Dear Bella,

At three years of age, you are fascinated with fury creatures.  You enjoy "reading" books about all kinds of animals, you are always telling me that you want to go to the zoo. Curious George is your favorite cartoon.  You have  some how picked up some of his bad habits when I caught you crossing your arms and giving a pouty face like him....we'll have to watch out for that cartoon!!

Dogs in particular are your favorite. You like to crawl around the house on all fours, barking and licking.  You tell me, "Momma say, doggie don't bark," or to give you some such command.  You have an English Setter stuffed animal that you like to sleep with.  You tie belts and ribbons around his neck and make your own collars for him.  This morning,  you were sitting at the breakfast counter and I noticed that with the help of your hand, you had your your leg up at your face with your foot and toe rubbing your cheek.  I asked you what you were doing and you told me, " Momma, this is how doggies scratch..."

My crazy, wonderful, little Bella! You bring smiles to this momma's face. I love you!

Love,
Mom

Donut Day and DIY DONE!!

This morning I packed up the girls in the truck and took them to Dunkin Donuts…we got some yummy donuts!  Thanks grandma!! (Gift card…)  I, of course, enjoyed a nice cup of Dunkin's coffee.

After we got home and hastily gobbled down our sweet treats, I got to work and finally finished the curtains I've been working on since after Thanksgiving.

I've been desperately wanting to make some new curtains, but we have been trying to watch our spending. So the idea came to me to just recycle, re-use, and re-purpose an old furniture cover I didn't use and curtains that I already owned.

I did the horizontal stripes because it was the best way to incorporate the extension piece of fabric.  The curtains I currently owned were not long enough. I just added more fabric (the old cover) at the end of the curtains and added the tan stripes. I bought some ribbon to finish it.

While doing this project, I didn't realize how hard horizontal stripes would be.  The hardest part was getting the two panels to be level with each other. I spent most of my time measuring and re-measuring the spacing. It's hardly perfect and a professional would surely pick them apart. And if you look close enough you can see…

I've learned a lot doing this project, like: cut all fabric first, and pin base everything, both panels at once.

The problem I encountered was that I did each panel almost 2 months apart. (Small children running about makes it difficult to commit to getting a whole project done in one sitting.)

I started this after we got back from my in-laws at Thanksgiving.  Which probably wasn't the best plan.  I think we had like 5 weeks between that holiday and Christmas.

I was cramming to get things done because Mike's whole family was coming to spend Christmas with us.  So this project was probably the reason we didn't send out Christmas Cards this year.

Well anyway, I got the first panel done and then the next day it seemed like my in-laws were here.  I at least wanted to have one curtain hanging on the bare window.

When I came back to the project I couldn't adjust the lengths of the wide stripes on the first curtain; lesson learned- pin base everything then sew last…. and I didn't think to measure the tan fabric wider in the areas I needed while doing the second which came to the other lesson learned-cut all the fabric at once!!…

But inspire of all the difficulties I finished it and I'm rather proud of them. Not bad for being my first attempt at sewing curtains.

The finished product:

You can't tell in this photo, the lighting is horrible, but the fabric touching the ground is the same color as the stripes, the lining I used behind it wasn't as thick as the lining on the main curtain...

Tea Time with Very Special Little Ladies

Today, I was privileged to have tea with some very important people...my two lovely daughters, Lizzie and Bella. 

We set the coffee table with the girl's tea cups.  They were super excited when I said we could really drink out of them.  So we brewed some very fine Gatorade "tea" and had chocolate chip "crumpets". 

During the tea many delightful things were discussed.  We talked about our day. Lizzie told me she went dancing (I played some old Celtic Folk Records of mine that my Dad gave me.  Interestingly, I danced to the very same records when I was about Lizzie's age.  That's why my Dad gave them to me), and Bella explained very intently to me that she went flying all with wild arm gestures and pleadings to, "Watch me! Watch me!".  It was quite interesting.  I didn't realize that these VIPs was so talented and adventurous. (Actually I did. :))

The girls were so pleased we had a "real" tea party.  I love that they are so easily amused.

Bella and Lizzie in the tea room.

 

 Our refreshments; so dainty.

The host serving her guests first.

Pouring some refills.

Bella telling me about her flying trip.

Again the host refilling.

Bella drinking her tea.

Bella setting her tea cup down...lol

Lizzie enjoying her crumpets.

More refilling.

 

All of us!

 

Enjoying some fine conversation and company!

Things Come Crashing Down

Have there been times in your life where you've felt like you've had supernatural intervention, not like creepy stuff, but times where you've felt like something really wrong could have happened but it ended up everything turned out ok?  I can name on my hand about 5 times in my life where I've felt like this personally.

Today, marks the second time I've felt like this for my girls. Today, there were "Angels encamped" around my very adventurous children....

Minding my own business, I was in the living room while my children were very intently playing in their room (this should have been my first warning signal, but I was just enjoying the fact that the girls were playing with each other so well) when all of a sudden I heard a loud crash and then the sounds of screaming...I rushed into the room and found the dresser drawer upside-down  on the floor with Bella half way pinned underneath it and Lizzie fleeing from the scene. 

At this point Bella's mouth started to bleed and Lizzie's lip was fat and her cheek was swollen with a bruise on it...I took the girls into the living room and began to check for any serious injuries, they didn't have any (thank the Lord) and finally after probing, I found out what happened. 

Bella was being the "baby" and wanted to sleep in her "crib" (the drawer) with Lizzie tucking her in...

As I inspected the scene, it occurred to me that they walked away from a potentially very serious disaster.  If the whole dresser, not just the drawer, would have fallen that would have meant the very heavy mirror on top could have fallen. I am so thankful for the Lord's protection of my kids...

I learned early in my experience as a mother that I can not prevent all things bad from happening to them, but I can have faith in the Lord to watch out for them when I can't by saying prayers for their safety.  This has become a daily habit for me. Every time I think of them, I ask the Lord to protect them...Thank you Lord again for keeping my children from any real danger...

They were both pretty shaken up and we talked about the consequences of their actions...In the midst of this object lesson, Bella tells me that, "Jesus is everywhere," and I tell her, "Yes, yes He is...even now He's keeping watch over us..."  Needless to say both were very sorry for what happened and were also afraid I was going to punish them further, I think they both learned their lesson because of the scariness of it all so I felt like further punishment wasn't necessary.

After comforting them with numerous hugs and kisses and reassuring them of their forgiveness, I was able to lay them down.

They are now soundly (safely) sleeping for their afternoon nap in spite of all the blood, bruises and bumps...

The many adventures of motherhood...

Welcome to My Room! (Dear Lizzie, Dear Bella)

The girls room is finally decorated.  Until we get the bunk bed, this is how I have things arranged and put away.  It's amazing what a burden has been lifted knowing that the girls room is organized, neat, and tidy!  The challenge now will be to keep it that way.  The girls actually enjoy playing in their room now too.  I went in and literally took out half of their toys.  I think that this is just another way for me to simplify my life and the girl's. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Letter, a Little Late, For My Lovely

 

 

I finally got around to making Bella's personalized letter, a project that I should have had done almost 2 years ago.  Like her baby pictures, it was just one of those things that got pushed down the the to-do list.  My next project is to get her pictures in an album....  Well here it is, proudly I hang this in her and Lizzie's room.  With each child, I am trying to do some personalized name art/wall hanging.  I have completed baby #3's but am waiting on my hubby to confirm our name.  He keeps vetoing ideas I put before him!!

My Little Artist

What did I find on the wall of my bathroom the other day? Crayons!!  Bella decided that the wall was a much better medium than her coloring book, apparently she snuck out of the office where the girls colors are and went into my bathroom and colored blue crayon all over the wall.  I thought no problem, it'll come right off with some Windex....well I tried that and it didn't even smudge it...so I googled "how to clean crayon off walls" an came across this site, which gives you several cleaning solutions to try.  One of the suggestions, which seemed the easiest and less messy was just a plain baby wipe.  I thought wow that will be neat if it worked, and guess what? It did, just a little elbow grease and the crayon came right off....

Bella is my kinesthetic learner; she likes action and feeling, she'll put markers in her mouth, on her legs and any where but the paper.  She was coloring the other day and I heard  this strange sort of spitting noise.  I went to check it and there's Bella with a book, spitting on it and using the spit to moisten her marker so that it would write...interesting right?  With food, it's even worse.  Lizzie at age 19 months was very particular about getting messy, she was like a little bird eating, very carefully trying to not get food on her hands and around her mouth, Bella is just the opposite, she'll stick her finger in any mushy sauce and side.  She'll then rub her hair with it....oh the joys of motherhood!! I wouldn't have it any other way!!

site credit/reference
http://tipnut.com/21-crayon-busters-how-to-remove-crayon-from-walls/

Slow Cooking and My Independent Baby....

For me, when I plan to do a slow cook meal I get excited and if it actually turns out good, I get even more happy.  I like knowing that when we get home from church there is minimal preparation for lunch to be ready...so far, for the past two weeks, I've done slow cook meals.  The Sunday before last I made a pork roast, and did it ever turn out tender.  The best part of that roast was the left overs when I did pulled pork sandwiches on pita bread with BBQ sauce.  This week I decided to try a variation of my dad's "Indian" stew with some added ingredients from a recipe I pulled from online.  I forgot my crock pot at church last week because of the chili cook off so I had to use my oven and a pot.  I was a little worried the whole morning that it was going to be a complete disaster...but when we pulled up to the house and I opened the door to my kitchen the sweet savor of beef stew wafted to my semi clogged nose (I've inherited the Buchko sinus problems)...I opened the oven door and took the pot out and tasted the beef, it just melted in my mouth and the flavor was perfect.  Even Michael was impressed.  This is definitely a dish I would be proud of making for his parents.  It feels good to be able to cook good things.  This part of my domestication has been a work in progress....but I'm learning and it's actually paying off.

Bella has decided altogether this week to not sit in the high chair.  One day last week I tried to put her in and she started crying and started pointing at the table where Lizzie was sitting.  I figured out that she wanted to sit at the table like a big girl.  I proceeded to feed her her cereal and she wouldn't have it.  She has decided that she wants to feed herself as well.  This can prove to be a little tedious for the control freak, who likes messes to be very little.  Because of my impulse to clean, I was picking up every cheerio that was falling...this seemed ludicrous and I finally gave into a little mess.  I just figure that by the time baby number 3 comes along, she'll be a pro at feeding herself.  She is so independent!!
Here are some pictures of her "eating" by herself...

Another cute thing Bella does is that she loves to wave at anything and everything that goes by!  Random cars driving passed us when we are out taking a walk in our neighborhood.  She'll wave at complete strangers in the grocery store.  And of course, everyone at church.  This really is sweet.  It kind of makes up for the fact that Lizzie does not say hello to anybody!!  I tell people that she's really not rude...can you train your 3 year old to say hello to people?  We are having such a hard time with this!!! Here are some Pics of Bella waving "Hello"

Ramblings of a Mother Truly Blessed

Cup of Joy for the Day

The crock pot is on with some chicken breasts and rice; the girls are napping, Lizzie is sleeping in our winged back chair we have in the study while I sit here doing some work for Preacher.  I was at a good break point so I thought I would brew some tea and write a short line or two. 

Today's cup of joy is brought to you by TAZO, a Chi, full leaf black tea.  I love this tea!!  Not only for the obvious reason: it's black tea (black tea has caffeine) but also because of its very spicy flavor; ...http://www.tazo.com/default.asp?hasFlash=1 

This is a neat web site with the teas' ingredients and a little about the history of it...Steeping the tea for at least five minutes is a must and I like to add some cream to smooth the flavor out a little bit.  The cup I'm using is from my mothers' collection, Queens China Kenilworth, Staffordshire, England, Est. 1875.

Bella is now an expert at the baby "army crawl".  I am beginning to think she may just skip crawling and go straight to walking.  She's pulling herself up on the sofa and in the crib...time to lower it I guess.  Lizzie and Bella are really starting to be the greatest of playmates...although Bella gets upset very quickly when Lizzie decides that it's Bella's turn to "share".  I have the cutest video of Bella playing on this little Lion we got from Aunt Kayla and Uncle Dave last year for Lizzie for Christmas.  It's too cute.  I said when I first had Bella that my favorite time is when they are new, now I'm saying it's when they start to interact and play with you and giggle.  I just love babies I guess.

Dear Bella,

One the sweetest times I have with you is when I pick you up out of your crib in the morning for your first feeding.  I walk into your room and there you are sitting. (already :(, too fast...or to soon to soon) I hear your little coos.  You see me and a huge grin comes across your face.  I pick you up and you link your little arm in mine...just staring at me...

Today you are clumsily attempting to eat cheerios.  It's so cute how you try to pick them up and stick your little tongue out to put it in your mouth.  You already have quite the personality...and temper...gotta watch that!!  You are scooting across the floor trying to pick yourself up to crawl...any day now..

I love you,
Mom