Dreams…

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 9 Comments

Well, I’ve been wanting (actually needing — part of being a DT is that you’ve got obligations and deadlines) to do some crafts but the moving thing and Jovie’s wonky (teething) schedule have been taking over. I want to unwind though… I am feeling quite overwhelmed… and figured writing might just do it…

So here I am, pooped from dragging all sorts of empty boxes upstairs from the basement, sipping some hot cocoa (while it’s still chilly out) and thinking about all the exciting stuff that’s going to happen soon. For the longest time I’ve always wanted to live in Europe and wow, it’s going to come true in just over a month! The best part is that I’ll be sharing this experience with a great husband and the two most adorable and sweet kids. I kind of feel like I need to run around our house and yell: whoohooo!!! But I won’t… it’s dark and rainy first of all and I think our neighbors would call the police thinking something is wrong with us here.

I really have no idea what’s in store for us there but I really look forward to each and every one of them. A few weeks ago I was wondering what I’ll be doing there and today I have more of an idea in that department. I can’t share yet but hopefully soon enough I’ll have the courage to tell you what they are. As much as I’ve learned about myself and have an idea of what I can and cannot do, I am hard on myself and I do feel self conscious about me and new things.I also envision a different kind of blog. I’ll still be sharing my paper crafting creations but I want something more. Right now it’s not all that clear but hopefully it’ll be better.

Ok, I guess I’m not that talkative today. Before I go I want to share a picture… or two… my friend said according to the Chinese culture big ears are a sign of wealth. What do you think? My baby’s 9-mo-old and weighing at just a tad bit over 14lbs. She’s petite! I’ve been continuously playing with my light kit. I definitely need another one to even out the light.

Flabby Butt and Signing

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | 12 Comments

My M said this evening:

M: Mommy, when are you going to start working out again?
Me: Why?
M: You have a flabby butt.
Me: (deep inside: AAAAAAURGGHHHHHH!!!!)Thanks, M.

So I was doing the P90x but that was short lived. I blame it on M. She puked all over my workout rug. Don’t ask me what happened. I think all the rolling around and crazy moves that I did made her sick. After she threw up she went to bed and was all better the next morning. I ended up watching the video while cleaning up M’s mess. I had to air out the room too and it was probably 0 degrees outside.

BUT, it will continue! I have the kids on a schedule this week and so far so good. If this continues I should be able to workout at around 9:30 p.m.! Of course we’ll see. My hobby might just distract me, ha!

The signing deal… my baby is growing up!! Jovie can sign “milk” and “change“. I use change instead of “diapers” because it’s harder to see the sign for diapers. She’s also understanding “bath” and “all done“. The milk sign started a few weeks ago but I wasn’t sure until a week or two ago. We have this parents as teachers program here and her mentor was here when Jovie signed milk. We’re so proud of our little peanut!! M signed when she was 6-months-old and she got “dog” at 7-months. The rest came tumbling through quickly (we watched the My Baby Can Talk video and Signing Time) and at 14-months M knew about 33 some words. M started talking at 14-months. She skipped babbling and went to talking but a few words were sometimes unclear and so M would speak and sign until she was 18-months-old. By then she was speaking in 4-5 word sentences.

We’re hoping Jovie can do at least the basics. We’ve noticed that she’s a lot slower than M in terms of development timeline. M had a few teeth at Jovie’s age while Jovie’s still toothless. M was already pulling herself up too while Jovie is still not crawling although she loves to sit up by herself and jump on her jumparoo. It’s so interesting to see how different each are. Fun fun!!

I did make a card and this one is based on the current Embellish magazine challenge: stripes and the colors kraft, purple, and brown. So ok, it’s not a traditional stripe but I’ve got some lines in there, right? I wanted to use more of the PTI stamps I got!!

Before I go I want to share this photo. I love how solemn Jovie looked. Have a nice one and more later!!!

M’s B-Day, Part 1

Posted on | January 9, 2010 | 6 Comments

M’s bday isn’t until Feb. 5th but because of our awesome moving schedule we decided to have a month of celebrating M’s bday. Today it was family day and she chose Dim Sum at Bo Ling’s in Kansas City… or actually Overland Park, a suburb of KC on the Kansas side. As always it was delicious. Then we grabbed a few things from Whole Foods and then ice skating. BUT, ice skating didn’t happen because it was an outside rink and our little princess did not want to be out in the 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-12-ish Celcius) weather (we don’t blame her). So instead we dropped the hubby off at Mercy Seat and us girls went to another known KC location, 39th st (close to the also known West Port), for some coffee/hot cocoa (Javanaut — we like local shops than chain if possible. The Starbucks is at the next block), and 2nd hand bookstore shopping. M got herself five chapter books. She loves to read like her parents.

No crafty goodness today but I want to post some photos to help me remember what we did this weekend.

For once my M dressed up like a normal girl. She still got layers of clothes but at least they were coordinated… although her rainbow color outfit sometimes makes her more adorable. Oh, check out them boots from Santa (they’re by Primigi if anybody wants to know), I want some!

Our two girls.

Our little shrimp. She’s only 13lbs some ounces at 7 months old. She’s in the 10th percentile in height and 5th in weight. Her head is normal tho, ha! My poor baby, 90-95% of babies her age are bigger than her!

And what hubby got after I picked up from Mercy Seat (suppose to be one of the best place to go in KC, Exile is another great one). This is one big reason why our marriage is still going well. We let each other do whatever and support each others’ wants. I’m not a tattoo person. I’d like one but I’m too chicken to. But, I let him ink up as long as they’re nice looking. This is his fourth.

Jovia’s First Christmas

Posted on | December 29, 2009 | 9 Comments

I just want to share a little page of our little angel on Christmas day. Santa’s hat and Christmas jammies. I used more stuff from the ‘08 Scarlet Lime kit, Prima paper from Studio Calico (‘08 kit) and my stash of AC alphas. I have a goal of using my ‘08 stuff before digging into more of the ‘09 kits. I’m telling you, I’ve got enough scrapbook schtuff to last me for years but I keep buying. Terrible habit!!! Very against green living and tight-wadness. But I guess everybody’s got an Achilles heel.

We’re spending time with my in-laws now. We haven’t seen hubby’s sister in years and so it’s nice to visit before our move across the big pond. Laters folks! Jovie’s trying to take over my keyboard. She LOVES sitting here with me while I type. Have a great Tuesday!

Ha Bwah + Candy Winner

Posted on | December 21, 2009 | 13 Comments

That wasn’t a foreign language. That’s Jovie’s language. The girl can talk! I thought M was pretty bad… although yesterday morning I could have duck taped M’s mouth he he he…

Let me get to M first… I have these flute glass that I rarely use and Saturday I felt like using them for breakfast. Saturday night we did dishes and M’s in charge of putting dishes away. So in the middle of putting dishes away:

M: Mommy, would you like a fancy drink?
Me: No.
M: Mommy, can I make you a fancy drink?
Me: No, I’m ok.
M: Mommy, I can make a fancy drink for you.
Me: Fine, fine. You’re never going to quit asking until I say yes. So sure, go make me a fancy drink.
M: Ok, mommy, it’ll be very fancy.
…..
M: Mommy, come over it’s ready (dining table).
Me: (Reluctantly getting up) Wow, that looks very fancy!
M: Thank you mommy. Go drink it.
Me: (Drinking my fancy water in the fancy glass with a fancy straw) Yuuuum, M, this is delicious!
M: Thank you!

I just got up. All I wanted to do was just sit on the couch and be left alone. I can be a grumpy morning person {::SMILE}.

Jovie… she’s been babbling non-stop and we all think she can already say mama. She only uses mama when she’s not with me and in serious need of her mom. She’s been doing this the last couple of days but we all think that she might be a bit young to say her first word. Jovvie does know the word “milk.” Oh does she get excited and I think she’s starting to sign it too. I can see her little hand moving. A little more! I taught M sign language and M signed milk at about Jovie’s age. She signed right on my face. She obviously wanted her milk!

I did make a card today. Just some last minute extras. Quite easy and I used KaiserCraft PennyRoyale stamps + Waltzingmouse’s sentiment for it. The KC stamps are cute and stamps better after a few gentle rub with the eraser unlike the Waltzingmouse ones which are good from the start.

Here are my crazy kids. The first set are M… I was trying to get a nice Christmas photo but then gave up. The second set are from Jovie and I yesterday when we were home alone. She’s 6.5 months now! Laters!

Emma