Low Blog Output

School+NaNoWriMo+Insane+Upcoming 2nd birthday+Working Out+Letter writing with Melissa+Husband going to be gone soon (a bunch of short trips)+Making Christmas presents=Low Blog Output

Hopefully I'll get in the groove soon and can start blogging more. Is it just me, or has this been an off year? I feel like I've done absolutely nothing and been super busy getting it done.

Anybody else?

Halloween

So, I had it in my head that I wanted Scott to be an Apple for Halloween. Husband said it was stupid but offered not further opinion or direction in the matter so I made Scott....

....an Apple.

Except, I made him a little apple satchel for candy collecting and people thought he was Johnny Appleseed. It works. He was cute. And I had fun. He didn't quite get the whole getting candy thing at our ward's Trunk-r-Treating, but by the time we got to the 2nd house going around our neighborhood, he knew what was up. And how to work the game in his favor. Little stinker.

Granny and Papa

Another post from our time in Oregon.

Scott loves Granny and Papa, and not just cuz Granny busts out some cool toys for playing.

We are so lucky to have so many wonderful, loving people in our lives. Especially Scott. I want him to grow up knowing his grandparents and great-grandparents and knowing that they love him.

Lovey

Scott has never really had a lovey. Even when I try to force them on him.

(please ignore the snot, this was the night before laundry day, also note-this is the blanket I made him, which is not his favorite, and he covers himself up when he's ready to sleep)

Ok, not really. Have I forced them on him.

We have a few handmade blankets that I've only ever used for him to sleep and while he does prefer one over the other two, it's never been a 'lovey'.

He's always liked cars, and has definitely preferred some over the other, but nothing that he would miss. We leave a few in his crib so I can have some extra snooze time in the mornings and to help him go to sleep at night. He's not always ready for bed when I am ready for him to go to bed.

And the tv, he has never really been interested in. Oh sure, he'll watch it. For 5 minutes. Run away and play. Hear some music and come back. For 5 minutes. Rinse and Repeat.

But all this changed a couple weeks ago.

It started the week we had multiple wake up at 4 or 5am. This makes for a tired mommy. And so, I would put on a signing video, or veggietales and snooze on the couch while he would or would not watch. Usually would not and decided jumping on a sleepy mommy was funner. So I gave up on the videos, also b/c I would have to get up and restart them on the rare days he did watch. I turned on a PBS satellite channel called 'Sprout', b/c we don't actually get PBS, even though we are supposed to.

Enter Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves it. Jumps up and down and dances when it comes on. Cries and throws himself on the floor when it goes off. So I bought him a Thomas DVD (it autoplays-YESSS!!) and it came with a little Thomas engine. He loved it. Carried it around with him all day and so it went to bed with him at night, only b/c he already had it. Oh, and naps too, b/c he already would have it in his hand.

One night, we couldn't find it. And since he's been waking up at 5 or 530am everyday since that first week, I am still a very tired mommy and have had very limited patience, especially at bedtime. And when we couldn't find it, we put him to bed without it, not thinking anything of it.

Until it was an hour later and he was still awake. And crying.

So we got him out of bed and we all went on the hunt:

Mommy: Thomas? Thomas where are you?

Scott: Toamo? Wer id it? Wer it go? Toamo?

Mommy: Do you hear him? He's saying Thomas!

Scott: Toamo! Toamo!

Daddy: Toamo? Toamo? Where is it, where'd he go?

Scott: TOAMO! (We found it)

He goes down without a peep. And it is indeed a lovey:

One of the Best

This is one of the best sewing books I have ever seen, not that I have seen a lot, mind you.

Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter.

This is where most of the projects came from that I made and posted about.

The Snuggler:

The Giraffe:

I made the pillow a lot bigger than the rattle, but that was where the idea and shape came from. Marmee drew it, I modified it a little to get it the way I say it in my head and then sewed it all together.

The Letters:

I had had this idea already and then saw it in the book and was so excited because it gave me a starting point. Sometimes I have ideas but have a hard time starting it, so I was grateful.

Her other book, Simple Sewing, is another one that I love. Its so easy and practical and still cute. My little sister bought one too because it is perfect for beginners and the projects are fun. Well worth the $25.

Any other questions?

She's Crafty

Ya ya, she's crafty!

I promised my friend, Melissa, pictures of all the things I was working on back in July. Hmm. It is now October and what can I say? I've been a slacker.

I finally finished some of my projects and photographed the others so I could share.

A baby blanket for my BFF who lost her baby in August.

An infant snuggie (wishful thinking).

Crochet hook and knitting needles.

A present for my newest nephew, with homemade FIMO buttons. Those still need a little work.

A giant giraffe pillow for Scott. He had to have some surgery on his throat, I got overzealous in my stuffing and Scott got overzealous in his loving.

You would think it would be more, but I have about 5 projects that I am halfway through on. I am hoping those will get done soon, but I am starting on Christmas presents soon, sooooo, we'll see. I try to keep my crafting as low stress as possible otherwise, I go into a meltdown. It's not pretty, ask Husband.

This is me, at 4:38am

I woke up this morning at 2:11am. Why? I don't know, but I couldn't fall back asleep b/c 1) I jumped up, heart racing, thinking that Husband had overslept, and 2) his dadgummed phone kept beeping. Curse you, Low Battery!

After laying there for exactly an hour (I don't know how I did that), I got up and decided to read my Book of Mormon. Some things have been bugging me lately and I felt impressed to read. I am glad I did. I am still a little bummed, but have an eternal perspective on things now. Funny how those perspectives still don't always change your moods.

And then I wrote in my journal. Something I have neglected of late, mostly b/c of previously said bad mood and I seriously don't want my posterity to read my journal and say, "Man, what a cry baby, like her life was really so bad." B/c my life is not bad, it is wonderful and I wouldn't change anything, except for my bad mood (going on 5 months now, shocking I know). I wrote a lot about Scott and how much he's grown and how smart and amazing and good I think he is, as every momma does of their own child. I complained a little about something I wouldn't mind my posterity reading (that seems so vain to say, like I would actually write something someone would want to read, but hey, I have a blog, so I must be a closet narcissist), something that I think every Stay at Home Mom might go through. Or maybe it's a trial only to me, who knows.

And then I think about how nice it was to hang out with the Husband before going to work, and how fun it was to have a couple extra hours during the day last week when I was forced to wake up at 4:30 three days in a row. And how one of my goals for this year was to wake up at 6am so I could have 'me' time before the Boog woke up. And how I am not a morning person, and I fear never will be. I am better at waking up and being awake at 7am, which is when Boog usually wakes up, no more sleepy mommy on the couch. Except for last week, I would come home and zonk on the couch a little before snack.

But I like my sleep, and that is one of the problems. Why wake up early for 'me' time when I could sleep and that is just as good? I love sleep. I adore sleep. It's one of my favorite things to do. I miss it the most, I think, since becoming a mother. Even the days when I get to sleep in, I'm awake at 7am and not going anywhere, especially back to sleep.

Oh well. Here's a picture of the sun coming up, one of my early, early mornings last week:

(during the race)

Husband ran in the 2nd Annual Mogadishu Mile on post here and I came out to support him. Next year, I want to run it with him.

(before the race)

(after the race)

Grammy Ro

Scott is so lucky to have 3 grammies.

Marmee is Husband's mom, Grandma is my mom, and Grammy Ro is the original Scott's mom. We named our son after her son who was killed in a bicycle accident when he was 11. He was Husband's best friend.

I have never seen Scott with such instant affection for someone. It's almost like he already knew who she was. Which I wouldn't be surprised if that were true. Babies are special.

He also had his first sleepover, away from mommy, at Grammy Ro's house. He was very upset when we came back to get him. Apparently, I am not as cool as Grammy Ro.

He also got to ride horses and the 4track at Grammy Ro's house. He loved Danny as soon as he saw him, but I think a little more after the 4track rides. We came riding up to see Scott, Danny and their neighbor, all sitting on the porch with their old man guts. It was so priceless.

There are some people who are so special in my life that words do not do justice. Grammy Ro is one of those people and I am so happy that she is in my son's life.

Hello Fall

Today marks the first day of fall, but I haven't finished with summer yet on my little blog. I must admit, I have been feeling a little of the blog blahs and have found myself busy with other projects, telling myself 'I will blog tomorrow', and yet tomorrow never seems to come.

I have lots of book reviews and lots of pictures, from Oregon (still) and from my trip to NC to see my family and my best friends, who I miss dearly many days. I didn't get to see everyone b/c I lost a week with Scott being sick. So if I didn't get to see you, it's not b/c I don't love you, I just didn't get to everyone on my list. I will be back next summer though, it's my 10 year high school reunion (gasp!) and a Waldorf family reunion. I will make sure to plan enough time to see you all!!

My little brother in law is graduating from basic training this week and we have family coming to stay with us, so I am busy getting ready for that.

I'm still alive and well, thank you to all who read my little ole boring blog. :)

In Raleigh

Seems my traveling isn't through yet. I'm not complaining though. I've talked my parents into taking Scott and I to the beach this weekend and I am slowly making plans to see friends. Wanting to leave the house has taken a backseat since we got here.

Scott has some kind of bug which is making me work overtime on the diaper changes and the baths. Like multiple changes throughout the night. Carpet cleaning at 5am. Laundry. Anyone wanna babysit so I can get some sleep?