She's Walking!

Our little one is learning to walk.  Honestly, I thought it would happen sooner, mostly because she started pulling up way back in April.  She was only 6 months old.  She's been a champ at pulling up ever since.  So we went and bought at camcorder, so we wouldn't miss that big event, and... it never happened.  Everyone would give us tips "give her things to hold and then get her to come to you"  and she would crawl with a toy in each hand.  It didn't even phase her.  "Stand her up away from furniture and hold a favorite toy"  Yeah, she'd stand there for a bit, look at you and then drop and crawl over.  I wasn't worried, because of all the friends that kept saying "once she walks you'll wish she couldn't".  I figured that was true, so when she started pulling up at 6 months I was frankly a little scared. :D  But the time went by and no walking.  A couple of weeks ago she started standing up on her own- go from sitting to standing in the middle of the room without holding on to anything.  And she could then dance (it's really cute, she stands there and rocks her body and little bum back and forth to the music) while standing up without losing her balance.  And I knew it was only a matter of time.  Her first steps were at Chick-Fil-A.  On top of the table.  Because she can't be normal and walk in the living room.  She took 3 steps across the table to get to me.  We were at Chick-Fil-A with Marshall's family.  Also there with us was one of Marshall's mom's friends Kerry.  Well, Alaina was sitting with Kerry across the table from me when she decided that she wanted mommy. So Kerry just went to hand her across the table, and stood her up and Alaina did the rest.  We've been trying to get her to repeat it since, and we get a step here and there.  And then, yesterday she walked 9 steps!  I was so glad I caught it on camera.

I can't believe how fast time is flying.  Soon I'm going to have a toddler not a baby.  In a way, that is kinda bittersweet.  It's really a strange feeling.  I miss the serenity of her sleeping in my arms.  But it is also fun to watch and cheer with her as she grows up. It's fun to see her curiosity and the excitement with which she views the world.  It's just going too fast.  Sometimes I wish time would slow down and let me enjoy it a bit more. 

Button, Button, Who's got the button?

So I have been feeling crafty lately.  I think it's because of Pinterest.  My friend Elizabeth got me hooked.  (If you're a member of Pinterest, you know what I'm talking about.  If you don't- don't try to find out.  It's a black hole of wonderfulness that is more addicting than crack...You laugh, but it's true (not that I would know how addictive crack is... can you even put parenthesis inside another set?) oh well...)  Anyways, so looking at all of the wonderful crafty ideas and things that I could do around my house has started the creative/crafty juices going in my brain.  It's actually kinda crazy, it kept me awake last night until 2am because I couldn't get my brain to shut off.  They were all pretty good ideas, and I wouldn't have been irritated, except for the fact that even though today is Saturday I couldn't sleep in, because today we participated in a memorial 5k run/walk for Marshall's friend that died in Iraq.  So we had to get up at 6:30.  Yeah.  I wasn't a happy camper when the alarm went off.

But, all of those creative juices have served a purpose.  I was crafty for the first time in a while.  So, I've wanted a chunky necklace for a while, but I've never found one that I really liked.  They were all either too one color or over-the-top chunky and looked like they'd make me top-heavy.  This is compounded by Alaina's propensity for chewing/pulling on whatever jewelry I happen to be wearing.  I had a conundrum.

Enter the button jar.

Every one that has ever sewn at all has some kind of random button holder- a jar, tin, whatever... mine is a mason jar that Alaina has started to play with as a rattle... Well, the other day the newly awoken creative part of my brain looked at this button assortment and said "I could make a necklace out of that".  And instead of the other part of my brain laughing at this random idea and storing it in the vault of undone ideas, I actually did it.

What do you think?  Not bad for buttons and embroidery floss, if I do say so myself. I also used the beads from a charm bracelet that I never wear to pull it all together (that's the silver).

pardon the lack of makeup :D

I really like it.  And, it was totally easy, I had all the materials, so it didn't cost me a dime (I love free things), and it's totally practical.  I mean, it's all buttons.  Most of them are big enough that Alaina couldn't swallow them, and I double flossed it- extra protection against her pulling on it and breaking it.   I knotted the embroidery floss after every couple of buttons, so even if she does happen to pull hard enough to break it, it wouldn't break all the way, and the buttons wouldn't be able to go all over the place.  She can chew on it to her heart's content. And it looks good! :D

I think she likes it! :D

Marshall's baby

Alaina is SO Marshall's kid.  Especially in her eating habits. Now that the doctor said that we could start transitioning her from baby food to "real" food, I have seen a distinct love for pasta.  Now, I like pasta, but I think that Marshall must have Italian in him.  He'll have to tell me if he finds any Italian ancestors on his genealogy search.  That's how much he likes pasta.  Of any kind.
The other day, Marshall's mom gave us some cans of Chef Boyardee ravioli- and I made some for myself for lunch.  I just offered her one to see what she would do with it.  GONE. She devoured them.  I couldn't give them to her fast enough.  The kid ate like seven raviolis.  And this is a child that a good meal is 1/3 of the baby food can.  (She made a stinking mess, and I DID take a picture, but it was on my phone, and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get the pictures off of my phone, even with the USB cable.) It was very cute- you'll just have to take my word for it.
Then there's the heat factor.  I've never been a fan of hot stuff.  Marshall is.  He likes jalapenos and banana peppers.  He likes salsa.  And what do you know?  Alaina does too.  Now I'm not a horrible mom- I didn't give her jalapenos.  But the other day I made a quesadilla with banana peppers and tomatoes. (using the things I get from my lovely garden)  When she saw me eating it, Alaina was very emphatic that she wanted one too, so I cut off a piece and gave it to her.  Gobbled it right up.  All told, she ate half of one.  I think the baby food is just too bland for her.  I don't know.  But she definitely likes food. :D  And there's no question that she's related to her daddy.