photography

A New Coat for Hattie

Posted by on 3 Comments

I took my first sewing class a few weeks ago at Piece By Piece.  In the class we made baby coats, so I made a new coat for Hattie.  I used a cute owl fabric for the main coat, a sweet mushroom fabric for the pockets, and a soft flannel polka dot fabric for the lining.  We followed Olive Ann Designs’ Hoodie Baby pattern, but we didn’t really follow the directions.  Our instructor, Celeste just told us, and showed us what to do.  She was fantastic!  I learned so much about sewing clothes from her.  Now for some photo overload:

ga b c d e f h i j k l

Another Pumpkin Patch

Posted by on Leave a Comment

It’s kind of the Alma show here, but it’s hard to photograph a baby in an Ergo on my back…

bIMG_4578 bIMG_4593 bIMG_4596 bIMG_4617 bIMG_4669 bIMG_4670 bIMG_4678 bIMG_4741

Hattie’s Weekly Photos

Posted by on 4 Comments

Back when Alma was born, I was inspired by Clara’s Photo Project to create a photo project of my own.  We took a photo a week of Alma, and I photoshopped the number into each photo.  I loved how it turned out, and knew I wanted to do it again for Hattie.

I love to see how Hattie changed during the year.  The tiny, sleepy baby stage is so sweet and short-lived.

I have my favorite weeks, but to be honest, those are always changing.

One thing I have loved about both projects has been the amazing amount of fabric I’ve been able to collect.  It’s fun to use the fabric for a quilt, or a dress, or something else.  Then when I see the photo, or the dress, I have all these lovely memories of the girls as babies.

This is also something that I offer in my Etsy Shop – H&A Baby.  If you bought this for yourself (or someone else!  Great baby shower gift, don’t you think?), you would provide me with the photos, and I would edit the images and add the numbers and weeks.

I offer this in both weekly and monthly versions.

Once you have the images, they are yours to do whatever you’d like.  I used Picassa to make the collages.  I had both of these printed in poster sizes and hung them in the dining room.

Another thing I’ve done for both girls is make photo books on Shutterfly.  We gave copies to all the grandparents and kept one for us.  In our copy, I wrote down milestones for each week – so it’s kind of like a baby book.

After I finished Hattie’s, I also made a book of both girls with their weekly photos side by side.  This is my favorite thing ever.  I put both girls in the same pose each week, so it’s fun to see that.  I also used the same fabrics when I had them.  Seriously my favorite thing ever.

New “Art” – Pressed Flower Hearts

Posted by on 2 Comments

aIMG_4022A few months ago, I bought some clear contact paper and asked Alma if she wanted to make some art.  She did, and we crumpled up tissue paper and pressed it onto the contact paper.  Now whenever she sees the contact paper, she says she wants to make art.  Apparently, to her, ‘art’ is anything made with contact paper.  We might need to work on broadening her definition.

But for this project, it was perfect!

On Hattie’s birthday, we went to visit our friend Marilyn, and her lovely garden.  She sent us home with a beautiful bouquet.

aIMG_3985We took the petals off the flowers as they started to fade, and made some ‘art.’

aIMG_3983I taped the contact paper up on a window and let the girls put the petals on it.  We found that throwing the petals at the contact paper was the best, and most fun, way to attach the petals.

aIMG_3989Once we were done, I put another sheet of contact paper on it, sandwiching the petals.

aIMG_3994I pressed it for a few days, then cut it into hearts.

aIMG_4019Ta-da!  ART!

Alma’s First Day of Preschool

Posted by on 4 Comments

Last night Alma was a baby.  Today she’s the biggest kid ever.  She had her first day of school.

aIMG_4103I woke up with butterflies in my stomach.

I love first days.

IMG_4104Alma was excited to get ready and get her backpack on.  She wanted to help get the snack ready.  As families at the preschool, we take turns bringing snacks for the whole class.  I signed us up for the first day because that’s the way I roll.

IMG_4106We ate breakfast and took showers.  Alma let me do her hair without complaint (not a normal occurrence, believe me).  She picked out her outfit.

IMG_4116Then it was time for the first traditional First Day photo.  Hattie had to get in on it.

IMG_4123We got to school.  She walked right in.  She remembered where her cubby was and put her backpack right in.  She started playing with her friend.

IMG_4131Jesse and I said goodbye.  She gave us hugs, kisses.  And we left.  I knew this would happen this way.  Having Rachel there is so wonderful.

IMG_4143When I went to pick her up, she ran to me and said, “I love you!”

IMG_4137Perfect first day.

 

Alma, I am so proud of you.  You are such a happy kid.  I know you are so excited to get to be in school.  To get to be around kids.  And Rachel.  You make me so happy with your desire to play all the time.  You are the best, my dear.  Have a wonderful first year of school!

IMG_4133

Friday Gratitudes 35

Posted by on 2 Comments

20140830_181620[1] 20140901_165757[1] 20140902_180641[1] 20140903_155159[1] 20140904_130310[1] 20140904_170549[1]Friday the 29th: Mom and Phyllis.  We had a lovely park picnic with our sweet friend Phyllis.

Saturday the 30th: Clouds.  Love the clouds, rain, weather.

Sunday the 31st: Poppy.  Got to meet a sweet baby.

Monday the 1st: Holidays.

Tuesday the 2nd: Thanksgiving.  When Katrina suggested that she would roast a turkey and we would be sides, I was all in.  And it was delicious.

Wednesday the 3rd: Walks.  I love this early fall/ late summer weather.  It is so much more pleasant to walk when there is a nice breeze and it’s under 90 degrees.

Thursday the 4th:  School.  Parent orientation for Alma’s school.  Whoa.

Coronado, the Enchanted Vacation

Posted by on 2 Comments

aIMG_3019We got to spend a couple days in Coronado with some of our favorite friends.  Tyler and Leia were amazing to invite us to spend some time at Tyler’s dad’s house.  We thought it would be fun, but had no idea how wonderfully beautiful it would be.  The house is literally across the street from an incredible beach.

aIMG_3114And down the street from the beautiful Hotel Del Corondo.

aIMG_3062Did I mention we were there for the Super Moon?

aIMG_3071We spent two nights, and just spent our time relaxing.  We had grand plans of seeing the pandas, but didn’t.  We spent our time on the beach, in the yard, having drinks, eating amazing cheese sauce, playing, and just enjoying everything.aIMG_2986 aIMG_3015 aIMG_3025 aIMG_3036 aIMG_3051 aIMG_3085 aIMG_3105 aIMG_3130Thank you Leia and Tyler!  And Mark and Jenny!  Let’s do it again!

Friday Gratitudes 33 & 34

Posted by on Leave a Comment

20140817_112438[1] 20140820_115002[1] 20140821_072601[1] 20140821_123845[1] 20140821_132845[1] 20140823_111515[1] 20140823_183104[1] 20140824_122936[1] 20140824_162302(0)[1] 20140825_180907[1] 20140825_190449[1] 20140826_185439[1] 20140827_111258[1] 20140828_170549[1]Friday the 15th: Cousins.

Saturday the 16th: Family.

Sunday the 17th: Mountains.

Monday the 18th: Mom

Tuesday the 19th: Mom

Wednesday the 20th: Rain

Thursday the 21st: Hattie

Friday the 22nd: Dad

Saturday the 23rd: Celebrations

Sunday the 24th: People

Monday the 25th: Fun

Tuesday the 26th: Elsa

Wednesday the 27th: Alone

Thursday the 28th: Gymnastics

Dinner

Posted by on Leave a Comment

We got to go to dinner at my aunt Nancy’s house with Nancy, my other cousin Mallory, and her fiance, Mike.

aIMG_2892Alma and Hattie had so much fun playing in Nancy’s pool, running on her ‘mountain’ with Mallory, and eating a yummy dinner.

aIMG_2878I didn’t realize it, but Alma’s dress matching Nancy’s, and Hattie’s outfit matches Mallory’s.  How cute!

aIMG_2895I loved catching up with my sweet aunt and cousin.  I am so lucky to have such a generous extended family.

First Stop – Huntington Beach

Posted by on Leave a Comment

aIMG_2833Our first stop on our California Adventure was Huntington Beach to visit with my cousins and aunt.  We are so lucky that we have such fun, generous, funny, and wonderful family in such a beautiful town.  We got in pretty late on Friday, and my cousin Michael, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Avalon had pizza and salad waiting for us.  It was nice to have such a sweet welcome after our day of travel.

aIMG_2791Alma got right to work playing in Avalon’s amazing playroom.  I think she felt right at home, and Avalon did an amazing job sharing all her toys and helping Alma figure out how to use them.  It was great to see the second-cousins getting along right away.  They are almost exactly a year apart.

aIMG_2814The next morning we went down to the pier to have smoothies and bagels.  The kids got to run around in the grass, then we walked to the end of the pier.  It was a cloudy, warm, humid day.  There were lots of surfers to watch from the pier.

aIMG_2821Before we went to California, we had grand plans of going to Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo and a baseball game.  We ended up just hanging around and playing and it was amazing.  We got to relax, catch up, and play.

aIMG_2852It was great seeing the two A’s play together, and I can’t wait until Harriet can run around with them.  She tried… but isn’t quite big enough yet.

aIMG_2855When we were done playing at the pier we went and got our first In-N-Out of the trip.  aIMG_2870