A new frequent request from Alex

"I wan oo get out yo sew-een woom mama"

Can you tell where I've been spending a lot of time?

I made a kid's sized apron today from a new pattern and it took longer than I wanted it to. Mostly because it was a new pattern. But also because it had some crappy processes.
So I'm going to adapt my tricks from my adult pattern (that I modified from the original) and apply them to this pattern and hopefully be able to get these things made a little quicker.

If you want to see the apron, it's over on my sewing business blog, Boo and Lou's.

The Belly at 23.5 weeks

I feel big. I can't believe I have 4 more months of growing to go.

(that's my new belly support band thanks to mamabargains! I don't really need it currently, but I'm thinking it's going to be great to have. It's really comfy!)

CUTE printable lists!

I just saw these posted on How About Orange and LOVE them. She has the links to the designer's printables on her blog.

And while we're on the subject of cute printable that Jessica Jones of How About Orange has posted on her website, don't overlook these printable self-mailing fill in the blank invites. I'm actually using these to invite guests to my BFF's bridal shower. PERFECT.

Babies and belly buttons

Alex has been really into feeling the baby lately. He says, "I wan to feew yo baybe!" It's not coincidental that this always happens about 15 minutes into nap time when I'm laying down with him (he won't take naps these days unless I lay by him to make sure he gets into the sleeping mode).

While he is feeling the baby he gets excited and always says, "I fink ee's tuming! And ee's going tum out ight heeaw (belly button)".

I wrap up the conversation with simply saying, "nope... the baby's not coming out for a long time- until after your birthday. He (she) has to grow bigger in mama's belly."
I don't even want to go to the belly button discussion with my 2 yr. old who doesn't really care anyway. Maybe next year. :)

Food exposure works!

Well at least sometimes for us!

We first started having squash and zucchini back in May. We would put one of each on Alex's plate. The first time he ate a very very small nibble from each. The next time he took an actual bite.
Now it's July and the kid can't get enough of the stuff.
He had been eating just the few we would give him, but when grandpa and grandma were here, he actually started taking them from everyone's plate once his were gone. He ate some of grandma's and then started eying all of the plates to see who had more.

We had a repeat tonight where he ate at least as much squash and zucchini as I did. I'm not going to complain one bit that he's happy to eat veggies!

This method has worked well for several things. He gobbled up his mixed veggies the other night and didn't leave the green beans on his plate as he usually does. He used to just eat the peas and now he eats ALL of them!
He now also eats baby carrots, although we have to make sure he takes nibbles because he doesn't like having too much in his mouth. He'll even eat them without ranch now!
Oh and string cheese! All when grandma was here and eating string cheese she'd ask him if he wanted some. She got many "no thanks'". I actually got him to eat most of a string cheese the other day!
And he actually decided to try my bagel with cream cheese the other morning after asking him many other times if he'd like some. He only took a nibble, but he said "mmm!", so I imagine he'll continue trying it and one day it will be added to a list of foods he likes.

I have definitely had to learn not to stress about food. I used to stress a lot when he was younger and we had some battles. Man, those were not fun nights. I had to learn to just let it go.
Now we give him a little bit of new things and let him know that he has to try at least one bite. If we give him food that he usually will eat and he's just not into eating it (distracted or whatnot), he doesn't get any other snack before bed and can continue to eat his dinner if he's hungry.
Oh, we also give things fun names. The zucchini and squash started out as green lights and yellow lights. :)

Feeding kids is always fun and I'm hoping mine will only be as picky as I make him (due to my own pickiness and having control and choice over what meals are made).

Where did that come from?

Jon and I often hear Alex say things and wonder where he picked them up. Tonight's phrase that had us cracking up was, "let's get this dinner started!"

How I get Alex to do things

It's quite simple really.
Reverse psychology.
And I don't have to get all fancy with it either. All I usually have to say is, "Oh! I want to _______" (clean up, take a nap, eat some dinner, etc.) and he immediately changes his tune.

I use this method multiple times every day and it still works. If only it could be that easy to get your kid to do what you want forever.

Tales of Mana and Pada's Visit

As Carrie noted previously, Mana and Pada C came to visit us last week! We had a wonderful time doing all sorts of fun things and having them around to take care of Alex and harass/help Carrie get her apron quota to adequate levels made yours truly exceedingly joyful.

First off, Alex was extremely surprised when they first showed up last Thursday bearing an awesome Cars(tm) beach chair with speakers. I caught it on film and will upload at a later date so stayed tuned.

Next, we enjoyed some excellent homemade ice cream Monday night.



We spotted the bats at a nearby bridge one early evening on one of what seemed like daily trips to the fabric store.



There also happened to be a red-tailed hawk demonstrating its ability at survival of the fittest by repeatedly swooping in for tasty bat treats from its perch on a nearby light pole. Random post-graduate biologist was monitoring said hawk and provided Pada with greater hawkish insights and binoculars for better hawking views.

We enjoyed a trip to a local splash park on Friday. The artisty part of me caught this shot of Alex.



Pada enjoyed the hole-in-a-bucket method of entertaining Alex.



On the way home we enjoyed some delicious chocolate and vanilla Frosties.



When we arrived home we found an amphibian gift waiting in our lawn. Alex used Pada's flashlight to illuminate our new comrade with a close introduction to artificial lighting.



I'll skip the tearful ending and end on a lighter note. Fist, enjoy this great photo of Pada, Carrie and Mana! Thanks for visiting and we'll see you in September!



For the grand finale I present Alex's fake smile. He really is a chip off the old block.

Blog Housekeeping Notes

Jon here. I know I don't post much as my delectable wife handles much of the bloggerific work around these parts. However, I'd like to highlight a couple blog housekeeping items:

1. We don't support viewing this blog in Internet Explorer. If something doesn't work right or look right its probably because you're using a browser that doesn't conform to any web standard known outside of the overlords in Redmond.

2. We now own joncarrie.net so if you'd like a handy way of reaching our little nook on the interwebs just type that into a superior web browser and enjoy!

Coupon Commotion at Joann's

So, can anyone tell me WHY they give you a whole sheet of 40% off coupons, but you can only use "1 per customer" (read: separate transactions)? Annoying.
(can you tell I'm going fabric shopping today?)

All good things must come to an end

Which is always very sad.

After a particularly "fun" (for him at least) Saturday at the new "beach" at our "lake", a dinner of hamburgers and hotdogs, and LOTS of fun with Grandma and Grandpa, Alex declared in the most pathetically sad voice, "I want more Saturdays".

Don't we all.

Today's sad line came when it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to return to Utah. "I doen wan you go ooo-tah. I wan you stay here".
I even have pictures of the sad event.

not a straight on picture of the sad lip, but it's there! Aww...

Grandma cried almost as much as Alex. :)

Hmm... I just realized that I have a lot of pictures and stories from our recent adventures. Maybe I'll put Jon up to that task seeing as I need to spend more time sewing.



We had a WONDERFUL time with Grandma and Grandpa and LOVED having them here with us for a week and a half. We loved every second of your time here and are already counting down to our next visit. Not only that, but wishing and hoping that someday in the coming few years we'll be able to be closer. Jon, that Colorado job isn't looking so bad...

Just a little reminder

It's just right over there on the left of the page under PRIVACY.

I want to share fun things with people - just not to masses of unknown people.
I enjoy that people like to read my blog, but would appreciate an introduction and a how you found me email or comment if I don't know you. I like to know who my audience is. :)
Also, I do everything I can to keep our last name off of the internet, so please do not include our last name in your blog link list.

Alex Gems

Yesterday Jon was outside mowing the lawn and Alex looked outside and said, "our grass just looks really perfect!"

Jon and Alex were playing with some blocks and making houses for some little froggies. Then Jon made a boat for the froggies out of a half moon shaped block and an arch and triangle on top of it. Jon declared it a boat and Alex got really excited and said, "It's a house boat!"

Alex doesn't like taking naps/going to bed. Grandma and Grandpa are here visiting and he was playing up the not going to bed by crying and saying he needed a snack etc. This is normal.
On Thursday night he sadly stated, "I need more fun!"

We were saying that Alex lives in Texas and Grandpa and Grandma live in Utah and we asked Alex where Grandpa lives and he said, "Grandpa lives in Wal Mart!"

On Saturday morning he woke up and one of the first things he said was, "where we going today? " I guess it was a good thing we were actually planning on going to Hobby Lobby and dinner that night. :)

Life is Good

You try spending all day here (you should see it during the day and run your toes through the super soft sand) and see how you feel about life.

We're sunburned but oh so happy.
What a great vacation.

(photo credit to psanchodog on flickr. He has some amazing images)