Bow-tiful

 So with the start of my ETSY shop (shameless plug: please visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeganHolding) I have realized that I am not as crafty as I thought. In fact, I would call myself craft-less after seeing how talented the rest of the population is. Nevertheless, I shall persevere and endure. 

I realized that my meager boot socks 

(http://www.etsy.com/listing/87953396/boot-sock-leg-warmers) 

and sweater pillows 

(http://www.etsy.com/listing/87270700/cable-knit-pillow?ref=v1_other_2) 

that I upcycled from sweaters were not going to cut it in Etsy land. 

SIDE NOTE: I never wore the sweater(s). Most of them I bought while I was pregnant thinking I would somehow give birth and magically become a size Triple Zero Extra Small. 

So that's what size I bought. 

Never worn, naturally. 

Just thought you oughta know. 

LIKE I WAS SAYING, though, my craftiness paled in comparison. I needed to up my game. 

It started with fort kits (http://www.etsy.com/listing/87976214/fort-kit). These I found on another blog and borrowed. It's not stealing if it's on the internet, right? Right? I wouldn't say they are going like hot cakes, more like the syrup that comes with the hot cakes. I've sold 2 in the 4 days they've been listed. 

but it wasn't good enough.

I needed to be more Etsy-ing Fabulous! 

Hello hair bows. 

Even if these little delightful confections do nothing, teaching myself how to make them is going to save me a bundle - a heap - a ton of cash. I really love putting gigantic bows on my baby girls. 

I really really do.

Hello, my name is Megan and I am addicted to hair bows.

Now I can make them, not buy them for $15 a pop (serious?) and Paul will stop shaking his head at me. 

Maybe. 

Ok, probably not. But it's a step in the right direction. 

You lost your walls and windows

FYI - these pictures have nothing to do with this post - my babies have just grown since last you saw them. 

I have always known that God would give me a child that embarrassed me. I know this because I did all sorts of (hilarious!) things that embarrassed my mother when I was a child. 

I think I still embarrass her. 

Hi, mom! I love you! Don't fall into the Christmas tree this year! 

See?

told ya. 

I earned it. 

Well, last week we were driving home from school and pulled up to a stop light. The gentleman who stopped next to our car was (clearly insane) driving a convertible with the top down. 

My darling three year old girl decided this just would not do! She pushed the button to roll down her own window (I do normally keep that function disabled, but on this particular afternoon it was not) and LOUDLY shouted to the driver of the convertible, 

"HEY! You lost your walls and windows! Just thought you should know!" 

I have never prayed for a green light so hard in my life!

Walls and windows, indeed! 

Lulu enjoying her breakfast

Lexi also tasted Orange soda pop for the first time last night. I do not usually let her have pop or anything sugary. She is a strictly milk, watered down (sugar free) juice, and water kind of gal. If you have ever met her you understand - she needs no extra sugar. She's sweet (and hyper) enough, already. 

Well, after one giant sip of that sugary drink, her face lit up like Christmas and she declared,

 "Oh! This makes me feel so nervous!" 

Not a clue what she meant. But I told her it made me nervous that she was drinking pop, too. Paul did inform me that Orange soda is a gateway drug and I have now pushed our daughter onto the path of sugary destruction. whoops.

More delightful thoughts from a three year old: whenever Lexi doesn't like something, she tells us "This is NOT happily ever after!" 

Emma update:

Emma is almost 7 months old and she just started crawling this weekend. She's been on the verge for ages! She's still a little shaky, but my baby is mobile! 

She is also sitting pretty well by herself and sleeping (finally). 

She's an excellent eater. 

Her eyes are still blue.

Isn't she a hunny? 

(yes, that was misspelled on purpose. I like the way Pooh bear spells it better, thank you).

Message from Santa

One of the girls at work showed me this website and of course it was the first thing I did when I got home. You upload photos and information about your child onto the website and then Santa sends them a personalized message! 

Amazing!

I don't think Lexi blinked for 3 minutes. 

you can view Lexi's video here: http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/mEKVtMG5p8DsXRXs62ykFxQ

    

 Make your own at http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

Something New and Exciting!

Well - I've finally done it! I've decided to take my craftiness to the masses! 

Yes, that's right, my dears. I've gone Etsy. 

I'm starting small with just a few items listed, but I hope to expand very soon - I've got some fun little projects up and ready, so head on over to MY ETSY SHOP and see for yourself - share with friends, too. I would certainly appreciate it! 

If you like what you see, but it's not quite what you are looking for - let me know. I would love to help create a customized item for you. 

Here's a little preview of what you will see (lots) more of over at www.etsy.com/shop/MeganHolding

for those of you not familiar with etsy.com, here is the easiest way to explain it: it's like a cross between Ebay and a craft fair. My page is like my booth - if you want to buy something from my 'shop' you add it your cart just like you would while online shopping anywhere else. You can pay using Paypal (which is extremely safe and convenient). I ship your items to you. Simple.

What's that funny squeaky sound?

We spent the last 4 days with Paul's family down in Columbus. 

Being the worrier (one who worries) that I am, I am always terrified that our home will get broken into and burglarized while we are gone.

This time, my premonition came true. 

Here is a picture of the culprit: 

yup. 

that's right. 

A squirrel made a vacation home out of our kitchen while we were away. 

I walked into the house first - after telling Paul how proud of him I was for locking all the doors to find a squirrel sitting in a pan of coffee cake on my kitchen counter top.

I promptly screamed, like a girl if you must know, and ran back into the garage while yelling "It's just like Christmas Vacation! There's a squirrel in our house!"

Paul, being the manly-man he is, went into the house to deal with the rodent. He took the dog with him. Being the coward she is, she took one look at that 3 pound squirrel, tucked her tail and ran upstairs. Yellow, I tell you, Yellow. 

The perpetrator apparently got in through the fireplace, pushed open the glass doors (seriously?) and helped himself to the contents of my coffee cake pan. 

So we spent the first hour home cleaning and quoting: 

"Have you vacuumed the floor yet?"

"Yeah - can you hear that funny squeaky sound?"

"Shut up. Hand me the Clorox wipes. You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant"

"Where's Eddie? He usually eats those things"

"No he heard they were high in cholesterol. Have you started the washing machine yet?"

Happy Thanksgiving 

Sleeping, Slipping, Scaring, Secrets, and Santa

 YAHTZEE! 

get it? 

5 words that start with 's'? 

I know, I know. 

You're just doubled over giggling right now at my wittiness!

Alright. Enough with your silliness. 

Let's begin: 

 she dressed herself this day - oh my goodness

Sleeping

Emma used to be a good sleeper. From 6 weeks until 3 months she slept from about 10:45 p.m. until 5 a.m. which was pretty darn do-able. Then, from the time she was 3 months on she began waking up during the night. It started as once - she would take a bottle and go back to sleep. Then it was twice a night - two bottles. And before you know, that young lady was up every 90 minutes. 90 minutes? That's absurd! 

Well I decided that enough was enough and that sweet cherub was going to start sleeping again! 

About time, too, because I was starting to look mighty terrifying with purple sleep circles under my eyes. 

We decided, upon doctor recommendation, that we would let her cry it out but check on her frequently to soothe her but not pick her up. Emma is a snuggler so this was really tough - for her and us. 

We started on a Friday and she was up and crying from 11:30 - 3. Saturday night from 11:30 - 12 and 4 - 5 awake and crying. But by Sunday night, she was resting peacefully from 8-8. 

Sweet sleep - where hast thou been? I have missed ye, dear friend!

Slipping:

I fell down the stairs (again) on Friday night and may or may not have broken my little toe on my right foot. It looks purple-ish and is swollen and painful. And worst of all, it hurts to wear my tan boots - this is the truly heartbreaking part of this tale - that I can't wear my boots!

Well, prior to my latest injury I never have realized how often my feet get stepped on, particularly by Lexi. She managed to catch my broken toe the other day and I thought I was going to throw up or pass out or both simultaneously. When she asked me what was wrong, I told her my toe might be broken and it hurt. Her response: "Oh - well you should just cut it off. Let's do it! Let's cut off your toes!" 

no thanks.

Scaring

During the never-ending K-State game on Saturday (4 overtimes? I've never ever seen a game go into 4 overtimes!) I was trying to feed Emma her baby food. During exciting moments of the game I would get a little too into things and start yelling (in both exasperation and joy). Poor Em - I terrified her so many times that night that I think she is a little afraid of her high chair now. 

While Paul and I were shouting to the players through the television (because they can hear us, you know!) Lexi wanted to know who we were yelling at and I told her the Wildcats. I said they needed to win the game. 

Lexi responds, ever so calmly and prophetically: 

"Just wait. The Wildcats will come."

and they did. 

53-50

Go cats!

Secrets

Lexi is pretty into secrets right now. 

She just figured out how to whisper and likes to tell us her secrets. 

They are always the same. 

'I love you' and 'I love you so much'

I hope those secrets never change

Santa

Lulu is enough Dunaway to be a Christmas-fanatic. 

FA - NAT - IC. 

It's kind of a sickness in my family - we all love Christmas a LOT! 

I thought I would win the title of "Biggest Christmas Nut" this year by putting up decorations November 13th (stop judging me) but I talked to my brother and his have been up at least 10 days longer. 

We are losers, but we are losers together. 

Anyways, Lex loves Christmas and any Christmas lover knows that the mecca of all Christmas related decor is Hobby Lobby. I love this place. I took Lexi with last weekend, much like I imagine other people take their children to places sacred to their faith or family - I take my child to Hobby Lobby to behold the Christmas splendor. 

She LOVED it! 

a few quotes from out trip to entertain you: 

"Oh! It's so beautiful here!"

"This is so lovely!"

"My dream come true!"

 and on the way home:

"I miss Santa"

The Prayer

Lexi has been working so hard on learning "The Angel of God" - she's almost there! 

As you've probably noticed, she doesn't stand still. 

Ever. 

Including when she prays. 

If you get motion sickness easily, you might want to just take my word on this one: 

she can pray.

Belly Laughs

No one can make Emma laugh like Lexi can . . . 

apparently, she's hilarious. 

The Great Earth Shake

Did you know there was an earthquake in Kansas this weekend? 

Two, in fact. 

Crazy, right?

I have lived here my whole life, knowing we were right over a fault line, anticipating that someday there would be "A Great Earth Shake." Thus separating me from my family - with only a tree star to guide me to the Great Valley where I would be reunited with my loved ones . . . 

OK, so I guess I watched the Land Before Time a lot as a kid. 

But seriously, can you blame me? 

That flick rocks. 

Yep yep yep.

 Indeed there was an earthquake - but we didn't know about it until I read about it this morning. 

I was even awake when it "supposedly" was shaking everyone else like a Polaroid picture. 

I think you are all trying to pull one over on me. 

Well, I'm not buying it.

But I'll give somebody credit for getting the news in on the joke.

That was brilliant.

Too bad I'm on to ya'!

Better luck next time!

So while we were not taking cover all weekend, here's what's been up:

Lexi is currently obsessed with playing hide-and-go-seek. 

As you can see from this photo, her seeking skills are far superior to her hiding abilities. 

Really? The ball was your hiding spot?

You have a lot to learn from your Uncle Scott, kid.

When Emma was born, I was very concerned that Lexi would take out her aggression about being "De-throned"  on the new baby. Never happened, she acted out in other ways - but never towards Emma. 

In fact, they adore each other.

And now, a few Lexi-isms to brighten your day: 

 "Not cool, Emma!" 

(Emma spit up and that really really grosses Lexi out)

 "We make a great team!" 

(She helped me put some laundry away)

 "BEST FRIENDS!" 

(just felt like showin' Roxy some love I guess - she was hugging her super tightly when she felt the need to express this emotion)

Also, after I saw this video I laughed so hard Lexi wanted to see what all the hullabaloo was about: 

I asked her what she would do if I ate all her candy. 

This was her response:
"Mom, I would be so sad. I would cry. I know! Let's just share, OK? I'll have some, you have some, but don't eat it all, OK? Let's just share!"

I've "shared" three Kit-Kats and 2 Reese's already today.

Halloween 2011

Our 2011 Halloween was a LOT better than last year, which was more of a Hurl-O-Ween if you recall

Lexi finally decided on being a yellow ballerina

did you know it's not easy to find a YELLOW ballerina outfit? However, Lexi was very intent on her ballerina costume being of a sunny hue, so I found this one, and I think she looks lovely!

Emma was Angelina Ballerina:

We also FINALLY got our first family photo since May. 

Yeah, that's right. 

Emma was 8 hours old and I was still Epidural-ly numbed during our last picture. Do you know how hard it is to get Paul to agree, my hair to cooperate, Lexi's attention, and Emma looking at the camera in one single photo?

 well we didn't quite nail it, but it's an improvement over the hospital shot

We also got to see our friends Hil and Chris and their beautiful twins, Grace and Will (who are 5 days younger than Emma)

 We had a carefully planned trick-or-treating route, estimating it would take a 3 year old in a tutu 65 minutes to walk. We did not factor in that Emma was in A MOOD however, and that derailed the plans a bit. Emma made it about 1/3 of the way before she decided to scream and scream, and oh yeah - scream. 

Poor Paul looked like a baby snatcher as he pushed Emma in the stroller at a run back to the house while she wailed. 

Lexi finished trick-or-treating and that little pumpkin bucket weighed as much as Emma when we got home! She had a great time and told me, "I really really love this! Can we do it again tomorrow? I look really really pretty in my dress . . . people will love it!"

 And I couldn't let the little girls have ALL the fun! We got into the Halloween spirit at school on Monday by recreating the Royal Wedding (which was - is -  my obsession)

and yes, TD did already scold me for not ironing the dress - but since my domestic skills are sub-par at best, I was afraid of scorching her beautiful dress, which she was so kind to lend to the cause!