DIY Easter Basket

This year, I wanted Blake to have a very special and very cheap Easter basket.  Sure, there are very sweet and very cute versions out there to buy....but uhhh....well I'm cheap.  And crafty!!

Here's what I came up with:

Super simple transformation, I know, but I really like how it turned out.  The perfect Easter basket for my little gentleman!

All I needed was a $5 white basket from Walmart, some .69 cent black buttons, 1/8 a yard of $2 black silk fabric (so .25 cents there) and some black ribbon I had left over from another project.  I used the same technique I described in this tutorial to make the black bowtie (but I cut the fabric a bit larger because I wanted a big one) and then hot glued everything together.  My total cost was about $6, but you could do it even more on the cheap if you used a $1 basket from the Dollar Store.  I considered doing that, but decided to spring for a nicer basket that I could use year after year. 

And we're done!  I really like it.  Sometimes simple transformations can make a big difference!  

Heart on the floor, American Idol style

I just watched Colton Dixon sing "Everything" by Lifehouse on American Idol, and oh.my.gosh I wanted to reach through the screen to pinch his cheeks and give him the biggest hug.  What a witness!  I also realized in that moment that I have officially arrived as a mother, because my first thought was seriously

His mother must be so proud of him!!!

I'm sure she is.  I mean, seriously.

But in a bigger, broader sense of the moment, I was just really pumped.  I mean, this kid is 21 years old and does he ever have his act together.  Holy smokes.  I just did the math, and I've got six years on him and yet my palms get sweaty in church when I contemplate whether or not I should raise my hands up in worship while singing.  Yep.  It's true.  

And then I see this kid, totally transparent and vulnerable, standing in front of a crowd of screaming fans, performing in front of three iconic 'judges' who will be critiquing his every move, having his performance broadcast all over the country to an untold number of fans....and I can't help but think wow, he just gets it.  It's not about him.  He was singing to God.  He was responding in obedience, out of love.  He ended his performance on his knees, voice almost a whisper, heart on the floor...giving all he's got in worship to his Savior.

Love it.

Being a transparent witness is haaaard.  It requires a whole dang lot of pure, hold-nothing-back courage.  Courage to stand on that stage and just be real.   Courage to let your palms sweat, to let your knees knock and your voice shake.....because it's worth the risk.  

It's hard because that kind of faith just isn't popular.  It makes people uncomfortable.  But dang, isn't that the point?  When God told us to pick up our crosses and follow Him, he wasn't talking about some little flimsy floaty ring for the pool.  This world is full of hard stuff.   Walking through this life in step with our Savior is hard work.  And those crosses we're lugging around?  They're heavvvy.  They're definitely uncomfortable.    

But the burden isn't ours to bear alone.  We get to drop them at the foot of the cross.  The weary trudge through this life is worth it, because the reward is eternity.  And so every step out in faith, every time you boldly declare the grace of God, is an opportunity to use your life and your story as a witness for Him. 

Having a relationship with Jesus is not about having something to believe in.  It's about falling in love and not being afraid to show it.  Because when you love somebody, when you really love them, you are just busting to tell somebody.  To shout it from the rooftops.

So tonight, I was pumped by Colton's example.  Because I want to spend each day just bursting with enthusiasm for the love I've come to know from my Savior.  And I want to end each day, breathless and spent, kneeling on the edge of the stage before my Lord, hands raised and head bowed.... giving all I've got out of love for the God I serve 

Pinterest Challenge: Food Edition

So for this week's pinterest food challenge, I decided to go with some good 'ole homemade bread.  Yum.  I have fond memories of my mom making delicious loaves of homemade bread growing up using a bread machine, but since we don't have one, I had to start from scratch.

The recipe I had 'pinned' (literally like a year ago) was titled 'Miracle Bread' and toted an impressive start to finish time of only one hour! 

It was so delicious!  And so easy.  Here's the recipe (I halved it, because I didn't want to eat wasn't sure what to do with four loaves of bread).

Here's what you'll need:

10 1/2 c. white bread flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. salt
3 rounded tablespoons instant yeast
3 T. liquid lecithin (I didn't have lecithin, so I used 1/3 c. oil as per the suggestion in the original recipe)
4 c. hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin (or oil) and water. Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add a little more water. Dough should be very sticky. Mix for 5 minutes. (Do not add flour to the dough after it has finished mixing.) Spray counter and pans with Pam. Shape loaves, place in pans and cover with a dish towel. Let rise 25 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

I decided I wanted to make whole wheat, which is just a tad bit different: 

For whole wheat bread, use the same recipe only with whole wheat flour; replace one cup of the hot water with applesauce, and add 1 additional tablespoon lecithin.

Note: When making the whole wheat, I added about 1/2 cup extra of hot tap water....my bread dough was way too dry after the addition of the applesauce

And that's it!  One hour, start to finish, and your whole house will smell like homemade bread!  YUM!  Check another pinterest recipe off the list... 

A Man After God's Heart: 2

(If you missed it, I posted here about my decision to post these verses weekly for Blake.)

Be strong and courageous!  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9  

Buddy, daddy and I pray this for you every single day.  You were made to be courageous, to stand strong and go boldly in the direction God leads.  There will be times in your life with it's not easy, when you're afraid and unsure, and in those moments I want you to remember two very important things:

1. You are never alone. Not ever.  You are a son of The King, and His love will reach you wherever you are.  Rely on that, feel it with every fiber of your being, and in it find the courage to be the man you were created to be.

2. Your daddy and I love you more than life.  More than life.  For as long as we live, daddy and I will be there.  We will forever be your number one fans.  We will walk beside you, encouraging you to dream big and walk boldly, because we already know how special you are.  You are our miracle, the little one we waited a long time for, because God knew the exact moment he needed to bring you into the world.  You were created with such purpose.   

God has big plans for you, little one, and daddy and I pray that you will forever have the courage of your convictions.  We can't wait to see all that you will do and become, and we can't wait to see how God will use our precious little boy to further His kingdom.

I love you B, and I couldn't be more proud to be your mama.  

Finger Foods: Banana Pancakes

Lately, I have found myself entering into the foreign waters of baby finger foods.  We've been doing puffs for a while, but B was really seeming ready for something more, so I did what any self-respecting SAHM would do....I whipped out my laptop and checked Pinterest for some ideas.

And boy did I ever find some!  I decided to make some individual banana pancakes for B.

They were super easy!  I just sliced up a banana, dunked it in pancake batter, and then cooked them up like you would a (very tiny) pancake.  The verdict?  B loves them!  I cut them up into tiny little pieces and he smashes them with his hands tries his best to get them from the tray into his mouth.  Self feeding is still a work in progress.  We'll get there!

The Jump

This morning, as I was getting Blake's bottle ready, I heard a news story about the latest YouTube video to go viral.

It's a video of a 14 year old girl about to make her maiden voyage down a ski ramp and off her first jump.  I was totally mesmerized by the video, so much so that I over warmed Blake's bottle and had to start over (oops). 

Here it is:

Man, I love this girl's heart.  Such courage!  Just looking down that jump ramp makes my heart skip a beat.  I'm the girl that skis the bunny slope over and over because I hate the thought of racing down an incline.  What can I say?  My skis always cross and I end up doing an impressive face plant.  Yes that really happens.  Once, a five year old even skied up to me and asked if I needed help.  Yes, that really happened too.

Maybe that's what made me pause initially when I saw this video.  I was seriously impressed with her courage.  But then, after I'd fed Blake and plopped him down for some floor play, I went back and watched it again.  And again.  I think it was on the third or fourth viewing that I realized what I really, really liked about this video.

I love that she named her fear.  She acknowledged it.  Her voice shook with it.  She allowed herself to be paralyzed by it for just a minute.  And then, there....she.....went

I found that incredibly powerful.  And I also think it's a really good metaphor on faith. 

I have to admit, there have been a handful of times in my life when I've found myself standing at the top of that proverbial ski ramp.  And I've looked down and been absolutely petrified by the sheer intensity of what lay before me.  Dang.  It seemed like a long way down.  Standing at the top, it looked insurmountable.  Like there's no way in heck my skis wouldn't cross and send me tumbling head-first off the side of the ramp.

But it's in that moment, when you're standing at the top of the ramp, that you have the opportunity to name your fear.  To stare it down. 

And then, to just....let it go

In the video, once Zia gets to the bottom of the ramp you can just hear her whoopin' and hollerin' and celebrating her victory.   She did it.  That feeling of absolute euphoria was her reward.

As believers in Christ, we are in a unique situation as we stand at the top of that ramp.  We are absolutely assured of the euphoria to come.  A life lived for Christ will be rewarded with an eternal life in Heaven.  Fear is a tool of the enemy, but it doesn't have to make us weak.  Rather, we can use it to make us strong.  Because our reward is assured.  Every step out in faith is a step forward in obedience to the Father.  And this life?  Well it's kind of like the trip down the ramp.  It's fast, it's terrifying, there are a few moments when your skis start to cross and you're doubting whether or not pushing off from the top was realllllly such a good idea.....but then you reach the bottom.  And it's euphoria. 

I think Zia's example was a good one.  Her voice trembled.  Her fear was palpable.  But she didn't let that stop her, and her reward was great.

The next time I'm standing at the top of that ski ramp, I want to use her example.

I have no doubt my voice will tremble.  I have no doubt that my palms will be sweating and I'll be envisioning what I'd look like catapulting off the side, turning myself into a giant snowball.  Not pretty.  I might even give myself a moment to absolutely sweat it out.

But only for a moment.

Because I know that taking that leap of faith will ultimately be for my good.  And so I'll slowly inch my way towards the edge, because I know that the fear doesn't have to cripple me.

Because I know that my faith will grow when I reach the bottom unscathed

And because I know that what lies at the bottom of that ramp is worth the risk it took to get there. 

Because if it wasn't, my Savior would never have asked me to take up my cross and follow Him.  

Sometimes, my cross might look like that ski ramp.
 
So, in the words of little Zia......

'here goes.....something'

Something great.

Pinterest Challenge: Food Edition

Raise your hand if you are guilty of letting your mouse do the clickin' when it comes to pinning recipes on pinterest.

Raises hand.

Guilty as charged.

And seriously?  I think I've pinned about 1,000 recipes.  And I've made none of them.  None of them! 

(okay, I've made a few desserts...)

So I decided to mix things up a bit and challenge myself to actually make one of the recipes I've pinned at least once a week.   Hence the title.  It's a food based Pinterest challenge!

The rules of my own little game are simple.  It has to be a recipe I've (a) pinned (b) never made before and (c) is healthy.   And then once it's been made and eaten, I have to post about it! 

I'm pretty excited about this because I have definitely pinned some delicious looking recipes that I can't wait to try out.  I'm also excited because it'll introduce some variety into the old go-to recipes that always seem to creep their way into our weekly dinners. 

And I'm also excited because I made my first Pinterest Challenge dinner tonight!  It was delicious.

I made home cut spicy sweet potato fries and feta stuffed turkey burgers.  Yummm

Let's start with the fries, shall we?
 

The first step is to cut up your sweet potatoes.  We almost always have these on hand because I make them for Blake.  For this recipe, I used two pretty good sized sweet potatoes.  After washing and peeling, you want to slice them into about 1/4 inch wedges.  We like our fries a bit thicker cut, so I'd say mine averaged closer to 1/2 inch wedges.  Personal preference!

Once you've got them all cut, you'll want to preheat your oven to 400 degrees and then combine them in a big mixing bowl with the following ingredients:

1T chili powder
1T cajun seasoning
2 tsp olive oil

Once you've mixed them pretty thoroughly, spread the potatoes out in one layer on a baking sheet.  Pop 'em in your preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or under tender!

See?  So so easy!  These were delicious.  My husband is a lover of all things spicy, and he was raving about these guys.  I think next time I make them I'll cut up a bunch of my sweet potatoes in advance to freeze, and then just dethaw however many I want to make. 

Also, for all you moms, this is a great way to serve sweet potatoes as a finger food to the little humans in your life.  Just save some of the fries to bake up un-seasoned, and they make an absolutely perfect addition to the high chair tray at dinnertime.  They are mushy and soft and dissolve in baby's mouth...but are big enough for them to pick up!  

Once I had those babies in the oven,  I started working on the feta turkey burgers. Here's what you'll need:

1 pound uncooked extra lean ground turkey breast
1 T fresh oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
7 Tbsp feta cheese, crumbled
4 hamburger rolls (we used whole wheat)
1 cup lettuce (we didn't have any on hand, so I omitted this)
2/3 sliced red peppers
1 (small) can sliced olives

In a medium bowl, combine your chicken, oregano, garlic powder and feta; divide mixture into four balls and then press them into patties.  Broil patties for about 7 to 8 minutes per side, or until done.  Serve each burger on a bun with lettuce, peppers and olives! 

And you're done!  Dinner on the table in 30 minutes (most of that is just cooking time!) 

It was delicious. 

Adam was pretty excited about this new challenge, because it means some good eatin' for my man. 

Oh, and Blake had some fun adventures at dinner too.  Here's a snapshot of our foray into self-feeding:

 

 That would be avocado all up in his business.  He loved it, and despite how it may appear, some of it even made its way into his mouth!! 

Blake Louis: Seven months

(Note: This update will also be posted on our family blog, where I'll include lots of pictures from the past month!  The password is my maiden name)

Well buddy, you are SEVEN months old tomorrow!  I'm not sure what happened to the last month, but nonetheless here we are.  Let's see what you've been up to: 

• You love to watch us eat.  You open your mouth as we put food in our mouth, and you fuss and reach for whatever it is we've got.  
• We started you on some table foods in the last month.  You've had graham cracker, pieces of banana and avocado, and puffs.  You can also now use a sippy cup--the straw or sipper kind.  
• You refuse to self-feed and would rather us hold the sippy cup than have to do it yourself.  You throw a little fit when I won't hold the cup for you...but after a few minutes (when you realize I'm not paying attention to your little tirade) you'll reach out and get it yourself.  Stubborn little man.  Taking after mommy already!
• You're sitting in high chairs now when we go out to eat, and you love it!  You think you are such a big boy.
• Lately you've gotten a lot more bold when standing against furniture.  You'll let go for a few seconds and just stand all by yourself, then put one hand lazily back on whatever it is you're up against and just grin at us like you see that?
• You're trying so hard to cruise on furniture.  You'll lean for toys and take a tiny step to the side, but not quite a big enough one...and then you'll fall to the side, usually landing in a seated position.  Then you'll look up at whatever it was you were standing against, and reach your arms up trying to figure out how to pull yourself back up.  
• You had your church dedication this past month.  Very, very special.
• You've been sitting up since 5 1/2 months, but it's gotten really routine over the past month.  I'll just plop you down somewhere and you'll sit and play there to your little heart's content.  You've started lunging for toys and face-planting, which tells me crawling is getting closer and closer by the day.
• YOU ARE FINALLY ROLLING.  Holy cow, it finally happened!  Now you will not stay on your tummy to save your life.  As soon as I put you down, you roll right on over to your back.  You don't roll to get anywhere with intention, but you'll roll tummy to back and back to tummy if you feel so inclined.
• You got another tooth this month!  You now have a grand total of three; the middle two on the bottom and your newest....a canine tooth on the top right!  You're my little vampire now, with nothin' but a canine hanging out up there on top.  It bugged you a whole lot when it was just starting to poke through (poor baby, those canines are SHARP!) but after a couple days it seemed to have come down enough to quit being so painful. 
• As far as words go, you babble A LOT, and we've been able to decipher 'mama' a couple times.  You don't say it with meaning, but you repeat it over and over when you're mad.  Ha!  You also say 'da' and 'ma'.
• You love to have squealing matches with us!  You'll make a high pitched squeal, then I will, and then you'll copy!  We go back and forth and you give me the biggest grins!
• You love all of your toys, and have started to really enjoy your stacking rings and blocks.  You don't stack them, but you love to chew on them and throw them across the room. 
• You also love your Step'n Play Piano and your activity table.  Of course, you're still in love with jumping in the jumperoo so that is still getting a lot of attention.
• You give hugs and kisses! So sweet.  You'll just reach up and wrap your little arms around our necks and then lean your little head on our shoulders.  Grandpa seems to be your favorite person to kiss...without fail every time you see him you'll give him a big open-mouthed baby kiss on the cheek.  I think Grandpa is pretty thrilled to be the only recipient of those sweet Blake kisses!
• You are the happiest, smiliest baby ever.  When you're really happy, you'll scrunch up your nose and giggle and squeal the cutest laugh I have ever heard.  Sometimes you even snort...and I think that is the sweetest.
• You reach for us!  When we say 'up' you'll reach your arms up and get SO happy as we pick you up.  I love that so much.  I guess we could also call this your first sign, since raising your arms is the sign for up.  We've also been working on signing 'more' and 'all done'....but you don't reciprocate those yet. 
• This month daddy and I have both just commented on how much more aware you are.  Of everything.  
• You are such a flirt.  You'll reward strangers who talk to you with the biggest smiles and coos.  You don't mind who holds you, but you are always watching to make sure daddy and I don't wander too far away. Our little charmer!  
• You are still sleeping well and we seem to have finally hit our groove again with your naps!  They aren't nearly as sporadic or short as they were for the past few months.  

I know I say this every month...but I can't believe you are seven months old!  We are now on the downward slide to your first birthday.

I hope someday when you read these that you can feel the love behind every word.  That is by far my greatest desire in capturing all these milestones.  For you.  The time goes by so fast, and I know that someday I'm going to blink and you'll be walking out our front door for college.  These moments, these moments, are so precious to us simply because you are in them.  I know that you'll never remember these times as a family of three, but I still want you to know them.  Because this is your story.  And because you've made this chapter in my life story, and all the ones to come, an absolute page-turner. 

I can't wait to see what come next.     

We love you, Blake Louis.  More than tongue can tell!  (that's what your Grandma always told me...and I think it sums it up perfectly :))

Summer Shades

Blake went on an extra special adventure today, one that was super meaningful for our family, and of course he wanted to look his best.

Where did he go?  More soon.

A Man After God's Heart

I posted here a little bit about Blake's dedication, which happened last Sunday at my home church.  I shared in my original post that the dedication was our opportunity, as Blake's parents, to publicly proclaim our desire and intention to raise this little boy in accordance to God's laws.  Moreover, to raise this little one with full knowledge that He is a gift bestowed upon us by the grace of the Father, as He has entrusted us with His precious child. 

That's a tremendous responsibility, and I take it very seriously. 

That Sunday, standing in front of the congregation, we made a promise before God to raise this child up in the way he should go.  And I want to be very intentional about that.  I want to be intentional in the things I do and say, prayerfully intervening on my son's behalf and striving daily for my walk to mirror the walk I want to portray to my son. Because I know that he'll be watching, and it will only be through the grace of God that my life will be used to mold his. 

So, in light of all that, I've decided to start something new on this blog.  Someday I'm going to take all of the entries from this blog and turn them into a book for my precious son.  Because this is his story.  I want him to be able to read my words and know, in this moment and in this time, that his daddy and I are madly in love with him, and more importantly, that we are purposefully and intentionally raising him up to know his Savior.   It's the best gift we can give him, and we want to do it well.  Raising a son is a special privilege and honor, because someday Blake will grow up and use his life and his relationship with God to lead a family of his own.   

And so I've decided to start sharing a Bible verse a week, each one depicting a characteristic of a godly life.  These are for my son.  These are the life lessons I want to impart to him, because they aren't truly mine at all....they're His. 

 _________________________________________________________________________

You received without paying; give without pay.

Matthew 10:8

Blake, this is so important for you to remember.  It is by the grace of the Father alone than you have received the most precious of all gifts: eternal life.  This gift was given to you, and all humanity, for free.  There's nothing you can do to earn it, and in our humanity we are simply unworthy of the blessing. And yet, none of that matters.  Your Heavenly Father loves you so much that He chose to pay the price for your sins.  He died so that He could know you, and so that you could know Him.  That's pretty incredible, and I hope you take the time to marinate on the magnitude of that love.  You'll never know anything else like it.  

I chose this verse in Matthew for you because I want you to always remember to use your life as an extension of the grace you have received.  Live it out loud.  Not for earthly rewards, not for accolades or admiration, but out of love for the Father.  Give because you have also received.  Do everything you do not for the glory of you, but for the glory of God.  And always remember, this earth is not your home.  Your reward will forever be in Heaven....your eternal home.  

I love you, and I'm proud of you.

Football Blanket

I posted a picture of this football blanket here, but I just made a companion carrying case today, and I was so excited about how it turned out I had to post again!

Just as a refresher, this is a travel blanket.  We're taking Blake on a plane ride for the first time ever in May, and I wanted something to keep his toys off the airplane floor.  Enter this blanket.  It's minky fabric and fleece, and in the shape of a football.  The laces are a taggy, which you can attach toys to with a link.  The back (which is Oregon Duck fabric, of course!) also has two large pockets for additional storage.

Now, I loved this blanket exactly as it was, but after taking it for a few trial runs out to eat and such, I realized that it would be that much better if it also had a carrying case.  Something to stuff it in when I was done using it so I didn't have to carry it over my arm.  Since my arms are generally pretty full of 20 pounds of baby + a big diaper bag.  So I decided to make a (football) carrying case!  It mimics the original with the brown minky, and the inside lining is the Duck fleece.  It also has an industrial strength zipper for extra durability!  The last thing I did to the little carrier was add a loop so that I could attach it to my diaper bag.

Verdict? I love it!  It fits perfectly and has extra room if I want to stuff in a few toys or other random objects.  I'm also very proud of myself, because I made up the pattern and made the whole thing with only my brains and sewing machine to help me out.  Well, and my mom.  She did the zipper.  I apparently need a zipper foot for my sewing machine.  Thanks mom!!!

DIY Baby Block Tutorial

Lately, I've found myself with a lot of scrap fabric.  And I hate wasting fabric of any size, so I decided to whip up a few soft baby blocks for Blake using whatever I had on hand.  It's super, super easy and fun to customize and I think I've made about 8 for Blake over the last week.  Whenever I have a little bit of extra fabric left over from a project I'm working on, I set it aside and make it into a block when I have enough in the pile of scraps. 

Here's how you do it!

1. Cut your scrap fabric into a square.  They can literally be as big or as small as the fabric you have on hand.  I'd tell you how big mine are...but have I mentioned I don't measure?  I really don't.  I ran around my house looking for square objects to trace until I settled on the square bottom of a candle holder in my entryway.  I also used a square board book of Blake's for a slightly larger one, and then a small square picture frame in our bathroom for the smallest of the blocks.  Really, just look around and see what you have!  The blocks turn out best if you have different sizes.  More fun for baby!  Anyway, you'll need six squares of fabric for each block you are going to make.  They can coordinate or not.  Some of mine do, and some don't!  Just trace your object of choice onto your fabric and cut out six pieces.

2.  Now, lay your pieces out in the shape of a cross.  This is your chance to arrange the fabric the way you like, because the way you lay it out is the way you will sew it.  It goes together just like a paper cube.  And yes, I realize that this direction is completely unrelated to the picture labeled as number 2 above.  Just bear with me. 

3.  Head over to your sewing machine and begin at the top of your cross, sewing the bottom of the top square to the top of the square below it.  Right sides together! 

4.  Work your way down the cross, sewing right sides together only on the side that touches the square below (or beside, for the vertical row of the cross) it.  When you're done, your cross should be sewn together with the seams visible only on the back. 

5.  Now, fold up your little fabric cross like a cube so you can visualize what you're about to do.  Working your way up, start sewing right sides together so that it starts taking the shape of a cube.  When you get to the top, sew three sides completely and partially sew the fourth seam but not completely because you'll need some room to turn it right side out and then stuff with filling.

6. Now it's time to turn your block right side out and stuff it with filling!  I use the cheap polyfil from Walmart, and I like to stuff it pretty full.  I also like to make these blocks more interesting by adding a little twist to each one.  I save those plastic baby food containers and then fill them with little bells (from Walmart for like .50 cents) or rice or macaroni noodles, glue the lid on, and then stuff them inside for an instant rattle.  I've also taken wrappers from granola bars and stuffed them inside the block for a little crinkle.  Be creative!  I try to make each one different.

The last thing you'll need to do is hand stitch your opening (where you turned it out and stuffed it) and give it to your favorite baby to enjoy!

And remember....these are totally customizable!  These are a few I've made.  The one with the Duck scrap fabric has the granola wrappers stuffed inside for a crinkle, and the smaller block has macaroni noodles for a great rattle.  My favorite is the owl block, because I used some old ribbons (Save these from packages!  Great way to reuse them) to make a taggy!

Have fun!

Life Lessons for my Son

My precious son,

In this life, there are so many things I want for you.  You are literally brand new.  Your life is just beginning and filled with God-given promise. I look at you and daydream of the man you'll become, and my heart soars as I anticipate all the many moments I can't wait for you to experience...and for daddy and I to experience right along with you.  

Throughout your life, I'm sure there are many lessons daddy and I will try and impart to you.  Some you'll take to heart, and some will be met with an eye roll (it's okay, I did it to my parents too).  But life is too short to not be intentional, so I took some time tonight to write down some of the most important life lessons I want you to hear....from your mama.  

Blake Louis, in this life, I want you to...

+ Laugh so hard you cry.  A lot.

+ Bask in the love of your Heavenly Father so deeply and wholly that you make the choice to accept Him into your heart.   I pray that daddy and I will get to be there with you when you do. We want to be the ones holding your hands in prayer in that eternal moment. 

+ Believe in yourself, and know that we believe in you too.  We will always be right there, in the front row seats of your life, cheering you on and letting you know at every moment how incredibly proud we are of you.  Always.

+ Be a man of integrity.  When others walk away, be the one who chooses to stay.  Be the one who makes the choice to act in love, even when it's easier not to.  Especially then. 


+ Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.  Be strong and courageous. Have the courage of your convictions.

+ Live boldly.   Don't be afraid to fail, because it's part of life, and if you don't know what it feels like to crash and burn....you'll never truly appreciate how it feels to fly.

+ Love deeply.  Daddy and I promise to tell you every single day how much we love you, and I hope you'll do the same for your family.  This life is so short, and no tomorrow is guaranteed.  I pray you will live each day with intention and purpose, showing love with your actions and speaking it out loud every chance you have.

+ Remember that you are who you are because of the people who have come before you.  Be proud of your heritage, of the country of your birth, and of the people who have worked hard and sacrificed much to give you the freedoms you have.  Don't take it for granted.  When you see a service man or woman, who have fought for this country and sacrificed so much....you take the time to stop and thank them. 

+ Be kind.  Seemingly 'ordinary' actions can have a huge impact on someone else.  You may never know how a kind word or thoughtful action can impact another.  Live with the light of Jesus, shining brightly everywhere you go.

+ When someone hurts your feelings, live with the light of Jesus.  Instead of retaliating in anger, show them a different way.   Be the bigger person.  Choose love.

+ When you see injustice, choose to act.  Stand up when others back down.  Remember that each time you have occasion to rescue someone else, you inadvertently rescue yourself.  

+ Practice purity.  Someday, you'll meet and marry the woman God created for you.  Wait for her.  I promise, buddy, she'll be worth it.

+ Set your own moral compass.  Don't allow our society and the world we live in to dictate what you believe.  Draw your own line in the sand.  Always remember that this world is not your home.  Our citizenship is in heaven!  Live with your eyes focused solely and completely on that promise.

+ Spend time getting to know your Heavenly Father.  Just as in any relationship you'll have here on earth, it will need an investment of time to help it grow.  So talk to Him.  Spend time with Him as you study His promises.  Trust me when I tell you that you simply cannot choose a better relationship to invest in.  You'll reap rewards that far surpass your wildest dreams.

+ Choose honesty.  Be generous.  With your time, your heart, and all the blessings that are bestowed upon you in this life.  Remember the One who gave you the blessing, and with every chance you get, pay it forward.

+ Have a firm handshake.  No limp fish.  

+ Someday you'll grow up and have your own family.  Remember that the best thing you can do for your kids is to love their mom.  Model for your own sons how to treat a woman, just as your daddy does for you.

+ Be passionate.  In love, in work, and in everything you choose to invest your time in.

+ Practice gratitude.  Write thank you notes (by hand) and make sure to tell those who profoundly impact your life how much you value the role they have played.  If you let Him, God will put you on a collision course with people who will strengthen and build you up with their friendship.  Seek these people out and hold onto them.  Be grateful and humbled by their love.  And most importantly?  Love them back.

And last but not least....don't you ever forget how much you are loved.  I can't even begin to quantify it in words.

Love,
Your Mama

Tutorial: Baby Bowties and Ties

A few weeks ago, I made a set of baby bowties and ties for a friend's baby shower.  I'd made a few of these for Blake already, and I love them, so I thought it would make the perfect gift for Blake's new BFF!

Here's what they look like:

Cute, right?  I seriously love this project.  Blake looks so dapper when he gets all dressed up with his baby ties and bowties!

And the best part?  It's easy.   And cheap.  You can definitely whip up a few of these with just the smallest pieces of scrap fabric.  Or, if you do decide to buy fabric especially for this project, you don't need much.  I buy 1/8 a yard and can make 3 or 4 bowties or 2 ties.  1/8 a yard of fabric is usually less than $1, so you're averaging like $.30-.40 cents a piece.  Not bad, right?

So here's how you make your own:

1. Go dig through your scrap fabric bin and pull something out with a fun print.  Remember, you don't need much to make this work.  You're going to start by cutting out two strips; one should be about 9" by 4" and the other 2.5" by 1.5" (please keep in mind I don't measure, but Pinterest tutorials tell me this is the correct measurement for these guys)
2. On your sewing machine, face the right sides together and sew along the tip and side (of the larger strip).  Be sure to leave one side open so you can turn it right side out.
3. Turn right side out, fold in the unfinished edge and then top stitch to close up your last edge.
4. Iron flat (I usually go through and make a bunch up to this point and then iron them all at once.  Saves time.)
5. Um..I covered this photo in direction #4 (I told you I wasn't very good at tutorials!)
6. While you have that iron out, take your smaller strip and iron into thirds.  No need to sew this one, just iron it flat.
7. Now take your long strip and fold each side into the middle, using a small dot of glue to secure.  Iron it flat to make it easier to work with.  
8. Pinch fabric in the middle and secure with a dab of hot glue.  I'll warn you:  I find 'the pinch' to be the most challenging part.  Eventually, you'll figure out the perfect pinch that works for you and gives your bowtie the right look.  Just trial and error, folks.
9. This is the point where I apparently stopped taking pictures.  Sorry, bad tutorial-maker over here.  I'll do my best to explain the rest (good news! you're almost done anyway) Now that you've 'pinched' and secured one layer of fabric, turn it over and fold the fabric back above and below your pinch and secure it with hot glue.  
10. Now, flip it over to the front and attach your smaller (ironed into thirds) strip to the middle of your tie, securing with a dab of hot glue.
11. Wrap that little strip all the way around the middle of the bowtie and secure it with a dab of hot glue where it meets in the back.
12. Your bowtie is now finished!  Stand back and admire your work.  They are so cute!!  All that's left is a button.  I attach two buttons to the back using my button-attacher-tool-thingy, but you could also just buy sew-on buttons and do it that way.  Of course, you'll want to attach the other half of the snaps onto a onesie. 

Once you get the hang of making these, you can turn 'em out in about five minutes flat.  I whipped up a couple for Blake last weekend on a whim and it took me maybe that long from start to finish.  

And what about those ties?  If you thought the bow tie was easy, just wait until you see how to make these ties. 


Warning: this tutorial is worse than the last one.

You'll want to start by finding a pattern for your tie.  I made my own, but just googled it and found one here that looks like it would be perfect.  Using your pattern, cut out two pieces of fabric with right sides facing OUT

1. Take both of your tie cut-outs and sew them together, right sides facing OUT.  You're basically just top stitching around the edge leaving about a quarter of an inch for your seam allowance.  
2. Once you've sewed the two pieces together, take a pair of scissors and rag up the edges.  If you want a more polished look, you could always sew right sides together, then turn right side out and top stitch, but I like the look of a little frayed edge.  Make little cuts with your scissors all the way along the border of your tie (just make sure not to cut your seam!)
3. To get a nice fray goin' on, I run my fingernail over the edge of the fabric to loosen things up.  You could also toss 'em in the washing machine to help the fabric fray.  
4. Attach a snap to your tie (again, I have a snap fastener thingy, but you could easily use sew-on snaps) and your onesie.
5. Snap on your tie and slip it on the cutest little man you can find! 

'Stache Bash

I'll be back later today (or tomorrow) with the step-by-step tutorial for how to make the baby bow ties/ties seen in my post from yesterday, but right now....I've got something much more exciting in store.

You see, I'm that mom.  You know, the one that throw her son a half birthday party?  Yep, that one.

And it was a blast.  And I'd do it again.  And again and again and again!

The theme of Blake's little shindig was mustaches.  Yep.  We called it his 'Stache Bash.

We sent out invitations to family, and invited friends via Facebook.  Since we are very careful with how we spend our moolah these days, this was a great money-saver.  Invitations looked like this:

Please disregard my edits to hide our personal information.  I made the invitations in Word, using some free fonts I downloaded and some clipart.  I printed them out on normal printer paper and then mounted them on some cardstock I found back in my craft 'stache (<-- get it?  I'm punny). Then, I cut out mustaches and sat Blake down with his most daper bib (we got it at a shower, and I think it's absolutely darling) and stuck them under his nose with a piece of tape.  He was such a good sport!  Then I made a quick collage, printed out a bunch on card stock, and stuck them in with the invitation.  And the envelopes?  They're just brown paper lunch bags.  Have I mentioned lately that I am cheeeap?  I really am.  I didn't want to spend money on custom sized envelopes, so I just made sure that my invitations were the correct width to fit inside the lunch bag.  Then, I folded over the top, secured it with some glue, and used my card stock mustaches and printer labels to decorate the front.  I think they turned out pretty cute, and best part?  They were F-R-E-E.

The first thing I did for the party was the cake.   I really wanted to make Blake a mustache cake to fit the theme, but the molds I found online were like $20.  Eesh.  No go.  So I decided to improvise.  I baked two sheet cakes of german chocolate cake (box mix, nothin' fancy folks) and then printed out a giant mustache on legal sized paper that we had on hand.  Then, when the cake was still warm (the paper sticks better to the top of the cake) I used it as a pattern to cut out my mustache.  You can see that process below. 

The hardest part was transferring my mustache cake cutout from the baking pan to the plate.  I ended up using two spatulas under each half of the 'stache and then lifting it all as one big piece.  Tricky.

I frosted it and then dug around in my cupboards until I found some coconut that I had stashed some time ago.  Fortunately for me, on the back of the bag it tells you how to dye the flakes...a little bit of water, some food coloring, and a plastic bag.  Mix it up and shake to your little heart's content.  I used the coconut to mimic the look of 'stache hair.  I kinda like how it turned out!  The last thing I did was use to pipe a little frosting around the top of the 'stache to give it little more definition.  I have some pastry tips, but no bag, so I improvised by cutting the corner off a plastic bag and then sticking my tip in the hole.  Worked like a charm once I added some of the frosting to the bag.

The little banner was an afterthought, but I like how it turned out.  I just used Word to make some little triangles with Blake's name, then cut them out and strung them on some ribbon.  Add in a couple popsicle sticks and a glue gun, and BAM!  Instant banner.

Bonus?  The cake was so yummy!  In fact, the leftovers are on my kitchen counter.  My husband keeps telling me he'll take it to work...if he doesn't hurry, there won't be anything to take.  Ahem.

Here are a few other photo collages of the party:

I am no cupcake decorator.  Whoa.  Not pretty.  I did, however, love making these little cupcake toppers for the boy! 

Some of the decorations.  From top L to R: Put a 'Stache on it printable.  Found this free online (can't find the source, sorry) and used a 8x10 frame for our bedroom to display it on our entry table.  Banner.  I made this in Word (theme?) by creating large circles and adding in the text I wanted.  You might notice match the cupcake toppers.  I also printed and cut out a few pictures of Blake and used those in the banner.  Themed food:  All the food was "themey" (not a word, I know).  We had 'Manly Melons', 'Sandwich Cigars', 'Meat and Potatoes' (little smokeys and potato chips) 'Stud Muffins' (cupcakes).  Mustache lollipops.  Easy favor for guests.  I just cut out paper mustaches and used a hole punch to stick a lollipop through them.  Then, when guests suck on the lollipop, it looks like they're wearing a 'stache! Felt mustaches.  I had these in this little container (that, for some reason says 'chocolate pretzels' on it....let's ignore that) for guests to pick up as they came in.  SO fun!

Close up of the food

The verdict?  We had a blast, and I think our guests liked it too!  And the man of the hour....well, let's just say he had never looked cuter:

Baby legs and tie made by mommy!  Tutorials in the works.

Crafting

Lately I've developed a new love for my sewing machine.  It's really quite remarkable, considering it sat untouched in our guest bedroom closet for about 5 years before ever seeing the light of day.

I think it all started when I starting 'nesting' at about 8 months pregnant.  For me, nesting meant redecorating every nook and cranny of our home, the first of which was the master bedroom overhaul.  I sewed a duvet for our bed, and then some new curtains.  Then it was some burlap cafe curtains for the kitchen, them some super cute (and cheap) window box valences made out of Styrofoam (and covered with fabric) for the playroom and sliding glass door, and then some pillow duvets for the decorative pillows in the living room.   I admit it, I was pretty proud of myself.  I will also admit that all of the above mentioned projects were accomplished using only one stitch: the zig zag.   I don't know why, but for some reason I grew quite fond of it and used it for everything.  You'd think I didn't know how to move the stitch selector dial on my machine or something.....*ahem*

Anyway, once Blake was born I moved into sewing tailored to a new audience: babies!   It would be an understatement to say I've had a lot of fun.  I'm going to photo dump a bunch of my latest and greatest creations, and then I'll come back over the next few days with some tutorials (which aren't the best, because I'm a figure-it-out-as-you-go girl that doesn't slow down enough to use pins or measuring tape or seam allowances....or take very many in-process pictures)

Ah well.  No one is perfect.

But here we go anyway!

Top L to R:  Baby bow ties and ties!  They attach to a onesie with a snap.  These were for a sweet friend who is expecting a baby boy in April (Blake's new BFF, I'm pretty sure) but Blake has also sported a few recently that I'll share soon.  Pacifier bib.  Ahh, how I love these.  We were always losing Blake's pacifier in the carseat, high chair (well, anywhere) until I whipped one of these up for him.  We attach his pacifier to the bib with a snap, and it ain't goin' nowhere.  Always works great for attaching a teething ring of any other ring toy we don't want to lose. Initial taggy:  Seriously love this!  Taggy blanket in the first initial of baby's name. 

I was messing around one night and ended up making this scrap football for Blake!  Used ribbons for the laces to make it a taggy. 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a....TRAVEL BIB!  Seriously, such a lifesaver.  I saw something like this on Etsy and just messed around until I figured out a pattern.  It has three compartments on the back to hold utensils, a wash cloth, etc.  Then, I added a snap so it can fold up for the diaper bag!  LOVE IT so far. 

Just made this yesterday!  I'm just trying to use up some odd pieces of scrap fabric, so decided to make some different sized soft blocks for Blake.  I have a whole tutorial for this one, so I'll leave out the details.  I think Blake approves!

Much to his daddy's dismay, I've been putting Blake in baby legs recently!  I make them out of Adam's old (no longer worn) work socks.  Clearly, our little man is a DUCK!

MY FAVORITE!  Tutorial for this one coming, too, so I won't say too much :)

See??  I told you I've been having a bit of a love affair with the sewing machine.  As soon as the little one goes to bed, you know I'm digging around in my fabric bin pulling out bits and pieces to see what I can come up with. 

Luckily I have a cute, agreeable subject to test my creations on.

Direction

I find this blog hard to define, and I think that's why my posts have become so few and far between.  I struggle with how to fill the space.  

Undoubtedly, it started as an outlet for me to pour out my heart as we struggled with starting a family.  Then, it became a place to share our journey through infertility, posting prayer requests and rejoicing in the ways God was answering and moving in our lives.  It was at that time that this blog also became a ministry to me....through all of you.  That was the biggest blessing at that time in our lives.  God used all of your love, encouragement and prayers--many times from total strangers--to lift us up and minister to our aching hearts.  I look back on those days with such gratitute. 

Then, we found out I was pregnant, and I started to use the blog to document all the milestones and our pregnancy journey.   I'm so glad I faithfully recorded those nine months, because I am working on making all of those posts--from infertility to pregnancy--into a book for Blake that will be separate from the one I'll make him from his first year of life.  After all, this is his story. 

Once Blake was born, I started losing my focus on how to continue this blog.  As I shared here, I decided to split my blogging life into two, and Love and a Blog was born.  I found myself wanting to document our family memories in the same outlet as before, but also feeling newly aware and protective of my son's privacy.  Admittedly, I haven't exactly excelled at keeping either blog current or relevant. 

And so now here I am.  Trying to figure out exactly what this blog is, and how I'll keep it going.  On the one hand, our infertility story isn't over yet.  In fact, I just got off the phone with our fertility clinic about two minutes ago.  I'll have news that I'll be sharing very soon on that front.  So there will definitely be more posts as we continue to navigate those waters.  On the other hand, though, infertility certainly doesn't define me, and it also not the only way we have continually seen the provision and love of the Father in our lives.  I've realized I do a very poor job of documenting those blessings.  So there's a lot of room to grow there, too.

But in addition to all that, I'm also a daughter, a wife, a mother, a home-maker, a wannabe seamstress, a (very) amateur photographer, a DIY junkie, a complete and total goofball, a baker, a teacher, a friend, and a million other things at various times of the day.  So you know what?  I'm just going to do life.  Right here, in my own little corner of the internet.  This blog is a reflection of the day to day, and so I'm just going to roll with it.  Some days I may write about big stuff, and some days notsomuch.  I'm not going to worry about the direction, instead, I'm just going to follow the path that God has laid out for our little family's feet to travel. 

So what is this blog?  It's life, and it's all about the blessings.  I hope you'll come along for the ride.