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Paige is finally old enough to be bathed with Liam.  They both have a ball when we have the time to do it this way (as opposed to me bathing Paige in the morning while Liam is in school and Liam taking super-fast showers with Matt because we ran out of time…again).  Here are some pictures from a few weeks ago of just such an occasion.

Playing ball:

Liam shows Paige how to play the bath flute while Paige gets soaped up:

Liam helps Paige take a turn:

Jailbreak!  (this isn’t a rarity, unfortunately…)

Sibling chatter:

Liam reads to Paige:

Paige accosts Liam:

Ahhhhh…

Liam helps wash Paige.  Paige tries to gouge Liam’s eyes out.

Oh how I do love baby bums:

Paige shows off her standing prowess (which was a lot more impressive when this picture was taken — a month ago…):

Look at those lashes!

I tried to get a picture of the two of them smiling at me, but we all know how that goes…

Oh, well…

Maybe I’ll get birthday pictures up before Paige is 13 months old.  But maybe not…

Almost a full month ago (I know, I know…) Matt headed to Decatur for an early morning soccer practice and followed it up by meeting Grammie, Pop, Aunt G., Ean, and Ean’s cousin and dropping by the Decatur Book Festival for the Pete The Cat Parade.  Matt said the parade itself was a bit lackluster but Liam seemed to enjoy himself and the end of the parade featured a tent where James Dean (author/artist) and Mr. Eric (Litwin) were waiting.  Liam wore his ‘blue shoes’ (those in the know will know what that means) and Pete The Cat eyes taped to his shirt.  Here are some pictures from the morning (courtesy of Aunt G.).

Liam and Matt on the parade route:

Lovin’ it:

Liam as Pete:

Pete as Pete:

Liam does a little dancing to Mr. Eric’s guitar jam:

He had a great time and I’m glad Matt was able to take him.  Because it’s all good…

Again — that title isn’t exactly accurate.  I’ve had these finished for a while but I had to get them shipped off and make sure they had reached their destination before I could post pictures.

James Marshall Leonard (my cousin’s FOURTH!) was born in mid-July and although mom and I had decided before he arrived that a handmade blanket was in order it took a good 6 weeks after he arrived to *finally* get it to him.  Working on a major project with two kids (and without a blueprint) apparently takes a bit longer than I had anticipated.  Eventually I finished and was really pleased with the result.

I used the same faux chenille tutorial that I used for a blanket for Paige several months ago but I added a monogram (which for someone as lacking in the spatial skills department as I am wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done) since I wanted to make it a one-of-a-kind special deal for this little guy.  Here’s a close-up:

Here’s a shot of the backing:

Close-up:

Another close-up, this time of the faux chenille side.  I used a flannel for the top piece and I really like how it helped to beef it up a little bit.  Plus:  the softness can’t be matched.

I always have a fear when I work on any big project that I’m going to screw it up somehow and that all the hours I put into it will have been wasted.  I always feel a great sense of relief when this turns out not to be the case.

I also sent another little goodie to Sweet Baby James.  I have been working some with old clothes to repurpose and/or improve what I already have on hand.  Just before I began work on the blanket I spent some time going through old t-shirts and came across the USNA Class of 1995 t-shirt I bought during graduation weekend and had worn for years and years (until I had children and ended up wearing a different size t-shirt…but that’s another story for another day).  While poring over the blanket I remembered that it was sitting in the stack and immediately knew I wanted to try making a romper.  I merged a tutorial and a pattern, added navy cotton knit as a trim fabric, and came up with this:

Because the original shirt had been well loved for 10 years I had to do some tricky cutting to make the front and back straight.  I lost a bit of the wording at the top, but considering that it originally covered my entire shoulders and was downsized into an infant romper I was pretty pleased with the result.

Serendipitously JJ’s name is near the center of the back, taking a starring role in the outfit.

I know I could improve upon both designs if I were to do them again anytime soon, but for right now I’ll just leave well enough alone.  We’ll call them couture, how’s that?

I hope Sweet Baby James enjoys the blanket for years to come and that the romper will fit him when it’s warm enough to wear, despite a very strong genetic tendency towards being extremely tall!

Last Wednesday Liam had his first soccer practice (and Matt is coaching the team).  Here he is before leaving:

Liam was *very* excited:

So was Matt:

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This Wednesday was Liam’s first day of preschool for the year.  In sharp contrast to last year he went into the room, saw his friend and said “I’m gonna go play with William, bye Dad!”  He never looked back.  Also?  I’m NOT PREGNANT which means that A: I spent the time while he was gone relaxing and catching up on some creative pursuits (instead of driving around with Matt for the entire time biting my fingernails and intermittently crying that my baby was gone and crying that there would be a new baby within the week that I had to GET OUT OF MY BODY) and B: I wasn’t anxious or sweating.  It was fabulous!

All ready to go:

He had a great time and was disappointed that he didn’t get to “stay longer so I could eat lunch at school” like he did during summer camp.  Thank sweet goodness for a wonderful preschool experience!

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We rounded out the week of firsts by taking Paige to the park and putting her in the swing that Liam loved so much at her age.  For the first time.  At almost a year old.  Because I’m trying to see how terrible I can possibly be at this whole mothering thing.  Ah well, better late than never, no?  She thoroughly enjoyed herself.  Here are some pictures I snapped with my phone.

You don’t think she’s enjoying herself, do you?

She looks so LONG here!

Ahhhhhhh.

Swinging siblings:

It’s been a big week!

A couple of weeks ago the Williams clan gathered at the Moore’s house to celebrate GGMom’s 88th birthday.  Here are some pictures from the day:

We got there early so we could put Paige down for her morning nap and Walker, Liam, Olivia, Matt, and David spent the morning playing Mario Kart together.  After the boys were cut off from one driving game they avoided withdrawal twitches by moving on to another…

Liam helps get Walker hooked.  Into his own game.  This is yet another example of the difference between the first born and the second born…

Caramel cake!

Contemplating wish options:

Dance party!

Liam digs in:

Paige joins the party!

Dueling laptops:

Entertaining Mama and GGMom:

Mutual Adoration Society:

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie!

Baby Girl Never.  Sits.  Still.

Clapping with GGDad:

Whistling with GGDad:

Ham:

Back for more:

Mutual Adoration Society (2):

“Yaaaaaaaaay!”

It was a lovely party and Paige enjoyed stealing the show as usual!

The title of this post is a bit misleading.  It should be called “Things I Created A While Ago But Couldn’t Unveil Because I Had To Wait Until I Had Given Them To The Intended Recipient As Well As Things I Finished The Night Before Leaving Town But Couldn’t Post Until Just Now Because They’ve Either Been Dirty Or In The Process Of Being Dirtied.”  Somehow that wasn’t catchy enough for me.  Go figure.

First up is the birthday outfit I made for Sylvie’s 1st birthday.

I used a mash-up of resources to come up with this outfit.

First up was the Peek-A-Boo Bonnet from Made By Rae.  I put up an earlier post here about making one for Paige.

Peek-A-Boo!

But I (photographically) digress…I love the pattern and knew I wanted to make one for Sylvie to match her outfit.

It took me a long time to settle on which dress pattern to use and I eventually ended up winging it by taking the (adult) Spring Ruffle Top tutorial, monkeying with the proportions, and adding a ruffle to the bottom to come up with this:

I love the way it turned out and I wish I’d done a better job of recording what I did so I could replicate it, but that makes it even more special for Sylvie!

Next up were the bloomers.  After a lot of hemming (pun intended) and hawing I decided that although PJ loves a beruffled hiney I would skip the ruffles on the bum since there were already ruffles on the shoulders and bottom of the dress.  I used the MADE Perfect Diaper Cover tutorial (which was fantastically easy to follow and came together very quickly with the use of my new serger).

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Next on the docket was the repurposing of some of Liam’s old onesies.  Paige was in desperate need of something to sleep in and why pay for something new when I have something old that can be turned into something new without much effort?  I’ll tell you why.

I NEVER do ANYTHING without much effort.

It’s not in my make-up.  I’m a 32 year-old woman who is desperately trying to learn how NOT to go overboard on the details in every conceivable way.  I’m getting better in a lot of areas.  Apparently sewing is not one of those areas.

Anyhoo.  So I wanted to cut the sleeves of some of Liam’s long-sleeved onesies to make something for Paige to wear to bed.  All I really had to do was chop off the arms and run them through the serger to finish off the sleeves.  This should have taken a total of 15 minutes MAX (for 6 onesies).  Instead I ended up playing with different finishing techniques, adding ruffles, playing with the fullness of those ruffles, trying out new stitches on my sewing machine, adding a skirt, using buttons to cover boo-boos.  You name it and I did it.  For sleepers that will largely remain inside our house.  Because that’s just who I am.

I began with basic light blue, grey, & white long-sleeved onesies.  Here are the results:

Although I clearly have time-management issues, I’m calling this a win.  I love how everything turned out.  I learned a TON about the best ways to use my machines.  I dove right in to working with knits (which I LOVED!).  I learned that putting buttons on Paige’s shoulders is an open invitation for her to stick them in her mouth.  Constantly.  I just can’t wait to get back at it and use some of those skills to make more fun things for Paige.

I have an actual “latest creation” up my sleeve but it hasn’t reached its destination yet so the unveiling will have to wait.  Fingers crossed I finish doing the bulk of the prep for Paige’s birthday party very soon so I can get back into the s(e)wing of things with some more fun projects!

I know you can hardly believe that this will be the last post of pictures from Siesta Key this year.  You’re probably saying to yourself:

“Self (because I know that’s how you refer to yourself when no one’s listening).  I really wish Shannon had taken more pictures of her family at the beach.  She didn’t get anywhere near enough shots of her children doing cute things in the sand and it’s only been 4 weeks since she got home so you know there must be thousands more pictures that she’s spent those weeks sorting through, otherwise why has it taken her so long to finish?”

Well…you’re mistaken.  This will be the end.  Cry yourself to sleep if you must.  I know the withdrawal will be tough.  Without further ado (there’s been plenty of ado already, no?) here’re the rest of the pictures.

Hanging out at the pool with Mo:

Cooling off the handrail using the world’s worst watering can:

Mo makes sure it’s just the right temperature:

Watering his button:

Watering his noggin:

Mo looks on:

Getting ready to go out:

We got everyone all suited and coated up and then the rains came…

Matt decided to do a rain dance (I’m not sure that he realized that rain dances are typically performed in the interest of bringing *on* the rain, not stopping it…):

Waiting to go outside:

Boy under a basket:

Raingazing:

The sun eventually came out again:

Sink bath:

Baby Girl loves a bath, no matter where it takes place:

Measuring cup turned tub toy:

She looks *so* much like baby pictures of her Gran here:

Baby tummy!

Making a break for it:

Dinner, Big Olaf style:

Liam approves:

Pok & Mo (enjoying a little Chocolate Almond for Granny, no doubt):

Paige was majorly bummed that she’s currently not allowed to have dairy or nuts…

…so she went outside to enjoy the porch with Granddaddy:

Still miffed that she wasn’t allowed any chocolatey goodness…

…but then Liam finished up and came out to do a little dance for her and she cheered right up!

Plotting her next move:

Being photographically uncooperative:

Bonk!

Checking out her Beach Bazaar goody with Mo:

Every year as a child I was allowed to pick one goody from the Beach Bazaar.  We’ve continued the tradition with our own kids.  The whole place is full to the brim with ticky-tacky crap: fake roaches, highly inappropriate mugs, seashell necklaces, etc.  My kid?  He finds the only train in the place and decides he MUST take it home.  Here he is showing it off after we got back to the condo:

Mo kisses!

Mo enjoyed Paige’s goody more than Paige did:

It was a wonderful trip and we’re already looking forward to next year!