Crib Bib

Behold!  The newest crib bibs!  How 'bout them owls and robots?!  Perfect for spitting, peeing or pooping on, right?  :)

And the blue backing fabric is waterproof.  It's actually the stuff people buy for reusable diapers.  So all you gotta do is tie one of these suckers on to your crib and voila!  No more changing the sheets every single day!  Love it.

Okay... and I just put the crib bib up for sale on Etsy, just to gauge interest.  What do you think?  Will people want them?  I know I did! :)

SAHM

I know that some of you probably think it's tough to keep yourself sharp as a stay-at-home-mom.  It's not like there's a lot of deep intellectual conversations going on here... though today, Noelle and I read no fewer than 30 books while Riley was at preschool.  Oh.  Yeah.

So in case you're worried that you're not as quick as you used to be, read on.  Here's what I did today.  (Be ready to be impressed.)  After the kids went down, I went to get lunch ready for myself.  I pulled some leftover fried rice out of the fridge and emptied the container into a bowl.  Then, I decided that it was time to make sure I was still on my game.  I put the bowl in the microwave, hit the "add 30 seconds" button, then ran with the tupperware to the sink.  I grabbed the sponge and, racing the clock, scrubbed that container and lid and tossed them in the drying rack.  I turned back to the microwave... 4 seconds to spare.  Boom.  I am an efficiency machine.  It's things like this that, I'm sure, would make for a killer resume.

And maybe, just perhaps, I do feel the need to do something productive -- besides microwave racing-- during my days, so that's part of the reason for the sewing.  It's nice having at least one thing to show for myself at the end of the day.  Because really, most of my "job" is made up of tasks that easily go unnoticed: laundry keeps coming, dishes keep getting dirtied, dog hair DOES NOT go away, and the girls-- believe it or not-- don't always clean up their toys. 

My latest project is one that I LOVED doing because I not only saved us some cash by doing it myself, but I saved myself loads of irritation and a little laundry.  You see, Brooks is a spitter.  And it's amazing how he can hold that spit-up in until he's lying on a freshly-changed crib sheet.  It, literally, can be two spit-up-free hours post-feeding, I lay him down and up comes curdled milk.  Gross.

I vaguely remembered Ashley posting something about crib savers on her blog, but this mother to a newborn isn't always certain of her thinking skills, so I called her yesterday, just to double-check.  Sure enough, she assured me that crib savers do exist and that she got hers at Babies R Us.  I immediately solidified it in my plans that we would be heading to Babies R Us later in the day.

After nappies, all three kids and I hopped in the car.  As we were on our way, Mike called and I described our intended target to him.  As I was describing, I realized, Wait a second... I can make those.  See, this is why I have to double-check my thinking.  I'm a flake.  So instead of heading to Babies R Us, we made Jo-Ann's our destination.  I mean, these sheet saving devices are one of those brilliantly simple ideas.  If you've changed many crib sheets, you'll understand.  It's a little bit of a hassle.  Removing the crib saver is about 84 times easier.  (I may exaggerate.)

But anyway, I realized that I could make them, no problem.  So we headed to Jo-Ann's, bought the necessary materials, and I smiled as I looked at my receipt.  After tax, my total was $13.87.  At Babies R Us, one crib saver cost $7.99, before tax.  And here's the best part: with the fabric I got, I'll be able to make... wait for it... SIX crib savers.  Woohoo!  And they'll be cuter.  As Mike said when I was raving about my triumph, "What kid wouldn't want to puke on something cuter?"  I agree, Darling. :)

So here's my first one, which will be followed by more!  I'm thinking I'm going to start giving these as baby shower gifts, too, because they're fun and easy to make and so stinking practical.  Love all those things.

I'm going to call mine the Crib Bib. All babies, after all, are partial to a good (or even just a mediocre) rhyme.

I also have to mention that I loved buying boy fabric. Don't get me wrong-- I still love the ruffles and cutesy stuff, but there's something really adorable about puppies and robots and monsters. Which reminds me, I have made Brooks a boy outfit, but he doesn't fit in it, so you'll just have to wait. Don't let the suspense kill you, my four readers. ;)

The ACTUAL Birthday

Yesterday was finally Noelle's actual birthday, meaning that I now have a two-year-old!!

I really want my kids' birthdays to be special for them, and I think that especially applies to Noelle.  With her birthday coming so close to Christmas, I'm afraid she may, too often, get a little passed over. I realize that at the age of two, she's not really aware of all that's happening but still... This year, we had two super new additions to the family, in Brooks and Haley, that made it even more difficult to figure out a time to get the whole family together. I was a little sad that the extended family party got lumped into Thanksgiving, but it worked our alright. And I guess it was kind of fun that her birthday celebration got to spread out over a couple weeks.

I wouldn't say yesterday was an party of epic proportions, but we got to do stuff that Noelle really liked. She donned her birthday dress and went to church. She loves Sunday school. As a side note-- I tried to go to, but with the girls waking up late and Brooks demanding to be fed right when we had to leave, I got to spend the morning-- showered, made up and dressed-- on the couch, listening to a Lake Ave podcast.

She then got some birthday McNuggets (blech). I know, I know... She does love them, though.

After naps, we decided to treat the girls to pre-dinner cupcakes. Then, they wouldn't get super sugared up right before bed. As an added bonus, the girls decorated the cupcakes themselves. They did pretty great. :)

Riley has been pants-less very frequently, as of late.  Why? I have no clue.

Noelle knows how to put down a cupcake.

Noelle got to open her presents from us-- two new ponies! The girl (and her sister) likes those ponies, alright!

My parents had sent Cars 2 in Noelle's birthday package, so we also let them sit down and watch that.  Then we made homemade pizza for dinner.

Nothing too over the top, but even Kona would have to agree-- an overall lovely day!

More birthday goods

Confession-- I may have let Noelle open her birthday present from Nana and Granddad yesterday.  I didn't want to admit it, but then my dad asked me, point blank.  Yes, he had told me, earlier, that we could feel free to open it, but I had this feeling that I maybe should have waited till the actual day.  (And maybe that Nana didn't know it was going to get an early open?  Hehe.)  Now, don't get me wrong; I don't regret having her open it.  Besides, as you'll recall, she was already dressed for the occasion.  Ha! 

Remember how much Noelle loves her My Little Pony hot air balloon?  Well, the pony goodness continued with something never before seen in the Green household... a remote control car! 

Note the little lady's focus:

I'm almost 100% sure she's saying, "Got me!" (one of her favorite phrases) here. :)

And just so you can see how cool this thing is, here's Pinkie Pie, driving Twilight Sparkle around.  I'm sure that, next, they'll take a flight in Twilight Sparkle's hot air balloon.  

*Note: Let me say that Twilight Sparkle is an absurdly long name for a pony, especially a little one.  Sheesh.

Thanks, Nana and Granddad!  This thing rocks! :)

World's Sweetest Sisters

Stephanie came over yesterday and brought the girls some new shirts. Personally, I think they accurately describe both girls, even though that means it needs to be a joint honor.  Stephanie and I grilled Riley for her strategy in one-upping her little sister in the sweetest category, but she wasn't very forthcoming.  All the better.  They're both super sweet.  Look at this abundance of love they displayed...

 

And it continued later in the day, when Mommy had to play photographer.  I'm sure you'll notice a huge discrepancy in picture quality but not in adorableness. :)

Both girls, as I've mentioned, love snuggling up to their little brother.  And they really like holding his hand. 

I love how Noelle is lovingly looking after Brooks in this one.

Riley wanted to get in on the action, so she reached down from her perch on the couch to squeeze Brooks' hand, too.

 

I am amazed, every day, at how blessed I am to have these three little ones.  They can be boogers, too, but they are incredible creations.  Thank you, you three sweet little stinkers, for being you!

Birthday or birth-fortnight

Noelle's birthday has been an extended affair-- and the actual day isn't even here yet.  We celebrated with Mike's family on Thanksgiving.  Today, I made a jumper for her to wear on the actual day.  And my parents' present arrived today.  Then, we'll do something with our family of five on Sunday.  But I'm bad at waiting, so I tried her jumper on her this afternoon.  I think it's perfect for her-- bright and happy. 

As I'm looking at these pictures, it makes me laugh that I just described her as bright and happy, and she's looking very stoic.  It is what it is.  I wanted to highlight the jumper.  Look at the cute Patty Young fabric.  I love those cute little girls on the front with their pigtails.  I think the blonde one must be modeled after Noelle. :)

I put little flutter straps on it.  I'm digging how they turned out!

For more (and better) pictures, tune back in Sunday or Monday... or join us at Wheaton Bible on Sunday.  Noelle will be modeling her birthday jumper there! :)

ONE MONTH!

 It's been about a week since Brooks turned one month, but I promise, I actually took these pictures on November 27th.  And can I just say-- it's December?! What?!? 

Anyway, I didn't get great shots.  Bummer.  First, I put him in this cute little number which combined adorable manliness and, in combo with the red blanket, a little Christmas flair.  What I didn't realize was that the hood would try to eat him alive.  Poor guy.  Then, as happened with both girls, he developed some wicked baby acne.  Oh, how I loathe baby acne.  And I think it's because of my hormones, so sorry, kids.  I'll take the blame on this one.  But Brooks, of course, is still very very handsome.  And he's a whole one month!  Woohoo!  So here you go-- his abbreviated one month session. :)

"Mom, I'm pretty done here.  But thanks for inviting Dino to the party."