What I'm Sewing

I got a bit more sewing done this week. Last night I redid a bunch of honor patches on the sashes that I had sewn on the wrong side. The sashes are worn on the RIGHT shoulder, not the left. However, Matthew's should have been sewn on the left, since it's a second sash because he has that many honors for the past four years.

I also sewed the patches on my counselor's shirt for our Induction Ceremony this past Wednesday night. That was a real bear. First off, the patches kept migrating despite my pins, so when I was done sewing, they were crooked. Then I sewed one in the wrong place and had to remove that as well. The problem with removing the patches is that the shirt was a loose weave so I had to be ever so careful when using the seam ripper so that I didn't rip more holes in the shirt than I did. Thankfully, most of them were covered by the patches.

I actually really didn't like the shirt. I got a size up so it wouldn't be too small. Nothing like resembling a big blue sausage in front of the church. My skirt is a tad large as well since I've lost a bit of weight since I bought it. I actually really love the skirt but I guess in another 5-10 pounds I'll downsize to the navy pants. Maybe then I'll look a little more trim!

I got a wild hair and decided to sew my drawstring bags. I bought some PUL to make diapers and such from a girl in town on Craigslist. I also bought velcro and foldover elastic but I haven't used those as yet. This one print was light blue with bears and balloons. A girly print but not something I was too fond of so I decided to make drawstring bags to hold dirty diaps. I needed a couple extra so when my original diaper bag is in the laundry I still have something to put dirty diapers in. My husband has gone on complete diaper strike and hates them so I have to toe the line!

I pulled up a couple patterns on line and went to town. The first one I sewed the wrong way so it's wider than it is taller but still works. The second I started to sew the wrong way but ripped out the seams and redid it. However, I sewed two "cord" seams but only needed one since the configuration was different than the first. I tried to use a wire hanger to thread the drawstring but finally figured a safety pin was easiest. But that was only because when I was ironing the PUL, I ironed it closed in places. Who knew?

So here's a photo of the finished products. They don't function exactly what I had in mind but they'll do and I've already put them to use. They'll be great swim bags as well to hold wet swimsuits and towels and such.

Have I said how much I HEART my sewing maching? I plan to make a toss pillow cover next with some really cool brown polka dot fabric my SIL gave me. I HEART her too :)

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

October is pregnancy and infant loss month. October 15 is the day of rememberance. Lighting a candle here for my angel lost on 12/10/2003. Lighting one for my sister and her sweet angel two years ago.

Words Words Words

Charlotte has an appointment today with the linguistics lab at UMD. Every so often one of the resesarch departments call with a study for infants/small children. They are very interesting and aside from the schlepping around I enjoy them. Charlotte usually gets a free toy or book.

Today it's the linguistics lab and they sent a worksheet to fill out for how many words C says. I didn't really think she was saying all that much but apparently she has more words than I gave her credit for. She "talks" all the time with all sorts of things using proper tone and inflection. For example, she'll hold something up to me, say a few words and then end on a high note as if she's asking a question. Plus she sings in the car all the time. I love it! I figure when she really starts talking she'll start with sentences LOL!

Here are the words she can say at 17 months 5 days:
ouch, uh oh, dog, doll, banana, shoe, ow, fork, light, out, da da, mama, bye-bye, snack, thank you, that, this, down, Charlotte, Declan, Matthew, Mia.

I think her first word was Matthew, although, I didn't realize what it was at the time. Whenever he's around and then goes somewhere, Charlotte calls his name and goes looking for him. The other week when he spent time at the in-laws, she went in his room at bedtime calling and looking for him.

Brothers are very special :)

Friday Five

Top five wacky things this week:



1. Madison adopts a worm in an acorn and intends to build a home for it until it runs away leaving Madison to sob.



2. Mia won't talk to her teachers at school.



3. Matthew asks what those bean things are that hang below his you know what.



4. Weird Halloween costumes.



5. Charlotte's all-out flail on the floor kicking and screaming temper tantrums.

Vending Machines

Not all they're cracked up to be!

I got a free coupon for a rental at the Red Box DVD rental stand since I bought two box of french toast sticks and a package of Keebler cookies. Yes I spent and extra $3.49 on cookies to get a $1 coupon for a free movie LOL!

I promised the kids a movie night tonight so I figured I'd use my coupon and get them a movie. Plus, I've been wanting to see the new Sex and the City movie and they had that as well. Couldn't find it on Comcast On Demand, so there Comcast!

We swung into our local Giant store and went about the process of picking a movie all three would enjoy -- harder than it sounds. During the checkout process, I kept waiting for a coupon code thing to come up. I figured it might be after the "what's your email" phase.

I tried putting my email in but I type too fast for the machine to keep up so I said forget it. The next screen that popped up was "Your movie is dispensing" so of course the biggies had to fight over who was going to get the movie out of the machine. Just like when we take an elevator anywhere.

Turns out, under the HUGE rent a DVD section of the screen is a microscopic section where you can rent with a promo code ROFL! Leave it to me. Of course, I'm always scattered when I'm doing anything with the kids so I'll just blame it on mommy brain. As long as I return them by tomorrow it's only $2. Two for less than the price of one Comcast on Demand. So there!

The kids are pajama'd and watching Dinotopia. Well, everyone except Charlotte. She's wandering around whining because I won't open the green dot paint she's carrying around. Pizza should be on it's way soon. We'll be a bit late tonight but I guess that's okay. But only if I get to watch my movie, too!

Let The Games Begin!

Survivor Gabon has begun! I love this show. Usually it's "date night" for dh and I. It's also Karate night so we usually tape and watch later. However, I can't stay up to watch a two-hour show starting at 10 so ... I'm watching it now!

The first couple nights of Surivor are like starting a new job or going to the first day of class. New people, new places, different things to get used to. It's fun to watch a show with dh and discuss. Gives us something else to talk about besides the kids LOL!

Have no favorite yet but what kind of name is Sugar? Oy. I wonder at some of the tribe-building picks and if the first challenge is of any consequence, Fang is in for it! Can't wait to see how things shake out!

Update

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. It's been so, so busy!

The biggies got settled into school and are doing fine. Matthew is doing ITBS testing this week and is getting fairly good grades. As he gets closer to double digits in birth-age, it occurred to us that we should begin having those talks with him. I'm not ready to delve into relationship issues and the like just yet and neither is he but I want him to be aware of the changes that will start taking place at some time in the not too distant future.

Madison has settled into school quite well. I don't get daily reports but it seems she's doing fine. She surely has a stubborn streak about her and it really comes to play during homework leading to unnecessary worry on my part about her learning. I don't know if she's outgrowing her behavior or the diet is working or a combo of the two. I definately notice a difference when she eats certain foods.

Mia started preschool. She's still having trouble with drop off and rarely talks to people. That makes me said but most days she says she's happy at school and has fun. I know she really enjoys running around on the playground with the other kids. I do look forward to the day where she runs off in the mornings of her own free will.

Charlotte is growing by leaps and bounds. At her 15 months check up she was 60% weight I think and over 95% for height. She really is my biggest girl yet! She's into everything and really giving me a run for my money. I certainly don't remember Mia being into as much as C is. Driving me crazy! She's working on a few words but I think she's more into gross motor skills than verbal aquity. She communicates quite well for someone not speaking much and we can usually figure out what she needs after a couple tries.

I'm watching my nephew now and that's going well. He's very sweet. I'm busy with the Adventure Club at church and enjoyed the first class of 4th graders. I co-op'ed at Mia's school and enjoyed that as well. Other than working the ebay and live auction things not too much else is going on.

Oh, we are god parents to my nephew now. Very beautiful church service. Plus we had the LLL of Columbia picnic at the petting farm and visited the Johnny Appleseed Festival at another farm. That was lots of fun until Pumpkin Head scared Mia. That's three strikes so I guess we'll avoid the costumed creatures for now. Wonder how Halloween is going to go over?

Tomorrow my in-laws pick up Matthew for his one-on-one visit. I'm praying the weather is bad so they can't do the boat trip. At the beginning is a picture from one of our farm trips.