wishlist : Christmas 2015 mini-man edition

Christmas is just super hard to pick things out for Myles because it is just so close to his birthday.  I think most people have already decided what they are getting him, but I still wanted to do a little wishlist on here for him.

1 :  Kidkraft Play Kitchen.  I believe Santa may be bringing this big item, but he could still use a little bit of play food for it.  How cute is this felt breakfast set?!

2 : Hape Coffee Maker Play Set.  The one big thing in the kitchen Myles always loves "helping" me with is making the coffee.  I think he would LOVE to have his own coffee maker to play with!

3 : Melissa&Doug Locks and Latches Board.  These skills boards are pretty neat, especially this one that has different locks!  He is obsessed with trying to get my keys into the door lock so I imagine he would like figuring these out.

4 : A new pair of sneakers.  When I originally picked out these Pumas, they were a fraction of the current price.  He is just going to need size 8 or larger toddler tennis shoes before too long.

5 : Toddler bedding.  Rumor has it that a toddler bed has been purchased, but we will need sheets!  Especially with the thought of potty training soon, we will definitely need a second mattress pad, and some toddler size sheets, plus his first little pillow!.  I'm still trying to work up the courage to make him a quilt.

What is your toddler getting this year?  Anything I should think about?

wishlist : Christmas 2014 mini-man edition

1 : for dress up How cute is this mask and tail?!  I was just browsing Etsy and thought this was pretty genius.  The shop BHBKidstyle has several different animals to choose from.  So so cute.

2 : for the car ride It is fascinating how kid specific music seems to calm a kid down in the car.  I was all about some Raffi as a little kid myself.  This could be pretty handy dandy for the next couple of years. 

3 : for eco friendly play Myles received a Green Toys dump truck and shape sorter for his birthday.  I really love this company.  100% made in the USA out of recycled plastic.  This stuff is fantastic.  The helicopter and airplanes look pretty great.

4 : for pretend munching Who knew Ikea made really neat toys?  Our friends have the Duktig felt food sets and they are pretty darn cute.  The vegetable set can be found on Amazon, but they make a fruit set as well.

5 : for the little helper  A mini version of mommy's vacuum cleaner?  Um yes please.  He loves chasing me around when I vacuum.  I would wager he would love to "help" when he gets a little bigger.  I  know some kids love their own broom too. 

6 : for carrying stuff  This cute little backpack would be the right size to hold Myles' snacks and diapers when we go places and when he gets a little older he could carry it himself.  These Skip Hop zoo backpacks are a good small size.

7 : for the eventual walker  Little kid shoes are expensive.  Feel free to get him some in the sizes to come... 5 and 6.  I love these little Saucony Jazz shoes.  

room by room : a room for Myles

It has taken about 3 months or so to complete but I can finally say that this room is DONE.  I am just tickled with how it turned out.  Originally the plan was just "vintage kid stuff".  And then before our baby showers I realized that was a bit too vague and headed more towards a vintage air plane theme.  

Now normally when I design a room in my head... it completely does not turn out the way I wanted it to.  I'm usually really sad at the end because I had too many ideas and no way to mesh them cohesively.  Or I give up prematurely.  Or I never have an idea, but instead get caught up in the world of Pinterest and do a "project" at a time and then it just looks weird.

Not this time baby.

So the final result... minus the baby.

1. Watercolor painting based on Snoopy and the Red Baron (including the book itself below) by my Aunt Debbie.  So so so excited to have this for Myles!

2.  Cheap bookshelf from Target.  I lined the back panel with some fabric that I found on sale at a local store.  Filled with books, toys, and the bins have things like socks and pacifiers. 

3. Our son's name in photos.  Made by a friend of my aunt whom I used to dog-sit for back in Louisville.  She was also a huge help in organizing everything for me after the babyshowers :) (Thanks Stacy!)

4. Planet Wise wet bag for dirty cloth diapers.  Haven't found a good place for it yet.  The changing table is a little too low to hang it from.

close up of the painting

1.  Faux metal letters I made the past 2 days out of paper mache letters, black paint, and silver spray paint.  (seen on Pinterest somewhere)

2.  The family rocking chair.  My mom rocked us in it, her mom rocked her in it... I had to take it.  Kyle's mom and grandmother made the pillow cushion and a friend of my grandmother's crocheted the blanket.

3.  Antique children's magazines.  My dad built the wooden boxes, I put a burlap backing in them, and they are suspended by furniture tacks pushed into cardboard.  I didn't want to poke holes in them or ruin them with tape.

4.  Simple lamp from Target.  I like the look of the new with the antique furniture.

5.  Antique plant stand (I think) from my parent's garage.  

1.  Sort-of 3D metal airplanes from an old friend-Megan.  I had just realized I had almost no biplanes for my biplane themed room when these showed up in the mail!

2.  Antique chest from a local consignment shop.  My grandmother got it for us when she came to visit a while back.

3.  Basket woven from what looks like old Japanese newspaper.  Found at Hobby Lobby...to be used as a clothes hamper.

4.  The crib.  From BRU.  Chevron sheet from Target, bedskirt handmade by Kyle's mom and grandmother.  Small tag blankie with biplane and his name is also from Megan.

5.  Biplane/cloud mobile.  I made this a while back when I was resting in bed for a week after overdoing things.  Clouds are made from paper, hoop is part of an embroidery hoop, wrapped in twine, with various biplanes I got at the babyshowers.

The mobile, and Myles' friends are waiting for him!

1.  The changing table that I made out of an old hutch bottom.  The doors are hiding the diapers, and wipes are in the drawer.  Spent several days sanding, painting, and sealing that thing.

2.  Shelf was made out of reclaimed wood I found at the Habitat ReStore for $1.

3.  Various old toys/antiques from family and friends based on the original decorating plan.  They still fit in really well with everything else.

So what do you guys think?  Pretty cool huh?  I just realized that I totally never got a picture of the rug that the rocking chair is sitting on.  Maybe one day you will see it... It is cherry red and majorly shag.

I had a lot of fun getting this room together.  Everywhere I look there is something picked or made with love from a friend or family member.  And better yet... none of it is too "baby-ish" so the decor should last him as he grows until we have to move again... or can be converted to slightly more girlish if he ever has to share a room with a little sister :-p.  

How much did I do in the room? Kyle helped hang the shelf and the mobile.  My dad hung the frames and planes on the wall.  I painted the wall (Valspar Sea Salt) completely alone.  Same goes for the blue furniture.  And assembly of the crib and bookshelf.  It was such a fun project and I wouldn't do anything differently!

photo shoot : siblings part 1

The two weeks leading up to our whirlwind weekend, my brother and I did some secret photo shoots for our mom.  He had the fantastic idea that since we were both leaving the state and country soon we should take pictures together for his commissioning gift to her and our Mother's Day gift.  We wanted to do all of them at once but he had some issues getting his new uniform ordered and tailored.  So one week, with the help of Kyle, we did some plain clothes photos (today's post), and the next week we did the military ones (tomorrow's post).  Kyle made his way into a few of them.  We all took turns using the camera depending on who was in the shot and then I edited.

Enjoy.

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We had a lot of fun doing these and I will treasure them for a long time.  So glad he had such an awesome idea.  Whats your favorite?  Comments are welcome.  :)

Love

image source

Valentine's Day is always such a weird holiday for me.  I'm annoyed with the commercialized crap we have to be berated with for the weeks before.  The guilt the ads place on men and women alike to pick that "perfect store bought gift".  But I also always hope to have that small act of holiday acknowledgment from my husband... not that I want the chocolate, expensive dinner reservations, or flowers (these are almost banned in my house since Zoe always eats them which always ends in me cleaning up the resulting upset stomach. TMI?)... just a small acknowledgment... the card, the hug, the couch cuddle time with a movie... heck.. a Snickers candy bar... I'm pretty simple.  But when these things don't happen (and this has happened), I turn into a monster.  

Why??? 

Because I am imperfect.  Because I am putting my desires and hopes in a holiday and in a husband who is just as imperfect as I am.  Because I believe the lies of this world that say I am only loved if I get something of monetary value.  Are the chocolates and the flowers and the jewelry bad things?  NO.  They are beautiful things.  But THINGS all the same.  My hope should not be in whether or not I receive these THINGS, but in the God who provides me with the ability to love despite my sinful heart.  

I had not meant to write this post, but my verse of the day really struck a cord with me, and reminded me of the truths I learned at a Redeemed Marriage event.

Verse of the Day: "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?  You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love."  Micah 7:18 (NLT)

Truth:  God is love.  God gives us the ability to love.  Christ teaches us to forgive infinitely, love unconditionally.  1John 4:7 tells us to love one another, for love comes from God.  Romans 5:5 tells us that God pours out his love into his people's hearts.  We cannot truly love without God.  That is where our (my) hope should be.  In a God who is infinitely more wise about the subject than myself in my marriage and everyday relationships.

All the same, I do enjoy thoughtful gifts from friends or my  husband, for whatever the reason.  Because generosity/gift giving is a gift of the Spirit...and so should not be done out of guilt.  Below is a pic of the bracelet my dear friend Julia gave to all of us girls in our small group last night.  You can read about her handmade Valentine's Day here. 

 Isn't this little bracelet completely adorable?  I'm quite smitten.

Blessings.