Goal for 2010: Sewing

This was at the top of my wish list for Christmas, and I'm really looking forward to getting started on some projects I've been wanting to tackle. I love my sewing machine. I made curtains for Liam's room before he was born, and I've been wanting to really improve on my skill and make sewing a more go-to hobby of mine. My mom taught me to sew as a child (I made about 100 pillows!), but I'd still consider myself a beginner since I've never really tackled a significant project. This is a great, easy to read/follow resource with simple patterns and fun, simple instructions. I love that it includes all the great "beginner" tips I need to make some really great projects.

Are there any other aspiring seamstresses out there? What are you working on? What's your favorite resource for new fabrics? What's your favorite material to work with? I'd love to hear!

I'll be blogging some of my progress, so stay tuned!

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Goal Planning

Here I am again, thinking about goals for the coming year. I've decided to start pretty broad this year, with goals focusing on these things: reading more, running, sewing, and saving $$.

I'll save the details for another post (or an in-person conversation if you are interested).

Other news: We're still in Arkansas for our extended Christmas trip. Our time here has been great. We're doing a lot of thinking and praying about the next right step for us. We're also doing a lot of trusting that HE is in control (easier said than done!). We've spent time in Fayetteville, both families houses in Little Rock, both families churches in Little Rock, spent a day in El Dorado visiting extended family, worked some, played lots, bundled up in our warm clothes, saw snow and lots of rain, went to the movies, laughed, played, kissed the baby, shopped, and ate LOTS of food. And we're not done yet! This week will be full of visiting friends, work (for me), and we might even get another ChickFilA visit in. :)

Happy last-week-of-2009. Make it memorable.

-Virginia

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9 Months

No picture today, but I let 8 months go by without an official update, so I couldn't let 9 months go by. Here's what our little man is up to at 9 months!

• Starting to sleep 11-12 hours at night! Taking two good naps a day.
• Drinking out of a straw. This was a fun accomplishment over Thanksgiving!
• Standing and starting to take little steps if we're holding his hands. Not quite "cruising" along the furniture yet. I'm in NO hurry for him to start walking!
• Saying "Mama," aka melting my heart.
• Waving. This is the cutest thing.
• Working on more teeth... one more on the bottom (he has two already), and possibly one on the top as well.
• Weighing 18ish lbs.
• Nursing 4-5 times a day (when I'm at home) and taking a bottle when I'm working.
• Eating full solids.
• Loves reading and singing.

I take no credit for the fact that Liam is such a sweet, happy baby. God has blessed us with him during a time of life that is increasingly stressful and hectic. I'm not gonna lie, 2009 has been a tough year! However, I'm thankful that we'll get to look back on this year and remember how good God was to us. His mercies are new every morning. We will keep pressing on.

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Happy Thanksgiving

This was Liam at 7.5 months, drool and all. He's now 8.5 months, and we'll be celebrating his first Thanksgiving with Andrew's family. Definitely looking forward to seeing everyone! Though, we'll see about the 10 hour car ride. Pray for us!

This year, a few things I'm thankful for...

• 5.5 years of marriage to my sweetheart. As the days pass by with life's stresses and the world's pressures, I'm so thankful to be on this journey with my best friend.
• A healthy, happy baby. I know I'll blink and he'll be in college, so I'm just soaking up every possible second that I get to kiss that sweet face. I don't want to wish away any of these crazy baby days. I love reading stories, splashing at bathtime, tickling and giggling with him, slobbery kisses, head on my shoulder, his excitement when I get home from work, playing peek-a-boo, etc, etc, etc.
• A great job doing what I truly enjoy.
• Mercies that are new every morning. He gives us grace for today, and for that I'm so thankful. Sometimes I feel like its minute by minute, but His saving grace is working today, not just as "life insurance."
• Family... I'm so thankful for my family and hate being so far away from them. I know the miles make me even more grateful for them. I love talking to my mom on the phone and catching up with her.
• Friends past and present. We have some truly wonderful friends. I'm so thankful for you.
• Coffee, Coca Cola, and dark chocolate.
• Laughter.

What are you thankful for today?

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Friday

Hello Blog. Yes, I know you're still here, and nagging at me to keep updating with pics and stories of my precious little boy. We have some cute ones, you know...of Liam at the Pumpkin Patch, Disney world for Andrew's birthday, etc, etc. Its just that, well, every time I think to blog about those things, all the pics are on the other computer. So, you'll just have to wait. I'm really sorry about that.

As for a quick rundown of what's happening with us? Here's a list:

• Liam is now 8 months old! Two teeth, pulling up on everything, first runny nose (though might just be changing of seasons - see next point), and just as sweet and cute as ever. I know, I'm biased. I also just have to say that I really love being a Mom.
  
  
• The weather has FINALLY turned cooler! Yes, Its November 13th, and all [4?] of our readers have been experiencing actual Fall weather and wishing for Florida sunshine and warmth...but as nice as the warm weather is, we're REALLY happy about a change of pace. Time to get out the fuzzy slippers, hot cocoa, and think about Christmas decorations!
  
  
• Though situations in life are frustrating and stressful, we're constantly reminded of how GOOD God is to us. His mercies really are new every morning, Great is His faithfulness. A friend reminded me of the Caedmon's Call song that says that "the valleys fill first"...Lord, that's reason enough for me to be content with where you have me. I want to experience YOU!

Have a great day!

-Virginia

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7 months

Liam was 7 months last Wednesday (10/07/09).

Here are some things he's up to now that he's 7 months old:

• Measured/weighed at his 6 month appt (really it was closer to 7 months) - 16 lbs, 26 inches (50% height and weight). Perfect!
• So mobile! Army-crawls anywhere and everywhere. He has started to venture out of our little "square" in the living room, and around the furniture. He loves crawling under things like the swing and the dining table.
• He's a great eater and hasn't really rejected anything we've given him. He wasn't a huge fan of puffs, but I think it has more to do with the fact that he doesn't have teeth yet, and he's not quite sure about the texture yet.
• Takes two naps a day, and sleeps well at night. Sometimes he has a tough time getting to sleep at night (fusses for 30 minutes or so), but once he falls asleep the rest of the night usually goes great. Last night he slept 9.5 hrs in a row!
• Such a happy, sweet temperment. Always big, bright smiles when we go get him out of his bed in the mornings. His little laugh is awesome. I know its not a song about a baby, but I've had Tim McGraw's song "Just To See You Smile" in my head. Yeah, I'd pretty much do anything to see that precious smile and hear his laugh.
• We've had LOTS of drool since around 3 mos, bad diaper rash around 6 months, and some cranky-ness we thought was teething, but still no teeth. They'll break through soon I bet!
• Close to sitting on his own, but really more interested in exploring than sitting still.
• First overnighter last Friday night! He stayed with our good friend Dustin while Andrew and I went to Tampa to see U2. Liam (and Mommy) did great!
• Loves the Elmo's Song youtube video. LOVES it.

Little Pumpkin, you are such a blessing to us right now. We are enjoying every stage, every day.

God is so good.
God is so good.
God is so good, He's so good to me.

Any suggestions or favorite things to occupy your 7 - 9 month old? :)

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Our favorite baby items

Kelly over at kellyskorner is hosting "Show us your life: Baby Gear" serises. I've been working on this post since Liam was 4 months old, so this is a great opportunity to share! Now, I know all the options out there can be so overwhelming. This is just a list of the things that we really enjoyed and got a lot of use out of. Some items are hits with some moms, and some are total misses, but I thought I'd list some of our favorites:

• Moby Wrap - I have really loved this carrier, even in the summer here in Florida. I wear him when we do things like go to a movie or go to the grocery store when I don't want to lug the car seat around. Especially when we're going to be at this place for a while, or during one of his nap times. He falls asleep well, it gives great ergonomic support for both me and Baby, and he gets to be snuggled up close to mommy (which he loves).
  
• Infantino Little Lions activity gym (at Target.com here) - There are so many play mats/gyms out there, but I really liked this one for the price (cheaper at Target) and the bright colors.


• Fisher Price Rainforest Deluxe Auto Mirror (at Target.com here) - Features remote control music and lights, bright pattern. Definitely entertains and distracts the little man if he gets fussy in the car. Plus, I can see him in my rear-view mirror.


• Bum Genius 3.0 cloth diapers - I'm a fan. I don't "love" diapering, but you gotta diaper your kid, and cloth diapers are no more of a fuss than disposables. I like that we're spending less money, contributing less waste to the landfills, less chemicals on baby's hiney (though bum genius 3.0s are synthetic material and not all natural), and they're just so darn cute. I'd need another dozen or so to cloth diaper full time, currently we are part-time cloth-diaperers. I may experiment with another brand of cloth just to see if I really like these the best, but so far so good. All of the online cloth diaper sites sell them for the same price, but sometimes you can find a sale.


• Aden & Anais swaddlers - My sister Whitney bought these for us, and they are the BEST swaddlers/blankets in the summer heat. Now that Liam is out of the swaddling phase, I still always have one of these blankets with me. Nursing cover, burp cloth, light blanket for warmth, etc. They're actually selling them at Target right now (in some stores, and online here).
  
• Some other Baby Gear that we love include the Snap n Go stroller for the infant carrier car seat, vibrating teether, BornFree bottles, Soothie pacifiers, and Fisher Price Little Lamb Swing, Lots of Links (these are GREAT), Chicco Lullaby LX Playard (we used this as a bassinet when Liam was in our room).

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