Ahh .. the Terrible twos!

It's been a few busy weeks, but I'm finally back and posting. Hmm .. lets see. When we came back from vacation, Bryan and I decided to move Emily into her toddler (day)bed. It's going okay for the most part. She still gets out and tries to play. Especially at naptime, so I foiled her bedroom window. Basically, I took some aluminum foil, and covered her window up, to block the sun (and heat) from coming in. I always told Bryan I would NEVER do that, cause it looks SO ghetto, but, I'm so fed up with Emily not napping and being a major crab all afternoon and evening, that I'm willing to try anything. So far, it's working. She fights naptime at first, but gives in after about 10-15 minutes.
Abbey had her 4-month check up the week we came back from vacation as well. She's now 13lbs, 14oz and 25 inches long. She recieved her two shots, and was allowed to be put on rice cereal and baby foods-veggies first. We now put rice cereal in with her formula bottles. I've tried feedin her baby food, but she doesn't take to it very well. She licks the spoon. It's so adorable ... haha. I try every few days, but she's just not quite ready yet. Ah well ... in due time, I suppose.
I was very excited for an announcement Bryan and I were going to make up at the lodge. We were expecting again. I knew I was going to get a lot of grief from my mom, but at the same time, I was telling myself, it's not HER choice, or decision...it's OURS. We didn't get to announce it though. I ended up miscarrying. It was an early miscarriage, and I am SO thankful that I was able to pass everything without having to go to the hospital. I am okay with it. I'm upset about it, but I also know it obviously wasn't meant to be. I guess it's good that we didnt announce it, because then we'd have to announce about our loss, and that would just make the whole situation so much harder emotionally forme.
I've started two new afghans. I was able to convince Bryan to let me get some pink and brown yarn to start up a new tumbling blocks afghan. I also have some white, pink and red baby yarn I'm using to make a granny square afghan. I think I'm going to stop at 30 inches. I'll have to see when I get there. I'm already at 18 inches. I love the colors, and I hope someone else will too. It'll go on my shop whenever it gets finished.
I was thinking of putting my blog shop on hold ... I have the huge afghan I'm making for Steven for Christmas I need to start. It's going to take a LOT of time and energy to do, that's for sure. It's the Green Bay Packer's logo. I was able to purchase a pattern for it online, and I now have all the yarn for it. I think when I finish these afghans, I'm going to get started on his.
Emily is almost two .. I can't believe it!!! I seriously don't konw where the time goes!! We were going to throw a BBQ here at our house for her birthday, since we have a nice patio set ... but while we were on vacation, the tabletop bubbled and popped up ... so it's no longer flat. Bryan was really upset, since we droppeda good $700 on it, so he decided to return it. If we can find a nice one marked down, then we'll get it. Otherwise, it's just going to be a mini family BBQ, with mom, dad, older brother's family, younger brother, and possibly his girlfriend. It's all still up in the air...though.
Bad news for me ...I haven't been to the dentist in 6 years, outside getting a toothache fixed here and there. No actual cleanings and whatnot. Well, my older brother referred us to their dentist .. we get a free complete exam and xrays and whatnot. So, Bryan and I went on Monday. I was in for QUITE a surprise. I knew I was going to need to get some work done .. I just didn't expect THIS much ... oye. I've gotta get a total of 12 cavaties filled, a possible root canal, two crowns (possibly a third if root canal is a no-go) and an extraction, from the molar that was chipped when I was pregnant with Abbey. The top of the tooth came off, but the roots still remain .. so I'll probably have to be referred to an oral surgeon to get THAT matter resolved. On top of all that work... I need to get braces again. My teeth aren't crooked, but they're starting to get back to where they were when I was younger. It's basically to just realign them again. I'm SO not looking forward to that. But, invisalign is actually more expensive and won't do as much, as the brackets and elastics. We aren't going to get ANYTHING done though, until at least January, that way Bryan can bump up our dental insurance so we won't have to pay as much out of pocket.
Emily is starting to wear me down with her new word -- No. She says it for almost everything now ... Talk about a challenge!! She's starting to listen more and more though ... so I think we're getting better with it. Hopefully it won't last for years like some do! Well, time to make some lunch for Emily so we can swim and get worn out for naptime.

Afghan down!!! Toddler bed training: Night #1

This past week, we were on vacation in Northeastern Arizona. MAN, was it nice! The temps were at least 30 degrees cooler!!! I had NO IDEA that we would pack SO MUCH!! Granted, we're traveling with two kids ... but it's like we loaded EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink up!! It was an enjoyable time for the most part though. As usual, I got on my mom's nerves, and she got on mine. I won't dwell on that though, otherwise I'll just start hating the whole vacation trip altogether.

I didnt take any pictures WHILE on vacation, but TONS while we drove home, and when we went to Greer on our day trips. Friday, after lunch, Bryan and I put the girls down for naps, then we left for Greer. We went to Greer on our honeymoon, and we both fell in love with the town. Greer is like, the dead end town/spot on this state highway. The end of the road takes to you a trailhead. The main reason for going to Greer, was for us t enjoy some of Molly Butler's Apple pie. However, we arrived at 2:00, and we weren't really hungry. We decided to go to the trailhead, and hike for a little bit, to build up an appetite. We planned on just floating around the trailhead, since there's a streak right next to the trail, but we hiked about a mile in, and then turned around. it was 3:30 when we got back to the truck. We made our way back to Molly Butler's Lodge, and found out the dining room was closed from 3-5. Aww man! The bar was open though, and we could order appetizers and desserts there. WOOHOO!! We ended up getting their mozzarrella sticks and the prime rib quesadilla. Talk about GOOD food!!! I ended up ordering thre drinks, I asked for virgin (no alcohol) but they apparently didnt hear me. THey were SOOO good either way though. I HATE how I was acting after them though. I guess you could say I was a bit tipsy? We headed back to the lodge, and I ended up going to bed early.

Today, we got up and packed the remining things we didnt pack last night, then loaded up. We took our usual family pictures, and took off. Bryan and I went to Greer to take a few more shots, since my camera battery died Friday as we were trying to get our shots. Once there, Bryan said we were going to hav ebreakfast there. However, when we got there t 10:15, we saw Molly Butler's Lodge didnt open until 11. Argh! Soo .. we went to the trailhead, and jut sat in the truck, and watch a few vacationers play in the stream. We went back, and had our lunch ... Bryan had a burger that he said was "to die for" and I had the prime rib dip. Basically, the french dip sub. SOO good. And we finished our meal with ... APPLE PIE!!! Emily ate the ice cream with Bryan, while I devoured the appl pie. Ohh man, it tasted even BETTER than three year ago, when my taste buds first wrapped around it!! We ended up hitting the road at 12:30. We made it to Payson around 3:00, which isn't that bad. The road between Payson and the Valley though, is a tid bit windy. The turns, if taken too fast, can make you sick to your stomach. I, having done this drive over 20 times in my lifetime (lots of roadtrips, family reunions and moves!) have gotten used to the 45 minute "roller coaster" feeling. However, This being EMily's first (outside the womb) trip where she was actually awake, she got sick. We were halfway "down the hill" and she lost her lunch from about 3 hours earlier. We pulled off to the side, and Bryan emptied half the truck on the side of the highwayto geta change of clothes and more importantly, wipes, to clean EMily up. When he loaded everything back up, and put the tarp back on, we didnt realize we forgot my afghan! We got home, unloaded, and I noticed my infamous diaper box wasn't in the living room. I checked the side storage room and the truck, and still didnt find it. After talking things over with Bryan, we reailized we left it on the side of the road!!! It's a good 60 miles outside of town now ... at least. Argh!!! We stopped right next to one of those consruction office type things, so I'm hoping I can get a chance tomorrow to drive up there, and still get it. My binder is in there too, which has ALLLL of my patterns! I'm so frustrated over this matter ... but it's no one's fault really. We both thought the other one packed up back up. I was almost done with it too ... so proud of the progress I made. If I stuck to working on it an hour a day, it'd be done by this weekend for sure. I guess we'll just see if it's there tomorrow. IF I can manage to get up there, too.

On a side note, we're trying Emily out in her toddler bed now. When we came home, I took the front of her crib off and turned it into a toddler daybed. It' one of those convertable cribs. After her bath, I came in here and put her down. I even got her a new tinkerbell toddler bed set!! matching sheet, comforter and pillowcase!! The bedrail we have is missing a few pieces (gotta love hand-me-downs sometimes) so we are using two levels tonight, until one of us can get to the store to get a new one. After about 45 minutes of sitting up and trying to escape out of her bed, she finally realized she was tired and stopped fighting it. She's been asleep for the las 35 minutes, and I'm a bit nervous to leave her alone. When she was winding down, she leaned against the bedrail, and bascially pushed it away, and fell out--twice. She's sleeping in the middle of her bed now, but asthe night progresses, she'll move around and flop onto her belly. I only hope she favors the backside of the crib, instead of the front, just so she doesnt risk falling out of bed. It's only about a foot to fall, but still .. when you're dead asleep, that fall can eally scare the jeepers out of you!! Woow .. speaking of fall, she just rolled over to her side .. to the FRONT of he bed. Well, time to move on to my room, once I readjust her. We'll see how Toddler bed training goes over the next few days and weeks.

I'm under a LOT of pressure and stress here!!!

Alright, so I typed up my entire blog, and then when I added the pictures, it deleted it all! So, Here I go again .. *sigh*
I've been busy getting stuff together and organized for our trip next week. It's so hard to believe that we're only a couple days away from COOLER weather, and an even bigger chance of Monsoon storms! I'm so excited. It's going to me a nice and relaxing week, and I can't wait. I'm hoping I can get this afghan knocked out. only have three weeks left to finish it, and I haven't been able to work on it much this past week due to appointments and all that. I'm hoping after Bryan gets home, I'll be able to sit in the back room and finish this section. Once I finish the section, I think I'll be a LOT happier with it, and I'll be more motivated to work on it. I know next week, I'll be able to kick back and work on it, since Bryan will have the girls outside with him most likely.
I was debating on getting a spiral perm for the last month or so ... but I decided last night, that I'm just going to cut and dye my hair instead. I've been dying my hair red a LOT since I got married, and decided to go with a light brown this time around. I don't want to have red anymore, even though it looks real good on me. It was such a pain, because even though it's permament dye, it would ALWAYS wash out!! Talk about frustrating! Well, earlier today, I got my hair cut ... they cut 6 inches off. It doesn t look like a lot from thne pictures, but the first one, my hair was really frizzy and whatnot. And when I put the product in my hair, and actualy 'style' it, it goes to about my ears. I'm VERY happy with how it turned out. I can get the permed look easily since my hair is already naturally curly, I just need to know how to do it, and then get the right products for it, which the hair stylist showed me. Now, I got a light golden brown dye, and it came out medium brown, which is fine for me ... I didnt want it any darker than what it is now, and it will lighten up the next few times I wash it.

Hmm .. I had so much more to say, but I honestly can't remember what I had to say since all my notes and pointers were deleted. Ah well .. They will come to me while I clean up the house and get the dishes and laundry going, I'm sure.

Ohh, the insanity!!!

I never thought I would say this, but I'm hardly on the computer anymore! That's right folks! Little ole me, that's been glued to a computer the last 8+years is breaking away!!! Don't get me wrong, I get on to check my email at least every other day, but that's it. I'm not chatting away with (my only) two friends, bouncing around on random websites, reading blogs, none of that! I'll get on either early in the morning before the girls are up, or late at night when I SHOULD be sleeping.

Don't think I've fallen off the face of the earth .. I was actually trying to crochet as MANY items for my etsy shop as possible. I'm going to be doing a sale kickoff August 10th and I want a variety of items available. I have tapped into sewing a bit too .. I'm a little rusty at it (it's been 10+yrs since I even TOUCHED a sewing machine) but it's like riding a bike...you never really forget. I've got 26 items stacked up next to me, waiting to be pressed and sewn, the pattern is cut out already, but gotta sew together. I'm not going to put them on my shop until after vacation, possible the eve of my "sale". It's not really a sale, it's more of a donation process I guess. My prices will remain the same, but I will donate 50% of the sales to NTDs charities. I need to email a certain someone with some details and get a couple ideas from her to finish things up. I'm working on an afghan as well that I will be donating to her for a giveaway as well if she's interested.

I've decided to go to church today, with or without Bryan. I've been using him as an excuse and crutch long enough. Yes, it's a "ways away" going to the Gilbert campus rather than the Mesa campus just up the street from us, but I like the Gilbert location, PLUS my brother works there, and obviously attends that campus. I'll have a bigger chance of sitting with him and my sister in law rather than sitting alone until I meet a few other people. I hate that I've let so much time go since I've last gone to church. I haven't even gone for Christmas Eve or Easter services. Despite Abigail being 7 days old on Easter, it wouldn't have stopped me from going. Well, that's it for now .. Emily is waking up in her crib. In two weeks, it will be a toddler bed. I can NOT wait!!

Confessions of a yarnaholic: Part 3

I was good, and I organized all of my yarn. Oh, and I made the bed too, haha! I don't want to wake up screaming in the middle of the night like an Aunt I have, screaming cause something brushed up against my leg! ;-) Alright ... so I bought three *bags of 10* lighthouse yarns. There in the bottom right corner. You can see the blues on the bottom, and the pinks in the middle. Well, the ones on top,they're supposed to be this really pretty dark pink/purple ombre ... but I only have 4 like that. The other 6 are more green/blue/brown. They're from a seperate dye lot, which is why they're like that. Bummer, huh! Ah well .. I can still use them all. The BIG balls on the side, as I explained in a previous entry, are HUGE skeins .. I can make a baby blanket, hat, booties, and a sweater out of them and STILL have yarn left over. I'm missing one out of the bunch though .. since I slready started using it for a blanket I started. the stuff with the red/yellow and red/black labels .. thats what I got in my "assortment" bags. They have a really bright rainbow verigated yarn (8 total), a bright pink/purple/turquoise verigated yarn (8) this super soft baby pastels yarn (4) some "heather" yarn, in dark grey (4) and dark berry (4). Above them, in the to left corner, I have felting yarn, which basically the more you wash whatever you make with this, the more it looks like fabric, and the colors mesh together. I can't wait to start on that as well. And what's taking up the entire top half (my side) of the bed, is FUN FUR!!!! I use this for scarves, and also to embellish hats and brims and such. I'm officially SET on yarn. This is just what I PURCHASED .. not counting what I already have .. which is about this mich, if not more. I have three HUGE boxes of yarn I already have .. haha!

Bryan jokes that I can open my own yarn store .. and I'm positive I can! I've been taking alchemy orders on my shop, and I've had to deny quite a few since I didnt have the yarn people were requesting. Well, not aymore! I have a list of emails that I need to send out and get the orders going again ... I'm so excited I'm about to burst!

Pics of yarn

Alright, so I thought that I would share my yarn stash so far. Keep in mind, this is just what I have purchased Thursday and Friday in-store. Not counting the stuff from Joanns and Herrschners online. The "boucle" skeins each make a baby blanket, hat, booties, and sweater, with some left over, they're that large. I'm probably going to get two baby blankets and two hats out of each skein though .. that way I can stretch them, and possibly make a set for my shop. Same with the rainbow classic. I have two blue/white and two blue/beige/white that will make a larger adult-sized afghan. I might go and get some more of the beige/blue/white so I can make one for our bed, as it matches our new bedspread. We'll see though =) The little round balls on the side? That's the felting yarn. I'm making child-size hats out of them. One hat each. The fun fur? That's just to embellish hat brims and afghans. Possibly scarves as well, if I get that far .. hehe. Thats about it ... I need to go start on the second custom order from my shop ... first one is done, but my customer would like a second one, so I'm ging to ship them together once I finish this one. I'm sure I'll post pics as well, just to document to myself, that I really AM selling items. hehe. Have a good Saturday!

Confessions of a yarnaholic: Part 2

It's now 3 in the morning ... and I cant sleep. I have a confession to make. After posting the yarn shots from Thursday, I wnt BACK to Joanns today. I got 7 (I think?) big skeins, and 8 of these balls, that are on clearance. I literally ran into the store at 8:55. They closed at 9. I had a mini shopping spree I suppose. These balls of yarn I guess "felt" when tey are machie washed and dried. I'm going to make a hat out of one ball just to see how they turn out, but from what I hear, they're great. Well, I just went to Herrschners site and looked around their yarn sale they are having. After throwing about $200 worth of yarn in my cart, I completely emptied it. I was only gettingthe yarn because it was marked down ... I didnt know WHAT I was going to make with the brands, colors, and styles, unlike earlier with Joanns. So, I just browsed their yarn selections, and they have these assortments that they throw together, of either 16oz or 32oz. There's no guaruntee what you'll get and if they'll match...which I really like! It's like a surprise as I open it! Well, it' only $2 more for the 32oz package, so I opted for that, and got a few of them. They also have it set, where if you buy in bulk, you'll save on certain yarns. Well, that pulled me in as well .. I bought three different colors on this yarn, and I already have projects lined up for them. I can't WAIT to get my package. Speaking of that, I think starting tomorrow I'm going to be staying at home. Tomorrow, we're possibly getting a couple packages from Best Buy (Bryans) Monday I'm getting a package from Amazon, Tuesday a package from Joanns, and Wednesday a package from Herrshners! Don't worry ..I'll be sure to post my new and updated yarn stash! Hmm .. Abigail is making a LOT of noise in her crib. I think sleeping through her last feeding of the night 5hrs ago is starting to take it's toll on her. She's sucking vigorously at her ring and pinky fingers, most likely on her right hand. I better go fix a bottle and feed her while she's semi awake, so she'll fall back asleep.

Before I go ... Emily has been doing SO good with going to bed with a dry diaper, and waking up with a dry diaper. It's one of those signs of potty training and I'm SO excited, however the last couple nights she's been waking up sopping wet. Same with tonight. I put her down at 10, and when I retired to the bedroom at midnightish, I went to check on her, and noticed she was soaked. Argh! So, I had to wake her up to change her and "sponge clean" her, change her bedding and disinfect her matteress. At least she went to sleep shortly thereafter. I DID have to whisper to herso she understood it was still "night night" time. Alright, enough of this .. bottle for Abbey then shower to help me relax and off to snoozeland I go (hopefully)!!!!