Fotograph Friday

Counting my Blessings Early

No pictures to post this time, just was feeling thankful now that it's NOVEMBER already and holidays are only weeks away. So I thought I would get on here and list a few things that I thank my Lord for everyday...

1. My supportive and faithful husband of **almost** 7 years--Nick
2. My beautiful and healthy miracle baby boy Bradley
3. My parents (including stepparent/in-laws)
4. Having a college degree and a big girl job under my belt
5. Having a nice house in a good neighborhood
6. Being able to say I have NO credit card debt and a fabulous credit score
7. My few but loving friends
8. Being crafty and creative enough to make things we can all enjoy
9. Being savvy with money so that we can still travel even when things are tight
10. The economy getting a bit better so that my 401k isn't suffering anymore

Those are the main ones off the top of my head right now. I absolutely HEART the holidays and after we get moved back down to Norman next week, I am so decorating for Thanksgiving!

PS. You may have noticed on the left timeline < that I updated Bradley's weight/length for 4 months--15 lb 11oz, 26 in!!! I was certain he would be around 17 lbs but I guess it just feels like it.

Happy November!

Friday before I went to work, I baked some yummy treats! Some for us, and some for coworkers. I baked cinnamon rolls....

...and banana bread...

...and sugar cookies!

Then yesterday after I got up and around, we put on our costumes and hit the pavement for some candy.

We're not quite sure what Nick was...he had on a Freddy mask and shirt, but no glove and he added a trenchcoat.

I was a gypsy...

...as was my mother. We walked to her house and got to see my brothers while we were there.

We had a very fun time, and we love making memories and traditions for our own family!

Look What I Can Do

Look who is holding their own bottle!

This is auntie Sara with the little one before putting him to bed.

Playing with daddy.

4 Months Old & Solid Food!

Self-explanatory! Next week is his checkup so we will find out how big he is then.

At 4 months old you:

• are wearing size 2 diapers
• nurse every 2-3 hours
• smile as soon as you see daddy
• laugh when we play peek-a-boo
• can still wear most of your 3-6 month clothes
• still have beautiful blue eyes
• usually go to bed between 9pm and 11pm
• sleep for about 8 hours at night before eating
• ate cereal for your first time today!
• take about 3-4 one hour naps a day
• love to chew on your hands
• can hold your head up very well on your tummy
• have rolled over onto your back once
• try to grab your feet
• like your paci when going to sleep

A Costume and News

We finally have the costume done! It is not at all "built to last" because he barely fits into the stupid onesie anyways. So any sewing was done just enough to basically hold it together for the big night.

First I got a plain onesie, black and yellow felt, and a scrap of black fabric. You can see the picture of the costume that I was using as my inspiration.

Next I dyed the onesie grey and cut out the batman symbol and belt from the felt. I used Stitch Witchery stuff to adhere the layers to each other.

The black fabric I quickly sewed on the back by the shoulders and cut angles at the bottom.

Lastly I adhered the felt to the front of the onesie and voila! Now in my case since the sizing of the onesie was way off, it was too short so I cut up an old onesie and sewed the extra length of snaps onto the bottom like my own little extender. It got the job done!

Throw some black pants on and you got yourself a batman costume! Isn't he the cutest??

While we were at it, I discovered he really like looking at this giraffe pillow. So I placed it on the floor in front of him so he could look at it (remember how he hates tummy time?). And look how good he held himself up! After a few moments he rolled over--for the first time--onto his back! Of course I tried to get it on video afterwards but he didn't feel like doing it again. Maybe next time.

That's about it for now! I have to work this whole weekend so I won't be doing any crafting. The news that I spoke of earlier is that we are returning to our house in Norman within the next few weeks. It has not sold, and I'm sure no one is going to buy it around the holidays. So we decided to move back and enjoy it for a few more years, update some things here and there and wait until the housing market gets a bit better before listing it for sale again. At least this way we can swim in our pool next summer, and most likely get our hot tub replaced with our tax return and enjoy that in the winter. I just love moving... *sigh*

Fall Crafts!

No, I did not make these but my wonderful mother did! **Go see her blog here** Aren't they the cutest?? And delicious too ;)

I have taken up the lost art of hand embroidery. Yes I have a machine that does it but sometimes you just want that LOOK that it was done by hand. So I went out and bought a rainbow of colors and this is my first project:

I got a plain black tee at Hobby Lobby, as well as tons of felt. I cut out free-hand the letters and the pumpkins. I then applique stitched all of the letters on, then embroidered the faces on the pumpkins and appliqued them on.

Next is this little top for Bradley. It is a long sleeve onesie from Old Navy that I just put a little jack-o-lantern on and embroidered "Momma's Little Pumpkin" on it. Too cute!!

Last but not least is one that I made a few weeks back but I don't think I ever put a picture up. It is a binky clip. I have boy ribbon (seen here) and girl ribbon to use, as well as tons of cute buttons for the clips. It does the job well!

No I have not finished his Batman costume yet--I apologize. I only have a few little things left then I will be done. Halloween is already next week so it will be soon, I promise!

Back from Mississippi (pics)

We arrived home late last night after returning the rental car. The drive each way was about 13 hours so we are very happy to be home! Considering how much little B was in the car seat and could only stare at the backseat, he did quite well!! But he is happy to be home too.

We got there late Thursday night and checked into our hotel. It was the Isle Casino and Hotel on the far eastern tip of Biloxi. After I put baby to bed, we hit the sack and slept in a bit the next morning. Then we hit the town and checked out the beaches!

We really really wanted to swim in the ocean, and I had even gotten swimming diapers for Bradley, but this ^ (and several of his friends) are why we did not. Yes the water was still very warm and we did stick our toes in but that was it!

Bradley did very well on his first roadtrip! He went to bed by 10pm each night and after a snack around 4am he slept till about 9am.

The only entrance to the hotel was through the casino, and every single time we all 3 were going through there the security guards would interrogate us to make sure we weren't taking our baby out to a slot machine! Haha. The staff was very nice though.

We headed out early Sunday morning, and stopped off in New Orleans so that Nick could see some sights of his liking (namely an old studio that his favorite band used). There were some beautiful old houses there. The drive home didn't seem as long--maybe because we knew we were going home? And as tradition called for, Nick had to stop at Jack In the Box when we went through Texas.

One of the joys of a super long roadtrip is all the time you have to talk! So Nick and I have come up with some decisions, but I am going to save those for another post ;)