Somewhat productive

So, I haven't been completely unproductive while I've been home these past two months. I've had the chance to work on some projects.

Below are pictures of Leah's quilt that I've been planning to make for months now. I've only just finished piecing the top together today. I still have to add a border to the top and buy batting for the middle and have it quilted. I'll try to give you updates on how I'm coming along with it.

The squares are supposed to be turned everywhich way. I had forgotten that in my earlier placement of the squares above, but luckily, I remembered it just before I pieced the squares together.

I've also made a few dishes that I've seen on some of the food blogs that I read when I get the chance. Below are the Cumin and Orange glazed carrots that I made the other day. I really liked them, Raleigh licked off the glaze and spit out the carrots, Josh said that he preferred his veggies salted not sweet.

A comparison

Above: Raleigh 1 week before he turned 2 months old
Below: Leah roughly 1 week before she turns 2 months old

Some day they will laugh at these

Jumperoo

Josh said: "Lets put Leah in the Jumperoo."

I said: "She's too small, she needs to be able to support her head better."

Josh said: "She supports her head just fine. Where's the Jumperoo?"

I said: "Okayyyyay....it's down stairs in a bin labeled 'jumperoo'."

So, Josh put it together and placed Leah in it. She was too small for it still. Since this picture was taken, Josh has put the Jumperoo back in the basement in its bin. I'm sure he'll want to take it out again in a month. :)

Smiling baby!

Not yet two months old and already smiling :) Yay. The first few months are very hard because new babies just take and take and takes some more, and they don't give much back...that is until they start smiling. I found the first few months with Raleigh very very difficult. I was tired all the time and I felt horrible about my body and I just saw no end to it.

But when Raleigh smiled for the first time, all of that worry went away. I haven't felt the same with Leah, mostly because I've already been through this and I know that there is an end to the take take take. Ok, well, there isn't an end to the take take take but there is a "give" to look forward to. And Leah has been giving quite a bit lately. She's even already cooed at me too.

We finally caught her smiling in a photo. Josh was whistling her a tune and she was just smiling so big at him.

And other times, she is just stoic. Just content to be dressed pretty and chillin'.

And look at this adorable cherry hoodie. Gifted to Leah by my friend and coworker Tammy. It is supposed to be sized for a 6 month old baby, but I couldn't wait. So, I rolled up the sleeves and put it on her anyway. I'm so sneaky :)

Josh looks all cute and smiley here, but Leah seems to resemble the late King of Rock and Roll.

Leah's first video

Ok, I know that it's poor quality, but our video camera doesn't take video well indoors. Usually, we have to have our subject closer to a window for some natural light help. I hope that you enjoy all the same.

Hand-knit gifts

Leah has received a bunch of hand-knit gifts, mostly from her Grandma Deb, but this sweater is from my friend Mara.

A gazillion pictures

Raleigh was saying "What's up, Leah?" in this photo.

Attempting to share his milk.

Sharing his trains.

Leah and Gordon the train, chillin'.

Leah making a goofy face.

Leah in her bouncy/vibrating chair.

Leah wearing a cool shirt. (We have two of these thanks to Jen and Tammy.)

Leah in her cute Tulip outfit that Grandma Wanda gave her.

Leah...the side view.

Tough love

So, as Raleigh is a toddler, it goes to say that he might sometimes have his tantrums. This was the face of his tantrum on Monday night when we wouldn't let him take all of his trains with us to the restaurant.

We find it very difficult to say no when he acts like his world is ending, but we put on brave faces and we stick to our guns. No matter how hard it may be. We do this because we love him and we want to be consistent parents who aren't afraid to discipline or stick to the rules that we set. We need to be the rulers of this household...we shouldn't be ruled by our children. It will be better for them in the end if we are consistent with our discipline and if we consistently do what we say we're going to do and if we love them unconditionally.

Alright, enough of Parenting 101 by Shyla. Let's look at Leah in one of the outfits that her Grandma Deb knit for her.

Some day, our precious daughter will throw tantrums just like her older brother and it will be just as hard to say no to her as it is for us to say no to Raleigh.

Happy belated Valentines Day!

Leah's adorable Valentine's day outfit from her Grandma Deb. I love how her hair just sticks straight up now.

Leah outfits

Let's start off with the latest picture of Raleigh holding Leah.

Look at the bottom of this sleeper. Leah looks absolutely adorable in it.

She's getting so much bigger. I promise to take a picture of her on the pink blanket that Chelsea gave her so that you can see how much she's grown.

Both the ducky outfit and the hearts outfit were gifts from Leah's Grandma Wanda along with a bunch of other clothes that I'm sure I'll showcase on this blog in the future.

Works in progress

Not sure if you're aware of this, but I have been quilting for the past two years in some way, shape, or form.


It started with the T-Shirt Quilt that I have almost finished. See this post for a reminder. Since then, I've been working on more quilts. I still have yet to finish one of them. Yikes, I hope this isn't a pattern.


Anyway, the picture below is a close-up of the fabric in a quilt that I'm making for Raleigh. I only have the top and bottom borders to attach and then I need to find some backing for the quilt.



And here is a larger picture of it.

And this quilt, pictured below is a quilt that I have been working on for almost a whole year now. Just last night, at Chelsea's, and with her help, I've finished piecing the top of the quilt together. Now, I need to purchase some batting and I need to take it in to get quilted. To understand how big this quilt is...the bed underneath it is a queen size bed.

Below is a picture of some of the pieces of the quilt yesterday before I went to Chelsea's.

She sleeps in pose

Seriously, this is how she was just sleeping. Her hands were up in the air like this for like a ton of minutes. (Sorry for the Valley-Girl talk)

What a fun weekend!

We had a great visit from my parents last weekend. The photos in this post showcase the weekend. My best friend, Jamie, was visiting also, but I didn't get any pictures with her. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of pics with her when she moves up her this June/July.

Raleigh and Leah enjoying quality quiet time with Grandpa Dave. Grandpa Dave was holding Leah.... and Raleigh piled up all of these blankets and pillows on top of him and then climbed up to join Leah.

Raleigh enjoyed laying down with Grandpa on the couch.

And of course, a close-up of Leah.

We were glad that Copper got to visit with us also. I'm so happy that she is such a good dog for my parents. She is also extremely photogenic, so... I obvioiusly took advantage.

Below is a close-up picture of Leah sleeping on her Grandma Wanda's chest. She spent so much time sleeping on people this weekend, that she didn't really want to sleep in her crib much on Saturday night. I think I got 2 1/2 hours of sleep.

Last week, Josh and I purchased 4 light fixtures so that my dad could install them this weekend. He did and they look great! I'll show you pictures of before and after in a later post.

Raleigh (below) is admiring his Grandpa working on the light fixture in his bedroom. (Funny side story... I asked Dad if he needed to flip off the breakers for the rooms that he would be working in, he said, "nope, we'll just ensure that the light switch is off and be sure nobody turns it on while I'm working on the light." .... Well, my dad was working on the light in my and Josh's room when it was almost too dark out to work on it, and Raleigh thought that his Grandpa needed some light to work in, so he brought his small blue chair into my room and flipped the switch on and ultimately shocked his Grandpa. We all laughed about it later. Dad says it was nothing, but we're glad he was OK.

Raleigh (below) was having fun putting my Uggs on. He looks so cute clunking around the house wearing my Uggs. BTW, this wouldn't have been possible without Grandma Jan gifting me these Uggs because they didn't fit her...Thanks Grandma Jan!

Before that, he was wearing Josh's shoes but he was having a harder time walking in Josh's size 13 shoes.

Laundry is so different now. I have to sort in sets of blue and pink basically. :)