checking in . . .

photo from our old apartment during the moving chaos

Hello everyone! As of today my computer is once more set up and in working order. It's amazing how that makes one feel connected.

We have made it to Colorado Springs. All three of us. David and I flew out with my mom last Wednesday and Adrian and my dad drove out on Wednesday/Thursday. Thanks to some great family help we got the 26 ft. truck unloaded yesterday and we, along with our stuff are in my parents' basement and garage for the time being until we can close on a house.

We have been house hunting and have seen about 15 houses so far. Not sure we've found "the one" but we'll see. I'd love to hear some of your anecdotes about house hunting.

Here's the thing I've been thinking about moving. I think it's sort of like having a baby. You forget how absolutely exhausting it is during the process and how intensely unsettling it is to have your comfort zone and familiar schedule completely thrown off.

I have to admit to some melancholy and "what in the world have we done?" feelings but there are definitely good things too.

Basically our last several days have consisted of:

unpacking toothbrushes and other immediate necessities, borrowing boots to wear to church from my mom because when I looked at the weather this morning it said "feels like 25 degrees", going to Pikes Perk coffee with Adrian with grandparents to baby-sit, trying to figure out how to eat allergy friendly meals at different restaurants than we had in Texas like Noodles & Co. and Famous Dave's, visiting my parents' church, looking at houses, looking at houses, looking at houses, helping David get adjusted, dinners with family, playing with nephews, unloading the truck, talking, praying, some crying, e-mailing with friends on my iphone, visiting a fun kitchen store downtown and a fun foodie restaurant on our first day with my sister-in-law and two nephews, teaching David about stairs, drinking lots and lots of water to ward off altitude sickness, unpacking a box you think has chapstick in it, slathering on lots of lotion, good naps and nighttime sleeping from the little man, some good sleeping for us, some laying awake thinking . . .

As soon as I, or more accurately my sweet husband, can get my eye-fi set up or when I find a camera cable I can begin blogging photos from here. I have wished I had taken more photos while house hunting as some things probably would make good blog fodder.

I would love to hear from you and any good moving stories/encouragement you may have.

Kelly

reminder

don't forget, tomorrow is ten on ten if you'd like to participate

Kelly

j is for jelly beans

It's jelly bean season . . .

photo from my baby shower

check out this easy, inexpensive gift that Sandy made using jelly beans

packing

He is a very good packer.

I was soo glad I was able to get the camera on quick enough to capture this!

coming up with treasure

We're hanging in over here. To be honest I'm tired. It will be good to be done with this moving stuff.

Kelly

If you'd like to see little man's eleven month post you can go here.

Kelly

one thing at a time

“Do not yield to the temptation of looking at everything at once, as if everything would happen at once, and all the events of the day be crowded into an hour. Do not thus forecast, but take each thing as it comes to you, and look upon it as the present expression of the will of God concerning you; then regard the next in the same way, and thus receive your day piece by piece from Him who will remember always when He gives you work to do, that you need strength to do it.” ~Priscilla Maurice

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. ~Psalm 28:7

on the move

Our little guy is certainly on the move more than ever. He has learned to get up on his tip toes which I love.

We are "on the move" too. Monday Adrian was offered and accepted a new job

in Colorado Springs!

We will get to move to be close to family and we are so excited about many aspects of this move but very sad to be leaving our friends and church here.

We are in a whirlwind of getting ready to go as we leave on April 6th. Crazy times!

I would love it if you would say a prayer for us in our transition.

Thank you.

Kelly

vitamin c

While in Houston last week, my sweet Sweetie, squeezed fresh orange juice for me.

This is such a special treat and a tradition carried over from when my Poppy used to squeeze orange juice for me when I would go over to their house before school every morning in junior high and Sweetie and I would play skipbo and then they would take me to school.

Kelly

frizzante

non-dairy is not so bad

a pineapple mint frizzante from Paciugo's

Kelly

One week ago . . .

my cousin was getting married here.

Isn't it beautiful?!

Once I have permission from the bride and groom I will share more photos.

Kelly

makes me happy

from my love . . .

eleven months!!!

It is amazing to me that you are eleven months old!

It is so, so much fun watching you learn and grow!

You learned to eat {and love} smoothies this month! We make them with frozen fruit, banana and coconut milk and sometimes a splash of vanilla. You actually really advanced in your cup skills after I gave you a smoothie in a cup. Since it is thicker and didn't come at you as fast when you tipped the cup you gained awareness and control of drinking from your cup.

You are getting so, so good at it now and can pick it up off the table by yourself and set it back down somewhat gently at least a good percentage of the time. It helped when we switched to clear cups instead of the brightly colored cups with fun pictures that you liked to tip back and point to all of the things on the cups.

We'd love for you to learn to drink from a straw too as it would make restaurants easier since you still splutter water back out when drinking and we don't want you cold and wet. At home we change clothes a lot but Mama doesn't mind because I like dressing you in different things.

Until daylight savings time hit you'd been taking longer naps, generally around an hour or more but now your sleeping schedule seems to be all cattywampus.

We have begun to do more purposeful activities together and I really enjoy that. On this chilly day I put some dry oatmeal in the bottom of this box and you used your wooden spoon to move it around some but you really preferred just to use your hands. You are getting much better at not putting every single thing that you pick up into your mouth so you are getting to play outside more and in the dirt, wood chips at the playground, etc. I still do have to say, "We don't eat dirt." "We don't eat leaves." etc. though. It's completely worth it to see the joy you get from exploring.

You really like to be near your daddy when he's getting ready to leave for work in the mornings. You help him with things like putting on his shoes and getting his backpack ready.

You love, love, love the vacuum cleaner!!! You will chase it and the swiffer around and you like to try to push it yourself. You can do it too, you're strong!

You are playing in your room by yourself more. You roam all about the house and we really only keep the bathrooms and laundry/trash room offlimits to you unless we're with you. You love to open the drawer under the stove and I believe you have claimed it as your own. In addition to getting out the round cake pans each and every time, you put your own treasures in too. The past few weeks have seen your wooden spoon, scraps of paper that Mama has let you play with and a pair of your socks all take up residence there.

I love that you are starting to take toys with you from one place to another. It is so cute to see.

Mostly you pull things along with one hand while you're crawling but sometimes you find it more efficient to carry things in your mouth! It's pretty adorable. You especially like to put your socks in your mouth. Funny boy!

You got really good at driving cars around this month.

You have also learned to get on your tip toes to see more. I love to watch you do this.

You and Daddy went to downtown Grapevine to see the trains and take pictures while Mama was at a coffee with ladies from church one Saturday morning. You and your Daddy always have fun together.

You have started to fall asleep in our arms during church on Sundays and we both love holding onto this last bit of your babyhood before you turn into a toddler.

You like to growl. One night when Daddy was reading a book to you before bed that had a lion in it, he growled and then you surprised us by growling right back. You are so smart and fun.

You have two teeth on the bottom and three coming in on the top!

You have started to put things into other things. One day I got out a bunch of plastic lids and a plastic box and you had a lot of fun with that. You are also starting to help Mama clean up your toys and things.

You like to put your weebles into the door of the treehouse and then shut the door. You show a lot of persistence. We are so proud of you.

You have started doing the motions for "God Made The Big Round Sun". I was singing to you while I was changing your diaper and you started flapping your arms for the birds flying and grinning at me because you knew you were doing something really cool and my heart soared! Today you made the big round sun while we were video chatting with Nana.

yesterday

was meet Daddy for ramen day

lots of yummy vegetables, noodles and broth

cool place

Have you discovered any new restaurants lately?

Kelly

photos by Adrian

last night

was taco night!

recipe here

What did you have for dinner last night?

Kelly

reverse applique - take 2

I do think my model is especially handsome!

So I learned a thing or two making the "D" onesie.

First, straight lines are a whole lot easier than curvy ones.

So I decided to try something with only straight lines. That was after I tried a car and it turned out looking more like a weapon. Oh dear.

I was super excited when I had to go back over a line and they lined up exactly!

I think even the outline looks pretty fun.

But once the knit has been cut away, it's even cuter.

I wonder if it will still fit him by the fourth of July?

Kelly

another sewing sneak peak

sewing update - reverse applique

I hope you didn't think that I gave up on sewing.

I have not ended up sewing every day and I probably need to give Jacquie's machine back but I have enjoyed experimenting with several different things and I feel like I can sew now and hopefully I'll keep on learning and trying.

If I could only get my hands on a Bernina machine without paying a small fortune . . .

So for my first fabric on fabric project (vs. sewing on paper) I followed this tutorial for reverse applique.

I cleaned out David's onesie bin and weeded out the stained ones and ones that had seen better days and figured that I could practice on those with minimal risk. Jacquie was also nice enough to send me home with some fabric scraps.

I paired fabrics with onesies and got busy.

The part where you cut through the knit but not through the fabric underneath was a tiny bit unnerving . . .

Whew! I did it!

While it's by no means the most perfect "D" ever, I was plenty pleased with it for a first attempt!

And here's my little guy modeling his new duds made by his mama! Such fun! I dreamed of sewing for my kids one day and now I have.

Have you done anything creative or crafty lately or followed a dream?

Kelly