6 weeks old

Current skills/parlor tricks:
Sleeping through the night most of the time (praise Jesus!), holding up her head (Ray Charles bobbing style), pooping a lot, smiling

Likes:
Laying on her back and looking around, eating, being spoken to in a high and squeaky voice, car rides, getting held airplane-style on our shoulders with her legs held out straight, kicking one leg at a time - marching band style

Dislikes:
Waiting to be fed, going down for daytime naps

Stats (at her 1 month appt):
9 pounds, 1 ounce (41st percentile)
21.75 inches (69th percentile)

Operation New Year, New You

We've got classic goals around here for 2011:

A food diet & and cash diet.

Food diet

The problem: we both have some baby weight to lose! Me especially. Remember these shots? Well, some of it stuck around. And I was a terrible influence on Josh throughout the pregnancy since I always wanted either hamburgers or pizza for dinner.

The plan: Weight Watchers, baby. I've done it before and saw some success. Also, they have a nursing mom plan so that's helpful. This will be a first for Josh but I think he'll do well with it. Bonus: his employer helps pay for it!

Cash diet

The problem: we let our budget fall to the wayside for November and December. Who wants to have a strict budget the month they bring home a baby? Not us. And our credit card bill bears evidence.

The plan: Dave Ramsey style envelopes. We spend way less $ when we're working with cash. It's just a pain to keep track of sometimes, and we get lazy. But, come January 1, we're going to get back on that horse.

The exception: The basement. We're going to do a low budget remodel/spruce up over the next few months. BUT we're going to set a budget and stick to it. It currently looks like this (only MUCH messier!) and we're excited to get started on it.



The one we're waiting on: Cloth Diapers

I had fully intended on starting this up after the holidays, but Caroline's skinny chicken legs don't fill out the leg holes of the diapers quite yet. As much fun as it would be to have several blow-outs per day, I think we'll wait another few weeks. Once we do make that transition, it will help the whole cash diet thing...

I may be alone in this...

...but I love baby overalls.

For either gender.

For every age. (We have at least 8 pairs in various sizes and colors.)

I don't care that I found these in the baby boy section of Once Upon a Child.

Caroline will often be dressed in overalls until she's big enough to choose her own clothes.

And hopefully after that, too.

Antique Cradle

We've got an awesome antique cradle at our house. It isn't any antique, either. My mom slept in this cradle. So did I, as well as a number of other family members.

How cool is that?

While beautiful, it did need a little bit of TLC when I first got it. Not much, thankfully.

It's been a recent project of mine. A fun one, I might add.

First up, the mattress was in a bit of disrepair. The solution was a waterproof tablecloth. I just taped it in place with some packaging tape.

That way if she spits up/pees/etc. when she's in there, it'll be easy to wipe off.

Then I just needed to make a sheet for it. I thought flannel would be nice and cozy, and it was on a major sale at JoAnn's the day I went in there.

Unfortunately it was just a little too narrow to fully wrap around.

The solution? A simple patch. The one i made is pretty crude, obviously. But since it'll only be on the underside of the mattress, it works just fine.

Also, the cradle swings. A lot. Too much to be safe for a wiggly little girl. So we bound it to the frame with some plastic ties.

And then covered those in ribbon.

And now?

It's beautiful. And functional. And I love that this cradle has been used by many of us over the years.

We've got a great spot for Caroline to hang out.

Or have some tummy time.

Or nap. Or gaze at Christmas tree lights.

She likes it.

Great Grandmas

Remember this?

Well, Caroline got to meet 3 of 4 of those ladies last weekend.

My mom's mom (Grandma):

My dad's mom (Oma):

And Josh's mom's mom (Nana Wallace, who was in the hospital recovering from a surgery):

Nana Brown, she's looking forward to meeting you too!

Merry Christmas

We're soaking up the simple blessing of our little family today, and we wish much joy to each of you on Christmas.

And, for your enjoyment, here are some of the many attempts at a mama/baby Christmas picture.

... and my personal favorite:

Christmas Card Craft

I love, love, love Christmas cards. Especially the kind that come in the mail. For me, they're a wonderful reminder of the incredible blessing of friends and family, and I so appreciate each one. I get so excited for the mail to come every day, it's like I'm a little kid.

Since they cards so cheerful and colorful and fun, I feel it would be a shame to keep them in a stack, box, or basket. The solution around here?

Hang them over the doors in our kitchen. With mini clothes pins. Festive ones.

They're very easy to make. Crazy easy.

Step One: Buy clothes pins. This was the hardest part!

Step Two: Find some paper you like. I found these in my scrap box and figured they were all holiday-ish enough to suit me.

Step Three: Cut strips of paper to the size of the front of your clothes pin. Mine happened to be 1 3/4 inches by 1/4 inch. Once I'd cut some of the paper I realized that the pattern didn't translate well onto such a small space. So I didn't use those.

Step Four: Glue the paper onto the clothes pins. Let it dry some.

Aaaannndddd.... DONE!

To hand up the cards, I cut some ribbon and tacked it to the door trim with clear push pins. Then my little clothes pin beauties keep the cards in place.

Fun and easy.

We're in awe.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together

in my mother’s womb.

I praise you

because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

Surprise Baby Gift

I opened the mail today and found an extra special gift for Caroline.

A "Little Fluffy" blanket.

Completely personalized.

Extremely soft.

Very thoughtful.

Love it.

Years ago I used to work with the person who makes these blankets. Since our time together as bank employees, Kelly has not only opened up an Etsy shop, but also has had four kids of her own! Busy girl!

And I love, love the stuff she makes.

Thank you, Kelly!

Two Weeks

Random thoughts:

• Why are the sleeves on the onesie in the 2 week photo so dang short? Are we going for a "fashionable" 3/4 length look? Or does she just have monkey arms?
  
• Does anyone know how to locate the origins of a fruit fly home in your kitchen? I can't seem to shake them and feel there must be a nest somewhere.
  
• I could be either doing all kinds of housework or else showering, but somehow taking and editing pictures of Caroline always seems way more fun! No surprises there. But since some nice lady from church (who I haven't yet met!) is dropping a meal off this afternoon, I should really make myself and this house presentable.
• If you want to see more pictures, click here for my flickr page.
• I made my first turkey last week, and I think it turned out pretty well! At least, my family claimed it was good. They may have been lying.
  
• For the sake of comparison: