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!

Christmas has come and gone!

We had a GREAT Christmas...especially when compared to last year... We had time to prepare and enjoy everything. Bryan had to work on the 24th for half the day, so I stayed home preparing for our Christmas Eve dinner. For that night, we also watched A Christmas Carol, and I thought it was a great movie! (no, I didn't know about the Christmas Carol story...) Then before Tiff went to bed, we got our new pajamas out to get ready for Santa. I have to say I was really surprised that Tiffany didn't try once to go and open the gifts...it's like they weren't even there.

As soon as Tiff went to bed, I got our stockings filled. I felt bad that Bryan had picked some things out for my stocking (last minute) but still...he ended up just wrapping them because I had already filled it with stuff I wanted! hehe...next year I'll leave it up to him!
I'm glad Tiffany doesn't understand enough about Christmas to want to wake up super early...We woke up at our usual time and got ready for the gifts. She first got her stocking and loved everything that was in it...
Then I had her open the gifts I knew would be the least interesting to her...her clothes. And sure enough, she would just open and throw them out and go to the next one. Then we had her open her DVD's...we decided to sign up for the Disney Movie Club and they arrived on the 24th, which was perfect timing!
At last we gave her the big box. I know I was more excited about her gift then she was, but still, she's playing more and more with it and having a good time.
When Tiff was all done, it was Daddy's turn, then Mommy's turn, and this is what our living room looked like when we were all done. (you can see in the middle there my brand new sewing machine! I LOVE it and can't wait to get all my projects done!!!)
My brother and his family came over in the afternoon, when we made a real Brazilian Christmas meal and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! I couldn't stop eating! (my cravings got the best of me!) We exchanged gifts and the kids had a great time playing together.
When the twins woke up, we called our parents so they could see all their grandkids together...it was so cute seeing the four of them interact....Tiffany was as obsessed with the babies as ever...
At last Tiffany and Thomas were starving so they nicely shared their snacks while watching Toy Story...