My Quilt is Done!

I finally finished binding my quilt tonight...after many nights of complications. I "break" the sewing machine every time I use it. An experienced person would whiz through all the problems I am having...but I have no clue what I am doing...since this is the first time I have used a sewing machine since 8th grade (which I think was 15 years ago!). My mother-n-law came over today to fix the machine...earlier this week my mom took it to Joanns to fix another problem...and I am proud to say Scott told me to sit there and fix it until I figure it out (tonights problem). And surprisingly I did! I finished binding all four sides, and am proud to say I have completed my first quilt. I have several patterns picked out that I would like to try, but first I want to "perfect" (to some degree) this pattern with my 2nd attempt - the pink quilt. Hopefully it won't be long before I am posting a completed picture of that quilt. Well...I know I already posted today...I was just proud to post my completed quilt, that doesn't look that much different than the quilt top picture I posted earlier. (Sassy is on the quilt trying it out, and to show the actual size). Thanks for reading!

Look at those Curls!

I love it when Abbie gets out of the bath or the shower, because her curls always look their best. Right now it is hat weather because it's so cold...and her hair gets all static-charged and sticks out everywhere. It's sad when you debate putting a hat on your child because you know it will make her hair look bad...and she's having a good hair day. Now, I've never actually skipped the hat because of good hair, but I am always tempted.

Scott and I both had wavy/curly hair when we were little. If I could post the pictures I would, but we don't have any digital copies. Eventually I want to take the pictures to Cord Camera and have them scan them in to make copies for me to scrapbook.

Curly hair is hard though, because it curls how it wants to curl...and can stick out all funny. The front of Abbie's hair isn't curly at all too...which makes it weird. Anyway..I'm sure her hair will change hundreds of times as she grows up just like mine.

I Used My Camera!!!

Okay...so my big problem with blogging is posting a picture. I don't have any new pictures to post, and I can't come up with any old pictures that are interesting...so I don't blog. So...I got myself to get the camera out yesterday and snap some new ones of Abbie. I have many I like...so hopefully I will post more then next few days. The bad news is that Abbie has been sick for the past 2 1/2 weeks...so there is a little trickle of snot constantly running from her nose no matter if I just wiped it or not...so bare with the snot in the pictures!

Well, like I said Abbie's been sick for 2 1/2 weeks...not go to the doctor sick...just have snot and can't get rid of it sick. I've been the same way, so we are probably just passing it back and forth. Anyway, she has been incredibly clingly and cranky...and this is the face I see most of the day right now. Hence.."Crabby Abbie." Last night she was up twice, and I had to rock her for about 30 minutes each time. This is normal for most people with young kids, but I am used to Abbie sleeping through the night with no visits from me for 13-14 hours each night. Needless to say, I am sluggish today...and should probably sleep as soon as I get her to.

Right now she is fighting a nap in her crib...while Scott is snoring away next to me. I really want to go finish binding my quilt now that I have my machine back and it is working...but I thought I would hang out with Scott...hmm! Oh well, now I am going to research what my next quilt will be after the pink "rail fence" quilt, same pattern that I am making now. Kristi is on to her 2nd quilt, which is going to be like a patchwork quilt. I would like to find a cool quilt to make for Scott's grandma either for Christmas or maybe for mother's day...like a lap quilt. She is very religous and I found one that was cool and made up of all different crosses, so I might do something like that.

Kristi came over yesterday and we started an ABC scrapbook that we were both making as baby presents. Well...I'm making one to sell as a baby present, and she's making one for a friend. We didn't get very far...but now that I have sorted the papers and started the 1st page, it won't be long before I bust through it. I really should make 3 at the same time...but I only have paper for one right now. I sold my first book this month for $35...just for the pages, which isn't bad, and I have 3 more ordered. I'm excited to make money scrapbooking again.

Well...I'm satisified with my blog. I need to go back to researching quilt patterns or at least read a magazine and relax for awhile. I got a trial copy of "Better Homes & Gardens" and I have to decided whether or not I want a subscription. I having a magazine addiction. Blog at you later!

Crabby Abbie...

Well...my baby is still crabby! We are still trying to figure out what it is...maybe teeth, maybe separation anxiety...who knows. Everyone has an oppinion, and my oppinion changes every other minute. I definitely think her last two teeth are bugging her. She is drooling and has clear snot, but I think there is some separation issues too. Unless I missing some major illness, and she's just trying to let me know. We will hope that's not the case because we haven't gone to the doctor yet, and I'm not sure we need to go now. Anyway...the good news is she is sleeping well, so hopefully she is getting better while she sleeps. Today she had two naps almost an hour each, and she went to bed at 6:15...so far so good on that one. (I wasn't sure if she would stay asleep or get back up thinking it was a nap, but she's still in there).

The picture is the picture I put on her birth announcement. She was sleeping in her swing...in the upstairs hall for some reason. I'm not sure why she was out there either!?! Anyway...I loved the little smile on her facing, like she was dreaming a happy dream. Very peaceful...and since Abbie is very peaceful in bed right now, I thought it would be an appropriate post. I should be taking pictures of Abbie to post right now, but I have been lazy. Hopefully I will overcome that!

We had swim lessons today. It went well. After that Abbie had her 2nd nap and then we had a double play date. Shawn came over with Harry & Sadie and Jen came over with Sara. I would say there wasn't a happy kid out of the four, but they did okay. Everyone is kinda moody and not feeling there best lately, but it was nice just to sit and catch up with friends.

Tomorrow I am watching Ellie in the morning and I have my nanny job in the afternoon. Busy day...but hopefully I will get to quilt again tomorrow while Abbie & Ellie take their naps. My mom was so kind to take my sewing machine over to JoAnns to get it looked at. They fixed it...I didn't really follow my mom at what she said was wrong with it...but there were several things. I can't wait to get it back so I can finish the purple quilt and start my 2nd one...a pink one in the same pattern.

Okay...my friend Jennifer started doing these puzzles, and she got me interested because I love puzzles. So I did a google search and found this site: http://www.websudoku.com/ I started playing them and it was fun...but I love numbers, math, and puzzles. I'm sure there are hundreds of these sites, but if you like puzzles check it out!

Mandy's Picture of Me!

My Quilt....So Far!

I was so proud when I finished the border on my quilt tonight...most of the lines don't line up the way they are suppose to, but I haven't sewn since 8th grade and I have never made a quilt. I have to go to the store tomorrow to get the material to finish it...we didn't buy the backing and padding stuff because we didn't think we were actually going to accomplish anything. I want to buy some more material to make another quilt in this pattern too, before trying a new one. Anyway...I'm super impressed with myself, and sadly really enjoying sewing.

No drywalling today. Hopefully some tomorrow. Scott has a ton of work to catch up on for Planet, so he spent the night glued to his computer while I was busy sewing.

Nothing else to say. Abbie was well behaved today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring!

A Whole Bunch of Nothing

Welll...I'm not sure if I posted this already but we have officialy booked our flights to Florida and are going in two weeks. I'm excited...it will be nice to get away for awhile, I just hope Abbie does well. Lately she has been going through a rough phase and she is being a pistol. This picture is us at the airport waiting for our first flight last February. God I wish Abbie was that size again for our next flight...I'm not really sure what I am going to do with her. I can only feed her for so long...the flights two hours...that will like take up a half hour. Maybe we will bring our portable dvd player to try to amuse her, the only problem is she is not a passive child, and will want to hold it and shake it and hit all the buttons. Oh well...I can worry about the flight later, I'm just excited to go. Abbie will get to see my nana again for the 2nd time, so that is nice.

Yesterday we did most of the sewing on our strips. We have to finish a few pieces, and then cut them into squares and start piecing them together. My first strip I completed was 1/2 inch smaller than it was suppose to be. I'm kinda hoping they are all 1/2 inch smaller...so I can just make all the squares 4 inches instead of 4 1/2. We will see...this is where the real creativity sets in. I like three of the four fabrics I chose...but maybe it will turn out okay when it's all together.

We are not dry-walling tonight. Scott has been out a lot lately (late coming home 10 out of the last 14 nights) so we are just going to relax and enjoy each other's company. Hopefully we will spend some time down their on Sat. and Sun. though...because we made such good progress down their last weekend. I don't think we have anything else planned for this weekend...that's the best kind of weekend in my opinion.

Okay...I'm trying to convince myself to go work out on my eliptical. It would be the first time I had used it in February, and it's already the 17th. (There's no tv in site which makes it incredibly boring...I can't wait for the basement to be done!) Wish me luck!

I'm Quilting! (Kind Of?!?)

Okay...well I haven't started to sew yet, but Kristi and I went to Joanns...bought all the materials we needed (except one...gotta go back tomorrow) and picked out our fabrics. We are doing a "rail fence" quilt. The one pictured is multi-colored...ours is mono-chromatic. Mine is a mixture of four purple patterns, and Kristi's is blue. After Joanns we got dinner...headed back to my place...ate...and started cutting out all of our pieces. We cut them all out and are ready to sew but ran into two problems. One...my sewing machine was not threaded (even though it was last time I used it last week) and I couldn't figure out how to thread it. Two...we had no pins, and since we have a 1/4 inch seam allowance, I need all the help I can get. I'm sure I will be going back to Joanns to get more fabric because of mistakes. Anyway...I have since then fixed the thread issue, I just have to get Kristi to pick up pins at Wal-mart on her way over tomorrow and we are on our way to completing our first quilt!

Today was swimming. Abbie did great! She went underwater like a pro, I'm so proud of her. She is scared of our teacher though...so she didn't do so hot when she had to interact with her, so I kept that to a minimum. She did take a 3 hour nap after swimming (that I had to wake her up from!), so I should take her swimming every day!

Scott's at the Pacer's game again...blah! A company that wants to do business with him took him out to dinner and to their suite at the Conseco Field House. Nice for Scott, but sad for me. He was home late Monday & Tuesday too...maybe we will see him tomorrow.

Okay...I'm going to try to relax. I'm all pumped up ready to quilt. I almost started sewing without the pins, but decided it wasn't worth it to screw it all up. We will see!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well...we won't be having an exciting Valentine's day today. Scott has class tonight, so I won't see him until 9:00...and Abbie won't see him at all. When we were dating that would have really pissed me off...but we have had 9 Valentine's Days together...so the thrill has kind of worn off. 9 years..wow! That's a long time. I didn't realize that until just now. I am hoping to get to Keystone at the Crossing to get Scott a piece of Key Lime Pie cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory...but it depends on my babysitting job this afternoon.

Yesterday we hung out with Kristi for the first time since she's been home. It was nice to catch up. We went to Barnes & Nobles to look for some quilt ideas...hopefully we will get to Joanns later this week to get some fabric and get going. I don't think we are going to really have a plan, just start at it and see what comes out from the process. I'm really excited to try, and hopefully we can make it to the store soon.

We also had a visit from Erin & her kids. If I had been smart, I would have taken pictures...but I'm not. It was nice to catch up and let our kids play together.

Oh...the picture is obviously from our wedding. It was taken at the Carmel Gazebo after our ceremony, before the reception. Denise took it while the photographer was posing us.

Well...Abbie's in bed, and I'm going to enjoy "my" time. I'm not sure if I'm going to scrapbook, or relax and read a magazine, but I'm done blogging!

Busy Weekend?!?

We have stayed very busy this weekend. Scott had been out basically 6 nights in a row for one reason or another, so we had a lot of family time this weekend. Friday I convinced Scott to work in the basement. Usually we don't work in the basement on Fridays because it's kind of Scott's night to relax after a long week of work. I didn't care about his relaxation...and we started dry walling the walls of the exercise room.

Saturday we went to Gymboree with my mom because they were having a sale on their newest line of clothes...we also had a 25% off coupon, so their prices were more like everyone elses when they are not on sale. (Example...we got a pair of $30 jeans for $15) Abbie got more new clothes, although I'm pretty sure she didn't need them. She got her 3rd swim suit...she still hasn't worn the 2nd one (but it is a two piece). I might start putting her in the 3rd one for swim lessons though. All the clothes we got in 2T though, and she fits just fine in her 18-24 month clothes so the new ones should be around most the summer if not all.

Oh...Abbie went to the doctor on Friday for her 15 month check up. She weighs 26 1/2 lbs and is 32 1/4 inchs tall. That's 92% for both height and weight...if you are into those things.

Saturday after Abbie's nap we went to the Spring Indiana Golf Show at the State Fairgrounds, which sucked! It cost $10 each to get in, and we were done walking around in less than 30 minutes. Needless to say, we were pissed.

Saturday night and Sunday we continued drywalling...and finished the exercise room. It's officially a room now. Hopefully we will get some work done during the week..but I'm very doubtful.

Okay...Scott and I are actually in bed ready to call it a night. We had a very physical weekend with all the building. So, maybe we will just watch the Olympics, or maybe we will go to sleep, who knows! Goodnight for now!

...oh by the way the picture is from Abbie's one year portraits in November.

Gymboree...

Okay...here's another of Abbie's Gymboree's outfits. She got this one in December. The skirt was a gift from a family friend, and my mom bought the shirt and skirt. The bad news is we got an email today about a sale at Gymboree...and we have a 25% off your entire purchase coupon, so I think MORE new clothes are in Abbie's future. I think she has more than enough clothes, but I won't say no if my mom goes and picks some out...or better yet takes us along for the kill.

Well...Scott's been in bed for 30 minutes. I bored, but I think I am going to join him. I have nothing to blog about, but I wanted to try not to skip the post. Tomorrow Sadie & Harry (Shawn's kids) are coming over in the morning with Scott's parents, and Abbie has her 15 month check-up at the doctor's office. That's about it! Hope you have a good Friday!

I Sew?!?

Well...my mother-n-law gave me her old sewing machine, and I plugged it in tonight to play a little. I have not used one since 8th grade, so I don't know much about how to use them. I would like to sew on my scrapbook pages. I have seen this in magazines for years, and was always so jealous but not jealous enough to actually inspire me to spend the money on a sewing machine. Now I have one, and I will have to conquer the fear of "messing up" my scrapbook pages since I have not mastered the sewing machine. I grabbed an old layout I took out of my scrapbook that I did not like to play with a little bit...and I loved it!

I like to look at scrapbook pages on www.twopeasinabucket.com. I haven't visited this site in awhile though, because when I am on the internet lately I am looking for resorts for our family reunion or looking for quilt patterns for Kristi and I. I just popped on there now though to get a picture of someone else's scrapbook page that had sewing on it to show all my viewers out there what I was talking about. That page has sewing on the heart going around the layout and on the border of the layout....

Okay...my hubby brought me home and iPod today and I need to go install it on my computer. Isn't he sweet!

No picture...watching House

Well today was a doosey (sp?)! I had Abbie, her two cousins (15 mon. & 3 years), and 16 month old for MANY hours this morning, and nobody took a nap! Needless to say, I was very tired after they all left, and Abbie finally went to sleep. Luckily, I knew I would be very tired and booked my mom to watch Abbie while I went to my OTHER nanny job this afternoon. Unfortunately when I went to leave, Abbie woke up and screamed for me…and I had to leave her screaming for the first time ever. It was hard to walk away, but I knew she would be okay eventually…and she calmed down before I got to Springmill.

My mom, Abbie, and I had dinner with Kristi & her mom tonight at Paradise Bakery (yum)! It was nice to meet up with them, but I also look forward to hanging with Kristi alone and getting to talk freely without our parents.

Tomorrow we have swimming and then NOTHING in the afternoon which is wonderful! I look forward to either sitting here hanging out, or going shopping if I feel up to it.

Okay…short blog, I need to focus on watching House.

4 Generations

We are trying to make arrangements to go to Florida again to see my nana. This picture was taken last February when my mom, Scott, Abigail and I flew down there to visit my mom's side of the family. It's really annoying, trying to coordinate schedules for my mom, Scott and my aunt & uncle...and plane schedules (with cheap fares).

I think all in all the cheap fares are what the problem is. We are looking at March dates now, and are running into college spring breaks. Blah! I surprisingly never flew anywhere, or went anywhere for that matter, during college spring breaks. I missed a really good cruise my senior year too...although I probably would have missed Scott and been boring like I was in Paris.

Scott's still at work...Blah to that too! The airconditioner broke in the server room and the repair people have been there since 10:00 a.m. trying to fix it. I need to go scrapbook while I have some free time since today I took a nap during Abbie's nap instead of getting stuff done.

Okay...off to scrap, sorry for the boring post!

Kristi Comes Tomorrow!

I can't wait for Kristi to come home! It will be so nice to get to spend so much time with her and meet Kalen right after she is born. I won't actually see Kristi tomorrow, her flight doesn't come in until 11:00, which is after my bedtime! Tuesday night we are going out to Paradise Bakery with our moms and Abigail. I can't wait!

Today we just bummed around the house. Scott had to be at Planet again for the last day of his race. Shawn, Ben, Sadie & Harry came over for two hours in the afternoon to hang out and play. It was a nice day, I scrapbooked again! (Abbie took a 3 hour nap...man am I a lucky person) But since I talked to Kristi for 2 of the 3 hours, I didn't get that much done. Just one 12x12 layout of Abbie and Santa from this year's Christmas.

I posted a picture of Kristi and I at her wedding in June 2004. I was pregnant with Abbie...I don't remember how far along now, maybe 5 months, but I was huge! Hopefully we won't do that with #2.

Okay...Super Bowl half time is almost over. I'm going back to watching the game, although I am contimplating going to bed.

Okay...so blogspot has been down everytime I tried to post earlier today. It's like the blogging gods are wanting me to remain a nighttime blogger. Oh well...At least I got my picture to load tonight.

We went to Sadie's birthday party at Build-A-Bear today. I was really excited to take Abbie because she just lOVES stuffed animals. Well...she loves her bunny we made her, but I'm not so sure she loved the experience. Build-A-Bear was packed...it was a Saturday...but we didn't have to wait on any lines. Abbie made a bunny named Mocha, and Mocha is very him. She has on a khaki mini-skirt, spaghetti strapped shirt with lace, and a pink shrug. I know...Mandy will say why didn't you post the Bunny...but I didn't bring my camera and I posted the picture I wanted to post yesterday.

The picture is of Abbie and the little girl I sit for. Abbie's giving her a hug if you can't tell. She loves her! It is very cute to see them play together.

Scott's at the track again tonight...still has his big race this weekend. (WWW.PLANETRCRACEWAY.COM) He's there tomorrow too...so we have a day to kill.

I am scrapbooking right now...well I'm taking a break to blog about apparently nothing. I almost finished a little christmas book I'm making for Abbie, I finished another 12x12 2 page layout about Halloween, and I starting her birthday party layouts. I've been super productive the past few days.

I have also been super good on Weight Watchers this week. Hopefuly I will have a good weigh-in on Monday because I tried to work really hard. More on that later.

Okay...back to scrapbooking. Blog at you later!

Morning Blogger...

I'm going to have to be a morning blogger. I have been an end of the day blogger, it's just not working. I want to hang with Scott, not be on the computer. Once I get my computer out I never put it back down until I go to bed...then there's no romance or "quality" time. We actually had a wonderful evening, I just grabbed my computer to check something real fast, and realized I should throw a post up.

I do not know the people in this picture. I remember the first time I saw this picture was like 4 - 5 years ago. When my nephew John used to get a hold of markers and draw on himself. This was so funny that first time, I laughed so loud. My sister just emailed me some pictures again and this was in the bunch. I could see Mandy doing this to Tito or Molly...and hopefully Abigail doesn't attack #2, but I could see that happening too.

To bed for me...hopefully a morning post, but we will see. I am sitting for my friend again tomorrow from 9 - 2. I watched her daughter today from 9 - 2 also...keeping us busy yes, but fun to make some extra cash to take care of the little things.

Blogger's Block

Okay...so I know I have blogged like every day almost for a month straight, and then I just quit. It's the pressure of the pictures. I haven't taken any pictures recently, and don't have any good ones to post. So...instead of posting a somewhat dinky picture, or posting without a picture, I have been skipping the blogs altogether. Well...I guess i should have just gotten my camera out and taken some damn pictures. Oh well...

This is an old picture from the beginning of January. Abigail LOVES babies. It's funny, I don't know how girls tend towards babies and boys tend towards trucks. She has an equal amount of babies and trucks..and we play with both at home...she just LOVES those babies. Everywhere we go she finds them, real and fake, and she is obsessed...but I guess it's a good obsession. Somehow I got a girly girl!

We went to swimming today, and Abbie did great. This is the 2nd week since I started the "Take It Easy On Abbie" swim program. Before I pushed her really hard to swim like her friend Katie, and she started to get scared. Today she had so much fun jumping in off the side of the pool...my old Abbie is back! I even let her go under off the slide and she went right back up and took another turn she liked it so much! I'm happy to see that backing off has helped, and maybe she will be my little swimmer after all!

We started dry-walling the basement this weekend. We completed the ceiling of the work-out room. This weekend Scott's sisters are going to be here so I know we won't get any work done in there.

My favorite news is that Monday Kristi will be home for about 3 months. I am super excited for that! She is going to be here for the next two months until her baby is due, and then for about 3 weeks afterwards. I'm excited to get to spend all of that time with her, and really get to meet her little one. It sucks living so far away! Kristi hasn't seen Abbie since December 04...and boy has she changed.

Alright...we have Stealth and Hurricane on DVD from Netflix. I don't know what either one is about, but we are going to watch them now. Hopefully the Bloggger's Block is gone, and I'm back!