and her new baby Patrick are both in critical condition at separate hospitals.  Dear Lord, please protect that new baby, allow him to breath on his own and make a full recovery.  Comfort my sister in these hours she must pass without her baby in her arms.  Also, bring her husband home safely and soon.

If you know my sister, please hold her and her new little boy up in prayer.  If you don't know her, your prayers are welcome too!

Nancy

This is a picture of my sister with her older two children, taken this summer.  Her husband is deployed right now, but will be returning soon due to the critical condition of his new son.

Baby Prep: The Perfect Burp Cloth

As an expecting parent it is so difficult to tell what you are going to use when the baby actually arrives.  When we were registering I registered for lots of receiving blankets.  I kept thinking, "you can't have too many receiving blankets".  Well, now that I am prepping for baby number 2, and finally going through some of those piles in the nursery, I discovered that I had a whole pile of receiving blankets I never used with baby number one.  I just never thought to use them.  They aren't warm enough to work as a real blanket, and I used burp cloths.  So, what to do with this whole stack?

Well, with the help of my dear friend April, I transformed these unused receiving blankets into the perfect burp cloth.  This is patterned after burp cloths April made for me with baby number one.  What makes these burp cloths so awesome is the shape.  They are in the shape of an 8, so they fit perfectly over your shoulder and they are filled with quilt batting so they can take a lot of spit-up before it gets on you.  Here is the simple how to.

Supplies:

• Soft Durable Fabric (or receiving blankets)
• Quilt Batting
• Sewing Machine, thread, needle and pins.
• Pattern--Here is the simple explanation of how to make your pattern:  Tip to Tip, each piece should be 20".  It is in the shape of an "8", so the fattest part, top and bottom in 9', and the thinnest part in the center is 7".  Sketch that out on tissue paper and round the edges.

Step 1: Cut out top and bottom piece from burp cloth.  My pattern was only half and I placed it on the fold.  Note: I could make 2 burp rags (4 pieces total) out of each receiving blanket.  Also, cut out a piece of quilt batting with the pattern.

Step 2: Layer your three pieces: outside pieces right side in, and the quilt batting on top. Pin together and sew around the outside leaving an opening so you can turn it right side out.

Step 3: Trim excess material along the edges.

Sep 4: Pull through the gap left so the right sides are facing out.  Press flat.  Tuck in the rough edges where you left the gap so you could turn it.  Pin in place.

Step 5: Zig zag around the entire outside.

And finally, add an infant, some spit-up and stay clean!  I am elated that I will have so many more burp cloths this time around, because I know that you really can't ever have too many burp cloths!

Thanks for stopping by!
Nancy