Fabric, fabric, FABRIC!!!!

Jason and I just got back from a super fun weekend in Houston. We spent some good quality time with family and ate some dang good Texas barbeque. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, which is a first for me, so I don't have a whole lot of pictures to document it. Sad. :(
Besides being with family, one of the best parts of the trip was when Crystal took me to this little hole-in-the-wall quilt shop. I literally almost passed out when I went inside due to sheer joy! There were bolts and bolts of gorgeous fabric. And oh! the pre-cuts! I was in heaven. Just when I thought my happiness couldn't get any greater, we came across a honey bun of Soiree!!!! AHHHHH!!!! I just about peed in my pants from excitement. And it was even on sale! I snatched that up as well as a turnover of Sorbet and a charm pack of Spirit. Crystal also had given me a charm pack of Central park  just for coming to visit. :) Gosh, I love beautiful fabric.
Now to decide what to make with each one.... Let the sewing begin!

Gone Swimmin'!

Rain, rain go away....but if you stay, that's ok! Because Claire and I had a blast at our gym's indoor pool today! I met up with my friend Elena, who also happens to be a swim instructor. She showed me some fun things I can do with Claire in the pool right now to get her excited about being in the water, like splashing, kicking and putting her head back in the water. Claire was pretty apprehensive at first, but she warmed up to it. She did a great job too when her ears were put in the water--she didn't get upset at all.
But Claire really enjoyed herself when we took her to the big hot tub ( which was not on, so not as hot). I think she preferred the really really warm water over the lukewarm pool water. Definitely Jason's child. She loved it!
There isn't a whole lot you can do with a 4 month old in a pool, but the more we go, hopefully the more she will grow accustomed to the water and getting ready to learn how to swim!

Pool gear:

Water diaper

Cute Bathing suit that Gran bought her

Cute little bathing cover that Uncle Ico and Aunt Cindy bought her

Claire really liked her blue ring

Claire enjoying her hot tub experience :)



Enjoying Life

Talking about life with Mr. Octopus

Claire is looking more and more like a real little baby everyday and has basically lost  all signs of a newborn. I can't believe she is already 4 months old! She is such a happy, content baby. I guess the best word to describe her is chill. She will just hang out with me and Jason and will be content to sit on our laps while we do other stuff. Or play with Mr. Octopus. She gets the biggest grin on her face when she sees him and babbles incessantly. She always has alot to say to him. :)

The weather has been gorgeous lately so I've made it a point ( the sun-obsessed person that I am) to get outside with Claire as often as possible.She really likes being outside. I love dressing her up with sunhats and cute little jumpers. This past weekend we took a little family walk down to Idlywood park and hung out by the lake. We live in such a beautiful place!

Notice how cool I am when I sport sunglasses right on top of my glasses!

New York!

A visit to Grandma's house was on the books months before Claire was even born. And after skyping a few times and seeing her get all teary-eyed when she saw Claire, I figured it was high time Grandma meet her great-granddaughter in person. So I booked a flight ( Delta had some awesome deals going!) and flew the 5+ hours direct to JFK.

It was love at first touch.

Grandma, who now officially goes by "Gran" to establish the difference between her and my mom, fell in love with Claire--and Claire became quite fond of her! Jonny came out as well, and of course, Claire loved hanging out with him. :)

In addition to hanging out in Hicksville, Jonny and I took Claire on a fun day trip into the big city to visit Aunt Bina and Uncle Arty. They actually live in Hoboken, N.J. but I consider it the city since their house is 2 minutes away once you emerge from the Lincoln tunnel. Plus, in order to get there, we had to drive through the heart on midtown on 37th street. Jonny and I got our full New York City experience that way.

The purpose of this trip was to introduce little Claire to her extended family. Gran, who was the most anxious of all to meet her, naturally got the most time with her. But she also got to meet our cousin Josh, his parents Aunt Bettina and Uncle George,  her aunts and uncles from my dad's side: Aunt Bina, Uncle Arty, Uncle Ico and Aunt Cindy and our cousins Matt and Jessica.

our cousin Jessica

Aunt Bettina, Uncle George and Josh

Aunt Bina, Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ico

Matt busting some PT moves on Claire

Lots of good family bonding time. :) Jonny and I got a lot of one on one time too, which was really nice since he will be leaving on his mission at the end of the summer. It was nice to be able to spend some quality time with my baby brother. We are 9 years apart, which used to be a big gap, but it's interesting how as the years pass that gap becomes smaller and smaller.

It was a great trip and I am already scheming about how I can get back in the next few months! I love my family and wish I could live closer to them. But since that can't happen right now, I guess I'll just have to keep making these fun trips out to see them!

Happy Easter!

I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited to get to dress Claire up in a frilly little dress for Easter Sunday. I never thought I would be one of those moms, but I am turning out to be and do more and more things that I swore I would never be or do!   

 Oh well. :)

But I also know that Easter is more than frilly dresses.

This Easter especially I feel greatly blessed and I know that because of Jesus Christ's suffering that I have been able to find peace and comfort during trials in my life.

As the prophet Alma so eloquently prophesied about the Savior:

and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. (Alma 7:12, Book of Mormon)

The Savior took upon Himself my infirmities and afflictions so that He could give me peace.

I love Easter, I love what it celebrates. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love my little family and the fact that I will be able to live with them, even after this life is over because Christ overcame death and gave us the the ability to repent, be made clean and live with God again.

I love this little girl! She is such a blessing in my life!

The Story of the Bad Gift Giver

I had a friend get married this past October. She and her fiance already had many of the traditional gidgets and gadgets that so often are bestowed on a newly married couple. So, beginning last summer, I started concocting a plan to sew her a quilt as a gift. I really have the best intentions sometimes. :) And I figured I would have plenty of time if I started in September.
Well..... things didn't exactly go according to plan. Not to justify my poor planning but the couch took way longer than it was supposed to! The original projected finish date was the end of August. I was sewing cushions clear until December. When we finally finished the couch I thought, "now, I can work on that quilt!"
Well.... I had Claire about 10 days after we finished the couch. Whew! Close call. And when I had her nothing got done. I was lucky if I even got a shower in, let along work on sewing anything.

But finally this whole take-care-of-a-baby thing became more routine and I learned how to function again. And so, today, April 6 2012, six months after my friend got married, I finally gave her her wedding gift. Maybe I should just stick to gift cards from now on. :)

It's a very small lap quilt. But she isn't very tall, so it should work. :)



The End.

Fun in the Sun!

Three weeks ago Jason and I had the chance to fly down to Florida to see my family. It was a much needed break for us from the gloomy, rainy weather up here in the great Northwest and it was a chance for my dad to finally meet Claire. We arrived the night before his birthday, February 29. His birthday is a special one so we figured we could celebrate it's actual coming this year by heading on down to the great Sunshine State!

And oh, the good times that were had! In fact, I had so much fun I decided to extend my stay another week. I figured, "why fly back to the nasty weather and skype my family from home when I can just stay here and keep enjoying the warm sunny weather and being with my family?"

Here is some of the cool stuff we did:

Hung out at the pool

Played at Siesta key, one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to!

 

Made sand castles

Walked along Downtown Disney

Had a blast at Blizzard Beach

Ate at the Olive Garden

and just enjoyed time with the family!

We also had Claire blessed while down there. It was a quiet, family thing with just Jason, Dad and Jonny blessing her in my parents' home.

And here are some more pictures of Claire, just because!

 

Claire had lots of fun in  the sun!