Cards for Kids

Last year (before I got into the craft of card making), I had decided that cards were rather pointless for kids.  Mostly it is just a delay between being handed a gift and getting to open it.  I made tags to attach to the gift rather than buying a card (unless it was a gift card via mail type).  Simple.  Quick.  Right to the point (To ___ From Us).  Basically the tags were exactly what a kid would want typically.

This year, I've been enjoying making cards though.  So I made cards for kids too.  The downside for the kids, they have to read cards before getting to their gifts again.  The plus side, no super-long 'Hallmark' poem on the inside!  I still keep it simple (message at least).  The cards are fun for me to make, and hopefully a little more unique for the kid to look at before tossing it aside to get to the wrapping paper.





I don't suppose this looks like a Ninja Turtle to all of you?  I hope so because it is going in the mail with a Shredder action figure this week!

Bathroom Overhaul 2013

Our house has been hectic lately!  We had that week away followed immediately by a bathroom overhaul.  This is the first major project for the house and it was the top of our list.  I mean, you can only live with a tub/shower that has a register (AC/Heat) in it--think toddler bath time.

Yes, that is a window that you can see through easily there also.

Demo started on Monday afternoon (having returned home Saturday night).  My husband worked his job and then came home to do this big project with the help of his younger brother (13).  My job was to keep the kids out of the way.  Easier said than done with a curious three year old and loud noises!

The floor broke up a lot easier than they thought it would be...considering that one of the previous owners built up the floor with over an inch and half of concrete before tiling....over an old floor which was on top of the subfloor.  Oh, and it had the metal rolls through the whole thing!  It was also used as a corner form with the sheetrock/tile on the walls.


After that mess got cleaned up we had a blank slate.  Okay, so there really wasn't any way to reconfigure it when the door stays in place as does the plumbing.  But at least we could do everything else new!

Slowly the bathroom is getting put back together.  A week later we had the new tub and surround in, the electrical and plumbing completed, the register relocated, the laundry chute moved a bit further from the tub, and the window replaced.  I can hardly wait to have a complete bathroom across the hall from me again rather than in the basement (in an unfinished half without walls or door to separate it from the laundry!  We have the toilet installed, the sink is in (but not hooked up), and the shower will be the next step (right after the window trimming!).  I'll get some pictures of a finished bathroom up in the midst of my overwhelming excitement I'm certain.

Just a taste of what is going on still.

Six Months Ago

At this time back in January I had just turned 26 and had my first major surgery.  Honestly, being scared of the idea of surgery and the prospect of having it on my birthday was unnerving but my little guy was willing to go along with the plan and wait until the day after.  So today, because Wyatt is laid back and ready to go with the flow, he is 6 months old rather than 6 months and a day.

Weekend zoo fun.

He sits pretty well if he isn't tired.  He holds his own bottle when he doesn't want to be lazy (which if given the option he'll happily hand over the job).  He loves to eat his foods but gets impatient with the process still.  He doesn't mind baths or swimming overall unlike his sister.  Other than being late for a bottle, he is very calm and happy.  He keeps us on schedule even when we don't want to be...but rarely lets us use the car to knock him out long enough to get home.

He is a sweet baby boy who snuggles and wants nothing more than to hold my hair and marvel at the textures of everything he can grab.  If it can get in his mouth it seems even more magical!  He can scoot along but hasn't figured out the crawling pattern enough to get really cruising.  Toy pick-up is more crucial now because of that scoot being faster than you remember.  Playpens are NOT as fun as chasing down his sister's toys that are always just within scoot distance and the "frogger" is only acceptable for short bursts of time until he realizes that his sister is free to leave the room at a moment's notice.

Mister Wyatt has been nothing if not a relaxed baby.  He sleeps, eats, and well, yeah.  Just like every other baby out there except that he babbles rather than cries.  Smiles are abundant.  Snuggles are always welcome.  Giggles are contagious.  Chewing is mandatory.  And playing with his feet is one of his greatest joys.

There is nothing more satisfying than watching my two babies growing up together.  Seeing Alyssa get excited when he scoots across a blanket or babbles 'mama' (which is not a word yet even if the toddler is certain of it).

I'm having so much fun seeing him grow and learn!  I can hardly wait to see how far he goes over just the next six months.  I love my babies!