It's a boy!

I know everybody already knows it's a boy, but here are a couple of pictures!

My babies seem to be very shy from the womb. With Tiffany I couldn't even get a 3D image because there wasn't enough fluid around her head to get a good shot, and this time, our baby boy decided to turn towards my back right when the doctor changed the image to 3D. And when she finally got a good view of him, he had his hand covering his whole face! So this 2D picture is the best one we have.

The ultrasound was still so much fun! I enjoyed it this time around because I was much less anxious and the entire time I just had this feeling that it was my baby boy, so when we finally got to see the sex of baby, it was more of a confirmation than a surprise. I don't know what Bryan really thought it was, but I guess I had told him so many times that it was going to be a boy, that he wasn't surprised either. Tiffany didn't get at all that we were looking at the baby (the images didn't really look like the babies she is used to seeing, I'm sure) but it was a fun family time.

Even though I had this feeling that it was going to be a boy for the longest time, after the ultrasound it really started to sink in. Boys are so different that we felt like first time parents, not knowing what to expect. Plus now I have to get all new clothes, bedding, and all. It will be fun though, I'm excited for the change and the new joys that only a boy can bring. And Tiffany already has lots of experience playing with her cousins, so she will have fun too.

The hardest part will be to decide on a name. Boys names are so hard for us, especially because it has to sound good in English and Portuguese and we don't agree on very many. So it will take a while before we come up with something we like. Until then, he is our baby boy!

It's been 1 year since I first decided I wanted to make a rag quilt for Tiffany, so you can imagine my satisfaction to FINALLY see it done! It was a fun project and I'm glad I did it. It was very time consuming, cutting all the squares, sewing the 3 layers together, making the layout, sewing each row, then sewing all the rows together and finally cutting the seams into tiny fringes so they would fray. I would still not be done if it wasn't for Bryan's determination to cut it all in one sitting for me. It gave him blisters (hence the glove) and it did some damage to my nice expensive shears, but I think some oil will fix it. If I decide to make any other rag quilts I will definitely invest in some spring-loaded scissors though.
If you're interested in learning how to make a rag quilt for yourself, I looked here and here. I do have to say it made a mess after we washed it, and it is still fraying, but it's so comfy and warm, Tiffany will have it for a long time!

I'm SO excited! Not only was this my VERY first project with my AWESOME sewing machine, this is my first scrap page using my digital scrapbook program that I got for my birthday! Now I can quickly organize my photos and catch up to all the MANY pictures I have in computer. I'm just SO EXCITED!

Now back to my sewing project. Tiffany had one of these crayon rolls, but she got some bigger crayons for Christmas and I wanted to make her one specially to fit those crayons. Then a lady in my ward saw it and LOVED it, so I decided to just make her one (and use it as an excuse to keep practicing!) She thought it was so cute and practical that she asked me to make her a couple more for her to give as gifts, but now she wanted to pay me for them. I don't feel like I'm good enough with sewing yet to start charging, so I just gave her those two as well. If you are interested in making one, I got the pattern here. They are very easy and keep Tiffany entertained for a while, because she also enjoys taking them out and putting them back in.

Now my next project is FINALLY going to be Tiffany's rag quilt. It will be my biggest project yet, but I can't wait to get started. I'll post it here as soon as I'm done with it!

Playing hairdresser

Tiffany's hair was getting really long, especially her bangs, and I just didn't think that it was worth it to pay $10 for someone to make a couple of cuts here and there. I have never cut hair before in my life, not even my dolls' hair! So I was definitely anxious about it!Here is just a random picture from the "before". It was mainly to show how she likes to arrange her magnets on the fridge...by color! Even the dark and light orange have to be separated!
But here is our set up. I didn't really want to do it in the living room because of the mess, but I knew she would cooperate much more if she had something to watch. So I cover the floor and her with a towel.
Look how long it would get when wet! But this V shaped style really wasn't working for her. The sides would get all spiked up and it would drive me crazy!
I cut about 1-1/2 in off the back and just the ends off the rest. I also did her bangs a little shorter.
I was really pleased with the result. I'm sure it's not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was. I can still play with it but my hope is that now it will grow fuller and more even! I might have to cut it a few more times before it all comes together, but SOMEDAY, she will have long hair for me to braid and do other cute things I can't do right now.

Since I had to work on my birthday, we decided to celebrate it on Saturday. My cravings told me I should go to Tucanos, and boy, were they right! I told Bryan ahead of time that I did not want to rush, I would just sit and eat until I was absolutely full. I eat so slow these days that I can eat for a long time...especially when there's that much variety! On a regular day, that much food would've kept me going for the rest of the day...but since I'm sharing this food with my baby, I ran out a lot faster. We wanted to go to a couple of stores after, but it was FREEZING! Tiffany couldn't even smile for the picture. And the crazy thing is that there were TONS of people at the Gateway mall, and a lot of kids with hardly any warm clothes. We didn't make it very far...
No, I don't feel like I'm 24...I went a whole year without feeling like I was 23, so you can imagine. I honestly still feel like I'm that 18 year old college girl still figuring life out. Then I stop and think that I'm about to become a mother of 2 and my husband is turning 30 this year...then it starts to hit me...time is going and I better start catching up to it! So I'm brainstorming all of my new years resolution goals, and striving to make this year a year for changes, growth, maturing, and enjoying what the present has to offer!