Great Indoors/Part 3

Continuing with the snow theme, why not put the melted snow back outside, let it sit overnight, and see what happens in the morning?

It wasn't cold enough to completely freeze the water, but there were really nice flat pieces of ice to play with!

Stomp it out.  

Pound it out.  Breaking the ice with a hammer was very satisfying for Abby... and Mama.  

simple is hard work

Eleanor was baptized last night - it was a beautiful and humbling experience.  As soon as I get pictures from my dads I will post about the night as best I can.  I'm still feeling many, many things.

You can check out one picture and a very sweet letter here.

In other news
I've been reading Organized Simplicity: A Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living, which has really helped me continue the process of living a simple, meaningful life with my family.  Since I might have some "stuff" issues (i.e. I attach way too much meaning to my things), this book has been a helpful exercise in having a home that enables simple intentional living.  The basement flood helped too :)

The room that is working on having purpose.

I begged Josh to take this from my Great Aunt Joan's house when my family was getting ready to sell her house after she passed away last spring.  He argued we did not have a corner in our house that was available for the three corner cabinet.  Au Contraire - there was one - an old corner closet that the previous owner had taken off the door.  It fit perfectly.  I love everything about this cabinet, especially because it reminds me of Aunt Joan.

I added Abby's artwork and a quick origami butterfly mobile to the changing table area.    Eleanor fell asleep while gazing at the butterflies.  Mom, do not worry - the changing table is attached to the dresser and she doesn't move when asleep.  She was safe!  

Crewel work made by my Gram.  Framed for now, but maybe could be a pillow one day?  

It's a start.  One nap at a time.

The Great Indoors/Part 2

Abby has been begging to have a picnic.

Outside.

I can't handle that yet so we improvised.

A blanket, some snacks, and a few books made her morning.

The Great Indoors/Part 1

This week has been a little crazy - hence no postings for over a week.  I fight that craziness with projects that both Abby and I find fun.  It is a lot of work taking two outside in the winter.  Snowsuits/buntings, boots, hats, mittens that make a little girl very flustilated (translation : frustrated).  You get the point.  So I decided Abby should get to experience the snow even if I don't have the wherewithal to get both of them out.  Truth be told, I don't care for being out in the cold all that much.  So I opened our back door and filled up a beloved bin with snow.  To make it more exciting, I gave Abby spray bottles filled with liquid water colors.  I also had an old contact solution bottle (that I had been saving for a month for a purpose such as this) held her attention for a much longer time.  She also added some spoons, a pot, plates, and bowls to serve up her creations.  

By the way, I think I fixed the commenting issue for those who have not been able to do so - feel free to try again!  I love to hear from you.  Aaaaaaand less importantly, I had to stop using all lowercase  - it started to drive me nuts.

eleanor (three months)

dear eleanor,

you've already celebrated thanksgiving, christmas, new years, and a lot of pretend parties in these three short months you've been here.  it's only been three months but i cannot imagine life without you.  you are generous with your smiles and patient with your hands on big sister.  i loved watching the first time you noticed abby and tracked her as she danced across the room.  she loves you so much.  the night you were born she wanted to hold you right away.  as she looked at you for the first time she asked with such innocence, "mama, can we take her home with us?"  i hope this is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship for you two.

you have changed my life completely.  you have changed our family completely.  you have caused me to slow down - to enjoy just being home with my girls.

at three months, you are smiling and starting to giggle (although you get the hiccups if you laugh a few times in a row).  you are rolling from your belly to your back.  you like to look at anything hanging, especially our light fixture in the living room.  you sleep.  thank you.  you like to be held facing out and maybe a little swaying - not a lot of bouncing or jiggling.  you like your swing.  you go to sleep quickly with a little swaddling and a pacifier.  we call you:  eleanor, ellie, elles, elles bells, bells, elsie, little bubs.  yes your big sister made up a lot of those nicknames.  you are a joy.

love, mama

yes,  i did it.  matching christmas jammies.  

does anyone else see the furlow in her???  

shadow play

nothing fancy.  just some good old fashioned shadow play. 

happy heart day

a few heart themed things happening here today:  

stained glass hearts sewn into garland

painted hearts sewn into garland.  yes i love sewing garland.

heart soaps.  i think i found a tutorial via martha stewart.  

the girls' surprises (felted slippers for eleanor and a rainbow playsilk for abby)  in heart pouches/necklaces.   Tutorial for heart pouch/necklace found here.

josh did good.  i love them.  abby named them mama, big sister, baby.  i already broke baby.  ridiculous.   

homemade heart donuts after a dinner i didn't have to make!    recipe for donuts here .
donuts were delicious.