Sarah Sews

I've been wanting to learn to sew for ages. Cap's mom bought me a fabulous sewing kit full of all the necessary accessories about 10 years ago when I picked up a 1971 Singer sewing machine at a thrift store for $10. It died before I could get my hands dirty. While I've used the sewing kit to hand stitch a few things here and there I never did learn to use a sewing machine. I have been wanting to make new curtains for Addie and Eliza's room by re-purposing some pre-made ones with cute red pom-pom trim that I ordered already when I was on maternity leave, but the project requires some basic hemming. The project has come to a halt.

2010 is going to be the year I learn to sew. Cap bought me a new Singer sewing machine for my birthday, but I had been too intimidated by the instructions on winding the bobbin and what not to even conceive of sewing that first stitch. Finally, Cap set up the machine and I attempted my first project today - a crinkle square toy for Eliza. I whined and cursed my way through the process. Sure, the stitches are all wonky and one of the ribbons is already falling off, but Eliza loves it. Maybe I'll be brave enough to tackle the curtains next, or maybe I'll just stick to crinkle squares for a while.

Happy Feet

I can't count the number of times I have to tell Addie to get her feet away from Eliza. "Addie! You know the rules. NO FEET NEAR YOUR SISTER!"

It's not that I'm overly concerned that Eliza will gnaw on a pair of dirty, germy toddler toes (although I know she'd like to!), it's that one isn't usually as graceful with ones feet as one might be with ones hands even if one was trying to be nice and gentile and just play with one's sister. Or, don't freaking kick your sister in the head! I don't care if it was just an accident. NO FEET NEAR YOUR SISTER!

To the Beaches We Go

Saturday before my sister arrived, we took off for the beach in the afternoon. The weather has been pleasantly warm after all the rain we've been having. We spotted a few sea anemones and a giant heron. Mainly though we looked for "stuff." I must have used the term to refer to rocks, kelp and any sticks we collected on the beach. Addie kept exclaiming, "I found stuff!"

Then on Monday, we headed back to PCH and up to El Matador Beach with Auntie Jennifer. We've been meaning to check out this particular beach for, well, years. It was worth the wait. Gorgeous! You park at the top of the bluff and then wind your way down a dirt path and then wooden stairs to reach the beach. You have to go when the tide is low (or at least not high) otherwise there is very little beach.

We'll are missing Auntie Jennifer already!

Heart Shaped Cookies

My sister said she did more before 11 am with us on President's Day than she does all day. We woke up early (thanks Eliza) and were at Urth Cafe for breakfast a minute before 8 am. By 10 we had decorated heart-shaped cookies with Addie which we had baked the day before. By 11 we had played t-ball and thrown a nerf football around the backyard. After that we packed up the car and head up the coast to El Matador Beach in Malibu. I told her that our weekend mornings usually involved a lot more television and time in our PJs, but we only had one day with Auntie Jennifer so I wanted to take advantage of every second!

I highly recommend this sugar cookie recipe from, who else, Martha Stewart. They were perfect for decorating and yummy too!

Happy Ballinstine Day!

Addie, usually an excellent linguist, gets her "Vs" and her "B" mixed up. At school she has a cuvvy and her favorite TV show is Max and Roovy. In anticipation of Ballinstine Day, we got a little crafty. Using crayon shavings, wax paper, an iron and heart shaped cookie cutters, we adorned this Valentine tree. These branches have been handy for all holidays. You might remember when it first appeared as an Easter egg tree, for Halloween it hung ghosts and at Christmas paper chains. When we aren't celebrating a holiday, I hang bird cut-outs that I made out of cereal box cardboard covered in a pretty wrapping paper.



We also made Valentine's for the grandparents using potato stamps. I learned the hard way not to expect to get red stamp pads the weekend before Valentine's day. Instead, we made do with pink and silver - a little too 80s I think. They didn't come out quite as I had envisioned, but it was the process that counts, not the product (oh Maria Montessori would be so proud). I thought I'd have plenty of time to get Addie to write her name in the cards, but on Monday evening I realized she was expected to bring 24 handmade Valentines for her classmates on Thursday. Thank goodness I went a little craft supply crazy at Michael's and had bought a paper trimmer. I set out cutting up cardstock I happened to have already into 3 x 3 folding cards. I resurrected the potato stamps and the left over wax crayon hearts from the trash and set Addie to work gluing, stamping and signing for 3 nights in a row. It was like a Valentine sweat shop. I think the mini cards turned out rather sweet.

Tonight my sister arrives from snowpocolypse, and I'm so excited! We'll have to do something sunny and warm with her.

Tufty Turns 5 (months)

Tufty is 5 months old today. Happy Birthday! We are hoping that this next month will be a healthy one as Miss E has had a cold for about two weeks. We took two trips to the pediatrician just to tell us, "Yes, she has a cold." The doc is probably thinking, "Geesh, I'd expect this from new parents, but really now."

Today, Addie's school is closed for Teacher Training Day. I'm on the morning shift at home with Addie and then will go into work in the afternoon. We decided to take Eliza into daycare anyway, to give Addie a chance to hang out with us one on one again. Depending on how ambitious I am, we might go shopping and then make valentine cookies. Or, we might just end up in our PJs all morning watching "Up".

Happy Day little Tufty love!


Super Flying Tufty Power!


Tufty Outtake

Not last weekend but last last weekend

I'm a little behind, but two weekends ago we went to the Hammer Museum to see the entire Book of GenesisBook of Genesis illustrated by comic book artist-extraordinaire R. Crumb. Amazing. Addie kept returning to the page with Eve eating the apple. And I didn't realize there was so much procreating in Genesis until I saw it illustrated. Afterwards, we went to Starbucks for a treat. Because Addie can't get enough museums, we went this past weekend as well to do some Korean brush painting in the Children's gallery at LACMA where we also tried to see the exhibit Heroes and Villains: The Battle for Good in India's Comics which was unexpectedly closed that day. I guess graphic novels are all the rage in the art world these days!

Breakthrough

I was unprepared at Addie's swim lesson on Saturday when I looked up and there she was swimming across the pool. Not only I was not equipped with my video camera (thank goodness my phone takes video!), but I wasn't prepared for the wave of emotion that washed over me. I was so proud! And so glad I was wearing sunglasses so the other people wouldn't see me cry.

It's my goal to get her swimming by summer and I think we're gonna make it! In the video she's the little red hat doggy paddling in the middle. Once she gets comfortable with this, then her teacher James will work on getting her face in the water. For someone who has been, I won't say afraid, but very, very, very cautious in the water, this is a giant step for her. When the weather warms up, we'll all go swimming together which should continue to help build her confidence as well. This reminds me I need to get a cute, one-piece suit for myself. Maybe something with stripes and ruffles.

My little swimmer! I'm so proud!

More Delicious Baby Photos

Here are some photos just because she's a baby and she's cute, and I know I won't remember any of this. It's like planning for amnesia.

Eliza finally had her 4 month check-up with the pediatrician along with a second round of immunizations - I made Cap go this time. She's 14lbs 12oz and 25 1/4", both above average. She rolls over now in both directions and gets frustrated when she can't quite find the right thing to shove into her mouth. Right now she has a cold poor lass. She's a champion sleeper, except when she's not. Miss E often has her tongue hanging out as if she's just tasting the world going by. Eat it up, baby! It's all yours!

36 years

It's my birthday! Here I am in my flannel pjs trying to get Eliza to bed when Cap surprises me with news that we have a reservation tonight for a sushi dinner! I asked if I had to change and he said at least out of my slippers. He also surprised me with an ice cream cake to share with Addie and Papa Mit and 3 dozen red roses at work. I know, awwwwwwww, right?!

My Dad has been organizing his life possessions and shipped me three boxes of family memorabilia including a box of letters and cards that were sent to me, my parents and grandparents when I was born, yes, 36 years ago today. This is the telegram sent by my Aunt and Uncle from the US Embassy in Kathmandu to congratulate my parents on their first child - me! My Aunt Susan and I share a birthday along with Robert "Robbie" Burns who would be 251 today. See, 36 is young!

Thank you all for my birthday wishes in person, on the phone, by mail or on facebook. Hugs!

Meeting Tufty

Nana and Pop Pop have headed back to wintry Michigan leaving us missing them and a week of rain. Good thing Miss Addie has her new Hello Kitty umbrella compliments of Nana and Pop Pop to keep her dry and remember the long weekend. This was their first time meeting Eliza and my Dad gave her the new moniker, Tufty, because of Eliza's dark fluff on the top of her head.

Over the weekend Addie saw her grandfather in action up at the church pulpit presiding over the baptism of the granddaughter of former Michigan friends. Also on Saturday, Addie went to her swim lesson and we all went to the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. She passed out at 5 pm that night forcing us to move our sushi dinner plans from dining out to dining in. No problem!

After pancakes on Sunday, we drove up the coast to Malibu to explore the tidepools at Leo Carillo State Beach just before the rains came. We saw cormorants, sand pipers, a white egret, crabs, sea stars, urchins and anemones. The rain didn't stop us from continuing North to Neptune's Net to consume massive piles of fried seafood. The rest of the afternoon we watched football and then Cap and I snuck out after the girls were in bed to see Avatar in Imax/3-D.

Monday morning after waffles, we took Addie to see Princess and the Frog (her second time!) while Cap and Eliza stayed at home. Then it was off the airport to say farewell. In between all of our adventures, there was plenty of time just to hang out at home and let Nana and Pop Pop play with the girls. My Dad is an expert bottle feeder!

Now all of the grandparents have met Eliza and we are ready for repeat visitors!



Addie's portrait of Baby Eliza




Check out more pictures of our trip to the beach here.

Love Letter

This is Addie's first love letter. At least, that's what I'm calling it. It was written by her classmate, Jack, for her. Smart kid to know the way to her heart is through her ponies.


Addie's drawings continue to amaze me. This is a self portrait. I love the eyelashes.


ice cream cones with rainbow sprinkles


a sad face with tears. I asked Addie why the little girl was sad and she replied "she misses her Mama and Dada."


Addie has also been practicing writing her letters which she noted was "hard." I'm digging the flourish on the letter "U".


And this masterpiece is her most recent. Did she really draw this herself? She said she did and when I told her I really like her heart person and flower person, she informed that they are not persons, they are girls. So there.

Nana and Pop Pop are coming to visit us today. This is their first time meeting Miss Eliza. I'm so excited!

Happy 4 Months Eliza!

Four months old already? But how can that be?!

And could she possible get cuter? Oh I melt when I see her. Spoken like a proud Mama, as Cap just said after I gushed over these photos.

Eliza smiles. Eliza laughs. Eliza has also found her feet, her hands and her mouth which she mixes up in a little baby waltz. Hand to feet, feet to mouth, mouth to feet, hand to mouth and round and round we go. She grabs everything including Addie's hair which she tolerates with great fortitude. Eliza is adjusting to daycare and me to work. I must say though that, after the miracle of bringing life into the world, spreadsheets and proposals seem rather mundane.

The other big news is that Eliza has pretty much weaned herself. When I got strep, Cap stepped in with the bottle and formula and by the time I recovered days later, Eliza had lost interest. I feed her once or so in the middle of the night when she is too sleepy to protest. I've been trying to pump at work once a day although even that is becoming hard to schedule. While I'm a little sad and a less than thrilled at 6 months of expensive formula, I am glad to have the freedom to roam about knowing that Cap can step in and feed her. I'll also miss the extra calorie burn. Perhaps I'll get serious about Wii hula-hooping and see if I can shrink the kangaroo pouch that is my stomach.

Happy Birthday little Eliza Belle, Eliza Booty, Eliza Doodle and Turkey Lurkey. I love you!







See more from her 4 Month photo shoot here.