Squeezin' In Some Crafting

If you live in a state that had Recollections, a paper crafting store (much like Archiver's) that was a subsidiary of Michaels, you might have been surprised that they closed all their stores earlier this year. There have also been two wildly popular scrapbooking stores in the Dallas area that have sadly closed their doors. What to make of all this? Are we indeed in a recession? Is scrapbooking a fad that's on its way out? Are the WalMarts, Targets and Hobby Lobbys making it difficult for others to compete? Personally, I think that we've all shopped ourselves into satiation. Our craft rooms are bursting at the seams. I know that my quest to purchase the latest and greatest new sparkling supplies has surpassed my need to create. So while I'm sad to see all these wonderful stores close shop, I know that the universe is karmically helping me to "shop" in my own craft room and use my own plethora of supplies. But then...(sigh)...there is the Internet. And Candice Carpenter's fabulous new website/shoppe Peacoats and Party Hats.
Before I could say "Stop the Madness" my finger double clicked on this cute Birthday banner. Candice is a genius at putting together the cutest craft projects. I love that her kits are relatively simple, i.e. doable, and they don't contain a thousand moving parts.
Candice's banner was so much fun to put together and I was easily able to incorporate a few embellishments from my personal stash.
Can't wait to decorate with this banner for a certain someone's birthday next year. Hopefully, the MousePie will approve.

Favorite Childhood Toys

Thank you Scrappy Jessi for being our lovely hostess for today's post: Favorite Childhood Toys. I grew up in the 70's and loved all things related to Snoopy and Hello Kitty. I carried a purse that was filled with Snoopy pads and colored pencils and Hello Kitty papers and erasers. Of course, like our hostess, I was a huge fan of Barbie and all her peeps. I had the Farrah Fawcett doll and the Marie Osmond doll along with Barbie, PJ, the obligatory Ken, and a host of others. None of them escaped the scissors, except for Ken who was saved by his plastic molded hair. I also had a love affair with all things miniature: plastic farm animals, Liddle Kiddles, Weebles, and Fisher Price people. I spent hours playing with these tiny Disney characters. As you can see, they are scratched up a bit but I'm so glad that I still have them. (My parents' house and all our belongings burned when I was four years old so I have only a few cherished toys and even fewer childhood photos.) As for outside play, I loved my Big Wheel and my red Hippety Hop, but nothing was more exciting than playing in the treehouse or exploring at Grandma's farm or making mudpie pizzas in the street and watching cars run over them. One year, I decided to start my own business - a Shrinky Dink Club. I made Shrinky Dinks all afternoon and then wrote a letter describing what you would get, for a nominal fee, if you joined The Shrinky Dink Club. I was so excited about this idea. Each member would receive new Shrinky Dinks every month. I packaged about ten of these envelopes and then took off on my bike, placing the sacred envelopes in random mailboxes. Oddly, I never received any orders.
Oh, and I loved the Upsy Downsy characters shown here. These were kind of related to Liddle Kiddles but more on the funky, psychedelic side.
Probably more than anything though, I loved any kind of imaginary game. My older brother and I engaged in rich imaginative play where our dog, Sniffles, was the General in a make-believe army and we, The Doggies, had to fight off various foes who all had special powers. Before we engaged in our battles, we, the Sniffles Club, convened in the garage. My brother was the President of the club; alas, I was only a mere member. Anyway, the Sniffles Club met on a regular basis and we had secret rituals. For example, before we could begin our battles, we had to sing the opening song, then we conducted our business, then we battled/played, then we sang our closing song. And believe it or not, I can still, to this day, remember the words to those songs. We never told one adult about the Sniffles Club. Ever. Wow. I hope Baby A has as much fun in the magical world of play as I did. So many wonderful memories. Thanks Jessi for taking us down memory lane!

What Can I Say?

I've been hypnotized by an 11-pound peanut patty, which is my excuse for not making a post in so long. Well, that reason coupled with the fact that my life, which is pretty much about baby bliss and mind-numbing sleep deprivation, does not make for the most artfully scintillating fodder these days. I considered blogging about my blocked milk duct (Oh, the adventures of breast feeding!) but decided to spare you guys the ugly truth. Honestly, I've been trying to find my groove in this new life of mine and have been at a loss on what to post about. But, when my mail lady arrived today with this package from one of the sweetest girls in blogland, I knew I had my post.Jessi, I am speechless. This is such a wonderful surprise...Look at all this pink, yummy goodness.
Check this out. Jessi has her own custom tags and buttons. Adorable!
She included one of the cutest custom tags from the talented Kris Hurst. I can't believe Jessi was willing to part with it...I love the pixie holding her balloons.
Oh my goodness! A bling bling princess crown pacifier holder! So fun. So precious. So Jessi.
And...oh, I cannot believe this...an adorable black and pink tutu dress. Wow!!! This is so cool. I love it all! I feel like Jessi is preparing Amelie for Silver Bella. The peanut patty was sleeping while I opened all of these goodies but I couldn't resist dressing her up. She couldn't quite keep her eyes open but I had a ball taking pictures of her. Jessi - you made my week, girlfriend. Thank you for your very generous and thoughtful gifts.

Things I've Learned As A New Mom

Revelation #1: First, we have never experienced a love so powerful, so immediate, and so pure as the love we feel for our baby. Everyday with her feels like Christmas.

Revelation #2: Newborns make a lot of different sounds. If you close your eyes, you might think you are in a zoo rather than a nursery. She mews like a kitten, eeks like a dolphin, grunts like a pig, screeches like a monkey, and squeaks like a mouse...all in her sleep.

Revelation #3: Husbands (at least mine) can sleep through all of these noises while moms seem to be hardwired to listen and respond to every peep that comes from their sleeping noisemaker.
Revelation #4: Just because a baby has wet and/or pooped in her diaper doesn't mean that she can't wet and/or poop in her diaper again in the next five minutes and then again five minutes after that. (see Revelation #8)

Revelation #5: Babies don't smell like baby powder and baby lotion because they're wearing it; Baby powder and baby lotion were made to smell like the natural scent of babies. (Jim's Revelation)

Revelation "#6: The purple/black cord thingy makes both mom and dad a bit uneasy. It's been almost a month now and that little booger is still hanging on! Still hoping that Cosmo doesn't eat it like Miranda's cat on Sex In The City.
Revelation #7: When changing out the diaper, it is critical to immediately place a new diaper under the baby's bottom. (see Revelation #8)

Revelation #8: In the middle of changing out an explosive poo, note that additional projectile poo can be sprayed at least two feet from said baby's behind. (Yes, folks, I have cleaned bits of poo off our bedroom wall and off the dry-clean-only velvet curtains.)

Revelation #9: My embarrassing record of not bathing/washing my hair for five consecutive days (initially set years ago at summer camp where they only had communal showers) has now been broken. Gross, but true.

Revelation #10: Must. Sleep. Now.

Introducing...

Amelie Sky August. Born March 4, 2008 at 3:55 PM, 6 pounds and 13 ounces, 18.9 inches long. Here she is!!! I feel like my heart has both melted and expanded with all the love I have for her. Jim and I are completely over the moon. I ended up having a C-section, but am now recovering at home and feeling pretty good. It just doesn't get any better than this. Will post when I can. Right now I'm running on fumes (baby scented) and bonding with the bunny.

3 Days Overdue...

and still no baby. I am quite the emotional ball of nerves these days. Well meaning friends and family are calling on a daily basis to check my status and it seems to be adding to my stress. Jim is taking me for eggplant parmigiana for lunch (and I don't even like eggplant). I have been reading all of your comments and just have been completely blown to the moon with all the love and good wishes and kind thoughts you have been sending my way. I am very much a shy/introverted person and have just been overwhelmed (in the best way possible) from all the love and support I feel from each of you. Thank you all so much!!!