Look Who's One!!

I am way late in writing this post-mainly because I have (thankfully!!) been swamped with making cute little rompers for a bunch of little guys Easter outfits. Now that Easter is almost here, I am a little more caught up but still staying busy and loving all the cute things people are asking me to make for their little cuties. Keep 'em coming!!
Anywho-our little guy turned one on the 15th and we were blessed with a-mazing weather! Emma and Jansen were Face Timing for a few weeks prior to Luke's birthday and loved "playing" hide and seek with each other. Emma was ecstatic that Jansen (and Uncle Justin, Aunt Courtney and "Baby" Collins) was coming for three days to play with her. That was all she would talk about and constantly asked when she was coming. When that Friday finally arrived, Emma was about to burst she couldn't take it much longer. They (finally!) arrived after lunch and Emma squealed and squealed when she saw their car pull up. Courtney and I were planning on taking the kiddos to the mall while the men played golf. The girls were going to ride the carousel and have some ice cream. Nana and Katelyn were able to come as well and everyone enjoyed some yummy ice cream. Papa and Blair came over for dinner and we all enjoyed pizza and wings and some Dewey's cupcakes for dessert.
Saturday was the big day-Luke's Thomas the Train party! Everyone started arriving around 2 and Luke was just hangin out, going from one Aunt to one Grandma to one cousin and making everyone laugh. Soon it was cake time!! We had Linda make his cake and she did a fantastic job! She has made all of Emma's cakes and it's always the talk of the party. Luke was dying to get his hands on some cake and wasted no time diving into his train cupcake. He made a nice little mess and enjoyed every bite that made it into his mouth.
After Daddy gave him a bath it was present time! Being that we have a three year old daughter, we have a LOT of pink in our house. Thanks to older cousins, we've inherited a nice little collection of "boy toys". His collection definitely grew after this birthday! And no first birthday would be complete without a handmade toy box from Uncle TayTay-once it's painted I'll post a picture of it.We are so thankful for all our friends and family that were able to celebrate Luke's first birthday with us.

A Shower We'll Never Forget

Sunday March 6, 2011-Luke's First Baby Shower-9 weeks and 4 days before my due date

"Kari and Brooke were sweet enough to throw us a baby shower for Luke and I had been looking forward to it for a long time. Elle was spending Saturday night with us and I thought it would be cute for the girls to have matching dresses to wear. That Sunday morning started out like any other Sunday, the girls woke up and had donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast. They got to play for a little while before we all took baths to get ready for the shower at 2. We arrived at Brooke's house a little after 2 and I was feeling good. Around 3:15 I was standing talking to a few people when I felt a pop and fluid. I ran to the bathroom thinking my water broke. Instead of fluid, I saw a lot of blood. I grabbed Matt and we immediately left for the emergency room. After what seemed like an eternity, we were able to hear Luke's heartbeat and knew he was ok. I spent the next four days getting tests done and not learning a real reason as to what exactly happened. Now the doctors think my placenta partially abruptured; which basically means if I'm bleeding at all I can't go home. Being in the hospital hasn't been completely unbearable because Matt has been able to stay with me. The hardest part, for both of us, is not being able to see Emma. She spent most of Saturday at the hospital with us and it really helped my spirits. I feel like she has grown so much in a week!! Right now we just have to take it day by day and hope Luke can cook as long as possible!"

I stole that from my other blog-although I guess it's not really stealing when it's your own work! I didn't need to go and track down that first insert to remind myself how this day went a year ago, because I remember it like it was yesterday. I still remember how good I was feeling that day, how glad I was to see everyone that was able to come to the shower, how cute Emma and Elle looked in their matching dresses, Roger and my Dad trying to read the directions to put one of Luke's toys together, the yummy food, and of course the "pop" that forever changed that day and our lives.
If there's one thing people know about babies and pregnancy's, its that the baby needs to stay put  until at least 36 weeks. Everyone longs for that due date to hurry up and get there already (especially that last month!!) Although it's just a strong guess, every woman sees that due date as the finish line. If I can just make it to that day, life will go on! I have a lot of things to do, but I have to get it done by that day. If that baby is stubborn and doesn't want to come on that day, it's disappointing. VERY disappointing. And every day, hour, minute after until that baby gets here is pure torture. The end result is well worth it-a beautiful baby that you created with your husband (or boyfriend, or friend, or secret lover....) And a few days after they arrive, you get to take that nerve wracking first ride home with that sweet little person and start the no sleep journey!
But for those of us who never make it to the finish line, it's an entirely different story. Instead of feeling as ready as you can; having all the supplies you think you need-only to realize you did NOT need that wipe warmer but DID need 30 more sets of diapers! Your bag is packed and repacked, the car seat is set up, the phone tree is organized, after 25 outfits you've finally picked the ever important "going home" outfit out. Now, you're just waiting on baby-instead, you get thrown off guard. That little person inside of you says, "Hold on a minute, I'm not sitting here waiting for YOU to get ready, I AM ready and I'm ready now!!"
Thankfully, we live 10 minutes from two great hospitals and when our son said he was ready to party, we didn't have far to travel to keep him safe. Although, the ride there was a little questionable! He did his best to hold on for us, but he knew enough was enough. So on March 15th-8 weeks before he was due-his journey began at 3 pounds 14 ounces and 17.5 inches long!
We were very lucky that he (or should I say I, since I know he didn't get two nice shots in the rear!) got two doses of steroids two days before he was born so his lungs were able to handle breathing on his own. We were also very lucky that he was born completely healthy and we would have no health or developmental issues to worry about. Unfortunately, he was born a white male :o) Which meant that he was going to have a tough time figuring out how to eat, drink and swallow all at the same time. 26 days later he mastered that skill and has been growing strong ever since!! Now he's a grits lovin boy who will eat everything in sight!

Who doesnt love free??

As some of you know, I have recently started sewing and monogramming. And I gotta say-I LOVE IT!!! It is so much fun coming up with cute little shirts and putting together outfits from a simple piece of fabric. Some of you also may know that it was sort of my husband's fault that I stumbled into all of this. First and foremost, I am a true southern girl. I love, love, love monograms. I would monogram my whole house if I could! My friends laugh at all the R's throughout our house-I think its some sort of addiction.
But anyways-after I had our little sass pot Emma, I knew a whole new world of monogramming had entered my life. I loved personalizing blankets, burp cloths, and any shirts or dresses I could find. I didn't, however, love paying $8-$10 every time I need her name or initials on something. So, I did what any woman would do. I begged and begged my husband for an embroidery machine. I showed him all the cute little shops on Etsy and told him I could even start my own shop and bring in a little extra mula (which, let's be real, just furthers my addiction!) He finally agreed it would be a good Christmas present. Well, that was that. I had 4 looooong months to day dream about my embroidery machine.
Anyone that knows my husband knows his OBSESSION for the Redskins. For Christmas, last year, I found a cute Redskins shirt for Emma. I quickly snatched it up and Emma got it from Santa. Shortly before the first game of the season, I thought about how cute it would be for Emma to have a matching skirt since she refuses to wear pants. Luke already had two Redskins outfits, I had a shirt, and of course Matt had tons of gear. I hadn't tried to sew since I "made" a few aprons 3 years back. I use the term made loosely, because I basically picked out the fabric and struggled to cut the pattern pieces out while my mom did the rest. I found a super easy skirt on-line that I figured I could master. I found some Redskins fabric at the fabric store, got some advice at the fabric store, borrowed my friend Kari's machine and supplies and I was off! Or, so I thought! Turns out, I should not have listened to that advice because I ended up making a toddler sized hoochie skirt! Emma was squeezed into it and literally couldn't walk in it! Luckily, I had enough fabric to try again a few days later with my mom's help. Had I not listened to the lady at the fabric store, my first attempt would've been more of a success.
After making that skirt, I started thinking about all of the great things I could make for Emma and Luke and what fun it would be to have them in things that I put together! Thus, my love for sewing was born! I'm still learning a lot, but I'm having a great time along the way!
Now onto the free stuff! I would really love to have this "hobby" of mine grow into something more. That's where you come in! What's the easiest (and cheapest!) form of advertising? Word of mouth!! I have a shop on Etsy My Shop and a page on Facebook Mamas Tiny Monkeys Right now, I'm offering a chance to win a free monogrammed shirt of your choice (can be for you, your child, niece/nephew, friend, neighbor, etc....) After I reach 70, I will pick a winner at random. All you have to do is go to my Facebook page and "Like" it. That's it! Super easy, right?? And if you already "Like" it, simply "Like" the contest post and you are entered in the drawing! Hopefully you'll look around a bit and maybe find something you'll love for your child (or niece/nephew, friend, well you get the idea!)