Verbally Challenged

So it’s New Year’s Eve. And if you know me, you’ll know that I am the scrooge of New Years. I believe that I said the very same thing last year because I just don’t like it. So Happy New Year and all that stuff…I can still be polite.

And here are a few more photos that I shot this morning. I’m on a mission to learn as much as I can about my camera and shooting in ALL types of conditions. And I’m working hard to be good friends with my speedlight. I become obsessed with things…easily.

Enjoy!

Liam loves watching videos on our iPhones. And the truth is that he can navigate the thing better than me…scary.

I wish Gabriel weren’t there in the background but I still love capturing him in his own little marble world:

With not much to say I figured that a photo post was in order. I’ve taken tons of photos over the past few days so why not! Plus, I took some time last week to read up on a few things photography related and I’m getting back into my groove. It’s fun. And nice to channel that creative energy in a different way.

Enjoy.

Miss Adeline eating birthday cake…she enjoyed it this time.

My Christmas boy in Christmas jammies:

My Christmas girl in Christmas jammies:

Same Christmas girl with goofy grin since Nate says that I post too many sour puss photos of her:

My cute little dude in his Christmas shirt and sweater (holding a big red clown nose):

Liam and his cousin Nico (the rowdy duo):

My sweet little nephew Devin:

And that is all the editing that I had time for tonight. Project Runway is calling! More later!

It’s 12:15am, Christmas morning (Merry Christmas) and what on earth and I still doing up! The kids have been sleeping now for a while, the house straightened up and other stuff done…I should be sleeping. But instead I sit here “relaxing” on the computer and watching “A Christmas Story.” It plays all day long and really triggered some memories for me.

Last year at this same exact time I was in the hospital. I was finally detached from my morphine drip after begging the doctor (that stuff is horrible to be on), working on getting around and finally getting an appetite back. Family had come and gone and were off enjoying the holiday (or home sleeping in bed) and I was having trouble sleeping. Tired of all the new mom movies that played on most of the television channels I settled on the station playing “A Christmas Story” marathon. Turns out there really isn’t much going on tv wise at 12:15am Christmas day. So while watching the movie I found myself hungry and at 12:15am I had limited options. The best thing going for me was a bag of chocolate bark my sister had brought earlier and placed in my suitcase…across the room. When you’ve had a c-section, any type of movement is pretty painful. Standing the first couple of days is agony…walking is worse. But for chocolate bark, I could do it. And I did – totally worth it.

So chocolate bark and A Christmas Story – that’s what I was doing this time last year while my little girl slept next to me in bed. Not bad at all.

I’m finally ready – that feels good to say. I’ve been scrambling like a maniac to get things done (I do this every year) and going to bed WAY too late (I’ll pay for this on Wednesday). I have a breakfast casserole baking in the oven and I’m ready for the day. Well…I don’t know what I’m wearing yet but hopefully that’ll work itself out…you think?

I finished wrapping presents last night…way too late…but they’re pretty! Last year I did vintage metal bows with flocked paper. I decided to revisited two old wrapping style here and combine them. This one is yarn instead of ribbon with a couple of pom-poms and labels from here. I think that she pulled her shop right now while she’s away for the holiday so I linked to her blog. I have six of her prints hanging in Addy’s room – cute cute stuff!

And then a second one for my BIL’s girlfriend. I already did this style for my sister’s birthday gift at Thanksgiving but loved it so much that I had to repeat it.

And then I used my old Martha Stewart paper pom-pom makers for these tissue paper/crepe paper pom-poms. I hope that my cousin Becky likes this!

I tried creating a tissue pom-pom garland to string along this one…not the best photo but you get the idea. There are so easy to do and you don’t need the device that I have to make them. You just need patience on the pleating.

One last look:

How about the tree now. I put a silver one up in the kichen before we even did our real tree on December 1. I LOVE the silver tree, no lights, but it shimmers in the sunlight and is so beautiful! I put up all handmade or handmade looking ornaments along with a few bulbs. Well actually Liam decorated this tree – you’ll see why I say that.

Notice the pairings and groupings:

And again, not the best photo:

And finally the kiddos – well Liam actually. The photos below already show one of Addy’s holiday outfits – she wore it to a party on Saturday. My mom and I had a hard time practicing restraint this season (and talk too much on the phone). I haven’t posted Liam in a bit so here is one of him looking older:

And an ornament shot…doesn’t everyone have one?

That’s all for now! MERRY CHRISTMAS (if you celebrate)!!!

Today. My little girl is one and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it. All day I’ve been reliving the moments in my mind. Where was I this time last year, how did I feel…had we met each other yet. It was an emotional day on many levels and one that I don’t want to forget, but know that each year more and more details will fade. That’s why I try to write so much in various places – to keep the memories alive. And then there are the photos – happy reminders of the day. And things like this video that I posted last year (most of you probably saw it already). And I STILL cannot get through it without crying…I tried again this morning and failed miserably.

Addy video.

It’s all so important for me to remember.

Today we celebrate my beautiful little girl. Happy Birthday Adeline.

Looking at these photos I am amazed at how much she looks like liam did on his first birthday. Her features are softer and more rounded but Liam is still there. I just love that.

And just and fyi, I started marking my photos because I was tired of finding them in various places. I know that folks don’t really like that (hubby included) but I felt the need to do it.

This time last year I had so many things to do. Prepare cookie gift boxes, make a few batches of peanut brittle, finish wrapping, lay out Christmas clothes…but I didn’t do any of it. I was very pregnant, very swollen and the baby had dropped. Talk about uncomfortable! I was determined to get through the holidays and decided to take it easy. I spent most of the day on the couch, laying on my side – resting my body (no early labor here).

Little did I know that the next morning when I got up to start my day, things would happen. And while I wanted to think that I was in control, I wasn’t.

More later.

The list…oh the list. I think that it’s finally shrinking but I’m afraid to look.

In the past few days alone I’ve managed to meet a few deadlines scrapwise, bake cookies, wrap up some last minute holiday shopping, make teacher gifts, order and receive holiday cards and visit santa.

I’ve come to the conclusion that scrapping is not fun around the holidays when you HAVE to. There isn’t enough time and quite frankly, it’s forced creativity. BUT sometimes you have to suck it up and keep going – I did. And honestly, I still have to but those deadlines are a bit further away.

On Wednesday I took the entire day to do some baking. And if you get my pal Becky’s newsletter – you’d find a little truth there in her warped sense of humor. I bake a lot. And on Wednesday alone I knocked out 8 varieties of cookies – I have five left on deck and two candies. I’m hoping that Liam can help me tackle two of them and the others I can complete in an evening or two. I only give one full day a year – that’s all my back can handle.

My last minute holiday shopping was online for the most part. I got something from this shop (can’t tell you exactly WHAT but it’s a great place for gifts).

I got one of these for myself – Merry Christmas to me!

Another thing that I bought (for myself shhhhhhhhh) that would make a great Christmas gift is one of these calendars. I was inspired by the design of it – you’ll see how in another day or two.

On the subject of teacher gifts – we had to give them out today. I’m thrilled that school is out for the holiday and have all kinds of fun things planned for us to do! We give our gift cards because they’re practical – and that’s how I operate. I made cute little tags that I’ll share in another day or two….so we’ll revisit this topic then.

Holiday cards – sigh. I’m late this year and it’s bugging me. I don’t like feeling the pressure. BUT I do have a box of cards just waiting to be addressed and stamped (they’re really cute) – AND I found my list from last year so that’ll make life a bit easier.

And finally, visit Santa. My sister and I did that today and I’m happy to report that we survived. When it comes to the mall – I don’t enjoy going with two kids and no husband. It’s just not fun, or productive, or fun. Make it two weeks before Christmas and it’s more punishment than anything. BUT my sister and I wanted the kids to see Santa and get some cheesy photos so that we could remember it forever. Well – I almost had a panic attack in the food court – our meeting place since the kids had to eat. There was some sort of show going on today with three buses of high school kids that apparently ended around the time we were meeting (and THEY needed to eat too – the nerve). The food area was jam packed with high school teens. Not. Kidding. So 1 1/2 hours later (again not kidding), my sister and I went downstairs to visit santa…who was out to lunch. Yep…not our day. So we let the kids ride the train a few (or four) times – during which my son tormented hers and I think taught him a few bad things (I call that payback for her being mean to me growing up). We THEN braved the Santa line. My knee deep in separation anxiety ridden gal wanted nothing to do with the not so jolly man in red while my boy decided he wasn’t so bad after all and really wanted that candy cane prize. I do have a photo but need to scan it in.

So that’s that – items crossed off my list.

Still remaining, things like wrapping (why oh why do I have to be so anal about presentation), more baking, thank you cards, Christmas cards, deadlines….and that’s just off the top of my head.

More later!

Ahhhhhhhhh. That’s me today now that the party is over. And with that behind me I’m in full Christmas mode. It’s almost as if a switch was flipped this morning. I guess that my poor brain can’t handle two big things at once – pretty scary. I’ll share some of my finds in another post. For now, I want to share some party photos and info while it’s all fresh in my mind.

So the party scene looked a little something like this:

My theme was “sweet adeline.” Baby parties are tough since really they’re not into anything. But I’m a theme kind of gal and wanted something to go with. So the candy theme kind of sweet thing developed. And the colors? Red and aqua, much like her bedroom. It’s a winning combination if you ask me!

Here is a banner that I had made:

And some of the little felt sweets that decorated the table:

The pennant and cake slices I got from here (LOTS of cute things…clothes included).

The square cake decorated with the cherry blossoms and branches (just like the ones painte don her bedroom wall) I got from here.

And then I sewed 30+ napkins in fun fabrics:

Liam uses 8 million napkins a day and this seems more practical to me. And besides, he’s always wiping his hands on his shirt, I’m hoping he’ll use the cloth napkin and not reallize the difference. A stretch? Perhaps.

A photo of the birthday girl scaling her piles of gifts:

And a photo of the gift action…

Now for cake…one for us:

And one for the birthday girl:

And the first birthday cake photos (not the best quality):
Interested:

annoyed:

and done with it:

She was none too amused. I remember back to Liam’s first birthday party and he didn’t like the cake the first time he tried it (on his real birthday). But at his party, he dominated. I’m hoping Addy will like it on her real birthday. I want the good messy photos!

So that’s Addy day. And my gift ideas for today are included in the post. I loved using the felt pieces as decorations. They’re practical and something that addy can play with as she grows. I think they’d make a great gift with a little tea set. CUTE!!!

So today was Addy’s first birthday party…23 days early. I wanted to separate it from Christmas and make the celebration all about her – mission accomplished. And I’m exhausted now. I’ll share some photos soon.

Here is a photo of my little almost birthday gal:

And since my day has been all about my little girl (she’ll get another one on her REAL day), I figured that I’d share a cute kids gift idea. The little dress that she’s wearing in the photo (which was taken for her birthday invitation) was all handmade and absolutely adorable. I have a shot of her standing up in it…need to find and post that. But the shop that I got it from is here. I have it bookmarked and ready to go for whenever I need a little girls gift – the prices are so reasonable and the dresses the cutest!

That’s all for now…I need to stop posting so late at night!

Quick Christmas post tonight because I really just want to sit and veg. I feel like I’ve been ironing all day. And I don’t iron. ever. I’ll share the whats I’ve been ironing sometime this weekend.

So my day six gift idea has to do with food…again. And while I’m not a big gadget gal this one is totally worth the space on my shelf. And I know that you can make them in a regular pan but it’s just not the same. This thing seals all of the edges and crisps up the tortilla – they’re perfect every time.

I’m on my second one. I received one years ago from my sister and because I forced the thing closed each time after making 80 million quesadillas for a party, the switch broke (so don’t do that if you do get one). Last year I asked for a new one and I got it. Thank. goodness.