this is our happily ever after

2012 Project Life (weeks 36-40)

HELLO!!!!  My last PL post was nearly 2 months ago!  No, I didn't fall off the wagon, I'm more committed than ever to documenting our life in this way.  I chose to try something new with the printing of my photos.  I had read several great things about how wonderful Persnickity Prints was in developing high quality photos and I decided to give them a try.  It took me awhile to edit and upload the trip photos I wanted printed, but once I did I ordered them and received them within 2 days!  FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE!  I cannot begin to express how much BETTER these prints were than all of my other prints I've gotten at Walgreens.  They actually cannot be compared, and in this facet, Walgreens has lost my very loyal business. 

The quality, clarity, and color of the photos I received from Persnickity Prints made me realize a few things:

1. My camera is capable of taking much better photos than I ever knew possible.
2. I'm actually a decent photographer!
3. If I'm willing to invest the time and money into the PL products, shouldn't I be willing to invest money into the actual photos?  Isn't that the most important part!?
4. They have superb customer service!
5. They have options of printing many sizes of photos...even Instagram (although I don't have that on my phone :(

Illinois:part 4

My goal is to finish blogging about our trip in the next few days. Here I'll wrap up our time in Illinois.

These photos are from just around my parents house, actually yard.  Karsten and I spent a lot of time outdoors because he loves nothing more than being outside...especially in a garden that has lots of rocks and other treasures!

blurry, but I still love it!

this boy is learning to like anything with wheels!

My Mom has this little Momma and Baby dear statue thing on her front porch and Karsten noticed it one the first day we were there.  Everytime he saw it he would bend down and kiss it.  I cannot explain this cuteness, except that he saw the dear "kissing" and wanted to show his affection too.  It was the cutest thing...he would squat down and pet it and then kiss it.  He's very affectionate and tenderhearted, but this took it to a whole new level!  I think my Mom is going to bring him the deer to put in our yard...we'll see if it has the same effect in Texas!

A full circle moment

These photos may not seem like much, but to me, they most certainly are.  The story isn't so much about the photos, but about the place.  These were taken at Longacre Park...the "neutral" place my parents took me at 12 years old to tell me I needed to have a heart transplant.  It was in this park (not on the playground) that my 12 year old self thought "well, I want to get married and be a mom, so yes!".  I had no clue what kind of crazy journey that yes would take me on, but as I chased around my 17 month old over 25 years after saying yes I realized how fast time flies and how God's plan really is the best plan...even if it does involve 2 transplants and cancer!

One last thing to document about our trip to Illinois...meeting up with a couple of my dear college friends and their families.

I love these girls, Becky and Dawn, like sisters.  You might remember us, along with our dear friend Christie aka Weeza, getting together over the years in Nashville and Houston

We spent most of our hour together outdoors with the big kids playing and Karsten trying to keep up!

Karsten was missing Daddy so he walked up to Matt and put his arms up.  Matt and Karsten played basketball against all the other kids!

Then Brett showed Karsten the football.

Grant, Dawn's oldest son, was so protective of Karsten.  You might remember that last year he held him for a group photo!  He's such a great kid!

3 Hearts Design--more canvases added

The holidays are approaching which means I am in a full canvas creating frenzy.  My dining table is draped with drop clothes and covered with paint, ink, paper, and other random things. 

I just added 4 new canvases to my etsy store.  Although I'm making canvases, and soon some celebration banners, clipboards, letters, etc for Christmas markets I'm listing everything on etsy.  If it sells at one of the four Christmas markets where 3 Hearts Design will be a vendor then I'll pull it off etsy. 

Here are the new additions.  To see a description, more photos, and pricing go to 3 Hearts Design

he's truly no longer a baby

As of 2 weeks ago Karsten has not had his wubby/pacifier!  Here's the story that may just melt my heart for years to come!

Karsten began chewing through his pacifiers while in Illinois and I replaced a few, because frankly I didn't want to wean him off his pacifier on vacation!  Nevertheless...when we returned home he continued to chew on the pacifier, creating a hazard for himself.  One day he woke up from his nap early and whimpering.  I went to check on him only to find him holding his wubby in his hands and looking at it. 

I might add that Brian and I had both been talking to him about the reality that if he continued to chew through his wubby he was going to have to say bye bye to his wubby.  We had also been handing him a blankie to hold while he prepared and went to bed.

So, I picked him up out of his crib and he carried his wubby with him.  I placed him in his highchair and was getting him a drink and he whimpered again and then handed me his wubby with this priceless look on his face that said to me, "here Momma...I don't need it anymore.".  And since then he hasn't had it and hasn't cried for it.  We planned on giving him the stuffed animal part of it as a comfort item, but that only upset him more, so we've placed them in a keepsake box in his closet.

And now...he's attached to having a blankie and stuffed animal with him in bed...but I'm all good with that because seriously getting rid of the wubby wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected! 

Illinois: part 3

Saturday morning Mom, Karsten, and I went to a wonderful Farmer's Market in St. Louis.  The first thing I saw when we arrived was this food truck which served crepes....really good crepes!!  We found a seat and Karsten and I enjoyed it very much!

hey look....I'm wearing a long sleeved shirt and scarf...Fall is a wonderful thing!

Then we shopped around.  I bought some bacon pecan brittle (it was awesome) and homemade vanilla bean marshmellows which I plan on using in hot chocolate if it ever cools off!

After the Farmer's Market in St. Louis we headed back across the river to Illinois and went to a cute, family owned apple orchard.  I grew up going to this orchard and was impressed at the addition of the animals, activies, and pumpkins.

I'm not sure if the sun was bothering him or if he was just being a stinker, but he wouldn't look directly at the camera.  I think it was mostly the sun...because he is squinting a lot in these photos, but I still love them...he's such a cutie!

he loves holding things in his hands...here's he's holding a walnut, just off the tree

Day 4 coming soon!

Illinois: part 2

Hey Blog Readers---I'm finally sitting down to type up some blog posts related to our trip to IL and TN. 

On Friday my Mom, Dad, Karsten and I went to the St. Louis Zoo.  This is the Zoo I grew up going to and it's a fabulous Zoo. 

I love seeing my Dad and Karsten together.  My Dad couldn't remember the last time he'd been to the Zoo.

I love Giraffes and this one giraffe came so close to us...I couldn't stop snapping photos!

Karsten's First Train Ride---he wasn't quite sure what to think

Karsten loved seeing all of the animals; pointing at them and waving to them!  I'm planning on joining the Houston Zoo in the next month so we can go as often as we want. 

cleaning out...making room...getting rid of stuff I don't use

I WILL CONTINUALLY BE ADDING TO THIS PAGE...CHECK BACK! More Added on10/28/12

My dear friend, Kelly (along with a few things I've been reading lately), have inspired me to clean out and sell some of my scrapbook stuff.  Note:  I didn't say ALL of my stuff.  I still use quite a bit in my Project Life albums and canvases, but there is A LOT I haven't touched in years!

In an effort to simplify my life and make a little money to buy next year's Project Life kit as well as the Baby/Childhood Project Life kit I'm clearing out! 

I'll be posting all of this stuff on Craig's List this weekend and based on Kelly's experience I think it will sell FAST!  So, if you want any or all of this loot leave me a comment or email me at [email protected].  I can mail it to you, but shipping costs would be added.  However, even with shipping costs this stuff is a STEAL!!!! 

First: Exclusive and no longer available Kits from Creating Keepsakes

1. Baby Kit designed by Becky Higgins for Creating Keepsakes in 2008. This kit is unopened and I believe all the components are included.  I think it retailed for $50 and I'm selling it for $25.  Click this link to see a video of what's included. 

2. Ali Edwards Kit---Brand New!  $10 (to see more details click here and scroll down until you see Oct Kit of the Month)

3. The Greatest Love Story Kit--Brand New $10

 

Second: Letter stickers, thickers, rub-ons, and chipboard.  I've divided them into groups and priced them accordingly.  Most of these packages are unopened and if they've been opened only a few letters are missing. 

Chipboard Stickers and Thickers $10

Letter Rub-ons $15 (this photo PLUS photo below)

Third: Scrapbook Albums

KI Memories NEW, 12x12 striped albums $10 each.  

KI Memories NEW, 8 1/2x11 teal felt album $8

8x8 albums $8 each or $30 for all 5

Fourth: Paper

-Over 200 sheets of Patterned Paper $25

STAMPS $30--Most of these stamps are brand new.  Brands included are 7 Gypsies, Stampin Up, Hero Arts, Cavellini, and others.  There's also a Ali Edward's stamp set designed for CK years ago.

New Box of Chipboard Alphabet $5

Journaling Cards-- $10  I didn't count them, but I guarantee there's over 100 journaling cards here.  Brands include; 7 Gypsies, My Mind's Eye, Jenni Bowlin, Martha Stewart, etc.

Dear Karsten (18 months)

Dear Karsten (aka: Bugaboo, Bugsy, Punkin, Little Bug, and Little Love)

I can hardly wrap my mind around the reality that you are 18 months old already!  I love you so much that it's as if I've grown another heart full of love just for you.  You are so much more than I ever expected any 18 month old to be.  We often use these words to describe you; happy, delightful, funny, determined, snuggly, caring, explorer, friendly, curious, and smart.  Your mission in life continues to be to make people smile whether it's people you know or complete strangers.  You have a zeal for life that knows no bounds. 

Your giggle is contagious!  So many things make you laugh and smile, but the biggest thing is when you make us laugh or smile.  You intentionally do things to make us laugh and smile.  You love putting your hands under your arm pits and doing the chicken dance.  All we have to say is "chicken" and you'll start flapping your wings.  You also love doing peek a boo and making kissing sounds.  You squeal with delight as you run around the house and especially outside.  You've learned to give a high five and the other night while at dinner on vacation you grabbed Daddy's hand, opened his fingers and gave him a high five.  We are still laughing over that one!  You point at things all the time and ask "what's that?"  You also consistently wave "bye bye" to everything: people, animals, places, and things. 

You LOVE being outside!  Dirt and rocks attract you like bees to flowers.  You'll try to carry the biggest rock you can find and frequently carry around small rocks in your hands.  We've just about broken you of putting rocks in your mouth!  Who knows how much dirt you've already consumed!  Yuck!  When outside or inside you continually ask "what's that?".  You love animals and always wave to them.  Just about everytime you see Zoe or Oliver you wave and talk to them.  You can say "kitty" and "dog" in the correct context although it sounds more like "key" and "dah".  Yesterday you said "my Momma" and "my Dada".  Your vocabulary grows each day. 

You continue to be a great eater.  Favorites include black beans, string cheese, meatloaf, french fries, any fruit, frozen and thawed peas, grilled cheese, bean burritos, and anything sweet.  You love eating with a fork and don't want to be fed by us. You still don't like milk, but you'll now drink Kefir which is so good for you. 

You are a typical toddler in that you do have an occasional meltdown when you don't get your way.  You've visited timeout a few times, but learned from your time there to stay away from the cat food and nightlight.  You do get bored easily at home, so Mommy is always trying to find new things to keep you interested.  Yesterday you scooped dried pinto beans from a pail to a bowl for 30 minutes.  You enjoy fitting things together and taking them apart.  Although you laugh and giggle you're not a very loud child.  You love watching other kids while playing, but you don't quite understand how to interact and play together just yet. 

It seems that in the past month you've transformed from a baby into a little boy.  Although I still miss the days where you were so tiny, I absolutely adore and love the little boy who wants snuggles and hugs from me all day long.  You love to give hugs and asked to be picked up for a hug throughout the day.  You are so sweet and loving and your personality makes me laugh and melts my heart everyday. 

I think you're about 25 pounds.  You're wearing a size 6 shoe (to grow into), a size 4 diaper, and anywhere from 12month to 24month clothing.  You have 12 teeth with 4 that are currently cutting through.  That's why there's so much drool in many of these photos!!!  Some days you soak your shirt with drool!!  We believe you're perfect in every way!!!

It is my greatest delight to be your Momma! 

Love,

Momma (and Daddy)

home sweet home

We arrived home late last night and I'm in full unpacking, laundry, meal planning, orgnanizing, photo editing, and catching up on Bible Study mode.  I hope to blog about our trip in a day or two until then...here's a little someone to make you smile!

Illinois: part 1

Karsten and I took an early flight last Wednesday to St. Louis (just 15 minutes from where I grew up, and where my parents live, in Illinois).  We spent the rest of Wed around the house, allowing Karsten to become comfortable with his surroundings. He loves being outside and enjoyed time on the front porch and picking rocks out of the gardens. 

On Thursday we visited with my Grandparents for awhile.  Karsten has been excited to see new kitties (my parents have one and my Grandparents have two).  This kitty, Sophie, was intrigued with Karsten and Karsten thought she was great...until a few days later when we visited and she put both paws on his face as if to tell him, "listen kid, I'm in charge here...stop messing with me."  He got the idea and made an arc around wherever she was sitting! 

Sophie, is 100% my Grandpa's cat.  They are best of friends and have been for 17+ years.

Karsten loved the ottomans!

I love this photo!!!  My Grandparents got a kick out of Karsten!

After visiting my Grandparents the first time we went to Bobby's Frozen Custard, an establishment in our area where I worked in High School.