Loving Springtime

It's  spring!! While we're still having some chilly days and nights, the afternoons are getting warmer and perfect for taking babies outside to play.

 

Here's a little dump of some of my favorite springtime cell phone pictures...

 

Whether I'm cleaning or playing outside, babywearing is my favorite way to tote around my tiniest human. He falls right to sleep whether he's in his ring sling, or wrapped tight tied to Mama. This was his first time on my back. It seems backwards, but its so much easier to get a baby tied to my back, rather than in front.

 

As my baby girl becomes more of a "big girl", we get to experiment with more grown up styles! She loves pigtails, and actually sat still enough for me to throw some French braids in there! It stayed nice and  neat, and she loved having a cool hairstyle.

 

Springtime also means BASEBALL! I'm not a huge baseball fan, but it's worth watching a few games to see Goldilocks jumping and cheering. She loves sports so going to games is so fun for her! She looks like a doll in a sea of orange at a Clemson game.

 

I loved getting to celebrate Mother's Day with BOTH of my babies! They are my world, and I love spending my days with them. Baby boy was baptized on Mother's Day, so he's dressed as a real southern gentleman...seersucker bowtie and all.

 

We've busted out the sidewalk chalk, so it's time for some seriously colorful masterpieces on the back patio. The backyard is the perfect place for art, gardening, sports, and digging in the dirt. Everything's more fun with a 2 year old involved!

 

 

Some days, it's just as fun to have a pajama day. Onesies an PJs for everyone, cool and comfy. Definitely one of the perks of being a stay at home mommy to my beautiful and happy children!

 

The weeks to come this summer are going to be filled with fun, learning, trips, baking, playing, lazy days and awesomeness. Just as they should be.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to those ladies who give their whole heart to their children, day in and day out! Not all mothers have children of their own.

Some fill a special place in the life of a person who needs it!

 

Today I'm especially thankful for my Mama. She is the kindest, most good-hearted, most loving person I've ever known.

 

If I can be half of the mama to my two babies as she has been to my brother and me, then my babies will be just fine.

She is what a mother should be, to her own children, and to those around her.

The babies are lucky to have their Nana who loves them more than they will ever know!

 

 

Today I am also thankful for the two babies who made me a Mommy. They fill my life with joy, laughter, and excitement.

 

Goldilocks makes me laugh harder than anyone I know. She is my little firecracker, and her love of life always makes me smile.

 

Her love for her brother makes me smile even more. She is quite a "little mama" to him, and he's lucky to have her.

 

This little boy melts my heart with his gummy grin and cuddly personality.

He loves to be held and snuggled, and I could spend every waking hour doing it too!

 

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Learning to Save

Our family loves piggy banks. My Granny has a very neat collection that I've always admired, so when Gray was born, I knew she had to have some piggy banks of her very own. She got some from us, as gifts, and one from Granny's collection, and they are all beautifully displayed in her room.

She likes to put her change in them, whether its change she has found, or change she has weaseled out of her uncle Adam by batting her sweet little eyelashes. I love that she saves her change, but I want her to learn about "saving" too. It's not just about putting money in, but seeing the money you've saved over time.

 

I wanted her to have a way to see how much she was actually saving with her coins, so I made her a savings bank to keep her coins in until its time to stash them away into real savings. (Or for her to spend on something fun!) Being a two year old, I think she'll take the last option.

 

Here's how I put together her money jar.

 

Materials:

Medium sized glass jar with lid (I used an old pickle jar)

Vinyl lettering or fun stickers

 

 

I began by removing the label from my jar, and running it through the dishwasher a few times to remove an food smells and get it nice and clean.

 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out a large "G" and the name Grayson, as well as some polka dots from adhesive vinyl. You can use stickers, or vinyl lettering from craft stores too!

Place your large letter in the center of the jar first.

 

Then apply the whole name on top.

 

Add dots or other decorations to make the jar unique and fun. You can match it to a nursery or bedroom too.

 

And you're DONE! I left the lid intact so there would be no sharp edges from cutting a hole. And what little kid doesn't love taking the lids off of things!

 

Drop a few coins in to get them started.

Once her jar is full, it will be time to roll the coins and let her do a little shopping.

I can't wait to see it fill up!

Thanks Anthropologie...

How many of you remember the Sweet August Dress I made a couple of years ago?

 

It was inspired by the shape of an Anthropologie dress that I loved...but couldn't afford. Their dress was brown and covered with lemons, and beautiful. But I wanted an orange one, and a cheaper one, so I made it myself.

 

While browsing through Anthropologie the other day, I found this dress....

 

Source: anthropologie.com via Jenilyn on Pinterest

 

It's made of the same material as my Sweet August Dress...and it comes in Orange!!! V-Neck, waist band, gathered skirt, shirred back. I guess we've come full circle.

 

Obviously I'm not saying Anthropologie copied my tutorial to make their dress...but it's a nice thought...isn't it?? I can live in a dream world for now.

 

I'm hoping I can make a few more dresses for me this summer, but with two littles in the house, time for sewing has become rather slim. One day....