Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day was a great excuse to make some cute things I’ve seen on Pinterest lately. First, I’ve been wanting to make burlap banners for the different holidays since seeing this on Etsy.

After almost buying this one for Christmas, I decided I should just buy the burlap and make my own, because purchasing different banners for each holiday could get pricy. I found you can get 2 yards of burlap at Walmart for under $7, which is much more affordable. I also purchased an alphabet stencil (3.5 inch letters) at Michael’s Craft store, and a new red Sharpie to complete the project. 
My inspiration:
I loosely followed this tutorial found on Pinterest. After cutting the six triangles (6 x 8) I folded the top over and made a small edge. I then learned how to sew the edge over on a sewing machine (thank you EDS and your very helpful mother!). I then strung the hemp through the top of each triangle to hang the banner. Looking back, it would have probably been easier to pin the hemp and sew it directly onto the burlap (as seen in the tutorial), rather than stringing it through. 

Here is the finished project: 

I think it turned out pretty cute and I look forward to making a new banner for the next holiday, which will probably be AJH’s second birthday party! I would like to get a darker tan burlap next time, but it was sold out both Walmart’s I visited so I settled on the white this time.

Speaking of AJH, she did her first watercolor painting this weekend, which was lots of fun.

I wanted her to have something special to wear on Valentine’s Day, but didn’t want to do what I do every year and buy a shirt from Old Navy. After seeing this tutorial on Pinterest, I decided to give it a whirl because I love the vintage look. I bought paper heart doilies at Walmart for $1.88, a white tee shirt from Walmart for $3, and some Martha Stewart Fabric paint for $2.99 at Michael’s Craft store. 
Thankfully I used one of AJH’s old pink shirts for the first time go round since it didn’t work very well.  The above tutorial says to roll the doily in paint and then press it onto the shirt, though when I tried that technique, none of the paint stuck. I then had to use this solution to remove the white splotches and start over. Next, I tried this tutorial and it worked a lot better! 
Here are the finished products:

You can see some of the white splotches on the first shirt, along with the leftover residue from my rubbing alcohol/hand sanitizer solution! The second shirt turned out much better!

This week, AJH also enjoyed this pipe cleaner/strainer activity I found on Pinterest, reading with daddy and in her chair, sporting her first ever pigtails and her “I COOL” Barbie sunglasses!

Did you make any Valentine’s Day crafts? 
If so, leave a comment with your blog so we can check them out!

…Laughing all the way!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
May 2012 be filled with lots of laughter and love!

Happy Tears

Here are a few things that give me happy tears:
1. Seeing this post. I have been following this Blacksburg, VA couple’s blog since finding them through the Reece’s Rainbow site. They were all set to adopt Riley, when someone from his extended family came to the orphanage and adopted him. They were then lead to Zara, who they have named “Lily,” and are currently in her home country and preparing to bring her home! Seeing the love they share will surely fill your eyes with happy tears as well.

 Love!
2. Speaking of Reece’s Rainbow… I have more great news. Do you remember baby Cliffy?
Well, if you haven’t heard, he’s getting adopted, and his family is also currently getting ready to bring him home. He will be named Joshua. Follow their journey here and you will DIE when you see their latest pictures and videos. He is absolutely adorable and looks SO happy!
This is my favorite pic. Love that face!

It warms my heart to know that he has found his “forever family” and I thank all of you that donated money to his adoption fund!

3. Father’s Day. We had a great time with my family this weekend and AJ loved watching baseball with Papaw Russ. She even tried to shout “SWING” and “HIT”! I bet he can’t wait to get her out on the field!

 Here are some of my favorite pictures with my dad over the years.
He has taught me so many things…how to pitch, how to EAT with all my heart, how to enjoy life, and most of all, that he is ALWAYS there for me, no matter what.
And, of course, I must say Happy Father’s Day to my own hubby, who is amazing with our little babe. I love this picture of them from when she was teeny tiny.
She loves him SOOOO much.
I saw this quote on Kelle Hampton’s Facebook and thought it summarized things nicely: 
“Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads we know. Thank you for proudly rocking out Baby Bjorns, carrying pink diaper bags and singing along to the grumpy old troll song…in public. Maybe someday your minivan will transfrom into a Ferrari. Until then…feel the love today.”
Love to all the daddies out there and hoping everyone finds their own moments of happy tears this week.

My Sweetest Gift

On Sunday I wrote about my mother’s smile as “The Sweetest Gift.”
My little munchkin gave me a pretty sweet gift on Mother’s Day, too…
She walked all the way across the room by herself!
She has done a few steps here and there but this was the first time she ventured that far all alone.
I couldn’t quite catch the whole thing on video, but here are a few little snippets.
 
Overthe weekend she also learned to say “puppy” and “Abby” (the name of hercousin’s new yellow lab puppy), which basically sound a lot alike.
Shehas also been saying “ball” a lot and loves to play ball with anyoneand everyone who will join in the fun. I definitely need to get this onvideo because it’s very cute and sounds more like “bawww.”
Shealso learned to complete the phrase “Get ready, get set….” from hercousin, Betsy. She loves to scream “GO!” which comes from watching her favorite song on “The Cat and the Hat.”She also laughed her little heart out with the help of her aunt and cousin.

This is definitely a fun stage and everyday is full of new adventures.

I’vealso been meaning to post how impressed I’ve been with her “toughness”lately. In the past few weeks she has done the following with no tearsor squirming (which is a miracle if you know how “active” she is):
1. Getting her finger pricked at the Dr. office.
2. Getting blood drawn for her anemia test. They had to stick a needle inher hand for thirty seconds! (She is mildly anemic so we have to giveher yucky iron drops).
3. Getting a splinter pulled out of her foot.
Sheis a bit like her momma in that she kind of “spazzes” at little things(like not getting her dinner at the exact moment she becomes hungry)but she takes the bigger things in stride. I’ve learned the older Iget, I can handle the “big” things if I have some preparation, but the little things are what often get me. I’m doing better, but there arestill times when I freak over not finding matching socks.
Ooops. 
Happy day. 

Spring break on the mind…

There is nothing better than…
…this.
And as of late my blogging world has been swapped for playdates with my little one
in the sun.
And for the next five days there will be plenty more…
Happy Spring Break, Easter,
 and bare feet in the grass!

Happy Day

 Today is not just St. Patrick’s Day…

(Yes, I am one of THOSE moms that buys photo props for every holiday…

…and, no she wasn’t having it!)
…It’s also Clara’s first birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Clara!
During our fund raising time, which was only two short months, $1,430 was raised for  Sophie and Clara and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support! Please keep these girls on your mind and continue helping them any way you can. Pray for their adoption. They may not be on my blog every day, but they are not going anywhere. We will go on with our daily lives and they will remain in an orphanage until their forever family steps up to bring them home. They both need medical attention and the longer they are kept there, the more sick they will become. They need us and if you feel it in your heart, please pass on their story and continue to support them!
The winner of our massage giveaway is Michelle Weaver. Please send your address to makeitbeautifultoo@gmail.com and I will mail your massage voucher!
Thanks again for all of your help and support for Sophie and Clara during the past few months. I will keep you updated on their story as it unfolds.
I hope and pray that they feel our love.

More love.

One year ago today we lost a dear friend whose legacy will live on forever. My sis-in-law wrote a great post on MaDee’s life which you can read here and you may remember reading about MaDee here on my blog. I ask you to please take a moment to look at her beautiful smile and peruse the foundation her family has started in her memory.
MaDee’s sister Abby found out she was pregnant with a very special little boy named Cy exactly one month after MaDee’s passing, which happened to be the day my little girl was born. My AJH and Cy got to hang out at a recent basketball game and she must have made a good impression because he sent her a super sweet Valentine in the mail on Monday.
 And she LOVED it.
 ”Hi, baby Cy…
 I think you’re my boyfriend.
I like you a lot!
You are so cute!
I want to give you a kiss!
 Uh, oh. Am I in trouble?
 Maybe I’ll just eat it instead!
 Nah, I really want a smooch!” Love, AJH
She also got a special Valentine from her Mamaw, Tenny Jo, her (middle) namesake.

She was very excited to grab it.
Mamaw is known for her well-stickered envelopes.
 And taped dollar bills.
AJ really studied it.
Not one holiday has gone by my entire 29 years without getting one of these very special cards.
And now the tradition has started with AJH.
Funny girl.
I can’t get over how grown-up AJH looks sitting there in her little cardigan. One month from today she will be one year old!
We also had a very special Valentine’s treat when the choir from my school came to sing to the kids at AJ’s daycare.

They were pretty mesmerized.
 And it was a beautiful moment.

Make it Beautiful Monday: First Christmas

“May the wonder of that FIRST Christmas be with you always.”
As we wind down from the aftermath of our big Christmas weekend, I thought I’d share a few photos depicting the true WONDER we felt. 
More to come tomorrow!

4th of July Festivities

We started our 4th of July weekend by going to the Staunton Parade. It was a first for AJH and myself, and though I was not disappointed, AJH wasn’t as impressed. 
 Molly, Valerie and I were very festive for the occasion!
We then headed to the Harper’s for their annual party to celebrate the 4th and Thelma’s birthday. It was sooo hot, but we enjoyed the cornhole tournament and chatting with friends and family.
We decided to let AJH try to the pool for the first time, but it didn’t go over very well. At least she had a cute suit!
Here she is lounging in her “after pool” outfit with her new Henry doll. We decided to get a back-up, just in case something happened to her pink one. Now we just match them to her outfit, pink or blue!
I also had to capture our friend Kristen’s lovely matching accessories. The bag was our wedding gift to her, and if you like it you can find it at Ida Claire, one of my new favorite websites.
On Sunday, July 4th we went to NOVA to visit my family and help them move into their new house. We had a long day, but a great visit and Annalee even had her first belly laugh with my dad while playing peek-a-boo. I didn’t get a picture, but it was sooo cute.

Happy Father’s Day

Today was Ben’s first Father’s Day and AJH showered him with gifts. She gave him a book called, “I Love You, Daddy,” a VT tee shirt and a gift certificate to get a special scalp massage at Breezy Hill Day Spa. It also seemed like she gave him lots of extra smiles today…I think she knew what a special day it was and wanted him to know how much she loves him. Here they are today during “tummy time.”
Sometimes they tell secrets together, and that’s okay with me. I always knew Ben would be an amazing father, but seeing him with her is the most beautiful thing in the world to me. 
He is PERFECT.

He is patient, he is loving, he is gentle and he is attentive. 
He is wonderful and we love him.
Thanks for being the best daddy ever and supporting our family with all you do. 
You make our dreams come true. 
And of course, none of this would be possible without my ridiculously handsome hero of a dad. 
Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers in my life!