TRAINS!

TRAINS TRAINS TRAINS

So my friend Michelle told me they got their son (same age as Evan) his first train set. I was totally excited but then I realized I have still not given Evan the train set I bought him for his birthday and saved till Christmas only to still never give it to him cause he was chewing on everything still. So... Michelle inspired me to break it open and as you can see, he LOVES it! Thanks Michelle for the reminder his gift was collecting dust. lol. :) CHOO CHOO!

First video...

and second video wouldn't load :( boooo....

I FINALLY FINISHED MY FIRST I SPY BAG!!!!

So, for years I have coveted my sister and sister-in-laws "I Spy Bags" they made for their kids/family and lived away (as usual) for their craft project of making it or even hearing about it. I thought it was genius of them to have it. A quiet toy for church, long car rides, waiting rooms, etc. I decided to start collecting the trinkets that go inside so that one day when I learned how to do it, I'd have a great sentimental collection.

I thought the day had arrived a few months ago (oh my gosh, it's was more than a few months! MY how time flies when you have a baby! I guess it was 6-12moths then) when some friends here had a craft night at my friend Lindsey's house, specifically to make these bags (none of us really knowing what we were doing, we thought we could figure it out.. LOL). Well, I spent the night cutting almost everyone's fabric and they had a clownishly funny time figuring out how to do these. lets just say one of them stared out as a "circle" but ended up as a "purse" LOL (you're welcome katie). It was actually cooler that way. So... I've been crafting again for a couple weeks and was just about to put up all my mess when I saw my collection of trinketts staring sadly at me, begging me to start the project! I couldn't resist those pink and blue google eyes! (some of the trinketts) I started from scratch at 4pm with a goal to finish before michael would get home at 6pm. I decided right there, since the fabric had states and capitals on it, I would cut it the shape of Tennessee! I made great efforts to make it accurate and am very impressed with myself with the outcome. ;) As I was about to sew, I decided to add handles like my friend Lacey did to one she made me with a rice filler (it's at my work for clients to enjoy, smokey would eat it in a second if it was at my house). I had also added the window then decided I needed to type all the 'Ingredients" to see how many there were and to be able to print it on iron on paper and iron it next to the window so you know what to look for or 'check off' what you found. THEN as I sewed, I realized the whole states shape would be a little much for the ingrediants to lay so I sewed an 'inner' rectangular shape around the window and to it's left to accompany the list. This made the ingredients contained in a more manageable area. I was careful to leave an opening to stuff the hole even though I almost forgot. I mixed the doll filler plastic beads with all the trinketts and made a paper funnel to get it in. I am sooo happy with the result!!! I'm addicted. I finished AS my husband walked in the door and surprised him with what I had made. I knew he's be surprised and pleased that I made anything in the shape of Tennessee. He doesn't say but I think it warms his heart a little that I love Tennessee so much and that I try to impress him with my thoughtfulness. What do you say Michael? (i won't hold my breath for a comment... lol). So... here you go! I'm going to make these eventually to sell also.

Front. Shaped like the State of Tennessee with handles so it can be folded in half and carried. The "S" is made for our last name so Evan can share it with any future children we are blessed with. Hopefully he will grasp 'sharing' in our teachings. ;)

Back with window and list

close up of window...

close up of list

the "ingredients" before they were counted, documented & placed in the back. This is an "I Spy" on it's own... Can you see the doughnut, robot, 'Love' confetti, pipe wrench (there are two kinds so you have to know your wrench) or rooster?

Did I mention that I LOVED this project?! I cannot wait to do it again.

One more thing, can you find "C-T-R" in 'red, yellow and blue' (not in that color order)?LOL

genius

I'm telling you, I've got a genius baby. ;) Here he is 'reading'. I know you're all impressed. lol ( I'll add a video to this later)

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bounce! bounce! bounce!

Ok, please don't think we are horrible parents but our son (who may or may not be a 'little' too young yet) is (as mentioned many times before.. lol!) a genius! He is so strong and active and when you hold him, he's totally looking around and wants to STAND! He has been standing since he was a week old but now for about 4weeks or so, he "bounces" thanks to watching his older cousin Liam who came to visit. He's been practicing a lot so... we finally set up the doorway bouncer (thank you Lenora!) and HE LOVES IT!!!!! It is so hilarious to watch and I hope I uploaded the right video. What it doesn't show is that he is so tiney that he slumps over and his arm gets slipped down to his leg opening in the seat so we stuff blankets infront and behind him to try to help him sit up straighter. He is willing to be left in this all night but we want to hold him and kiss him all over for ourselves and the requests from Courtney ;), so have to get him out at some point! ENJOY! (p.s. look at his cute little feet! eeeek!)

This was his first moment in the bouncer, recorded for his daddy who was at work. I was too impatient to even adjust it yet cause I couldn't wait to get my little baby in his big boy toy! ;) Get ready to giggle...

Alligator! AHHH!

Got your attention? I just LOVE this Alligator. We bought it in Kennisaw with a super cute outfit, with an Alligator on it that says "Feed Me". lol. from a store called Crazy 8 http://www.crazy8.com/ that is a cross between Baby Gap and Gymboree in my opinion. We don't have one here and California family and friends, the closest is in Torrence if you want to go but it's super cute stuff and simple like I like it. It has some 'personality' but not too much (like Carter's can). So, check it out. p.s. I'm not getting paid for this advertisement. Also today my son is modeling one of his new shirts from the J & J Jones family. It has a Hippo on it and says "Mean Monday" lol. (Stacey, if you have a boy, I "might" pass these on to you but they may make my keep forever sacks. lol). Yesterday he wore "Sunny Sunday" with a Lion on it, Precious! So enjoy. ;)

Newwww Swing.... He LOVES it!!!! He slept 5 hours in it last night. Ahhhh.....

So, we took in all the feed back from everyone on Pediatricians and weighed our options. We decided on Dr. Rosanne Coleman who is new to Murfreesboro Medical Clinic but was practicing in Eastern Kentucky for the past 11 years (Originally from TN). Many factors played into our decision but we are very happy with her and since she is new, we will hopefully get to see her when we need to.

Our appointment went great! She said they didn't come more perfectly created then him (meaning he didn't have anything 'wrong' or amiss). Of course we already knew that (wink) but for a medical professional to confirm it, it's just gravy. ;) lol. So our little boy is getting bigger! He was born 6lbs 6oz and one day before his 3rd week of life, he weighed in at 7lb 8oz! (see Amber, I feed him. lol) Ourselves and the Dr. were both impressed with his strength as he holds his head up a lot and just looks around AND the fact that he looks around so much is good cause he's very alert and curious about his surroundings. (aka high IQ probably, just like Michael and I)

When we were finishing up, I saw Michael waving and excited to see someone outside our room, it was the Arnold's! Rachel was there with her two youngest and Merrietta (sp?) was getting her stitches out today (you'll have to read her blog for that, it's on my list). We were so happy to see her and I said, 'That's our babysitter!" lol. It was a funny reaction to me. Since only 2 people from church have seen him (Thanks for yummy dinner Olsen's, you are amaaaaaazing! Roxy, hope you're feeling better), I couldn't wait to go show them. I asked Dr. Coleman if we could go show him off and she said, "Sure but wait, let me check to see what they are here for first." It was perfect, we told her she 'passed the test' of keeping our child healthy and she was hired. :)wink. We all laughed and after being thankful we have a nice Pediatrician, we were off to show 3 of the Arnold girls our son. Whoo Hoo! Also in our appointment we got to ask lots of questions and get lots of information. As we are still on formula for the foreseeable future, we also scored a free sample of a different kind that I would like Evan to have (currently on Soy and I don't want him on that). Anyway, I just wanted to say how happy we are that we found a great Dr. and we look forward to seeing her again. Now we can focus on preparing for my Mom and Sister Ashley who are coming on Wednesday for a week (only to be replaced by my sister Jenalyn and her son Liam for the next week). They will be first in my California family to meet Evan, soooo exciting! In six months when Evans Adoption is finalized, we will fly to California to have him sealed to us in the Los Angeles Temple as is important in our faith. We'll have a HUGE party (shh, my mom and dad don't know yet but It'll be at their house and everyone will be invited. LOL! seriously, they don't know... he he he) to celebrate. The rest of our family will get to meet him at that visit (unless of course they come to visit before). Anyway, we hope you are all doing well staying away from sickies, I know we are. I'll hopefully get to post a little more pictures when family is here since they will want to hold Evan. ;) I know you're all excited but try to contain yourself. ;)
by for now...

p.s. i just accidentally found out that crazy 8 is a 'Gymboree' concept store. wierd that it's who i said it looks like! man, i'm as smart as my boy, look out world!

Baby & Baby Room Preparations...

Ok, to start, the two pictures below are of the previous "Office". You will not speak of this room again. I was obviously used as storage for the past year (ahem)... or so. Here is the before, the after was not taken yet but it is now "The Guest Room".

(all pictures can be clicked to view larger)

Here is one 'before' shot of the old "Guest Room" which is clean compared to the former office. ( I show the before to give an idea of all the work that went into this weekend extravaganza. Michael is cringing right now that I'm showing these pictures of our dirty rooms. sorry honey!)

Ok, Here is where the transformation begins to becoming a baby room. I don't have time to paint the room yet and haven't bought it even (I'll wait till when and IF my sister Ashley comes with my mom to help me). I paused before opening the crib box so you could see my 'excitement' of putting the room together alone (that's right, feel sorry for me people!;)...). I'm pretty impressed with this since I had no make up on...I'm laying on the box and am displaying tools to look more realistic. lol!

FINISHED PRODUCT! Success! Doesn't the crib look great? I'm not talking about the bedding, it's fine for now. I just bought cheap bedding at IKEA (Stacey, I can't believe you AND your husband have never heard of this before... i would be a bad friend if I didn't' steer you in the right direction, get ready to fall in love... http://www.ikea.com/) to tide me over. My friend and client "Kristyn G" has long told me she'd help me with some custom stuff so I will likely take her up on it in the next month. Get ready to be impressed when that happens! Anyway the "mobile" is actually a Capiz Shell Wind chime I bought last year in Gulf Shores Alabama and plan to look for another when we're there THIS Thanksgiving. I love it and can't wait for the walls to be painted so you can actually see it in contrast. Now, these puppet looking stuffed animals are AWESOME! I bought them about... 9 years ago, I think through Pottery Barn Kids. They each have story's on their back sides, in accordance to their Fairy Tale or Children's Rhyme. I know, cool huh!?

Next what we have is Grannies antique dresser that I love! It is definitely a work in progress as to what is on it but to the left, you see the blanket and sweet Raggedy Ann Doll. It is where a Changing Pad will go if i get one (wink. wink.). Of course the entire top will be covered with a cloth before we put a baby or real stuff on it, but, you get the idea. The middle picture is of a tile I made from a craft project we did at church. It reads: BE: Grateful, Humble, Still, Prayerful, True, Clean, Smart, Positive, Involved. I can only hope. ;). Featured in the picture to the right is my Grandmother, Grace Anna Isaacson Holmstrom's, 1952 printing of "A Mother's Encyclopedia" In Six Volumes. I was compiled and edited by the Editors of Parents' Magazine (first copyright was in 1933). I made away with this little treasure by shear luck of dusting off a shelf and saying, "Mom, this is so great! Can I please have these?" Thanks to a mother who isn't highly attached to 'things', I took the goods and ran as soon as she said yes. (that's how you survive in our big family. "Kill or be Killed, Survival of the Fittest..." you get the point) Here my children will now be blessed with the outspoken words of the then Editors of Parents' Magazine. Ahh, the honest days and simpler times... ;). Oh, and don't you just LOVE the little mice, holding up the books?! I found them at a boutique called "Yours Truly" by Tangerine Salon and Spa on Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. They sometimes have sweet odds and ends like this there.

Below are featured some of the many current gifts and I'm sure many more to come from Grandma Jennie. She gave us another hand crocheted blanket from her mother Zelma (Grannie) who passed away in May (sorry if I'm wrong on that) 6 years ago. It will be featured alone in a later post. Grannie made them when she was feeling well and I'm sure planned all along to have us be given them, when we were blessed with our children. Thank you Grannie, we love you. In this picture you will see, Jennie gave Evan a toy phone, no doubt to encourage him to call his Grandmother waaaay more than her son Michael. ;) You're welcome Jennie. he he.

Last but certainly not least is our gift from Evans Uncle Matt that wants to be sure his nephew is decked out in the finest of outfits for the great hockey team The NASHVILLE PREDATORS!!!!!!! Thank you Matt. WE LOVE IT!

Lastly, (Kathy, I hope you are satisfied with this post. lol) So many of you have asked about a shower, and I'm very excited about that! I will tell you that I am having a 'small private' shower this coming Friday and a friend and my sister are scheming some Virtual Shower idea for California Family and Friends but as for here, we have PENCILED, Friday November 7th for an Open House at our Church on E. Clark Blvd (by Leaf Ave) from 6-9pm. It's come and go, visit style, permitting we are back from Atlanta. An official date and time will be announced later and an Invitation will be posted on this blog. We are not ashamed to say, we are registered at Target and Babies R Us. We welcome your gifts and need them! Adoption is not free so we love and appreciate all gifts you bring, including, just YOU! If Evan is healthy enough, he will be at the open house but we will see.... Ahhh... I'm so tired, whatever time this says it's posted at is when I STARTED typing. It is now 1:34am and I MUST go to bed!!!! Evan will be here soon and I've gotta get some rest! Thank you everyone, we feel so humbled that you care about us and Evan and want to share this with us. We are grateful and CANNOT wait for you to meet him. xoxo

p.s. thank you stephen, liz and hayden for coming over tonight. it felt great to share our preparations with friends! oooo, so exciting......:)