I have at least cut out our new stockings!!! That has got to count for something even if I do not finish them…right? I really think (hope) that I will finish these before the Christmas decorations come out of hiding though (hopefully). The whole family loaded in the car for a trip to the craft store! We spent some quality time on the Christmas fabric isle but we all did make a choice which I thought was HUGE! Brad even picked out the plaid fabric for himself. I was so excited about this…just the whole family picking out something that they like so that I can make something for them which I love doing!!! I am not sure as far as the snowmen and reindeer go who will end up with them from year to year. I liked the reindeer for Cai but Charis took a liking to the dogs, dinos, reindeer (she called the poor reindeer all these things while we were waiting to get the fabric cut…I can see the dog but I do not get the dino look). She is welcome to have either but who knows what she will end up with. She may wait to see what is inside of them Christmas morning before choosing! I went with the super cute and fun little houses. It just reminded me of Christmas and vintage all wrapped into one. I like that it is a little different and has a lot of character…at least to me. I have a few more things in the pile to accomplish before I reach these but I thought that I would share a glimpse into the in process pile!

So last week in preparation for this past weekend shower I was working on baby gifts! I ended up going with two bibs, two burp cloths and a little lovey. I had previously made a nursing cover as well. I love the fabric that I finally settled on and was so glad that I went with it as the mama to be loved it. I even ventured out of the ole’ comfort zone on the bibs and gave up the traditional Velcro for real snaps. It was not so bad just a lot of little pieces to keep up with and put together. I am happy with the way everything turned out and cannot wait to meet this new little one who will be here in less than a month now.

Last night I was busy in the kitchen making a fun little baby shower cake and cupcakes to boot as every moon needs a few stars. I could not decide between chocolate and vanilla for the actual cake part so of course I made both. I always go a little overboard (I just chalk this up to being southern). The cupcakes are chocolate with little sugar cookie stars and the moon cake is vanilla. I was not thrilled with the moon cake but it had to do as the afternoon progressed into evening. Sorry for the not great quality pics! The camera comes back in the mail from its little holiday tomorrow! Woo Hoo!!!

Fall has arrived for the most part here and I got to welcome back some old friends namely my beloved Boston Birks! I have owned two pairs in the last 10 years and that is saying a lot for a pair of shoes! I could of probably kept the old ones but their rubber soles were becoming worn and pretty much missing in some places so my latest Birks are brand new from the end of last season. We have a lot of miles to walk yet together! Nothing says fall quite like these old cozy friends! Welcome!

The day has come and for how sad I thought that it would be it is really that much worse! The big girl bed arrived! It is beautiful and I love it with Charis’s little comforter on it along with her princess sheets. It just seems very her and resembles closely what I had as a child as well. I did fine pretty much all day. I was sad but I was pushing through. I made the bed and watched Brad take down the crib but my goodness when we put her in the bed I became speechless and little tears appeared. My first baby has become a little girl and she looks just right in her bed…not to small or to big but just right. She spoke words of resistance throughout the day but when it came time for bed she was just fine and drifted off to sleep land. I even went in to check on her while she was still chatting away and she really was just fine and happy. I think that I almost wanted her to hate it. I almost wanted her to cry for the crib just so we could leave it up a bit longer but alas she is growing up and I just need to embrace that. I do love every stage and enjoy them all when we reach them but these stages are just coming faster and not lasting quite as long as they use to. I must admit though I am looking forward to snuggle time with her in the new bed just times of being cozy with a good book or playing games upon her bed. Good times will come with the big girl bed, I just need to embrace the big girl allowing the baby to grow!

I wish that I could show you proof that Cai is cutting his first tooth but alas the camera has gone on a holiday to Cannon for a little fix (it decided that it constantly needed new batteries even when it had fresh new ones). I could use Brad’s camera but then I would have to wait for him to pull the pictures off his camera as he is the only one who has the software on his computer (I am not a patient person). Take my word though there is a terrible tooth protruding and it is causing some serious pain and some intense crying in the evening hours.

We journeyed out to the country this afternoon for a wonderful time with friends! I first told Charis that we were going to a farm yesterday and she was so excited and told me that she was going to see a cow! I told her that this farm did not have any cows and she said, “that’s okay I will see the pigs!”. I shared with her this time that it was a vegetable farm and they grow vegetables and do not have any animals just a few kitty cats and a dog. She seemed content with that and most excited for some time with Mom and Dad as Cai stayed behind with Granny (it would be too much for him being too late and too cold). On the way to the farm we did pass many a cow so Charis thought that was pretty cool although she kept trying to tell me that there were piggies out with the cows as well. Silly kid! Once at the farm (which belongs to some of our friends) we got to see their neighbors horses up close and personal. I even got to feed them and Charis touched one of them. Charis thought that was pretty neat. She spent the rest of the afternoon running up and down the rolling hills, playing with her little friends and swinging on the huge tree swing with her buddies. It was a fabulous afternoon and evening. We shared dinner together and even found out that Charis likes pumpkin pie. Who knew! It was really a wonderful evening and great to be out in wide open space not confined by the fences of suburbia. The kids and the adults had a grand time!!!