15 Months Old, Really?

Abby's 15-month well-baby check today confirmed what we already knew:  She's still a teeny-tiny one.  I was hoping that she would be big enough to flip forward in her car-seat but it looks like it's going to have to wait another month -- she only weighed in at 18 lbs. 13 oz.  Yup.  Third percentile.  Height?  28.5 inches -- Fifth percentile but her head is rather large -- 44.5 cm or Fourteenth percentile!

Then somehow or other they figure out body mass index.  I'm not sure why but are you ready for this?  Forty-sixth percentile!  So we have a little, fluffy girl.

But I've got to bulk her up before we go to Michigan so she can face forward for the 20 hours drive.  Doughnuts sound good.  Ice cream too.  And I know she wouldn't object!

She's Standing Up!

I remember when Megan finally started walking that there were a few shaky days and then she just took off.    Looks like we're in for more of the same!

This morning Abby's sitting in my lap while we read and just stands up!  No hands, just straight from sitting to standing.  She held it for a few seconds and then was done.  After church she started doing it again and got a big kick out of all the attention and applause that came with it.  She's now stood up so many times today that she can hold it for almost a minute AND clap.  I guess practice does make perfect!

Well of course Megan doesn't want to be left out, particularly where there is praise involved.  She got the idea that if she helped Abby with her walking, well then she gets kudos as a great big sister.  It hasn't all been fun and games though -- she doesn't understand that when Abby starts to go down, you need to let go.  We've had a few wrenched arms and hard landings.  But overall, it's working well!

Walking may not be too far away!  Good thing too.  Apparently their 10 month old cousin is already taking steps.  Darn that Liam!  We'll love you anyway.

And the Nose Says . . .

Teaching Abby her sounds is going pretty well and quickly.  She also has a few basic words like dadadada (still doesn't know when to stop), cracker, and clock.  I'm not kidding, yesterday she pointed at the clock on the wall and said it.  Still not walking but it looks like I'm destined to have major talkers for sure.  Chopper is really good about teaching them language skills.  They're just not always the language skills that will get them far in the workplace or in life.  Case in point:

Now we just need to teach her that you don't honk other people's noses!

Fashion Frustration

Life would be much simpler if everyone lived in a nudist colony.  That doesn't mean I want to because I actually would really hate that, but it would be simpler.  I'm sorry, I'm ranting about clothes.  I can never seem to find cute clothes that are modest and won't cost me an arm and a leg.  After all, I can get the girls cute things for under 10 bucks, what about me?  It's particularly bad this time of year though because summer clothes are always sleeveless, too short, etc.

A friend gave me a gift card to Joann Fabrics and I decided that's it! (Not great idea that's it, more I'm very frustrated that's it).  I'm buying a pattern and some material and making myself a skirt!  Well.  Someone needs to explain to me how sizing works because I measured myself and started to make a size 20 skirt.  After getting the sides sewn together I realized that it was way to big.  Well than what the heck are the measurements for?  I pared it down and improvised in finishing a little bit and came up with this:

The lighting is terrible (I'm not sure why) and my carpets really are cleaner than that (but my room is usually not), but you get the gist of it.  It turned out really cute although still a little big.  One friend at church today even asked me if I bought it at Banana Republic!!!  Well, she did after I told her I made it so maybe she was just being super nice, but it felt good nonetheless (is that wrong to feel prideful at church?).  So I've decided that if I can just figure out what size I am (we'll see about that) then I'll make more skirts and only be frustrated by looking for shirts.  Well that's half a battle won.

By the way, Abby is still not walking (almost 15 months now) but she's mimicking and remembering things really well.  So we're working on her animal noises.

And Happy Father's Day to everyone!  Chopper said to me, thank you for going through all that pain to make me a father.  I'm not sure if that was a compliment or not.  At least, I don't really know if I want to be reminded of all the pain . . . but Happy Father's day anyway!

Success!!

Remember that pattern I won from Australian quilter Kellie W.?  Her website is here and you have to check out her amazing quilts!

Anyway, I don't know if it was an accident or if she is incredibly wonderful, but I actually ended up getting 2 patterns and a kit in the mail!  I know, I need to send her something back.  Seriously!  Anyway, I decided to try my hand at the easier pattern -- easier because the shapes are simpler.  And I LOVE LOVE LOVE trees (have I said that before?  I'm pretty sure I have . . . ).  These are the results (drums please) . . . 

For my first attempt, I am very pleased!  Raw-edge applique is a lot harder than it looks to get a clean edge so that was just ok.  But then I quilted the background in a meandering pattern and I have to say, I'm getting better!  My forearms ache though, quilting is hard work!

Overall, if you're interested in this kind of quilting, I thought her pattern and directions were fantastic and easy to accomplish (except that it was hard work and tedious in the sense that you really have to watch and go slow).  The whole thing is about 17" square so it's going to go on Megan's wall (I have super secret exciting plans) and was a quick project -- relatively speaking.  And I will definitely be doing more!!

Well That Explains It

So we have at least one, probably two, adult rabbits hopping around here.  Our neighbors next door have a big dog so they don't get them too much but I am always finding their droppings in our yard.  It's delightful.  Especially when Megan puts them in the pool because she's all excited about the little rocks she found.

Well today in his never-ending war against crab grass, Chopper found a nest of FOUR (yes FOUR) baby bunnies.  He accidentally grabbed one when he pulled a clump of grass out so he brought it IN THE HOUSE to show us.  Such a thoughtful husband.

Cute as they are (the bunnies AND the girls), I'm thinking about disease of course (bunnies only).  He didn't let the girls touch it (thank you) but they got a big kick out of it no question.

Then he showed me the nest -- it's along the side of the house under the seeping hose so they must get dripped on quite a bit. 

 Can you see them?

 We got a little too close and they took off of course.  I'm a little worried about what will happen to them now that they've been discovered and one has been touched.  But I'm not really worried for their sake -- I'd rather the girls didn't discover a dead bunny one day.

I guess it's a good thing we don't have a garden this year!

Resolution Number One

I think my most favorite thing from The Happiness Project is Rubin's saying "the days are long but the years are short".  How true is that?  I see to have been so bogged down in long days lately -- always looking for the next thing to make time go by faster.  I know now that part of that is somewhat chronic fatigue that I'm having taken care of, but part of it is also my attitude.  

So my first resolution for my own happiness is to enjoy my children more.  That means that I often think to myself "the days are long but the years are short".  It's really come in handy lately actually.  First of all, Abby has been so clingy she screams if I put her down.  I keep telling myself that it's not going to be too much longer before she's too big to carry around AND she won't want to be!  And Megan -- well Megan is still three-years old, and had her mouth washed out with soap for the first time today.  I'm not sure if I want to write down the whole story here and save it for posterity but as a milestone -- there it is!  And I think to myself -- the years are short, this will end soon.  And then I remember that there are teenager years ahead . . . I need to stock up on soap!

Anyway, as part of enjoying my children more, today we made Bunny Buns from The Friend magazine.  They turned out really nice!  It's a basic bread dough with a hint of orange and sweet glaze.  We had a good time.

This was Abby's first experience "standing on a chair" and she took full advantage.  Can you see how the end of that dough near her is pulled and has a big hole in it?  That would be because I turned around for a second and when I turned back she had the whole end in her mouth!

 And then she needs her rest -- don't worry, I only let my children help (and taste and poke and lay on the food) when it's just for us.  I run a cleaner operation when it's for other people!!

This is sweet to me because it looks like they're working together and Megan is showing Abby how to do something.  She's not, she's just getting her own taste!

And one for me.  Abby loves to feed me.  But I draw the line at raw bread dough.  And certain other delightful offerings that only a 1 year old can give.

Don't you love her wings?  We're just starting into the I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-her-hair-because-it's-growing phase.

 I took a picture of Megan that turned out funny and when she saw it she asked for another one.  This is what she gave me.  Deliberately.  If any of you know my brother Jeff, you know that that is something he would do -- be goofy on purpose.  It made me laugh and think of him.

My resolution is working!

Resolve to Be More Happy

Gosh that sounds terrible.  Because I am, really I am.  But sometimes I get bogged down in the every day.  I found this fabulous book though -- ok found is a little strong because I heard about it somewhere -- and I loved it!  So uplifting and inspiring.  And I don't want to be redundant so my post about the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is actually here.  You should seriously check it out!

Yes, My Children are Brilliant

You probably won't believe me even after this but it's true.  Abby's been doing a lot of imitating lately.  I still need to get her on video "telling" me what a giraffe says.  But besides saying "dada" and "momomomomomomomomom" and waving when prompted, the girl also says cracker.  I'm not kidding!

See????  I told you so!!!

This one, on the other hand, listens entirely too well.  On the way home from church she told me that she was crying in church.  "Why were you crying?" I asked.  "Because I had issues" she said.

I need to watch myself more.  Not that I say terrible things (I think), but she's way too young to have issues!

Beach time is here!

And we don't have a beach.  That doesn't faze Megan at all though.  Pull out the pool and suddenly we're at the beach!  I love her imagination.

Of course the irony is that the last time we really were at the beach, she threw a fit and refused to even stand on the sand.  Hmmmmm.

Abby is a teeny-tiny girl.  Everyone who sees her guesstimates her at about 9 months -- she's 14 now!  But for being small, she eats about her weight in food 3 to 5 times a day -- I swear!  And if Megan has it, she wants some too.  So if you want to watch her eating an apple -- a whole apple -- here you go!