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.

Sweetheart Romper

As promised, here are the pictures of the birthday outfit. The pro pics are in but unfortunately Target portrait studio will not let me have the online pictures to share and they want an astronomical amount to get a CD.

 

 The sweetheart onesie was mostly my idea and all my own pattern and sewing. My mom got the fabric for me a few years ago, but I was waiting to use it for the perfect thing. I love the way it turned out and hope to make a few extra to sell.

 I did cute rhinestone buttons in the back on her's. Stella's had elastic in the back instead. I had to add a little elastic ruching in the back because it was too loose in the front.

I was busy these past few weeks working on another dress. I found the pattern here on Pinterest. Instead of using a Jelly Roll, I made my own strips. The fabric with the white background was another one from my mom.

 

 

 Figuring out what to feed a 2 year old has been very difficult. I sometimes wish I could give in and give her sugar 24 hours a day as she is requesting. I figured out she likes bologna, salami, and pepperoni. I need to start making our lunches ahead of time because I am so busy, she gets very angry by the time I have to make something for her, and cook something? forget it. I took a 1/2 tablespoon measuring spoon and pressed it into a slice of cheese and a slice of bologna added some crackers and as with everything, ketchup. Viola! we have a homemade lunchable and she loves it. Total cost was approx. $0.25 and the plate I got for the same amount at Kohls. I've also been putting together lunches and fitting it all inside a sandwich container that I got from the dollar store. Sandwich, raisins, cheese, cookies, it all fits!

Pictures

Savannah's second birthday is coming up quick, I can't believe she is almost 2. She is starting to understand so much now and it's making it much easier on us because she will answer yes or no to most questions. She still isn't talking much, but at least she is making an effort. Everything still sounds like daddy but we can understand some of it.

I've almost finished her birthday outfit, but I want to get pro pictures done with her wearing it before I reveal. That has been a difficult task since she keeps getting eaten alive by mosquito's, then scratching so bad she gets scabs all over, also falling in the driveway constantly and most recently she has a really big stye on her left eye, making it look like we beat the poor child. (we don't)

I made her this shadow box for her birthday. I put in the pro picture we had done when she was a few weeks old, the hat she wore most in the hospital, the card that was in her bassinet after she was born, the bracelets her and I wore and her first footprint.

 

 

I can't get a nursery ready for the new baby because we are supposed to be building that in our master suite (which has not started yet grrr..) My nesting has been organizing and finally putting up some decorations in our house. I haven't been feeling the greatest, second pregnancy is definitely a lot harder, so I haven't been doing a lot of physical activity. I've had this collage picture frame for a long time but could never decide what pictures should go in it. The collage looked pretty boring sitting there on the wall in my living room, I decided to do a copycat store bought quote frame. I bought a sleeve of scrapbook stickers all about family and cut them up a little to fit, then stuck them in the blank spaces in between the pictures. I like it a lot and prefer it to the expensive store bought ones because you can choose what quotes you want, and where they go.

I never knew what to do with old Christmas cards given to us from family, until I realized I don't have many decent pictures of my nieces and nephews. Plus the picture size for these collage frames are always a little weird. So, I cut out the people in the pictures I want to frame and use that for the odd shaped collage spaces. I have another frame in my living room I did this with and you really can't tell, It looks so cute.

So just an quick update on my pregnancy. I'm about 30 weeks now ( not really keeping track) but my appointment are every 2 weeks which is added stress to my already busy schedule. I've been feeling a lot of pressure for a few weeks now and when I brought it up to my doc, she said it's common with a second pregnancy because the muscles are weak. I never understood when I was pregnant with Savannah, why people always wanted me to sit so much. Now I get it, I can't walk far or be on my feet too much. I'm not sleeping well, and my body is always sore, everywhere!