2 going on 13 October 22, 2009

Sometimes (a lot of the time) Jackson says the funniest things.  They aren’t always funny to him, or he doesn’t understand the meaning behind what he’s saying, but he has the ability to totally make us laugh (and often we laugh when we shouldn’t, but we can’t help it) or make us wonder how a two year old can jave such complex thoughts.  I’m hoping to start remembering more of these moments by jotting them down here because I know it’s only a matter of time before I forget them.

• This morning when Nick went into Jack’s room to wake him up, it was still a little dark in his room.  Nick started to open the blinds when he hears Jack whisper “Turn on the lights.”  So after the blinds were open, Nick went over to turn on a light in the room and Jack said “Thanks daddy.  My eyes don’t work in the dark.”  Nick laughed and told him “Yeah, don’t worry, mommy and daddy’s eyes don’t work in the dark either.”  Silly boy.
• Yesterday morning when I was getting Jack out of the car at school he pointed to my quilted jacket and said “Look mommy, windows.”  It took me a second, but then I could totally see how he could think that.  Such a simple way of looking at things!  And I said “You’re right buddy, those do look like windows.”  But then he said “Or kites mommy.  More like kites.”  Which they were – they were actually shaped like diamonds, just like a kite.
•   The other night we were sitting outside on the front steps after we had all gotten home.  Nick and I were chatting about something, when Jack (who had been playing with a stick with his back to us minding his own business) walked right up to me and got about 6 inches from my face and said “Enough!”  Ummm, what???  I was kind of in shock and turned to Nick with a look like, did that really just happen?!?  He did it again when we were inside later in the evening – walked up while he was not a part of the conversation and said it again.  No idea where he got that one, unless he picked it up from me telling him “that’s enough” while he’s throwing a tantrum or whining about not getting his way.
• He’s also started interrupting us while we’re talking, mostly during dinner, by saying “No, no.  Stop talking.  Listen to me.”
• Nick looked in the back of his diaper the other day to make sure he hadn’t pooped (99% of the time he asks to be changed, but sometimes we check just to make sure nothing’s going on down there) and he said to Nick “No daddy, don’t look at my penis!”  Let’s hope he never screams that one in public .

There are so many more funny things this kid says…  Hope to share them as much as I can!

All things Etsy October 20, 2009

Soooo… if you haven’t heard the word, I adore a website called Etsy.  How can you NOT love Etsy?!?  And if you’ve never been there before, I command you to take a minute (or twenty) out of your ever so busy day to check it out (www.etsy.com).  It happens to be “your place to buy and sell all things homemade”.  I’ve bought a handful of things from various sellers over the years, and everything I’ve bought has been of excellent quality with fantastic customer service.  My most favorite was probably the invitations to Jackson’s birthday party this year.

 

I was poking around the other day, and came across these:

 

 

 

It’s a coaster set that when lined up, they make up a complete map of Central Park in NYC!  Can you say LOVE???  They’re made by gertiebyrd.  So, so cool.

 

 

 

Some other fun things I’ve come across on Etsy…

 

 

 

This fabulous bag by DrikaB:

 

 

 

I love this set of freshwater pearls earrings by muyinmolly:

 

 

 

I pretty much love everything that artandphilanthropy does, but especially this (I think I’ll buy it soon, too):

 

 

 

There are lots of jewelry shops, as you can imagine.  But I really like the personalized mom jewelry by MamaBethBling:

 

 

 

There are adorable baby items abound.  Pacifier straps/clips, blankets, bibs, burp cloths, clothes – you name it!  I love these little girl clothes by Huckleberry Baby:

 

 

 

 

WatermelonWishes has excellent choices in fabric:

 

 

 

And Nella Designs.  There are just no words!  I love the colors she uses.  I want to be her, and I want to make things like that!  A few favorites are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could go on and on.  Really, the amount of “favorites” that I have bookmarked on Etsy is a little ridiculous!  But I think it’s wonderful that there’s a little community where people can buy and sell quality items at fair prices.  Each shop owner benefits directly from their sales, and that’s a really cool thing!  Now go see what fun stuff you can find, and then come back and tell me what you bought .

Quick Craft October 14, 2009

We got our new mac just a couple of months ago, after having our laptop give up and totally die back in the spring.  I absolutely love our new computer, but that’s beside the point.  Now with the arrival of a desktop, I was in desperate need of a mouse pad, having never needed one for the laptop (obviously).  I put together this little project, and thought I would share the tutorial with you!

Trace and cut out your desired shape from a piece of cork.   I decided I wanted mine to be an 8″ circle.

 

 

 

Now using your piece of cut cork as a template, trace the shape onto the paper backed side some fusible web.  I used Heat ‘n’ Bond Ultra (sold at JoAnn Fabrics, or A.C.Moore).

 

 

 

Cut out your shape, and place your selected fabric right side down, and your newly cut out fusible web paper side up on your fabric.  Using an iron, apply heat to fuse the web to the fabric as per the manufacturer instructions. 

 

 

Now cut your fabric shape out from the fused fabric.  Peel off the paper backing, and place it right side up on your cork.  Fuse the cork to the fabric using the manufacturer’s directions.  It’s also helpful to then place the finished piece under a stack of books for a few minutes while it cools to prevent curling and to make sure everything bonds together nicely. 

 

 

Now you have a new custom mouse pad! 

 

 

You could apply this same technique to make drink coasters, a message cork board, or frame a few pieces and hang up for some easy diy artwork in any room of the house.  There are so many different fabric options available to give you pretty much any color or style you so desire.  Have fun with it!

Strike a pose October 13, 2009

He’s looking more and more like a little boy as each day passes!  In some ways two years have flown by and it seems like just yesterday we were watching him roll over from his belly to his back in a fit (he never was one for tummy time).  And then, I think back to all that we’ve done in the past two years, and all that we’ve laughed at, struggled through, learned from, and it’s then that I realize that he’s my greatest accomplishment and he’s everything to me.  My Jack.

We’re here! October 8, 2009

We needed a fresh start.  I decided to move things over to WordPress from Blogger because frankly, it allows for larger photos, and I like the layout better.  It works for me.   I’ve also decided that I’m going to start blogging about other things (as referenced in the tag line), and not just all about Jack.  Not that I don’t want to devote all of my being to the little bugger, but just because often there are lots of other topics to suggest.

 

To be honest, I don’t really know where life will lead.  I don’t know where we’ll be living in 5 years.  I don’t know (although I’m hopeful!) if we’ll have more kiddos by then.   I don’t know where I’ll be working.  If I’ll have started a new career by then.  I don’t even know where Jack will be going to elementary school in a few years.  So I’m thinking the new blog will be a place to talk about all of our trials and tribulations.  The ups and downs.  The good and the bad.  And all of the fun along the way.  I hope to talk more about a photography journey.  Home design.  Inspirations.  Cooking.  How Jackson spends his days at school.  Weekends.  Fun places we visit, and friends we spend our time with.  How I should certainly NOT be allowed to go shopping (it’s become a very bad habit!) as much as I have, and other fun things. 

 

We’ll see where this takes us!  Bear with me as I get things set up over here.  I vow to never post without a picture.  That just wouldn’t be fair, would it?  Here are a few from our trip to Myrtle Beach with Grandma, Papa, and Aunt Sarah (Nick’s parents and sister) when Jack saw the ocean for the first time since last summer.  We had a blast!