Gotta Check This Out!!!

www.babysteals.com

Check it out!


I am very glad I stumbled upon this!

Maggie's Taggie

So either I have too much time on my hands or I really hate to clean, but I love to craft. I think the later is more accurate. Dan is at a Bachelor Party tonight (woo hoo!) so what did I do after Maggie went to bed? See below!

Maggie's Taggie

Maggie Crawls...in her own little way...

It's really hard to capture her crawling, because she is only good for a couple of steps before she falls to her belly, but I tried. It was all fine until I took her dress off, she was getting tangled in it. And for those who say that my daughter never cries...her ya go. She is just mad that the toy was so far away and she didn't have her dress on. Once the filming was over, rest assured that she was redressed and given the toys she desired. She is my little diva.

General Craftiness

NEWS!!

• Baby Slings COMING SOON!!! I have materials on the way and I plan to whip one up for a friend with a little one on her way. Hopefully I will have it done before she arrives... But, I will be sure to take lots of pictures before it ships out. If you are interested in a sling for yourself please feel free to email me or leave a comment. Thanks to Jennifer for lighting a fire under me for this one!
  
• Also...If you are interested in the Burp Cloth Bundles...Please email me! I am making them as they are ordered at this point. I can't seem to keep any stock! They fly right out the door. Thanks for all of the orders!
  

Hopefully I will get purchase buttons up for the bundles and the slings soon. Maybe I can even figure out how to do a shopping cart so that it can all be one purchase. That might take a little time and research and some phone calls to my tech geek friends. I call them that lovingly. Thanks DK for working on my HTML button!

Lastly, here is the most recent order that shipped out to a mommy with a little bundle of boy...

Nursing Cover with Matching Burp Cloth

Burp Cloth Bundle

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WEEKEND PROJECT FOR YOURSELF? LOOK NO FURTHER...I FOUND IT FOR YOU!! If you do make this, please send me some pictures to post. I love to share the craft!

THE EVERYTHING BAG

Just click the link to follow along with the step by step instructions, complete with pictures. I think that the novice sewer could sew this one without much trouble. Let me know how it goes for you!

http://bluebirdbaby.typepad.com/photos/bag_tutorial/index.html

A Quiet Moment...

I only have a few minutes to spare today as it is another busy one. I have spent my morning clipping baby nails, changing a poopy diaper, chasing Maggie as she rolls to all things electric and corded, making 2 batches of Fudge (one Reese's and Chocolate and the other is white chocolate and milk chocolate swirl), showering, actually drying my hair for the first time in days, getting dressed and checking email.



Maggie gets up in about 10 minutes and we're off. I will get her fed and dressed and then we are going to a potluck lunch at one of my Mommy friend's houses. I am bringing my peanut butter cup fudge. It's a going away lunch for Michele and her daughter Gigi. Michele was one of the first moms that I met when I started to venture out on my own. She is a breastfeeding proponent and a strong woman. A role model for a scared new mom. Also, Gigi is adorable and well tempered and an easy to get along with kid. A role model for a brand new baby. The are moving to another area of Ohio on the West Virginia border. Michele and her husband are pastors and they are going to a new church. The new house is beautiful. It's very old and backs to a lovely green space. I am jealous. I think you know by now that old houses are my "thing". But, alas, they must go to the next adventure and Maggie and I wish them the best of luck. Please keep us posted Michele!!!



After the lunch, it is back home for nap time...I am going to continue to work on my orders. Maggie only took half of her afternoon nap yesterday, so I have some catching up to do. Then we are hopefully off to the post office (if I get some orders done :) ) and then the grocery store.



We are having dinner with the gUnit and the Jellys. Sounds like a band name, huh. Most of our friends have nicknames and those that don't yet...you will soon enough. Fred and Kelly G are the gUnit. Dan and I are H.o.T.S. (House of Team Stamm) or simply TeamStamm, Bruce and Amy I are most recently known as IHOP (International House of Paul - their 8 week old) and DK and EJ are the Jellys (their house is the Jelly Jar). We are goofy to say the least.



Hopefully tonight will be less eventful than last. We had HooHah (Cousin Emily...yes the nicknames continue) and her boyfriend Ryan as well as the Jellys over for Mama Mimi's pizza and some Mexican Train Dominoes. It was great. And then everything went crazy....a storm like no other blew through at about midnight. All 5 of us (Dan, Maggie, Me, and Both Cats) were wide awake from the thunder. As I was assessing the situation I heard the tornado siren start to sing...Down to the basement we all went. We hung out for about an hour or so until everything quieted down. Maggie thankfully went right back to sleep, but insisted that she start to stir around 5:15am. She was still asleep for the most part, but sleeping fitfully. She cried off and on until I went to get her at 6:45am. And there's where our day started.



I feel like this post has rambled about nothing of any particular importance and I feel quite narcissistic to insist that you read a play by play of my day. But...it is what it is and you seem to still be reading. At times my blog is informative, at times inspiring (hopefully), and at times simply for my own purposes, like today. I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing a moment with me. I truly understand how few there are to spare.

Quilt and Blanket Pictures!

As promised....

The QUILT

The Quilt Close-up

I think she likes it.....

The Receiving Blanket that I am taking FOREVER to complete....

The shoes I want to start selling here on the site....If the author of the pattern would contact me and give me permission.....I think they are just too cute! They are 0-6m and 6-12m. I have just fallen in love with them....Dan's Aunt Nati whipped these up for me! Maybe she will teach me one day....

Okay...that's all for now...I have orders I need to fill, cleaning to do, a shower to fit in somewhere, I think I will take Maggie to the pool, and oh....people are coming for dinner....BUSY DAY! Gotta go!

The Quilt Hath Been Quilted!

And of course the camera battery is DEAD! I am currently charging the battery and washing the quilt in order to fluff the batting. Hopefully I will be able to get the pictures up tomorrow morning. I think it turned out quite cute for my first attempt at quilting. I had a lot of fun and it wasn't that hard at all. If anyone out there is interested...I would be happy to help you make one of your own. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment with your email.

Another craft in process is my receiving blanket for Maggie. I started knitting it in the spring of 2007....and now here we are in the summer of 2008 and it's still on my needles. It is nothing special, it takes no brainwork, there is no counting involved. I just have to add length, but I just can't seem to finish it. I think I am going to dedicate a few minutes everyday to getting it done. Hopefully, I can get it done by mid July 2020. Keep your fingers crossed. I will post pictures of that one tomorrow too.

I am always looking for cute baby crafts....if you have any good ideas that you saw or read about, shoot me a comment...I love to keep the craftiness flowing!

Evolution of Dance

Many of you know that I was a dancer once in my life and hopefully I will find the time to do it again....meanwhile....I think this is AWESOME....

Here's to those with dancin' feet!

The Baby Whisperer

I can't believe I haven't talked about this before. It is one of the first things I usually mention to expectant moms. I try not to be that mom that thinks she knows all the secrets because she has an easy baby, but I do think there should be some secret sharing. This is the best solution out there. I just visited some friends and saw another baby living the E.A.S.Y. routine with great success at 8 weeks.

Check out "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems" by Tracy Hogg. We started Maggie on the E.A.S.Y. routine at 1 week and she is still going strong on it today. We started with a 2 hour E.A.S.Y. and now we are to a 4 hour E.A.S.Y. Maggie knows what's next and I know what she is going to want or need well before she does. It still gives her the freedom to grow, change, and explore, but sets expectations for her from me and vice versa. It can't be set up overnight and takes a week or so to fall into its place. But stick with it and it will be second nature for you and your baby.

Here's the caveat.....baby #2 may change all the rules....from what I hear. If anyone has done E.A.S.Y. with number 2, please share your story. I would love to know how it went.

Also, check out the message boards. There are a lot of great topics and information. But beware of info overload. I had sore breasts once and was trying to figure out what was going on...by the end of clicking around on the site, I had convinced myself that Maggie had Thrush and I had Mastitis and I was going to have to wean her....read: over reactive, hormonal, hypochondriac. What I actually was experiencing was a little engorgement from a plugged duct that was relieved during the very next nursing session.

All in all, if you are a mom that likes a plan...this is the plan for you. Maybe....

TEETH?!?!?!

SO...Maggie started teething last Thursday...or she may have been teething for awhile, but I felt the teeth starting to poke their tiny tops through. So far so good. It seems that Maggie may have her daddy's pain tolerance. Happily, she doesn't have mine. I haven't really noticed many ill side effects, but I am knocking on wood as I write this. She did wake up only half way through her nap this morning. I did get her back to sleep, though. I hope she continues to tolerate her discomfort this well, as we have a big trip planned this weekend.



I will be away from the computer starting Thursday night through Sunday night. I will be back on Monday morning. We are going to visit Aunt Mary in Baltimore, Bruce, Amy and Paul in Baltimore, and then we are going to a wedding just outside of DC for some old friends from our Baltimore days. It should be a fun and exhausting time.



On that note....has anyone ever travelled with homemade baby food before? I am hesitant to buy any jars, but I am wondering if the cooler will keep it all cold enough. I think we will just have to see. They do have grocery stores in Maryland if we get stuck.



On another note...COLUMBUS RESIDENTS...I have discovered a wonderful, new, little sewing shop here in town. It's called Sew To Speak. How cute! They have a great selection of Amy Butler fabrics and there are classes as well. And the classes are for cute stuff you would actually wear, not like the old lady classes for patchwork jackets I saw advertised at a place in town. Sorry to those of you who like those types of classes, but they just aren't my style. If you want to go check out the store, here's the info......

Sew to Speak

4610 N. High St.

Columbus, OH 43214

614-267-3011

Great Intentions

DIY T-SHIRT QUILT

I had the wonderful intention of posting pictures from this weekend at Gramma and Grampa Stamm's but the battery in the camera is DEAD. It is currently sitting in the charger, so hopefully by morning it will be juiced up and ready to go.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I found a cute idea for T-Shirt Quilt. I would never be able to get my husband to part with 13 tees, but I might find some good ones at goodwill. Check out this pattern. Thanks Creative Juice! The show is really hit and miss. Sometimes it's really cute and shows good craft projects that I get excited about, like this quilt. Sometimes, it makes me think, "who would be stupid enough to waste their time and money on that crap?" Watch at your own risk. I think I delete more episodes than I actually watch. I love my DVR.

Feedback Please!

I need some product feedback....

Has anybody tried these? I would love to hear if they are worth the cost....

Swimways Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy Sun Smarties Adjustable Swim Diapers

Thought

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet
is fighting some kind of battle.

thanks Kelly....

Burp Cloths - COMING SOON!

Keep checking in...I will soon be adding the burp cloths to my inventory. I have to spend some time getting them made up so you will have something to pick from. As for now, if you need some, just let me know and I will work with you to get them designed to your specification. I do have some fabric and ribbon on hand and chances are you will find something you like. They run 3 for $15 and 5 for $20. Here's a peek at the first order I made. I think they are pretty darn cute....if I do say so myself.....

Oh....Becki...your order is ready......

Product Ideas....

hmmm....

I have been brought the following wonderful idea....

How about BURP CLOTH BUNDLES!!

I am seeing if there is any interest out there in BURP CLOTH BUNDLES. Here's the idea...

Coordinating bundles of either 3 or 5 burp cloths. You could select gender specific bundles or unisex. Pack of 3 for $15 of 5 for $20. Thoughts?

Basically it would be just like my burp cloths that go with the nursing covers, but without the nursing cover.

I think they would be a great shower gift if you weren't sure if the mom was going to nurse or not.

I will try to whip up a bundle today and see whatcha think!

Also, thanks to Becki...I now have a model (she needs a name! Any suggestions?) for my nursing cover. She also suggested I post a picture of the packaging as well... So....here ya go!

On a side note- I had a showing of my house this morning to a potential renter. It went well. However, I had a mannequin sporting a nursing cover sitting in my dining room. He didn't ask what that was about. I didn't explain. I wonder what he thought. I think if I was checking out a house and my potential landlord had a mannequin sporting a nursing cover in her dining room, I would ask. I would want to know if I would open a drawer one day and find fake hands and feet. (By the way, Becki said those were on sale for $2.00 if anyone needs them)

Maggie's Quilt - An Update

As you know, Dan was away this weekend. He was at a Bachelor Party in Baltimore, MD. While daddy's away....mommy quilts. You would think that I am 80 years old. Anyway. I washed and ironed all of my fabrics on Friday night/Saturday morning. Then I cut the fabrics into 5"X41" strips and sewed them together in my pattern. I forgot to photograph that step. Then I cut them into 5" stips the other way. Above is what it looked like before I sewed the strips together. Below is what it looked like after I sewed the strips together.

Now it's on to the backing and batting. I am not sure if I am going to do another panel like this one to make it even bigger yet, so I might wait on the next steps and let this simmer for awhile.

Maggie just woke up from her nap...so I am off to mommy duty....HAPPY MONDAY!!

Maggie's Quilt

These are the fabrics I have selected for Maggie's quilt. I love purple and I hope she does too. I am really hoping that she doesn't toss this quilt into a Goodwill Box when she turns 13. We will just have to wait and see. If it doesn't turn out, I may just toss it into the Goodwill box! :)

The internet is AMAZING

I just had a friend from high school email me the other day to say she was reading my blog and she was encouraging of my breastfeeding. I don't think I ever emailed her that I was writing this blog. Maybe I did. But let's assume, for the sake of this entry, that I didn't.

Hi Melinda! Your boys are too cute for words!

My point is this. The connections we have in life are fragile ones. Technology often takes the place of real life interaction. Why call when you can save time by texting? Why write when you save time by emailing? And, as much as traditionalists will bash it, I know that Melinda and I would not be keeping in touch if it weren't for email and blogging. I now check in on her blog daily. FYI- You need to post something Melinda! Are you and the boys feeling better yet? I also am able to keep up with the goings on of my friends Nate and Kelly and their growing family. I am so glad that I have that connection now. Blogging has helped me find what was missing from my daily social interaction. Maggie isn't quite a conversationalist, yet.....

So, for those of you bloggers out there that think no one is reading....WRITE ON!! We are reading and we love it. And for those of you who think blogging is a waste of time, who reads it anyway...start one...you will be surprised.

If you are curious as to how I actually know that people are reading, because they aren't leaving comments, go to the bottom of this page to the "Great Links" Section and click on the little green "sitemeter". Feel free to wander around the statistics. I have readers from Australia, France, Canada, and even Joliette, Illinois. I don't know who you are but WELCOME to my world.

Honestly, I just think it's all so cool.

Today is the day I am going to go pick out fabric for my Quilt for Maggie's first birthday. And somewhere in there, maybe I will finish knitting the blanket I started for her before she was born. If she is lucky, she will be presented with all of these finished crafts before she is 18.

Happy Friday, Ya'll!

ATTENTION: CRAFTY McCRAFTERTONS!!!

I promised a craft and I am delivering.

I have decided to make a quilt. I have never made a quilt before, but I remember watching my Great Grandma Ruth sew them by hand. She showed me how, once upon a time. I have NO desire to sew one by hand, but I think I might be able to pull off a machine quilt. Right now, I just have my head wrapped around the front of the quilt, later I will tackle the batting and the backing. I am going to try to do this a inexpensively as possible. The Stitching Post is having a HUGE sale and that helps the goal. I am going to use the following pattern. I also have scraps from my nursing covers that I might work into it somewhere. If anyone else out there decides to take on the project with me, please do! And be sure to send pictures.

By the way, the sleepsack I made turned out not so hot. I think my problem was that I had no pattern and I was sewing by intuition. I don't have sewing intuition. I need a pattern.

I'm Back!

Okay, so I fell off the Blogging Wagon....but now I am back. I had another very busy weekend, filled with fun, family, and screwed up Maggie schedules. I am glad she is such and adaptable baby, because we really put her through her paces.

Friday- We took a walk in the park and had picnic lunch with other mommies followed by some time on the swings. We then headed home to rest up for weekend.


Saturday- We started our day the normal way and then, after our morning nap, headed out for brunch with Dan's friend Jen (who was visiting from Atlanta). We then went back home for nap time. After the afternoon nap, we went to Newark for dinner at Aunt Joany and Uncle Dan's house in celebration of Cousin Dave's 30th. (We put Maggie to bed there and then transported her home later, she went right back to bed when she got into her crib **Thankfully**)


Sunday- Started early with picking Gramma Stamm up to go check out the new house. Maggie had a slight meltdown on the way home...she was tired. Maggie came home for her morning nap and then we went to a birthday party at 1pm for Cousin Maren's 4th birthday. We then took off to the Griesemer's for dinner. Maggie was supposed to nap on the way to their house and then go down for a nap upon arrival, but she had other plans. She slept for all of 20 minutes or so. Again we put her to bed in her pack n' play and then transported her home. She quickly went to sleep in her crib...but she kept waking up? I have no idea what that was about. She would cry and then I would go in, rub her tummy, and give her her binky...out she would go for a few hours and then cry again....Who knows??

Monday- I let Maggie sleep in for the first time ever. She slept until 8:30!!! It was nice to have a little time to myself in the morning, but then the whole day was off and neither Maggie nor I knew what was supposed to happen when. I think I will just stick to the schedule and risk a cranky baby who is up past her bed time then a cranky baby and mommy all day long. We drove to KY in the afternoon to go to my youngest brother's graduation. Again, Maggie was supposed to nap in the car, but she had other plans. She slept for all of 20 minutes again. But she ended up doing very well for the ceremony. She just thought the crowd was too loud, so she and Dan hung out on the side of the stadium. We then drove home that night. Thankfully, my husband let me get a little sleep in the backseat with Maggie.

Tuesday- Life is back to normal, but Dan had to go out of town on business. Mom's group was great...as always... I was able to get a couple of nursing covers done.

Wednesday- Dan comes home tonight. YAY!! I miss him when he's gone, thankfully it's not very often, and Maggie misses him too. We went out this afternoon to get some new fabrics. Check out the newest selections!!!

I promise to post daily again and I promise to post less stuff about my boring daily life. I appreciate the comments people are leaving! It's nice to know someone's reading. I have some crafty ideas rattling around and I will share them with you soon!

THIS JUST IN......

I just wanted to let everyone know......

We are officially "IN CONTRACT" on the Dennison Place house!

We are currently scheduling inspections and meetings with lenders. We should close sometime mid-July, if all goes according to plan.

Thanks for all the feedback and comments! It's nice to know there are people out there actually reading this stuff!

Also, I wanted to let you all know that the EBC is not going to carry my nursing covers until they move over to their new location. At that time they would like to further discuss carrying them in the gift shop. BUT...I have listed them on Craigslist and I am getting a bit of business from that. Word of mouth and the Internet are keeping me busy. Thanks for all the words of encouragement and support. If anyone knows a boutique that these nursing covers would fit well in, please do share! I will be happy to do the leg work if anyone has a direction to point me in!

Welcome to June! Enjoy the beautiful Sunday!

CONGRATULATIONS SHANE!!! HAPPY GRADUATION!!!