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3.20.2015

A Homemaker Update

What have I been doing? We needed a new vacuum. We actually had two. One saved from the dumpster by a friend in the sanitation industry and one given to us by a family friend. I liked the rescued machine but it was an old Oreck and didn't have any attachments and with a pet in part of the house I was really missing those attachments. The other machine? Jerrel broke it. The man is hard on things. He says it's just genetic...and with the way Millie has been acting I'm beginning to believe him. So I finally used my Christmas money and bought a vacuum.

This Vacuum:


I first time I used it? I was totally disgusted. It looked like the place had never been vacuumed. And I do my darndest to vacuum every other day. This machine rocks. It has my heart. I'm going attachment crazy. I walk around my house going "There's an attachment for that!" It's strange. But if you are in the market. Get this Shark. Deep clean, lots of attachments, great for pets. It's the new member of the family. I think I will name it. Okay, maybe not. How about Ted? 

What am I reading these days? We have been tossing around the idea of getting a few hens. So I naturally need a book to read so I am fully informed. So I hunted down a wonderful book. I wanted something all inclusive-I didn't want to collect 2 or 3 chicken books. It's been called the "Definitive Guide for Poultry Husbandry." Poultry Husbandry seems too formal for my taste. However, I have learned so much and feel much more confident if we do end up getting some girls. 


The forward is by Joel Slatain-who is so incredibly knowledgable that I made a point to read, no dissect the foreward-first time for this girl and Harvey Ussery is a wonderfully knowledgable man as well...making this chicken book pretty dang entertaining. 

Finally, what have I been working on? Well I've been stewing over paint chips. 


For the laundry room. I wanted a beigey gray like my Pinterest board indicated for the walls and creamy white for the trim. So I brought half a dozen chips home taped them to the wall and looked at them throughout the day. As the light changed I'd eliminate one. Millie even got into the action and started holding the discarded ones up to the wall. It was adorable. Jerrel asked what color I was thinking. I started going into my process and delimma of choosing and his eyes glazed over. 

I realized, we are talking about shades of white. Pick a flippin' color and move on Jessica. I asked him if he thought they all pretty much looked the same and he smiled shyly and said "Go on with what you were saying." Bless him. So I think I've got it all figured out now. Thanks for talking it out with me Dear! 

And that's my Homemaker Update, what's new in your world? Happy Weekend! 

Blessings! 

3.17.2015

Today & Tomorrow

My Momma told me there would be days like today. Actually I'm not so sure she did warn me. But I guess I'll forgive her for that.

Today...sigh.

Today in a fit of random rage that only a toddler can have my daughter ripped my necklace off my neck. Breaking the clasp. It seemed like something off an action movie of sorts.

Today Millie got out of her dirty diaper on her own terms and it wasn't good. Then she peed on the floor. Twice.

Today Chester was especially bad at understanding "No." And Millie was especially good at getting herself in predicaments in which Chester came out looking like the bad guy.

Today I wasn't as patient, or kind, or fun, or...anything, as I needed to be.

Today Millie tried to eat a screw. (We are working on a project and said screw was on the counter-so was she.)

Today I tried to lay Millie down for a nap not once, not twice, not three times. But five. Five times. And each time she touched the pillow she demanded to be picked back up. She was snoring-then she wasn't. I don't know why I thought today she would go down, she only has...maybe twice before? I completed supper with a sleeping babe on my shoulder and arms that felt like they were falling off.

Today Millie made my heart stop by gagging on cornbread three separate times. She ate corn bread like a champ yesterday.

Today a bowl was dropped and while trying to keep the dog and baby safe from shards I ended up cutting myself.

Today I texted my husband at 6:50 p.m. "Today needs to be over." And now it almost is. I'm getting ready to crawl in bed with my little family and "The Sun will come up tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be  sun." is going through my head.

It's annoying.

Today I don't need a do over. Nah, I'm alright without one. I just need tomorrow.

Blessings!

3.16.2015

A Little Golden First Birthday

It's time to blog the birthday. The day I wasn't so sure about. I kept telling myself that I'd wake up on the morning of the 4th and she'd still be my Millie. But I had to see it to believe it.  




And my Millie she was. My Millie plus a cold that decided to show up. We had her spend most of the day in her diaper-just how she likes it. It was a wonderful day of playing, cleaning, and wiping a cute little nose.

Then her present from us showed up so we stopped everything and helped her unload and put it together.


A radio flyer. Both Jerrel and I have wonderful yet destructive and dangerous childhood memories with a radio flyer. So we wanted to pass that along to our own offspring. Millie LOVES her wagon. We have already gotten so much use out of this thing! 



We then tried to show her the beauty of the cardboard box. She wasn't so sure, she's caught on now though. I'd like to think she had the very best first birthday. Grandmas, a Grandpa, and an Uncle came by to give her kisses and wish her a happy day and she just got to be home with us. Oh and she got some extra graham crackers. All in all, a good day in the day of a one year old. 

And guess what? I woke up the next day...and the girl was still my Millie. Whew. 

We went on with our week and finally Sunday rolled around-party day. I haven't blogged about her party "theme" or the prep. Now that it's all came together though, I've gotta share. 


I have a collection of Little Golden Books specifically with the illustrations by Eloise Wilkin. Her style is so soft and dreamy. My mom started the collection for me years ago. I was trying to figure out a birthday party direction, I wanted classic, fun birthday but with something that made it special. I was looking through my collection about a month ago and it clicked. Books! Little Golden Books. I hit Pintrest and I found a couple cute ideas to jump from and just kinda made the rest up as I went along! 


So with the books I had in my collection I had a good start. We took a trip to Tiedes in Overton-holy books. I looked through every Little Golden they had, bought too many, and was set to start.

Letters from Hobby Lobby. Pom Poms made from yarn and dowels we had. Daisy embellishments from Hobby Lobby. Little Cast Iron Animals-found in a box bought at the Thrift Shop!


I wanted the house to feel special but also still like home. So I decorated with the books everywhere I could and used Millie's toys as knick knacks. 


I found this giant "M" at Joann.com. I then had color copies made of my favorite pictures from the books. (I couldn't bare to cut them up.) Then Mod Podged the pages to the letter.

When I was done I noticed my brush had shed in a pretty noticeable spot. Annoying. So I added these wooden letters I had in my craft supplies and a button. Necessity is the mother of invention you know.


A pad of coordinating scrapbook paper and some more page copies created this darling pennant. Some scraps of fabric from Millie's birthday dress tied between triangles tied in more "golden" and our birthday girl. 


And another pennant above the sink. 


Our Chalkboard wall was transformed to all about Millie (not much different than the usual.) and birthday with the scrapbooking paper.


I continued to find spots for Little Golden Books. 


I used an old door in the our living room to create a timeline of sorts. String and silver binder clips made this easy-not dating your pictures when you get them printed made this a nightmare. Learn your lesson from my mistake. For everything that is holy-date your pictures people! Using this font-it looks pretty close to the real Little Golden font! 


We had a pretty nice spread. Fruits, veggies, dips, Spritz cookies-to harken some vintage glory, and Millie's favorite-homemade Graham crackers. They are so good! We invited all of her Granparents, Uncles, two girl friends, three of our own friends to a total of around 20 people. we had a houseful quickly. We all made a decentdent in the grub!


Uncle Evan and Kenzie brought this adorable Eileen's cookie as Millie's present. Frosted. Chocolate Chip. Great now my mouth is watering again. 



Then of course we had birthday cake. I decided on Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake. If you have ever had this cake you understand why this was a valid choice. 


Millie received so man lovely things. Two of her uncles tried to put this together without instructions. That method worked for a while...


Before long their older brother had the instructions though and then it finishing touches were put on. Thanks Uncle Jesse and Jake! (And Daddy!)




 It was a wonderful afternoon with everyone. We talked, laughed, ate cake, and I got emotional while singing Happy Birthday to my Millie. It just all came to a head there. Oh well.


And I still look tired.


Our girl had such a special LIttle Golden First Birthday. She did so well with all these people in her house and loved visiting everyone.

One birthday party in the books. Get it?

Blessings!

3.04.2015

Birthday Girl


Happy First Birthday to our Millie. You spent the day in just your diaper-almost just how you like it. Sans diaper would have been preferred. We snuggled because of your cold, we ate oranges because you love them, and we had fun because you are now ONE.


We are so very thankful for you. 


And we love watching you grow and learn. 

Being your parents is the best gig we could have ever dreamed up. It is our dream job. 

Happy Birthday sweet baby. 

Blessings! 

3.03.2015

What I Didn't Know

I'm feeling a little misty eyed tonight. Yet joyful. Tomorrow is Millie's first birthday. There, I said it out loud. I keep glancing at the clock and mentally saying "Last year at this time..." a tic I'm sure isn't helping my coping skills. But here we are, one year out of pregnancy, birth, and baby. While I look at the clock the thought crosses my mind, "Oh the things I didn't know."

I didn't know I would jump into the role of mother as if I had always been one.

I didn't know saying the words "She's ours" would make my heart leap out of my chest yet give me such peace.

I didn't know a tiny being could make so much dang laundry.

I didn't know watching a Daddy and a daughter is about the sweetest thing there ever was and ever will be.

I didn't know smiles, coos, rolling, sitting up, standing, walking, talking, and kisses-oh the kisses, were going to be the highlights in my own year.

I didn't know I would put the potholders away 578 times a day.

I didn't know I could go an entire year without a full nights sleep and survive. But I did!


I didn't know she would be a girl, that her name would be Millie, and that she would make me wonder what I ever did without her.

Finding the words to express the work, the emotion, and the wonder of this thing called motherhood is honestly beyond me. There is just so much I didn't know on that ride, at this exact time, last year. And that was a little a lot scary. But now?

Oh what I know now.

Happy Birthday-Eve my girl. I promise I won't always be this nostalgic. At least not publicly.

Blessings!