Meet my Family: Part 2

Say hello to my big sister, Nicole. She is 7 years older than me but we have grown very close as we have grown older. She is incredibly talented and creative. She is married to a great guy and they have 2 adorable children, ages 3 and 4. They are only 14 months apart. She is a hero! And... they are expecting their third little munchkin in February. My sister was in the army, is a professional hair stylist, and is an amazing artist. She lives about an hour away from us, so I don't get to see her as much as I wish, but she is always willing to pack up her kids and come visit me whenever I need her. She is completely loyal to her friends and family and she seems happiest when we are all together. I hope she knows how much I love her and if she doesn't, "Nikki, I love you lots."

Art Cupboard

Miss A is really into art lately and loves experimenting with crayons, markers, paint, basically anything she can get her hands on. I wanted an easy way to organize all of our art supplies in a way that also looked nice. I decided to use the corner cupboard in our dining room since it was not being used and is right by the table where we do all of our art projects. I found some Mason jars really cheap at a garage sale and saved baby food jars as well. The other containers are just things I had around the house or in my classroom.

I try not to go the "cheap" route when buying art supplies. I think it is better for Miss A to have a few really nice things than a bunch of mediocre things. They work better and last longer and it makes her feel proud and special to have her own nice things. I also think keeping them in the glass jars helps remind her to take good care of them and to be careful. This thought is along the same line that Montessori schools use. It has worked well for us so far.

Anyway, sorry about my rant. Here are the pictures of our Art Cupboard.

Daddy's Day

It is very difficult getting presents for Husband. He is quite picky and never really wants "stuff," so I usually end up making him something original or letting him pick out a present himself. This year for Father's Day I decided to go the Etsy route. It has not let me down yet and this was no exception.

I found the shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6803612 where Kelsy makes these very cool Words on Wood to say whatever you would like. So, I decided to do our last name and give it to Husband on his special day. Here's what Kelsy says:

Welcome to kelsyhenke.etsy.com! You won't find a better gift than my Words on Wood - professionally photographed letters custom arranged to form the word of your choosing

All photos - Words on Wood, single letter or otherwise - are mounted, heat-pressed then sealed onto wood and arrive at your home ready to hang. No frame required. Enjoy. -Kelsy

Best part: Husband liked it! I think his exact words were, "That's really cool!"

Success. Now to start thinking of a 5 year anniversary gift...

(This is obviously only part of our last name. I have to have a little anonymity you know.)

Meet the Family: Part 1

I love my family so much I thought I would introduce you to them one by one and give you a little blurb of information about who they are. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Mama Bird:

This is my mama. Isn't she pretty? She is the most lovely and creative woman ever. I feel spoiled to have a mom like her. You know how most girls go through a faze when they are embarrassed by their moms and don't want them around? Somehow I never experienced that. I think it was because my mom is just so gosh-darned cool. She definitely dresses hipper than I do and has passed on her love of all things crafty and cute. I wish I would've listened to her more growing up as I'm sure I would now be a much better house-cleaner, cook,seamstress, etc. My mom is a nurse and had 4 children! She looks at least 15 years younger than she is. She loves animals and is a fabulous Nammie to her grand kids... all 20 of them. She was my coach when I had Miss A and was wonderful to have in the labor and delivery room. She is a newlywed as of this past summer and was a beautiful bride. She is from Texas and pronounces things differently than most people, which is so endearing. She is the first person I call her first with any news, good or bad. I truly want to be just like my mom when I grow up.

(So, who would you like to learn about next? Siblings, children, husband? Let me know.)

Feeding my Little Bird

We are on our way to healthy, non-picky eating habits, right buddy? I tried so hard to get your sister to love the beautiful, natural foods from God's green Earth, but she would choose Teddy Grahams, french fries, and taquitos over raspberries, avocado, and couscous any day. At least she has gotten into hummus and green peppers lately. This is a step in the right direction.

Luckily, my little man seems to be less picky and loves eating ANYTHING!

I must not miss this golden opportunity to surround him with all things fresh and healthy and natural. Get away from me all you added preservatives! I am trying to be a good mom here!

Weekly Wrap-Up

Here is a glimpse into what my life looks like right now (besides Little Man Pants and Big Girl Beds).

What I'm Reading:

So, I am ready to confess that I am what the author Sandra Felton calls a "Messie". I try and try to get organized and un-cluttered only to slide back into it worse than before. Her book, Organizing for Life: declutter your mind to declutter your world, is helping me to see the root of my messiness and realize it's not about the house, it's more about my mindset. Struggling to have a beautiful home is something I think about a lot and it would be really nice to come to a place where I feel relaxed and at peace in my home. This book has helped me get started. She even has a website called Messies Anonymous.

What I'm Buying:

Hmmm, let's see...here are some random purchases I made this week:



1. Guardrails for Miss A's Big Girl Bed
2. Carmel Marvel Chill from Biggby's

3. A very cool Father's Day gift for Husband (I will show you soon)

4. Elastic for Little Man Pants
5. Hibachi at my MOPS Mom's Night Out (This was the first time I
felt like a normal human being in a very long time. It was wonderful).

What I'm Eating:

My favorite standby meal: Plain couscous with corn, black beans, grape tomatoes, shredded cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. I made up this little concoction and could eat it every day without getting bored.

What I'm Wearing:

Today I put on my swimming suit for the first time this year. It is much looser than it was last year when I was 7 months pregnant. Don't tell Husband, but it kind of made me miss my baby belly. Just a little bit. Miss A and I did some weeding in our garden and then waded in her little pool together. (This is not a picture of my swimsuit, but it is pretty darn close).

What I'm Listening to:

I LOVE the Rockabye Baby lullaby cd's. They make these incredibly soothing lullabies out some of my favorite artists such as: Radiohead, the Beatles, the Cure, and Led Zeppelin. If you go to their site, you can hear samples of their music. Mr. Roly Poly is currently enjoying the calming sounds of Coldplay.

What I'm Making:

I am still loving the Little Man Pants (they could be Little Lady Pants too). I am also trying to teach myself how to crochet using the book, Crocheting in Plain English, by Maggie Righetti. It was going well at first but I am officially stuck and can't figure out what she is trying to tell me even though it is supposedly in plain english. Ugh...

What I'm Perusing:

As always, I am checking the blog, My Charming Kids, daily and praying for her son, Stellan, as well. MckMama is one cool chick and a mother to four adorable children. She is both encouraging and identifiable and inspires me to be a better mom every day. Check out her blog and keep Stellan in your prayers.

What are you into these days?

Big Girl Bed

Miss A's transition to her big girl bed has gone much more smoothly than was expected. I was a little worried because she LOVES her crib and snuggles down into it like a little bird in her nest and sleeps amazingly well. She averages 12 hours at night with a 3 hour nap during the day. (Has Mama told you thank you for your sleeping patterns lately, Miss A?)


I did decide to put a baby gate up at her door just in case she gets up and tries to wander around the house. Thankfully, she has stayed in bed all night for 3 nights now! No wandering yet.


It's also really nice to be able to get in bed with her and have some snuggle time. We obviously couldn't do that when she was in her crib. We are a very snuggly family.


(I just asked Miss A if she likes her big girl bed and she responded, "Yes, and I like Sesame Street." Well said, little bird.)

Little Man Pants

I was so excited to find this excellent tutorial from Lil Blue Boo on how to turn an old shirt into a pair of adorable pants for baby. I have already made two pair (one a night) since I found these simple directions. Husband is starting to grow tired of me going through his clothes trying to get him to give up some shirts. He assures me each time that he still wears them. I try to explain that it is hard to find really cute boy's clothes that don't have puppies or Winnie the Pooh on them, although I did find both Rolling Stones and Run DMC t-shirts for Mr. Roly Poly at Target.

So, here they are. Shirt #1 was an old button-down shirt that was too big and out of style. Shirt #2 was Husband's Ben Harper concert shirt from 2000. Check out Lil Blue Boo for directions. I can't wait to make more. Maybe tonight...

Melancholy Monday

For those of you that don't know, I have a had a long and bumpy relationship with anxiety and depression, (or the Black Dog as Winston Churchill called it.) I had my first definable "bout" with at the ripe age of nineteen and have lived with it, steadily, ever since. (Someday I will write my entire story for you all, but that will take a lot of strength and a lot of time and I am strong enough to do it just yet.)

Throughout the past 10 years there have been times, months even, that I can hardly remember what it's like to feel the dark cloud hovering. Those days are beautiful. Then there are times like now when I can't remember feeling totally "normal." I almost don't believe myself when I say "I was happy a month ago." Also, I am a really good faker, so people often don't know the agony I feel in my head.

Don't get me wrong, I am not in the pit as deeply as I have been before. It is just a steady, irritating presence, like a fish trying to nibble at your toes while you swim. Mostly I am tired and want to hide under the covers, but don't because my family needs me, which in turn refuels the anxiety. It is hard to be needed. It is scary to know my children have no one else to get them out of bed in the morning, feed them, change their diapers... I love it but sometimes (a lot of times) I am afraid I am going to fail. But I suppose we all do every once in awhile, don't we.

Anyway, I wanted to say that I feel really thankful that I have this blog and am able to share myself, candidly, with you all. It is scary to be exposed, but healing. Thank you for reading this and thank you for any prayers you decide to send up on my (and my family's) behalf. Please know that I will do the same for you.

Love, Melani

Life is Good

Life is good.

I am feeling much better these days and, somehow, having two small children seems to be getting a little easier. I am not as frazzled as I was. Don't get me wrong, I still don't know what I'm doing half the time, but I don't get as frenzied now.

Miss A is kind of up and down with her moods lately. She can be as happy as can be one moment and then throw a tantrumthe next. I know it is normal but it is still hard to see her when she gets so upset and there is nothing I can do to fix it. One thing we can't figure out is how she feels about her daddy these days. They used to be the best of buddies. Now she almost seems resentful of him for going to work every day and will refuse his hugs and kisses when he comes home. It breaks his heart even though he knows she loves him. We are not sure why she has become so attached to me and grumpy towards him. If any of you have any thoughts, let me know.

Mr. Roly Poly, on the other hand, will be best friends with anyone he meets. Amazingly, he has very little stranger fear and will let anyone hold him and play with him. He's started to really giggle lately and loves to say "mamamama," just like a little lamb. He came down with roseola earlier this week, but you would hardly know he felt sick, even when he was running a fever, because all he does is smile.

We certainly have a good life, even if it's not always easy.

Crafts I'm Dreaming of...

Here are some inspiring projects from my always growing list of things I want to accomplish. I am going to try to tackle one new project a week this summer. Wish me luck!

Napkin skirt for Miss A from amazing mae

Baby food jar pin cushion from Craft Pudding

Clothespin Dolls from Just Something I Made

Kiddo pocket organizer from Muddlepud

Simple Felt Cuff bracelet from Katie's Nesting Spot

Weekly Wrap-Up

Here is a glimpse into what my life looks like right now (besides sunscreen and Dolly love).

What I'm Reading:

My chiropractor let me borrow some older issues of Mothering magazine. I don't agree with everything that they support, but I do like their emphasis on breast-feeding and natural living. They also have a great website. http://www.mothering.com/

(Oh, and I finally finished Eclipse and loved it, of course.)

What I'm Buying:

I am anxiously awaiting the book Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby to come in the mail. I can't wait to start on some new projects for my little ones and the little ones of my friends. (But if you are said friends, please don't hold your breath. It might take me awhile.)

What I'm Eating (drinking):

I have been breaking my own rules and drinking regular Coca-Cola Classic. Nothing tastes better than a cold Coke on a hot day. Ahhhhh...

What I'm Watching:

My new little obsession is Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood. Laugh if you must. Husband is continually baffled by my choice of shows to watch. I am generally an intelligent, thoughtful human being, yet I continue to choose shows like this one. It may have something to do with the fact that Tori and I were pregnant with our babies at the same time. I feel a sort of kinship with her, what can I say?

What I'm Wearing:

I love this tiered knit skirt from Ann Taylor Loft. In fact, they happen to have a lot of really good deals going on right now and their clothing is a good mix of classy and fun. (This skirt only set me back $25).

What I'm Listening to:

I dusted off one of my favorites from a couple of years ago. It's Denison Witmer's album Are You a Dreamer? It is a beautiful collection of songs that exemplify Denison Witmer's lovely melodies and lyrics. The best part is that one of my favorite female singers, Karen Peris, adds her vocals to it.

What I'm Making:

Unfortunately, a whole lot of nothin'. I hope this will change next week when I get this book.

What I'm Perusing:

The Stretch Marks blog makes me laugh out loud every time I read it. The author is so down-to-Earth and honest, it is veryrefreshing. If you need something to make you smile I encourage you to check it out.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Summer Lovin'

I know I say this every year, but:

I want this summer to be the best one yet!!!

Now that we have two little ones I have instant buddies to go with me to all the fun festivals, exhibits, and presentations that I have always wanted to go to. Not to mention, it will be fun and educational for them as well. Here are some of our summer plans, just please remind me that if we spend the majority of our time out on the deck :

It's O.K.

1. Storytime at our local library
   
2. Visits to the Kalamazoo Nature Center
   
3. Binder Park Zoo
   
4. Bank Street Farmer's Market
   
5. Blueberry picking
   
6. Kalamazoo County Parks
   
7. Camping (if I can talk Husband into it)
   
8. Kalamazoo Valley Museum
   
9. Bookbug (our favorite bookstore)
   
10. Events at Arcadia Creek Festival Place

What are your plans? I would love to hear them.

Ode to Dolly

Miss A has a very special relationship with someone. It is her "Dolly" and I don't know what we would do without her. I had always hoped she would have a bond with a lovey but I didn't push it, knowing it had to happen naturally. I am not sure why she picked Dolly. She is not the cutest of all of our dolls, but she's very soft and pink and has a little rattle that Miss A shakes gently to sooth herself to sleep. I love seeing her with Dolly and I am thankful there is something in the world that can make her feel better when I can't.

My only fear concerning Dolly is that she will get lost or torn apart. The stores do not sell her anymore, and I am too afraid to use Ebay to get a "used" back-up Dolly. Also, although it makes no sense, I feel like it's sacrilegious to have more than one Dolly, like it will take away from her dolly greatness. So, I will just continue to keep a close eye on Dolly and her where-abouts, almost like she's my third child. And your job, Dolly, is to keep being there for my little girl.

A Bump in the Road

As I have been lying around trying to give my back a break, I have had a lot of time to think. This is good yet challenging for me in many ways. Good because I am able to put a lot of things into perspective and re-evaluate myself and my life. Challenging because I have a tendency to worry and over-analyze and get very anxious. So, although it is good to think, I need other things to keep me occupied. Here are some time-killer ideas I have.

1. Blogging, hence this incredibly interesting post.





2. Knitting or embroidery



3. Give myself a manicure





4. Sudoku
   
   
5. Hand Miss A one sticky note at a time and let her stick it anywhere she wants and then gather them up and do it all over again.




6. Rip useful pages out of magazines to file and recycle the rest.
   
   
   
7. Organize laptop files and pictures.




8. Handheld games like Yahtzee and 2oQ


9. http://www.43things.com/



10. What should be my #10? Do you have any ideas? Let me know.