dresses and shorts

I have finally gotten back into sewing lately (the bug hit). My kids are the only recipients for now. Mom bought me some really cute dress patterns a while ago. Here is one of them completed, it's called the Urban Princess by Olive Ann designs. It comes with the pattern to make a matching 18" doll dress. I found Savannah a lightly used 18" doll at a consignment sale for $5 and it even looks like her, she isn't that interested in it yet though so I haven't gotten around to making the dress for it yet.

 The pattern was really easy to follow, just remember to add a zig-zag or serger to all raw edges which is not described in pattern, and I added top-stitching around the top of the dress since it has a small lining (I didn't want it to roll after washing)

 It has adorable gathered sleeves and ruffles all down the back. The button if functional only for getting their head through. It does not open the whole back section.

Here's another pattern my mom got me. She picked out the fabric too, It has heffalumps on grey background paired with orange laid and turquoise green with birds. The pattern is the Peggy Sue dress by Kati Cupcake pattern co. This one was also easy, just more time consuming. Again use a serger or zig-zag on raw edges (not described in pattern. I made it into a halter dress instead of crossing the straps and buttoning in the back.

 The back is smocked which I've never done before. After about 50 attempts I decided to try it on my spare machine and it finally worked. So if anyone has and idea how to do smocking on the Baby Lock Grace I would love the advice.

I have been wanting to make an anchor shirt for Nolan since he was born. It wasn't like it was difficult so I don't know why I put it off so long. I found a picture online, printed it to the size I wanted, then traced onto wonder under and Ironed on to a onesie. I ended up using a blanket stitch to secure it better to the onesie. I am not too good at going around the curves yet.

I also made him a new pair of shorts. These we amazingly simple. I finished it in one nap time (that's how I time things now). The pattern was Gone Fishin' in the book Making Baby's clothes by Rob Merrett. All the patterns in that book are simple. I decided to leave off the bias binding and the false drawstring that was supposed to go on the side of the legs.

Little man is 8 months old now. Crawling on his knees sometimes, still pulling up and climbing on top of everything, and very steady on his feet. He doesn't seem to enjoy walking when we practice which is fine with me for now. He loves tormenting his sister and trying to eat all of her snacks. He eats solids about 2 times a day when I am able to get to it, mostly veggies mixed with meats. He was just diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis just like his sister and is still slightly jaundiced.

I cannot give a tutorial for how to re-size patterns because I'm not that good at it but my next project is going to be Ruffle shorts for Savannah. The pattern only comes in size 0-6 months but I measured a pair of her shorts against the patterns and drew my own. I'm probably going to change a few things in this pattern also.

As some of you know Savannah (my 2 1/2 year old) broke her arm on memorial day. She has had a cast on now for almost 8 weeks and it is driving me crazy. It was supposed to be 6 weeks but it got wet the day before it was due to come off and when the doctor did an x-ray he decided to put another one on for 2 weeks. Honestly, I feel he was just being a jerk and because of his upcoming vacation and lack of reading the chart made this decision. The nurses and PA were even surprised that we had to have the full cast for 2 more weeks. She gets it off this Friday and I hope I never have to go through this again, or if it does happen again, when she's older and can do more things for herself.

A great study Jake and I are doing right now is called Behold your God by John Snyder. It's a great devotional with a great video and we have learned so much as Christians that we never knew.

Washington D.C and a vest for the little man

Happy 5 Months to my not so little guy. He is about 15 lbs and 26 inches. Growing like a weed. Still a very sweet boy, has quiet little laughs and wants to grow up way too fast.

He is trying to crawl, holding himself up and chewing everything within reach (including tables and chairs)

I made him a vest sewn onto a onesie, accidentally used too big of a size onesie but he will probably fit in it by Easter. Got the idea here

We took a short vacation to Washington D.C. Went to Air and Space, and National history museums. Savannah Loved Air and Space museum.

We had to stop in the National Art Gallery for a diaper change emergency. It turned out to be another favorite. What kid wouldn't love a sparkling hallway.

 This is the Play Work Build exhibit at the National Building museum. Jake and Savannah had so much fun showing their creativity with building.

There were so many beautiful buildings in D.C

Savannah showed us how well she could sleep in a big bed for the first time since we forgot her pack n play. We got home and converted her crib, She is doing so well. She comes into our room super early sometimes but it's so nice to let her have this freedom when i'm so busy with Nolan. 

We are in the process of potty training Savannah because her super sensitive skin couldn't take the soiled diapers anymore. She has been getting non stop diaper rashes that get to the point of broken skin. And no we do not let her sit in her mess, it's instant. It's going well but she doesn't seem to understand why she can't go in her pants or wear diapers. Any ideas?

Curtain dress; Frittata recipe

I'm back! I'll start with the little guy because that's all you care about anyway. He is almost 4 months, smiling, rolling over both ways, putting everything in his mouth, and in love with his momma.

I turned around to fix my lunch last week and look who rolled himself across the floor.

Snuck in to get a sleeping pic, such a sweetie. We had to take the pacifier away recently because he was waking up 10 + times at night just for me to put it back in. He sleeps on average 5 hours straight, but since I don't go to bed the same time he does, that doesn't give me much sleep still.

(awesome blanket made by my aunt Roxanne, she is amazing)

Now to get to the boring stuff. Due to this crazy weather, Jake has been extremely busy at work. He is in the Heating and Air field and goes on call once a month. He has been working so many nights and weekends I've barely seen him, and when he is home he is passed out on the couch before I even get to sit down for the night. Not to mention he does side work on weekends and has another job as a cook Friday and Saturday night. 

Which brings me to this picture

Jake decided to re-upholster the bar stools at his Aunt's bar (where he cooks at night)

He has completely taken over my sewing room. And if you notice, the Christmas decorations from outside are slowly making their way in.

I have still managed to get a few projects done on the other side amidst his mess.

This one is the curtain dress I saw on Pinterest a while ago here is the link: Curtain dress with tutorial

My mom got me this fabric about 6 months ago and I needed to find the perfect project for it. Since it was directional fabric I wasn't able to give it the fullness it called for, but still really cute. I had to re-set the straps because it's pretty hard to measure them on a wiggly 2 year old.

 I also made Savannah a valentines day skirt but she just wore it and I couldn't get a picture.

                                                 Here is a sneak peek of what I started today.

And since I know I won't be back for a while. I wanted to share a recipe that Jake and I really enjoyed.

This is Shiitake and butternut squash Frittata. Recipe is from Weight Watchers but it is really good (I don't really like mushrooms either)

FYI- I used plain white mushrooms and Italian blend cheese. I also don't have a working broiler so I turned to oven as hot as it went.

1 1/4 c. Chopped peeled butternut squash, cut into 1/2" pieces

2 c. sliced shiitake mushrooms

4 lg egg whites

4 lg eggs

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

1/2 c shredded Gruyere cheese

1. Place squash in a medium saucepan, cover with hot water. Bring to a boil; cover and cook 4 mins or until tender. Drain well and set aside.

2. While squash cooks, heat a medium oven-proof skillet (i used regular skillet then transferred to pie pan) over med-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray (I used EVOO) Add mushrooms; sautee 4 mins or until lightly browned.

3. Preheat broiler. Combine egg whites and next 3 ingredients; stir with a whisk.Stir in cheese.

4. Add egg mixture and squash to mushrooms in skillet. Cover and cook 5 mins or until almost set. Broil frittata 5 mins or until set and browned. Cut into wedges.

3 servings.

Took me about 30 mins to make, and I didn't feel as guilty after eating this.

Crochet Christmas Stocking

Trying to get in a quick blog post before the kids wake up, and so I can put away my Christmas decorations. Great thing since I've become a stay at home mom, my kids sleep in a little longer. I don't get to because I have to get my shower while I can.

Anyway, I realized about 1 week before Christmas I needed a stocking for Nolan. Frantically searching Ravelry and everywhere else I could for a pattern I came across this awesome stocking pattern I was putting on the finishing touches Christmas eve but I actually got it done!

I used the I love it yarn from Hobby Lobby, my new favorite store.

Welcome Nolan

Here we are a little more than a month later, and I'm finally announcing my little guy. Say hello to Nolan Spencer, born October 31, 2013 after a whirlwind delivery. He didn't waste any time. My first real contraction was 9:30 pm after a long night of tric-or-treating with the family, got to the hospital at 10:15 and Nolan made his appearance at 10:39pm weighing 7lb 12oz and 21". My doc said to wait an hour after the first contraction before calling so that's what we tried to do until we realized the contractions were getting scary close together way too fast.

 

 

He has been such a blessing, such a good baby, loves to eat and sleep and best of all doesn't love to scream like his sister. He is a little over a month old now and sleeps 3 hours at a time at night and 4 hours straight during the day (still a little backwards)
He was very jaundice at birth, 12 hours he had a bilirubin level of 10, so we were in the hospital for 6 agonizing days. I'm happy to say that is resolved but he does most likely have hemolitic anemia just like his sister. (Lots of blood work in out future)

His sister actually kind of likes him (surprisingly) She only gets mad when Jake holds him and she gives him kisses and helps out a little.

Life is slowly becoming easier, I'm finally able to get a little work done although, my body has been really screwed up. When he was 3 weeks old I got an ear infection (haven't had one since high school) with a fever of 101. Yesterday, I developed mastitis with a fever of 103 today. I haven't been this sick in years.
Savannah has been waking up multiple times per night for the past 2 weeks and we have yet to figure that one out. But she was up so much last night, that she slept in until 9:30am which is why I am still able to be awake past 10.
There has been absolutely no time for sewing or crocheting and my craft room has become another storage room for my husband. Hopefully I can get in there soon to work on something, Nolan does need a Christmas stocking.
We had 3 Thanksgivings, one at my mom's, one at Jake's dad's on Saturday and we had our own on Sunday (got a really good deal on a turkey)

more crochet

Yup, more crochet. Most recently I've finished these baby boat booties in black and blue. This pattern is easy and there isn't anything I would have changed.

 

 

 

for these crochet high tops I changed the laces a little to support the tongue and the black trim I did not do as it's own row, I just slip stitched that in. I think if I do these again I will skip a row for the sole because they are kinda tall.

 

Then the extra bulky button beanie which did not turn out as cute as the one shown for the pattern.

 

 

This one is the baby mohair hat. I did not use mohair or handspun, I used extra bulky for the handspun rows and slip stitched instead of single crochet. I think it needs a decrease in rows at the top, it's a little tall.

 

My newest favorite Wooly owl hat. I've been wanting to make this for Savannah for a while, I thought it was going to be too complicated but it's not. It does take a while to make though because of the applique and the strings but I'm currently making one for Nolan in grey and green, and I plan to make a Christmas one for Savannah.

Only thing I don't like about this hat is, the earflaps are too wide. I made them smaller on Nolan's and so far so good

 

 

Now, for those who care, this has been quite a week with my pregnancy. I was very ill last Tuesday. I had been nauseous for 2 days, then very sick to my stomach and had very bad cramps (not contractions) The doc said it was preterm labor but who really knows. I've had no appetite and have lost 6 pounds in the last week.

Then, to make things even better, last night I was having contractions all night about every 10 minutes, I was so ready to go to the hospital and have this kid, but then around 3am thye slowed down just enough to wake me up every half hour and they are pretty much gone today. I'm getting frustrated because I'm tired of the false alarms. I don't mind waiting for baby to come but enough with the false alarms already. My husband cannot have this uncertainty with his type of work so I try to just keep it quiet until I'm more sure.

I am now 3cm and 80% and I guess we will just have to wait and see what God has planned for this labor.

Crochet Mania

It's been crochet mania in my house lately. The weather is getting cooler (yay!) I'm getting bigger and lazier, and who can beat free patterns!

The baby is due 3 weeks from today (eek!) and I wanted  to make sure he was stylin' from day one.

He will have a new pair of booties. I can't even tell you how easy these were to make. The pattern is a T shape, then you sew it all together. Seriously 20 minute project! Here is the link simple crossover bootie if I didn't do that right, just go to ravelry.com and search simple crossover bootie.

 

Next, he will have a newsie hat. This one is also simple, and I did mention free! Here's the link newsie baby hat

 

 

He can't only have one hat (hopefully he will have many more) so I also made him this striped button hat

We can't forget about Savannah. So she gets this adorable bobbi news boy hat. The alterations in this pattern for the children's size were perfect. I fit her on the first try. This one did take a little longer but it was worth it.

 

 

 I am in the process of making a scoodie for Savannah, and bible costumes for our church's Christmas Live event.


Even though I am in constant pain, I have no energy, I can't sleep, I'm out of breath, and my heart races constantly, I do not want this baby to come early. I know I sound crazy but Savannah was a sleep to starve baby who would eat for 2 mins then fall asleep, then do it all over again 1/2 hour later, and she had a weak suck reflex. These are symptoms early babies tend to have. I do not want to go through that again.

I hope to have another post before I have this baby but it's doubtful.